Welcome Back To Me!

It has been .. well forever since my last entry.. Sadly I can't believe that it truly has been this long to get back into the swing of things. So much has happened since my last entry, and life has become genuinely exciting once more. I am no longer working at nights, and have reinstated my position as a Stay At Home Mumma! *enter a wild applause here*

My husband has taken full time work, which after the longest struggle (almost three and a half years) we have been blessed and things are looking up as the sun rises each day.. Life certainly has it's amusement park qualities at times, and if you're lucky, you can step off the rollercoaster every now and again and enjoy the other rides.. The Quality Family Time ride IS my all time favourite!!

Motivation, and Inspiration are weaselling their way back into my headspace, and finding little places to settle once more, and I am truly excited by it! I make a promise to myself to knuckle down and enjoy finishing tasks previous left in the dark..and exploring new ventures that have been on my mind for some time.. I want to get my hands dirty.. I want to challenge myself, let my mind soar! Those who know me personally know that I am filled with a gazillion and one ideas at one time.. It's time to do what I must.. Hey! I may not be good at it.. But you got to start somewhere right!? So let the games begin, and come what may!

I hope I can pick up a few more followers along the way.. And as I am inspired by so many blazing lights, may my little spark shine brightly for someone else!! 

Are you ready to find that spark inside.. And let it Burn..
<3

Blogger's Break..

It has been a very long time.. very very long time.. since my last post. To my 4 followers - I apologize for my leave of abscence. What started as computer troubles that was ongoing for a spell.. lead to life (- namely a night shift job to help ease the financial burden on my wonderful husband) taking me away from my creative outlet and passion of sharing my ideas, and enthusiasm for pretty things, baking, exploring the world through my lense, and taking a hands on approach with many things that inspire me.. With my big girl on school holidays, my little girl growing up too fast and the lack of sleep, I am not really finding time to begin many projects, or rather complete any projects that I had previously planned. All my ideas, and creative juices are flowing inside my head, and are just waiting for the chance to be born.

When time is short, and you find yourself flying by the seat of your pants.. What do you do to keep your head in check?

Oh how I miss the simple things.. I miss reading.. I miss baking.. I miss creating art with my girls and expressing myself through media.. I have managed to do a few little bits and pieces, and reward myself for working so hard with intermittent trips to a few local op shops.. and even purchased a few goodies via ebay and gumtree.. which - when time to browse is limited, makes for a perfect place to find treasures... and treasures I have found... Over the next few days, I will post what I have stumbled across.. For now I bid you adieu.. and thankyou for being so patient!!

Paints and Pretties On Canvas..

Miss Tamar's little friend- Miss A is having a birthday tomorrow - The Big' 8' - 

Not having a lot of cash, but a lot of crafty bits and pieces and some canvas' laying around, I thought I would create a little something for Miss A's bedroom.. 

Unsure of what she liked, and already completing a fairy themed canvas recently.. I thought I would opt for a bit of a challenge -Probably NOT the best idea if you are limited with resources or time in case things don't go to plan.. (which is usually the case for me).. However.. Everything went smoothly for a change, and I had so much fun playing with my paints and pretties..

So here is it - *drum roll* - 

 A mixed media artwork :)

Warm Apple Pie...

Over the past few weeks, the weather has been turning from beautiful Autumn days to very cool ones as we are heading into Winter..  Today it has been raining, and the sky is a gloomy grey -  

On days like today usually curling up on the lounge under a toasty warm blanket and a good book are appealing,  the endless cups of steamy hot coffee, and my fleecy lined boots to keep my tootsies warm.. 

But today  wasn't a good book curling, steamy hot coffee, and fleecy lined boots kinda day - Instead I baked!

 :) (Stealing warmth from the oven) as the delicious aroma of Home made Apple Pie filled my house..

 As the apple and cinnamon smells swim their way into my nostrils, my mouth begins to water..

Mmm Delish!

I found the recipe at www.taste.com.au - An amazing website filled with Recipes galore..It is one of my online bible sites (In other words- One I can't go without!) - I simply print out the recipes I need and put them into my recipe book..

I definitely will be making this one again! Doesn't it look divine ~!?

Number 1: Merlot Moment..

If you can picture a room.. And it could be anywhere in the world.. 

And this room was your sanctuary away from the world when you need some time out away from it all.. Where would you go!? And what would you  see..  

For me, my room is a safe haven.. A room that I would like to bring to life through artistic expression.. 

Through a series of drawings I would like to call 'The Room With A View' Series

The first Instalment is called 'Merlot Moment'

In this first drawing I am sharing a bottle of Merlot with someone.  He has always been there for me to talk to about things going on in my life, as I am for him. My confidant'e, counsellor, advisor and most of all my friend. This drawing is dedicated to him as a way to pay homage to his 'everything'.

