from seed

Top image}  A little shoot growing up from a seed.

One night while we were making salad dressing {lemon juice + olive oil + honey} we found a seed that had already just started cracking open. 

Ready to send forth roots and a shoot.

I gently placed it in the soil in our little window box on our kitchen window. 

A space that gets regular watering and not too much hot afternoon sun. 

Little by little each day we have watched our seed grow. Even since taking this photo, a few days ago, it has grown taller with proper leaves opening up.

Bottom image} A piece of mandarin left on our bench, half eaten by Mishi's little mouth.

One day we will eat lemons and mandarins from our own grown trees. This little shoot is the first. A hopeful first. A dream growing to fruition. Even if it takes many years of tending before we have our own fruits.

Other things} It also seems as if Ari has suddenly shot up taller and taller. I don't even recall when it happened - but he is now tall enough that he fits under my armpit quite easily. Just tall enough for me to lean upon him. 

{flowers} yesterday::today

Yesterday at 6.15 am*, I took these photos of our hoya. The buds still all closed up.

Then this morning, at 7.43am* I stepped onto the front steps and noticed that they had opened their star petals up. These have a subtle, sweet perfume.

*times may not be entirely accurate, but are as close as memory allows.

i'm going to have to start sharing

My big boy decided that he can sew by himself. On my machine. He had this long stretch of white felt that we got from (possibly) Reverse Garbage. He drew great lines on it, just strips of colour. And a few cross lines as well. Simple. And perfect. In a very graphic art way. I really like his simplicity, his restraint with the shapes and lines. Just keeping it still and uncomplicated.
(Someone outside, in another house, is playing a beautiful lyrical piece on a flute, or something. Another one of those moments you have of living in the city. In a street where you can hear your neighbours breath and talk and yell, and play music, and laugh).So, after much talking, and me having to finish sewing my skirt (photos tomorrow, or some other time, I promise), I let him at the machine. First he sat on my lap, moving the fabric about with his hands, and pressing the button to reverse the stitches, lifting the foot up and clunking it down. All to my instruction. With me pressing the foot presser, to make it all go.
Then, while I was doing something else in the same room (my machine is now in our kitchen), he hopped onto the chair, and stretching his legs to reach the foot presser, he started doing it all on his own.So, my big (little) boy can sew. Have a look at that concentration.We got a box to make the foot presser higher, so that he can reach properly. And with standing over shoulder instructions from both mum and dad about being careful to not get fingers sewn on.
He did it.
He decided exactly where to start and when to stop the stitches. And then, half way through a line, half way across the 'page' he stopped, lifted up the foot presser, cut the thread. And declared it finished.
So, I suppose I'm going to have to share my sewing machine with him now, hey. Or buy him his own.

portrait of an artist

These photos are all taken by the little artist himself. I love the composition and viewpoints in these images.He painted this one by squeezing the paint straight from the tube, and working it into shapes. He did this all on his own, while I was doing something else. He asked me to get the paints down, while the littest one was asleep, and set about doing some beautiful and textural paintings. Pieces that needed a few days drying time.
This one, the smaller one in the middle, was a collaboration between Sam and Ari. Done with those paint pen things, straight onto canvas. Many beautiful parts in this. I hadn't even got out of bed for the day, and these two artists had completed this mini masterpiece.
The red and black piece on the left is one of Sam's canvas lipstick palms, which he has hand drawn on top of. The beetle vase in the front is by Deb Cocks, I've mentioned her before (somewhere, I think).And this is, of course, a fun and childish self portrait!

Routines and rhythms seem hard to come by these days, for me. I cannot get myself into any sort of consistency of getting things done, or having any sense of achievement at the end of the day.

This trying to work from home thing is proving to be much harder than Sam or I imagined. Not having a studio space, away from the main living section of our tiny house is making things difficult. The kids want to be with us always, on top of us, beside us, under us, over us, pushing, pulling..... (Does anyone have good tips on how to manage working with children beside you? What are your good games to entertain them for longer than a millisecond? While we do our computer work, or my sewing).
All this means that any project we do is taking longer than necessary. And photos are sometimes hard to get right - you know, when a kid is dragging at your arm, bit hard to keep a camera still long enough to focus it!
But things are happening. And my mind is tumbling over itself with ideas waiting to get out. Jumping about, talking to each other sort of ideas. Things that go from one thought to the next without you realising it.
So, living in my mind isn't too bad. In my mind my house is clean, the kids play quietly on their own, or happily together for longer than five minutes, I am sewing sewing sewing, and Sam is designing and printing and drawing.... And things are happening.

