on a thursday :: roses and cakes

this vase is right beside where we walk past, i bend down many times a day to inhale the intoxicating perfume.sylve, my sister, who gave the flowers to me for my birthday, saw them today and said that even though they haven't lasted a long time, they were worth it.
the roses have started dropping their petals.
the girl bent to pick these petals up, at the same time that i reached for the camera to take photos. sometimes still life that i see gets caught up in the flurry and movement of life. can't be helped.
yesterday the boy made some muffins / cup cakes / baby cakes.
at the age of 4.5, he is already a very talented and intuitive cook. he does lean towards sweet things, though he often makes great savoury snacks.
he collects everything needed to make the cakes. remembers the general guidelines and ingredients. pours in a little milk and some cocoa, with sultanas and berries, sometimes coconut, and flour. spoons them into the little cases. and we put them in the oven for him.i am slowly trying to teach him to clean up when he is finished.these were a little tough and chewy. when i said that perhaps it was because he had put the flour in first and mixed it too much, he said 'i didn't know', as if a 4.5yr old should know things like that. but i think next time he will know that.

take notice - if you don't feel your children afternoon tea in time, they will make it themselves! some days i only have to make dinner around here.

Giveaway Day

It's here again!
Sew Mama Sew giveaway day. There's three different categories this year, so make sure you check them all out.

I've been thinking what would you like best?

Some fabric, for sure? Two pieces of our hand screen printed fabric - beautiful hemp & organic cotton. Jump on over to here or here and tell me which designs you like best. The winner will receive their own choice of fabric. (look under collections-fabric on our website). As well as a Studio Scrap Pack, which has heaps of pieces for all manner of imaginations and fun.There will also be a lovely little purse, made of reclaimed fabrics, perfect to store your trinkets in. And my new tote bag pattern, which has full colour photographs and step-by-step instructions.
I'll round up a few little surprises to slip in there too.
Oh, I do love a giveaway. I really love giving gifts to friends - near and far. This giveaway is open to everyone, anyone.
I'm going to leave this giveaway open for at least a week, as I'll be away at my sister's house.
Good luck everyone and have fun.

Welcome new friends - I hope you do come back again for a visit soon.
(PS - there will be a pay-it-forward giveaway happening in the next few weeks, so check back for that one).

13 again....

Today is my birthday. I am now 31.
My aunt sent me a sweet card, a cute one she had, that was for a 13 year old - 13 :: 31.

I don't know what it's meant to feel like at 31, can't remember 13. So. I'm feeling okay. 31 is sitting nicely in my head - the thought and idea of it. Not freaking me out.
I spent a beautiful afternoon at my sister's house, with some lovely and very dear and special friends. No kids! Did you hear that - NO kids. I didn't want to leave. I could have sat up and chatted all night to those women. And nibbled on the food they all brought, and the bubbly (we can still call it champagne, can't we, even though we all know it's not). And listened to the music. And smelt the roses over and over again. Well, those I can - Sylve gave them to me - David Austin's. So heady and full and sensuous.
And then I headed over to my in-laws; where my mother-in-law had made a beautiful and simply perfect dinner for us. She makes these lovely baked sweet potato (white ones) in long sticks, and they go all caramel-ey. And grilled veges (eggplant, zucchini, capsicum) and adds them to a rocket and feta salad. And of course a special meat (though since I came into their life, I know that she always makes special care and thought to provide me - the vegetarian - with delicious alternatives).

And then a yummy cake. Topped with fresh raspberries.
And Sylve offered fresh raspberries too, on her little chocolate cake treats.
These are quite a delicacy here, and I gobbled their sweet globules of fresh (the ones that Sam didn't eat!).
So, despite the whinge and mess from the kids this morning; a beautiful birthday. And some lovely and thoughtful and just right for me presents. You know when you only get a few presents, but they are right. That's the best, hey!

Left over cake tomorrow. May have to find some friends to share it with; or take the kids on a picnic (if the rain eases for a moment).

:: 31 :: A year of becoming an adult and enjoying things slower, and respecting myself, and taking more time for myself. Of stopping. Of laughing and giggling. And singing and running. And creating. So much creating is bursting out of my seams; eager to evolve into itself.

Sam turned 35; he still is a young man to me - the sweet person who I met and fell in love with all that time ago.

