Mama Moontime- Things for a beautiful life

Mary Poppins Musical in Brisbane

2012-02-12T06:00:00.000+10:00

Burn, Baby, Burn

Creativity Fire Starters.

On Thursday night, my mum, sister and I had the pleasure of seeing Mary Poppins in Brisbane
One word: WOW.

I was mesmerised by Verity Hunt-Ballard in the role of Mary Poppins. Don't you just love it when an actor so completely fills a role that they disappear and in their place appears a three-dimensional character? Every little nuance, her smirks and grins, her stance, her uprightness... it was all there. And the children, what a job they did. The entire production was smooth, glossy and full of magic moments. Like Matt Lee's Bert tapdancing across the stage, then up and over it. Or the never-ending bag of tricks that was Mary's carpet treasure bag. Or the starry dance. Or Mary's ability to fly over the audience. Or the Supercalifrajilisticexpialidocious choreography.

But my favourite bit of all was hearing the song, Anything can happen if you let it.
Do you know how it goes?

Anything can happen if you let it

Sometimes things are difficult but you can bet it doesn't have to be some

Changes are made

You can move a mountain if you use a larger spade

You can be a butterfly, or just stay larval

Stretch your mind beyond fantastic, dreams are made from strong elastic

Take some sound advice and don't forget it, Anything can happen if you let it....

And my favourite verse...

If you reach for the stars, all you get are the stars

but we've found a whole new spin

If you reach for the heavens, you get the stars thrown in

If you are needing a bit of oomph, a push toward reaching your dreams or getting off the couch and turning off the tv even though you're so tired and you haven't got the energy to do anything much at all, play this song and I bet, like me, you'll be back at your desk, writing, drawing, typing, painting, calling, singing, making music or answering the call.

If you live nearby, I'd make it my absolute priority to buy a ticket today. Mary Poppins the Musical, presented by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, is on at QPAC (Queensland Performing Arts Centre) until March 17, 2012. Tickets are $40-$175.

2012-02-11T06:00:00.001+10:00

Saturday Style

Just to prove that you can add a bit of style and glamour to the most mundane of jobs....

My neighbour Coral found these gloves and bought them for me as a jokey gift. Splendid, aren't they? Earlier this year, I did write something about wanting to have an opportunity to wear gloves at least once in my life. I wasn't really talking about washing up gloves, but they'll do for the moment!

10 Fashion Rules to Look Slimmer

2012-02-10T06:00:00.005+10:00

10 Fashion Rules to Look Slimmer

by Friday's Guest, Mademoiselle Slimalicious, Cyndie Bowen

The secret to looking slimmer is hanging in your closet! The way you dress can make a significant difference when it comes to the silhouette you create. While dressing thinner doesn't rival diet or exercise, it can help you stand taller and boost your confidence.

Rule #1: Wear clothes that fit properly
Why? Because if you wear the wrong size clothes, you'll end up looking bigger than you are!

Rule #2: Choose darker solid colours
Why? The reasons behind this have a lot to do with the way the eye works and how it perceives things that it sees. When you look at something, you tend to see the edges of it and to perceive those edges as the border of the object. This can be blurred when the object is dark because it appears to have fewer borders.

Rule #3: If you want to wear patterns, go for smaller ones
Why? Because anything too large can be overwhelming or create the appearance of largeness.

Rule #4: Wear vertical stripes only
Why? Because it creates a thinner, taller and elongated appearance

Rule #5: Avoid shiny fabrics such as velour and satin
Why? Because shiny fabrics reflect light and make the body look bigger. Shiny fabrics also reveal figure irregularities.

Rule #6: Wear a tailored Jacket
Why? Because a jacket that is fitted at the waist and hip length will give you a svelte figure.

Rule #7: Choose flat front pants and skirts (no pleats)
Why? Because pleats that fall from the waistband create volume. Same thing for ruffles.

Rule #8: Avoid small handbags: stick with a medium-sized bag in proportion to your body
Why? Because if you’re a bigger person and you go with a small handbag it’s not the handbag that’s going to stand out! Your bag should mirror your size.

Rule #9: Wear High heels to add height and shapes your legs
Why? High heels make your legs look longer and more tone. Note, if you have thick ankles, avoid shoes with ankle straps -- they cut across the line of your leg, making your legs look stumpy and short.

Rule #10: Work on your posture by standing up straight, pull your stomach in, and your shoulders back
Why? Because when your body is in alignment, your head is sitting squarely on your shoulders, and your shoulders are pulled back with your core muscles pulled in, you not only increase your height and stretch out your body mass, making you look thinner, but you're also projecting an image of confidence

So remember, dressing in a way that gives you a slimmer silhouette will help ensure you feel better about your body and what you wear. Whether your dress for work or a night out, with these ten fashion tips you will be FIT for any occasion!

Cyndie is a French 28 year old blog writer located in Sydney, promoting healthy eating, fitness and exercise based on the principles of the French Paradox. Mademoiselle Slimalicious is NOT another dieting blog. It focuses instead on eating for pleasure, with moderation and balance, making healthy food choices and maintaining a level of fitness by being naturally active.

Thank you Cyndie for your great tips. As someone with a stumpy middle (I like Masterchef Winner, Julie Goodwin's description of apple shaped figures, I'm a little teapot, short and stout) I need all the help I can get to smooth my silhouette. Motherhood does that to you, doesn't it? For more of Cyndie's style tips and figure shaping ideas, follow Mademoiselle on twitter MSlimalicious

Or like her facebook page for regular updates Mademoiselle Slimalicious on Facebook

If you would like to be featured as a Friday's Guest on MamaMoontime,

please send me an email to amber.greene@hotmail.com

Welcoming words on creativity, style, crafty how-to's, recipes, parenting and adventure .

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Tap Tap game

2012-02-09T06:00:00.063+10:00

Have you ever seen this Hammer Nail Tap Tap game?

They are sold in sets- shapes, or animals, or houses or trees. Each set comes with a number of timber pieces cut into the specific style, pre drilled with a small hole. There is also a cork board, a container of tiny brass pin nails and a wooden hammer. I store my two sets- farm and shapes- in a Tupperware first-aid box.

Ned loves this game. With just a little supervision, at 3 he is capable of tapping the nails into the shapes to make simple pictures. They might not look like pictures to you or me, but he sure knows what the story is :)

Of course, Ned knows that when you work with tools, you need your 'safety glasses' on. (My husband's version of 'safety glasses' at home is an old pair of sunnies. Hence, Ned's sunglass safety shades)

Ned was given his own set of real tools for Christmas by my sister. Here, he snaffled the metal hammer and substituted it into his tap tap game. I just love games like this that in a roundabout way help to prepare the children for other tasks such as hammering and nailing their own tool box or putting together a real timber doll's cradle. When we show children how to use tools and give them a supervised opportunity to actually have a go at something real and worthwhile, just imagine how capable they will grow up to be. Namby pamby doesn't work. If we want our children to gain skills, whether it be learning how to cook, or chop vegetables or wash up, we have to risk a few broken plates, a minor cut or squashed finger or two.

Thank goodness for band-aids, dustpans and 'magic' skin that regenerates in just a few days.

Whip Stitch

2012-02-08T06:00:00.004+10:00

Wednesday Wonderfuls

Whip stitch is one of those staple, quick and easy stitches that should be in your repertoire. It can be used to join two pieces of fabric together, to close or seal an area or for decoration too.
Here we go.

Hold your two pieces of fabric together. Thread your needle with a length of cotton, in your chosen colour and tie a knot about 2cm from the end. Bring the needle up through one piece of fabric only, between the two pieces.

