Holiday snaps

Holidays involving a trip to the airport are memories I cherish from my childhood, Z was no less impressed on this trip.

Tropical flowers, monsoonal rain and full days spent swimming in the pool were all part of the magic.

It was a wonderful mix of contrasts. Perfectly depicted by the battered NRL football we found in the park and the sublime tropical work of Anne Marie Graham, a Melbournian artist, currently exhibiting at the Cairns Regional Gallery.
We are all definitely restored and relaxed. There's nothing better than a family holiday to get everyone back to basics.
I hope you had a wonderful couple of weeks and that you too are ready to face the pending Christmas merriment. Tomorrow is November. Blimey Christmas is just around the corner..... how did that happen?
xx

Holiday eyes

Taken in Turkey on a past holiday. Looking with holiday eyes out of Aya Sofya towards the Blue Mosque.

Our beloved Hipeastrum has flowered. I'm looking forward to all of the tropical flowers up North.

It's the final countdown. We're heading up north to the tropical top end for a little pre-summer sun (fingers crossed) and I can't wait.
The last 2 weeks seem to have been high intensity with one terribly sore toe, inflamed tonsils, countless doctors appointments and a rather frazzled and exhausted household. We're all ready to recharge.

Thankfully.... the sun shines on and life always looks sweeter by the beach. Flip flops, sun dresses, sun hats, books and nowhere to be. My favorite kind of holiday.

Here's a little link love I'd like to share with you while I'm lovin' life in FNQ.

This Norwegian real estate site with the most incredible houses.

The thought of Z & I doing our own yoga session this summer inspired by this.

Wishing I'd spent hours with this House Doctor instead.

All the sweetness here.

Adding this wrap to my knit list.

Watching this or reading it. They're both great.

These gorgeous Charley Harper colouring books.

Now I must dash and finish the packing and cleaning. We have friends staying while we're away so it's a double whammy....usually I leave the house in a state to be dealt with on my return but I must say there is something lovely about totally clearing out before a holiday.
May our friends be happy here in our house & you all have an enjoyable time of it while I'm away.

Much love xoxox

Perfect Match....with a probability score of 98%

Source: dosfamily.com via Stupendous Joy on Pinterest

A lace lamp tutorial by the ever inspiring Dos Family. I think one of these would be perfect for our hallway. We've had a bare globe hanging there rather crudely for well over a year now.

It would work quite perfectly with the lovely pieces made by my friend, Miss Woolly, which adorn our hallway.
Don't you just love a successful match..... but never a twin-set! No, it's just not me.

Happy weekend everyone.
xox

Bright skies

What a gorgeous Melbourne day.
Our early morning jog was...invigorating! These days my resistance only lasts for around half the jog. When I started back on this jogging journey around 10 weeks ago every single step of the way was a struggle. With our first fun run under our belts (we ran 5k as part of the Melbourne Marathon on the weekend) we're jogging with more confidence that we'll actually be able to make it to the end and enjoy our morning coffee without collapsing somewhere in between.
The skyline was so pink and peaceful. Coming around the bend at Ormond Point reveals my favorite Melbourne cityscape. This morning it was topped off with a timely hot air balloon hovering above.

Then, there were letters to post, washing & shopping to be done, lunch here with the L.F. and a new summer top sewed together (pictured..in part..above). Z is feeling better and back to his beautiful, bright, inquisitive self. Now I'm hoping we can squeeze in a family bike ride early evening. Hope, hope, hope. x

Right here, right now.

'Happiness leads naturally to generosity....'
- Sarah Napthali in Buddhism for Mothers with Lingering Questions.

Something I need to remind myself on days when my generosity of spirit is a little remiss. It's a reminder to shift my attitude to a different place....right here, right now.

xox

Sewing & a sick Sheriff

My little Z is under the weather so we've been spending quiet days at home this week. To keep myself sane while housebound for long stretches I've been doing a spot of sewing (I could be doing housework, filing or cleaning out the bulging linen cupboard but somehow none of these tasks appeal. Oops...ok this afternoon. I promise).
This morning I whipped up the above quilt top. The fabric comes from vintage pillow cases I purchased at the Lorne Op Shop some time back and the green linen is from an old tea towel of Doo's. They work really well together. Next I just need to decide on the border colour, backing and binding.

In the meantime, I'm going to make a pair of these for the Sheriff out of this cute Liberty fabric which I picked up on the weekend at Tesutti. Oh Tesutti, how I love thee. x

Crafty Monday

A little love this Monday.

Source: blog.giddygiddy.com via Stupendous Joy on Pinterest

I found this tutorial, via Pinterest, on The Journals of Giddy Giddy and thought I'd share it here for crafty Monday. The only materials you need are pipe cleaners and old yarn.
Love really is the word. x

Make do

Yesterday was action packed. We welcomed a new baby girl into the family, sweet little Zoe. My sister-in-law now has a wee little lady & Z a teeny new cousin. We made an emergency dash to the doctors for a little toe that found itself on the wrong side of a brick while doing some gardening...ouch!! and we whipped up this cool car cubby out of recycled boxes. The connectors for the cubby are by Makedo and they're just fantastic.

Check out the great clip below for some totally awesome inspiration. We definitely need to order a bigger kit because we're totally hooked and have big renovation plans...already.

how to makedo - extended version from MAKEDO on Vimeo.

Today we are taking things quietly, lying about on the couch, baking more bread, playing with the cubby and hoping for a little cuddle with our new Miss shortly. xx

Colour me yellow

Z and I enjoyed a lovely afternoon in the backyard dying an old top (and a couple of Z's singlets) using tumeric. The top was headed for the op shop so I thought I'd make one last ditch attempt to redeem it.
I followed the process in The Handbook of Natural Plant Dyes a book I have talked about before and been itching to try. We had the tumeric in our spice cupboard... and I used cold water dying for the process so Z could be involved. It was a lot of fun and super simple. I'm now eager for my cabbage plants to sprout so I can try my hand with those gorgeous purple cabbage leaves too.
Here's to a bright summer.

PS. check out my chick over at The Toy Society blog she was drop #1647.

Another year!

I'm happy to report that my inner child is still ageless.
- James Broughton

Just easing back into things with a couple of photos from the weekend. I'll be back on board tomorrow. xox