Vessels ...

An old bottle, a bit of yarn, jute  string and a quiet afternoon. Made a loop so it can hang too. A new 'old' vase or an interesting  water bottle for the dinner table.

I enjoy living  mindfully. Wanting new things for my home but having to look around and use what I have. We are downsizing and aiming to spend less and reduce debt. I do enjoy raiding the reserve across the road for gum leaves and branches. They smell good and look better as they start to deteriorate. And they are free and plentiful. 

I enjoy the challenging of rejigging my things and my space. I'm  a lot housebound these days but my mind and hands aren't.  Have been finding the slower pace a lot more manageable and really enjoyable. xo

#ahiparagirl  #ministryofhome #wabisabi
#yarn #crochet #stitch #knit #handmade
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Connectors ...

I love a great button tin. These particular buttons literally came from our beach in Titahi Bay in New Zealand. I collected them on our many walks along our local beach when the boys were little before we moved to Australia.

My wardrobe is currently boring me and funds are tight, so I'm remaking some of my wardrobe using clothes I already own like a couple of my cheapy cardigans. One of my fave things to do is to switch out my buttons.  These buttons are a bit of my collection of thrifted and sea buttons that I've  gathered over the years. My kryptonite is haberdashery, natural fibres and yarn - especially vintage pieces.

My fave form of mark making is stitching and I enjoy the slow pace of handstitching amd I adore the challenge. My fave media is textiles. I love wearing my own work. And I love a good story.  I'll  print, stitch, dye, cut,  deconstruct and reconstruct things  in a way that makes sense to me.

It's a bit cooler at the moment. Queensland winters aren't as cold as Wellington winters but we still need an extra layer. My cardigans are cotton rather than merino wool. A bit of applique and new "old" sea buttons and handstitching and Bob's  ya uncle.

The thing is, when I wear my cardigan, I can feel the stitching and the decisions I made on each stitch placement, each thread chosen or button placement. Its a very organic process. No straight lines. No rulers  or tape measures which allows  for the unknowns to happen. I respond to the garment and trust my own vibe. It's  awesome when that flow hits. Being in the zone is the best rush a maker gets. Like a wave, you ride it in.

And those buttons, they link me to my kids, to a special time and one of our fave places in the world. My marks turn my clothes into beautiful narratives that are meaningful to me. And for me, nothing has more value than my whanau and our connection to our whenua and the ocean, to others and ultimately to our Maker. xo

#ministryofhome ➕ 

Seasons

Another year almost done. I'm reflecting on the year gone and the fresh one ahead. On my mind are the areas I want to build on personally. I don't go in for huge changes but rather daily tweak the things that are important to me as we roll through the different seasons of life. Keeping our home lovely and functional, managing our family and working on my cooking skills. With three sons and a hard working husband, it's  all about the food around here.

Without a doubt, my number one priority  is still and always has been my family. It's my biggest life project. Our home and the people who dwell within these walls are centre stage in my life. Ministry of Home was born out of this several years ago after I had spent time seeking God's purpose for my life through prayer. It's not just a clever little hash tag,  it's my calling.

I also have personal goals for next year which includes WRITE MORE and BE HAPPY. Today I'm testing the blogger app to see how it fairs.

It's been a big year. I'm thankful that the whole family crossed the finishing line again together. I'm more passionate about home and family than ever especially a short stint in paid employment.

For now though, I'm focused on resting and enjoying  time with our kids and my husband over the Christmas  period with our family and community. It's a bit of an effort to not start new projects or start overthinking next  year.

I've been  doing a bit of crafting  because that puts my head in a happy space. Inspired by my friend Melissa, I'm stitching a few things for our Christmas tree. Check out her blog Tiny Happy Hand Stitched Ornaments to be inspired too.

A mum's work is never done but this mum is determined to have fun with my kids and romance my man because we've worked so darn hard all year long. Now it's time to let loose, chill, eat, sleep, read, play games and get the house ready for next year's requirements.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours. xo

#ministryofhome