One Crafty Morning I decided to take the plunge and

I decided to join my good friend and soul sister, Jane, over at Lil Pip Designs.

It all started with an email from Jane, late last year, suggesting that we talk about joining forces. You see, with two young children including a newborn, I tend to sew clothes and toys for the littler people in life, whereas with two slightly older children (aged 5 and 7), Jane is moving more towards wares for slightly bigger little people. Between us, we've got all the sizes covered.

From there it has grown into a wonderful partnership, with sewing dates and business meetings aplenty.  It has renewed my love of creating and sewing and suddenly applying for and getting ready for markets is not stressful, but instead a fun process. We've worked hard to make sure that our favourite items, that each of us are known for, are still present in our new collection.

We've also added some new items, which we can't wait to share with you.

Especially exciting is the new range of boys items!

We are so pleased to be launching the new look Lil Pip Designs at the Huckleberry Market Extravaganza in Melbourne on March 15th - 16th 2014. We'll be at the Maribyrnong Makers Market the following Saturday 22nd March.

For the last two and a bit years I've been sewing under the Little Magnolia Button brand. It's been a lovely adventure and I'm so grateful to everyone who has supported me. In that time we raised over $4000 for Sids and Kids NSW and Victoria through the Little Laurence Orange Owl Project. I also made many lovely creations that I hope are still bringing smiles to little faces around Australia.

While it is a little sad closing this chapter, it's time to start this new exciting one with Lil Pip. I hope you'll continue to follow me on this new crafty adventure and that some of you locals will pop down to the markets to say hi!

8/52

The 52 Project - a portrait of my children, once a week, each week in 2014.

Linking up with Practicing Simplicity

This week I decided to venture outside for our photos. Melbourne was kind and provided a lovely overcast day, perfect for the beginner photography student! A trip to one of our favourite places in the world (Domaine Chandon winery in the Yarra Valley) to celebrate one of our favourite people's birthday provided a brilliant backdrop.

Plenty of giggles from Miss Mimsy, who is just a little obsessed with pink at the moment.

Ju Ju Man enjoyed some sleepy cuddles with his Dad. I just love how he hooks his arm around and cuddles back now.

One Crafty Morning my daughter decided to write a story

Mimsy started this morning the same way she did most mornings this week - drawing! I asked her what her drawing was and she launched into an elaborate story. As the story became more detailed so too did the illustrations. I didn't take photos as we went because it was all very intense!

The story -
Two people at a tunnel.
They find a box
Stamp, stomp,
Dancing on the box.

There is a house with water around it
A great big lake
It rains into the lake
There is treasure in the lake
A little spider lives there
The two people find the treasure
"Argh, a spider!"

Some tips for writing stories with toddlers -

• Have the toddler start their picture and ask 'what's that'?
• Prompt your child with 'and then what happened?'
• At the end of the story ask your child about a detail from the beginning of the story, this will give the story a beginning and an ending. (I asked 'what did the two people people do?')
• Don't forget to write your child's name and age on the back!

This is a very simply, but fun activity which requires very little equipment. 

Do your children write stories? I'd love to see some and appreciate your child's imagination as well.

7/52

The 52 Project - A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2014.

Linking up with Practicing Simplicity.

This week I've started the self paced online photography with Capturing Childhood. I've only read through the first module so far, and although I don't think I've improved in just one week, finding the settings I wanted to use was much much quicker this week! Looking forward to the next module and hopefully seeing some improvements in the coming weeks.

This week's activity of choice for Mimsy is drawing, I think I might have posted off about 4 drawings to various people, with another 4 or 5 still to be posted. That's right, we're bringing back snail mail, glitter gel pen style!

Little Ju Ju Man is not so little anymore. Out of the bassinet and into the cot. Precious boy.

6/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2014.

Linking up with Practicing Simplicity.

Is there any sound more beautiful than your baby laughing? Ju Ju Man has started laughing in the last couple of weeks, usually when we tickle him, but sometimes for no obvious reason.

Beautiful Mimsy doing a dance for the giraffe. She picked a piece of grass at home and carried it all the way to the zoo because she thought the giraffe might be hungry. The grass was soon forgotten about and replaced with a performance of Mamma Mia when we arrived.

5/52

The 52 Project - A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2014

Linking up with Practicing Simplicity

This week my family has been grieving the loss of one of our own, so my photos for 5/52 are about being grateful for the ordinary moments of life.

For Super Ju Ju Man, somewhere fun to play after his bath.

For Miss Mimsy, a comfy place to rest after a lovely family drive to Woodend for brunch.

A special thank you to my talented photographer friend, Morgan, from Morgan Ellem Photography and my great friend, Tim, who have been helping me with a few tips on getting the focus and contrast a little better in my photos.