My Creative Space

Look who I Finally finished!

It has taken me a while, mostly because I was being a bit of a perfectionist on this project, but at last, I have finished my Waldorf doll!

I am so pleased with how she has turned out. Now I am hoping to start a second one so both my girls have a doll for christmas this year. 

More creativity here. 

Television

I don't quite know when the TV crept into our lives, It wasn't like I opened the door and welcomed it in. Rather, it was more like an earth worm, that slowly wiggled it's way into our days. I would turn it on in the mornings to watch the breakfast news, then often Holly would ask if she could watch a cartoon, then, well... it just seemed to always be on. The background drone in our lives.

One day, I looked over at my little girl, standing up close to the TV, watching some cartoon that I don't even know the name of and I thought 'ENOUGH!'. This is not what I want for my family. I don't want my children's memories of their childhood to be of cartoons they used to watch. I want their memories to be of the being and the doing, of playing, exploring and having fun.

So we turned off the TV. No more breakfast news, no more cartoons, no more background noise. The first few days, I had a few requests from Holly but quickly she moved on. It is actually amazing how much more fun we have now without it. Rather than watching TV, we now fill our days with stories, music, dancing, singing, playing, reading, painting, drawing and walking.

Don't get me wrong, I am not militant on it, I still let Holly watch an episode of Little Einstein's while I am settling the little one for her nap. There are still a couple of shows that my husband and I like to watch some evenings, but on the whole, it is off.

There are times, like when I am cooking dinner,  I know it would be easier to just turn on the TV and voila! Instant babysitter. Instead, I have had to become creative. I get Holly to help me with tasks in the kitchen and set Isla up with an array of containers, and kitchen instruments to play with.

The rewards have been well worth it.

We have unplugged the TV and plugged into life instead.

Flea Market Finds

My little girls first birthday present! I found this lovely little wooden rocking horse in a junk shop and literally could not believe my eyes. I had been wanting to get her something special to mark her first year of life in December and this fits the bill perfectly.

My Creative Space

I made these two wee poppets for the girls.

Now that I know how to make the Waldorf heads, I am finding it easy to adapt them to all kinds of little dolls. Both of the girls are loving these cuddly little ones.

My big Waldorf doll is almost finished, just a couple of items of clothing left to do. She is looking great, can't wait to see Holly's face when she see's her on christmas morning.

What a Week

I have come to the conclusion that in a past life my husband must have done some bad, bad things, like being a serial killer or something, and karma is somehow kicking him up the butt now.

You might recall a while ago, I told you about the horrific car accident he was in when we were younger. You would kinda think that that was all his bad luck used up right?.... wrong!

On Sunday while up skiing, he fell and managed to break his hip. He is mortified. Firstly because his ski season has now come to an abrupt finish and secondly because, in his words "I thought only old crumbly people broke their hips".

So at present, life revolves around daily trips to the hospital, which is not a lot of fun with 2 little ones in tow. Especially with Isla's adventurous spirit. She is off in a jiffy down the corridor to befriend anyone and everyone. We have however discovered, that a blown up rubber glove can keep them amused for a surprisingly long time.

Fingers crossed he will be home next week.

Home Made Crayons- Tutorial

Holly and I had a blast making these little crayons the other day, using all the broken and worn down crayons she had in her little crayon box. They were super easy to make, so I thought I would share the 'recipe' with you all.

• Preheat oven to 160 degrees Celsius
• Take all your crayons, remove any paper and group into similar colours.
• Break  crayons into small pieces
• Place crayon pieces into small silicone moulds (I used one of those trays that you use to freeze baby food, as they were the perfect size and shape)
• Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes or until crayons have melted.
• Remove carefully from oven. 
• Leave until completely cool before turning out of mould.
• Go and colour something in! Enjoy. 

My Creative Space

This week I am knitting a dress for the little one, using that 70s dress pattern. Looking forward to seeing how this one turns out,  I love knitted dresses on little girls.

More creativity here.

Wardrobe Wednesday

Another family shot this week, note Holly's diva pose- too cute!

Me-
Dress: Workshop
Leggings: Jeanswest
Boots: Hannah's

Holly-
Top: ClaireBear
Skirt: JKs
Pantyhose: Pumpkin patch
Shoes: The Warehouse

Isla-
Top: hand knit
Pants: JKs

More fashion here.

