Duyvken

Pocket Quilt

2012-01-29T07:40:00.006+11:00

C starts primary school tomorrow. A journey she is ready to embark on but one that she is a little bit nervous about. She is very lucky that she has G and J already there because she is very familiar with the place and how it all works. She is right on the cusp of big kidness but there are a couple of little things that linger and this sorry looking quilt is one of them. Mr Duyvken and I bought this for J. Officially it was Mr Duyvken's 30th birthday present because money was pretty tight back then and he wanted new sheets and a quilt for the cot he had made for our long-awaited second baby. He's a lovely fellow that Mr Duyvken. J used it and loved it and then C inherited it when she moved into the cot but she loved it so much it went with her to the big girl bed and has been carted around ever since.

It is (literally) falling apart and has worn bare in places but she still loves it. It comforts her when she can't sleep or when she is sick and she hasn't yet grown out of it. So, as ready as she is for 'big school' I wanted to give her a little piece of comfort that she could keep in her pocket just in case.

She chose one of her favourite parts of the quilt to use. It is practically worn right through so it might not last long but it will feel just right if she needs it and I will feel better knowing that it is just there in her pocket if she needs some love from home. The velvet on the other side is from a pair of pants that my mum bought for herself. My mum is not a tall person and everything needs to be shortened. She knows how much C likes soft, textural fabrics and so she saved the offcuts and suggested this little project.

I shed a few tears while making this. Honestly, I'm hopeless. Being a mama is a bittersweet thing sometimes.

Art Smock Tutorial - recycling Mr Duyvken's shirts

2012-01-28T15:28:00.000+11:00

All the little duyvkens need art smocks for their back to school kits so I decided to make a few adjustments to the shirts that they wear at home when they are painting to make them a little more 'smockish'. It's very easy to do, you start by cutting the collar and the top button off of an old business shirt.

Stitch one end of a 6cm piece of elastic to the wrong side of the shirt where the top button hole is using zigzag stitch.

Stitch the other end of the elastic to spot where the top button was, again on the wrong side of the shirt so that, when you turn it right side out it looks like this.

Measure the arms of the person who needs the smock and cut off as much of the cuffs and sleeves as required. This one is for G so I needed the length of the placket and only cut off the cuff. Run a line of stitching down the placket to keep it closed. For C and J I cut the sleeve off above this point and saved myself this step.

Turn the shirt inside out and turn the sleeve back 2cms, stitching to create a channel for the elastic. Leave a 1cm gap between the start and the end of the stitching so that you can thread the elastic through easily.

Tie hat elastic to the end of a safety pin and thread through the channel you have just made at the end of the sleeve.

Tie off with a double knot and repeat on the other sleeve.

Embellishment is not required on an art smock because if it is well used it will be splattered with paint and glitter very quickly but I had a couple of yoyos in my sewing basket and I couldn't help myself.

So there you have it, 3 art smocks ready for school and 3 old shirts saved from the rag pile.

Wet Weather Blues v Operation Pinterest

2012-01-24T20:56:00.000+11:00

The weather has been pretty rotten these past 2 days and C has been very unwell so our plans for a fun-filled end to the holidays hasn't been a great success. J and JW have been happy with card games and sprinting down the hall shouting 'sonic boost', C has been sleeping wanting to have her back scratched, Sweetie has been happy trying to keep up with J and JW but G has been running out of ideas. Once we remembered the great resource that is Pinterest however we found lots of things to try.

First up was a heart-shaped origami bookmark and some you tube origami tutorials.

The backdrop is a puzzle that G and I have been working on all holidays. We discovered two things doing this; 1. G does not enjoy puzzles and 2. I can get a little obsessive.

The next project has been in my Pinterest folder for a while and, after cleaning out G's wardrobe we had a bunch of t-shirts that are too small so we cut them into strips and got started.

They are fantastic and G is really enjoying making them. She has a large pile now in a range of colours and embellishments. Perfect for this age group and the tutorial is so clear she didn't need any help from me to figure her way through it.

2012-01-22T22:14:00.000+11:00

New floors, old photos, good friends, great conversation, laughing til it hurts, dust everywhere, a haircut and one case of tonsilitis makes for a very full weekend. The last week of the school holidays has started and we are hoping to make it a memorable week. Hopefully, C will be feeling better tomorrow and we can kick things off with a bang.

Piecing Curves

2012-01-19T22:18:00.000+11:00

Piecing curves requires a lot of pins and that makes a mama nervous now that Sweetie is crawling and all the sewing happens in the living room. A quilt for my nephew is slowly coming together and if I can get over my fear of baby getting one of those pins I might be able to get it finished before the nephew turns 1.

It's a free-pieced pear. Well, it's supposed to be a pear. I shouldn't make declarations like that until the thing is finished because at this stage it does look a little like a heavily tattooed, plus sized nude. Hopefully, some applique will change that.

Dinner - Ponyo Soup

2012-01-17T21:45:00.001+11:00

Thanks for the lovely comments on my most recent post. They have generated many more thoughts so I am bound to throw a few more pondering parenting posts your way before these holidays are over. But, while I am thinking about exactly what I'll write let me share a recipe for a simple dinner that we had tonight, Ponyo Soup. That's just regular noodle soup but with eggs like Ponyo and Sosuke have for dinner in the movie. The kids love that film and I think that they will enjoy the new Studio Ghibli movie too. It's based on The Borrowers books and if they haven't strayed too far from the original stories it is bound to be a lovely film.
These measurements are a little sketchy because, like all good soups, the quantities are slightly different each time so feel free to make any adjustments you want to make depending on how you like it.

Ponyo Soup

Ingredients
4 litres water
2 vegie stock cubes (I use massell)
1/2 to 1 cup light soy sauce
1/2 to 1 cup shao shing cooking wine
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 red chilli
1/2 onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
3 boy choy, washed well and chopped
fine noodles (I used wheat noodles)
boiled eggs/tofu
crispy fried shallots
sriracha hot sauce

Method
Bring the water to a simmer (not a boil) and add the stock cubes, diced onion and diced carrot and continue to simmer for 5 mins to soften the vegetables.
Add the soy sauce, cooking wine and sesame oil, stirring to combine. Add the red chilli whole.
Lightly simmer for a further 10 mins and then add the noodles and the stems of the bok choy leaving the green leaves aside.
In a separate saucepan prepare the boiled eggs and by the time they are ready the noodles should be well cooked.
Remove the chilli at the this stage and discard. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
Serve in large bowls, adding the boy choy leaves, the eggs, the fried shallots and the hot sauce just before eating.

I am not a fan of eggs (that's Mr Duyvken's bowl pictured above) and the kids didn't like them either so I think I'll stick with tofu next time. It was fun trying it though and the kids enjoyed eating a ponyo style dinner.

Epiphany/Revelation

2012-01-14T21:06:00.001+11:00

About a week ago I mentioned a revelation that I had about mothering. I am pretty sure that I had just tripped over the vacuum cleaner cord as I was hurrying to the bathroom because one of the kids was calling out that there was no toilet paper. JW uses a lot of toilet paper... we're working on it. I had been tidying up the lunch things as quickly as I could before Sweetie woke up from his nap and trying to think of a suggestion for G when she (inevitably) declared that she didn't know what to do. I was feeling very flustered because I had a lot of stuff to do and a lot of renovation materials to find a place for when all of sudden it hit me. These little spot fires that I am always putting out with the kids; keeping the colourers well supplied with paper and pencils, keeping Sweetie well fed and entertained, keeping G in reading materials and having the head space to enjoy our chats, making time to enjoy the walks to the park, the swimming at Oma's pool and reading stories, is actually the 'job'. All the other stuff like cleaning and cooking and laundry is stuff that needs to get done but it isn't what I am staying home for. The stuff that I am staying at home for is all those little things that I can't schedule but just need to be around for. Playing fine leg at cricket is probably pretty similar, you've got to do a lot of standing around waiting for the moment that the ball comes your way but if you are also trying to be the greenkeeper you'll never be there when they need you.
The lack of schedule is one of the hardest things about being a stay at home mum and I think it's pretty common for women to struggle with it when they first go on maternity leave. You know those mums who go to two playgroups, gymbaroo, music classes and swimming every week? I think they're nervous about just being at home and seeing what develops. Just 'being' isn't that easy but it's a skill you can learn. I used to be really good at it. Some of my favourite memories with the kids have come about because we had time to spend hours creating a fairy hollow at the bottom of the garden or make roads all through the house using masking tape.
Over the years I have been more aware of this aspect and have found it easier to sit with but I am very glad to have rediscovered it and am looking forward to making it in important part of 2012.

What's for dinner?

