from the blue shed

suburban farm update

Robin from www.fromtheblueshed.typepad.com — 2012-01-12T15:18:02+11:00

My loss of sleep over the well being of our seedlings was unnecessary not to mention slightly crazy. Our veggie patch is actually producing food and we have even managed a watermelon! The kids are loving collecting their dinner from our garden. Our meals are becoming more simplistic and better appreciated by the picky eaters. Hmmm "they" were right!

It's amazing what a bit of TLC not to mention reticulation on a timer can do.

Favorite salad of the summer

Roasted beetroot
Rocket
Feta
Toasted pine nuts or almonds
Toss with freshly cracked salt and pepper, olive oil and lime juice

end of year scrapbook

Robin from www.fromtheblueshed.typepad.com — 2012-01-08T15:17:36+11:00

And just like that, it's a new year. The last 6 months have been a whirlwind of new adventures. Some thrilling, some disappointing. My small business grew a little. A second business with a fabulous partner began. My daughter very objectfully (a made up but excellent word) started daycare one day a week. My husband became a single parent on weekends. My eldest began to read and write. My youngest traded her dinosaurs for ballet shoes. My husband ventured to India to lend a hand and experience the amazing culture. A year full of dramatic new experiences.
As the year chaotically came to an end, we packed up the car and headed 9 hours south for our annual camping holiday with friends. I relaxed myself close to a coma. Fabulous stuff.

Refreshed now to start a new year. My plan of attack listed in a fresh notebook, oh the possibilities.
Thank you for taking time over the past year to stop by and have a read. I truly appreciate it. On the list, to pay my wee blog a bit more attention. With my crafty mum on her way for a four month visit, be prepared for the onslaught! Happy New Year!

Halloween extravaganza weekend part 2

Robin from www.fromtheblueshed.typepad.com — 2011-11-13T11:51:33+11:00

With the shops trimming their windows with Christmas decorations, it seems a little silly to share this half written post but for documentation and tradition purposes, here we are;

This year was the second annual 'trick or treat' neighborhood letter drop. The kids and I hit the streets slotting Jack O Lanterns into each mailbox. The letter requests that any house wanting to participate, sticks the letter to the front of their mail box so everyone knows where to knock and who to leave alone. This year included more streets, a little more confidence from myself to spread the word and a map! Once again the community spirit brought tears to my eyes. I was blown away by the number of houses that participated with candy and decorations and the number of families walking the streets. And they say Halloween is dead in Australia!

The streets were teeming with kids and parents alike, dressed up and having a ball. There has been a lot of grumpy chatter on talk back radio lately ba humbugging Halloween. In amidst all the laughter and squeals of joy, our little friend Levi turned to his mum and said; "This is the best day of my life mum" To all you nay sayers, eat that!

The Fremantle Eco Shop

Robin from www.fromtheblueshed.typepad.com — 2011-11-03T14:02:03+11:00

I have been absent for awhile from my little blog, the house, my daily routine...my kids! (sorry kids) working on an exciting project with my friend from eco peko. We have joined forces to open The Fremantle Eco Shop in the Fremantle Markets as a way to support each other and our own small businesses. It has been an exciting and hairy time as we find out way through the world of working parents, retail and paying for all day parking! I really tip my hat to working parents. "A constant juggle" is an understatement.
Here is a snippet of just a few of the things we are carrying along side Justine's organic clothing line and my jewellery;

Lorgie and Me - sustainable, refillable notebooks
3 Girls and a Goat- vintage storybook gift cards
Cardboard cubby - made from from recycled cardboard
Ginny and Jude - vintage men's necktie headbands
Natalie Houston - Fremantle artist
Bambu - coconut bowls
eco peko - organic cotton clothing
Robin Gage Designs - upcycled jewellery

We have also just launched an exciting eco art competition called the WoCA (Wall of Contemporary Art) masterminded by Justine. Throughout the year there will be many opportunities for people to submit their artwork. There are prizes for each round winner with the chance to win the grand prize of a trip for 2 to stay at the Bali Eco Stay. I told you it was exciting! For details on the competition and how to enter, visit here.
I love playing shop. I get my fix every other weekend rearranging everything to fit in the next exciting thing that has arrived in the mail.
Next time you are in Freo, stop by and see us. We are inside the market next to the Market Bar.
Check out our website here.

the suburban farm - the seedlings are in!

Robin from www.fromtheblueshed.typepad.com — 2011-11-02T15:03:45+11:00

The soil has arrived.

...treasures have been buried and found.

...and the seedlings have been planted.

We're crossing our fingers, oh yes, and watering!

Now, a few days later, they are looking extremely limp. We foolishly removed them from their toilet paper rolls when we planted them. I already loose sleep over the chickens when it rains. Now I fear these little babies won't make it. Why do I do this to myself???
Perhaps we should install a veggie cam??

Halloween weekend extravaganza part 1

Robin from www.fromtheblueshed.typepad.com — 2011-11-01T00:22:19+11:00

We held our annual Halloween party for the kids this weekend. It all started as a way for the kids to trick or treat in a non trick or treating culture. Over the years it has become a big event with 8 stations, each run by a different family. Every child brings a bag of lollies as an "entry fee" so to speak (so no one misses out on the gorge fest) and the more the merrier! The kids dressed up, played games, stuffed themselves with candy and had a ball! Everyone upped the ante this year. The Eyeball and Spoon race this year came with beautifully hand painted eyeballs.

the Pumpkin Bowling crew sweat it out in the sun and contended with the wind. Gooey Critters and Face painting were run by the teenagers that have clocked over to the next age group. And what lovely teenagers they are.

