tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77298074486178793572024-03-14T03:05:13.210+11:00~artful~becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-854697594459403632009-04-11T16:56:00.003+10:002009-04-11T17:08:35.878+10:00Simple Easter basketsWe wanted to give some Easter eggs to friends this week, so paper baskets were in order. Here's a very simple design:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRag8HrcIERdMT2jfSw5Q2g74UfYRT3b-e2-Mpy25vySCDkjVVupSiu_yJvNEA-oWM-pkeL7l0ZX7IdGqQUH_9JkZg3-t0lv79V9FShb9b10R0AaCqwLr07R7NzpVDSxMeuqnVOVSlUF_/s1600-h/2009-04-11+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRag8HrcIERdMT2jfSw5Q2g74UfYRT3b-e2-Mpy25vySCDkjVVupSiu_yJvNEA-oWM-pkeL7l0ZX7IdGqQUH_9JkZg3-t0lv79V9FShb9b10R0AaCqwLr07R7NzpVDSxMeuqnVOVSlUF_/s400/2009-04-11+001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323325518811915074" /></a>Cut a rectangle of cardstock (we used scrapbooking paper/card). Fold the top down, say 2cm or half an inch. Fold the other end up the other way - this will be the bottom. Cut notches up to this fold line (see photo).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39aadTkUGwWKgtqpPi7ZzX9KgUqCIeyqAnKIemJbp0NFvkMEw1AkIM86j7sx0sYOtekW12NBlQvY41oLNRLUSQFd0TAk3BnAGFcrC9R6ccpc6SmgOp8jbXdC11SYrM2T_h4NquORTJU6H/s1600-h/2009-04-11+004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39aadTkUGwWKgtqpPi7ZzX9KgUqCIeyqAnKIemJbp0NFvkMEw1AkIM86j7sx0sYOtekW12NBlQvY41oLNRLUSQFd0TAk3BnAGFcrC9R6ccpc6SmgOp8jbXdC11SYrM2T_h4NquORTJU6H/s400/2009-04-11+004.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323325509753554610" /></a>Create a cylinder and tuck one end under the upper fold. Stickytape along the join. Stickytape the notches flat, to create the base of the basket. Add a strip of paper/card (folded in half for more stability) and tape it to the basket for a handle...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIjJW9h0vXHOiPAurhmOQjHNbBZnq2BkzhZ0UhHuXkDGP6wZEZhnrjDwz8qkVMO7e4zl1yktmSHJyHOrKfgt_6reOJzsuj7aV8ZYmPN9idncYpIf6v7d7zLW7_9S-P64zWTIT2TxwHlj-/s1600-h/2009-04-11+005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIjJW9h0vXHOiPAurhmOQjHNbBZnq2BkzhZ0UhHuXkDGP6wZEZhnrjDwz8qkVMO7e4zl1yktmSHJyHOrKfgt_6reOJzsuj7aV8ZYmPN9idncYpIf6v7d7zLW7_9S-P64zWTIT2TxwHlj-/s400/2009-04-11+005.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323325507667760066" /></a>...and viola! An easy basket for chocolate treasures!becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-31455853099117300812009-04-09T17:08:00.001+10:002009-04-11T17:32:36.959+10:00Baby Surprise JacketWell, I'm back after a bit of a break! I seem to have bedded down the new baby (number three), but time does feel tighter, especially time for crafting and blogging. Have to make the most of moments... Anyway, here's a moment right now!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1AHzsxNZ2BBtoL-d2kpt7gmqdXNejslzl5ifX3KfV_sKP15Fwf_TsuP8xL7308-Ruanb-aQPUQTs7yBJt06C0pJXkPPMlig-QNB4rVpbZbpOf49328rO9bZbSmCYNlpzeJ-ZL2oGa7fR-/s1600-h/2009-03-04+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1AHzsxNZ2BBtoL-d2kpt7gmqdXNejslzl5ifX3KfV_sKP15Fwf_TsuP8xL7308-Ruanb-aQPUQTs7yBJt06C0pJXkPPMlig-QNB4rVpbZbpOf49328rO9bZbSmCYNlpzeJ-ZL2oGa7fR-/s400/2009-03-04+003.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323328640095945826" /></a>I'd been looking forward to trying out <a href="http://www.knitting-and.com/wiki/Elizabeth_Zimmermann">Elizabeth Zimmermann</a>'s <a href="http://www.knitting-and.com/wiki/Baby_Surprise_Jacket">Baby Surprise Jacket</a> for about nine months, and finally got to making one for our new little man, Jethro. Picked the colours out from my stash before he arrived on the scene, not knowing if he'd be a boy or a girl, but that pink doesn't look out of place on him!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvbIutvWAOwBK9Q8vC0xvfP2hPKv78jFZntUeHxa2XxkQDFJDb23bfeONKW3QZNG22ardcPJ1adBHO3lmvwP2utxTqF7a6wHPxF76XYHljZfjai0Ouk4NAPlxXw02QlsEvnFtfDttAEWy/s1600-h/2009-03-26+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvbIutvWAOwBK9Q8vC0xvfP2hPKv78jFZntUeHxa2XxkQDFJDb23bfeONKW3QZNG22ardcPJ1adBHO3lmvwP2utxTqF7a6wHPxF76XYHljZfjai0Ouk4NAPlxXw02QlsEvnFtfDttAEWy/s400/2009-03-26+001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323328635978529586" /></a>It's a great pattern, mostly for the surprise factor, how it all comes together so neatly. I'd like to try it next with a varigated yarn - less sewing in of ends! Not that I mind sewing them in, actually. It can be even more meditative than simply knitting, I find...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQjh25Fv0SgdGleD0Bpf8wi8brwU4Z5ype67XfunkpUlVmN2LHWgzJj45F5vJFB4ECFfrMQfeK6lVNu8_3bLlwE5bcQ72aRzLJfKXe0cxofllcYDHgDLU82s5UqAnrXQOtd43_URWOz9s/s1600-h/2009-03-26+009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQjh25Fv0SgdGleD0Bpf8wi8brwU4Z5ype67XfunkpUlVmN2LHWgzJj45F5vJFB4ECFfrMQfeK6lVNu8_3bLlwE5bcQ72aRzLJfKXe0cxofllcYDHgDLU82s5UqAnrXQOtd43_URWOz9s/s400/2009-03-26+009.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323328434943252402" /></a>Jethro can't wait to get his hands on it! How satisfying! I must say, I was glad to have another boy, cos now the jumper or two I made for Jasper (which he's eschewing, too cool for woolen sweaters) will get a second go... =)<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGjD8vt-7oJVg-KCR9MuEFrEdtcxULmroVS4-eYBSY2wLWjbF3jZZXZ3KatqyApvOxFM6DjkVXWcx3CU2qPDhwnfnXhvGZfezyk_yqoO5w5pao0W3510wZ0kFUMLOTGHCHK5CGIHTAeZW/s1600-h/2009-04-06+013.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGjD8vt-7oJVg-KCR9MuEFrEdtcxULmroVS4-eYBSY2wLWjbF3jZZXZ3KatqyApvOxFM6DjkVXWcx3CU2qPDhwnfnXhvGZfezyk_yqoO5w5pao0W3510wZ0kFUMLOTGHCHK5CGIHTAeZW/s400/2009-04-06+013.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323328431398521186" /></a>In all its glory, the RAINBOW baby surprise jacket.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjRGzI-q67P-k5q5mIA3AXoycm1xcl4d1UVORLS1l28cpeesGVaUmGy7NnobisxgkJRF-JjwnrHOwCp76D7W1bYIChwMbOaHemQg_FlSIBmQCKPWCo9lQEBycfB0RqQIrLUYj9a3ogxRg/s1600-h/2009-04-06+014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjRGzI-q67P-k5q5mIA3AXoycm1xcl4d1UVORLS1l28cpeesGVaUmGy7NnobisxgkJRF-JjwnrHOwCp76D7W1bYIChwMbOaHemQg_FlSIBmQCKPWCo9lQEBycfB0RqQIrLUYj9a3ogxRg/s400/2009-04-06+014.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323328426837482354" /></a>And the back. Love how it comes together.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnhj4lpXUiQEUzvchKoKLzz1dhUOK0FLcrs2-pMfEJNB9P9vONvrs7nGm6QpFA1xOhfbRC7OWkZsnT9Ta_YiwADD2_d58879SEil_FpmTmao92Yj5MR9rdiEvxNw9KSEJz06RIt-Nn63i/s1600-h/2009-04-06+011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnhj4lpXUiQEUzvchKoKLzz1dhUOK0FLcrs2-pMfEJNB9P9vONvrs7nGm6QpFA1xOhfbRC7OWkZsnT9Ta_YiwADD2_d58879SEil_FpmTmao92Yj5MR9rdiEvxNw9KSEJz06RIt-Nn63i/s400/2009-04-06+011.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323328072489261954" /></a>And finally on...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAWOqAO5sz4Fq9vH96wpXlRLT-kgWUxtgjqK8nKHAdbIJyX0b4_xgzi8oiNr-IFEl87r93443MJZGClznpJ-0k5y02dbAu1JbIGzkgXk6qvhSJ44LLHqOVhkvA85E8DTlUrZkRh9sWo1J/s1600-h/2009-04-06+003+ed.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAWOqAO5sz4Fq9vH96wpXlRLT-kgWUxtgjqK8nKHAdbIJyX0b4_xgzi8oiNr-IFEl87r93443MJZGClznpJ-0k5y02dbAu1JbIGzkgXk6qvhSJ44LLHqOVhkvA85E8DTlUrZkRh9sWo1J/s400/2009-04-06+003+ed.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323328068847737090" /></a><br /></div>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-82286350274882336662009-02-01T21:00:00.005+11:002009-02-01T21:26:33.187+11:00Garden Harvest Soup, by PiperToday Piper made us Garden Harvest Soup. Totally her own initiative. Set the table for us with a wet (for some reason) nappy, bowls, spoons, and serviettes. Had to be matching everything, even the spoons. She was very pleased with herself, very smiley, but had worked with great intent and obviously had a vision for how she wanted to present her soup, and how she wanted us to participate in her culinary act. It was bemusing but beautiful.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMV0QN4icoz1bzP4iqPtKWe_cR6g7WTp7vCKNXHrBIcONp13k6vxtnddEDyOcfNbqcwzF-QYH_mZX6ZQ_lZBPKRu3HCE_URoMwUm3yVeJRHtf8wSZUQLTAVyrnzulOj7HORP7zu3qCceHB/s1600-h/2009-02-01+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297767128273530594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMV0QN4icoz1bzP4iqPtKWe_cR6g7WTp7vCKNXHrBIcONp13k6vxtnddEDyOcfNbqcwzF-QYH_mZX6ZQ_lZBPKRu3HCE_URoMwUm3yVeJRHtf8wSZUQLTAVyrnzulOj7HORP7zu3qCceHB/s400/2009-02-01+016.jpg" border="0" /></a> Piper took these shots, and I wish there was one of the soup. It consisted of: beans, beetroot leaves, dandelion flowers, spring onion tops and other odds and ends. No doubt very healthy! And we did eat some!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOwKAZG0B-kcPuRE6lMMscXjbEVyxk-zQhYVH64zOeU9xR3dWD9phI2Frft4pkKKpeb0yuDPMxQyZqJSCKHxcPCzHFs9u911uja6ykF6LTOd1vk7Hh7UjAS8h8ozTs5q74oufhQzvfQ3A/s1600-h/2009-02-01+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297767130057948450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOwKAZG0B-kcPuRE6lMMscXjbEVyxk-zQhYVH64zOeU9xR3dWD9phI2Frft4pkKKpeb0yuDPMxQyZqJSCKHxcPCzHFs9u911uja6ykF6LTOd1vk7Hh7UjAS8h8ozTs5q74oufhQzvfQ3A/s400/2009-02-01+015.jpg" border="0" /></a> Gord and I have been reading a bit of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Commonplace-Agrarian-Essays-Wendell/dp/1593760078">The Art of the Commonplace: the agrarian essays of Wendell Berry</a>, and this experience with Piper correlates directly with something he writes:</div><div><blockquote><p><em>I do not believe that "employment outside the home" is as valuable or as important or as satisfying as employment at home, for either men or women. It is clear to me from my experience as a teacher, for example, that children need an ordinary daily association with both parents. They need to see their parents at work; they need, at first, to play at the work they see their parents doing, and then they need to work with their parents. It does not matter so much that this working together should be what is called "quality time," but it matters a great deal that the work done should have the dignity of economic value.</em> (p. 68)</p></blockquote></div><div></div><div>Piper is always playing and imagining, but I've never seen her so clearly emulate, on her own, the everyday work of cooking that Gord and I engage in almost every day. Especially settling the table like that. </div>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-46103206330894384752009-01-26T14:32:00.009+11:002009-01-26T15:15:14.365+11:00Turning 29This time last year (on the 25th January), I was <a href="http://funkyhappyfamily.blogspot.com/2008/01/turning-28.html">turning 28</a> in cold Canada. This year, I felt I hadn't had the headspace to work out what I wanted to do, except have a little dance party on our non-existent deck(!), so the day rolled out in a very unplanned, mellow manner, which can sometimes leave me feeling at a loose end, but it worked out well. I wanted to capture some of it in images...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDYuIVnc6q3DeZ9IhyphenhyphengIdQ3GACOI0u1aD-n_YJccLonIS3-URSiElMUNIkcgkPQbG2Yovy8sD-6BLAK3fJazAJFLlK6K05w6OPYSRYAMNQhMu7sFCDZiaYdrH8B-uDRp1wR6wx4HPTFkP/s1600-h/2009-01-26+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295441826497989730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDYuIVnc6q3DeZ9IhyphenhyphengIdQ3GACOI0u1aD-n_YJccLonIS3-URSiElMUNIkcgkPQbG2Yovy8sD-6BLAK3fJazAJFLlK6K05w6OPYSRYAMNQhMu7sFCDZiaYdrH8B-uDRp1wR6wx4HPTFkP/s400/2009-01-26+011.jpg" border="0" /></a> A space to read in bed with a cup of tea for a little while - always a lovely treat, one that doesn't come along too often these days!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgZafx54jHfWOsTJJq94lWW-F2W4S2oLR5hGbX9kvI6PgnGamYHNlSR7ktFENjiv62BcNzSU0dTtFjs71fwAnAJrXoXN93K7c6MJPkQbz1ef-8xl9AbEzUEFtfEFiPi2XSXJ5r0T2iLvR/s1600-h/2009-01-26+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295441824401804402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 252px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgZafx54jHfWOsTJJq94lWW-F2W4S2oLR5hGbX9kvI6PgnGamYHNlSR7ktFENjiv62BcNzSU0dTtFjs71fwAnAJrXoXN93K7c6MJPkQbz1ef-8xl9AbEzUEFtfEFiPi2XSXJ5r0T2iLvR/s400/2009-01-26+015.jpg" border="0" /></a> Favourite earrings.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7vZWanJTPkgjBRQia8k0ly-QtdLyPUWUpML1LU84dnUtCS8k6B_oRCfSRKVjR6N2gHlXLGCvMvu6mW1MIHkY3kJSDSpvVh82FqhyphenhyphenTYCprBBQI6-95E7OGWowMBvTZfGg3QsDYZH873ye/s1600-h/2009-01-26+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295441823492682882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7vZWanJTPkgjBRQia8k0ly-QtdLyPUWUpML1LU84dnUtCS8k6B_oRCfSRKVjR6N2gHlXLGCvMvu6mW1MIHkY3kJSDSpvVh82FqhyphenhyphenTYCprBBQI6-95E7OGWowMBvTZfGg3QsDYZH873ye/s400/2009-01-26+019.jpg" border="0" /></a> My daughter back - I'd hardly seen her for a week, cos I left for north Queensland early Sunday morning, got back late Wednesday night, saw her a bit on Thursday morning, but then she stayed with my parents for two nights to tie in with a trip to the ballet! And look, she was right back into it, crafting and drawing...