pirates! skullduggery at the maritime museum

This week signals the final week of the Pirates! Skullduggery at the Maritime Museum exhibition at the South Australian Maritime Museum, located at Port Adelaide.

If you didn't visit over the school holidays, this is your last chance. The exhibition is hands on, so for once you don't have to worry so much about constantly saying "no touching" whilst in a museum! Entry is $8.50 for adults and $3.50 for children (there is also a family rate).

delicious design - cubby house featured at ohdeedoh

Have just been reading about this cubby house over at ohdeedoh - just amazing! Yes, I admit it may be a little OTT, but it's gorgeous nonetheless.

letter and mail crafts

I don't know about you other mums out there, but my toddler loves collecting the mail from our letterbox, and posting letters into the postbox at Kindergym. Rather than forking out for yet another toy that will no doubt be out of favour within a few months, I was fortunate enough to stumble across these crafts at Kids Craft Weekly, including instructions for how to make your own play mailbox and letterbox.

Images courtesy of  Kids Craft Weekly

pick your own strawberries at beerenberg farm

Looking for a fun family outing? Why not try strawberry picking at Beerenberg Farm? The strawberry picking season is halfway through, and reports from the Beerenberg blog indicate that the produce is great at the moment. My sister recently took two young children (ages 4 and 1) visiting from overseas and a great time was had by all. This is a cheap activity ($3 entry for people aged over 14 plus price of strawberries per kilo) and is nice and close to Adelaide (the farm is located in Hahndorf).

See here for full details / opening times.

Images courtesy of www.beerenberg.com.au

"the parent's guide to play"

I have been meaning to write about this book for a while now, especially over the Summer, where the heat often prohibits too much outdoor playtime but parents are still looking for activities to stimulate the little ones! Gymboree - The Parent's Guide To Play is filled with over 170 activities to stimulate imaginations, expand vocabularies and build physical and mental skills. The book is organised by age groups (eg, 3 months and up, 6 months and up etc) and has provided me with lots of new activities to undertake with my growing boy. Almost all of the activities utilise materials or toys that you will probably already have around the house, and there are explanations as to how each activity develops a particular skill.

I bought my copy from Big W, but it is also available from Amazon.com.

changes to mumspiration

Just thought I'd quickly let all you lovely readers out there know that there have been, and will be, a couple of changes to mumspiration over the next month or so. These changes are due to the fact that we will be welcoming another member into our family next week, and I have realised that I won't be able to commit as much time to this blog as I have been able to recently. Thus, you may already have noticed the lack of recent "Friday Focus" posts - I have decided to make this a monthly feature which will be published on the first Friday of each month. Furthermore, I give you forewarning that I won't be able to provide as many posts due to juggling a newborn, a very energetic toddler, hormones, and an ever-increasingly jealous cat! Never fear though, I have no intention of giving up on this blog as I am enjoying it so much and love all your feedback!

In the meantime, I'd love you to consider signing up as a follower to the blog, as well as leaving any comments/suggestions on posts that you've enjoyed or would like to see.

delicious design - 1 2 3 soleil convertible bed from castor & chouca

You have to hand it to the French - they certainly know how to make stunning children's furniture (think Ouef). I'm loving this baby bed that converts into a desk from French brand Castor & Chouca! You can also purchase a matching cradle.

australia day crafts for kids

Australian Flag Collage from Activity Village

Fingerprint sheep from Activity Village

Happy Australia Day! Just thought I'd post some links to sites featuring Australia Day kids' crafts for those of you who don't have many plans for the public holiday ...

• Activity Sheets for Kids from Australia Day Council of NSW
• Line drawings for colouring from National Australia Day Council
• Australia Day crafts from Activity Village

Wooden spoon crocodile from Activity Village

Line drawing for colouring from National Australia Day Council

product of the week - "a book about me"

Image courtesy of Milestone Press

I must confess to being a bit of a journal fanatic ... not only do I have a baby book for my toddler, I have also kept separate journals documenting my pregnancies. I only wish I had had this journal from Milestone Press! Designed by mothers, "A Book About Me" is a journal designed to record memories from pregnancy through to age 5. I love the flexibility of this journal, including the ability to remove unwanted pages. See here for further details. This would make a great gift to someone who has just fallen pregnant, so that they can record all the special moments from conception!

desiring this bag ...

Images Rachel Ruddick (top) & http://www.cedarleaf.com.au/

Words cannot describe how totally in love I am with this Bronte Baby Bag in Domino Watersnake (yes, that is the actual colour name!) by Rachel Ruddick ... if I didn't have to fork out for a speeding fine, the airconditioner getting fixed, council fees for a development application, nappies, and other such mundane yet necessary expenses, I would seriously consider purchasing this little slice of bag heaven (then again, if I didn't have to buy nappies, I would have no excuse for purchasing this bag ... such a conundrum).

delicious design - inspired by alphabet wall decals

I have recently finished decorating my toddler's new "big boy" room. Finding appropriate artwork for his walls became a minor (although my husband might argue "major") obsession, as I was determined to source pieces that would grow with him so that I would not need to be spending a lot on updating his room every year. I was very keen to find an alphabet wall decal that would be educational, but that appeared modern and not too "babyish". I was keen to avoid cartoon characters, pastels, and certain fonts.