The traditional (and almost impossible) Bobbing for Apples, The Gross Booth, The Jack O lantern Bean Bag Toss and Pin the Tail on the Cat were run by the veterans, smoothly and effortlessly.

We dined on Ghoulish treats, Guacamoldy and Worms in a basket. Disgusting yet delicious.

It just gets better every year. Thank you to everyone that helped. Sad to see it end, or has it?? There is of course still trick or treating to come!
Cue ghoulish laughter!

suburban farm - seeds

Robin from www.fromtheblueshed.typepad.com — 2011-10-28T01:38:27+11:00

We have started the second stage of our suburban farm. I came home from a long weekend working at the shop to find my husband and the kids had built our veggie patches. This working thing is working out a treat!

Our keen writer labeled the toilet paper tubes.

The kids and I then set out planting seeds. Buying seedlings was so tempting but I really wanted to show them the wonders of growing from seed (which I have never actually done before) And what a wonder it was. It actually worked! Each tube was filled with soil, this stage almost ended the whole exercise. How do you fill a tube with dirt when there's a hole in the bottom??

Now a week later, tiny little heads have started popping out of the soil. I went through this exercise with great hopes but really, I didn't think it would actually work as I generally can't grow anything, but hoorah!

We may buy a few tomato seedlings as I am completely impatient. If all travels along nicely though, We can pay off the mortgage in watermelon sales! Will keep you posted!

wildflowers

Robin from www.fromtheblueshed.typepad.com — 2011-10-04T17:20:05+11:00

The last few months have been a thrilling, stressful, exciting, zit creating, sleep robbing, dreamy, grey hair multiplying, children neglecting, panic stricken, joyful, twitch inducing, fantastic experience. The goal I set for myself last year of expanding my business (so when the children are at school, I don't have to go and work "for the man") is all starting to fall into place in a slightly early than expected but wonderful kind of way. My husband has turned into the weekend house dad, and doing a pretty fabulous job. The kids are getting use to the fact that I am not there every day and I am getting use to being away from them which was a lot harder than I expected.

With it all sort of settled down, for today anyway, we set off dragging along a child in full meltdown with promise of adventure to the local reserve. With the smell of spring in the air, walking at a calm pace for the first time in weeks and my child now only at a sniffle, I am reminded that I need to organize our time careful so we can still stop and smell, in this case, the wildflowers.

Outskirts 2011

Robin from www.fromtheblueshed.typepad.com — 2011-09-30T00:11:09+10:30

Outskirts 2011 took place this past Sunday. Hoards of people hit Northbridge to discovery what local artists were up to. Eight of us came together to showcase our latest pieces in the world of eco and fair trade designs to bring The Secret Garden to life. With eco peko's new organic range, Angel Ms. flowing silks, Pip Tangos hand felted beauties, Kijuuki Crane Art, hand painted pieces by Natalie Houston, hand screened organic tea towels by Fatty DeMonsey, skincare by Desert Shadow and my upcycled jewellery it was an ecclectic mix. The lovely Cindy Wieringa styled the shop bringing outdoor plants and furniture in to create a unique environment. It was one of those events where people kindly donated their time and talents to make the day a success. Our children hit the green carpet to don eco pekos new range. My niece and friends, their hair a nest of eggs created by Keiron from Blossom Hair, wore my latest pieces - to name just a few. I am just sad to see it end. I wish I had taken more photos on the day. Here are a few from my collection and a few borrowed.

Kiujuuki Crane Art

Robin Gage Designs

eco peko

Angel Ms.

Thank you to everyone who came down to Northbridege on Sunday and a BIG thank you to the Secret Garden gals for a great experience.

If you missed out on last weekend and you want to support the WA designer community, Perth Upmarket will be held this Sunday October 2nd at the University of Western Australia. Myself, eco peko and Kijuuki Crane Art will be there.

wrist warmers - tutorial

Robin from www.fromtheblueshed.typepad.com — 2011-08-18T11:17:24+10:30

Our little Rowen sliced her hand open last week and needed stitches! The poor thing was very brave, A LOT braver than I was. We needed a little distraction from the large bandage around her hand she was just itching to take off. Some "dragon protector" wrist warmers did the trick. In the theme of sock transformation (leg warmer tutorial here) we sliced up a pair of socks, new socks, and made some dragons.

Step 1. Cut the tube of the sock away from the foot.

Step 2. Cut along one side of the sock up to the band without cutting into the band.

Step 3. Turn the sock tube right side in. Cut a strip of felt approx. half an inch shorter than the length of the tube and 1.5 inches wide. Give the felt some jagged spikes. Lay the felt strip inside the tube, spikes pointing in and sew along the edge of the tube.

Step 4. Cut 2 inches off the top of the foot of the sock. Leaving this piece with the right side out, slip it into the tube just sewn, meeting up the raw edges. Sew along this edge.

Step 5. Turn the tube right side out. I left the raw edge as is. If you prefer to sew it, see here.

Step 6. They are pretty cute as is, but to turn them into a friendly creature, add some button eyes.

What sort of creatures can you come up with??