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

I made some yummy little cakes last night. And iced them with the remaining chocolate mousse icing from the party cakes. The best and simplest icing in the whole world! (I *forgot* to take photos of the birthday party, so these will have to do. Hopefully some good ones from my father-in-law).To make this tasty icing all you need is 600ml single cream and 250g block chocolate (best quality). Put half the cream in a pan and heat, then pour over chocolate, which has been broken into pieces. Stir until combined and nice and smooth. Then leave to cool. Whip remaining cream until almost stiff peaks, then fold gently into the chocolate mixture. It should be a good consistency to top your little cakes with, then put a half strawberry on top of that.
Put it in your mouth in one whole bite! And be surprised that chocolate, chocolate and strawberries can taste so good.I froze the remaining icing (from the party day), and dug at it slowly over each night; easy peasy icecream. With some fresh strawberries to 'tone it down a bit'. My dad didn't think it was too bad either!

Or you can let it thaw and top your cakes with it. It won't last long what ever you do.

looking for dreams

Today we went for a drive down the coast, to the Gold Coast Hinterland. Looking at houses, land, possibilities of a new home for our family. I'm not sure we found our new home, but we had a lovely day. And some dreaming, and new questions. And, well a very lovely day with beautiful views.

Ari declared that it was a good day for going to the park - we agreed with him. The sweet little park we stopped at, in the middle of 'now where', where we had our picnic and played and played. And Mishi learnt after only a few tries how to climb the big steps so she could go down the slippery slide - backwards, on her tummy!

The park was next to a little creek. We were sure that fairies lived there; creek fairies, and sunlight fairies, and maybe grass fairies.

Peeking down driveways (the real estate didn't want to set up any viewings as we hadn't sold our house yet), and looking at "For Sale" signs, and rewriting real estate advertising - they are good at that aren't they!

We came home, all tired from the long drive. The kids watched a bit of afternoon tv, and Sam checked his car forum (on the internet). I went into the back yard with a coffee, to sit in the late afternoon (and getting quite cold) sun, and soaked up a few pleasures in my current garden. Joined by our cat.

I dreamt of *real* blueberry trees, rather than the straggly stick with a few blossoms that we have. And envisioned the vegie patch, and fruit groves, and the flower and herb gardens.

Sometimes I live on dreams. They are what get me through a day of living in a messy house, or whingy kids (or yelling mum!), or over-due bills. For a while now I have been living in this house and dreaming daily about our new home. I have moved out of this house, in my fantasy world, and now have a large sprawling acreage with space for many trees, and a hiding places for us and the fairies. In an old Queenslander house, with space for my own sewing room, and pot belly fireplace, and studio for Sam and me to *build our dream business*.

Actually, simply space to stop and be still, to hear the birds, to watch the flowers and the vegies grow, to feel the breeze and the water tumbling over our toes. To sit or run or dance or sing as our hearts desire.

A place for dreams to happen, to come true.

:: I've realised that we took no photos of the glorious views, so I'm sorry, you'll have to take my word for how magical the place is. And hopefully there'll be a next time ::

Does anyone know what this plant is? I bought it years ago, as a tiny leafy thing. It dies down each year, and has now sent up this amazing brilliant red bud. The base is like a big fat bulb, with red speckled leaves. I will take more photos as the flower opens further.

my little corner

Finally found a bit of time to get some more tidying and organising, and prettying in my little corner, sewing space. It's half a room - the other half is kids toys, clothes, that sort of thing. (Really, it's our second bedroom, and Ari should be sleeping in here. But he doesn't want to - who'd want to move out of Mum + Dad's bed! - and I'm not ready to give up the sewing space).

The beautiful little acorn picture, and the b/w bust image are from Stefani's Blue Yonder etsy shop. I bought them ages ago, and have been waiting to have them on show.

I still have to put up another inspiration line, underneath the other one. Well, Sam put the first one up for me, so he'll probably do the next one. I'd also like to have a corkboard in there, but they seem hard to find lately!

