fabric fantastic

Sale time!

2012-01-20T07:16:00.004+11:00

Ok, so we are moving soon. This means I'd much prefer to get rid of stock then cart it with me. Handbags: $59.95, Clutches: $49.95 and Ballerina Bags: $89.95 ALL including free post Australia-wide! Help me raise money to buy this lovely home!

Just email me what you are interested in and I will send you a Paypal invoice - or even better, direct debit to my Westpac account. Full prices still listed online.

www.karasmith.com.au

This is it...

2012-01-19T18:56:00.000+11:00

We've found it. The perfect house and we get to keep it. Come March we will be in beautiful Mount Victoria and can't wait to be there!

More to come as it unfolds but let's just say this excruitating game played with banks is worse than childbirth...

Abandoned places

2011-12-29T19:43:00.001+11:00

I can't get enough of it...

I have discovered amazing photos of Detroit's abandoned houses on retronaut and have spent the last 24 hours looking at photo after photo of abandoned houses and buildings.

I wonder how the people living there feel. Is it something they are now used to? Is it incredibly frightening or just sad? What is the US Government doing about this?

I didn't realise that Motor City was doing it that hard and I guess being on the other side of the world (Australia) makes it seem all the more incredible? How do Americans feel about this sorta stuff outside of Detroit?

Incredibly eery and beautiful, these photos disturb me so much. So much wealth, prosperity then crumbling decay. What has happened? Is this a sign of things to come with the GFC? I've always been intrigued by zombie films but this feels a tad too close to it. Why are abandoned homes so eery?

‘The abandoned houses project began innocently enough roughly ten years ago. I actually began photographing abandonment in Detroit in the mid 90’s as a creative outlet, and as a way of satisfying my curiosity with the state of my home town. I had always found it to be amazing, depressing, and perplexing that a once great city could find itself in such great distress, all the while surrounded by such affluence.

Brush Park, on the outskirts of Detroit’s entertainment district was always an area of interest to me. For as long as I can remember the area, housing large houses and mansions, sat largely abandoned just a stones throw away from the Fox Theater, and not far from Wayne State University, the Masonic Theater, and even the central business district. How could an area that was obviously once a wealthy enclave in the city become an example of the downfall of American cities?

For years the area had signs advertising the redevelopment that was about to take place. It finally began to happen, with the construction of the new ballpark for the Tigers, and Ford Field for the Lions. New condos, and town homes began to appear amidst the rubble of burned out mansions turned apartments. Some of the houses were so large they became “loft condos”. As the entertainment district flourished, and Brush Park began to transform into something new, I realized the other approximately 135 square miles of Detroit was largely ignored. The excitement about Detroit’s “rebirth” took center stage, while much of the rest of the city was becoming largely abandoned. Even Brush Park itself was still largely abandoned, but with the remaining tenants of Brush Park buildings being pushed out, and many of the old houses torn down, I moved on to other areas, where Detroiters were attempting to make a life among abandoned and burned out houses. Often times, the neighborhoods were almost completely abandoned. In these neighborhoods I encountered concerned citizens, packs of wild dogs, 20 foot high piles of toilets, and houses with the facades torn off, filled with garbage.

As the number of images grew, and a documentary style emerged, I switched from mostly black and white, to color, and decided to name the series 100 Abandoned Houses. 100 seemed like a lot, although the number of abandoned houses in Detroit is more like 12,000. Encompassing an area of over 138 square miles, Detroit has enough room to hold the land mass of San Francisco, Boston, and Manhattan Island, yet the population has fallen from close to 2 million citizens, to most likely less than 800,000. With such a dramatic decline, the abandoned house problem is not likely to go away any time soon.’

- Kevin Bauman, 100 Abandoned Houses

Merry Christmas 2011!

2011-12-28T10:22:00.001+11:00

Merry Christmas everyone! A couple of days late but my tree is still up so it still feels like Christmas here. I ordered a stack of these cute little birds and feathery butterflies for the tree. 18 birds in all in red, green and silver. I think the same amount of butterflies. The idea was to take down the baubles when they arrived (I was worried they wouldn't come in time) and replace with the birds & butterflies.

Theo thought a little differently. Nothing was to come down and the birds & butterflies went up AS WELL! So it looked slightly mad and chaotic - a menagerie of a tree - but somehow it works! It's quite fun and looks very Christmasy.

