At my house

Rain, rain, rain.

It's been raining every day, forever it seems. On Friday night while out at dinner I overheard a local farmer saying that the weather usually changes on the 15th of August! And that was yesterday folks, so I"m looking for signs. The days are getting longer and there is a tiny bit of blossom about but I think we are still in for some cold and wintery days.

So to keep my spirits up I'm thinking of all that's good in my world. A big pile of library books..

drawings by Rosie,

and dear little Pearl who was a special gift from gorgeous Jess.

She and Moby are a match made in heaven. I love them both so much and so does Lucy.

I'm also loving this flower keychain that my mum brought back from America. Isn't it sweet?

I'm the type that needs something big and colourful on their keys as I am forever losing them.

Something else that's been happening lately is a film made locally related to the bushfires we had in our area last year. You might remember I entered an exhibition called Not Left Behind which included items that people took with them when they evacuated.

The exhibition was set up by two local artists, Alison Wilken (my wonderful neighbour & friend) and Jeff Stewart. It was an inspiring and moving exhibition and the film is just as powerful. I wanted to share it with you today as the story it tells is the story of our town during this stressful time but I can't seen to upload the film. Grrrr. Any suggestions welcome!

Today as I took the kids to school the sun shone bravely through the clouds! Yay. But not for long....we then had sleet and rain, again. Oh well, it is winter and I guess it doesn't last forever.

What are you up to today? I'm going to try and get through The List and also work on some new bunnies.

My little shop has got off to a great start and I have quite a few custom orders as well! I'm so thrilled, it's just the best feeling knowing that people like my work and respond so enthusiastically to my bunnies. I will be updating the shop this week, look out for Clare, above, as well as her little friend, Rose.

I'm also experimenting with some beautiful black alpaca that has been crying out to be turned into a bunny. I think there is a penguin or two in there as well, if only I could make everything I dream of. At least life is never boring! What's happening at your house today? I'm playing along with Lou Lou, why don't you join me? Hope you have a happy one, beautiful friends xo

My Creative Space

I had a really happy morning yesterday, sewing up the 15 fat quarters that I received in the Vintage Sheet Swap.

I added one more quarter to make it sixteen and then just sewed them all together, higgeldy piggeldy and the finished bedcover looks so sweet. It's added a bit of Spring to my Winter! I like the random nature of it, and it was so easy. Note to self though: next time make sure all pieces are EXACTLY the same size, ok?

I loved being part of the Australian Vintage Sheet Swap 2010, it was a really simple and fun swap and I received some lovely pieces. Thanks Ange!

After school snack yesterday...pikelets with maple syrup & rasberries. So simple and just the ticket when the wind is whirling & howling outside and it hasn't stopped raining for days.

I have been having fun too lately, matching up cardi's and fabric. One of my favourite parts of bunny making. I love this blue rose sheet that I picked up at an oppie on the weekend. Isn't it pretty?

I've had this little thrifted skirt for ages, just waiting for the right coloured cardi to come along.

Zappy green.

70's yellow & brown.

Sweet pale pink,

& rasberry roses.

And of course some purple too.

Now I better get busy with the scissors and sewing machine and whip up some bunnies for my new online shop! Have you visited yet? I'm so happy with it, keep an eye out as new bunnies are hopping in there all the time. By the way Blanket Bunnies have been $40 for over two years now and as the alpaca fabric is getting more expensive I will be making a price adjustment soon.

I'm off to visit some other spaces now, why don't you join me over at Kirsty's? See you soon xo

Wednesday

Gorgeous dress by Jess.

More Wednesday thoughts here xo

Back in the swing

So it's Monday and the Girl's Weekend is almost a distant memory! Not really but it's funny how the daily grind quickly takes over isn't it? Actually I was so happy to get home to the gang, but it was fun to have some time away too. The highlight was being with a group of ace women who were so easy going & such good company. It was great to have lots of laugh and inspiring conversation, yummy food and some fresh sea air.

And a bit of shopping of course.

It was super relaxing and a real treat to only have to worry about myself for a change.

I didn't take my computer and only took a few photo's. Here I am, pretending to be tall.

If you live near the sea you probably are used to this kind of view. For us country girls it's such a thrill to be near the ocean. I love the changing colours, the endless sea and the big coastal sky.

It was such a fun weekend. Queenscliff is a gorgeous spot, so sleepy and charming. It was good to just hang out with the girls, watch movies, walk, eat, laugh and debrief. The champagne went down well too!

We all need a dose of this kind of medicine don't we?

Back at home the family were all in good spirits and had fun with Dad.

Today is the start of a new week and I'm looking forward to a few exciting events. More on that next time lovely friends.

Meanwhile please introduce yourself to Polly who is waiting with anticipation in the Dandelion shop for someone to love her. Hope you have a great week sweeties, see you soon xo

Flying the coop

If you read this blog regularly you will know that I am a real family girl, a mum who spends lot of time with her kids, who has a small business, who has a wonderful partner and a busy life. You probably know that I get a bit worn out at times, like we all do.

Now my kids are getting a little bit older I do spend the odd night away from home, but usually with one of them! Besides the times I've been in hospital having babies, oh and when I had pneumonia, I have never been away more than one night.

