The Wiggins Tribe

Busy as a Queen Bee

2011-02-20T16:16:00.000+11:00

I haven't been around much these last few weeks... I have been busy, getting organised for a few new things, settling into the school routine, crafting it all leads to a very busy schedule and not much time for electronics.

So here, in a few snippets is what we have been up to. The Princess is now eating with gusto, her favourite snacks being watermelon and sweet potato. I have been sewing up a storm of toys for an up coming market, designing my own doll patterns, making clothes for the princess (that jacket is reversible, and made from scratch from my own pattern YAY!) I have been really getting into the swing of making Waldorf Dolls, the Prince got his very first school sticker on his second day of school for his behavior (beaming mumma here!!) and also again on his third and fourth. He was born ready for school this one, and comes home each day full of excitment, yet when asked what he has been up to says with disappointment... 'they still haven't taught me to read yet!'. Last of all, I have been working on my very first Waldorf doll for sale... the pink hair beauty. She still has some work to go, but is coming along nicely... this one is for a friends little girl!

So, hopefully now I am back in the swing of things... I hope you all had a fab weekend!

One World, One Heart

2011-02-17T20:12:00.001+11:00

Hi there, and welcome to 'The Wiggins Tribe', I'm so glad that you have stopped by. As I've mentioned before, I am participating in the final 'One World, One heart' this year (click on image for further information)

I'm Keshia, the Queen of our tribe. Me and my two little ones live in our Castle by the sea in the beautiful Tasmania (Australia). I'm a arty-crafty type, whether it be painting with my children or sewing up a new creation.... I LOVE it all. I also class myself as a musician in the closet... I haven't dedicated much time to my music over the past few years, it has all been about nursery rhymes and children's songs. My prince has inherited both of these traits which makes my heart melt.

A new found creative love of mine, just happens to be my door prize, so with out further adieu, I would like to introduce all you lovely newbies to Annabella...

She is a precious little thing, who can often be found with her nose stuck in a book. She is a quiet little soul but does an awful lot of thinking. Annabella is looking for a new home, not that she doesn't like it here, but I think my two little ones are just that little bit to loud for her.

She is a 13" Waldorf doll, made from all natural materials.

For stopping by my blog today, you can leave a comment to be in the draw to give Annabella a new home.

This competition is opened to all people, world wide who have an active blog. All you need to do, is to leave a comment and it would be helpful if you could leave your email address and blog address, so I have an easy way of contacting you shall you win.

The winner will be drawn on the 17th of February, (Pacific Eastern Standard Time). I will draw the winner via random.org and will contact you via email, and will dedicate a blog post to the win.

Happy 'One World, One Heart'

(you can find the other OWOH participants HERE)

One World, One Heart... We have a winner...

2011-02-17T20:04:00.000+11:00

What a great couple of weeks this OWOH journey has been. I have discovered many great blogs (will be dedicating this to it's own separate post) and I have been excited at the prospect of sending dear Annabelle off to a new home.

The wonders that be over at random.org have chosen lucky number 43 to give Annabelle a new home... So are you number 43 I hear you asking???

Number 43 left this comment:

I have emailed the winner and can't wait to send Annabelle off to her new home.

Stay tuned for a post of my favourite finds from my OWOH travels!

New Beginnings

2011-02-09T10:54:00.000+11:00

My beautiful little Prince started school today for the very first time. Can you believe it? I certainly can't.

He was so excited and was ready to leave as soon as he was dressed at 7.30.

7.30am : "Can we go now, can we go now, can we go now can we go now?"

7.45am : "what about now, what about now, what about now?"

8.00am "ugh, its taking so long can we go NOW??"

8.20am: ""Can we go now, can we go now, can we go now can we go now?"

We can?? YES!!!

Off to school we went. I stayed in his class for around half an hour and then had a coffee in the staff room with some other parents and staff. He has such a great little school who are very welcoming. I can't wait to pick him up and hear about all his new adventures as a school kid.

I can't believe I now have a child that goes to school!!

Technology Problems

2011-02-05T15:49:00.000+11:00

So I have been having a few problems lately with my email address charlie.ava (at) gmail (dot) com. Thought I was going mad, wondering why I couldn't access emails! Turns out my account had been hacked with out me realising. So, if you have been emailing me, and waiting for a reply I can't answer because I can't get emails. I have received an email from Google to say that they are working on it but because of privacy laws and the such it will take a while. Luckily I had two accounts linked to my blog - so I have deleted the above mentioned email - so it may look like I am not following you any more - but most of you still show up in my google reader.

If you need to email me, use thewigginstribe (at) gmail (dot) com, it is such a pain, I have been waiting on some important emails - but turns out that my initial emails may not have been sent!

Op Shop Finds

2011-02-04T17:37:00.000+11:00

After feeling a little house bound today, the kids and I headed down the street for a bit of Op shopping. We only went to one of the biggest ones (which, really isn't that big). We weren't disapointed though, we scored all the above for $7.50! The Prince was very excited with his find, a castle that opens up and has four rooms, a set of wooden trees and people, a construction man and an alien that lights up. He has called it 'The Castle of Dooooooom!'.

I was happy with my finds as well, a heap of great books, can't wait to get into the Making Paper Air Planes with the Prince, he is going to flip when I can actually work out how to make a plane that flies instead of going backwards. I also managed to find about a metre and a 1/2 of uncut vintage fabric... it is gorgeous. I found a cute old sheet that I am going to use at my market stall and a pretty pillow case that is begging to be turned into a few dolls clothes. Then there is the two balls of bamboo/cotton wool (that much, whoohoo!), a bag of buttons and an old pattern.

I think the Prince is becoming quite the little op-shopper!

Meet Annabelle

2011-01-30T16:34:00.000+11:00

Annabelle loves reading and spending time at the library. She is a dear little soul who is as quiet as a mouse but does an awful lot of thinking. She is just about finished... but I just couldn't wait to share her with you all!

I am thinking that I might sell her once she is complete...

And we have a winner for Edward!

2011-01-30T08:17:00.001+11:00

And we have a winner for Edward's cousin, Harry! Hayley, I will pop him in the post for you, I hope he has a nice flight and am sure he will love living with you guys!

*Please note: I actually wrote this post on the 1 st of Feb but have back dated it so that my OWOH post stays on top*

Little Mummy

2011-01-28T21:04:00.000+11:00

Today I received this little gem in the mail. I have been hunting it down for three years on and off. It is one of my favourites from when I was a wee one. It looks like my childhood, it even smells like my childhood.

I'm not sure how to describe how I feel about finding this original version to share with my own children as they grow. Its amazing what a book can do.

Whilst reminds you of your childhood?

I'm off to enjoy my memories with my new/old find, maybe the children will be able to pry it out of my hands when they are old enough to read?

A Bit of Inspiration

2011-01-21T23:16:00.000+11:00

So, I have a bit of an idea. I'm not going to share to much at this stage, I still need to work on it a bit and decided on the finer points (and wait for the postman to deliver me some yummy goodies) But here is a little sneak peak. I really excited about it, I think I am really starting to find my creative groove its just getting things out of my head and making these hands of mine work. This year is going to be swell for creating, I can just feel it!

Sweet Scones with a difference

2011-01-19T17:07:00.000+11:00

So I have never really shared what goes on n our kitchen, but I love to cook. Not so much gourmet chef here, more a scientist of the kitchen. Mixing this and mixing that to see what yummy things I can create out of left over food. Today I felt like a sweet treat for morning tea and used some left over sweet potato to make some of the yummiest scones I have had in a long time...

Sweet Potato Scones

2 and 1/2 Cups Self-Raising Flour
30g cold butter (chopped)

1 Cup cold mashed Sweet Potato

1/4 Cup Brown Sugar

1 egg (slightly beaten)

Step 1: Preheat oven to around 220'C

Step 2: Sift flour flour into a large bowl, add butter and using your fingertips rub in lightly.

Step 3: Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture. Add potato, sugar and egg.

Step 4: Mix to form a soft, sticky dough. (try not to over mix as scones will come out hard when cooked from to much handling)

Step 5: Turn dough on to a lightly floured work bench and knead lightly. Press or roll out to form a round shape about 2 cm's thick. Using a lightly floured glass (or scone cutter) cut into as many rounds as it makes (I got about 12)

Step 6: Place scones close together on a lightly floured baking tray, bake for around 12 minutes or until when lightly tapped scones sound hollow.

How easy are they? These are so yummy warm with a bit of butter, and just as nice cold with butter again, or even a little bit of honey (and go well with a cup of tea.

I also use this same recipe to make pumpkin scones - just exchange the potato for pumpkin and a little mixed spice (say, about 1/2 a teaspoon) wouldn't go astray either.

My Heavy Heart

2011-01-16T16:48:00.000+11:00

image from {here}

It’s with a heavy heart and a lump in my throat I write this post today. You see, I am one of those lucky people that have had a best friend that has been just that since birth.

Today, she and her mother left my house after a holiday here in their old home state to return back to their over-seas homes, my friend to Conventary in the UK, her mother to Huston, Texas USA.

This year we will have known each other for 25 years.

I miss her...

I reallymiss her terribly.

I miss her when she is here, because I know that she will go. I miss her when she is not here because she is so far away.

Each time I see her, it’s like we have never been apart, but it still hurts.

I ache for the day when she will be back, and a goodbye will simply mean I’ll see you tomorrow.

I know, that in heart she never really leaves me, but I just want to be able to reach out and touch her, to see the laugh on her face instead of just hearing it.

I believe in soul mates, and she is mine.

I am normally, a very positive person in general...

...But today, my body hurts, my eyes are sore and my heart is heavy, and I just don't feel like being happy.

"But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,

All losses are restored and sorrows end."

~ William Shakespeare ~

Happy Half Birthday

2011-01-16T09:29:00.000+11:00

My sweet girl was 6 months old yesterday. Yes, you heard that right a whole SIX months old. Before I know it, we will be celebrating her 1st birthday.

She is such a sweet thing. But has a huge personality, she is loud, but in a good way and adores her brother. She is moving around the place with speed, into everything and has a keen eye for lego ;)

I am loving watching her grow, I am loving how different, yet how similar my two sweet ones are, I love watching them interact with one another. The princess loves having her big brother read to her, he reads his favourite books which he knows page from page, her favourite is Where is the Green Sheep by Mem Fox - I think it has something to do with all the funny voices that he uses.

Thankyou dear beautiful girl, for choosing me as your mama, I can't wait to see what the next 6 months has in store for us!

Introducing My First Waldorf Doll

2011-01-15T22:32:00.001+11:00

Meet Jenny, the newest addition to our tribe. She has a few little touch ups to go and then she is all finished.

Jenny is my first ever attempt at making a waldorf doll. I'm pretty happy with the results - I made her from a bought pattern, but now that I have been through the process I have an idea on what I would change, to make it my own style. I enjoyed every single moment of making this sweet girl.

Jenny is actually named after another Waldorf Doll maker, who I found when Googling Waldorf dolls a few years ago. (If you read this Jenny, I hope you don't mind) But it kind of works in two ways as Jenny is my mothers name as well, so she can pretend its named after her if she wants ;)

Making a Waldorf doll was a daunting thing for me to start - there are a lot of fabulous doll makers out there, (I will list my favourite at the end of this post), and after looking at a few I became nervous about how mine would turn out.

Once I actually received my doll kit in the mail though, the nerves left and it was filled with excitement. Every step of bringing Jenny to life was enjoyable, from shaping the head, to stuffing the body. The aroma from the wool stuffing is something that I can't explain well with words, but the smell of it, it makes you feel like you are making something 'real', something that has 'life' something that has 'heart'. Watching the doll come alive from a piece of fabric, limbs forming, the face shape is just something you have to experience to understand. Even the feel of her little buttocks just make her seem more real.