 A way to say Thank you. 

'My Little Pony' Cake

Wanting to try my hand a cake decorating, I put my hand up to make Miss K's 9th Birthday cake (Last year). I had made and decorated my own little kitten's birthday cakes but wanted to outsource.. So I did! :)

I brought a chocolate slab from one of my local bakeries 'Mrs. Macs' at Brassall who were kind enough to do me up a slab (- and they did a great job too) 

Miss K absolutely loved horses and thinking the best kind to have - colour choice wise, was the 'My Little Pony's' Range.. Miss K loved unicorns and pegasus.. so if you roll them all into one - you get a pony that resembles Heart-throb Pony.. 

This version of 'heart throb' I thought was beautiful!

             

'My Little Pony' Birthday Cake Made For Miss K's 9th Birthday..

I free hand drew a picture of heart throb that I printed off the internet. Then I  pinpricked the cake through the pattern I drew to get the overall shape. Which I then cut it out with a sharp knife. I then iced the cake all over with pretty pink icing.

I made three batches of Marshmallow Fondant using this recipe - http://candy.about.com/od/fondantcandyrecipes/r/mm_fondant.htm

It's not all that difficult to do, and sweet to eat.. I'm only a little bit partial to sweet things, I prefer chocolate to lollies :)

Making my batches of Marshmallow Fondant and colouring them - purple,light pink and dark pink - it was time to get rolling.. the best way I knew how to do the outlines and achieve shapes.

I used pink royal icing to pipe around the outside to finish the edges, and piped swirling patterns on the pony rump with Miss K's name. I also piped the eye as it needed finer detail with the lashes and such.

After three days work - She was finished! I was pretty pleased with the end result! But most of all, I had SOOOOOOOOOOO much fun creating this cake. Needless to say - The birthday girl was very happy.

Cutest Blog..

I just wanted to say a HUGE Thank you to 'The Cutest Blog On The Block' for sharing all of your free backgrounds and banners.. and of course little tips on how to use them for freshies like me! I have now made my blog really pretty :) 

If you're after some new ideas on how to spruce up your blog - go to http://thecutestblogontheblock.com/ and you're sure to find something to suit you!

Crafty With Canvas'

What to get a 10 year old girl for her birthday!?

While visiting my bestie Miss M and her daughter Miss K recently, the topic of conversation and imaginary play for Miss Tamar and Miss K was adventures in the garden - Searching high and searching low for the magical fairies that lived there.. This garden in question would have been a definite haven of mine as a child as it is overgrown with fish bone ferns, and coloured daisies.. Australian weeping bottlebrush tree bursting with brightly coloured blooms and hearing the rainbow lorikeets trill as they guzzle down the nectar.. Coloured butterflies dance along the flower heads gathering their liquid gold as they flutter by.. the soft brown earth between your toes feeling exquisite.. 

The fairy realm holds such a magical place in little girl's hearts, a place of excitement and enchantment.. The very idea of perhaps catching a little glimpse of a fairy ring or fairy house is truly motivating.. and the two girls - every day searched and searched.. the excitement in their voices when telling us their stories of what they have seen and heard in the garden was very warming.. With a birthday coming up for Miss K, I decided to make her  a Personalised Name Canvas for her to hang up in her bedroom.. 

And This is what I came up with!

I know that black isn't a great colour for little girls - But I thought it would make all the other colours really POP off the canvas.. I used scrapping paper for the letters which were hand-cut, and chipboard letters for the 'Let the fairy in you fly' quote which I got from www.scrapbook.com - A wonderful place to source some really beautiful words!! I have used this website for many years for many projects! So you should check it out if you are in need of some inspiration!

I painted the chipboard letters with acrylic paint, and once dry, then re-painted over them using clear glitter paint.. I LOVE GLITTER! :) Just incase you didn't know.. Something about it just makes me happy. A kind of reminder in the daily grind of sparkly pretty things and happiness.. 'All that glitters..' :)

The larger butterfly is painted the same way.. Paper flowers with scrapping jewels for the centre, I have also accentuated some letters with these. I have added some pretty buttons to some letters and the larger butterfly.. 

The other butterflies I picked up from my local crazy bargains store for a steal at $2.00 with some other little garden friends (caterpillar, worm, and lady-beetle) - I chose paper to match the colour scheme, and glued the shapes to the paper. Once stuck, I hand cut around them and then used my trusty nail file to shape the excess perfectly smooth. I love this method - so easy and flawless! (Thanks to my mum for sharing that tip)

My little fairy - I assembled her from many different pieces of scrappy paper - Found her black and sepia toned image online and replicated it.. Using my own version of colours, gave her stripy stockings, and gave her a big smile..And placing a little button in her hair too! Ain't she sweet..!?

