Family Love

                                 

           (above: The illustrator and photoshop version)

(above: the hand-drawn and painted version)

For my beautiful friends...

Softie Number 1/10:

A little handmade toy for my nephew Jax. 

I think he needs a few more of these elephants 

so his mummy can sing the rhyme to him properly. 

Softie: Number One. Only 9 to go for my goal list :)

Look what I did!

This is not normally how I spend my Saturdays...but Endota Spa...you were blissful. I am spoiled...this was my Mother's day present and let me say...I don't want anything else for Mother's day for the rest of my days, except massages and facials and foot baths from this place. Hint hint ;). Yesterday I had a peppermint foot bath, a body scrub & glow, and a 30 minute relaxation and moisturising massage...my skin feels like silk. Oh...what more can I say, this is why I painted our bedroom Endota green (like their bottle's packaging...) I am obsessed with the place...maybe I should get a job there?!

*More on our bedroom update soon...I love it, especially now I have some extra inspiration to keep making our bedroom so perfectly relaxing.

Making Little Presents

I have made four little softies over the past few months as gifts and I have been meaning to make a few more, especially as I got some very cute domestic art books for my birthday. And I just adore buying fabric, especially all the new prints for children they have brought out recently (see this lovely fabric website for inspiration: Kelani Fabric )

The little dog (above) was made for my beautiful friend Rachel's newborn baby.  She wasn't finding out if the baby was a boy or girl before the birth, so I went with orange and blue, safe, but (in my opinion) cute colours. I hope little baby E loves this handmade friend when she gets a bit older. Check out her blog for some super gorgeous photos of her new little bunny.

I am really excited about making a few little friends for my nephew Jax. His mum and dad love African wildlife, so I can't wait to make a few creatures for him. And after that I get to make this cutie pie: *Polly* (see below). She is cute. Oh the list is long...I hope I get them all done.

Look who is new into the world!

This never gets old or tired, announcing that a beautiful child has arrived safely into the world. This special boy is my nephew, born on Friday at 10.49am. His name is Jax Micah and is the sweetest little man I have met...mainly because I can claim Aunty rights to him and spoil him as much as I can. There is something special knowing that he belongs to our family.   I can't wait til' I meet him, the day he smiles at me (or laughs!) loves the toy cars I buy him and the day that he calls me Aunty Anna...that's going to be cool. And then the eventual family holidays that are going to be full of children racing around causing havoc to our "glamping" . Thank you God for miracles. We love you Jax. 

Photos care of lovely Aunty Lauren @ Lozalicious (one of Jaxie's other Aunties)

Shoes!

Can't wait to see where these little feet will travel in their lifetime. 

We've been shoe shopping. It's just as fun with little feet as big ones. 

My 27 to 27 List Update!

I am so excited...because after being completely overwhelmed by the thought of trying to get through my mini bucket list this year of being 26...I am actually making progress, and I'm loving the changes already made. I have taken some time out (forced...not by choice...cos I've been feeling sick) to spend a lot of time at home and not exercising. And I have needed to have that break...I tend to get so obsessed by it.

~ I have begun reading to my girls again...lots and lots of books...and lots and lots of them more than once. Luke's mum bought the girls a really cute princess tent that lives in our living room. And its extra special if mummy climbs in and reads a couple stories (or 10) in there. They all love it and try to crawl extra close to (rip) I mean look at the pictures. 

~ After my melt down of feeling unable to complete my list in a year (haha yes after the day of writing it!), Luke reminded me to take time out for my relationship with Jesus, especially as I really struggle at Church to focus and listen when I'm taking care of the girls...these last few days have been good for my soul, and this is probably the most important out of my goals to establish. I'm just following Our Daily Bread devotions, which is definitely achievable in my day, its not too long, but there is enough for meto be changed by what I have read. I also like that its not gender specific, I just want something that makes me think, and sometimes when I read devotions written for women or mother's, even without noticing, I feel like I'm falling short of some invisible expectation...I know...I'm super sensitive about stuff like that. 

(*what devotions do you do? And any helpful tips?!)

~ I'm starting to sketch a portrait, it's more of a illustration or caricature really. It's exciting. It's difficult. It's good for me. I'm looking forward to seeing the result. I haven't drawn in a really really long time (other than cartoon cats and little stick families for Isabelle...so we'll see how it goes!) 

~ And something that I've really REALLY enjoyed and gotten lost in, is the first book "The Bronze Horseman" by Paullina Simons, from the Alexander and Tatiana trilogy...it is beautifully written, it is a gift to be invited into another world of imagination...I guess that comes back to why I believe it's so important to read to your children (for one of many many reasons). I am just loving it...and can't put it down at night...

I guess I feel more liberated and excited now that I have written the list. Cos all the things on it (plus a few more) are things that I really need/want to get done...and I need a push. Especially on the learning to drive part...so tomorrow, I will be working on that too...it will be hard to put my novel down though for some study in my valuable quiet time :-( but it has to be done. 

Wishing you luck on your lists girls! If you want to do it & haven't yet...give it a go.  It's scary but worth it (I hope!) 

X