autumn creeps into Canberra

Autumn in Canberra is finally creeping in--a month late, but nonetheless beautiful. Autumn and Spring in Canberra are so utterly breathtaking. I feel so lucky to live here and be so close to nature--both in the surrounding countryside but also in town.

Tomorrow, husband and I are heading to the National Gallery and Portrait Gallery to douse ourselves in art, then enjoy a brilliant coffee at the many and sensational cafes we have here (seriously--the cafes here at that good, only rivalled by Melbourne in my humble opinion).

I hope you've had a lovely Easter and have enjoyed the breaking of chocolate and spiced buns with loved ones. It's a magical time of year.

a quiet Christmas and a shiny new year

Well, hello everybody. How was your Christmas? Was it warm or cold where you were? Did you eat seafood? Fruit mince pies? Antipasto in the sunshine? Flaming puddings by the snow-banked window? Did you open presents under the palm tree on Christmas morning or did you wait till the afternoon, with fat bellies popping by the fire?

Our day started not-too-early--07:30, gasp. Yes, for our family, the 04:30 days are long gone (though I fully empathise with those who are still entrenched!). We waited 40 mins for my girl Ella to zhuzh herself up (which gave me time to drink my Daily Tea in bed) and then it was under the tree for our traditional personalised Christmas cookies, with Riley as Christmas elf. This year, it was gingerbread with lemon icing in random filigree patterns. Mmmm. They were delish.

By the time the pressies were done, it was time to start cooking. It's been a looooong time since I've made Christmas lunch, and my goodness, even for four people, it takes a while, non??? Why is that?

Imaginarium Family Day and my book launch! at the National Library of Australia

If you are in Canberra tomorrow, Sunday 11 October, come along to the National Library's 'Imaginarium' Family day, from 1pm to 4pm!

There will be SO much going on! Including the launch of Australian Kids Through the Years (at 2.10pm).

Imagine the possibilities of libraries through stories, games and play. Explore 3D printing, 3D pens and fantastic Makey Makey interactive demonstrations. Watch as vocabulary skills are put to the test in the grand final of the ACT Scrabble competition. Plunge into the realm of riddles with David Astle, or sketch portraits using your own device. Meet children’s authors Pauline Deeves, Stephanie Owen Reeder and Tania McCartney. Release the perfect paper plane with the Paper Pilots, and plenty more.

In association with Libraries ACT and Scrabble ACT.

Ground floor
Giant Games, Library podium

NLA Bookshop 10% discount on all Australian children’s titles today

Author corner: storytelling and meet the authors Stephanie Owen Reeder, Pauline Deeves, Tania McCartney, David Astle Main foyer

Imagination Station badge making and hands-on activities, Central Foyer

Bring your own device: make art using linebrush® with John Carey, Exhibition galleries

Fascinating facsimiles Newspaper Reading room

Grand Final Libraries ACT Scrabble Competition, Main Reading Room

First floor
Wordplay children’s space, Ferguson Room, 1^st floor

Lower ground one
Paper Plane Academy and Flight School with The Paper Pilots

Libraries ACT Makerspace: 3D Printing, Makey Makey and 3D pen demonstrations

DURING THE AFTERNOON
1pm Dance Like a Pirate! Book reading with Stephanie Owen Reeder
1pm Grand Final Libraries ACT Scrabble Competition commences  
1.30pm Heroes and Villains: Strutt’s Australia Guided exhibition tour
1.35pm Imagine Children During World War One with Pauline Deeves
2pm Helipad test flight, with The Paper Pilots, Mezzanine, 1^st floor
2pm Discover your National Library Guided building tour
2.10pm Book launch Australian Kids through the Years by Tania McCartney
2.30pm Treasures Gallery Guided exhibition tour
2.50pm Mucking around with words with David Astle
3pm Helipad test flight with The Paper Pilots, Mezzanine, 1^st floor
3.30pm Paper Plane flight school with The Paper Pilots, theatre, LG1
3.40pm Lost! A True Tale from the Bush with Stephanie Owen Reeder, exhibition gallery Heroes and Villains: Strutt’s Australia
4.00pm Paper Plane flight school test flight with The Paper Pilots, mezzanine
4.15pm Award ceremony - Libraries ACT Scrabble Competition

What a fantastic afternoon out! Hope to see you there!

happy mother's day

Mother's Day in Australia means autumn, not spring - so here is a bouquet of maple leaves for all the mums I know and love - and most especially for my own dear mum who has been gone far too long. 

