Cubby Time!

Do you do cubbies in your house?? Here, we do LOADS of them!

I love that cubbies come from their own imagination, require them all to work together, gives them a place to make their own, and more often than not it keeps them busy and imagining for LONG periods of time. I love too, that when they are in their cubby they think because they can't see us, we can't see or hear them!

However, I have to confess......my childrens love for cubbies can sometimes drive me insane! They involve every blanket, sheet, pillow and teddy in the house to be pulled out, dragged along or reefed from a nice neat place! The prefered place of said cubby is under the dining table, so we then can't use the table for anything else until cubby time is over. Then once they are finshed, the task of 'cleaning up' is somewhat overwhelming when they look at all that has made it's way to they're super cool cubby, so packing away is usually done by me!

So I had an idea......
Why not sew up a 'cubby' that they can simply pull out whenever they like and it's already done. It does still involve the dining table, but it is quick, easy and the best thing is, they can do it all themselves. Everyones a winner!!

All you need to do is measure up your table and sew up a top, two sides, and two entrances. You can make it as fancy or simple as you like. I used old sheeting from my stash, but you can use whatever you like. I made flap style entrances at both ends so it's easy for them to get in and out but once in they still get that feeling of privacy. I am going to put windows in on one side but that involved a little more time that frankly the kids didn't have time for......eager to get under it! So that's a job for another day.

 Already we've used it everyday, and no doubt with the holidays upon us it will be used alot more......who know's.....may even get slept in too!

Where's the favourite cubby spot att your house?
Would you make up a premade cubby for your table??

Matching please??

So yesterday was our first 'official' day of being in quarantine. (Rouge and I have whooping cough!)

Knowing that we weren't going anywhere and were unable to entertain anyone (should we have a pop in) we all decided to stay in our pj's for the day. It's something I very rarely do, but it is so nice to know your comfy, warm and nobody is there to care what you look like.

So you could say it was a lazy old day.

That was until the kids decided it was time for me to deliver the all promised pj's for them!

The fabric had been sitting in my sewing room for sometime and with a print that can cross the genders they were all happy and eager to be 'matching' (said by all with many giggles) before Dad got home........no pressure!!

So while Rouge slept, and the older 2 watched Mary Poppins I sewed to my hearts content! Pants complete and with a matching top each, (girls chose to have a flower, Stooge chose a rectangle lol) they were thrilled.

Bath time was rushed as they were so eager to 'be matching' and the excitement waiting for Dad to come home (who I might add was pre warned to be as overly excited as they were) was just a classic to watch........who would have thought at 7years, 4 and 2 you could get so excited about matching pj's!!

(Might add here that they now want Dad and I to have a pair each too! Pity I ran out of fabric!!)

Have you ever sewed under pressure?

Do you dress your kids the me??



If it doesn't rain it pours....

Man!

Last week we had Stooge back and forth from the Dr's and hospital suffering Tick Peralysis.
Ticks for us are not uncommon. We are on the fringe of bushland in sydney and do alot of bush walking, tree climbing and general backyard adventuring. So ticks are treated with a slightly nonchalant nature - find it, get it out, apply tea tree to afflicted area and off you go again.

This time however, 24 hours after I removed his tick, Stooge got a VERY swollen neck. He wasn't in pain from it, however it was red, itchy and he had that 'rugby back rower' look about him, where his neck was one with his head. So off we went to the Dr's.

Many trips back and forth, blood tests, drugs and second opions (requested by the Dr not us!) the tick poison was still travelling. It was now making his underarm swell and half of his torso.......more drugs given, creams applied, ice packs prepped.....poor guy :(
Needless to say it has not been an easy week but we are happy to say our Stooge is almost back to his normal, full pelt self!

Here's were I wish I could end this post!

Only I can't.....
This week finds little Rouge and myself with Whooping cough.....SERIOUSLY!!
Whooping cough involves a very yucky tasting medicine twice a day, incubation of 5 days (who has time for that with 3 kids??) and restless nights spent coughing and breathlessness.
I hope this illness phase passes quickly, and Rouge and I are back in fine form quickly (without passing it on to anyone else)

Afterall it's school holidays in 2 days.....I haven't got time for sickness!!

Hoping your having a healthier week than us!!
Hug your loved ones tight xx

It takes two.....

Last week I caught up with a friend. A friend that I don't see to often, but when we do we just seem to pick up like it was yesterday. She's amazing. She's strong, energetic, street savy and has been a great friend for a long time.

I love when we get together. We laugh, catch up on missing months, play with each others kids, enjoy watching our kids play like they saw each other yesterday, and just hang comfortably like we used to.

This visit however came with a punch.

She's smiled sweetly, has given me a hello hug and then burst into tears.

WHAT? Whats wrong, whose sick, is everyone OK?? All the questions ran through my head as I held her and said 'shhhh, we'll talk it out, it's Ok, it's Ok'

It's her marriage.

She feels her marriage isn't going well anymore. Her rock that has been there for the last 7 years isn't feeling so stable anymore. What do I say?

I don't.

