Happy birthday 7 year old…..and 10 year old.

I know I promised photos of all the girls on the birthdays…. but they were so bad I couldn’t put them through it!

10 year old.

7 year old.

 

 

….but here are the newly 7 year old and the newly 10 year old.

 

 

Sting in the Tale

13 year old is again hitting the stage as part of her school musical (or dancical….as I like to call it).

Although she doesn’t have a main part, she is a ‘significant extra’.

If you are able to get to the area between the 29th of May and the 1st of June, let me know and I will arrange a ticket for you.

 

Phoenix Files Finale.

The Phoenix Files: Doomsday Book Launch!

By Chris Morphew on May 8, 2013

‘The last book in the Phoenix Files series is FINALLY hitting the shelves, and here’s your chance to get your hands on a copy a week before anyone else in the world! I am incredibly excited to finally let you guys read this book, and I’d love to see you at the launch if you can make it!

Where: Shearer’s Bookshop, MarketPlace Leichhardt, 122-138 Flood Street, Leichhardt NSW

When: Wednesday May 22nd @ 6.00pm

RSVP: (02) 9572 7766′

* taken directly from Chris Morphew’s blog.

I have spoken about Chris’ books before on the blog. I can’t believe the last one in the series is finished and about to hit the shelves. If you haven’t read them, you should…and not just because he is my friend……

 

 

Henry IV

Henry 4. Image from Bell Shakespeare.

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of seeing my first Bell Shakespeare production.

It was an early birthday present for me and a late birthday present for 13 year old.

Thank you Grani Jan and Fa Fa.

I think we are hooked now……

Who’s up for ‘A Comedy of Errors’ in November?

‘Floor Dancing’ with 6 year old.

“Take photos of me floor dancing.” suggests 6 year old.

“Ok?” says Mum wondering what on earth that is.

Step 1.

Step 2.

Step 3.

Step 4.

“Oh, I get it” I say after the last one…. Coldplay’s “Strawberry Swing”.

….and I couldn’t resist a gratuitous cute shot.

6 year old.

 

 

 

Holiday doona cover.

The upcycled doona cover.

Over the holidays, while her sisters were doing drama and aerialize  weeklong workshops, 9 year old and I had sewing camp together. She is the most keen daughter when it comes to sewing. 14 year old will do some, 13 year old runs a mile, and 6 year old …well I’m not sure about her yet.

9 year old was given a little Ikea sewing machine for Christmas, so we thought it was an excellent opportunity to give it a run. I am planning to review this little machine now we have given it a run.

We decided together to make a doona cover from my stash of fabrics and old clothing in the cupboard.

The finished cover.

Many of the fabrics are significant to her as they are from different parts of her life and  ours lives as a family.

Close up of tags fabrics etc.

This close-up shows fabrics from a baby dress of hers (lace), a shirt she wore when she was a toddler (heart print) and the blue and white spotty left overs from her Alice in wonderland dress I made for her for her 7th birthday.

We tried as much as we could to keep labels too.

Sleeve tabs were kept.

Here you can see fabrics from a shirt of Tim’s (light blue stripe), lace-edging I bought at a garage sale (with my Mum) when  I first moved to Sydney about 25 years ago….. so I guess that makes it vintage ….., and a shirt of mine (blue flowers).

We tried to keep the garments detailing as much as we could….. like the sleeve tabs. 9 year old then hand-sewed buttons (taken from the shirts we had used) opposite the tabs so treasured toys could be held by them.

The finished poduct.

We finished it off by using a flat white sheet to form the back of the cover.

Every single thing….including thread…. we got from the stash!!

It is not quite a standard size and I did help a lot, but she was amazing and now is planning her next project!

Can’t wait to share it when she does.

….a tradition continues…..

…can you see it?

Keeping with tradition, we got up early on Easter Sunday and headed out to see the sun rise.

It’s a quiet little family ritual we do each year now.

I love the intimateness of it.

Reminds me of the few going to the tomb and discovering it empty.

He has Risen!

Easter hats

6 and 9 year old with their easter hats.

Well….I showed them the inspiration, took them to the $2 shop and this is what we ended up with.

Due to time being minimal, I made them under instructions.

Easter hats have been a much more joyful project since I did some research and found out they were really about spring…..yes, even in Autumn…. and nothing to do with Jesus.

The traditional take by 6 year old.

…..and a much more musical take by 9 year old.

 

 

Easter Hat Inspiration

The fascinator hat. Image from David Jenkins Photography.

Lots of Easter Hat Parades coming up this week.

Here’s some inspiration…..

…. this year I thought, the wackier the better.

Bunny ears?. Image from Model Dash.

Death by Chocolate Fascinator. Source: Hats by Cressida.

I can imagine this made in paper. Photo from Model dash.

Philip Treacy Catwalk Hat. Photo from The Frisky.

The wire bow. Source: ArturosRios via etsy.

Lara stone at ascot. Image from Grazidaily.

A fabulous paper number. Source: Add Funny

Great last minute idea!! The bread hat. Image from Million Looks.

Can’t see anything you like?

Maybe there will be something on my pinterest board for you.

6,9,thirteen and 14

Yes, 12 year old is now 13. (has been for a week or so now).

My girls on 13 year olds birthday.

Thought I might use birthdays this year as a chance to get a photo of all the girls together…..it’s becoming increasingly difficult!

13 year old. Not the best photo but acting is like that!

…..and 13 year old being ‘Hamlet’ ….the latest fascination.