Since becoming a mama life has simply whizzed by. The saying the “days are long but the years are short”, has never been so true for me. Juggling being a solo mama, establishing myself again in my creative pursuits, photography business and setting some goals has been all consuming.

You might have been wondering what I have been up to since the last time I posted. It has been a while and I have really missed this little space to share my creativity, dreams and now being a mama.

MY GIRL

My gorgeous girl is almost 3! How on earth did that happen?! She is a sweet, kind and thoughtful little girl. The house is filled with tutus, dolls and lots and lots of pink. M has always known what she wants and loves to talk, non-stop. We are at the ‘why’ stage, but why mama? Learning to breathe and being patient has been a process and I pray for this everyday. To fill my heart with grace and patience. Each time a question, the same one is asked multiple times I want it to be like it is the first time I am responding with love, compassion and grace. Is this easy? No. I make mistakes but I always own them with M and as I say to her “when we know better we do better”. It’s the first time I have been a mama and the first time she is navigating this life. So we do our best.

I am reading a great book called The Whole Brain Child, it is so insightful to how we engage and nurture our children. Having an awareness that our words are powerful has been a constant thought when raising my daughter. They can make a child soar through life or they can fill them with feelings of shame and inadequacy. I believe in gentle attachment parenting with loving and mindful boundaries for both parent and child. Raising a confident, empathetic and courageous daughter is my main focus.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Being a solo mama I have had to re-establish myself creatively and having a vocation that allows me to be a stay at home mama with my daughter and help pay the bills. I have invested time into my photography and I absolutely adore working with brands that are aligned with my philosophy. Brands that are sustainable, natural, promote wellness, add beauty to the world or involves good food and drink. In the last year I have worked with some amazing brands; hand blended naturopathic organic teas, handmade natural leather sandals and divine vegan bath products.

I love working with natural light. My heart loves both light and bright and dark and moody images. I specialise in content creation for food, brand and lifestyle photography. When you choose me as your photographer you also get me as a stylist plus I have an extensive prop collection at my fingertips. I call that a win win situation. A lot of photographers have to charge for a stylist plus hiring props, which always means extra cost. Packages start from $195. Email me at LM@lynmmcreanor.com for my media kit and to discuss your branding and photography requirements.

ARCHIVAL PHOTOGRAPHIC ART PRINTS + EXHIBITION

Last year I launched my online shop stocking my photographic art prints.

I am planning an art exhibition in Sydney later this year. A collection of photographs, capturing the essence of florals and vintage pieces. FORAGED + FOUND. Flowers FORAGED and collected from the mountains and my dear neighbours gardens. FOUND pieces, mostly vintage, styled, shot and edited to reflect their raw and well lived beauty. Add a piece of art to your home, work space or business.

AIRBNB

When I am on location shooting in Sydney our house is listed on Airbnb. It is also available to host workshops and photoshoots. Here is a little description from my website.

The post Whirlwind of life + the beauty of motherhood appeared first on in all things beautiful.

It was a made-to-order Autumn day with the end of summer still teasing us with warm days and cooler nights preparing us for the colder months ahead. Our big maple tree was clinging to its green hues not succumbing to turning into the shades of the season. The perfect backdrop for a relaxed afternoon tea with a few girlfriends to celebrate the arrival of our baby girl.

It was a stretch at 34 weeks pregnant preparing for a high tea with mostly homemade treats. My sister Kath came to help the night before and friend Sabrina was a Godsend arriving early so she jumped in to help before the girls arrived. We had an early start at the flower markets which were insanely busy. The day following my baby shower was Mother’s Day so it seemed like most of Sydney had decided to head to the markets to buy a bunch of flowers for Mum. What would have been a one hour round trip ended up taking almost three! Needless to say we were then a little pushed for time. But it was worth the effort because these imported peony roses were a fabulous statement piece on the table.

  INVITATIONS

My foray into the business world was destined to be as a maker and creative. Having always loved the medium of paper I started making handmade greeting cards. This led to making stationery for weddings and special occasions. I love the tactile feel of receiving an invitation that has taken time to design and make. I wanted to make something special for my baby shower invitation – something which would become a keepsake and for my baby girl to have in her memory box. The star of the show was a divine Princess Swan with a silver glitter crown. The swan sat gloriously with glitter eggs and photographed – this became the postcard style invitation. The invitation was slipped inside a velum envelope stitched on each side and tied with twine and a hand glittered feather.

