Insprired by Nature

Nga mihi o te tau hau! Happy new year! So I have been on a tiki tour around Northland with my lovely whanau, catching up with aunties and cousins and soaking up our great outdoors. I have been collecting inspiration from Papatuanuku (Mother Earth) for my Oversew Fashion Awards project.
Unfortunately I have managed to put my back out again so I am hoping I can still get an outfit done. Ongoing issues with it which is very frustrating!

So here is some of my inspiration. Green features very strongly so once I am back, I think I will do some opshopping and see what greenery I can come up with 🌿

Have some sketches done too which I will share soon. Isn't Aotearoa Tino ataahua!

Hamner holiday

It was about time we had a bit of a break from New Brighton - as much as we love it here, the roadworks are edging ever closer to our house....so off we went.  Andy's lovely work gave him a holiday bonus, so we were even able to take the kids skiing.....Lots of fun!

the view from our road as we were leaving New Brighton

the view of the cute wee batch when we arrived in Hamner

family fun round the brazier toasting marshmallows

sparkler fun!

time to celebrate birthdays with a cake the kids decorated

my wee man is growing up!

gracie wanted to take the bunnies home!

isn't he adorable!

some of Paul's handiwork with a gas cutter on the brazier

Jack's Pass looking beautiful

T and G found a snow cave to play in...

It was just what we needed - so blessed to have such generous and loving whanau to holiday with!

Tirohia atu nei ka wheturangitia Matariki, te whetu o te tau!

"Look above beyond the horizon and there you shall witness Pleiades, sign of the New Year Happy New Year!"

Wow - I can't quite believe Matariki is upon us again - the excitement of a new year, and the fun of trying to spot Matariki on the horizon - which is usually done sitting on our rooftop huddled under blankets...Although we are not quite brave enough to venture up to the rooftop tonight, for fear of being blown off!

It is also an excuse to get crafty with nga whetu (stars).  Gracie had lots of fun designing these stars to use as a Matariki table setting.

Matariki is slowly gaining attention in Aotearoa – nowhere else in the world has this unique celebration, so we need to embrace us, and celebrate our uniqueness as Pakeha and Maori living together in Aotearoa.

So tomorrow night’s celebrations will involve gathering with my sisters whanau, having hot soup and bread, decorating more stars, and tucking into a Matariki themed chocolate cake for dessert (which I have yet to create!)  So to you and yours this wintry new year - 

mihi o te Matariki, nga mihi o te Tau Hou

Happy Matariki, happy New Year…