our creative space . . . 'secret forest bedroom makeover'

Greetings all,

We have a little elfin princess in our home.  She's ethereal, bohemian & you'll find her curled up on a toadstool.  Her soft squeaky voice & dinner plate blue eyes manage to suck me into agreeing with almost every crazy idea she has.  She's sported a chic French bob with short blunt fringe since she was 2 (after her twin sister cut the whole way around her hair) & wears feathery headbands & stripey tights to school, her spirit & style is uncrushable, until private school uniform.  

Our 3rd girl is like no other . . . humming her way through life,

 her twin sister got a bedroom makeover while they were away on camp,

 with sore hands, i only had time for one room, Sophie's choice,

 so the next weekend, while they were at a sleepover,

 i did her bedroom as a suprise too.

 She likes anything quirky & quitely soaks up praise,

 her collection of birds, owls & toadstools is growing,

 & at night time, it's quite magical, just like her.

 I have all the tissue fans, balls & hearts in my shop, they make ace decorations!!

 My son helped me hang lights (why use a stepladder when you can hoist an 8 year old boy on your shoulders??) . . . he's doing his best swivel chair "we meet at again Octopussy" impersonation.

I might not be sewing but i am fiddling around with the decorating.  For some seriously inspirational creativity, check out Our Creative Space every Thursday, love Posie

school holiday reading

Greetings all,

You know i love my husband to pieces & here's a tiny example of why - he's not romantic in a flowers (they make him sneeze, make a mess with petals, then they die & turn the water brown), lobster dinners (he doesn't really like eating seafood or the smell) or jewellery (he's given me wedding rings, what else do i need) kind of way . . . but he does surprise me with, well, him - turning up unexpected/ early/ when i least expect him on the doorstep . . . & treats me with things i really love - like homey books & magazines. 

 So handsome soldier knew i was desperately trying to find Jamie Oliver's 30 Minute Cookbook, to the point where i looked like a book shop lifter, loitering suspiciously on my hands & knees, checking every shelf in every book shop in Canberra.  No, i didn't think to order on line, but that would have ruined my husband finding a copy in David Jones in Brisbane, being the hero & surprising me.  He also thought i'd enjoy "this book by that Cath Kidston chick i think you like" & how cute is this, a cookbook Collection of recipes, he thought it looked vintage & like something i'd want.  Oh bliss!!  Donna Hay Magazine, well i'm a fan, her recipes are great, even for my low skill level & inclination, but her styling, that is what i love about her the most.

 A little taste of the pages of Collection . . .

 my mother used to make a brilliant pate.

 Cath Kidston Sew - i would love to make a mass bird mobile style chandelier for my high schooler for when she moves into the new bedroom/ other half of my studio.

 I'm going to try an oversized hexagon patchwork quilt this month.

 Jamie Oliver - do you ever fail us regular family cooks??

 Oh i want to go on a picnic, NOW!!

 Donna Hay, visual feast as always in her pages, like boys fishing!!

 Donna teaches you this month about noodle varieties, brilliant!!

Then this sweet story on the last page of the magazine, about how Donna found a baby bird's nest on her way home after dropping her youngest child at his first day of school.  Sigh, i've been there.  She teamed it with a handmade bird from a friend & took this beautiful image.  What a gorgeous memory to keep of the experience.  As a fellow mummy who has an empty nest with all her children at school, i think i'd like to find a sweet bird's nest too & pop in 4 little handmade birds, under a glass dome, wouldn't that be delightful?? 
Aren't i the luckiest girl around, thoughtful husband & our 4 fabulous children, all together on school holidays.  Now time to ignore them all & stick my head in all this school holiday reading.  Love Posie

handmade from the pages of a magazine . . .

Greetings all,
Running early & carefree this morning, i almost left a face print on the glass door of the Post Office as i vigorously attempted to push it open, not seeing the "sorry we're closed" sign on said door at 9.05a.m.  Hmmm . . . i wasted some time at the bakery & newsagency before attempting the Post Office again.  So glad i did as i treated myself to the Inside Out magazine Christmas issue.  I really want to nail a good handmade Christmas wreath for the front door this year, voila, inspiration (read: styles i can totally copy).

 the beautiful cover didn't disappoint

 ahhh, whimiscal version of an advent calendar

 pretty garlands, i'm working on my own style

 & the wreaths!!

Did you read the words on that first page "if you make your own decorations they have soul & meaning & can become family treasures" . . . lovely sentiment.  I've been making these fabric penny wheels with a silver jingle bell for Shop Handmade & markets, tie to a tree with red & white twine.  Even my handsome soldier muttered "are you making these for our tree too??"  He likes!!  & yes, i will, plus birds of course!!

 I've not answered many magazine shoot call outs this year, kind of busy without a husband for 9 months so just not a priority.  But when Shop 4 Kids was doing a handmade child feature, i couldn't resist.  So i'm sending some bird bunting & a mix match baby wrap, lined with Tshirt jersey for a pram blanket.

As a mathematician & spatial person, i find it unnatural to piece patchwork together that isn't lined up precisely & completely orderly, planned, um . . . perfect, so this was a little experiment into a direction i'd like to try over Summer for next Autumn's quilts . . . it was liberating!!
Ok, after making this wrap last night (machine pieced with hand stitched edges) i got an order for a robot one at Shop Handmade today!!  So finishing that one off right now.  Love Posie

i finally have a Christmas theme

Greetings all,
Well after being berated by many a Christmas decoration sales person & Christmas decorating enthusiasts (Tania!!) for NOT having a theme thought out for Christmas . . . it appears i finally have one.  Birds.  I've been scouring Myer, David Jones, Bed Bath Table, Typo & The Bredbo Christmas Barn for decorations, before i realised . . . i did have a theme after all.  I'm liking silver, white, red.

 With a good hint of aqua blue.

 I still love the hearts which are everywhere right now, giant jingle bells & a few angels for good measure.

There are more Babushkas to be added too. 

Christmas theme or not, these are the things i have found i'm naturally drawn to for our tree.  Tonight i'm working on more handmade items to add to the collection from Shop Handmade, yes, more birds, hearts, angels & fun things, like GingerBreadMen & jolly Santas!!  I bought 3m of felt today.  Then add the lot to the decorations we have stored in the linen cupboard, we'll have a beautiful tree.
  Off to chomp out some die cut paper garlands too.  I'm loving twine, washi tape, folk printed stickers . . . love this time of year, the preparation is as much fun as the giving, joy, Summer & smiles on Christmas Day.  Getting the children involved makes it even more beautiful.  Love Posie