My search was long - I discovered that there are an infinite number of alphabet wall decals on the market - but fruitful. There are some wonderful designs out there if you have the time to browse the multitude of web sites offering wall decals (what did we do before google?).

I finally settled on a vinyl alphabet (pictured top) from tasty suite at etsy.

I also love a similar one (pictured middle) available from from Harmonie interieure, a beautiful French company (you must also check out their other gorgeous decals!).

If I hadn't been so set on a decal, though, I think I would have chosen a plywood alphabet (pictured bottom) from bookhou - maybe I can justify purchasing one of these for the playroom!

crafty use for old magazines from "a small bite of mondo cherry"

Image courtesy of A small bite of mondo cherry

The weather forecast for tomorrow in Adelaide ... 38 degrees! This will no doubt mean a day spent indoors searching for interesting activities to keep the littlies occupied. Crafty blog A small bite of mondo cherry recently posted this threading activity using magazines. If you're anything like me, you'll have a lot of old mags lying around waiting to be sent to the recycling bin, and the only other items you'll need are string/wool/pipecleaner and some stickytape. Cheap AND cheerful!

help haiti

I thank my lucky stars every night as I'm watching the news that I have such a blessed life - my family and friends are all safe and sound and have beds to sleep in, and food to eat. My heart goes out in particular to the mothers in Haiti - how heartwrenching it must be to wonder where your child is, or whether or not they will miss yet another meal.

To help the Haitians, there are a number of Australian aid organisations to which you can donate. Here are but a few:

• Australian Red Cross - Haiti earthquake appeal
• Oxfam Australia - Haiti earthquake appeal
• World Vision Australia - Haiti earthquake appeal
• UNICEF Australia - Haiti emergency appeal

holiday art and craft program at the art gallery of south australia

I have already blogged about the START at the Gallery program at the Art Gallery of South Australia, but just thought I'd remind you about the Holiday Art & Craft Program that is being run at the Art Gallery this week (ending 22 January). Titled "Summer at the Water's Edge", the hour-long program is run daily at 10.30am, 12.00 noon and 1.30pm, and costs $5 per child. With all materials supplied, children are able to make sea-inspired jewellery or a fish and rod to take home. Suitable for 5-10 year olds. Bookings are essential. See here for further details.

product of the week - commemorative jewellery from uberKate

With baby number 2 due to arrive in less than 3 weeks, I've been dreaming about ways to commemorate her birth (I know that having her in my arms will be enough, but a girl can always fantasise about more jewellery can't she???).

There are a number of artisans out there who are producing what I like to call "commemorative" jewellery - items that celebrate and commemorate family members - but my favourite would have to be the Combination ubercircles from uberKate (are you reading this hubby dearest?!). I love the idea of having a large circle for my husband and me, and a medium circle for each child. Designed by Sydneysider Kate Sutton, the uberKate range is sleek and contemporary, yet classic. See here for uberkate products and to order online.

how to make a beach collage

Wondering what to do with all those shells and pieces of cuttlefish collected by the kiddies during strolls along the beach? Don't just throw them out en route back to the car ... take them home and create a beach collage using these instructions from Kids Nature Spot.

I think that this is a great way to commemorate summer exploration, and will provide you with an indoor activity when it's just too hot to still be playing outside.

pom pom decorations

I went to a wedding last weekend (yes, it was a bit rough being 8 months pregnant in 43 degree weather but worth it!) and was totally inspired by my friend Kathryn's beautiful decorations - colourful tissue paper pom poms and table decorations which beat the heat AND looked gorgeous.

I had already been considering making some pom poms for the impending arrival's nursery after seeing them in this nursery at ohdeedoh, but was unsure where to source them or how to make them.

Image from ohdeedoh

Luckily, the universe responded in the form of a recent post at little.lovely - see here for instructions on how to make tissue pom poms. Martha Stewart Weddings also has a tutorial for making hanging pom poms, with a few more photos than at little.lovely - handy for those of us who require more visual instructions.

Image from Martha Stewart Weddings

fringe festival 2010 - family events

It's almost that time of the year again - the Adelaide Fringe Festival hits town on 19 February, and this year there are 37 "Family" events in the program. If you missed the release of the Fringe guide in last week's Advertiser, never fear, click here for a rundown of the "Family" events, which appear to cater for a variety of tastes and ages.

free amy butler patterns

I am currently obsessed with Amy Butler fabrics, patterns, books etc and I just found these free patterns that you can download in pdf format.

And here are some simply beautiful fabrics from Amy Butler to swoon over ... enjoy!

