Yikes!

So I have obviously let myself go.
In terms of blogging.
Yikes! (not sure when that word was last used)
But I'm bringing it back...oh yeah!

This is what I have been up to:

I pushed myself to run/walk 5kms every day or so.
Managed to sew a dart or two.
Played with the kids.
Made a mess.
Made some bags without any handles.
Shopped less.
Made more.
Celebrated Joshy's 7th birthday.
Meditated on Advent and put some things into action.
Enjoyed mass and celebrating the eucharist.
(even though I cannot partake as yet).
Wrapping up school with the boys.
Learning to realise my boys are ONLY 5 & 7.
Trying to love unconditionally.
Coming to terms that Patience is something I struggle with.
Grace, for me is difficult to find.
Having fun in chaos and letting go of the dishes, the laundry,
the grocery trips, the dust behind the bookshelf;
actually makes life so much more with it!

I guess we should be living for these moments!

Compassion | Santa Shoebox

Two weekends ago was Santa Shoebox.
A huge initiative to get Shoeboxes filled with essentials;
toiletries, clothes, treats etc.
A whole 100 000 boxes to reach some of our abandoned,
underprivileged children all 18 and under!

We pledged 2 boxes last year.
This year I pledged my time;
checking, repacking, and assigning boxes.

So many things I loved about this day!
If you don't know South Africa,
then you might not know that we are dubbed the Rainbow nation.

Ladies and 4 Men of all the colours in our rainbow
worked together to make sure 100 000 kiddies,
got a beautifully wrapped box with the best things ever!

Proud to be South African!
Start collecting for your 2013 Boxes.

Love and Light

Sewing | Homemade Handmade Gifts

We thought this year, we would venture on gifting family with Homemade Handmade on their special days, ahem, when we could.
So in August, I made this for my Brother.
And this button necklace and bracelet for my niece.
I also made a HUGE amount of Muesli for Jacques Brother, no pics though.
And now for Mom in love (law), I made this.

I actually bought the upholstery for a leather bag lining, that I have in my head.
But it works so well as an apron!
Its so pretty! Well I think...

Yay!
I was just so excited to sew in straight lines!
I think I might just have the confidence to start on something in the Japanese Dress book!
Erm, maybe!

Let me know what you think.
Love and Light

Sewing | Japanese Style Books

So EXCITED!!!
I got my first pattern books in the mail yesterday.
(Its actually scary, cos now I HAVE to make something)

I have mentioned before that I really love the Japanese minimalist take on life.
Clothing, home decor, and approach to life, throw in some Catholicism and its perfect!

So while Jacques and I decide how to rid our lives and home of too much stuff,
I got these two books in the mail...I know more books!

So pretty!

Heart!

Making pretties with scraps

My Favorite Piece

And A bag book

I love that the choice of material is Linen or Linen cotton Blends.

Can't wait!

Love & Light.

Rediscovery | Old Invites | Purple cloth

In my previous blogpost, I showed off a simple wedding invite.

While mucking about with board, spray glue and designs, 

I realised how much I actually enjoyed doing this.

So I decided to dig into my little old suitcase where I keep 

at least one mock up of something that I made.

Yep I found a whole two other jobs that I did.

(When the boys could just play and that's all the education they needed)

So I'm thinking, perhaps I could turn this into something.
Let this be my purple cloth?
What do you think?

For a wedding in 2008 

For my Brother's wedding 2009

If you are interested in my designs for the future or even in a hurry.

Let me know.

nickylapper@gmail.com

Love & Light

Something Old & a Wedding Invite Commission

A few years back I was in advertising.
Yep!
Still detoxing from it.
In the beginning it was basic layouts, then I moved into Traffic and then eventually settled in Production.
Sheesh.
Not the life for a Mommy!

Anyway.

I love all things, for real.
Its just in my make up.
I sometimes like kitsch.
Sometimes I hate it.
Most of all I like minimalistic and grey!
I do heart colour and venture onto those waters...often!

