More lego!

While I unpacked 5 very full bags of luggage, the kids built their new lego kits..

Unfair? yes I think so! but they LOVED them so....

Lucas' one and only present this year and only because I got it on a big sale

The Star Wars Millennium Falcon

It took him about 2 hours to put together and then it disappeared into his room and he has only emerged for food...

And for Mollie the 'Hillside House' 

Totally perfect for Mollie....

 'Look Mum, the door bell works' lol

Just working out a fair exchange..I am thinking Chocolate cake :D

Where did that month go!!

Talk about slack!!

Finishing orders, preparations for Christmas and then holidays means I have neglected the poor old blog.

Back to regular posts now that we are home after a wonderful holiday of catching up with family and friends.

Wishing you all a fabulous Chrissy, New Year break!!

Hand dyed yarn

Look what is sitting in my drafts folder...
A photo of my rainbow hand dyed yarn.

I tell you, I absolutely love it and eager to make more. I have yarn all skeined (is that a word!) up and ready for the dye.
Now that all the unpacking is finished, I might have a crack at more dyeing!

Tomorrow maybe?

Edit to add: I dyed this for the very clever Tas, check out what she made with it..devine!

Handmade Christmas

Lots of handmaking here this Christmas.
Here are the Mama friends pressies for this year

Handmade soap using Rhondas Down to Earth Soap recipe, my hand dyed and then knitted cotton dishcloths / washcloths.

More about my hand dyeing soon.

Our visitor

A Goanna!

We found him in the pool area. He lives in a tree down near the chook coop. I hope he doesn't get a taste for eggs!!

Wooden blocks - one of the BEST toys EVER!

See this huge washing basket....well, it is usually chock -a-block full of wooden blocks of all shapes and sizes.
We have had this basket full for about 6 years now. The blocks are mainly off cuts from Dave various projects, some blocks I have bought from op shops and a set that came with a push cart type toy.

And yesterday, out they came again to make a zoo.

I assure you these soft animals are very well cared for. They have a regular supply of fresh food and water, their habitats are individually designed and their enclosures are even cleaned out regulary :)

This basket of wooden toys have been used for sooo many different play ideas - farms, castles, road systems, train set, forts, car tracks and I am sure many more times in the years to come.

They are not perfectly shaped or match in anyway but I know that is what  makes they so fun.

Snow Baby!

And last of my nature table babies

Snow Baby!!

and onto to pattern writing today!!

Harry Potter Story prompts

The children are concentrating on story writing at the moment....well... we are trying too. The boy of the house is struggling with the NEED to write stories..

So what better way to encourage story writing then using their most favourite topic HARRY POTTER! Here are the prompts Dave and I made up..

Lucas:

* Harry Potter was walking to divination class when we heard a loud mysterious noise come out of Rebus Hagrids hut. He saw a flash at the windows and a cry.................

* Professor Sprout discovered a new plant growing from the roof of her greenhouse. It looked and sounded like nothing she had ever seen......

* Lately Harry had noticed that spiders had returned. He couldn't believe they were walking into the..........

Mollie:

* Hermoine went to the library to look up a new spell. What she saw made her eyes light up.....

* Ginny walked into the kitchen and saw Mrs Wesley making pancakes. All the ingredients flew from the shelves by themselves and come together with a ..............


Update: They both choose the first story from their lists above.. SUCCESS what an effective activity. They have been working on their stories for two days now and are keen to continue. I didn't put any pressure on with spelling "just start a story" was all I said but they are keen on correct spelling, sentence structure and grammer. Very thrilled with the results...

Sunflower Baby

For the nature table!

She is 14cm high and is made from 100% wool felt, tricot and filled with wool fleece. 

Off to write up a pattern for her now.

Cute hey!

Mango party time!

Our first MANGO PARTY of the year this afternoon!!
We have been eating Mangoes for a couple weeks now but today after some garden mulching, we enjoyed our first mango party...
(we have 4 trees full, so there will be a party a day I reckon!)

Definition of mango party: sitting round the tree getting VERY messy :D

And look, we have lychees this year. 

We are winning against the fruit bats atm..

Our strategy you ask....

Lucas yelling from his bed at night "MUM!!! FRUIT BATS!!!"

And this Mama goes running...

A few claps outside under the tree and the bats leave. Actually I am happy to share, but I would like some please!!

Building Bedrock in the creekbed!

While camping in the Owen Springs Reserve near Alice Springs, we built Bedrock..you know,
The Flinstones!!

Here is the Flinstones House by Lucas

The Rubbles House by Mollie

Who remembers Mr Slate?, Fred boss..his house! by Dave

Camping at Owen Springs was definately a highlight of our trip. It was green, by a small creek and there was NO ONE else around. We had to do a little 4WD to get into the gorge, it was perfect :D

Back from Alice Springs!

We got back late last night from our weeks camping holiday in Alice Springs. 

I will pop a few photos in here now and come back when life is a little less crazy and tell you all about it!!

Walking around Uluru

Trying to find water in the red sand :)

Many beautiful picnic stops for breaky!!

Lots and lots of bush walking

And beautiful gorges

What a fun holiday!!

Simple (ish) skirt

This skirt has been 6 months in the making...
It is made of white homespun which I tied and dyed a very wishy washing blue, purple, green colour. I didn't like the result so I retied it and it sat in the bottom of the washing basket for a couple of months.
On Monday, I pulled it out, mixed up some dark blue and over dyed it. It was ok, but a bit flat soooo (yes I did) I scrunch it up, wrapped some elastic bands round it and through it in some bleach.

The photo doesn't pick the colour variations up so well but I am finally happy with the results and now I have a new skirt!!

And I thought an embrodiery would jazz it up a little 

Pattern : A-line skirt from Sassy Skirts by Cindy Taylor Oates

Embroidery: from Embrodiery Library

I tell ya, I am itching to dye another skirt..I wonder what the results will be 

Some cuties for the market

I just found this post in my drafts folder of the blog..I better do a little editing and post....

I sold these three dollies at the market last month. They are such little cuties, I thought I would share some photos...

First up is a boy dolly, dressed in a campan knit t shirt and shorts

A two little girls dressed and ready for play!

And here they are all in their pyjamas, ready for bed.

All babies need a cute nappy!

I have made another two of these (just because I love them so) I will add photos soon!!

Girls dollmaking!

Something us girls love doing together!!

And we are getting quite good at it :D

Hand dyeing cotton for Mum!

From white cotton 8ply yarn to a rainbow!!

I am sure Mum will knit something beautiful with it :)

I think Mollie and I need some now..maybe for more dishcloths :)

Hanging Angel

I have had this angel in my head for a couple months now. I wasn't quite sure how the construction was going to go but Monday, I jumped in and had a go....

She turned out alright didn't she :D

She is made using tricot, wool fleece, wool yarn and her dress is made from cotton with wool felt wings. 

She is about 30cm high.

Her wings.

She has been claimed by Mollie and is waiting for Dave to put something in the roof so we can hang her over Mollies bed. 

(He and Lucas have been struck down with the dreaded flu!)
I have plans to make more for Spiral Garden next month