dee*construction

an anniversary embroidery

2012-02-16T16:47:00.000+13:00

did you remember we had switched rooms with the kiddos? this is now our new room and i've been getting it nice and nesty for a babymoon.

i did another "over-paint" - i'm not thrilled with outcome but it'll do until i find something better to put in the frame:

but what i really wanted to show you was this little freestyle embroidery i did. my mum embroidered a {J+D} like this in the most perfect satin stitch on the train of my wedding dress. it was our 13th wedding anniversary on monday and i wanted something celebrating US on our bedroom wall.

i embroidered one piece of fabric (a doily) onto another piece of fabric (a hankerchief) with these hundreds of little freehand stitches.

i had envisioned the top fabric "flopping" a bit more than it has so that it would be obvious that the pieces are only joined by the stitching, but it hasn't really. maybe with time...?

anyway, the concept has potential and i might revisit it once i'm a little less distracted!

oh, and happy THIRTEEEEEEN YEARS to us!!

~d.

{wardrobe wednesday} enormous love

2012-02-15T16:01:00.001+13:00

i really wasn't going to do {wardrobe wednesday} today - i felt too bulky and clunky and clicky and crampy. but a visit to some op shops and a coffee with a friend made me feel more human, so here i am!

top: glassons

necklace: croutons

skirt: thrifted (just jeans)

it's always a bit risky wearing a white skirt when your waters are about to break - i figured i'd tempt murphy's law a bit...it didn't work. ;)

joining in here:

{the birth notes} the baby moon

2012-02-13T14:07:00.000+13:00

(there is some discrepancy over whether a babymoon happens pre-baby or post-baby. in this case, i'm going with post-baby.)

having a home birth doesn't mean missing out on a couple of days post-baby pampering you might get at a birth centre, but it does require a bit of forethought and planning.
to keep it simple, i've narrowed it down to three basic areas of preparation - food, shelter, clothing.
(with the added condition that it be completely indulgent, excessive, restful and luxurious!)
....
food

{plan your meals} we have an entire 5 day menu - breakfast/lunch/dinner/snacks - planned and ready to go.
{luxury food items} for our 5 day menu, we have slowly been stocking up on super-treat foods that we usually wouldn't buy because of cost. we're talking cafe quality muesli and prime cut steaks...
{minimum prep} the idea is for most of the food to be ready to go with as little prep as possible. most of our babymoon food prep is limited to turning on the oven or putting a salad together.
{ask for meals} instead of gifts from visitors, ask for food. accept any and all offers for baking and meals.

....

shelter

{nest} make your nesting area as luxurious as possible. this is the area where you will be doing nothing but fawning about sniffing a newborn neck and curling newborn fingers about your own. most likely, it will be your bedroom.
{bed linen} splash out on brand new, high thread count Egyptian cotton or start collecting gorgeous, good condition thrifted florals. mmmm~~
{pillows & cushions} in this case, excess wins over practical for a truly indulgent babymoon. steal your kids pillows and cover them with your fave cases for a few days if you have to and be sure to make a pillow case from your favourite fabric for a breastfeeding pillow.
{clear out} get rid of junk in your room - even if it's to another room just for your babymoon. piles of mess are NOT conducive to restful repose. your area must feel pretty and peaceful.
{fresh flowers} hopefully at least one person will bring you a bunch of fresh flowers. failing that, buy or pick your own!

....

clothing

{bra} a bra especially for sleeping in/night-nursing isn't essential but is certainly more pleasant when your milk comes in.
{post-baby clothes} comfortable for fawning and appropriate for visitors - after Monte was born, i felt so rake-thin compared to having a 42 week pregnant belly that i wore a fairly fitting dress when visitors came. i think i almost made the male-visitor ill! so remember, that although you feel like Mary Kate Olsen, you aren't necessarily.../wink!
{underwear} i avoid splashing out on breastfeeding lingerie until sizes have plateaued - my babymoon priority is comfortable but fancy-ish, dark coloured underwear (yanno why)...we'll get Fancy later ;)

....

what about the older kiddos?

stemming from our reasons for having the kids at the birth, we also believe it is important to have the kids around as much as possible to welcome their new sibling during the first week.

however, when there are 4 of them, we are also realistic in knowing that it probably won't be that relaxing for the postpartum mother and will distract from very important newborn neck sniffing activities.

so, this time (for the first time) my parents will have the kids for 2 nights from Day 2-4 of the babymoon.

....

and of course, we have only prepared food for 5 days but i have every intention of babymooning (in lessening degrees) for at least 6 weeks after having baby.

have you ever planned your own babymoon?

is there anything i've left out that i should include?

~d.

{baby #5} nearly done!

2012-02-11T21:12:00.000+13:00

we're gearing up for a real, actual Birth Day party...

so i thought i'd better catch up (sla-ack!) on my belleh shot while i still have one!

and for comparison::

(my belly ALWAYS has this weird mega-round top half and slanted back lower half.../shrug)

everything is feeling so familiar,

i don't think Baby #5 will keep us waiting like the last 2 have.

but you never know...

;)

[short shorts} winning knees!

2012-02-11T20:17:00.001+13:00

and the winner is...

Noah!

in his home made short shorts

from Mend & Make New

(Jenny, hopefully i'll get the drawing off to you before i'm Otherwise Distracted!)

thank you SO MUCH to everyone who joined in, it was so exciting to see all those delicious little boy knees (and i'm very relieved no one sent me any pics of their big guys in stubbies as a joke...phew!)

spontaneity II

2012-02-09T19:30:00.001+13:00

summer has finally arrived.

(and we're not stuck in a classroom!)

so we took some of the school work,

and the belly,

to the beach.

(it seemed a little like deja vu)

~d.

{wardrobe wednesday} belly love

2012-02-08T09:42:00.001+13:00

my days of nurturing a heartbeat beneath my own are almost over.

and my God knows me so well - because for the first time in approx 201 weeks of pregnancy i actually feel really stinking uncomfortable. if this weren't the case i may just be tempted to cross my legs and stay in this moment forever!!

(ok, maybe not...but kinda...yanno?)

anyway, i DO love a pregnant belly, and i'm wearing one so i've decided it counts as part of this:

{birthday season} JR

2012-02-07T16:45:00.000+13:00

this guy.

he's the reason i get to be who i am and do what i do.

if he was any less than 200% supportive, we'd all fold.

the freedom and joy in the way he loves me and his children is the greatest blessing in my life.

happy birthday boyf.

