nothing is original...

I've been thinking about this for three & a half days now. You see I've had this idea in my head, for quite some time now. I've drawn it, visualised it, fiddled about with a pattern for it, dreamt up fabric combinations for it... but I haven't made it... yet. Friday morning a tear came to my eye, for I came across a blog & there infront of my very eyes was my idea. A rough draft, but executed in a similar fashion to my design.
Aaargh, what do I do? If I still make mine, am I copying? But if I don't make it then am I shutting myself down?
It's not an original concept & I understand that many people dream the same dreams. If this person were on the other side of the world, there may not be a problem. But this lovely lass is in Melbourne & more than likely sells at markets that I would like to sell at.
I'm positive that the end products will look completely different, as we both have our own style & fabric choice, etc.
I just feel a little funny about it.
So my crafty friends... has this ever happened to you? What would you do?

Just now, after googling this quote to find a link for it, I rediscovered a post by Kylie that I had read before. It's worth reading through the comments for everyone's thoughts.
I hope your week is full of inspiration.

10 months...

The little Huckle man is 10 months (& 4 days, but he's not counting). Oooh, he's getting closer to being a whole number. I'm very excited. Birthday plans are underway, there's been lots of talk about a theme & it has been decided that a teddy bear's picnic in the park should be a fine affair. I'm currently involved in the design process of a most perfect invite to match such a splendid party.
There's been pressure from them folk who hail from the great north (namely my mum & sister), to POST SOME PHOTOS ALREADY! Sheesh! Umm, ladies... I'm very busy actually. Tough gig, huh.
So without further adieu, here is the most perfect little man in all his resplendent glory (bias... yes).
For Huckle 10 months is a time of opportunity, a time to thrive & transform all he has learnt into actions. He is so very busy, here's a little of what he's been up to...
:: standing unassisted ::
:: cruising between furniture ::
:: doing laps of the house pushing his wagon ::
:: for every frozen blueberry that enters his gob, another is placed behind his bottom... to thaw out perhaps? ::
:: he's developed a high pitched laugh, purely reserved for things that are extra funny; my version of a knee slap, I guess ::
:: cuddling is way cool, along with giving lots of slobbery kisses ::
:: when prompted, he'll high five & shake hands ::
:: often I hear nothing but silence & think he is up to mischief, but more often than not, he's sitting on the floor flipping through a book, aaah lovely ::
Happy 10 months my little Huckle man!


And it's not over until the dogs get in on the fun too. Here's a couple of outtakes. Please don't be alarmed by the small child precariously perched on the edge. Dad-dads arms were at the ready to stop a fall.

Thank you all for your sweet wishes & concern about my back. This morning I woke with only a niggle of pain & now it appears to have disappeared. So very strange. I hope it doesn't come back, I really didn't cope all that well. Yep, I'm a bit of a sook, with a low pain threshold.
I hope you had a grand weekend! Here's to a sunny week full of happy things.

my creative space... on a saturday...

Hooray! There's been some stitching in Sleepy Bye land. This little fellow is almost done. As soon as I can snap a full length shot of him, he'll be in the Nest & Bindle store looking for a new home. He has a sweet little lady friend who will be joining him as well.

I've been lying low these past few days. Feeling a bit under the weather, it seems that I have done something to my back. I've never done anything like this before... to my back. I really don't know how to deal with it. Bone, muscle or innards? I'm not quite sure. I do know that hobbling around like I'm very, very old, isn't fun. Neither is bending over to pick up Huckle... Hmmm I may have found the cause to my problem.
I hope you're having a lovely, sunny weekend. Stand tall & stretch for me, ha ha.

wednesday colour...

A little colour to brighten your week.

on mornings & acceptance...

I'm not quite sure how it happens but the end of the week hurtles past & before I know it, it's next week... tuesday in fact. How does life feel so very busy, when I don't really do much? Well I do a lot of being a mama, I guess... & then a lot of slouching about, regenerating energy cells of course. Hmmm, at least I'm never bored.
Often this past week, we've been greeted with early morning fog with quite a chill in the air. It feels like summer was long ago & winter has snuck in early. To think that yesterday, I contemplated lighting a fire... in FEBRUARY! I think I'll have to start working on some beanies & mittens for Huckle, before the real cold comes.
Gosh, I make it sound like we're going to get metres of snow. Nope, no snow here... just gale force winds, fresh off the bass strait. They gallop their way up the hills & land right on our door step. Dramatic, no?
Amidst the chill & fog, there is much to admire outside. We walk down the path, open the gate, watch three crazy dogs race down the hill, catch a glimpse of three ducks waddling back to the dam, admire the sunflowers that tower over our heads & hear the magpies sing their morning song.
Such a beautiful way to greet a new day.