Pull the cotton through the material until the knot catches. Then make a second stitch through the same hole, this time going through both pieces of fabric. This is your first whip stitch. Pull the needle through completely once again.

For the next stitch, and from here on, come through the fabric on the back side of the material at the same height as your previous stitch exited the fabric. Slant your needle on a diagonal and come up and out through the front of the fabric one step up from the last stitch. (About 1/2 cm forward)

Pull the thread through and repeat the step.

With each diagonal leap, you will begin whip stitching the seam together like so. The stitches themselves will remain horizontal as shown. On your last stitch, you'll do a double stitch. On the double, push the needle through the back of the fabric. Remain horizontal with your needle and come out at the same point as your previous stitch, no longer working forward or upward. Tie off the stitch out of sight.

Whip stitch is a lovely and useful addition to your stitch guide. For more stitches by MamaMoontime, visit my tutorials page. Happy sewing...

Felt bed for wee dolls: Handmade toy

2012-02-07T06:00:00.023+10:00

Sometimes, the little dolls in my son's treehouse are so tired after a big day of play. All they want to do is go to sleep. Their wooden beds are a little lacking in softness and comfort and are not at all good for a good night's rest so it was time to make them a new one. The pattern comes from my friend Sharni who kindly made a bed like this for Ned's birthday celebration wee doll. With autumn knocking at our door, and with all this rain and cold days, a harvest themed bedspread was the piece de resistance, a perfect fit for my little handmade bed duet.

You can make one too. You'll need to cut 3 pairs of felt. For the bed itself, cut two pieces of felt 9 cm by 12 cm. For the bedspread doona cover, cut two pieces 11 cm by 10cm. For the pillow, cut two pieces 6 cm by 3 cm.

Blanket stitch the two bed pieces together. Fill the bed with stuffing before you sew it up completely.

Repeat this step, sewing up the pillow in the same manner.

Use a few tacking stitches to fix the pillow to the bed.

For the design, I cut out a thick tree trunk from a piece of brown felt. Whatever your design, use straight stitch and a matching colour thread to sew the design to the front piece of the blanket felt.

I cut out leaf shapes in four different shades of green and sewed them onto the tree trunk. I added five red circles for apples and stitched a little stalk onto each one.

When your design is complete on the front face of the blanket felt, add the backing piece. Stitch the two blanket pieces to the bed using blanket stitch along one side only.

When you reach the corner, lift the felt blanket off the bed and continue blanket stitching around the other three edges. Work your way back to the beginning.

Oh, doesn't he look cosy? If you want to make similar dolls for your own doll house or birthday celebration, here is my pattern for Wire Dolls, just for you!

Storytelling Prop Bags: Parent Tip

2012-02-06T06:00:00.001+10:00

I like to tell stories.

Most of my friends would tell you I'm a storyteller. (Most likely they would also tell you I can't tell a short story, and that I also don't know when to shut up. Thank goodness for patient and kind friends, I say.)

But back to storytelling.

I was so so so fortunate many years ago to be shown another way of storytelling than what I learned at university and college. In somewhat of a surprise to me, storytelling could be more than just reading a book to the children, or holding up a big book to show the children the pictures. And it doesn't have to happen only when children are politely sitting on a circle mat, nor at a particular time in my routine. When it comes to storytelling, the sky is really the limit.

Thank you Katrina, Suzette, Nansi and Jen for your wonderful mentorship in storytelling.

My biggest joy comes from telling stories by heart. I love to take the time and effort to learn a really good, juicy story. I don't care where the story comes from either. If it is good, and strikes a chord with me based on the musical unfolding of the story rhyme or the delight my tongue finds in pronouncing the words or the theme, I will use it. I love rhyme and the repetition that makes a story sing, and bounces me along in the story adventure with the children. I love the ability to look into the eyes of the children when I'm telling them a story, and having no physical barrier between them and I to interrupt their flow of imagery. I love the challenge of difficult sentences to memorise and being confident that I have all the words in order. I love making up little tricks and tips to help me remember a sequence or a paragraph. I adore making or finding tiny props to fluff out elements of a story sometimes.

What a shame that 'storytelling' is not a component of Parent education? I think if we all learned a few basic skills for storytelling, we'd see a whole lot of creatively satisfied, nourished and well-fed parents beaming at their children each morning, their new ideas just about bursting into song and rhyme at the breakfast table. Storytelling can be for us as well as them. (In a few weeks, my Parenting Fun Webinar series will begin and you can bet that storytelling will be one of the weekly lessons!)

One thing I've always struggled with is how to store my storytelling props, both for home and at school. I've made it a habit to use those A4 size zip-lock bags and store the props along with a paper copy of the story in the bag. Just grab and go. Handy but not always appealing to the eye or to the soul.

Luckily, my friend Tania came up with a much better solution. She keeps an eye out for story-inspired fabrics and sews up a quick square bag with a strap handle to hold all the prop treasures for that particular story. This one is... can you guess? Yes. Little Red Riding Hood (or Red Cap, as it is known in Grimm's traditional tales.) Can you just imagine how orderly and beautiful a bunch of these inspired story bags would look hanging in a cupboard or stored in a box? Tania, I love it. Thank you.

I don't have prop bags for every story I tell. A lot of times I use what I can find in Ned's playroom, or his bedroom, or outside in the garden. I find using these kinds of things in a story can help a child to become a storyteller themselves. If I only use 'special' props from a story bag, how is a child able to recreate that on their own? But some stories just lend themselves to creative opportunity for me and making a set of props for a beloved story is lots of fun too. I just make sure to not be too precious with my story creations and remember they are really made for the children. This way, I'm able to leave the props and storybag out for playtime so children can recreate and recall the story in their own way. Particular props for a story can help children to order and sequence the parts of a story, and give them useful guidance on which bit goes where. Can you just imagine the learning that is going on here? All whilst they are just having fun! I love storytelling, don't you?

This is one of my favourites. Tania was telling the story of Princess and the Pea story to her class of Year 3's (a group that includes children from disadvantaged families) and made this set of props to take along. I bet that each one of the children wanted a turn to put the pea (can you see it in my fingers?) under the mattress. Story props, especially when their appearance is mysterious and unexpected, can engage children in the listening and doing tasks like nothing else I've ever seen. Tania made a bag for these props from a pink fabric covered in castles and turrets.

Fabric stores update their stock regularly. Seasonal ranges appear each year. Pop in at the right time and you'll find plenty of bunnies, Christmas, fruit, princess and prince and insect themes on display. Quilting and patchwork fabrics offer variations too. If you can't find what you are looking for, try making a bag from plain coloured cord or cotton drill and either embroidering on a picture, or iron on a transfer.

Next time you are out and about, at a garage sale or a fabric store, check out the fabric range for yourself. I bet you too can find fabrics that suggest a good story topic or one you might use to store a variety of your props or toys. Who knows? A groovy fabric might just inspire you to make up your own story... Now, there's a challenge for you! Anyone up for it?

Bear's Magic Pencil by Anthony Browne and Friends

2012-02-05T06:00:00.002+10:00

Burn, Baby, Burn

Creativity Fire Starters.

My journey towards 'artistry in daily living', breathing creativity into as many moments in my day as possible, flourished not in an easy time of life, but actually through a bout of post-natal depression. It was during this difficult time that I discovered the power of creative action. It helped me to pave the way out of a very dark place, forward, onward and upward.