A couple from church are about to wed, so they commissioned me to design an invite for them.
They are an older couple; he 76 & she 55.
Naturally they chose;
Classic.
The colours;
Red.
Gold.
Cream.
Burnt Orange.

Inside

Outside

What do you think?

Happiness is all things is Inspirational | 1

I finally got my beautifully designed doily earrings from Mel....*happy dance!

How can I describe this Mapley Sweet Canadian Lady?

Hmmm...

She loves DIY's. She loves God. She loves her Ben and her two teenie tinnies!

She is just an inspiration!

We've had issues with mail being delivered before, but this time Mel left a sweet little note for the 

Mailman! And what do you know...he did!

Satsuki Shibuya, click on it and see what I mean!

Arty, functional, down to earth and beautifully minimalistic!

Deeply Inspired.

Bookhou, unique and simple designs.

Inspired!

And my Bubble who helps with the laundry.
Just sweet!

What's been inspiring you.

Love & Light

September in Captures

Yay for Chinese Checkers and a whole lot of other games!

We visited a local craft market, sadly there were only 4 tables!

The boys had fun on the mechanical bull!

Met this awesome couple Graham and Shirley, call them to hire their mechanical bull on
011 792 2519 (SA only)

It was Hanni's Birthday so we went indoor rock climbing

and made her this button necklace with wax cord!

It was our Little Guys 5th birthday | Cake from Woolies since my oven packed in!

Natural and Chemical Free | Body Butter Recipe

We started our natural and chemical free lifestyle a few months back.
Our research into it started years ago.
Slowly but surely our lifestyle changed.
Food.
Shampoo.
Skin.
Deodorant.
Toothpaste.
Coffee.
Tea.
Sugar.
Storing; Glass vs. Plastic.
It did eventually turn topsy turvy.
But its all been worth it!

So now we make our own Yoghurt.
We use our own Lip Balm.
We don't use store bought toothpaste.

We have made this Body Butter Recipe, courtesy of rawmazing.com.
Its a beautiful creamy, moisture rich chemical free body butter.

After reading a few recipes.
I thought I would venture in making up my own recipe.
One that I could use all over my body!

I was gifted 750ml of natural unrefined coconut oil last month!
YAY!
I decided to use this as my base instead of the Shea Butter.
Also Shea butter is close to 300ZAR for 1kg...which is a lot!

Coconut oil is good for acne.
My acne is disappearing slowly with the use of Apple Cider and Coconut Oil.
It is serves as a natural and chemical free Sunscreen.
The molecules of coconut oil are smaller than our skins pores
therefore goes into the skin and moisturises.
This is not true for Glycerine based lotions, suncreens, body butters etc.
Glycerine sits on the skin, not allowing anything in, I guess this is good as most glycerine based products have petrochemicals.

Let's get to the Body Butter Already!

1. Melt 100grams Beeswax in a double boiler (be sure not to get any water in).
2. Add 750ml Unrefined Natural Coconut Oil and 200grams Shea Butter.
3. Once melted take off the heat and add 50ml Jojoba Essential Oil, 5ml Vitamin E, 25 drops Peppermint Essential oil.
4. As the mixture cools it will solidify, use a stick blender to incorporate air (this part of the process should take about 6 - 8 hours). Do this every time you notice your mixture solidify, this was you will end up with a butter like consistency.

A Cookie Jar of Body Butter | A little goes a LONG way

Enjoy!
Let me know how yours turns out!

Love & Light

Hello September

Down South September brings:

Walks

Smiles

Diets

Flowers

Swallows diving in the veld

Peach Blossoms

Bees

Flowery dresses

Hiking

Tenting outside our home (not really camping)

Playing

Walking barefeet

Getting muddy

And so many new adventures!

At Walkhaven

With only one Pup - wanted to check it out first before we brought the oldies

Family Portraits - Yes I think we squeeze these boys a bit...guilty

Coffee

Remember those Sweet Peas that were planted in the Beginning of Winter.

Whats your September like?

Love & Light

>i<