twoandsix

favorite things

Slowly, ever so slowly, my piles of fabric and yarn are being cleared away. My stash is wonderfully depleted and i'm anticipating the thrill of replenishing my cupboards with delicious new materials.  An overnight adventure to Melbourne is just around the corner, and I've begun to make a list of all the inspirational and crafty places I hope I'll have time to visit - so, if you know of a *must visit* store, please, let me know.

Clean work spaces are replacing the creative chaos I've been living with for the past few weeks (a consequence of my Mothers Market preparations), and piles of brown paper packages are resting in neat rows, bringing smiles of contentment to my face.  Finished orders, wrapped in vintage paper patterns and tied with string are ready to be posted, with love. 

The day is almost over, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow, ready to embrace the gifts of simple beauty and joy I know this new day will bring: clean, crisp winter air that will fill my lungs and clear my mind as I take my children to school [] a chance to connect with a beautiful friend [] the aromas that will fill my home as I bake a chocolate cake [] quiet moments to breathe and be still [] more piles cleared away and spaces organised [] time spent working on  my orders [] a visit to the library to collect some books [] smiles and kisses from the little people who love me [] finally, everyone home, safe and warm as the sun goes down.....

... a few of my favorite things.

happy weekend

I love weekends. 

I look forward to my 'mini-holiday' at the end of each week with much anticitpation.  

The next two days will be filled with soccer and netball games [] dance exams for my three girls [] frame shopping for my new glasses (yes, i'm finally admitting I need glasses!) [] coffee at our favorite cafe with my sweet husband [] catching up with friends [] a little playing [] a little work [] a little knitting.

What will you be doing this weekend?  I'd love to hear about your plans.

Wishing you all joy, magic and adventure this weekend x

sev[en]circle

My sev[en]circle. 
This wonderful pattern spoke to me as soon as I saw it - an original design  by the talented Kirsten.  The finished piece is incredibly beautiful - it drapes and hangs perfectly. 
Quick and easy, exactly what I needed: a knitting 'fix', a small distraction before I get back to all my work and orders.
Made for my daughter - i like to think that each of the seven rings represent a little piece of love from each of the seven other members of our family.
She loves it.  So do i.
There will be another, next time in grey (of course), for me.

island love

I've been home three days, and I still feel wonderfully overwhelmed by my experience at the Mothers Market last weekend.  Firstly, i'd like to say thankyou for all the 'good luck' emails and best wishes I received leading up to the market - your thoughtfullness was incredibly touching.

It was definitely a step outside my comfort zone, however, I had a wonderful two days and was lucky enough to be able to share it with my beautiful friend, 'Sweet P' - her help and support was invaluable.  The crowds braved the freezing weather and poured through the doors. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello, bought my pieces and cards, and added to the overall wonderful atmosphere.  It was an incredibly successful couple of days.

I met some beautiful makers who made my weekend all the more special. I was welcomed with open arms the moment I arrived, and when I get a chance I'll be adding their links to my blogroll - our little island is filled with so much talent and love, I simply have to share!

I have quite a few orders to fill, so I can't put away my sewing machine or needles just yet... but it's nice to have some space to breathe, take photos again, answer emails and start catching up on everyones blogs and streams -  and of course, I've already started a little project for one of my girls - just for the pure joy it!

the beauty of grey

The sun has dissapeared from my small part of the world.  The last of the golden and fiery red autumn leaves are falling, leaving branches bare and exposed.  Gone is the glorious summer light, and delicious long days.   The  darkness of evening arrives far too early, and the cold seeps into my bones.   Winter is here, and i'm surrounded by grey.  Beautiful grey.

I have to confess that I stuggle with the colder months and tend to hybernate indoors whenever possible. However, despite my yearning for warmth and light, i've been overwhelmed by the beauty that has accompanied winter this year.  Maybe it has something to do with a photography project  I began this month - just for fun.  As i have discovered, (even if it's cold and rainy) a grey sky is not simply just grey, but an ever changing palette of shades and azure blues - some dark as indigo, others  brilliant as a sapphire.  Why haven't I ever appreciated the winter sky before I wonder?  I'm sure I've noticed, but I think the act of physically stopping, and taking a moment to see and capture and breathe in the beauty has made the difference.

I've embarked on another little adventure that has been taking up a lot of my time these past couple of weeks.  I'm going to have a stall, selling some of my sewn, knitted and crochet pieces at the upcoming Mothers Market in Hobart.  I've been working with the most glorious of materials, many of them grey  - 'Sublime' Cashmere Merino Silk aran in Granite, wools, linens and organic cotton fabric and yarn.  Splashes of color married with the beautiful greys, all coming together to form my little collection.

It has been many, many years since I've participated in a market, so along with feelings of anticipation and excitement, lurk the pangs of nerves.  I've been working feverishly, but have I mentioned I  have my  six children at home on school holidays?  Productivity is not as high as I had hoped - yet, but it's the beginning of something wonderful and beautiful. 

And now, I must turn my attention back to my piles of wool and fabric.  I'll be back soon x

embracing change

"When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you - a joy."  ~ rumi

My soul embraced change in many forms this week, and in doing so I was blessed with my own little river of joy.

