vivid

Under instruction from Kate, a very vivid ( and very aqua) birthday.
And really life seems to be very vivid and lived large by 11 and 12 year olds; such a wondrous time on the edge of adolescence.








Much prettiness and yumminess.


Much fun, laughter, giggling, silliness, happiness for hours and hours ( and there is still a little going on).


A lovely group of friends, girls and boys.

Such a lovely age.







A slightly mad birthday cake, an abstract version of the magazine original.








And a box of goodies,
Andy's birthday gift for Kate's official birthday tomorrow.

Birthday preparations

Sooooo.... says the little yellow duck as he rolls his eyes,
a day of cooking and sewing ahead.

Need to do the finishing touches to the doll Kate requested for her birthday .

Need to consult my Donna Hay Kid's books to see what Kate has earmarked and also find that list she put on the fridge door.

My Donna Hay birthday inspiration books.






I see, some upmarket chocolate crackles






This is the birthday cake she wants.







Not sure why this has a marker on it, probably because it is pretty, or maybe it's that cupcake stand.







and speaking of cupcakes, she wants pretty cupcakes and some "suitable for boys"







And these, I think, are the Australian version of the North American s'mores - chocolate ripples and mini marshmallows.
Some thing special for the friends who are sleeping over.






and this is last year's birthday effort - pretty.

Pictures from Flickr. Click on the picture to see the original.


Don't you just love these old caravans.

My Auntie and Uncle and their two children used to holiday at Swansea in the 1960s in a caravan that my Uncle built.
We would go down to visit them and stay for the day or sometimes overnight once they had the annexe.



This blog has a beautiful caravan, and there are stacks of vintage caravans here.


And this little film shows a caravan remarkably similar to my Uncles home built one.

busy work...

The basket in the corner with the broken handles.

Used to hold all the balls of thrifted cotton and a pair of 4mm needles ready for knitters who want a thoughtfree knitting task - dish cloths.


A project shared by mother and daughter and picked up whenever the knitting muse whispers.

I am starting to feel almost human again.

What a nasty bug.


Still the sun is shining here today, I almost have my sense of smell and taste back, the aches and pains have gone and things are on the up ( fingers crossed)



I have been making my way through some of the stored clothes that unfortunately got wet when the garage flooded recently.



They have all been washed and the last of them are on the line.



These summer dresses of Kate's, from past years are so pretty, some bought, some handmade and all being kept, perhaps for a grand daughter in the future.



Kate turns 12 this weekend.
Lots to do this week and now that I am moving a almost normal speed I am looking forward to bringing it all together, the food, the presents, the happiness, friends and family.

Lots to do.

The Ideal Homemaker #18

#18 Just for Today



" In summary, an ideal homemaker is an artist in general management so that her home is able to function at its peak performance and fulfill its lofty purpose and so that she along with her husband and children can reflect the joy, order, and progressive spirit therein. She does not try to accomplish this thirty years at a time , but strives to practice being an artist in management and homemaking JUST FOR TODAY"



Then she says, " Perfection is a process, not an event.
Don't be discouraged if you are not able to reach your goal overnight.
Practice makes perfect - just so it is the right kind of practice."







I'm not sure that I would be aiming for perfection but I do agree about taking life one day at a time.
Taking life that way means that each morning we wake up to a whole new world of opportunities and possibilities.
I would be aiming for a well run household that brings my family and me a sense of peace and contentment, and gives us all plenty of time to enjoy our home and lives.



She finishes off with words from Ralph Waldo Emerson , who had so many good things to say - " That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing itself is changed, but that our power to do is increased."

The Ideal Homemaker #17

# 17 That Special Something


" And after all of these facets have made our ideal homemaker like a sparkling diamond, she will add a few other special facets of her own to set her apart from all the rest."

from The Art of Homemaking by Daryl V. Hoole 1963


So , my sparkling diamonds, this chapter is all about discovering your special talents and gifts and developing them.
She mentions things like your sense of humour, your quality of making friends, also flower arranging, gift wrapping, dancing, singing, playing a musical instrument, painting, creative writing, dressmaking, baking and the list goes on.



Good advice really.
Any worthwhile long term relationship should also foster and encourage all those things that make each of us unique.

