And then you realise how creative you’ve been all along. It’s in your blood, you know.

For example…

…I’ve been creating easter boots with chicks AND ears for the Year One easter boot parade.

…creating a diversion to bust my boys out of the back of the divvi van (just kidding, they were enjoying the thrill of being arrested at the local street carnival).

…creating order out of chaos in my pantry (and yes I did take a picture because it’s never looked that good!)

…creating a beautifully styled and somewhat unrealistic representation of the tidiness and clutter free-ness of our life while putting it on the market to sell.

…and most importantly creating another person to assist in my plan for world domination. It’s really been rather exhausting.

Another lovely Christmas gift from my husband was the latest Tessa Kiros instalment. I wonder if he’s trying to teach me how to be a good Greek wife? Not so bad if I get to dress like the super cool Kyria above!

I think who better to teach me the ways of Greek cuisine and home life than a Finnish/ Cypriot born in London and raised in the UK and South Africa, who married an Italian and lives in Italy? That’s got to be some delicious food. Looking forward to making him Skordalia and Keftedes. I hope I make them as good as yiayia.

Last night we took the boys for a run/ ride along the Yarra. The big one got to try out his new wheels- a proper big boys bike, this one will do him through to his teens. Scary thought.

Wishing you a Happy New Year. xx

I love the handmade decorations we try to add to each year. In particular the paper chain we made last Christmas and the stunning angel my little preppy brought home from school this year.

Not quite as professional as the gorgeous gingerbread house gifted to us on Christmas Eve is the one we made ourselves. This is a great activity to do do in the lead up to Christmas as it takes two whole days to make!

We made the dough on the 23rd, refrigerated it, rolled it out, cut the shapes out with our templates, baked and cooled on a wire rack. In the evening I made the royal icing and piped the walls together, then left overnight to dry. (I have a metal piping gun and just wrapped the end in glad wrap so that the icing wouldn’t harden). Morning of the 24th I iced the roof into place, propped up with glasses to prevent slippage and left until the afternoon. By late afternoon we were ready to pipe the rest of the icing on and add lollies. Finish with a dusting of icing sugar “snow” and it was ready to take as a very impressive dessert present on Christmas Day.

All the better received because it had been completely made by the grandchildren. Who were so excited to eat the lollies and so proud of their achievement. Personally, this kind of activity sings to the Queen of Kitsch lurking inside me. A not very cunningly disguised one at that!

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

This is a picture I’ve had sitting on the desktop for a while and been meaning to blog it. Our funny old cat Elliot who decided that the handbasin was a good place for a nap.

I had the fright of my life when I went to wash my hands and there was a furry thing sleeping there! Poor old E was hit by a car last night and died straight away. It seems even more important to remember him like this now and not in the fug of panic and shock and grief as I tried to get him to the vet.

mine.

As you can see from the photos, mine aren’t as tidy as hers, but what I lack in neat I made up for with embellishment. The sprinkles were just the thing to draw your eyes away from the messy edges!

Nigella’s.

They won the taste test. An empty plate dotted with a few sprinkles were all that was left, although after all that sugar I did have to peel my boys off the ceiling to take them home.

This is a very basic tutorial- almost embarrassingly easy. But if you have (as I did) two small boys who had to get to a Harry Potter party first thing Saturday morning and you hadn’t thought about it before school pick up on Friday night, then this is about as complicated as you want to get!

Step 1:

Rush the kids up to Spotlight on a Friday afternoon with two grumpy, tired and hungry children (check).

Step 2:

I have a 3yo and a 6yo- so for me, 3metres of fabric was fine. I just purchased plain black cotton poplin at about $4/per metre. Now is a good time to purchase some ribbon to tie at the neck- I used grey grosgrain ribbon I had at home.

Step 3:

Cut fabric into 1.5 metre lengths. Along each of the short sides of the rectangle, make a hem by folding and pressing twice at 1cm intervals and then stitching closed.

Step 4:

Take your iron and press a 1cm wide fold down one of the long sides of the rectangle (see Fig1 below).

Step 5: Measure in 10cm from the same edge and press another fold into the fabric, making a hem (see Fig2 below). This will be the collar of the cape.

