Indeed. It Is Friday.

I have a sister. Anna. She is funny and colourful and super creative. She can just *BOOM!* make stuff - and when she and my other sister, Sarah, get together, they do stuff - and it's awesome. And then combine that with my Mum, and *DOUBLE BOOM* the three of them make stuff. And wow. It's pretty cool.

I missed out on that creative gene. I think it was passed down by my grandmother, Mars. She was a woman who could knit, crochet and embroider like her eyes were telecopes. Seriously. The best birthday presents were always made by Mars and Gramps and were highly coveted. I still have the doll house, and all the jumpers, and all the dolls that were made by them, made with so much LOVE!

Mars even made a Princess Diana doll. So cool. I will find it and document it because, well the woman was bloody amazing.

I didn't get passed down too many visual creative genes. I got wordy genes from my other grandmother Nonny. Well I think that anyway.

Anyway. This is a long-winded way to say, here's your Friday song, gifted to me by my sister Anna (who likes Lana del Rey - but I won't hold that against her). I'm paying it forward .

With no further adieu, I introduce Alex Winston. Anyone by the name of Alex is alright in my books. AHEM!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

A Tiny Party

Yesterday we belatedly celebrated Tiny's birthday with a tiny party. A tiny Tiny party. Or is it a Tiny tiny party? Who knows. Either way, it was a party. For Tiny.

My sister kindly made the cutest teacups a la Tic Tocs - which were a huge hit with the tiny brigade, my mother-in-law made the most melt-in-your-mouth meringues, topped with fresh raspberries, and the birthday cake? Well I'll post a pic as soon as I have one. Promise.

I wound up finding pudding basins on Saturday morning, got them home, washed them - to discover they were microwave proof, but not oven-proof. Excuse me but WTF?! So it was back to the Dolly Varden drawing board.

I promise I will not talk Dolly Varden again after this post. I am probably making Dolly Vardens trend over on Twitter because I am banging on about them so much.

I had a hoot making this cake. The DV tin did not yield a long enough frock, so I baked an additional round cake and added a longer hem (ahem) on the bottom. Who do I think I am? Suzie Seamstress? Yes. Apparently. I then cut it down to fit with the frock, stuck them together with buttercream, and then got to decorating.

Tiny walked in halfway through and told me it looked ugly.

YES! High fives all 'round.

Then she came back later and was stoked. Phew.

She had such a brilliant time at her little party, played parcel the parcel, pin the tail on the donkey, musical snatues (sic), and decorated cupcakes. Too cute.

At bed time she said: "Mama, that was the best party ever." And then didn't go to sleep for another 2 hours.

Day 25 of Frocktober: Up, Up and Away

So there I was just floating around at lunch time, up in the sky, up with the birds.

Vintage dress is my sister's which I am moving to Mexico so I never have to return it, oh I love it so! Vintage scarf as belt. Vintage enamel brooch and clip-on earrings. BTW - Clip-on earrings really hurt. Hair styled by the wind.

Day 23 of Frocktober: The Ham & The Minx

I had a wonderful afternoon at Calico + Ivy,  listening to Kelly Doust  of The Crafty Minx fame speak about her new book. 

Kelly is an amazing, immaculate, beautiful and inspiring creature with genuine verve for her craft - vintage clothing. She lives and breathes it, and is a joy to listen to, imparting her knowledge of new to her frocks, and how to fix them, give them a make-over, or give them new life.

Definitely, 100% check out her new book Minxy Vintage - available at Calico + Ivy, BTW.

Day 23 of Frocktober: vintage dress, my favourite heels. Strange expression home-made. Photograph by my sister - thanks Choc for capturing my ham.

Something Sweet

Sometimes you need to be whisked off to another place. Even just for a few brief moments. Just for something sweet. Or something inspiring. Or perhaps both? I'll take you. Hold my hand, I promise it won't take long! Unless we get talking, then it could take longer. I do like to talk.

Last week we managed to pop into Calico + Ivy Balmain and say a brief hello to my sister on her first day. Apparently we arrived at just the right time, the lid was lifted on these incredible macarons - colours which remind me of Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette. Sweet world! Their taste matched their look. Plus I am sure you could colour match those delicious morsels with many fabrics in the store.

