still life :: tea party

These are a few little still lives of our tea party. With the obligatory Lego, of course!
Beautifully styled by my sister, Sylve. She should be a stylish, don't you think. I love her home (when it's tidy!). The little pieces that she has, the collections, the displays. I think one day I need to show you around her house, so you can see what I mean.

*************************

I want to say thank you so so so much to all of you who have been reading and commenting. I enjoy receiving your sweet comments, and your encouragement. I am sorry that I have been replying to comments lately; it seems that my days keep running away from me. I am trying to spend less time on the computer, yet still am scurrying to get everything done. I think we are all feeling the same at this time of year.
I hope you all enjoy and relax and rest and remember that Christmas is about family, and love and friendship and warmth and laughter. Lots of laughter and memory making. And not at all about the best wrapped present or best set table, or tastiest food. It's about the people who give the present to, the people you share the meal with, the people you clink your glasses with. (Though having pretty presents sure is fun isn't it!).
Take care. xxx

a warmth in my heart

This little space is making me very happy at the moment.My sewing desk has, of late, been in our dingy junky back room - with the roof-scratching brush/bush turkey next door making dreadful noise, and the sight of the laundry piling up at the other end of the room. Not very motivating to get any fun sewing projects done, let along work stuff.

So, because we still haven't moved house (not good house-selling economy at the moment), I keep rearranging our furniture, so that I feel like we have changed something. My desk is now in our front room, light-filled, part of the whole house (I can see the tv from my desk, work and watch Project Runway), the kids can play in the lounge-room or on the front porch, and I can still be there with them.Picked these flowers at the park yesterday. I think wisteria, but not a vine, a proper tree. Hmmmm tree wisteria? (Can't find anything by doing searches. Internet, how can you not find what I need!).And this beautiful laser-cut card arrived in the post yesterday from my dear dear friend. Thank you Stef, I love it so much. She always chooses beautiful cards. I'll have to get them out and show you, another day. Fabric cards, with texture. And of course, the words inside are always always the parts I cherish. Words written from my best friend, who knows me so well. And, who is a natural and talented and honest writer.
Something else that made me totally spark up this afternoon was :: being in the city and seeing one of my bags on the shoulder of a stranger! I remember that I sold it at a market stall I had in June. I almost put my hand out and talked to her, actually, I'm not quite sure why I didn't. But, the pleasure and joy of seeing something from me being enjoyed by someone was so so lovely.
So, hopefully I'll have some time over the next week for some of the sewing that is itching in my head. A stitch here and there is all the kids will allow me, but that's better than nothing.
I hope you are all enjoying your moments of peace and family time and preparation. Seven sleeps! I'm starting to get excited. Today I got out the CD that Tonya sent us last year for our Traditions Swap - lots of fun and dancing.

an artists interpretation + a day remembered

We are having a garden tea party on Friday, for the kids. Just for fun. And I'm so excited about it - the setting up of the garden, the food, the decorations... even the too too sweet invitation that we made. Don't you just love Ari's drawing of the tea pot, with tea cups and cupcakes - all up on little pedestals. (If any of you have ideas, photos, links or inspiration - or just some fun thoughts - on how to make our Garden Tea Party even more fun and magical and special, please be sure to let me know).

He got a whole tea set out of the cupboard, and set it up to draw it. I'm really loving his drawings at the moment. Every day they seem to have changed and evolved, only this week he has started putting little swirls on everything; wine glasses for elves, and his writing, and the machines he makes.
A plate machine, or a bubble machine, or a robot machine. Quite technical, with buttons and particular bits here and there that all have a purpose and do something. I often wonder if he'll be an inventor; I know he'll be an artist (oh, he is an artist - he tells us that!).Today we went into town so the kids could go on the Christmas train. (They set it up each Christmas in "Santa Land" in Myer; the kids ride for free). We went in the other day, but Ari was too scared to go (not a good experience from last year, where he was the only one on the train) and Mishi too little for me to let her go on her own. So we came back today, with big cousin Ashey. Mishi spent all weekend saying "Ashey, Mishi train. Ari" (and shaking her head). So today the three of them sat in a row, Ari in front, Mishi in the middle and Ashey behind - with his hands resting and holding on to Mishi - being the wonderful big cousin, protecting her incase she got scared in the tunnel. So lovely to see them like this.
And then this afternoon both the boys drew a drawing of the train, and them on it. Ashey's is very techical - the part that the driver pushed to ring the bell, and thesmoke coming streaming out, and other children in front of them, and the section where the big Santa head was - the part where you go in to see the photos they take of you. And the train track - oh, I love that train track!Ari's was so different. He still has the wheels and the carriages, but the main parts of the picture are him (in front), Mishi in the middle (with long hair), and tallest at the back is Ashey. Both boys now recently had their hair cut (shaved), as you can tell in Ari's drawing.I so so so love this visual memory of their train ride - the things they remember about it, and the way they interpret it. And the difference between and six year old and a four year olds drawings.
(When I find one of the Special Gold Santa Express tickets I'll scan it and put it here, so we can all remember - the boys carried their's around all day with pride).