Step 6: Sew closed (along dotted line in Fig2.) so that you are encasing the selvedge edge inside the hem, all nice and neat!

Step 7: Sew a parallel line approx the width of your ribbon above your first. This creates the casing for your ribbon.

Step 8: Pin a safety pin to the end of the ribbon and guide it through the casing. Rouch up the fabric to make the collar ruffle and stand up. Drape jauntily around your small child and tie loosely at the neck in a big bow.

* I didn’t bother to hem the cape at the bottom as I figured these were one hit wonders and the selvedge edge is enough to stop fraying.

Accessorise with pointy wizard hats (simple enough to make, but I was really pressed for time- so I got hubby to pick them up in town) and wands and you’re ready for the party!

Did you remember to get the present?

Incidentally, there’s not much left in the shop at all now- so scoot on over the grab the last of the goodies! Last week!

All items are from my favourite U.S. store, Anthropologie. Seriously fantastic vintage-y boho-ey delights all in one place.

Gorgeous kid’s products. I love the antique colours of the mini “Nigella-esque” apron. But my personal favourite is the “Manners can be fun!” Someone please tell my almost-four-year-old who thinks it’s more fun to belch like Barney from the Simpsons!

Aprons I’d be happy to wear out of the house (the blue one with the rosette perhaps even out to dinner!)

Recently in need of a little nostalgia I dug out my grandmother’s enamel pie dish and baked a Jamie Oliver Apple pie, which has seriously the best pastry ever. It’s short, buttery and has this wonderful aroma of lemon (from the inclusion of lemon zest- encompassing without being overpowering). A delightful pie, a little sad that the Greek men in my life have no appreciation of my anglo roots. Translation: I ate most of this myself!

Every girl should have some animal print in their closet. When I wear them, I feel a little Mad Men. Martini anyone?

From the book that started it all- for me that is. Crazy bus toy from the “Make fun stuff! by Aranzi Aronzo” craft book I received from my lovely mother in law for Christmas 3 years ago. Now I know she really does listen to me when I rabbit on (off she trotted to the super cool “genki” store in Flinders Lane and chose this out for me all by herself.) Isn’t she awesome?

This is the book that reawakened the textile junkie in me- repressed from years of new motherhood. This is the book which spawned the bus, the blog and the fabric shop.

Super delicious, you really must try this yummy chorizo soup from Jamie Oliver’s “Dinners” cookbook. It’s been such great soup weather lately- read “super freezy”! Now I hesitated before adding this photo, as it’s not the most appetising looking dish- and then I remembered that I had added a photo of Sheperd’s pie not so long ago. Another dish which tastes a whole lot yummier that it photographs. N’est-ce pas?

I love these photos. Now, a vineyard, some cyclists, a week old calf. Guess where. Rural France? Rural anywhere, right?

No, Collingwood Children’s farm. Only about 3km from the city. It’s quite surreal to feel as though you are somewhere quite rural, to turn around and see the city skyline at “reach out and touch” distance. We were lucky enough to see this beautiful doe eyed calf, born in the same week we visited. There’s a lovely outdoor cafe and we had a lovely al fresco breakfast in the chilly, watery winter sunshine. Resplendent in scarves and beanies.

It helps.

Number 1.

Have a bake off with yourself- then you’ve got home baked goods to send to school with the kids. You get a Nigella buzz baking it and feel like a bona fide super mum packing their lunch boxes.

Number 2.

Take up a new hobby. Embroidery is something I’ve longed to be good at but didn’t dare try because it looks so hard. In reality, it’s really fun & easy and I’m working on something that’s suitably aggro to suit my mood. Which makes me smile. Which is good.

Number 3.

Take said hobby and give yourself a little budget blowout. $30 on embroidery floss was in actual fact- a little excessive. But it felt great.

Number 4.

Get a little mothering by getting someone to make you a hot drink. Even if you have to pay for it. The good feeling lasts as long as the drink stays warm.

Number 5.

At the end of the week, write it all down while listening to your favourite “sad feeling” CD.

Number 6.

Hug your pet. For the same reason pets visit aged care homes. Mine’s just come in from outdoors and smells like Melbourne in the winter. He’s purry and soft. He makes me feel better.

