One

One year and one day ago a magical creature came into my life. She was so brand new, but yet somehow I felt that I had always known her, my heart knew that I had.

For one year and one day to date I have watched in amazement as she has grown, learnt, developed and explored. She is strong with a strong personality, knows how she wants things, is so independent and very social. While she loves her mummy cuddles, she really is daddy's little girl.

Yesterday we had a lovely, simple day to celebrate. A day with family and a couple of very dear friends.

And she had her very first taste of cake... Imagine tasting that sweet fluffy icing for the first time...

You see something new, a pretty colour, enticing, that just draws you to it...

You pop a little into your mouth...

And then, wow! The sugar hits your tongue...

Wouldn't you go back for more?

Happy Birthday my wonderful little one. You fill my heart to overflowing.

Origami Crane Cot Quilt

Mum has finished the little one's cot quilt and I'm just delighted with it!

The fabrics are pieces that I collected whilst living in Japan. I just love how if you look closely, there are gorgeous little images in each block.

There are even origami cranes within the origami cranes.

There are some gorgeous little hand-stitched touches.

The quilt out the front of our place... (well the next door neighbours - that's our place on the left, my workroom window in the top corner) and DH's fingers peeking over the top of the gate.

And while it's not the season to need it yet, I just love seeing it on the cot.

I think mum did such a good job on it and I'm thrilled with how it turned out! It's something the little one will grow up with and I'm sure will treasure forever. Thank you so much mum!

The pattern is based on Margaret Rolfe's Peace Quilt which I was originally told about by a very lovely lady (a non-blogger) - thank you to you too Marla!

Silver Lining

I fear that I'm becoming a terrible bore. All I seem to talk about is kimono fabric and the little one. To be truthful, that's about all that's happening in my life right now and about all that I can fit in this mushy brain of mine.

The good thing is, I truly adore both, so I feel terribly blessed. I'm a blessed bore.

I'm very excited as I now have a range of my kimono jewellery that is rimmed in a lovely silver-toned casing.



DH and I are also collaborating on some designs, we'll soon have a "boy range" ready I hope. I'm madly getting ready for markets, filling orders for a store in Brisbane (more about that soon) and getting ready to re-open on Etsy, as well as sharing the care of the little one of course. I have a new-look banner, it was a perfect size for Etsy, but I can't seem to get it right for the blog yet.

And the little one continues to delight us everyday. She's become quite smiley, very chatty and loves singing with her mummy.

Yep, I am a blessed bore.

Testing... testing...

Testing... testing... 1... 2... 3... (and 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 and 9 that aren't in the photo)...



I love the testing, experimenting, developing stage. I love trying and learning something new. I love searching out new tools, like the funky drill sets I was looking at this morning.

And I'm not sure how other people get their babies off to sleep, but apparently, this is what works for DH.

This is... what I want

A baby. How I really want a baby.
Picture borrowed from here.

A house. Somewhere that is all my own, somewhere I don't have to pack up and move out of. Somewhere I can paint the walls and change around as I like. Somewhere with a small yard and big trees.
Picture borrowed from here.

A dog. Preferably another Standard Poodle or a Standard Poodle cross.

Picture borrowed from here .

Don't get me wrong, I love my life in Japan and if I could have these here, I would. But that's not looking possible right now, so this is what I'm working towards, and these are the lifestyle changes that are hopefully not too far away.

Thank you to Angela who had us choose our own themes for this weeks This is….