I listen, listen and listen some more.

They have remained faithful, they still love each other, but just don't talk much anymore. She's at home with the kids, he's at work and when he walks in they both eat at the couch, watch tv then go off to bed at separate times. He doesn't appreicate her, he doesn't touch her, hug her..........

They've lost touch.

It got me thinking. What do I do to keep that balance? I don't know?

We both leave random each other notes, we take turns in cooking each other beautiful meals. If he doesn't come to me for a hug then I'll go to him. Complement each other, have joke with each other, spend time just one on one. For us though, most importantly, we must have a hug before he gets out of bed to get ready for work. Nothing beats a close, morning, warm hug.

It's been a BIG reminder to me that marriage is hard work. It does need to be tendered, and it needs to be tendered by both parties. It shouldn't always be up to the guys to buy the flowers, leave the notes etc, IT TAKES TWO.

I'm not sure where my friends marriage is headed? I suggested some time away from the kids, together - alone. Some talking, some wine to relax over, some hugs ..........

What do you do to show your partner you love them? 

What would you have suggested? 



To Market, To Market.....

I've been very busy of late sewing up a storm.

I've put my hand up to hold a stall at the local creative markets in my area. I've been cutting, creating, and sewing, sewing, sewing to ensure I have enough 'stock'. You  never can tell how the day will pan out till it's over. Some days you sell heaps of one thing and not others and vice versa other days, so it's nice to be ready!

Here's a little look see at some of the fav's....

Upcycled wool blanket/vintage Capes, sizes 2-5

(button yet to be put on!)

Stuffed toy Elephant and matching washer set



String of birds

(handmade using felt and fabric with each bird/string being different)

'Tooth Man'

(boys don't like fairies!)

Bibs

Pencil Rolls



Hoping the sun keeps shining (have the worst luck with weather and markets) and lots of people are out and about!

Now where did I put those scissors???????

Do you support handmade?

What do you look for when you go to the markets?



Week in review

It's been a quiet old week here at number 32.

Some lovely packages arrived for me from the lovely typically red  and Mama of 2 boys  
..... thank you

We've enjoyed cups of tea and chats with lovely friends (loving our lemon grass right now)

Been enjoying moments of sunshine and beauty,

Playing, singing and crafting at playgroup,

(what do you get when you cross an bat and an owl....a bowel?)

Enjoying some time in the saddle (mud and all!)

Hoping you had a lovely quiet week too x

* sorry, for some reason my links would not work??

This week.....

LOVING THIS WEEK:

This beautiful trio

NOT LOVING THIS WEEK:

This beautiful trio!

Need I say more??





Food for thought.......

When people walk away from you - let them go.

Your destiny is never tied to anyone who leaves you

 and it doesn't mean they are bad people,

it just means that their part in your story is over.

xxx

Name in Print

There's something special about seeing your name in print.

 It doesn't matter if it's not actually YOU, you still get that little feeling that it could possibly be you!

I remember my older brother had a book which was specially made for him, and it had his name, address, the name of a few of his friends and of course me all written into the story. I remember loving hearing this book read to us. I know you can still get them made, and yet it's one of those things on my list of to do's for my kids, that hasn't actually happened yet (I know, your surprised!)

So when I came across this book.........well I was sold!

 It's not only about a Phoebe, but it is such a beautifully written story, has wonderfully colourful pictures and the underlying story is that you are perfect exactly as you are. It doesn't get any better!

 (Phoebes not happy with her looks)

 (so she chooses from many accessories to help make her more attractive)

 (Phoebe realises it's not looks people are after in a friend)

(She just needed to find someone like her)

We have collected many stories in our travels that have our kids name in them, and it not only puts a smile on my face but the kids as well.

Have you seen your name in print?

Did you ever have a story about you?



Ahoy there!

We know a very special person who is turning 3 this week, and he's having a pirate party!

In fact the whole theme for his birthday seems to be around his much loved pirate passion.

New quilt set for his bed, gumboots, games, puzzles, etc

 So remembering that we are continuing on from last year with our 'handmade pressies only',

 we thought it only fitting that I should make him a set of  pirate pj's to match!

Here's how they turned out!

Perfect pirate pj's wouldn't you say! Now he can sail the seven seas as he sleeps xx

Happy Birthday Big Man xx

Do you make pressies in your house?

Whats the best handmade gift you've ever received?

Tightly wrapped

With all the birthday parties my tribe get invited to, we would be broke just buying the wrapping paper alone!

So our way to combat this unnecessary expense is to  buy a bolt of white paper from the art store (or Ikea if we happen to be there) and make our own.

It allows my kids to do whatever they like, and personalise each present for their friends.

They love coming up with their own designs.

We also save on cards by simply writing on the present itself. (cause lets face it, cards are only there for the parents sake anyway, plus they're just another thing to end up in the bin)

Sometimes we use colour, paint, stamps, stickers, hama beads, ribbons, glue, even nature to decorate.........endless!

See, now doesn't that look better than any 'bought' paper ever could!

Do you make your own wrapping?

What other ideas do you do to save a buck?