2012-01-11T20:13:00.001+11:00

Spinach leaves, roasted butternut pumpkin, grilled haloumi, charred corn kernels, spanish onion and a dressing made with olive oil, caramelised balsamic vinegar, black pepper and a little ground cumin.
One dish dinners are perfect for summers. All the kids love this and Sweetie can eat an insane amount of pumpkin and haloumi. . We've had this twice already this week and I would happily eat it again tomorrow but I don't know how everyone else would feel about that :-)

Taggie

2012-01-10T00:01:00.000+11:00

I finally got the sewing machine out tonight and did some stitching. It felt wonderful. Sure, I'll need to vacuum again but it will be worth it. I have really missed these little windows of creative indulgence.
Some chenille, some ribbons from the stash, a small patch of corduroy that my mum saved from some trousers she shortened, and an hour of time stolen from the night after everyone in the house sleeps and I have made two taggie toys. One for sweetie and one for my nephew Tommy. Tommy is kicking back in Boston waiting patiently for his aunty to get on with making him a quilt. Hopefully, this will distract him for long enough for me to get my act together.

J turns 7

2012-01-06T23:01:00.002+11:00

J's birthday is in the middle of December which is a crazy time of year here. School is wrapping up, everyone is getting ready for Christmas and he often feels a little sidelined so we always try to make sure that it is a very special day for him. Our yard is all torn up and covered with building supplies so having a party at our place wasn't going to happen but my darling mum let us use her yard and we were able to throw him a pretty special party. One of his favourite things at the moment is playing spies so we decided to roll with that. Welcome to the ISS 2011 Orientation.

The kids played robot army infiltration games, completed water bomb training and a few sleuth and stealth games too. They had a ball!

There is a park behind mum's house and the weather was perfect so we spent most of our time there. G really threw herself into the party planning and even organised individual treasure hunt cards so that everyone could find their own party bags. She's a very special big sister.

and of course there was cake. Not the prettiest lego cakes you ever saw but I aimed higher than a donut stack cake :-)

10 school friends came and a bunch of cousins, aunts and uncles and J had a very, very special day.

We took photos of all the kids wearing sunnies when they arrived and 'fingerprinted' them so that we could make up some official spy licences to send out with the thank you letters. They've been a huge hit and considering how little time they took to make and laminate they were well worth the effort.

It was a lot of fun! I do love organising the birthday parties. Have you had any themes that were particularly successful?

PS I had an epiphany today, a genuine epiphany about motherhood, on January 6th. Crazy! I am still clarifying it but will share it with you soon, I promise.

The tale of Sweetie and the bassinet

2012-01-02T22:31:00.000+11:00

My blue-eyed boy was squeezed into the bassinet for much longer than he should have been but he is such a lovingly accommodating little lad he didn't seem to mind. However, when the heat picked up in November he became really uncomfortable so I started putting him in JW's cot for his daytime sleeps. We were in a holding pattern because JW really wants to move to a big girl bed (and is far too big to still be sleeping in a cot) but we still have the younger 4 in the one room and there simply isn't room for another bed in there. We've got the bunk, a cot and now a portacot set up in there. When I put Sweetie in JW's cot he cooed and chatted while he watched the sky through the windows and played with the side rails. When I put him in his portacot for the first time he looked around and saw his blanket and his snuggy bunny and smiled a smile that plumped up his cheeks and squeezed his eyes shut. It was pure delight, both for him and for me. He knew that this new space was just for him and he loved it. I look forward to setting that room up just for him and J, and setting up another room for just C and JW. It does a mama good to see her babies feel that good.
Happy New Year to you all, may 2012 bring contentment and good health to us all.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-31T22:54:00.000+11:00

We celebrated Christmas at my mum's place when we got home from the in-law's place. More eating, more presents, more fun, more swimming. The kids could definitely get used to this.

Aren't those teeny adirondacks cute? I need to make some cushions for them but keep forgetting. Perhaps now that I have typed it out here I will get around to it.

We had bubbles and ate off the best china.

Oma and Sweetie wore coordinating outfits so we had to capture the moment on film. Aren't they adorable?

Christmas 2011

2011-12-29T17:29:00.001+11:00

We celebrated Christmas up north at m y in-law's place this year. Mr Duyvken's family take their eating very seriously so it was 3-day food fest with some serious exercise thrown in to balance the calories in/calories out equation. We had a lovely time. I wore my red party dress and favourite shoes.

Santa gave C the mama lamb and baby lamb that she wanted. Not very easy to find but well worth the trouble because C adores them. The big lamb is a Jellycat toy and the baby is a Russ. The Jellycat softies are just adorable, I could have bought everything.

J got tap shoes and he hasn't stopped dancing. He's been stomping around the house for months telling us that he's tap dancing and marvelling at how good he is without even having a lesson. The sisters-in-law thought this gift was pure madness but I quite like the way tap shoes sound, it makes me think it's raining marbles. J is a very happy boy.

Papa's pizza oven got quite a work out as Mr Duyvken baked a lot of bread and plotted ways to have a pizza oven of his own.

We sat by the dam and looked out over the lake to the horizon enjoying Sweetie's first Christmas and arguing over things until the small hours. My Duyvken's family love heated discussions and can turn the smallest thing into a heated debate. This took me quite some time to get used to but I think I might have finally adjusted. Hallelujah!

I took some plain baubles, glitter and glue and all the cousins decorated ornaments for Papa and Oma's Christmas tree.

I feel very lucky to be part of this wonderful family. Happy times indeed.

Gingerbread

2011-12-19T12:22:00.000+11:00

Made with Oma on a wet summer's day. Ninja-bread men are on the menu for later this week and we are making white rocky road today. I am enjoying having the kids home from school earlier than they usually are and being able to enjoy a slightly less rushed lead up to Christmas.

Oh my

2011-12-15T13:43:00.000+11:00

From a quilting perspective 2011 has been a very unproductive year. I finished the family of seven quilt at the very start of the year before Sweetie's birth and was able to finish one charm square stroller quilt but that was it. I have been itching to get the sewing machine out and make something but space, renovations and children have conspired against. My predisposition towards neatness hasn't helped either. The upside of this is that I have been able to browse and enjoy other people's projects and patterns this year, mentally filing away things that I would like to do myself once time allows. This beautiful DS quilt is definitely among them. Half square triangles are so versatlie (and happily easy to make). Townmouse has just posted an amazing star she has made using triangles. In fact, similar to the ds quilt, she used triangles to create triangles but then she went an extra step and used the triangles to make a star.

What are your sewing plans for 2012?

Sweetie

2011-12-08T22:13:00.000+11:00

is much improved. Thanks for all your kind thoughts. See him wearing a jumper in that photo? I took that picture this afternoon. It's Kim's birthday - 8/12, and it is just insane that we are all feeling so chilly. It is very hard to get into the Christmas spirit with all these cold grey days.

Bits and pieces

2011-12-05T22:05:00.001+11:00

Oh how I love the teeny tiny details that make up a baby. Translucent ears, soft hair, dimpled knuckles, tiny toes...
ASIDE: Ears look like caves that have been eroded by water or wind. Knuckles remind me of mountain ranges and lips of lakeside banks at lowtide. When looked at closely we are rather topographical. I would love to capture it well and present side-by-side diptychs but my skillz are lacking so you will have to imagine it with me.
Sweetie hasn't been well this weekend and he and I spent some time in hospital together. I cradled him, spoke soft nonsense and gazed at him for hour after hour. I gave him 10mls of rehydrating fluid every 10mins all through Saturday night and every time I marked something down on the observation chart I felt very grateful to have a very healthy child. This is just a little bump in the road for us but there are plenty of parents who do this every day, drawing on internal pools of strength and resolve. Hats off to you if are one of those parents. That I am deeply impressed won't make a jot of difference but deeply impressed I am. So there.

Oma's birthday

2011-12-03T21:05:00.000+11:00

This may be one of the very last duyvken patented donut stack cakes because soon (ish) I will have a new oven. An oven that works. An oven I can bake it. Cue the excitement!

Decisions

2011-11-26T22:52:00.001+11:00

I need some help, dear reader. We are choosing between these two lights from IKEA to hang over the kitchen counter and wer're having some trouble making a decision.

Foto pendant

Ottava pendant

They'll be hanging near the dining table pendant lights ( my beloved Nelson criss cross saucer lamps) so, whilst they don't need to match, they do need to sit well together.

Criss Cross saucer

So, what do you think?