I will bring you some more photos of Jenny in the next few days, she is in need of a few more clothes - the dress she has on now is her cousins and its a little on the small side (must of ate to much at Christmas).

If you want to check out some fabulous doll makers who's work and words have inspired me I highly suggest not going to look until you have a few hours free - once you start you may not be able to stop ;)

Little Jenny Wren

Poppy, Bean and Bloss

Fig&Me

Waldorf Doll Journey

2011-01-13T22:52:00.000+11:00

There is so many heart aching in Australia right now, I feel strange writing a post that doesn't reach out in someway, to let them know that I am aching for them to. But, I guess thats the beauty of Australia. We pick up and move on with the whole nation holding us up.

Tonight, I am going to share with you a new journey I am taking. I have talked about it in a few posts earlier, and its the journey of making a Waldorf Doll.

My doll kit arrived in the mail today, I was so excited I near snatched it off the water logged postman. I opened it up, and took stock of the unfamiliar fabrics and stuffing. I waited ever so patiently for the prince and princess to fall asleep before exploring it some more, and started on the head.

I've always imagined what it would be like to make a Waldorf doll, but actually getting in and doing the work for exceeds anything I could have imagined. See, Waldorf Dolls are made from all natural materials, including the stuffing. For those of you that have never handled wool stuffing, it has a smell to it. At first I turned my nose up, because I am used to working with polyester (or poly-fill) stuffing. But as I was shaping my head, the aroma of the wool slowly came in line with my senses. It has a beautiful, soft, natural smell. It brought back many memories of shoveling my grandfathers horse stables at the farm, of sitting in the big old arm chair that was covered in spider webs whilst watching him work with the horses. I know I'm new to Waldorf Doll making obviously, but I guess, this is what making these dolls is all about.

So, this is the progress so far, the shaping of the head. This is one of the elements of the Dolls that makes them extra special. On to the body tomorrow, wish me luck!

P.S; Tomorrow, all shall be quiet here in a virtual moment of silence. A mark of respect for Lori, Tony and their family. I will also be sending love and strength to Lori tomorrow via Twitter as she farewells her husband under the hashtag #LoveToLori. You can read here for more details.

Auction for Lori

2011-01-12T15:39:00.000+11:00

Meet Violet the cat. Violet is sending a helping hand to Lori by lending herself to be auctioned off to help out Lori and her family.

The prefect addition to your family, she really is a sweet little thing, doesn't nag for food or scratch the furniture and certainly will never run away or use the pot plants as a toilet. (made from abitofwhimsydolls pattern).

Sarah from 'Just Me' is organising the auction to raise money for Lori, if you are able to help with donations you can find Sarah's blog post {here} with details. If you are unable to donate, keep an eye out on Sarah's blog for when the auction is underway.

She is doing a fantastic job, and I am totally in awe of her, words can not express how awesome she is, along with the many others that are standing by Lori and will continue to do so for many years to come.

There will be a few more items to come from us for this auction, and I will share with you what they are once photos have been taken.

(Please note: Local Readers, a cousin of Violets has also been donated to the raffle organised by the Penguin Leo's Club to raise money for the QLD flood victims. They will also be holding a Car wash in Penguin this weekend to raise funds for the Relay for Life and the QLD floods)

Dear Queensland

2011-01-11T19:34:00.000+11:00

image of Rockhampton taken from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12116919

My heart is aching for you. Please stay safe.

If can can spare a few dollars please consider donating to the Flood Appeal

http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html

Yawn

2011-01-11T08:55:00.001+11:00

image from {here}

Sleep. Its over rated right? RIGHT?? Ok, don't answer that.

For four and a half years I have been battling the sleep monster. And I am tired.

I could write a book on the things I have tried. Co-sleeping, new bed, new covers for said bed, diet restriction, books, movies, kiddy meditation, blah blah blah.

Do I just have to face that the prince just doesn't like to sleep? Will I have to battle with this for the rest of his childhood? At least when he was a baby he would settle after a feed in my arms, now that he is a walking, talking big small person his night wakings are painful. Four times last night, two hours of sleep gone. Two wakings is a good night.

I'm going mad, any help out there?

With Love Lori xx

2011-01-09T23:05:00.000+11:00

I've been contemplating this post for a few days now, but I haven't been quite sure what to say.

I know now, that all that needs to be said is, Lori, you have made me spit coffee over my computer screen and snort it up my nose, not once, but a dozen times. You have made me laugh so hard that I have woken my kids up. You have put dozens of smiles of my face when I have been feeling down. Thank you!!

Every inch of my being is sending your precious Tony healing thoughts, sending you and your sweet ones all my love in this tough time.

With Love,

Pay It Forward 2011

2011-01-08T08:21:00.001+11:00

I promise something handmade to the FIRST 5 people who leave a comment here. However, to be eligible, you must repost this message, offering something handmade to 5 other people. The rules are that it must be handmade by you, and it must be sent to your 5 giftees sometime in 2011. Ready, set, GO!

I joined over at Rosehips and Spiderwebs

Handmade Christmas Gifts - Beloverly

2011-01-06T16:15:00.001+11:00

I've mentioned Cat, from Beloverly numerous times before, and we were lucky enough to grab two of Cat's pieces for Christmas. The above is the Princesses, and was placed under the tree with the book of the same theme 'Guess How Much I Love You'. These pieces, are pieces that you have to see with your own eyes, to know how great they are. I knew they were good when I seen Cat post photos of her goods, but to actually hold these in my hands and 'really' look at them I was blown away.

This one is currently sitting in my room at the minute (the princess is still sleeping in my room) on my work in progress shelf, I was going to move it for the photo but I thought that it is nice to see where your own creations end up living. I think all the dolls and creatures coming to life are enjoying having it by their side though.

I haven't taken a picture of Charlie's yet, his is yet to find the right home to sit or hang, but as soon as it does I will grab a picture. (He loves it by the way)

You can find Cat's work over at ETSY or Madeit and here blog can be found {here}.

Thank you once again Cat - I'm sure these will be treasured for many, many years to come.

Olga the Elephant

2011-01-05T10:54:00.000+11:00

Don't let her sweet look fool you, Olga the Elephant arrived in our castle today all the way from Russia, the prince, princess and I went to pick her up this morning. She is a hard old women who's mood changes as much as our Tasmanian weather, could be due to a bit of jet lag, but I just think she is a snotty nosed old lady. The dark clouds bring the dark side out in old Olga, her bones creak, her skin sags and her manners are appalling.

You shouldn't let her small size sway your judgement either, this old lady certainly packs a kick when things don't go her way... Little does she know, if she keeps her horrid attitude up she is destined for her worst nightmare... the baby play area (insert evil laugh here).

Got My Happy Pants On

2011-01-04T20:44:00.001+11:00

image from {here}

ok, well maybe I lied. I don't own a pair of so called 'happy pants', you know those ones from the 70's/80's, ridiculous colours, ridiculous style, but did you know, if you ran really fast down a hallway lined with floor boards, then slid on your knees that they would puff out like a parachute? (You'll just have to trust me on this one. Please oh please oh PLEASE do not go and buy yourself a pair of happy pants, they are not cool, they were never cool)

But in this instance, we will make the pants I have on now my happy pants, well, that could work because pjamas do make me happy.

I had a brief chat the other day about wanting to make a Waldorf Doll. It has been something I have wanted to do for a long time. I was quite nervous about the whole process, but in the last few weeks I have been connecting with other Waldorf doll makers across the globe who's work I admire. Some have sent fabulous links of wonderful tutorials others have sent kind words of encouragement. The Waldorf doll maker community seems like such a beautiful, supportive community, and I can't wait to be a part of it.

So why the happy pants? Well today I received a book in the mail to help me on my journey and confirmation that my doll kit order has hit Melbourne... So its only a few days until it hits my mail box... and I am SUPER excited. So excited that I had to come here and ramble on about it because my four year old prince is sick of hearing about it ;)

Dino-riffic!

2011-01-04T16:21:00.000+11:00

I am really going to be trying hard this year to get creative, to get crafty which I hope in turn will help 'get me happy'. Not that I am not happy, but certainly not as much as what I want to be.

Heck, I studied art at Uni I SHOULD be doing something arty... shouldn't I?

You've heard about writers block, well I have been suffering from creative block. Not the type where I don't want to create, but more so I don't know WHAT to create. Not sure what has caused it, but I do know that these little toys I have been creating are slowly bringing back my want to create which is such a breath of fresh air... I might even be tempted to get the easel out sometime in the next few weeks and get back to what I always used to be about. It has been a long while since I was walking down the street with paint in my hair and on my clothes because I had been awake for over 24 hours painting or even drawing up a storm.

Anyway, sorry for getting you lost on my little tangent... I did forst off come here to show off my creation today... another T-Rex and I am loving the colours... very similar to Charlie's Bedroom (although this is not for him, he has requested a lizard?!?!).

I love making these, they are the sweetest thing.

Creative Collective: New Year - New Craft

2011-01-03T14:35:00.000+11:00

I'm joining in this month with the Creative Collective challenge, New Year = New Craft. I have started in the past few weeks to get into soft toy making. I have never drafted my own pattern though, and have really wanted to so I gave it a go. Of course, I chose an owl, I love them and thought that it would be simple enough to have a go at...

So introducing Edward the Owl, I thought once I had finished him that he would make a cute pin cushion... Until I heard him screaming out Arghhhhh! I thought to myself, 'thats strange, owls don't make that kind of sound normally', it sounds like he is in pain. Poor Edward, seems he is not cut out to be a pin cushion.

Pins removed and whilst I was hanging out the washing, I heard the sweetest sound...

Seems the little sweet heart had followed me outside and his headache was fixed up by the sun...

Now, I was thinking that I would give this little soul away until he decided to hide away from me, until he found his way into a pair of caring little hands, so instead, I am going to make up another one to giveaway, he seemed more pleased about that idea...

So, if you would like to win one of Edward's cousins, leave a comment here. I will leave the comments open until the end of this months Challenge, 31st January (Australian Eastern Standard Time). I am happy to post anywhere - but please note that these Owls have small parts and are not intended for small children or adults that tend to put things in their mouth.

One World, One Heart

2011-01-02T19:52:00.000+11:00

I have stumbled across a great find in the blogging world. Some of you may be familiar with One World, One Heart but for me, this is the first time that I have heard of it - and I am so glad I found it as this is the fifth, but very last time that Lisa from A Whimsical Bohemian will be holding it. (Click on the image to find out more)

I have a few weeks to create something for my door prize, and I am so excited to be participating - the numbers of participants were over 1000 last year!!

I highly recommend popping over to see what its all about.

Dolls, Dolls and More Dolls

2011-01-01T12:18:00.000+11:00

image from {here}

I've started to slowly become involved in a love from my childhood that has never really died... it has just kind of been hiding away amongst all the other things going on my life.

That love is Dolls.

I had a Barbie and Baby Doll collection to die for when I was younger and a whole lot of outfits and accessories to go along with them. I can remember 'stealing' off cuts of my nana's fabric, cutting holes in it and turning it into a pretty ~~ugly~~ dress for them.

Now that I have a daughter, I am kind of in doll heaven, actually make that toy heaven - my other secret love is Lego...

But I can't make lego.

Over the last few weeks I have slowly been dipping my feet in doll making. Mainly for Christmas presents for other little girls I know and now I am hooked. I can't stop making them.

See, as much as I love and loved Barbie Dolls as a child, it is not a 'toy' that I will be buying for my own Princess. I'm not a Barbie Nazi, but I do believe that there are more substantial/educational/more emotionally healthy options for her. So in steps her mumma with her sewing machine and doll-fever. I am determined to make her, her own set of dress-able dolls for doll house play.