PS - petrol today was down to 85.9cents per litre. Has not been so so low for many years. It seems that now it has dropped below $1.00 it just keeps going. (No brain energy to do link-searching for you overseas readers, but we have not had petrol below $1.00 for many years, the past year it had been almost at $1.60 a litre. Even though we complain, Australians have cheaper petrol than most countries. Also, our interest rates have dropped over the past 6 months - our mortgage is finally starting to ease a bit. And, we just got a lovely little Christmas bonus from Kevin). Despite all this, Brisbane city didn't seem too busy today, only 9 days out from Christmas, though we did our part to help the economy. Especially at this lovely store (which fits into our handmade Christmas pledge). Okay, okay - I'm not so silly as to not know that we are having an economic depression worldwide.

*******

Okay, having photo loading issues - so this is all I can get for now. It's after mid-night, I really should go to bed, and not sit here fussing. Check again in a few days, hopefully Sam can sort it out for me (me, who doesn't know a lot about computers, tries to work it out myself, and doesn't listen too well when someone tries to help me....). ::fixed it::

********

Good night.

we saw the din-on-saurs

On Tuesday, the kids and I went to the museum and both the galleries (GOMA and QAG). We had a wonderful time looking at the water fountains, some that haven't been full and splashing for many years now (due to water restrictions). And seeing matchboxes turned into art, and talking about how art doesn't always have to be "art". How sometimes pieces of old tin, and typewriters and rolls of paper can be art as well as drawings and paintings.

We searched the room of artifacts, and found bird eggs and nests, and turtle shells and stuff animals. Ari said the room was scary, which I suppose it could be, if you think about all the snakes and spiders and furry animals - and sad too, to think that all these animals are dead. But also very amazing to have the opportunity to see them all, and touch some (and really, they'd probably be dead anyway, rotted into the bush somewhere!).

We looked at the dinosaur garden. I remember it from my youth - still the same, the "dinosaur fossil trees" a little bigger, but the massive dinosaur statues the same. For me, now, I do not see the magic of the the Do Not Climb signs, but the kids still see the magic and the fantasy. I and try and remember our visits to the museum and looking and searching and exploring and learning and loving.And then, instead of heading home, we moved on to the GOMA where we walked through furry trees. It was like a Winter wonderland. I took (sneaky) photos with my phone, Ari kept telling Mishi not to touch, and Mishi looked (and touched) in awe and amazement and the maze of fluffy trees. We explored Alien world, and - to tell you the truth - were a little disappointed (Ari and me) by the promise of special rooms to unlock with our Alien cards. Rooms which ended up being boxes with a silly tv screen and an even sillier message. It's good though, for a four-year old to learn about the disappointment of advertising. And good for me to see my son have expectations and not be happy with bland and boring.But the best part of the day, for me, was when Mishi finally fell asleep in her pram. Ari and I sat down at the riverside cafe, where we drank juice (and yes, some hot chips), and drew and chatted.

Finally I breathed easily in my whole body. I let the strain and tension slip away. We sat under the trees, listening to the birds and the water. And I chatted with my son. My son who is intelligent, and loving and kind and so so funny, and very talented at his drawing, and his writing. And understands so much. And each day amazes me all over again.
And watched my daughter sleep. My daughter who is silly, and growing, and funny, and dances so beautifully and loves her brother intensely, and talks more each day, and sings songs and counts, and talks about herself. And understands so much! And each day amazes me all over again.
And I sat and drew, unashamedly, not caring what my pictures looked like. And I tried to be amazed at myself all over again.
*** Excuse the quality of these photos, they are taken with my phone camera. Sometimes the feel and memory-inducing aspect of a photo is more important than the quality. ***

hottest day :: over

Hmmm... not a lot of crafting been shown here lately. But it's been happening, lots of it. Little by little, bit by bit. A stitch here and a stitch there - between kids wanting me for something or other. However we got there, we did in the end - get there.Despite being an intensely crazy hot day on Saturday the GOMA market was excellent. So much fun, and lots of fantastic feedback from our customers and other stallholders, and some very in-the-know people!A lovely lady came up and knew us! She said that she'd seen our cards in the Tweed Gallery, and had seen us 'round the web. Steph of stephbond.com surely knows her design stuff. It felt so good to have her know our name; and chat to us about our products. Steph told us a few links of other people in the know, who like to help out handcrafted and small new businesses. Very supportive.

