New beginnings...

Fabulous. The first Spring flower I've seen so far this year. Oh Spring, it will be so wonderful to see you again. You and Autumn are my very favourite seasons.

Another new beginning for our little family is also approaching. Next weekend we are moving house. I'm so excited because all of this will be almost literally on our back doorstep-2minutes walk from our back doorstep at most.

Isla's pleased because we will be getting a new puppy (as soon as Liam builds that kennel!) and because "we will have a new park".

New beginnings all round-and what a marvellous time of year for them!

A tutu and two birthdays

It's my 1 yr blog birthday today. So I'd like to say a big Thank You to all those who have read, commented, supported, swapped, shared and generally been part of this experience for me. Here's something I finished last night...

It's a tutu and fairy wand for one of Islas' friends, who is a very "girly" girl, and is turning 4 this week.

I made it in the same way as this one which I gave Isla for Christmas. However, as can sometimes happen, it turned into a bit of an experiment. I had purchased 1metre of tulle, but as I began to make the tutu it became immediately apparent that it was not going to be enough. So out came the box of ribbons, and I added all sort of different textures and lengths, trying to stick to the basic colour scheme of baby pinks, blues, white and silver.

I also added a waistband, just sewing over the top of the elastic, to make it softer against the skin. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out!

The wand is simple too-just beaded felt attached to a piece of dowel from the hardware shop. I'm sure the man in there thinks I'm slightly mad, but he happily cuts up my dowel pieces for me each time I go in.

I wouldn't mind one of these for myself to be honest xx

In Craft News...

In Craft News today at the Speckled Egg household, located in the beautiful Bay of Plenty in Aotearoa/New Zealand we have...

1 Temari Ball made for a lovely Mum of one of the children at my preschool.

And some hairties as well...

1 pirate made for the lovely Kristin, of squidgy widgy woo (how fabulous is that name?). We are doing a swap. I can't wait to share what she is making for me, stay tuned...

And last but not least, one pixie hat, made for a gorgeous little person I know who is turning 1 tomorrow. These are ridiculously easy to make. The tutorial is from here, but I first read about it when Janelle shared it here. Linky love!

Well that brings todays' edition of Craft News to an end. I hope everyone else is having a sunny, crafty and fabulous day too xx

True Fact

Two things I've learned in my time of blogging are that random acts of kindness really do happen, and that friends can be people you've never even met.

Case in point; this gorgeous parcel, sent to me by the lovely Hanna of Craftykin, just because. The workmanship on these things is impeccable, and Hannas' blog really is a joy with beautiful photography and wonderful accounts of family life, New Zealand life and crafty goodness. Plus, I have a soft spot for it because Hanna also has an Isla and Liam in her house, just like me. True fact.

The Rain

The week long break from blogging was unintentional. I'm not sure where the week actually went. It's a blur. I remember mostly rain. Almost constant rain causing children to spend more time indoors than they would like, tempers fraying, clotheshorses dotted throughout the house, some meals, some bedtime stories, footprints everywhere... This is the grass formerly known as our back lawn.

My creative space began to resemble creative chaos. Much like the rest of the house. Things were picked up, unpicked, put down, picked up again...

But in the breaks between downpours, we bundled up and got out of the house as much as we could. And we appreciated the fresh air all the more!

"Family life is a bit like a runny peach pie - not perfect but who's complaining?"

~Robert Brault,

A good week so far...

A stick, a marshmallow, a fireplace...

Children rolling down a grassy bank, laughing in the Winter sun and racing around, drunk on fresh air and friendship...

Finishing a little something for a workmate...

And these...

Making bread pudding, using my own recipe. If you're interested, it goes a little something like this...

6 slightly stale fruit buns

3 Tablespoons Apricot Jam

3/4 cup boiling water

2 eggs

3 tablespoons caster sugar

500ml milk
2 teaspoons vanilla essence

Break the buns in half and cut into rough cubes. Place in dish. Whisk together milk, eggs, sugar and vanilla. Pour over the bread and leave to soak for an hour. Mix the apricot jam and the boiling water together and pour over the top. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for about 40 Min's or until golden on top.

Serve with custard and think "Winter's not so bad after all"

Teaching the children a little bit of yoga...

A good week so far, and you?

Book Sharing Monday

It was only 20cents at the op shop, and I was attracted to the simple pictures, thinking they could be good for softie design inspiration. But when I got this wee book home, I realised it's actually a real treasure. It's called "A Story to Tell", by Dick Bruna.

It's a wordless book, giving children the opportunity to make up their own narrative as it goes along...

I love the picture of the little doll with the sad face...

My children love this page, they adore seeing characters in books doing familiar, recognisable activities...

And when I googled the author, i discovered there is a really cool website as well.

Now, please excuse me, my fingers are itching to sketch out a softie with a pointy hat like that!