Beautiful Music

I've been having a play around on my new favourite site and I'm ever so excited, because now I can share music on my blog! (something I felt was lacking). I adore the way the tape plays and the little circle bits turn around (you know what I mean), gosh it takes me back!
I'm a little short on time this morning, running late for preschool/the bank/library morning walk so I've just popped up my current favourite song. But I'll update regularly. Sharing music/photos is one of the best things about the internet in my opinion. Well, that, and shopping! And if you're really in a musical mood, have a look here and find your birthsong! Fantastic. Mine is 'You Can't Hurry Love' - Phil Collins.

See? Blue.

Three Thrifty Treasures

Today is a fabulous day for thrifty treasures. Treasure #Tahi: This little dress, which fits Isla beautifully. I can't tell you how tempted I am to add a blue satin sash, because whenever I look at it, this song comes to mind!

Treasure #Rua: This little purple vase which changes colour. Yes that's right. At first I thought that my husband was playing a trick on me, until I concurred it was very unlikely that he could have found an identical little vase in blue to swap around when I wasn't looking. I consider myself to be educated, relatively intelligent and somewhat worldly, but I have never known an object like this to change colour. Ok, I sense a collective narrowing of eyes in disbelief. I will post another photo when it changes colour again. I am quite spooked by the whole business to be honest!

Treasure #Toru: I've saved the best till last. This piece of fabric is HUGE! It's fantastically retro, and depicts scenes from several classic nursery rhymes. It's in great condition, with no fading. And I'm in love with it. However, there's far too much here for me to use all by myself-so if you'd like a piece, let me know. Perhaps I could send you a brown paper package, tied up with string?

Here's Little Jack Horner...

Humpty Dumpty...

The Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick Maker...

A fabulous day for thrifty treasures.

Road Trip

Sadly, my Grandfather-in-law passed away this week, which meant a road trip home to Auckland to be with family and attend the funeral.

We discovered that travelling long distance in a car with two small children is challenging/foolish/a logistical nightmare. However, the scenery, as always in New Zealand, was beautiful.

These things have also inspired me this week;

This website

This tutorial which I look forward to making.

And the following poem...

Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Mary Frye

Charming...

Despite my children being so "charming" today, I was happy, because the sun was shining, I've done a bit of a shop update, and I even got these hobby horses finished. Yay!


Hope everyone else had a charming day too

Trees

I went for a lovely walk with the children today and took these pictures of trees silhouetted against the sky. I can't tell you how often I've looked up at the different shapes the twigs and branches make, and wished I'd had a camera with me. Well, today I did, and I imagine that I looked slightly odd walking along, and stopping every few minutes to point my camera skywards!

In other, rather frustrating/computer illiterate news; for some reason Blogger won't let me post comments on other peoples blogs lately. I cannot understand it, because in the past I have been able to do it with no problems. However now, whenever I try, it tells me I am entering an incorrect password. Which I'm not. It's very odd. And frustrating. Especially because there is probably some extremely simple explanation which hasn't yet dawned on my sleep deprived brain!

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I'm really enjoying myself here in blogworld. I'm learning lots of new things and making new friends, and I really appreciate the inspiration I have gained from viewing others blogs. Gosh there are some talented women out there! If I could personally leave you each a comment, I would!

Progress...

I made these Superman cupcakes for Isla to take to a birthday party tomorrow. I find great cupcake papers, cookie cutters and other inspiring party type stuff on Trade Me, for Isla's 2nd birthday, I made jungle cupcakes with these cupcake papers, green icing (awful, I know) and a snake lolly on top of each one.

While we baked, Isla and I chatted about what kind of a party she would like for her 3rd birthday. She wants to have a "Water Party" with sprinklers, a paddling pool, bubbles, water balloons and this cake . I think I'm just as excited as she is! Possibly the conversation was a bit premature as her birthday is not until February, but she recently grasped the idea of birthdays and what they mean. Perhaps because there seem to have been so many of them recently-what is it about September?

In crafty news, I've been working on monsters. Since Kyan was born, I've been trying to think of things to make for boys. It comes naturally for me to choose fabric with pink and yellow roses and to make fairy wings and ballet tutus. So I'm trying to extend my way of thinking when it comes to designing new things.

I made this fellow first, but he's not quite right... Something about the ears, and the pink scarf (why can I not resist pink?).

This is attempt number 2. Getting there, but a bit too octopus-ish.


At least I'm managing to create tangible things now. It's progress...

Confessions of a Slightly Frazzled Woman

It's terrible really...

But this is my coffee table...

This is the contents of my fruit bowl...

This is the top of my fridge...

This is a very accurate representation of how I feel (and look, probably!)...

You see, I'm ever so distracted by the new man in my life.

But seriously, can you blame me?

Surfie Wagon

I made this surfie van for a friends son. He is turning five, which to me seems to be one of the most significant birthdays a child/person has. My friend and I are currently deep in discussion/planning mode for a Monster Party. We found heaps of ideas here .



It's based on an old style Kombi Van, like these and comes complete with surfboard and his name on the numberplate. I hope he likes it!

Dresses

I don't often make clothes. But the gorgeous weather must have inspired me to make these colourful pinafores. I made the first one for my daughter and then my best friend came to stay for a few days with two children in tow. We sat in my kitchen and, while she baked delicious bread, I sewed a second one for her little sister, and the smallest one for a friends baby. It has been such an idyllic couple of days; Sunshine, happy children, delicious food, great conversation and sewing- my favourite things!