The Perfect Christmas

I am a Christmas fan. I love it. I love the lights, the baubles, the gifts; I love the story of the journey Mary and Joseph took on the donkey to the stable where Jesus was born. I especially love this story.

I'm not a practising Catholic, but I despair that we all ignore the history and age-old traditions connected to the celebration of Christmas. Why can't schools, for instance, perform the Nativity at the end-of-year concert instead of some generic 'Songs from the World' or 'Seasons of the bloody Year'? I suppose the 'Seasons' vaguely refers to the Pagan rituals of the Winter Solstice etc. etc. But, whether you like it or not, Christmas is partly about the birth of Christ. Whether you believe this or not is irrelevant. It is a part of our history and should be celebrated as such. Anyway, it's a damn good story. Poo jab to snow falling in winter and sun shining in Summer; and if I hear another word about Saving the Animals in Africa I will turn all Grinch and burn trees. If you can't stomach Christianity, then at least give us the fat man in the red suit flying through the night sky in a sleigh driven by reindeer (cripes - how's that for suspension of disbelief???)! And for Pete's sake, let the kids sing a carol!

Personally, though, I'm a sucker for the story about an ordinary woman impregnated by an angel (well, not physically) and then travelling through the desert on a slow old donkey to give birth in the completely unsanitary surrounds of a barn full of animals! Not to mention some random shepherds following a particularly big star (when they are supposed to be looking after the sheep) to the stable in question, followed by a small troupe of lavishly dressed Kings who just happen to be roaming the desert as well. That, my friends, is how it's done. And as much as I love seeing the Grade 6s get all emotional over 'The Way we Were' ('omit' fingers down throat), who on Earth is not moved by a rousing rendition of the stunning hymn 'Jerusalem'? Or, one of my absolute favourites, 'Oh, Holy Night'?

Please, people, bring back the true essence of this festive season.

So, to leave you with something visual that might just bringle a Christmas tingle, here are some snaps from our home (where we do it with gusto and a ho, ho, ho!):

Err, so there's just a little bit of 'The World' here . . .

   

More Craft from WA

While we were on our trip to Cape le Grand, I took the opportunity to create some beautiful things with the kids using stones, seaweed, shells and other bits and pieces we found. It's amazing what you can do without scissors or string; glue or even needle and thread.

The Sea Mobile was inspired by the Leaf Mobile from my book. We really wanted to keep it, but we did the right thing and left everything on the beach where it belongs.

The box of treasures started when we found the cute little cigar box in the wood heap at Shelley Beach in SA - it seemed the perfect size for some special little things.

And who could resist making a sandcastle? Lucie showed me the wet sand drizzling technique, which makes some pretty interesting spires.

House in the Herald Sun

While we were away in Esperance the Herald-Sun Home magazine published an article on our home (November 5). How aloof are we? We were not even in Melbourne to lap up the glory of it! Do not be deceived, however, as preparation for this shoot took Dan and I a good two weekends. When my lovely publicist at Penguin informed me that the paper wanted to do a review on our house, I suddenly discovered so many unfinished bits and pieces it was unheard of!

But we managed to spruce things up just in time and I have included some personal snaps (ones I had submitted in order to secure the shoot) of our cosy home. I have to admit, as much as there needs to be done I am rapt that we managed to buy this house. And despite all the scary cracks and other horrors we discovered when we moved in, it has tuned out to be a solidly built house with, ultimately, very few major problems. It is dry, comfortable, filled with amazing heritage features, and we love it.

 

Fishing Fascination

We just got back from a road trip to Western Australia. I had to get some time to do things with the kids that didn't involve bossing them around about stuff they have to do to get by in life such as times tables, tidying your room and generally living a hygienic life and manners etc. I just wanted to bum around with them in some nice weather making sandcastles, listening to their long-winded stories and cuddling without cutting it short to get to school. We even went for a few days without a shower. It's actually okay and you do adjust to being covered in sweat and sand and dirt after a while.

So off to Esperance and Cape Le Grand for a more 'boho' lifestyle.

One thing we did totally become addicted to was fishing. Catching, killing and eating them. I was rapt to see Lucie get right into it and we found we shared this passion. She was great - caught a cod and squid, which we ate for dinner. Some of my fondest memories of the trip were fishing in silence with her off the rocks in the sunshine. Now that is a moment to cherish. Enjoy the snaps . . .

The Bait

The Herring

Whiting

The strange fly-protector headgear.

