Heart Felt

Dyeing woolens

This week I've taken a few steps back to why I started Heart Felt.  

Sadie was a late winter baby and even though I was over the moon to have a little girl the thought of dressing her in baby pink wasn't quite my thing.   I started picking up beautiful hand knits from the thrift stores in fabulous condition and tried to think what I could do with them to make them more my style ~ earthy, homely and natural.  

That's when I started exploring dyeing and enhancing each piece with hand sewn felt motifs.  

This is Sadie wearing the very first piece I upcycled in 2007.

 

What I love about it the unpredictable out come.   Putting that first wool item into the dye and seeing it soak up the colour like a sponge and then adding another piece in to get a slightly different tone and then pushing the dyes limit by adding one more item to it and getting a totally different outcome.  I find that exciting.  The piece you were sure was wool turns out to be an acrylic mix and it doesn't work, it's all part of it.  It does take a little bit of time so over the years I have being doing less of it, but this week I've rediscovered my love for it.

Thank-you to my friends who have passed on their wonderful knits to the next baby.....I hope you don't mind that I've hand dyed them.

 

I've got a deep stainless steel sink in my kitchen ~ but a stainless steel bucket or large stock pot are great too.   Stainless steel jug and large metal mixing spoon is good too.  I don't bother using gloves because I love having dyed stained hands for a couple of days.

 

I think the final outcomes are pretty great and I can't wait to dress the little man up in them.

 

Simple hand sewn felt motifs make each piece unique.

 

The beautiful wee hat on the right was white with blue stripes, I love how the blue wool has turned purple in the red dye.

 

This one I left just plain but changed the buttons to turquoise glass buttons.

 

Sometimes it's just nice to appreciate the knitting skills and time that have gone into some to these.

 

Just in case.....I've made one for you.  

Available in my Felt shop.

 

Facebook Sale

Sadie and I have gone through her wardrobe and pulled out some clothing  she's grown out of.  

It's hard to part with some things, but we can't keep everything.

We are having a Facebook Sale, so pop over and take a look.

 

At least we have lots of photographs to keep as memories as she grows.

Any questions regarding the sale ~ just ask.

Jx

A farm revisit

We feel very lucky that we are able to revisit the farm where we first lived when we shifted to Greytown.  We have such fond memories of our summer there, it's the house where we bought Oscar home as a newborn, we were spoilt with the most fabulous views and Charlie and Sadie enjoyed exploring the farm land as pre-schoolers.  

In the weekend we revisited the farm with Oscar.....I felt a bit sad that he doesn't remember living here, especially when it just feels like yesterday to me.  

But it's nice to be able to show him the photographs of when he was a baby here.

 

While we were there we foraged for the first mushrooms, they were small, but it's still exciting to find them.

 

and then we collected some sweet chestnuts from the ground.

 There were still plenty on the tree yet to fall.

The best way to extract them from their prickly casings is to stomp on them with your boots and then carefully collect them.

We have yet to roast them, but Daddy has big plans for them.

 

Heart Felt spring 2012

Feels like spring was rather low key for us this year.  It's normally my favourite season, but with our little surprise and with morning sickness taking over ~ it was little quiet, but still beautiful. Jxx

9 years

Recipe for Preserving Children

I found this on the internet this morning while trying to find a 'dog' craft for my 'Little Acorns' preschool group on Thursday.

 It was discovered on the inside of a vintage cooking tin.

'Recipe for Preserving Children'

Ingredients 
• 1 grassy field
• 1 half-dozen children (or more)
• Several dogs (and puppies, if available)
• 1 brook
• Pebbles

Method
1. Into field pour children and dogs, allowing to mix well.
2. Pour brook over pebbles till slightly frothy.
3. When children are nicely brown cool in warm bath.
4. When dry, serve with milk and fresh baked gingerbread.

 

It reminded me of growing up when we didn't have to worry about sun damage and we ran around like little brown berries all summer.  It put a smile on my face.

 

My sister and our dog 'Monty' at Mount Holdsworth. circa 1981

Fathers Day

My Dad....circa 1974

Turning Five

Happy Birthday my dear little Charlie boy!

Yesterday you turned 5.  It's been so exciting for you. 

You're such a happy little boy, my heart aches with your sensitive words and ways.  You're caring and you embrace the world around you.  You are a good friend, a kind brother and a beautiful son.

We love you so much and we can't wait to have more adventures with you.

Love Mama, Daddy, Sadie and Oscar. xxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Spring' that was 2010

We had a fabulous spring here in New Zealand.  Maybe a little wet....but the spring flowers were stunning.  The best part was discovering new plants and bulbs that popped up in our garden.  We have now spent two seasons in our East Street house.  Time has gone fast.

Looking forward to a warm summer!

Growing up

It's my birthday today.  

Thought I would share some photographs from my album of me when I was small. 

I love looking at my old photos.  I have very fond childhood memories growing up in New Zealand and I  base the upbringing of my own children on these memories.

At the park

Baby wearing 70s style

 

My brother feeding me an ice block

 

Me in my sandpit Dad built with my pet guinea pig

 

The strawberry thief

On the farm (with bad hair cut and freckles) Sylvester the cat and Georgie the dog 

 
   
No celebration plans, just happy to be with my family and knowing that we all love each other dearly. xx