Moving and City Living

It has been a while since I have blogged.

For those of you that follow along on Instagram, you will know that we have completed our big downsize move.

How was it?  In a word : Epic

We have moved from a quiet little area in the bush surrounded by gums, kangaroos and emus to

SYDNEY

A massive change for the whole family but we are getting there.  There are no boxes left to unpack, the sewing room is set up and I have completed my first sewn item since the sequin gown (maybe I just needed an extended break after that)

 We are loving playing tourist and think that we will always feel a little like tourists in this city.  I just need to buy a selfie stick and then we will really fit in and I can not get enough of this amazing bridge, I don't think I will ever get tired of admiring its beauty.

 

 

Making the most of our {bonus} Kinder year

I won't ever look back on this year and wish that I had sent Baden to school when he should have started with his peers.  Apart from getting to spend some special time with my little boy, it has also been fantastic for him.  He has grown and developed so much this year and his language and social skills are far better then this time last year. 

I'm not sure what the weather man is up to, but we are getting something similar to our winter here this week.  Instead of locking ourselves inside we decided to go for a ride and explore our 'backyard' 

I've completly failed Blogtober this year.  Oh well.  There is always next year.

Fun in the night

Four crazy girls meet in the bush as the sun went down and had fun taking a few night time shots.

We used a variety of light sources.  From mobile phone torch app to Christmas Carol fake candle and Glow Sticks.  We were having so much fun that it was midnight before we packed up the tripods and cameras and headed home.

Back

Did you miss me?  I fell of the Blogtoberfest wagon.  But I have a very good excuse that I am certain half of the crafty readers that I know will be jealous of.

I escaped to the country (well I live in the country, just a different area of it) and went here.  Met up with seven other crafty friends and had a fantastic weekend.

 A photo snapped on Sunday afternoon. We are missing one and her cute little helper

I'll be back later to tell you all about it.  But now I have to go and unpack my car.

Of rain and Clowns: Day #6

I was put into a false hope that Spring was here and Summer was on it's way.
Thursday and Friday were both beautiful days and we reached 27 degrees and we even had shorts and sandals on.

Sadly were were mistaken.  A cool (freezing) change came in over night and bought with it rain and a chilly 10 degrees.

Today was show day in our little town.  We braved the elements and made a donation to the show society.  Enjoyed a dodgem ride, a go at the clowns, a Dagwood dog, a jam donut and made our way home.  Wet and cold to enjoy a warm milo and enjoy a movie at home. 

{this moment} #5

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Joining in with the fun over at Soulmama and Blogtoberfest.  It's still not to late to join in.

My Creative Space: tips for staying creative.

My biggest tip would be to just do it.

I am as bad as the next with getting lost in the wonders of the world wide web.  Blogs and then Ravelry and now Pinterest are all lovely to look at, but they are the biggest time wasters and suckers of time.  I love jumping on and seeing all of the lovely creations and ideas, but then feel guilty when I have not managed any actually creating of my own.

I have made a conscious effort over the last few weeks to actually turn off the computer. Hand the iPad over to the kids (or my darling beloved - he is a little hooked on FLOW at the moment) and actually knit.

In the past two weeks I have cast off two beanies, 3 Milo's, a little cardi, one sock for Le boy and the other foot is half way to being warm.  I have also cast on a Colour Affection and am up to the third section. Not a bad effort at all.

My other little secret is to always have a project near by.  I have WIP's all over the place. Under the passenger seat, on the bedside table and on the coffee table.  This week I have been working on the socks.  They have been spotted by the lake.

At the park

I'm hoping to have them on the boy's feet by the end of the weekend as there are a few family members who have put in orders for socks and I'm thinking that they might make good Christmas Gifts.
I'm joing in with Village Voices: Tips for Staying Creative

{My Creative Space} Owlette

Look at who came home with me after a weekend away.

This cute little owlette.  Designed by the lovely Claire and using a sock, a little felt and material and a stich here and a cross there, it came together before our very eyes. Thanks Claire for you expert advise and tips on all things socky.