Me and my little fishergirl

Radio Interview

Last weekend I had the pleasure of being interviewed by the lovely Hilary Harper at the ABC. We had a wonderful chat about craft, parenting and the book, and took some calls from listeners. I particularly loved the call from a grandmother in Mt Eliza who made a scarecrow with her two grandchildren who she sees only once a year because they live in Japan. Macdonald (the scarecrow) sounds like he might have become the newest member of their family - apparently her grandchildren ask about him every time they call. Heartwarming.

The call also reminded me how much I value my parents spending time with my kids and how much they love them. What would I do without their support? I am barely able to find the energy and mind power required to look after my children and I thank God for the saying 'it takes a village'. And in my case that is an extended village encompassing childcare workers, teachers, neighbours etc. etc. I am relieved I am not the only influence on my children. Imagine that??

These are some pics of my father and Max and Lucie at my parents' home in the country. Check out the cute trike (was my brother's when he was little).

Another call Hilary and I answered was from another grandparent who despaired at the incidence of young children at her after-school facility who barely knew how to cut a piece of paper because they had never been shown. It seems their parents worked full-time and did not have the time or inclination to teach them. I was quick to come to the rescue of the working parent. We FT working parents cop a lot of criticism. I'm not suggesting this lovely woman was wrong in any way, but I think it is important to acknowledge the things a working parent does teach their children. We all have to work at some point in our lives and it is important to me that my kids see me being industrious and loving what I do (I am a book editor). Hopefully they will carry my husband's and my work ethic with them when the time comes for them to enter the workforce. It is also important for me that they are not the centre of my universe every living moment. Of course, in the bigger picture, they are the centre of my world; but I also have another part of my day that involves other people and different priorities. Hopefully when my kids leave home (which I will be encouraging them to do in their twenties) they won't have any trouble cutting that cord!

Sadly, the last question Hilary and I responded to was from an anonymous caller that asked what to do about a man who was discouraging his young son from doing anything creative, despite the son's clear ability and passion in this area. I said that I didn't know how to respond to this, but actually I do. Creativity is an absolute must for everyone. What is it that this man wanted his son to do? Law? Medicine? Jobs traditionally seen as being respected and well paid? How silly to think that doctors, lawyers, scientists are not creative thinkers. Art, craft, creating - it's like a language, where a specific part of your brain is being used in an abstract and open way. Would this man discourage his son from learning another language? Probably not, but I imagine that the parts of the brain used to learn language may indeed be similar to those that are used in creative thinking. Signs, patterns, symbols - are these not also used in mathematics. And regardless of all of the above, art and craft is sometimes vital to a person's wellbeing. For me it is my meditation - a chance for me to collect my thoughts and recoup.

So, that is my response to that man, and I hope his lovely son finds a way to convince him that crafting is good! Or perhaps he'll have to rely on that big village to nurture his creative mind.  Thank goodness, hey?

 

Wintery Weather

The adorable little softies above are my wheat filled WinterBabies. I don't like the cold. I turn purple just at the thought of a chilly wind. But I'll heat one of these little things in the microwave and pop it on my shoulders and be toasty (good for period pains, too).

One good thing about cold and rainy weather, however, is that it forces me to stay inside and sew, sew, sew; and we get to use our lovely open fires. So this weekend was all about my pink ugg boots, open fires and WinterBabies galore.

My lovely WinterBabies were dreamed up by my hubby Dan when he looked at Max as a baby swaddled up in a little blanket. The cocoon shape was perfect to fill with wheat and a great size for all sorts of spots on the body - feet, tummies, shoulders etc. It's been three years, now, and I've sold literally hundreds of these little babes. Check out my website www.rustyrose.com.au for more info. And if you think you might need to purchase one for the remaining chilly days before glorious summer swing round, I have a stack of glorious new fabrics on offer. Now, off to stoke the fire . . .

    

The Launch

Thank you to everyone who came to the launch last weekend at Readings in Hawthorn. It was a fantastic afternoon with great company, yummy food and wonderful crafts including the very successful pom pom corner! My lovely colleague Davina Bell took care of all the little crafters present - she is an absolute gem!
Here are some pics from the day. Oh, and don't forget to book your Cat Bookmark workshop at Readings on the 20th October. It will be - miaow! - great!

The Launch

Thank you to everyone who came to the launch last weekend at Readings in Hawthorn. It was a fantastic afternoon with great company, yummy food and wonderful crafts including the very successful pom pom corner! My lovely colleague Davina Bell took care of all the little crafters present - she is an absolute gem!
Here are some pics from the day. Oh, and don't forget to book your Cat Bookmark workshop at Readings on the 20th October. It will be - miaow! - great!