That and then a big challenge... a Waldorf Doll. I am in LOVE. I have ordered a kit and am going to practice by making my self one first. Its rather daunting. I have wanted to make one for a very long time and the more that I think about it the more nervous that I get. If you don't know what a Waldorf Doll is then check out this blog by a very talented lady: Little Jenny Wren

I'm sure you see every bit of that journey! Lets hope its a successful one!

The year that will be

2010-12-31T08:45:00.000+11:00

What. A. Year.

A relationship breakdown, a friendship loss, illness - a long list of emotional draining experiences.

But this year, the good far out weighed the bad. A new blog, a new baby, new friendships and a personal strength gained through all those challenging experiences.

I'm one for resolutions, but not one for New Years resolutions. Mine are the type made weekly, that are achievable, that are realistic. What I can say though is next year is building up to be a fantastic year. Each member of our tribe celebrating a milestone birthday, 1, 5 and 25. The Prince begins his long (and hopefully joyful) journey into the joys of school (sob) starting on the 9th of February.

We get to start off the New Year with a visit from my best friend since birth, who's current residence is in Conventary in the UK. Also her mother who lives in Texas, USA.

May you stay safe in your New Years celebrations, we will be sitting on our balcony sipping on tea, munching on biscuits watching our towns fireworks whilst I finish some hand-stitching on an extra special gift.

I look forward to sharing our new year with you all.

Happy New Year,

With Love,

The Wiggins Tribe

Get Orgnaised: My Creative Space

2010-12-30T13:35:00.000+11:00

Where do you create? Gone are my days of having a whole room dedicated to crafting, there is just not enough space. For the past few months I have been crafting on the kitchen bench or the dining room table. I don't mind doing this except I found that when I got the crafting bug, by the time I had managed to drag out my huge plastic boxes of fabric and sewing notions, the crafting bug had died.

Not only that - but all my sewing things were stored in those huge UGLY plastic storage boxes on wheels - and they were all stacked in two piles of three in my room. Sometimes they were draped in a fabric I liked - at least to try and hide their uglyness, but most of the time they just sat there reminding me every morning when I woke up how ugly they were.

I can hear all you 'main-land' Aussies screaming in your heads 'Why doesn't this Women go to Ikea'... well, another problem of mine, just make sure you are sitting down before scrolling down...

WE DON"T HAVE AN IKEA!!! (this could be a whole blog post on its own!) Can you just imagine how I survive - I tell you, not well, not well at all.

So off I trekked to the local Kmart the other day and bought a car load of those white boxes that you can see in the above picture and got to work on cleaning out a closet in our dining room to store all my crafty things within easy access. And I must say, I am digging the result (I just won't show you what is opposite this picture - a whole pile of crap which I now have to find homes for)

I still have a lot more crafty things to go through and sort, but now that I have some direction as to how they are being sorted it shouldn't be to long before I will be moving into this wardrobe, let the creating begin!

A Whimsical Find...

2010-12-28T15:04:00.000+11:00

A few months ago a friend sent me a link to a wonderful website, Bit of Whimsy Dolls. I must say, I am hooked on Sarah's patterns... (photos taken with my phone so please excuse the quality!)

Meet Tommy T-Rex, made for a friend in WA as well as...

and...

All now special friends to four little people.

I love making them for so many reasons, they are quick and quite simple and also there is nothing quite like watching a soft toy that has quite a bit of character come to life because of your own two hands.

Below is my current project for a friends baby girl - the doll is finished but I am making up a few little outfits to go along with her, some pj's, a jean and top set and hopefully a fairy costume. She is so sweet, I could just see my house becoming full of soft toys made from Bit of Whimsy Patterns!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, I will be back later to share our day with you when I have all the photos down loaded.

T'was the day before Christmas...

2010-12-24T13:01:00.000+11:00

T'was the day before Christmas and all through our castle,

the Wiggins Tribe was a singing with out even a hassle.

All our presents were wrapped and placed under our tree,

Oh how we can't wait till morning to see what they will be.

With smiles and laughter our Christmas photos were taken,

we are the cutest kids in the world, now don't be mistaken.

With mumma in her jammies, and kids in their Christmas hats,

We ran around our castle getting tinsel back off our cats,

When out in the street, there were Christmas Caroler's a singing,

Oh wow oh wow, what joy they are a bringing.

All our Christmas dishes have been made,

all the Christmas festivities hoorayed,

all that is left now is to lay our sweet heads,

down upon our beds.

To all our wonderful friends good night,

May your Christmas tomorrow be bright.

Merry Christmas Everyone,

With Love,

The Wiggins Tribe.

Free MCN's

2010-12-17T20:10:00.001+11:00

I have a whole heap of newborn MCN's (All in Ones) that were handmade by me... Some are secondhand, some brand new, I no longer have any use for them and they are looking for a new baby's bottom to cover :)

If you, or anyone you know would benefit from them, send me a message via the contact tab above - if you don't live locally all I ask is that you pay postage - I should be able to fit them all in a 3 kg post bag.

go {heart} yourself #3

2010-12-17T11:52:00.000+11:00

"go {heart} yourself is a part of my blog where I will share with you the things that I LOVE about myself, in doing this I hope to also change or improve the things that are stopping me from being who I want to be, ME. I'd love it if you would join in with me, so come on, lets all go {heart} ourselves!"

I know it has been a few weeks in between go {heart} yourself, but I am back on the ball this week. Last episode, we had two great entries, I enjoyed reading them and have visited them both a few times to re-read.

This week, in the lead up to the peak of the festive season it is really easy to get carried away in giving your all to everyone else around you and then forgetting the one person that matters the most... YOU! So this week with go {heart} yourself, why not declare something that you are going to do for YOU, be it something physical or mental.

This week, I am going to let go of all the things I feel I 'should' be doing for everyone else, I'm going to use that found time to spend some quality time with my children, because there can never be to much of that. Today we are going to be making some handmade Christmas cards, and for the rest of the week we have shortbread and a gingerbread house to make.

Enjoy your week, and remember to love yourself, because YOU are amazing xxx

Gifts for my Bloggy Friends #2

2010-12-17T08:00:00.000+11:00

{If you want to know what this is about, check out the first post here}

For Hayley, from Our Unique Journey

Hayley, It took me a while to pin point one thing that I would make you this year if I had the time, but in the end, I settled with a few things that 'go' together... A sewing kit, handmade high heel shoe looking pin cushion, a sewing bag, a cover for the new baby in your life (aka your sewing machine ;) and also including little handmade tags that say 'handmade by hayley' to put on all those lovely things you have been creating... they would look something like this...

If I was a millionaire, I would buy you two things. The first, going along with my sewing theme... one of these baby's (I'd also buy one for myself)

The second, was something I thought about while writing this post... and you know what made me think of it??? I can just imagine little Coop looking so utterly adorable in some Mickey Mouse ears... Thats right, a family trip to here!

Hayley, I hope you, Cooper and hubby have a really great Christmas, I've enjoyed watching Cooper grow up this year, can't believe that he is almost one - it seems like only yesterday I was reading your blog for the first time and he was only four (or so) months old!!

My Creative Space

2010-12-16T12:31:00.000+11:00

I have been making so much for everyone else lately, I thought it was about time that I made something for my own daughter. I have a pile of old clothes that I don't wear, but just couldn't throw away so I rummaged through them this morning and pulled out one of my all time favourtie tee's. A few cuts, a few stitches (maybe one swear word!) and about an hour later I had a cute little t-shirt dress for my princess. This is the first time that I have really tried to sew with a stretchy fabric. I normally stick with cottons, easy to sew, great results... So I am very pleased with how it turned out... stretch is hard to sew when you are used to sewing cotton. It doesn't do what you tell it to do and the machine will eat it if your not careful!! (I was lucky, my machine must of been full this morning)

So, she has a little bit to grow into, but I think it looks cute! Ever so soft and comfy and best of all I didn't need to buy a single piece of fabric, talk about saving the environment ;).

Now I am off to rummage through my wardrobe to see what else I can cut up... I wonder if I have any old Christmas tees??

Gifts for my Bloggy Friends

2010-12-15T21:38:00.000+11:00

I have been reading a lot of posts lately about gift buying. Great finds and buys for the whole family. I was thinking of posting something similar, but then I thought that I would mix things up a little...

So, here is the first of gifts that I would make (if I had the time) and that I would buy (if I was a millionaire) for my bloggy friends :)

For Cat, From beloverly

Cat, if I had the time to make you a Christmas present, it would be a journal cover. Not just any journal cover, but one to fit a moleskin diary. On the front of it I would make a patch that said 'Bebito Dictionary'. I would hope that you would use it to place all those wonderful posts you write about words that your Bebito uses.

If I were a millionaire, I would cheat and get you two things... This... and this....

Come back tomorrow to see what I would make and buy Hayley. :)

5 Months

2010-12-15T20:00:00.000+11:00

My sweet princess is now 5 months old. Its so cliche to say 'where has the time gone', but it really does feel like it was only yesterday that I was anxiously awaiting her arrival.

In five short months she has gone from snuggly newborn, to a delightful, giggly girl who is just about crawling. We have had a few presents opened under the Christmas Tree, and any toy that her brother leaves on the floor is up for grabs.

She is such a peaceful babe, never really uttering a cry. She loves being read to, and loves her brother jumping up and down.

Her favourite song is 'You are my sunshine' or 'Open, Shut them'.

Favourite toy is her butterfly wrist rattle (or her brothers toy cat if she manages to grab it)

Her favourite noise to make is a high pitched girly squeal.

We are still breastfeeding, and it is such a joy.

She is a blankie baby, she loves blankets to cuddle, suck, play you name it!

Her favourite game is 'Where is Ava' (pick-a-boo)

Dear baby girl, while I enjoy watching you grow day by day, please slow down, if only for a little while. I love those baby giggles, and those baby smiles. I'd like to hold on to them, if even just for a little bit longer. You and your brother bring me such joy, I'm so glad you picked me for your mama.

Just a quick post

2010-12-05T16:32:00.001+11:00

My little princess is growing to fast!

We have had a few interstate visitors the last few days, so have been spending a lot of quality time with them, usual programing returns tomorrow :) We hope you had a nice weekend xx

Christmas Stocking Tutorial

2010-11-23T22:59:00.002+11:00

So here goes, my first EVER attempt at a tutorial... so grin, nod, applaud if you will, but more importantly bear with me whilst I iron out the kinks ;)

Personalised Christmas Stocking Tutorial

Christmas is fast approaching us, and here is a nice little Christmas craft project to fill up an afternoon.

For this project you are going to need the following:

1/2 m of fabric for the front (you made need at least a meter if you have a printed fabric so that the print runs the right way.)
1/2 m of fabric for the back (you could either have a contrasting colour or keep it the same as the front)
50 cm of Ric Rac (or lace/ribbon etc) in a contrasting colour
scrap of Calico big enough for the name plate

Step One: Cut Out Stocking

First things first, you are going to need a stocking template. I used my brothers childhood stocking because it was on top of the decoration box and also has a really nice shape. You could free hand a stocking shape or pick up a cheap stocking from your local $2.00 shop to use as a template.

Lay your fabric on your cutting surface with right sides facing each other. Pin template/pattern to fabric and cut out, making sure to also cut a seam allowance.

The green boarder you can see here is how much seam allowance I gave myself - I also add an extra few cm's to the top so that I can give it a nice hem at the end.

You should have two pieces now, a front and a back.

Step Two: Cut out name plate

Next you need to cut out a piece of calico for the name plate as wide as the stocking where it will be placed and its height can be as big as you want/need it to be. Remember to add on a seam allowance to the height so that you can hem it before attaching.

Step Three: Decorate Name Plate

Now you can decorate your name plate - I embroidered mine and the Prince chose two iron on appliqués from the local craft store., but the list is endless in what you could do. Applique, fabric paint etc. When decorating it, remember about the seam allowances and try not to decorate in that area or you will lose some of your design when you put it together.