Sick of the silly season yet? I am glad to be home, quiet and back to the usual once more. 2012 looks already to be a promising year - and New Years I get to see 'Annie' with little Xanthe in tow!

x

Milk

2011-12-08T12:26:00.001+11:00

Golly gosh! It's almost a month and I haven't posted here. And that's cos not much has been happening in a design sense. I've had what all breastfeeding mothers fear: mastitis. This has to be one of the most awful experiences I've gone through (worse than divorce) and I don't wish it on anyone.

Went down to W hospital as I felt so sick. Sore engorged boob and the chills but they didn't particularly take me seriously. I didn't have a temperature but surely they would help? One nurse asked me, 'What do they normally do for this kinda thing? Panadol?' Ummm, well, that's why I'm here. I want YOU to tell ME what I should be doing. Anyway, I finally saw a young doctor who admitted he had no experience with this, gave me antibiotics (telling me to do something different to what the medication suggested) and sent me home.

Two days later and it had become a hell of a lot worse... red hot inflamed boob, nausea, unable to get out of bed and unable to pump said boob. My baby also had decided she didn't want to feed from it or even my other boob and I was getting desperate. I finally rang Health Direct (I can only ever praise this service) and was told to go to hospital immediately and pretty much check-in. Which I did - although I chose a different hospital this time. I checked in for 2 days of a 'holiday' I like to put it...

Yes, I was in a lot of pain (nothing a few Panadeine Fortes couldn't fix) and had to express every 4 hours but to lay in bed all that time without little people demanding from mw, being able to nap and read my book and then have someone show up with food every so often (albeit hospital food) was lovely. I rested and slowly got better.

From this the decision was made to wean Xanthe. She is a strapping large baby anyway and I feel that 21 weeks breastfeeding is bloody good going. She is definitely happy enough and although I had those maternal tugs that I am not feeding her myself, it's all going too damn smoothly to worry about. Someone else can feed her too - I can do more things!

Colour me

2011-11-10T20:44:00.000+11:00

Do you ever notice you are attracted to the same colours? I have been walking around my house and noticing the colour scheme everywhere. I have chosen a palette for each room without realising! Well, subconsciously I guess.

I seem to have strange little vintage dolls placed in funny spots too. But I blame that on two little girls that are everything in my world.

Are you a bit of a bowerbird? What is your 'thing'? Are you attracted to strange little items in op shops? I'd love to hear it...

I was talking to a friend a couple of days ago... she likes everything white. I think I'd like that, but it would end up being a base for all my colour!

My seed

2011-11-01T16:35:00.002+11:00

I have something in my mind for my next business. It's just a little seed right now but it grows and grows. Especially late at night while I'm feeding my little one and I wish I could turn on the light and jot down ideas but don't want to wake the house up.

So for now, it just sits there and I think about it, sigh about it and wait for the right 'time'. I know that it's hard right now with my two little girls in such an early stage of their life.

If there was extra hours in the day where I am not needed I could get onto it. Sigh.

Motherhood and business is so tricky to manage. To find the balance. Have you found that balance?

Can you give me the answer?

Port Hedland Courthouse Gallery

2011-10-26T20:21:00.000+11:00

I have just returned home from 8 days up the coast... ah exquisite! But look, I received these beautiful photos of Kara Smith clutch purses from Port Hedland Courthouse Gallery.

These guys certainly have a way with presentation. Put together with a collection of other items for sale really makes them shine!

I love the colour combinations on display with the purses and other gifts instore...

So, with 14 shipped to WA, it's time to get more clutches happening. Stay tuned! They are happening...
x

Down to Batlow...

2011-10-14T21:49:00.000+11:00

Lemons at the back door.

We have been lucky enough to have a little trip away down to Batlow staying with family in their gorgeous farm. When I was little we didn't get the opportunity to do stuff like this - being city slickers that is - so I just love that my little girls get to experience it.

How about this for a playground?

Geoff's aunt & uncles farm has the most beautiful garden filled with treasures everywhere. You can get lost discovering bits and bobs everywhere.

The shed is filled with a great collection of cars. Too many to photograph...

One little chookie says hello to the others.

Camelias blossom all over the garden. Their petals are like carpets underneath where they have fallen.

Looking out from the garden. There are alpacas out there somewhere!

Theo named this orphan 'Timmy'!

Tulips

Fellow in to shear the sheep.

Some of the 'girls' and their little ones.

The shearing shed.

And finally, the Tumut Broom Factory.

Gorgeous handmade brooms that just need to be photographed (and bought!). We picked up one of these for $30 at the Tumut Broom Factory.

