Waste-free pillows (and sweeter dreams)

We'd been putting off the inevitable decision, and cost, around choosing a new pillow for quite some time. Huz and I bought curved foam pillows more than 12 years ago, and despite cleaning the cover and protector regularly, I'm sure that there were cities of dust mites living in them. Yuck. Probably not great for my dust-mite allergy, and possibly the reason I'd had recurrent sinus infections. And our pillows were starting to disintegrate, with tiny bits of foam flaking off. Gross. Apparently, you're supposed to change pillows every three years, or every six months if you have allergies, so we were well overdue! We started to look at what would be the best waste-free option for us.

Firstly, we wanted to find something home compostable, so we could avoid landfill. That discounted latex foam from our search. Organic cotton, bamboo, wool, and feather were all compostable options we considered. But, of course, there were ethical and environmental considerations to take into account with each option. Distance the materials would travel to reach us, water used in creating the fibre or filling, treatment of animals in animal-based fillings, treatment of fibres and chemicals used in production... And cost. These factors are going to be different for each person, depending on where you live, what you have access to, health considerations, and what you can afford, so one of these may already be right for you. But what was best for us?

Where we live, in Tasmania, we're always happy to try local options to avoid products travelling by air and sea. So, after a hunt around, we were happy to find Tasmanian grown buckwheat hulls. These are a by-product of buckwheat farming. They're also grown by a supplier of our favourite organic grocer, so we asked her to order us a sack with her next delivery, keeping carbon miles relatively low. And as they're not generally a highly sought-after product, the cost was pretty low too (ours was about $10 per pillow). Buckwheat hulls are often used to make yoga bolsters and cushions. They've been used for sleep support in Japan for over 600 years, and you can actually buy ready-made buckwheat pillows in a few places online, so we didn't feel like we were planning something completely eccentric!

We had the sack of hulls sitting in a corner of our lounge room for almost a year while we wrote our book, so it's taken a little while to get to making the actual pillows, but making them was super easy. I wish we'd done it sooner! Here's how we did it:

We already had zip-up pillow protectors, so we re-used those and filled them with a comfortable amount of hulls. I should add here that pillows are actually not a requirement for living and it may even be better for our bodies to sleep without them, but while we get our heads (and necks) around the concept of pillow-free living, we've started with about half a grain sack each of hulls. We will consider reducing the amount of hulls until we're sleeping comfortably without a pillow. Next we zipped up the pillow protectors and added a pillowcase. And that's it. So easy!

To clean the pillow, unzip the pillow protector and pour out the hulls. Then give the protector a wash, and if you can find somewhere to spread out the hulls and give them a little sunlight (perhaps a clean bedsheet or flyscreen away from breezes), that should help to keep the hulls fresh.

So, what are buckwheat hull pillows like to sleep on? Well, they're a little noisier than your average pillow! It's a bit like sleeping on a beanbag, or even a wheat bag/heat pack. They do take a little rearranging, and they're a bit firmer than we've been used to. But they're also super comfortable. The hulls are quite light and soft, hold their shape well, and when you get the right position, it's wonderful. They provide good neck support, and are low-allergy, chemical free, and unscented. The airflow through the hulls keeps them dry and, because they're non-nutritive, and the hulls have regular movement, they're not attractive to pests. I found the knot at the back of my neck disappeared overnight, and my allergies and sinus infection seemed to clear up right away. We did find initially that we tended to move more during the night, and even wriggle down the bed a little, but we actually felt better for that, and persisted. It took Huz a couple of nights to get used to the buckwheat hulls, but now he sleeps comfortably every night.

My favourite thing to try is turning buckwheat hull pillows into enormous dream pillows. Herbs that promote deep sleep and relaxation (such as lavender, rose petals and hops) are fab. The dried herbs can be added in a handmade sachet, or scattered through the buckwheat hulls, for a beautiful sleep.

When it's time for us to replace our buckwheat hulls (in about 10 years), we'll take them out to the garden and compost them and source some new hulls... Great for our garden, good for our bodies, and gentle on the planet.