Step Four: Hem and Attach Name Plate

Next step is to hem your name plate on the longest sides, I do this just simply by ironing over the sides.

Place your hemed name plate on the right side of the fabric you want for the front of your stocking. Lay your ric rac (or other decorative ribbon) along the top and bottom of the name plate and pin in place...

Sew along the ric rac (making sure that you are catching the name plate underneath as well)

Step Five: Sew Stocking together

With right sides facing pin the stocking together and sew. (remember to leave to top opened, or santa won't be able to fill it up ;)

I then like to go around the edges in a zig zag stitch to give it a longer life. You could also use an overlocker, but I was to lazy to drag it out of the cubboard ;)

Step Six: Hem Opening and attach hanging string

Your stocking is almost complete. Now you need to hem the opening. I fold over the hem once and iron in place and then fold the edges under, iron and pin in place.

Sew hem in place, remembering to keep it neat because you see the hem stitch on the outside.

Next grab some of your left over ric rac, fold in half and sew to the inside seam of the stocking

Step Seven:

Turn in the right way, iron to shape and tadaa, your own personalised Christmas stocking. Now that was easy wasn't it. If you have any questions or you feel as though there is something that I need to add to this tutorial comment below. If you use my tutorial to make your own stocking, I'd love to see it.

Join us for our next Christmas tutorial in a few days until then, stay smiling :)

Slip of the finger

2010-11-21T20:54:00.002+11:00

Oh boo hoo to me - I was changing the colour of my blog post font in the blog design part and saved changes I didn't want to save... So please bear with me while I get things back to normal.

Christmas with the Wiggins Tribe

2010-11-21T16:43:00.000+11:00

I love Christmas, I mean, REALLY love Christmas. Even as an adult I struggle to sleep past three o'clock in the morning on Christmas day. I can't label any one particular thing that makes Christmas appeal to me so much, whether it be the yummy food or gorgeous decorations, I love it all.

Not only is it the Princess's first Christmas this year, it is also the first Christmas for The Wiggins Tribe Blog, so we are going to celebrate in big style.

Over the next few weeks in the lead up to Christmas day, I am going to be running a BIG Christmas special. With lots of sewing, craft and cooking tutorials as well as some handmade gift buying guides. First up tomorrow will be a tutorial on how to make your own personalised Christmas stocking.

Do you love Christmas as much as me? Do you have something that you would love to share in a guest post?

Fighting with a smile

2010-11-21T09:00:00.001+11:00

Now, I must not complain, the princess is in a nice pattern of sleeping from around 7.30-8.00 until around 4.30 - 5.00 most nights. Its of a day that she fights with me to sleep, even though she is tired she is at that age where there is to much going on around to actually want to close those little eyes. So begins the fighting.

The wrapping of the arms coincides with fits of giggles - which she knows makes me giggle.

The rocking or bouncing method starts off the cooing.

The lullaby singing starts off her own attempt to sing.

An hour later, no sleep happening yet its time for another feed and then it all begins again, hopefully this round produces an exhausted princess, because it sure produces an exhausted mama.

Doesn't she get that when she sleeps well of a day,  she sleeps better of a night. Obviously no one sent her that memo!

Jumping is Hilarious

2010-11-20T09:00:00.001+11:00

I think I'll let the video do the talking!

Love the Simple Things

2010-11-19T18:38:00.000+11:00

One of my favourite times of the day is when the prince and princess wake up. No matter in what order they wake up in they are both equally excited when the other wakes up and I LOVE it. Its like a need they have to be close to one another, even if it only lasts a few minutes. I wonder if it will last, as the princess is growing up so fast right now she hangs on every movement and sound that comes via her brother the prince. We will see I guess as time goes on, right now I will enjoy it for what it is, a simple daily pleasure to witness.

Have a nice weekend!

go {heart} yourself #2

2010-11-19T11:44:00.000+11:00

So another week has passed us by and I am back for the second installment of 'go {heart} yourself'. Last week in its first edition we had the lovely Tat from Mum in Search playing along, who highlighted one of my main reasons for starting this feature. We (or at least I) think that there are many things that we love about ourselves until we are asked to write them down, or talk about them. Yet we could talk for days about the things we love about others that we know, or even those that we don't. So why don't you take the time TODAY to share something that you love about yourself.

Today I am hearting my friendship and kindness. I am always there for my friends. In fact, I find it extremely easy to give every inch of my being to my friends or even people that I don't know when they are in need. I don't expect this to be returned, to be honest I find it rather difficult to accept help in return.

I know that in the past this has lead to a misuse of my kindness, but I find that most times that the word no is not in my vocabulary. I also know that it is important that I use the offers of help from people, but it is something that feels extremely uncomfortable to me, much like swearing does, it just doesn't flow from my mouth. So this week, while appreciating my own kindness and friendship that I give, I am going to step out of my comfort zone and accept some form of giving/help from someone I know.

Will you join me to go {heart} yourself? Is there something that you love about yourself, yet when on the opposite side of the fence find hard to accept. I'd love to hear about it.

go {heart} yourself #1

2010-11-12T09:00:00.002+11:00

Today I am {hearting} my birthmark. A strange thing to love you may think, but mine is unique. You see, I have a strawberry birth mark on the right hand side of my nose that is in the shape of an emu. It changes with me, dark when I am tired or upset, light when I am happy. I have always felt if I were ever to have it removed that I would be taking a little part of ME away. A lot of my close friends don't even notice it until years after they have met me, my friend of 5 years asked me a few months ago 'what has happened to your nose' which sent me running to the bathroom only to discover that she was talking about my 'emu'. I often wonder if I would feel differently about it if I had of be teased as a child about it, but maybe because I am so comfortable with it on my skin that no body notices it unless it is pointed out.

What are you {heart}ing about yourself this week?

"go {heart} yourself is a part of my blog where I will share with you the things that I LOVE about myself, in doing this I hope to also change or improve the things that are stopping me from being who I want to be, ME. I'd love it if you would join in with me, so come on, lets all go {heart} ourselves!"

go {heart} yourself

2010-11-11T21:57:00.000+11:00

When was the last time you took time to {heart} yourself? Emotionally, Physically, its time we all took a step back and got back in touch with ourselves.

go {heart} yourself is going to be a part of my blog where I will share with you the things that I LOVE about myself, in doing this I hope to also change or improve the things that are stopping me from being who I want to be, ME. I'd love it if you would join in with me, so come on, lets all go {heart} ourselves!

So, once a week I hope you will all come and share a post about something  that you love about yourself, thats 52 things a year that we can {heart} ourselves and each other.

I hope you'll come join me tomorrow so that we can all go {heart} ourselves.

Revelation:Revolution of ME

2010-11-11T15:56:00.000+11:00

image from {here}

So, some more changes. This one is here to stay, minus a few little things here and there. I've been having a tidy up of everything in my life over the past few weeks. From physical things like the house to mental things like my life direction.

When I was younger, I was one of those stick kids, my pants were nearly always to short as my mother could never find pants that fit me in the waist area that were long enough for my chicken legs. I never really had a drama with it, except when it came to see-saw's. I LOVED to see-saw. We had an old one of my mother's and I could spend hours walking up and down it, pretending that I was an Olympic gymnast, or a pirate walking the wobbly plank. But you see, the problem I had with the see-saw is that I could never see-saw with another person, I was just way to light and would end up launching into space or worst, stuck, suspended in mid air if my cousins or friends decided to be "funny".

Now that I am an adult, my body has come a long way. I no longer have problems finding pants to fit my legs and waist, and I can see-saw my heart away with other people, yet at the same time I still get that sensation of being suspended in mid air, with no place to go except when you come crashing down to a hard ground.

So, I have been thinking that it is time to make some changes. Am I happy, yes, sometimes, but who says that I can't or shouldn't be happy ALL the time.

Today, I am starting to make things about ME, so that I can be the best person for me, for my children. I hope that you will join me on my new journey.

Almost four months...

2010-11-08T16:50:00.001+11:00

Been a while again, I know. Its hard work this two children parenting gig. (But defiantly worth it.)!

Can you believe that I almost have a 4 month old? Wow, how fast time flies.

Ava is such a breath of girly-ness I don't think I realised how much I wanted a little girl until she came along.

She is smiling and giggling the days away, especially at Charlie, all he has to do is walk and she is in fits of giggles. She is sleeping from around 7.30 until 4.30 in the morning which is such a slice of heaven compared to the boy with who I still struggle on the sleep side of things.

Charlie is great as well, he has been doing private swimming lessons now for a few weeks and is my little fish. We have his interview for school next year tomorrow (scary!!), I'm tearing up just thinking about it.

I hope you are all well xx

Changes

2010-10-21T23:23:00.000+11:00

image from {here}

So I've made a few changes around here... What do you think, do you like it?

Need. More. Sleep. Please.

2010-10-17T14:39:00.001+11:00

{image from here}

Pretty Please? I'm asking so so nicely.

Phew, What. A. Night. That has turned into an even longer day. Ava decided that last night was not a night for sleep. She went to bed at 10.30pm and was awake again at around 1am. Her mumma had only gone to sleep at 12pm.

From 1am till around 9.00 she stayed awake. WIDE awake. Then slept for around 45 minutes. it is now 2.30pm and I am bouncing her with my foot as ~~we speak~~ as I type and you read, trying to lull her off to sleep. At least she wasn't screaming awake, she was quite content even spoiling me with a few giggles here or there. I think that she may be coming down with something as she has a little bit of a fever. ~~Either that or she is teething.~~ No, I'll just forget that I mentioned that as my baby is to young to start becoming a 'big kid' yet!

So pretty please sleep, come and visit my household.

charlie&ava

2010-10-15T18:47:00.000+11:00

You might have come to this post thinking that it was about my children... Well your half right anyway!

I'm extremely excited to announce the launch of my handmade children's clothing label, 'charlie&ava'. You can find out more via the blog here, which was designed by the talented Amanda Fuller. Come along and check it out, there will be a few fabulous give aways in the next two weeks in the count down till the opening of my etsy store.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend :)

I'm still here in the background...

2010-10-13T20:59:00.000+11:00

So posts have been few and far between lately, I've been working on a few things and just taking sometime out with my little tribe. I'm over at Hello Owl this week, as part of a series of Mum Interviews by the lovely Danielle. Danielle's blog is one of my favourites, she is expecting babe number three any day now, pop on over and say hello, I'm sure you'll be in for a lovely read.

Stay tuned for a very big unveiling of what has been keeping me so occupied lately.

2010-10-04T22:09:00.001+11:00

Last Friday, we went to the local show with my very pregnant cousin and her son. We had such a great time and the boys where so well behaved. They even got a ride to 'real space', in a space simulator and have been telling anyone that would listen about landing in space. It was such a beautiful, sunny day, something which we have been lacking a lot of in the last few months, it was really nice to get out and about for the whole day outside. Ava was a gem as well and slept the entire time we were there.

As much as I love the wintery weather, I can't wait for a few summery days, heaven knows I need a little bit more vitamin sun in my life!

Online Friendships

2010-10-04T21:46:00.000+11:00

A while back when I was a few weeks pregnant, I joined an online parenting forum. Within that forum I joined what is called a 'Due-In' group, which consists of other women that are due around the same time as you are. Our little group have became extremely close, we now even have our own little private group where we converse with each other daily, and sometimes at all hours of the night.

I've been having a rough few weeks lately, both emotionally and mentally. Last Tuesday I answered a loud knock at the door and was greeted by a man with these in his arms...

They were from the lovely group of ladies, with a teddy bear each for the kidlets as well. With them brought a few tears, but not sad ones. Tears of absolute joy that a group of people that I have never met showed me such love, it seriously has made my month. I find it truly amazing the gift that the internet is able to provide, I seriously don't know how I would get by each day with out the support of these wonderful friends. I'm hoping that one day I will be able to met them in person.