The topic of Post Natal Depression, in fact depression full stop, is a subject which fascinates me and if I can help one person to walk a little taller, and take their baby steps each day through this dark night of the soul by sharing my story of despair and recovery, then it is worth talking about. Don't you think?

Next Sunday, I'll share my story, but after that, Sundays will be dedicated to creative practice for which I am so grateful. Creative practice literally gave me back my life.

Specifically, each week will be about how YOU can jump in to the creative fire and build your stack of timber so tall that your inner fire will burn and sparkle. Helping others to fire up their creative spark is my life's work and passion. I have found my mojo and my destiny. Whether it be adding a drop of creative fuel to parenting, or daily life, or getting past hump day at work, or having fun with your friends, I am inspired by the opportunity to create wonderful things, including memories, for others. For you especially, my dear readers ...

But today, I wanted to share with you a little book Ned and I have been reading. It's called Bear's Magic Pencil by Anthony Browne and Friends. (You may know Anthony Browne. He is the best selling author of the My Dad and My Mum books. Good stuff really.) This story was written by Anthony in conjunction with the winners of a writing competition for 8-10 year old children run by The Sun newspaper in the UK. Best of all, the royalties from this book are given to the Rainbow Trust Children's Charity.

The story is about a bear who goes walking in the forest, taking along his magic pencil. The beauty is in the magic pencil. No matter who or what confronts the bear, the bear has the power, through the magic pencil, to alter and change the scenario for a better outcome. For instance, a snake comes slithering along towards the bear so bear draws a pogo stick and bounces right over the snake. (Love this- pogo- fantastic outcome) A whale invites him for a swim so he draws a pair of boardshorts and pops right in, swimming to the other side of the lake and hopping out again. He draws a bandage over the broken sky to help polar bears return to their icy home and sketches an entire crowd of endangered animals to boost their numbers again. I love this magic pencil. It is so clever.

I like to think that our creativity is kind of like that magic pencil. We all have the power to draw new scenarios and rewrite history and plan for a brilliant life too. We have our own pencil in the form of our imagination and minds. Too many people squander their most powerful tool, breaking off the tip of the pencil at a young age and never sharpening it again (all you need is a pencil sharpener). Other people leave the pencil to rot whilst they lounge on the couch like a sloth. Others have forgotten they ever owned a magic pencil yet it sits up high in the kitchen cupboard, dusty and sad.

The magic pencil is my best friend. I use it to write out my future goals and plans in really specific detail at least once or twice a year, and use the magic pencil to tick off the goals as I reach them. With every tick, I'm one step closer to my big goal. I also use my magic pencil to draw up the most outlandish life adventures and hopes and wishes that I can. My magic pencil, together with my action, has the power to push me there, or at least somewhere near there, or perhaps far beyond there. Who knows, but it is part of the magic pencil adventure.

Yesterday, I heard a snippet of a program on the ABC radio talking to some quite famous musicians. They were talking about their lives now, and how sometimes they have to stop and pinch themselves when they realise they are LIVING the very things that they wrote with their magic pencil. Literally anything can happen.... and usually does. If you are game to pick it up and draw.

Where is your magic pencil? Is it in your hand? Is it by your side at all times? If it is, your adventures will grow even bigger. If it isn't, go and find it now.

On what adventures has your magic pencil taken you?

Leona Edmiston

2012-02-04T06:00:00.058+10:00

Saturday Style

There's not been much styling happening this week around these parts. Nope. A bit of blush, a lick of mascara, a dab of lipgloss... that's about it. And wet hair.

We've been packing and renovating and painting and cleaning and organising and running out of breath and feeling a little overwhelmed AND taking one very excited little boy to his first days of pre-school. Madness really. So this is what I look like when I step out of the house. Not quite done but passable.

On a good day, hair is my downfall. I was never one of those girls who was shown how to wield a hairdryer or a straightening iron and I've been way too busy raising kids and getting stuck into creative projects and writing to ever teach myself. There comes a time, however, when no excuse will work. Wet hair is daggy hair and lets down the entire look and effort so February is my month to learn how to dry and straighten my own hair. My wavy helmet hair demands that I do.

On the clothing side, it's been denim shorts and semi-decent t-shirts. Not truly daggy ones or exercise ones. I couldn't stoop that low in my wardrobe again. But it sure feels different than my last month. I can't wait to have my wardrobe of lovely things back again. Today I saw a voluptuous lady wearing a gorgeous blue dress and I told her she looked wonderful and that I loved her dress. Evidently, it was from Leona Edmiston. I can't believe I knew who she was talking about, nor that I could have almost picked it. Fashion sense, it seems to be coming. Who knew it was possible?

On Monday, we begin a new adventure. One of nearby farmer's markets, and my favourite felt shop just up the road and a beautiful beach and river within 10 minutes bike ride. Yes. Bike ride. I can't begin to tell you how happy one mama will be to be back on a bike and back in semi-civilisation. A really nice one at that.

Luckily for me, it's only a short drive back to the old neighbourhood and we'll be visiting often to see family and friends. I'm hopeful family and friends will visit us too. (The river is just perfect for kayak and canoeing so I know a few friends who'll be down!!) And new friends.... I can't wait. I'm so grateful for my last few years. If anyone had asked me whether it was possible or easy to make brilliant friends at my age, I would have possibly questioned it but now I know that it is possible. We can all make new friends at any age. Just get out there, say hi and practice your big smile. Be bold and invite people in. Be like a little child and say, I'm (Amber). What's your name? You'll be glad you did.

Baby Teeth handmade keepsake box

2012-02-03T06:00:00.130+10:00

Don't you just think this tiny keepsake box is the perfect fit for baby teeth that are ready for the Tooth Fairy? And look, it fits a golden coin too. Magnificent.

I will never be as surprised at the power of a piece of golden paper as I was for this origami-style craft. We celebrated birthdays in my old kindergarten and I gave each child a gift. For a number of years, the gift for each child was a tiny specially-chosen crystal inside this folded paper golden box.

Never mind the crystal, the box was the real gift. Truly. Just 2cm square, this golden box made from a sheet of paper was prized and sheltered and cared for like it was really made from the finest gold in the world. Lovingly carried by hand to their home post ceremony, the golden treasure box was shown to grandparents and siblings and neighbours and typically anyone who just happened to be passing by that day. In fact, three years after a birthday, I happened to visit the home of one of my ex-Kindergarteners. I was literally shocked to see his treasure box in perfect condition sitting on his mantlepiece, crystal still in place. I kid you not. These gold boxes are highly prized. Scarcity is the thing. A golden box was something to anticipate, to wonder about. If a child was given golden boxes every day of their life, they'd soon lose their lustre.

Whilst we used the tiny box for birthdays, you can use it for your child's first baby tooth. Just fill the box with a scrap of wool felt or a cotton wool ball and rest the tooth upon it. Close it up, pop it next to (or under) the pillow and let the tooth fairy do the rest. I imagine that upon waking, a child might just find the tooth has been traded for a gold coin, a polished stone egg, a tiny piece of quartz or even a crafty personalised piece.

Would you like to make one?

From one piece of golden paper (one sided is fine- try scrapbooking shops or craft stores), cut two squares. One 10 cm by 10cm, the other 9 cm by 9 cm. (The smaller one is the base)

Repeat these steps for both pieces.

Firstly, fold the piece on a diagonal. Open out. Fold the piece on the other diagonal. Open out.

Place a dot in the centre of the creases as shown. (Most adults will only need to make the pencil marks once, if at all. But children and the crafty challenged might like the extra support)

Fold each of the four corners into the centre to meet the point mark. Open out the folds.