The screen-printed yarrow fabric hanging down is from the very talented Erin of Blossom Creations. I have the yellow tea towel also, which I still have to find a spot for.

When I lived on my own - well, with flatmates or in my own room at my parent's house - I always had heaps and heaps of inspiration images up all over my walls. Just blu-tacked up. I really like doing that. Lots of fashion, and interiors, and colour ideas. Now that I own my home, and have spent hours and dollars painting it - well, I'm not quite so keen to use lots of blu-tack. (Ummm, actually I think it's Sam who spent most hours, and who isn't so keen).*

I'm really liking the way this little corner is shaping up. I have heaps of ideas and plans and projects that need starting and finishing (let's not get into my WIP list!). So, hopefully the kids and I will manage to keep it tidy enough for me to do a little sewing.

*Now I'm sounding like I can't do anything for myself. I can, it's just that - well, I'm a bit lazy and Sam's much better at it than me! Please, I do think of myself as a modern feminist - I just know my limitations.

That Denyse Schmidt Quilt-It Kit is proving to be wonderful inspiration. It was purchased on a lovely afternoon out on my own a few months ago.

breakfast at warhol's

This is (l - r) :: me, my Dad + my sister, Sylvia. In the photobooth at the Andy Warhol exhibition at GOMA. We went today. I like going to exhibitions with my Dad - he is a very intelligent person, he knows so much about so many things. Wish I knew a little bit about a few things! He tells me things about the artist or muscian or event or process or artwork.

A lot of who I am comes so strongly from my parents - who they are, who they helped me to be, the way they helped me be me, yet educated me to look outside myself as well. Dad is my hero!

These breakfast images I took a few days ago - one morning when Mishi was having a very early nap, and I had quiet breakfast, thinking and photographing time. By quiet I mean, just Ari was there talking to me, wanting to share my toast, or me to make him something else.

I would really like to have more time for styling + photographing my mundane moments :: eating, cooking, folding clothes, reading. But these moments seem to just happen, without being able to stop and think too much about it. I hope by the time my children are big enough for me to do things like that, that I am still inspired in the mundane. I think I will be :: probably I'll enjoy the time and space for these activities so much, that I'll want to record them.

These particular images are very inspired by simply breakfast who sure has a varied and interesting, delicious looking diet. A lot of inspiration in Amanda's 30 days in photos. And the noticing project is beautiful everyday moments - I love the name. And, of course, six one way continues to make me smile at the snippets of life with kids.

our little tree

This is our first Christmas tree we've had - in this house or as a family. We decided to have a real, living tree for a few reasons. It was something we did in my family, when we were children. I remember seeing it get bigger each year :: a wonderful way to notice the changing of the cycles and the growing of our lives/selves. Also, we wanted something that could be special to care for, look after, tend to. Every day it is Ari's special job to remember to water the tree. We have to clear up the dropped needles and seedpods. And then, to have this wonderful real tree in our house feels immensely special for me. Growing up in the bush we didn't have trees inside our house so much (except bonsai trees), seeing as how we lived in a very outside-in house. Nature always came in, if we wanted it to or not. And now, while we have flowers and seedpods and sticks and things, we don't often have real trees growing in our house. Sometimes we may have an orchid plant - which in a way is like a growing flower arrangement.

We choose a Daintree pine (Gymnostoma australianum). It's so pretty, with such lovely shaped seedpods (almost like many-armed star-shaped atoms) and furry little 'flowers'. The tree is almost classic Christmas tree shape. It will grow healthily and happily in a pot.

Our decorations are simple, and all handmade. Steiner-style angels, and stitched felt stars. It is my wish / aim to make something new each year to add to the tree, or collect things that are special to us. Rather than just buying a heap of plastic decorations and throwing them at the tree. It's quite an understated look. Actually, I really like it. I think this year Ari was maybe a bit too young to assist so much, or he didn't want to, so mainly Sam and I did it. We tried some lights, but they didn't really match. We do have one 'not-handmade' decoration :: this lovely little one that came from my holiday traditions swap from Tonya. (She also made us a beautiful looking wreath, which we are waiting to receive from Australian Quarantine).

afternoon

1. Bookshelf :: with roses from our garden + found bottles + baby doll + my fold-out artwork from year nine art class. 2. Bookshelf :: glass plate - our wedding present from artist + a little box sculpture thing I made about a year or so ago + a special candlestick holder my mum made. 3. Little face masks Ari made today while at The Corner. 4. Afternoon view from our front steps.

