prairie mouse

task completed

one of those things that just sat around waiting patiently. i saw it a couple of days ago and thought i'm going to finish that! i made it right after i had finished the 'ghan for tommy. a simple little square intended for a cushion cover. it didn't take all that long to finish - of course! next.

mini vacation

we had a night away on the weekend - just an hour and a half south to catch up with friends and family. i made pie to take for dinner (sour cream apple out of the silver palette - unbaked at this stage). i didn't have enough pastry to lattice the top so i cut out little bone shapes to decorate. alas i know not how to crimp the edge - any hints? our friends had grown these pumpkins so had they had to be in the photo too.

the next day we went to see my mother at the doll and bear fair she had a stall at. as i was driving off i kicked myself for not taking a photo of one of the bears - next time. i did however, find these 1950's chinese dolls. i was thrilled to find a pair and here they are sitting in some cuttings i got from a friend's garden. i have no idea what the plant is and neither did she but she got the cutting from her grandmothers garden. i love that even though the plant comes with no name, it comes with lineage - thanks sue!

 

another thing i got at the fair were these dolly shoes. when i was little there was a doll's hospital you could send your sick dolly to. i had such strong images of what it looked like - little white beds, sweet nurses tending to our broken toys. when your doll came home she would be wearing a new pair of shoes just like these. isn't it amazing how you can be rocketed back!

this morning i pulled up at the supermarket and growing right in front of my park was this 'shroom. having just signed up for lucykate's mushroom swap it was the perfect inspiration. i love its ruffled collar. the eggcup is mine from many years ago. getting drawn back again!

beating the bugs

we have all literally been in bed with a wicked lurgy for a week. on the weekend i couldn't bear it any longer and knew that we all had to get outside. i wanted to air the house out as well, blow away those bugs! the weather was beautiful, those perfect crisp autumn days. i came up with a cunning plan to lure the children into the garden. we would build a temporary run for the guineas. michael had recently cleared all the raised beds so all the bamboo stakes were available and we could tramp around in the beds while we constructed.

there was a little resistance but once those children got out there the autumn air got in their lungs and we were away. it was such a good thing to do. we used what we had - knew those coffee sacks would come into use! prairie called the boys papua new guinea pigs as this was the origin of the beans - printed on the sack! we all took turns at guarding against the cats sitting in a couple of deck chairs. it was lovely to sit under the olive trees that are continually rustling with busy birds getting the last of the fruit and wile away the day.

the boys liked it too! (first guinea photo courtesy of prairie lebovitz!)

mary, i meant laura!

we are having a little raffle to raise money for the girl's netball uniforms so i made a mary laura ingalls doll. i didn't know i was doing that until i stitched that check bias around the bottom of her dress and there she was! a bonnet and a shawl and she was ready for a ride in the wagon.

ps what was i thinking?! i meant laura. i know mary was her sister but i meant laura. our household is down and out with full on head colds so maybe that was the reason!!!

happy mamma's day!

have a lovely one xxx

a quiet morning

ahhh............ a crisp autumn morning, children back at school, coffee, fresh baked oatmeal raisin cookies and a magazine!

since i got home from seattle i have done nothing but live and breathe fibre (so whats new!) i was lucky enough to get a job with a magazine here working on a new section they have introduced called handmade. i thought i was going to design a little toy but when i got there to my great delight there were a few pages and a few projects! so i have been very busy but have to keep the goodies under wrap till publication - july.

yesterday we had the photo shoot so i had to be super organised - i think i was -i was watching seinfeld at midnight the night before finishing up - that keeps a girl cheery, i can't help but laugh. i really enjoyed the shoot - great working with the photographer who had a fantastic eye. we worked all day and it was hard work but so much fun. when we were all done i had a wee lie down on the couch and had to literally peel myself off to do the school pick up!

this little tweeter was something i had made for the shoot but sadly for her she didn't make the cut. but she did make the blog!!