I love you, Mum--and words could never express how much I miss you. 

xxx

deck the halls with simplicity

This year has been an intense one in the McCartney household--least of all due to an overwhelmingly busy book year. Of course, it's been a joy but it's also been a time when the need for streamlining, decluttering and simplicity has changed me. It's like I've suddenly become desperate for less. This has been a good thing.

It all began with the advent calendars.

I usually have two (sometimes three) for the kids each year--and I always make something new. This year I made three different kinds of advent (divine downloadable artwork from etsy) and then relinquished two, which I'll be passing onto friends. It took me three days to decide which ones to relinquish (I love them all so much) but I did it. And it felt great.

I have a severe and debilitating addiction to paper, so what better complement to paper advent boxes than Kikki-K's latest decorative range--super simply bunting and a paper wreath that's as easy to construct as 1, 2, 3.

My other nod to paper is the paper 'tree' made of pop-up cards by superlative papercrafter, Robert Sabuda. These Christmas alphabet cards come in a tin and are utterly collectable--I've had them for around three years and have never been able to part with even one of them. What better way to celebrate and enjoy them than tacking them to the wall where any passing festive soul can take a peep inside?

This year we installed some shallow IKEA shelves in the living room. I'm not a tschotskes kind of person and the shelves have been invariably stacked with small books, but I do love a Christmas bauble, and have quite the obsession with miniature trees and storybook cottages. So the shelving was the perfect spot for my growing collection. I'm now on the hunt for miniature/vintage tinsel trees and mercury glass ornaments.

We're not practising Christians but I do believe in the spiritual sense of Christmas--of good will to all men (something that really should be practised year-round)--so we always include a nativity scene (above). I found this one some years ago in Beijing, hand-carved from wood.

I also love the wooden tree (behind the horse), its retro facade reminiscent of Margaret Wise Brown's Little Golden Books. I also imagine this is what Enid Blyton's tree would have looked like.

Another thing I have love for is light-up kitsch. I found this caravan (below) in a Beijing flower market and it's one of my most treasured Christmas decorations, complete with incandescent snowman, and Tudor-style cross-hatching on the windows.

I've also gone minimal in the living/kitchen area--with the majority of festive glitz being icicle lights and wreaths. I also have some fabulous honeycomb paper trees (from Lark) that I'll put on the dining table closer to Christmas.

In the lounge room, I added the popsicle stick creations we made last year, and draped some new lights I found at a $2 shop last year, as well. These lights have a subtle glow that just fills the room with that magical feel, and I love the draped effect.

On the mirror, I've dangled a mercury glass ornament I found in Bangkok earlier this year--and I want more. More more more. It's tough to find quality, authentic items.

As for the tree, I was really surprised when the kids lamented my desire to use our feather tree again this year. I bought this through an ebay seller in the US about four years ago and I'm still obsessed with it. I'd love an authentic goose-feather tree (this one is fabricated by the branches are still soft) one day but until then, I simply adore its simplicity.

We put this tree up last year as we were away for five weeks, but this year I wanted a repeat performance--it's just so sweet and easy and whimsical. Maybe next year I'll be in the mood for an 8 foot spruce again, but until then, I'm more than happy with this perfect pompomed poppet.

I made these pompom wreaths from invisible thread and packets of miniature pompoms from Spotlight. You could also use fine fishing line. Make sure you sew back through each pompom when you add it to the line, otherwise, they'll just slip around and won't stay in place.

I also added some faux glass icicles and glass and hand-painted toadstools that I found at a Beijing Christmas factory way back when. The toadstools clip directly onto the branches--another reason why I love the feather tree.

These gorgeous be-glittered deer are from a $2 shop, and they look right at home next to my collection of miniature trees.

