Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Little Autumn Gifts





It's getting chilly around here but boy is it pretty outside! I always feel like I live in the Northern Hemisphere for about 2 weeks a year when the leaves change colour on the trees around the farm and  hide the messy looking Australian Natives. The Kids went back to School yesterday after the final week of holidays just pottering around the house and Flynn and I took a stroll around the Botonical Gardens to soak up all the Autumn colour. He looked so snuggly in his Autumn Granny blanket I made him a whole 2 years ago. Time is whizzing past so fast. I also think it's time to get over my fear of "weaving-in-the-ends" and pick up the crochet hook again. Crochet has definitely been playing second fiddle to knitting these days.

The Gardens were looking sensational and the new Community Food Garden has been completed too and looks fantastic. Every time I visit, Tino from ABC's Gardening Australia is in there beavering away in the veggie patches. He's such a nice man and is always up for a chat. I usually check out the plant stands and bring something home - the plants are very reasonably priced compared to other nurseries and it's nice to support the Gardens as they are sorely under-funded. I picked out the plant above for $10 and covered the ugly black pot with piece of hessian I cut out of a hessian bag I picked up from the Pet Supply shop for $6.00.  It is keeping me company on my bedside table.

We've been getting back to basics around here while I slowly get on top of the household situation I found myself in a month or so ago. I've been revisiting Rhonda Hetzel's "Down to Earth" book that I received as a gift for my birthday 2 years ago and am loving it all over again. I tend to flick through it when life or Blogland and social media start feeling a bit 'noisy'. The book is always reassuring and full of simple inspiration. To that end I decided to knit some humble Log Cabin Washcloths to send off as simple little gifts for Mother's Day. The Log Cabin design is addictive I tell you and I love how imperfect and homemade they look. I chose Autumn-y colours in luscious 10ply Lily Sugar 'n Cream cotton and packaged them up with homemade Tasmanian Goat's Milk soap and then sent my little brown paper packages tied up with string to my Mum, Mother-In-Law and my Dad's partner. It's only a small gift but considering my efforts in recent years I think they will be well received. 

Oh, and I just had to include the photo of the boys who both lost their first tooth just a week apart. After Noah lost his, it was hoped the toothy gap would provide a way to differentiate them at School but it was not to be. Their friends and Teachers are just going to have to keep looking at their shoes to tell them apart!

I'm joining in with Ginny again this week, sharing what we are making and reading.

Hope you are having a lovely week!

Mel xxx


27 comments :

  1. You live in a whole world of gorgeous Mel.
    Or at least your blog makes it look that way.
    Your photos are just beautiful.

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  2. I was in the gardens on Anzac weekend, sadly there wasn't a lot of colour then, but as usual it was beautiful.
    I love how your photos and blog can make it seem so magical, I must start to view my life in that way.
    cheers Kate

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  3. Log cabin washcloths - what a fantastic idea, and what lovely present they make.
    Beautiful photos.

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  4. Everything looks so beautiful, the changing colours of the leaves, especially in your first two photos, are beautiful. Your Mothers Day gifts are so lovely as well, very thoughtful indeed. I hope that you are having some fun simple autumn days. xx

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  5. Loving those toothless grins. Impish boys looking for fun?! X

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  6. Absolutely gorgeous photos Mel! I wish the leaves turned orange up here, but I guess it would have to be colder then, and it's cold enough for me already!

    Sarah x

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  7. I can't really knit, just plain squares and scarves which get dull after awhile, I can't read a pattern either, it always looks japanese to me. But these squares - maybe I could manage!!!

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  8. You are entering my favourite season of the year, Mel! I feel lucky that I get to "experience" it an extra time through your blog. That gap-toothed picture makes me smile. :-)

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  9. Beautiful photos, love the gappy smiles! I bet the washcloth gifts were much appreciated, they're so pretty.

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  10. Stunning autumn colours, And I love your Mother's Day gifts, the packaging is so simple but very effective.
    Caz xx

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  11. Gorgeous photos, Mel:) Isn't autumn the absolute best? Just love it and love the Botanical Gardens in Hobart too. I also got Down to Earth for a pressie a couple of years ago from a friend. Such a lovely book:) x

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  12. Your little gift packs look beautiful...I love the colours. The orange and yellow leaves are stunning....I took some photos of my daughter last year throwing some leaves up into the air and I'm going to do it again this year. We don't have hugely distinct seasons here in Brisbane...it's usually hot (summer) or cold (winter) but last year I noticed the leaves. Have a good week. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane

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  13. Such beautiful photos Mel! I think autumn is my favourite time of year, simply for the colours. Those washcloths...what a lovely mothers day gift. I love the colour combination and as you put it, the 'handmade' look. Perfectly homemade I might add :) Thanks for the links too...off to have a little explore whilst my girls are occupied! Enjoy the rest of your week x Dre

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  14. There is something immensely satisfying about autumn leaves, I can't quite name it. The gifts for the mothers in you life are beautiful and thoughtful. I must remember my own kindness and make something for my mum. Enjoy autumn and the rest of this week. x

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  15. So many beautiful pictures, I love the colors and the one with the plants. Most of all I love your log cabin squares!

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  16. I just love the golds, rusts and oranges that shine through all your photos here! The washcloths and locally made soap are a lovely idea, and I like the way you made them seasonal in the colours too. You can't beat a knitted or crocheted washcloth! x

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  17. The photos were a delight. I just loved the washcloths, a perfect gift.

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  18. I love the washcloths. It's so strange to see the beautiful Autumn colors when we in the US are just getting into Spring. I think I do have that book somewhere! Thanks for reminding me.

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  19. Oh I'm suddenly homesick for autumn.
    Such a stunning array of oranges, browns, bronzes and fire colours - great work Mel
    (I love our botanical gardens too)
    Hope everything is going ok
    x

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  20. What a lovely post! I am finding my second autumn in Hobart to be an absolute treat, I haven't enjoyed it this much in years (I think I must have been busy settling in this time last year and missed it). You've captured the mood beautifully, and inspired me with those gifts, although I am already too late...

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  21. Absolutely gorgeous pics of autumn Mel and thanks so much for sharing as we don't get much of that gorgeous colour change up here in Briz. My girl just lost her first two teeth in the school hols, took me by surprise really. Hope your hubby is getting lots of ice-cream in hospital. You popped into my mind yesterday as I was folding the washing generated by four people and may the force be with you, just wrangling the clothing of seven must be exhausting! mel x

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  22. Boys, boys, boys. Cheeky munchkins, I'm sure of it.
    Loving all your autumny colours Mel.

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  23. How adorable are the matching missing teeth! Autumn looks absolutely divine in your parts. Kellie xx

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  24. Beautiful photos. I don't think I've visited here before, but we seem to be connected to some of the same blogs (wandered over from Pomegranate and Seed.)
    Nice to meet you.
    XO
    C

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  25. Gorgeous autumn colours, you are so lucky, even if only for a few weeks! Your packages are beautiful, love your washcloths, I must try some. When we were at the GardenHealy year the community garden was in the middle of some kind of renovation, your post made me want to come back again, I had a lovely autumn morning there too. Your twin's teeth are classic, I bet they are loving that! Hope you have a good weekend and a lovely rest of autumn

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  26. …I want some…..where can I get these gorgeous washcloths without having to making them myself. I've seen a few around blogland but nobody is selling them.
    Mel the colours around your home are STUNNING, eye-bolging stunning. x

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  27. What a stunning collection of images. Flynn looks so cosy in his stroller snuggled under that granny blanket! I love that we have the same book on our bedside tables at the moment too :)

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