I've put the kettle on... come on in

So, here I am. A blank page. A clean slate.

I probably should say hi. Welcome. Thanks for stopping by for a cuppa and a chat.
If you’re here it probably means you’re a friend, family or a lover of handmade who follows my business – Little Toot Creations – on Facebook. I thank you for coming and showing your support (or exercising your idol curiosity).
For those who may not know me well, my name is Rebecca (Bec), I live at Port Macquarie on the Mid-North Coast of NSW, Australia and I am a wife (of almost 10 years) and a mother of two girls (Alice, who is almost 5 and Lucy, who is 2 and a half). I will get to my husband in a minute.

In no particular order, some of my favourite things in the world are family, friendship, food, craft, gardening, travel and a good cup of tea.
‘My Two Hands’ is my little celebration of the ‘good life’. The ‘simple life’ I talk about over at Little Toot Creations. It is my hope to make this blog a place where I can share my love of all things made by hand, grown and prepared with care and nurtured with motherly love.
Since starting my business in 2010 I have, sadly, sacrificed many of the things I love. Bottling a batch of homemade tomato relish, pulling weeds, watching a new release film or getting lost in a good book. Making pasta from scratch, reading the Sunday paper… I could go on.
In days gone by I was also quite an enthusiastic (albeit not that great) photographer. I get lost in beautiful images. I miss my camera. These days it only gets used to capture funny moments with the kids or to photograph my latest sewing project.
I will be 33 this October. I met my husband when I was just 17. We were married when I was 23. My husband, Clinton, grew up on a farm in the NSW Southern Tablelands. From him (and his parents), I have discovered the joys of vegetable gardening, of preserving fruits and vegetables while they are in season, and I have realised the pride and joy that comes from handing skills and knowledge down through the generations.
Most of you probably know me for my handmade creations. I couldn’t sew a stich until 5 years ago. I dabbled in crafts – I recall a cross stitch I completed for my Mum when I was about 21 – and I always admired ‘creative’ people, but I never thought I had that within me. But I grew up surrounded by handmade things – my grandmother was an excellent sewer and as children we wore many of her creations. It wasn’t until I became a mother myself that I started to remember and appreciate the simple, handmade life we enjoyed as children (thanks Mum and Dad). And I wanted to recreate that for my own family.
At our place we have filled our (rather small) backyard with vegetables and fruit, rather than flowers. We use solar power. I recycle. I try to buy Australian, handmade or we make do and mend. But more about that later.
Let me close this introduction by saying that through ‘My Two Hands’ it is my hope to inspire and motivate not necessarily others but MYSELF to take time out and get back those things that I love. To be a better person. To live that life I aspire to. To pause and appreciate a home-cooked meal straight from the garden. To capture a beautiful image. To share a great read, or a must-try craft project with friends.
And I thank you all, friends, for stopping by. See you here again soon.

x Bec

Photograph by little glimpses