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_skAusdsNBztqXeGqZuFcSd2HsJBqeoDEreEEJqQvlp1fSVBCucXFA9_vB3bp9uKFQD7xt0Jtp6j2Cw6CURfl9C3rc4YU1d1ESI3oGzY_w_SYtFDjo_kEM-edviawwrDKgyP0u_0jm01/s1600-h/2009-01-26+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295441566009392226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_skAusdsNBztqXeGqZuFcSd2HsJBqeoDEreEEJqQvlp1fSVBCucXFA9_vB3bp9uKFQD7xt0Jtp6j2Cw6CURfl9C3rc4YU1d1ESI3oGzY_w_SYtFDjo_kEM-edviawwrDKgyP0u_0jm01/s400/2009-01-26+021.jpg" border="0" /></a> A butterfly dressed up for my birthday.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNCBpELPXwO1DykMNFpAC32cODY8rBVRwnfG27z56nDkB66265u9CoC-WnsFmQCUJ1jeJMuvJUhCR6pEopCJ0WvdPZpIvfRLcyCStAap07LxSHjR8f-w9IFUSZ-UMtFU-SFEICqeqW4mt/s1600-h/2009-01-26+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295441564747736258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNCBpELPXwO1DykMNFpAC32cODY8rBVRwnfG27z56nDkB66265u9CoC-WnsFmQCUJ1jeJMuvJUhCR6pEopCJ0WvdPZpIvfRLcyCStAap07LxSHjR8f-w9IFUSZ-UMtFU-SFEICqeqW4mt/s400/2009-01-26+022.jpg" border="0" /></a> A trip to the monthly Gembrook Market with Mum and Dad.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmvgn_Cm2Hv5TEJ-Z3JnHgor7RB99Zi13BdsHKfOQSTrrlxh-_GnTx8R_IN2WxVQJFJV6eC6GHtcNKDRDbs9-V5-ehME2O3pp8Qlf20w6O4TUAJtV0DptHwCfHRoZMXnqYHEsyUIT9ts_/s1600-h/2009-01-26+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295441560445570514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmvgn_Cm2Hv5TEJ-Z3JnHgor7RB99Zi13BdsHKfOQSTrrlxh-_GnTx8R_IN2WxVQJFJV6eC6GHtcNKDRDbs9-V5-ehME2O3pp8Qlf20w6O4TUAJtV0DptHwCfHRoZMXnqYHEsyUIT9ts_/s400/2009-01-26+025.jpg" border="0" /></a> My favourite shoes, and the only skirt I fit into, now!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCF3rd8MDqfTSZc00Z2daAr60iGy7Z7M1Osfhi1WDO6jx3H5jhXA7G1aVndmHCqeg8-Ru-vRtbq9o8gosTRGKb3uOxd6VqGyq4PbPfTDUav98pYqRMJYaWQChulfyBEeryeQRlb2s-tHw/s1600-h/2009-01-26+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295441552154013218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 318px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCF3rd8MDqfTSZc00Z2daAr60iGy7Z7M1Osfhi1WDO6jx3H5jhXA7G1aVndmHCqeg8-Ru-vRtbq9o8gosTRGKb3uOxd6VqGyq4PbPfTDUav98pYqRMJYaWQChulfyBEeryeQRlb2s-tHw/s400/2009-01-26+028.jpg" border="0" /></a> A birthday shared with this baby to come.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWxzNk_jIYqLrZr-_xlflB3MRmVZI5aMxkQAn5Suz5o5M4KmZyoc90RrA_hliMHaKY-vcWtsuOL9Ra18ioCspa1FR70BdztvdeVHlrFQI2a_nE2rkSDplR4_cy_OJjxJan6F4NjIkJvhE/s1600-h/2009-01-26+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295441289906090930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWxzNk_jIYqLrZr-_xlflB3MRmVZI5aMxkQAn5Suz5o5M4KmZyoc90RrA_hliMHaKY-vcWtsuOL9Ra18ioCspa1FR70BdztvdeVHlrFQI2a_nE2rkSDplR4_cy_OJjxJan6F4NjIkJvhE/s400/2009-01-26+029.jpg" border="0" /></a> Lunch: turkish bread, sicilian pesto and olive tapenade from the market, with home-grown grilled zucchini...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPD86ntlpcFad4xotuT9r_bysLPfJJwh1EB2lhjPORFOTcUJz0Wj9BsoMaOgeDnO1DGmjKbgvw83Ws219WqZCrZYgiQJFsEibz_aHcps-AXvaRVoTq03WgUbIuTlSrlT0mB7yjQKHiJBm/s1600-h/2009-01-26+030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295441285558937442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 307px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPD86ntlpcFad4xotuT9r_bysLPfJJwh1EB2lhjPORFOTcUJz0Wj9BsoMaOgeDnO1DGmjKbgvw83Ws219WqZCrZYgiQJFsEibz_aHcps-AXvaRVoTq03WgUbIuTlSrlT0mB7yjQKHiJBm/s400/2009-01-26+030.jpg" border="0" /></a> ...consumed with relish in front of the <a href="http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/index.html">tennis</a>!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3ZrPtd0OcCr3Nt58WzOhs1ic9gO2Lt6GdtgK7lXDZSrgj873a0iMw-ktg82EA8sbpWgclbog5uMsG4zjRQ8G588gozbipQdplNsPD06pdn7SF079lUoyC_kxPTSue8SDEQLCneCSbNIm/s1600-h/2009-01-26+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295441281740111618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3ZrPtd0OcCr3Nt58WzOhs1ic9gO2Lt6GdtgK7lXDZSrgj873a0iMw-ktg82EA8sbpWgclbog5uMsG4zjRQ8G588gozbipQdplNsPD06pdn7SF079lUoyC_kxPTSue8SDEQLCneCSbNIm/s400/2009-01-26+033.jpg" border="0" /></a> The first sweetpea to bloom - it was a gift to inhale its beautiful scent - one of my favourite flowers.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBrMNAEDHyVMzPnpenLMLcj29Dw6owpfUeKW3_vy4lyATNEZUnjx34UzS5cxpkzrwRR19Fq1AOYo9wtseIa2eZjDBTmlumNduLOm_IOa61E_dJa1fkR7kbCH81XyODzAOoNt435S6IvPy/s1600-h/2009-01-26+049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295440983921486834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBrMNAEDHyVMzPnpenLMLcj29Dw6owpfUeKW3_vy4lyATNEZUnjx34UzS5cxpkzrwRR19Fq1AOYo9wtseIa2eZjDBTmlumNduLOm_IOa61E_dJa1fkR7kbCH81XyODzAOoNt435S6IvPy/s400/2009-01-26+049.jpg" border="0" /></a> Fresh flowers from the garden.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mmA8wNMCv01bKtLou8M0sSks1tqapLfbmBnZdxT-VBeqJgu_DWTbaWAmcKdWekpeWDYFZp0SdnsBulQnXUf8XSZpELlU-m5NqTAgSDI25PsgW9DKkQ8-CSaCkwx7i_xxe-YBqxXpOFVu/s1600-h/2009-01-26+037.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295441276878503426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 292px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mmA8wNMCv01bKtLou8M0sSks1tqapLfbmBnZdxT-VBeqJgu_DWTbaWAmcKdWekpeWDYFZp0SdnsBulQnXUf8XSZpELlU-m5NqTAgSDI25PsgW9DKkQ8-CSaCkwx7i_xxe-YBqxXpOFVu/s400/2009-01-26+037.jpg" border="0" /></a> Presents from my in-laws - Gord's parents and sister! Yippee! Made me feel like making something right there and then.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfQHQlEkEPuazqLpgoZ5fZ8asZBfqBGrfhYXip3E3c5wNrXy-snDOoqJ4F1UUq7kJJTVlv2PSDWvJRmhpo7Ki0biVu7fzpt60lqEim4C0qoMgnMi2oAVLKLSpKOdZ2pDoMtOPHRxghtnh/s1600-h/2009-01-26+043.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295440983995572546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 262px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfQHQlEkEPuazqLpgoZ5fZ8asZBfqBGrfhYXip3E3c5wNrXy-snDOoqJ4F1UUq7kJJTVlv2PSDWvJRmhpo7Ki0biVu7fzpt60lqEim4C0qoMgnMi2oAVLKLSpKOdZ2pDoMtOPHRxghtnh/s400/2009-01-26+043.jpg" border="0" /></a> More presents...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIRn2SSdMLH7YofU506UR_0GYaFUxbgC2tvCTvDLhcXyN-kSiyusmlBfbyH07jPMMM2W6RqFB3s-9MglcUUTvdul2xtxCFLKiXVuc0dUlYD_cJDWFMzIaABg6i35RfaifZnfM1gUVrQai/s1600-h/2009-01-26+047.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295440983663955362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIRn2SSdMLH7YofU506UR_0GYaFUxbgC2tvCTvDLhcXyN-kSiyusmlBfbyH07jPMMM2W6RqFB3s-9MglcUUTvdul2xtxCFLKiXVuc0dUlYD_cJDWFMzIaABg6i35RfaifZnfM1gUVrQai/s400/2009-01-26+047.jpg" border="0" /></a> The desire to create leading to me pulling out almost my entire yarn stash to see what I could do with it. I've had the idea for a while of a colourful blanket comprising of knitted squares, but the thought of having to work out the gauge of half the balls of yarn, and the equally demoralising thought of having to sew all the squares together somehow, left me feeling a bit stymied...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozXafAE63kBLN8oYgJ4ZVuKKKfNfESQ6JQ350rY8WSgRJiCUhxmTfj6qlaVlV0tIeD3HtyZgOP7Ek_6ia-N7zW2FKVt-2nr2hbq677GOap3csKCYDJYNDli6tw1ZTAJBnFC4PpX4gyn9f/s1600-h/2009-01-26+050.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295440980712069634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozXafAE63kBLN8oYgJ4ZVuKKKfNfESQ6JQ350rY8WSgRJiCUhxmTfj6qlaVlV0tIeD3HtyZgOP7Ek_6ia-N7zW2FKVt-2nr2hbq677GOap3csKCYDJYNDli6tw1ZTAJBnFC4PpX4gyn9f/s400/2009-01-26+050.jpg" border="0" /></a> ... but I started knitting anyway!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9etqA2GrBmL2XlkpooigI_691qsC1mvk_6iOMjFVFf0ZfCzb3H8TXdShfa63goqKR_ywYhRvNSRbNY2uB-jvaczZc-odCGXQ-Uz56zj1UnV8GCvYN4HNm5vq-VnUI27t5N2pY_iqWz055/s1600-h/2009-01-26+057.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295440702661911458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9etqA2GrBmL2XlkpooigI_691qsC1mvk_6iOMjFVFf0ZfCzb3H8TXdShfa63goqKR_ywYhRvNSRbNY2uB-jvaczZc-odCGXQ-Uz56zj1UnV8GCvYN4HNm5vq-VnUI27t5N2pY_iqWz055/s400/2009-01-26+057.jpg" border="0" /></a> Another present, from Tessa - a nectarine tree for our future orchard in the front yard.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj25sYbCICnHJ9jg_17w9U0_hGnNmzs6oDYjwXb714a3MjEGzxNx8ozXUDJLnE-J8OoFyD2t6bvz35AwKn98FUgNsfzwbFciLMvDMhqpVZ1-k2h2NbeeopBFR3UdfvVfziJNsfLYfPjTsr/s1600-h/2009-01-26+060.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295440697595134994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 326px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj25sYbCICnHJ9jg_17w9U0_hGnNmzs6oDYjwXb714a3MjEGzxNx8ozXUDJLnE-J8OoFyD2t6bvz35AwKn98FUgNsfzwbFciLMvDMhqpVZ1-k2h2NbeeopBFR3UdfvVfziJNsfLYfPjTsr/s400/2009-01-26+060.jpg" border="0" /></a> Starting to read <a href="http://images.google.com.au/images?q=snugglepot+and+cuddlepie&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title">Snugglepot and Cuddlepie</a>, an Australian classic, to Piper for the first time. I love introducing her to stories I love.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_J3K9ju8-aaP3bQoOqg1eEWyugZ1GgVGHVQkL24uEoPNHjbBxBXMkNHxxHvEMmUSoMyc5S3J1BES3unO7gKsjNM3KXR90_iul7aqD0F_EdY0wwl2-jXlMqs7Rw-AU6diCERfVqky8kJu/s1600-h/2009-01-26+062.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295440696660957346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 349px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_J3K9ju8-aaP3bQoOqg1eEWyugZ1GgVGHVQkL24uEoPNHjbBxBXMkNHxxHvEMmUSoMyc5S3J1BES3unO7gKsjNM3KXR90_iul7aqD0F_EdY0wwl2-jXlMqs7Rw-AU6diCERfVqky8kJu/s400/2009-01-26+062.jpg" border="0" /></a> Kids bathed and ready for bed, without me having to do anything!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWQA2GEklbqxgFWPetxGuQ6RhxLqMEp2NLa8oLrQ_IMEz9oOL1feIuEmRvDJy_kx8fGiu9vE52V-mEA_Gv4Eg-mPWaMjC8pbZy9sN02ECjEpIxpD_OgrpFFqYmVGoRbZzvNDPUaHKqmMB/s1600-h/2009-01-26+081.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295440697193725458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 273px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWQA2GEklbqxgFWPetxGuQ6RhxLqMEp2NLa8oLrQ_IMEz9oOL1feIuEmRvDJy_kx8fGiu9vE52V-mEA_Gv4Eg-mPWaMjC8pbZy9sN02ECjEpIxpD_OgrpFFqYmVGoRbZzvNDPUaHKqmMB/s400/2009-01-26+081.jpg" border="0" /></a> And still the desire to create! It overpowered a vague idea to catch a movie and/or purchase some birthday cake in Belgrave! Finally settled on a feather and fan blanket pattern from Country Living's <em>Cosy Knits for Cuddly Babies</em>, and cast on with soft handspun Romney Marsh wool from the market, a gift from Mum and Dad. My first attempt at a lace pattern. Stayed up too late, just enjoying knitting (in front of the tennis, with my husband reading beside me) - nice!</div><div></div><div><br />So really, what a lovely birthday, matching my mellow, home-body state at the present...</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-38247542964243027782009-01-22T22:23:00.004+11:002009-01-22T22:55:11.212+11:00Robert Maxwell Ackland 1928-2009My grandfather died early last week, after a long encounter with prostate cancer and various treatments and complications. He'd been sick for a while, so I don't feel sad that he's out of pain now, but I do feel sad for my grandmother, and her sons, and sad that I'll never hear his laugh again, amongst other things. I flew up to Atherton (inland from Cairns) with Jasper and my parents for the funeral on Monday this week. We were there for four days... just got back and am trying to pick up the pieces. I'll blog again sometime soon...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqF4oMzyPniqLcvlx313yyXPJKrCJzmS_L_WXaLujmu_mmn9UBZb71BJWGCFhiw5rspGC9VG0Ei9k3QDLALDdX8qq7umh61StC5gkiKhzSHtxxJlRrdFDs82gsMgPdGNJRt9zkJexyhT-X/s1600-h/Dad80Boy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294084435804095410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 206px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqF4oMzyPniqLcvlx313yyXPJKrCJzmS_L_WXaLujmu_mmn9UBZb71BJWGCFhiw5rspGC9VG0Ei9k3QDLALDdX8qq7umh61StC5gkiKhzSHtxxJlRrdFDs82gsMgPdGNJRt9zkJexyhT-X/s400/Dad80Boy.jpg" border="0" /></a>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-74299539184521703752009-01-14T15:49:00.005+11:002009-01-22T22:21:36.257+11:00Photography: steps 2 & 3I've been thinking about the importance of photography for this kind of blog, a blog that's attempting to capture a moment, a lifestyle, a creative act, an idea. As I've mused, a sense of a step-by-step approach to photography has emerged for me. So like I said in a <a href="http://artfulindustry.blogspot.com/2009/01/photography-step-1.html">previous post</a>, I reckon <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Step 1</span></strong> is taking your camera with you, no matter how mundane your errand or environment, cos you can never predict when the perfect visual moment will come together.