Are you sensing something? Yep, I'm heading off today for TWO WHOLE DAYS & NIGHTS. I almost can't believe it. Typcially though, I am have been mildly stressed about it all week and making lists, checking them twice, making sure everyone has what they need before I go. Planning how to pick up from school, who will take Sunday to her friends party, who will pick up Mark from hospital (small procedure), ballet, netball, haircuts. It is a huge amount of organising and now I'm well and truly pooped.

But hey, I can't wait to be down at beautiful and historic Queenscliff with some beautiful and hysterical girlfriends. Will I have laundry withdrawal? I don't think so. I'm sure I will miss my sweeties but it's just what I need, a break from the day to day and hustle & bustle of family life. So go on, someone, push me out the door! See you soon lovely people xo

My Creative Space

Yesterday I was thinking about the different ways in which creativity is part of the way we live. Sometimes I hear people say they are not creative but I think we all are. We have to be creative in so many ways as parents, in our workplaces, in our relationships. And we all have the ability to create something unique, and this may take many different forms. Sometimes it's just a matter of finding an outlet, a vehicle, or seeing what is already there. My own journey with creativity began at an early age. As the child of two artists I lived in a family that immersed itself in art and craft, where creative pursuits were a priority, a part of daily life.

I'm sure this had a big impression on me, although I can remember my brother and I rolling our eyes at yet another gallery opening. Our house was always full of paintings, tapestries, ceramics, colour. Great value was placed on art and books and ideas. My dad spent many hours away at his studio, my Mum spent her days surrounded by wool & art & looms at the Workshop.

We had a funny old family life, a bit disjointed & at times solitary but we had many chances to experience the world from different angles and were encouraged to look, to see.

For a long time I battled with a desire to capture what I saw in paint and I felt like I had failed because what I saw and felt I somehow couldn't translate onto canvas. My father is a painter, I am not.

It was frustrating but I gradually relaxed and realised that I did not have to record everything I saw, the different light, the changing shapes and shadows. The colours, the seasons, the dreams in my head. It was possible to just enjoy it all, keep on looking, keep on seeing. I could be an audience even if I could not create the music myself.

And then I found the camera. In a way I now can use the camera as my eyes, it helps me record & make sense of what I see. Sometimes it's the bridge between my eyes and my heart, it gives me the ability to make & show my own version of the world.

I am not a true photographer of course. But I love it and it gives me freedom and space to be me. There are so many ways to live a creative life and this is just one small part of one small life. I wonder what you love to do, what you value & celebrate about your creativity?

I'm off to visit Kirsty and hope to see many of you too,

much love xo

ps: have a little peek at my shop, it's not quite complete but it's getting there! Big thanks to beautiful Charlotte for all her help xo

Five

I can remember standing in the kitchen at our old house in the city, when our fourth child was a about 12 months old, and asking Mark, "Do you think five kids would be crazy?"

I can remember having that feeling that I wanted one more, that our family wasn't complete.

I come from a small family, I only have one brother. Part of me always wanted more siblings, a bigger gang, other kids to hang out with, to play with.

Maybe that is what motivated me to want a larger family myself. But I also knew I had a lot of love to give, the kind of love that could stretch a bit further and wrap itself around another baby.

When we had our fourth child some of the people we knew were quite shocked. A woman who I vaguely knew came up to me in the playground and actually told me off for having another one! But for me the desire to have another baby was so strong that I dreamt about it and thought about it all the time. One day during this period I was walking along the street and saw something shiny on the ground, a green bottle cap.

I picked it up & I saw it had the number 5 & a love heart printed on the other side. ( I still have that bottle cap in my treasure drawer.) It wasn't long before I was pregnant with our own number five, she was definitely meant to be.

We moved to Daylesford when I was five months pregnant. I remember before we left, telling Charlotte's teacher that we were having another baby and her saying in a shocked voice, "Oh Rebeka!", as if I had announced I was going to do something terribly wicked. It was a relief to move to a community that was more relaxed and supportive. Somewhere our big family wasn't so unusual, where we could be ourselves.

And our baby came and she was beautiful and loved.

We've watched her grow up in our sunny garden, splash in puddles in the winter, fall in love with the moon. She has got up to mischief, drawn on the walls, cut her own hair, climbed trees, driven us all crazy being a cat called Sophie (who meows incessantly). She has given us so much fun and love and so many laughs. She's the girl with toys called Johnny Moo Moo's, Raincloud, Daynkoo & Blueberry, she's the girl we love.

Well today our baby is having a birthday. Yep, she is a big girl and as she says today she is Really Five. We woke to her laughing in her room as she had found her long, long Rainbow Snake curled up on her bed.

The kids gathered round her in the hallway as she came out sleepy and warm and we all cuddled and wished her Happy Birthday. It was so sweet, children are so naturally warm and loving. We love to celebrate each other in our house and birthdays are a festival.

Rosie had the Best Party Ever at Funbugs on Sunday, surrounded by her beautiful friends. Tonight we will share cake and pressies and celebrate our beautiful Rosabella.

I can't imagine a life without our crazy, passionate, colourful, loving, whacky, adventurous, creative gorgeous girl. I'm so glad my lucky number is five xo