Now, place dot marks on all of the cross points made by the creases, as shown.

Now, fold one corner over to the furthest dot point as shown. Open out and repeat for all three other corners.

Your piece of golden paper will now look like this.

Draw lines on the paper as shown. Imagine there is a four-box square in the centre. (This is the base)

Draw the vertical lines (on either side of the centre line) reaching from the top or bottom to the corner of this imaginary box base.

Draw the horizontal line (on either side of the centre line) so that they touch the first fold line only. If these lines join the original lines, there will be trouble!

Use a pair of scissors to cut along all these lines.

Place a dab of glue in the square that sits between each cut. Do this for all four squares.

Fold in the wings to make little gold squares like this.

Now, fill the centre square (4 boxes) with glue.

Now, when we are making a little treasure box house, we know that we always close the windows first and then the doors when we go out. This picture helps us to remember which side folds in first.

Take hold of the sides with the 'windows' attached. (The 'doors' don't have any wings)

Fold them up like so.

Bend the window arms in toward the other side. Fold the window over, crease at the top of the box, and at the base of the box. This will allow you to press the last triangle down onto the base so that the point touches the dot again.

Do the same with the other side.

Now, "close the doors." Up, over, fold, down so that the point of the door reaches the dot.

Be sure to re-crease all the folds as you go. Repeat with the second piece.

There you have it. A tiny golden baby teeth treasure box for safekeeping.

Have your children lost any teeth yet? Children seem to be losing them earlier and earlier, at 5 years or younger. Funnily enough, a lot of the children I know tend to hold onto their teeth until 6 or older. (Not that they are happy about that!) Even losing teeth can be a competition between youngsters.

These children tend to live the 'slow' life... they are the ones without too much pressure or academic push, who live surrounded by nature and good food and homegrown produce and not too much tv or an overload of material goods. They are the ones who can play for hours using their imagination as their only tool. Mmmm... I wonder if there is something in that?

But back to treasure boxes...

What else might you use the treasure box for?

Advent for Annabel #4: Ballerina Annabel

2012-02-02T06:00:00.005+10:00

For those of you who have been following the story of Annabel, I thought you might like to see Annabel in all her ballet glory. Yes, the dear little one has started dancing this past week. Isn't she just charming? (The original post is at the very bottom of the page. Work your way back up the page to see the story in sequence.)

Annabel finished the first stage of the treatment just before Christmas, and moves onto stage two, which is 18 months of home-based chemotherapy through oral tablets. There are a few very exciting things about this. 1. It means fewer hospital visits! Once the doctors sort out the levels of Annabel's medicine, the family will only need to make monthly trips to the hospital for check-ups or high temperatures. This gives the family some semblance of normal life once again, instead of being chained to the bed as it were. 2. Annabel's hair is starting to grow back. As you can imagine, this is a very important thing for a little girl so we are all very happy and chuffed about this development.

Annabel has also started pre-school this week at the same pre-school where her brother and sister went. This lovely centre is like a community kindergarten with lots of open space indoors and large windows and fresh air and opportunity for Annabel to spend plenty of time outdoors. This is important because germs spread much more readily in confined spaces and Annabel needs healthy fresh air to be circulating at all times. Evidently, Annabel is very excited to be a big girl doing normal things like her siblings. Yeah, go Annabel.

And just to let you know, Erwin is still coming..... He had a little hiccup and stopped for some rest and recuperation whilst waiting for a helping friend to return from an overseas trip. But he is back on his way now! Friends of Annabel in NSW, Victoria, WA and Overseas, he is coming to you soon!!!

Stem Stitch

2012-02-01T06:00:00.048+10:00

Stem stitch is my favourite stitch for embroidering words or outlining detail. It is such an elegant looking stitch, don't you think?

Draw your design on your material with a pencil or chalk. Practice on a straight line. Curves are more tricky as you sometimes have to switch from side to side with your backward jump to ensure you keep a curve. Tip for curves, as in S shapes: Do half-size stitches and take your time going around the bends. (Oh, embroidery to send us round the bend.... Literally, crafty madness. Love it.)

Thread a needle with your favourite coloured thread. Bring the needle up from under the material at the beginning of your design.

Jump your needle one step forward along the design. I like 1/2 cm stitches mostly. The perfectionists among us might go smaller. Children will go bigger.

The next time you come up from under the material, jump back half way along. Direct your needle slightly to the left (or right- doesn't matter really, just be consistent) of the design, in the midpoint of the previous stitch.

Jump forward your normal width and land once again right onto your design.

Continue this process. Come back up with your needle slightly to the left of the design and half way back... and take another regular step forward, sticking to the line.

When you are done, this is what your design will look like.

Happy stitching!

Valentine Love Keyring for your Sweetheart

2012-01-31T06:00:00.068+10:00

My little boy starts preschool on Thursday. I think I'm more excited than him. He is going to a really beautiful place and I just can't wait for him to play in the natural surrounds, listen to delightful stories, cook wholesome organic food, make friends with happy children and fall in love with his teachers.

He is a little nervous though, and so I've made him a Valentine Love keyring. It has a dual function- yep! Not only does it hold a little photo, it also has space for a secret love note. You might like to make one for Valentine's Day which is coming up in just over 2 weeks....

To make your own, cut three small rectangles (6cm by 5cm) from wool felt in your favourite colours- a mix or all the same. You'll also need to cut this unusual shape which measures 5cm in width with two triangles cut out from the sides. Oh, and decorations and embellishments to suit your fancy.

Use a straight stitch to attach your felt design. (Heart flowers and grass are cut from felt)

And embroidery such as bullion knots or stem stitch for the flower stems...

(Don't panic!! A tutorial on Stem Stitch is coming tomorrow!)

On the design piece, leave enough room at the top for a small cut. This will be the opening for the secret notes.

On another piece, cut the centre out of the felt leaving a 1 cm border.

Test them together in a sandwich like this. Design piece, middle section, frame.

Thread your shape through a key ring so that the narrow bit sits in the circle.

Use straight stitch to attach the shape to the middle piece of felt only.

Remake the sandwich, then blanket stitch the three pieces together starting at the top left (as shown) and continuing around the two sides and the base only.

Blanket stitch along the open seam, then fill your secret pocket with a lovely note. (What will your lovely note say??)

Cut a photo to size and pop that in the other side. Once your photo is in place, use a whip stitch to seal the opening too.

Attach it to your loved one's lunch tin, briefcase, handbag, school bag or button hole.

I just love LOVE made visible.

Don't you?

What lovey dovey things are you up to this week?

"Help Yourself" Basket: Parent Tip

2012-01-30T06:00:00.019+10:00

"Help Yourself" Basket

I'm not a big fan of snacking but Ned is.

We needed a compromise.

I provide him with regular meals of breakfast, a fruit morning tea, lunch and dinner.

But in between, he can go to his 'Help Yourself' basket.

I keep a plastic basket at his eye level. Each night before I go to bed, and also when I return from food shopping, I add healthy snacks in here. He can choose whatever he likes from here to eat whenever he is hungry until an hour before dinner. Once it hits 4.30pm, there are no more snacks. It's almost dinner time.

This has worked wonders. I make sure the basket is filled with a variety of things both sweet (such as fruit and yoghurt) and savoury (such as cheese, sandwiches, containers with deli meat like ham and salami and cherry tomatoes.) I also keep a filled water bottle in the door.

It stops the nagging, "Mum, I'm hungry" or "Mum, I need a drink" and teaches them a little bit about independence and helping themselves and healthy food choices too.

