Heart Felt

Our last 'hurrah' to autumn!

As it is 'Mothers Day' today, Ian was expecting a busy day in the restaurant.  I'm recovering from a nasty cold and the thought of being stuck inside with a two year old all afternoon by myself made me shudder.  So I thought I had better arrange an activity to keep him occupied for the afternoon. 

As winter closes in, we decided to have our last 'hurrah' to autumn.  Ian and I took the children down to the park to collect various foliage such as leaves of different colors, pine cones, sticks etc. My plan was to do some collage using the things we found in the park.

This image felt very 'Japanese'

Stuff of fairy tales, Fly Agaric toadstool, extremely poisonous, but also extremely beautiful

Basket fungus, very alien looking

We took our small treasures home and I dried the leaves out on newspaper while Charlie had his afternoon nap.  When he woke I gathered the leaves up into a basket, put out paper, sticky tape and crayons out onto the floor and we went to it, creating our collage tributes to autumn.  Something that started out as a distraction turned into a full blown afternoon of fun craftiness!

Our materials

Charlie putting pieces onto his collage

Leaf rubbing's

Adding the finishing touches

Crowning Glory!

I also listed some new 'Heart Felt' knits today on Trade Me, including this lovely crochet cot blanket with felt hearts and a raw edged appliqué fabric rose.  Don't forget that I always have more items listed on Felt and Etsy.

   

Hi, This is Me!

I didn't go to work today, I'm home with a wicked sore throat, nose streaming and aching neck.  The children are at daycare and Ian is at work, so for a change I am home all by myself!  Browsing through my blog I realized that I have never given you too much information about myself.  So here are a few things about ME.

I paint.  This is a sneak at one of my pieces hanging in our dining room.  Acrylic on canvas titled 'Stella'.  In the past I have sold a few pieces, but sadly it has been one of my things that has fallen to the wayside since having children.

My taste in decor vary from Retro funk

to Art Deco and Art Nouveau

I collect art books and children's illustrated novels from between 1880-1940,

Ian and I prefer to listen to vinyl LPs rather than CDs.  Music taste is very ecliptic, from Jazz, Brit pop, Beatles, classical, 70s glam rock to Johnny Cash.

I am a sucker for vintage clothes and jewelery and have way too many

My project at present is to landscape our section, here is Dad and his friend laying a brick boarder and mowing strip for us.

Ian and I had our 'overseas experience' a few years ago but our long term goal is to travel overseas again but this time with the children.  One day we would like to own a property where I can keep a pig, chickens and pony.

I am proud and feel very lucky to live in New Zealand. It's beauty over whelms me at times and we try our hardest to live the 'clean green lifestyle'.

My new passion at present is the hand made revolution and I try to support it in as many ways as possible.  I have met some fabulous people since starting Heart Felt and this blog and I hope to meet many more of you soon.

This is ME! xx

Heart Felt weekend with cousins

The children had a lovely weekend with their cousins from Taranaki.  They had a wonderful time playing and it was great to catch up with my sister Jess and my brother Todd (Charlie calls him Fireman Todd, because funny enough he is a fireman!).  They are both regular visitors to this blog and after my posting about Schoc chocolate from Greytown, Jess insisted in me taking her, she was NOT disappointed!  She also thought that the pizzas at Cuckoo Cafe were the best she had ever eaten.  Highlight of the weekend, watching Charlie and Jack play, eating chocolate and watching the Flight of the Concords on DVD with Todd and Jess until midnight.

Charlie and Kasey having a leaf fight



Cousin Jack



Jack and Charlie talking 'boy talk'



Jack and Charlie in action



Choosing their chocolates



Cousin Samantha and Sadie



'Just because she's cute' photograph

Best purchases of April

I love Lucy's Place, the clothing is simple, practical and beautiful.  This top I bought for Sadie for next summer, the cotton is gorgeous!  If you have a few minutes visit Lucy's blog, very sweet.

Tables and chairs from Picopico.  Charlie and I eat, play, draw and talk at this table.  The chairs are strong enough for adults, child friendly and they look great too!