Sneak Preview: Calico + Ivy

I've been lucky enough to spend some time watching my sister work away tirelessly for months pulling together Sydney's own Calico + Ivy store. It's been a delight to watch, and it's most certainly one of those places you could happily spend at least a couple of hours. It's that beautiful. So much to look at, so many beautiful pieces, and so meticulously curated. It's an inspiration haven.

Even if you're not crafty you'll love the array of hand-made and even vintage pieces that Sarah and Deb have collected. Perhaps I'll become crafty-by-osmosis.

*****

The new Calico + Ivy opens on Monday at 10am.

*****

Calico + Ivy

10 Birchgrove Road

Balmain

P: 02 9555 9909

Mon - Sat 10:00am - 5:00pm

The Good News Is...

If you've ever stepped foot into Calico & Ivy in Perth, you'll know that it's a beautiful place to visit. My sister introduced me to the shop on my one and only trip to Perth back in '62 (ok it was 2007), and ever since, I've thought about that beautiful space and the goodies within.

Pretty soon you won't have to visit Perth to taste some of the Calico & Ivy sweet action. You can read more here - and finally the secret identity of my very clever sister is revealed. Yes there she is - WOMP there it is!

That's exciting news - yes?

On the homefront, we insisted on Tiny having a sleep yesterday. She woke up a completely different person, fresh for Halloween. And she wasn't even a ghoul! On the insistence of the Doctor (who didn't want to dress up), we went trick or treating. It was, despite my aversion to Halloween, really fun.

Thanks for everyone's kind words on the Tiny front. It made me feel infinitely better. Phew. That's gotta be good!

image via the Calico & Ivy website - how cute is that? I want to uproot our family and move straight in! That black beetle is the clincher.

The Things Sundays Are Made Of

The Doctor and I have been enjoying time together.

Given he's gone completely plum loco bored at home, he missed a few weeks of pre-school, and told me he was sick of lying on the couch feeling tired and sick, I wanted to do something special to make the holidays fun. Not big over the top special, just making memories sort of special.

Matt was going to take him to see Toy Story 3 yesterday, but Tiny went bananas and I guess Matt sensed I was over Tanty Town, so he suggested I take the Doctor. PHEW!

I love those moments when it's just the Doctor and I. And there's nothing to read into that. I just enjoy having that one on one that we used to enjoy together pre-Tiny. I think it's important to 'date' each of my kids and enjoy special things together.

Today I took the Doctor (with my sister) to Kinokuniya. The Doctor is a big book lover. He had a gift voucher burning a hole in his pocket. So we three drove into the city and indulged in a couple of hours of perving on books.

I felt so excited to look at books with the Doctor. There are so many great reads ahead for us. We've read Alice In Wonderland, we're half way through Charlotte's Web, we've read How To Train Your Dragon, and we're also digging Milly, Molly, Mandy.

I truly believe that reading and reading with your child is one of the best gifts you can give a child, and one of the most important things to do. So much can be learnt, dreamt, thought of - just from reading each day. We try to read to the smalls every single night, it's really rare that we don't each lie in bed with them to read for a little while.

Lately thoughts have turned to my own reading habits. They are abysmal at the moment. I do like reading recipe books, but lately I get some screen time and go on a tour of the interwebz, here, there and everywhere. And all the bedside matter is lying dormant. Right now I'm reading Revolutionary Road. I'll talk more about that later this week (I've seen the film - have you?).

What book are you reading right now? (Well not RIGHT now, but this week?)

I need to set an example and pick up a book. I want my kids to see me reading. To see me devouring a book. I love writing, and I believe that that goes hand-in-hand with reading. I'm looking for books with instant gratification. Vampire novels and any mystic-fantasy type reading need not apply. Hit me with your recommendations!

* This is a pretty great read about reading and aspirations.

* Here's an article about how reading online can shatter your concentration. Twitter. Blogs. Email. FourSquare. Oh man. I am all over it!

* Last chance to enter the Teddy Bear's Wednesday super awesome giveaway!

Yo Ho Ho!

We sailed on the great big sea (of road) today, down south to celebrate my nephew's birthday, pirate style.

Why are pirates called pirates? Because they ARRRRGH!

It was such a beautiful day in every sense. We each had a wonderful time and wouldn't have missed it for all the gold on the bottom of the sea. Happy 5th Birthday O! We love you!

