sakura bloom sling diaries....a win

A big thank you for following my six diary entries over the past few months and for leaving so many beautiful comments. The winners were announced this afternoon and I'm delighted to share the win with the lovely Mary Catherine and Carolee.

Babywearing...it's been so nice to share the Sakura Bloom love.

spring : a new kind of normal

I've just realised that for the time being, I'm never going to get to the bottom of my list. 

For the past few weeks I've really struggled with my lack of time. I've wondered why, at this point in my mothering journey, the professional opportunities keep arriving in abundance. I have tried over and over and over again to get to the point where my work is done, the house is clean and I can just sit with a cup of tea. It hasn't happened, I haven't come close.

Yesterday Che received a letter from his new school, detailing dates and times for orientation and I sat bemused trying to fathom where five years went. As he asked Daniel about buddies and canteen and wide-brimmed school hats I reminisced about his birth and his blonde curls and his love of the stars.

Today I went to the shopping centre and there were Christmas decorations and 2013 diaries. But it's only just spring. If I stepped outside tonight I would say it was still winter.

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Since reading Maxabella's post last week I've been thinking about my normal. I said to Daniel: "I spend so much time trying to get back to normal - I should just accept that 'juggling' is normal." The revelation. 

So, instead of wallowing in the unproductive days and the long list of to-dos, a few things have changed. I'm listening to my own advice and reminding myself to be here now. For now, just be here. I've declared 4:30pm 'play in the garden time' for Daniel and the kids so that I can cook in relative quiet (I do quite enjoy it). I have accepted that although I could work seven days a week, I can't and I won't. I'm revelling in the slow and steady spring clean that's happening one drawer at a time. And if the decluttering falls into summer, so be it. 

I'm also accepting the fact that Che will start kindergarten next year and it will be wonderful. But because I am his mum I am allowed to cry every time I drive past the school gates, every time I think about him in a too-big-for-his-head hat, every time I smell wattle, gumtrees and vegemite; the scent of the playground.

the make believe collection, by udder

When I visited Fliss and sipped just-made chai in her kitchen, she told me about her hopes for udder. At the time, her little boy Art was 1, and like all mothers she had just lifted from the fog of the first year. She was eager to see her sketches become handmade friends and she desperately wanted to create a collection of children's clothes.

So she moved her family to Bali, set up home in a sweet villa and enjoyed regular jaunts to the beach and the rice paddies. Once settled she established a relationship with boutique manufacturers and gained access to the Italian designer "off-cuts" that are created using ancient Indonesian techniques - Batik, Tie and Dye, Shibori. 

Before long she was swept up in the creative process and was witnessing her designs become clothing in a fabulously sustainable way - recycling fabrics and preserving traditional crafts. Last week The Make Believe Collection launched - a celebration of quirk and whimsy. it's wonderfully bohemian with a necessary dash of practicality.

I'm so inspired by Fliss' journey and her determination to create a unique and sustainable business. My favourite pieces? Most definitely the tin tin pants (for my tin tin fan), luna's swimmers, Oki short and Ringo tee. 

spring : a giveaway to celebrate the season

Oh spring; the season that inspires with its warmth and light. It most definitely deserves a celebration so I have gathered a collection of beautiful products to give away.

Some of my favourite brands have generously donated a range of gorgeous bits and pieces to make your home a lovely one. Valued at over $600AUD this is oh so wonderful (and I wish I could keep it all for myself).

The winner will receive the following:

1.16 piece Garland dinner set by Royal Doulton (set comprises: 4 x dinner plates, 4 x dessert plates, 4 x cereal bowls and 4 x mugs). Made from porcelain this delightful set is valued at $249. 

2. Everyone wants fresh, new linen for spring and these two pillow slips by Oh Mabel are absolutely perfect. Made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, 300 thread count cotton sateen, they feature the 'eloise' design in blush - rings of rosies and posies to imbue your bed with a little whimsy - valued at $70

3. So many of you wanted to know more about Murchison-Hume after I mentioned them last week. Well, the winner will receive a "Classic Six" boxed set in the 'fig' scent - everything you need to keep your home naturally clean and fresh, the six bottles come packaged in a bamboo caddy - valued at $73

4. A home isn't complete without beeswax candles...Queen B are giving away a set of their Bee Lights and Tea Lights...I consider them absolute necessities - they purify the air, emit a warm glow and leave a fresh, honey scent - valued at $50.

5. Of course, spring cleaning isn't quite the same unless you have a relaxing cup of tea to look forward to. Clipper Teas have just released a new range of infusions - six fresh, uplifting teas that feature the most stunning packaging - valued at $25

6. Fancy some pretty pictures for your walls? LittleGreenShed is giving away "Treefall" A4 print and "Spring Flowers" A3 print - both prints of original pen and ink drawing, printed on archival Premier Fine Art Paper using archival inks. Artist Lou Archell has signed and dated each one and they are all ready for framing - valued at $55

7. Playfield -  design for modern parents and style lovers, were inspired by Pantone's colour of the year and their favourite children's book - the result is this unique design. "hello baby !" is a 50x70cm high quality print on beautiful satin stock ready to frame - valued at $50

8. Linen, muted tones and playful prints - no wonder Maze & Vale is one of my very favourite brands. These two oversize (50x70cm) limited edition tea towels are worthy of a place on the wall (I don't think I would ever use them for the dishes). Screen printed by hand in limited editions of 4 to 6, creator Leslie Keating loves to experiment with colour and overprinting design - valued at $44

You can enter this giveaway a maximum of three times:

• first entry - following Che & Fidel (over there on the right) 
• second entry - popping over to Che & Fidel on facebook and hitting 'like'
• third entry - sharing this giveaway on facebook/instagram/your blog

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. The winner will be chosen by the random number generator and published in this post on Monday 17th September at around 9pm EST. Winner will be contacted by email. 

Very best of spring-time luck....

Update: comments closed. The random number generator chose #73 Mother Down Under - congratulations lovely one! x

graphic designed by the wonderful Lena of Playfield 

sakura bloom sling diaries - wrap up

A few of my favourite captures from The Sling Diaries.

Later today Leigh from Marvelous Kiddo will be posting her most-loved photos from the series. She will also be announcing a few exciting things about The Sling Diaries Facebook Page. If you like babywearing and love Sakura Bloom I suggest you head over there and 'like' - hint hint, wink wink.

Thanks so much for all your lovely comments over the six posts. I'm a little sad that it's all over but so grateful for the babywearing moments that have been documented. 

Photo 1 & 4 - Tim Coulson
Photo 2 - Luisa Brimble
Photo 3 - Tamara Erbacher

mexican bohemian

I easily forget how nourishing the ocean is. Thursday just gone we were barefoot and dressed for summer so come late afternoon we headed to the beach for salt air and even saltier hot chips. 

Regardless of dusk falling the children were happy and so we stayed a little longer to soak up the space and the quiet and the promise of warmer days to come.

Stunning Mexican Oaxacan Florecer Blouse and Cotton Serape c/o the beautiful "little tienda". Thanks for satisfying my inner-bohemian Em! Cotton, stripes, floral and colour; just a few of my favourite things x

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"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2012."

Che: Delight at dusk....there will be so many more of these evenings at the beach

Poet: The late afternoon sun streams through the front door. She sits on the stairs; so very Miss Muffet.

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