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

 

Dreaming of a Kiwi Xmas

I have finally posted off my last pay-it-forward gift, it was a lot of fun putting the parcels together.  I made a handmade tea towel from the rest of my beloved retro farmyard fabric, a set of winter and spring Heart Felt postcards and being so close to Christmas I made a hand sewn felt Xmas decoration for their trees ~ all parceled up in little bags made from the pages of an old vintage children's book.




 




If you are interested in taking part in pay-it-forward, keep an eye out on their blogs for when they announce their pay-it-forward draw. 

It was fun making the felt Xmas decorations and I will be making a set for our tree this year and also some as gifts for friends and family.  I started to think up of other designs I could make.  Because Xmas falls during our summer here in New Zealand, snow, holly and reindeer seem slightly obsolete.  So I made a Pohutukawa flower which flowers during Xmas and in our garden we have these lovely Ponga fronds sprouting at the moment which reminded me of this classic New Zealand children's Christmas song and  of candy canes too.




So this is my set of Kiwi inspired felt Xmas tree decorations.  I will also be selling them on Felt if you are interested in purchasing a set for yourself or as a gift.

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

Making 'retro' things for children

Once a year our local Heart Foundation have a fun raiser by having a huge pre-loved book sale. Books of all genres are donated and collected over the year. The book sale is so huge that our local district council allows the charity the use of the town hall to hold it. Because I work at the local library all local government staff are allowed in 1 hour before the public are let in. I always feel bad because some of the public have been lining up outside the doors for at least a couple of hours!  The organizers like the staff to be out of view from the public before the doors open so one hour is never quite long enough to get right round so I prioritize ~ 

1. Children's books

2. Art/craft

3. Vinyl records 

4. History/literature

5. Gardening

6. Cooking

This year I only got to number 3 on the list, but I did pick up some lovely old children's illustrated books for my ever growing collection.   

 

The craft section had slim pickings, but one of the books I thought you might enjoy is "Making things for children" by Katie Dyson.  It was published in 1974.  

As you know I love retro children's clothing, but I also love the photography in this book and maybe just one of these days I will actually make something out of it.  Here are some of my favorite patterns.

~Play apron~

 

~Dress and Pinafore~

 

~Peasant dress~

 

Love the fabric they have used on this

~Everyday dress~

The worst pattern out of the book was this....but it did put a smile on my face.

~Crocheted beach clothes~

I picked up some other books which I will share with you soon. 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....

 
 

Nesting

Another miserable rainy cool day ~ a good day for nesting.  Three weeks and counting until baby is due. 

The anticipation has begun.....

His dresser and cot

Beautiful quilt made by Chris using reproduction vintage fabrics

Dresser with vintage gown

 

Dresser full of vintage and retro baby outfits I have collected over the past months

Beautiful cane bassinet that has been handed down in Ian's family

Basket of toys the children have gathered together from their own baby days