Garden of plenty

2011-09-14T21:18:00.004+10:00

Time for an update, check in and say hi! Wowee, it's hard to find the time to post - and sadly, nothing new on the vintage fabric/handbag/kidswear side of things. That side of life is safely tucked away right now while I discover the joys of my beautiful girls, now 2 yrs 9 months and 11 weeks old. Parenting and business is a very tricky thing - and the pressure of business was just sooo getting to me. Luckily my lovely Mum offered up her vast storage space to take on ALL my fabric, junk and paraphernalia in business so I no longer have to look at it here at home. And when I look at it I get mixed emotions: guilt, glee, anxiety, etc. It's just too much for me to undertake right now and I have plenty of stock.

So... moving on...

Bluebells started popping out of the ground (top) which were planted by our landlord.
What a delight when they showed up without knowing what they were!

Instead, I want to get Xanthe into a routine and be able to spend more time with my girls and - gardening! We had the garden looking so fabulous with so many vegies before I got too heavily pregnant to do much. It sadly began looking forlorn when I couldn't maintain it but with Spring in the air I've been potting herbs and pretty flowers everywhere.

Needs a weed but the compost is providing brilliant soil and our worm juice does wonders!

We didn't get to much of our broccoli in time and it's now flowering... but what beautiful flowers! The bees love them!

Can't wait for the jacaranda tree to come back into flower.
It sits above the garden setting and is divine in summer.

My beautiful old dog Nelly. Soon to be twelve which I can't believe! Still as dependable as ever.

Hoot hoot!

One of the best garden purchases we've ever made. Got this owl at Bundeena Markets and ta da... we no longer have a problem with birds stealing fruit and vegies from the garden. The cocky's are no longer there throwing oranges off the tree to the ground. No more minah's stealing strawberries and fruit AND coming into the kitchen! Sadly, the king parrots are no longer in the backyard as well but I guess we can't choose which birds can be here.

Planted recently: carrots, beetroot, spinach, variety of lettuces, cauliflower (which isn't doing so well and snails love), snowpeas....

With us signing another year's lease here, we are happy in this little garden of plenty I must say.

Ta da!

2011-08-12T20:39:00.003+10:00

How good is it to achieve something: a huge goal, something that's been nagging you, a lifelong ambition. Well, I cleaned the pantry today. YES! And it feels great! With two little girls now and all of us sick with some virus (have no idea what it is but it's been 2 weeks now) I was feeling so tired and down and SICK of looking at the mess around here. We have been so house bound with sickness, the rain and cold weather so it means you sorta notice it all a bit more than usual.

Perhaps this doesn't look like much?

I can't tell you how hard it is to get things done nowadays! Xanthe is 6 weeks old now and thankfully a great sleeper - unlike her sister who was terrible til she was about 1 year old. Somehow, with two, you never quite get to eat your lunch, finish things or get around to doing things you'd like to do.

And now it's a pleasure to walk into the kitchen... Hmmm, next I'd like to tackle the fabric stash. Woah, that is just way too much to contemplate right now!

Life as I know it.

2011-08-03T12:16:00.003+10:00

Nom nom nom... I can't stop eating. There is nothing like pregnancy to get your appetite going THEN if you choose to breastfeed you can continue the binge and it's justified. How good is that? Xanthe, my big big bubba, is powering along and feeds often. So then I get to eat but am finding myself making plenty of naughty choices. Nothing like junk food to give you that instant sugar lift... but then you come plummeting down. So, I'm wondering, got any good food tips for a busy Mum?

Life is good at the moment. I couldn't ask for anything more. With two wonderful little girls, an AMAZING man who I can't believe has given me so much in life and a happy home, I am happy to say I have it all. When all I have to deal with at the moment is wake-ups at 3am (by both girls mind you. Not just the newborn!), and although I'm extremely tired, I feel absolutely blessed. I wasn't sure if I'd get the chance to have a second child in life, and it is so true, the second one is a lot easier.

So... down the track... I MUST somehow get back into my handbag business. Not sure how and not sure what capacity and do I really still want to do it - or perhaps something different? I don't even have the time to contemplate it right now but still go green with envy when fellow designers are releasing something exciting and new or setting up new design space. Grrrr... but life is funny and here I am washing nappies, picking up toys all day and night and wiping vomit off my shoulder.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Our newest edition!

