Saturday, July 25, 2009

Hey visiting crafters, you MUST check this out

Hi crafters! Regular visitors will know that I am all fired up about this new group that I have found through bog hopping around on fellow crafters blogs that is : CRAFT HOPE.....You must check it out. Currently there are pictures of PROJECT 2 which was to make dolls (you can read more about it at craft hope). Well the photos of the dolls and their new owners are up and it is so beautiful I KNOW you will just cry like I did.

CLICK on the CRAFT HOPE Badge to the right of this post. It will take you there. You don't need a link, the badge is the link. There seems to have been a bit of confusion and I have gotten quite a few emails asking for the link. But the Badge IS the LINK.
I wonder what we will be doing for Project 4?

Friday, July 24, 2009

Oh for a model!


I write this post up with big excitement! I made these using a pattern. I get knitting patterns but crochet pattern tend to confuse me and I usual steer clear of gloves at the best of times, but I did it!!! I used rubbishy old wool just in case it turned out to be a waste. Miss Moo saw them tried them on and ran off with them immediately..."princess gloves mummy", a friend came over and saw them and oooooed "pride and prejudice gloves!" So it looks like I am making some more in good wool. They were pretty tricky to photograph too, really could of used my model.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Craft Hope

I love a good cause. I love getting involved and contributing to this wonderful world and "paying it forward" as they say. I must admit my zeal and love for this kind of thing is driven a lot by my faith and I truly believe that I was put on this earth to "help".
Even as a child I played games of rescuing abandoned dolls and toys (children), see I was a social worker right from the start!
ANYWAY, I have found this great project to get involved in : Craft Hope. It calls to crafters out there to help children in poor countries by providing good clothing, nice clothing, clothing made with love. Project 3 is just winding up but we can all hop on board for the next one.

Come on get involved! It IS a small world and we in the western world have HEAPS, let's share, and we can do it through our love of craft!!!!! To see more just click on the CRAFT HOPE BADGE and it will take you to the page.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Craft before Breakfast

I was woken early this morning by a bed hog. Let me qualify that : an unsanctioned bed hog who had been successful in ejecting his Dad but had been less so with his Mum. Finally I let go of the fight and got up. What to do at 6am? I spied a pile of wool felt that I had purchased a month or two ago and remembered some sweet little needle books I saw on someone's blog (sorry I can't remember you name but thank you for the inspiration). The first smaller one was done by the light of my computer screen as I didn't want to turn on lights and disturb the [my] peace, but the second one had good light and well the second one always turns out a little better doesn't it?


Monday, July 20, 2009

Kids pick the darndest things


I have been sick for a little while now and not doing much but for a smidge of knitting from my sick chair. This "tiger" was selected by a little person around here from a 1940's pattern book : Patterns for Fetes and Bazzars..It was amongst my Nan's stuff and the book seek to make items from "scraps" laying around the house. There are some classics I just can't wait to make for a laugh!

It is kind of freaky isn't it? I was hoping it might look like a quirky softee, but no it does not. Yet it was received with delight and giggles and is already a favorite with its new owner. Kids pick the darndest things.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Pin cushions



I got the pattern for the round pin cushion from Tammy over at Tammy's Times. Thank you! And the square one, well it ain't rock science!

PJ pants



I have had this flannelette laying around for way too long....pretty cute huh?

Saturday, July 11, 2009

It happened on the half axle

"I don't want to go" Tully objected loudly. "He doesn't want to come because he wants to go and play with Michael" Angus quickly dobbed. Michael lives across the road and is Tully's new best friend and they have been joined at the hip these past weeks. Seeing a possible opening to get out of roller skating I hastily offered " well I can stay home with him". As I said this I saw G's face crumple with disappointment. "I just thought this might be a nice family thing we can all do together".

Right there and then it happened, a situation that all mothers understand and more than likely have experienced. That is being coerced into something they didn't want to do through the means of emotional warfare and I was hit bad. Woman down! Woman down! My guilt gland was activated, caving was in progress . I found myself offering a solution that would win Tully's support for the activity. " How about you invite Michae and then we can all go happyl" ? Minutes later the kids, Michael included,G and I set off for some family bonding. As we drove I began feeling better about roller skating, why it must be like riding a bike once I got going I'd be off back in Xanadu! I pictured this in mind, me skating around the rink to old roller classic tunes, dodging and weaving through the newbies, my kids laughing with admiration :"look at mum go!". I began to wonder if I could even speed skate again. A shrill of excitement swept through me. "Yeah! Let"s go skating!"

We arrive, get our skates and I am a little embarassed to admit that I got mine on first and rushed to the rink leaving my husband to deal with the kids and tying their skates on. But I was cluey here, I remembered what a shock it was once you left the carpeted area and put a skate on the actual rink, how your skates slip out from under you so very fast; anticpation was required here. I gingerly began to move.,whoa! I nearly slipped out with the first movement. I recovered and began a very careful and calculated circuit of the rink. Left, right, left right-brakes are on the toes.