Today

2011-11-11T13:13:00.000+11:00

That's the morning milo line-up. Bunnies for JW, orange dog for J, papercut on pink for G and stripes for C. C gave me that mug for mother's day but I am yet to drink from it. They made chocolate mousse, filled a mug each, wrapped it with cellophane and made a beautiful card at pre-school but before we had gotten home that day C had unwrapped the mug, eaten the mousse (with her fingers! Such a mess!) and declared that she loved her new stripey mug. Every time I make milo or hot chocolate she insists that it comes in 'her' mug and is happy for me to have my standard white china.
I am not usually a supporter of people having allocated items in a family. I know it works for a lot of people but it seems too regimented to me and too fraught with potential to cause arguments. I don't even let the children have a place at the dinner table that they can consider to be 'theirs'. Each meal is a free for all and wherever you end up sitting is your spot for that meal but not forever. I am either helping my children develop flexibility or creating children who will grow into people intent on possessing things. I guess only time will tell.
One of my best friends when I was growing up had 4 brothers and sisters and they each had a colour that defined their 'things' within the family. Their cups, towels, lunchboxes, sunhats, plates, etc were all colour-coded. Guests also had a specific colour. I can't remember what the guest colour was now but I do remember knowing never to use someone else's cup for fear of serious reprisals. I suspect that never happened but it seemed like a cultural imperative that was alien to me and for a child prone to anxiety it added a veneer of stress to otherwise delightful playdates and sleepovers.
However, despite all that the mug thing has crept up on me and I think I quite like it. Parenting is a constant balance of things, I often think that being flexibly consistent is what I am striving for. Being consistent and predictable in my actions and words, and flexible enough to realise when things need to change. What about you?

PS

2011-11-07T09:20:00.000+11:00

At the baptism yesterday Sweetie enjoyed his first swim. The water was a little cold so he was happiest wrapped in the towel being cradled in his daddy's arms after the swim.

Pavlova

2011-11-06T19:15:00.000+11:00

Nobody makes pavlova like my mum. We ate ourselves to a standstill today celebrating my nephew's baptism and it was a very special day. I am pleased to say that my mum is recovering very well. Thanks for all your positive thoughts and kind words.

Operation Pinterest

2011-10-30T22:29:00.000+11:00

Project #4 Cloud Dough

First up - the pinterest version

And now for the Duyvken version.

Hm, not as white or fluffy as I was expecting but the kids had a ball. It smells fantastic but it makes an almighty mess. It doesn't really hold together like dough does but it is a good sensory play experience for the little ones. The verdict? I won't be doing this again until we have grass to play on.

Carla Bruni - L'Amoureuse

2011-10-15T20:03:00.000+11:00

Current You Tube favourite. Cutting fabric while babies sleep and listening to this makes for a very relaxing Saturday night. Love to you and yours, Duyvken.

Making things Pozible

2011-10-13T14:25:00.002+11:00

I love MA, the first album is delightful and I want more but, because these things aren't easy to pull together, Drew and Victoria have found this fantastic site to help make the second album a big success. It's a great site offering plenty of opportunities to support creatives. The website takes a cut but that's no different to all those fundraisers that give you a hard time at the local shops.
ASIDE: Have I told you about the time Mr Duyvken asked one of them how much of the money he might give would actually end up in the hands of the organisation on the posters? The fellow wasn't happy about the line of the questioning but Mr Duyvken does so love poking a sore bear.
In this case the fees are all clearly stated in the faqs - Pozible takes 7.5% which is a reasonable return for the crowdfunding platform but not so high as to be unreasonable.
I knew Drew before he was cool (I am sure I can hear him talking over me here to claim that he has always been cool) and wish him every success. Who can resist a musician who labours over the trifle each Christmas and bakes sourdough in his spare time? Good luck kids!

Georgia Matilda's Quilt Finished

2011-10-11T11:36:00.000+11:00

I finally finished the little stroller quilt that I started for my friend's baby way back in April. It is a quick charm square project that I have done before but it took an age this time around, mostly because it spent so long sitting in the sewing pile waiting for me to grab a few moments to work on it. I am very happy with it, Kate Spain designs such pretty fabrics and everything, except the purple stripes, is from her Verna range.

Thankfully, is has been a very cool spring so she should still be able to get some use out of it.

Her name and birthdate are embroidered into it as well. Those stitches should feel very nice under her little fingers, hopefully they'll be well worn in a few months time.

C and Sweetie are both waiting patiently for fabric I have set aside for them to turn into something quilty. They won't be as patient as Georgia so I'll have to set aside some time for some serious stitching.

Farm Weekend - brown and grey

2011-10-09T21:45:00.001+11:00

We drove north to spend a few days with Mr Duyvken's parents at the end of last week. My mum came as well and we had a lovely time. All the cousins slept together in the bunk room and it is always a lot of fun but all of the cooking, cleaning, supervising children, talking about what to have for the next meal and then more cooking and cleaning wears me out. 10 children aged between 7mths and 11years (yes mine are the bookends) makes for quite a lot of work, but they adore it and I adore them so what's a girl to do?

Next time I hope to take more photos, time always slips through my fingers up there!

A for Effort

2011-10-04T19:40:00.006+11:00

Several months ago I signed up for the half marathon. Sweetie was only a couple of months old and September seemed like a distant destination, it was an entire season away! Life, of course gets busy but my training was going reasonably well, I wasn't doing as much as I would have liked to but I was chipping away at it slowly and was looking forward to completing the run. A half marathon is a long distance for me and I saw it as a personal milestone. I was using it as a place marker in my life. It was going to be testament to what can be achieved in a post-babies life. An example of something I had to work really hard for and could be really proud of achieving. Yes, I had rather built it up in my mind, don't you think?

There were a few hurdles to overcome in the last 6 weeks before the race, not least of which was mum's illness, but I decided to run anyway. It was a hard, hard run and I pulled out after around 11kms with a very sore back and carrying a huge feeling of disappointment. You know those motivational posters that declare that did not finish is better than did not start? I'm not sure I agree with them now. On paper I get it but it does not feel good to not finish (too many negatives?)and the experience has just made me very determined to finish next year. It will be 12mths later than planned but, hopefully, just as sweet. Mr Duyvken pointed out that if I had started intending to run 10kms I would be thrilled and he's right, of course. Half a half marathon isn't too bad when you think about it.
Doing hard things doesn't always work out the way we hope but they're always worth doing. Always.

Come to the park

2011-10-01T21:18:00.000+10:00

Come to the park with us this long weekend. We'll make rings out of twigs, lie in the sun, drink beautiful coffee made by one of the many baristas at one of the many coffee shops across the street. (I swear, if there is a coffee shortage the Australian economy may collapse.) (We picked the Dane's brew if you were wondering.) We'll watch the world go by, listen to all the little duyvkens and their crazy schemes and drag ourselves home sulkily when the time comes to leave.

I got a new camera bag for my birthday and I love it! Not as much room as I had in the large tote I've been using lately but I can take the camera, lenses, external flash, etc with me everywhere now and they're all well-protected between padded dividers. I'm a happy girl! It's the *emera classic canvas and it's not cheap and I thought about it for over a year before buying it because I really wasn't sure about buying a bag that I hadn't seen irl. I am glad I got it though - so far it's perfect for me.

We are lucky to live in an area where there are lots of parks within walking distance but this one is one of our favourites.

Recycled

2011-09-20T13:51:00.001+10:00

Made by J to meet the brief of creating a 3-d object using recycled materials. Isn't he lovely?

Monday

2011-09-11T21:18:00.000+10:00

Beautiful babies in brand new blue bedrooms.

Operation Pinterest

2011-09-04T00:04:00.000+10:00

Project #3 a '40 sucks' gift for one of my wonderful sisters-in-law. This is the pinterest version;

and this is the duyvken version;

Put together using glittery letter stickers, oasis floral foam, a small metal pail all from the craft shop and 40 chupa chups from a recent trip to Costco (I have 60 leftover). G and C helped me and it came together very quickly.

Pretty happy with this one!

Sew Generous

2011-09-02T09:00:00.000+10:00

Suzanne from Quilt Sew Scrap has started a fantastic initiative called Sew Generous. It is an online charity quilting bee that will make quilts for children and teenagers who need treatment in the oncology department at Westmead Children's Hospital. I have had these blocks sitting unfinished for a while now, thinking that Sweetie might be a girl or that my sister might have a girl but we both ended up with bouncing baby boys so I have sent these blocks to Suzanne. She's a wonderful quilter - can't wait to see what it becomes!

Book Week

2011-09-01T09:30:00.002+10:00

Sweetie was one of Harry's dinosaurs. Irresistible, no?

Book Week

2011-08-31T18:04:00.002+10:00

J went as the tall man from the Niland book, The Tall Man and the Babies. 1 roll of cardboard, some coloured paper curls, a red skivvy and jeans = Easiest costume ever!

Special days

2011-08-30T21:58:00.001+10:00

It's been a very busy week here at the Duyvken House.

The day before Sweetie's half birthday I had a birthday too. Not as exciting as a half birthday, of course, but delightful nonetheless.

And on the day of Sweetie's half birthday Mr Duyvken and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary. We got a babysitter, went to a little mexican restaurant by the beach and then sat on the sand looking at the ocean and the stars. It was a couple of days before I could bring myself to shake the sand off my party shoes. I had enjoyed walking past them and smiling to myself.