The changing colors of Autumn - fiery red, golden yellow and burnt orange.  Leaves collected during quiet walks, now scattered on my kitchen widow sill.  They make me smile.

The last of my agapanthas flowers surrendered to the season.  What remains behind is stark simplicty - beautiful form.   Delicate tendrils to admire and share.

Another beehive beanie, just for the pleasure of it.  A change in color from grey to red.  I love it - so does he.

The biggest change of all is one I hope will bring joy, eventually....  a change of school for a beautiful girl.  A fresh start, a new beginning - away from all the sadness and confusion.  Please, wish her luck.

How was your joy+ride  this week?

three things

Sometimes I find myself craving silence - just for a moment.
No conversations.  No music.  Nothing.
Just silence. 
Please.

I need to hear nothing but the sound of my own heart beat.  Nothing but the sound of my own breath.  This is when I can listen to me.  I can ponder, and plan and refocus.  I can live in the present and take in the beauty.  I can find contentment and joy amongst the divine chaos that is my reality. 

We've been invited by Sheri and Shari to find joy during the month of May.  It's a wonderful opportunity for me to consciously choose three areas of my life to embrace and live more authentically - to find a little pocket of silence within each experience so i can listen to my heart and really feel the joy.

[walking] Taking in the beauty around me.  Picking up a piece of nature along the way to share .

[creating] For no reason other than the simple pleasure of it.

[playing] Making memories with the little people in my life.

These are my three things.

"Let the beauty we love, be what we do.  There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground" ~ Rumi

growing

 

I stood at the kitchen sink and gazed out the window.  Our backyard has been neglected recently.  Autumn leaves have fallen and need to be raked.  The recent windy weather hasn't been kind to our trees, and there are broken branches that need to be cleared away.  The grass is wonderfully lush and green - but getting rather too tall...  although I do love the carpet of yellow dandelions that have grown, and part of me doesn't want to 'mow them away'. 

As I stood there, contemplating all the work that needed to be done, I suddenly realised that we had a 1/4 acre of land to tend to, but grew nothing that could be eaten!  I do have a few potted herbs, but a meal for six hungry children can't be made from herbs and dandelions alone!

I've started to prepare a small piece of earth. I'm hoping it will eventually grow and expand into a big, beautiful, organic vegetable garden.  I can't begin to express how excited I am!  Of course I'm already dreaming of chickens and fresh eggs, fruit trees and worm farms!  This winter will be a time of preparation and planning - i've never had a real garden before, so please, wish me luck!

So this [week] has been spent gardening, looking after sick children (now better), and crafting - trying to catch up on all my orders.

This [weekend] will be spent gardening, crafting, and visiting the niche markets .  Can't wait to meet some wonderful local makers and designers, and i'm sure i'll find some treasures to bring home too.

"From small things, big things grow".  I hope so.

chocolate

 

 

Chocolate  is finished.  Finally.

When I discovered this pattern , i was sure it would be a quick knit. My gauge was perfect, however the sizing ran incredibly small.  I had to unravel the entire (almost finished) garment, and create some modifications to fit my 18 month old Ziggy.

It was worth the effort.  I love this cardigan and Ziggy seems to love it too.  Second time around it was quick, and the pattern is wonderfully simple.  The top down design elimiates the need for seams and I do love the shawl collar - his sweet neck will be kept toasty warm.  The only change I will make next time (yes, there will be a next time!) is to add some extra length to the body.

[The yarn]  - a delicious shade of chocolate brown - almost good enough to eat.  Thick and soft, a blend of wool and acrylic - i wanted something that was easy to launder as I know this will be one of his staple winter tops.

[The buttons ]  - vintage japanese.  Charcoal and perfect for this project.

The age ranges on the original pattern have been adjusted, however, it you would like a copy of my mods to suit an 18-24 month old,  just leave a comment here.  If there is enough interest I'll write up my  mods (very messily scrawled on a scrap piece of paper at the moment.  Yes, I need to be more organised!) and post them here just for you x

I think I may have to knit up a little bit of 'chocolate icing' to match!

the beginning, and the end

Two days ago it felt like winter.  Light snow had fallen on mountains not too far away, and the wind that swept through our little town was fresh and very crisp.  Storms and torrential rain followed and nearly washed our home away!

Blissfully, today felt like Autumn again - sunny, warm and wonderful for more reasons than one.

[The beginning] of the day was particularly special for me.  Bailey creates daily messages for me using our magnetic poetry words.  This mornings 'poem'  made me feel so loved. Can one really 'grow love' i wonder?  I'm glad he thinks I do.   He is a beautiful child, sensitive and loving - i'm so lucky to be his mother.

We had a gentle day.  A little playing, a little tidying and a couple of very indulgent hours sitting in the sun unravelling and re-knitting 'Chocolate'. 

[The end] of our sublime day was spent walking along the beach with my girls.  A chill in the air, cool sand between our toes, breathtaking clouds rolling in covering the blue.

Once all the little people in our house are tucked safely away in bed, I'll get Chocolate out again and knit into the night.

I hope your Saturday has been/will be as wonderful as mine.