Lately....

I've been drawing a sweet little babushka. Inspired by our new surroundings, I've picked up the old nib pen and have spent my evenings with curving lines and sweet smiling faces rather than wool felt, needles and thread. It's been a long time since I've drawn and although she's not a very challenging subject some of my motifs of old have found a home with her.

Once I've copied her in black and white for a bit of gocco printing (she's destined to grace a t-shirt or twenty), I'm planning on adding a whole heap of colour. But first Mr. Gocco and I need to get reaquainted. That's if I can find him in the jumble of boxes that are residing in the back shed.

Yep, My life can be found in boxes in the back shed at present. We are house sitting for a very generous and wonderful family who have gone on away on a big adventure. It is an amazing home and staying here has made our transition back home so much easier.



So of course we've been house hunting. Oh dear.....If only we could find something as perfect as this beautiful home. Unfortunately most of the time we have been here one of the kids has been sick. All up we've probably had 5 days without an illness. We've had sticky eyes, followed by tummy bugs and after 5 days grace we now have the big girl down with fever. Poor old warrny is full of bugs after fun 4 kids it seems!



Of course I have also found time to set up a space for me and get sewing. Although I do admit the drawing bug is taking precedence, there's nothing like agreeing to do a market in a couple of months to get you motivated at the sewing machine. Polly and ollie dollies and pixies in various stages are underway. And if i can find my box of fabric there will be more. I just need to find the right boxes...

winter chill

As days are getting shorter, the air becoming icier and winter beanies and jackets pulled from their summer hiding spots we are hunkering down, snuggling in and getting ready for the long winter months ahead. Living down south in the chillier regions of Australia, winter goes on FOREVER and already I'm dreading it. The last two days have provided glimpses of what's to come. Instead of popping on sunhats to go out to play, today it's beanies. However, it's not all doom and gloom, especially when one has a bright pink beanie knitted especially for one by a very kind aunty tikki. Sage was very enamoured with Lily's new ziggie beanie when we caught up in March, so much so she tried to steal it on more than one occasion. But now she has her own and she loves it!



i know it doesn't look like it in this pic but it was so darn cute, and such a sage face, that I had to share.

Now for us the winter months don't only herald the need for rugging up, they also mean that sport. You know the one that sends grown men into grumpy teenagers with crazy moodswings, strange squealing, moaning and sudden outbursts and air thumping. You know that sport?



Baby Otis just discovered it, although I'm pretty sure he just wants to eat it.

goodbye kindy

Today I'm a little sad, just a little. Today is Asher's last day of kindy. Now who let my little rednut go and grow up so quickly? Asher has LOVED his kindy, it has been such a wonderful nurturing, supportive and FUN place for him. A place where they allowed him the freedom to explore and develop his quirky little mind and grow into the engaging little dude he is. They value similar educational ideoligies to us, which is so super in such asmall town. So of course we had to find a befitting way to thank the kindy for the fabulous experiences they have provided Ash with. When Tully finished kindy she gifted them a pixie, but nope ash didn't want to give them a pixie! An alien was much more befitting.



So off Ash and the alien trotted this morning along with 7 little bundles of easter eggs with a little thankyou for each of his teachers. This afternoon we will go along to see the kids sing the goodbye song to all the kiddies heading off to school, and I will try really really hard not to shed a tear, whilst my little man beams with pride.

sweetness is.......

a shared secret between sisters.

new knits

How very lucky is my little family! Not only are we very proud to have a clever little designer as a sis/aunty, but every so often we get some of her wonderful wares. Tully was particularly lucky as not only has she received another one of tikki's gorgeous rainbow dresses, but this one has been knit by the matriach, Granny Annie aka our Mum. How funny is it that tik was actually a little nervous about Mum knitting from her pattern, hundreds (possibly thousands) of rainbow dresses have been knitted across the globe, yet tik worries about her Mum, cute! The fab wool is from the yarn cafe "Maia Jade", which tik is knitting a Oriental lily with at the moment.



The other special knit is on of tik's newest releases, Olearia You may have seen a little lad modelling this number for a stocking over at Gossamer dreams some time back, well sadly for everyone else, but lucky for us, it didn't sell, so it became sage's. Cutey tabooty!




And the littlest man, well he doesn't have a new knit although he may be in need of a new milo *hint hint* (I know how cheeky!) but he's a bit of a cutie, and he makes me smile.

schools in

first there was the birthday and now the next milestone in Tully's life, her first day at school. I was a little nervous for her and sad that my little miss was heading off and days of dress-ups, barbies and princess play would be relegated to weekends and school holidays. She was pretty blase, a bit shy and intrigued by all the going ons....



......but now she's loving it..... but ash and I are still missing her....

my little photographer

Tikki's post here has reminded me to share some pics by the avid little photographer in the house, Tully. There are so many great shots she has taken on our camera but I've refined it to some fav's. I love her vision and composition, oh and the inclusion of her pretty pink fairy tulle!



big bellies (excuse the little cleavage)



and pixies in the making...stocking randomly soon;)

summer lovin'

Finally a little bit of summer the last few days. It's been way too mild around here and although I'm not cherishing the thought of heatwaves or anything, it's so nice to have some real summer weather for a change.