Of course, the "Help Yourself" basket should never replace the daily shared meals at the table such as breakfast or dinner (the conversation there is priceless!) but as a time-saving tool for busy parents, it is priceless.

Whole Living Magazine, Martha Stewart

2012-01-29T06:00:00.002+10:00

Sunday Summary

I'm a library junkie. I can't get my library fix quick enough. I own two cards- mine and Ned's. Together, we can borrow 40 things. Guess what? We do! 40 things. Can you imagine our load? In the past, I've had to beg to borrow the library cart just to get out the door to my car with the loot. If books were food, I'd be in serious trouble.

It's not just books we borrow. I'm always taking home new music. (Ned chose some random World Music CD this week because it had a cover of a lady in a bikini. Mmm... this passion for boobs starts early I think) And magazines... I love a good magazine. Especially one that enlivens my passion for healthy, wholesome living and brings me into contact with good people doing GREAT things out in the world.

My favourite mag is "Whole Living", from the Martha Stewart publishing arm. (It used to be called, "Body and Soul") This delightful magazine is one I cannot put down until I've read it from start to finish. I've just finished the December Issue and already have a new plan for a funky food gathering with my delightful girlfriends. (I'll let you in on the secret soon- you might be inspired to do it too!)

I've spotted a Vermont Marble and Soapstone 1-Gallon Pot that I might just have to save up for. Contact details are to call 866-762-7786. Add US prefix if calling from Australia. (Who knew you could cook in soapstone. I remember carving a chunk of that back in my high school days. That has got to be good for you!)

And I might just have to try to get hold of Kinky-Curly, the original curling custard for your hair. This stuff sounds like it might just work wonders for my boof.

If you want a good, sustainable living read with recipes, craft, interviews and healthy living tips, grab a copy from your local library too.

Being inspired by: Do you remember Danica McKeller, the girl who played Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years? Did you know she has three New York Times best-selling books...on maths??? Yes, the little girl all-grown-up is out there inspiring girls in schools to love math with her words in "Math Doesn't Suck", "Kiss my Math" and "Hot X- Algebra exposed". I'm super impressed. Imagine if more girls thought math was cool. It really is. I was never into math at school but now I'm hooked. Math makes the world go round. Every single thing in the universe has some connection to math. Have a look around. (I mean it. Check out Math philosophy books in the library. This stuff is super cool)
But not only that, Winnie, oops, Danica, sounds like my kind of girl- someone who is concerned with clean-eating, exercise and keeping fit, and standing up for our kids in the fight against GMO foods, Monsanto and junk food. If there is anything to stand up for, these three things top my 'good parenting' list.

Learning: that it doesn't matter if you've owned a house since you were 25, you don't classify as a good, clean, pay-the-rent-on-time potential tenant without some qualified references. Aggghhhh! Where are they supposed to come from? More details on this new adventure coming soon!

Grooving to:

Quoting: Northern Exposure

Love is a friendship caught on fire

What did you get up to this week?

Colour co-ordinate your wardrobe

2012-01-28T06:00:00.013+10:00

Many of my regular readers will know about my fashion pact to only buy clothes in my favourite colours of red, blue and white. (Ok, black gets a look in too, but only rarely) I started this about 2 years ago, and my wardrobe and style has been completely transformed by this one simple trick. I thought you might like to see it!

Do you know I can co-ordinate an outfit in less than a minute? Seriously.

Shoes. Tick

Dress. Tick

Jewellery. Tick

Because my clothing haul is all in shades and tones of those three colours, co-ordination is no longer a problem. It is a cinch.

Shoes too.

It makes shopping a breeze.

I can look at my wardrobe to see what basic pieces I need to supplement my outfits. Whether it is a plain coloured jacket or cardigan, a denim skirt, a top to go with my jeans, a belt to cinch my waist on a dress or a fabulous earring, all I need to do is to take a general look to see what is missing.

Makes treasure hunting really simple too. Gives you a goal when entering the cavernous op shop jungles.

Right now, I'm searching for a pair of simple red ballet flats.

Talking of shoes, I can't resist showing you my most fabulous op-shop find of late. These wedges were hiding in the dress up clothes. Can you believe it?

And here's another secret...They are originally from Kmart!!!

Who cares? To me, they are Dorothy shoes.

Just magical.

Adolescence by Friday's Guest, Felicity St John

2012-01-27T06:00:00.001+10:00

Adolescence

Witnessing the Wave of Emotion

By Friday's Guest, Felicity St John.

If you have an adolescent in your home, perhaps you are familiar with the bouncing emotionality that can often come with this period. It’s hard to remember not to jump on the emotional rollercoaster with them, and instead be there as an empathic, present, authentic witness to their life. I had my daughter at 18 and the age gap seemed almost non-existent. I was the one who didn’t fear her adolescent years as we were so close, and she was mellow, people pleasing, into school and loved sport. I totally underestimated the force of hormones, and a large move, and hence I experienced adolescence as something akin to a thermo-nuclear meltdown.

I think the culture often sets us up to fail with adolescents; we tell them to grow up way too fast, then tell them they can’t do things as they are a child, we infantalise them, externalise their learning and often responsibility, sometimes they look so big we let them go into situations too deep for them, we don’t pay enough attention to the role of meaning at this age, we have no decent initiation into adulthood, and we are blurry about both where the child ends and the adult starts, and where the child ceases and the mother begins. I still think the culture predominantly sees your teenager as a “product” of your parenting, despite them being very much their own person.

I think mothers often base their feelings of wellbeing on how things are going on the home front or for someone else. I think our ability to throw ourselves into this is often culturally prized too; we get raised to be other focused.What if our teenagers are really grieving, struggling, tormented, depressed and even getting into strife - how far do we identify (or over-identify) with their pain? How much should our joy and sense of peace rely on another person’s happiness?

I really resisted the changes I saw in my daughter; the ones I deemed negative.I didn’t want her to feel the immense pain she seemed so stuck in. What I eventually realised was my craving for her to be happy and together was another burden for her. I had to grieve, accept and stop resisting (and repeat this daily).

I have also discovered that when I used where she was at, as the barometer of how I felt or should feel, I was miserable...continually, or at the very least constantly possessed a grey-wash over my life. And sometimes I literally pulled my hair out (it’s funny now). I later realised this greyness didn’t actually make anything better for her, rather it diminished my resources as a parent to my two girls. We are taught worry is a badge of motherhood, but when it doesn’t help, do we actually need to wear it? Is there an alternative? I propose there is and it involves centring yourself and not being the wave of emotion, rather witnessing it with compassion for the other and self.

Molly from the blog ‘First the Egg’ talks about parenting as being like a midwife is with a birthing woman and ‘holding the space’ for them. Molly articulates; ‘the basic idea is that a calm, focused, loving person can protect a space in which the laboring/birthing person can do what she needs to do…and sets aside his or her own baggage in order to be in the moment to protect and honor that person’s present experience.’

Carrie from "The Parenting Passageway" describes this as being the Queen; one who has ‘a kind way’, ‘a Queenly way’, who acts ‘as a wall a child can bounce off’, ‘who can model being calm, solving the problem, being respectful’, and who can ‘hold the balance when your child cannot’. I desire to be this, yet I also struggle with it, particularly when faced with barbs from someone who physically looks like an adult, possesses adult language and has had 16 years commando training in your weak spots. Yet I recognize as Coloroso (quoted by Carrie) does ‘we can’t keep hooking in to our kids’ adrenaline’.