And then tonight, G had her 11th birthday. We celebrated last night with Mr Duyvken's parents, this evening with my mum in the hospital and tonight with our little family. What did the birthday girl want for dinner? Cauliflower and pea soup with toasted turkish bread and, raspberry and custard teacake for dessert. And what did the birthday girl want as a gift? Pentominoes, books and a Westfield gift card. She's a very unique little thing. I'm so glad she's mine.

Operation Pinterest

2011-08-28T21:03:00.000+10:00

Turning 6 months old is a big deal around here, we always celebrate the 1/2 birthday with a cake and a little party. It helps to ease the pain of knowing that those wonderful newborn months are definitely behind us and that Sweetie is definitely enjoying babyhood. Things were a little different this time around with mum being in hospital and renovations continuing to require most of Mr Duyvken's time but I had seen a very cute cake on pinterest and decided to call Operation Pinterest into action once again. So here is,

Project #2 A beautifully decorated Cute as Button cake from Misobakes. Keep in mind that she has had a lot more practice than I have before you look at the photo of mine, OK?

Isn't it adorable? And here is the Duyvken version;

just a single layer, with a cardboard sign made by G, baked with assistance from G and JW, we only used 3 colours for the buttons and didn't bother with royal icing at all. But it was very quick to make and, with a little finessing, could look really wonderful.
We took it up to the hospital and had a little half birthday celebration with mum and Aunty S. It wasn't the traditional half birthday celebration, and I know that mum would have much preferred to be celebrating at our house, but we had a lovely time. And the half birthday boy? Delighted!

Red Boots

2011-08-26T22:51:00.000+10:00

Operation Pinterest

2011-08-24T22:01:00.002+10:00

I love Pinterest, but don't want to fall into the habit of collecting lots of wonderfully inspiring pictures and ideas but not using them.

That's where Operation Pinterest comes in - don't just pin it; do it, make it, try it, buy it!

Who's in?

Project #1

The aesthestically pleased pinterest photo - Things to Find on our Walk

and the Duyvken version, waxed cardboard cups anyone?

Social Responsibility

2011-08-19T22:49:00.006+10:00

This is an ad for a clothing company called New Love Club. Roger David sells their clothes here in Australia and distributed this ad to their email subscribers this week. As a response to complaints made by some of those subscribers to the Advertising Standards Bureau the ad has been pulled, but not before Roger David attempted to defend this image.Yep, this image.
Take it all in because you are not going to believe what Roger David thinks it conveys. I suggest you clear a section of desk so that you can bang your fist against it in rage in a moment. Ready, dear Reader?
It said: "New Love Club (a British menswear company) produced the image of the woman as a comment on youth and the national debt that now rests on their shoulders and as an ironic patriotic comment on capitalist recruitment and identity." And it said, "the woman was fully clothed and that the ad did not portray sex, sexuality or nudity."
I call bullshit, Roger David. Bullshit.
Did New Love Club feed you that line or did you come up with that yourselves in a board meeting over coffee and tiny bagels?
Objectifying women is not a way to participate in a discussion about national debt.
Labelling a woman with a barcode and the word SLAVE does not invite the viewer of this image to ponder questions of capitalist recruitment.
Stuffing a teenager's mouth with the Union Jack is not an ironic patriotic comment on anything. It renders her incapable of participating in the 'comments' you claim to be making and alludes to oral sex so overtly that your claims that the image is not sexual would be laughable if they weren't so disturbing.

You peddle offensive, objectifying, violent images of women to young men and the comments made in reponse to the ASB's ban on this ad shows that your company does this intentionally. I hope you are ashamed of what you are doing. I hope that the backlash in response to this particular ad is strong. I hope that the mothers and girlfiends who buy clothes for the young men in your target demographic stop shopping at Roger David as a result of this.

The fact that no New Love Club clothes appear in this ad hardly seems worth mentioning, but I'll throw it in anyway. That I will never spend a penny at Roger David is hardly worth mentioning either, you can take that as read.

We need to treat each other well, we need to support young men and women to make good decisions, we need young men and women to know that this picture is offensive and not just to see it as part of their social wallpaper. One of the worst things about this is knowing how many hands this must have gone through before it became the advertising image for this brand. We need fewer messages like that and more messages like this.

I don't like having to explain objectification to my 10 year old but she can't enter her teens thinking this is a societal norm. Teach your kids well!

Pinks and Greens

2011-08-18T22:05:00.004+10:00

PS

2011-08-18T11:32:00.003+10:00

I got this word verification field yesterday. Can you guess what my mum's name is? Yes, with an E just like Anne of Green Gables.

If I was superstitious.....

Shards

2011-08-17T22:11:00.005+10:00

Petit à petit l'oiseau fait son nid.
We are digging and painting, hanging doors and balancing budgets. Things don't always go to plan and sometimes things are broken but, given that my first reaction was to comment on how pretty it looked in the afternoon light and grab the camera, I think I am coping pretty well. My mother hasn't been well - it came upon her very suddenly and gave us quite a fright. She had surgery today and it went well. She will need to be in hospital for a couple of weeks and may need further treatment after that but things are starting to look brighter. This time last week we were all feeling pretty grim. Please keep her in your thoughts. Little by little she will be regaining her strength and will need all the support she can get. The phone has been ringing off the hook tonight with family, friends and neighbours all wondering how today went. She's well-loved, that's for sure!
She has never been a smoker but has something that is much more common among smokers and it must have been playing on her mind because this morning after, having a pill to keep her calm before the surgery (oh how I would have loved a little pill like that to calm me), she shared a funny little memory.
After finishing school and before saving enough to go to university she worked at the NSW Electricity Commission. This was in the 1960's when women were only allowed to write in pencil and smoking indoors was de rigeur. She sat opposite a man who smoked almost constantly and would record how long it took to smoke each cigarette. He kept a notepad on his desk and recorded the start and finish time for each smoke. Mum doesn't know what he did with this information but I imagine him as a chronic data collector unable to do anything without tallying it up. I wondered if he also did this in bed (dear Reader, I know you were thinking the same thing so don't look at me like that) but I didn't share that observation with mum :-)

A cup of tea?

2011-08-12T18:17:00.003+10:00

Well, dear readers, if you ever need a little self-esteem boost buy some tea and hold a giveaway! I got the most delightful bunch of comments and it was very hard to pick a winner but I really can't go past Suse's comment.
She wrote:
Oh how I adore your endearing, creative, inspiring yet touchingly honest blog dear Duyvken. Congratulations on 500 magnificently photographed and eloquently written posts (complete with superlative punctuation and unblemished grammar). Here's to a long and glorious future of understated, commercial-free, gentle yet clever humour and adorably wholesome baby pictures. I raise my elegantly etched and modestly filled champagne flute to the glory that is Duyvken.
(Was that nauseatingly ingratiating enough? I have a giveaway on my blog too, so feel free to reciprocate ;)

Was that natuseatingly ingratiating enough? Hm, yes it was! Congrats Pea Soupers, I look forward to imagining you sitting in your mud brick house, sipping tea, listening to one of your boys playing the cello, and knitting something fabulous.
PS I included the oxford comma just for you, Suse.
You're welcome.

Kurt Vonnegut

2011-08-06T13:48:00.002+10:00

Humanism should be our over-arching morality, wouldn't that be wonderful? And very achievable. Here's hoping!
I am looking for a source so that I can give the artist the credit they deserve. Isn't it a wonderful print?
Edited to add - the print is by Tim Doyle. Many Thanks to Blackbird for finding it. I should have known the guru would have it at her fingertips.

500

2011-08-04T16:26:00.000+10:00

'Renovator's still life with magnolias'.
I have been thinking about the act of blogging recently and appreciating how it has been such a constant for me over the past few years. Even when weeks are crazy and I barely speak to anyone outside of the school yard there are blogs to visit, comment boxes to be part of, beautiful photos, quilts, knits and crafts to admire and glimpses of family life too. I've been able to share the arrival of new little duyvkens, my attempts at quilting and photography and lots of little anecdotes. In a life that is child-heavy (and happily so, dear Reader) it has been a very welcome source of adult company. I've made some wonderful friends, have become part of a Sydney-wide crafting community and have been able to stretch my creative wings.
There has been much discussion this year about the growth of a new type of blogging that is commercial rather than journalistic (I mean that in a Dear Diary kind of way and not a Good Morning Modesto kind of way). Reading posts from Blogopolis this past weekend and lots of Nuffnang sponsored posts over the past 12mths have made me ask what I am trying to do. Time and again I come to the answer that I am not producing an online magazine, I am merely diarising publicly and participating in an online craft community. I adore some of the sponsored blogs and value the financial opportunity that it offers to some bloggers (honestly, will someone please give Kim the column writing opportunity that she deserves?!) but this little space doesn't lend itself to that and so will remain a diary of sorts. It will be what it has always been - a rather difficult to define show and tell conversation pit.
I wanted to mark the 500th post by throwing a little party with streamers, balloons and cake that gets squished underfoot and then walked across the carpet, but let's skip that part and go straight to the post-party peace that descends as the children slip into a sugar coma on the couch and we sit amongst the detritus nursing a mild headache and holding a cup of tea. I saw these beautiful boxes at the supermarket and couldn't resist buying them for you. If the organic tea is as delicious as the boxes are beautiful then they'll be quite special. It would be lovely to drink a cup out of a hand-thrown and delicately glazed mug but Woolworths do not stock such things so I picked the first thing I saw in the kitchenware aisle that kind of matched the boxes in the few seconds I had before the children tried to grab mugs too.
So, if you would like to win this delightful prize leave me a suitably ingratiating congratulatory comment. I'll pick a winner at the beginning of next week. Readers from everywhere welcome!