MENU

Ricotta, Cherry Tomatoes, Thyme & Parmesan Puff Pastries

Chicken, Aioli, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Walnut & Parsley Finger Spelt Sandwiches

Seasoned Egg Khorasan Finger Sandwiches

Cheese Board

Spelt Scones, Strawberry Jam & Vanilla Cream

Vanilla Pannacotta, Fresh Figs, Candied Orange Rind & Rosemary

Potted Banoffee ‘Pie’

Spelt Raspberry & Coconut Cupcakes

Cookies n’ Cream Macaroons baked by Nat from House of Harvs

Caramel Slice by my dear friend Vivi

Shortbread, Rocky Road & Marshmallows (from Sweetness the Patisserie)

Raspberry, Pomegranate, Strawberry, Mint Refresher

THANK YOU GIFTS

Each guest received a little thank you gift to take home. I love a good foot soak especially one that has peppermint – it gives your feet a lovely refreshing tingly feeling. Using organic ingredients a rosemary, lavender and peppermint foot soak bottled in a vintage style flask bottle and dressed with a thank you tag with tulle detail. I made a few extras which are available for sale in my etsy store. A sweet hostess gift, a nice touch for a house guest, a baby or bridal shower. My head is spinning with excitement with all the pretty parties I can plan for my sweet Madeleine.

In all things beautiful,

Lyn xx

Little M’s Baby Shower

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There is so much beauty in a cake adorned with fresh blooms. I usually bake my own cake but sometimes it is easier to buy a cake from a good baker or patisserie. So, if time is not on your side you have permission to cheat and buy a cake! My husband introduced me to this utterly scrumptious and moist chocolate mud cake from The Old Oak Patisserie in Sydney’s CBD.

LYN’S TIPS FOR DECORATING A CAKE WITH FRESH FLOWERS

The key elements are SHAPE, COLOUR, TEXTURE and BALANCE when building your floral decorations.

SHAPE – Anything goes when choosing a cake shape however I prefer to dress a round cake. A rustic naked cake with multiple layers, a basic round or two layered sponge cake would be my suggestions. You really can dress to impress and make your cake the centrepiece of your celebration.

COLOUR – Choose a colour palette to complement your cake. I love layering different tones and depths of colour because it adds complexity and really makes your cake pop! If you cannot decide on a colour the simplicity of white flowers and green foliage to me is timeless perfection.

TEXTURE –  Look for flowers and foliage with different sized buds, flowers and leaves to add depth and texture.  A few ideas for adding texture is using fresh or dried fruits, berries and rose petals.

BALANCE – Placement of flowers is important to create a balance which is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Creating a relaxed and less structured arrangement does have to be strategic otherwise your arrangement could end up looking messy. Don’t worry too much if you make a ‘mistake’ with placement as icing is quite forgiving and you can always hide behind a flower!

To start building the arrangement I start from one side and add each stem so it nestles next to the others.  Much like a florist builds a bouquet or arrangement. For a more organic and fluid design place the flowers flowing down one side of the cake. Don’t be afraid to be a little avante garde and add height with cherry blossom twigs or the like. Alternatively, you can start from the centre and create an arrangement that is balanced symmetrically.

CHOOSING FLOWERS

Organically grown flowers are the best choice. If you have a garden or access to flowers which have been grown free from nasty pesticides and chemicals this is the best option. I love garden roses and foraging in the garden for lovely blooms and foliage. Fresh garden herbs, fresh and dried fruits and micro herbs are also a pretty addition to the cake decoration. Edible flowers are now all the rage and you can find them popping up in supermarkets especially organic wholefood markets.