21 + giraffes

Giraffes on the horizon. These metal structures /cranes look like a parade of giraffes.

I went to yoga today, after about five weeks of not going. A whole heap of reasons why I haven't been for so long :: me being a little teeny tiny bit lazy is not number one, but definitely up there! On the back of the toilet door I saw a little sign, once I'd sat down, that said ::

"21 ...... are you making or breaking. It only takes 21 days to make or break a habit. What are you doing?" (Or something like that anyway).

So, I got me thinking that I really want to commit to yoga. I used to be very good at my practice, and actually quite good at yoga :: it is one of those things that does need dedication and you can't fake it. Over the past possibly four years (since being pregnant and having kids basically), I've not had as much time, motivation, dedication as I would like. So now that I can drive myself there (did I not mention that I finally got my licence a fortnight ago. Yes, I'm 29 and on my provisional licence. But the real point is that now I can drive!), I'm hoping I can stick to being more dedicated to it. Let's see how I go over the next month.....

Onto more fun matters :: Yesterday we met Momo and her beautiful family at the markets. We had said hello to each other the week before, but not had time to stay and chat. So yesterday it was really lovely to sit down with Momo and her husband, and their sweet adorable little boy. So great to meet people and have things to talk about, and things in common. Our boys are so close in age, it would be wonderful for them to get to know each other, possibly become friends. I can only say that my kid didn't start off too well, with his rough ways! He did used to be so sweet and soft, and quiet - and often he still is, just lately he's sort of turned into a bit of a crazy, loud kid... hmmmm hope both sides of him find an equilibrium soon.

Momo was definitely the most stylish woman at the market, in her subtle way, with that lovely floppy hat and her great sense of fashion. Oliver, too, was so beautifully dressed - as he often seems to be by looking at his photos.

I do so want to try and see if we can become more friends than just acquaintances.

Kitchen rainbows. I'm really loving watching the sunlight move across our new stainless steel appliances, making rainbows and sparkles across the room.

Life has been so hectic as of late. The kitchen renovation continues. Sam has spent the last four days prepping and painting the walls. Unfortunately the red that we choose for our walls, when we were at the paint shop, isn't quite the same one that is now on our walls. It seems they mixed the colour a little bit wrong. And the ochre-ish reddish we had anticipated is now more vermilion. And then, of course, the trim colour doesn't match. We are waiting until the morning to see the trim dried, but I think they won't work together. And, also, totally detract from the amazing bench top...... So, that's bit disappointing. I'll call the paint shop in the morning, hoping they can at least give us some more trim colour - as I think maybe we can live with the red walls. Bright as they are!

Here's just a few pics of the kids from the past few weeks. Kids are changing all over again. Mish not crawling yet, but doing a lot of the practice movements of rocking on her hands and knees. Soon, soon, or maybe she'll just hop up and walk! She grows more beautiful each day, her smiles and laughs more clear, directed to you so lovely. She loves Ari so much, they have wonderful giggle sessions together. I can see that they will be such a cheeky team.

And Ari is getting to be more of an adult, grown up in his speech and language, his mannerisms, his way of interacting with the world. Quite a worldly boy, so sure of himself. He knows that he is so truly loved and adored.

Sparkling hair + shinning freshly made 'moon-melon juice'.

On the other hand - he is turning more cheeky all the time. A lot of "If I want to I can" - well, no you can't if I say you can't. (As in "I can have a biscuit now if I want to"). He gets quite over-excited sometimes, and goes into overdrive. Also, he has sometimes to say all the time - yes, all the time. This is really so wonderful, interesting, he observes so much and understands so much. A lot of things he sees and hears I never even notice. Sometimes the talking talking talking.... well, there's not a lot of silence around here mostly. Yet really, I wouldn't have it any other way, would I?

We discovered, last week, that Brisbane does in fact have a beach. Luckily is was high tide, and not the mud flats when we arrived. Watching the tide turn out, Ari was asking why was the the water draining out. We can't wait to get back here and have another lovely day.