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Step 2</span></strong>, in my experience, is reading through the camera manual so that you become familiar with your tool. I was annoyed for weeks cos the exposure setting on the aperture-priority mode of my camera was set one stop up, so everything was over-exposed, to the point where I couldn't use the images at all. And yet, using a short depth of field (ie. playing with the aperture) is one of the easiest ways to add focus or interest to an image. So finally I pulled out the manual and sorted out the solution. If I was really motivated, I'd write down the solution I found, so that next time I don't have to wade through it all again.<br /><br />The next step, <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Step 3</span></strong>, that just seems to roll out, is to regularly and deliberately take photos. Making a regular photoshoot space, if you like. For me this means a space where I approach my photography as a creative act in itself, rather than using it to capture other physical creative efforts. Using the lens to see moments of beauty all around me. Experimenting with colour and effect. Seeing a place, seeing life, in a new way.<br /><br />On Sunday we were at the Prahran Market, our old haunt, with some friends. The kids were having fun on the carousel, so I attempted to capture the moment...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPF8Usbk4IF4IVSf7p6P4z_Tgzvkq_Plsjt5_37UF6Ol7MBw2HS6vK93TSApjMIVwOJznAfBM0rjUZRiMii499pyfDF3j1NfgXkVmteY416SrQA3JkfChvwjzX-o33t7kT-4aL6y0Zjbu/s1600-h/2009-01-16+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291750218653932594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPF8Usbk4IF4IVSf7p6P4z_Tgzvkq_Plsjt5_37UF6Ol7MBw2HS6vK93TSApjMIVwOJznAfBM0rjUZRiMii499pyfDF3j1NfgXkVmteY416SrQA3JkfChvwjzX-o33t7kT-4aL6y0Zjbu/s400/2009-01-16+022.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoi6tIIJ9qdZxjpTY2C8CLC1HfQBVjaYqJ7SrTmhNaezwcW8Yiax0yOd4lHaIbJe93XMR9k-HkoR5Dn8pQRN2b6nX-kKLrYffhfvvqkOKRCK9qEXHIP8p8felTxxVzLBB8OFnI4tC9QDu/s1600-h/2009-01-16+044.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291750220118519762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoi6tIIJ9qdZxjpTY2C8CLC1HfQBVjaYqJ7SrTmhNaezwcW8Yiax0yOd4lHaIbJe93XMR9k-HkoR5Dn8pQRN2b6nX-kKLrYffhfvvqkOKRCK9qEXHIP8p8felTxxVzLBB8OFnI4tC9QDu/s400/2009-01-16+044.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOz0CjZ_wanV6uV1iYZR7dfTjJhPnHEvp2__Zb8S3Z5KTXyAB7CFF9NJBJq609czqM7Y4mSdvp63bAaHzJrDhvqfa9WpA7fRHZj7-7h-reXdEilfpxXC9ddAYq8XL6jL8ysia5qejZHXMl/s1600-h/2009-01-16+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291749933757124770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOz0CjZ_wanV6uV1iYZR7dfTjJhPnHEvp2__Zb8S3Z5KTXyAB7CFF9NJBJq609czqM7Y4mSdvp63bAaHzJrDhvqfa9WpA7fRHZj7-7h-reXdEilfpxXC9ddAYq8XL6jL8ysia5qejZHXMl/s400/2009-01-16+026.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVj8I8bj5hYpQoNgcbpjFjLrpYNcorCC_yVUg-rQeiuQBxPlDQEYuPmPTSk7rJqOrzrZvlTysQuF1o0eL1Px7Ko6ONU_Re1-8e6hFWA01wSigq863hwdI2gu237n8ee7DnG2LtNNue8_0y/s1600-h/2009-01-16+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291749934566316818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVj8I8bj5hYpQoNgcbpjFjLrpYNcorCC_yVUg-rQeiuQBxPlDQEYuPmPTSk7rJqOrzrZvlTysQuF1o0eL1Px7Ko6ONU_Re1-8e6hFWA01wSigq863hwdI2gu237n8ee7DnG2LtNNue8_0y/s400/2009-01-16+036.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnK0IVKBQ9biLMhmyct102fpYmFZ5KvBLhYnhuRUy3QSHWo3yOx6YIYYpOzos-Q27z1gCEz0el-uV_ytMNx8MwvBquqHSoW8pxj3QsxbzQ273Xe32yIxelIIjRYY5H6fB4Bs4VEC4dnKM/s1600-h/2009-01-16+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291749931285621842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnK0IVKBQ9biLMhmyct102fpYmFZ5KvBLhYnhuRUy3QSHWo3yOx6YIYYpOzos-Q27z1gCEz0el-uV_ytMNx8MwvBquqHSoW8pxj3QsxbzQ273Xe32yIxelIIjRYY5H6fB4Bs4VEC4dnKM/s400/2009-01-16+042.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-12199669973697989812009-01-13T15:30:00.000+11:002009-01-16T15:46:36.136+11:00Impromptu dolphinMore and more, Piper pulls out the craft stuff by herself to create whatever she's imagining in her head. Sometimes it's bemusing not to be needed, now that she knows where the scissors are and is so adept at cutting the bits of sticky tape she needs. Yes, a lot of sticky tape gets consumed around here these days! But that's all good. I've been keeping many bits and pieces that would have ended up in the recycling bin, cos invariably they get used in the next creation, as a turtle shell, or a dolphin pool, or an aquarium.<br /><br />But the other morning, Piper decided she wanted to make a dolphin out of felt, which required a bit of parental presence. I probably took over the project, like did the sewing round the edge really need to be blanket stitch, or could I have just let her at it and see what happened? It's hard for the perfectionist in me to let go...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaKeEKLGE-ZmhyphenhyphenWyn4uRTjLvG-K6-M2x6bS46sFtw2i51OrRzSlhOeQDdLj5TR9r9M61a9T73PS_MpdBxyYa1ScfzLEqiYKPMDoexerI-cXwwtz5FAQDsGbpzkREteotVTeofDLPqVNe_/s1600-h/2009-01-16+046.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291745909936405618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaKeEKLGE-ZmhyphenhyphenWyn4uRTjLvG-K6-M2x6bS46sFtw2i51OrRzSlhOeQDdLj5TR9r9M61a9T73PS_MpdBxyYa1ScfzLEqiYKPMDoexerI-cXwwtz5FAQDsGbpzkREteotVTeofDLPqVNe_/s400/2009-01-16+046.jpg" border="0" /></a> Found a picture online and printed it off as a pattern/outline.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyJSuTFmyEiFKe_cwz05PNY3FZ29F2UkA65aDviFnWhVocPDhoM7jn5Zp_EBBJoEUBx7pqlcdklK2q7zAEIic0Xz0bd9XbDNNjprPyFo7R6NrrtkIfOc5b-Bi_VdzEbLWVDdsm6tRTP-_/s1600-h/2009-01-16+047.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291745906532336674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyJSuTFmyEiFKe_cwz05PNY3FZ29F2UkA65aDviFnWhVocPDhoM7jn5Zp_EBBJoEUBx7pqlcdklK2q7zAEIic0Xz0bd9XbDNNjprPyFo7R6NrrtkIfOc5b-Bi_VdzEbLWVDdsm6tRTP-_/s400/2009-01-16+047.jpg" border="0" /></a>Me sewing the blanket stitch, cos Piper didn't want to.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZFu8knmOjUBPdpf2-t9jBRJs3KP13iHgUom7Q9g3kITTpCoVBOOL9bLgvh0C5hsE3YeXom5bIMu3EdnqE2jdT2WVXUYIWAqY8r-xDl9RB8PrRAtRGkHXvOh-85EZeTdaLOVC5VgR30SZ/s1600-h/2009-01-16+049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291745797756748466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZFu8knmOjUBPdpf2-t9jBRJs3KP13iHgUom7Q9g3kITTpCoVBOOL9bLgvh0C5hsE3YeXom5bIMu3EdnqE2jdT2WVXUYIWAqY8r-xDl9RB8PrRAtRGkHXvOh-85EZeTdaLOVC5VgR30SZ/s400/2009-01-16+049.jpg" border="0" /></a> Taking time to snap a shot of her brother...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkuK2fKF9pztPEEcQ8XPG5JTi3lt0caaAqp0j7fnTMUwfQQVLPopbKlx2Riga6Sg7k92vVJ5V5zzo2R0y6Gis3OFUCoJ-4ZMwVgUTIRmZBXcEdw5ovw_KdYcqZDeizNtoSL8miOtS4dh5/s1600-h/2009-01-16+052.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291745796545602386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkuK2fKF9pztPEEcQ8XPG5JTi3lt0caaAqp0j7fnTMUwfQQVLPopbKlx2Riga6Sg7k92vVJ5V5zzo2R0y6Gis3OFUCoJ-4ZMwVgUTIRmZBXcEdw5ovw_KdYcqZDeizNtoSL8miOtS4dh5/s400/2009-01-16+052.jpg" border="0" /></a> Stuffing the dolphin.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbDgCn4ZnAw8u3fhIIQB_hgHKlU_kZnZUdOxNrp6QYaW8aRcTL5OIR8YEWIXqaDJRh7gfRnuFfZDHVRt_4usonZVL23AdP3ko7xuGTr735oWna5UaB0_LPzBFYbDLrlHWdr0d1nNv5XFT/s1600-h/2009-01-16+053.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291745789398692802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbDgCn4ZnAw8u3fhIIQB_hgHKlU_kZnZUdOxNrp6QYaW8aRcTL5OIR8YEWIXqaDJRh7gfRnuFfZDHVRt_4usonZVL23AdP3ko7xuGTr735oWna5UaB0_LPzBFYbDLrlHWdr0d1nNv5XFT/s400/2009-01-16+053.jpg" border="0" /></a> A new creature in a new home. A satisfyingly felty finished product. What a pity I was grumpy by the end, and what a blessing that the doorbell rang just then, announcing a friend, and an instant change of mood!</div></div></div></div>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-2335840655801572342009-01-12T15:03:00.000+11:002009-01-16T15:29:13.804+11:00First harvest<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlILovB7hCk0h02i743hi4LlSHbEE7F_jh7YCnQCKB01JAh-3sNUjwXDTpO6KY0A3DR56JY1Q6biTPUd7VrCOS-CwIn4XC_imLNzlTJouhvw2LOVx7bnPO2WoEMHckH90cYzb-CnkPsrMU/s1600-h/2009-01-09+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291742133422091746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 231px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlILovB7hCk0h02i743hi4LlSHbEE7F_jh7YCnQCKB01JAh-3sNUjwXDTpO6KY0A3DR56JY1Q6biTPUd7VrCOS-CwIn4XC_imLNzlTJouhvw2LOVx7bnPO2WoEMHckH90cYzb-CnkPsrMU/s400/2009-01-09+034.jpg" border="0" /></a> Our zucchini plants are producing prolifically, as zucchini plants always seem to! We <em>really</em> want to respect the abundance of this garden and use all that it produces, so zucchini has been, and will be, on the menu for a while at our place!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKcjqYTzo3CKKDUxyPS40SeqQUP4DWTRA8XyaCVUI-goXP8hviLKHZbxZZDnTyk59YqKTtecfzfRhSPHQyGYhEZi17rdRMI4LHuKGbzwgAV-K9QglLDiM6U7tzRiCAG8kImYciXtfinju/s1600-h/2009-01-09+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291742125960144690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKcjqYTzo3CKKDUxyPS40SeqQUP4DWTRA8XyaCVUI-goXP8hviLKHZbxZZDnTyk59YqKTtecfzfRhSPHQyGYhEZi17rdRMI4LHuKGbzwgAV-K9QglLDiM6U7tzRiCAG8kImYciXtfinju/s400/2009-01-09+033.jpg" border="0" /></a>The vibrant yellow skin was a welcome surprise - I guess I should have paid more attention to what we were planting!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZVg1k_ZmfOlZLRAeTcTTfer3T-EiGX2aK8h-OhlVhDEGOYosDXJ341U3yXTyCJyZvi2ljZCMAaB-hd20SfL2rCV_rIn5U_j-SNWoUfEe2Lo0fFcKfKJlAjWD8Z1iEN4474EhjcyG4aJl/s1600-h/2009-01-16+054.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291742125420927058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 235px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZVg1k_ZmfOlZLRAeTcTTfer3T-EiGX2aK8h-OhlVhDEGOYosDXJ341U3yXTyCJyZvi2ljZCMAaB-hd20SfL2rCV_rIn5U_j-SNWoUfEe2Lo0fFcKfKJlAjWD8Z1iEN4474EhjcyG4aJl/s400/2009-01-16+054.jpg" border="0" /></a>So, our first harvest from the garden becomes part of a thrown-together-with-whatever-we-had-on-hand Split Pea and Zucchini soup, consumed with family and friends. Lovely.</div></div>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-80593311155170623002009-01-11T14:58:00.000+11:002009-01-16T15:02:56.424+11:00Dressing upA pirate costume for a movie night with friends, coming together just from what we had. I love that.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkodgiDNs3b8VsTONCeH5Cg4mSc8Wr5by9a1Ld475hxy_1oiYEIaTPRX6IxYE6eyoghDeepVxN9uoXJtVhBmMYG2GeR2FujXlUaFKzATACVioYxLUR-LQrIqxFta_W2HLbqqQpCWSuKp3R/s1600-h/2009-01-16+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291736823844964930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkodgiDNs3b8VsTONCeH5Cg4mSc8Wr5by9a1Ld475hxy_1oiYEIaTPRX6IxYE6eyoghDeepVxN9uoXJtVhBmMYG2GeR2FujXlUaFKzATACVioYxLUR-LQrIqxFta_W2HLbqqQpCWSuKp3R/s400/2009-01-16+010.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1z64ZvPykyZ06SuuXMg2fv4LqiJ7CkBYVi9m3lLgoQD1WjVIGZgsc091pRZ3hMRl4f1lEzBnRI_kcJnCCP15BimoadW563z9kW1LEX66DkTylv3hft3ZVlqOju6suSOGgcZjOmR4f8zJ/s1600-h/2009-01-16+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291736329907831202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1z64ZvPykyZ06SuuXMg2fv4LqiJ7CkBYVi9m3lLgoQD1WjVIGZgsc091pRZ3hMRl4f1lEzBnRI_kcJnCCP15BimoadW563z9kW1LEX66DkTylv3hft3ZVlqOju6suSOGgcZjOmR4f8zJ/s400/2009-01-16+014.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPLyJBAL0YnxTvxkldWLuaPsXbtpO036KYx-dECrUr52l5UPPWMTJzVjWgEkPrKA0AJbtSyWFUOid64wXhZcfcO2jk1CA8HkGicWienzKXOcQc5FtiRZIZ4COP8AzgmJAHebQAi1IYtKB/s1600-h/2009-01-16+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291736324126068722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPLyJBAL0YnxTvxkldWLuaPsXbtpO036KYx-dECrUr52l5UPPWMTJzVjWgEkPrKA0AJbtSyWFUOid64wXhZcfcO2jk1CA8HkGicWienzKXOcQc5FtiRZIZ4COP8AzgmJAHebQAi1IYtKB/s400/2009-01-16+017.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-21358594989291663322009-01-10T20:49:00.001+11:002009-01-12T21:10:37.865+11:00Five years togetherOne shopping trip.<br />One Kids Movie night at Jane & Steve's.<br />One space to ourselves.<br />One game.<br />Two steaks, later.<br />One handwritten letter.<br />One movie: <a href="http://www.foxsearchlight.com/slumdogmillionaire/">Slumdog Millionaire</a>.<br />One full moon.<br /><br />Five years together.