{birth notes} stages 2 & 3

2012-02-05T20:31:00.000+13:00

after we'd given birth, the other mums in my ante-natal group arranged to meet at the lake with our new babies. our group was varied - a police woman, a doctor, a teacher - all now thrust into the inescapable reality of motherhood. we sat there on our picnic rugs bonding over our recent birth experiences. one mother shared her experience. the next shared her, more 'exciting', birth. another told about her, very dramatic, birth. the next birth story escalated to a thrilling tale of narrowly escaping death (pretty much).

i remember being so pumped that i had given birth naturally to Jada, and that my body had proved capable (who knew that it would actually be ABLE to DO what the Creator intended it to do?!) but with every story i felt more and more dis-counted because i had had no last-minute ambulance transfer, or 3rd degree tear or 12lb baby. when it came my turn to share, i said all there really was to say -

"i had my baby".

the following is a collection of thoughts on my no-frills births:

{that moment} for me there is nothing in the world that tops that holy moment of giving birth to life from your own life - of that baby finally slooping out and lifting him up through the water; that moment of first seeing what your child looks like; of drawing him close; of finally physically touching him; of feeling his weight - no longer under your heart, but resting on it.

it's far too brief for my liking and personally i'd hate to go through an entire pregnancy and be robbed of having that moment as a reward at the end. having experienced the sacred joy of that moment four times now, the loss would be unbearable.

{consider the child} one of the greatest flaws in child birth is not considering the experience of the one being born. i'm not just talking about checking the heart beat every few minutes, what i mean is birthing with an awareness for the bone-crushing entry your child has to this world.

all of my babies have worked hard - with lots of twisting and rotating through pelvic bones - and although it's not the most pleasant sensation for me i am aware that they are doing what they need to do to make it easier for the both of us and i really appreciate their help. and so, i give them lots of tummy-rubs and quiet verbal encouragement throughout labour and birth.

it's cheesy i like that my midwives have recorded how i praise my babies up when they're born - "good job, baby! you did such a good job!..." etc. :) i mean really, can you imagine the headache that kid has right then? yeesh~!

{tearing} i have never torn or had stitches - even with Monte who was 10lb. i'm not really sure why but i know i am really aware and, as far as possible, take my time. with Danny (#4) i remember even forcing myself to hold his head as it was crowning (in 'full-burn' position) just to give myself a few seconds to 'stretch'.

{water-birth} the thought of a dry birth makes me weak in the knees. really! warm water is my pain-relief - it takes the edge, and weight, off. the thought of doing anything dry (especially on my back, pushing a baby uphill) makes me break into a cold sweat. i can't imagine any other way. (plus the water is great for the garden.../wink)

{siblings at the birth} ok, so here's a hot potato and there are certainly family members who absolutely disagree with our choice, and fear that i may have put Jada off having children for life but here's a brief insight into why we've chosen to include our children in the birth of their siblings:

1. positive point of reference - particularly for Jada. it is my sole purpose to override any skewed media influence may have on her as a birthing mother with personal, real-life experience.

2. a baby for the family - this new life is given to - and a part of - the entire family not just mum, or mum and dad. we all welcome him/her to the team!

3. rivalry - there may or may not be any substance to this argument but from our experience there has never been any exhibition of hostility towards the baby from siblings, ever.

and just to clarify:

we talk a lot before the birth. my midwife does hour-long visits here at home with all the kids paying as much (or as little) attention as they wish. i don't yell or scream. i smile often and talk to the kids in between contractions. dad is calm but excited and mum is working hard but ok - they have never expressed distress or fear. as far as they are concerned nothing is abnormal about watching their sibling being born. they are usually only there right as the baby is born, not for the whole labour. they never get in the pool with me. they sit with quiet observance - as though they recognise the sacredness of the occasion. as soon as the baby is born they offer me food and drink and truckloads of affection for their new sibling...it is a choice that we have made and not for even half of a second regretted. if you're tossing it up, i'd recommend it without hesitation.

{stage 3} placenta delivery

i've always secretly quite liked it that there are only 3 stages to childbirth and that the third comes after baby is born...so it's kinda like there's really only TWO stages!

which probably explains why 3rd stage is my childbirth FAIL stage. 3 out of 4 births, i've ended up losing between 500-800ml of blood delivering the placenta.

there are a few possible reasons but whatever it is, we are Game On for stage 3 this time. prevention, in my case, is nicer than the cure and i prefer to not to have the skin tone of a wax model for the first 6 weeks after baby is born. i like my blood being in my body thankyouverymuch.

...

i have left comments disabled - i don't want to justify our choices to you or want you to feel like you need to justify your choices to me - BUT if you do have a genuine question i'd love to hear from you.

~Dee

{the birth notes} stage 1

2012-02-05T20:20:00.000+13:00

it was a few days after Monte's birth and JR had just made a coffee for two visiting female family members when one made the comment, You're lucky to birth the way you do.

third day blues or not, i wanted to hurl my freshly made flat white at the said family member!

luck? luck!!

'luck' is the very last thing that has to do with childbirth. i could (would) never risk so much on luck!

instead, this is a little more accurate :

pre-labour preparation:

[education]

be aware! i don't want to be a stupid pregnant girl. (brilliant article, read it - but not the comments beneath, it's where the still-stupid ones hang out.) because we have our babies at home, it's extremely important i am aware of the physical, emotional and psychological influences on the process of childbirth.

also, having a general awareness of potential complications and ways to prevent and/or manage them is necessary. i can't make clear decisions while my brain is in my uterus so i need to be educated beforehand.

[mental preparation]

i am firmly convinced that birth is 90% mental (...the other 10% is pushing the blighter out!)

work WITH my body - i make sure i'm really aware of what happens to my body during labour: what is a contraction? what happens during a contraction? (muscles/cervix) what is the purpose of a contraction? (dilation) what can i do to make a contraction more effective and therefore shorten labour?

redefine pain - with Danny (#4) i mentally refused to define the contractions as 'painful' - instead, with each contraction i allowed myself to really, actually feel it. and even tried to describe it to myself. so long as i concentrated on how it felt, it never became painful or overwhelming. powerful and intense, absolutely! but i never once had that desperate urge to climb up and out of my body to escape the force of it. as a result of accepting the sensation instead of resisting it, my labour with Danny was much shorter than usual.

eliminate fear - this begins with educating myself, and is aided by 'knowing what to expect' that comes with experience. fear produces tension which is counter-productive to contractions, and so causes pain. so, any fear must be immediately acknowledged and dealt with.