:: Please note, that I am not a morning person. I struggle with removing my body from the warmth of blankets. My heavy eyelids struggle to defy gravity, whilst my weary bones creak with every movement they make. I'm cranky & cross & very unimpressed with the world for causing me the grievance of waking. So this post is to help me see the beauty of the morning & perhaps overcome the struggle. Because I have to wake up, I just have to learn to enjoy it & take it for all that it is. Aaah, acceptance is a beautiful thing. Is it not?

my creative space...

I am a tortoise.
For all things creative are slowly but surely happening around theses parts. The Hare is miles ahead, but that's ok. I'm not big on races anyway.
There are a couple of Sleepy Bye Bears coming together. I've been trialling out different linens to get the desired feel that I'm after. All that I have tried so far have had too open a weave which has caused fraying & stuffing issues. I'm happy to say that Kona have come up with the goods & their linen/cotton blend is the way to go. The backs are of course made from vintage sheets, I'm just loving the blue. Perhaps next week these two lovelies will be all stitched up... we'll see.
There's been a little more hooking too. The gum blossom blankie has aquired two more colours & I'm joining as I go to make the whole process a bit smoother (fingers crossed).

We had a magnificent storm yesterday afternoon. Huckle & I were enjoying a bit of sun when we saw it headed towards us across the hills. Needless to say, I was inside as quick as a whippet. Or something like that.
The power refused to make up it's mind & the evening was spent watching the latest series of Weeds & sitting in the dark. I think it went out about 15 times over 4 hours.
That's all from me today. I'm off to curl up on the couch with a bit of crochet while the wee man sleeps.
Pop over to Koo's to see what everyone else is up to.
Have a lovely day.

wednesday colour...

A little colour to brighten your week.
I'm really loving this group of colours. A combination that I would never have thought of myself. So much can be inspired by the natural world; colours, shapes, pattern... the list is endless.
I hope your week is full of colour & inspiration.

satdy, sundy, mondy, tuesdy...

I've just been pottering about these past few days. We've had a bit of a spring clean... a bit late yes, but cleansing & refreshing none the less.
The gorgeous weather has been much appreciated, everyone & thing is happy. Shiny sun is good for everyone... dogs, chooks, sunflowers, tomatoes... you get the gist, I'm sure.
Here's some snapshots of the days past.





By the way... see them taties up there. We grew them! I'm so excited. This is just half a plant's worth & we planted about forty of the blighters. Hooray for taties! But I probably won't be saying that in a month, when I start to look like one.

nine... almost ten...

I'm just playing a bit of catch up with some Huckle stats.
The wee man is 9 1/2 months old. I know I say this every month, but indulge me here a little... "time really does fly".
I finally got around to snapping his nine month portrait, doesn't he look dapper.
:: he has a lovely set of eight toothiepegs ::
:: his crawl is fast & determined, with little hands stomp, stomp, stomping ::
:: walking is aided by mama, dad-dad & various furniture ::
:: standing alone happens every now & then ::
:: he beats upon his drum & xylophone & anything else in sight ::
:: dogs & chooks are chased & patted, while squealing with delight ::
:: he'll shake your hand, give you five & wave goodbye ::
:: kisses & cuddles are plentiful, they really melt our hearts ::

There's so much more to this little man, but I could be here for hours.
Also his eight month photo, taken christmas eve. My how he has changed. It's so amazing to watch this wee babe grow into a little boy.
Happy friday to you all! I hope the weekend is full of good things.

magical...

Whenever I place these pretties upon my feet, the day is happy & bright.
Hooray for magical shoes, I shall wear you everywhere.
Shoes by walnut, a birthday gift from my sweet sister. Thank you Melly. x

my creative space...

A little hooking has been happening here & there. This piece is finally coming to fruition after a little "wednesday colour" inspiration a while back.Pop over to Koo's for a mountain of inspiration.

wednesday colour...

A little colour to brighten your week.

Wednesday colour is back up & running. I can't wait to share some of my latest colour finds.
This lovely offerring of hydrangea is now in my kitchen, making me smile whenever I see it.
I hope it makes you smile too.

in my kitchen...