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCBVfiJOQgFE4IhoKA-khdyZKWKgrZqCK2ORXuoVY4J7NrUyEYo7I_siMCpGg1ARrzc7-Ah9VmJBFtrkcqY2s7zWNZZh0JjVYD3esl_PEkuDjWtWYQzUuT_RqB4pGGVvEZj0EgQBqVO_6/s1600-h/Bec+and+Gord+at+Lower+Fort.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290346809637415954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCBVfiJOQgFE4IhoKA-khdyZKWKgrZqCK2ORXuoVY4J7NrUyEYo7I_siMCpGg1ARrzc7-Ah9VmJBFtrkcqY2s7zWNZZh0JjVYD3esl_PEkuDjWtWYQzUuT_RqB4pGGVvEZj0EgQBqVO_6/s400/Bec+and+Gord+at+Lower+Fort.JPG" border="0" /></a>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-36240112759518369982009-01-09T21:13:00.000+11:002009-01-11T21:23:20.056+11:00Friends for dinnerFriends for dinner calls for a session with the pasta maker...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqftm1bK6QhFDF780drsmAc0rFY4TBNx9LTSNWptFsLbDMOtgGElBvRgaClRhUZpynbcohYSEmibQhptqJm6T4oZzEj1lrIIa2GUSqbVDUHG0aku890JFS6qsmIFd9En_Kos8te5a98CjJ/s1600-h/2009-01-09+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289978046561132706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqftm1bK6QhFDF780drsmAc0rFY4TBNx9LTSNWptFsLbDMOtgGElBvRgaClRhUZpynbcohYSEmibQhptqJm6T4oZzEj1lrIIa2GUSqbVDUHG0aku890JFS6qsmIFd9En_Kos8te5a98CjJ/s400/2009-01-09+012.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6JiEGiPc8yIY2TGbmnsNINXEoHtOewI4Kydam0hoOCeLGRMUSEIbcTvHs8IxVUPUf5uN8r8cefvLRS1dCEMq8mLr8xEY47e6wfJyDqm4sn8jj7eixYhicIiVk8K0qPTGftRbAlenNree/s1600-h/2009-01-09+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289978047416523090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6JiEGiPc8yIY2TGbmnsNINXEoHtOewI4Kydam0hoOCeLGRMUSEIbcTvHs8IxVUPUf5uN8r8cefvLRS1dCEMq8mLr8xEY47e6wfJyDqm4sn8jj7eixYhicIiVk8K0qPTGftRbAlenNree/s400/2009-01-09+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndmX2yq_Xd4ex-E-xagAWz412S-e8qoGUUz6VP3FNpFx2VSS1mm4bpN-F4icRXBVGNkypuQTAdfpmY3TjJELh6ViLqjGKdTpG9IdDi3bOEEak4g_JUveZoRDIyuW2-u-USQAZsO5O9iv7/s1600-h/2009-01-09+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289978042359281506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 318px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndmX2yq_Xd4ex-E-xagAWz412S-e8qoGUUz6VP3FNpFx2VSS1mm4bpN-F4icRXBVGNkypuQTAdfpmY3TjJELh6ViLqjGKdTpG9IdDi3bOEEak4g_JUveZoRDIyuW2-u-USQAZsO5O9iv7/s400/2009-01-09+018.jpg" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289977789587004114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 318px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaJfndApQhAUFtwkqrcC99z9z9Xljl4DIyVD7V4mzfcIPwPz7jVHcOgctrtWiA4_ZqvBh2ADgQD7hrcdmIGeBRuiLbjgqi_GwQLjhAG9_5EApyndjj3fgVuKoRqy5WkVH_tmZNB-AURN6/s400/2009-01-09+019.jpg" border="0" /> <div><div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289977785909107330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVKSktrOMFs0GJsbdmXDDF2iSHJxN-C5WGNbKUmpjbvDisNSPtib5ICBXMp-wlZq4F_12WJQ_LJDzW1V_dOKoVCyDb7jmAAoL0S-89vqqY-4DSLL4xJoubt-JiF63c3Rrzt6w8_izZJPf/s400/2009-01-09+026.jpg" border="0" /> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXE78HLYlyDfld3wRWCVRU5t9J9dwTnOQY-ciboGvtEWeLsaMaWW4Qrx47qXkkDxPOlH2itgRwEXiD9LQAe8Wo760hI8l2eJMvmPcBC4IFU4S2KM5CRvjmdINWnMNBHuJ9MpXy8ab1Hd57/s1600-h/2009-01-09+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289977782708368770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXE78HLYlyDfld3wRWCVRU5t9J9dwTnOQY-ciboGvtEWeLsaMaWW4Qrx47qXkkDxPOlH2itgRwEXiD9LQAe8Wo760hI8l2eJMvmPcBC4IFU4S2KM5CRvjmdINWnMNBHuJ9MpXy8ab1Hd57/s400/2009-01-09+032.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROQK8bw1P2AozNGRUamwyVSwHIY-1OxZqzi6Amj7NL_Or4O4b0Qk3uTVd9t4HLgHn5Kt6imZkc3cz1NJdkvtAyt51bYIYt2fMGYoZ87s29altzpeKfsWytOvCUw5qk16KqEFOIhlqORsD/s1600-h/2009-01-09+040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289977779588297490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROQK8bw1P2AozNGRUamwyVSwHIY-1OxZqzi6Amj7NL_Or4O4b0Qk3uTVd9t4HLgHn5Kt6imZkc3cz1NJdkvtAyt51bYIYt2fMGYoZ87s29altzpeKfsWytOvCUw5qk16KqEFOIhlqORsD/s400/2009-01-09+040.jpg" border="0" /></a>...freshly picked flowers...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfU8rrdbx_g5l1qQcN6AP7pyri08FdEXM11nNmyjPAdXyf7YVOqdAbtwYGLqLUOISQBfv-1HIboxQiJq3ttJBcqHADDBB9z0fQHiT2expuNFBDXNpvj1c8QDhSazJUmpoSInOfTzNMtoGm/s1600-h/2009-01-09+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289977486383758466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 275px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfU8rrdbx_g5l1qQcN6AP7pyri08FdEXM11nNmyjPAdXyf7YVOqdAbtwYGLqLUOISQBfv-1HIboxQiJq3ttJBcqHADDBB9z0fQHiT2expuNFBDXNpvj1c8QDhSazJUmpoSInOfTzNMtoGm/s400/2009-01-09+042.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnR55ZG8pNQQad_ggz6nD5kHxMnN2T3-e7HfJy1WbozHZS3_tVX3dUFPXWM_CXe3Ru7qWTL7aFEv6NBHPce7Ow9-U7sIifDSoDagQUcYoW-PmYwqFWvDPOjU-U9WO9J7SrIgAuRAvm2N7K/s1600-h/2009-01-09+049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289977486381812834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnR55ZG8pNQQad_ggz6nD5kHxMnN2T3-e7HfJy1WbozHZS3_tVX3dUFPXWM_CXe3Ru7qWTL7aFEv6NBHPce7Ow9-U7sIifDSoDagQUcYoW-PmYwqFWvDPOjU-U9WO9J7SrIgAuRAvm2N7K/s400/2009-01-09+049.jpg" border="0" /></a> ...chocolate cake...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGOcr0fE5pGkTEmkclVfdhVLfnJtkkdPlDUQQBvlXud1-VHF8j9GNvpklUr42lN21M7Nelnkj9FOk6iatjTID545qhlI1yHxb9I05mhIeU_gtnrxI2cn_a7KahJR9IFXfG9lBxK0sWsW5/s1600-h/2009-01-09+061.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289977485781503826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGOcr0fE5pGkTEmkclVfdhVLfnJtkkdPlDUQQBvlXud1-VHF8j9GNvpklUr42lN21M7Nelnkj9FOk6iatjTID545qhlI1yHxb9I05mhIeU_gtnrxI2cn_a7KahJR9IFXfG9lBxK0sWsW5/s400/2009-01-09+061.jpg" border="0" /></a> ...and consumption! <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SlmanqU1U9495Cug0SrFgiez6gAvk6G5-Dalb0mZR6Gd9hdibjqb0x8PwD-cBlKBO9wHnP-GP6rs8Y2eVFGIL7xT630mNCHkQ2P-5yGARkk68MO1Zh9ba2WQ6qzfow1Xi4qY13xlnf3r/s1600-h/2009-01-09+063.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289977485916569026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 257px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SlmanqU1U9495Cug0SrFgiez6gAvk6G5-Dalb0mZR6Gd9hdibjqb0x8PwD-cBlKBO9wHnP-GP6rs8Y2eVFGIL7xT630mNCHkQ2P-5yGARkk68MO1Zh9ba2WQ6qzfow1Xi4qY13xlnf3r/s400/2009-01-09+063.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-58654165379658889752009-01-08T11:02:00.004+11:002009-01-16T16:13:20.207+11:00Photography: step 1We were at some friends' place last night and I took the liberty of taking a few photos...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LJz2hr-sBM8sBN8uov6URvswycW1O00_tLdJ_fzZ5Nv5_-otsMrulh9CMzDCwufqaWFDvvPLdwBU1_rpWxhWDUspSRcYLsCx5IOSfHAIwbMorkFFkH9s616sCfPpNtvsvQJwnwFHJsRZ/s1600-h/2009-01-08+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288706953878051842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 203px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LJz2hr-sBM8sBN8uov6URvswycW1O00_tLdJ_fzZ5Nv5_-otsMrulh9CMzDCwufqaWFDvvPLdwBU1_rpWxhWDUspSRcYLsCx5IOSfHAIwbMorkFFkH9s616sCfPpNtvsvQJwnwFHJsRZ/s400/2009-01-08+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-5O1xEomOz5QotIxcI7LLq_4q3qLlRZV6U-yOeEwmgmwr9qd3P-YbI8S_lHSLY3rpHlp_fUJODp0d8C2ZbXqthKnQfdExcqO90jPYOpIrmwgul9wAaPN4wrjY-oqsS19vU_CowAuuGs1/s1600-h/2009-01-08+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288706947774951970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 274px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-5O1xEomOz5QotIxcI7LLq_4q3qLlRZV6U-yOeEwmgmwr9qd3P-YbI8S_lHSLY3rpHlp_fUJODp0d8C2ZbXqthKnQfdExcqO90jPYOpIrmwgul9wAaPN4wrjY-oqsS19vU_CowAuuGs1/s400/2009-01-08+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRa220rOSFt0LyI7SLJQJ2eQc9YLYq1jC0GgpcZ2np3RcOQmZDuPmJRSCiUe6B-NM4bNJRokHkSxALPjEdOwzKFhLQBaZfGNCmhr1pp19WOHM7esAROeY73E2EPkelilLFm8lSglvJrHJB/s1600-h/2009-01-08+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288706789568123858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 344px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRa220rOSFt0LyI7SLJQJ2eQc9YLYq1jC0GgpcZ2np3RcOQmZDuPmJRSCiUe6B-NM4bNJRokHkSxALPjEdOwzKFhLQBaZfGNCmhr1pp19WOHM7esAROeY73E2EPkelilLFm8lSglvJrHJB/s400/2009-01-08+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89q7A0lZLBUdMkDk27kp6p3bG9K2j2iXUdzup3tyy4eXBL2gEkwCiUyDD3Q1wndIAf_4L7llHxsKr-wXxpvv62RqdxC2yOxVktoTnW-gnCHMPvXtl2qYpL8lUQaAmTYxo7RBeu7sFizKM/s1600-h/2009-01-08+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288706781626338466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89q7A0lZLBUdMkDk27kp6p3bG9K2j2iXUdzup3tyy4eXBL2gEkwCiUyDD3Q1wndIAf_4L7llHxsKr-wXxpvv62RqdxC2yOxVktoTnW-gnCHMPvXtl2qYpL8lUQaAmTYxo7RBeu7sFizKM/s400/2009-01-08+018.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2TA9ckxgetu3oAVg3hMqO94bajfe55cUrbMxeHqRbUVLzOx17DoDZgh1MvxAJHVfy-fmRSsOWT9r8NC2-bZQMrV4oiVUIBMZEGnBdhD_Moo6hTRBluABaSZghdEKI-FFVx1h8eBl-yvg/s1600-h/2009-01-08+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288706779301981810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 257px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2TA9ckxgetu3oAVg3hMqO94bajfe55cUrbMxeHqRbUVLzOx17DoDZgh1MvxAJHVfy-fmRSsOWT9r8NC2-bZQMrV4oiVUIBMZEGnBdhD_Moo6hTRBluABaSZghdEKI-FFVx1h8eBl-yvg/s400/2009-01-08+019.jpg" border="0" /></a>I'm aiming, in 2009, to focus on my photography and try and get to a point where I'm taking better shots. In particularly, I'm realising that there's an art to setting up a shot, stylising it, if you will. Not just taking a photo of a cake, but teaming it with some vintage loveliness in the background, say. So none of these shots are amazing, but they are a step - the first step of taking the camera with me and at least trying! And with two young kids, soon to be three, and the amount of stuff I already have to remember when I walk out of the house, taking the camera is a big enough step for now!</div></div></div></div>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-78108023207496683132009-01-07T14:54:00.003+11:002009-01-07T15:08:23.672+11:00Christmas haulLook how lucky I was this Christmas!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-T9guOwnJU_t0BYhJKOJje-UJkN9MS4Bi4GP_qwyjNQZcL5T-nIw3OmIfv6ND2K_2s2U91JHofyGk7kUommW8ModeRN2MWrUGnaxMShEf53ZO7CkAY6eYzm0U3ribGVxvx2NfSCFs0WP/s1600-h/2009-01-07+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288395476923179570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-T9guOwnJU_t0BYhJKOJje-UJkN9MS4Bi4GP_qwyjNQZcL5T-nIw3OmIfv6ND2K_2s2U91JHofyGk7kUommW8ModeRN2MWrUGnaxMShEf53ZO7CkAY6eYzm0U3ribGVxvx2NfSCFs0WP/s400/2009-01-07+002.jpg" border="0" /></a> Three delicious craft books to peruse most pleasurably, with a cup of tea, perhaps... <a href="http://www.penguin.com.au/lookinside/spotlight.cfm?SBN=9780670072576">More Softies</a> compiled by Viking, <a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/our_books">Last-Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts</a> by <a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/about">Joelle Hoverson</a>, and <a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/about">The Gentle Art of Domesticity</a> by <a href="http://yarnstorm.blogs.com/">Jane Brocket</a>.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8EcLLwk07lsC_Z3E2JhC5egSxdXUK71noUbDxOeDtJ8uoK_-Zq2KhxK3QVuIBWcAFQ3hXlCkvlIQH8sbGzMXXFD3sWl7PGeMWqQROR9a1gTwhrN6oKJd7-3OvRDUZBRUJoZyrN7ekanU/s1600-h/2009-01-07+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288395468464093362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 207px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8EcLLwk07lsC_Z3E2JhC5egSxdXUK71noUbDxOeDtJ8uoK_-Zq2KhxK3QVuIBWcAFQ3hXlCkvlIQH8sbGzMXXFD3sWl7PGeMWqQROR9a1gTwhrN6oKJd7-3OvRDUZBRUJoZyrN7ekanU/s400/2009-01-07+016.jpg" border="0" /></a> Softies are new territory for me, but I'm eyeing off this little pup, by <a href="http://www.mylittlemochi.typepad.com/">Myra Masuda</a>.</div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPlfifVXEVyBdAVFBGRaPnORim3gv9qmK7DhYVFpw087rufrrd4vY6FjJ6booRsHY3sIVMPwUk2kmoiDkkRZ5Q_FYg0vjgCHGNtd9fD7wJBytNEmNKRfLzGRUReQCGv7QLAgIFDa62KfB/s1600-h/2009-01-07+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288395465847470466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPlfifVXEVyBdAVFBGRaPnORim3gv9qmK7DhYVFpw087rufrrd4vY6FjJ6booRsHY3sIVMPwUk2kmoiDkkRZ5Q_FYg0vjgCHGNtd9fD7wJBytNEmNKRfLzGRUReQCGv7QLAgIFDa62KfB/s400/2009-01-07+018.jpg" border="0" /></a> And these scrapbooks...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2af5vyua4qc-pxTVOu2H-LUUyGO2jf8oieEgByyezZX-pttvGVdDu2SQPuIH7egQ8Brz2M1Z-0FSU6Ctz1_oidrtP6g1dTJ0QiemNoznE9BzQascAymMaqyVd0w8KU6iSyqlqXFM2Xu-f/s1600-h/2009-01-07+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288395466219537842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 254px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2af5vyua4qc-pxTVOu2H-LUUyGO2jf8oieEgByyezZX-pttvGVdDu2SQPuIH7egQ8Brz2M1Z-0FSU6Ctz1_oidrtP6g1dTJ0QiemNoznE9BzQascAymMaqyVd0w8KU6iSyqlqXFM2Xu-f/s400/2009-01-07+017.jpg" border="0" /></a> ... and this quilt - the colours of the fabrics don't grab me, but all those lines do!