Snug

I have been snug as a bug on the couch by the fire for the past few days, unwell with another lurgy that has found its way into the house.
Mostly I have been snoozing and occasionally trying a little knitting but even that seemed beyond me at times.








I have been feeling very vintage, like an old lady actually.
A little chirpier today though .



Some commented that we here in Tasmania seem to have a short winter because the daffs are up already but let me assure you that spring is still some way off.
The bulbs just like to get an early start, to remind us that the days are in fact getting longer and the new season is not too far away.



Mid July until my birthday in August are traditionally the coldest part of winter here, when the most snow falls on the mountains and there are lots of crisp heart starter frosts.



We have frosts right through until early October sometimes even into November but a frost almost always means a magnificent clear day ahead.
Glorious weather as long as you have a warm fire to come home to.



I'm longing to do some sewing but my plans for the week have been blown out of the water by this bug so I will return to the snuggy couch ; to doze, knit, read,doze - you know the drill.

The first daffodil

The Ideal Homemaker #16

#16 Budgeting - not such a bad word.


"An ideal homemaker is skilled in the handling of money, in planned shopping, in careful storage, and in clever preparation of food. She is able to conserve the family's possessions through good management. She does not economise and follow a budget out of self-pity, but because it is a challenge to get the very most out of the resources available."


Oh, so much to do.
No room really for being slap dash.






One of my 1940s housekeeping books calls the home and its inhabitants "the family firm" and you can look at the family as an economic unit, a small family business.
Businesses don't just have to make money to survive , they have to keep costs down without scrimping on quality, they have to make the most of the resources they have including their staff and in a small family business everyone has to pull together and know what the goals are and everyone should benefit from any profits that are made.

What I have been working on lately

This little one is on her way to Sydney, a little girl doll to celebrate the birth of a little sister for three brothers.







These three sisters are on their way to Virginia USA .
Three sister dolls for three pretty little sisters.






The baby, for Hailey.







The middle one for Hannah.







The oldest for big sister Rachel.

Hannah's doll and her sisters.

Saturday morning breakfast for one

Mid term break, or back in my day, boarders long weekend.

Everyone is sleeping in.

Porridge with brown sugar on a tray in the front room .

Eaten in front of the fire.

Mosaic tray made by my sister.

Hello weekend.

The Ideal Homemaker #14 and # 15

#14 Imperturbability


" An ideal homemaker exercises patience, understanding, and imperturbability unless controlled anger and reasonable discipline are justified.
She will do her best to take those bad days when everything seems to go wrong in her stride, realizing that we need some valleys in order to appreciate the mountains"


In other words be a mature grown up.
Good advice for grown up girls and boys.




#15 On husbands - all I ask







" An ideal homemaker is the type of companion and wife who merits the appreciation and cooperation of her husband and helps him to want to do his part well as a husband, father, and provider."



She goes on to say that a husband who helps around the house should be a good help , he should volunteer, follow through on the task and have a willing attitude.
In other words , act like a grown up partner.



She also states that a husband should not add to his wife's work; pick up after himself,
not leave a mess when doing repairs, that kind of thing.
You know act like an adult and model good behaviour to his children.






So the message is for the adults in the house to act like considerate, caring grown ups regardless, of whether they both work outside the home, one works outside the home and one cares for the home and all the other possibilities there are.



It is so easy for it all to become a competition about who has the hardest job and who does the most work.
Treat your partner with the consideration and respect you would give your very best friend because that is what they are.

OK .
So it is really really cold here ( for Tasmania, not northern hemisphere cold.)
It was -2ºC here this morning when I got out of bed just before 6am.
It was about 8ºC in the kitchen.
Brass monkeys weather.



The kitchen fire hasn't been on for two days and we were all home late yesterday so the front room fire was only alight for a few hours last night.
The house has a chill and my job today is to keep both fires blazing so my little house will become a warm home again.









It is a bright sunny day, just beautiful but cold.
The water in the hen house is frozen and Charlie has let the whole neighbourhood know about it even though the pond is not frozen and she can drink there.


Andy is home today with round two of the lurgy so I won't be able to go to Kate's cross country this afternoon.