I hadn’t been holding the space for this beautiful young person, I’d been hitching onto the adrenaline and emotionally crashing with exhaustion. It wasn’t working and I didn’t want to be bald.

When things get dramatic it’s easy to focus on the drama- we forget we can shift our attention from the drama to our resources and the young person’s strengths. I came to understand that my daughter was gaining great qualities and many of these strengths were ones I had dreamed of for her when she was younger. They just looked a little different. It often helps to think ahead of the person you are assisting them to become, and not just making it through what you want for that day – or I might add what another person/institution/agency wants for that day. The baby I had held in my arms was growing stronger, extending her reach, finding the voice (hard to do when you were always a mouse), challenging her own understanding, organising others, and standing up for what she believed to be right even when this cost her greatly. She was often compassionate, regularly offered spontaneous loving gestures, still loved to be hugged, spent time with me, included me in her life and the lives of her friends and she even tucked us into bed each night (she stays up a lot later). Our relationship would never return to earlier years, and it was never meant to. It, like us as individuals, was meant to transition...always.

As a mother of a teenager myself, this article by Felicity is a wonderful reminder that we are two separate people, with our own goals, hopes, dreams and ways of seeing the world. Helps to remember this when they are having a tantrum!

Thank You, Felicity. Once more, your wisdom is beautiful.

THOUGHTS???

Dutch Pancakes "Poffertjes"

2012-01-26T06:00:00.003+10:00

Santa brought Ned this Dutch Pancake maker for Christmas.

It was the best $12 he ever spent... um, er, invested...

For the past week, Ned and his dad have eaten baby pancakes for breakfast. (Ok. Sometimes Mummy had a little taste too...) Covered in lashings of real maple syrup (no maple flavoured syrup here) and a little dusting of icing sugar just like the real thing. Add a toothpick or two, and you could even been in Europe. Or at least Tamborine Mountain at the market...

Is your mouth watering? Want to make some too?

Here is the recipe we use:

1. Heat up the poffertjes pan until it is very hot. Use a pastry brush to gently coat the pan with a brushing of olive oil.

2. Add 1 cup self raising flour, a cup of caster (super fine) sugar and a pinch of salt into a big bowl. Give it a loving stir.

3. Add 1/2 cup milk and 1/4 cup water to the flour. Pour into your thermomix or use an electric beater to combine it into a smooth paste.

4. Add 3 eggs, one at a time and give it another whirl until it is smooth and glossy like wet paint.

5. Add the mixture to the pan. Do not overfill the holes. Cook for a few minutes until they bubble and brown, then turn them over, one by one.

6. Serve whilst steaming! Makes a wonderful dessert too. Simply add a sprinkle of milo and icecream.

Caught in the act. :)

Obliteration Room, Yayoi Kusama Exhibition GOMA

2012-01-25T06:00:00.011+10:00

Wednesday Wonderfuls

Last week, Ned and I headed up to Brisbane for a day of artistic pursuit. My artistic pursuit really, but he wasn't to know! We made straight for GOMA and the We Miss You, Magic Land exhibit. But at the top of the stairs, the spotty dotty room grabbed our attention first.

Yayoi Kusuma's work, The Obliteration Room, is an all-white room transformed by the love of dots. Big ones, small ones, teeny tiny ones. Ned took his sheet of dot stickers and jumped straight in... to the couch.

Young and old, happy and sad, tall and short- all kinds of people were drawn in and mesmerised. As you can see. Sticky dot heaven. If I come back in another life, I'd like my life to be this technicolour.

Actually, thinking about it, this exhibit kind of reminds me of this life. We all begin with a white room, and our experiences and adventures and traumas and thoughts and the people we meet and the music we hear and the books we read are our dots. Some people or things or words make a big impression, others a small one. But they all impress and soon we are like this dotty room. Technicolour!

I suppose some things that happen in life might appear as black dots really but you know what, in this exhibit colour rules. Bright, happy, sunny colours. Why not take your black dots of life and colour them in too? It is only thinking that makes them so. Revise old hurts and wounds and take charge of them once and for all.

When we finally made it out (alive) from the dotty goodness, making sure that no dots escaped with us on our shoes, we traipsed down the stairs to Magic Land. I miss Magic Land. Do you?

This bubbly fizz of an art installation tickled my fancy and tugged at my heartstrings. I couldn't resist the magical toadstools, fairy lights and popsicle trees made from sugar, glitter, modelling clay and mirrors. This is the fairy land of my childhood, the land at the top of the Faraway Tree.

An interactive video game allowed Ned and I to make our own Magic Land and email it to ourselves back home.

"We Miss You, Magic Land" is on at GOMA in the heart of Brisbane City until the 4th March. If you haven't yet been, it's a lovely child-friendly day out.

Watch out for the giant rainbow though! This eye-catching piece sits on the top floor. Ned ran to it and went straight through.

What a brilliant photo opportunity, only you are not allowed. Mmmm... A tiny sign sitting on the floor reads 'Keep Off the Exhibit'. Sadly, Ned can't read and I didn't see it. An abrupt reprimand from one of the GOMA guards sent us scurrying. Truly, I just can't believe that the artist who made this could ever be so precious. Surely not.

Here's the equation. A lifesize rainbow with a hole just right for climbing under + children or young-at-heart adults = an irresistible temptation!

Giveaway winner: Chicken and Egg by Christina Lane

2012-01-24T21:34:00.000+10:00

The winner of the Chicken and Egg by Christina Lane giveaway is...

"Mademoiselle Slimalicious"

Congratulations, Cyndie.

Valentine Tea cup tags

2012-01-24T09:28:00.000+10:00

I'm a BIG fan of secret love notes, and not-so-secret love notes too. I love treasure hunts, and scribed messages hidden in lunchboxes and briefcases and I adore livening up our daily moments with simple fancies too. Valentine's Day is coming up.

Why not make your love well-known with a Valentine teacup tag too?

I saw this 'wreath' pattern idea in one of my Japanese crafting books. I thought the wreath idea would go perfectly with my Valentine tag.

I already had a little 'leaf' handcarved stamp that I use in many projects. I'll show you how.

Firstly, use a punch to cut out a paper tag. (Any shape you have will do)

Draw a little teardrop shape on a piece of rubber eraser.

Use a speedball tool to carve a channel around the outline of the teardrop shape.

Run the tip of a carving blade (from any good stationery or scrapbooking shop) in the channel to loosen up the rubber. Slice a layer of rubber about 3mm thick from the rubber around the shape.

Press your stamp into ink and make an impression on a bit of scrap paper. Slice away any rubber that is impacting upon your design. (You'll see this on your design as the ink will highlight it)

Once your shape is perfected, trim the sides of the rubber.

Dip your stamp in green ink and press down around the outside edge of your paper template.

Add your message.

A note of love, or a quote.

I love quote books and am forever scanning them for things that delight me.

Thread a needle with baker's twine and push the needle through the paper tag.

Tie it onto the cup.

Teacup Love.

Quick and Easy Lunchbox Ideas: Parent Tip

2012-01-23T06:00:00.009+10:00

As we all prepare for school to begin, the one thing that frightens many of us is the task of filling the school lunch boxes again. To ensure our children are not subjected to the horrors of soggy vegemite and fake cheese sandwiches, squashed bananas and warm juices from our yesteryear. Disgusting. Double yuck.

These days, at least our children's lunch boxes have ice packs and thermal jackets. Some children are able to store their midday meals in fridges in their school rooms. Times have changed. Thank goodness.