<br /><br /><div>The Gentle Art of Domesticity touches on a myriad of different topics and encourages all kinds of domestic artistry. It will be a total joy to read through it slowly... Lucky me! Thanks heaps, Kathryn, John & Anne, and Sharon!</div></div></div>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-86398910784310237652009-01-05T16:01:00.004+11:002009-01-05T16:21:01.456+11:00NestingThis is the calendar that's hanging in our kitchen, from <a href="http://www.creativethursday.com/">Creative Thursday</a>. I think it might be trying to tell me something...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkb5qbC7ZHzP5xzzOQN1EAdzikVXTG5pvKMatw9FZ7LY3uSCnrzkAfonNoGNJVosuAZEIol-Zo2SJXjfHXSYJtRLj6JFieAveAaJncGKPXrQm7m47bU91hf_r-lb1zDqPNIvR9fMOeS71L/s1600-h/2009-01-04+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287670952801532482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkb5qbC7ZHzP5xzzOQN1EAdzikVXTG5pvKMatw9FZ7LY3uSCnrzkAfonNoGNJVosuAZEIol-Zo2SJXjfHXSYJtRLj6JFieAveAaJncGKPXrQm7m47bU91hf_r-lb1zDqPNIvR9fMOeS71L/s400/2009-01-04+009.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here's January, obviously an image about NESTING... right what I'll be doing!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EuTeOayDG4nmwft3QpY3nasjrTAKrAH35imXzO5ZqFtEocjbyTZdVfrb_EezxVk8EoW81ypaNqgAhqKo1J8ctZUMskZoyjfhdq0EiHK7amUQ5iobmckY55iMR_FjSBmi_GpOI8XY8VX3/s1600-h/2009-01-04+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287670948029689410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 294px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EuTeOayDG4nmwft3QpY3nasjrTAKrAH35imXzO5ZqFtEocjbyTZdVfrb_EezxVk8EoW81ypaNqgAhqKo1J8ctZUMskZoyjfhdq0EiHK7amUQ5iobmckY55iMR_FjSBmi_GpOI8XY8VX3/s400/2009-01-04+010.jpg" border="0" /></a> And here's February: a family of five (albeit different species)! Perhaps, just perhaps, this baby is planning on coming early!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1QXAftWNed8RIxEoPeBmN3r-9GHMSR0us5qEauYLEkJM5jIVqpQ5h6V9Yhy17TcUMf3EORLYPNA9-nS51C8UeiLSHs_-7B8wUODA9P6WhPLeEpBEjA2w1k6fnImqqPu2w5bKgwWzK4RX/s1600-h/2009-01-04+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287670942980248674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1QXAftWNed8RIxEoPeBmN3r-9GHMSR0us5qEauYLEkJM5jIVqpQ5h6V9Yhy17TcUMf3EORLYPNA9-nS51C8UeiLSHs_-7B8wUODA9P6WhPLeEpBEjA2w1k6fnImqqPu2w5bKgwWzK4RX/s400/2009-01-04+002.jpg" border="0" /></a>I pulled out the suitcase of baby clothes (and toddler and little girl clothes!) yesterday and sorted it all into sizes. Another day I'll wash it all and fold it lovingly! I'm determined this time to use the little vintage woolen dresses and cardigans, even though they're higher maintenance. Otherwise what's the point of keeping them?<br /><br /><div>I couldn't resist taking a shot of this little jacket and booties. The jacket is a new addition, actually, the most fairly traded purchase of my life! It's knitted from yarn that's spun by a woman who raises her own alpacas; she then passes the yarn on to a women's auxilary who knit it up into these beautiful pieces (I bought the softest brown vest for Jasper, too); then some of the proceeds from the sale go to women in Africa, to do with maternal and child health issues! How's that for a lovingly made garment?! It didn't have a brand, and I don't have the tag anymore, but I bought it from a fair trade kids clothing and toy shop called <a href="http://www.minekids.com.au/">Mine Kids</a> in Olinda, Victoria. Lots of lovely things to buy there!<br /><br /><div>So yes, nesting, making room for this child whose imminence I can finally feel!</div></div></div></div>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-8783972457932016672009-01-04T15:18:00.000+11:002009-01-05T16:01:30.388+11:00Lessons learned (or learning)Well, this experiment of an attempted daily blog directed at a wider audience than before is already teaching me a few things. For starters, as I was composing and posting my <a href="http://artfulindustry.blogspot.com/2009/01/trip-to-beach.html">previous entry</a> about our trip to the beach, I was conscious that this is not really what I want to be putting up here, because I can't imagine that it's interesting for anyone else to read, beside family and a few friends, and maybe not even then! I wasn't adding value to anyone's day with that post, which is what I'm aiming to do here. <br /><br />The photos were straight family shots, not anything artistic, not framing anything in a new/unusual/beautiful way. And, I didn't have anything super interesting to say! I think that sums up why the post didn't work!<br /><br />I was talking about it with my partner later, and he wondered whether the pressure of blogging every day might lead to me posting boring stuff, just for the sake of getting something on the blog for the day. I've been wondering about this too, wondering how to work my way towards a a sustainable blogging practice while recognising that posting something regularly makes a blog more interesting. <a href="http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/">Soulemama</a> is a case in point - I love that she posts so often; I often check my Google Reader to see if there's anything new over there. The difference is, she has interesting stuff to say!<br /><br />I reckon, with a bit of planning, you can sustain a daily/regular practice by drawing on different creative streams. So for me on this blog those streams might be: ideas/musings on the simple joys of domesticity; things I've made/acts of creativity; ideas for more things to make - more of my original ideas, say, not things I've made where I'm following a pattern or someone else's idea; and formulaic but fun posts, like interesting things found on Etsy, or cool tutorials found on the net, or Thrifted Thursday, or Ten Things I'm Loving Right Now, etc.<br /><br />However, even if I had a plan like this (and I may well experiment with that soon!), there's still a total art in taking a photo that captures a moment, and combining it with text that's inspiring and beautiful, and doing so almost every day! That's what Soulemama is able to do, and why we're all in awe of her! <br /><br />Anyway, it's all good food for thought. Cos the trip to the beach fitted right in with the kind of life I want to create this year - spontaneous family fun, outdoors, in touch with nature! But how to document it so that it's useful or interesting to anyone else, that's my question? <br /><br />What makes a blog valuable to you, especially if you don't know the person writing it?becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-71583905385104183662009-01-03T20:46:00.008+11:002009-01-03T21:16:19.758+11:00A trip to the beachToday we headed to the beach to make the most of these last few days before Gord goes back to work. We ended up in Seaford, one beach up from Frankston on the bay. It was the perfect space for young children (and their parents): calm, low-tide, sandbar, cafe right there! I love how the kids are happily entertained for hours in this environment. (Note to self: get camera serviced so those dots don't show up on our shots!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmbpwYyYR7BXDK_U4TsgBwAjy4cIwCD5RkrYC4GkkSEFm5yzlYrg4yn4NFndDknw2QAkaMIFc_3ukiZmdL8N0tuXtinLyH8uhf_Cyxjnx9zJ6OYaPRA9wfbQwt6Gps1_oZ8UoCCGzUSUe/s1600-h/2009-01-03+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287002525932984146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmbpwYyYR7BXDK_U4TsgBwAjy4cIwCD5RkrYC4GkkSEFm5yzlYrg4yn4NFndDknw2QAkaMIFc_3ukiZmdL8N0tuXtinLyH8uhf_Cyxjnx9zJ6OYaPRA9wfbQwt6Gps1_oZ8UoCCGzUSUe/s400/2009-01-03+010.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2q-0wcPUOmcMzJpJDWTS5sTZcKndlfu96F3MNOUfoRrlciDP3JE8XDIfiOmpGnc4F9iEWecCvosta_nFGe_nxMOaZLl0ukV4X5s710cDkPtAQSuFvsAB2NG_TW7fsvDSvHPRvqL_UZ80a/s1600-h/2009-01-03+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287002137504103810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2q-0wcPUOmcMzJpJDWTS5sTZcKndlfu96F3MNOUfoRrlciDP3JE8XDIfiOmpGnc4F9iEWecCvosta_nFGe_nxMOaZLl0ukV4X5s710cDkPtAQSuFvsAB2NG_TW7fsvDSvHPRvqL_UZ80a/s400/2009-01-03+014.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1jMGe-uQKHGbdOM7pDL8iPnuIbVgLHyjwbBWjuScaf3Zx7iBRF2a2eYlm5wGFqU5Nn-M0AmNjyE-IMjdbOMgglbOtJFQTXb1kkjj7XvIyj4v7Hx1X018-qB_C7tuBz5S1TgNB6i30xCu/s1600-h/2009-01-03+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287001954010577954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1jMGe-uQKHGbdOM7pDL8iPnuIbVgLHyjwbBWjuScaf3Zx7iBRF2a2eYlm5wGFqU5Nn-M0AmNjyE-IMjdbOMgglbOtJFQTXb1kkjj7XvIyj4v7Hx1X018-qB_C7tuBz5S1TgNB6i30xCu/s400/2009-01-03+022.jpg" border="0" /></a> Burying sleeping beauty.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNaUcJKNbAPFw2edO7fEYnFpUA392Fz6XpQmpq3FqtbtXc9cBqyHU8wRxeHu4dsChyphenhyphenKPKJFjz1J35WafjYQ51sAZZuxA68qjDa6NXelDaGShyheW-k6KPF5UTyGrvBGJCxsSxl72Hp6Ly/s1600-h/2009-01-03+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287001946152298850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNaUcJKNbAPFw2edO7fEYnFpUA392Fz6XpQmpq3FqtbtXc9cBqyHU8wRxeHu4dsChyphenhyphenKPKJFjz1J35WafjYQ51sAZZuxA68qjDa6NXelDaGShyheW-k6KPF5UTyGrvBGJCxsSxl72Hp6Ly/s400/2009-01-03+003.jpg" border="0" /></a> A beach must-have: hot chips and gravy. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was good to be outdoors, and to have a fun plan for the day. But right now, I feel the tiredness of being outside in the sun and wind. Could also be to do with the fact that I woke up at 6am, excited by the light coming in around the curtain, excited to creep out of bed and have the silence of the morning to myself. Life is full of trade-offs, eh...<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLfkuxkszMA29OjVyvKEvPkL6BNyMP7xVXFHaXQ7ovCppK5nDOXMDRDE0nQObHZlRSXySLxuVBbe9gomyZdobAf3BA7SLsdKzKjt2QvAWJC296uYZBpl1wwEdGHJWW0SlgBWhe5TccGQt/s1600-h/2009-01-03+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287007800309463714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 390px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLfkuxkszMA29OjVyvKEvPkL6BNyMP7xVXFHaXQ7ovCppK5nDOXMDRDE0nQObHZlRSXySLxuVBbe9gomyZdobAf3BA7SLsdKzKjt2QvAWJC296uYZBpl1wwEdGHJWW0SlgBWhe5TccGQt/s400/2009-01-03+016.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-79976342944985534682009-01-02T21:50:00.002+11:002009-01-03T06:53:27.401+11:00Aspirations for 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUI7844peWnDjShALj6xYOsGkGs25llbARmqregD_m3U8atA6HcjEBSbQGOVaYC84gnfMU8Il7-uVJlKIiKIC8KBhPkIVNfp4nohwdcOgeq9cXy5QJbmgCLPpKNGPgBKmxj80gF2uAg84E/s1600-h/2009-01-02+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286636444972528322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 255px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUI7844peWnDjShALj6xYOsGkGs25llbARmqregD_m3U8atA6HcjEBSbQGOVaYC84gnfMU8Il7-uVJlKIiKIC8KBhPkIVNfp4nohwdcOgeq9cXy5QJbmgCLPpKNGPgBKmxj80gF2uAg84E/s400/2009-01-02+023.jpg" border="0" /></a>My single New Years resolution was to read through a book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Abundance-Daybook-Comfort-Joy/dp/0446519138">Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy</a>, by <a href="http://www.simpleabundance.com/homepub.html">Sarah Ban Breathnach</a>. At her urging I spent time last night writing down some of my aspirations for 2009, some of my 'eager desires and lofty hopes'. Bit of a dreaming space, in other words. After beginning with 'a calm, beautiful birth at home,' I listed a few more things but ended up just writing down images in my head, images of my idealistic life:<br /><blockquote><em><span style="font-size:130%;">domestic, harvest, preserving, baby, cosleeping, reading to children, fresh<br />bread, goddess, customising rooms, friends gathering, healthy food, handwork, reflection, slow and small focus, creativity, breastfeeding, rainy days by the woodstove, sunny days on the deck, planting throughout the year, envisioning outdoor/garden spaces, women's circle, sense of season and cycle, kid space, craft, flowers brought inside, shared meals, loved food lovingly prepared, orchard, making jam, homeschooling, rhythm...</span></em></blockquote>I often doubt I'll achieve any clarity, when I undertake an exercise like this, but it's clear to me that even if ALL these things aren't achievable right now, that this year is one of inward descent, into the domestic and into myself, in a way. And having a baby makes that a vital process anyway...for a time.