2011-07-02T20:02:00.004+10:00

After an incredibly speedy labour we are proud to announce the birth of our beautiful daughter, Xanthe Beth Cooper, on 30 June, 2011. She was born 5.33 kg (no wonder I had so much pain through my pregnancy) and 57cm long. With my fantastic doula Joelle (who made it just in time before I decided to push), the great team at Sutherland Hospital and of course, not forgetting my amazing husband Geoff who raced me there and stood by with me ranting and raving, I have to say - the Calmbirth course we did definitely helped (and I highly recommend to anyone who is pregnant!).

Our enormous baby! 5.33 kgs!!! And a natural birth using only gas. It was such a contrast to my first labour and I felt very shaky and exhausted afterwards. It probably took me another 7 hours to come to afterwards.

Tomorrow I go back home and back to reality. I'm looking forward to it, even though I know it will be hard, and getting to see my darling girls together. Theo has been staying often with my Mum as we didn't know when this baby would arrive.

Distracting myself

2011-06-26T15:20:00.004+10:00

Yesterday was my 40 week due date and last night, I really thought it was all happening. Turns out baby is still posterior and getting itself into position. Oh well, a practice run to the hospital never hurt anyone - and lovely to have my dear husband and doula along for the ride!!!

I've been trying to distract myself today so that I don't think too much about contractions or pains. An idea was to have a last minute end-of-financial-year-sale but it's just too much for me in case I go tonight and can't organise and fulfill orders. The downside of having a baby this time of year... hee hee.

One of the projects I'm yet to finish is to create our wedding album for when we eloped in October last year. So I have been trawling through all the photos to see which ones make or break it in the album. There are so many good ones and it's lovely to go back down memory lane and re-experience such a beautiful day.

One photo I particularly love is the one I've posted here. It was pretty much the last photo Mary took on her way out after the ceremony. It's just so natural and both so happy and relaxed... though I must say, the whole day was just like that. Guess that's the beauty of not being on display for a wedding and quietly eloping?

We had found out about 2 days previous that I was 5 weeks pregnant too. Just the perfect bit of icing on the cake. So it also made it nice to think BOTH children were present at the wedding!!!

Pregnant pause

2011-06-14T16:13:00.003+10:00

38 weeks - 12 June 2011

Wow, I haven't posted in almost a month! It's not like me but I guess I have other things on my mind - see above. I took this a couple of nights ago when I was 38 weeks. Pregnancy is quite lovely, and so far I have managed not to acquire new stretch marks. But I am now officially OVER IT... I have been measuring 6 weeks ahead for some time so there have been problems with my hips, spine, groin, thighs, etc. Everything is agony and not enjoyable anymore, especially when you have a 2.5 year old to also chase around.

I keep being told 'sooner rather than later' would be good for this baby to arrive. At 34.5 weeks I had an ultrasound as my GP was concerned about my size. This baby was measuring 40 weeks and roughly 3.6 kgs THEN!

Every night with every twinge, cramp or pain I wonder 'is this it?' only to fall into a bad sleep and awake still with a huge belly! It can't go on too much longer I guess. I have everyone on standby to help with Theo, poor hubby ready to dart back from work if he is working nights and a fabulous Doula ready to jump in too.

So, I am ready. And I should mention, having cramps, pains, etc is WONDERFUL to me. Last time I didn't have one... waters broke and 36 hours later, still no pain! So at least my body understands what's meant to be happening this time around.

The little things in life

2011-05-18T16:18:00.002+10:00

Last weekend Theo got to play with her 2nd cousins play kitchen and just loooooved it! I was trying to work out how or where we'd get one. Then the next day, we spotted a little plastic kitchen being thrown out up the street. Score! She is so happy now!

My dear husband has been planting up a storm - winter vegies! Cauliflower and broccoli and some yummy peas we can shell. Dunno what this pic is cos I wasn't watching when he was planting but it's taken well. The soil is so rich here and we are using worm juice to give it a boost.

There are all sorts of delightful things popping out of the ground. Luckily I have been too big n pregnant to bend down and weed!

These tomato plants have been going crazy. Theo heads down each day and steals the red ones...

The orange tree seems to get attacked and picked over by the cockatoos before they turn even slightly orange. This is soooo annoying!

One more to the fold

2011-05-07T20:34:00.002+10:00

My darling man has been gardening again - pulling out old dahlias and other plants that have finished for the season. Plants in: peas, broccoli and cauliflower. Can't wait til they grow - yum!

Nemo... of course.

At the Gardening Centre we eyed up the goldfish for sale. We bought a second hand bowl soooo long ago and keep meaning to get a fish. Theo loves looking at them so we took the plunge and added another member to our family. 'Nemo' (of course, as named by Theo) seems happy enough in his/her bowl!