[environment]

i'm like a cat when i birth - i need a safe, dark, private nest to have my babies. some mothers are engergised by a lot of people around, i'm not. i need to be able to focus on doing my job well and concentrate. i have to feel very emotionally safe with the people who are present and trust them completely.i adore my midwives - they have become dear, precious friends.

practical strategies during labour:
[early labour]
lots of figure-8s with my hips to get that baby's head down nice and firm against the cervix to aid dilation.
[active labour]
mental focus. sounds weird but squeezing/rubbing my thighs really hard helps release some of the huge amounts of energy being produced by labour.
warm water has always been my only analgesic but i am careful to not hop in the pool too early. {during my labour with Monte (#3) i knew i'd hopped in the pool too early but it felt so good that i was very tempted to stay there even though i knew it'd drag the labour out. i tossed it up and ended up telling myself to dig deep, do some hard work for 45 minutes and then i could get back into the pool for the duration of the birth. it worked, after 45 minutes i was much more established and the water was a relief without stalling the action!}
[transition]
i find it funny that i have never recognised transition as being transition. i usually come out of my intensely focused state and get restless - and irritated that i've lost my groove and am restless! i find it hard to integrate the contractions or find a comfy position. i'm hoping that this time i'll actually realise what's going on and accept it as a brief, but uncomfortable phase and use the time to prepare myself to begin pushing. (and get excited about meeting our baby really soon. hurrah!)

some like to have mantras or affirmations during labour, but i prefer Bible verses - here are some firm faves for before and during labour:
Isaiah 40:29
Isaiah 41:10
Isaiah 41:13
Isaiah 43:2
1 John 4:18

we are very grateful for the precious birth day memories we have so far, and really hope that it has come down to a lot of Grace, and a whole lot less Luck.

...

~Dee

{short shorts} update!

2012-02-04T10:45:00.002+13:00

lookit all these KNEES!!

will you join the revolution?

you have til the Wednesday 8th February to email me a pic of your boy's knees and you could win a custom portrait.

~d.

[knees clockwise are property of: 'cowboy', nzgreenbuttons, Joseph, Cai, Jasper, JnrRF, TartanKiwi, Micah]

{wardrobe wednesday} love at first sight

2012-02-01T10:23:00.003+13:00

this top was an impulse buy.

i feel huge and mega-uncomfy all of a sudden so for the first time in AGES bought something new..just cos!

it's a really sweet top and the cream detail around the bottom stole my heart.

lookit the other cute nz mamas here at Sailor Spy:

{oh! and lookit who won the aroma oil! thank you :))

and another cute prize by Claire for Feb, check it out}

baby makes

2012-01-28T09:54:00.001+13:00

have you been following Rhiannon's 'Make my Week, baby!'?

wow, that mama is amazing with how much she can produce in one week!(and i'm totally envious of her ability to sew knit)

i really didn't think i would make anything for this baby (we already have more than enough for a newborn) but last weekend i suddenly found myself in the middle of a burst of baby-gear sewing.

here's what i've made so far...

:: a receiving towel with easily changeable meconium-catching pads (from experience one can not underestimate the amount of blankets a just-born can soil before a nappy is applied!) ::

:: baby boy swaddle from this pattern at Prudent Baby ::

:: baby girl swaddle from the same free pattern - the doily is to look pretty while burping::

:: a simple boy blanket for out and about - the shape is designed from my own experience and preference...(and as can be seen from the unintended ripple edge, i cannot sew knit) ::

what do you sew for your babies?

has anyone made gowns?

can you recommend any other great tutorials?

~d.

a fashion revolution & a giveaway

2012-01-27T10:10:00.000+13:00

wow, i appreciated the enthusiastic approval for short-shorts for boys...

so let the fashion revolution begin!

look at those knees!! ohmy~

right, so here's the deal -

i want to see your boys* knees in short-shorts

::step 1::

you can do this by either

1. emailing me an image [dee.rolston(at)gmail.com] or

2. posting an image on your blog with a link back to this post (be sure to email me the link to your post so i know!)

before the Wed 7th Feb

::step 2::

i will have my grubby-kneed boys pick a fave and then i will showcase the selected fave here on Friday the 10th Feb.

and...

as an extra acknowledgement of your commitment to the short-shorts (for boys) fashion revolution, i will sketch the selected image for the winner!

e.g.

please join in, i'd love to see

~d.

(*yep, i'm limiting it to boys only this time.)

{wardrobe wednesday} maternity in yellow

2012-01-25T09:57:00.002+13:00

i used the same pattern as a couple of weeks ago but this time kept the sleeves the original length and added a deep gathered hem on the bottom.

it was supposed to be MUCH longer! (i guess i underestimated how much the belleh would raise the hem. yikes~)

pale yellow looks stunning on Jada so she joined me in the shoot this week in her pale yellow dress too. we kinda got the giggles a few times ~~:)

she is so excited about this baby.

(i don't think you could even imagine just how much!)

joining in with the others here:

{birth notes} birth mat tutorial

2012-01-24T16:19:00.000+13:00

{things are going to be a little birthy / baby focussed on here for a while. if you find child birth icky or horrid, feel free to skip and visit again much later}

...

ha! now here's a tutorial that's gonna go viral on Pinterest!.../wink.

we are planning to birth at home again and are getting things nice and nesty, ready for another HAPPY birth day. and in case any of you are planning to do the same in future i thought i'd share a really simple way to make your own pretty birth mat (for a dry birth, for birthing the placenta, or just for general floor protection when emerging from the birth pool).
it can be folded up and thrown out afterwards, so saves on towel laundry.

here's what you'll need:

:: one large rubbish bag ::

:: a stapler ::

:: some tape ::

:: a stack of newspapers ::
:: an old bed sheet (maybe you'd prefer a darker colour than what i have chosen?) ::
...
here's how:

1:: cut down one side and across the bottom of your rubbish bag and lay flat.

2:: layer at least 3 layers of newspaper over top of the rubbish bag, taping as you go.

3:: lay your sheet over the top of the bag and newspaper and cut to size.

4:: cut strips of paper approx 13cm/5" wide then fold like bias tape.

5:: staple your folded strips of paper around the edge making sure to catch all layers.

and that's all there is to it!

{if you're reasonably, let's say, 'vigorous' when you birth maybe you could add duct tape to the back or around the edges also?}

i'm hoping to share a couple more posts relating to what i now know about labour, birth and the post-partum period. if you have any burning questions let me know and i might be able to answer them for you.

~d.
X

coming soon...

