room with a view

The spare tent went up in the backyard early last week for a cousin's visit and then a birthday sleepover. I have fond memories of this tent, its the one I camped in when I was six months pregnant with twins, and yes I took up most of the space back then!
Its been really popular and though I haven't slept out there I succumbed to temptation the other evening while making the beds to have a little test. Its very nice, the windows look out on different parts of the overgrown summer garden and cool breezes float through the open sides. I lay there and dreamed about having a little garden studio, wouldn't that be nice, I could just picture it with lots of windows and weatherboard walls. Maybe one day...
I've been a bit absent here but I'm taking advantage of having the kids home. All too soon school and music and sport will start and we'll be rushing into another year. Tomorrow is Australia Day too and another holiday here! I'm thinking I might have an Australia Day discount in the shop, if I do I'll post it here first.

my creative space - gozleme (sort of)

The birthday girl requested turkish gozleme style toasted sandwiches for lunch yesterday and we came up with these, made with wrap bread and filled with baby spinach, onions, field mushrooms, mozzarella, bocconcini, kalamata olives, ham, baby tomatoes and marinated persian fetta (my new favourite thing!). Easy to make you just put a wrap in the hot frying pan and top it with fillings and then press another over the top, flip once and then serve with lemon. The real gozleme are a fixture at Sydney markets and our favourite shopping snack but they do sound very labour intensive so I think we're sticking with our faux version.

A couple of days ago I was most excited to get an email from Ros a casting director at Granada, who is looking for people to be in their new show - TOP DESIGN hosted by Jamie Durie. While I politely declined her flattering invitation (citing extreme stage fright!) I told her about all my creative readers and promised to post a call out here on my blog. So if you are braver than me and love the sound of this below go here to apply. Wouldn't it be great to have an Aussie craft blogger on the show!! And there's a prize for the winner.

Granada Media Australia is currently looking for designers, artists, creatives and decorators for a new design-based reality television show called TOP DESIGN. The show will go to air on Channel Nine and will be hosted by Jamie Durie.

For those of you who are still looking to contribute towards the Brisbane floods, I have to mention this fantastic list of fundraising auctions hosted on the Make it Perfect site. Check out all the wonderful prizes being donated by amazing bloggers everywhere. Entry is in most cases just a small donation to the Premier's Relief Fund. And lets not forget other countries affected like Brazil and Sri Lanka, UNICEF is one place to contribute.

More creative types at Kirsty's place.

lucky thirteen

Miss A became a teenager today. Wow!

Her father and I have been reminiscing a lot this past week about our little blonde baby. The busy one with the huge smile. About our funny toddler who survived the arrival of not one but two little baby brothers with great generosity and few tears.

Oh how we love her. And we're so very proud of the young woman she has become. Beautiful, funny, clever, creative, graceful, artistic but above all a lovely person. She is just a really nice soul who is always thoughtful with other people, a great and popular friend and adored daughter, granddaughter, niece, sister and cousin.

I don't usually post photos of my kids on my blog, but I love this photo taken at a favourite dog beach that we stop at on our long drive to the farm. I love the joy and energy in girl and dog, and the beachcombed treasure in one hand!

Happy Birthday my beautiful girl. I love you so very, very much!