It’s a funny old thing, Christmas. I’m not little anymore so it’s not quite so magical. There’s been some tricky stuff going on in the past 12 or 18 months too. The kind of stuff that takes the shine off things. Still, sometimes things happen that make you realise life can still surprise you. In a good way. And that just because nice things arrive from unexpected places, it doesn’t make them any less special.

Like the doorbell ringing on Christmas Eve and someone you don’t know , but who knows you- bringing you and your boys a gingerbread house. Just because they thought you might like it.

And spending the afternoon making lemony cupcakes with lemon frosting to take for Christmas day with your four year old who loves to bake.

Or the same four year old who’s over the moon with his new sewing machine (the one he asked for I might add!)- although a little dubious about the fact that santa bought him a girl’s sewing machine. So excited he went to my sewing room and helped himself to the Japanese kei spot fabric. Expensive taste, my child.

And finally the husband who knows you well enough to know how much you love Kirstie and her homemade home. And how you’ve had something of a creative blockage recently and maybe a crafty self help book might assist to get everything moving again.

These are the little things that make tricky stuff better. I hope yours was an awesome Christmas, but if not I hope you had lots of little things to help make your tricky stuff better too. xx

Wee one turned three last week. Now not wee so much- maybe more midi. I think I’ll keep working on a new nickname.

We had a lovely party for him on the weekend to celebrate. Bouncy castle, helium balloons, gourmet Greek food as far as the eye could see (courtesy of my mother in law) and a Makka Pakka cake (as requested by the wee one himself) and lovingly- if not skillfully- made by me.

As always, it’s not a proper party without my Nigella cupcakes…

We were so busy with the party we didn’t take many pictures. Luckily a special friend deployed her husband to be our event photographer.

Super sale stash.

Also recently decided that the new Red Letter Days and David Walker Rockets ranges were far too yum to disappear without hacking into them for my own stash. The result?

A cute kinder nap time binkee for my pumpkin…

Tomorrow my wee one turns three- full of attitude, sleeping in a bed and giving up his dummy all by himself.

No more babies.

Sigh.

So here is the story of Sisters’ Market in pictures (it was fab, come and visit me in June!)

Let’s start with the day before- Elliott helped me get organised. Good boy!

A small selection.

Delicious Fat Quarters, waiting to be snapped up. And they’re fat free!

Handmade birdie brooches by Pia Handmade.

Handsome hanks of hand dyed knitting yarn made by USA girl, Knitty Dirty Girl.

Hand finished, oiled and painted (sustainable) Tassie oak knitting needles.

Hand knitted baby booties (made by my mum!)

Birdie key chains. Hand made by me!

An enticing selection of our goodies on display.

More boo-tee.

A small selection of our ace craft books. And some teeny weeny cheeky matryoshkas peeking out too.

A fun day was had by all.

We have an abundance of apricots at the moment.

So I baked. It’s something my mum used to make with grated apple, but this version is a little more country.

Easy Apricot Pudding.

Cream 1 dessert spoon of butter with 1/2 cup sugar. Add one egg and mix well. Add wholemeal self raising flour gradually until mixture is stiff.

Spread 3/4 of mixture onto a small, greased lasagne dish. Place apricot halves over mixture. Sprinkle apricots with 2-3 dessert spoons of brown sugar.

Thin down remaining mixture with milk until it resembles pancake batter. Pour over the top of the apricots.

Bake at 180 degrees celsius for 45mins (up to an hour). Check after 25 mins and adjust baking time to suit your oven. Eat warm- it’s yummy with vanilla ice cream.

A LOT. I’d stock them in the shop but for the fact they’re so pricey and kind of tricky to post. You’ll have to make do with a tea towel, poster, tote or apron I’m afraid.

Pumpkin went to a pirate party today and I just have to give my totally nuts friend an honourable mention in the birthday cake department. This is a birthday cake par excellence, as was the fabulously hand painted invitation with singed “treasure map” inside  and the bespoke, totally realistic with flashing lights Ghostbusters outfit she made Pumpkin for his birthday . She is incredibly talented and creative. Yay Annabelle!

One more shout out for creative excellence goes to our lovely customer Kristy, who made this Birdie Sling and then took the time to share it with us.

What a clever girl! Thanks Kirsty, it looks great with the martini and the poppy fabrics. 

It’s just so lovely to see the finished creations our customers make and hear snippets of your lives. We’ve only been around a little while, but you are all so generous with your time,  giving us feedback and keeping in touch that I’m getting to know some of you already.

I made the cake and was quite proud of the way it turned out (although I must say that you can’t go too wrong as far as decoration goes if you use real flowers.

After the wedding we stopped in Geelong and had a look at the waterfront.

Life in a Northern town (I know it’s not, it just feels like Manchester or Liverpool or somewhere, quite cool and industrial)…

But you have to look at these gorgeous, whimsical photos I found by Moline.

She’s on a mini Vespa- how sweet!

Beautiful Blythes Nicely Knitting.This is from Moline‘s etsy store. She sells all sorts of Blythe lovelies.

I really need a Blythe Doll, I’ve decided. Seeing as I have sons and no daughters. Also, a dolly seems about just the right amount of effort… what with a two and a four year old.

Then we made the cake and it was completely decorated by Pumpkin. I LOVE it, it’s totally Zandra Rhodes circa 1970- something. Very punk.

Today we cleansed ourselves of all of the wee baby goods the boys have outgrown at a second hand market to ready ourselves for the launch of the business. I was most teary to let go of the baby bjorn and found myself quite emotionally attached to it. Now it’s all sold however, I feel rather excited for my new baby, the shop! Hopefully this one will allow me to sleep through the night.

Made wee ones as little devils never do more than lick off frosting and eat lollies off the top, so could have just frosted small rocks and they would have gone down just as well! What do you think, don’t think we’ll have any problems getting the wee one to go to kinder- he seemed right at home!

No posts last week as home with sick ones, so consequently no life.