EDIBLE FLOWERS

Here is a list of edible flowers. Petite Ingredient has a wonderful range of organic edible flowers which are grown in Victoria’s Yarra Valley. They are used in sweet and savoury dishes and they have gained popularity in recent years.

begonias

borage

calendula

camelia

carnation

chamomile

chrysanthemums

cornflour

dahlia

daisies

dandelion

dianthus

echinacia

fennel pollen

fuchsia

hibiscus

lavender

lilac

linaria

marigold

nasturtium

pansy

pelargonium

peony

petunia

roses

rosemary flower

snap dragon

sunflower

tulip

viola

violet

PREPARING FLOWERS

Gently wash the flowers and foliage in cold water and dry thoroughly on a paper towel. Check there are no little bugs especially ants hiding in the flowers, strip the flowers of any leaves and remove any thorns. Once you have worked out the placement of the stem, trim the end at an angle and wrap the end of the stem with floral tape to ensure no sap contaminates the cake. Now you are ready to decorate your cake!

STEP-BY-STEP

To get you started here is a step-by-step guide to how I arranged the flowers on the cake pictured. With each cake you decorate you will gain confidence and work out what works and what doesn’t.

LITTLE EXTRAS – Adding delicate handmade bunting to your cake makes it extra special! You can find these handmade glitter feathered bunting in my etsy store. They are available in silver, rose gold and gold glitter and best of all you can re-use it for another celebration.

The Old Oak Patisserie T21, Metcentre 273 George Street Sydney (02) 9241 2050 (open Monday – Friday only)

Koch & Co (floral tape)

Petite Ingredient

Have fun adding a little beauty to your plain cakes for your next celebration!

In all things beautiful,

Lyn xx

{DIY} How to decorate a cake with flowers + foliage

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Learn how to make the sweetest decorations, boxes, gifts and table styling details for your Easter celebration.

ADULT EASTER WORKSHOPS

Make a bunny, gift box, paper basket and glitter and decorate eggs. Included is a lovely afternoon tea.

Adult Workshop – Saturday 12 March 2016 2pm-5pm at Grosgrain in Wahroonga. To book click here

Tickets – $110 (includes all materials and afternoon tea)

KIDS EASTER WORKSHOPS

Little ones will make their own bunny rabbit and glitter eggs to take home in a handmade paper basket. Included is a light refreshment and Easter bunny cupcake. Recommended for children aged 7-12 years old.

Workshop 1 – Saturday 19 March 2016 11am-12.45pm at IATB HQ in Killara. To book click here

Workshop 2 – Saturday 19 March 2016 3pm-4.45pm at IATB HQ in Killara. FULLY BOOKED

Tickets – $75 (includes all materials, organic cupcake and drink). To book click here

Please choose carefully as we do not offer refunds. You are welcome to pass your ticket onto a friend. If you do please email lyn@inallthingsbeautiful.com with the new attendees name.

In all things beautiful,

Lyn xx

{Easter Workshops}

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I am a romantic. I am one that succumbs to the lure of Valentine’s Day. How can I not love a day that celebrates L O V E ?! There is a big BUT, I don’t think that expressing love has to cost the earth. A lovingly prepared meal, a picnic or handmade card and gift is filled with love and intent. Isn’t the whole idea to celebrate the love you share in the most precious commodity of all – TIME. That said shouldn’t every day be filled with sweet love notes, gifts of affection and expressions of gratitude?. Being thoughtful, kind, encouraging and supportive are all acts of love which mean more than fluffy toys and long stem red roses. I have banned my husband from buying me red roses on V day, any other day yes but paying exorbitant prices for a rose on a particular commercialised day of the year is quite ludicrous.

This year we are going to our favorite local French restaurant which is a real treat as we only go there on special milestones and celebrations. I can only imagine next V day I will be knee deep in nappies and breast feeding baby!

As each year passes I seem to fill up my time with more stuff and have less time to make and create little treasures for the one I love. With work commitments, family and the everyday expectations and pressures of life it is important to take time with the one you love. To connect, dream and share your worlds. Valentine’s Day is just an extra bit of love and a reminder to take time and slow down together.

For our first V day I hand stitched my husband to be a heart – it was filled with little red ribbons symbolising the complexities, layers and beauty of a relationship.

Here are two diy paper projects to be made any day of the year!

GIFT BOX

I have made thousands of handmade boxes for wedding favours, christenings and invitations with my business Rosebud Designs. I never tire of the beauty in a handmade box. Whatever fills the box will always pale in comparison to the precision and delicate details of the actual box. Presentation and packaging is what sells and makes that first impression count. I hope you enjoy crafting boxes as much as I do.

