I've moved!

After a long break, I have moved.

You can find me at my new home here:
http://twigandinkdesign.blogspot.com.au/

See you soon,

E x

photo friday challenge {play}

Exquisite timing!  No sooner did I take this photo did I saw the challenge for the week. 

 PJ clad, make-up free, goofy Saturday morning playfulness. 

 And now I must rush to the market I'm about to do.  

Wish me luck!

Thanks for visiting,

E x

photo friday challenge {blurry/oof}

 

It's Carly's photo friday challenge. 

This week's theme is 'blurry/oof' (out of focus).  

This photo of little Woo was taken some time ago, but I love it and was waiting for a chance to use it. Now seems perfect!  It was while we were away at our friend's farm (which happens to be around the corner from my sister's new farm - much to our excitement).

 

We took the children for a lovely walk and as you can clearly (sorry, blurrily) see it had been raining.  The muddy puddles were full to the brim.  Three out of four children stepped in the puddles right up to their middles - and ultimately lay down in them to get fully soaked!! They stomped and splashed and splattered all over the place, squealing with delight.

The fourth, you may have guessed was Tigs, who laughed like billy-o and remained pristine, and more importantly warm.  As you can imagine the smiles on three faces were somewhat less visible, although they did remain remarkably chipper, as they trudged back up the hill, sodden, cold and very, very dirty.

And so as I stood with Tigs on the grassy verge shooting this image, I roared with laughter, my darling friend Lizzie, lay curled on the verge beside me head in hands, hysterical at the sheer madness of it all and with joy at the fun our children had. There was absolutely no chance of stopping them once they started.

Note: I missed the cut-off for last week's photo friday challenge but I still managed to get around to blogging it (in the previous post) if you're interested. I also realise that, technically, I've probably goofed the game up but hey-ho, I just had to share the whole story.

Thanks for visiting,

E x

photo friday challenge {sweetness}

I appear to have signed up to a market, which of course necessitated a trip to the store.  The fabrics will hopefully become little Easter bags.

And when I stumbled upon these gorgeous trims I was overpowered by their sweetness.  At this stage they have no purpose other than to brighten my day.  Sweet!

Note: I am late for last weeks challenge :( I simply ran out of time.  Nevermind.  Better late than never :)

Thanks for visiting,

E x

photo friday challenge {night}

 

valentine's night.  

walking with my friend

  8.30pm

hampton beach

photo friday challenge {love}

my love for them

it knows no bounds.

and when i think i've reached my full capacity of love

it swells and deepens, swells and deepens

over and again

my love for them

wakes me at night

is my greatest joy

my love for them ...

my love for them.

causes a physical pain

an ache of  pride, frustration, delight, angst, joy

my love for them

will never fade

and will live in them always

i have given them my love, my very best love,

and because they know this,

 they will be able to pass it undiluted in their own love for their babies

 and their babies, babies

over and again

Photo Friday challenge {animals}

Banjo

photo friday challenge {shoes}

These gorgeous vintage baby shoes came my way as a message.

On Friday, October 31st 2008, having dropped Tigs at creche, I popped by my quaint little Oppe Shoppe, I say 'my' as it is mostly filled with my off-casts! Out of the blue the rain came teeming down. Sideways. As I walked towards the shop I noticed the tables of 'specials' the ladies had set up outside were getting soaked. I dashed in, told them, and asked if they'd like me to move them. Having tucked them safely under cover one dear old lady looked at me kindly and wisely her eyes locking tightly on mine and said sincerely, "Thank you Dear, I hope something wonderful happens to you". "You're welcome," I sang out, as I delved into the boxes of notions looking for treasure. With that I spotted a small, pink box containing the precious blush pink leather baby shoes above and a tiny brush & comb. The box, sadly, defaced with a Sharpie written '$5' right over the top. Never mind about the box, I thought, these are too sweet to pass up.

At this stage I should mention that we were perilously close to removing our file from Taiwan and giving up on our dream of a second child. I was emotionally spent. I wasn't sure who these precious little shoes would be given to but I had to have them.

