Friday, February 25, 2011

{this moment}

Joining in {this moment} at Soulemama.

group photo


Finally... the group photo of the mermaids heading up to Queensland for Hope Softies. Packed in like sardines, and looking very colourful all together. For those that are curious, the pattern is from Wee Wonderfuls: 24 Dolls to Sew and Love. I did change the instructions slightly to accommodate sewing with felt, and that in turn cut down my sewing time quiet significantly- a big bonus when sewing in bulk. Goodbye lovely Mermaidens, I do hope you all find wonderful homes! 


Monday, February 21, 2011

passing it on

Let me take you back to the late 80's, I was in primary school. It would have been a hot December evening and the school hall in our little country town was packed with noisy children and parents ready to watch the end of year presentation night. I knew in advance that I was recieving the award for my class, and I was ever hopeful that the prize would be a voucher for 'Angus & Robertson'. They had done that in previous years, and I was eager to recieve the same. As the night wore on, my name was eventually called out. I couldn't have been more excited- the award for 'outstanding progress' also came with the $20 book voucher!
I probably had to wait a month or so before spending the voucher, as we lived in a very remote town and travelling to a bigger shopping center was not something we did very often. The waiting seemed to make the eventual trip, seem even more exciting.



Lovable Mini-Dolls was the book I carefully chose after making a quick bee-line to the craft/sewing section. It was one purchase I would never regret. This book was the one that I poured hours and hours of time into as a child and it helped develop my love for sewing and handicrafts.
I remember making all sorts of bugs, critters, birds, animals and people. None of which I have kept, most (or all) were gifted to friends.

Recently Grace has been showing an interest in sewing toys after watching me put together the mermaids. I pulled this book out to show her today, and instantly she was charmed. She picked out her first project, and while Jude napped we sewed together.

It felt so good, passing on a book, but more importantly passing on the skill that goes with it.

She listened intently, and to my surprise stitched away with ease. If the thread fell out of the needle, she licked the end of it and carefully threaded it back in, then continued on. "It doesn't matter if it's a bit messy to me Mum, because I am keeping it, and I don't mind... I will try my best though" she excitedly chattered as she mastered her new skill. "Now I can knit and sew!"



I stitched the face on for her, as she thought that might be a bit challenging for day one of sewing, but she stitched around all the edges and had a good go at stuffing it. We didn't get around to the hat or flowers bit, but she wasn't fussed.

It was the perfect project for a quiet Sunday afternoon, and time well spent with my precious big girl.
Love you Grace x

Friday, February 4, 2011

{this moment}

Joining in {this moment} at Soulemama.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

30mm for 30th














Hello friends. Let me introduce you to my new favorite camera lens- the Sigma 30mm F1.4.
See, I had a rather important birthday (back in the whirlwind that was December) and my good husband decided that a fine gift for a girl with a camera would be a sweet lens for taking prettier photos. Actually... he probably just said "what do you want for your birthday darlin?" and then I replied by ordering myself the Sigma 30mm off the net. That's how we work, and it's good.

Be that as it may, this lens is a keeper. It makes photographing for me much more enjoyable. If I remember correctly, it hasn't left my camera since I ripped it out of its box. Yup, that good.
Unfortunately, I dont know all the technical camera/lens/photography jargon, so I probably cant talk it up all you would like to hear. But believe me, it's a winner.

I hope you enjoyed the photos above (taken with the Sigma 30mm F1.4 on the Canon 550D). A few firsts in there- first ripe tomatoes off our vines, first gappy grin for Grace, first family holiday to the South Coast. So many special memories made.