Christmas Decoration Swap 2013!

My bestie/sister/friendy over at Art by Anya have a yearly tradition of making Christmas decorations for each other. To be honest I nearly forgot as things with my dad had been happening. My thinking cap wasn't working to clearly. But after a Whangarei Bloggy Girls get together I took some suggestions home with me.

When I go to the op shops sometimes I just grab things and decide later what to do with them. I found some old silver coasters in a bric-a-brak bargain bin and they have been sitting at home waiting to be re-purposed. I decided these would be great to use as decorations. I drilled a hole in each coaster and masked off portions of each and gave them a couple of coats of spray paint.

To send it off I crocheted a little bag for it. 

I am looking forward to seeing what Anya has for me!

 

A Unicorn Cake for a special boy!

My big nephew Jordan had his 21st party this week and I had the task of making his cake. I love my big neph. I'm not one to do a rude cake so I thought I'd go left field and do a wee little girly cake.

I drew a stencil of the unicorn that was approximately the size of two large cakes.

Here is the final product. Did a crumb coat and then did the different colours using butter icing.

A manly cake for a maly 21 year old.

B-B.

Good Grief

Good grief.

Is there such a thing. Grief as I've learnt is a part of my life, every ones life. My dad passed away last month, only over two weeks ago. So not that long ago. Grief has been a companion for a long time. I'm not being morbid I promise. Other companions come with you too... happiness, wonderment, desire, dreams.... you know what I mean. But grief is my companion right now.

Dad. A loaded word is what I likened it to at his funeral. It conjures up all sorts of feelings and memories for me. Dad. Hmmm. Not so much a dad when I was young, a girl needing reassurance, acceptance as a daughter, knowing I was lovable. Hmmm not really.

I wrote a poem for my dad more recently when he came back in to our lives as a new man. I compared him to a kauri tree. Strong. I spoke of a kauri tree needing time to mature and become strong. Kauri live for many many years and are an important part of our culture here in New Zealand. Dad was my kauri tree, a tree that took its time to grow in to a place of shelter, love and comfort. It took most of my life for my dad to become that for us kids but he got there in the end like he took the long way round to his destination. A scenic route if you like, but missing the most important purpose for the journey... his children. But like I said he got there.... slow and steady wins the race and whatever cliche you can think of. Afterall cliches are cliches for a reason.

When mum passed away October 2005 grief was my companion then too. Taken to soon from her children, these fickle bodies we have are sometimes not our friends. I love my mum more today then I did then. Losing mum was horrible and I miss her still, you live with the loss like a scar that doesn't completely heal but you just carry on. As my journey as a mother grows I come to appreciate her more and more.

So when she died dad stood in the gap, more than that he stepped up! With his own health issues I think he realized his own mortality was fragile. He became DAD. Yep capital letters DAD. Finally. All those lost years of not having him and here he was. Christmases camping at his place, doing family and getting hugs and kisses and I love you's. It was hard to adjust to begin with. This was a foreign concept to us. We had to re-introduce ourselves to this person DAD. Sometimes old roles come back to our minds. I am the baby afterall, this role doesn't leave you. Old fears of past dad come back and you wonder if this new one is real. You have to forgive to move on. We forgave. But its hard to forget.

So I thank God for the 8 years of dad we had when mum passed because we needed him. We still need him. But again these fragile bodies don't last. Dad I love you and miss you. You ended strong. You are still my kauri tree, but fallen, creating compost to grow us stronger. Now I am a kauri tree, my son finds shelter and comfort under my branches. My sisters and brother are kauri that cover their children. We have to be adults now, face the world without mum and dad. It sucks.

But my heart is glad to have another father, He stood in the gap many years ago before I even knew he had. When I turned 15 I accepted him as My Heavenly Dad. He has changed my life and healed so much from the past from my childhood and even things in my life since then. Never ending flow of love and forgiveness from heaven above, a sweet peace that surpasses all understanding. Although my earthly parental units are passed my Heavenly one is still watching over me his daughter with an eternal view in mind.

Grief I don't mind you being my companion, you aren't my only one anyway I have the others. We are old mates and have been through a lot together. You will get sick of me eventually and I will start txting some other emotion for awhile and hang out for coffees with laughter and joy. I'm cool with it though.

Grief shows that you care deeply for something and that losing it means something to your soul and heart. 

Psalm 30:5....weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Love you always Mum and Dad. xx

B-B. 

Hash Tag #nzmugswap2013 Hash Tag...

What a cool idea! I wanted to participate in this because I like mugs. I was looking out for my mug while thinking what to do for my mug swap person. I came up with this idea to make some clothing for her mug.

I made a little hat for this mug to which is missing from this photo. Here is my blogging mug swaps blog: http://www.mummy-adventures.com/. I so wish I was able to put more in your package. Please forgive me!

Little did I know that my lovely friend from Kiwi at Heart had me for the mug swap. I received this awesome package in the post:

I was blown away. Thank you so much! No matter how electronic of advanced technology gets its still nice to receive things in the post or by courier. Hmmm what will next year bring. 

B-B xx

Take a second look.

We get busy don't we? I know its a buzz word that I use with people often. Its almost like an excuse of this day and age. How are you someone asks me, 'Busy' is the reply. Busy isn't a feeling or an occasion, its like a band-aid to cover a multitude of things.