But the one thing that hasn't changed is the morning rush. In fact, with so many mums now working in some form or another, the morning rush has sped up and packing a lunch box might as well be up there with scaling Everest. Almost impossible. Not totally impossible but just out of reach.

My tip is to invest in reusable baby food containers. I have ones from tupperware that I've had for years and they are used every single day so the investment has been well worth it but any kind will do. At the very least, a pack of those baby zip-lock bags will suffice. And for a lunchbox that will last you years, invest in a stainless steel camping tin . For less than $30, the children will have a lunch tin to be proud of that will do them the run of primary school.

But I find the one thing that helps me above all is to have a comprehensive list on my fridge. It's a mash up of every lunch box possibility. It includes things that I can grab from the cupboard, the freezer, the fridge and the fruit bowl. Mostly, it is things that don't require any thought other than to buy them from the shops but also includes yummy concoctions that can be made in advance in less than 20 minutes and can doled out all week (unless eaten by those with rogue hungry bellies at 4pm).

I thought you might like to make a list too so I've started you off by giving you mine.

LUNCHBOX LOVE: A MAMAMOONTIME LIST OF GOODIES FOR CHILDREN.

Fruit salad on a stick. Fill a skewer with apple slices, hulled strawberries, pineapple chunks, nashi fruit, orange quarters and green grapes. Or if not on a stick, in a small container with separate compartments to help keep fruit fresh and juicy.
Plain greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey and blueberries rolled in.
Dehydrated fruit roll-ups (Visit the Fruit Leather vendor at Tamborine Markets in the Gold Coast Hinterland for some really yummy concoctions or borrow a dehydrator one weekend and make your own)
Fruit (banana or carrot) or savory muffins. Low in sugar but oh so good. I LOVE muffins. I make up a batch of 24 and freeze them individually. Just throw one in the lunchbox frozen and they'll be perfectly soft by morning tea.
Date slice is my mum's staple recipe for gatherings.
Your own premixed dried fruit and nut parcels. Simply grab an airtight container and throw in 2 cups of sultanas, 1/2 cup sunflower seeds, 1 cup of dates, 1 cup of cashews, 1 cup of sliced almonds, 1 cup of apricots, 1/2 cup sesame seeds, 1/2 cup dried mango (chopped finely) and 1/2 cup shredded coconut. (Replace nuts with pepitas and chopped dried apple if you have a peanut-free school) Store in fridge. Each morning, fill a tupperware baby cup or a ziplock bag with a scoop of this good energy boost.
Date coconuts or carob coconut balls found in most good health food shops. (Wrays at Palm Beach stocks both)
Dehydrated banana sticks. Real banana dried. It looks like shrivelled up fingers but tastes great.
Scones and jam
Pikelets (mini pancakes), either store bought or homemade slathered with butter or sunflower seed butter (free-nut butter)
Sushi- fun to make with the kids the night before. For fillings, try tuna and kewpie mayonnaise, zucchini and carrot, egg omelette or home-made fish fingers and lettuce. Yum.
Cherry tomatoes, slices of zucchini, fresh corn on the cob (so sweet) and slices of cheese or ham
Loose walnuts or macadamia nuts, sunflower seeds or figs.
Roasted broadbeans or chickpeas, found in ready-made packs in the health food aisle of Woolworths and possibly Coles
Try a salad in a jar. Add beetroot, baby corn, lettuce, tomato slices, asparagus, carrot chunks, snow peas and butter beans with a salad dressing foundation. Children just need to shake it up and eat it. Remember to pop a fork in their box.
Yoghurts
Big slices of watermelon, rockmelon (cantaloupe) or honeydew
Slices of capsicum in all colours are great for dipping into cream cheese or tzatziki
Cheese straws, either home baked or store bought
home made pasta salad or rice salad can be made for dinner on a Sunday night and dished out for a Monday lunch treat
Celery sticks filled with cream cheese or peanut butter, with sultanas along the top
Freshly popped popcorn. Throw it in a brown paper bag and shake it with a little vegetable salt
Rice crackers or rice cakes with toppings. Separate the toppings from the crackers in the lunch tin so they don't get soggy.
Mountain bread wraps with hommus and salad
Cut up carrot and celery sticks with mashed avocado dip. Chop up a few carrots and celery and store them in breathable containers in the fridge. Grab and go.
Salami sticks, chunks of cheese, water crackers and boiled eggs are staples too.

Enjoy... and don't forget to add your ideas too.

Leave a comment to let me know of your top lunchbox inclusions.

Ideaphoria

2012-01-22T09:31:00.000+10:00

Sunday Summary

Have you ever heard of Ideophoria? I hadn't until I read the book 12 Secrets of Highly Successful Women, The: A Portable Life Coach for Creative Women. I have my diagnosis. This is my problem!

Ideophoria is a 'rapid flow of ideas'. But Gail McMeekin likes to describe it as 'the ability to generate lots of new thougts and ideas quickly. It is an experience where one feels a constant onslaught of new ideas, creating a euphoric state of idea creation.' (2011)

Honestly, sometimes it feels as though my brain is a whiteboard and new thoughts are being rapid fired at me by a conference room full of men and women on expresso coffee. I can't keep up! It's like I write something down and then something else down, whilst at the same time, an invisible someone wields the whiteboard eraser to make room for the next thing. Ideophoria is like a creative person's ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder).

I like the ideas. In fact, I love them. I've taken to keeping a pack of post-it notes by my side just about everywhere I go and fill these in with gusto. I've set up a container on my shelf to collect these idea tit-bits and over the week, slowly make my way through them. I add them to my writing or crafting or sometimes even here on the blog. But I just don't have enough time to do all of them. What is with this '24 hour in a day' limit, hey? I could do with another 12 at least just to catch up on the sleep I missed in the first 24.

Ideophoria is a strange thing too. The more ideas I note down, the more that seem to appear. It's almost like there is someone out there in the universe saying, "Hey, she's listening. There, over there. She'll take it. Send them to her!" Want to share? Easy. Start listening to!

I'm often asked how I get so much done? It's easy, I say. I don't have a television. But its not only that. I make a daily plan. Every single day, I wake up and no matter what my obligations for the day, whether I need to be somewhere or doing something, working outside the home or attending a meeting, I schedule ONE creative thing I must do to help my dreams move forward.

With all these ideas floating around, the hardest thing is to avoid getting caught up in the joyful exuberance of possibilities and avoid the hard work of preparing the muddy foundations so the ideas can take wings and fly.

About 3 months ago, I participated in an on-line course and this idea of noting down ONE THING was probably the best bit of advice I've had in years. I now write this ONE thing down at the top of my diary every day, and do not go to bed until it is done. Experience has taught me to do the one thing early in the day! And to be realistic about my ability to achieve it on any given day. On busy days, my thing might only take 5 minutes. On days where I am able to be home, it might be an artistic activity, such as taking photos for a crafty how-to, that takes hours.

In the book, Gail gives six practical solutions to overcoming the challenges of Ideophoria too. Focus is the key. I've found the way to balance the idea flow, and engage with them too, is to give each idea a little bit of my time. I can become a baker, a gardener and a candlestick maker, if only for a day. You can too!

Being inspired by: blog love. I love blogs. So many gorgeous people out there sharing their take on the world. An insight into the lounge rooms and kitchens and gardens and homes of fun, happy souls being 'artists in daily life'. Internet, I love you.

Loving: life's unpredictable flow. New opportunities, change, growth.... fun and scary and unimaginably good things just keep coming my way.