Red Seed Studio :: newsletter :: 2

Hello Everyone,

It's been a busy past few months. The Brisbane Stitches & Craft show is over now, and while we'll miss the hustle and bustle and the wonderful friends, it's nice to not have fabrics all over the house while we prepared our stock.
Thank you to everyone who came and visited us at the show - who took our fabrics and sewn items home with you, and those of you who participated in our workshops. We had a lot of fun!Our latest news is that we have opened up our online shop. We are still adding products as we do more print runs, and make more pieces (and take the photos); but there are many already for you to have a look at.
We are offering 20% as an opening special.* So, please pop on over and have a look.Remember that if you are after something special that is not yet listed, that we do custom printing and sewing. So, email us to place an order for any colours, fabric sizes and design you are after.
I also have learnt some new computer programs, and now have my tote bag pattern written up. We have tote bag kits available, in whatever colour and design you want. The kit includes the pattern, which is illustrated with easy to understand colour photographs, as well as the fabric (of your choice) needed to make a fully lined tote bag.
We are currently looking for stockists, either online or bricks & mortar, and would love to hear from you if you are interested in stocking our handcrafted items.
Anyone who places an order this weekend** will receive a special free gift. It's our birthday tomorrow (yes... we both share the same birthday) and we're celebrating by giving you the gifts (as we can't think what to give each other!).
Have a lovely weekend, and thank you for visiting Red Seed Studio.
~Some of these photos are from a recent photo shoot we did. Thank you to my stylist and the helpful little creatures.
* 20% off ends 21st June.
**free gift offer ends 25th May.

red on green

I'm very excited and pleased to direct you over to some kind and lovely words written about Red Seed Studio.
Crafting a Green World has featured us on their Fab Fabrics post. Jackie obviously has a deep passion for environmental and ecologically produced products. Her personal blog, Tiny Decor, is a round up of the most wonderful things for your little ones, and for their playroom or nursery. Showing that good design is just as easy using eco-friendly furnishings and decor.
The amount of inspiration and information on Crafting a Green World is amazing. Keeping us up-to-date with new products, easy and fun green tips and projects for the household, as well as lots of other little tit-bits*.
Do go and have a read.
Thank you Jackie, and Crafting a Green World for featuring Red Seed Studio amongst all this wonderfulness.

(* is it tit-bits, or tid-bits?).

the wisdom of the owl-lets

I haven't told you yet, have I, that I'm officially a Brown Owl.
This is super-duper exciting, fantabulous. Membership to this crafty, fun and lovely group is pretty limited. Started by the ever crafty mother owl herself, Pip, from Meet Me at Mikes.
My first meeting was yesterday. A full three hours of crafting and chatting and feeling at ease with all these women who I didn't previously know (apart from their blogs).Thank you so much to Rebecca and Bec for teaching me the basics of crochet. Even though you tried really hard, I haven't quite mastered the art of the granny square. Sylve + I both ended up making flowery curvy waving circle things - very pretty, but not granny squares.
One thing I like about crochet is that it's really easy to unravel, and redo. You don't feel so terrible sitting there pulling it apart (not tedious like using a quick-un pick when you sew a seam wrong). Well, last night I sat on the couch and did a fair bit of unravelling and re-working. I decided that there are only so many times I can attempt something in one night, so I decided to make some round coasters instead of granny squares. (I did hear many girls talking yesterday, saying that grannies are hard to make, so I don't feel totally useless). I made this coaster pattern up, as I went along. And happily can say that I replicated it (almost) for the second one I made. I'm thinking they could cute stitched into a blanket or even a purse. The ideas are flowing.Sam has requested me to make him a beanie. For this Winter. Can anyone lead to an easy pattern for making a male-style beanie. He wants it to have a brim, but I think that's out of the question.
My yarn is a beautiful organic Australian wool, spun in New Zealand, and dyed with low-impact, metal-free dyes. It's so soft and easy to use. Doesn't have a lot of extra fluff. And the colours are really pretty. I'm currently using the grapefruit moon, which is a natural white. Sylve + I got ours from Tangled Yarns (via a story in MAP magazine - Sylve went to school with the girl who drew that cover pic!).