We went for a quick visit to Warrny this weekend and Lach took the kids for a quick spin in the little boats down at Lake Pertobe. A huge hit for Asher, although Tully was lost in dreams of wedding boats and castles on the water.

I've also started thinking it's about time I get some stuff ready for the newest little member of our household. I can't believe how quickly this pregnancy has flown by and am a bit sorry to say I have made pretty much nothing for this little bubba. So I've been pulling out patterns and fabric from the stash and planning away. Pixies are in the plans of course, along with some printed tee's. But there are also plans for little quilts from these charm squares. I've never made a quilt before, I'm very lucky to have a clever mumma who makes them for my kiddies and myself. I have bought fabric so many times with the intention of making quilts though. This little charm pack has the perfect amount for a little quilt for the hammock or pram and are perfectly gender neutral. I've had a go at laying them out and getting the colour flow right so now just to sew them together.




I've also been adding to the stash. Found some great yellows finally via Kelani fabric store. Why are good yellows so hard to find?




I've also been very lucky that my clever mum is also a great knitter. These soakers are for the new bubba and are from wool from my stash which has been knitted and frogged a couple of times (I'm so not a knitter). Finally they have a new life and are just perfect. They're everlasting wonder soakers which is a definite fav pattern here for great fit and longevity.



And the last little number is from the ever talented and generous Tikki. Two little fish washcloths and some great washers for the bubba. The cloths for the bub were meant to be dishcloths but the cotton is too soft and lovely to be used to wash dishes and will be great for the bub. Tik whipped up another for Lily whilst they were staying before they kids bathed in no time flat, bloody amazing that girl....



3 weeks until D-day, although I know it will be more likely to be 5 weeks.....I'm a slow cooker

in the swing with starashan

Gee I've been meaning to post pics of this gorgeous little number I got from Sherrin of Starashan for ages but the camera and weather have not been cooperative the last month. Every time I would pop this on her the battery would be flat or it would be raining. Today we got lucky and here it is. So super sweet and wonderfully made. I loved it so much when Sherrin popped a similar one up on her blog and was super stoked when she offered to make one for Tully. I love red on Tully and really adore the design Sherrin has used.



Tully adores it as well and Asher commented this morning that she was like a ballerina in it. Er well...... he does like princesses and all the girly stuff Tully loves at the moment, so if he think she looks like a ballerina well that's fine.

I especially love the detail on the back of the pini. It's a really lovely touch.



Amongst getting ready to face the day this morning I also whipped up this little skirt. It has been absolutely ages since I made something for my kids and this was so gratifying. I've had the fabric cut out for about a year waiting for me to pull my finger out and ,voila, after 1/2 hour here it is.



All ready for some booty wiggling fun!

pixie perfect!

I often have this little phrase running around in my head. "pixie perfect" with a little american sort of twang to it. It's from Tully's little tinkerbell camera and I swear the bloody thing drives me a bit bananas sometimes. Whoever invented noisy toys needs to have a child continuoulsy pressing the buttons on one all day and see the effect. Mind you I did buy the bloody thing so am certainly responsible.

It has been quite some time since I last posted some pics of something I made. That's because it's taken me so long to achieve much these days. No morning sickness or anything just lots of getting around with kindy drop-offs and pick-ups and a bit of snoozing when the kids are and I would normally be working. Nanna naps have become a daily activity of late. Thanks so much for all the lovely well wishes for our very exciting news. I've already bought the new bub a little fitted nappy and tully keeps talking about all the little dresses we need to buy it.

I must apologise for the very disjointed flow of this post. Fuzzy brain today... So the pixies below. Well they're promised for pixies that will be zooming off to their new owners hopefully tomorrow if the rain abaits enough for me to get to the PO with them. The rain doesn't stop me getting around at all. Yesterday we braved the downpour in wet weather gear for kindy drop-offs and it was actually really lovely to be out in it. But I can't be taking little pixies out in the chilly rain.



Another reason for the quiet over hear in blogland is this is number 200 post and I really, really wanted to be doing a giveaway custom pixie or tee but have found myself just way too snowed under so promise to do a giveaway sometime between here and post 250. Cool?

Our newest little pixie

Gee things have been a ball of all things snuffly, sneezy and wheezy here since we returned from holidays. Nasty colds are hanging around and new little bugs have been thrown into the mix. So hence not a lot has been achieved lately. I've slowly, slowly been working away at some things so if your waiting on something from me I promise it won't be too far away.

What I have been doing however is growing a new little pixie inside my tum. Yep another little one to join the clan. We are so super excited about it. I didn't really know how far along I was but today we went and had a look at little pixie and found our estimated due date will be around mid feb. I was going to post a pic of the scan but it's all fuzzy and stuff and I have to have a pic with a post so here's my big 4 year old as a little 5 week old. awwwwww They sure grow super fast. Tully is really looking forward to having a little sister called Barbie and Asher is in denial. Poor little man is gonna have his little world turned upside down.



In shop news Tikki and I have a very special auction up at the moment. For more info go take a peek

totally spoilt

Tully is that's who. She received heaps of wondrful presents for her birthday but this little number just takes the cake!