I spent yesterday running errands in town and at a school fair craft stall committee meeting that apart from me was only attended by the two fair committee members.
They have big plans and were hoping for lots of help ( as in lots of willing workers).
The fair is in October so lets hope that momentum builds.
This will be the first time since our family has been at the school ( 9 years) that there has been a dedicated craft stall, actually the whole school hall has been allotted for craft.
They are hoping that they can have good quality craft and craft kits and children's craft sessions and use this as a promotion tool for the fair, you know building on the current popularity of handcrafts.
Yikes, that's a lot to achieve with very little help.








Now I wanted to tell you a little about my shop plans.
My little etsy shop has been quite bare, most of the year.
I have been working on custom order dolls plus dolls for a couple of local shops and of course for the Niche Market in May.

Whatever I have listed in my shop has sold quite quickly and so the virtual shelves sit empty.

From the beginning of August I intend to start stocking the shop again, with as many dolls as I can manage, also dolls clothes and some other bits and bobs.
I have one custom order place left for August and I can take two custom orders in September and that will be it for the year.
I want to have lots for people to choose from for Christmas gifts plus I have dolls to make for the next Niche Market in November and I want to help with the school fair as much as I am able.



If you are thinking of ordering a custom doll for this year please contact me soon as I would love to make a doll for you.
Also sometimes people do cancel their orders and a place becomes available so I can put your name on my list and contact you if a place comes up.


Right, time to stoke the fires, do the dishes and get down to some serious dolly work.

Oh and I'll be back later with another double dose of Ideal Homemaker goodness.

The Ideal Homemaker #12 and # 13

Somehow I missed posting yesterday's Ideal Homemaker instalment so we'll have a double do today.






So #12 Grow your own - or children can help.



"She will be ideal in her role as a homemaker, not only because of the countless current values, but because her example and teachings will live at least another generation through her children."



The main gist of this chapter is getting children to help around the house: to lessen the load on the parents, to help children really feel a part of the family and to pass on necessary life skills to the next generation.



Good advice, me thinks.






Now, #13 Family Traditions


"An ideal homemaker will encourage family traditions to add colour and depth to the great picture she is painting.
Instead of her home being just a "short- order house", it will be a hallowed place where children learn life's great lessons, gain proper values, and build memories which will enrich their lives and help determine their destinies."







That sounds like a real home to me and what I think many or most parents are aiming or hoping for.
Family traditions are those things that make our home really our home and unlike any other family's home.


Daryl Hoole also states, " These traditions are what make families firm and substantial.
They give solid roots in the past and hopes for the future.
They are little things by themselves, but put together they spell family life."



The rhythms and rituals of daily life are a part of these traditions as are little celebrations of the changing seasons.
I'm sure you all have lots of family traditions even if you don't realise it.

Small things like picking up chestnuts when you are walking to the shops, the first childishly picked bunch of spring blooms tucked into a glass jar and put proudly on the kitchen table.

All the rituals of your Birthday celebrations, Christmas, Easter and so on.

Daily things like the evening rhythm of dinner, baths, stories and bedtime.
Or when the children are older the little ritual of a hot chocolate and something to nibble before bed.

There are so many things, family traditions, that mark your family as just that, your family.



What are your family's traditions?

dolly love

Love the hair on this new little one.

Did any one watch this, Trouble in Amish Paradise, on Sunday night?

So interesting.

The Ideal Homemaker #11

#11 From a House to a Home


"An ideal homemaker is able to transform four walls into a home by creating both spiritual and physical beauty therein."



Remember all those old movies where a woman's touch was all that was needed to turn a hovel into a happy home.
Why even Snow White did it.



"In Australia, within colonial pioneering families, high value was placed on women as partners in domestic life... There were thousands of womanless men in the early history of Australia who were desperate for the comfort and support of a wife - a woman who would share the daily toil and make their abode a warm and friendly place to come home to.... With feminine touches such as flowers and curtains, they could lift the spirits in the harsh new environment."


from The Gentle Arts by Jennifer Isaacs. 1987



I thoroughly recommend Jennifer Isaacs book for a wonderful history of women's domestic and decorative arts through the first 200 years of European settlement in Australia.
Also the fabulous Thrift to Fantasy by Rosemary McLeod follows a similar theme from a New Zealand perspective in the period from the 1930s to the 1950s.

Both are wonderful books that I have read again and again.



And here is Calamity getting a lesson in how to make a house a home.