a before

This is how Mali's room looked before we moved her into a big bed recently.

The pink walls and fairies were already there.

If Zja and hubby werent renting there would be a forest scene covering every inch of the walls.

I bought her this print as a teenager and its now found its way here, to her daughters room.

Uncle Navarh and Aunty Adelin's handmade rabbit sits next to MonetPaisley's lovingly handworked doll.

A set of vintage childrens dictionaries which I still cant believe I found is part of her fast growing library.

Something else that was her mums. I went through a stage (thats still going) of using art from old record covers for my teenagers rooms.

Ive been sewing all day at a friends so I dont have much else to show today.

The 'after' will be posted as soon as we finish the big move around to make room for the new baby.

Id like to say a huge thank you to everyone for your kind comments and support through this year.

It has been a surprising and challenging place for me to escape to

or visit and place my daily thoughts here.

I hope to be here next year adding some more to the mix and to enjoy crafting along with you all.

For anyone who is going to check in on me maybe one more time before the year is out, I may just have one more post!

second shop update for today

summer bedroom

I started to write a list today about having to do a shop update among other things like cleaning out the shed, raking the yard, hanging curtains for summer in the back room, putting summer linen on the bed,

you know how it is somedays. You want to achieve in a big dose.

It was going to be a very well written list and I was going to go about writing it by walking my way through rooms and writing down absolutely everything that was bugging me. I was even going to venture outside and write down what was bothering me about the garden and where I would need to move plants for the summer etc. Like I said, a long list.

Instead of wasting time writing/procrastinating im doing the things I was going to write on that list.

Whatever doesnt get done today can go on tonights list. So im back to finishing my shop update and then ill get my act together hopefully in my studio clearing up the mess ive been making all week.

I cant create in a mess and have spent most of last week accomplishing nothing but moving stuff around. So im sitting here with a cup of tea and three big cookies and trying to finish number one on my list.

So Ill be placing size 2 harem pants in a graphic floral vintage cotton in the shop today,

and some size 3 embroidered linen pocket pants on red seersucker.

How cool are these with their 'little tree' embroidery?

I wish I could find more embroideries of trees. Great for boys.

They are size 6 months to 1. 

I love circles and just had to keep the theme going with this fabric.

 My daughter Zjahlii helped me design this one with the lacey details. She loves lace.

A slightly different approach with the doileys as a yoke front and back.

 Ill be doing more like this for sure.

These are new front placed pockets ive been wanting to offer.

Sometimes an embroidery will have a triple work instead of the usual double and this design

enables me to splice it three ways. I just havent worked out what to do with the other third.

I have three of these all slightly different, in size 6 month to 1 year.

And some boys size 1 with vintage pocket detail from and old 50's apron.

Id better keep going with my non existing list.

a tidy room

Okay, so youll have to forgive me for posting a bit too much about home lately.

I have a secret. Ive been keeping something from you all. I spent this morning spring cleaning my bedroom because yesterday was Attack The Clothes Monday.

 .

If you dont understand what im getting at you need to check out Samantha's blog, An Organised Mum.

 She has great new tips on some really hard core home organising issues. I thought I was doing okay, fumbling along from day to day, until I decided to try her way of tackling things. Im loving it! Yesterday I found myself folding the washing and enjoying it. All twelve loads that had been thrown on the bedroom floor, and they had sat there and been added to for over a week. Oh... the shame.... 

 Yesterday I wasnt overwhelmed or distracted. I just plodded along and got it done. Okay, ill admit it took me two movies to complete. But today I can show off my bedroom and be proud of what I achieved.

freshly hung artwork

sunlight at last

tablecloth bottomed curtains

my daughters self portrait

what im reading

Thanks Samantha. Youre doing an amazing job!

winter bedroom style

winter bedroom style
Originally uploaded by thetexturedleaf

Thought id quickly show you our winter styled bedroom before the end of this month when I change it for Spring.
I blogged about the quilt here!

bedroom inspiration

Another bedroom from Country Living. The green is lovely but the size of the branch is what really caught my eye.

Another room from Country Living. Take note of the easy patchwork cushion and the mixture of unusual colours together. It works dont you think?

A really folksy bedroom for you this time from Country Living again. It looks to me that what ties this look together are the animal artworks as a theme. Lovely if you have a little girl whos into animals and dont want to go down the dolphin or Disney track of decorating.

bedroom inspiration

Over at Country Living there are a fair few bedrooms and some of them with things you may not have seen done before. Im going to share the ones that caught my eye with you over the next few days when I have nothing else to offer, (Im hoping to catch up on some housework) like this one above with multiple artworks hanging over the bed.

 I loved the feel that this evokes of a gallery. Country scenes like these are fairly easy to source at op-shops and they look wonderful hung in a group like this, in all their mis-matched glory, dont you think?

bedroom inspiration

I havent got much to say today other than its hot and we spent the morning tidying the yard and stacking the new/old shed from this lovely lady full of stuff that we probably should be selling off or its going to sit there for 3-5 years.

Reading my emails I stumbled upon some more bedroom inspiration so I guess I have a theme going. This is a boys room from Ohdeedoh. Yes, you read correctly. B. O. Y .S

Complete with a patchwork quilt and a kind of surf thing going on judging by the colours. Love this! and Ill be showing my guys tonight to see if they approve.

Also I found this really groovy look from Country Living.

This look could be boyish too.

I think Ill post more when I have been busy doing things that are too boring to mention.

Yes...yes I will.

kids room inspiration

I found these wonderful inspiring photos for my boys room today. Over here.

Yeh. I know, I know! They are more like girls rooms but when your kids want to cover their walls with posters I thought this was a good reference point.

Youll see what I mean once I can get in there past the massive pile of clothes!

Come to think of it its not gonna look anywhere near this wonderful.

But maybe we can try sticking to a simpler colour palette.