~ Lauren. xx

Flea market frenzy

Last weekend we struck garage sale gold. After a few weeks decluttering, we decided to venture out garage saleing again. The words "Estate Sale" were enough motivation. And then there was the garage sale where the seller was wanting to sell everything to go fishing... We have enough for a few blog posts...




And I have enough fabric to keep me going for a good few years... Time for a declutter again, I think. Time to let go of projects I may never get to... And think up some new ones. What to do with 8m of vintage barkcloth? I couldn't very well leave it screwed up on the floor in the garden shed where I found it, and in perfect condition... but I must make sure it doesn't sit around waiting to be used in this house. It's too lovely for that.

Do you love a garage sale? 
What's the best thing you've found at one? 
What would you do with all that gorgeous fabric? xx

flea market finds :: typewriters and tea sets

I have to confess, these two finds are (mostly) Huz's. Actually, they are the result of wishing and hoping, and so I feel like there may be something to this *manifesting* that I see discussed around the place, and that perhaps we all played a hand in bringing them here... Little Owlet has longed for a vintage typewriter for so very long. We spied a beautiful yellow one in a secondhand shop for $150 and sighed as we walked away empty handed. And again when it was still there last time we visited. Oh if only....

In the meantime, we've been doing some decluttering and have made a few offers on freecycle and to friends. Decent things that we just don't really have the space for in our nest... Then last night, Huz read this notice on the freecycle list: "Offer: Electric Typewriter that has issues with a couple of letters"... Thinking that issues were probably ok for a couple of owlets wanting to have a play, he replied. As it turned out, he was the only person to reply. And the typewriter was his to pickup just around the corner from our nest. The previous owner's son had used it to type up his showbag list each year (bless!). Expecting it would be rather bulky and ugly in appearance, Huz brought it home to unveil... *Gasp!* After he opened the case and we picked our jaws up off the floor, we saw that it was almost identical to the yellow one we'd coveted. The freecycle gods have been kind.



The tea set was a gift to our new kitchen. I spied the cups and saucers at the second hand shop where we found the kitchen cabinet. Huz fell particularly in love with them on an erlier visit there and claimed them when we bought the cabinet... Coincidentally, when we were wandering through the second hand shop with the yellow typewriter we coveted, I spied the teapot. Even more amazing, they had two! We picked up the pot that was in better condition and now they happily sit reunited on our kitchen cabinet, waiting for late night tea parties between me and Huz. We are rather fond of them... But what I love most about the bits and pieces that feather our nest is the way they arrive here. The coincidences, the luck. The stories behind the pieces and the hunt for them. It's what makes our house truly a home.

I'm linking up with Flea Market Finds on Her Library Adventures today. Go and have a look and see what luck other peeps have had! 


Both photos were (very proudly) taken by Huz upon return from the hunt.

I made this...

Around the middle of last week I realised I'm off to Melbourne soon and the weather there was very ridiculously hot. And I don't own any t-shirts. Or many pieces of clothing to wear at all when the weather creeps over 30°C, which doesn't happen all that often in Hobart... I raced off on a cheapy t-shirt hunt (did I mention we froze the credit cards?), and found nothing decent. Anywhere. Until I found the Red Cross shop where having a 2 for $10 sale. Yay! Anyhow, among the bits and pieces was this kaftan...



I liked the colours and even the flowers, but so did not fancy myself walking across the tarmac in a tent. Comfy? Yes. Flattering? On my shape? No. And I'm going to Melbourne, not a tropical resort where I might get away with it poolside.

So I chopped it in half.



Today I had a moment or three to spare, so I sewed some fabric ties from some Japanese quilting fabric I had tucked away. I attached them just below the armpit by picking a little hole in the seam and re-sewing.  So the top half had instant shape and nice long, breezy sleeves.



The bottom half quickly became a very light, breezy skirt. Super dooper comfy and great for the beach, or garden, or home... anything.