Learning: that a new study from Harvard University proves that for women 'a lack of creativity and not enough decision-making power in their work puts them at risk fro suffering a heart attack or heart disease". (Alpert, 2011)
Wow. Definitely time for women to start bringing their heart and soul to work (not just their brains or ability) or find another job where they can. I thank my lucky stars for the 10 years I spent in my last job. I honestly didn't realise just how lucky I was to work creatively every single day, in an environment that actually paid for my artistic development too. I knew it was good but for me, it was normal. I only learn it wasn't normal when I talk to other women friends about their job environments. Now there is proof. For our health's sake, let's fire up our creative sparks at work too!

Grooving to: Paula Abdul. This was one of my favourite songs as a teenager, but it was the video that seared the song into my mind forever. Yesterday, Paula popped up on the iPod dock unexpectedly. My husband was working outside concreting whilst I was exercising. This stopped us both. Impromptu dance number on the driveway.... Love it!

Quoting: Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass....

it's about learning to dance in the rain

Vivian Greene (no relation by the way)

Felt-covered bangle: A how-to tutorial

2012-01-21T06:00:00.001+10:00

Saturday Style.

I'm never going to be the kind of girl who buys all her jewellery from Diva or Sportsgirl.

Not that there is anything wrong with that. It's just that I've always been a left-of-centre kind of girl interested in making my own stuff. Why not jewellery too?

I'm a BIG fan of the chunky bangle and cuff. That one single piece can really lift an outfit. That, and red polished nails. Don't you think?

When you are a mum who wants to spend every spare minute writing, or crafting, styling up also has to be quick and easy and chunky bracelets fit the bill there too. Tick. Tick. Tick.

I bought a wooden bangle form from Spotlight for $5 and hunted in my cupboard to see how I might decorate it. (Hot tip: If you are lucky, Spotlight sometimes has 4 packs for less than $10. Now, that is an invitation to make one for yourself and three friends. What a lovely gift you can personalise to their favourite colours and motifs)

You'll need:

A strip of 100% wool felt that is double the width of the bangle form.

100% wool felt will resist pilling for a long time and is sturdy, unlike the cheap and nasty stuff you find in most fabric shops.

My blog friend Jo has a shop, Indigo Inspirations

that stocks a full range of wool felt in a rainbow of colours.

Measure the length by wrapping the felt around the bangle and adding a 1/2 cm margin for error.

Cut funky shapes from scraps of felt.

Stars and moons for me of course!

Position them on the felt where you want them to go.

Use only the middle third along the length of the felt as the felt will be wrapped around the bangle

and all other design will be hidden.

Leave at least 1cm on each short edge free of your design too.

Use very small straight stitches to sew the shapes to the front of the felt.

Once your design is complete, place the felt onto the bangle form.

Pin the felt in place so that the design stays in the centre.

Use blanket stitch and fine cotton thread to stitch the felt together underneath.

When you complete the circle, blanket stitch the two ends together.

Can you just imagine the potential?

Felt bangles with funky beads, sequins (I do love a bit of sparkle!), needle-felted designs, or wrapped with knitting wool.

What would you do to dress up a handmade bangle??

FREE Chicken and Egg Pattern by Friday's Guest, Christina Lane

2012-01-20T22:12:00.001+10:00

Chicken and Egg Pattern by Friday's Guest

Christina Lane, of Fruits of Heart.
(This pattern originally appeared on the Fruits of Heart blog)

My friend Christina invited me to check out her new pattern. Well, when I saw it, I was blown away by the chick's cuteness and couldn't resist asking her if I may share it with all of you here. Guess what? She kindly said yes! I think this must be the first crafty how-to for Easter in 2012 in blog land. Lucky really. It will give you plenty of time to make it.

But not only that. My gorgeous and generous friend has offered the lovely Chicken and Egg she made as a giveaway for one of my MamaMoontime readers!

Read on to see how you can enter...

Chicken and Egg Pattern by Christina Lane.

MATERIALS:

This project only uses small amounts of felt and basic sewing skills.
(You can find the sewing skills on MamaMoontime's tutorials page)

For the hen and egg, you will need:

A square of white felt around 8” or 20cm
Scraps of red felt for the tongue, comb and wattle
plus a very tiny scrap of orange or yellow for the beak.

The chicken needs:

A three inch square or 8cm of yellow
Also teeny piece of orange felt for the beak and feet

EYES:

I used black beads smaller for the chicken but if you are making for a very young child you may prefer to embroider or stitch on felt eyes.

OTHER BITS:

Embroidery threads to match in white, red,orange and yellow . I used two strands of embroidery thread and mainly blanket stitch. The detail on the wing is a long straight stitch through both layers. The bead eyes I attach with a strong thread such as quilting thread or bead thread and make sure that they are well secured.

You will also need scissors, needles and pins plus a small amount of filling for the chick.

The egg sections were machine stitched, turned out and finished with a button and loop made by over sewing several strands of thread with buttonhole stitch pushed close together.You may want to use a novelty or plain button or even a hook and eye .

TO BEGIN:
Cut out your shapes.

This is what you will have.

HEN:
1. Cut a small slit in one of the hen pieces, a little below halfway and centered. Make it just big enough to fit the tail through ( you can see this on the above photo as a purple line on one of the hen body shapes). Stitch on the tail ( I did this on the back), then on the right side fold the tail to cover the slash and catch it at the sides with a couple of tiny stitches, or if you prefer whip stitch it to the body section.

Insert tail piece for the hen

Tail stitching detail

2. Place your beak and wattle (the red bit under the chin) on the hen. Pin the wattle onto the body piece so that it looks like an upside down heart and remove the beak for now. Stitch on the wattle, all around, with a small blanket stitch in matching thread.

Hen in progress

Secret within

3. Place the front and back of the hen together with the red comb placed at the top between the two pieces and blanket stitch together all around the sides. Leave the bottom open.

Joining body sections

WINGS:

4. The wings are made from paired felt shapes. This makes them firm and allows a slight curve. Pin the wing to the body referring to the photo . Stitch the two shapes together till you reach the point where it joins the body and then only stitch though a single layer at a time. When the wing is attached make a long straight stitch through both layers from each small curve on the underside of the wing.This helps to give the wing a small curve to the front.

A wing thing

Attaching the wing

5. Your hen egg-cosy or small puppet is finished and that was the “hard ” bit .

CHICKEN:

1. Onto one body piece place eyes and beak. It is easier to attach the beak first and then place the eyes. The beak is tiny and you may prefer to glue it on. I like to stitch, but again choose what best suits your style.

2. Sew the body together around the sides. There will be an opening at the base, cut a shape to fit after stuffing as the size of the opening changes . Stuff the body so that it becomes firm and egg-shaped, then tuck in the feet and close.

from below

EGG:

1. Pair the oval sections . Sew the two pairs together leaving a big enough opening to allow the chicken to be inserted. At one of side of the opening you may want to make a buttonloop and on the other sew on a button.

Egg construction

Completion

You may choose to make the egg first so the chick fits in better – so which comes first is entirely up to you.

All together

Please note that Christina's Hen Pattern is subject Copyright. The pattern is given freely for personal use to make items to, donate, sell and gift; however not to commercially mass produce. Please credit Christina as the designer. Please do not alter or sell the pattern.

Christina would also love to hear from you and see your creations! You can email her direct at mohittoe@gmail.com

Now for today's fun... a giveaway.

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This giveaway is open until SUNDAY 22ND January at 5pm Queensland Time.

I will announce the lucky MM friend on Monday both here and on Facebook.

Oh, will you be the lucky one?