The boys have popped up town for some manly errands & have left me to my own devices. For a moment I had a battle of ideas, craft? or cook? I could have gone either way, but instead of procrastinating I acted like a "grown up" & just picked one. Cook it was.
Our garden has presented us with an abundance of basil. So while the sun shines & the basil groweth, pesto shall be had by all.
I made just over a litre of the good stuff & now it is safely tucked away to freeze. When the days get shorter, it will be the perfect reminder of summer past.
There's been honeycomb eaten straight from the frame... delicious! Most of the honey has been drained & I've chopped the honeycomb up for further indulgences. Samuel is on the beehive mission now, for our very own colony.
There's veggie stock bubbling away & chickpeas too. I'm making chickpea, tomato & bread soup for tea. The recipe is from "Plenty", by Yotam Ottolenghi. Such a beautiful cookbook, full of many tasty ways with vegetables. A birthday gift from Samuel.
And check out these blackberries from our weekly fruit & veg box. Too good for jam, must be eaten & savoured one by one. I've also been picking some wild blackberries out in the paddock. Nasty things they are, with their sharp thorns. But I think it's worth it. The paddock pickings are no match for these babies though.I've somehow managed to summon the kitchen gods & have also channelled my energy into baking a loaf of bread & perhaps something sweet as well. Now to make Huckle food, then I'm off for a nap.
I hope your day has been super productive & fun too.

the good, the bad & the ugly...

WARNING... this post is a tad whingy & perhaps with a hint of sarcasm too.

The good...

:: I turned over another year on monday. Older, wiser, presents & lunch with my boys ::
:: Feeling loved. Birthday wishes from near & far. Thank you so much everybody, you really made my day ::
:: Our vegie garden is out of control. Beans, tomatoes, zucchini, potatoes, potatoes... did I say potatoes! ::
:: The little Huckle man. Chatting away in his dadada, mamamama, nanananana way ::
:: Adventuring like never before, finding all sorts of mischief ::
:: The creativity hamsters are working overtime in my little pin head. I'm so excited to make some new things ::
:: SUNFLOWERS!!! Giants of the plant world growing in my garden, towering over my head ::


Here's my wonderful watch modelling skills.
Watch courtesy of the dear husband, smirking mug & E.T fingers by yours truly.

The bad...

:: Crankiness. I'm shrouded in cranky & I'm not entirely certain as to why ::
:: It could be the fact that I'm getting hives in the middle of summer (usually reserved for the freezing depths of winter) ::
:: Maybe it's because instead of swanning about in a singlet & cut-offs, I'm layered up like an eskimo! ::
:: I'm not really getting anything done. I'm still to figure out if this is feeding the crankiness or if it is a bi-product of said crankiness ::
:: We lost two chickens while we were away. I'm missing having an abundance of eggs. I think we need some barnevelders ::

The ugly...

:: It's definitely not so bad that there's an "ugly", it just made the title sound better ::


It felt good to get all that out, I've been a bit lost for words lately & I think this may have cleared the air.

Do you have a good, bad & ugly list too? I'd love to read it.
I hope your week is full with lots of good. How's that for good english.

postcards...

Here's some more pics from our trip, in no particular order.
Fields & fields of sweetcorn somewhere near coffs harbour.
Boats on the tweed river.
Our view from my father in law's apartment, where we stayed on the gold coast.
Church in cann river.
Beach at yuraygir national park.
Lace monitor.
Magnificent heron in flight.
House of crab.
New born calf in binna burra.
A V8 clinker on the lake at bournda national park, Samuel was smitten.
I hope you're having a great weekend, despite the very trying weather.

home sweet home...

Well, we arrived home on tuesday night, but I've been a bit overwhelmed since. The house & garden were in serious need of attention & my brain is trying its hardest to turn the dusty cogs & get back into gear.
We had a great week camping along the east coast. It really was a week full of adventure, involving welding a tow bar, fixing a caravan, a three legged dingo, lace monitors, chilled out kangaroos, risotto stealing possums, a red bellied black snake (almost stepped on by Samuel), driving in 45 degree heat in an overheating car... with no air con! And so much more that just isn't coming to mind right now. I look forward to sharing more when I get everything back into some vague form of order.
Here a few of my favourite pics from our week.



I feel so fortunate to have had this time out when so many others are recovering from floods & cyclones. I truly can't believe the size of cyclone Yasi, my thoughts are with those who have been affected. My mum, sister & nephew evacuated their Yarrabah home & bunkered down at a friends house. I was so relieved to get the call from Dad today to say they are all safe & sound. This weather business is crazy this year. Coming up to Brisbane Samuel drove through Warwick just hours before the roads were cut & on our last day of driving we got through before the princes was shut due to the Nowa Nowa fire. We really do live in a country of great extremes, don't we.
Please bear with me while I get back into it. After more than a month away, I'm having to re-learn the rhythm of home. If you are waiting on an email or a parcel in the post, tomorrow is my day of catch up. Thank you for your patience.
Have a lovely day tomorrow! I look forward to being back in this space again.