I recently made a few little canvas' for Baby Lewis and Baby Matilda for their nursery's. 

Baby Lewis - 'We made a wish.. And you came true!'

Baby Matilda - 'Cute As A Button' - I LOVE the pretty pinks
and greens together.

Miss Tamar and I made this one together -
For her own bedroom!  Miss Tamar cut out her own letter
Didn't she do a great job!?

My hubby and the girls gave me some new blank canvas' for my birthday -I am throwing around some ideas and can't wait to share them.. Just remember - I am a freshie..just tapping into what I was blessed with - A passion for creativity and one that needs to be polished and perfected.. :)

BRING IT ON! 

Dining Room Chair Re-Vamp

Yesterday I popped down to my local Spotlight Store after a little birdie had told me of a 30% off sale.. With a  'dash to the haberdashery' I happened upon some fabric that took my eye. Would my hubby  like the fabric chosen?! - the thought was there for about as long as it took for my receipt to pop out of the eftpos machine.. I was taking my fabric home!! :D

Our dear old zebra pattern dining room chairs were very
tired and worn.

My new French inspired fabric.. Oh so pretty!

Hubby used to be an Upholsterer many moons ago, so this job was going to be very easy for me.

All I had to do was point and shoot as my hubby did the work!

Unscrew the cushion base..

Take off the old cruddy fabric..

We are going to re-use our foam inserts as they are still in pretty
good nick for their age. 

Measure the cushion base and then
measure the fabric to the size you need.

Lay the fabric over the cushion and decide which way you want the pattern to run.
My fabric didn't have a specific pattern, which makes it easier to place!

Tacking the corners down first..

Folding the fabric over the edges firmly and holding in place
as you staple along the edges..

Cutting out the extra fabric in the corners, so it's a neater fold..

Stapling the corners (almost like hospital corners)

Smoothing out the fabric and making sure it fits
snugly without pulling.

Lastly, replacing the evolution - which we reused from the other
cushion- this just finishes off your work and keeps it tidy!

There is Hubby - With my new chair cushion!

The New version next to the Old version..
1 Down - 5 More to go!


Amazing what a fresh face can do to a piece of furniture!

ANZAC DAY.. Lest We Forget!

In honour of all the Australian Men and Women who have served and fought for our wonderful nation. 

This goes out to you..

I have a dear friend, who is helping me research my family tree. I am aware to some degree of many in my family line who have served, some who have lost their lives, and some who have had stories to tell.. Others have been silenced.. In any circumstance, they are all heroes who deserve recognition. As a child, my father was in the R.A.A.F (Royal Australian Air Force) and my mother was a nurse. Every year we would pay homage to those who fought for us, by attending Anzac memorials and watching the marches.

As we grew a little older, participating in scouts, girl guides, brownies and the girls' brigade, it became our honour to march alongside of those who survived, and those who marched in the memory of those lost.. At the very least it was an extremely humbling experience..

During the ceremonies listening to the Last Post and the minute silence has always brought me undone.. The pure selflessness that one human can give to another is a human trait that beguiles me.. And one that I, in my lifetime wish to fulfil as many times over as possible.. One that I hope to pass onto my children, and my children's children..

This year, I took my two daughter's to Timothy Maloney Park in Ipswich and watched the parade.

We frequent here every year to participate in the remembrance ceremony..

I would like to share with you 'Our Anzac Day 2012' ..

Miss Tamar & Miss Willow waiting for the parade to begin

Police Motorcade leading the way..  Brings me to tears seeing the old 'diggers'  

Add caption

Im such a sook.. Hearing the bagpipes  makes me cry too.. Always has..  

Seeing the generations marching together is beautiful...

Army Contingent..

R.A.A.F Contingent..

There is something to be said about Patriotism...

Generations united.. Fire Brigade Contingency..

Naval and Cadets Contingent

              

R.A.A.F Cadets standing on the parade ground during the ceremony
 

The Ever Impressive - F18's - Although they do not do the Dump & Burn like they used to.. the 'Fly Over' is still profound.. My heart beats a million miles an hour, and jumps into my mouth, the sound and the sight rushes through me like a freight train..
Awesome Capture!

Lest We Forget..

Licks of Paint.. Coffee Time!

This weekend Hubby and I have been down to our local Bunnings and picked out some paint for our walls throughout the house.

