my creative space . . . 'romancing the hair'

Greetings all,

Earlier this month Christina of Hair Romance launched a fantastic eBook '30 Days of Braids' & i have been braiding up a storm ever since.  It's not just exciting for my daughters to pick out a hair-style-du-jour & creating fantastic hair styles, it's peaceful quality time where i'm not asking them about homework or chores . . . it's just fun & carefree.  

Yesterday i plaited two Dutch Braids into my eldest daughter's hair for school.  Little did i know by the evening we'd be at Accident & Emergency getting a fractured wrist Xrayed & set in plaster.  Her hair looked fantastic & this morning - sleeping soundly with her precious wrist  - it was hair perfection.

As my 3 girls have different hair types, colours & lengths, i'm experimenting with a variety of styles.  The Waterfall works brilliantly in short hair, across the head or sweeping down.

Out to dinner on Saturday night, i criss crossed her head with waterfalls.

For a day out with friends, i created a strong rope like tight style, it stayed put all day!!

 Her twin sister has waist length platinum hair, it's not as thick, however, it's glorious to work with.  We went French with this sweeping side style, again, first attempt, i swirled it rather than straight across her hair, but it was soft & lovely.  

 I just love how it looks the next day!!

 I've done this one a few times now, it's a Dutch Braid which joins with another one, then combines to create this incredible vine like finish.  I adore it.

 This is how it faired after 6 hours of high winds at the Floriade flower festival.  Whispy!! 

It looks pretty fabulous in shorter hair too.  Wish i finished it with a flower though.

 This is how the Dutch Braid looks . . . simple.  Also know as the Reverse or Inside Out Braid.

 Or try a regular French Plait on an angle, it always looks elegant.

 I've been having fun over on Instagram with these hair styles, i keep getting feedback that mums are all thumbs or just can't braid, they're hopeless at it.  I only learned how to French Plait earlier this year by Kylie from Mealy & i, the month before i had both hands operated on.  Trust me, i was not just thumbs & hopeless, my fingers were numb & i could barely grip a hair brush!!  I persevered & this has been about as creative as i've been all year.  It has given me great confidence in my hand skills though, i'm coming back!! 

For more Creative Space adventures, check out Village Voices.  Love Posie

my creative space . . .'the art of giving'

Greetings all,

I'm really desperate to get back into the art of handmade, making gifts from the heart with fabrics i know the recipient will love.  As Christmas looms, so does my deadline to think up new ideas & use up my ever increasing fabric stash.  Just because i haven't been sewing for a year because of wrist pain & surgery, doesn't mean i haven't been purchasing glorious fabrics for future use!!  Gone are the days when handmade = a purple crochet toilet roll cover from Great Auntie Merle . . . something created from your own two hands is hip, with incredible fabric prints available & people happy to pay for it.  I should know, i was in a handmade craft business for over 12 years, it's very acceptable to make your gifts, ensure you execute them beautifully.

I love giving, being generous is one of my favourite personality traits.  When i met up with Tania McCartney to go to the theatre, i couldn't possibly arrive empty handed, so bundled up some freshly laid eggs in a mock carton with a tissue ball on top, just like a rooster's comb.  She cherished them & dreamed up googy egg breakfast ideas, something money can't buy - true friendship.  

Had the cutest trip out to the Christmas Barn with my twins a weekend ago, hints that the silly season is approaching.  We drove way down south to Bredbo, with a visit to the Bredbo Village Fair, then chatted about our purchases in the slow snow traffic home.  I think this year we might go silver & white, i'm loving the huge silver glitter sequin ball we picked up.

If you're in Canberra today, i'm doing a little market stall (rain & wind permitting) at Brindabella Business Park near the airport, 11a.m. to 2p.m. come along & check out the goodies on sale.  If you're on line, check out the creativity at Village Voices.  Love Posie

my creative space . . . 'an Olympic challenge to improve the Limp Bits of your life'

Greetings all,

I'm Olympics mad.  I love sports & the Olympics take my breath away.  I was an athlete, ditto my husband & now our 4 children.  Track, field, teams . . . love it all.  I was lucky enough to run in the Sydney 2000 Torch Relay (i was so overwhelmed after my part, i didn't even recognise my own daughter!!)  SO in honour of the . . . .

 . . . where athletes have trained for years to reach the pinnacle of sports performance . . . for fear of being sued for using the sacred word 'Olympics' . . . i'm encouraging bloggers to peak too, in a Creative Limp Bits Challenge - that's right, sounds like Olympics, only it's Limp Bits.  Challenge yourself to fix the Limp Bits of your cooking, craft & photography.  

It will run 1st to 15th of August (3 Wednesday link parties) you're encouraged to join in & be challenged to find something you haven't cooked, crafted or photographed before to reach the pinnacle of creative performance.

Week 1 Limp Bits Challenge: bake, cook, roast, sauté, BBQ, grill, smoke, poach . . . something you've never tried before or haven't for a while.  One of the Limp Bits of my life is that i've NEVER cooked a roast, nope, never.  I'm going to try & shall present it on Wednesday 1st August for the first link party.

Who's with me??  Prepared to fix the Limp Bits of your life by Olympic proportions??  

Week 2 Limp Bits Challenge: sewing, crochet, knitting & design.  

Week 3 Limp Bits Closing Ceremony: Photography!!  

Gold, Silver & Bronze blog badges will be awarded!!  Are you a join'er in'er??  Maybe just the cooking, baking or photography challenges??  If it went for longer i'd add Bargain Hunting & Vintage Finds too!!  International players very welcome.  Australians like beating other countries in anything & everything!!  

For more creativity, check out Village Voices Creative Space, love Posie

Grab the badge & start planning.  I'll be practising crochet watching Aquatics.