I've been dreaming about bathrooms

dappled light and dark walls

natural finishes

continuity of bath joinery and vanity gives a clean line

around the room

floating timber grain cabinet and stone basin

low dividing shower wall

timber and white - clean and simple

It's time for our bathroom to get a makeover. Now that I have started to look at all these modern spaces I can only see the flaws in our old 1957 time capsule bathroom. I had hoped that one day we could rebuild the room to resemble a modern day version of the fifties style, but alas, it will not be. I long for a simple, bright, practical, easy to clean room. No pink, no blue, no teeny tiny tiles on the floor with stained dirty grout , no more dribbly pathetic shower rose, no more mouldy shower curtain, bad ventilation, poor lighting, no no no. I will continue to dream and hope that one morning when I walk in for a shower the bathroom fairy will have worked her magic!

they may be scraps for some...

...but not for others!

I've been replenishing my scrap fabric collection lately.

Found these lovelies at the Bowerbird Bazaar market from Surface Art. The first thing that comes to mind is a skirt for moi.... I think one of pieces is large enough to do a front panel... oooh....could be a goer.

Then I was super dooper lucky to win these Maze and Vale handprinted pieces by the clever Leslie Keating over on her blog. Oh yeah, I was pretty chuffed. She seems to always add a little extra to the package, like this a few years ago. Last week she threw in the linen circle brooch. So sweet. Thanks Leslie!

Goodbye and adios to this collection of toys. They're heading off to a new retailer here in Adelaide. Will let you know more when they are in store :)

Wishing all the mums and grandmas a lovely day for tomorrow xx

remember these? note to self...

While thinking about the future of my blogging life (yesterday) I decided to reflect on some of the past entries and found myself reminiscing (hence the decision to keep at it - writing this blog, that is). I found these cushions in the archives, which I had long forgotten about. I am featuring them today to remind myself to get back to making cushions like this. I feel the need for a change in direction for a while. I changed my hair. Tick. Now I need to reinvigorate my sewing experience as I have lost my mojo.... yes again!

Like to also try another one of these shirt cushions, buttons, pockets and all.

More memory cushions would be great gifts for family - there is no lack of material to work with!

dear blog,

The thought of stopping you crossed my mind this morning. I was thinking that it hardly seems worth the effort to post, considering it is so random and with no clear direction. In January 2008 when we first started, I really had no idea where it would take me - no expectations. It was fun and I enjoyed keeping a record of my thought processes and life happenings. At no stage do I want to feel like this is a drag, and if so, then that shall be the end. So I rationalised the situation and decided that continuing is worthwhile, even if, for purely selfish reasons, it is just for myself to look back on in years to come and remember where life took me. I hope you too have no expectations and can come along for the haphazard ride, as that really is what it is like to know me in real life! I'm a loyal friend - honest and real - but not always around. I slip off the radar, forget to return messages, often don't answer my phone and don't check in as often as I know I should. My dearest and longest friends know that there is no ill intent and it's nothing personal. They also know that the next time we chat, it will seem like we only saw each other yesterday. Thanks for understanding. Fi xx
PS. We have a lot to catch up on - promise I will fill you in soon ;)

PPS Do you like my new do? Gone back to red, haven't been there for several years!

I'm in party planning mode

We have a special family birthday just around the corner. Yes indeed, it has almost been one year since the arrival of Quinn Alice, or Quinnie as she is known around these parts.

I'm currently collecting birthday party ideas and finding plenty of inspiration online. In celebration of Easter and Quinn's birthday I've put together a treasury of Etsy finds to capture the colours and feel I have in mind for her party. Going with pastels, balloons and flowers. We're having an afternoon tea party at home which fits nicely with the pretty, girlie styling. Click the image for links.

I've just ordered a customised file of this invitation from The Parchment Place, as life is too busy now to faff around designing my own invitations (especially when there are so many beautiful ones available at the click of a button).

Think I'll make some of these jellybean bracelets

How cute are these chocolate covered marshmallows (which also score points for easy preparation)

...and rainbow fruit kebabs (why have I never tried these before??)

These balloon and streamer decorating ideas are a winner. Could take a little effort, but it would be super cute to create an ombre effect with pastel colours...mmmm

OK so I did mention that I was time poor... but... in a parallel universe where I have plenty of free time I would make these...

...and these...

...and these.

I need a personal assistant. Actually, that is not the truth. I need a cleaner! That way I can spend more time doing the fun stuff that comes with motherhood :)

Oh dear!

Hello! How are you? It's been a while between drinks. Nothing personal ;)

It's always hard to know what to share when it's been so long since checking in. I'm not very good at working out priorities, never been a strength of mine. In fact I tend to get caught up in the small detail which is often of very little significance, but there you go, you probably didn't really need to know that. Oops.

So.... getting back to much more interesting things.

I have been having a fling with Pinterest.


Yes, I am over there having a wow of a time. Seriously, what can be more fun than creating pinboards for all the lovely things, ideas and inspirations that one finds online? It has always been a dilemma of mine to know where to store these so I could find them later - bookmarking never seemed to work for me - it's just not visual enough! Feel free to follow my pins here or send me your email and I can invite you in as a friend.

I have had a few evening dates with my sewing machine and finally brought to life a new design (which has been floating around in my head for a couple of years). Introducing...the Stop Light. Tada.


Oh and also a golf club and retro tool set for good measure.

Of course you can still check out my toys on Etsy but now, in addition, if you are in Australia you can also find me at Down That Little Lane. I am fortunate to have been invited to sell my wares in this delightful little online store run by Tessa White. Seriously, if you love all things unique and desirable, this is a one stop shop!

sunday | cricket + fairies

Yesterday afternoon we packed our bags and jumped on the train to the city (Adelaide, South Australia) where we parted ways - his and hers.

The boys turned left up King William Street and joined the swarming green and gold crowd heading to the cricket - a one day match between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval. I felt excited for Sachin as it was his first time to such a big event. In typical Sachin style he took it all in his stride and gave me the "what's the big deal Mum?" look. We have been talking about his namesake, Sachin Tendulkar batting for India, but unfortunately he didn't play. Now I wasn't there, but rumour has it that there was not much cricket watched but plenty of colourful people and atmosphere to soak up. The photos seem to support that story.

We ladies continued along North Terrace and took a left turn into the South Australian Museum, where we spent the next hour on a guided tour with Miss Ruby. She seems to have a strange fascination with an archaeology exhibit displaying the many layers of the earth's floor, in particular, the layer of rubbish that has been left behind over the last 10,000 years. Along the way we "didn't" look at the giant squid 7 times because it is very scary, but seemed to keep passing it. Ruby conjured up enough braveness to check out the Egyptian room for the first time but kind of freaked out over the mummies. Can't blame her, they are quite spooky, especially when you are a big Scooby Doo fan with a vivid imagination! In need of food, we hit the lawn out front of the Museum for snacks and let little Quinn out of her stroller to stretch her legs.

Fuelled and ready to go again, the next stop was the Botanical Gardens. We were on a mission to find the Rainbow Fairies. Apparently, our friend Lexie has seen them there. We inspected many flowers, looked under rocks, in holes, under leaves and in the trees. We even checked out the giant water lillies but those fairies were not ready to be seen. However as we left the gardens to go home, Ruby whispered to me that she did see one of the fairies. Bet you can't guess which one?!?!?

Yep. It was Ruby the Red Fairy. "For real" !!