Then I glanced at the bottom of the pile at an old denim skirt I wore before owlet times. That almost makes it vintage... Really comfortable and the shape suits me well, but the length. Ugh. Ankle length denim skirt? Not so much.

So I chopped the bottom off it.



See the pattern here? Then I stood in front of my fabric shelf for a really long time. And I pulled out an old fave piece of vintage Japanese scrap fabric and played with it. I had just enough. Exactly. Amazing.



So I made a border and found it works with all my shoes and clothes and I rather like it.



Brilliant stuff. I now have three extra pieces of clothing to play with. And all it cost me was $5. I'm going to attempt to post about more things I make, while I make them. I'll do a little Christmas catch up too. I'm also making a return to making things for the owlet shop and a return to markets! Yay! I'm really excited to be invited to participate in a revamped, beautiful local market, a couple of times this year. So there'll be lots of making going on. Watch this space...

basket case

This is part of our garage sale haul over the past two weeks... Suddenly my world is filled with awesome (and useful) vintage baskets.... Can one ever have enough baskets? Huz says yes. Between garage sales and an opshop visit mid-week, we've also managed a ballet costume, a vintage sheet, books, a zen garden...



A vintage cowgirl outfit...



And a festive teaspoon! Who could live without that? Nothing beats a treasure hunt when you're on holiday time...

I'm joining in with Flea Market Finds over at Her Library Adventures.

flea market finds :: last weekend's haul

We've had a couple of good weeks at garage sales and op shops... It's the perfect time of year for it, as Huz pointed out. Long enough away from Christmas, just right for spring cleaning. We've actually found ourselves at the garage sales and oppys completely by chance, just wandering by. We've scored the usual games and books for owlets, but here are a couple of extra bits that have filled our nest with lovely :)







I must say, the dresses are my faves. Little owlet looks so perfectly vintage and so completely at home in the red dress. And the pinny for Tiny is by Catimini. Nothing like finding French designer clothing at the tip shop... Why would you throw that in the bin?

You can find more flea market finds over at Her Library Adventures.

Now, because it's Friday night... and Blogtoberfest, it's time to announce the winner of last week's giveaway.... Tartankiwi! You have won the little love bird long sleeved t-shirt and a little something extra. A surprise... I'll spend some time over at yours this weekend and have a think about what you might like and get in touch. Thanks all for playing along with my weekly giveaways this month. It's been a pleasure getting to know some of you a little better. xx

unschool monday :: following + strewing

"Oh I could never home educate my daughter. She's so headstrong. She'd never listen to me..." This is one of the most common things people say to me when I tell them I home educate. I always find it amusing... Firstly, because I don't ask them why they don't home educate, but they feel compelled to offer justification. Secondly, because anyone who's ever met my owlets knows they're some of the most headstrong, determined kids you will meet. I could never make them listen to me. I could never teach them. Unless they specifically asked me to. So how do we fit everything in? How do we do it? Do we lead the way? Do we follow their lead?

Well, it's a little bit of both. A balance between following their lead and strewing the path for them. But always responding to a need. Sometimes if we sit back, brilliant stuff happens and they wander freely from one thing to the next. Other times, they need someone to point them in the right direction.

Last week, Big Owlet decided she wanted to camp. On her own. Outside. Reluctantly, we set the tent up, suspecting she may be inside before dark. But no. She took all her bits and pieces, rugged up in layers, and snuggled down for the night. It was a really cold night! We didn't sleep a wink, thinking of our small girl out there all alone. She slept better than ever, emerging to tell me of roosters in the neighbourhood, bandicoots around the tent and bush wees at dawn, under the lemon tree... That's my Big Owlet. Headstrong. Determined. She was afraid, but she needed to do this. And with our trust and support, she did.



We left the tent up for a couple of days and it became a feature of owlet play. It became known as the "Funfair Spectacular... Its Miracula!" (not actual spelling). There was a face painting booth, and inside, a music performance space. A Spiegeltent in my own backyard!



They played there ALL DAY. They wrote signs, devised a ticketing system and currency to pay for the attractions. They role played. Performed music... It was a brilliant exercise in saying yes and following their lead. Beginning with camping. Just going with the flow.