MATERIALS

assortment of card stock

craft glue

scissors

ribbon, gift tag and trinket

METHOD

Box Base

1. Cut a 25cm x 25cm square of card stock. Neatly fold each side 2cm from the edge of the paper with a nice even crease. Cut down the fold on each side of the box to form the sides of the box. Place glue on the corner squares and glue to the sides of the box.

2. Cut a 20.8cm x 20.8cm square of card stock in a co-ordinating colour or pattern to line the base of the box. Secure with craft glue.

Box Lid

1. Cut 25cm x 25cm square of card stock. Neatly fold each side 1.9cm from the edge of the paper with a nice even crease. Cut down the fold on each side of the box to form the sides of the box. Place glue on the corner squares and glue to the sides of the box.

2. Cut a 21cm x 21cm square of card stock in a co-ordinating colour or pattern to line the lid of the box. Secure with craft glue.

Depending on the size of your gift you can make this box in all shapes and depths. Place your gift in the box and finish with beautiful ribbon, gift tag and trinket. I like to use beads, haberdashery and vintage finds for my little trinket to add that extra special detail.

HANDMADE ENVELOPE WITH HEART SEALS

I have forever been a fan of master crafter Martha Stewart. Until recently I had every issue of MS Living magazine dating back 20 years! To be honest I rarely flick through them for inspiration since joining Pinterest and everything has gone digital. Space was also a factor in putting them in the recycling bin. It was a sad day but I am consoled by the fact that I still have not said goodbye to my MS Wedding magazines, another 20 odd years worth. Before parting with my beloved mags I had to have one last flick through and scan the beautiful pages for inspiration and hoping that my brain would archive the details on all the pages.  Inspired by a Valentine’s issue of MS Living I have put my own spin on her handmade envelopes. They are quick and easy to make and you can have so much fun with different papers. I made a slight adjustment to Martha’s design and secured the paper hearts with a little cross stitch – sweet kisses on the back of your envelope.

MATERIALS

assortment of paper or card stock

pencil

heart paper punch

glue stick

scissors

needle

thread or twine

envelope template

METHOD

1. Place your envelope template on your paper stock with the pencil trace around the template shape. Using scissors cut out the envelope.

2. Fold each side of your envelope to form the envelope.

3. Using the paper punch cut out 2 hearts in co-ordinating card stock. Thread your needle and tie a double knot and secure the hearts as pictured with a cross stitch. On the top heart keep a 15cm length of thread to loop around the hearts and seal your envelope.

4. Glue the bottom half sides of the envelope.

Fill your special envelope with a love letter and sweet nothings to the object of your affection.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

In all things beautiful,

Lyn xx

{Valentine’s DIY Papercraft} Gift Box + Envelope

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Hot summer days means quick and easy meals. I am not keen on spending hours in a hot kitchen preparing dinner in sweltering heat especially whilst pregnant! On a balmy evening I would rather relax with family and friends over a vino and good conversation. A winner dish should be easy to prepare, use fresh seasonal organic ingredients and of course be delicious. This meal ticks all the boxes and all of the ingredients can be found in most kitchen pantries.

It is going to take a lot of work but I am committed to picking fresh tomatoes off the vine from my kitchen garden next summer. Yes, I need to prepare the soil, plant them and love them everyday and my years of dreaming needs to become more doing before another season passes me by. The sweetness of homegrown tomatoes remind me of the Island of Santorini in Greece where I would eat them by the handful as the sweet bursts popped in my mouth one by one!. The next best thing would be ones that I have grown myself.

I like to cook or prepare in bulk as it saves time, is energy efficient and economical for our family of four and soon to be five. The koftas freeze well and I usually make double or triple batches so they are always on hand. They are great for kids lunches served cold on a bread roll with lettuce and a splash of tomato sauce. Bring along a big bowl of homemade tabouleh to your next BBQ or picnic it will sure to be a hit. For those last minute surprise guests popping in you can whip up the tzatziki and once you know how easy it is to prepare you will never buy a store bought one again. Otherwise make the trio of recipes, buy a loaf of good crusty bread, chill the wine and invite a couple of friends over for a relaxing afternoon.