Images courtesy of Modern Retro Textiles

free theatre show by windmill - the whale's tale

Windmill, the Adelaide-based theatre company that caters for children and families, is presenting a free outdoor family show these school holidays.

The Whale's Tale is being staged in Murray Bridge, Adelaide and Victor Harbor. See here for dates and times. Suitable for children aged 3-12, this is an unseated event and no bookings are required, so get yourself some picnic rugs and enjoy the show!

For the full 2010 Windmill season, see here.

a little mumspiration from ohdeedoh - norah's sweet & sunny nursery

I am totally loving this gorgeous nursery featured at ohdeedoh (if you haven't checked out the kid's room tours at this site - a subsection of apartment therapy - you must do so NOW!). The yellow/pink combination is so sweet. I will admit to poaching a few of norah's mum's decorating ideas for baby number 2's nursery but, alas, I am not brave (or talented) enough to paint a cot myself, and hubby has declared himself to be over DIY projects for the time being! See more and read about it here.

product of the week - family planners from kikki.k

With the family continuing to expand, I am loving the 2010 family diary and 2010 family calendar from kikki.K. Each provides space for each family member's commitments, activities and events so that you (and hubby) can keep track of what everyone's up to and when. Essential for keeping organised!

P.S. Does anyone out there know what happened to Sorted Space on the Parade? It used to stock lots of kikki.K products and was a heavenly store for obsessive organisers like myself!

sew your own baby burp cloths

With only 4 weeks to go until baby number 2 arrives (!!!!), I have been in full nesting mode. This has included borrowing my mum's sewing machine and attempting to sew for the first time in 15 years! Having loved sewing at school, I have felt inspired by my many crafty friends and fellow bloggers to take up the activity again.

My first project was making sheets for my toddler's new room - a simple exercise which allowed me to practice simple straight stitch and hemming. I am now onto baby burp cloths - another fairly simple project that I found at chikaustin's beautiful blog. You can find the tutorial here.

I bought a pack of 12 "softies" cloth nappies at Target and some fat flats from Spotlight for the decorative fabric. I'm not sure I'd go the fat flats option if I were to repeat this project, as they were not wide enough for the nappies - this meant I had to cut the nappies smaller and then hem them again, which was more work than I'd anticipated when I started this project. Next time I think I'll just get fabric cut for me.

blackboard piggy bank

Just spotted this on Kimberlee's blog - loving it to save my gold coins up for something special in 2010! Available from Brown Button Trading, Kimberlee's fabulous Adelaide-based homewares/gift online store, for $39.95 (comes with chalk!). What do they say? You have to spend to save!!!

friday focus - the white shed

Regional South Australia has a number of must-visit homewares stores (think Balhannah By Design), and now, thanks to mother-of-two Letitia Linke, the Yorke Peninsula can boast its own homewares store to rival anything on offer in Adelaide. The White Shed, located on the Linke's farm just outside of Maitland, is a homewares and gift store which offers an Interior Design consultancy service. I caught up with Letitia to find out more about her new venture, which will officially open on 5 February.

Why did you launch this business and how did you get started?
I have always had a huge interest in beautiful homes and interiors and decided that I would like to do what I love. I undertook an Interior Design course by correspondence, which involved designing a retail space - that was how The White Shed was born. There are so many amazing homes and beach houses on the Yorke Peninsula, but there was a major lack of stylish, modern homewares available locally.

What items/services do you offer?
The range includes Modern and French inspired cushions, throws, clocks, ceramics, wicker, glass jars, hurricane vases, picture frames, tea towels, placemats, mirrors, baby's bibs, boutique baby singlets, hair clips, jewellery, olive oil, soaps ... just to name a few! I offer colour and decorating consultations which can be for just one room or an entire home. I can also source items for clients to meet their personal requirements. Mail orders are welcome.

How do you manage juggling mum duty with running your business?
I am lucky to have two very low maintenance boys! Ollie is now at Kindy and Tommy in day care on Tuesdays, which is the official day that the store is open. I am also open by appointment, and this works well as other mums can ring up and make a time when I am here with the boys, and they are more than welcome to bring their children with them.

What do you love about living on the Yorke Peninsula?

The beautiful countryside, beaches, easy going lifestyle and the fact that we are so close to Adelaide, yet far enough away! There are great people here too.

Where do you find inspiration?
My inspiration comes from some amazing stores that I have bought from in the past! I have tried to pick all of the best items (in my opinion) I've seen and bring them together in The White Shed.

What is your favourite room to decorate/design?
All rooms ... even a bathroom can be changed dramatically with a few accessories!

What items in a room do you think are splurge-worthy?
Definitely cushions - they can have so much impact. Also, good quality fabrics.

What kind of questions should a potential client ask before hiring a designer?
Ask to look at some photos of their previous work. The most important thing for a designer to do is capture the client’s likes and style, rather than force their own style on them.

The White Shed

Lot 805, Clinton Road

Maitland SA 5573

08 8832 2936 / 0439 532 836