Then yesterday, the owlets were a bit weary. They watched some programs on iView, then proceeded to melt down when we suggested they stop, as they usually do when they've become vegetables early in the day. I asked Little Owlet why she couldn't find something to do. Why all she could think of doing was watching... "Because I don't know what to do, Mama!" She pleaded. Ahhh... this made sense. Strewing hat ON!



We started with the art cupboard. Pulling out the paints. Big Owlet muddled around and didn't know where to start. Then something sparked in my brain about a blog post on Altered Books. An unschooled girl Big Owlet knows and likes has been making some. So I showed her and we checked out some youtube clips for inspiration. We also checked out Lap Books, which are a tool some home schooling families use, but we deemed them to schooly. I showed her an old visual journal of mine which is similar to an altered book in apperance. Big Owlet decided altered books are the go... Then we found an old book each and off we went! An hour of fun, and learning there, at least, to begin with.



Later, I was lying down, feeding Tiny Owlet to sleep, when I stumbled across the next activity in my Twitter feed... LEGO Quest. Fantastic! I loaded up the website, ready to show them if they needed some more direction. Lo and behold, 15 minutes later, "Mama, I'd like to watch now..." So I showed them.

And they loved the idea! They built a garden. Then they went back to the art books.  Then they pulled out boxes and more LEGO and they were unstoppable! In the zone! Thank goodness... Back to following their lead.



At dinner that night, Little Owlet said "you know, Mama. I think art is really wonderful. Making art makes me happy". Me too. She's at it again this morning. Big Owlet has already solved another mystery we set for her and she's wanting to learn about art too. Yesterday's strewing has lead to a whole new path of learning for her today... and so we follow their lead.

unschool monday :: the cost

So it pretty much goes without saying... you don't home educate if you want to be wildly affluent and independently wealthy. In the short term, at least. It's a labour of love, rewarding in so many ways other than financial, and all that... Actually, we're extremely fortunate to be in the position where I'm able to be at home with the owlets full time. But it wasn't always this way...

Once upon a time, I used to work from home and got to a point where the work just wasn't worth the time away from the owlets. It was going solely towards paying Big Owlet's kindergarten fees, plus a small saving for the coming year. We were paying a huge mortgage and scraping by. Then one night, in a fit of dissatisfaction, I decided to quit my job. And unschool the owlets instead. "Ok". Said Huz, and so we began. We looked at the financial side of it first and decided it wasn't as scary as we thought, going to just one income, from one and a half...



Once we took out school fees (and potential school fees, as they were rising year by year), school camps and extras, equipment, and travel (Oh my goodness the travel! Twenty-five minutes in the car, each way, four times a day), and multiplied it by the number of owlets we could envisage filling our nest... It started to look do-able. Next we looked at the local public school and when uniforms, equipment, outings, camps, extra-curricular activities were all added up, unschooling still looked good on paper. We'd have to stick to a tight budget, maybe grow our own food, but that was one of the benefits of unschooling. Who needs a kitchen garden program, when you have a garden with food and every cookbook you could wish for and unlimited access? And when the whole world is your classroom, the cost can be worked around creatively, right?



So now we're bona fide unschoolers, here's how it works... About 50% of our income goes towards our mortgage. Any financial advisor will tell you this is not good. But that's how we roll. We're in it for love, not money and this nest is part of the lifestyle and the place where we make memories and owlets learn. So, we're paying more than we should. Add to that all the bills, which are somewhat increased because we are home most days, rather than in school and an office. Electricity is possibly higher. Clothing is mostly second hand or handmade. You'd be surprised how much beautiful second hand designer children's clothing is available on the internet. For a pittance. Food costs possibly the same. But, I can gear our weekly meal plan according to how much money we have to spend and be a little flexible with that because I don't have to fill a lunchbox, just hungry tummies. Instead of tuck shop lunches, we go out and this is where it gets costly, especially on days where I don't feel like cooking. But, we can eat porridge or pasta for lunch if that's all that's available...



