Annika

L♥VE!

How cute are these designs by Korean based label Annika?

So cute!  Images found here via kickcan and conkers blog.

in the garden

The weather's still a bit chilly, but we've been getting

stuck into the vegie garden none the less.  Last week we 

planted out onions (red and gold), leeks, carrots, beets,

spring onions, tomatoes, more salad varieties and beans. 

We collected and stored beans from last Summers crop and I'm 

planting some new varieties too this year, including soy beans 

(we are big fans of edamame round here).  I think the scarlet 

runners are my favourite though. The flowers are very pretty (in 

amongst all that green) the dried beans are a lovely shade of 

blush pink, and fresh from the garden, they taste divine!

I've planted out some radishes, rainbow chard, and early Spring 

varieties of cauliflower, brocolli and cabbage too. I'm hoping 

we'll get a late crop of brassicas before Summer hits us.

And, this year it looks like we'll have apricots as well as plums!

The apple tree is in full blossom, but coddling moth destroyed

last year's crop, so I'm not sure we'll have apples. The raspberries 

and strawberries are thriving in their new patches though (we 

transplanted them this year) and we planted blueberries and 

non-suckering blackberries, though they won't fruit yet.

Our herb garden is well stocked and also coming along nicely.

Ah, it's all so exciting!  It's our 2nd year with a big garden, after 

years of inner-city living. I am loving teaching Ari how to grow 

his own food and learning more about the art myself. 

If you live in Australia and you're keen to get a garden going this 

Spring, I'd recommend this book. And if you live in Melbourne, a trip 

to CERES is definitely in order!  We get most of our seedlings there

and our seeds from Greenpatch, Eden Seeds or The Diggers Club.

nature play

love these illustrated playing cards by Hanna Krajni,

wasn't able to find much information on this artist

Sabine Timm via virginhoney on flickr

more illustrated playing cards by Hanna Krajni

nature patterns via botanicals and curios on Pinterest

walnut boats via art and children on Pinterest

 Mortéza Esmaîli Sohi via Atelier Pour Enfants

A few of my favourite nature craft inspirations.

Some kooky 70s nature craft ideas in this book.

nature studies

the eucalyptus is always greener

birds in flight 

field journal 

all via wild goose chase on flickr

The beautiful work of artist Fiona Watson.

I have been thinking about keeping a nature diary with Ari.

Documenting the seasons and the bits and bobs we collect

on our many trips around the countryside, beach and city.

Fiona's photographs are a beautiful source of inspiration 

for such a project. It would be fun to create such 

works with children, don't you think?

perfect pancakes

In most of Australia, the Spring school holidays begin today. Yay!

And what a beautiful Spring day it is... the sun is shining, the birds

are singing and we are busily spring cleaning the house and studio.

We started our first day of holidays with a pancake breakfast.

This recipe makes delicious, fluffy, golden pancakes.

And it never fails me...

The best pancake recipe ever!

1 cup plain flour

2 tsp baking powder

3 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

3 tbsp butter

1 cup milk

2 eggs, beaten

Place the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a bowl.

Mix well. Melt the butter in the frypan you're going to use.

Pour melted butter over other ingredients, add milk and eggs.

Using a whisk, beat well. Add a little more butter to frypan

and place on medium heat. Wait until the frypan is warm then

using a small ladle, ladle 2 spoons of mixture into the middle

of the pan and tip to spread the mixture into a bigger a circle.

Cook over medium heat till bubbles form on the surface of the 

pancake and then, using a spatula, flip the pancake and cook 

until underside is golden brown. Serve with lemon and sugar.

And ENJOY xoxox

lullaby

Over In Killarney,

Many years ago,

My Mother sang a song to me

In tones so sweet and low;

Just a simple little ditty,

In her good old Irish way,

And I'd give the world to hear her sing

That song of hers today.

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Hush now don't you cry!

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, That's an Irish lul-la-by

Oft, in dreams I wander

To that cot again.

I feel her arms a-hugging me

As when she held me then.

And I hear her voice a humming

To me as in days of yore,

When she used to rock me fast asleep

Outside the cabin door.

I'm a strong believer in the power of a beautiful lullaby 

when it comes to sending our little ones off to sleep.

Ari was somewhat of a difficult sleeper to begin with.

