Ceramics

I love these guys.They are the work of Robin VanValkenburgh, a.k.a. Runny Bunny http://www.etsy.com/shop/therunnybunny at Etsy. At first glance they might remind you of little knickknacks you’d find on your grandmother’s mantle or a discovery tucked away in the corner of an antique store. But if you look a little closer you'll see that they are actually a hybrid of different creatures.

Ichee Ma Do $32

Chub the baby blue boy $22. I think this guy is my favourite.

 

Bo bo the big bunny bird $32

Thumbprint Cookies

We always end up making biscuits or muffins on a rainy afternoon but this time Willow got to make them with her daddy. We found a simple jam cookie recipe from

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/jam-thumbprint-cookies-recipe/index.html. Luckily they are basically just butter, flour and sugar, which was pretty much all we had in the house. 

 

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Ingredients

• 3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash
• 7 ounces sweetened flaked coconut
• Raspberry and/or strawberry jam

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar until they are just combined and then add the vanilla. Separately, sift together the flour and salt. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the creamed butter and sugar. Mix until the dough starts to come together. Dump on a floured board and roll together into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.

Roll the dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. (If you have a scale they should each weigh 1 ounce.) Dip each ball into the egg wash and then roll it in coconut. Place the balls on an ungreased cookie sheet and press a light indentation into the top of each with your finger. Drop 1/4 teaspoon of jam into each indentation. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the coconut is a golden brown. Cool and serve.

More pancakes

Handmade Cushion

For christmas i gave my mum a hand embroidered cushion cover. The picture was one of Willow's first drawing's of her nana. I think it turned out great so i might do some more of these in the future.

Fairies and Dragons

Practicing Letters

Quick Getaways

Love these boxes by Muji.They flip open to reveal a spe­cial scene com­plete with wooden fig­urines. Avail­able des­ti­na­tions include the North Pole, Under The Sea, and wildlife Safari. I've been having trouble trying to track them down.They aren't on their online store and the closest store to us is in New York.Oh well.

Hanging out after naptime

Monkey Rescue

I have a thing about old monkeys so when i found this poor little guy at the swapshop i thought i might try and rescue him. I think the World Market tag confirmed that he's not vintage but i really like the colour and corduroy fabric. It looks like his mouth has already been stitched up a couple of times already so i think i might just cover his whole face with a new piece of fabric.

Balloon Jack

Willow has been watching 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' recently so naturally she asked Olive Rootbeer to make her a Jack Skeleton out of balloons at storytime today.

She was actually super impressed with Jack and demanded to take him with her to bed at naptime.

Milkshakes with New Friends

We had a busy morning. First we stopped off at a softplay across town and then met up with Eve, Polly and Bea for a late breakfast of blueberry pancakes and milkshakes at Stepping Stone Cafe.

 

Milkshakes are always a winner

 

And so are pancakes

Niko and his horse

Its great to see Niko enjoying his birthday horse.

Although Sally told me he does have a tendency to swing it wildly around his head.

Vintage duck

I've got a bit of a thing for vintage and wooden kids toys and am always on the lookout. I picked up this cute vintage fisher price duck for Willow for christmas. A snip at $7.

Lil' Tiger

Glitter tiara

Willow's drawings

'Mummy and her phone' 

Felt pen on paper, age 2.

'Daddy's a carrot' 

Felt pen on paper, age 2.

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'Sammy and Tango'

  Wax crayon on paper, age 2.

DIY Bird Mobile

I got the free pattern from here http://www.spoolsewing.com/blog/

Glass sculptures

Amazing life size glass sculptures by Korean artist Jin young yu

 

Cute dress and wellies

On a thursday we normally head over to 29th and Clinton for a trip to the park and lunch at a great little swedish resturant, Broder http://www.broderpdx.com/. I always pop in Piccolina http://www.piccolinaresale.com/ which is a resale baby boutique. Its usually a bit hit and miss for older kids stuff, but today i picked up a really cute dress and a pair of wellies for $20

  

 

Afternoon tea with friends.