 Living in a 3 bedder, split level brick built in 1974 has it's challenges.. Colour pallet being one of these challenges. When we moved in a little over 3 years ago the potential of this place is what caught my eye.. It had pretty nice lines and spaces, but the bright lime green carpet and dirty brownish-greyish-with a touch of green walls was definitely  NOT a selling point.

Hubby has complained about the walls and patchwork done here and there endlessly.. And Finally - after prep-ping last night.. The painting began!! The colour chosen was called 'Coffee Time' In certain light it had an almost apricot tinge..and I wasn't very impressed.. But only one coat down - perseverance is the key!

So I've got to get back to it and I will post some pics when complete!

Here you can see the colour we are painting- 'Coffee Time'
against the old  paint job. The almost chocolate milkshake-like
colour really adds so much warmth..

Miss Tamar and Miss Willow are helping to paint too..  

                      

                                          Looking good..

                 

                       The vase of Lillies (My favourite flower)
                          looks lovely against the newly painted walls.. Just excuse the
                                 paint spillage on the window sill - They will be painted
                       at a later stage.. Not fond of the brown either!

That's The Way The Sushi Rolls..

Yesterday Hubby and I stood in the Asian selection section at the grocery store pondering whether or not we could actually successfully create a delicious sushi for dinner. As a parent, you may know that it's all about presenting positive experiences to your children and hopefully engage them enough to lead them down a less familiar path eagerly.. in this, exploring the palette! Talking with Miss Tamar and Miss Willow while marinating the chicken and cooking the rice about what Sushi was, and what we were going to put in it. Knowing they really liked to eat chicken, and cucumber and avocado and rice - they were keen to see what it tasted like all together and wrapped in seaweed paper (Nori). that was the interesting part.. the Seaweed paper (Nori) So here goes -

 Teriyaki Chicken, Cucumber and Avocado Sushi Rolls

I brought chicken thighs and sliced into strips then marinated
in Teriyaki sauce,  cucumber peeled and sliced into strips
and then de-seeded, and avocado sliced into strips also..

Miss Tamar is spreading the cooled rice onto her Nori -  being
generous enough to lay it about 1cm thick. Making sure to leave
2cm at the top free for sealing the roll once layered.

Firstly placing a squeeze of Kewpie mayonnaise onto the rice,
 left to right, then adding her chicken, cucumber and avocado..

Miss Tamar has rolled her Sushi Roll..  Well Done!! :)

Her Sushi roll cut and ready to devour..

They look amazing don't they.. and they tasted just as good! Just to add to the experience, we all took turns to break open a fortune cookie and read aloud our fortunes!

The girls thought this was great, and Miss Tamar even took some left over sushi roll in her lunch box to school today! I would have to say - Positive experience reached! Things I learnt - The longer the sushi roll has been made before being eaten, the stronger the seaweed flavour comes through.. and If children are allowed to be a part of creating the dish, they are seeing what ingredients are being used and therefore more likely to enjoy eating what they have helped create! :)

                                         

Flossy's Birthday!

Last Saturday my girlfriend Neens ninavcreations.blogspot.com.au and her daughter Mousie came over for a visit and playdate with my girls. As it happened, Mousie's baby - Flossy was celebrating her 2nd birthday! So after a busy morning playing, it was time for lunch- A special lunch - Fun Bread Fairy Floss and Nutella Sandwiches with Apple juice to wash it down.. Mmm!

Fun Bread is made at a little country bakery - Fernvale Bakery
We don't get out that way very often, but we always pick up a loaf
when we do. This bread is so terrificly bright and colourful it is difficult to
capture it's vibrancy! Tastes like normal bread.. Just with colouring!

Flossy, Mousie and Miss Tamar enjoying their lunch..

Lots Of Little Pretties..

Yesterday it was raining and overcast, and my hubby was at home.. While Miss Tamar was at school, and Miss Willow was sleeping, I found myself heading into the top of town for some op shopping.. Lucky Me! I found an abundance of  lovelies..

A Pretty Pyrex Casserole Dish WITH lid..:)

I managed to find 4 aprons for the girls
and I when we are in the kitchen.. :)

A pale blue boomerang pillowcase with frill - to go with my gorgeous
op shop queen size vintage duvet (pics of this to come later), Some baking shells
and a shell necklace-  these will be used in a future project, Of course some country crafting
and decorating magazines, a 3Litre  Willow brand water canister - Its 'Willow' what can I say :) and it will
be used in place of the mixed bottles we have currently in the fridge..
Ooh and a beautiful grey scarf.. 

Finally - A Wishing Well - Garden Planter..
To add to a little garden I am trying to dress for the girls..

With my arms full and loaded up and in desperate need of a hot cuppa.. It was time to head home..