So, with the little box tucked under my arm I continued to sift through the zippers, crochet hooks, buttons, curtain rings & hooks (why are there always so many curtain hooks in every thrift shop?) and picked out a few little goodies. I mindlessly moved onto the patterns section, when suddenly my tummy lurched as I stared down at myself, only 20 years younger! "Ah!", I thought, "this is the 'something lovely' happening to me. Not much chop but, oh well, I was photographed in lots of knitting patterns in 'my youth' and I've never found one before". With that I gathered my bits and pieces, paid for them and left feeling strangely tickled at my finds.

It was only three days later on Monday, November 3rd, after a 13 month wait, that our phone rang with the glorious news that we had a baby girl in our world ...

Goosebumps, hey?

This post was originally posted here.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and that something magical comes your way too.

E x

photo friday challenge {pocket light}

Better late ... 

The old sewing table has taken up residence in the bedroom and was in danger of becoming covered in piles of clothes.  Instead I added a few of my favourite things which looks far prettier and acts as a psychological barrier to 'stuff'. 

Succulents gleaned from the side of the road and from my Mum's place, chosen for their longevity, and reliability, their structure and form and their simple, elegant beauty.

A little artwork - by moi. 

Vintage hymn sheet, hemp, organza and stitched in sea-glass

collected by Tigs for me - he knows I love the blue hues.

And my absolutely favourite beads made by my super talented friend. 

I wear them almost every day. 

 Love them. 

photo friday challenge {sparkle}

They have liquid eyes.

Deep, black pools.

These four eyes light up my life, fill my heart with joy, give me reason for being. 

And  yes, they sparkle.

10 on 10 [loch sport]

 heading out at the start of the day

 me and my boy

 me and my man!

 ours...

 ... alone!

 freedom

 summer toes and lazy days

 sand kissed

 safe - if Daddy's there

tired and happy - the end of the day

photo friday challenge {self-portrait}

This year I would love to improve my photography skills.

 At the end of last year I was mulling over in my mind (and with my gorgeous sister) as to whether I had the commitment required to undertake a 365 day photo challenge like lots of bloggers do.  An image posted each day, for the whole year.  Short answer. No!

 So when Carly shared the idea of a Photo Friday Challenge I was signed up in a heartbeat.  This one should be really do-able for commitment-phobes like me.  Each Friday (my Saturday) Carly will put up the theme. And then in the next week we participate.  At least I think that's how it goes :)

So without further ado (but with a little embarrassment) I give you ...

Me!

(header by Carly)

self-portrait of me (and a cut-off husband!) summer 2012

Ex

wrapping up

So this Christmas, as many before, came and went too, too quickly.  I feel like I practically blinked and it was gone.  Life became so busy in the lead up to Christmas with all the normal prep and then throwing in a series of Christmas craft markets too!  Fun and fast!  Of course that left no time for this little space sadly, which is I'm doing the Christmas wrap up now :)

This year in a bid to be more organised I set up a wrapping station on a sideboard next to the tree,  which made it so much easier to handle the mountains of presents that needed to be packaged up and placed temptingly under the tree.  I loved having ready access to all the ribbons, tapes, tags and tools.  So efficient, which was crucial given my crazy schedule in the lead up to the end of the year.

I have to confess though (especially as my Mum actually knows the truth) that although the wrapping tray looks lovely the rest of the house was completely upside-down! 

There was sewing on the machine, packaging all over the kitchen bench, products were hanging on clothes racks drying, the dining table was totally covered!  Even I was covered, in threads,  and nearly left the house to collect Tigs with my tiny scissors or a tape measure around my neck on more than one occasion.   Just keeping it real here, but not real enough to actually show you the creative chaos! 

We celebrated on the 24th with Greg's family and on the 25th with my family and some of Greg's.  And topped of at my Mum's for Boxing Day.  All three days were lovely and really captured what I love about Christmas.  Children, family fun and togetherness . 

