half hour drawings and a big day for my little boy

We've been back from our holiday in Melbourne for a week or so now and have settled in to a nice home groove of quiet sunny days, picnics, scooter rides, home made ice cream, drawing, listening to some new music, building train tracks, making cubbies and constructing things with sticks and bricks in the back yard. 

The kids have been drawing side-by-side.

This has been a fantastic strategy to get Oesch mark-making a little more. He's really much more attracted to constructing things with blocks than putting crayon to the page, but when he does draw, those vigorous, colour-drenched pictures make this mama ridiculously happy :)

And Doots has been drawing in a regular session we have dubbed the half hour drawing challenge.

I'd noticed that after kinder finished for the year Doots' urge to draw dropped off quite a bit. Actually I noticed the same thing last summer, and perhaps there's a seasonal element at play. It makes sense that when the weather's warm, we're drawn to outdoor elements and materials. Paper and pencil is overshadowed for a while by the appeal of water, sunshine, leaves, sand, pebbles, flowers.

Grass, inspired by The Story of the Root Children by Sybille von Olfers

So at those times when she'd usually draw, like in the afternoon or while waiting for dinner, I thought I'd give her a random topic to give her a little focus. Just a little nudge for her imagination.

A ladybird family are going shopping

As a designer, I often relied on the constraints inherent within a brief to initiate form, so it was interesting to see Doots' eyes light up when I named the topic, and then watch her set to work, busily drawing and telling elaborate stories to go with each picture. 

Santa in his sleigh on Christmas eve

We're keeping a dedicated visual diary for these drawings. None of the pictures are really finished, but she hasn't felt the urge to go back and finish the colouring once the half an hour has expired. It's like, they are what the are, and she's quite proud of each one.

Dog riding a bike

 When she looks through them and reflects on each one, the elaborate stories are retold and the smile on her face speaks of the pleasure of the process of making each picture/story. Beautiful.

 Here's a sketch I did of her, while she sat opposite me drawing her Santa picture and listening to music with her headphones. Making time for drawing is always on my list of things to do, but I never quite get around to it. So I'm grabbing this opportunity to draw together with my kids and really enjoying it.

My little brother on his first day of pre-school

 And today, we took some pastels to a cafe and drew pictures of our not-quite 3 year old Oesch at his first morning of pre-school. We talked about what he'd be playing with and the new friends he'd be making.  

My big boy playing with lego at pre-school

I do have a niggling problem though. Today, drawing our Oesch pictures at the cafe, Doots stated "yours is better than mine, Mum". 

Ouch. We talked about how they are both good, but different, how it's not a competition, I explained that I've had a bit more time to practice than she has, that what is important is that we do our best...

But I'm thinking in future we'll stick to our own ideas rather than drawing the same thing.

And as for the little guy and his first time away from the family, I was so anxious that I barely slept last night, but I really shouldn't have worried. 

We kissed him and said goodbye - he cuddled us and said goodbye. Doots and I picked him up after an hour and he was sitting with some other little boys eating morning tea. It was as though he'd always been there.

The educator described him as very mature, confident and enthusiastic. He loved it, and can't wait to go back. 

Oh, sweet, sweet relief.

Happy 2012 to you and your loved ones. Wishing you some joyful new beginnings too!

5/3/13 - Hi everyone, thanks all for your thoughtful comments, and for checking in on me. I'm not blogging anymore. I really miss aspects of blogging - the community of my blog (that's you!) and the time for reflection that putting a post together offered. Maybe I'll come back to it one day. I'm closing comments on this post in an attempt to stop the daily, annoying spam comments landing in my inbox.

s Sarah

the week before

I've been looking forward to this week since November. School finished last Thursday and our house-and-cat-sitter will come this Friday. These days in between (I imagined) would be peaceful and lovely... Christmas shopping all done, parties all attended, sunshine, smiles and lazy home days seemed a certainty. 

the very image of peace!

The reality is a little different, as I sit here at the kitchen table, french doors thrown open... the next door neighbour is doing something horrendous with an unidentified power tool (spray painting? grinding concrete?), a blowfly buzzes in maniacal circles around my head and I sip green tea, trying to recover from my ridiculous trip to Spotlight with two young children in the week before Christmas. Crazy!

