The sweetest escape

Im back from a really great trip to see my sister in Melbourne.  We had a fantastic 6 days together and what was anticipated with great excitement is now passed.

Between the two of us we have five girls - and we wanted to take time to do some sisterly things together that can’t always be done with little ones.  However we had to attempt some days with her two youngest coming along - and that was ok too because I adore my nieces.

There was an itinerary as long as my arm and in the end we only did a quarter of it - but it was all so lovely that i felt it was definitely quality as opposed to quantity.

Some highlights:

The street art: 

The really fab Brunswick street which was grungy, arty, vi-bey and a sensory overload.

 I got to see Meet me at Mikes where we had a yack with the owner.

 Don’t you just love this tag outside the shop?

Saw the great Rose Street Artists Market. Lovely paper shops, cafes and gorgeous shop fronts.

We saw a fantastic exhibition at The Kick gallerycalled “maybe we have met before” and our hearts went pitter patter at all the lovely work - especially Catherine Campell’s work.

My sister took me to the most authentic junk yard I have ever been too off Northcot rd.  It was over run with old bits and pieces and I could have gone wild! Run by a  lovely Italian man who kept praising her new hair cut.

We crammed in op shops, Camberwell market, a girls night out and extreme crafting sessions.

 {the best stall at the market!}

We had great pastries from the Italian bakeries and great coffee from all over.  A a truly yummy plate of hot chips and beer at St Kilda beach.

 

oh - and did i mention the three hours we spent at Borders just looking at books?  woowhoo!

blooming marvelous

Well the girls and I had a great holiday together (only one or two melt downs, mostly by me).  We did not go away - just spent some lovely time together.  The house was allowed to get messier (well, that’s the story anyway) and who though hanging out in your pj’s most of the day could cause such delirium for little schoolies. 

I found a nice biscuit recipe for jam dotted shortbread and we did some silly baking.

{very yummy}

 

  +  =

A lovely bunch of flowers made by the girls for me on a cold, rainy day.  I  got the idea from a great subscription http://www.kidscraftweekly.com/

The reason why I tried hard with the girls this holiday was so that I could feel less guilty about being an absent mommy for almost a week starting Thursday.  Why is that you ask?  Well, because  I will be rocking it with my sister in Melbourne, Australia - yeah!  She lives there and i get to visit all on my lonesome, ownsome while the girls stay here with dad.  I am v. excited and will slow this upload down with lots of shots soon.  If you know of a super cool spot to visit there - let me know so i can add it to my to do list.

YIPEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

I see an elephant looking at me

{What can I see

What can I see

I see an Elephant looking at me!}

School holidays have started - and Im going to go on Blog vacation and spend some real time quality with my two gorgeous girls.  We are going to make hot chocolate with marshmallows, read books, go to a movie, have a tea party and revamp the doll house!

I’ve lost my journal!

Ohh! man its annoying when I lose things - I feel so contrite - especially when it is something that is valuable to me.  I can’t find my spiritual/art journal - I’v turned the house upside down and inside out and looked in insane places like the freezer.  So I can only hope now that if i left it somewhere random - that some one has picked it up and is having a good read. 

 The journal is not a diary of events, it is a record of daily life lessons and a clarification of what God is doing in my life, it is about stages of my spiritual journey, thoughts, struggles, fears and good stuff too. It also includes my creative thoughts, sketches and ideas.  I can start again - a fresh book.  I just can’t replicate the daily intimacies. hmm -I wonder if I looked under the couch?

{ps. this blog has some great creative journal ideas}

 

felt

The little Gems have been featured on FELT a  New Zealand-based on-line marketplace for handmade goods, designed to enable artists, designers and craftspeople to promote their work and connect with buyers.

Lucy Arnold  is the owner/operator & designer

“I’m interested in the philosophy of handmade enterprises and the cottage industry (the environmental aspect, lifestyle aspect and sociological effects) and the integrity of making a living from producing handmade goods on a small scale. From these interests grew a desire to promote handmade as a consumer’s choice and enable artists, craftspeople and designers to develop their craft into a viable enterprise.”

The Gems and I are 100% behind the same thoughts.  In fact we are having meaningful discussion’s about craftivism at the moment.

Detritus

Detritus

Originally uploaded by shellsbells2007

I had an assignment for Craft Hub to make a page for my friend Rachelle’s altered book - her theme is Detritus - which can be defined as accumulated material and debris. At first, I thought I should put a photo of my work space in the book!

I found the weird, organic piece of melted plastic while walking on the beach - I strolled along with the girls and at first we thought the plastic was seaweed.
The moth is bleach and the writing is the music that was playing while I put all together :
Nobody said it was easy,
Nobody said it would be this hard,
Im going back to the start.
ColdPlay
The Scientist

My theme is Kitchen Secrets - my book is still being passed around the rest of the group. Will post some when it gets fat and juicy.

The story of us

14 years - 14 years, we have been married allthough we actually have been together longer.  We were childhood sweethearts - Met in High School starting way back in the good ‘ol eighties - He was a rebel, in and out of trouble, bad rep and bad hair days.  I was the sweet young thing (perhaps not very innocent), listening to too much Talking Heads.  We were friends at first - he made me laugh a lot and under all the aggresion was a teddy bear. 

It’s true to say we grew up together, discovered love together, shared joy, pain, sorrow and faith together.  Now, our mutual symbiosis is based on years of knowing each other intimatly - so that he is my right arm, and I am his left. ( but he is the type of man that will still surprise me )

Thank you darling - your still the one.

first day

               

first dayOriginally uploaded by shellsbells2007She has arrived - our little Jasmine. Bulldogs are the best dogs in the world! They might snore - but they are gentle, kind, tolerant, non hyper, short haired and cute as!

Cocoon and cuddle

 

Today i looked out of the window and it was grey and drizzly - I love it!  It makes the earth smell good, the dust gets washed away and its a reason to have hot Horlicks and milk.  Ruby asked me to make Butternut soup - oh it was soooo good.  If you want the recipe - leave a comment and Iwill e-mail it to you.  I wish you could smell it - a touch of curry, nutmeg and rosemary with sweet creamy butternut mmmm.

floral moments

floral momentsOriginally uploaded by shellsbells2007