“…there was a little one, and a bigger one and a HUUUGE one who kept on falling asleep!”

*image first viewed on iamdns.wordpress,com.

Today I celebrate our cat, Elliot. We bought him as a 5th birthday pressie for the big guy and he has become such a beloved family member.

I bought a basket for the op shop bargain price of $4 with the idea of lining it and using it to organise sewing things- but Elliot has adopted it. I sit and work in the evenings with the basket on my desk and Elliot curled up inside, wanting a lap but settling for the basket.

I don’t think I’m getting it back.

He curls up next to me when I’m drifting off to sleep at night and his soft purring and warm body are better than the best hot water bottle.

He thinks he’s part human. Each morning I walk up to the corner cafe with my mini man and Elliot in tow. He follows along, mainly behind us but sometimes running ahead tail held high, trotting purposefully. I am amused that we resemble some kind of real life picture book illustration. I hope the wee one isn’t too young to have memories of this when he’s older.

He loiters outside while we get our daily coffee and hot chocolate order (2 marshmallows please) filled and then trots home, depositing us at the front door and disappearing back under the camellia shrub for a rest.

Job done. Rest break earned.

Thanks E. We love you.

I remember many a night curled up in it or lounging over the arm of it watching Monkey Magic and Dr. Who.

I remember our small (but oh so terrifying) silky terrier would curl up under it and growl any time anyone went near.

I loved the idea of being close to the grandfather I had never known by sitting in it as he had.

I love the shape.

I love the fit.

I hate the upholstery. Especially where it was ravaged by my parent’s cat.

Before.

It sits in the corner of my bedroom and is still a haven for me. Especially when I am on the phone, trying to get a full sentence out before the kids find me and start talking at me!

Most of these phone conversations end with Papa’s chair holding all three of us (the kids always find me- blithely unaware that I have been trying to hide from them- and end up on my knee or the arm of the chair).

It was a labor of love, but I’m so pleased with the results. Not brave enough to have a proper go at re-upholstery, I settled on making a loose cover to go on top. Complete with velcro down the back for easy undressing and laundering! The fabric is Amy Butler’s Dream Poppies in Tangerine.

After.

As soon as I finished it, I clipped Elliot’s claws.

Easter delights!

You’ll have to excuse me. I am easily overwhelmed when I have much to do. Easter is a busy time and I’m a little bummed I didn’t get to put this cute tutorial down before Easter. So you could, like, you know, make the thing before the holiday.

Easter was a craft-a-logical hoot in our house this year. We made an Easter tree, stitched up about 20 Trefle party bags and filled them with eggs and mini chicks for the school and kinder friends, painted little porcelain eggs (bought in a kit all ready to go, way cool)

20 Trefle party bags.

and made this ace thing below…

Fabric mache eggs.

I first read about fabric mache on Dear Fii about this time last year. She made these super sweet little scrappy bowls to pop easter eggs in. When I saw these foam eggs in the craft shop this year, I knew they were the perfect thing to try this out on.Click on the dearfii link to check out the bowls- they really are the sweetest things!

Ingredients:

Foam eggs (easily sourced this time of year from your local art supply store)

PVA glue

Scraps of fabric chopped up into little squares

Paint brushes

Water

Instructions:

I would rate this “lemon-squeezy” on the tricky-o-meter.

1. First water down some PVA into a small bowl- maybe roughly 1 parts water to 3 parts glue.

2. Grab your foam egg and paint a patch of egg with glue/water solution.

3. Lay patch of fabric down and then paint over the top with more glue solution, saturating the fabric and smoothing it to the surface of the egg.

4. Continue this process until the egg is completely covered and then spear onto a pin and wait ’till it dries.

5. I think at this point you should probably paint all over with undiluted PVA to give a glossy finish, but I was too impatient and couldn’t wait to see it in action so I skipped this bit (and it still looks fine).

These things look great in a patchwork of fabrics, but look even better (I think) with just one fabric (all cut up in pieces- same method applies).

I’ve made two that use turquoise and white fabric and I love them in a homespun faberge meets delft via belsize square’s kitchen table kind of way. Of course, if I took a photo of it and showed you, you wouldn’t have to take my word for it.