Breathe... We did make our cards and candles for Doots' teachers as planned. The paper was made earlier in the year at a fantastic mothers' group paper making session at Ange's place (she's a crafty dynamo). Inside those cards are heartfelt letters of appreciation to Doots' two teachers and kindergarten assistant. After a bumpy start, she settled in beautifully and finished the year full of enthusiasm, happiness and friendship. I feel such gratitude to her teachers - they are outstanding people.

We gave them little bundles of hand-rolled candles too. I've been itching to make a batch of these candles since Doots made one at the Sustainable Living Expo recently. So easy, such a satisfying and useful craft for a little person to make, and the natural beeswax sheets smell wonderful. I bought the supplies (wax sheets, a little red wax for decoration and wicks) from Lyrebird.

It has taken Doots a few days to readjust to quiet days at home. For a few days she was mooching around looking bored - and I've really never seen her bored in her life. Oesch has also had to adjust to his sister being home too. We've had lots of sibling conflict, and just as I was fantasising about just leaving the house (alone) for half an hour, I stumbled upon this: 

Lie still little brother...

There, now let's draw some clothes on you! Hooray for unprompted cooperative play!

Today she seems back to her old self. Lots of pottering around, making things, dressing up and imaginative play. 

We've put together some peg dolly kits to give to sweet little girl friends.

Each kit customised to reflect it's recipients favourite colours.

Little silk wings, wool felt, printed cotton, fuzzy yarn for hair, a tiny rose...

...pretty ribbon, some buttons, a pipe cleaner (for arms). 

I'm itching to make one myself! 

I hope your Christmas preparations are bringing you lots of joy.

x Sarah

summer? really?

If you were magically teleported into Hobart right now, you'd be excused for thinking you were in the northern hemisphere. The only clue that it's summer is the broad daylight I'm greeted with at 5.45am. And the lush growth in the garden.

The weather has been cold, windy, rainy. The kind of weather that makes you want to stay indoors, light candles, watch movies, drink tea.

The weather made Saturday perfect for decorating the house with little furry elves, pretty angels and reindeer.

Our angelic advent calendar was inspired by this one. Each lovely angel has an instruction on the back. Some days, it's to unwrap a Christmas book. 

On Saturday, we were instructed to decorate the mantle piece. The little hand carved gnome is from my travels to Lithuania. He is so lovely and rustic, and I love the way the timber seems to glow. The vintage Kokeshi doll was a lucky find at a trash and treasure stall at Salamanca Market. The yellow candle is a left over from our wedding in 2004 and it sits on a mother of pearl coaster we bought on our honeymoon in Broome. The old printing press letters came from the wonderful Drill Hall Emporium.

Stephen's grandmother's rosewood box sits open with a crochet heart from Ness, and a lovely little felt deer. 

On Sunday, the angel declared that it was berry picking day. Obviously, she was not much of a weather forecaster, but with some equally crazy enthusiastic friends we set off for a nearby berry farm. In the pouring rain. 

Oesch was not daunted however. He loves a berry and this was his reaction when he spied the strawberry field...

They don't use any sprays on this farm, so I was quite comfortable letting the kids get right into it. 

We set to work filling our tubs.

And then headed off towards...

The CHERRIES! Don't they look luscious?

Poor Doots did not have a hooded raincoat and got a bit wet, and a bit upset, until she discovered the silvanberries, which, I discovered, are cultivated blackberries. They were gorgeous.

And those black, juicy little jewels cheered up a damp and miserable little Doots.

Once home, Oesch couldn't keep his hands off them.

Can't blame him really.

And even with all the pilfering going on, we still have enough for jam.

Oh, and if you got this far, thank you! I'm also guest posting at Emma's Frog Goose and Bear today, with a tutorial for her fantastic Simple Gifts for Girls series. Come over and see my dolly bedding from upcycled pillowcases and all the other wonderful handmade gift ideas that have been featured.