Let Me Re-Write That

Oh! My poor form, I neglected to include the awesome-ness that was lunch with my beautiful sisters.

What an ungrateful trollop.

My sisters organised a beautiful lunch yesterday. We enjoyed a beautiful chicken dumpling soup and a really yummy salad, topped off with a super y to the UM birthday cake!

I was spoilt. I was loved. I had a terrific day (until Tiny started being super, duper grumpy in the afternoon).

Thank you to my beautiful sisters for making my day special.

An Interview:: My Mum

It's Mother's Day today. I thought who better to talk to about being a Mum than my own Mum.

She didn't actually want to do it, I forced her. Sorry Mum. Sometimes mums have to do things they think suck. Like sitting in doorways to block night wandering toddlers. Like cleaning up vomit (high five me!). Like cleaning the toilet (oh yeah baby). Without further ado, I introduce my Mum, we like to call her Triscals.

-------------------------------------------

What's the best part about being a Mum?

Holding my babies and marvelling at the miracle; watching them grow up with lots of treasured memories, and now receiving the most wonderful unconditional love and care from them.

What's the worst part?

The worst part was when they started to leave home on the next stage of their 'journey' - a most gut wrenching, sad yet happy time. I mourned before they left and after!

Did you ever want a refund?

NEVER EVER EVER.

Having three girls must have been an, ahem, handful?

Only when you had to jump into swimming pools to fish PMM out or having to nag Choccy and Anna to come home before dark... hardly 'handful' problems though.

Do you remember celebrating Mother's Day with your babies? What made it special?

Reflections of wonderful home made cards, the lovingly wrapped (and sometimes made) gift and the wonderful breaky in bed with flowers on the tray!

What's one of your most memorable moments as a Mum?

Anna bringing home the Hungerbeasts - what craziness!!!

Choccy as a little tot - every meal time spilling her water.

PMM all dressed up and going trick or treating with her school friends.

The girls phoning me at work to say that the cat was having kittens on the back lawn and the cat didn't seem to know what to do!

Three most beautiful brides, gorgeous husbands, and absolutely splendiferous weddings; the arrivals of seven most fabulous little people (ok so that goes into the grandmother file).

These are just a few of my favourite things!

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I can barely believe I am uploading this photo to share. I am the completely dorky one in the Jonathon Sceats uber massive glasses that look like owl eyes. Uh huh. Awesome. Er thanks Dad for scanning that beauty for me.

Thanks Triscals! Happy Mother's Day!

Seen That Before?

Eponymous Paul Smith showed this frock at Autumn/Winter 2010 London Fashion Week..

Remind you of something 'our' Cate wore last year by awesome Australian designers Romance was Born...?

PS image via

HR image via my sister

Hot? or ...Hot? You Decide

I've been watching My Kitchen Rules. It's not Masterchef but the judges make good eye candy.

But my sisters and I have been arguing. Who is better looking? Who is hot hot hot?

Manu Feildel
or Pete Evans?

My sister is swayed by Manu's French accent. But I can't get past the leather necklace. And now I'm looking at these photos... Hmm, I can't decide. They're both pretty cute. They can both make me dinner.

So YOU decide. This is an incredibly cerebral post (aren't they all?!). Vote now.

Christmas Stylie

Another photo gratuitously supplied by my sister. This time I'm wearing the Doctor's crown (as created by the genius that is Nan at Rummage) as gifted by my sister. The photo-snapping one. This is Christmas stylie. Please note: I don't practise this pose in the mirror. It just comes naturally. Ahem.

So, Tell Me, How Was Christmas?

I have a confession to make. A filthy confession. We divvied up all the Christmas tasks, and mine for the 25th was to make nibblies. Unfortunately I forgot what I was supposed to be doing, and I can't even remember why I didn't get this task done, but all I put out were some chips, cheese, and I totally burnt the bruschetta (so much so Matt could probably use it for drawing), and the goats curd and fetta stuffed bell peppers are still sitting in my shelf. Let's not even talk about the caramelised onions (ok let's talk about them, I forgot, and the onions are still sitting in a dark cupboard in tact). I know why, I don't like making savoury things, I much prefer sweeties. I got scared and thus, forgot. YIKES!

