Youre Invited

To a special little dinner on a balmy spring night. We will be eating outside, by candlelight, a bit of cool jazz playing in the background.

The Menu
Roast Vegetable Salad
Beetroot and Orange Salad
Fatoush
Slow cooked carrots in cumin and spices
Lamb fillets marinated in Moroccan seasonings
Kofta meatballs
Couscous served with mint, garlic and peas
Desert
Tiered Meringue Cake with summer berries


Guests
Close friends, one of whom you know.

It was our first proper weekend home and we decided to have a bit of a dinner party(sounds so 70's doesn't it?) I can tell you, the menu wasn't 70's at all. The food was delicious. I am allowed to say that because I only cooked half of it. Our guests are wonderful cooks. Cathy or course brought the meringue and assembled this delight.





Half the fun of a dinner party is setting the table and if the weather allows we always eat outside.

The weather was magical What a magical night.

All You Need Is The Kit...

Kate turned five whilst we were away and when we returned one of my closest friends had sent her this gorgeous little doctors kit from Early Learning Centre. Both the girls have loved playing "doctors". I love the colours.

As Kitty and I lay on the beach last Sunday, watching some surf lifesavers training, the conversation went like this:

Kitty - What are they doing mama?
Mama - Learning to be surf lifesavers.
Kitty - Oh, I don't want to do that when I grow up.
Mama - No?
Kitty - No, I won't have the time.
Mama - Why not? What will you be doing.
Kitty - I'll just be busy doing other things, like being a mama. (Pause) And being a doctor...now that I have my doctor's kit.

If only it were that easy. You just realise how simple their little world is. Such innocence.

Springtime

Although Autumn is my favourite season, spring comes close behind.

When we arrived home it was almost midnight and not much of the garden could be seen. But, early the next morning, still suffering from jet lag, I arose at five. It was so very blissfull watching the sun rise over the garden, sipping my tea whilst everyone else was slumbering.

We go away every year in September or October and exploring the garden on our return is one of my favourite joys. This time, the foxgloves were out, as well as the bearded irises and roses, including my favourite Paul Cezanne.

As you can imagine, I quickly filled the vases with blooms from my garden.

Roses and parsley gone-to-seed.


Roses, hippiastrums and lillies. The lillies were a welcome home present from my man.

I love all the vases on the table like this, the flowers all different styles and forms but the same colour. What a beautiful sight to open the door to, it almost feels like a florist.

Home Sweet Home

And how sweet it is! Papa picked us (myself and the three children) up at the airport after 30 hours in transit. What a wonderful and very welcome sight he was. He had brought presents and snacks for us all.

It was so wonderful to be in our home again. All the little things we had missed; my teapot, good water (not hard European water) and my lovely, proper shower.

We had a wonderful, wonderful time in England and France. They were both so beautiful and we enjoyed some wonderful food.





And gorgeous sights.




Spending time with my parents was a wonderful part of the trip. The children just loved that special time together.



I have been home for a few days now but I am struggling to get into the swing of things. It feels like one step forward, two steps back...So many tasks I want to achieve; update my website, plant the vegetable garden, finish unpacking and of course my retail orders.

I will give you some photos over the next few weeks. I am not sure how much detail anyone wants. I can tell you this though, many happy memories have been made.

Scrap Swap, Pay It Forward and au revoir

I have been excited to be a part of Belinda and Kate's - scrap swap. My partner was Soo. I have loved reading her little space and she was such a sport to cooperate with my time pressures for our trip. It was lots of fun packaging up my bundles of scraps but so much more fun receiving hers. Soo was generous enough to send me a big bundle of gorgeous fabrics in delicious colours as well as a Japanese craft magazine. I cannot belive I have been blogging for this long and not purchased one of these. Now that I have one in real life, I am completely hooked - thanks Soo.


The scraps included lots of designs that I have admired but not actually bought myself. My mind was racing with ideas to sew. Any my girls loved oohing and aahing just as much as I did. You have been a great swap partner Soo.

Another little bit of news to tell you about is the two Pay It Forwards that I have been fortunate enough to be a part of. I really love this idea. The first one that I was included in was one from Kristy from Vintage Pleasures. I really love her blog and the way that she writes. The second one is from Bron. Check out the quilts she has made. I especially love the one she made for the doll quilt swap. So, I am going to make this post, my last before we travel, a double PIF. I will send a little something to the first three bloggers who leave a comment and to the last three before I return.

We are off now on a very special trip to make many happy memories for our little family. I will return with lots of tales of our time in England and France.
Until then, au revoir!