2012-01-21T13:27:00.001+13:00

...a fashion revolution for little boys.

imagine it... SHORT shorts!

more vitamin D absorption!

cooler in summer!

dirty knees instead of dirty shorts!

ripped knees instead of ripped shorts!

(ok, maybe not so much that last one but who can resist a little guy with a bandaid on his knee?)

who else is in??

~d.

{birthday season 2012} Ty

2012-01-20T13:49:00.001+13:00

Ty.

My Ty.

Ty Boy.

Toby.

Tobes.

6 years ago i first experienced the love a mother has for a son.

woah! what an amazing journey!

you bring so much tenderness and so much conviction to this family.

i'm impossibly excited to see the man you will become.

happy birthday precious boy!

{wardrobe wednesday} peter pan collar restyle

2012-01-18T15:35:00.003+13:00

i've had this top for 4 out of 5 pregnancies and although i've really wanted to throw it out so many times, it just could not be beaten for comfort and fit.

it also disguises the belly amazingly well don't you think?

...oh! no, look, there it is!...

the neckline was super outdated, but because i couldn't bring myself to throw it out, i added the peter pan collar earlier this week to update it before i really DO throw it out (no more maternity clothes needed!)

(i forgot to take a 'before' pic so you'll have to imagine the white bits didn't used to be on it - just the sparkles!)

now it feels fresh and not so abused. (exactly the opposite of how my body feels at the moment! ha)

putting the "new" in my new year and joining in again with Wardrobe Wednesday at Nin's.

~d.

{birthday season 2012} Monte

2012-01-17T14:01:00.000+13:00

is this really already four years ago?

you came out smiling*...

...and have hardly stopped since...

...except when the candle-blowing anxiety returns and sister has to step in for you...

today is your day Monte Burger.

we cannot imagine this family without you.

we love you in ridiculous amounts.

{*i will poo-poo anyone who doesn't believe a newborn can smile. Monte smiled constantly his first day with us}

on childhood and memories

2012-01-16T10:24:00.000+13:00

how many times have you heard yourself say, "oh, i remember doing [fill in the blank] when we were kids!" during your adult life?

it re-occurred to me recently that what we are doing now with our children will become the memories they talk about when they are adults.

i'm sure you were all wonderfully concious of this, but i had to have it "occur" to me!

because i'm a future person.

i tend to live in the next moment, portion of the day, season, phase...

i have to remind myself that their childhood is happening NOW. not when they turn 6, or 8 or 10. this is it!

and then, *blink*, it's gone, never to be re-lived.

i wonder what they will remember as constant? as joyful? as awful? as traditions? as family life? as how they felt?

i wonder how my kids will fill in the blanks of their childhood?

we were never allowed to..

we always...

it was so cool when we...

i loved the way we always...

i hated it when...

Dad always used to...

Mum always used to...

this is a good thing to occur to me at the start of a new year.

wouldn't you agree?

{we had the coolest opportunity to babysit an orphaned fawn on Saturday. to say the kids were thrilled is a gross understatement :)) }

Burger and the belly

2012-01-13T14:35:00.000+13:00

::this time::

and

::last time::

this brown-eyed boy turns 4 in a few days, i can hardly believe it! have a great weekend everyone~

~Dee.

*Monte's nickname is Burger. i have no idea why.

wardrobe wednesday - new maternity dress

2012-01-11T14:43:00.001+13:00

this week i've been on a mission to sew a dress that my belleh actually fits into.

i picked this fabric up (approx 6m) about 5 years ago for $4 from an op shop (i think it may have been a sari previously?) and it has, what looks like to be, colourful little coffee beans all over it! the pattern i got for almost free at a market.

i shortened the sleeves and length a bit and added bias trim to the sleeves as well as the neckline. i really like this pattern and might even try to make the winter version of it some time.

i'm hoping i will be able to wear it after baby is born with a belt at the waist.

(don't our manuka trees look fabulous?)

...

joining in with:

you should too...there are prizes! :)

{baby #5} 34 weeks

2012-01-10T10:30:00.001+13:00

(i lost my camera for a few weeks - over Christmas!! - but the sweet Talia Christine found it! ::it's a small world after all...:: and now i can resume documenting the belleh, hurrah~...)

::comparisons::

and in a bold new year's move, i will step out from behind my wall to show you my ~~swayed back~~ belleh in full.

not long to go now!

~Dee.

play station vs play imagination

2012-01-09T22:12:00.003+13:00

hello! how are your school holidays going?

i'm currently in the process of completing Ty's exemption (from public school) application which, if you are intending to homeschool, is required by law in NZ when your child turns 6.

even though it's a laborious process, it has been refreshing to be reminded why we homeschool.

and observing Ty learning through pretend play, i have also been reminded how incredibly overrated gaming consoles are.

give a boy a wooden "Bear Grylls" knife made by dad (foreground in bottom image), some sticks and branches and you've got a kinesthetic, educational (cause/effect, problem-solving, construction, design, resource management etc), physical and enjoyable entertainment pack.

and again, i am deeply grateful to be living where we do. we most likely wouldn't be home schooling if we didn't have this space.

Dee~

(for the record, Ty is as much drawn to video games as the next kid and could very easily become quite obsessed if given half a chance! and so, we don't give him half of a chance. the end :) )

2012 goals

2012-01-07T15:33:00.003+13:00

"...the character of a life is not set in two or three dramatic moments, but in 10,000 little moments..."

Paul Tripp (article here)

***

i've enjoyed reading some of your resolutions and goals new year.

this year i decided i would make goals instead of resolutions - goals somehow seem more achievable than resolutions don't you think? i hope so.

i wrote down at least 3 goals each i have for:

*myself (spiritual, physical...)

*my parenting

*home schooling

*Tiny Eyes

*fun!
(under "fun" i have included printing some fabric with my own design on it from Spoonflower!!)

but right now, my main goal is to get through five birthday remembrances and one real actual Birth Day over the next 6 weeks!
yeesh~

hello twenty-twelve!

2012-01-06T23:16:00.001+13:00

so far this year, we have been...

::eating outside on our deck::

::enjoying the sun...(when it shines!)::

::resting, reading, recording and ripening::

what have you been doing?

i hope your twenty-twelve is going gently and easy so far.

Dee

see ya 2011!

2011-12-30T21:29:00.002+13:00

wishing you all a safe and happy new years~!

from myself and the team at Dee*Construction

make my week:: FINALE!

2011-12-27T22:31:00.001+13:00

hello!

i hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing Christmas.

this is the last Make My Week for 2011!!