Have a great week,

x Sarah

our emerging traditions

One of the things I love about Christmas, now that we have children, is watching as our own Christmas traditions begin to evolve.  What makes a family tradition? I think it's about cherished memories, the element of ritual, a sense of meaning or significance... and there's something about what you decide, as a family, to repeat year after year. 

I'm guest posting at Childhood 101 today. Come on over and tell me about your family's Christmas (or other significant) traditions. Which ones wouldn't you give up - even if you were away from home this Christmas?

x Sarah

The photo - Doots found a self-sown white poppy in the garden. It inspired her to dress in head to toe white, as an angel.

sewing for boy

Sewing for girls is such a pleasure, don't you think? Pretty florals, spots, bright colours or pastels, or whatever, really.  I still struggle with boy style. Oesch is the most boyish of boys too. If it doesn't have wheels, he's not really interested. But he does love to help out in the kitchen and I've been meaning to make him an apron for, oh, about two years now.

Note to self re: fabric choice: next time, just use a plain colour, or maybe denim and trim it with a bright (but boyish!) bias binding. 

This black print, with green gingham binding and red side panels... what's not boyish about that? Well, apparently green gingham is a bit girly. And apparently red is for girls too. So I added a helicopter patch in a desperate attempt to override any (heaven forbid) girly traces. Helicopters = instant boy appeal.

Not what I'd usually choose to adorn an apron. But then, I'm not a boy. Der.

And for the record, my battle with bias binding (in my best Iron Chef voice) is O V E R. Thank you, Ms Leisl Gibson

Oh, the pattern is from Oliver + S Little Things to Sew, which I am steadily working my way through. The apron is for Oesch's Christmas stocking, therefore no photos of boy wearing apron. Hoping to show you more of my Christmas gift making soon.

x Sarah

honey lemon day

Oh dear. We've all got raw throats and hacking coughs today. It's time for a cozy home day.

The kids have been playing so nicely... tiny dolls house dolls have been dressed and fed, taken to the zoo and put to bed. Train tracks have been designed and constructed and adorned with elaborate duplo signal towers.  We've made paper boats and laughed as a brave little blackbird hopped in through the open back door to pinch a stray piece of toast crust lying on the floor. 

He left a poo behind on my kitchen floor by way of thanks.

It's so nice to have a day in sometimes, but still, this throat is driving me crazy. Time to try the old lemon and honey remedy.

It's not something we had in my family. Mum swore by a salt water gargle instead, but I don't think I'd be able to convince the kids to try that, so I'm introducing them to Stephen's childhood tradition. But of course it shouldn't be too hot. Even I prefer it just warm - it's gentler on my throat.

Child-friendly honey and lemon sore throat remedy:

Place a generous squeeze of lemon juice in a teacup

Add a heaped teaspoon of honey (luscious unheated Tasmanian honey is my preference)

Top with warm water (boil the kettle and let it cool down)

Stir until honey dissolves

Serve with love and sympathy

wings

A little while ago we were invited to a pirate party. I knew this would be a problem for one of our crew... Doots is allergic to pirates. She really dislikes the whole aarrrgh scene.

I knew the invitation was on its way and I was interested to see how she would respond to the challenge of dressing up all piratey. She didn't skip a beat.

I'll go as a parrot, she announced. Bless her!

 I thought I'd whip her up a little parrot costume. I searched around and came up trumps with these from Christie (you can follow the trail of links to the original source.)

I used soft yellow wool felt for the base and began cutting out all those rows of 'feathers' on the Friday afternoon. Continued through Saturday. Sunday morning, the day of the party - ta da - they were finished and ready to try on. But no, they were apparently 'too heavy'. The wings were unceremoniously dumped into the dress up box.

She went as a cat instead.

I asked her if she wouldn't mind wearing them while I took a few photos. And of course she flapped and soared and tweeted long after the camera had done it's work. Kids!

Oh, and by the way, Oesch was more than happy to be kitted out as a fierce sea-faring rogue. He looked outrageously gorgeous (but I don't have a photo).

I'm really enjoying sewing dress ups and thinking of a construction vest for Oesch next, and perhaps some animal hoods or masks. Do you make dress ups? Got any great ideas for me?

x Sarah