KOFTAS (makes 16)

INGREDIENTS

500g organic lean minced beef or lamb

small onion, finely diced

1 tbsp garlic, crushed

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground cumin

100ml tomato sauce

3/4 cup breadcrumbs

1 egg, whisked

1 tsp ground pepper

1 1/2 tsp salt

rice bran oil for pan frying

 METHOD

(1) In a medium sized bowl place the beef mince, onion, garlic, cinnamon, and cumin using your hands combine well. Add the tomato sauce, breadcrumbs, egg, salt and pepper using your hands, mix until all ingredients combined evenly.

(2) Shape the mixture into oval shapes and flatten until about 15mm thick. This mixture will make approximately 16 koftas.

(3) Place a large non stick pan on medium to high heat. Lightly spray the pan with rice bran oil and cook 8 koftas at a time. They should take 3-4 minutes on each side until lightly browned. Serve warm.

QUINOA TABOULEH

INGREDIENTS

1 cup cooked quinoa

1 punnet (250g) cherry or egg tomatoes, halved or quartered

1 bunch flat leaf parsley, chopped

1 generous handful of mint, chiffonade

1 stick of shallots, finely chopped

1 tsp garlic, crushed

2 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp olive oil

ground pepper

salt

1-2 tbsp buckwheat (optional)

METHOD

(1) In a medium sized bowl mix together quinoa, tomatoes, parsley, mint, shallots and garlic.

(2) If you are serving straight away add the lemon juice, olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Otherwise complete step 1 refrigerate overnight and complete step 2 before serving. For an optional crunch sprinkle buckwheat over tabouleh.

Tip: Chiffonade is a chopping technique in which herbs or leafy green vegetables (such as spinach and basil) are cut into long, thin strips.

TZATZIKI

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup natural Greek style yoghurt

1-2 cucumbers, grated

1-11/2 tsp garlic, crushed

1 tbsp lemon juice

ground pepper

salt

METHOD

(1) Place yoghurt, cucumber, garlic and lemon juice in a medium sized bowl and mix together with a spoon until evenly combined. Add salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve. It will stay fresh in the fridge for a few days. Depending on whether you like a thicker or runnier tzatziki use 1 or 2 cucumbers.

End your meal with a refreshing homemade granita, seasonal fruits or a cheese platter. Bon Appetite!

In all things beautiful,

Lyn xx

{Summer Days Recipe} Koftas, Quinoa Tabouleh + Tzatziki

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LOT’S OF LOVE AND BLESSINGS TO YOU THIS CHRISTMAS

A special day to celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

May your heart, home and family be filled with peace, comfort and love today and everyday.

A LITTLE MIRACLE IS GROWING IN MY BELLY

The best gift ever is growing strong in my belly.  It has been a challenging few months with morning sickness and extreme fatigue. All this seems like a distant memory now knowing baby is doing well. Almost at the halfway mark! Woohoo! I am so grateful and thankful for this miracle of life and looking forward to Christmas 2016 and being a mumma.

A SPECIAL GIFT FOR YOU

You may remember a little Christmas in July collaboration I did this year with some truly AMAZING women. Here is a free e-book for you designed and edited by Mary Rizza Cruz Creative and Natalie Harvey from House of Harvs. Filled with inspiration and recipes to celebrate everyday. I hope you enjoy!

Christmas In July E-Book

I have a back log of posts and images to share with you which I am just a little excited about – so you will be seeing more beauty and inspiration coming your way.

In all things beautiful,

Lyn x

{Merry Christmas, A Little Miracle and A Gift For You}

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Grosgrain is my favourite little cottage on the upper north shore of Sydney. It is worth a trip from anywhere to visit this thoughtfully curated range of homewares and gifts. Luckily enough for me it is a short fifteen minute drive up the highway to this gorgeous space, the walls are painted in black and aptly named jaguar from Porter’s Paint which add to the depth and moodiness of these rooms. I adore the texture of the worn wooden floor boards and I am happy shooting flat lays on this treasured back drop anytime. Call me crazy but I prefer floorboards which have been graced with life and love. They bear the beauty and the scars of feet seeking refuge from the cold or heels clicking as they fall – they hold a history of a building.