I was so in love when I saw Lily's oriental lily dress on Tikki's blog but knew i would never be able to knit it. Tik promised I would be able to but hey me and knitting just aren't the best of mates. I was so stoked when I found out Tully was getting her very own. It suits her beautifully and is so warm and snug AND Tully can even be persuaded to where a pair of jeans with it. Unheard of!



Thanks tik! Can you make even bigger sizes now? I want a version too!

Oh yeah and Asher also got some woolies from Tik too! Some new and much needed longies AND some old ones got a revamp and extension. spoilt I tell ya!!!!

a birthday fit for a princess

We're back from a much needed catch up with family and friends and a very special little birthday celebration. Lots of fun was had by all but especially the little folk of the family. All up Tully had 3 separate birthday celebrations with different family members. On her actual birthday we went to Fairy Park in Anakie just out of Geelong with sweet little cousin Lily and Aunty tik. Tikki and Lily had visited previously and had given it a big thumbs up and it sounded like the perfect place to spend a princess loving little girl's big day.



Tuly took along her own little plastic princess and happily dragged her around by the hair all day to show to all the other princesses.



We also had our own little rose red and snow white with us. Brrrr...it was cold up there!



Little man discovered the gingerbread house which was one of my favourite displays. Although it wasn't nearly as gruesome as some of our Hansel and Gretel picture books.



We finished off with a very extensice play at the playground which is one of the best ever. Rainbow dragons, little tunnels and crazy mushroom swings were the perfect way to finish off a great day.



It's always great to catch up with our families but one of the truly wonderful things is to see the absolute ball both Tully and Lily have in each others company. Sure they have there disagreements every now and then but generally they are just absolute little princesses.

more matryoshka's

It's funny how things creep up on you. I don't really know how but I have a bit of a "thing" for making matryoshka's at the moment. I've been painting quite a few of them on tops and now I've made a little soft one for Tully for her birthday. I found the pattern in a great op shop score, "How to make soft toys and dolls" by Sunset Books. It's been on my "to do" list for a while. I love how the dolls sit in little pockets and have a similar idea to the original matryoshka doll.

Tully got a set of Matryoshka dolls for Christmas and she is still really intrigued by them and so I hope she loves this doll too. Although, it has pretty stiff competition in a hideous plastic Sleeping Beauty princess that sings when you press a button on her back. Gosh could they be any more different? Tully loved the hideous plastic thing and requested it for her birthday. I really tried to turn her against it but no, she loves it. Oh well, I love the matryoshka's....

all ready for bed

Today I finished off this nighty for Tully. She's super stoked and so keen to pop it on. She wanted to leave it on when I tried it on her to check the arm and hem length. Me.....ahhhh well I sort of like the style of it but those princesses. Here's hoping she gets over them pretty quick!

I was good and followed the pattern mostly. I didn't bother with the ties around the kneck or the elastic casing around the arms and didn't finish my seams properly. My mum would be horrified! Following the pattern though it doesn't tell you to finish seams. I would normally but oh well if it falls apart so be it.

The afghan in the pic was made by my clever little Mum. She used to make heaps of these to go on our beds in winter. It's double sided and so heavy and warm.



And this is what I found in my mailbox today. A very generous friend sent this to me and I was so surprised and stoked to find a package for me! Not for the kids, but for me!!! Such a beautiful bag made from very special vintage fabric. Love love love it

today.....

a couple of mermaids visited our garden and picked all our sourgrass. How delightful.

sunday, sunny sunday

It's the first day of winter today, yet the sun is out and there is a lovely warmth in the air. Not in our house though. Brrrrr, it's a bloody icebox. Oh well, can't be whingeing on such a lovely day.

We're realxing a bit at home today. Some true winter activites have been taking place. Like gumboot wearing (well this isn't really season bound) however they MUST always be worn on the wrong feet. I want these boots for me!



Some pumpkin scone cooking. Pretty good although they could have had more volume. I can never get the height out of my scones that the country ladies from my hometown were always able too. What's the secret??? Later on today I hope to get the potatoes cooking to make this fabulous boston bun. Yummmy winter foods



And the budidng artist has been slapping some paint around. I love his work! But not his artistic temperament..... Gee this lad can chuck a tanti! He's so much more demanding than his sis ever was. Is this a boy thing?



And lastly a bit of prep for the listing of sweet Sunni for the shop some time today.

new pixies

Say hi to Jasper. He will be making an appearance over in the shop today. Go and check him out, he's very friendly.

Another addition to the pixie clan is Tully's new mate , who is yet to be named. Knowing Tully she'll be bestowed with a fabulous name, although her naming of our perch as Amy is really quite lovely.



Things are going very slowly at the moment. We had guests on the weekend so I spent a good portion of last week giving the house a good clean so not a lot of pixie making went down. I do have a couple cut out and on the way AND some t-shirts all ready for a bit of applique and then finaly some painting. THEN Iwant to get my gocco out for a spin this weekend! We have a friend's 30th though so there may be a bit of sore headness to conquer, although we did pass on the bus tour of the wineries so it may not be too bad.