Jikana Damaru

Softies...

Growing up, I was never much into dolls. Granted, at that time there were slim pickings between Cabbage Patch Kids and the pour-water-down-her-mouth-and-watch-her-pee! variety. These days, if your poppit does not have at least one 'softie' amongst her collection, you are well behind the eight-ball!

'Softies', the term used to describe handmade stuffed toys, have become a worldwide phenomenon in recent years. Books, blogs, websites, Flikr groups, markets, craft shows... softies are taking the world by storm!

It is no wonder. There is something delectably oldy-worldy about the Softy, yet the quirky designs make them oh-so-modern also. Even if you have never sewed in your life, I dare you not to feel inspired by the aptly titled book, Softies, with its array of brightly coloured creatures begging to be taken home. Best of all, the easy-to-follow instructions appear achievable even to those who require a youtube tutorial to thread the sewing machine (um, that would be me.)

One of my favorite sites dedicated to crafting and softies is One Red Robin, by the amazingly talented Jhoanna Monte Arandez. This girl is in a whole other league, designing incredible soft toys that appeal to children and adults alike. She sells the patterns to some of these softies as well. This one below, for sale on Etsy, is particularly inspirational and would make a very special gift for someone, non?

Other sites that will have you reaching for the sewing needles include:

http://softiescentral.typepad.com/blog/

http://www.softiemaking.com/

Let it be said that my own sewing skills are fairly amateur... but inspired by so much talent out there, I enlisted the help of my much more sewing-inclined mother in law to make the softie below. The pattern was borrowed from the Softies book itemised above. Made with the scraps from Fern's quilt (more on that later) and my ripped up maternity jeans (so cathartic), we lovingly crafted her one rainy day and, flushed with her success, subsequently made 3 more to offer as gifts to friends with newborn babies. She is delightfully flawed; which to me is what makes her so special. I would like to make a little fleet of softies for Fern's nursery, and maybe one day, way into the future, we will make one together.....

Polly

~ Think before you write ~

We received an interesting email today!

Not a pleasant one and one that is probably been sent with incorrect information but it made me sit back and think that while email is a great medium for communication it can also create unnecessary upset.

I sat in front of my computer putting together my response and then thought "no" don't reply as my email will also come across looking nasty and could be read incorrectly.

I am therefore not going to respond but sit on and and think before I write in hope that a much more pleasant outcome occurs in a face to face meeting!

I have been thinking a lot lately about how impatient and rude the world is becoming - where does it get us and what is it all for so I therefore have decided to take on a new policy of thinking before I act and trying to always remain positive and happy.

~ Ribbons, Paper and More ~

My favourite place for ribbons, paper, bags and all things to be wrapped has a new website. Vandoros Ribbons is an amazing place to visit - it is a bit like being a kid in a candy store - far too tempting!! I just love beautifully wrapped gifts - I love giving them and I also love receiving them!!

Steady Sticks

Peg bucket

Linen apron

Mini flour sifter

Whilst writing my post on my laundry room ideas I came across the adorable Steady Sticks. They do the prettiest kitchen, laundry and baking items in pale pink, pale blue, white, taupe and red. They have so many gorgeous items that I felt I should dedicate a whole post to them.

Pretty froufrou!

Thought I might show you some of the very pretty hair clip orders I have been working on this week - they are so nice I'm finding it hard to choose a favourite.
I hope the new owners love them as much as I do!

On another note, one of my most favourite markets is on this week. The Magnolia Square Fair starts this Thursday and includes the Tiny and Small section which is always to die for. As you have probably guessed I'm a massive fan of beautifully handmade and well designed items. Markets like these really showcase the cream of creativeness and are always so inspiring.I'm looking forward to checking out heavenly creatures and pip & maude

Motherhood and the inner domestique goddess...

Let me preface this article by stating that I have never exactly been renound for my culinary prowess. Last night, speaking to my friend Crawford about my new blog, he enquired as to whether I would be including cooking and recipes. "Cooking?" I enquired casually, as I frantically scrolled through my mental roladex for a time I had publicly channeled my inner Nigella... I came up blank.

Forced to press my friend for elaboration, he paused a moment obviously searching his own memory and then brightened... "Well, what about those amazing salmon rissoles you came up with that time?"

Salmon rissoles.

I imagine sitting in a glass-enclosed office on the 20th floor overlooking Sydney harbour with the high-fluting execs of Murdoch Publishing, pitching my idea for an international cooking bible. The signature dish? Salmon rissoles...

hmmm.

When I ventured onto maternity leave 7 months ago I had high aspirations. I romanticised about having a three-course dinner on the table when my husband came home from work; sending him off the next morning with leftovers lovingly wrapped in tinfoil; the smell of freshly baking scones permeating the neighbourhood like a seductive love-song.

7 months on, I've scaled back a bit. Occasionally I boil some pasta at 8.30pm when the baby is finally asleep; if he's lucky my husband gets a tin of tuna and a dubiously spotty banana to take to work. More often than not, he buys takeaway.

Anyway. I have finally accepted that (a) I do not enjoy cooking and (b) even if I did, I am not very good at it. And (c) I am ok with that.

My daughter is now 7 months old and has begun watching our food-intake with a similar intensity to that of the family Labrador. Before I had her, (and in truth for the last 6 months) I dreaded the bit when she would start solids. Whipping out a breast is so much easier than whipping up a 3-cheese vegetable medley, non? But while I have no hesitation opening a in of Campbell's finest for my own dinner, I am bemused to discover I am somewhat loathe to offer the same to my daughter.

In truth, I am getting a macabre, maternal satisfaction from the ice-cube trays incubating pint-sized portions inside my freezer. I've even bought a food-processor for God's sake! However, not entirely trusting my own capability for blending vegetables; I invested in Annabel Karmel's "New complete baby and toddler meal planner" . The book gave me the confidence to move beyond pureed apple -- to venture into the murky depths of MIXING STUFF UP. The look of wonder on my daughter's face as she swallows cauliflower, leek and carrot puree for the first time gives me a maternal glow and sense of satisfaction to make me believe, finally that perhaps I am a domestique goddess after all.

I say 'domestique', because that's how I see myself, really. Doing the hard yards; taking one for the team; striving to get my little poppit over the line with the polka-dot jersey. Because I think that's the least I can do to give her the best start to life. So even though I despise cooking, I'll keep at it. Who knows? Maybe one day I'll teach her how to make my world-famous salmon rissoles...

~ Announcement ~

I received our lovely announcement cards in the mail today. I am really pleased with them and can't wait to send them out - now the fun task of writing on them all!