Resources. Here's the big one. Unschooling works when you strew materials and ideas for children to spark their interest and help them follow a learning path... We strew resources found at the library, free online sites, garage sales, op shops...



There's an incredible amount available for free or next to nothing. It's rare that we buy books new. We see the world as our classroom, so going for a walk can lead to valuable learning. And it's free. The owlets take lessons in up to two paid activities each. Possibly more if they need to try something new, to see if they like it. Classes are expensive. We find friends to mentor and teach when we can. We seek out free activities in the city whenever we can. Birthdays are an excuse to bulk up our resources too... For example, Big Owlet was given a bunch of books and a world explorer's kit, full of science, art and other equipment, for her birthday. Outings and camps are part of our family weeks, so considered entertainment for us all, rather than a "school outing". I allocate a small portion of our budget each week to activities or resources, but often end up spending it on dinner out.



So, if unschooling is all about following the child's lead, what if an owlet wants something and we can't provide it? We find a way. Either we save for it, or if it's something the owlet particularly wants (and we don't), they save for it. They get pocket money, but if there's something they could do that's surplus to their regular contribution to family life, we pay them extra for it. Then it's up to them to save. Right now, we're introducing the idea of a budget to Big Owlet. We're sharing our family budget with her and she's working out her own budget so she can save for a particular toy she wants. She'd like to set up a shop too, to kick-start her earnings.... If there's something really unattainable that an owlet particularly wants, we sit down and work out a way for it to happen. Everything's possible. If it can't happen, we're honest about that. So far it hasn't damaged their learning ability, but rather aided it. Everything, every conversation, is an opportunity to learn. And even on one income, life can be rich and fulfilling.



Today's Unschool Monday topic was requested by one of the Sarahs over at Unschooling Sarahs. If there's something you'd like to know about, with regards to Unschooling and the owlet take on it, please feel free to ask. 

weekending

We had busy day out garage saleing again now spring is here and people are decluttering again. The owlets are all better, although Tiny Owlet still needed some rest, so the car was the perfect remedy... Along with her first babycino and cake for lunch!



A little quiet time later on, while the owlets played and snoozed, meant I finished this custom order of two mini mei tais. My trusty husky will be taking a little breather as she's been a bit crotchety. I think a visit to a day spa will do her the world of good... I'll be closing custom orders for a little bit while she rests and opening a new shop upon her return! But enough of that talk for now... It's Father's Day tomorrow, so I'm on morning duty while Huz sleeps in. Nigh- night! xx

flea market finds :: chairs

We went wandering today... To some of our favourite places, in search of some bits and pieces for the kitchen. Alas, the second-hand-shop gods were not looking out for us where the kitchen was concerned, but we did see this chair. That curve. Eames. LCW. Yes. Well, it's reproduction, of course, but the design is brilliant and the quality amazing and it was an absolute bargain. Tight budget* or no, we had to have it for our mid-century home which, although eclectic, is now housing a few mid-century bits and pieces.



Like the pair of Douglas Snelling chairs we picked up off a nature strip before hard waste collection a while ago. Actually, when Huz brought them home, we didn't know who designed them, but we did so love their shape. That curve. Then I saw a post here... and there it was. Looking a little more taken care of than our pair which are just ok for sitting. Just. A little project for the future... Along with finding more corners to put all these lovely chairs in.

More finds here

* Actually, we can probably count it as home educating expenses because we're all learning about design and history and have a comfy spot on which to perch to learn about such things, no?

mini fashionistas

This is what they felt like wearing today. Clothes that make them happy. The owlets love colour. They collect clothes from all over the place and they have quite a bit of luck with thrifting. Little bowerbirds.

big owlet:
rainbow tights
yellow polka dot sneakers
yellow skirt that she made herself
orange stripy top under white floral t-shirt - both garage sale finds.
pink beaded Hello Kitty necklace
red floral headband
pink sunglasses
hand-me-down raffia bag

little owlet:
blue mary-jane sneakers
hand-me-down jeans
mama made garden skirt
stripy t-shirt
jacket made by Maree (my Mum)
beanie made by a friend
library bag made by big owlet
tip shop handbag

We try to give our kids free reign with clothing. We generally support their fashion choices. Even if we wouldn't have chosen that outfit for them. Usually we ask them to grab an extra layer or two because it's cold where we live. Mini fashionistas is all about kids choosing whatever they want to wear, and wearing it with style. It's a celebration of kid style and freedom of expression. I'd love to see what your kids choose to wear, whether at home or out and about...

flea market finds..