And now it 's over for another year.  Time to tuck all the ornaments back into their tissue blankets and away in the trunk.  I did it today and the house feels a little bare, plain and still but at the same time calm, clear and fresh again, ready for the new year to unfold and reveal itself.

E x

the year that was

January = Cuddles

February = Sir Tigs

March = Cute Woo

April = Tigs +Woo cook

May = Succulent

June = Tigs 7 + new jammies

July = The Bush

August = Woo 3

September = Cozy Hot Water Bottles

October = Gracie

November = Vintage treasure

December = Frantic, Festive, Fun

And lots of fun to come in 2012!

May yours be wonderful too,

E x

have your cake

Yesterday was ice the cake day.
I didn't buy enough fondant icing so I improvised
and decorated with polka dots from the scraps of icing that were left over.

I really didn't waste a bit and I actually love the way it turned out. Doesn't it look pretty?

That was until this happened. That cheeky little sweet tooth of mine got to it. Grrr.

And I thoughtlessly left the cake on the buffet,
well in Woo's mind it could be regarded as 'kindly left it on the buffet' as she went back for more
and it now has 4 very large chunks out of it.
I can assure you that she is one child who has her cake and eats it too!

Have great day!

E x

favourite things - inviteL

Okay, so this is a goodie.

Carly from The Simple Things manages to find the coolest of simple things. 

A while back she showed this gorgeous notebook, A 1000 kinds of stories, on her lovely blog and I just had to have it.   

I love it.  It's the book where I note all the hilarious, cheeky and plain whacky things that my funny children say.  Including today's at the shops, whilst trapped in the queue at the checkout (ie nowhere to hide). 

Woo full volume, dancing around me. 

Woo: "Mummy I'm thirsty, please can we have a bottle of that water?" 

Me:"In a minute we'll go to the cafe and get some" "Okay.  Mummy, do we need some chippies?" "No honey we don't right now" 

Woo: "Oh, not fair.  Mummy do I get diahorrea?"

Me: "Oh look the lady's ready for us."

People laughing their heads off all around me! Oh well at least they thought it was funny!

You might remember I made a bag organiser some time ago.  And I said it was a one-off and that there were plenty of places you could find them professionally made.  Well if you'd like to own one you can find it here.  They come in three sizes and an array of gorgeous colours.  Sure to set you off well in the New Year.

High on my wish list! Anyone?

These stunningly simple photobooks are also on my wish list - anyone? 

I love the colour palate, especially the three on the left.  Anyone?

inviteL is a fabulous Korean stationery company.  I just adore their products. And they offer free shipping worldwide - even better.

Anyway ... Carly is hosting a biggest and best giveaway ever.  If you hop over to her blog you can find out how to enter into the running for some of their wonderful products.  And even if you don't you can use the special promo code also at The Simple Things  to receive a surprise gift with purchase. 

Hint:  It's at the bottom of her post.

Happy shopping :)

E x

hi-ho, hi-ho

Having had a very successful market last week I was delighted to be invited to join the Bayside Style Group for a two day boutique shopping event.

YAY.

So there's more stress  creative energy  and mess creative activity at my place! 

I do hope you can pop your head in and say hello. 

Ex

my little stall

Nerve-wracking!

Stressful!

Exhausting!

Exhilarating!

Done, E x

snowballs

Black and white Snowflakes transferred onto hemp fabric, with shimmery silver-on-linen backs. The raw edges will soften as they are handled over the years.

 

The illustrations are of actual frozen snow crystals from an early encyclopedia. A bit primitive looking, but so fun!

 

It's often hard to think of Christmas decorations that work well with summer.  I think these are perfect.

Gentle, crisp, nostalgic and calm.

They are packaged in their own calico bag to ensure they stay together and dust free. My hope is that they become heirloom decorations, to be enjoyed for years to come.

They'll be heading to market tomorrow night, but if you can't make it, and would like some let me know (Australia only at this stage).

They'll be selling for a teeny $18.