art lab for kids

Art Lab For Kids is a wonderful new book by my friend Susan Schwake, the mastermind behind artstream studios. It's a source of ideas and lessons for creating all manner of different art with children... mind you I learnt a couple of new things from it too.


Beautifully photographed and clearly laid out, it steps you through 52 different art styles, each relating to a particular artist; a type of "how to achieve their look" guide.

And I am delighted to be one of the artists! I'm on the watercolour and pencil page.





The book is lovely, meaty and inspiring. You can buy it online here, and find out more about it here.

Thanks so much Susan, and well done to you!!!

more lessons

I knew when I wrote my previous post that I had left out some of the lessons I wanted to mention. Give me a month and my brain catches up (there's a lesson right there).  So here are a couple more things I've learnt (or mantra's I try to hold on to) on my amble through parenthood so far:

- Tell them what you're about to do in advance, (don't spring it on them while they are in the middle of something). This gives them time to prepare themselves, and therefore learn.

- They learn FAST. You may think they're not listening or absorbing, but they ARE.

- Your job as a parent is to prepare them for the next stage in their life.

- Good old fashioned sunshine bleaches almost any stain out of laundry.

- And most children's books end in a good sleep...

life in a year

A month ago my little Millipede turned 1!

A whole year, I can't believe it. Life has changed alot in that year. And then changed back again, and then changed once more, and on it went. As each day I filled with more and more adoration. Remember at first when I loved his little arms that could not reach beyond the top of his head? Now I love his perfectly formed micro-calves. I love that he pokes his little pointer finger into any little gap it fits, mostly at the moment they live in his earholes. And I love that he loves music, laughing, his dad, reclining on things for a little rest, and practicing swimming on the kitchen floor.

We've just discovered (after a couple of scary moments) he is anaphylactic to peanuts, and my heart lurches with worry about how to keep him safe. (Did you know peanuts/peanut oil can sometimes lurk in vegetable oil, nutmeg and shampoo??!!! Just to name a few!)



But mostly this year I have learnt new things about myself. I have learnt that I will do just about anything to hear him laugh. I have learnt that I absorb and cling onto bits of advice that I hope will help me be a better mum. Here are some from various sources:

- Let the love that's in your heart beam on your face each time they enter the room (not the critical "what the hell have you rubbed through your hair now?" face).

- Always ask what's wrong when he's crying or whinging, never just assume.

- Include him.

... There are more, but for now I am besotted.

hard cover

I had a dream last week where I was in a teahouse (built in a tree) where all the floors and 1/2 way up the walls were made completely of old hard cover books!

Very much like this amazing side table made by Tytie on Etsy.

featured on etsy

My good friend Cath, from My Bearded Pigeon and Chunky Chooky fame, maker of gorgeous cushions and many other wonders, is featured seller on Etsy this weekend!!!!

Check out her sweet interview here.

So proud of her!

afternoon tea

While preparing afternoon tea the other day I happened to notice how each of our cups seemed to embody our personalities. :)

mullet skirts WTF

I was all reved-up and set to do a "WTF is the deal with those mullet skirts!!!?" post...



But then when I set of in search for some accompanying images I found a few that kinda pull it off.



Now I'm conflicted. Very conflicted...

Thoughts?