He had a few health issues which caused him discomfort 

and made it very difficult for him to settle. Until he was five, 

I sang to Ari almost every night, and often at nap times too.

I still sing to him on occasion, when he asks me to. 

Usually 'Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral'... ah, those Irish roots!

My grandmother sang it to my mother, she sang it to me,

and now I take pleasure in singing it to my own child.

I guess, that's the way it often is with lullabies.

Lately, I've been singing this sometimes... perhaps 

you remember me posting about Arrietty before? 

I bought Ari the DVD for his birthday. He loves this song.

 I looked it up on youtube and lately he's been listening to 

it as he drifts off to sleep. I must say, it works like magic!

A trip to the Zoo

Ari turned seven last week....

He had an appointment at The Royal Children's Hospital
that morning & as a birthday treat we visited the Zoo after.

Ari has a heart condition and has regularly check ups at RCH.

The new hospital opened last year (it's next to the old site) and it's
pretty amazing... there's an aquarium, a meerkat enclosure, a wall-
sized interactive game screen, a beanbag cinema, a fantastic land-
scaped courtyard, huge sculptural works (even a robot butterfly),
not to mention fantastic new wards, foyers and operating theatres.

You can take a virtual tour here.

But a trip to the Zoo was still atop of Ari's birthday wish list.

spring flowers

Just a peek at what's on my work table. 

These pretty little flower heads are sitting there, 

each awaiting their turn to be stitched up!

I've been quite busy in my studio this week and I've 

been listening to a lot of Tom Waits whilst I work.

I never tire of listening to his sweet music.

It has been so very, very cold and grey here lately.

One would scarcely believe that nice weather is on

it's way, and yet today, the blossom trees are in full 

bloom and the bulbs are already beginning to flower 

...I guess, as Tom says (courtesy of Garth)

 you can never hold back Spring.

I've been pinning lots of lovely new things too.

The nights have been too cold to do much other 

than sit by the fire and read, stitch or pin things! 

Why don't you take a looksy... xox

Snippets

We've had the Flu. Ari's been home all week. In bed. Mostly.

Watching movies, reading books, drawing pictures, practising

his writing. Sleeping and keeping warm. It's been pretty cold.

We had a couple of beautiful sunny weeks this Winter but it's

 quite dismal now. Still, leaves are budding, bulbs are showing,

and blossom is blooming on the fruit trees. Spring is not so far. 

The shape of me and other stuff...

Strangely enough, we didn't have a copy of this amazing book 

until I ventured into our favourite secondhand bookshop the

other week and spied it in amongst their wonderful collection.

We are huge Dr Seuss fans round here. But then... who isn't?

Ari can read books like this by himself now. How the years fly!

Trommpo

Beautiful origami inspired designs from Uruguay-based 

kid's label Trommpo.  Their website is wonderful too!

Bobo Choses

I love the designs of Spanish label Bobo Choses

Their Summer range is currently on sale..... great 

for those of us heading towards warmer weather! 

Surprise!

Sometimes I open my sketchbook and find this...

...steam trains, totem poles and flying machines. ♥


'I Love Mummy' drawing by Ari aged six

here comes the sun

 I couldn't resist purchasing this lovely thing today... 

It's a 1940s romper/2 pce swimsuit by Catalina. 

The tag reads- 'styled for the stars of Hollywood'. 

Ooh la la!!! 

I can't wait to wear it to the beach this Summer...

the weather's already warming up. Almost Springtime!

There's a cute pattern here to sew your own vintage style 

2 pce suit if you're interested.  It would look lovely in floral.

Pop Pop Portraits

A lovely little letter arrived in the mail for me this week and

it was written on the back of these super sweet illustrations...

The work of the very talented Helena Randall.

I have known Helena for many, many years and have watched her 

work develop and change, as she has explored different styles and 

mediums. Her art has a wonderful sense of fun and whimsy about it

and her colour choice and line work are just exquisite.

With Pop Pop Portraits Helena has given the art of portraiture a
new and contemporary twist, creating custom portraits of clients 

(and often their pets or kids) in her own unique style of illustration.

Her work was recently featured in Frankie Magazine.  So exciting!

But, as far as creative talents go, portraiture is just the tip of the iceberg

for this clever lady!  I can't wait to see what future projects lie ahead...

You can visit her blog/s here or take a peek at her shop here.

xoxox