REinventing this week...

So just in case you were still wondering what was going to happen to that shirt I showed you last week........

Just a plain black cotton shirt with a collar, some pin tucks down the front.....

There is so much inspiration at Jody's place.....I worked on this a little at home during the week and then we finished it off in the studio.....

A little difficult to photograph the black.....

I am being game and bearing arms again and hoping to pull this off for dinner with friends tonight.....

Sneaky grandma slip underneath.....I can just see my nana shaking her head that it wasn't more hidden!!!

 

 ...and of course a teaser for those who are interested on next week's project...

oops it is actually almost finished.xxx

 

Things I am Loving....

This week I am loving.....

Time for creative moments in the sunshine.....

Time to bake something sweet for the family....

Time to savor gifted sweet mangoes ...

Time to sew today with friends......

Also a week to find time for making quick gifts, time stop and pick up fresh strawberries and time to enjoy lunch with my man.

Loving that even though life is crazy busy there has been time  to enjoy some lovely things.

 
Check out other lovely people here.

My Creative Space

One thing I have learned from Jody is that you can reuse just about anything......

Hence I have a basket that is being filled up with sleeves, collars, ties and other discarded garment bits from my REinventions..... 

I literally had 15 minutes space to be a little creative.....so taking a discarded piece from one of my REinventions I set to work using this tutorial.

 

How simple

How easy

How handy I had the pieces

How good will these be for little stocking fillers

Fill them with ..lip gloss, gift cards ,money

The use is endless. 

Joining in with other creative souls here.

Strawberries....

Heading back from the city today, I remembered to veer off the freeway and go in search of strawberries......

What I found was a little makeshift shed....

  a couple hard at work inside packing their freshly grown and  picked strawberries....

I have never seen so many strawberries in one place before...

and the aroma was so divine.......  

 Next time I pass I will definitely buy a larger amount.....

as this bowl full has been seriously depleted already......

How do you like your strawberries....

sugared,

with icecream,

or yoghurt?

Or just straight from the bowl?

Today & Yesterday

How is it that TODAY , 
YESTERDAY seems so long ago.....??? 

Luckily  in the busyness and the  myriad of appointments that was YESTERDAY..
I snapped these pictures......
not for any artistic value or with any expertise....
  

In fact just with my phone........

..... so that TODAY I can remember that YESTERDAY I did in fact have a lovely lunch with my extra lovely husband. 

because you know ....TODAY  is almost another YESTERDAY.

Ad Break...Clean House

”Product Talk by Nuffnang” 

 I should really be doing some housework and not sitting here just talking about it it.....

I was sent some product to try out............and my house is just the perfect place to do that.....
lets just say it's  a bit of a disaster at the moment.....stuff going on and things are everywhere.
So now we have established that I am not a clean freak ...I did have to give Miss M a lesson in getting "right into the corners" the other day......

The bathroom is my pet hate so if something says
"powerful cleaning without harsh chemical residue" I am in for a try...... 

 The scent is a little strong for my liking but at least you are aware that it has been cleaned...which I think is always comforting.....
Knowing that without having to harshly scrub we can tackle all that unseen bacteria....and remove soap scum is always a plus too.
Growing up here in Australia, "Dettol" is a name brand of which I am familiar and have had proven success in the past.

You can find out more about this product at  the website here.

Thanks Nuffnang for the samples.  

Sunday Snippets

 This weekend......

 I actually have a confession......

my nieces were only with me a short time while my sister ducked off......

mulberries and kids ....

what can I say?

Sunday Snippets here

REinventing this week

Another week....another piece to my summer wardrobe......

Beware....bearing of arms this week....... 

 This once pretty skirt.....now an equally pretty little top......

Not sure I am ready for the summer ...but at least I have made a start at having something to wear when it comes....

and as usual Friday in the studio wasn't without it's fun.......

 Helping a friend finish a project before the end of the day...... 

A great use of her doily collection ....

 

Jody had been busy during the week and we all had serious "filing "envy......

  

 

 and finally a sneak look at next week's project......

 

Things I am loving...

This week I am loving.......

I am loving the views out of .......

My work office window ( not that I sit in my office all that much)

My creative work space on Fridays

My back door......

and I love that my little guy just insists we walk to school.....

Other lovelies here....      

My Creative Space

This is part four in a series of projects I have done for friends using their Grandmother's supper cloth......

You can see the other three projects here, here and here. 

 The brief was blue, apron, not too much lace....and of course the 4th embroidered corner of the supper cloth......

I have enjoyed the challenge...although stressful using a precious piece of fabric.....

Hopefully they will all be happy in their new homes.....

Very satisfying proving new life to something old...especially making one into four new projects.....

Check out other creative spaces here.

After reading this post  today it made me think about the impact social media is having on our kids......
 
 I have always thought myself a little old fashioned and not "up with the times" when it comes to social media.....

Lately I have been  more sure of the decisions I have made to refrain from getting consumed by it all......

As time goes by and our children are reaching ages that they are very aware of social media and what is available I have had to really think through why I do what I do or don't do ....

I love to blog......but that's the only pace you will find me....

no facebook , no twitter, no instagram just here....

I AM so ok with that....am I missing out on something...I am sure I am.......does it matter  or are they necessarily things that will enhance my life?????

I am not saying there aren't good things about social media ...there is...I am just conscious about how much I am involved , which ultimately will determine when and how much my kids will be caught up.....

I need to model to them how to keep a balance....

I actually want them just to be a little naive for a little longer....

Be kids that have real life friends and real life exposure to their world and not so much through a computer 

It is a scary place out there with too much, too easily available....all of it  we are told that we must be apart of.......

I hope to raise kids that make good choices and learn to guard themselves from that which is a growing and untameable beast..... 

 

What ya reading?

 

This year for the first time probably since I was in primary school, I have kept a record of what I have been reading for the  year.....

On my side bar I have made a list of all the books I have read this year.....

I have read some great stories,

some to be challenged,

some just for the enjoyment,

 

I have borrowed them from the library,

some I have bought my own copy,

 I have used my kindle too.......  

I read at night....

 I  read on holidays....

I read while I wait in the car.....    

I am encouraged that Meg is a reader too...

Do you read much....?

Any good suggestions for the coming summer holidays?

Underneath the greenery

Do you find that life is messy?
Twisted and tangled?
Not quite how you thought it might  have been?

  Some conversations I have been having lately....

 chatting about these things...

Sometimes we can't do an awful lot about "it" in the moment.....

Sometimes "it" needs time and hard work, patience even.

Maybe some coming to our knees......

Maybe we just need another to share the burden and help us release the valve....

 

Maybe just so we can be filled up again....maybe so we can see things a little clearer.....

Maybe to help us see the things that are right in our life.....

the juicy , tasty , fun bits.......

We all need to have a friend, that person who can give us a hug and a promise to stand with us.....

I want more than anything to be a person like that....

A friend , a strength to someone who is struggling with the tangles and twists of life.

[pics of our gorgeous and character filled weeping mulberry tree.]