That jar is so us... We've had a busy, scavenging kind of weekend. A spot of pre-rapture looting. First the beautiful canister on Friday night, then the op shopped linen and pattern on Saturday morning.



Little owlet is particularly keen on the pinafore but a bit miffed that the shoes aren't included.



The owlets scored with some vintage Polly Pocket toys at a garage sale - supercute from before Polly grew hips and bosoms. They picked up some tea cups for our special morning teas, a bumper bag of Hama beads, a wetsuit for big owlet and a hand knitted jumper for little owlet. We did break the budget, just a little. But oooh isn't it fun to wander and rummage the weekend away?

More flea market finds here.

unschool monday :: growing - part one

As I've mentioned before, big owlet's current interest is with all things that grow. So she tells me anyhow. Seems to have been her main interest since birth. She's our little bug lover. She picks up spider eggs to examine them, collects creepy crawlies and gives them names, like Emily the slater. She's our little Gerald Durrell. If you've not read his book, My Family and Other Animals, I highly recommend it. Its basically an account of a boy's unschooling in the Greek Islands. I'm reading it to big owlet for the first time and although the language is a little beyond her, she's enjoying it and it opens up all sorts of discussions on words and phrases she's not heard before... Her interest in growing things has extended to plants of late. In the picture above, are two pots she found in the back yard. She and little owlet shoved a pea in each and named them. Peatrice and Louis. They water them occasionally and are marveling at how much they are growing everyday and that little owlet's is smaller. I do love how these little unit studies or themes pop up naturally and we just follow along with them, strewing some interesting things in their path from time to time that relate. It keeps my creative head entertained thinking of little things for them.

I've also mentioned how we're designing a children's play area in the garden... Well I use the term designing in a rather loose way. The garden is a rather large project, bigger than our wallets and timetable will allow all in one go, so it will have to evolve gradually. We've so far endeavoured to source everything extremely cheaply and re-use/recycle if at all possible. This was both a budgetary measure and an ethical one... we'd like the owlets to understand the importance of re-using things and how to source things locally. How to make something beautiful or useful out of something thrown away. So, of course we started at the tip shop...



The owlets are no strangers to the tip shop, and we came away with armloads of stuff for our new space.



We've worked all day today. Digging out the old cat toilet - I mean sand pit - yuk!! Relocating old horrid sand, finding dirt underneath for digging in instead, then constructing a new, clean sand pit nearby, with fresh sand and although I hate adding plastic to an area I'd rather remain natural, we used a clam shell. Mainly for the reason that little owlet is the complete antithesis of her sister and has a phobia of all things bug or dirt. At least she can have cleanish fun there. And get her hands dirty without really noticing. So the smallest sandpit in the known universe has landed in our garden.



Other plans involve a mud kitchen, noise making wall and a log ring which I'll tell you all about tomorrow if I get it set up...

So that was our unschool monday. Not bad, given tiny owlet only allowed work in ten minute bursts and little owlet had a cold. We also managed plenty of screen time... something I'm hoping the outdoor area will provide distraction from before winter sets in.

While I'm here, Onlinecollege.org have put together a list of 50 best blogs in the unschooling movement. There are some brilliant blogs on their list and much to my surprise, owlet is there too :) Do go have a look if you are vaguely interested in unschooling, parenting, education, interesting stuff... Some fab reads there.

Also, feel free to join in here. Leave your link and have a look at what others are doing in their unschooling days/weeks.