clever and inspiring people

Here is the website for Mine Kids in Olinda, the new toyshop I mentioned earlier this week. It looks amazing...

I also found a glowing and well deserved review of Pippa May Cook, the cafe where Jewel and I breakfasted yesterday. I second the writer's motion about Pippa's crumbles but I think the small gallery of children's art near the wooden stove deserves a mention too.

my first guest blogger! (her pen name is 'jewel')

Today I had a day with Anna. First we did our hair in two little buns with flowers

and then we went to Pippa May Cook which is where some of Anna’s dolls are and I had tea and Anna did too but she also had a rassberry and armond tart.


After that we went to get our nails done at the beauty salon. We had our nails done by a lady called Josie. She was nice and funny. I chose the colour that was called Hollywood and Anna got the colour nude pink.



After that we caught the train to the city and had sushi on Flinders lane

and then we went to Kikki K and Smiggle and I got some folders.

[Thanks for a wicked day Jewel - love Anna xxx]

happier than I look

Excuse the watermarks...I found this online today, from an article in the local paper late last year!

For someone who actually really enjoys sewing, I always manage to look completely miserable doing it in photos...

Mine Kids in Olinda

Today I packaged up some dolls to send to a toy shop which is opening tomorrow called 'Mine Kids in Olinda'.

What a good excuse to have a weekend away in the mountains some time soon, just for the joy of seeing them on the shelves (or, of course, the even greater joy of not seeing them on the shelves...)

Wishing the new shop all the very best for its grand opening!

sex and the city

I always do this - ignore something that everyone is talking about and then, four years later, realise it's interesting and beautiful! My insomnia has recently reached new heights of ridiculousness and so I have been making my way through the final series of Sex and the City. I think this is possibly the most beautiful dress in the world:

a new doll design

This is a new doll design I have been working on...

saint seraphina

I've been absent lately partly due to laptop nightmares but also because of some research work I've become involved in, to do with Roman Catholicism.

This is Saint Seraphina, the patron saint of sewing (among other things):

She is said to have lived in poverty but to have been a gifted spinner and seamstress and to have used these gifts for charitable endeavours. Then when she was older she was afflicted with some illness which she bore very gracefully, but which meant that she had to be carried on a board, always in terrible pain.

Poor Saint Seraphina. I hope her hands are poised like that to show the lady squatting beside her exactly the length of velvet ribbon she needs for her next charitable project.