birthday preparations.

So as you can already tell from my last post, I'm actually really excited about my sister's birthday this year! I'm not really sure why...maybe because she's turning 10 and therefore growing up and I'm trying to make the most of her being little while I can, by buying and making her cute, little-girlish things and helping mum plan a sweet little teaparty for her and her friends. I don't know, I just want this birthday to be really special for her. So for her present (lucky she doesn't check my blog), I made her a crochet necklace and bought a gorgeous heat-pack from a favourite shop because she's always stealing mine. now she can finally have her own! therefore it is both cute and practical - double win. her teaparty is happening this sunday morning so I'll try to snap some photos to share!

DIY invites

so my little sister's birthday is coming up, and she wants to have a teaparty with her friends. mum was going to buy invitations like she does every other year, but i offered to draw some up on the computer instead. she got them printed today and loves them! i applied the finishing touches on the envelopes this afternoon with some stamps and tape - behold the final results. why buy when you can make it yourself i say!

little discoveries.

This weekend i ventured down to the beautiful Evans Head for the hen's weekend of a very special friend of mine. Part of the weekend's activities included hitting up some awesome op shops, where i scored some vintage pillowcases, an apron for baking, and a lovely green floral wrap around skirt. This morning i also managed to visit the antique centre after a late breakfast with my mum and dad and discovered an amazing old green tin box to store some goodies in. Also picked up a couple of free postcards - what a winning weekend! Hope your weekend has been lovely too!

a return to craft.

So up until last week I was in a bit of a craft funk, but i decided to whip out the sewing machine again and a racoon and rabbit were born. both of them are made from vintage pillowcases found at various secondhand stores. i packaged up the racoon as a baby shower gift for a beautiful friend of mine that i had the pleasure of seeing on the weekend. the remainder of the weekend was shared with some of my very favourite people in the world. i am blessed! hope your weekend was equally as pleasant.

from another era.

1, 2 & 3. A red vintage tin from a favourite shop in noosa

4. An old jar (also from that favourite shop in noosa) filled with penguin pencils

5. A London underground map linen tea towel from the antique centre

6. vintage pillowcases & placemat

7. A cute top from a local thrift shop

I love it when you come across beautiful old things at the bottom of a pile, crammed in the middle of a rack, or hidden behind multiple items on the floor. Antiques each have their own story, and I think that's what makes them so special.

woodland.

i'm seeing the paper kites in february. and i am SO excited about it.

also, voila! the blog has had a facelift.

here comes summer.

yesterday i returned from the most relaxing holiday i've had in years. once again i was reminded just how beautiful our Queensland coastline is. sun, sand, reading, great coffee, awesome gelato and plenty of salt water. the perfect way to begin 2012!

untitled.

1. my new favourite necklace purchased from here

2. 3. 4. & 5. a christmas bundle for a lovely little girl

6. new pillowcases from here

7. favourite classics

8. vintage threads

9. a handmade crochet necklace inspired by Pip's new book

10. secret santa present for the loveliest christmas party there ever was.

my posts have been sparse lately, but my family has been very busy moving house (which took a VERY long time...), i've been finishing uni and then got sick, and life has just been crazy in general...again. now that it is holidays, however, i endeavour to make a serious effort in blogging, including giving Under The Olive Tree a bit of a facelift! i have been working on its new look which will be revealed at a later date. tomorrow i head to summer camp for a week. more soon when i return!

xx

colours from abroad.

Yesterday at midnight I arrived home from an amazing trip shared with amazing friends in an amazing country. i feel so blessed to have been able to head to nepal to get involved in a small village community by renovating their school and helping out with teaching the kids for a week. it was an incredible experience, and i wanted to share just a few of the vibrant colours i captured whilst overseas. i hope everyone gets the opportunity to do a mission trip. it definitely puts life back into perspective - you focus on the lives of other people, focus on loving other people, and find yourself realising that there are more important things than the very small problems that you're facing. the world is big and there are huge issues that need to be tackled. it can be overwhelming, and because of this we often find ourselves doing nothing. i know i've been guilty of this many times. but this quote was in the back of my mind the whole time we were doing our 'little' bit over in nepal:

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.

HELEN KELLER

The greatest universal need is the desire to be loved. You don't have to travel half way around the world to find people desperate for it, they live in the same street as us. Don't refuse to do the small thing you can do.