Riding Hood Reds

How incredibly exciting to find not one, but two gorgeous bright red 100% pure New Zealand wool blankets!

Today they were gently washed, then dried in good old NZ fresh air and ready to be made into something lovely.  I can't decide whether to use them to make little red riding hood capes, or toadstool houses.  Maybe both!

Hurray for red, I love you so.

xx

Dusk Walks

I'm not sure about in your household, but I find those couple of hours in the late afternoon/early evening a bit of a challenge.  There is always a flurry of activity with dinner, cleanup, bath time, getting ready for bed etc.

We are often a little frazzled from the day by then, so I decided to start taking Poppet on a little "dusk walk" and I am absolutely loving it.

We go together just Poppet and I, (Daddy stays home for a few minutes of time to himself).  She rides on my back in her carrier, which was made by a dear friend.  

It is such a special time of the day.

When traveling on foot you notice so many things.  Last night we listened to the Tui's, smelled some freesia growing along the path (I love that she knows how to smell flowers now), looked at the moon and walked until we could see the bay.

At that time in the evening the roadside jasmine is incredibly fragrant and we picked a little bunch for beside her bed.  I just love how the smell fills the room.

Such a calm and peaceful way to spend half an hour before bath-time, and a sweet night ritual for us to share.

xx

On My Work Table

On my work table today...

• Two autumn leaf pixie hats for little twin boys
• A pair of baby shoes made from beautiful hand embroidered linen with a fushia design for a girl-friend's baby
• A dandelion hottie cover heading to the States - it is almost fall there now and starting to get cooler
• A poppy hottie cover off to warm some lucky toes in the South Island.

and last but not least...

• A gorgeously thick, soft, pink double breasted wool coat, embroidered with dandelions for my shop update next week.  

xx

Fair Isle

I found this pink fair-isle sweetie today in the local op shop the other day.  It is a lovely soft angora and although it appears have shrunk it a little in the wash,  the "felting" simply makes it thicker and warmer to keep little bodies snug and warm.   Lucky for us really as it is now the perfect size for my little girl.

My nanna used to knit the most amazing Fair Isle sweaters.  In all fairness I never really appreciated their complexity when I was little, but now I am just loving them.

Today was a bit chilly and with quite a breeze so it was perfect for our almost daily trip to the duck pond.  Didn't stop her wanting to have bare feet though!

xx

Welcome Home

Our big news....  we have just bought our very first home.  Yay!

After months/years of hunting, we have finally found our place and I can't begin to tell you how good it feels.  When we swung open that big heavy door, I felt I had found my home.  Not simply a place where I live, but home.

Poppet looking out the lounge window

Our sweet little rental in the central city, although rather tiny, certainly saw some happy times and of course the birth of our little girl.  Slowly but surely, however, we outgrew it.  

So here we are; proud owners of our very own tree-house in the New Zealand rainforest!

I have been busy unpacking boxes rather than photographing, but here are a few quick pics of our lounge and the view from my new studio. 

View from the "Big Little" Studio

Seriously, I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to have my own studio.  I have to pinch myself every time I walk in, that the native bush right outside the window is in our garden, but that is a story for another day  :)

xx

Returning

Almost a month has passed since I was last here, with a lovely reason why.

I am hoping to return here later this week with a little update of what I have been up to (and not up to!) during the last wee while.  Looking forward to sharing some pics with you too.

xx