This (below) would have to be my favourite Christmas vista this year. These glittery wreaths have been up all year long (from Target)--I love them too much to spend 330 days without them. Inspired by their silveryness and the silver frames of my three favourite Beijing artworks, I added simple tinsel trees ($2 each from Typo, post-Christmas last year) and my collection of shimmery snow globes.

I also added some more ceramic village houses and an orchid I managed to re-bloom (my first, ever! oh, the thrill!). Perched on top of the orchid is a hand-painted glass wren with a feathery tail--one of many I bought at that Beijing Christmas factory.

Around two years ago, I hand-made a heap of wreaths. This one (below) was made from the pages of an old, miniature book--and when I unearthed it, the tips of each cone had been crushed. Amazing that it still looks so beautiful.

One of my favourites is this pompom wreath (below) that's now featuring in the main wall of our living room.

I'm really loving the clean, uncluttered feel of our house this Christmas season. For me, this year is all about appreciating the tiniest of things, but in a big way. We are doing less, amassing less, and enjoying fuller hearts because of it. When you clear away the clutter, you can see so much more clearly--and enjoy the smallest things all the better. Things take on more meaning--and isn't that what Christmas is all about?

four rejuvenating days in Sydney

our big trip - days 28 - 32: Cha Am Resort

Thailand really is a special place. Of all the incredible, beautiful, stunning and intriguing places we've travelled to, our most relaxing, rewarding, family-oriented and blissful travels have been Thailand. This is saying something, considering I'm not really a lay-around-at-the-beach person.

These five days at the Veranda Resort and Spa near Cha Am on the east coast of Thailand, were soul-restoring for our family. After a whirlwind five weeks away - one packed with thrills, beauty, action, challenges and much emotion, this was just what we needed. Time to reconnect, rest, swim, walk and just BE. It was truly five of the best five days of my life.

I highly recommend this resort - it's beautiful, quiet and so affordable. Here is a little peek at our stay.

on the home stretch

It's been an incredible month for our family - we're now on the home stretch from 5 weeks on the road - first Europe and now Thailand. We've experienced so much, we're in sensory overload. Our trip has been heartwarming, thrilling, surprising, exausting, emotional, eye-opening, glorious, challenging, delicious and so very special.

I can't wait to take you through each step - I've tried posting photos but a) we've been so darn busy! and b) internet access and time have been short, so I'll start all over again when we get home. So much to share!

During our time away, we have (as most travellers do) become immensely patriotic and grateful. Hearing news reports of the crazy weather - fire and floods - has been heart wrenching and I must admit, has made me pine for home.

As my gorgeous girlfriend Dani also says, coming home and reminiscing is probably the best part of travel. I can't wait.

Tx

Footnote: above you will see Ella on a beach in Thailand, fulfilling a dream. Travel is good for that.

christmas traditions

I love tradition at the best of times - and of course, Christmas drags a hankering for special things out of the cupboard, and dashes it with sprinkles.

In our house, we have a particular penchant for Advent Calendars at Christmas time. Each year I create a new type of calendar, and it's a lot of fun coming up with new ideas to delight the kids.

Another tradition we have in our house is cookies on Christmas morning. I don't know where this started - I think maybe when Ella was little. I used to make her personalised cookies and, not wanting her to eat sugar before bed, I would leave some of the cookies out for Santa on Christmas Eve. Up early for her stocking, perhaps Ella picked up a left over cookie on Christmas morning and nibbled it under the Christmas tree.

I'm not sure how it all began - but it's a lovely tradition we've kept, and each year I make four special cookies, one for each of us, and we nibble them with coffee (the kids have juice) under the three as we open presents.

The idea for this particular cookie came from - where else - Martha Stewart. Dani Fiori of MS Living created a similar style cookie, but in the style of a snow globe. I made do with what I had, and this is the result.

I simply adore these amazing dragees and sugar sprinkles - found at Spotlight and Woollies at Majura Park (Canberra). I also found these adorable little sugar gingerbread men at La Torta, also at Majura Park.

The initial cookies are also a favourite thing to do - the kids will adore devouring these Christmas Eve, along with purchased stollen and home-made pfeffernusse cookies. More on them soon!

What Christmas traditions do you hold dear?