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Ziggy Stardust

by on January 6, 2012 in Craft, Handmade

Before Christmas, when we drew names out of a hat for the Secret Santa at my work, I was lucky enough to get a good friend of mine. I immediately new exactly what to get her. She’s a massive David Bowie fan so naturally, I had to make her a Ziggy Stardust doll!

I kept the pattern simple because I didn’t have much time to work on it. I usually spend a ridiculous amount of time on each project I do, because I fiddle with details so much, but this one came together quite smoothly.

Ziggy is constructed of felt and measures about 30cm tall. His hair is made of some of the yarn I got for my birthday, and for his eyes I used one blue and one brown button, to match the real David Bowie.

When we unwrapped our gifts, I was surprised to see that my gift had been handmade as well! I received a little wallet made from a page of a Where’s Wally book.

I was pretty impressed. Handmade gifts are just so awesome. There is nothing better than knowing someone has put the time and effort into making you something that is special and one-of-a-kind.

Did you do a Secret Santa this Christmas? What did you give? What did you get? I’d love to hear about it!

Reuben :D

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Gingerbread (and Merry Christmas!)

by on December 23, 2011 in Daily Life, Food

Baking gingerbread is one of our most favourite Christmas traditions. We so love making (and eating) the dough, cutting out the Christmasy shapes and decorating them with icing, sprinkles and lollies. Lots of lollies. We firmly believe the more lollies, the better.

We use the gingerbread recipe in this lovely book and it’s a winner. People always comment on how ace it is. (We are not very modest when it comes to the awesomeness of our gingerbread.)

Are you obsessed with gingerbread like us? Do you sometimes find it difficult to make because the dough tastes so good you just want to eat it all raw? During the rest of the year do you lie awake at night, looking forward to Christmas just so you can bake gingerbread? No, just us? Oh…

Tomorrow we are off to Katie’s mama’s house for a couple of days. We’ll be celebrating Christmas quietly and cozily with lots of good food, Christmas movies and games of Scrabble. Wherever you are are in this big, beautiful world we hope that you will be spending this weekend surrounded by those you love and doing things that make your heart happy. We wish you all a truly magical, sunshiney, love-drenched Christmas (and for friends who don’t celebrate Christmas, we hope your weekend is full of all those good things anyway!)

We’ll probably see you back here on Boxing Day!

Much Love and Christmas Wishes,

Katie and Reuben x

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Scenes from the Humble House

by on December 21, 2011 in Daily Life

From top to bottom; You are my Happy, Striped Ballet Flats, Funny Flower in the Garden, Frankie Magazine and Little Blue Christmas Tree, Paper Lace Lantern, Christmas Wrap and Poppy on the Couch.

We’ve been very busy this week, but mostly busy doing good things. Things like wrapping presents, baking gingerbread and watching Home Alone. You know, the important stuff.

We hope you are having a wonderful week and aren’t getting too frazzled by all the preparations for Christmas. It’s so easy to get caught up in buying presents and fretting about things being just so, but it’s important to remember that those things aren’t what really matter. What matters most is spending time with those we love. Presents and food and decorations are nice, but love is much, much nicer.

Katie and Reuben x

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DIY Yarn-Wrapped Love Wreath

by on December 16, 2011 in Craft, Handmade, How To

This year I decided we needed a new wreath. I wanted to make one myself but I needed a project that was quick, simple and inexpensive. I also wanted to make something colourful and cute, rather than traditional. I like glittery things as much as the next girl, but I’m slowly trying to get away from red, green and gold and make our decorations more bright and colourful. I think bright suits us better. I think it suits our hot, summery Australian Christmases better too.

This simple little wreath was inspired by this wreath made by Pip and this wreath made by James (with these yarn wrapped letters). It was so easy peasy to make. I just wrapped a styrofoam wreath in yarn, securing with my trusty glue gun at the back. I then shaped “love” out of pipercleaners, wrapped yarn around it and glued it on. See? Easy peasy!

What does your wreath look like? There are so many lovely DIY wreathes about… If you’ve seen any especially wonderful ones please do share the link. (I am kind of already thinking about what sort of wreath to make next year!)

Katie x

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Vintage Couches and Christmas Things

by on December 8, 2011 in Daily Life, Home, Op-Shopping, Vintage

We got new (old) couches! Last week I plonked myself down on one of our horrible blue couches and it made an ominous crunching noise then collapsed a little bit, so when we stumbled across these lovely vintage couches in the op-shop the next day, we figured it was fate! They are green, velvety and perfectly nanna-ish. They also look super festive sitting next to our itsy, bitsy Christmas tree and have been met with approval from both cats. Hurrah!

It’s beginning to feel quite Christmasy here. We’ve been listening to lots of carols, eating Toblerone and buying presents. It’s also been very, very hot which in Australia means Christmas must be just around the corner. There is no dreaming of a white Christmas in these parts! (Unless you are referring to this kind of course…)

We love this time of year so, so much.

Are you feeling Christmasy yet? Have you got your tree up? Do you get white Christmases in your part of the world?

Katie x

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