Friday, July 25, 2014

Kindy Begins!


Dear Milla,

Welp. You did it. You started Kindy this week!

You had such a fun morning on Tuesday.

You were so excited about putting your lunch box and drink bottle away. "The man showed me where!". That man being your head teacher.

Everyone welcomed you during Mat Time and we sung a waiata.

You loved the foam "with the sparkly bubbles" in it. It was crazy pink polystyrene, all glued together. I haven't seen anything like it before, but you went straight to it and made meatballs.

You did a beautiful painting with high lighter pink and green paint.

Then you painted on mirror card and did about 5 works of art. 

(I think were going to get A LOT of art coming home soon!!)

You played with the slime table that had egg beaters and glitter in it. Another girl was playing with you and she showed you how to rolls up your sleeves. Then you checked out the blocks and duplo and the outside construction table.

You were shown where the bathrooms were by Alia and used the toilets all by yourself.

You drew on the white board, played with the dolls and figured out where the play kitchens are.

Alia looked after you a little bit and became your little buddy. You both had morning tea together. It was so sweet.

Milla, you were in heaven. So much to do, so much art to make! You were definitely drawn to the creative area of the Kindy. I can't wait to see how it grows you.

It was an absolutely freezing cold day. Freezing your bones kind of cold. After we got out of Kindy (Katie and I stayed with you the whole session) your cough developed into choking and retching and barking, and Katie began coughing as well. We made a quick trip to the doctors to be given steriods for croup to see you through the night.

Since then, you and Katie have been recovering and we have been hibernating in the warmth of our home. Thankfully you don't really realise that you should have gone to kindy for the rest of the week.

But next week we will be at it again, and you'll be going all by yourself. You will LOVE it. I am so proud of you Milla. You're really growing and it brings me so much joy to see you so confidently exploring this world.

Love x

Monday, July 21, 2014

Kindy Starts

The biggest starts Kindy tomorrow morning.

I have completely mixed feelings. I am beyond excited but also terrified. Proud but grieving.

Our little bag is packed with a lunch box, a drink bottle and a spare change of clothes. "Kindy clothes" have been labelled, along with every plastic container we own.

We will get up early in the morning, scoff our breakfast, dash MrMoo to work, return home and dress, and get to Kindy by 8.30am.

I hope we can walk most days as it's just around the corner, across a bridge and through a park, but snow is forecast to be a possibility tomorrow, so we will prepare for a bitterly cold day tomorrow and do our best.

Camilla is ridiculously excited, but seem confused when I said that one day she will be able to go to Kindy all by herself.

That day has finally arrived when we say "Big Girls go to Kindy".

*Sniff*

My First 'Everyday' Quilt


I've just finished my very first quilt! I am sooo excited about this project! I wasn't intending on making a quilt, but I follow so many amazing quilting crafting genius' on IG it was hard not to feel inspired (Thanks Deb, Cat, Leonie, Laura, Juliet, Jenny, and everyone else for all of your advice and help!)

I searched through Debs quilting blog history and found this super simple beginners version that Deb calls her 'every day quilt'.

Altogether I used 10 FQ's, a meter of fabric for homemade binding, fabric for the backing and cotton wadding. I bought everything new, but all for sale, and it worked out much cheaper that I had anticipated. And much cheaper that crocheting a woolen blanket and actually cheaper I think than I could buy it for (which often doesn't happen in the crafty world)

(sorry for not ironing it before the photo Nana!)

This quilt is intended to be Katies for her first big girl bed, just like I made the white crochet blanket underneath in the first photo for Millas first big girl bed. 

It worked out smaller than I had hoped for. Silly me, I should have sourced the backing first - all the tutorials said to make sure your backing was bigger than your quilt top. But because I got the backing last I couldn't find any that was bigger than the top. Next time I'll go prepared to shop for a backing first, and will hopefully pick up a cheap sheet from somewhere so its plenty big. Unfortunately I had to trim a few inches off each side to accommodate my smaller backing. Doh! Sad! Lesson learnt.

The backing I did go with is the same as that square that has the light pink with the different spots on it.

I really love how simple this is for a first quilt project. It meant I could get it done in a few good nights without distraction and I didn't loose heart or get too confused or frustrated.


And I surprised myself, I especially loved hand quilting it together and hand sewing the binding on! It was so satisfying, getting all those little stitches to line up. 



I love how bright and colourful this blanket is! It's so happy! A few weeks ago it was nothing, and now with a little time and love it is something that will keep out family warm!

Now that I have some new found skills and discovered I enjoy somethings I didn't think I would I know this wont be the last quilt that I make.



Thank you to everyone on Instagram for your input and encouragement! You inspire me everyday with the creations that come from your hands.


Here's some handy links if you're wanting to make your own:



Saturday, July 12, 2014

Raj and Amy Get Married!

Oh my Goodness! I haven't shown you any photos or details of the best few weeks of my year!!

In March my big Sis and her handsome beau travelled from London where they have lived for 7(?) years to get married in front of their friends and family in Akaroa. 

Since Amy was planning her dream wedding across the other side of the world I ended up (joyfully) doing a few of the details from this side of the globe to make life easier for her. It was a huge event, one that took a lot of planning and I can't quite believe how much they managed just on emails and phone calls! 

I'm quite proud of what I was able to achieve and absolutely loved doing the decorations for the wedding! 

Here are some beautiful photos from the big day...


My most beautiful, stunning sister in her wedding gown!