Life Goes On

Life in Christchurch is slowly settling into a new kind of normal. 

A very different kind of normal to before the earthquake. A life where buildings that have stood for many generations now lie as piles of rubble, many have been cleared and as you drive along,  you rack your mind to remember which building stood where... already we begin to forget.

 A new kind of normal where little 2 year old girls are too scared to go to sleep in their own bed because 'their bed might shake'. 

A new kind of normal where we can no longer do our usual walk along the waterfront because large cracks in the earth now exist where once there was grass.

A new kind of normal where aftershocks are still a daily reminder of the power of mother nature.

But life does move on, as we begin to repair our own home-

We are lucky, luckier than many, we have damage yes, but we still have our home and the damage is nothing insurance won't cover. 

Funny thing is, amongst this 'new normal', life really does go on. 

Spring is here.

The flowers are appearing in our garden again, encouraged by the warmth of the spring sun.

And for little girls, who have had to experience a fear that little ones should never have to experience, life slowly begins to return to normal.

My Creative Space

Truth be told, I have not felt much like crafting this week with all that is going on. I did however finish this little spring marionette doll that I started at a workshop I attended last week. Miss Holly thinks she is pretty amazing so I am thinking, we might just have to make one for each season.

More creativity here.

Wardrobe Wednesday

What a difference a week brings. Who would have thought last wardrobe wednesday that in the coming week my city would take a journey into hell at the hands of a 7.1 magnitude earthquake. Anyway, this is me, amongst the aftershocks and probably looking a lot more tired than I did last week!


Dress: Mesop (I got this brand new, tags still on, from the op shop for about 1/10th the original price tag- such a score IMO)
Cardigan: I am embarrassed to admit to this one but it came from Supre (aka, trashy teen fashion store)
Leggings: Glassons
Shoes: Hannah's

More wardrobe sneak peaks here.

Today Our World Shook

My beautiful Christchurch. Today she looks more like a war zone than the 'beautiful Garden City'.

We were woken at 4.35am this morning by a 7.1 magnitude  earthquake. It was the most horrific experience. Everything was shaking, things were flying around the room, it was dark and in that half sleep state, confusion reigned. My husband was away and Holly was spending the night at her Nan and Pop's house. I grabbed the little one and stood under the doorframe, praying our house didn't fall down on top of us. Oddly enough, the little one did not even make a peep through the whole experience. Rather, she clung to me in complete silence.

Morning bought relief from the darkness. But still the aftershocks continue, a horrible reminder of how powerful mother nature can be.

We got off lightly compared to many. Both our chimneys are badly damaged, but the central city and many suburbs are devastated. It is just heartbreaking.

Please, keep Christchurch in your thoughts tonight.

Imagination play

In our modern society it is easy to buy kids, more, more, more. Toys are literally a dime a dozen. Toys that whizz, bang, light up and sing songs. The thing though is that a lot of modern toys take the imagination out of play, the toy is what it is and does what it does.

There is something so special about watching a little one really using their imagination when they play. One of our most versatile toys is some old wooden blocks made by my girls great granddad made many, many years ago. They have been played with in so many different ways. The little one likes to bang them together and chew on them. Holly has built towers, roads and houses with them on many an occasion. This day, when I asked her what we should make, she decided a fairy house, and so we did. A fairy house with a fairy picnic table where the fairies can eat their fairy food.

Then the best bit for me... sitting back and watching the magic begin, as my little girls settles down to play imaginary tea parties with her 'fairies'

My Creative Space

My Waldorf doll which I showed you the beginnings of last week is coming along well. I am feeling very pleased with how she is turning out, all that is left to finish on her now is her hair and clothing.

For more creative beauty this week, check here.

Wardrobe Wednesday

Wardrobe Wednesday Is a family affair this week as Miss Holly really, really wanted to be in the photo and Miss Isla did not want to be put down.

So without further ado, my cardigan is one I recently made here, the skirt is a cheapy I picked up at the Melbourne markets about 5 years ago and the T-shirt is glassons. The shoes are my favorite summer sandals from Hannah's. Holly is modeling a ricochet kids skirt with a cow goes moo top and Isla is in a pumpkin patch top and a fuzzibunz modern cloth nappy.