Happy St. Valentine's Day, friends. I made a wildflower installation for you. I made my origami heart (to write my valentine's message inside) using these instructions that I found via A.C. and some Japanese paper. And something romantic: the ending to a very sweet film: Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain. I haven't seen this film in a…

I was feeling sorry for my shop, which I've pretty much abandoned over the past year, so I stocked it up with some new things. Small makes: lavender sachets with coloured prints, bird and wildflower pins, eye masks and french press cosies. Also some more baby shoes (after taking a few months hiatus from sewing…

I'm not a socialite (might even be an anti-socialite) but I do love this song by the Dirty Projectors (it sounded especially great live last week!), and this sewing pattern, put together by Anna-Maria Horner.  I've made this pattern once before– back in 2009, even. I think I like it made up in this flowy…

Have you met our new pets? We have two new guinea pigs- their names are Gizmo Joe (Keira's) and Gary Zac (Arlo's.) Much fun was had in the naming (you can probably tell.)  They are soft and silky and make a lot of noise (a high-pitched 'wheek!) when we pick them up. But I think…

Turkish delight is one of my family's favourite sweets, and it all began with Arlo's discovery of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe back in 2009. Even though you can buy proper boxes of Middle Eastern TD here, it's something I'd been wanting to try to make for ages, but rosewater was my problem.…

Watering our little vegetable beds this morning, I realised they mainly consist of herbs. Good old herbs, they can always be relied upon to produce something. Unlike my beetroot (lots of leaves, pencil-width roots), carrots, (ditto) or lettuces (withered while we were on holiday.) In the herbal department we have curled and flat parsley, oregano…

I'm regularly offered products to blog about but almost always turn them down, but when Alyssa kindly offered me a pair of Aurora Shoes from her family company, I knew I had to say yes. I mean, look at them! Alyssa had been following this blog and a pinterest board for a while, and noticed…

This is New Zealand is a Garden by Joyce Blake. I was sent a copy by Deb earlier this month, who found it second-hand and thought I might like it. The book was published in 1982 (I've since discovered that the author is Sir Peter Blake's mother) and features sketches and paintings of plants around New…

I've had this Liberty lawn sitting on the shelf for ages, but never got the courage to snip into it until last night. After all, what good does it do sitting on a shelf? I made this very simple summer top using half of it. I was sent the retro stripy bias binding from a…

Everyone was complaining about the heat today, which I must admit is not a common problem here in Wellington. I started making some lemonade but came across some blueberries in the freezer, which suddenly seemed like a match made in heaven to me. Blueberries, lemons, ice, picnic blanket under the lemon tree… you get the…