Eme Creations

2010-10-04T21:22:00.000+11:00

A few weeks ago I won a giveaway over at Eme Creations. Our package arrived in the mail last week and it was fantastic, near bursting at the seams from all the goodies inside! You will have to excuse the sideways images, for some reason when the flash is used on my camera it turns them side ways.

Lots of lovely craft packs for Charlie, and even a gift for Ava which was a cute handmade bib and a gift for me as well, we were all spoilt! Charlie has been busy making all the creations from the craft packs, his favourite at the moment is the skeleton. I will do a post in the next few days with some pictures from him making everything, once I can figure out a way to stop blogger from rearranging my photos!

Thank you so much Lisa, it was a truly lovely parcel to receive! I will have more pictures to show in the next few days of all the lovely goodies inside. xx

A Quick Update

2010-09-30T22:52:00.002+10:00

Ah, life has been so hectic around here the last week or so. I have so much to catch up on with blog posts, I recieved a lovely gift in the mail the other day from a fellow blogger, I will be back for tomorrow to share it all with you. For now, I will share some pictures I took of my two yesterday, I plan on getting some of them together when the 'no cheese' or 'no pictures' boy decide's that it is ok, the poor child has been photographed to the extreme his entire life I think he is a little over it! I hope you enjoy them :).

I took lots more, but for some reason blogger keeps turning them sideways when I upload them. You can check on the rest on my photobucket album here or on the breif slideshow to your right --->

We are off to the local show tomorrow, I hope you all have a lovely weekend. xx

Etsy in Tasmania

2010-09-25T22:52:00.000+10:00

I love my town. Just as much as I love being a citizen of Tasmania. Did you know that in our small state we boost a large community of extremely talented crafter's? Here are a few of my favourite Tasmanian Etsy finds, I hope you enjoy.

Dream Bunting by Dancing in the Garden | Buttongrass Pinafore by 3 Red Buttons | 'Friends' Hair Ties by Little Itty Bitty | Red Pants by Bear Bumz

A Change of Behavior

2010-09-20T21:39:00.002+10:00

I've never been much a reward chart kind of mumma, we have a pretty relaxed and easy going household or maybe I should say we 'used' to have that kind of household.

Lately I feel as though I am butting my head against a brick wall with Charlie. People keep telling me its because of the new baby, but me, (being his mumma after all) I feel like he is slowly growing out of his 'little boy' persona and is testing the waters of life as a 'big kid'.

Charlie has never really been a child to misbehave, and I'm not just saying that because I am his mumma, but seriously with this child I have been blessed with a very well behaved little boy.

Over the past few weeks though, times are a changing. While I wouldn't call it 'naughty behavior', he is certainly testing the limits. Ignoring people, when asked a simple question like 'could you pass me those socks' he launches into a completely different conversation and then laughs at the end of it and tells me that he was playing the 'ignoring game' with me (and still doesn't pass the socks, he just repeats the 'game'). That and his tea time habits (in the past few weeks I've gone from a near perfect eater, to tea time horror stories) are frustrating me the most.

I have tried my normal approach to helping him understand that sometimes his behavior is just not nice, call me soft but I am just not the growling type, I try to focus more on the positive behavior. But its just not working.

So I thought I would give a simple reward chart a go. I've only focused on four things that I feel are completely manageable for him, one being brushing his teeth which is a given anyway, just something included that he knows he can accomplish with limited fuss. Then there is listening, packing toys away and last but not least, eat dinner. I don't except him to be perfect in each area, but just done with a lot less fuss than is currently happening.

We have the local show coming up in two weeks, so I have made that the reward, first week he will get the show tickets, second week I will let him pick a show bag to buy. He doesn't have to fill all the areas up with stickers, he just has to have more stickers than white spaces by the end of the week, do you think that is a reasonable ask of a 4 year old?

A 'time out' area has been suggested by many of my friends, but this is just something that I don't feel will work with my parenting style. Since he was old enough our 'time out' has involved grabbing a book and jumping into bed to have some 'relax' or 'chill out' time (yes, exactly what I call them). Sometimes that involves me reading, sometimes it just involves Charlie by himself, it just depends what he wants. People tell me that I am spoiling him doing this, that he is not learning anything. I feel as though I am teaching him by doing this is that there are others ways than yelling/screaming or doing what ever to calm down, reading is relaxing for him and certainly calms him down and improves behavior. What do you think? What do you do in your own household?

Who knows if this will help us out or not, but at the moment I think its worth giving it a try.

A precious moment... (even if I had to pay for it!)

2010-09-16T08:05:00.001+10:00

See this photo... it cost me $20. That boy there is my little (but slightly humongous) brother, Daniel. He is 17 and thinks that he is just too cool for school.

He was around a few weeks ago and I caught him talking to Ava in her swing... I said you can pick her up if you want matey which prompted a 'hell no', a retreat to the hall way and denying that he, the man of the family, was ever talking to a baby!

So, last night I bribed him and gave him $20 to get a picture of him and Ava... and it was totally worth it, don't you think.

Handwritten Letter Swap

2010-09-11T16:19:00.000+10:00

So, after thinking about it a bit more, and getting a little bit of interest form a few of you in blogging world (and a few of my friends who aren’t) I have sorted out the ins and outs of the Letter Swap.

Once a week I will post a topic, they will be open ended so that you can make the letters your own. I will do this for 10 weeks, hopefully by this stage you will have swapped enough letters with numerous people and have a gage on whom you may continue to be old school ‘pen friends’ with. At this stage, you will be writing to everyone who signs up for the swap – but if the numbers grow large I will group people up.

To get you thinking about your first letter, the topic will be ‘Hi, my name is...’, tell your reader/s who you are, what you are about, what makes you ‘you’ and the things that you enjoy. Each person will send this letter to their recipients and then when the next topic is posted, your recipients reply to your letter (and you to your own letters you have received) including the new topic.

You can join in the swap at anytime, you will just have to start with a ‘Hi, my name is’ letter and then continue with the next topic.

Does that make sense (it seems to in my brain, but I know what I’m trying to say).

I have enough interest at the moment to begin, but will leave the ‘offical’ start of the swap until September 20^th to give people a change to sign up.

To sign up, leave a comment below with your email address so that I can contact you to get your details and also to let you know your recipients details, maybe leaving a link to your blog would be handy to so that people can see a little about you and maybe have an idea on things to write about in their letters. Don’t forget to let your friends who may be interested know about the swap, the more the merrier!

Have you met Amanda?

2010-09-10T17:29:00.001+10:00

A few months ago, whilst reading a blog I love (thank you Cat!) I was introduced to the lovely and ever so talented Amanda Fuller of Calico & Co. and Lemon Tree Lane fame.

Over at Calico & Co, not only will you find a blog that is super fantastic to read, you will find lots of lovely giveaways (one of which I can claim fame to winning), Amanda is also a great supporter of other handmade / indie artists in her Handmade Heaven section of her blog.

She has recently launched her stationary line 'Lemon Tree Lane' on madeit & ETSY and I can tell you from my own purchase for fathers day that the products are just divine (I could of kept the card for myself if it didn't say the word dad!)

And to top of her already impressive list of creative talents, she is also a fantastic blog designer... have a look at Beloverly for an example.

I'm introducing you to Amanda for two reasons today, number one being she is SUPER talented and number two I have hired Amanda to work on something for me that I hope to unveil to you all in the next few weeks and she is doing such a fantastic job, I can't wait to share it with you!

I highly recommend that you have a look at Amanda's wares via the links above, or you could even check out what is on Amanda's Desk.

For now I will leave you with a few of my favourite piece's of Amanda's work.

A Dying Art Form...

2010-09-09T19:55:00.000+10:00

image from here

After reading Cat's post here, I started to have a think, I'm one of those over-thinker type of people, once my brain gets going it just does not stop.

The last time I really sat down and wrote something was probably in a University lecture a few years ago and the last time I wrote a proper hand written letter was probably when I was 12! I think its sad really that gone are the days of receiving a letter in the mail that does not consist of typed words or worse, bills!

So thats when I got thinking, (and haven't really stopped) who would be interested in a handwritten letter swap? I haven't really thought of the ins and outs of the whole thing yet, but maybe I could set a topic, or a series of questions that you could write about in your letter to an assigned partner (or group if there is enough interest) and then you could all send away and hopefully receive one in return... who knows, you may even find an old school pen-friend in the making, and maybe we could put a bit of life back into this dying art.

So are you interested?

restful Weekend

2010-09-06T18:08:00.001+10:00

Charlie spent the weekend just gone with his dad, and now that Ava is becoming more aware of her surroundings I really think that she missed him being around. As soon as he was home at eight o'clock this morning she only had eyes for him.I have a feeling when she starts moving around, a little boy I know is going to have a little shadow following him everywhere!

Charlie teaching Ava how to play the playstation

I feel so refreshed after the weekend, I don't think that I realised how much running around after a 4 year old and looking after a baby takes it out of me. Ava actually slept fantasically on Saturday night, she slept from 9.30 till 6.30 which gave me a much needed boost in the energy department. It was a once off I think because she had been awake for around five hours before that, but I'm still happy with that effort even if it only happens once in a blue moon. I hope you all had a great weekend. :)

A sneak peak

2010-09-04T21:23:00.001+10:00

Here is a little sneak peak into something that I am creating... I can't give to much away because it will ruin the surprise of a big unveiling I'm hoping to have in the next few weeks... so stay tuned!

Creative Love

2010-09-04T18:21:00.000+10:00

One of the best things that I have found since becoming a blogger is all the amazingly talented creative people out here in the blogging world.

'Wouldn't it be Loverly'

Bramble and Bear

Tiger & Hare
(I bought this for the little miss)

Go and take a look at what else these talented people have to offer, I promise you won't be disappointed!

Discovering Music

2010-09-02T00:30:00.000+10:00

If there is one question that I struggle with when it comes to music, it is naming my favourite band/artist or a favourite song. See the thing is, I could answer both those questions if I could continuously reel of names, but most people just don't have the time to stand there all day and listen to me drone on ;p.

So, for the hell of it today I am going to share with you seven of my favourite songs, in no particular order. Whats more is that I am thinking that I might make this a weekly thing, this sharing of my musical candy, what I feel are mouth watering songs and artists in the hope that maybe I can pass my love for them on to you all.

1. Last Goodbye - Jeff Buckley (This and No Women, No Cry as morbid as this sounds, are my funeral songs, so if I really had to pick one favourite song, Last Goodbye would be it)

2. Creep - Radiohead

3. Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Divison

4. No Woman, No Cry - Bob Marley

5. One More Time - Daft Punk

6. Hearts a Mess - Goyte

7. Better Man - Pearl Jam

So there you have it, my seven for this week. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Calico & Co's Big Birthday Swap!

2010-08-30T22:43:00.001+10:00

Take a look at the lovely goodies I received in the mail today from Jane, as part of the Calico & Co. big birthday swap. There's two gorgeous fabric hair ties, 6 magnets with vintage type prints on them, 4 Robot magnets (the boy has claimed these!), a mirror key ring with a funky print on the back and an awesome bookmark. Thanks Jane, its all fabulous.

You can all find Jane over at her madeit store twinkietwink where you can find lots gorgeous and very well made goodies. Jane's blog is also worth a look :).

The Age of the Shuffle

2010-08-27T16:52:00.000+10:00

I can't remember the last time I actually listened to a song in full. The shuffle button on my iPod certainly gets a fair workout when I get a chance to listen to some music. I don't get much of a chance to listen to music that doesn't consist of pointing your finger and doing the twist, so when I do, I find myself listening to a bit of a song and then flipping through to the next in the hope that I will get through heaps of songs in a short period and feel that my music craving has been satisfied until the next time.

