These two red striped bags were made for A and K to keep their music books all organised and tidy. (In this family, we need all the encouragement we can get to keep tidy.) I found the fabric from an opshop- it was the perfect size and weight for these two book bags. I think…

Thank you for all those nice comments on yesterday's post. The Sufjan Stevens concert was amazing- truly the best concert I think I've ever attended. The music, video art and dancing was original and beautiful, and I looked around me several times during the show to see that more than one audience member had tears…

I finally hung up a picture I originally found in an antique shop- it's an old Vernon Ward painting of geese taking flight. I love it and it holds a familiar feeling for me- I wonder if perhaps it used to be printed on a biscuit tin belonging to my grandmother. Or perhaps the back…

The kids went back to school today. After such a long break from the school-routine I've found myself wandering aimlessly around and wondering why it's so quiet in the house and no has demanded a snack yet… eerie. Never mind, I'm sure i'll get used to it! One of the things I'd like to do…

I found these two rolls of vintage wallpaper recently. The cream one with flowers was at the Recycling Centre and labelled 'Laura Ashley' and the other ('Julia Myers Wallfashions') I bought from an antique store although I think it was probably designed in the 1980's.  I think the chances of me using this as actual…

I always feel part farm wife-part squirrel whilst chopping plums and tomatoes and digging out the preserving pan, but the truth is I've always loved bottling things (I grew up on a farm with an orchard and used to help my Mum with such jobs.) This week I made some tomato sauce (like ketchup- from…

I got a parcel in the mail the other day that was packed full of lengths of old ribbon and lace, and crocheted pieces. Even two very delicate cross-stitched sleeves removed from an old dress. (Thank you again, Linda.) After staring at the pieces for a while, I decided to make some things that would…

  Here we have some delicate little viola tricolour flowers from the garden. I spent an hour this afternoon with children chattering endlessly, drinking tea with my mum and embroidering these little ones to make a needlebook. The sun shining through the windows and this French music on the stereo… not a bad way to…