It rains, then it rains some more. Actually, it's very welcome, because we were all beginning to worry about drought. And it means that we can spend a cosy day inside with the radio playing and steam on the windows.  I wanted the children to help me with some holiday baking. They were enthusiastic at…

I've been thinking about small gifts this week- things to make for the neighbours and teachers and others we know for Christmas. I'm thinking about making chocolatey things like fudge and truffles because, well, I don't think you can ever have enough chocolate. The children have had such great teachers at school this year. They…

My project this week was to make some clothes for Arlo to wear this summer. So far I've made a few pairs of these long shorts/short longs (which are they?) which he seems to like wearing. To sew these, I used my own simple pattern that I've been adapting a little every year since he…

Thank you for your kind support over the weekend with regards to my table at the Auckland Art and Craft Fair. It was an amazing event, and I loved getting to meet blog readers and fellow crafters in person. So, thank you for coming and visiting me, if you did. It was very nice to…

Did you know that the collective noun for jackrabbits is 'husk'? A husk of jackrabbits. You could also say a wrack of rabbits (I'm sure some farmers would agree) or a down of rabbits or a trace. They all sound quite fitting to me.  Here are some long-eared rabbits that I have made for my…

We have a climbing rose bush in our back garden, I think it's a Cecile Brunner. It's growing quickly and had completely covered the garden shed, so I cut it back this morning, and now there's a jug filled with roses on my desk. Very nice. I've made these little pins as a last-minute project…

I made these simple paper globe decorations to attach to some gifts I was wrapping this week. They were pretty fun to make, and yet another way (a bit like the notebooks) to use up some of my paper collection. A double-win. I cut up some old Christmas cards and also, the pages of a…

A while ago, at our local recycling centre, I came across an old ring-binder folder filled with papers and cards. Only two pages inside had been used. On one was written 'tomato crop report, 1945' and on the other, a half-written sponge cake recipe. I had to take the folder home, and decided to re-use…

When we first moved into this house a few months ago, my friend Jenny was visiting and pointed out that we had an upturned sink buried in our garden. I'd seen the base of it poking out amongst some weeds, but never realised that's what it was. And then it stayed there for quite some…

I went out walking early this morning, and this is what I found, growing wild. Buds and tendrils and leaves.