(i totally stuffed up the week numbers, did you notice? you should have told me! oops~)

for the finale i wanted to show you Jada's 2011 Christmas dress - it was restyled from a red shirt, bought by JR in Thailand about 10 years ago...

::before::

::after::

doilies for the collar and bias tape for the straps.

super, super simple!

and inspired by this sweet Modcloth dress:

::and here you go, a 'before & after' in one::

you get bonus points if you remember Jada's restyled Christmas dress from last year which was featured on Rachel Denbow's blog !! (i know, shameless name-dropping but it's my only claim to fame and i'm gonna claim it thankyouverymuch! ;) )

did you make something new for you or your kiddos to wear on the 25th?

It's Christmas Eve!!

2011-12-24T16:32:00.001+13:00

wishing all you delightful people a happy and safe Christmas 2011

~Dee

make my week #48 - ugliest doll makeover

2011-12-20T13:32:00.001+13:00

remember the ugliest doll (failed pirate doll) from last week?

well, i had some great suggestions on facebook and he is now a she!

it's better...but i'm still not completely won over!

{baby #5} 30 weeks

2011-12-19T13:59:00.003+13:00

(it's tricky to get the same angle and lighting!)

i can barely SEE any difference between these 3 pics but boy, do i FEEL it!!

my placenta is right at the back so i'm really feeling every last little movement this time which is a special bonus for my last time being pregnant...even though sometimes i swear a foot is going to bust right through my skin!

it's a really very responsive babe and i'm enjoying having him/her all to myself for this brief time.

Then & Now

2011-12-16T13:37:00.001+13:00

{16 December 2009}

{16 December 2011}

a million smoochy kisses to you today our precious 'Danny-Arlo-With-Curls'

(i lost my camera this morning while out at Monte's kindy concert! waahh, that means blurry phone birthday photos!)

{dee.i.y} photograph your own bunting holders!

2011-12-15T14:23:00.000+13:00

if you want to keep the kids occupied these holidays, why not have them hold your Christmas bunting for you!

(a variation on this smaller version i made earlier in the year)

::here's how::

1. take pictures of your kiddos holding an invisible bunting - think about how you want to position your frames and give them spots to look at while taking their picture so that it will look like they are looking at each other once hanging on the wall:

(because they've done it before they understood my instructions. i gave Danny a small piece of paper to hold between his fingers though)

2. select the best photos. fiddle with the images until satisfied.

3. choose your frames and remove the glass.

4. print your images to fit the frames you have selected and prepare your bunting (i soaked mine with a tea bag to give it a more aged look)

5. for support, place some tape on the back of the image where the kids fingers are then poke a hole where you want to thread the bunting. thread a small piece of bunting through this hole and tape again to hold in place.

position and hang!

now i know it does look kinda awesome to have a fistful of kiddos to hold your bunting for you this Christmas, but if you only have 1, or even none you can still swing a bunting (or Christmas greeting - i'd love to do this one) between two photos...even if it's just of you and your pug :)

will you make one?

show me if you do, i'd love to see!

come on in~

2011-12-15T11:33:00.001+13:00

it's been raining all week here and we've been stuck inside, so why don't you come on in and join us too...

...

'emmanuel'

God with us.

...

hoping this rain goes away soon!!

{dee.i.y} guest post

2011-12-14T07:00:00.000+13:00

has anyone else noticed the newspaper gift boxes covered in red polka dots by Citta Design this Christmas?

i'm sharing how i made my own, using vintage music sheets instead, over at Make it Dear today!

thanks for having me Mandi~

make my week #47 - ugliest doll ever

2011-12-12T07:00:00.000+13:00

we made it there and back! safely and sanely! hurrah.

we had a lovely time, gorged on cheap Hawke's Bay fruit, met some blog readers and got to (briefly) catch up with some super special friends.

meeting Anna's new little person, Nathan, was definitely a highlight:

(Danny is baby-crazy!)

on the Thursday morning before we left (when i should have been packing) i thought i'd quickly whip up a doll for wee Nate.

ha!

whip-up's turn out to be either just that...or the total opposite. you guessed it, this time it was the latter.

it took precisely a million years longer than intended and ended up being the singularly MOST UGLY doll i have ever made.

not for a moment was i tempted to actually give it to Nate. (their dog, yes - but not the baby!!)

curious? wanna see?

here you go:

//shudder//

it was supposed to be pirate-ish but i kept having this overwhelming urge to add a french moustache...

..and then i realised its only salvation would probably to be reincarnated as a french female doll.

what do you think?

we're off!

2011-12-08T13:35:00.001+13:00

(i lightly straightened my hair last night and was pretty shocked at how long it had gotten! woah, hair-growing hormones anyone?!)

thank you for your sweet responses and wonderful suggestions to yesterday's post - it was so nice to hear from the real actual people who are represented by the numbers on the sidebar! :)

we're about to head off on our long(ish) trip!

and i'm pretty excited because i LOVE the Hawkes Bay. have you been there? you should.

see you next week!

10

2011-12-07T10:26:00.001+13:00

1. i used to think croup was an ancient disease, like 'consumption' or something. now, it's a much-too-common dirty word that gets hissed through vapouriser steam in the middle of the night. how is it They can transplant hearts, hands and faces but there is no prevention/cure for common childhood croup?

(still, i'd rather croup than asthma, allergies, whooping cough or a million other things)

2. i suspected my reason for decorating our home for Christmas was so i could showcase it here, not for us to enjoy. and so - to teach myself a lesson - there will be some strict Christmas Decor Posting Guidelines!

3. i'm getting weary of the word, "vintage". you?

4. we are heading off on a 4-5 hour road trip tomorrow to the Hawkes Bay. any travelling-with-a-million-kids tips?

5. the burst of followers on this here blog has been unexpected and quite lovely, but i miss making friendships like i did when there were only 50. please introduce yourself and comment often so i can get to know you. that'd be real nice~

6. confession: i've been really struggling to enjoy the kiddos lately. i hate these phases. parents who treat their kids as inconvenient make me so mad...and i've been that parent recently. it usually comes from a self-absorbed preoccupation with slaving for my family vs. serving them. gah~

7. i still have a bunch of Christmas presents to get - and am totally stumped on most of them.

8. this time 2 years ago, i was 40 weeks +1 with Danny. but no one knew i was "overdue" because i never tell my EDD. ha

9. guess what else? the kids are all in the same room! and we are in a room by ourselves for the first time in 4 years - such a novelty to talk loud and turn lights on when we go to bed! will give you a tour soooooon.