<br /><br />Lying in bed last night I was musing about the crux of all this: finding creativity in everyday life, in the small things. This is what domestic bliss is about, I think. Musing about the two blogs I keep, and how I could experiment with bringing them together, a symbolic merging of family and life, with my creative pursuits. Thought I might try blogging here each day for a month, or the best I can do, and see what happens when I'm thinking about my everyday life more deliberately. I found when I was taking photos of my life in Canada for a week (<a href="http://funkyhappyfamily.blogspot.com/2008/09/week-in-life-monday.html">Mon</a>, <a href="http://funkyhappyfamily.blogspot.com/2008/09/week-in-life-tuesday.html">Tues</a>, <a href="http://funkyhappyfamily.blogspot.com/2008/10/week-in-life-wednesday.html">Wed</a>, <a href="http://funkyhappyfamily.blogspot.com/2008/10/week-in-life-thursday.html">Thurs</a>, <a href="http://funkyhappyfamily.blogspot.com/2008/10/week-in-life-friday.html">Fri</a>, <a href="http://funkyhappyfamily.blogspot.com/2008/10/week-in-life-saturday.html">Sat</a>, <a href="http://funkyhappyfamily.blogspot.com/2008/10/week-in-life-sunday.html">Sun</a>), that my creative eye was switched on and creative possibilities seemed everywhere. I'd like to carry that with me more often, that ability to see.<br /><br />So this is a New Years experiment, a step that may take me towards some of my aspirations, although I can't be sure of that, that's why it's an unknown. Today my domestic bliss lay partly in talking for a chunk of the afternoon with a lifelong friend in a warm loungeroom (her with a whiskey toddy, no less!), in pulling out a quilt begun years ago and putting in a few stitches, in lying in the sun at the skate park enjoying the kids enjoying the outdoor space. And later, picking up the needles in a small space before the kids' bedtime and working a few rows on what I hope will become a <a href="http://mkcarroll.typepad.com/mk_carroll/2007/07/mug-and-french-.html">coffee plunger cosy</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjM5BxUNXCDEVa8nFrrVBaywCQxyVIafcP7dRPLC9qG9oC30WO2RDpA-OlpfCT8K6tWzW7l1Skq_nu_JpuT8Qm_1tbHtS4t3wL-mIEf9ZZMKWEbVgN-3Pp8RQdQlCOHqUe6MwR5opy-Fq-/s1600-h/2009-01-02+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286626658434860834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjM5BxUNXCDEVa8nFrrVBaywCQxyVIafcP7dRPLC9qG9oC30WO2RDpA-OlpfCT8K6tWzW7l1Skq_nu_JpuT8Qm_1tbHtS4t3wL-mIEf9ZZMKWEbVgN-3Pp8RQdQlCOHqUe6MwR5opy-Fq-/s400/2009-01-02+021.jpg" border="0" /></a>So yes, may the New Year be a bright one for you, bright with exciting aspirations, or at least with the glimmer of change approaching, change that always brings creative possibilities. And I'll stop waxing eloquent right here!becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-22917881306980702792008-12-07T20:33:00.000+11:002008-12-07T21:05:07.139+11:00More knitting...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMFzCR1VvxHW_UphNIAF0E9tT9BH3m3N3V231x2EDZ1UCeju9puY0sWIxYSQyTRX-MJKYTvD2ND5AMCI6uNOSBUKwQCGrc9jZS8ROkpIubESdW_sjiHNFQdiwXD-CRkG3EdW-FLNVhyUZ/s1600-h/2008-12-07+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276981999954952706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMFzCR1VvxHW_UphNIAF0E9tT9BH3m3N3V231x2EDZ1UCeju9puY0sWIxYSQyTRX-MJKYTvD2ND5AMCI6uNOSBUKwQCGrc9jZS8ROkpIubESdW_sjiHNFQdiwXD-CRkG3EdW-FLNVhyUZ/s400/2008-12-07+029.jpg" border="0" /></a>Look! Jasper's jumper is all done! I finally sewed up the last underarm hole this afternoon, while having a cuppa with my Mum. He's actually already worn it, despite the holey pits - but it felt good to finish it off totally, even though I wasn't super happy with how I did so. Those final seams don't look as good as they could, but hey, who's going to see?! Better just to be done, cos my attention and motivation had already moved on to other things...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7TjPD-KRthEAhlqAWh-M3cM28_Nxiz55QmOCsBwfprHIxs9PRlzt_k060CTI6oyaHl_bGTtYnV8ChQFmNJfDJtHAloGV6hOFwrGd4XNWuTpTS2mKO0uzjQ2j5g6TntQryfIMNuNYr6LX/s1600-h/2008-12-07+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276981999769969698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 262px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7TjPD-KRthEAhlqAWh-M3cM28_Nxiz55QmOCsBwfprHIxs9PRlzt_k060CTI6oyaHl_bGTtYnV8ChQFmNJfDJtHAloGV6hOFwrGd4XNWuTpTS2mKO0uzjQ2j5g6TntQryfIMNuNYr6LX/s400/2008-12-07+032.jpg" border="0" /></a> I think he looks pretty good - I'm still loving the colours...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_8FTA23a4OiE5LfgYJY8eXg1O36B0JfO4-uhDhGJcM45rKbRSyT9J0_zw-mGfW9UU2A5w-JPuys_cBGqYgMxvMwCdVVRTHdpEoeuxNHUA79jLwYihGZ9OeuHL82eGo-n3ZOJDW-aUDuK/s1600-h/2008-12-07+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276982006162229026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 328px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_8FTA23a4OiE5LfgYJY8eXg1O36B0JfO4-uhDhGJcM45rKbRSyT9J0_zw-mGfW9UU2A5w-JPuys_cBGqYgMxvMwCdVVRTHdpEoeuxNHUA79jLwYihGZ9OeuHL82eGo-n3ZOJDW-aUDuK/s400/2008-12-07+026.jpg" border="0" /></a>Last week, seeing as Jasper's jumper was almost (but not quite!) finished, I had the urge to start something bigger, with plenty of mindless knitting. What I really want to make is this Jo Sharp cardigan from her <a href="http://www.josharp.com/Books/k6/Knit6.html">Knit 6 book</a> (see the third piece along, with the two buttons?), but instead I'm knitting the one in the photo (above), from her <a href="http://www.josharp.com/Books/k1/Knit1.html">Knit 1 book</a>, cos I bought the yarn for it years ago and have never gotten around to knitting it up. Feels good to use what I have, but I still want to knit the other one, so I think I will, once I finish this one, and then I'll have two handknit cardigans, right when I'll need all the cardigans I can get, breastfeeding through autumn and winter!<br /><br />Incidentally, Jo Sharp just put out another book, <a href="http://www.josharp.com/Books/k7/Knit7.html">Knit 7</a>, but I really can't see myself making anything from it! Bit too frou frou for my current stage of life - what would a <a href="http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2008/01/posset.html">posset</a> look like on one of those pieces, I wonder? Or bits of dinner from when one of my kids has grabbed me?? =)becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-86069584387570044602008-12-02T12:01:00.000+11:002008-12-01T17:01:45.454+11:00Advent x 3I thought I had a day up my sleeve, when it came to Advent, so I was caught by surprise, this morning, when I realised that today was actually the 1st of December. Only last night I'd been online looking for ideas of things to put in our Advent calendar. <a href="http://kidscraftweekly.com/">Kids Craft Weekly </a>always has cool stuff, so after paying a bit more attention (as opposed to ignoring the fortnightly emails - life's too busy to deal with all the stuff in my inbox!), I decided to buy the <a href="http://kidscraftweekly.com/christmas_craft.html">Christmas Craft pdf</a>. Lots of fun ideas in there - you could get it too!<br /><br />Now, what I'm wondering is whether three Advent calendars is too many?! The kids have one from my parents last year, where each day you get to velcro on one more character in the nativity. And I really liked this idea...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1heiLKsXFUum7hhlAwF-aLdteXmG7DPP1Ywjkla8ICVTaRk8SXVZCnWDqph6VmmKOkDRT01l14IXi9OgY0cq7I10crBTrNu6U87_Cc5wspM9ffeO8GVRkWVAMBB5sd6b18PoZn4IjXIl/s1600-h/2008-12-01+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274692783393125058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1heiLKsXFUum7hhlAwF-aLdteXmG7DPP1Ywjkla8ICVTaRk8SXVZCnWDqph6VmmKOkDRT01l14IXi9OgY0cq7I10crBTrNu6U87_Cc5wspM9ffeO8GVRkWVAMBB5sd6b18PoZn4IjXIl/s400/2008-12-01+014.jpg" border="0" /></a> ...sticking a star onto the night sky each day until Christmas Day. So in a bit of unexpected free space today, I cleaned up the loungeroom and created a space for our Peruvian candle-lit nativity scene.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaFa1vtYMU1d1hcerCK2tVHmNUCtsIsgjjtuRaas273tY4-Pq8yrtau1k2hKZU-ll9dtFOWPnQQS7x9wGR_ho48DzcjQRcrYu8H-cUtNceTa8lMyH7IfLQuarHEJtk5gLMtm_fNvBPTPs/s1600-h/2008-12-01+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274692776142755250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 275px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaFa1vtYMU1d1hcerCK2tVHmNUCtsIsgjjtuRaas273tY4-Pq8yrtau1k2hKZU-ll9dtFOWPnQQS7x9wGR_ho48DzcjQRcrYu8H-cUtNceTa8lMyH7IfLQuarHEJtk5gLMtm_fNvBPTPs/s400/2008-12-01+011.jpg" border="0" /></a> Piper can stick a star on tonight.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZeuGnD0q7OFnEkW2bZJJ5hofzErf00NBrHHmHKNpfJ6R4iXS5-IvN3_yJB2J5MOT5K-ynzkUkxxP0k98NEsP0J3YdiBwI2jTKri6EJYaHjc8M84o9XCyjDUJ9gpSoiK9Er2eLbtgQfa6/s1600-h/2008-12-01+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274692776278161362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 369px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZeuGnD0q7OFnEkW2bZJJ5hofzErf00NBrHHmHKNpfJ6R4iXS5-IvN3_yJB2J5MOT5K-ynzkUkxxP0k98NEsP0J3YdiBwI2jTKri6EJYaHjc8M84o9XCyjDUJ9gpSoiK9Er2eLbtgQfa6/s400/2008-12-01+024.jpg" border="0" /></a> I found the idea in this book, Crafts Through the Year by Thomas and Petra Berger, which I found at <a href="http://craftcitymelbourne.blogspot.com/2008/10/craft-city-melbourne-ive-been-there_23.html">Brunswick Bound</a>. (Man, that is a fantastic bookshop, if you get a chance to wander round in there! Be warned, you will probably leave with less cash, but some beautiful books and ideas!). Lovely book, but suited more to the Northern Hemisphere. Still, I didn't want to pass it up.<br /></div><div></div><div>Anyway, that's only two advent calendars! The third is one I sewed from a panel years ago, but it has pockets, and I like the idea of putting little things in there, like occasional chocolate but also fun things to do together as a family. Lots of idea out there, once you look a little - I might post the list I threw together here once I format it a little. So I think it would be fun, but still, three calendars - is that overkill??</div></div>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-77575761031935235482008-12-01T16:04:00.000+11:002008-12-01T16:39:34.339+11:00Creative weekendI've been working away on bits and pieces for Christmas. Skirts for presents and tree ornaments for some friends and family. I brought this green fabric and white buttons back from Canada (good old <a href="http://www.tanells.ca/">Tanells</a> and the MCC thrift store!) and had the idea of making little trees for ages. Then I rediscovered <a href="http://melissagoodsell.typepad.com/day_to_day/2007/11/day-2---christm.html">this tutorial</a>, which simplified things a lot - always helpful when one is making more than a few. I do have a tendency to complicate things!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnfgjbjARzUXTCCCCXnRWutZMHyU7rflhkO4rJ2BTPDRVtvBbxBpQBuORMF-8Bt_Kjn6eT2vB6jMYnlwc95oJw5H0TcBo0ye0TSB9Y-ehShVXe3SDEMDOXHAWAakhe6rvGwc9BiJMBkkM/s1600-h/2008-11-25+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274685836008638258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnfgjbjARzUXTCCCCXnRWutZMHyU7rflhkO4rJ2BTPDRVtvBbxBpQBuORMF-8Bt_Kjn6eT2vB6jMYnlwc95oJw5H0TcBo0ye0TSB9Y-ehShVXe3SDEMDOXHAWAakhe6rvGwc9BiJMBkkM/s400/2008-11-25+023.jpg" border="0" /></a> So this mess...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_awolzeMC5mhMPq9C3gw2NKRdIW9AcLsl3ydK_tk9FSOEK0wZ4UML4NnKS-AQcdMbjlVbk1Q-zWQfeJpY_pVfAoA_0o22Owdcjo3yfHQZjgiJU1lYpsyknOSUae7Hl63qZ4j0iaecHvE/s1600-h/2008-11-25+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274685830212656418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 356px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_awolzeMC5mhMPq9C3gw2NKRdIW9AcLsl3ydK_tk9FSOEK0wZ4UML4NnKS-AQcdMbjlVbk1Q-zWQfeJpY_pVfAoA_0o22Owdcjo3yfHQZjgiJU1lYpsyknOSUae7Hl63qZ4j0iaecHvE/s400/2008-11-25+036.jpg" border="0" /></a>...becomes this...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSkOYiXfCpfKZ3tjmCTPyfxox4cRy-GZD4_ylhpl_Hf8WLxeQkmv-C6qz8knTt-AleiBvZrH4szM7vW7PIYmW0AZu682oEoznWG70dJcxbj8EuwhOSlDHhI5jU7sGXVz3pkx6vpz5I9fi/s1600-h/2008-12-01+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274685825214766882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSkOYiXfCpfKZ3tjmCTPyfxox4cRy-GZD4_ylhpl_Hf8WLxeQkmv-C6qz8knTt-AleiBvZrH4szM7vW7PIYmW0AZu682oEoznWG70dJcxbj8EuwhOSlDHhI5jU7sGXVz3pkx6vpz5I9fi/s400/2008-12-01+027.jpg" border="0" /></a> ...becomes this! I was eyeing up the bottlebrush when I took this - it's such a christmassy flower, but I don't think it will last til the 25th. I'll have to wait and see.