Birthday Presents!

 I am feeling utterly spoilt today after a wonderful birthday yesterday. Hugo (9) and I were at the local market last week when I spotted a salad sprouting kit which I thought was wonderful. Hugo stowed it away, later explaining it to Jonno. And together, they made one just for me! Archie (12) snuck away an enormous and very much forgotten glass jar I had filled with odds and ends and turned it into the most beautiful terrarium. So I am feeling very fortunate. I'm so glad they already have that ethos we all cherish in blogland, of making something special for someone you love. 

So today Hugo and I are going to start sprouting some seeds he bought. Very exciting..... watch this space!
Lots of love,
Kate. xxx

Crafting with Willow.

The boys starred in the making stakes this weekend. Jonno cut a big wreath of willow for the boys for to craft with and they came up with the most wonderful projects. Archie and Hugo observed an artisan making willow whistles on our trip to England earlier this year. With a memory fresher than min, Archie managed to successfully recreated his own. The only problem being that he couldn't resist whistling it whenever he was standing next to me.... so impressed with his craftsmanship but a constant high pitched whistling can tend to become a little frustrating over the course of an afternoon. Eventually I gently suggested that our dog Bertie was perhaps being driven to distraction and the whistling thoughtfully softened out.

It's so pretty though!

Hugo decided to make a hot pie server which is always useful to have on hand.

I have to say that I was blown away by his work. Just beautiful.

Hugo's hands are kind of amazing. They are so little but have the surety of an old man.

Look at that face.

At one point it began to slip so he reworked until it held perfectly. So, so, so impressed.

And here are some roses from my garden. I can't begin to express the joy they bring to me each year.

Love.

I hope you had a lovely weekend too!

Lots of love,

Kate. xxooxx.

Macrame and Other Exciting Things.

This weekend has had Archie and I doing lots of macrame together. I found this neon string at the hardware store and am so in love with it that I'm surprised I haven't knitted a suit for Jonno to wear yet. He would look so fancy. Instead I've been knotting up jars with it. They glow.

This jar is my favourite. I have some L.E.D. tea lights to pop in there so I can't wait for the next warm evening.

Can you imagine.

Archie has taken to macrame like a duck to water. He spends a lot of his time learning new knots... as you do when you're 11 and an assistant patrol leader at Scouts.

And today my yarn from Black Sheep Wools arrived. I can't wait to show you the Christmas project we're working on together but I need to whip this batch into shape first.... 

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend.

Lots of love,

Kate. xxooxx.

Crocheting with the Boys.

 Today a dream came true, Hugo learnt how to crochet. He still has a long way to go but the 'click' happened for him. Wahoo! Sitting at the table with my two boys while we had hot drinks and crocheted was beyond my wildest dreams. I'm still smiling all these hours later.

Yesterday my neighbour popped by with her new book by Mr. Finch and the teeniest, tiniest plate of macarons ever.  By the way, the book is utterly sublime and if you ever have the chance to read it, seize it. No patterns but amazing photography of his work so far. I tried to hide the book so it could live with us but to no avail..... I can't wait to see it again. 

Archie made a little crochet kite this morning. He thinks it would be a wonderful project for beginners so we will write the pattern up at some stage together and post it.

Crochet can be pretty intense you know....

Lots and lots of love,

Kate. xxooxx.

A couple of Easy Easter Projects.

First of all let me say a big thank you for all of your comments in the last post - you gave such great advice and so much to think about. You are all such a great resource and I am so lucky to have you!!!

Yesterday morning I had to quickly come up with a couple of easy crafts to take with me to the school library which I open on Tuesdays at lunch time. Something I could do beforehand and another I could do with the kids.

 So using glassine origami paper I cut out these egg shapes and stitched them up on the sewing machine. A very quick project indeed.

 And made travel safe courtesy of a cardboard envelope.

 The project for the kids had to be achievable in 30 mins and accessible to a variety of ages. So, I had them finger-knit a length of yarn and then I sewed it up into a little nest. Older children were able to do their own sewing. Did anybody else harbour a bit of a fetish for these baby chicks when they were growing up? I still love them.

They are now dotted around the school library looking very cute and festive.
Still have to write up the egg cosy tutorial...
Lots of love,
Kate xxooxx.