We also had Kelley, from the new(ish) eco fashion and homewares magazine Peppermint, start chatting to us very encouragingly, and helpfully. She was open and honest, offering us names of green and local suppliers. Someone who we will be contacting in the (hopefully near) future for promotion and advertising...
Onto our range and our products. We sure have been busy. Designing and screen-printing, and sewing sewing sewing. And lots of planning, and lists, and talking. It was good to have that deadline for us to get a solid(ish) product range of what we want to go forward with.
This Red Seed Studio thing is real for us. Not a hobby, not just for fun. We so want to make this work. It's just the working out how to make it work???So, what do you think about our products? (click on the pictures to get detailed info about them). We sold out of a few things - greeting cards were very popular, as well as our little zippered screen-printed purses. Having a market is a great way to see what people like, or want different. It's also a great way to meet some lovely, friendly and talkative people who are interested in what you're doing.
My two favourite stalls at the market were the beautifully talented Fliss of Udder, and the fun graphics and bright-popping colour of Kate's Red Chalk. Be sure to check out these local designers.

wow + winner

Well, hello EVERYONE!

A big big thank you for all of those wonderful emails pouring into my inbox over the past five days. So so exciting to keep getting new messages. Having this many visitors is very new to me. I know that you most of you came over for the giveaway, but I hope that some of you come back again for the photos and the words and the crafting.

I now have many new blogs that I am still trying to get to. So many wonderful new friends and inspiration out there. That's the best giveaway! (I didn't get a chance to visit many Sew Mama Sew blogs, to enter any giveaways. But my sister won this cute little outfit, from a now new favourite Aussie blog And so, I Sew. Maybe she'll decide to give it to Mishi.... hint hint).
So, without further ado - I present the winner. Chosen in some rather random number guessing game; I got everyone in my family to say a number, then I added and divided and presto. An average of all their numbers.

The winner is:
Sonia who wrote: Hi ! I'm very new to your blog & am happy to have found it through this giveaway event ! :) I'll bookmark you & will be back. I'd love to enter your giveaway if possible. :) You are very generous to offer such a great giveaway. What to say ? Mmm ... I'm off to have a coffee with my mom, who'd been visiting us for a week & who'll leave tomorrow. We are 700km away from each other & I'm going to enjoy her until she'll leave. It's raining outside & cozy inside, with the Christmas lights on. :) Have a great day ! Thanks again !

I already love her blog, I mean little glimpses into her Advent calendar and pictures (memories) like this and this.

While I'm talking about giveaways, I'd like to send you over to this lovely blog. Nina has been doing giveaways for a few weeks now, though she plans (I think) on at least a few more until Christmas. I was the lucky lucky winner of her first giveaway of a circle purse. I love her designs, these kids tees are so so sweet. I know two little ones who would treasure something like this. (I'm just trying to decide who would want what best, but I think these will be under our tree this year.) Women's shirts Nina?

And because I think a post without images isn't so pretty, here is the little flyer card that Sam designed for our market stall. We had so many customers, that we ran out - even though we printed more than 100! I'll be back later (today, tomorrow?) with a market wrap-up.

wednesday giveaway

I have decided to join in the Sew Mama Sew Give-Away day. And today's the day. Gifts for you, your friends, your family....... For you!
+ A zippered purse (coin purse, pencil case, to carry jewelery or treasures or ....)
+ an assorted selection of my fabric stitched greeting cards
+ a little something else that I am sewing tomorrow - a surprise! (oh, I know what it will be...)
+ a few more little pieces, just for fun.
:: photos show back and front of the purse, and some of my Varanasi silk cards, but I will also include some of my regular ones. Sorry about terrible lighting quality of these photos ::

Please leave a comment to be entered into this giveaway. Any comment; what you plan to do today, what the sky looks like right now, the funniest thing you heard this week........
I will leave comments open until Sunday night (Australian time), and draw a winner Monday. (Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you, if you don't have a blog. Or check back here on Monday).

Hello to any new readers. Lovely to have you visit.

Also, make sure you go back to check out that long list of blogs having a Give-Away today.

I'll be back later this week with a market prep update. Busy busy busy, but finally past the major work and onto the home stretch of making and packing and labeling and organising. Onto the fun.