10. lunch time...gotta go!

{dee.i.y} quick & cute lacy shorts

2011-12-06T13:12:00.000+13:00

mkay, it's a only a minute until Christmas and eek! you need some stocking fillers for your daughter/grand-daughter/neices...

what are you going to do??

here's what:

buy (or thrift) some denim shorts, cut off some length (if necessary) and add a prettifying piece of lace. bingo::

very quick.

and very cute.

::action shots::

Make my Week #47 - the latest batch

2011-12-05T10:20:00.001+13:00

here are some of the dolls i made last week

::dolls for sisters::

::dolls for boys::

::dolls for baby girls::

(naughty middle doll doesn't have her shoes on for her picture!)

::dolls for a wedding anniversary::

(full photos can be seen on facebook...when I get them loaded up)

we're back!

2011-12-04T16:42:00.001+13:00

wow, that week went quick didn't it?

here i am sewing 50 million (13) dolls while we were on our pre-Christmas holiday at the beach last week. it turns out that Nina isn't claustrophobic or prone to travel sickness! hurrah, she may become a regular holiday-goer :)

and now that the Christmas doll orders are crossed off the list, it's time to get festive.

this is my decoration inspiration this year:

{source}

the tree goes up tomorrow!

baby #5 {28 weeks}

2011-11-26T16:42:00.001+13:00

if you're wondering where the 'nose' went, it's because my body now resembles an 18th century chinese woman's foot.

yup, we're talking binding baby!

Make my Week #46 - patchwork birdhouse

2011-11-25T17:43:00.001+13:00

i swore i'd never make birdhouses again, but here i am. and i even somehow managed to come up with a design more time consuming than the previous one!

too bad, i love it - and i hope the recipient does too.

(but don't ask me to make another one! /wink)

{owl vase from Ezibuy}

and to prove i am a real mum who does real mum stuff and that i don't just craft at leisure all day - this is what was happening just out of shot in the preview photo i posted on facebook last week::

meet my grumpy, fractured #4.

snippin & sewin

2011-11-25T17:18:00.001+13:00

we are taking our annual pre-Christmas holiday next week and i've been so busy getting all my Tiny Eyes doll orders ready to take with me to sew (the place we will be staying at has no internet connection or TV so Nina's coming instead!!)

have you ever taken a pre-Christmas holiday?

i love it! i used to get stressed thinking i was way.too.busy to take a holiday at this time of the year, but now i love it because it forces me to slow down and not get too caught up in the silliness of the season and remember what's really important, that sort of thing :)

you should try it sometime

i spy - messy home edition

2011-11-24T15:59:00.001+13:00

wow, where did this week go?!

fancy a game of 'I SPY' to help your Friday come faster?

(this is what my living room looked like at 11:40pm last night (check the clock!). if you follow on facebook, you will know i didn't let myself go to bed until i had 5 dolls cut out and ready to sew - i did it!!)

anyway, let's play - can you find...?

1. my Workshop Doll

2. my new (slightly awesome) Ezibuy owl vase

3. the wooden car garage made by JR

4. a bunch of pink carnations from dinner guests.

5. Catherine Campbell printed (still unframed!)

6. 2 jars of vintage lace

7. a birdhouse

8. recently inherited piano (that's easy!)

9. recently inherited rocking horse

10. recently inherited floor mat

how many did you find??

...and look how much closer you are to Friday now!

ps. happy Thanksgiving to all my lovely American readers

make my week #45 - poetic portrait

2011-11-21T09:45:00.001+13:00

surely you've heard of the AWESOMENESS that is Lucky Jackson and her project, 365luckydays?

so spectacularly talented!

(images)

i very, very rarely blatantly just copy the work of another artist - i usually am inspired and then add or tweak - but i really couldn't out-inspire this time.

and when i saw a photo of the Poet babe i just knew the two had to be combined:

so promise me, if this inspires you, please credit Lucky Jackson NOT ME!! that'd be cool.

Who's Who - by Danny Arlo

2011-11-17T11:02:00.001+13:00

i know i keep raving about my Lisa Leonard necklace that JR bought for me after Danny was born, but i do totally love it. it has all of our names on it (except mine, i'm "the pearl" haha)

Danny has learnt which tag belongs to which person:

noteworthy notes:

"Noo-nah" is what the boys call Jada. it means "older sister" in Korean.
Ty is known as 'Ty-Boy' to everyone. Jada has called him that since the day he was born and it has stuck!
and yep, it is a yet another bon jovi hair today.

we're off to the mount today for a family wedding this weekend and am planning to compare bellehs with some cool mamas tomorrow. yay!

see you monday

a lesson in patience

2011-11-16T21:10:00.001+13:00

the room switch is happening at a pace slower than my 3 year old telling me a story.(and that's slow).

currently Ty and Jada have moved into their spots but we're still hogging the spot reserved for the little boys.

certain remaining tasks require carrying heavy furniture so i patiently wait for the blissful combination of a free afternoon and some rippling biceps. it's a combination that's proving to be as rare as [insert your own witty example here. i tried but my brain is too tired for witty at 10pm]

thankfully, my 3 year old's story telling is developing my patiently waiting skills.

(bonus points if you spotted a kiddo in one of the pics)

#5 {26 weeks}

2011-11-15T14:53:00.001+13:00

woah! either our #5 ate all the pies in the last two weeks, or my belleh muscles (i use the term loosely. literally) have expired completely.

compare and gasp below:

i may lose my nerve posting these pics:

1. i don't want to freak any not-yet-mamas out.

2. i don't want to liable for jaws being broken on floors

3. i like to keep my due-"date" (*cough* what a crock *cough*)

murky.

make my week #44 - more All Blacks dolls

2011-11-14T20:41:00.001+13:00

look who i finally finished off!

i know, i know...

i will list them sometime this week.

(maybe...!)

and i know i missed 2 weeks of "Make my Week" (so hopefully i'm up to the right week??) and i know the last one i did was of an All Black doll (yawn?) but i promise i have been making stuff...i just want to wait a bit longer before showing you some of it! ooohh~~

Jacob's doll

2011-11-12T20:21:00.001+13:00

please say hello again to Jacob!

hasn't he grown? (do you remember i made the doll the same length as he was when he was born 8 weeks ago at 23.6 weeks gestation?)

and look, he's in clothes!

and in a cot!

a big thank you to all of you sweet people who hold the Angove family in your thoughts and prayers.

you can follow Jacob's progress {here} on facebook.