Computer Peace.

 The boys have been pretty up and down with each other lately - par for the course at this age and stage. However, I find if they have a project or mission, they are at their best together.

 And taking our old computer apart certainly proved the theory. The computer has been sitting about for years with us not quite knowing what to do with it. So when they suggested taking it apart I jumped at being able to provide a yes.

 Cleo from next door was a great worker too.

 Maybe they could provide a service. 

 The only provision I made was that there was to be no glass broken.

Along the way their imaginations became fired by all the different structures they found inside. We are all pretty amazing on the inside....

Have a great weekend,

Love Kate xxooxx.
P.S. Thank you to the anonymous reader who wrote this in the comment section "While great to encourage exploration and tinkering, opening up a computer or television is very dangerous. There is a capacitor that can store deadly quantities of energy, even months after it is uplugged. Just want to keep your boys safe."

Crocheted Flowers and Lego.

 I am making myself a floral garland to wear to the school ball - I am going to be some kind of viking-fairy so will have to crochet some horns to nestle amongst the flowers. I have made up a very easy daffodil pattern so will post it soon.

 Hugo has been working very hard on this lego creation... using, as Archie will tell you, Archie's very best Lego pieces. Hugo is very keen for this to end up on pinterest so I will be putting the odd Lego photo on and then pin it. If you feel like it you could pin it too - or even leave Hugo a message about how much you like his Lego building. He is so proud.

 I love little hands making things.

Bulldozed forest.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

Terrarium Life.

 Yesterday our next door neighbour came to visit, bringing with her the most amazing terrarium I have ever seen. Of course, the boys and I were completely and utterly inspired  and had to make our own versions today using little Lego minifigures.

 Archie's project really made me laugh - he was lucky enough to get the scottish 'minifig' and set it up so that he was stuck in peat. He certainly looks very grumpy...

 It is hard to see in this photo but he has big bushy eyebrows set on a very cranky slant.

 Hugo ended up with a dragon slaying girl - we have to pop a couple of dragons in there for her to find... or to find her.

 And we finally managed to buy 'Bunny Guy' - He is my favourite. 

Lots and lots of love,

Kate xxooxxooxx.

p.s. Don't forget to enter into my giveaway in the post below - the draw is on Friday!

The Nom Nom Cafe.

 On the weekend we had a wonderful bonfire night, burning a huge and ragged collection of wood that has been steadily growing over the past 18 months. The children had a wonderful time with all of their friends and only retreated inside when it became so freezing their fingers turned black... that actually may have been from soot now I come to think about it. When we came inside a little later we found this amazing scene they had created from all sorts of ingredients found in the kitchen.... One of my friends is a very daring Swede and she delighted all of the children by trying every concoction. Poor thing, I later realised that hand cream was one of the principle ingredients... along with chili. Luckily I only use natural products.

 The labeling by my nephew Wil was breathtaking.

 The next day the boys and I spent a long time folding paper planes to take down to the left over bon fire. We then spent a pleasant morning flying them into the embers, watching them crash and burn. So much fun.

 It paid to study the fire and the wind direction before launching. Serious stuff.

Nothing like the first plumes of smoke appearing.

A sewing morning awaits for me now the boys have been sent to school. The sun is shining, the air crisp and cold and clean clothes will be hanging on the line in a moment. Happiness.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

An Anzac Day With Hugo.

 Last night we had the very strange event of having just one boy at home - Hugo. Archie had the wonderful opportunity to stay the night with his grandparents followed by a trip to the Anzac Dawn Service wearing his great grandfather's medals. And so, Hugo revelled in sole attention from his parents.

I always find that one on one time is a special thing and I love it when the boys have the chance to do something different from each other. Hugo celebrated his early morning by watching all the cartoons he is not usually allowed to. I came downstairs and found him a little chilled - it's always such a lovely thing to swaddle a little child in crocheted blankets.

 Hugo then spent the morning (wearing pyjamas), decorating plates with ceramic markers.

 I loved the designs he came up with and could easily order a dinner set if he had the patience... which unfortunately he doesn't - it's almost as though he is a six year old or something....

 So cute!!!!

Apparently this one is to put my tea cup on.... or pour tea onto and drink from it - either way....

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxxooxx.