A new year

Not much work going on at the moment, I have spent one day at the studio filling up the table with cut outs for Mum to fettle when she gets back haha!  One resolution I have made is to spend less time on the net looking at what others are making and more time actually making myself - so far this is not working. 

I have done a little drawing recently though.  Mia got chicken pox on New Years day so we played dot to dot with her face.  And since CJ wanted to join in I gave him a jaunty moustache. 

For our annual family expedition we took the whanau to Agrodome in Rotorua.  Being complete townies we loved being able to pat the sheep and dogs and feed the lambs.

And on the way home we stopped to look at some mud pools and CJ slipped while paddling in the fountain which resulted in both kids stripping off and getting wet and nakey drive home wrapped in blankets.  Great memories.

And finally I forgot to share these two art works I received for xmas.  The first from my dear Ella, a sweet print by Devon Smith.

And this wee bird by my aunt Jill Fryer which was a Christmas card but I plan on framing it to go on my "blue art wall" in our bedroom

Happy day xxx

French winter vs Scorching Hamilton Summer

While Mum and Dad are off exploring the French Riviera in the middle of a snowy winter I'm sitting here feeling drowsy in the heat, sweating, too hot to head for the pool at Mum and Dads place.

I told Mum I would carry on working while they were away - HA!  I have done one evenings worth of painting and two hours at the studio cutting out butterflies and caterpillers.

We've had a few dramas:
New Years Day Mia woke up with Chicken pox which she has coped with very well.
Poor Jedi needs to have a very expensive operation to fix his leg which will consume all my hard earned mug money and anything I've earnt and will earn for the next three months.  Can you tell I'm completely gutted, all I wanted was to finish landscaping the back yard.
And today I received a letter from the Police saying I may be called as a witness in the trial of the drug-lab neighbours which happened two years ago.  How am I supposed to remember that far back?  Hopefully Im not needed coz it makes me feel very anxious thinking about it.

Its a bit of a whiney post this time sorry.  Paul is home this week and its putting me off my routine, the kids are driving me bananas with "Mu-um..!", the house is a bombsite and its so so hot.  Someone send some good luck this way!

Playing dot to dot with Mias chicken pox.  I gave CJ a debonaire moustache.

hot day xxx

December wrap up

How sweet is this fella

New addition



Golden dogs



Cute hedgehog

Owls etc, the dragonfly is new

Garden signs

This is for someone special

 The last market for the year was Tamahere market.  We did really well but we werent really feeling the xmas vibe for some reason.  Nonetheless, the boxes came home much emptier so we will be brainstorming over the break for some new ideas for 2011.

Our faithful old Telstar finally breathed its last so here is my shiny new xmas present!

Wishing you all a very merry fun filled Christmas...

Love from us
Happy day xxx

Its a crazy time of year

Sorry to be so irregular lately.  Nana hasnt been having the kids on a Wednesday so I havent been able to have my day at the studio.  We are still working hard though. The last of the 260 mugs will be out of the kiln on Friday, I'm terrified that I have missed someone out despite checking the lists a million times.  We have one more market before Xmas and are hoping it'll be a big one, we don't want to bring anything home again!  And my sewing machine has been going every spare moment I get making last minute gifts I think up, Spotlight has seen a lot of me lately.

I havent got any pics of "production" at the moment so here are some loverly pics of my busy babes:

Mia knows this is the man to snuggle up to!

CJ will not go near Santa but loves that he brought all the kids chocolate!



Its all just so exhaustingfor Casey, wish I could do this without the kids jumping all over me

Happy day xxx

My busy life

Slow down life!  So much has been going on, I barely get time to check my emails and beloved blogs lately.  So heres a quick snippet of things:

This is me with a huge dude at the Fort Takapuna outdoor sculpture exhibition. Many amazing artists show their work in this beautiful setting.



Jin Ling- terracotta woman with dove



Paul Dibble - one of three figures



Small birds on pedestals - sorry can't remember the artist



 

My beautiful dancing babe had her end of year dance school show (two performances) at Hamiltons Founders Theatre.  I was so proud of her, it was completely adorable.  She loved it, a stage, pretty dress and makeup - we have a performer in the making, no stage fright for her!  She made some lovely friends including Mila shown in the pic.

Pillowcase dress number two - this one is for my four year old niece.  The same red and white polka dot as Mia's but with a blue check hem and floral inverted pleat.  On to the next one for my 7 mth old niece - pink and purple this time.

I picked up this stylish mug from the Waikato Potters Society open day for FIVE DOLLARS!  Craziness.  Dad is a committee member and was helping out making and decorating tiles with children so of course my two had a go too.  Mia was given a tiny pottery vase made by the American potter-in-residence.

And as for the mugs... I have 46 handles to paint and label and 8 special ones to paint and I'm DONE.

Two markets this weekend - Tamahere Christmas twilight market on Saturday and Craftmad on Sunday.  See you there!

happy day xxx

Strawberry Shortcake

I love this pic of my girl.  She had been playing in the blossom at Nana and Grandads. 

 But this post is actually about this gorgeous dress I made.  I found the pattern in this book http://www.amazon.com/Small-Stash-Sewing-Projects-Designer/dp/0470547421

and it was so easy!  The trickiest bit was the bias binding on the armpits which I always find fiddly but I guess I just need more practice.  Its sweet and summery and who doesnt love a good spot print!

And I have enough spot material left to make one for my neice but I'll team it with a floral pleat and blue check border - watch this space...

Happy day xxx

My paper bag Princess

During the school holidays the library put on a special storytime with the talented Hannah May and Mia got chosen to act out the part of the Princess in one of my fave stories The Paper Bag Princess.

She was just gorgeous, she has no fear of being in front of an audience.

Sorry bout the camera Mum, Hannah threw cellophane pieces and handfuls of talcum powder into the room as the dragons smoke!

Wednesdays work:

Custom order made through GardenArtStudio in Cambridge

The plaques for two wee girls gardens

Rowers as requested by GardenArtStudio

Boats and oars for our garden noughts and crosses set

Happy day xxx

Hi, my name is Kirsten and I am a fabric hoarder

My friend Rosemary came to visit last weekend and in true crafter style,  she packed her suitcase with fabric to share with me (she still managed to pack enough clothes to look incredibly fabulous!).  These are interior design fabric samples, one of which is $250 a metre.

The one on top of this pile reminds me of my Dads hankerchiefs which in a funny way makes me feel happy.  

How cute is this applique flamingo piece?



And for the boy, jungle animals!

What to do, what to do.  Ideas are welcome. 

In other news : There has been an almighty storm the last 24 hours or so.  Last night we had thunder, lightening, hail, violent downpours and wind gusts that flung the trees sideways.  I was horrified when it started hailing coz my poor tomato seedlings that I was planning on nurturing til it was warm enough to plant out were sitting on the bench outside our door!  They seem to have survived it though. 

It was Tamahere market day but the rotten cold I have meant I couldnt brave the conditions with Mum for which I felt very guilty.  She said it wasnt so bad (yeah right) and we took an order for ten mini flowers plus a couple of completed orders were picked up by customers (more on this when I have the pics).  I was stuck inside trying to keep two antsy kids entertained all day which was not easy considering how awful I felt.  But they are so cute to photograph, little nutters

happy day? xxx

As if she knew I was sick

Thanks to my "secret admirer" aka Vanette for my soft non-scratchy scarf which was waiting in the mailbox to soothe me after a couple of hours rushing around for the family, dragging my concrete-filled-sick-woe-is-me head. 

My bff strikes again with a little something to make me smile, I mean who needs a birthday present on their birthday (3rd Feb) when you can get one at a totally unexpected time! 

And of course Miss Mimi wanted to get in on the photo act.

Happy snuffly day xxx

Its so fun to have a boy!

And because I love my boy Casey just as much as I love my Mia, here are some gorgeous pics of him clowning around

Decorating Jedi with shoes

checking out his ginormous belly

playing raffles with Mia before bed

Happy day xxx