7 weeks to go til baby no. 2 is due. I cannot wait, especially now as I'm lumbering around and getting so tired. I seem to have cracked or strained my rib on left hand side which makes sleeping hard (since you are meant to sleep on your left side when preggers). Last weekend we attended Calmbirth which I have to say I highly, highly, highly recommend - especially if you have fears when birthing. I feel totally ready to tackle it! Bring it on!

Something's make you smile...

2011-04-26T19:07:00.003+10:00

Just saw this posted here and wanted to share... this photo bought such a smile to my face! Isn't it adorable? So easy and so effective. When I think of all the sad looking pretty teapots you see in 2nd hand shops that are cracked, lids missing or just not useable anymore - and then see this fabulous way to display flowers... well, I am totally inspired.

And one day soon we will have our own house - I might have to ask hubby if he will get this going for me! (Although, in all honesty, this has to be the most simple recycled project!).

Have a lovely day and THANK GOD (ha ha) that Easter is over!
x

SALE TIME!

2011-04-03T12:47:00.004+10:00

PSSST it's SALE time!

I have drastically reduced all large totes as I will no longer be creating that style anymore. Now is the time to grab yourself a bargain!

Also... there are some clutch purses now on sale as well as some beautiful new ones!

And more handbags! Yay! Ohhh I love some of these recycled & vintage fabrics.

Flicka handbag using vintage 1950's fabric and recycled buttons. $119.95 AUD.

Yay!

2011-04-03T04:29:00.005+10:00

Well, the insomnia has decided to drop by.

Part of pregnancy I guess but definitely not welcome. Lying there at 2:30am wondering if I should scrub cupboards is not something I want to be woken up by! So I thought I'd do some uploading of new bags while I wait for my lovely man to come home from nightshift.

I have just uploaded a stack of new clutch purses - as well as reducing some of my old stock! Check them out...

Esmerelda clutch purse - $84.95 AUD + post. Gorgeous mix of upholstery fabrics.

Handbags are being finished tomorrow so check by again to see what's been loaded up over the weekend. Maybe I will be sleeping a lot of tomorrow too... hmmm.

Meanwhile, life is getting busy with only 12 weeks to go in pregnancy for our baby no. 2. We have decided to go with a doula which is very exciting. I must say it's hard to think of sleepless nights again when my 26 month old sleeps 13 hours straight at night (as well as a good nap during the day) but the thought of having another newborn is so exciting.

G loves it all as well as my big pregnant belly which makes me pretty happy! I seem to have a growing habit in hot milo of late... does that mean a girl?

Feeling so blessed lately (and not a religious person so blessed in a 'good way') that everything is working so well. We really think we will be buying a house in the Blue Mountains at the end of the year... fingers crossed... can't wait to be back!

Tasmania

2011-03-17T07:36:00.005+11:00

Finally back from a lovely well-earned break in Tasmania for 2 weeks. My cousin had a beautiful wedding at Frecinyet and it was a treat to go down and experience it all. We had a campervan booked for two weeks which was a lot of fun, but hard work with a big pregnant belly! Luckily, I was able to book 2 nights at Cradle Mountain Lodge - which admittedly turned into 3 nights...

Pretty greenhouse at City Park, Launceston.

I was quite surprised at Launceston. I hadn't been there for a long time and always thought of it (well remembered it) as not a very pretty place. Wow, was I wrong. We had a lovely stay for 2 days there just across from City Park, one of the best parks ever!

Japanese macaque enclosure at City Park.

Theo asked every morning to go to 'park' (she is finally talking and even putting sentences together). Which was easy cos it was right across the road so we went morning and afternoon. She loved the Japanese macaque enclosure and visited her 'monkeys' a lot!

Under the flower display at the greenhouse at City Park.

I love hydrangeas!

City Park, Launceston.

The garden was absolutely immaculate with staff roaming constantly through the park all day fixing and tending to it. I don't think I have quite seen that level of care anywhere else.

At the wedding - table display.

I designed the wedding invitation and bits & bobs surrounding it. Having parents who own their own stone fruit farm, complete with the best pistachio home-made icecream (amongst other flavours), meant gorgeous little pots of jam for all the guests.

Green thumb

2011-02-16T06:24:00.006+11:00

This beautiful pumpkin soup was made last night by my dear husband (I love saying that!). Best bit is, the pumpkin is from our garden. It was delicious - made with lots of ginger. He's not a bad cook amongst other things...