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITp2c7bzY-wQOhRkWI5DR8BWdjiNTLZPf9xoSD-iDfxGlvsaa2UpOwBQZL5UI2DoY4PfL_WzzzWuoKtobDs48HYMKt362YQIcwMlUmobPlTVr6nGsLv1U9oUAQF4W6vfvS64urYnROVna/s1600-h/2008-12-01+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274684893572991522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITp2c7bzY-wQOhRkWI5DR8BWdjiNTLZPf9xoSD-iDfxGlvsaa2UpOwBQZL5UI2DoY4PfL_WzzzWuoKtobDs48HYMKt362YQIcwMlUmobPlTVr6nGsLv1U9oUAQF4W6vfvS64urYnROVna/s400/2008-12-01+029.jpg" border="0" /></a> So, little trees, still under production, but I've got enough to send to Canada now (shhh, don't tell those people). I'll hang them in a window in the front of our family newsletter, which I have also managed to pull together this weekend. Bummer the printer has run out of ink!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaGZvPrSS3CNZm_boXu8LenHHwIHMFS4cmvhFp_Mb1XGrBwkcHAxP3NJUV5mZgUBT6Cpl7AhA4zdP1sl5s85a9_sVdpd4FDkmE8ipPRkGshsREGxDQwlq50QajIhoxmOivBlT3zu5JgaI/s1600-h/2008-12-01+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274684887238370050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 316px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaGZvPrSS3CNZm_boXu8LenHHwIHMFS4cmvhFp_Mb1XGrBwkcHAxP3NJUV5mZgUBT6Cpl7AhA4zdP1sl5s85a9_sVdpd4FDkmE8ipPRkGshsREGxDQwlq50QajIhoxmOivBlT3zu5JgaI/s400/2008-12-01+018.jpg" border="0" /></a>Managed to make some girly skirts for a few of Piper's friends. Squeezed the sewing in amidst breakfasts and dinner prep and colouring in. Little bits of time are more on offer round here than large chunks. I really really love the simplicity of <a href="http://www.oliverands.com/blog/2008/08/lazy-days-skirt-free-pattern.html">this pattern</a> - it really facilitates giving a handmade gift which hasn't taken too much out of you! Thankyou, Liesl.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7INM6TynkTtSXuFKS8rGNC7i4YzUFPnjJiDoyohGWWpS8Yh4dljlq_8jqJcgTJBz8MXD8YTxjWYyWK9-YEv4Bzei8W_vngCt6O-N5ehdA-5vV2PzBu59gj0YBt10ikZM4di_eL5OauYPV/s1600-h/2008-12-01+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274684882085586642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7INM6TynkTtSXuFKS8rGNC7i4YzUFPnjJiDoyohGWWpS8Yh4dljlq_8jqJcgTJBz8MXD8YTxjWYyWK9-YEv4Bzei8W_vngCt6O-N5ehdA-5vV2PzBu59gj0YBt10ikZM4di_eL5OauYPV/s400/2008-12-01+023.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjvTRWbxxGb8EHH6xnRJ0DTSGFv_4ZIbBFTcb4NdbB-PRkWvb-2BH90YHph_N7phxPENROO3d0P-yVllXTSA3rF6r6f8sMtk2IMo3EXGgQvKQ_uuFmkRuvEAA-h8yysz-VzUBsEpBE9A8/s1600-h/2008-12-01+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274684880700362962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjvTRWbxxGb8EHH6xnRJ0DTSGFv_4ZIbBFTcb4NdbB-PRkWvb-2BH90YHph_N7phxPENROO3d0P-yVllXTSA3rF6r6f8sMtk2IMo3EXGgQvKQ_uuFmkRuvEAA-h8yysz-VzUBsEpBE9A8/s400/2008-12-01+009.jpg" border="0" /></a> Last but not least, we were creative in the kitchen, with Piper making her first ever batch of pikelets and cooking them too, until the idea of a wrestle with Dad became more interesting. She did really well - good to be reminded that her capacity to do stuff increases without me realising, and new possibilities emerge...</div></div></div></div></div></div>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-25585226319076117362008-11-25T21:02:00.000+11:002008-11-25T21:23:42.501+11:00Two parcels in one day!Coming home from swimming in Pakenham with Jane and the kids, swung past the post office to get the mail, and blow me down if there's not TWO schmancy parcels all for me!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RcOJ3kleKlehwuYruV3ffzrEaxHcbiuWhcIEMEs5V0_e6COHLIyO3KuW16h9155Qkns9YWys1EYzc8RKTlMxpC5TV6jq2gUnf1zgrS5LmBNHNG3f0o0xZU3MpmoPYdLCMxG9CRSCbCqs/s1600-h/2008-11-25+055.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272533682979798914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RcOJ3kleKlehwuYruV3ffzrEaxHcbiuWhcIEMEs5V0_e6COHLIyO3KuW16h9155Qkns9YWys1EYzc8RKTlMxpC5TV6jq2gUnf1zgrS5LmBNHNG3f0o0xZU3MpmoPYdLCMxG9CRSCbCqs/s400/2008-11-25+055.jpg" border="0" /></a> I knew what this one was - fun Little Red Rding Hood <a href="http://aervilhacorderosa.com/shop/galoes_ribbons/">Rosapomar</a> ribbon for more skirts...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAnP6YFAY1en_DqCg2LQ-0j8hWmdGd5SlWzq7q-YRoRzeZz7eecF1VMBbZ6U_dkkpaQfGy7dpiVWXsCuMkZVlDWhs9rZ1HUl-Z5TPR7khW2hUtxUmqWyH3sHjBkTNKS1BtLiKxMR0sIXL/s1600-h/2008-11-25+056.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272533676180745762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAnP6YFAY1en_DqCg2LQ-0j8hWmdGd5SlWzq7q-YRoRzeZz7eecF1VMBbZ6U_dkkpaQfGy7dpiVWXsCuMkZVlDWhs9rZ1HUl-Z5TPR7khW2hUtxUmqWyH3sHjBkTNKS1BtLiKxMR0sIXL/s400/2008-11-25+056.jpg" border="0" /></a> But the second one was my package for the <a href="http://artfulindustry.blogspot.com/2008/09/christmas-swap.html">Christmas swap</a>! I saved it up til after the kids were in bed! This...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-Usy_9V5C4rs9D61ndc5jGU_DHJeTjHsdne-MOADMotM2V15MsS2t6fA4teqyr9n7KzoHy9UL-ZaT0p0AX7Nx_jRIiTUVocdRIVloMCCZcBNgAipOsr0vO7xrnw6f-Kj2nKWGgGaGMoE/s1600-h/2008-11-25+057.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272533675577227442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-Usy_9V5C4rs9D61ndc5jGU_DHJeTjHsdne-MOADMotM2V15MsS2t6fA4teqyr9n7KzoHy9UL-ZaT0p0AX7Nx_jRIiTUVocdRIVloMCCZcBNgAipOsr0vO7xrnw6f-Kj2nKWGgGaGMoE/s400/2008-11-25+057.jpg" border="0" /></a> ...became this! Wow! I was so excited! I felt like Christmas had come early, which it had!!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9HyZx4dvL5GatMTXxIb3f1wKsGpyZRlc4VM_E5B3BNRCPXuwgSdGxHJPt_cfqIRnLTzVLzTyUxYAucD5wUWDHDJXOTsQrRt63U-EJ1PB7iWMP_-XD8yI4STaAK7V1Gw3GC6DAdnp3yZ2/s1600-h/2008-11-25+059.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272533527890917522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9HyZx4dvL5GatMTXxIb3f1wKsGpyZRlc4VM_E5B3BNRCPXuwgSdGxHJPt_cfqIRnLTzVLzTyUxYAucD5wUWDHDJXOTsQrRt63U-EJ1PB7iWMP_-XD8yI4STaAK7V1Gw3GC6DAdnp3yZ2/s400/2008-11-25+059.jpg" border="0" /></a> A handmade card, chocolate candy, hot chocolate, fabric, a ceramic heart made by women in Sth Africa, quilting pins, sock yarn, bamboo dpns, a sock pattern, a bag pattern, a story, AND....<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiau9WCOhDv59efBJR8fuNgmgtZkvOfizmY0lZePN0nUrsxro8-e9jFGlZGkvN1bxVDiSps304l5lJkDoGgmCZCdIpPAho9GRpkySLkaLxhbl_6uh6cnE5D7lexoE_5pgjKC5K1QdQa8C4n/s1600-h/2008-11-25+060.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272533520679540642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiau9WCOhDv59efBJR8fuNgmgtZkvOfizmY0lZePN0nUrsxro8-e9jFGlZGkvN1bxVDiSps304l5lJkDoGgmCZCdIpPAho9GRpkySLkaLxhbl_6uh6cnE5D7lexoE_5pgjKC5K1QdQa8C4n/s400/2008-11-25+060.jpg" border="0" /></a> ...my very first ever pair of hand-knit socks! I feel bowled over by <a href="http://trollmors.blogg.no/">Kristina's</a> generosity! I love them! They fit me perfectly, so much so that I feel like Cinderella wearing the glass slippers!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhOuMnHywmQSA9BhRoNTNWJPZz8XGd3S-FTSI7oPEOu5AAaAvH1F44N-mlxYfRx1kenaezPPOr1iFgdK0D8mnBKsYyAXItsyzEoMf1d-goFj_Boi2PElYnzylOi9_6u7HMWg7N2tKnzGB/s1600-h/2008-11-25+064.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272533520991972898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhOuMnHywmQSA9BhRoNTNWJPZz8XGd3S-FTSI7oPEOu5AAaAvH1F44N-mlxYfRx1kenaezPPOr1iFgdK0D8mnBKsYyAXItsyzEoMf1d-goFj_Boi2PElYnzylOi9_6u7HMWg7N2tKnzGB/s400/2008-11-25+064.jpg" border="0" /></a> I haven't taken them off yet! Thank you soooo much, Kristina, my Norwegian friend - you're ace!</div></div></div></div></div>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-53490554521335965082008-11-18T20:20:00.000+11:002008-11-18T20:38:03.242+11:00Some completion<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgM1RfUa4hyg-VcfX0HgrEsX0Q0ubjeeN-gANXWegzA4yOkNO2XFA7hkhcoovZCD_s4N4FZlucErCaJD0E7reAZYL9BcL2A3mST2NTdb8OeWoGnukGrNPUM9HS5Ac-KWA1PAsBX2GlcxJ/s1600-h/2008-11-19+043.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269925630259819426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgM1RfUa4hyg-VcfX0HgrEsX0Q0ubjeeN-gANXWegzA4yOkNO2XFA7hkhcoovZCD_s4N4FZlucErCaJD0E7reAZYL9BcL2A3mST2NTdb8OeWoGnukGrNPUM9HS5Ac-KWA1PAsBX2GlcxJ/s400/2008-11-19+043.jpg" border="0" /></a> One finished quilt. Now I'll wait and see if it's adopted - no guarantees!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkndzhb8ZZa5kAGBJTlt3KJKjidPpdQpRT-XMCQd5aGmSu3049eousDNYiiQxK0dwh94Rm5lZLrrpWFAIGr8yHkC9P-tn9NtB9oQKBfKkOgbl2h4oENTVWRj25yGcMTApJvkk_W9HNF9nv/s1600-h/2008-11-19+046.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269925631394509186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkndzhb8ZZa5kAGBJTlt3KJKjidPpdQpRT-XMCQd5aGmSu3049eousDNYiiQxK0dwh94Rm5lZLrrpWFAIGr8yHkC9P-tn9NtB9oQKBfKkOgbl2h4oENTVWRj25yGcMTApJvkk_W9HNF9nv/s400/2008-11-19+046.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnDYJwwcMewYvUZ14lJLV4lehS882wjAfHhrc_vrKtcw-LEjYogNKLQcsCv3LrYHrxiLi35VbLHikJuwrBlSVV26u_KuHbvY0ieEn3sWsgVTmVmc0BzdhyphenhyphencMgVtaZp1hmCPKbyzSEEHqj/s1600-h/2008-11-19+049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269925624003106194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnDYJwwcMewYvUZ14lJLV4lehS882wjAfHhrc_vrKtcw-LEjYogNKLQcsCv3LrYHrxiLi35VbLHikJuwrBlSVV26u_KuHbvY0ieEn3sWsgVTmVmc0BzdhyphenhyphencMgVtaZp1hmCPKbyzSEEHqj/s400/2008-11-19+049.jpg" border="0" /></a> Piper took this one of Jas...<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8L1dT8T8vBAR38aX85vU7OSzL6Hpt_GP77a-OBmz4_j9hoO0OkEUIFMVw0dwV3Hxp8okZPDxsf06CScWzpxVLB4mcTnRFTBVaJbKtk6q1Imspw0DakKgIZtC-jVfPb_kFmTLnnCuwPqIs/s1600-h/2008-11-19+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269925457800159442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8L1dT8T8vBAR38aX85vU7OSzL6Hpt_GP77a-OBmz4_j9hoO0OkEUIFMVw0dwV3Hxp8okZPDxsf06CScWzpxVLB4mcTnRFTBVaJbKtk6q1Imspw0DakKgIZtC-jVfPb_kFmTLnnCuwPqIs/s400/2008-11-19+029.jpg" border="0" /></a> I made two <a href="http://www.oliverands.com/">Oliver and S</a> <a href="http://www.oliverands.com/blog/2008/08/lazy-days-skirt-free-pattern.html">Lazy Days skirts</a>, a mermaid one for Piper, and a pink/green apples one for a friend turning five - forgot to get a photo of it before we'd wrapped it up! It was VERY satisfying to wake up in the morning and come out to two finished skirts, completed the night before. This pattern comes highly recommended for its ease, and I love that it's free - love the generosity of the craft community... Note to self: buy more fun ribbon!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPiZgluKcNTB-pt2G7kXC8GuDq9zSvAulP1UMGKq-eORqk5rtv0xhX2V_aq3ZjkjYYhlS-o4Oxv4bkJSyL31DiLDhZk9XCkTd2lKmwJnNVUbu5yo9EoErtVYO8ONBSrsWGpEN_nQCclZk/s1600-h/2008-11-19+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269925454661645826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPiZgluKcNTB-pt2G7kXC8GuDq9zSvAulP1UMGKq-eORqk5rtv0xhX2V_aq3ZjkjYYhlS-o4Oxv4bkJSyL31DiLDhZk9XCkTd2lKmwJnNVUbu5yo9EoErtVYO8ONBSrsWGpEN_nQCclZk/s400/2008-11-19+034.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_2FpVmBwER1TUXMwZifRkp8uxA2e9C6c7PCqRbVfAH2XW6eGkbw95DI0k4RcZPRagMNVFP9ZVlB1x6oOdRgWS5tI0T-CBop_nAey9lUUQgTa6b6eurYhSz9XGN1Zt2f1Pm-yb80CFJP-/s1600-h/2008-11-19+040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269925271401930914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_2FpVmBwER1TUXMwZifRkp8uxA2e9C6c7PCqRbVfAH2XW6eGkbw95DI0k4RcZPRagMNVFP9ZVlB1x6oOdRgWS5tI0T-CBop_nAey9lUUQgTa6b6eurYhSz9XGN1Zt2f1Pm-yb80CFJP-/s400/2008-11-19+040.jpg" border="0" /></a> Drawing today, loving watching Piper's creativity in action. She doesn't say she can't draw anymore, which is ace. I always love what she comes up with - today, dressing up a rubbing of a queen, above, and drawing lions in cages and a witch in a cave, with lights and darkness!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacxqNAxIpwkyc41-ON1KZhWLYeVc_PJ1Vglxy8UypNmsLAIkespG2lqXmsOI3d1_FDWiAXX6YFQ868cpvgTq8xkdAT9P97HEi-9e08zQTANr8PB9WvKN0VMK2mhcRxAHvfiZcrUnu1klX/s1600-h/2008-11-19+037.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269925265747220402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacxqNAxIpwkyc41-ON1KZhWLYeVc_PJ1Vglxy8UypNmsLAIkespG2lqXmsOI3d1_FDWiAXX6YFQ868cpvgTq8xkdAT9P97HEi-9e08zQTANr8PB9WvKN0VMK2mhcRxAHvfiZcrUnu1klX/s400/2008-11-19+037.jpg" border="0" /></a> I attempted some too, but added too much, in the end. Still, the simple process of drawing is good in itself, hey...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8YeEJWWfQNBcptIvExnlpylIy7Uy3VJbdfqtFDTpohfCMiTyeupipNeXH0RPsEDxJsKB6GZMTekOB-HNPCHlMtzGu4pfx2eCaLrEwY518zKKiQVB2ycEOqq1pqdRWIa7Lxb_bd-zKV0C/s1600-h/2008-11-19+061.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269925265120148274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8YeEJWWfQNBcptIvExnlpylIy7Uy3VJbdfqtFDTpohfCMiTyeupipNeXH0RPsEDxJsKB6GZMTekOB-HNPCHlMtzGu4pfx2eCaLrEwY518zKKiQVB2ycEOqq1pqdRWIa7Lxb_bd-zKV0C/s400/2008-11-19+061.jpg" border="0" /></a>Our art line in the loungeroom, to respect the creative output of my children and be inspired!