Peach Patterns

Through a new lens

I've been wanting to experiment with new camera lenses for a while but my brain freezes up a bit when I try to work out which lens does what and how..... Add to that the scary cost of most lenses and it's enough to make you just give up and stick with the stock standard lens already on the camera.

So when I found this "portrait" lens the other day at the bargain basement price of $75 I decided to just go for it.

            

This is not a variable lens and not being able to zoom takes a bit of getting used to.  This is especially so when you're trying to photograph children who jump around alot.  

But I think it definitely adds an edge to the photos and captured the available light really well on the fairly dim afternoon when I snapped these pics.

             

What's also great is the lovely shallow depth of field - no need to tidy the kitchen when the clutter just blurs into the background!

P.S. Happy birthday to Cee Cee who as of the weekend is now a very sophisticated 9 years old! Peace......

"Mollie Makes" found...

I've never had any luck finding a copy of this magazine in the big smoke.  On holidays out of Sydney on the Central Coast, though, I hit paydirt.  In Coles no less...

The styling and design are definitely a cut above and the projects, like the Liberty leaves pictured on the cover, are oh so sweet.  

I also enjoyed reading about the newest book by Jane Brocket (of the Gentle Art of Domesticity).

I'd love to be organised enough to take some stitching with me when we go away but I don't think I'd find the time.  

Doodling, sketching and jotting ideas in my little journal is about the most creative I get in between swims...

Ballet babe

Tis' the season for ballet concerts and with them the very special kind of mania they create for mothers of mini-ballerinas everywhere. The costume, hair and make-up must be just so.  And don't dare turn up with scuffed shoes! If you've been there you know exactly what I mean.

As stressful as they are, though, the end product always brings a smile to the face and a tear to the eye. And a great opportunity to practice your photography.  Here is Miss Wink in tutu heaven:

      

For a bit of fun, these pictures were edited with some photoshop actions from Paint the Moon.  The particular one I used here is called Urban Delight.  The result is a kind of creamy, dreamy look : perfect to set off the tulle and sparkles!

Sculptures By The Sea

I'm still here readers.  And you?

I've just gotten around to uploading these photos from our weekend excursion to the stunning Sculptures By The Sea (a fabulous annual event around Sydney's Bondi and Tamarama beaches for those not in the know).

Note to self for future SBTSs: do not go on the last day of the exhibition.  Further note to self: Do not go on a Sunday.  Final note to self: Do not think that you will casually hop on the local bus to get home anytime within 2 hours of arriving at a bus stop.  

Yes, it was crazily busy that day, but all that aside we had a great time.

Getting lost in the colourful streamers.

Peeping through the port holes.

Very yellow!

Shiny.  Pretty.

A little bit of Spring

There is a little bit of Spring in the air and that means taking photos of flowers and putting them in your hair....

 

Dreamcatcher

I snapped a couple of photos of this pretty dreamcatcher in the afternoon light.

                    

This one was bought from a local children's store but they're easy to make and a great idea for a crafty afternoon activity.  

My Poppet and Decor8 both have gorgeous handmade dreamcatcher ideas.  

Sunday morning & a scarecrow

After a spot of scootering and netball practice in the park we headed up to say hi to the local community gardeners, who were fully absorbed in their Sunday morning digging, weeding & watering session.

The girls were chuffed to be handed the hose and got a little bit trigger-happy watering not only the plants but also several by-standers.

Lovely touches in the garden are "Costa the Scarecrow" complete with impressive beard and the garden sign, made out of fabulous reclaimed wood and found objects.

Lemon & blueberry cakes (a low sugar recipe)

2012 has been the year of me cutting down on sugar.  It hasn't been all that hard as I don't have a naturally sweet tooth but still found that I was doing my fair share of mindless sugar-snacking through the day.  

The only thing I really miss on my new regime is homebaked goodies and so was really happy to find a low sugar recipe for little muffin-style cakes.

(The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice that the berries here are raspberries rather than blueberries but, really, you can make them with whichever berries you like.)

The lemon juice and rind in this recipe give the cakes zing and are really, I think, what makes them such a hit.

The other great thing about these cakes is that the girls love them too (and love to help me bake them). And even though I've found kicking the sugar habit easy for myself, getting the kiddies on the same page is a whole different ballgame...

You can find the recipe here at taste.com.au

:: 4 ::

A certain someone turned 4 recently.  Most birthdays in our house are celebrated with one of these sponge cakes that look a bit like the Opera House.

My mother buys them from a local shop and they're loaded with yummy fresh cream and strawberries complete with their leaves.

            

Of course it's also fun to throw a few eyeball cupcakes into the mix...

     

iPhone photography

I'll readily admit that I'm lazy when it comes to toting my proper camera around, even on holidays.  Luckily though, when the light is just right, the iPhone takes a snap that matches the fancy camera for picture quality.  This, I think, is one of those iPhone goodies:

         

There was no way I was going to get away with not using that Babushka fabric (in the stash since goodness knows when) for some clothes for Miss Wink.

This top is made to the Butterfly Breeze pattern with a touch of ric-rac added to the sleeves for good measure.

         

Just perfect with a tutu!