But its not, it is leaving much to be desired. In an effort to complete my 25 before 25, today I have packed the iPod away and reverted to an old school form of music equipment... cd's and cd players... did you know that these things are still around??? That and adding a new cd to my collection (I haven't bought I 'physical cd' in years, I normally purchase them on iTunes) and am going to spend the afternoon emerged in some music. So on the sampler today is Mumford & Sons, which consists of four West-London boys, who apparently by their Bio, 'create a gutsy, old-time sound that marries the magic of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young with the might of Kings Of Leon, and their incredible energy draws us in quickly to their circle of songs, to the warmth of their stories, and to their magical community of misty-eyed men'. You might remember them from there song 'Little Lion Man' which was the number 1 song on 2009 JJJ hottest 100 countdown. I love this song, but have never bothered to listen to any more of their music until today. Here's hoping it lives up to the same platform that I put little lion man on to.

The Art of Friendship

2010-08-25T15:37:00.001+10:00

(Image from We(heart)it)

Have you ever come to a brick wall in what was once an ever lasting friendship. I mean, I've had many friends come and go through out my life, but I have met a couple that I thought would endure the test of time walking along side me.

The best of friends can go long stretches without seeing each other, and when you meet up its like you have never been apart.

But there are somethings, that a best friend just should be there for.

I don't have many 'friends' (I more so have a lot of people that I know), but those people that I do class as my friends, I treat them as an extension of my family. I can't count how many times I have dropped everything to be by their sides. I can't count how many times they have dropped everything to be by my side.

Except one.

I always thought that we would grow old together, not apart.

I thought that I would miss her, but the reality is that my friend of long ago, has been gone for a long time. I miss what we were, but I have come to the realisation today that I no longer miss her, even though she is still the same person I have grown up and now know and feel the love of some friendships that are not one way streets.

(Image from We(heart)it)

My Place & Yours: Whats in your Handbag

2010-08-23T13:57:00.000+10:00

Oh I cringed when I read this weeks theme... not because I don't like it, but because I was thinking it going to make near a weeks worth of cleaning up once I have emptied it. (Ok, probably not quite a week, but certainly a long time!)

But I was pleasantly surprised when I emptied this...

And only found these items...

(Photo is a tad on the dark side but my battery went flat on my camera)

Fabric Shopping Bag

Pink Nappy for the girl

Change of Clothes (tights, long tshirt, 2x jumpers) for the girl

Beanie for the girl,

Pkt f Tissues

Kinder surprise wrapper + container toy came in

20 cents

Phone

Wallet

9 1950-70's golden books I bought about a week ago... that are still in there

2 x Cotton reels (Red & brown)

Ball of pink wool

My camera was also in there,

as was a whole pile of lego bits and pieces but the boy seen me emptying my bag and came and claimed them.

Hehe, I can't believe all that 'junk' fits in there, its not really a big bag. The lego came in handy today with a visit to spotlight... While I went through all the fabric the boy sat on the floor and staged out the battles of all battles.

Now I have just gone and stuffed it all back in there and will be wondering on my next trip into town why my bag is so heavy, of course it wouldn't have anything to do with a pile of golden books that have been in there for almost a month.

For more My Place and Yours, head on over to Danielle at Hello Owl.

2010-08-22T20:38:00.001+10:00

This is exactly how we are all feeling after a long and tiresome weekend. Today was spent trawling the local Penguin Market with my mum and Ava (Charlie had the weekend with his dad). How cute is that beanie? I bought it today for only $12 at the market, I told the older lady that was selling them about ETSY, and how something similar sells for around $30+, she couldn't believe it, but I think I have her hooked on ETSY as she was going home to have a look.

Saturday was spent visiting Ava's name sake, my grandmother for her birthday, visiting a friend and of course taking the girl to her first ever voting day (where the offical in charge could of just eaten her up)... and that vote lead to an extremely late night, and other than saying I am extremely worried the outcome I will leave talking about it for the moment.

Instead, I will leave you with a few pictures of the cutest girl I know, who's nana (aka my mum) is trying to turn her into a die-hard hawthorn fan...

Will be back tomorrow with hopefully a little more excitement injected back into my posts :)

A Catch Up...

2010-08-20T10:14:00.001+10:00

So unbelievably tired. Did you know that you can never 'catch up' on sleep, once you miss it, its gone unless you have access to some fantastic time machine that you have forgotten to tell me about. The only thing you can do is to get more in the future, which if your anything like me then you wake up after your extra sleep in a some what 'hung' over daze.

Miss Ava's reflux is slowly improving, but there have been sacrifices along the way... I've slowly taken gluten and dairy out of my diet as well as tomato's and any citrus fruits. Ok, I semi-lied, I am still having a whole two cups of tea a day, but that is just to keep me sane. Last night she had a good sleep, two five hour stretches (she is still sleeping now, see above), and I woke up feeling like crap, two much sleep apparently. We are on some medication to help her reflux, and I gave in and have her in bed with me. It's s much easier rather than waking up every two hours and having to go and get her from the cot. At least this way I still stay in a semi-sleep state and it doesn't take me the whole two hours she sleeps for to fall back asleep. The most annoying thing is that she wants to sleep. The poor thing is so tired, but I'm guessing the constant bring up milk and then swallowing it is waking her up because its painful. Hopefully we are on the road to going back to good nights sleeps.

Me, I'm feeling rather drab lately. When I had Charlie I was one of those women who you ~~secretly want to punch~~ say wow, you look amazing after having a baby. The weight just fell off and was back to my normal self in two weeks. This time however, its hanging around. I know that I am not fat on any measure, but I feel like it. And I know that there are no 'instant' fixes. Oh well, at least chocolate is out of the picture until the reflux has vacated the building.

Blog This: About ME

2010-08-16T20:05:00.002+10:00

About ME. You'd think that I should know where to start, but I'm not really sure that I fully know who that is yet.

So to start simply, I'm Keshia. Known to my close family and friends as Keesh, known to my singing tutor as 'Quiche Lorraine', known by two little people as Mama.

I'm 24, but it seems so young actually writing that down. I've always felt like an older soul, even when I was a child so mostly I try and stay 'ageless'.

I'm the eldest of 'eight' children... and before you go whoaaa, no, I don't come from a family of parents that don't believe in contraception. My mum and dad broke up when I was a baby. Then they both went on to marry again, Mum having two children, Amy (19) & Daniel (17), Dad having the same, Mia (19, almost 20), Freya (almost 18). My step-dad left my mum and went on to have three more children, Kade (16), Holly (14) and Tayla (8). So, I'm the only one of 'me'. I don't think of any of my siblings as half or step siblings, to me, they are just my brothers and sisters. (did you get all of that, its a bit of a mouth full!!)

A strange fact about me, I'm one of those people that have never gotten over being scarred of the dark. I go all Ku-Foo Ninja like if I hear a bump in the night.

I've known my best friend for the same amount of years that I have been alive (minus a few hours). She has her butt planted over in Coventry in the United Kingdom at the moment and has been abroad with her mother since we were 14. I miss her terribly each and every day, so much that my body aches. The last time I seen her was July last year... and we ran a muck in our capital city. Ah sob, even good memories hurt sometimes.

I am a peoples person, I love finding out about people and what their stories are. Thats why in essence I started reading blogs. My blog, well its just a brain dump. I don't try to make it anything, just what ever comes out of my brain and through my fingers at that particular moment in time.

If I could defy one thing that has shaped me into the person that I am today, it would be the day I found out I was pregnant with my son. I was 19, and had been with my partner for two and a half months (we had been friends for much longer), initially, we thought that I would of been about 4-8 weeks pregnant and had both decided that we were going to terminate the pregnancy. We were both totally not ready to be parents. I had been sick for months on end leading up to the fateful day, and had actually had a pregnancy test done some months or so before hand 'just in-case'. It was a shock as well because I had been taking the contraceptive needle since I was 17.

My best friend took me up to the emergency ward one day, as I became really ill. The nurse there took one look at me and said I think your pregnant. I laughed.

I was.

Jase and I scheduled an ultra-sound for the following day. He picked me up from Uni, we went and sat in this gloomy waiting room. When my name was called I froze, once the ultra-sound was underway, I can remember starring at the screen thinking, why does this baby have fingers, it shouldn't have fingers. Then the words that the technician mouthed will for ever stay in my mind.

"From the measurements, it looks like your about 28 weeks, would you like to know what it is?"

I had one word circling my head, and it wasn't a nice one.

Turns out that that doctor had given me the wrong test results all those months earlier.

So from then I entered robot mode. I had 12 weeks to get ready for a baby. Heck, I didn't even have a stomach let alone trying to come to terms that there was a baby in there. That it was my baby was in there.

So it happened, I had a baby 14 weeks later. He became my baby and I his mother three days after that. (but that's a story for another time.) A baby that I now love with every ounce of my body and every inch of my soul.

So in essence, thats me. And a few things that have made and continue to make me, me.

A funny thing...

2010-08-15T22:22:00.000+10:00

I had a bit of a funny and strange experience today. When you have a baby in my area, you get an invitation to attend a 'mothers club', that includes other mothers with baby's born in a two week period. I never went to it when Charlie was born, I had to many other issues to deal with.

So this time around, I thought it would be great to go along, any excuse for a coffee outing I say! Today was the first 'met and greet' session. I arrived with my two children in tow and joined the other mumma's. It came to introducing ourself's and I just said the basics, Hi, I'm Keshia. This is Charlie, he is 4 and Ava is 4 weeks... which was responded by 'Is Charlie yours?', well, you all know the answer to that, and then 'I thought this group was for first time mothers?'. And then the whole bunch of women there (7 others) proceeded to ignore me for the remainder of the 45 minutes...

Hmmm, I just don't know what to say. I'm actually having a little giggle to myself at the looks that those mothers faces carried, then they all proceeded to eat the savory scones I provided... I near feel like going next time just to see how they react a second time... I will just remember to keep my scones on my lap and eat them all in front of them.

Think happy thoughts

2010-08-13T17:50:00.000+10:00

What a day. As I Tweeted a 'crap-ola of a day'.

One of the most frustrating things to encounter as a mother are incompetent Doctors, that don't listen and leave you just as clueless as you walk out of their office as you were when you walked into their office.

Doesn't help that I'm a tired an emotional bundle of hormones today.

So here's the plan.

Think. Happy. Thoughts.

So to try and brighten my day, here is some fabulous new fabric I got in the mail yesterday (fabric nearly always makes me happy)...

I've been lusting after that owl fabric for a while now... Now I just have to get some inspiration on what to make with it!

Silent Reflux...

2010-08-12T23:52:00.001+10:00

I'm not much of a swearer, but right now I'd like to say to silent reflux, would you kindly go and four letter word off!!

I've had the feeling that something has not been quite right with my little madam for a few days, and low and behold my mother instincts were right.

Silent Reflux. Which has caused the poor little poppets oesophagus to become inflamed, a little burnt and it has a few ulcers on it from her constantly swallowing 'spewed up' milk. Nice.

She is in pain tonight, and I don't like it. She is lying beside me right now asleep and I can hear and see her swallowing milk back down and her face is grimacing in pain and has a little sob here and there.

I would also like to say a very loud 'for four letter word's sake!!' to the gobble-dee goop bull-poo medical advice that I received from a GP about managing it. I could write a whole post about his need to go back to the research books as he had no clue. All the advice he gave me is almost the exact opposite of what I have found out online and from an ABA counselor after getting home.

Me. I think I'm just upset that she's in pain and there is nothing that I can do for her at the minute. Part of me also feels a little selfish and horrible for also thinking 'oh no, not another no-sleeper'. Charlie's first full night of sleep was on July 15th, 2008. He was 2 years old. Yes, I remember the exact date, because before this he was waking up 5 + times a night. Normally more than 5, but certainly NEVER any less. (No exaggeration either.) I physically and mentally CAN NOT do that again. And its making me nervous just thinking about it...