Two more of our pumpkins sitting ready to go. I love the mottled colour of these against the floor tiles. They almost appear hand-painted.

Producing your own food is fulfilling, and having our little one help out with weeding (and sometimes removing all the lettuce leaves) has been great. She is really learning how to do it all and looks forward to watering the garden.

The vegie patch takes off with the recent rain down our way.

Dalhia's are going crazy. We only thought we had purple but spotted bright lemon yellow ones coming out recently!

Nothing better than fresh mint. I love watching all the herbs flower too. They are so pretty and don't often get a chance to shine.

One of our dogs Jetta takes a stroll after me. They are very good and don't interfere with the gardens... instead, Jetta prefers to eat any gardening gloves left out!

One of the bright lemon yellow dahlia's just come out. These are huge and so pretty against the purple ones.

Lettuces... yum!

Beetroot... almost time to harvest. I love these roasted! Got any other cooking suggestions for them? My pregnancy cravings are going wild so I am always after more food ideas.

Nostalgia. Can I move on?

2011-02-02T13:58:00.008+11:00

I was thinking it would be fun to post about Taronga zoo, since we went yesterday: how much it's changed, the history of the zoo and the nostalgia I feel about it. The photo above is Theo and I just sitting up from where the enormous sea lions used to be. It's just feral green water now, and I'm sure it will be turned into something really great, but I do love going to Taronga zoo and seeing what I saw as a child. I should have been more diligent about taking photos but it was almost 40 degrees and I'm 20 weeks pregnant so sorry for not really thinking straight. Instead, I have done a bit of an online search to find some of the memories I so loved.

I probably haven't been to the zoo for at least 10 years, but I have been countless times since a child and just love the experience each time. It was fun to be able to go into the historic elephant enclosure. I have always loved that building and being able to walk through now and read some interpretive signage about the history of it and the beautiful elephants housed there was a little thrill.

This is the 'Taj Mahal' of elephant temples! It is a stunning old building built in 1917 and heritage listed and housed 2 elephants.

Image from http://therinofandor.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html

Probably not the loveliest view for elephants but I'm glad they have kept it.

I couldn't find the enclosure that was at the zoo before this one, but remember a memorial to another elephant that died at the zoo breaking it's leg after falling in the moat at the zoo. If you remember this, can you comment?

Another memory, long gone from the zoo of course, was the fantastic large wooden giraffe play area right next door (down from) the giraffes in the 1980's. Do you remember these? I loved playing on these. Remember the bear pits right at the bottom of the zoo at the Ferry?

Beautiful! From http://www.sil.si.edu/ondisplay/zoos/explore.htm

So many memories and it's probably silly, but I wanted to show my 2 year old daughter some of these things. Remember the flamingos there? Where are they now?

From http://zoomandgo.com/destinations/image_viewer.asp?dak=110630063

Even the entrance way has to make way for bigger and better. Now, I know the original entrance won't be going anywhere but it's beautiful! Taronga zoo is really one of the most beautiful zoos in the world and everyone should go. I just feel sad it's no longer the zoo I remember... but I also feel that way about the Royal Easter Show at Moore Park! And I won't get started there...

A little bit of 1920's fun...

2011-01-14T09:10:00.004+11:00

Agatha Christie and 1920's outfits in the Blue Mountains! Too fab!

Sunday 13th Feb from 2pm at The Carrington Hotel, Katoomba. Charlotte Smith is a wonderful couture collector and lives in the Mountains. I just love hearing her speak about the pieces in the collection and love the idea of this event. I wish I was up there in the mountains!!! Arghhhh...

I've just seen that they are having a 1920's Ball on 12th Feb at The Carrington as well. How fun!

Happy birthday!

2011-01-09T10:04:00.004+11:00

My sister helped me put together a 'Miffy' cake for Theo's second birthday. And that is just icing it! I bought the sponge cake!!! Thanks to Knit Knot Nat for the hints on how to do it! This was my first attempt at a kids birthday cake so I am really pleased with it.

We also managed to find a gorgeous little Miffy umbrella at the second hand shop for $3. Theo was quite pleased!

Theo eating cake (and lots of red food colouring!) on the big day. She turned 2 with the help of some friends. Unfortunately it was a terrible day with rain pouring so the kids couldn't enjoy running around the garden. She got spoilt rotten with lots of presents!

She is really growing up now! Happy birthday darling girl!!!

On another note, lots of kicks from baby no. 2. 16 weeks pregnant now - 4 months, 5 to go. Absolutely amazing again and loving it.