Baby Shower...

 

with the baby!

 

 

hi...

this morning some friends and i

held a baby shower.

 

 

 

 

zoe was expecting a girl,

but lo and behold a boy was delivered

exactly two weeks ago.

 

i had made pink invitations

&

had them in my handbag ready to deliver

when a little boy was thrust into my arms.

 

here he is sleeping snugly this morning,

at his own welcome party with a friend.

 

 

last friday

we made some bunting...

 

 



 

which we strung along the rails of the deck at the cafe.

 

easy bunting it is.

coloured paper stapled on to curling ribbon

taped with washi tape onto the railings.

 

we blew up the balloons...

 

 

ordered cappucinos and cake

&

played party games...like baby bingo, baby memory,

name the parents and name the baby.

 

 

i can't wait to help host another one

it was so much fun!

 

i'm hoping you're all having fun this wednesday too...

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 



 

 

 

 

 



For Her...

 

hi there

i've just come home from 'for her'

&

i'm buzzing...too awake to go to bed yet...even though i should,

i've got to be up and out of the house by a quarter past eight tomorrow morning!
 

 

 

 

it has been a stunning night.

the speaker was alison buttenshaw from newcastle,

she spoke about her experiences

and about forgiveness.

 

 

 

her father was killed by her brother

when she was only ten.

she saw a lot and had a lot to forgive.
 

she has written a book called 'out of the shadows'
which describes her journey from pain to freedom and healing.
 

 

 

 

it wasn't until she was preparing for her wedding

that she realised more deeply what she had lost,

not having a dad to walk her down the aisle among other things.

 

she chose to forgive her brother

despite the destruction that had happened to her family.

 

she finally found the courage to forgive

and found peace.

 

 

 

she talked about the damage that harbouring bitterness causes...

she quoted someone who said...

unforgiveness is like drinking poison

and hoping the other person dies.

 

very strong words.

 

 

 

afterwards there was time to talk,

eat cake and drink tea

at tables that were lit with candles and strewn with pretty stones

and glass jars with lights and baby parasols and tied with ribbons.

 

we even got to take home a party favour!

 

 

aren't the hearts scrumptious?

they'd look great done up in christmas colours...

little ones for the christmas tree

or to dangle on presents.

 

 

enjoy your sunday...

 

naturally Carol xox

 



Coffee Morning...

I am writing this a bit later today.

i usually post in the mornings now

and it's a bit like missing an appointment

with a friend!

however...

i had a wonderful morning.

firstly

i went to prayer meeting at church

and refreshed my soul.

then

had a lovely cup of tea with friends at the church cafe.

the fellowship filled my heart

with the warmth of friendship.

and then

off again to maccas {macdonald's cafe}

where another group of ladies were meeting

for a casual natter

and a cappucino...

mmmm, my kinda morning!

just thought i'd share

how much i am like a kid in a candy store

when i see all the special Christmas paraphenalia...

like this special takeaway coffee cup

and this serviette from the same place
{i feel like taking handfuls of these and
wrapping them up with my handmade gifts!}

just designed for this season.

i wish you would share

what lovely cups and serviettes you have

in your local cafe's and eateries.

on the way home
i just had to buy
the christmas edition of the 'australian womens' weekly'.

it has a feature article
about 'simone' from 'beach vintage' blog fame
and her lovely house
...great article.
i think i would have bought it anyway though
'cos i love to read my favourite Christmas magazines
every year!

to me

it is sharing the joy

and excitement

of the season!

naturally Carol xox

ps...just another little glimpse of what i'm working on-

MOMA Origami Doves...

i love origami.

i love the paper...the colour, designs, geometry,

i am fascinated by the style

and the art.

i bought this book

last year at the MOMA shop

at the gold coast while on holiday...

the doves...



this is a reproduction japanese woodblock print called 'rock doves and tree sparrows'.

this has inspired the authors steve & megumi biddle

to create these origami doves...

here is how i made my dove...

you will need one square piece of paper

for a large dove like this 6"x 6"

small (like on mondays post) about 2"x 2"

right side up

fold diagonally in half...

then in half again.

unfold the second fold, so it is just half of the square.

valley fold the top points two thirds of the way down.

fold the front flap up again by half of the bottom third...

open out the top of the triangle to form a small square.

showing the back of the paper.

fold in half

{the small square is folding in on itself}

to make the wings.

you can see that this forms the wings on both sides of the body...

do a small (inside reverse) fold to form the head and beak of the dove

seen at the bottom of the picture above.



valley fold the wing up over the body on one side...



then on the other side...and it will look like...

this.





& this.

fold the wing tips over to form bird wings

and you have a georgeous dove.!

the book says you can change the angle of the head or wings

to create different doves each time.

'may the peace of God,

fill your hearts and minds

this weekend....

and have lotsa fun making origami doves'

naturally Carol xox

p.s. a big thank you for the lovely comments made about me on 'gwenny-penny's' blog...cheers gwen!