today ::

today ari asked me, as we were driving past the cemetery, what it was.
i explained to him, though i knew he already knew, that it was where some people bury the people they love, when they die.
he then asked me, when all the family people have buried all the people who have died, who buries the last family person, when they die.

i had to stop and think, for a moment, and totally appreciate his thinking. his logical way of working it all out. and i smiled.
i took it literally to mean - the very last person on earth. who will bury that person. or who will mourn that person.
of course. we know
no-one will need to mourn the last person.

children remind you to think about things, don't they.
they take nothing for granted.
accept nothing as it is presented.
ask many questions until they are content that they know for themselves, what it means.
not knowing the rote of learning, the knowledge of learning.

we picked these on our walk yesterday

they are now brightening up our bathroom.
cheery and sunny and happy.
anyone know what they are? sunflower, daisy... they grow on a really big rambling bushy thing.

in case you forgot... tomorrow is mother's day

Some Mother's Day love :: ideas.
(in case you happen to read this Sam*, I don't mind if it arrives in the post a tab bit late)."embossed Japanese print silk scarf" by Green Olive Designs; available here. Martine is from Melbourne, Australia.
"count me the stars" by Kylie Johnson - available here. Brisbane, Australia."bird pendant necklace" by That Vintage; available here. Tasmania, Australia.
"linen golden halter with buttons at the back" by BlueSeaBlue ; available here. Brisbane, Australia.
"round shoulder tote rust" by Textilis; available here. Brisbane, Australia.
"snow walker" by Flying Star Toys; available here. Florence Forrest is from Brisbane, Australia.
"flat white eco shopping bag with hemp lining" by WheresBeckyBean; available here. Bec and Jade are from Brisbane, Australia.

Alright I could go on and on. And, really - these are things I want. I'm sure my mum would have loved to receive anything from this list, and even my mother-in-law would be happy with some.
So - breakfast in bed, the dishes done, a beautiful card and a big sloppy kiss, or a phone call to your far-away mother (grandmother, sisters, aunts...).

*Sam does not, ever read this blog; except over my shoulder while I'm writing it occassionally. So, really I know that none of these things are actually going to arrive in the post, unless I treat myself (which happens even less occassionally......).
** all photos sourced from each designer's site.

new corners

been moving things about a bit here.
fluff stirred up in corners, and resettled down somewhere else.
cupboards moved to that room
boxes pushed under there
things piled up here
and then

a
new
tower
for me to
look
and remember
and smile
about.

recently my aunt passed this piece along to me
made by the hands of my mother
made by
the hands
of my
mother

those perfectly formed
flowers
and
shapes
embroidered
then the sun
crocheted out and out and out
those rings of bright
colour
and love.

a corner,
for me
to smile.

**all photographed at night, under very low light conditions.

thursday grand designs* :: old yarns.reclaimed linens

I have mentioned Kristina before, when I received her beautiful tresor pocket as a giveaway gift.
I was lucky enough to chat to Kristina each day at the craft show. She was one of the most serenely and beautifully dressed people throughout the whole show - every day. I only wish I'd taken some photos of her in her outfits.New to the oldyarns.reclaimed linens etsy shop are some simply cute and adorable little paper boat kits. le petit bateau kit; French magazine papers to make into sweet little boats - for little kids and big kids!

I like the packaging; the attention to detail; the little things that matter most.Image courtesy of Old Yarns.Reclaimed Linens.

I wish I knew someone who would appreciate the love and care that has gone into this parcel.
(my little sailors would surely knock the wind out of these paper creations).

my favourite show Grand Designs is on each Thursday.

~

~, originally uploaded by petalplum.

I know they all look almost the same, but I love the colours and hues and vagueness of this shapes. And the feeling of them.
Ari says that he was taking photos of stars, but the stars didn't come up.

today I am...

looking out at the rain
thinking about the washing on the line
listening to new music, linked from a newly found blog
writing patterns
tidying up my sewing corner
enjoying the thought of some sewing tonight, once the little ones go to bed
ordering more fabric
researching more fabric options
organising orders from the Craft Show
updating mailing list - thank you to all our new red seed studio friends
sitting at a tidy desk (thank you Sam)
thinking about what I'll make for dinner; again
enjoying these photos from my camera, that surely Ari took one random evening - see the rest here
drinking hot cocoa in my favourite mug