tiny happy

tick-tick

 

This great retro fabric arrived in the mail today from Kimberley. It's going to be my Flashback Friday picture for today, because I couldn't find one to fit the theme which is 'music'. Kind of ironic since almost my entire childhood was spent behind a cello or piano, and between me and my siblings we could form a string quartet plus flute. But I'm not sure that i'd want to share those photos anyway... let's just say, Tom likes to tease me that I was part of the NZ-version of the Von Trapp family.

But, this fabric. It really shouts 'early-80's' to me- I'm sure i had a bedspread made from it. Thanks, k.

This is the cover of a book that Keira picked up at the Recycling Centre yesterday- and HAD to have and carry with her everywhere since then- 'Zaunkonig Tick-Tick.' With a name like that, do you blame her? She was desperate for me to read it to her last night, but being in German, I had to make up my own story to the pictures.

I studied German at school and even went there on a short exchange- but I don't remember a thing of the language. It's so sad how quickly it goes, if you don't use it every day. But this book has really nice woodland-y illustrations, anyway.

Arlo went to town with Tom yesterday and got a new train to add to his collection ('Emily' with batteries, for those in the Thomas-zone). When he got home he was excitedly showing Keira, but she was holding up her Tick-Tick book and saying 'well, I got a new book, it's really cool, look at my book!'

I like that about children- depending on your point of view, a toy worth 20 cents can be just as good as an expensive one. For now, anyway.

 

wow.

I had no idea there were so many lurkers out there- thank you for saying hello after my last post. I am seriously overwhelmed, and overjoyed to 'meet' you.

How amazing to feel that i have friends all over the country, the world, and even some in my home town that I didn't know about. I really love that you left me a message. And thank you for reading, and being here. I haven't mentioned it yet on this blog, but my little family and I are up for a big change at the end of the year. And being the kind of person who holds the idea of 'home' close to her heart, almost possesively, this impending change, while exciting, is not something I'm feeling entirely enthusiastic about. But I know it's going to be okay. And I think my changing view of the world, through this and other blogs, has a lot to do with it.

Sorry to be mysterious about that- more details will come soon. But now... the winners of my wee draw. Umm, I decided not to write all the names out after all- instead, a random number generator thingy did the job. The two people are... Gina (no blog given) and Kimberley - both locals! (I counted everyone in the draw- and was fully expecting to send the parcels overseas.) So there you have it. Such fun- I'll be doing that again soon, for sure.

 

thank you

Really, thank you. I don't think I've mentioned lately how much I love this little world of mine here. Not just writing my blog, but reading the comments and emails, reading other blogs, getting inspiration and encouragement. It really has improved my life in a big way. I never dreamed I would get so much from starting up this blog, and while sometimes trying to write on here *most days* (I've always felt that if i leave it too long i will completely lose momentum) has caused me a bit of panic (can you tell those days when there's not much to write about?!), I acknowledge that it's a silly self-imposed rule.

And thank you so much for your support of my etsy shop. I still feel a vague sense of disbelief every time something sells on there. I debated with myself about opening up an online store for ages before I actually did it. Quite apart from being wracked with self-doubt about my work, I was worried that selling things would change the feel/nature of my blog, and I wanted to make sure I was still blogging for the joy of it, and not just for promoting what was for sale.

I forgot to add the embroidered pansy shoes (sz 6-12 mths) above to my shop update yesterday. And it's been ages since I gave away anything on here- so I was wondering if anyone would like them? I also have an extra set of poppy notecards.

I thought a de-lurk might be fun, so if you leave a comment on this post and let me know something about yourself- how you found my blog, where you live, or something like that, I'll put your name in a basket and draw two out on thursday. The winners can let me know if they'd like the shoes, or a more boy-ish pair, or the notecards.

I'd love to hear from you, whether you leave a comment often, or never have before, so don't be scared, lurkers.

it's monday again

One of my favourite things about Mondays is spending some time in blog-land after the weekend break, catching up with my crafty friends and working out a plan of work for the week ahead. Here are my favourite finds for today:

Kelly's birds on a wire

Mixtape Zine

This most excellent post on alternatives to children's goods made in China. I've been thinking a lot about this issue lately, and Amy has some wonderful useful ideas that I'm trying to put into practice myself.

This beautiful pattern by Alison for a children's jacket.

The great collection of sewing know-how at Burdastyle.

I had a chance to sew over the weekend, and finished this little green dress. I had a great time pairing the vintage barkcloth with the plain green linen, which makes this a sturdy little pinafore/wrap dress. I had a request for an adult's version though, which adds to my suspicion that my children's clothes aren't 'children-y' enough. I always get a bit nervous about making garments for grown-ups- darts and fitting and altering scare me a bit. But I'll give it a go this week and see.

I've also had a few emails asking whether I'd write out a tutorial for a simple little dress like this. The answer is yes- i'm working on it- but my extremely limited computer skills teamed with my growing alarm about how many emails/questions/concerns I get every day regarding a bag pattern I posted a long time ago, will mean that it will be a very simple pattern- probably more like a sketch, dimensions and some guidelines. 