If you can take a minute to stop ooohhing and aahhing over this thoughtfully styled shop you might end up piling the front counter with the loveliest mix of homewares, some old, some new and French pieces which will have your friends wanting to know where you picked up these designer finds. You are in trouble when you pop in to buy a gift for a friend and you end up with two of everything one for you and one for a friend. You won’t leave Grosgrain without a special memory to add to your collection of beautiful things. Make a day of it and visit some of the lovely cafe’s in this charming shopping village. I love the Butchers Block which is just around the corner from Grosgrain for a light lunch with a girlfriend or a tea and a little treat. It was originally the local butcher’s and the fit out pays homage to it’s past displaying old equipment and hardware collected by the original butcher.

I met the owner of Grosgrain Lisa Cribb at one of the local markets where we both had a stall. She is so lovely and her eye for beauty and detail is on point. I am so proud to stock my signature organic sweet dukkah in her beautiful store. Lisa has also invited me to teach a couple of hands on creative workshops at Grosgrain. You can book them here.

GROSGRAIN 3/29-31 Redleaf Avenue, Wahroonga NSW                                                OPENING HOURS Monday-Friday 9.30am-5pm Saturday 9.30am-3pm                     Enquiries 02 9489 9915

PORTERS PAINT 895 Bourke Street Waterloo NSW                                                 OPENING HOURS Monday – Friday 8am-5pm Saturday  9am – 3pm Sunday closed  Enquiries 1800 656 664

THE BUTCHER’S BLOCK 15 Redleaf Avenue, Wahroonga NSW                              OPENING HOURS Monday – Saturday 6am – 5pm Sunday closed                                        No reservations required Enquiries for 10 or more 02 9487 8136

In all things beautiful,

Lyn x

{Grosgrain Homewares}

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Once we hit Spring, time seems to fly by and I start thinking of making plans for Christmas. It is a time when lists are long and there are many – food lists, present lists and planning holidays to name a few. So I thought I would share with you this rather delicious Christmas in July celebration I had with an inspiring group of young entrepreneurial women. The theme we decided on was an Australian relaxed rustic elegance inspired by a colour palette of red, pink, gold, forest greens and amber.

Our family Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus – a time of remembrance, joy and celebration. We get together with family and friends and as the saying goes Eat, Drink and be Merry! We eat way too much and have a fridge filled with delicious leftovers for days. No complaints here except when the holiday revelry is over and I jump on the scales……eeeekkkk a new year begins!!

In Australia our Christmas falls in the summer so it is usually a hot day. Having a roast for lunch is not very desirable so my family usually have lots of fresh seafood, a leg of ham and salads. My husbands family love pavlova for sweeties. This year I might take a different spin on the Australian tradition instead making a Chocolate Meringue, Frangelico Cream, Blackberries sprinkled with my Signature Sweet Dukkah.

I have always dreamed of having a white Christmas on the East Coast of America, Canada or even a little town in Europe. Singing ‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire’ as I sit beside the pool with a cocktail in hand really does not mesh. I would like to say there is a romantic story of how CIJ originated but funnily enough it is believed to be a tradition which started in Europe to celebrate Christmas in their summer!

Natalie from House of Harvs brought together a few talented creative makers and bloggers to celebrate this special ‘holiday’ in the cooler months. There wasn’t any snow but it was a chilly winter’s day. With gluhwein on hand we had a very merry day and we dined like queens. Our stomachs rumbling after many hours of preparing, cooking, styling and of course capturing it all on our digital cameras. I have to say my favourite dish was Natalie’s slow braised beef with truffle mash! A match made in culinary heaven. Well worth the time and patience to cook it. Check out Nat’s blog House of Harvs her latest post is a recipe for Mountain Ash Honey and Almond Milk Pannacotta it certainly wouldn’t last long in our house.

Kate from Foodies Agenda is a lover of good food and eating a balanced and nourishing diet. I am aligned with her philosophy of eating from all food groups unless of course you have medical dietary requirements. Her blog is a must for all foodies. I love reading her Friday Foodie in Focus where she interviews Australian foodies, bloggers, producers, farmers and chefs. Kate shared with us some of her favourite festive dishes including a succulent quail stuffed with spiced cous cous served with wedges of roasted pumpkin.

Jen from Bakedown Cakery baked up a storm leading up to our little Sunday gathering. Her cakes are a visual feast, fun, colourful works of art and sometimes a touch quirky. This girl is the epitome of cool. She totally rocks the cake world with her marvelous creations. Just looking at them makes me happy. It felt sinful in many ways eating her delectable and delicious creations – I wanted to place a glass dome over her magnificent cake and admire the beauty and every detail which was lovingly and patiently crafted.

