holidays

Family.  The stuff of life.  Art worthy subjects indeed. I feel sad for those who think otherwise, but not so sad I can't go on living. Then I get over it.

Happy New Year!

That's all today.

Christmas Eve - Christmas Day

Peter asked me would I share some of our Christmas photos...

Eve:


{Merry, by Peter}

In order to see lights on Christmas Eve in the southern hemisphere one must keep their children up pretty late :) Peter's photo.

House with Christmas tree - not ours.

Our city waterfront, Christmas Eve

Day:


{We're going to try for a non-eye squinting family photo sometime this week.}
{E & mum by Peter}





Hope it was a joyful season for all! Wishing you well in the coming New Year!

dresses & gifts

dress - Simplicity 2918. Sometimes it's such a relief to just follow instructions, but I always end up adding a couple of my own touches. The fabric was from my mom's stash. Probably intended for Christmas dresses for my sister and I years ago. Hope she's glad to see it used for her grandkids :)

ornaments - result of some embroidery doodling. linen, cotton voile and thread and a pinch of metallic thread. I really love hand stitching linen.

thread

She has been trailing me today holding her baby doll, caring for it most tenderly and persistently. She looks at me in earnest and says (more than once), "It is a real baby mummy. About a year ago you lost the baby but I looked after it for you and his name is Rose."

I don't know what to say. Rose is a beautiful name.

Something dumb comes out like, "You care for your dolly so well, Eowyn."

"It isn't a dolly it is a real baby, mummy!" And she is mightily offended.

"Hold the baby, mummy."

I take her doll. Her sister has scribbled all over it's belly with blue ink pen.

"Rose is hungry, mummy"

"Well you should feed him."

"It's your baby, mummy."

Peter takes them out for a bit and upon her return, "Did you feed the baby while I was gone mummy?"

Blundering again, "Eowyn, I think I am tired of this game with your baby..."

"It's not a game! It is a real baby!" She is yelling.

I feel somewhat desperate and look to Peter; I leave the room. He calms her and eventually succeeds in distracting her with a story in National Geographic. Leilani is interested too. A few moments later I can hear Eowyn asking him questions about dying and I wish he'd chosen a different story book...

***********************

It has been a hard day. I am relieved Peter is now on holidays. I feel good about finishing Christmas dresses for Eowyn and Leilani. I made them each a little bag to carry some of their soon to be new treasures in. I plan on making a big pot of chilli for Christmas Day and we will visit the Botanic Gardens for a photo, barring all disasters.

L improves upon my life drawing

She added a face. Her dad found her when he came home from work, brought her to my room (in which I had been pretending to sleep for a short while - it had been one of those days - I needed time out) with the improved drawing and we all burst out laughing. Peter took a few snapshots. I cropped from them the untidiness of my bedroom and my tummy showing (not a pregnant one in case I unintentionally mislead anyone).



cheeky.

and more recently

 I was very blessed to be able to spend some time with Jeanne and Ruby, two very encouraging friends. :)

recently

I won a give away, from Colleen. Hand dyed fabrics and lovely thread. It just so happens one of my girls favourite colours is purple, the other one's is yellow. Perfect :) Thanks Colleen!



A colourful parcel also arrived from Serena. Thank you!

And another from my dear sister-in-law - Thank you Sarah, the girls love their band-aids and cup cake toppers and I am burning less food (in theory) now we have that nifty timer...



Sorry I am so slow to post about these things. I'm never quite sure how to go about it, but wish to express appreciation.

Love,
J

Of Will's

One of my brother's photos.

We have a new diptych up at our blog, distributed vision (once there you can click on the photo to view it larger).

Will's Switzerland set on flickr. I've been looking through and imagining myself in a winter wonderland.

feeling settled

Home among the gum trees.
(sorry if that made anyone cringe)

our reserve

Not far from our front door. Not really 'ours' but we love it nonetheless.

{and so green this year!}

her

She's so wild and sensitive all in one.

her again

voice

Looking for it.


2010


2009




2008


2005


1996 (or thereabouts)


Thanks for bearing with me on this.

J

her quilt so far

Eowyn's.

She desperately wants to make a quilt. A big quilt. Not a doll quilt.

She cuts. We match up shapes. She tells me where the pieces go. We use the machine for sanity; foot pedal on slow setting propped up higher beneath my desk. I hover just behind her keeping an eye on small (and larger) fingers near the needle. I help keep it flat with her permission. She seems happy about it so I put my fears about ruining her life to rest (along with some of the other melodrama).

We continue working on hand stitching in another context that does not make her so angry.

Pillow!

My new Colour It Yourself Pillow from Renee of Wolfie and the Sneak. We love it. Since Leilani and Eowyn eventually colour everything in anyway (like walls - sewing machine - clothes - their bodies....) the black and white look is such a novelty that I am keeping mine uncoloured for the time being (that and I think Renee's designs work really well in black and white too!). The owl design was Eowyn's favourite - and she insists this is her cushion (it isn't - it is mine). It was really wonderful to reconnect with Renee and her family while we were in NC. I do really hope we can all do it again sometime (maybe in Oz? If enough people buy pillows? Or other lovely things in your shop? Maybe?).


{a suspiciously tidy corner of my home with Renee's owl pillow}

PS - Sorry I am such a duh - I very nearly forgot to mention the beautiful 2011calendar we ordered from Renee as well. I was completely tickled her October drawing was inspired by the photo I currently have as the back drop to my blog! She still has some left if you hurry. I am looking forward to using mine soon :)

just very busy with life

flying by this time of year. Parties, school prep, kinder prep, making pressies...washing. Always washing...

She's makin' a quilt.