Pile them up in a bowl for a fun table centrepiece.

Or give them in an appropriately festive little egg cup wrapped up in cellophane as an alternative to chocolate (I’m thinking the ones with legs and mary jane shoes).

One last idea…

If you’re of the more-is-more-is-more school as I am, you might like to turn them into a necklace. Hot glue a mini chick on top and string onto a pretty ribbon with co-ordinating eggs or beads.

Hey Presto!

If only I had coltish legs (not coltish, sadly)

If only I had an unlimited clothing budget

If only I had somewhere important to wear heels and, like, a whole ensemble.

Then I would dress like this:

I am loving the brightly coloured legs and the rather structured A line skirt (knee length is my thing). I look at this image and long for winter!

…We like our bike. It’s made for three. Our Mike sits up in back you see. We like our Mike and this is why, Mike does all the work when the hills get high!

Read “One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish” to Bubba J tonight and thought “Hey I need one of those!”

*

Here’s some of my latest crafty goodness:

So proud! As a self taught- anything I make that is functional and pretty like this dress (with most of the mistakes on the inside so you can’t see!) makes me all chest swelling with pride. It uses Bird and Berry Stripe and Grassy Plains. Both by Kokka and available in the shop.

This one’s a project from Sew Darn Cute by Jenny Ryan- it’s called Snappy Fabric Bracelets. I’ve had terrible trouble applying the snaps though. I got one of those Birch pack from Lincraft with the tool shaped a bit like a set of pliers. Anyway, no matter how careful I was opening and closing the bracelets, the snappers kept separating. Any ideas what I’m doing wrong?

This is one of those rare craft books where I want to make everything in it. The come along once in a while and are just so exciting to own. The pages are full of possibilities. The other one that jumps to mind is Meet me at Mike’s.

Sewing machine cover whipped up one evening. Made it with Cookies by Aunty Cookie (a fabric I could just stare at for hours- these attitude laden bunny girls sit next to me now while I’m sewing. Some tell me I’m doing great, some snigger when I reach for the unpicker.) Hey, my mum was right when she said I’d never be alone again! Only I don’t think she was referring to dolly pictures on fabric. She was referring to the person I had just birthed.

I didn’t realise at the time that she meant it as a threat.

See my pincushion in the foreground? Got it free in Mixtape a while back. Courtesy of Dear Fii. I luv it.

As a severe caffine addict, I think it’s about time I quit using so many disposable cups. This one gives me that whole baby bottle comforter thing that I get from sucking through a hole in the lid. Bubba J has one too and we get matching hot drinks in the morning (very naff, but I love it!)

Oh yeah, and it matches my bike!

Have been very busy on the crafty front. Now that I’ve gained ground on the whole “how to use a mac when all I’ve ever known is a PC” thing, it’s time to take some noice piccies and share.

… It’s in my favourite colour and it has white tyres. I’m a gonna get a big wicker basket for the front and cycle around with a baguette and a big bunch of flowers and my Jackie O glasses. Do you get the idea it’s a little more like a fashion accessory than a mode of exercise/ transport?

We made cupcakes for Owen’s birthday…

Had a lovely family weekend away staying in this gorgeous little cottage in Daylesford.

Visited the mineral springs.

Made some cute appliqued napkins for my boys (really trying to cut down on the amount of paper serviettes and tissues that we use by using cloth napkins and hankies).

Took evil spiderman and his pirate friend trick-or-treating.

Had a weekend at the beach.

Made a birdie softie and birdie mobile as a special order (isn’t she sweet)?

And THEN we went on an ace holiday, but more about that another day. I hope your festive period was as much fun!

Of boiled sweeties (methinks pink grapefruit) in vintage jars.

Cakes on plates, with their exquisite chalky pastelness. Craft projects from some of my favourite books for sale in the shop:

Little Pup from More Softies. Made with our exciting new Organic Chocolate Cotton Canvas and some of the Aunt Grace collection (happy birthday little O).

Wheat bag from Meet me at Mike’s book. Made with Matryoshka Stripe fabric.

More Matryoshka, this time for cushions for some spring nesting.

Beautiful basket liners with troops of teeny tiny ants and apples (sorting my stash in style!)