Snuffles, coughs and sneezes

The 'fun jar' has well and truly been pushed aside this week and enter: the dreaded flu.

The type of flu that hits the whole family at once, the type of flu that has children vomiting at midnight and high temperatures that won't go away for days. The type of flu that makes, not just your body ache and your head pound, but your hair hurt.

For days the kids and I have been set up on the lounge. Staying in our pajama's all day long, little bodies lost in piles of pillows and blankets. On the coffee table by our side: the remote control, the phone, panadol, water bottles and a box of tissues. On the floor, more water bottles and a pile of tissues.

Mr Moo had a day off too, in fact I haven't really seen him for days. He has emerged from bed only to go to work or for me to give him chicken soup and spiced ginger tea.



In the mist of it all, I did manage to make a little doll. There really is only so much ABC kids a mother can take (especially when they are sick themselves). The stitching and stuffing was a happy diversion. Although I must say, my foggy brain did make for quiet a bit of unpicking.



So without further ado, please meet Nurse Hilda. A soothing, gentle soul, who brings peace, happiness and big cuddles to little ones when they need it most.

She has worked hard this week.

I hope that the first week of your school holidays (if you are on holidays) has been a better one.

If you want to see some more creative spaces, go over to our creative spaces and be inspired.

The holiday fun jar

School holidays have started and we are slipping into holiday mode quiet nicely around here. This is the third day that I have still been in my pj's at 9:30 in the morning. It's great, the kids are playing shops and I am enjoying a second cup of tea.

I had really wanted to go away for the holidays, but Mr Moo could not get time off. So we have opted for some slow days at home and I think it will work out for the better. I have some pretty worn out kids in the house.

On Friday afternoon we made a fun jar and filled it with some things we can do over the holidays. There are no rules, we will just pull a piece of paper from the jar whenever we want, perhaps once a day, perhaps four times a day. Here are some of the random activities in our fun jar.

• make fabric trees from our hand prints
• read a book and write a book review
• play the 'memory game'
• play a board game
• make a doll out of recycled materials
• have a day in the garden
• make a cactus garden
• hopscotch and honey joys
• bake some bread
• go to the cinema to see "Cars - 2"
• make thank-you cards
• pick strawberries at the strawberry farm
• collect rocks and make a Flintstones village
• make up a holiday story, draw pictures and make a book
• make smarties biscuits
• paint our fingernails and toenails
• make 'set the table' place mats
• dance and sing to Mummy's old children's records
• make funny magazine pictures
• collect leaves and make leaf drawings
• make and decorate paper dolls
• make your own board game to play
• make and decorate gingerbread men and women
• make some homemade lemonade
• visit a community garden
• make library bags and visit the library

Keep reading to see how we go and what we make. I will try and update my blog daily.

Maybe you are needing a little inspiration, just like I am.

Flea market finds...

I visited just one op shop this week.

Miss Moo Moo insisted we go, she was on the lookout for 'Cinderella gloves'. We were able to find a pair of beautiful gloves that are wrist length, not gloves that go past the elbow like the ones Cinderella wears to the ball, but she is happy enough. I have not been able to get them off her.

But is she as happy as her mummy? I don't think so.

My collection has me skipping around the house.

A cast iron milk saucepan in excellent condition, perfect for hot chocolate making, $4.00. A vintage pillow case, 50 cents. Eight, never been used, Irish linen napkins - with shamrocks! $5.00. Just what I wanted for our Irish themed St Patrick's Day dinners. And two sweet afternoon tea napkins, again, never been used and for $1.00, why would I leave them there?

I hope you had happy op shopping this week too, if you are that way inclined.

Go here, to see what other treasures have been found this week

Love and hot waterbottle covers

A friend recently pointed out to me, that I had only crossed one thing off of my 2011 craft 'to do' list.

We are already half way through the year.

Had I lost my crafting mojo?

Yes, I had a little.

I don't know if was the need to clear things up around the house or the cold weather? Maybe a bit of both, but last week I picked up a needle and thread and started mending a few soft toys. I found the stitching therapeutic and looked to see what else needed attending to in my long neglected craft basket

Before I could even look at the long list in my sidebar, I needed to complete a few half finished seasonal crafts. I did not want them still sitting on the desk next year.

Above are some Valentine's love hearts that will decorate the house next February. Spunky Monkey and Miss Moo Moo were responsible for the flower drawings that I had stitched onto the hearts. These had been stitched and just needed to be sewn and filled.