Nonsense

2011-07-29T22:51:00.004+10:00

My mum is in hospital having some tests after some fainting spells and breathlessness led to the discovery that her hemoglobin levels are insanely low and we've have all been worried about her. C particularly has needed a little extra love. I think she's concerned in a non-specific kind of way but doesn't have the language to properly express herself. So hugs, reassurances and

plenty of time to run around like a mad thing playing indoor touch footy with J and JW are on the menu.

Yesterday was particularly exhausting (exuberant indoor games in cramped spaces and constant physical contact can wear a mama out) so we started today with dessert just for something different. Tucking into a bowl of ice-cream and strawberries gave her and JW quite a boost. Funny how a little nonsense can give you a lift... I often forget that as I go about my day pretending to be all grown up. Of course, taking picture books to the hospital and having Oma read them aloud also helped but I like to think that breakfast was restorative too.

Getting on the sticks

2011-07-28T22:07:00.003+10:00

I have long admired the work of the lovely Jen. Dear Eleanor and I are fighting over who gets to be President of the Australian chapter of her fan club. Eleanor thinks she's got it but when the gloves come off (and they will - Ultimate Fight Club style) I will be victorious.
Knitting involves a lot of math (eurgh) and counting (eurgh) but it is a lot more portable than quilting and if it doesn't involve setting up the ironing board and the sewing machine I might actually be able to create something.
Jen writes about noro and steeking and it makes me go 'hmmmm' C&C Music Factory style. Then I click across to Retromummy and she's knitting something adorable for one of her brood, then I realise that the things I most love to admire on Etsy are all the gorgeous handknits for babies and then I see this on Alison's blog and I realise that the time has come.
I have to learn how to do this!

From the couch

2011-07-24T22:56:00.002+10:00

I am sitting on the couch holding an unsettled but now-sleeping baby, watching the Tour de France and staying warm under the Family of Seven quilt while Mr Duyvken taps away on the computer doing some work for tomorrow. It has been a big, challenging weekend here chez Duyvken. The renos are moving along pretty well. We've been working for 2months just getting things done on weekends. It is very messy and quite tricky to keep the children occupied and out of the way. So messy in fact that it is doing my head in but I won't bore you all with that.
We are hoping to have it finished by Christmas and are on schedule (so far) so I'm trying to look at the big picture and see it as a short period of time Hopefully regular weekends with Mr Duyvken will recommence in January 2012.
Mr Duyvken and his cycling mates are very excited that Cadel Evans has won the Tour de France. They're all pretty worn out after 3 weeks of staying up late talking shop. Mr Duyvken always hosts a few viewing nights here and they eat themselves silly and talk about all the things that make their wives and girlfriends eyes glaze over. Secretly, I'm pretty pleased myself. I was a so disappointed for him last year!
Sweet William has started solids and is a very eager eater. Just rice cereal and pumpkin so far but I have bought some produce just for him and will cook and freeze tomorrow so that there are some yummy things in the freezer for him to try. I tend to move the babies pretty quickly to table food because I have limited patience for preparing baby food but don't like the store bought stuff and early indications are that W will take to it quite well. J was a slow starter when it came to solids. He has a slight tongue-tie and it took him a while to gain enough tongue control to swallow solids. Poor lad, it was not a fun few months but he got there eventually.
I've been reading the Isabel Dalhousie novels, they're delightful books and I recommend them if you are looking for something thoughtful and easy to read. G is reading the Jacqueline Wilson books, she's read her way through the ones at the school library and we'll be visiting the neighborhood library this week to see what they have. J is busy with the Zac Power books as well as the home readers he brings home each night. C and JW pick different things off the bookshelf but have been leaning heavily on Each Peach Pear Plum, and the Curious George books lately. W enjoys whatever we read to him and JW is very proud to be able to read I Love Fruit and I Love Vegetables to him. She has memorized them and he squeals and giggles so with such glee when he reads to her that it makes her feel very special. She's taken to big sisterhood like a duck to water.
No links to any of those books I am afraid, W is asleep in my arms and I need to tuck him into his bassinet and then roll into bed myself to do it all again tomorrow? If you are interested in them but have trouble finding them let me know and I will add links.
Keep well dear reader!

Renos are messy

2011-07-22T12:01:00.002+10:00

but looking at it through the viewfinder helps.

The Love Bomb

2011-07-21T21:31:00.003+10:00

Sharing another article from Sydney Morning Herald. It was first published in the Irish Times but it is being widely redistributed with good reason. I adore everything about the idea of love bombing. I can imagine that it would feel wonderful as a child to be so wrapped with love and that it would also feel very empowering as a parent being able to constructively 'do' something for a child who has been struggling. I know, from experience, that is also works well for husbands who have had some tough times at work although I didn't know the term 'love bombing' at the time.
The little duyvkens so enjoy little snippets of time just with mummy or daddy that a simple trip to the supermarket or the playground, the hardware store or the coffee shop can really make their day. C and I went out for hot chocolate recently after she met the Principal in preparation for starting school next year and she was beside herself with delight. This article reminds me that throwing a little 'love grenade' every now and again isn't just delightful it is also helping to build great people.

Medecins sans Frontiers

2011-07-20T21:14:00.002+10:00

Sharing an article from today's Sydney Morning Herald. After my last blog post I thought it was appropriate to share it with you. Lots of lovely links at the bottom too.

When illness strikes

2011-07-16T12:25:00.002+10:00

Quite a few of the duyvkens have been sick with gastro over the past few days. The washing machine has been working overtime and I've been thanking my lucky stars that I live in a place where gastrolyte is readily available. This is no small blessing. Diarrheal disease is the second leading cause of death in children under the age of 5 in developing countries and it is easily preventable and easily treatable. My heart breaks for the loss of those children and all the potential the world loses with them and for the parents who go through the pain of watching helplessly as it happens.
Is this acceptable in 2011? No.
Is sponsoring one child through World Vision enough? Probably not.
What more can I do? Hm... will have think further about that one.
Thankfully, the little duyvkens are all much better this morning. Mr Duyvken however seems to have a man flu chaser to his gastro and is still suffering greatly. I am reminded of this and laughing heartily to myself.

Any man flu sufferers at your place?

Fame and Fudge

2011-07-14T19:19:00.006+10:00

I'm famous, have you heard? This may be the highlight of my fame so let's take a moment to soak it all in.

There, moment over.

Thank you.

Now that that's over I can tell you what this post is really about. I have been on pinterest for a few weeks and, whilst there are some truly beautiful things there, there are also plenty of pictures that can only be described as so wrong.

I can't keep them to myself anymore but Mr Duyvken is sick of running to the computer only to discover that I expect him to, once again, express amazement and concern at yet another scary food picture. He's a dear man but he has his limits.

So, the things that have really disturbed me this week are:

oreo and peanut butter pies - I have no words.

Chocolate Caramel Potato Chips - again, there are no words.

Her website is unbelievable, and it seems to be legit. I think she genuinely makes and EATS this stuff.

Oreo stuffed choc-chip cookes and brownie bars stacked with ice-cream and fudge sauce. Surely, I don't need to say anything more.

7 layer dip also concerns me but I get the impression that it is pretty special to those living Stateside so I am not going to take that on this week. I'll save that for a savoury post.

Winter

2011-07-08T20:06:00.002+10:00

Right now

2011-06-28T21:39:00.005+10:00

We're pretending we live in an inner city loft while we sit in the dark and look at the exposed brick. The diy renovation has well and truly begun! The dust covering everything may be the end of me. I am choosing to look at this as an opportunity for personal development and letting go of some of my neatnik ways.
This is how it looked on Saturday. Apparently, he doesn't believe in drop sheets.
Yeah.
I'll let you know how that goes.
The dining table is one of Mr Duyvken's creations. Give that man a brick pallet, a hammer and some furniture wax and he can do beautiful things. He made this 11 1/2 years ago when we were newlyweds with a very small budget for setting up house together. We collected brick pallets from the side of the road and he made a few things that we still use and love. He's a clever fellow that Mr Duyvken.

