Upcycling old suitcases

I am enjoying the Autumn air right now.  There is a freshness here which most days make you put on a light jumper but we are still enjoying the days as they warm up in the afternoons. 

We are also enjoying lovely changing colours of the Autumn trees.

We celebrated our little boys 2nd birthday yesterday.  During a trip to Armidale last weekend to visit family, we were also able to sneak in an early birthday party for him.  I'm sure he had no idea really who's birthday it was but he still had fun eating cake and the usual junk food.

It constantly amazes me how fast kids grow and we are watching this little one grow rapidly from being a baby to a clever, strong willed delightful little boy.

Today, I had some time on my hands took the chance to tackle a little project I've been carrying around with me for the past 3 years. 

This beaten old suitcase came from Sean's Nan.  It's huge in size and would be so great to use for storage but needed some new life given back into her.  So, I have decided that we could use it in one of the boys bedrooms to hold toys. 

To do this project you will need some scissors, acid free craft/material glue, paintbrush, Stanley knife and some funky fabric. 

Step 1:

You will need to lay your fabric out and select what area you want to use for the top of the suitcase.  Place this on top of the suitcase and cut around the top edge leaving an inch of fabric to over hang.

Step 2:  Paint the entire top of the suitcase with glue using your brush, making sure you spread it into the crease around the edge. 

Step 3:  Place your fabric onto the glue and position it quickly.  You will then need to spend some time smoothing out your fabric and pressing it down onto the glued suitcase lid.  Run your fingernail or a tool with a tip around the crease of the outer edge of the suitcase lid.  This is where you will cut the material to get a fine neat finish. 

Step 4:  Once the glue has dried a little, start slowly and carefully (watching your fingers!) cutting along the crease edge.  The sharper your knife, the better the finished result will be.

I am dreaming now of finding many more suitcases of different sizes and colours.  Imagining what I can use them for around the house. 

Hope you may find some use for your old suitcases!!

Stop and smell the roses

How often do you stop and smell the roses?
Do you make time to have some time out?

Do you have a special little ritual or activity which you like to do to relax and and help you soak up this amazing life.
Speaking for myself, participating in the simple things help me to stop and smell the roses.
It's the little things like having a coffee in my favourite chair by the window, going to a cafe for breakfast with my husband and boys, doing a spot of crochet under a nice warm blanket on the couch, cooking up a special treat in the kitchen, reading a book to my boys or planting a new plant in the garden. 

I love to experiment in the kitchen and recently made a great fig tarte tatin.  You know the type of food which warms your soul on a cold Autumn night.....best eaten with some vanilla ice-cream and caramel sauce to finish.

Road trips are also good for taking time out and we have been doing more than our share of road trips in the last year.  Just check out that look of happiness on Sean's face.  We've had some of our best crazy laughing times in the car during our road trips. 

I don't know about you, but the older I get (and yeah, I'm still a spring chicken in my early 30's)  I am realising how important it is to spend time out and smell those roses.
Whatever they may be.....
I'm interested.  What sort of things do you like to do for your time out?

Comming up for breath

Where shall I start?

I guess you could say the last month has been a little on the crazy busy side.

Not to worry, because it is all good busy stuff which has kept us on the go. 

After a little Easter visit with my brother and his family, we headed onto new beginnings. 

We have moved house, relocated to a new town, Sean has started a new job and we have sold our house to top it all off. 

We are now living it up in the little town of Moree in NSW.  Population approximately 10 000 people.  The town seems to have a nice little feel to it and the friendliness of the people is quite overwhelming sometimes. 
As daunting as it can be moving towns, I do love the excitment of discovering what's to do and see in around the town.  Our first few days were filled with checking out the local parks, browsing through cute little shops and trying out food at the local food joints. 



Old war plane at our local resturant just around the corner from us.  Boys loved playing in this!

I was thoroughly impressed with this rocket which stands majestically in one of the local parks nearby.  Archer took some convincing the first few times to go down the slide once he made it to the top.

The best part of moving has been having our own house again. 
A place where we can call home (for now), playing with our own toys, sleeping in our own beds, cooking in my own kitchen....the list could go on.
It has been a relief to watch how easily (and gladly it seems) the boys have slipped back into our old routines again. 

Over the last week it seems we have had time to come up for a breath. 
Time for quiet drawing. 
Time for sitting in a tree and contemplating life.

Time for some cooking in my kitchen. 

Pink playdough in fact.  And yes, even in a house of boys, we do pink playdough!!

Oh how I have learned to appreciate the normal routines of life.  The simple things.

We do still miss these kids every now and then........and wonder how they are doing?

Great memories which we will always treasure.
Hope your enjoying your little part of the world with your family.

New lessons...new starts

Last weekend we made our way back to Queensland.  And while there have been lots of fun and precious times with my mum and dad and lots of grandparent time for the boys, we are definitely ready to step into the next leg of our journey. 

We have learnt many lessons about stepping out over the past 3 years.  We have taken risks over the last few months...some have come off and some have tested our patience.  Man have we learnt patience in the last few months....but we have learnt to trust and it work out in the end.

Enough of the serious stuff.....here's some snaps of what else we have been up to over the last 2 months. 



Upside down walnut and pear tart....MKR will do that to you!!





Made trains over coffee and yummy poached eggs



Visited our favorite spots in Alice Springs



driven mini-motorbikes



Caught up with good friends



Had some desert ink done



As for where we are heading to live with Sean's new job.  We are heading down into NSW territory to the small town of Moree.  Population approximately 10 000 people and looking forward to getting out teeth into a smaller community.  Things to be done in the next few weeks......find Archer a preschool, book in some swimming lessons, find a house to rent,  search the new and old thrift stores for interesting furniture and items to make our house a home, locate the town library and join some playgroups.  Oh, and did I say make a new friend...just one would be lovely to make the settling in just that little bit easier!

Knitting projects

Knitting

Obviously being a mum with two young boys makes for a busy life, but I am determined to do some serious knitting and crocheting this year!  So I'm heading to my good friend Bron, master of all wool crafts to teach me knitting. 

Yes, I have knitted in the past...many many years ago and cannot remember a single thing, so it was decided that Bron would give me some lessons over a coffee and good old catch up. 

I thought I would share with you some of my wish list projects I would love to tackle this year.

What about these cute fingerless gloves.  Loving the tree pattern!

I'm going cowls for winter this year.  Scarves tend to annoy me with the hanging ends.

Yes, we are done with babies in our house.  I would still love to make this cute little jumper for someones baby!

One can never have enough skirts in their cupboard and I'm loving this unique knitted skirt. 

Such pretty colours to choose from.  Such exciting choices for stripes and patterns!



Well, that's what I'm aiming to do more of this year.....

What creative plans do you have for your year?