11.11.11

2011-11-11T10:43:00.001+13:00

happy SUPER PEPERO day!

11.11.11

pepero day is celebrated in Korea on the 11th of November (when the date resembles the pepero sticks) and everyone gives pepero sticks as gifts on this day!

friends we worked with in Korea sent us these to eat today!

(thanks Taylors! X)

if you are near an asian food store sometime, you should try these...but be warned, you'll need one pack per person. they are so yummy!

(fyi: JR and I spent 2 & 1/2 years in South Korea in the early noughties, before Jada was born)

a TINY EYES giveaway!!!

2011-11-09T21:05:00.000+13:00

do you like her?

would you like to have her?

well you could!

she's being given away via thread.co.nz {{HERE}} on facebook!

(and of course on the give away there's a blurb about how crafty i am and a link to my blog which currently has NOTHING crafty, only some questionable belleh shots as my latest entry. great timing!!

ok, quickly hitting "publish" now!!)

good luck!
X

what my belleh wore Wednesday

2011-11-09T16:34:00.000+13:00

i usually feel fab when pregnant (all the saggy/podgy bits fill out, yanno?) but this time there's no Fab, just Fat & Old! ...so i've been on the hunt for cute preggo clothing.

i found this cute top from the op shop on Monday for $3. it is a little on the snug side so i did my tricky-trick of sewing straight up the front to make sure there is no straining of buttons.

these are the last remaining pair of jeans that fit me. i think that fifth time around i will be forced to purchase maternity pants! *gasp*.

and some evening entertainment for you:

i wonder if this is how spiderwoman would climb a wall if she had a belly in the way?

yoohoo...?

2011-11-08T20:53:00.000+13:00

hello??

anybody still there?

(a new vintage transport themed quilt for the little boys new vintage transport themed area! hurrah~)

today was the first in about 10 days that i've had a chance to continue with the great room switch. two things i've noticed we have in excess: 1)stuff and, 2)dust. mmhmm.
the lack of switching opportunity was because we had swimming lessons every afternoon last week. my days looked like this: breakfast - school work - lunch - swimming - dinner - bed.
my mum must've mental-noted i was exhausted because she turned up yesterday with an armload of freezer food fit for a just-given-birth mama!! :)
i've begun vacuuming in the evening. it makes Morning-Dee so much happier (and Morning-Dee needs all the happy-help she can get!!). it also means there is one less chore to do before schooling the kiddos. win!
speaking of schooling...i always get a bit of a hurry curry in the final term - i suddenly realise there aren't any more buffer terms before the end of the school year and Yikes! have the kids learnt anything at all this year??!
JR has been appealing to lifestyle-property wives by making cuter-than-average beehives and selling them on trade me. want one? he can't keep up with the interest, so will now be selling them without the bees. hurrah, Christmas pocket money!
sometimes, i like to look at my own pinterest boards for inspiration instead always searching for the "new wow".
i was inspired to sew something (not on the to-sew list) over the weekend and it went from Simple Project to Nightmarishly Horrid Torture. waste.of.time.

BUT! now that i have popped in here and have vacuumed my floors, i am going to bravely get back on the proverbial horse and try to finish some urgent "to-sew" projects.

hope they're nice to me.

The Emergency Exit Plan...that i don't actually have yet!

2011-11-03T17:08:00.000+13:00

naww, he's so sweet, he even bleeds

{love}

my poor bebe, gave himself a spectacularly deep gash above his eye this morning. it stopped bleeding and he stopped crying reasonably quickly and thankfully JR happened to be home (unplanned) to whip him into the Dr's to get it glued (yeoweech!) together again.

but it left me thinking - again - of my non-existent Emergency Exit Plan.

do you have one?

the thought of rounding up and appropriately dressing four kids, locking doors and grabbing essentials while applying pressure to a gaping, bleeding wound (or broken bone!) seems impossible to me!! and the ambulance scenario seems even worse - sending your injured child off while you round up the others? yikes!

please, please tell me your Emergency Exit Plan, or how you coped with multiple kiddos in an emergency.

{#5} 24 weeks

2011-11-02T21:14:00.000+13:00

you would like a comparison? here you go~

it appears my belly has grown a nose...

lovely.

as halloween as we get

2011-10-31T20:58:00.000+13:00

halloween is kinda new in NZ and it hasn't graduated past witches and skeletons into the nationwide dress-up party it is in the US.

and so, our church hosts a light party as an alternative to grim reapers scrounging lollies and this year's theme was 'Candy Land'.

these are our (ahem)"costumes":

you don't 'get' it?

i'll share my exact thought process to clarify:

candy land...candy canes...candy canes have stripes..we have clothes with stripes... *bingo!*

i promise that's it! yup, lay-zeeeee~

(oh, and don't feel bad for Monte, he loves a chance to wear the babylegs , hehe)

saturday

2011-10-29T20:56:00.000+13:00

we are enjoying the company of wonderful guests this weekend...and they even came with a box full of handmade/thrifted gifts! wow, totally spoilt. the crochet blanket is def going to be for #5. yay!!

hope you're enjoying the weekend

(isn't odd to have no rugby to watch??)

changing rooms pt. 3

2011-10-27T13:39:00.000+13:00

the Great Room Switch is slowly getting underway with our wall now built and painted. we have partly moved Jada in to her corner.

blue, mustard, lots of "sewn stuff", horses and other vintage collections are coming together nicely.

and for the two little boys corner, a vintage transport theme:

(is this not the most awesome vintage truck wallpaper?!)

and a stag cushion and some fabric camo strips for my biggest boy who loves deer, the outdoors and Bear Grylls:

(and it looks like my camera lens is horribly in need of a clean. sorry~)

more coming soon!!

an EX-shy guy

2011-10-26T22:52:00.000+13:00

i finally got organised and booked Monte into kindy. today was his first day:

(as well as what he wore, we'll never forget that Monte was also going through a phase of putting his hands down the back of his pants when he began kindy! awesome.)

with his support crew:

being a home schooling family we have to do everything together. this is often awkward and the opposite of easy. and honestly i was dreading piling the troops out of the car to take Monte into kindy today (i mean, who does that??) but then i see this picture, and am really grateful that he had His Team with him to share his first day.

Jada and Ty both went to this kindy so they had a great time showing him around (and reminiscing!)

remember this kid?? the excrutiatingly shy one who wore sunglasses to family christmas so no one would "see" him? well, he ROCKED it today. in fact, he's been rocking it so much for the last 6 months that it is sometimes hard to remember just how shy he used to be (how shy? painfully, frustratingly.)

and so, my advice to mums with shy babes? consider their age and patience may just be your best cure :)

Make my Week #41 - All Black doll!!