The three nieces wore indian choli's which Amy and Raj bought when they were in India over the new years and walked down the aisle with Amy and Dad. They were adorable!

Nanny Kim went with us and played Nanny for all the girls, they loved her and had a great time once they were through with their flower girl roles.



My new brother, Raj! 


Oh hello MrMoo! Graeme was given the honour of officiating their marriage!


This wedding was on such an absolutely beautiful day heading into Autumn. It was set at a lodge on the hillside looking down into Akaroa habour! We couldn't have asked for a better day.




My siblings, with Nana and Mum




The reception was in a big room with a massive fireplace and long tressle tables. Amy and Raj didn't have a wedding party, and sat with the guests at the tables. 

We filled the beams with white bunting, fairy lights, and on the tables; jars of garden flowers, candles, burlap and river stones as place settings with the guests name beautifully inked on by my friend Rosita. On the mantle piece they displayed photos of their grandparents on their wedding days.


Phew, it was such a big day and such a rush! I was rushing around everywhere pulling things together at the last minute, but it was so much fun and I really enjoyed it all! It felt like a privilege to be involved in their wedding and it was a beautiful, flawless day! 

They hired a band to play the night out, and at the end of the night it was Amy, Raj, Graeme and Myself. In typical Amy fashion, she danced to every single song and had to be sent home so we could lock up!

Happy Marriage Raj & Amy, we love you both x






Thursday, July 10, 2014

Get Well Katie


So good to see this one eating again, after a tummy bug that has lasted nearly 5 days. 

Thankfully it was a kind of sick that makes a little one lethargic, so there was much more sleeping than screaming which is always nice. 

Here's to some sunny days to catch up on washing and a super strength immunity shield to protect the rest of us from catching the awful thing!

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Taking Stock


Lately I've been feeling more and more like I want to be here in this space. In a blog world that I have created and moderated. No nasties, just me, doin' what I do. But in this fast paced world, blogging has been put to the side in favour of instant gratification, like fast fashion. We want it here and now, and instagram fulfills so much of that. 

Here I am, lap top open, checking in. *deep relief sigh* I've missed this.

Inspired by Stella, I thought I'd do a "taking stock" post, a random one from Meet Me At Mikes (did anyone else think this was meet meat mikes like I did? No? Just me?)


Making : A quilt (For the first time! Yoo!), crochet dishcloths and some little girl bunting for my new niece
Cooking : All the most boring things ever. I'm still completely terrified of most foods. Oy. I wish I wasn't.
Drinking : Red wine. It's Wednesday night, I've had a bath, the hubs is out all night and I'm ready to PAR-TAY!
Reading: Eat This Book, by Eugene Peterson (in the bath)
Wanting: Company when I'm alone, and time by myself when I am surrounded.
Wasting: Too much time on IG and FB these days.


Sewing: A quilt for the first time! I've finished the top, it's really simple. It need to go get me some backing, wadding and binding! Sheesh, quilts are pricey! 
Wishing: For my own home. One day. 
Waiting: For school holidays to be over; Milla starts Kindy next term! Yippee!
Liking: All these new blogs I rediscovered tonight that for some reason weren't on my blog lovin' reader! What!
Loving: My friends, they are life savers and sanity givers.
Wishing: I had put the hard work into Pottermore years ago so I could read the new Harry Potter story tonight! 
Marvelling: At my precious Katie, 1 year old now, she is brilliant.
Needing: Strength everyday. Winter. I hate you so much, Winter. Worst season ever.
Smelling: Fresh flowers on my table, delivered by a secret flower Ninja.
Noticing: Jesus in the everyday. How amazing that we have a Maker who still cares for his Creation. 
Bookmarking: All the "how to quilt" posts! Why do quilters presume I know what I'm doing when they write basic tutorials!??


Anyone out there? What have you been thinking / dreaming / feeling lately? Leave a comment and let me know, or find me on FB or IG to CHAT (can we please all bring back the blog-interaction back, wherever it may be?)

Love & Peace x

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Colour Swap Sent and Received!



2014 Colour Swap

What on earth is wrong with me? I have signed up for my first two swaps in the space of one month!! The first being the kids handmade clothing swap, and the second being a swap based on the receivers favourite colour, it was suppose to contain 3 gifts, with a $20 total ballpark value and contain something inspirational! 

This one was organised by Miriam and I liked that the rego form had so many questions on it, it gave me a real sense of what the person I was buying for was into.

I sent a wee parcel to Gill, who likes blues and whites, nature styled things, crafts and a few scents. I had bought the stag head design off Etsy, had it printed and framed, along with some fat quaters, embriodery threads (not pictured), and a vanilla fragrance diffuser. 

I wish I had put in more time into making something awesome for Gill, but with birthday parties and family holidays I left it all a bit late. Anyway, she tells me she likes the parcel and that it was very "her". So, success!

I just received my parcel from Lisa in Australia! Most of it was handmade, including all the packaging. She's very very talented! Choccies, a handmade tilda bird and fox, buttons and a little quilting pattern.

She's already blogged about it, and you can read all about her talents on this blog post (and more!). Lets all just throw up our hands and declare Lisa to be the queen of swaps!


I put on my rego form that I liked most bright colours, blues, pinks, yellows, greens so she went with aqua and I think she nailed it! Thank you so much Lisa! It's clear you put a lot of thought into my parcel and I'm very grateful!



Thank you to Miriam for organising this swap, and to Gill and Lisa for participating with me! 



Pin It button on image hover