Close your Eyes

Sometimes, when your eyes are closed, you can see your dreams. Ever so clearly.

The waft of Spring.

" But now it was spring again, and spring was almost unbearable for sensitive hearts.  It drove creation to it's utmost limits, it wafted its spice-laden breath even into the nostrils of the innocent. "

― Knut Hamsun, Dreamers

Hidden Places In Hahndorf

Hidden places, in the Adelaide Hills. A little spot we go past every day on the way to school. In spring, it is filled with beauty and delicate blossoms, to delight the eye and make the heart swell.

The Red Flowers

When I was a little girl we had a huge 10 acre field behind our house. I spent a lot of my childhood there. It was wonderful. I would get up in the morning, at the break of dawn, (which my daughter now does, and it drives me crazy, just like, I am sure, it did my own mother! ) and I would venture out into my very own private world.

It consisted of high grass, a creek, huge gum trees, pine trees to climb and native shrubs, a big rock pile which usually had a cubby built within its formation, big logs and two ex racing horses, who became pretend unicorns that came from the land beyond the rainbow. 

And in spring the entire field was covered in these red, white and occasional burgundy flowers.

 I absolutely love them. They always make me feel like home. 

The paddock is gone now. It was transformed into a housing estate, at a time when I was moving from child into adult. It somehow felt like the passage of youth. I spent many days cursing that big yellow bulldozer, and crying about my childhood, ending so abruptly and in such a cruel way. That my playground, of childhood dreams and fantasies, of fairyland, flying kites whilst lying in waist high grass, making tunnels and creating adventures with the neighbourhood children. Of sneaking out at night, while the rest of the world was sleeping, to lay in the grass, feeling the soft wind blowing, the gentle warmth of darkness and stare up at the universe, overwhelmed with the feeling of love for the earth. It used to fill my soul and make me shed tears of wonderment and joy, and it was coming to an end.

That is why I love them so much. The memories of my childhood. So rich, colourful and bright.  Never, ever forgotten.

Plum Blossoms.

I am going to have so many plums this year!  Pretty darn exciting!  I love plum and peach jam, and if the bees and the weather align, I just might get a bucket load of each!

The canola fields

There are flowers blooming. And living in the Adelaide Hills, we get to enjoy so many variations of colour. Sometimes found in a huge field, of yellow and green. The flight of butterflies and the buzz of the bees. Canola as far as the eye can see. And dark skies above, ready to burst with a spring shower. 

And this sweet child of mine, standing in the middle of it all.

Simple things

Still no roses, but they are not too far away.

A quiet time, for me, waiting for the change.

There is a wonderful feeling, when the flowers are almost ready to burst. Like waiting for christmas, and the opening of the presents. Spring time, such a special, pretty time of the year.

Make A Newborn Nest Photography Prop

I noticed on a Facebook forum/group which I am a part of, that some members were looking at buying a newborn photography prop that is like a little nest.
I have actually seen a few in photographs that people have taken and some are really sweet!
Instead of paying $100 for one, I am going to show you how to make one. The best thing about it is that it really is very easy to do, I made mine in less than an hour, and It can be totally free!

When it comes to photography fashion ( yes, it even happens in photo-world ) it can change in the blink of an eye and you will have spent a fortune on props that in a few years time, and with only a small amount of use, are no longer your or your clients prop of choice. Making your own is sensible, AND you can take pride in the fact that your images are entirely yours, right down to the details!

Right let's get started.

The first thing you will need is your branches. I used off cut vines from the local vineyard. They are long, very flexible and pretty interesting too. Most useful is the lack of pokey and thorny bits, you don't want any of those with little babies!

I would suggest that if you cannot access prunnings from vines, use willow branches. The look of the nest will be different, but no less useful and sweet.
Just make sure that you are creating your nest straight after you get your material, because the wood will loose it's flexibility quickly. If that happens, you may as well throw the branches out and start again.

Some scissors and something to tie the ends together at the start are also needed. I just used some wool I had lying around. You only need a little bit, so don't spend any money on something fancy!

Take a good, long piece of your vine and shape it into a circle. Tie the ends together.

The size of your nest will depend on the size of these initial circles. If this is being used as a newborn photography prop, make sure it's large enough to fit a baby!

Repeat this 3 times till you have a little stack of them. Try to make them a similar size.

Gather the three rounds together and take a new, long branch/vine and wrap it around the three circles. You can use your shorter branches further down the track.

You will need to go over and under the circles, weaving it tighter as you go. I did not tie anything together because I was using vines. You may need to do this if using willow. If you do need to, make sure it is tucked in and hidden, and most importantly, NOT sharp!

Tuck your ends between the other branches. As you build up the nest, the weaving and sticking ends in will become easier and easier. If using willow, you may find it a little quicker if you take four or five branches together and weave. ( just make sure you have removed the leaves first! ) A willow nest will have an entirely different feel and look to this vine one.

Keep building on the weave. 

It doesn't matter if some of the branches are not perfect. Real nests are like that too!

Keep working at it until you feel you are happy with the size.

Your all done!

Now, as an option, you may like to make a couple more and stack them, using wire to tie them together and make them safe. This way you could use them as a toddler nest as well, and the child could sit within, peeking out. It's up to you!

You can also vary the look by how loose or tight you weave. It really is entirely up to your own personal taste and the material you are using.

As I don't take on much work as a newborn photographer, I can only show you the nests with a pillow and blanket in the middle. One day I will update this and add a real baby in my nest!

Have fun! Don't get scared that you can't make one! 

Give it a go and feel proud of yourself for creating it! 

The Silver Crown

We made a crown. A silver one. With sparkles and butterflies and pretty diamonds too. It was like a princess crown, only better. Because it was made together, with love. Something to celebrate the start of spring. At long last. A change of seasons and a fresh, gorgeous day.

In the end, craziness will always will out. No matter how princess like you are.

Spring Lambs!

Our sweet neighbouring girls have adopted two little Lambs. They were abandoned by their mothers and need a bottle feed every six hours! That means getting up at 5am to give them a snack! Either way, they are incredibly cute little bundles of wool!

Big Wedding Post!

I thought you might like to see a big post of the wedding I was so excited to be a part of!

I have previously posted some of the images, but I thought the Bride and Groom, their friends and family, who may not get to see many of the photos, would enjoy being able to look at them in more detail....

Before the day

 The Boys!

 The Girls.

 The Ceremony.

Fun & Romance!

“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep 

because reality is finally better than your dreams.” 
― Dr. Seuss