Helen from Lime Tree Bower is full of energy and has a passion for flowers. She is self taught, driven and a dream to work with. In her mid twenties she reminds me of myself at her age. Unstoppable and nothing is ever impossible. Using Australian bush natives, winter fruits and foliage she reflected our homeland in her floral styling for the day. In pursuit of her creative heart she is moving away from the corporate world to add natural beauty to your wedding day or celebration.

Mary from Made by Mara added her beautiful handwritten menus to our table. I now want everything written by Mary – she is my go to girl for anything handwritten. A graphic designer and new mum to a gorgeous little bub who was the only boy allowed at our girly get together.

Athena from Light Reid came along to take some pics of the day.  I must say I have never had so many DSLR cameras in my dining room! She is a sociology student who loves to take photos and has a tribe of followers on her instagram page. Be sure to visit her instagram feed to see some of her photography from the day and other lovely pics. A freelance photographer available for portraiture location shoots.

Much love and gratitude to these fabulous women for collaborating and making magic happen and a special thank you to Nat from House of Harvs for having an idea and bringing us all together.

Natalie Harvey from House of Harvs {instagram @houseofharvs}

Cocktail + Mains + Sides

Kate Willbourn-Trevett from Foodies Agenda {instagram @foodiesagenda}

Mains + Sides

Jen Simpson from Bakedown Cakery {instagram @bakedowncakery}

Cakes + Cupcakes + Macaroons + Chocolate Gems

Helen Hung from Lime Tree Bower {instagram @limetreebower}

Floral Decorations

Mary Rizza Cruz from Made by Mara {instagram @madebymara}

Hand Lettering + Menus + Graphic Design

Athena Zo from Light Reid {instagram @light_reid}

Photography

Lyn McCreanor from In All Things Beautiful {instagram @inallthingsbeautiful}

Location + Art Direction + Styling + Photography + DIY elements (Paper Wreath + Christmas Crackers) + Entrees + Sweet Dukkah Spelt Shortbread + Gluhwein

Here is the dip recipe for our pre-lunch nibbles at our little soiree. This is so simple to prepare and my go-to last minute dip when having guests. If pomegranates are not in season or hard to find replace with dried cranberries or caramelised onions which is equally delicious!

SMASHED CHICK PEA DIP, YOGHURT + POMEGRANATE

INGREDIENTS

1 x 400 gram can organic chick peas, soaked and drained

1 1/4 tsp ground coriander

1 1/4 tsp ground cumin

1 1/2 tsp fennel seeds

pinch paprika

1 Tbsp lemon juice

1 Tbsp olive oil

salt

cracked pepper

1/2 tsp garlic, crushed (optional)

GARNISH

1/2 pomegranate, fruit removed

3 Tbsp yoghurt

METHOD

(1) Empty can of chick peas into a medium sized bowl, cover with water and soak for 10 minutes. Drain chick peas and run under cold water until foam is gone and water runs clear. I like to do this with all my canned beans to reduce gas. Believe me it works!

(2) Drain chick peas and place into a mortar. With the pestle smash the chick peas so they are a rustic consistency. You might have to do it in a few batches depending on how large your mortar is. As I am smashing I remove most of the hull that comes apart form the pea. Otherwise it looks like epithelial tissue dancing in the dip!

(3) Place the chick peas into a medium sized bowl. Add the ground coriander, ground cumin, fennel seeds, paprika, lemon juice and olive oil. You can add crushed garlic if you like. Add salt and cracked pepper to taste. Using a fork lightly mix together spices with the chick peas.

(4) Place in a serving bowl and top with yoghurt and pomegranate. Serve with flatbread, crackers, celery or carrot sticks.

I hope you are inspired and start making your lists for your Christmas feasts!

In all things beautiful,

Lyn x

ps I have a September Spring Special when you buy my Signature Organic Sweet Dukkah Bundle (1 x 100gm + 1 x 15gm pot) you receive free postage Australia wide!