Perspective

2011-06-27T22:58:00.002+10:00

I've been thinking a lot about perspective over the past few days because I had cause to say "...but I've only got 5 children" in conversation with someone who has 9 children.

I regularly need to grab these opportunities to reflect on the big picture; to count my blessings and not just busy myself with the next few hours. It's lovely to be so consumed but it's not good for me without these little rest stops every now and again.

So here's to living an examined life and to finding the time to do it.

Curiouser and curiouser

2011-06-18T22:04:00.003+10:00

J brought home his very own felt creation recently and was very proudly showing it to his sisters when they had this very amusing exchange. I love overhearing things like this - bliss! C to J: Hey J, I like your snake.
J: It's not a snake.
C: It looks like a snake.
J: No it doesn't. It's a worm.
G piping in as she invariably does: It is a snake, J.
J: No, it's not, it's a worm.
G: I'm pretty sure it's a snake.
J: No, it has to be a worm. I know it's not a snake because snakes don't wear hats.

Can't argue with that.

Family of Seven Quilt Tutorial

2011-06-14T12:35:00.006+10:00

Julie from Small Matters asked if I could share the pattern for my crosses quilt and I am thrilled to help her out. I haven't had my sewing machine set up for weeks so I cheated for this tutorial and just used paper and tape. Hopefully, it still makes sense! I didn't use a pattern but rather determined the size of the blocks based on the templates that I own and the fat quarter stack that I wanted to use. I used my 6 inch ruler so I could check each block was square before sewing it all together. I used 7 fat quarters of patterned fabric and some solid fabric (a little over half a yard) to make the top. There are 60 cross blocks in the finished quilt, 56 in the centre and 4 in the borders.
Want to make your own? First you'll need to get out your supplies and cut your patterned fabric into 6 inch squares and the solid fabric into 1 1/2 inch strips. Next slice your square wherever you like,grab your solid strips,

and stitch together. Slice again and stitch again.

Now you just need to trim the block and you're done.

Once you've got a pile together lay them out anyway you like and stitch your top together. I wanted to minimise the separation between the borders and the centre of the top so used the main solid (kona ash) as the borders and included trimmed cross blocks.
Why are 7 of the blocks red? Wll, there is one red cross for each person in my family so it's like a secret message hidden in the quilt.

I'd love to see one if you make your own so please leave a comment with a link.

Mr Duyvken

2011-06-08T22:02:00.003+10:00

Excuse the bra strap look, that's actually a top under a drapey overshirt but in the pic it looks like a big old strap :-)
This was taken a few weeks ago at the school's fundraising dinner. The invitation listed the dress code as Black or Glam and Mr Duyvken, being Mr Duyvken, went straight to Glam Rock. He had hopes that we'd look like 2 of Poisons lost members but it wasn't to be. Black for me, I did have a baby less than 3 months ago thanks very much. He was not deterred and even though it was more disco than glam in the end the wig pulled it all together and we had a ball.
He was the only person in fancy dress but didn't mind at all. We couldn't be more different in some ways and this is definitely one of them, I'm more of a blend in than stand out kind of a girl. His endless capacity for fun is one of the loveliest things about him and this picture demonstrates that pretty well.

Pilates

2011-06-03T20:02:00.001+10:00

For some reason this really amuses me, perhaps I need to get out more.

Eaveless

2011-06-02T21:21:00.004+10:00

A silent band of hazmat-suited men arrived early yesterday morning to remove the (asbestos) eaves from our little house. They were led by a chatty lad from the country who nearly fell over when children kept appearing out of the kitchen and getting into the car. It was like one of those vaudeville gags where an impossible number of people keep appearing out of a phone box or a car but without the honky tonk piano soundtrack running underneath. Although, that would have good :-)
When I arrived home the house looked quite odd. Just a neat little box sitting in the dark with many signs of care and habitation (trimmed lawns and children's bikes sitting under the carport)and many signs of construction (tree protection fencing and the aforementioned eavelessness). After 3 1/2 years of preparing a DA application and a lot of budget massaging it is very exciting to be at this stage.
Mr Duyvken has been pottering around these past few weeks knocking out random bricks and banging about under the house. Frankly, I've been a little concerned that we may spend quite some time living in a too-small house decorated with a very post-post-modern aesthetic, deconstructing the suburban modern (but not modernist) red brick homes of the early 1960's by throwing a little 1990's grunge at it.

This is, by no means, the only hole in the house. The neighbours, I am sure, are thrilled.
But this afternoon, a totally camp and truly delightful delivery driver arrived and left us with 4 pallets loaded with promise.

C and JW danced on the bricks in the rain by way of celebration. Things are heading in the right direction!

Could it be?

2011-05-29T20:28:00.003+10:00

Yes! I'm stitching.
There is a UFO craft group that gets together once a month at G and J's school and on Friday night I was able to go along and enjoyed chatting and sewing with a lovely bunch of mums I have gotten to know pretty well over the 6 years that G has been at school. You end up spending a lot of time with the other parents at playdates, after school park outings, sports events, parents dinners, etc and they're a lovely bunch. Of course, being part of a craft group that is just a few minutes from home is bliss!
I was able to get all the hand-quilting done on this quilt and should be able to get the binding on soon.
But you know how that goes... don't hold your breath :-)

Honeymoon chairs

2011-05-28T11:06:00.006+10:00

Mr Duyvken and I bought these repro chairs at a second hand office furniture outlet in Forster just a couple of weeks after we were married 11 1/2 years ago. The fabric had worn right through them but they're very sweet little chairs and are still in great condition so, when my mum was having some dining chairs reupholstered before Christmas I got these done as well. We've had them back for ages but, since there's been very little crafting going on around here I thought I'd share them with you. Hopefully, my smoke and mirrors act will distract you until I get around to doing some stitching :-) I chose one of the fabrics from Anna Maria Horner's drawing room range. She always has a few fabrics available in home dec weight and it was very hard deciding between a few of them. But I am very happy that I ended up with this.The upholsterer selected the braid himself and he matched the pink chair beautifully but the turquoise chair has federation green braiding that doesn't match at all. Can I be bothered buying new braid and glueing it on myself? Um... no. Yes, I know it would only take a few minutes but I so can't be bothered. So, federation green and turquoise it is. I'm learning to love it.

Reading

2011-05-25T21:16:00.002+10:00

Books about photography, The Swan Thieves, asbestos removal pamphlets, permission slips for G's first school camp (they're going to Bathurst in June - chilly!) and, of course, blogs.
Dear Lushie is wrapping up her time in Germany and heading to the USA. I am going to miss her humourous voice and her beautiful photos. I have enjoyed the glimpses into expat life in a small german village and her warm and cheerful outlook. I wish you well dear E and hope that you know there will always be room in my comment box for you, I hope you'll pop in from time to time. xx

The Reading List

2011-05-20T05:11:00.002+10:00

We've discovered some wonderful titles recently and I thought I would share them with you because I always love getting reading recommendations from friends.

G is reading Chasing Vermeer and from how much she is raving about it I can't wait to read it myself once she's finished. All those little purple tags sticking out the top are pages she's marked. It's a 'find the clues, solve the mystery' type of book and she's taking it very seriously. She's such a delight!
C and JW are enjoying this lovely (and sparingly beautiful) book by Herve Tullet. Sweet William's godmother gave it to him for his baptism and, if we keep it in one piece, I am sure he will also enjoy it. It's like an ipad app in book form and the girls love tapping the pages and shaking tbe book. It's genius really. I can't resist tilting the book myself when I have tucked all the babies into bed and have it all to myself. I challenge you to find it in your local children's bookshop and resist the instructions yourself.

J is rereading an old favourite, Left-Handed Heroes and hoping that Sweet William will also be a lefty. Given the way Sweetie is favouring that hand so far I think it is definitely a possibility.

And I am reading Elizabeth Kostova's The Swan Thieves... such a beautifully written book.

Handmade furniture...

2011-05-19T15:09:00.001+10:00

...on a chilly, hazy autumn afternoon.

11 weeks

2011-05-18T11:23:00.000+10:00

For Blackbird.
I take requests, you know.

The Gown

2011-05-17T17:03:00.001+10:00

~ May 1 2011 ~

Addition

2011-05-11T12:52:00.002+10:00

Delicate glass christmas ornaments.
A fallen branch from one of the angophoras in the backyard.
Fishing line.
A hot glue gun.
A new mobile for G's room - hanging above her desk and welcoming each new day by reflecting the morning light.