So we are off the the paediatrician tomorrow to hopefully start getting this nipped in the butt, and to deal with her ulcers.

Wish my sleeping sanity luck...

One Month...

2010-08-12T08:00:00.001+10:00

Dearest Ava,

Where has the time flown to? It's all going to quickly I must say. This time only four weeks ago I was still anticipating your arrival to the world wondering if you would ever make an appearance. Ever since you did decide to join us earth-side, our lives have been filled with utter joy and amazement of the love and comfort such a tiny little being can bring to a family, our family.

So far you are a little sleeping beauty, (apart from a few all nighters) you are starting to smile at your favourite people and are slowly starting that ever so infectious baby babble.

You sneeze a lot, and send your big brother into fits of giggles whenever you do a few in a row.

And talking of your big brother, what a gem he is. You are settled by his voice, and he likes to sing made up songs and tell you stories all the time... even while you are sleeping. He loves you 'to the moon, around the stars, through the clouds, over our house, down to coles??(don't ask where this one came from) and back'.

To one of my precious ones, thank you for picking me to be your mumma, but please, oh please, stop growing up so fast, I am happy to deal with a few more sleepless nights if only you will stay small for just a little longer.

Love Mumma xx

My Place & Yours: Memories

2010-08-11T13:38:00.001+10:00

Top Right: Bently the Bear, Lots-a-Legs the Catepillar & Honey Bear

I could have a post of 50 or so photos for this weeks theme of 'My Place and Yours', because I am a terrible hoarder, so instead I would like to introduce you to three of my best friends, Bently the Bear who was given to me from my nan's collection when she passed away... I have only had him in my possession for 9 years but have played with him since I was a young child. He is a pose-able bear that one of my nan's friends made, he will sit back on your bed with his hands behind his head and his legs crossed... the ever so cool bear.

Then there is lots-a-legs Caterpillar, I have had him since my first birthday.

Most importantly, Honey Bear, my best friend since I was a baby. These three beauty's still sit with pride of place on my bed, and every now again, when I feel like I can loosen the heart strings a little, I let my son sleep with them.

(Oh, and that blanket they are all sitting on is my blanket from when I was a baby, and now it has been used for both of my children.)

For more My Place and Yours, head on over to Hello Owl.

Blog This: Goofing Around

2010-08-10T12:35:00.000+10:00

Finally, a photo challenge that I am not lacking in inspiration for... I'm a goof, all of the time.

T'was the night of my 23rd birthday, when after having a delicious dinner out with my family, my sister (pictured above) decided that this little girl looked like me when I was younger...

Can you see the resemblance?

This lead on to a series of weird and wacky photos... at my sister's work of all places...

If you ever come across these photos Amy... just remember that I love you to!!

Point & Shoot: He's my brother...

2010-08-09T14:05:00.002+10:00

I'm Jealous.

Jealous of my beautiful girl.

I've always wanted a big brother... I'd would of even settled for a big sister. But a big brother, was always on top of my dream list.

And if I could have picked my big brother from any one, it would be my son Charlie.

Singing, rubbing her head, just letting her know that he is there for her by whispering in her ear.

That is the stuff dreams are made of.

For more point & shoot head on over to Chantelle's.

Calico & Co. Stationery Swap

2010-08-09T13:11:00.001+10:00

I joined in the Amanda's stationery swap over at Calico & Co. and received my goodies in the mail today. It was such a coincidence to who sent me these fabulous gifts as I have been stalking out her etsy store, brambleandbear, for a few weeks now, way before I even joined the swap!! Actually one of her pieces is on my etsy fav's!! I was very spoilt, I got some fabulous things, three awesome note cards, some owl paper, a pencil and that beautiful metal owl ornament you can see below. Thanks Rachael, it is all devine! xxx

Lazy Sunday

2010-08-08T22:27:00.000+10:00

When I had Charlie, the best bit of advice that I was given was to sleep when he slept. And that I did.

Come this time around, I don't have time to sleep, well, not during the day at least and I am finding myself to be completely and utterly exhausted even though my house has turned into a tornado zone and there is washing on the line that has probably been there for a whole week. I'm not doing anything really other than looking after my two children and I am still exhausted.

This weekend Charlie went away with his dad, so today I took the opportunity to sleep all day with my baby girl. And sleep we did... Woke up this morning at around 7, had a feed and then catnapped on and of till around 10.30 when she went into a deep sleep until 3.45, and so did her mumma.

To my dilemma, when I woke up, instead of having this amazing refreshed feeling I thought that I would have, I woke up feeling like I had a hang over. To much sleep apparently, and my body didn't like it.

To compensate, I took my weary, hung over body to a craft store to browse the afternoon away where I picked up some yummy fat quarters that I have no idea what to do with, but even if they just sit on my bench for a while at least they make it look pretty.

Music...

2010-08-07T21:11:00.000+10:00

“It is cruel, you know, that music should be so beautiful. It has the beauty of loneliness of pain: of strength and freedom. The beauty of disappointment and never-satisfied love. The cruel beauty of nature and everlasting beauty of monotony. “

Benjamin Britten

Music. The ‘silent’ driver of our life’s. The glue for our memories.

There once was a day, which feels like a different lifetime ago, that I would have classed myself as a musician. It’s almost as if I have been reincarnated in my own lifetime without having to deal with the issue of dying. Music was my life.

Now, in my new reincarnated state, there is not enough space for music to be my life. Heck, I struggle to find the time to listen to anything, {let alone pick up an instrument} that doesn’t involve singing about dancing dinosaurs, superhero theme songs or cartoon jingles.

It’s depressing.

There once was a day, which also feels like a different lifetime ago, that the borders of my mirror where surrounded in various tickets from music festivals and concerts that I had attended. From Big Day Outs, to little intimate acoustic sets from indie artists. Now those tickets have been replaced with ones sprouting words like ‘Playschool live in concert, The Wiggles and *sigh* Dora the-god-damn-explorer.

It’s heart-breaking.

I think that I would even have to seriously sit and think for a while to tune into JJJ... Because I doubt I can even remember the station number.

So it’s time to reintroduce myself to the old me. The type of person that could reel endless lists of her favourite music off in the beat of a heart beat. The type of person that had a bad back from being constantly bent over her guitar. The type of person that was up with the latest news, bands and artists from the music industry.

I can’t wait to say hello to her.

I miss her.

25 things before 25

2010-08-06T21:54:00.000+10:00

Next year in March I have been alive and breathing for a quarter of a century. In an effort to feel like I am accomplishing / have accomplished something of significance, and to also give me some motivation to do some things I have been putting off for a long time here is my 25 before 25. I wonder if I can get everything ticked of...

1. Buy a DSLR.

2. Get Fit. Like really fit. Like I could climb Mt Everest kinda fit.

3. Get two tattoos. – before you freak out on me... a blog post to come on this later.

4. Go on a holiday. Like a real holiday. Like stay in a hotel and not with drab relatives kinda holiday.

5. Manage to keep a visual journal. – I had to keep numerous of these during my Uni days. But now I can’t seem to even manage to fill at least 5 pages and keep it going any more. I miss the process of it. I miss the finished products.

6. Get my business up and running. Running really fast. – (this is why I need to get fit so I can keep up.)

7. Fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans.

8. Get over my ‘artists block’ and start painting and drawing again... I mean seriously, if I am to earn enough one day so I have to pay Mr. Tax man back my uni debt, I might as well make use of the skills I developed there right??

9. Learn to drink 2 litres of water a day.

10. To dust off my guitar and not let it get that dusty again that I can’t even recognise it. (damn those dust bunnies)

11. To make time in my life for music. Things seemed so much similar when I actually made time for the things I love.

12. Stop biting my nails. – I mean, it is seriously gross. Did you know that biting your nails is like licking the underneath of a toilet seat... I knew that and I still bite them, now that is defiantly gross!

13. Give to charity in some form. (must be helping Australians)

14. Visit my grandmother Valerie as much as possible.

15. Get a funky hair cut and colour.

16. Actively think about doing some kinda post-grad course. Actively as in really truly make an effort to contact some high and almighty admin. officer to send me some official information about applying.

17. Start selling my wares at the local markets.

18. Write a letter to my dad.

19. Actually post the letter to my dad.

20. Make more me time... (well I’m kinda going to have to if I want to get all these things done)

21. Recycle more.

22. Be kinder to myself.

23. Read more.

24. Get some professional ‘artsy’ family shots done.

25. Celebrate my 25 years earth-side in fabulous style!!

The Wonderful Kellie Christie...

2010-08-06T14:53:00.000+10:00

I entered in a wonderful giveaway hosted by the lovely Amanda Fuller from Calico & Co. last week...

And I WON!! I was on top of the world, its my first ever win in a giveaway.

My little package arrived in the mail today, and I am so excited, it as every bit as wonderful as I thought it might be...

The ever so talented Kellie Christie is the fabulous lady that made this beautiful pendant featuring one of my all time favourtie things... an owl.

You should head over to her ETSY and Madeit stores for a look at her other gorgeous range of jewellery.

Kellie Christie - Madeit Store

Kellie Christie - ETSY Store

Kellie included a little note thanking me for my support, well Kellie, I'd like to thank you for your wonderful gift. I can feel this little piece of jewellery becoming a daily item to my clothing attire.

A Worthy Cause...

2010-08-05T21:58:00.000+10:00

I stumbled across this amazing blog a few weeks back and have been thinking of what our little family could do to help.

Backpacks 4 Aussie Kids

This fantastic lady and her partner are organising to create 1000 backpacks filled with essential and personal items for children in Australia going into care.

Here's a little paragraph taken from the website:

I'm collecting donations of school backpacks (preferably new, but in good condition is fine too). I'd like to make up some packs to give to charity.

My partner and I have been looking into taking on the role as foster carers and the process has opened my eyes to just how much some kids don't have.

Imagine being taken from your home by strangers (police or DOCS) with nothing but the clothes you are wearing or possibly a rubbish bag hastily stuffed with clothes or toys and then being sent off to live with strangers. Or being in care with one family for a month or so and then being moved on to the next one. Some of these kids have nowhere to call home.

My thoughts behind the backpacks are - the pack stays with the child; it has p.j.'s a little blanket, maybe some clothes, an age appropriate toy or book (depending on what I can get), and a little torch.

I sat down with Charlie tonight and talked to him about what we could do. It is no easy feat trying to explain to a four year old about the situations that these precious souls find them self in with out making them think or worry to much. We basically talked about how some children don't have extra special mummies or daddies for different reasons, and that they need to sometimes go and stay with a caring family until their own mummy/daddy can 'get better'. We talked about how these children might not have extra special things like his own 'Bill' the cat, toys to play with, books to read or even pajama's to wear to bed. We talked about how these children are sometimes sad and that even little things can make their days a little brighter.

I asked him what he thought that we could do to help, and he said 'We could invite them round to play, and make pancakes. Pancakes make me happy.' How sweet, if only we could do that.

So instead, we are going to do up two bags. One based for a little boy around Charlie's age, and one for a baby, around Ava's age. I thought in doing this he will be able to help pick out some things that mean something to him to place in the bags, because if their is one things he does understand, its what four year old little boys love!!

So can you help this wonderful lady out? Even if its just donating a packet of undies, every little bit will help her on her journey to make a difference.

Once we have our backpacks ready to send, we will share with you our pledge. :)

xx

What I left behind...