This vintage child's hooped petticoat from a local op shop, not sure if it will ever get worn, but it is divine.

Chocolate from Schoc in Greytown, it is wicked, VERY wicked!

This sweet necklace from made by Love Hate, I have had so many comments on it.

 

Bedtime

Tonight I will be going to bed hoping like mad that Sadie will sleep right through like she did last night.  Please Please Please let this be a new routine!

Auntie Mary came back from the UK today and to Charlie's delight she bought him a London double decker bus.  Charlie insisted on taking it to bed, a bit crowded with him, Morgan Bear, Thomas The Tank Engine novelty pillow and a big red bus!

Bedtime stories before bedtime.  Love those books on diggers and trucks! Can't get enough of them.

Fungi Fun

After visiting the war memorial we went for a walk around the park oval, we were amazed at all the different variety of fungi we found.  It ended up being a bit of game between me and Kasey, who could find the most colorful, who could find the biggest, who could find the smallest, who could find the creepiest looking and who was the quickest in keeping Charlie from stomping on them.

Who would of thought that fungi were so much fun?

Lest we Forget

I took the children to the park this morning specially to visit the war memorial where flowers and wreaths had been laid for ANZAC Day.  Charlie was intrigued with all the red poppies which is a symbol of remembrance for those fallen.  Kasey looked for names on the memorial that he recognized. 

My thoughts were given to the mothers who watched their sons go off to war.......some who were never to see the sons again.

Those heroes that shed their blood
and lost their lives;
You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country.
Therefore rest in peace.
There is no difference between the Johnnies
and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side
here in this country of ours.
You, the mothers,
who sent their sons from far away countries,
wipe away your tears;
your sons are now lying in our bosom
and are in peace.
After having lost their lives on this land they have
become our sons as well."

Ataturk, 1934

Charlie's trip to the capital

We had a lovely surprise on Monday night, big cousin Kasey arrived for the school holidays.  Charlie was so excited to see him.  So on Tuesday we decided to take the children down to Wellington for the day.  Charlie hasn't been to Wellington for about five months.  All of a sudden he has just realized how exciting and different the city is compared to small town living.  The construction sites! The tunnels! The train tracks!  The sea!  The castles! (castles being high rise buildings)  He was wide eyed all day, what a wonderful and exciting experience for him!

Charlie and Kasey at 'the buckets' in Cuba Street

Enjoying some bakery treats

Some of the lovely old architecture in Cuba Street

Tired boys

Pavement art

With the southerly passing we were able to venture outdoors today.  Being inside all day with a two year old can have it's trials.  The other day I bought some pavement chalk.  The concrete outside was just perfect to draw on after the rain.  The damp concrete made the chalk soft and subtle and it glided over smoothly.  Charlie had fun running around in circles on the train track that I drew for him.  It's lovely seeing his imagination developing.  He also enjoyed getting dusty with an array of pastel colors.

After a change of clothes, a bowl of homemade soup and a two hour afternoon nap we ventured out for our afternoon walk.  It is lovely seeing the trees changing color and finding little treasures such as acorns and small crab apples.

Morgan Bear and Sadie all bundled up, taking it all in. (Sadie, not Morgan Bear)

Cold comforts

We were in town this morning and Ian (who is thinks he is a cat whisperer) spied this cat sunning himself in the middle of town.  He wanted me to post it on the blog....so here it is.....A cat sunning himself....

I think he was making the most of the sun before the weather took a turn. A southerly snap hit which bought the rain and cold.  A harsh reminder that winter is just around the corner.  So the rest of the day was taken up with indoor activities.

Sadie has just started crawling this week so I was pleased to find a lovely pair of vintage knitted crawlers.  I have dyed them a gorgeous green (they were a baby orange pastel color) and decorated the bum with a chocolate brown felt heart.  They fit her like a glove and they look very adorable, perfect for a cold day like today.

I did some sewing.....

made some soup.....

Got some "Heart Felt" knits ready to list on Trade Me tomorrow.....

and the washing pile got higher.....

all that is left to do now is snuggle down with the kids, have a bowl of soup, read and maybe do some knitting.