4km

2011-05-08T21:29:00.006+10:00

After sleeping through for the past week Sweet William decided to wake at 4 this morning which made it very hard to pull myself out of bed when the alarm rang at 6. I was very tempted to stay where I was but I managed to pull my hair back, put on my sneakers and make it into the Domain in time for the 7:30 start. The start for what, dear reader? The Mothers Day Classic. A fundraising event for breast cancer research and a great opportunity to run through some of the most beautiful parts of Sydney. I signed up a few weeks ago when it still seemed like I had plenty of time to train. Believe me, those weeks passed quickly! I did the 4km run in 30mins. It's not a particularly impressive time but I have been patting myself on the back all day nonetheless. Yay me!
The internal high-fiving continued when I realised that Mr Duyvken had made pavlova for dessert tonight making this officially a two pavlova weekend. Good times!
And thank you to D Beltt for the tips about how to fix the jumper that JW cut... I think that with a little help from my mother-in-law I'll be able to repair it.

On being 3

2011-05-06T17:34:00.003+10:00

People moan about the terrible twos but three has always been much more challenging for me that the twos. There are moments when independence meets curiosity and combined with pretty good fine motor skills questionable things can happen. If mama is otherwise occupied the results can be... well... difficult to fix.
This evening while I was feeding the little man the older kids were making masks and JW stood up to triumphantly declare that she cut it all by herself. Turns out child-safe scissors cut through a much-loved handknit like butter. Yes, a handknit! Mr Duyvken's mother made this for G when she was a toddler and all my children have worn it.
The worst part is that I have absolutely no idea how to go about fixing this - any ideas? I'd love some suggestions.

PS sorry the photo is sideways, Blogger must have had a few too many margaritas to celebrate cinco de mayo.

A little time for stitching

2011-05-02T13:32:00.004+10:00

Wraps for the cardiac unit at The Children's Hospital Westmead. More info here on Sophie's blog. And a bassinet quilt for a new baby girl born to two wonderful mothers. This it what I will be working on tomorrow night at The Craft Room.

PS the fabric is from the Verna range by Kate Spain.

Easter

2011-04-25T20:29:00.000+10:00

7 1/2 weeks

2011-04-22T21:28:00.000+10:00

Love this boy.

JW turns 3

2011-04-18T20:27:00.003+10:00

I made the ginger cake from The Monday Morning Cooking Club book. It was delicious! Sure, the smoke pouring out of my mum's oven was disconcerting but once I cut the burnt bit off the top and put it on a serving plate you could barely tell that batter had spilled all over the element in the stove. We also had orange-iced cupcakes, orange, napkins, orange cups and orange party bags for my girl who loves that cheery colour. Happy birthday dear JW!

A few of his favourites

2011-04-12T18:09:00.005+10:00

Babies respond well to being cradled and serenaded and my little ones are no exception so all the little duyvkens have had songs that have become their own during their first few weeks. Often we've ended up singing them something just because it has their name in it and then thinking about the lyrics later. That's what happened with Sweet William and the song Barbra Allen. It's pretty depressing when you think about it but it's a beautiful tune and he responds so beautifully when we start singing.
As a little aside, I must tell you that I have to soak up this period in which the children enjoy my singing because at around 18mths they have all turned to me and very theatrically banned me from singing. Remember the Dianne Weist character in Bullets Over Broadway saying 'don't speak'? It's a lot like that :-)
Anyway, I first heard this song in the movie Songcatcher. It's a beautiful film, by the way, have you seen it?

He is also partial to a little Annie Lennox...

And this is the one that my mum, his Oma, sings. She has sung it to all the children and it's something the great-nan used to sing too. It was so lovely to find this on you tube... what a great resource that website can be.

I can't sing that one to the kids because I can never remember the lyrics past the letter D. And I should know it by heart given how often I've heard it!

6 weeks

2011-04-11T22:08:00.003+10:00

Sweet William and I went out on our own this afternoon to visit the lovely Dr G for the 6 week well baby checkup. Little Billy is 9cm longer than when we left hospital 5 1/2 weeks ago, weighs in at 5.4kgs and is perfectly perfect. He's a keeper! xx

The Children's Hospital at Westmead

2011-04-10T22:02:00.010+10:00

Mr Duyvken holding sweet William.

I don't have many words tonight. My oldest friend's sister had a little boy on May 29th and he passed away today. He has been in the NICU at The Children's Hospital Westmead and in the 11 days he has been there I have come across 2 ways for crafters to help. I'm sharing the links here for anyone else who may be interested.

Her Heart My Hands - 1m square wraps needed for the cardiac unit.

QuiltSewScrap - quilts for the oncology unit.

Donate directly here.

I'll be sewing some wraps this week and, whilst quietly wishing them well, thinking about a young couple who didn't get to take their firstborn home.

Ginger Cake

2011-04-05T11:45:00.004+10:00

Some of the blog aunties came over last week to meet the newest little Duyvken and to chat/eat/repeat. The pace of these get-togethers should not be underestimated. It is intense (wow, we can talk!) and completely delightful. I was still taking it all in hours after these wonderful women had left and Eleanor texted me to say that she'd needed a cup of tea and a little lie down to recover :-) Mary took some beautiful photos, Eleanor gave J a whoopie cushion guaranteeing her a place in his heart forever and Kim brought the most beautiful cake and slice. She used recipes from a book that Eleanor posted about a few weeks ago. The cakes were so divine that I ordered the book myself and even though I badly want another slice of ginger cake I am trying to be follow an 80/20 pattern of sensible eating/indulgence and today is an 80 day so I ate an apple and took photos of the book instead. This is the book, Monday Morning Cooking Club, and I can recommend it not just for the recipes but also for the beautiful photographs. Page 166 is adorable.

Point and Shoot

2011-03-22T22:35:00.002+11:00

Shopping with my mum and the little Duyvkens for a new phone (Mum) and soccer boots (J) we stopped for coffee and gingerbread men. Billy is just as happy in the baby bjorn as the older 4 all were. I adore the baby wearing stage, slings and carriers rock! My self-portrait skills? Not so much.

Family of Seven - the finished quilt

2011-03-22T21:29:00.004+11:00

Suzanne from QuiltSewScrap quilted this on her longarm machine and all I had to do was stitch the binding. She did a beautiful job and I am so pleased that I handed the quilting over to someone else. It would have been sitting on the sewing pile for months if I hadn't. And you know what? I really love this quilt.

I had a few moments of doubt as I always seem to do. Mid-project fatigue always seems to hit. I wasn't going to add a border but the finished size of the quilt wasn't quite big enough for lounging under on the couch so I decided to make a few extra crosses and some borders to make it bigger without containing the design too much. This worked well but the first set of borders I put on were using the diamond dandys fabric and I decided it looked much too busy so I unpicked it all and started again with kona ash. A pain in the neck, of course, but I am glad that I did it because I am much happier with it. The diamond dandys ended up being used as binding so nothing was wasted. I still want to handquilt some detail into the red crosses but I have a baby to hold so will put that off for a while.

I realised as I was putting it together that there are 7 red crosses in this quilt and there are now 7 people in our family. It's like a little secret message in this quilt that only I can read and it's a message that makes me very happy.

* It pains me to write 'dandys' and not 'dandies' but that is the name Denyse Schmidt chose.

See how pedantic I am? Madness!

Petits Details

2011-03-16T20:48:00.007+11:00

Notes from the cocoon.
These newborn weeks are wonderfully funny things. There is so much happening but it is at a pace that I cannot dictate. I just have to surrender to it and, once that has been accepted, it is a joy to bob along with the currents and tides. I am drawn away from looking at the big picture (such a boring 'grown up' thing to do) and pulled towards living life in the small blocks from feed to feed. I am tending to my little duyvkens as though they were chicks in my nest and enjoying being cocooned against the world.
We've been discussing senior school options for G and it has gone against the rhythm that I find myself in. I don't want to look forward and I don't want to look back. I just want to be surrounded by the present and to soak it up as if I have turned my face to the last light of the day and am enjoying feeling the heat of the sun on my skin. So that is what I am doing.
I am making school lunches, helping with homework, playing pretend, picking up toys that have been scattered far and wide, requesting inside voices (a battle I know I will never win and yet I continue foolishly to fight) and enjoying seeing the little treats that surround me like; diamonds of sunshine, impossibly small fingernails, soft muslin wraps and tiny tufts of babysoft down that cover little ears, layers of petals that capture honeyed light,

impossibly perfect squares in the mozzie net over the bassinet and the borealis-like glow from the tiny guardian angel pin that the great-nan gave to JW when she was new.
The great-nan isn't here to hold Billy but he sleeps in the bassinet she bought for her first child, on linen that she bought for me when I was pregnant with G and the angel pin is there too.
I have lots on my to do list but, for the moment, it's not bothering me too much. As long as the laundry is under control, the children have all brushed their teeth and the floor isn't sticky underfoot I am a happy girl!

* Gavina! I hope you'll leave me another note, I am intrigued to find out who you are. How funny that you knew Mr D and me all those years ago.