2010-08-05T16:39:00.000+10:00

Today I was tagged on facebook in some pictures dating back to my Uni days. Oh my how things have changed. Back then I was a spiky haired (of the feminine style), which had a bright blue streak in it. I had my labret (just underneath my lip pierced). And the clothes... oh how I miss my old clothes. I was never one to be a trend follower, but I always had a little quirky style all of my own that I loved. I remember each day the excitement of getting ready of a morning and deciding what to wear. As much as I loved looking at these photos, it was a little bit depressing.

Now I dread it, the whole getting dressed part of the day. Post-Pregnancy and feeling a little drab. I'm at that stage where my maternity clothes are just to loose, yet my pre-pregnancy clothes are just to tight. *sigh* Not to mentioned that is near impossible to find a top to fit my milk producing boob's into that doesn't leave me needing to strip semi-naked to feed my child, or otherwise be left feeling like a nanna (of the unfashionable kind).

If there is one thing that I miss since having children is the ability to have time to actually get yourself ready of a morning, none of this rushing about business or getting dressed and then getting half way into town realising you forgot to take your slippers off... nice one.

I'm all for hanging around in my pj's all day, right now I have my new 'pink' (yes pink, my daughter has me converted) dressing gown over my clothes. But how great do you feel when you have managed to dress, do your hair and even, just maybe had enough time to don a little bit of make-up on. It sure makes me feel perky on the downest of days.

So, in the effort of feeling human, feminine and 'perky', I am going to make the biggest effort to be able to find at least half an hour in the day when I can have some me time to manage a shower and get my self dressed in more than a pair of trackies and my old trusty hoodie. And if I manage to get a little bit of mascara on I'll be extra pleased with myself :)

So this is me, on a normalish day. Skinny leg jeans, (my staple wardrobe item) hippish headband (means I don't have to brush or style my very long hair), button up shirt (only thing I could grab my hands on when shopping with two kidlets before I went insane) scarfe, and some $10 flat shoes... Oh and the newest accessory, a baby in a sling!!

My Creative Space

2010-08-05T16:15:00.000+10:00

Old clothes... waiting to become new clothes.

(they will probably be waiting a fair while at this rate!)

Head on over to Kootoyoo for more Creative Space's

Meet Bill

2010-08-04T22:23:00.000+10:00

Meet (on the left) Bill. Bill has been in our family for a few years now. I bought him for Charlie on my first big trip away from him to the other side of my state, and Charlie has been in love with him since. Bill comes everywhere with us. Charlie was ever so excited to find our newest addition, Spot (on the right) yesterday whilst he was being dragged around shopping by his mumma yesterday. He bought him for his little sister. Everyday this boy amazes me with the love he gives to those around him. I caught him today, telling his sister a story... Once upon a time there was a family that had lots of huggles. There was a mummy, and a Charlie and a Ava. When Ava got bigger, Charlie showed her how to play with his rocket ship. No one else is allowed to play with my rocket ship because its special... and then he spotted me and I got a 'MUUUUUUUM, your not posed to be listening to me, its our secret...

Oh, and the above picture was taken by Charlie... I have a feeling that photography is going to be a big part of his life, he is forever stealing my camera. Here are a few more of his 'happy snaps' from tonight.

Being a Mother...

2010-08-03T23:12:00.000+10:00

I’ve been pondering since late last night whether write a post in response to something I read that turned my nose hairs up a little. I’m sure most of you will know what it’s about if you continue to read on. I've been over thinking it so much, so here it is. I really wish I was as articulate as these two ladies, they say it all.

When Hard is a Dirty Word – Mummydiaries

Easy is a four letter word, but then so is blah – God Golly Miss Molly

Being a mother is easy, some of the time. But there are times when it feels as though the earth has opened up and you are falling into a big hole of fire and despair with nothing or no-one to help pull you out.

Like having to put your screaming 9 month old in his cot and letting him scream whilst you find the furthest, darkest corner away from his screams in the house while you try and find some form of sanity buried deep within so you can pull yourself together and deal with your child. And no, he wasn’t crying to annoy me, or upset me, or to tell me I was inadequate but it sure as hell felt that way right then and there.

Or sitting in emergency with a lifeless 1 ½ year old, with your head screaming ‘can’t you see my child is sick!!’

Don’t forget the countless days when you may go without a shower, getting dressed, brushing your teeth and you can totally forget about shaving your legs.

The bumps and bruises. To work or not to work. Breast or Bottle. In sickness and in health. Don’t do this but do that.

And that’s only with one child.

Just this morning when I was in the shower, I burst into tears. Don’t ask me why, I just needed to. Because being a mother is not ‘cinch’, it is the downright hardest job I will ever do in my lifetime. The constant worry about the most precious ones in your life, the worry if you are doing a good enough job. This lasts a life time. A 24/7 job.

So yes, today, being a mama was easy, I had a great day with my kidlets. But right now with the exhaustion kicking in, tell me tomorrow morning after a few late night feeds how easy being a mama is... I dare you.

And to my mama friends... In my eyes you all totally deserve a medal, and I will happily make you one should your heart desire (as long as it is not made from metal... fabric is more my specialty)

Oh looky what I found today...

2010-08-03T15:23:00.000+10:00

Ok, so I have a slight obsession with owls... I now, thanks to my daughter (oh it still seems so strange to be saying that) have a slight obsession with pink.

And look what I found today....

Owls, owls and more owls. I love the felt owl, its made by a very talented lady from my town. I wish she had a website that I could direct you all to.

World Breast Feeding Week...

2010-08-03T15:14:00.000+10:00

This post was inspired by the loverly Good Golly Miss Holly.

Did you know that it is World Breast Feeding Week? So, as Holly has suggested, and in celebration, I have "Got em' on out".

The road to this was not easy. Four years ago when I first became a mumma to my son, once my milk came in I thought someone had lifted me out of a blissful first time mumma experience into the jaws of hell. I was in pain, I had cracked nipples, grazes, engorged boob's, mastitis... and a baby that felt like he was a vampire bat. It took two weeks, a lot of holding my breath and also the assistance from a beautiful lady from the Australian Breastfeeding Association that arrived on my door stop at 12PM one night to a screaming baby and a crying mumma. It was a hard road, but I'm glad I got there. I went on to feed that Vampire bat for two years and was devastated when he self weaned. The above and below pictures is of my newborn daughter. This time around things were a lot easier... it was still a pain to start with, but I knew it would end. I hope to be able to share with her the extended breastfeeding relationship I had with my son.

Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

Point & Shoot: Bubbles

2010-08-02T11:43:00.000+10:00

I've decided to start taking part in Point & Shoot, for more lovely posts, visit Chantelle at Fat Mum Slim.

In relation to my previous post, 'Witching Hour', there is a sanity relieving moment in the 4-5 hour craziness... Bath Time!! Little miss loves it, and can go from crazy screaming baby to one that is so relaxed she could near fall asleep... but just wait to you try and get her out, then it all starts again... oh the joys :)

Witching Hour...

2010-08-01T23:08:00.000+10:00

I've been attached to a certain little lady for five hours straight this evening. Its her 'witching hour', and as Mr google just suggested to me, there is about 22600 search results for 'witching hour in babies'... and after reading a few funny little articles here is a snippet from my favourite...

No one knows for sure why this happens, although there are a million theories. Some people think it's the babies' bodies working out some kinks. Some think it's adjusting to all the stimuli they get out of the womb that they didn't get in the womb. Some think it's digestive difficulties. (Some people think the babies have gas and that makes them cry, while others think the babies cry and swallow air and that gives them gas.) [this bit here is my favourite bit] -->My mom thinks the babies just figure out they're no longer in the womb and get pissed off. I think it's because they've figured out that everyone else can move and they can't even roll over and they get pissed off. Honestly, it's probably a mixture of a bunch of things, very few of which we have any control over.

Paragraph taken from here.

But now, its 11.00 and Miss Ava's witching hour is over and I think I might makes the most of it plug my poor little iPod in that hasn't been used in forever.

2010-07-30T21:25:00.000+10:00

I was hit hard today by the inspiration stick. For a few years now I have been making children's clothes, but was coming to a real dead end/creative block with it all. And today it just kind of whacked me in the face. So stay tuned, and after a little bit of organising I will share it all... Oh and if your wondering what the above pictures have to do with it, I made those tights and booties my little madam has on, and I thought that these pictures were just to cute not to share ;o).

Today...

2010-07-30T20:33:00.000+10:00

Today was a rainy, windy, sleepy day. It reminded me of all the time spent cuddling up to my newborn son this time four years ago. Now I have two precious ones to cuddle up with and spend the winter months staying in our pj's all day drinking warm chocolate milk in bed whilst reading truck loads of stories.

Only thing is, this time around I have to share all those wonderful snuggles, and also the bed is becoming pretty full with all the little people and the assortment of soft toys that they bring with them.

Two Weeks...

2010-07-29T13:00:00.000+10:00

In eight hours my precious little one will be two weeks old. Where has that time gone?? Right now the little miss is sleeping beside me on my bed whilst I catch up on the happenings online and her big brother plays his playstation next to me. She is in her first ever dress today, and looks ever so peaceful and cute...

(taken with the webcam... so yes a little dodgy, but still ever so cute)

I've written about things that you forget about when you a re pregnant... well here are the things, both the good and the bad that you forgot about having a newborn around. I thought I might get them down before my little one *gasp* is no longer a newborn.

1. If you don't know how to swim then you will soon learn after waking up in pools of milk in the morning...

2. Newborns should come with one of those signs 'slippery when wet'. They are VERY slippery if you attempt to have a shower with them.

3. The feel of spewed up milk running between your (.)(.)'s becomes normal, and if it doesn't happen at least twice a day you think something is wrong.

4. What was that noise... be prepared to jump out of bed like a mad woman when you hear the slightest noise... (even if it was just the cat outside)

5. Do not, under any circumstances look, think or touch your baby (or think happy, soppy thoughts about babies) if they haven't feed for a few hours, unless you find looking like you have just entered a wet t-shirt competition glamorous...

6. In relation to above, do not wear light coloured cotton tops when in public...

7. Your baby does not want you, or any one else in your household to eat tea. Breakfast and Lunch are ok, but tea is another story.

8. The sound of a burp can be the highlight of your day.

9. Even if you do manage to get some sleep over night, be prepared to feel the need to fall asleep all day, and come baby's sleep time be prepared to be wide awake.

10. Your house will get messy, REALLY messy. Your other children may eat tinned spaghetti fr tea two nights in a row.... But who cares, I know I don't :)

All things girly and pink

2010-07-28T21:44:00.000+10:00

This here is a picture of the madam's wardrobe the night before I went into hospital...

And here is a picture in its current state... not to mention whats in the drawers that sit below the hanging space.

As much as I am a girls girl... I love clothes and shoes and makeup and everything that goes along with being a girl... but I usually draw the line with pink. Don't ask me to give you a valid reason, because I don't have one. But I have found that when shopping now post-birth I am magnetically attracted to everything pink. purple, bows and frills. I just can't help myself... there is a lot of gifts in the above picture but equally as much I have bought. Its like my brain goes into 'see pink, must buy'.

And then there is todays shopping expedition on etsy... but I'll save that for another post.

A fly on the wall...

2010-07-27T21:42:00.000+10:00

A fly on the wall... ( a blog this post)

I’ve always, as long as I can remember been a reader. The type of reader that becomes so involved in what I read I sometimes feel as though I am living in a fantasy land. I have been known in the past to run into objects, be it walls, tv cabinets, doors... if you can name it I have more than likely crashed into it with my nose in a book.

Most of my all time favourite books come from my childhood, so if I could be a fly on the wall, it would be one that was in my childhood bedroom. I have always held onto the fantasy of my toys, mainly my soft animal/doll collection that they come to life once you shut your eyes for the night, and maybe if I was a fly then I could prove it was true once and for all.

Here are a few of the books that used to take me into this fantasy land that I have never left... (images taken from amazon.com)

and last but not least... my all time favourite