We get bogged down by the woes of this world and worry ourselves about things we cannot change or half of what doesn't exist. In my long but short journey with God I have learnt to look back or take that second look because yes He is there and yes He sees all your going through. I don't worry like I used to. I see you God, I see your hand has been with me and when I see things in the light of eternity your peace transcends all understanding (Phil 4:7).

We serve a loving God who has the best plan for our lives and this doesn't always match the plans we had for ourselves or the methods we would have chosen. You know what? His way is still the best way. Gods way isn't necessarily a walk in the park. Sometimes you have to broken to be repaired to His requirements. Doing the right thing is hard sometimes, sometimes you don't feel like doing that. I know I don't! Happiness is an inside job and there was no guarantee you were going to get it all here on this earth.

Take a second look, look for the beauty in those small things, the big things, the normal things, even in the things that look ugly. I was in my backyard looking at the sky and I saw a little bird twittering in the tree. Not much really but enough to make me take a second look. Carefree bird, not worrying about the economic downturn, housing issues, money, relationships etc. Just going about his business above the madness and living in this beautiful glow of the heavens. Be more like the bird who soars high and knows he is provided for. Aren't we worth more then sparrows (Luke 12:6-7) to God yet He knows each one and they are looked after.

Look for this little bits of beauty and joy you can find in the everyday, change your perspective and know that you are loved and cared for by mighty God who sees it all and knows where your at. Your a gem!

B-B xx

Usual Holiday Crafty goodness!

I know I've said this before but if I could make a decent living out of crafting I would do it. Ahhh crafty bliss....

Softie Sloth

Stripey Crochet Blanket

Crochet Hippo

Softie Owl

Hope all is well in your part of the world.

B-B

Review for Natures Fresh: Simply Fibre White Toast Bread

I love bread lets just put that out there. I'm always keen to review something because when your a full time mum you want to be able to try something new and let other normal mortals what you think of things before you spend your precious pennies on items.

Bread... toast bread. Good so far.

I put 2 slices in to the toaster and waited for the 'pop'. Gave it a sniff. Smells good and has a bit of a different texture and feel of your normal whitebread. Slightly closer to a traditionally baked loaf in my mind.

Go to the link here to see the ingredients:
http://www.naturesfresh.co.nz/

Nice simply made bread. I personally liked this bread and knowing that it is full of fibre yet that more appealing to the eye 'whitebread' for the kidlets I give it the thumbs up!

BBxx

Op Shop Treasure...

I love me some Op Shopping... I can spend a lot of time looking for bargains and bric-a-brac... Joy of Joys! Here are some of the goodies I have found... SOME...

Retro cookie container in the fill-a-bag for $3 of bric-a-brac bin.

Three suitcases for a $1 each for possible storage or for using in my brothers up and coming nuptials

Love this $3 beauty! Chuck a tealight in it and hang it up.

This was in the fill-a-bag thing. I have splashes of red in my lounge, it goes with my three stacked teapots I scored for $2 each.

Love this bottle vase, I got it a night market for $5?

This is for ravioli I think. If I ever want to make pasta this baby is coming out.

What treasures have you found lately???

B-B

Crafty Tart in Holiday mode...

Holidays give me time to craft it up and this is what I love to do. I would love to craft and create fulltime if it was feasible!  I would live in some craftutopia with like minded craftians. Ahhh blissssss....

SNAP OUT OF IT! Back to reality.

 So far these holidays I have made a bag for my classmate.

And I repurposed my op shop tray

 Then my sister came over, she has just moved and wanted a Bag bag so I crocheted her one.

Then I saw this branchy thing on Choice tv that inspired me to make some thing from branches and sticks I had hoarded away to make a mobile.

And there is still a few more days to go...

Then back to study... Craftutopia where are you and can I come...

BB xx

Instagram you da man!

Instagram, making the mundane exciting...

It took my awhile to get on the Instagram bandwagon but I'm glad I did. Its like having a little peek in to someones life. Being the social, nosey person that I am I enjoy seeing what food you ate today, what interesting unusual thing you saw, what you look like without your make-up, what your child is up too, looking at your selfies, looking at the scenic shot, what you baked, what friends you were out with today, that thing you made, that cool saying that inspired you, that funny picture that cracked you up, that cool op shop buy you scored, the shoes your wearing today, that unknown thing that I'm not sure what it is... Thanks Instagram for being another thing that takes up my time, but in a good way.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and I'll throw in a Happy Valentines

Hi folks, it has been so long I know. Hope y'all had a fab Christmas! Anywho I again decided to make the Christmas presents this year and here are some of the goodies.

This is little wall hanging. I love beads!

Felt Scrappy Doll with little house and bed with teddy. This was for my 5 year old niece.

This was a crochet and felt combo. Tea anyone?

Felt letters for my niece Charlie name. There is a magnet in the layers so they can go on the fridge.

Scarf for my sister.

These sack are for my nephews when they go to visit their dad to take their toys in.

N is for Noah

S is for Sophia

I love retro icons. This Space Invader pillow is for my man besties son.

This was for my nieces boyfriend. Whetu is a maori word and it means star!

I've enjoyed crafting for Christmas making special little gifts. 

B. xx