I also finished a new set of things for my shop, and updated it today. New shoes, wrap cardigans, and a couple of things for grown-ups. I had a really interesting time at our tiny local art shop I visited to buy some suitable paper for printing cards on my gocco. I was looking through the watercolour papers, and wondering which would be the most suitable, when the owner of the store wanted to know what i was doing and told me he'd find for me the Very Best paper he had. He carefully opened a drawer and turned back layers of tissue paper - slowly, for dramatic effect - to reveal his special Hand Cut, Italian, Watermarked Paper. He said he'd need a while to cut it to the right size for me, and he proudly rang me the next day to let me know it was ready. I remember him from visiting the shop with my Mum as a child, also later, buying supplies for projects at school. He's a character. I'm looking forward to my next trip in there for ink and paper.

 

flashback friday and a spring table

I've been enjoying checking out Flashback Friday each week, and thought I'd join in today. I couldn't resist sharing this picture of my Dad, brother, sister and I on the farm four-wheeler circa 1986. I'm the one on the right. That dog in the background is Kelly. Nothing much has changed, you know- I still like riding motorbikes, wearing braces with my jeans and matching my outfit with my sister's...

This is the little dresser by our front doorway and yesterday the children and I made a 'spring display.' We try to change it with each season, but I'm afraid to say I had to clear away the autumn display - it's been a busy few months...

We had great fun searching the house for spring-ish pictures, (in the background is a card from Caireen, my calendar pages from this wonderful swap, and a set of bird postcards from needlebook) and then the garden for new life- we found camellia, narcissi and lavender, and planted some wee succulents in a paua shell. Arlo wanted to include the stones, he said they reminded him of spring because they 'weren't so cold to sit on anymore'.

It's a good way to acknowledge and welcome in a new season with little ones.

four things

a) waiting for my parents to return home from their 6-week trip to Europe in an hour or so,

b) rejoicing at the discovery of this website, full of cooking ideas,

c) admiring this old linen table cloth I found at the Sunday Market, and wondering whether I can handle watching the children spill food and paint on it,

d) planning to make lemon curd this afternoon. Just because.

magnolia report

The little tree on the street is now in flower- less than a week after I noticed its buds. I love those creamy white flowers- like small ceramic cups, perfectly formed.

I've been loving browsing around on etsy lately. Last week i bought Tom an olive green tie like this (for the rare occasions he needs one) and am already dreaming of the Christmas shopping possibilites that this site will bring. Stress-free, and from the comfort of my own home- hooray! This week on etsy, my friend Caireen opened her little store- the patchwork dress- selling her beautiful recycled cards and little elephants. She gave me some of her unique cards a while ago, and I loved them so much, I had sent them all over the world within a week.

We had a lovely weekend, despite suffering from the 'flu (I think). I took Nurofen for the first time (I don't often get sick) and felt I could do anything. It was like magic! So we caught up with family, looked at blossom, walked to a busy farm to see the roosters, ducks, and kunikuni pigs...

and ate delicious spring food made by Tom's Mum.

(I love the idea of a huge platter of things to put on bread... she had beautifully arranged salad greens and herbs, chicken, cooked potatoes, pesto, eggs and peas, with calendula petals covering everything.)

And we also spotted this kereru on our walk- unusually close to us.

Their feathers are a bright, shimmering purple/green, with white markings that look as though they're wearing an apron. We used to have lots of them in our garden when I was a child, getting drunk on berries and plum leaves, and swooping through the kowhai trees. This is the closest I'd been to one before though, and I was surprised by how sleek and graceful her head was.

red ric rac

This weekend should be a busy one- I've got a few projects in mind to finish, and some to start- including cutting into this vintage linen - another gift from Tom's parents.

I like these pansies especially- they're so detailed...

Keira is getting incredibly fussy about what she wears these days, it's all about skirts at the moment- so this week I made her a new one. I used an old linen curtain I found in the op-shop that had been hand-dyed a patchy indigo shade, and sewed red ric rac around the hem. The thickness and drape of the linen makes it yet another good 'dancing skirt'...

and, because i'm trying to be a good market-lady, I made a stack for my stall tomorrow.

To finish with, I can't resist posting a couple more pictures from wednesday's book... just because i can't stop looking at them.

things we saw on our walk today

magnolia buds

the first ones opening

and some on the ground.

Also, a bird's nest in a cut-down tree...

and a book in someone's car.

I hope they're okay.

ethelberta eggshell

Tom's parents stopped by last night on their way home from a trip down South where they had found (among other gifts) some wonderful old books for me.

This is my favourite so far- 'Riding to Canonbie' by Cara Lockhart Smith (Bradbury Press, 1972) It's a book of poems about children with fanciful names, one for each letter of the alphabet. The poems are wonderfully rich, with lots of alliteration, and some are quite dark in nature.

The illustrations are amazing- all in black and white, and intricately detailed. These are the endpapers:

and here is a bit of the poem 'Ethelberta Eggshell':

(i love her clothes!)

Above is Catarina Carter, who lives in a windy castle.

Needless to say, I won't be chopping this one up.

I finished making a couple of dresses for my market stall today. I'm trying hard to put more effort into the local stall for spring- as I've felt as though my heart hasn't been in it lately.

These are little wrap dresses, made from sturdy linen/cotton. They can be worn either with the crossed side at the front or the back.

Now, I might go and join the small people around here... they're outside in the sun making another batch of garden soup.