Heart Felt

Looking back ~ November 2008

Yes, I'm still here ~ patiently waiting in anticipation.  Baby was doing some major somersaults last night, I can't believe he has enough room in there to even move a limb!

Here are my favorite photographs from one year a go.  Sadie started walking this time last year ~ I can't believe how much Charlie has grown and we definitely weren't contemplating in having another baby.  
So much can happen in a year. xx


Self seeded poppies in the vegetable garden




Charlie reflecting




Sadie studying a flower from the garden




Sadie helping to sow sunflower seeds




Sadie in her sun bonnet




Charlie watering the garden




Sadie wearing my most favorite thrift dress




Sadie with a garden snail




Sadie taking her first steps



A lot of photographs of Sadie ~ but it was a such an incredible time of development ~ mentally and physically for her!

Guy Fawkes

I love fire works and bonfires ~ the smell, colors and even the noise.  One week a year we are legally allowed to purchase fireworks to celebrate Guy Fawkes.

I bought some this year because I thought the children would enjoy it for the same reasons as I do, but you forget that the rest of the year you are warning them about keeping away from fire and that fire is dangerous.  So I shouldn't be surprised that they were absolutely terrified of the whole display.  Charlie calmed once we put a pair of ear muffs over his ears ~ but Sadie was not going to have any part of it. 

Well I still enjoyed it. xx

 

Thrift finds for October

Another month has past and here are my best thrift finds for the month of October.

Only New Zealander's will remember getting their cream in these glass bottles.  I was thrilled to find one which I'm currently using as a vase.

I have found a matching enamel kitchen bowl to go with the jug I found a couple of months back.  Looks great in my old kitchen.

 

So in love with this red leather suitcase with incredible interior including an old Air New Zealand baggage label.

  

Retro child's bed sheet

 

Handmade child's smock that ties up the back.  It will be great for Sadie to wear while she is painting or cooking.  Love the retro apple fabric!

 

I won't be dying this beautiful little cardigan ~ I just love the wee nautical wool embroidery detail on it.  Will be great for our baby boy when it turns cool.

 

A couple of pieces of lovely fabric, I have already used the pink roses as a dress for Sadie.

 

and this lovely machine embroidered table cloth ~ love~

Happy thrifting! xx

Fairground

Today we had a family day out at the fairground.  Candy floss, ghost train, merry-go-round, sideshows, hot dogs, balloons, ferris wheel, bright colors, screams of delight and fun.


Charlie on the merry-go-round




Trying his luck on the side shows....




Charlie and Daddy....Charlie looking a bit over whelmed.....




Bright colors of the ferris wheel to brighten up the dull sky....




Sadie unsure about the horses on the merry-go-round.....

Inspiration

Currently sewing has been a continuous process in our household.  I am inspired by the lovely pieces of fabric I have been picking up from thrift shops, the anticipation of the new baby, living in the countryside and piles of sewing books I have borrowed from libraries from around the country.

It's nice to think that my creativity has inspired the children to be creative also.  Charlie wanted to sew with me, but he didn't want to just sew stitches, he wanted to sew 'something'.  This is his first attempt - a beautiful leaf.....I'm very proud of his imagination and the thought he put into his creations.

He continued to make a 'shoe' with a big button and some 'rabbit skin for Sadie's leg' (not quite sure where that one came from except we had inspected a dead rabbit on the road the day before.  Why it's for Sadie's leg......goodness knows.)

Sadie's sewing consisted of pinning a piece of bright red felt with a big green button to the sofa.

Some more creativity....

Dress from vintage fabric and pixie hats with felt motifs.

Pass-it-forward gifts in progress....(hopefully ladies your parcels will be on their way before baby arrvies.)

Sadie has been painting....

 

and some pavement art.....

 

What inspires you?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Farm walk

With many rainy days recently, we haven't had a lot of opportunity to explore the farm.  There was a break in the weather this morning but with the mountains looking dark with more rain clouds closing in, we thought we had better take the chance and get some exploring in before we were shut indoors for another afternoon.  At least with all the rain the grass is long and green ~ plenty for the cows to enjoy.

Do you remember doing this as a child.  Picking a buttercup flower and rubbing it under your chin.  If it left a yellow spot it meant you liked butter.

Like her daddy, Sadie is very ticklish

 

Yellow Admiral butterfly

 

Cows enjoying the spring grass

 
 
 
 We found this old derelict farm cottage 

I'm not sure what the secret was.....

Plenty of dandelion seeds to spread....

Have a happy weekend.  xx
 
 

Farm walk

With many rainy days recently, we haven't had a lot of opportunity to explore the farm.  There was a break in the weather this morning but with the mountains looking dark with more rain clouds closing in, we thought we had better take the chance and get some exploring in before we were shut indoors for another afternoon.  At least with all the rain the grass is long and green ~ plenty for the cows to enjoy.

Do you remember doing this as a child.  Picking a buttercup flower and rubbing it under your chin.  If it left a yellow spot it meant you liked butter.

Like her daddy, Sadie is very ticklish

 

 
 
 We found this old derelict farm cottage 

I'm not sure what the secret was.....

Plenty of dandelion seeds to spread....

 
 

Pay-it-forward

Sorry about the delay, but Heather, Mazzy, Briar, Gabrielle and Marlya you will be the lucky participants in the pay-it-forward giveaway.  Email me with your addresses and in the next few weeks and you will receive a Heart Felt parcel!  In return you need to select five readers from your blog to 'pay-it-forward'!

Photographs: A visit to a neighboring farm

 

Sewing for baby

The recent horrible weather has given me the opportunity to get the sewing machine out and sew some new things for our baby due in four weeks.  

I have found this book wonderful.  Simple but funky patterns for beginner sewers like myself.  A couple of projects were challenging but I feel my confidence has grown since trying them out and the results being reasonably successful.  

 

The book is laid out beautifully ~ it's worth getting hold of a copy just to have a flick through.

All the fabrics I used were the pieces I found in thrift stores last month along with the cotton.  The only things I bought new were elastic, some binding and the two anchor buttons. (I was hoping to find a couple of old retro ones in Mum's old button tin ~ but with no success)

Teeny-tiny goody-two-shoes ~ project by Allison Jones ~ page 12.

 

Cutest ever baby knickers ~ project by Nichola Prested ~ page 52

 

Yoga pants for happy babies ~ project by Shannon Lamden ~ page 100

I have so much of the retro farmyard fabric I made this pinafore for Sadie using an old 1970s pattern that was given to me.  We call it her 'farm dress'.

I also tried out Melissa's wrap dress tutorial to make a dress for a little girl called Poppy.  It's the first time I have used binding (which I bought ~ didn't have the confidence to make my own) It's not perfect ~ but for my first go I'm reasonably happy.  I hope Poppy doesn't mind being a model for my experimental sewing projects.

Daisies

The field hasn't had cows in it for a few weeks now ~ the grass is long, green and lush. It's covered in large beautiful white daisies with bright yellow centers.

Sadie putting daisies behind her ear

 

Badger, our old dog is very blind and quite deaf ~ but farm life has given him a new lease of life. I'm sure he is smiling in this photograph.

 

Taking in the moment with a lap of daisies picked for me by Charlie.

 

Charlie ~ he's a sensitive soul ~ "Mama, this is our beautiful home".