AND I didn't even take one photo. Earth to PMM: come IN! Thanks to my sister for providing pictures of Christmas Day. Clearly my brain was switched off.

Besides that, we had a delightful, crazy Christmas day.

My family is probably still waiting for the nibblies. Take two anyone?

The Gentle Art Of Quiet Stitching

Lately I've been enjoying stitching. I'm still stitching my sister's belated birthday present, because each time I get to feeling almost finished, I decide to embellish it further. This could continue for a while, however the more stitches the pillowcase collects, the firmer the fabric becomes and she may well feel like she's sleeping on a piece of cardboard. So I will stop soon.

But stitching provides me with such a nice rhythmic, solo pursuit.

As a mother it's rare these days that I get to do anything solo. So stitching is usually left to bed time, when I pore over my colours, selecting them with care, and then stitching. Sometimes I colour match incorrectly and spend the next evening carefully unpicking, but it's all part of it. And the truth is, sometimes those imperfections are part of the beauty of stitching.

My grandmother is an incredible stitcher. Sadly, she's almost blind, however I know each of my sisters and I cherish anything that has been hand-stitched by our Marsy. I constantly seek inspiration from her embroidery and can spend many minutes looking with amazement at her incredibly tiny stitches. I have this towel that she must have given to me at least ten years ago, which I've never used because it's too special. I know she'd want me to use it, but look at the work, no way Jose!
Who's your inspiration?

Blogtoberfest Day 26: Things You Should Know About Me

I'm turning more and more into a Glee gleek. I can't help it. I'm hooked. I've even started downloading select tracks from iTunes. I'd ask for an intervention, but I don't want one.

After all, there are only three more sleeps.

Missed Day 25 due to my sister's birthday. Happy Birthday Nar. Sorry readers, but cupcakes and chocolate pavlova called. And I listened.

The Doctor & His Cush

Something spectacular happened today. Something out of the ordinary. Something so exciting I almost feel like singing songs very much out of tune. Are you ready? Are you perched on the edge of your seat?

Today I went to see my sister about a cush. Not just any cush. The cush that has been in the works for a couple of months. It was looming over me, and the Doctor had mentioned it and I just needed to finish it. Well actually, I just needed her to finish it.

So here 'tis. The Doctor will arrive home from pre-school and I'll not spill a word. I like it best when he notices small things such as these himself. Or else I get too excited and just tell him. I'm like that you know.

Please note Boombastic and Ned are the best of friends and are hanging out on the bed waiting ever so patiently for bedtime.

But here's a warning for sisters of the world. When stitching, it's a good thing to pay attention and not commence nattering. In the latter picture the cush is upside down. Can you tell what's wrong with this here dear cush?

Baying for Blood

Last night my sister and I went into the city. We were buoyed by excitement of what's to come - the Young Blood Designers Market. And then we turned up and a bazillion people were standing outside the Powerhouse Museum and we made two more.

The security guard was turning people away because they had too many people inside - and they told all of us standing there that there was not a chance we were going to get in unless we'd pre-paid for our tickets. Ho-hum.

So my sister and I stood there for what kind of seemed like a long time. We ummed and ahhed. We could chance it and beg to get in, or make the most of having our husband's babysit, so we hit the high road and went off to Ariel. There's no mistaking it, we know how to party.

The long and the short of it, as soon as we got home we pre-purchased our tickets for today and rolled up today and rolled straight in. It was worth it, so many great young designers in one small space. But take my advice, if you want to go next time, buy your ticket in advance.

From the Adventures of Thrifty the Wonder Mama

I found some other cuties the other day on my thrifting adventures. It's funny. Well not laugh out loud funny, maybe not even funny, perhaps just peculiar. I do the rounds of the shop, then go for a second round. Usually on the first round I come up empty handed. The second round is when I yield the goodies. I get bamboozled on the first round, second round I'm calm, I know the field I am playing and I can relax and really look.

I found these beauties for just 2 clams.

I was thinking of making them into something (because let's face it, when it comes to making things I am *ahem* the bomb with my exemplary track record), given whoever made them put so much work into them, I wanted to continue their journey, but then my sister gave me the super idea to frame them. Enjoy them as they are. They're pretty spectacular no matter which way you look at them.