2011-10-25T11:59:00.000+13:00

if you know anything about rugby you will know that NZ have just hosted and WON the world cup. it's been a fun 7 weeks supporting our All Blacks team to their victory.

because of this, it has been extra rad to make an order i had for a custom early 80s style All Black doll - (you know, back when the tops weren't spray painted on and the collars were real not implied? and all the players had lamb chop sideburns with handlebar moustaches?) - a Murray Mexted-ish doll to be precise.

and like any typical world-cup winning sportsman, here he is chatting up the ladies before he headed off to his new home in Qatar:

i made 2 more All Blacks similar to this guy for my shop, so keep an eye out on facebook or twitter for first alerts on when they'll be added.

holiday weekend

2011-10-24T22:48:00.001+13:00

1. The 'grandpa' sculpture at Katikati is always a favourite.

2. The Mount

3. My peeps.../heart swell

4. Ty watching the CSI-esque oil spill cleaners.../sad face

5. JR wanted a pic with his bebes

6. Te Puna Quarry Park. amazing...and free!

It isn't called the 'Bay of Plenty' for no good reason~

{#5} 22 weeks

2011-10-20T11:19:00.000+13:00

guess who had a little growth spurt?

(i'm hoping to document this weekly. just promise you'll remember your manners around 40 weeks, i don't want any jaws dragging on the floor mkay? ;))

handy mummy

2011-10-19T21:30:00.000+13:00

just because i sew, it doesn't mean i exclusively sew.

and just because i'm married to a mega-talented furniture-maker, doesn't mean he's the only one who knows how to use a drill (and a saw and a plane, in this case).

yep, i made a height-assisting, toilet-training stool from some bits n pieces of wood i found laying around.

the design brief included:

::sturdiness:: i didn't want kiddos toppling in the middle of their 'business'.

::subtleness:: previously we have used regular stools, but they are bulky and interfere with my business (and when you're talking about someone who left their pelvic floor muscles somewhere around their 2nd pregnancy, you don't want any interference. alright?)

sooo...my solution (click to enlarge if very interested):

very sturdy.

very stowable.

very self-cleaning.

(ok, maybe not the last. but wouldn't it be nice?)

do you sneak into your guy's toolbox while he's at work and make stuff?

it's kinda fun huh:)

noteworthy II

2011-10-18T10:08:00.002+13:00

some of you may remember the "you & me" notebook i made up for me and Jada to write notes back and forth to each other in.

well, it has been fantastic and we both love it.

because we've had builders in, i'd put the notebook in my bedside cabinet to avoid the dust. it turns out Jada had been desperately looking for it and left this note by my bed when i went to bed a few nights ago:

JR and i had a good giggle at the drama of our girl-child.

hehe.

for those of you who began a 'you & me' notebook, how is it working out? i'd love to hear.

kite song

2011-10-17T19:58:00.003+13:00

the painter has been here this afternoon staining the wood trim on our new walls.

hello fumes! no one light a match!!

the phrase, "as high as a kite" keeps popping into my head.

which made me think of this pretty song.

have you heard it?

i could listen to it on heavy repeat.

make my week #40 - maxi bow

2011-10-17T11:26:00.000+13:00

ideas pop into my head at the weirdest of times and in the weirdest of places. this one was in the shower. i made it while watching (kinda) the rugby on Saturday night.

take a rectangle of contrasting fabrics and sew around all sides, leaving a gap (centre bottom)to turn through. snip corners, turn through and stuff. slip stitch gap together. sew a length of fabric together for the middle part, turn through. put it around the centre of your puffy rectangle and pull it as tight as you'd like. hand sew in place. then, sew a hair clip of your choice to the back of your bow.

make a super high messy bun and wear your bow underneath it at the back.

when or where do you get most of your creative ideas??

~Dee

{giveaway} WINNERS~~!

2011-10-15T13:35:00.000+13:00

mmm, Saturday morning...

i always feel like i've been a mega personal-space invader after party week but i hope you've had some fun.

onto the winners:

(thanks random.org)

giveaway #1: custom portrait winner:

Jen (My Own Road)

giveaway #2: bow headband & ring winner:

Katydid

giveaway #3: Silverlight earrings:

Talia Christine

Congratulations!!

I also did some spying on a lot of you through the week because i had this special spot prize for anyone who had put my button up for the week:

(i don't like to bribe, but am happy to reward :) )

i found 2 blogs who had used my button:

Make it, Give it

Casa Crafty

thank you ladies for taking the time to add my button to your sidebar. you have each won one of my dolly head necklaces.

(sorry if you did and i didn't spot it X)

thank you to everyone who commented and made party week the fun that it was - especially our generous giveaway-ers.

enjoy your weekend~

Dee

{giveaway} Silverlight Jewellery

2011-10-14T08:49:00.003+13:00

{giveaway}

party week's final giveaway comes to you from Emma of Silverlight Jewellery. Emma is a local jeweller whose pieces are very affordable and of an extremely high quality.

Emma also has another Felt shop called Whiteleaf Jewellery for more earthy, nature inspired pieces.

today Emma is generously giving away a pair of her best-selling silver leaf skeleton earrings. i have already bought TWO pairs of these for gifts this year and they look absolutely stunning on. (much, much nicer than the imitation silver ones at all the chain stores these days, ack!)

i know you'll love them too.

::for a valid entry::

1. you must be a follower of this blog

2. you must visit Emma's Silverlight shop or Whiteleaf shop on Felt and tell me your fave piece.

for TWO extra entries::

like the Silverlight and Whiteleaf facebook page

open internationally and drawn tomorrow (Saturday) around noon (NZT)

you also have one more day to enter these giveaways:

{bow headband and ring}

{custom portrait}

{guest post} tutorial::happy hanging sticks

2011-10-13T12:00:00.000+13:00

Hi my name is Jada, i hope you're enjoying mum's blog party.

Today my friend Keely and I are going to show you how to make "Happy Hanging Sticks".

(aren't they the cutest??!!)

First, you lay the sticks how you want them to be.

Then, you will need to paint rings around the stick.

Then, you cut a groove around the stick with the scissors. Be careful!

The groove is for the string to fit into.

Then, you tie the string around the grooves and put beads on the string.

This is where it will hang.

Then, you need to tie the rest of your sticks to the main stick and you can decorate with beads, shells or feathers.

Have fun making it (if you do!)

From Jada