And after an interlude of three and a half years...

Driving with a glorious sun shining over the Bolte Bridge - Melbourne I love you!

January 2012 is a long time ago, and life has changed significantly since I last wrote. Indeed for the past three and a half years, it is possible you were forgotten dear blog. Forgotten you existed, forgotten passwords, forgotten how to make the settings hum...

And life has gone on. There has been babes - two delicious girls - there has been long periods of time with no work outside of home, lots of walks in the wee hours of the morning, lots of laughter and joy. We have baked, we have swum in the ocean, we have made new friends and build friendships with childhood acquaintances. We have knitted. We have read books galore. Life has been good.

Many, many, many things are sparking creative interest. A post was read yesterday by Made by Rea, where it was reflected about days where one has just too many ideas and simply not enough doing power. And perhaps this is what periods of time in the past few months have been like here. The possibilities of what to do, what to make, what to create seem endless...

But here are a few things that are loved and being made or explored further...

Sewing is kicking on, with two finished and three somewhat constructed Purl Bee everyday swing skirts. How it would be wonderful to have time and space to learn this skill well!

Knit, knit, knitting. A delicious Fort jumper from Brooklyn Tweed is on the final sleeve. Perhaps it will be completed for the second half of winter? Warm and cosy Harvest yarn from the Bendigo Woollen Mills is being used (although no longer available to purchase).

Anzac biscuits with apricot chunks are baked weekly. Each time they are made, it is wondered if they really are a delicious as the fella things. And indeed they are...

Instagram florists - such as Gladdish, She's a Wildflower, Passion Flower, the Flower Dispensary and Sweet Pea and Honey Bee.

Hurrah!

The end is the beginning...

New years often suggest new starts, or at least a chance to consider what went wrong and what you hope to change. It is an exciting time, but it does not have to be the only time for new things. New things an happen at any time. A new hair cut perhaps, a new book to read, a new coffee shop to discover, an opportunity to make a new friend, to love a new person, to welcome the new morning, to start a new habit, to consider a new craft project

NEWNESS.

The sound of it is fresh and crisp, like clean sheets just off the washing line.

So, what is new for you? What are your plans for this new year? What do you hope to start? What do you need to say a goodbye to in order that the new thing starts?

New for me is my garden, is being a careful knitter, using pinterest, the extra cat, being a train traveller, cooking rabbit for lunch, enjoying being calm, saying no to television.

About this new business, I have been trying to get my technology circle working, and consequently I am loving Pinterest. In the process i have discovered beautiful images though a scandi lady named Klara. I have also gotten back to the design files. lovely blogs, lovely images, lovely creativity, lovely homes. Nice.

Late night post to the rescue... Are you up past your bed time? Longing for a little nap, for some rest and revitalisation? I am. Tired old me. Lots has been happening, too much indeed. So much that all I can do is sit and pat the cat. There is something about pets... They are calming, great companions, and for my the cat helps me to be quiet and still. Spending five minutes stroking his smooth fur with slow me right down and give me great pleasure. And then when he starts to purr, his bliss is my bliss. Yes, I have power with the cat! I can make his day simply by spending a short period of quality time with him, by rubbing his chin, by itching his hind quarters. Ahhh.

Anyway, this post started as a lament for my bed. And I've not gotten there, nor have I stayed on the topic of such. Rather gone on to rave about the benefits of pets. Strange! I must be tired.

How about a pick me up? Cup of Melbourne Breakfast tea perhaps? From the warm depths of a post covered by an outlandish cosie, sure to be piping hot hours (!) after brewing?

This cosie was the end of the Christmas gifties that I needed to make. Well almost, the second last. It gave me so much pleasure to make this cosie, as it was specifically requested. Someone actually wanted one of my creations! And it wasn't just my husband being very thankful for socks. This was made with intention, anticipate of the joy it would bring, and also love. Pattern came from the quirky book Really Wild Tea Cosies, wool is the opal sock yarn. My particular ball was pull apart by a cat - not mine - who took much delight in the novelty of playing will an object so unfamiliar to it.

Upstream

A simply beautiful, wistful, nostalgic and thought-filled film.

Why are you at sea?

Just for giggles...

And the real baked good is...

In my tummy.

Found these various "food items" in a number of shops in the past few weeks. The "food as craft" or "crafted food" idea has been around for a while. It made me giggle to see these examples though.

Which reminds me, I have a felt sushi kit that I should whip out and stitch up some time...