BAGS...MAKING THEM, PACKING THEM

I can say the bags are made, but they aren't yet packed. It had taken every bit of self-control for me not to pack them though. Packing is one of my favourite parts of going away. For weeks before any trip I am writing lists, sewing and organising. I have always been like this. I remember going on school camp when I was eight and having my suitcase packed THREE WHOLE WEEKS before we were due to leave. I even packed my knickers...oh the frustration when I realised that I had to wear those clothes in the meantime.

So, instead of packing the bags, I have been making them. I wanted a small and highly functional messenger style bag. A few designers are making these at the moment but I haven't been able to find one small enough to hold just the necessities. I was surprised how easy the vinyl was to sew with. A friend and I whipped up one each in no time.





I have also made some co-ordinating accessory bags to match. A nappy pouch to hold a some wipes, nappies and a change mat. Simple and small enough to pop in my messenger bag or under a stroller. I also made a pouch to carry our passports at the airport. This one can be worn around your neck or across your body. It is soft enough to put under clothing and even has a back pocket for boarding passes. The passports slip in and out very easily. Apparently these days you have to show them many times at the airport.



Then I made some bags for Edward. We have been talking and singing about farm animals at Gymbaroo this term. He loves them all. I have been collecting the beautiful Schleich animals as a little treat for him. I made this draw sting bag to keep them safe.



The last bag I have made is a backbpack for Edward that doubles as a set of reins. I know that reins are a little politically incorrect, but so is losing a toddler at an international airport. After being stuck on a plane for 20 hours, it would be unfair to ask him to sit still any longer. The bag has a little D-ring at the bottom to attach a strap to. He loves airplanes (that enthusiasm might change in the next few weeks) and he loves this Moda fabric.



I am very excited about our trip, lots of planning, lots of organizing has taken place. Hopefully it will be a smooth ride...as smooth as international travel with three kids can be.

PUBLICITY

I have been in discussion with Kidspot this week about some advertising. Whilst their offer sounded interesting, I decided that I would leave any promotion until after the New Year. We leave in less than two weeks, for two months. After that, I will be very busy keeping up stock to my regular retailers and website customers in the pre-Christmas rush.

I have someone wonderful managing my website during that time, but I certailnly do not want to overload her.

Regardless of not going ahead at this stage, they did decide to feature me in their daily newletter with this picture (one of my favourites) and a great write up. It goes up to 13,000 readers!



Besides all the wonderful comments from my friends and customers on blogland this is the first form of editorial I have had. It feels exciting.

Now for that awkward time of sitting tight to see what happens; will I get just an order or two or will I be making bows till 3:00am for the next week?

BROWN PAPER PACKAGES

Without the string. Nothing like a brown paper package from the mailman.



I have new packaging for all my orders.



I wanted something simple but delicious. Something to create a little excitement as the recipient opens it.



A bit of tissue, of course.



Another order for this special little girl. A custom one, my favourite type. Made to match her birthday dress.



And a little something extra from Ella and Kate. Happy Birthday Lottie.

ALMOST SPRING

The trivia night was a great success, our best yet, and the quilts were auctioned for prices that exceeded my expectations.

Today is the most gorgeous-almost-spring day. As I write this post our large bi-fold doors are spread open. I can hear the birds from the surrounding trees and sounds of children playing from the two schools nearby. I wish you could smell how sweet the air is.

Moments like these make me feel very privileged to live the life I have been given. Three healthy, happy children a great man and a simple, easy life. Today is one of those days for catching up from a wonderfully busy weekend, and just sitting still. I am getting better at sitting still. The inspiration I find from fellow bloggers, as well as the wisdom from loved ones around me, helps this process.

Around our house we have three beautiful deciduous trees. I really do love these trees. The first is a liquid amber in our front yard. The other two, a dessert ash and golden ash, frame our north-facing back deck. Although planted decades ago, they couldn't have been planted in any more perfect position for our current house. In summer they provide lovely shade and in winter their nakedness allows the sunshine to flood in. In past the deck, to our family room.

The buds are just starting to form. I do love Melbourne for it's seasons. I could never live anywhere again that didn't experience all four seasons. I believe that they add such a rhythm to life and a beautiful way to mark time.

Here is my view as I work away.

THE FINISHED FOUR

The quilts are all finished and have been hanging in our kinder for a week. It has been nice to hear all the oohing and aaahing over them by parents at the kinder.



The trivia night is tomorrow and "A splash of red" is the theme. I am in charge of the decorations for our table. We are looking forward to it and it is sure to be a wonderful night.

The two four year old quilts were both the same design. The children drew pictures of their families and then we assembled them in a brick style. I love the colours of these ones. I love the childrens drawings.



Whilst I was taking these photos this afternoon, look what my gorgeous girls gave me. Such beuatiful colours, I love green and white arrangements. When they put together such beautiful works, I really wonder what they will be when they grow up. Ella particularly amazes me with her eye for design. As a mother it is very exciting to see.




Have a great weekend everyone.