I attended SIT with 40 other crafty types for the second time.  Last year I spent most of the time chatting and meeting and not alot of crafting occured.  I am glad that I managed to get something achieved this time.
I had a great time and meet lots of lovely blogging friends and a few new ones. Being in the national Capitol which was once home for us for a few years. I also managed to catch up with a few friends and also gave the girls a quick tour of Canberra on the way to the airport.

Make sure you grab a cuppa and pop over to Vintage Voices and check out what is happening in the crafty blogging world. You may even spot a few more owls.

"If you're going to go all crazy...

be sure to wear some chickens in your hair".

Six of them to be exact.  Yesterday was free dress and crazy hair day at school to raise funds for The Worlds Greatest Shave.  This is how Amelia went off to school and would you believe that all six Chickens stayed in there all day (it took some hairspray and a headache to achieve)

The World Greatest Shave is something that I am not new in supporting.  My parents shaved their heads in 2003 in support of my Uncle who beat the odds of Leukaemia.

This year, the small community in which we live has one of its own suffering.  Little Elizabeth has acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and is currently undergoing chemotherapy.  This is the driving force behind her Mum and a few others shaving off their locks yesterday.

You can not help but feel lucky to be involved and live in such a supportive and loving community, Sandra set out to raise $3000 and she would shave.  Well she blew that target out of the water within a week and the team ended up raising over $13,000.

Over the past few months we (as a community) have done everything from shaking it to the wiggles inspired Zumbathon, a night of fun at a Mega Party, Crazy hair day at school and the grand finale of a mini fete yesterday and the SHAVE. What a great community to be a part of.

In blog world there is also a very special girl suffering her own battle and fight.  If you would like to donate please do, Sandra's page can be found here and team's page here.

{Sunday Snippets}

A busy weekend this weekend. I think that we try to cram too much in (but then who doesn't) Today we spent it together at the local farming expo

 Enjoying a can of lemonade

 Trying out the tractors for size

 Lego Love Boat

and these cuties.  I wanted to go home with the baby Alpaca under my arm.

Joining in with Tinniegirls Sunday Snippets

Going Spotty

Amelia has been learning about the artist Yayoi Kusama during the past term as part of their art module.  She has been doing some secret painting, drawing and colouring at school which will all be revealed this week when the family are invited to attend the classes Art Exhibition.

Today we headed into GoMA to see the wonder that is Yayoi Kusama.  If you are in Brisbane or are planning a trip make sure you leave time to pop in. (it is open and free to the public until 11 March 2012)   I would recommend that you head in early.  The whole exhibit can be seen in an hour.  It is also not an exhibit that I would take my very active 3 year old too.  It is a pretty to look at but don't touch exhibit with only one room that is interactive.

I was told that I was not to take any photos of the exhibit (I did not delete the ones that I had taken so here is a little sneaky shot (shot from the hip and taking pot luck of what I got)

 The obliteration room, is a hand on interactive room.  We were handed a sheet of stickers on entry and told to go for our lives.  A completely white room the size of a house has already been covered with brightly coloured adhesive dots. Children can also access the online version with Kusama's World of Dots

 

The final room of the exhibit is set up to help GoMA celebrate turning 5, the Children's Art Centre invited Perth-based artist duo Pip & Pop (Tanya Schultz and Nicole Andrijevic)

This exhibit draws on children's fairy tales from all over the world.  It is created using sugar, Styrofoam, beads, lights and glitter.  It is another look but don't touch exhibit, with lots for the little girls to find (including Sullivan Family creatures and deers.

For more information pop onto the website www.qag.qld.gov.au/kusama
I would love to go back towards the end of the exhibit, as they are hoping the the dotty spotty white room will be covered in so many dots that the white will not be seen at all (if you go let me know, would love to see your photos.)

{Wordless Wednesday} Spotting Whales

Joining in with Faith Hope & a whole lotta love's Wordless Wednesday.

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Not alot to say here.  These giant creatures of the sea were amazing and I am so glad that we have managed to see them whilst on the east coast of Austalia.