Happily Home

2011-03-07T21:23:00.003+11:00

Good Morning

2011-03-03T21:06:00.006+11:00

Golden light woke me this morning with the littlest duyvken beside me. We both stirred at the same time, slowly gathering our wits and readying ourselves for the rythm of the day ahead, our last full day together in the maternity ward before we go home to fold ourselves back into the rythm of the Duyvken family. We had a gentle day of feedings, visits from mum, JW and C, a settling class, physio for pubic symphysis separation that was pretty bad on Monday (think Zimmer frame) and has gotten progressively better through the week. It should take about 6 weeks to strengthen up again so I'll have to be careful until then but if I can remember to take small strides and ease myself into the car rather than throwing myself in like I usually do I should be alright.
Mr Duyvken came to the hospital this evening to have dinner with me and we sat on the bed together eating indian take-away, gazing at William Robert and talking about the family that we've created. We are constantly amazed by how unique each of the kids are, how differently they respond to the world around them even though they share so much. We talked about how sad it is to be at the end of the 'new baby' stage of our lives. Its fleeting nature is the thing that makes it so very special and we've been very lucky (and a little indulgent!) to enjoy it 5 times. We sat side by side, Mr Duyvken in his Schrodinger t-shirt and me with my puffy ankles, staring at our Billy, a still-shining spark of wonder and opportunity, savouring the moment and trying to fill our memories with how this feels right here and now.

Because this day, this night... I want to reminisce about this when I am older.

The 3rd day

2011-03-02T17:15:00.002+11:00

Billy and Mama

2011-03-02T02:26:00.000+11:00

Billy

2011-03-01T15:47:00.002+11:00

William Robert arrived at 6:43am on Monday February 28 2011. I went into labour on my own (5th time's a charm) and had a good delivery assisted by a lovely midwife, Deb, who has helped deliver 2 of my other babies and the ever-lovely Dr B. Mr Duyvken kept me on my toes by passing out a couple of times thus adding an appropriate level of drama and comedy to the proceedings. In fact, when the dr and the midwife were standing on either side of me between pushes (the crescendo of the piece you will agree) discussing camera angles that best capture birth I wondered if a certain screenwriter had taken it upon herself to draft a little something just for me.

He has several bloogy aunts I would have loved to sms with the news but darling JW decided to wash my mobile for me on Sunday evening and it's still drying out. She was so proud when she presented me with my dripping wet phone. Combined with the camera screen dying it seemed a more certain sign that labour was imminent than waters' breaking.

The stats - 3.8kgs (8lb 9oz for you imperialists), 49cm long, 35cm head circumference

The name - William Robert. Robert after Mr Duyvken's father and already being called Billy by Mr Duyvken and the kids with potential to be called Billy Bob if he decides to take up a career as a sheep wrangler or someone who holds up convenience stores.

The truth - he is the most beautiful boy and I can't stop looking at him and stroking his velvety cheeks and wispy blonde hair.

Oh No!

2011-02-26T16:45:00.002+11:00

You're not going to believe this but the LCD screen on my evolt 410 isn't working.
Totally black.
Baby's due date is Monday so could come at any time and I may well be without a functioning camera.
Not happy Jan.
So now, after weeks of desperately wanting to go into labour I suddenly don't want to go into labour until I have a chance to have the camera fixed.
What are the odds?

PRODUCTIVITY

2011-02-24T21:12:00.003+11:00

The List
* Paint the bassinet
* fix the back fence
* take quilt to quilter

The Results* The bassinet is all clean and white and waiting for baby's arrival
* The missing fence palings have been nailed back in place to ensure that the little ones don't venture through the neighbour's pool. A tree came down a week ago and knocked them loose and I haven't let the kids play in the yard unsupervised ever since. Of course, it took me forever to locate the fencing nails but my 2 assistants, Super Medium Girl and JW (who now has a lovely orange cape all her own) were very eager to pass me nails and offer helpful advice and insights. e.g. 'you're not very good at this, are you mum?'
* I visited Suzanne from QuiltSewScrap today and dropped off my quilt. She's delightful and incredibly well-priced, I can't wait to see how it turns out!

The Downside
* being that close to the fence made me realise that it needs to be repainted so making the list shorter has also included making the list longer. Isn't that always the case?

CARING

2011-02-23T17:09:00.003+11:00

Thinking of Christchurch with a heavy heart.

PERSEVERANCE

2011-02-22T13:28:00.003+11:00

There's no sign of baby yet but with my due date just 1 week away the finish line is definitely in sight. I am persevering with that, hoping that every little twinge is the start of something and distracting myself from it by wrapping up a few little projects around here. None of my babies have arrived early (or even on time) so I am pretty sure I have another week or 2 to wait before I get to snuggle this little bundle.

One of the things I did this week is complete my hope valley fabrics quilt and I love it! Slowly but surely I seem to be getting closer to a style of quilting that I really like. I have seen several of these modern cross quilts on flickr and etsy and decided to make my own version to have as a couch quilt this winter. It is not the largest quilt I have made but it is the largest quilt I have tried to quilt on the machine and that is where I am coming unstuck. I have had the unpicker out several times already and am really struggling with feeding it through the machine without bunching it up. Even straight lines aren't working well for me. It seems foolish at 39wks pregnant to undertake a hand quilting project that I hope to actually use this winter so I am thinking about sending it out to be quilted.

Do you have any northern Sydney quilter recommendations for me?

Thanks so much!

FOCUS

2011-02-16T21:00:00.003+11:00

A smidge over 38wks pregnant and waiting for baby.

SHARING

2011-02-15T18:48:00.004+11:00

We're getting very close to having the baby now and I have been doing some little things to prepare for the arrival. I've pulled the newborn clothes down from the top cupboard and sorted through all the impossibly small and lovely things, I bought a new liner for the capsule, I've been tormenting Mr Duyvken with baby name suggestions and I've been working my way through my to do list.
In amongst it all I've also been worrying about how we are going to fit this new baby into the house. I have no concern about fitting the new little person into our family but the physical realities have been hitting me hard over the past couple of weeks and I have been struggling for perspective. We have saved money, we have plans in with the Council awaiting approval and we WILL be doing something soon to make a little more space around here but it has all taken longer than we thought it would and so instead of being well underway by the time baby arrives we'll have to navigate our way through diy renovation after the baby arrives.
At least I now know that the bassinet fits and the baby's clothes are in our bedroom, there's a change mat and diaper supplies in the basket at the end of the bottom bunk and I have a carry basket I can put in our room or G's room during the day when the kids are playing and baby needs to sleep. Keep your fingers crossed that it all works out well!

Can you spot the little angel asleep on the bottom bunk?

KINDNESS

2011-02-14T18:34:00.002+11:00

I was going to give Mr Duyvken the gift of not whining about the pregnancy for an entire evening but, not being certain I would be able to follow through on that gift, I organised some bike tubes as backup. Nothing says LOVE like an inner tube.

WISDOM

2011-02-12T21:40:00.002+11:00

JW, after quietly considering my girth, says very seriously in her lovely deep voice:
"I don't think you are having a baby, mama, I think it's a planet."
I think she might be onto something :-)

KNOWLEDGE

2011-01-31T17:19:00.003+11:00

Back to school 2011. Two returning to primary school, one returning to pre-school and one very sad to see her summertime playmates heading back to 'work'.

GRATITUDE

2011-01-26T13:31:00.003+11:00

This little ladybug needed a trip to the emergency department on Saturday after cutting a deep gash in her eyebrow.

She was simply getting off the couch and tumbled forward hitting her head right on the corner of the coffee table. Such an unadventurous way for such an adventurous girl to hurt herself badly enough to need stitches. She could easily have been hurtling around on the scooter keeping up with the bigger kids on their bikes, playing poison ball on the trampoline, jumping into a swimming pool, wrestling with J, screaming down the slide at the park or climbing up the ladder on the cubby house with an armful of soft toys. She does things every day that leave me with my heart in my mouth but it was just getting off the couch that did it.

I am so thankful that she didn't hit her eye, thankful that my mum lives just around the corner and was able to look after the older 3 for me while I took JW to the hospital and very thankful that we have an excellent hospital just a few minutes away. They took wonderful care of her and she delighted them all by declaring that she would be very brave.

I'm not particularly looking forward to taking her back tomorrow to get the stitches removed. I might be drawing a little more deeply from the universal pool of mama energy to get me through that. And then, with luck, the next time I am at that hospital I will be walking out with a new baby in my arms!

PATIENCE

2011-01-21T13:45:00.003+11:00

My two works in progress. I am pretty pleased with how they are both coming along. And now that I've uploaded the photos I've noticed that a little touch of red can really make something pop.

I hope you find a little 'pop' in your day too!

JOY

2011-01-20T16:41:00.001+11:00

Mr Duyvken (up there on the left) has gone to Adelaide to watch the Tour Down Under and sent me this photo earlier today. I think he's having a good time, don't you?