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-72557303249978501722008-11-15T20:53:00.000+11:002008-11-15T21:14:15.928+11:00Swap package ready!As I mentioned a while ago, I signed up for <a href="http://christmas-swap.blogspot.com/">this Christmas swap</a>, and seeing as the deadline for posting is today, I have finally pulled together my package! In doing so, it did strike me as odd that I was doing this for someone I don't know at all, and not for my friends, but there you go. Perhaps I can pull together something as bitsy and fun for said friends for Christmas...<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vsdDFUl698NXyOoOiRbwzwqEWxAfC2xeVqXUnUjUWQX19wg95hPBtabsaj0cd6BEzud56YzdpRXfqvZM6S7nszw66fCsBnrScr_rezameARFZ2KZ-fmSx2BHWMr-bNyHqYa0jXXIiQWe/s1600-h/2008-11-15+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268822054766579170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 385px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vsdDFUl698NXyOoOiRbwzwqEWxAfC2xeVqXUnUjUWQX19wg95hPBtabsaj0cd6BEzud56YzdpRXfqvZM6S7nszw66fCsBnrScr_rezameARFZ2KZ-fmSx2BHWMr-bNyHqYa0jXXIiQWe/s400/2008-11-15+022.jpg" border="0" /></a>For my unknown Norwegian friend, I brought together:<br />> <a href="http://www.josharp.com/Yarn/Yarn.html">Jo Sharp Alpaca Kid Lustre</a> in Verona and Ripe<br />> DPNs<br />> Kiwi rock candy from the Gembrook Lolly Shop<br />> Lipton Chai Latte packets<br />> Toast/toasty fingerless mitts pattern from <a href="http://a-friend-to-knit-with.blogspot.com/2008/09/toasttoasty.html">A Friend to Knit With</a><br />> A description of an Aussie Christmas<br />> And a handcut snowflake tree ornament from a bloke who works at the Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada.</p><p>Pretty global gift, in the end, with stuff from Australia, Japan, the US and Canada! Maybe that makes for too many airmiles!</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRamjvE0bDlW0NRn-SlMPuOPSee5RvGbELwTJeE6lZdHgWVkBn2_1MA-o4TdAHPv0yKYndqURIacQtYyS3aeQU3ICzeBH-G-Urxl3uKHYFl3eLXooUZWjw5DuUlfKIom2GTtQGdoXhWLtB/s1600-h/2008-11-15+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268822050926391042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 385px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRamjvE0bDlW0NRn-SlMPuOPSee5RvGbELwTJeE6lZdHgWVkBn2_1MA-o4TdAHPv0yKYndqURIacQtYyS3aeQU3ICzeBH-G-Urxl3uKHYFl3eLXooUZWjw5DuUlfKIom2GTtQGdoXhWLtB/s400/2008-11-15+024.jpg" border="0" /></a> Ready to be posted to <a href="http://www.shygirlshobby.blogspot.com/">Linda</a>... Hope you enjoy!becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-61660307701580348372008-11-12T06:46:00.000+11:002008-11-12T21:48:23.207+11:00Handmade love for Jasper Sage<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGP60KETxBDacLiV9AO5UauI8d9ajMlacg5HUWPqUj5QTKn-Ql6b0rQHiVqGRtf7n_lYfzICKalhh_cYGx91A0zBiMqRHtC8Z42eB5GwvmjZVdp9sHPQSPhWNtn9cpjArEbVCrxxspbfMR/s1600-h/2008-11-12+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267489447844680002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGP60KETxBDacLiV9AO5UauI8d9ajMlacg5HUWPqUj5QTKn-Ql6b0rQHiVqGRtf7n_lYfzICKalhh_cYGx91A0zBiMqRHtC8Z42eB5GwvmjZVdp9sHPQSPhWNtn9cpjArEbVCrxxspbfMR/s400/2008-11-12+032.jpg" border="0" /></a>I've been working on a jumper/sweater for Jasper lately, with yarn I brought back from Canada. I couldn't start it over there cos I needed to finish all those hats! I love the colours, browns and rust red, and how it's knit in the round - less finishing to do! I bought the yarn and pattern as a kit from <a href="http://www.kpixie.com/catalog/">KPixie</a>, but you could also get the pattern off <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/drive-thru">Ravelry</a>. I bought enough yarn for one for Piper too, but the colours were terribly garish - not how they looked on my computer, so I sent that yarn back. This sweater is going in spurts, but I think I'll get to finishing it soon - I seem to be in a completion stage of life, the last few days. Although I couldn't bear knit any of it today, given it was 35 degrees!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqGlzv7FgS26f6PjoROf-38cGRG5tWkvcbYPn_jpVkWZDoPZycRH7vLqx8TMkb6KTpQJaMQVwE53tpIHMD63SdRT5FgsXrdoY6QntAMAXt3kdQt2e5lHvdynPrXL6gDn20gq0WO2fxLOu/s1600-h/2008-11-12+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267488988096238018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqGlzv7FgS26f6PjoROf-38cGRG5tWkvcbYPn_jpVkWZDoPZycRH7vLqx8TMkb6KTpQJaMQVwE53tpIHMD63SdRT5FgsXrdoY6QntAMAXt3kdQt2e5lHvdynPrXL6gDn20gq0WO2fxLOu/s400/2008-11-12+002.jpg" border="0" /></a> And here's what I did two Sundays ago - laid out my whole fabric stash into vague colour collections, mainly just to reaquaint myself with what I have, but out of this mess came the idea for a quilt for Jasper. Well, not the idea, cos I've been thinking of that for a while, but at least a pragmatic direction!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTdlLId5DhTYG2enWgqVhhAo7TwhUCvUxBWGRMy9kLOX5alQJNR6tpB3zhQTLV2Kt4agAP245RDhNHpM677bXP-cqdsPz4OQSZ_f4diJWcN1sEcmNwY3UVwwfYJAHoucGyWAaDKBwU_ej/s1600-h/2008-11-12+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267718469222430082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 398px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTdlLId5DhTYG2enWgqVhhAo7TwhUCvUxBWGRMy9kLOX5alQJNR6tpB3zhQTLV2Kt4agAP245RDhNHpM677bXP-cqdsPz4OQSZ_f4diJWcN1sEcmNwY3UVwwfYJAHoucGyWAaDKBwU_ej/s400/2008-11-12+007.jpg" border="0" /></a>I had thought at first to focus on a chocolate/emerald/turquoise kind of colour scheme, and bought a few bits, such as the elephants, with this in mind. But when I'd laid out all my fabric, this is what materialised for Jasper.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjeJe9hQ03koT5lAc-So-eF4qf1NFaipon-ODppw-6tc_S51aKpglPJV6ES2usW2eSXSpIFeFvGMcKin7ou-aqanJx9uO_zRjhPUccZrNtIXgw7vyiHdBqyEPCaE7vPHarl5ospTz4NpP0/s1600-h/2008-11-12+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267489002286400498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjeJe9hQ03koT5lAc-So-eF4qf1NFaipon-ODppw-6tc_S51aKpglPJV6ES2usW2eSXSpIFeFvGMcKin7ou-aqanJx9uO_zRjhPUccZrNtIXgw7vyiHdBqyEPCaE7vPHarl5ospTz4NpP0/s400/2008-11-12+008.jpg" border="0" /></a> A neat stack of squares, ready to go.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXr1SJ_gfQ-LUQhbJNo7ksbP9Q-wfrpqVM7uXYw24qAJVNYaTTKMgRlBwS1hfLpetw7EFfpwFQ4E-XxhXySKWEvkvc10t5qKDew65K9vFmWIdXEuPyVlbnyvDq1tfAzsfs1BCWC8N1sNU/s1600-h/2008-11-12+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267489454815211874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXr1SJ_gfQ-LUQhbJNo7ksbP9Q-wfrpqVM7uXYw24qAJVNYaTTKMgRlBwS1hfLpetw7EFfpwFQ4E-XxhXySKWEvkvc10t5qKDew65K9vFmWIdXEuPyVlbnyvDq1tfAzsfs1BCWC8N1sNU/s400/2008-11-12+010.jpg" border="0" /></a> The elephants, and some of the other fabric, came from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5104353">A Little Goodness</a>, but some of the other stuff has been with me for years, some of it ten years!!! I think that's why this project feels so satisfying, to FINALLY turn these odd bits of material into something of value. I have lots of ideas for using up more of my stash - I don't want to keep it for another ten years...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBczjHdti0ZjN24f6KJLhhxAOHvCLXfban8iHfQ-aGDW4ZbTP5nGakkPaC9XvQ_9Ad7RD-vCA5s6W4JUAind70eGgr3vqyesbmsueiuhQDXI0QhlNOI3D6hL7WFdoS_ZR80qbxNwPlJzM8/s1600-h/2008-11-12+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267489445431836994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBczjHdti0ZjN24f6KJLhhxAOHvCLXfban8iHfQ-aGDW4ZbTP5nGakkPaC9XvQ_9Ad7RD-vCA5s6W4JUAind70eGgr3vqyesbmsueiuhQDXI0QhlNOI3D6hL7WFdoS_ZR80qbxNwPlJzM8/s400/2008-11-12+029.jpg" border="0" /></a> Strips ready to sew together - which I managed to do yesterday, and I managed to layer it all together today, so soon I'll post a completed project, right when Jasper has no use for a blanket whatsoever! Until it cools down a bit, anyway!</div></div></div></div></div>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729807448617879357.post-8623688220971010522008-10-19T17:03:00.000+11:002008-10-19T17:18:11.814+11:00Knitted giftsI finally get to blogging this! I had the idea, for ages, in Canada, that I wanted to knit a hat for each of my nieces and nephews. I didn't get going with it for a while, and then became pregnant, and didn't feel like doing anything crafty after that. However, then September rolled around, the fog lifted and suddenly I was back in a crafting space, so you could say I entered into a flurry of activity to get these hats done before our early Thanksgiving gathering on the 3rd of October! I was really happy with how they turned out, and how unique they all are. I think the kids appreciated that they each had their own hat in a different style. They're not perfect, but I hope they communicated in a small way that I'll miss seeing my nieces and nephews...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuXqPdotrl6EEwtA6Bg9eKQnNURTV2tyaTsZf-mJMcExpI1Svx-ZfebPUgMuBWRP5fcChLKb-phPNexaovubTf7KrIU6JbevJwcuQX1ace6qb2Y8BjFtM4Amu6eJIxcJPztCmEMjTk_Yx/s1600-h/mosaic+gift+hats.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258742789992158050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuXqPdotrl6EEwtA6Bg9eKQnNURTV2tyaTsZf-mJMcExpI1Svx-ZfebPUgMuBWRP5fcChLKb-phPNexaovubTf7KrIU6JbevJwcuQX1ace6qb2Y8BjFtM4Amu6eJIxcJPztCmEMjTk_Yx/s400/mosaic+gift+hats.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here's Piper modelling them all (left to right, in rows): Mason's hat, Zach's hat, Ty's hat, Rae's hat, Ty's hat again, Makenna's hat, Makenna's hat again, Cassie's hat, and Taelyn's hat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GWontF9E4ocJ8LsHjx9Qu_MQqYb1u-OKEl0wFmWEtMManZ3lBHFTQzIQILKy9c7hAXMMZgfCvudlZLgUY808nRFWUm_E60n6DuMhqSRINyLbH0UPH5OJpvzPTfGajkcVUhE0isUd0YUz/s1600-h/2008-10-02+049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258742788391630338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GWontF9E4ocJ8LsHjx9Qu_MQqYb1u-OKEl0wFmWEtMManZ3lBHFTQzIQILKy9c7hAXMMZgfCvudlZLgUY808nRFWUm_E60n6DuMhqSRINyLbH0UPH5OJpvzPTfGajkcVUhE0isUd0YUz/s400/2008-10-02+049.jpg" border="0" /></a>The recipients.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQmmY7hotvKpjIkO75YAOoiCCYEzX97wxPHIu_i3vdaew1qD18R-ViHzfGRZiHy7aCDymtGICAt1OzNYHz4hfQpCcWZSnON6V2LIo50SLm3H4w-5kW1sdMcG1J45kfFvYDlwQTTHDdk90/s1600-h/2008-10-02+052.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258742796353904786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQmmY7hotvKpjIkO75YAOoiCCYEzX97wxPHIu_i3vdaew1qD18R-ViHzfGRZiHy7aCDymtGICAt1OzNYHz4hfQpCcWZSnON6V2LIo50SLm3H4w-5kW1sdMcG1J45kfFvYDlwQTTHDdk90/s400/2008-10-02+052.jpg" border="0" /></a> A shot of all these beautiful kids together...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAaWvxOXmoBF5Rr1S5BlTigIizSCWdGs0wV46vb9Mb0wKOMHxR-TcKQiQBOO3-pqiCuGROHtZpY4JUYP1GRsqFUf7tUucLGiyvXhPhEBquFsa4R4H3dbr__OihnIRsBvgmxAUhgBLNi2H/s1600-h/2008-10-02+056.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258742406577104466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAaWvxOXmoBF5Rr1S5BlTigIizSCWdGs0wV46vb9Mb0wKOMHxR-TcKQiQBOO3-pqiCuGROHtZpY4JUYP1GRsqFUf7tUucLGiyvXhPhEBquFsa4R4H3dbr__OihnIRsBvgmxAUhgBLNi2H/s400/2008-10-02+056.jpg" border="0" /></a> Tyler.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRIgOIqF3qGa61jNJAeStw0AQwJ9QYcQlgKJcD1Ouaak2PJ7h56mXK3ANYzIuaCsRUQ7VCZjnSB1Od7yJDRs6U925pc3-dxcV-4jDfJzySv8b2IOzzROh_N3KjFFhI69qMrGquTSc1RYi/s1600-h/2008-10-02+057.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258742410113084786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRIgOIqF3qGa61jNJAeStw0AQwJ9QYcQlgKJcD1Ouaak2PJ7h56mXK3ANYzIuaCsRUQ7VCZjnSB1Od7yJDRs6U925pc3-dxcV-4jDfJzySv8b2IOzzROh_N3KjFFhI69qMrGquTSc1RYi/s400/2008-10-02+057.jpg" border="0" /></a> Rae.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ83lirKDvGXC3zIb-oS4BXGpF8izRIcSkK48iZ5z-U6dk5bW9IY4BSUhHlnHWAzfV4dxfs7oTV_wbdSVzK5cHMzMxLO4DZO4WNTdY_RmWVtf8sdalNPGpwQN0-oSUOmeML6xq7v9gqP92/s1600-h/2008-10-02+058.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258742411213551666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ83lirKDvGXC3zIb-oS4BXGpF8izRIcSkK48iZ5z-U6dk5bW9IY4BSUhHlnHWAzfV4dxfs7oTV_wbdSVzK5cHMzMxLO4DZO4WNTdY_RmWVtf8sdalNPGpwQN0-oSUOmeML6xq7v9gqP92/s400/2008-10-02+058.jpg" border="0" /></a> Makenna.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMowbu4kEUMvPQ0rFjLQ3X-JZgvJke-SIdRr_w-MccrbQO9WrnoKu7cgh0N-YP1wIFC4v51LtnkGy06zcrOcA9z1sM10qOh0s-Of_PKIA6MgPwnBoJeQDMBuNh7d-q57kpt32PJ0bXXqk/s1600-h/2008-10-02+059.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258742417379922178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMowbu4kEUMvPQ0rFjLQ3X-JZgvJke-SIdRr_w-MccrbQO9WrnoKu7cgh0N-YP1wIFC4v51LtnkGy06zcrOcA9z1sM10qOh0s-Of_PKIA6MgPwnBoJeQDMBuNh7d-q57kpt32PJ0bXXqk/s400/2008-10-02+059.jpg" border="0" /></a> Cassie.</div>becstahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16636597387540565743noreply@blogger.com2