There were also five little felt Easter egg decorations that were meant to decorate our Easter tree this year. The children had picked out the coloured felt and buttons and discussed their designs at Easter time. I just didn't get around to sewing on the buttons or sewing them up.



More autumn decorations. These again, had been embroidered but never sewn up. I found them in the bottom of the sewing basket.





And now for something from the list. Hot water bottle covers. Just in time too, last night was our coldest night this winter.

I started these last year. I just made up the pattern, inspired by a Japanese book (I think) I wouldn't recommend you make up your own pattern, unless you know what you are doing - I don't! It took me four times longer than it would have if I had just looked for a pattern.

Now that my little boy is a big six year old and not a cute little five year old, I am left wondering at my fabric choice. Oh well, it will be fine, they are only for bedtime snuggles after all. Made from vintage flannelette collected years ago, I'm sure they will do their job well.





I made this embroidered cushion for our family room. You may recognise this picture, it is a picture drawn by my son a while back. I had made it into an apron but I only have worn it once. I didn't want it stained with oil and tinned tomatoes.

Yes, I am a messy cook.

So I had a re-think and voila, this morning I turned it into a cushion. It's only been sitting on the couch for 2 hours, but already I love it.







This family hand print embroidery was finished ages ago, but I've just hung it on the wall. It's hung in our playroom. For along time this large wall sat blank, I'm loving how it is coming along, unplanned and random, things that I love: both made and collected.

I did start another project today, but you will have to wait until next week to see that one.

If you want to see some more creative spaces, go over to our creative spaces and be inspired.

Slow days at home

I love this weeks picture in my Country Style Diary.

Home.

Today is my only day at home this week and the first one in ages, I am looking forward to going about my home duties with pleasure. Cleaning and tiding, washing and soaking, dusting and re-arranging, baking and sewing. I hope to hang a few new pictures and at the day's end, there will be a roast in the oven and a treat for dessert.

How are you spending your day? Perhaps it is too cold and you are preferring to curl up under a warm rug with a good book.

Now there's another option!

Another long weekend

In our local area, we had another long weekend this weekend. The weather was the perfect Queensland winter weather. Clear bright blue skies, warm sunshine and gentle breezes.

We took advantage and got out amongst it.



We spent four hours on a picnic rug by the river. This was our picnic food, but there was also wine, books and napping. Oh.... and the children - it was all scooters and new friends in the playground for them. They stopped by occasionally, when they were hungry.



This view is what made lazing in the winter sun so enjoyable. Nothing to do but watch the lovely slow pace of the sail boats drifting past.



We finally visited the gorgeous little shop, Twig and Grace. Beautiful - everything - beautiful! In fact Miss Moo Moo and I returned this morning for coffee and a piece of their delicious nana slice (caramel slice)



On Saturday, the kids found the only sunny spot in our tiny backyard and set up house. They ate there afternoon tea out here and played for hours. There was a play tent off to the side (not in the photo)



The kids helped make the choc chip pancakes that we ate for breakfast outside. Served with huge splashes of maple syrup and runny cream. Yum.



On Sunday Mum joined us for a barbecue lunch, we moved our table out onto the grass to catch the lovely winter sun. We enjoyed a leisurely afternoon, eating and drinking more wine.

I hope you enjoyed you weekend too.

Flea market finds...

To show you the rest of my op shop finds from last week.

Part two: pretty and girly

A strawberry and peppermint checked wool blanket for Miss Moo Moo's bed in excellent condition, just $7.00







Three doilies, a vintage cot sheet and a vintage pillowcase all 50 cents each. And a net curtain (underneath) for $3.00, to be turned in to eco fruit bags.



A single vintage sheet and another net curtain to be used as a cover over food, both $2.00 each.



Three metres of this beautiful cotton fabric - $3.00. I can see a simple summer dress made out of this one.

Go here, to see what other treasures have been found this week

Yandina Station - part two

Some more photos of Yandina Station..... just in case you didn't get enough yesterday!

Yandina Station - part one

I can't stop thinking about this beautiful venue that sisters, Georgina and Kristina chose for their pop-up shop last weekend.

The weather could not have been more perfect, sweet blooms and coffee scented the air. Happy chatter and music created a wonderful atmosphere in which to shop and mingle.

This place leaves me a little speechless. It was just so gorgeous.























You can read more about Yandina Station here.