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My little miss sweet pea loves turtles and pineapples. I was rather relieved when she wanted a pineapple themed birthday party. Pineapples are fun and colourful and so easy to craft. Before preparing to style a party I like to use Pinterest as a reference and a place to pin my inspiration. This was a fun and engaging project to do together. There really were not many cute ideas to be found on Pinterest or the web for that matter.

One idea was to make little pineapples from cardboard. This was a disaster well maybe not quite a disaster but time consuming. Imagine making 8 pineapples with a zillion little folds it was a literally a technical feat and not so pretty!. A good lesson in math and geometry. Not my favourite subjects at school or ever really. With a couple of test invitations made from cardboard we decided to go back to the drawing board. I had an idea to make an invitation in the shape of a pineapple – a little coloured tissue, special fringing scissors and some twine and voila! This was the end result. I had my husband on the hunt for Allen’s pineapple gummy candy to no avail. He came home with something even sweeter – little hard rock candy with a tiny pineapple in the centre by Sticky. Inside the little paper crafted pineapples was a glass jar filled with these tropical flavoured delights!

Handmade details add a personal touch to a celebration. I played around with watercolours when I studied fashion so I decided to have a go at making place cards with of course pineapples! Handwritten names completed the bespoke details.

There are so many lovely tea towels at Williams & Sonoma. They are a good size and a good thickness so they hold their shape. I wanted the girls to wear aprons while crafting and eating and along my regular pop ins to W&S found these beauties! They were in the perfect colours to complement our pineapple theme. The size of my ‘tea towel’ aprons would fit 5-12 year olds.  They were super easy and quick to whip up on the machine because all the edges are already hemmed…..I call that WINNING!!! A couple of metres of cotton ribbon, tea towel and thread made an economical apron for the girls. Coming in at around $8 a piece plus the time to make them.

Are you ready to party like a P I N E A P P L E? This was the question! For seven eleven year old giggling girls a crafternoon, movie night and sleepover was planned. Little miss sweet pea was thrilled everyone could make her little celebration.

I kept the menu pretty simple. We made the cupcakes together and topped them with green pineapple leaves made from a delightful green tissue paper. My darling husband was a star and made the popcorn and the breakfast pancakes and both were a big hit!

PARTY MENU

CRAFTERNOON  TEA

Pineapple and Coconut Cupcakes

Pineapple and Apple Punch

MOVIE NIGHT

Buttered Popcorn and Sea Salt

Cheese and Tomato Spelt Pizzas

Ham and Pineapple Spelt Pizzas

Banana Split, Vanilla Ice Cream, Butterscotch Sauce and Sprinkles

BREAKFAST

Spelt Pancakes, Blueberries, Raspberries and Vanilla Ice Cream

I am a big list maker. This helps me keep everything in order and not feel overwhelmed. My tip for throwing a party is to be organised, backward schedule and plan your menu so some things can be prepared earlier so you are not stuck in the kitchen the whole time! Not a good place to be when you are hosting a party.

MY PARTY PLANNING TICK LIST

# guest list

# invitations + place cards

# party schedule

# menu planning

# diy preparations for crafternoon

# dividing tasks with husband and the little miss

A craft party whether you are still at school or a retiree is such a great way to celebrate with your girlfriends. You get to chill out, chatter away and end up with something that you made yourslef. Its a win win! I put a call out on facebook and messaged my friends for any old jeans that were ready to be tossed. My idea was to make bags for the girls to decorate. They had a fabulous afternoon laughing, teasing, singing along to pop music and crafting pom poms. On each bespoke denim bag I embroidered the girls initial – they loved their bags and I think it will be something that they will use for many years to come. I even made one for myself!

All the girls left happy with their creative efforts, full bellies and time with their besties. When a party is over it is never really over until the clean up is done. We had a few hours of chill out time before tackling the kitchen and general tidying up. I believe it is important to include the children in this so they value and appreciate the effort and responsibilities when hosting a party. Now, we were ready for party number two that night with Nana and Pa coming to celebrate a very special and sweet young lady who is growing up way too fast.

I will be posting recipes and the crafty diy projects from the PARTY LIKE A PINEAPPLE PARTY very soon.

In all things beautiful,

Lyn xx

ps The true star of the show was my fur baby. He was in heaven with seven girls fawning over him…..I am sure he thought it was his party! Here he is being a good sport. OSCAR we love you xxx

{Party like a Pineapple} DIY everything

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