Hey! This will be ok, I think to myself. Top stoppers, remember stoppers and I will be ok. I visualised myself skating again, in my head I could hear Cliff Richard and the twang of Ballroom Blitz . Yes, yes I nod to myself I can do this for sure, the kids I are gonna think I am so cool. Circuit two: still clutching the rail, my 5 year old joins me. I am feeling confident now, I am convinced any second now it will click in and I will be rolling. So I offer her some adivce on "how to skate". She goes to fall, I stoop to stop her. My skates slip out. I crash backwards heavily onto my bum. Pain sears through me. Both kinds: actual physical pain and the pain of embarrassment. I abandon Martha and head with desperation to my seat. I am feeling giddy, I push kids out of the way, I must sit down.

Within five minutes I had fallen, damaged my tail bone (an injury that I am nursing a week later) handed in my skates and was now reeling in pain at our table. Later the real pain would set in, the realisation pain. For sure there is NO Xanadu left me, no half axles, no graduation to roller blades in my future. For now it is just me and the codeine left to ponder measures to take against succumbing to maternal guilt trips that will only lead to tears - my tears!

Pay It forward! Hop on board!

I got this idea from the lovely Polly Pratt. I am so excited to actually be involved with something in blog land!!!!
Incidently Polly got this idea from CraftyRie and thought she would give it a go!

Here's the deal:
I am entering into the following contract with the first 5 people who comment on this post and then commit to do the same on their blog. Just read below and if you feel up to the task copy the following into your blog and leave me a comment. I am willing to post overseas (I am in Australia, but remember you must commit on your blog to do the same to others).
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. Whatcha get is whatcha get.2. What I create will be just for you, with love.3. It’ll be done this year (2009).4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. Or it may be monstrous and annoying. Heck, I might bake something for you and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that’s for sure!5. I reserve the right to do something strange.6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to your blog post.
7. Send your mailing address - after I contact you.
Welcome to everyone. I will however, make an effort to do something that you like based on what I see on your blog, BUT there are no guarantees.
So that's that!!
Brilliant, I'm excited - who's on board???

Do you meet the :




wonderful art deco

rainbow scarf: photo by Martha

Friday, July 10, 2009

Pocket Money Should be earnt

In a bid to "simplify" the holidays a bit I gave my kids a certain amount of spending money each. The notion was that when this was spent, there was no more, therefore I would not be caving in with same purchases that added up to being quite expensive and culminating into more junk and stuff.

This hasn't worked at all. Instead it created money obsessed beasts that wasted a lot of time discussing and arguing about money. I was driven to despair by people at me about "what day will we be getting next weeks' money?" " I want to buy this xxx. I need to go xxxx" or the panic of lost wallets, at one stage accusations of theft! Not to mention the choices of purchase that appalled me. I had no role of guidance and hated what had transpired in my home: greed had arrived.

This was a good lesson learnt for all of us. For me: I am the parent and I have a job in teaching how money is acquired and valued. Them, the lessons were vast. I scrapped the project in the second week, to much objection, and things have been much quieter and pleasant. No one has mentioned a consumeristic thing in days and when I made a skirt for my youngest and bought 2 packs of cheap collector cards for my boys yesterday they were ecstatic and that was enough! Much better outcome.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Lazy Days SKirt



I had to make one of these Lazy Days skirts by Oliver and S. So generous to share patterns for free!
The fabric is Michael Miller and it has been in my stash for about five years. Martha had a sun dress out of it when she was 3 and now a skirt!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Patchwork


Let's go for a drive

Tuesday was "spontaneous go for a drive " day and we drove to Warrnambool. A beautiful seaside town in Victoria. I adore Warrnambool and really want to live there but for the time being we need to stay in Melbourne.

We went on the little motor boats that have been there since G was a boy, in fact I will post later a photo of him driving the very same boats! We had a ball motor our little boats around and around the lake. We had a deluxe afternoon tea and pizza for dinner. We loved walking up the jetty and the boys got a great kick out of freaking me out by teetering on the edge of the dock!











Review


Well it is time to have a look to see where I am at with my goals and what progress I have made towards them

OKE DOKE...

I don't have a water tank as yet. But we met the challenge of "155 litres a day / per person" set by the Victorian state govt, targeting water saving goals..in fact we were under and that's with 2 adults and 3 kids and a reasonable size garden and a swimming pool! Makes me wonder what people have been doing!

We recycle and the kids have been focussing on sustainability at school and have stepped up recycling a few notches in this household. But we still need to focus on REDUCTION....I do shop Op-shop more than I have ever done in the past. If I need something household I look second hand first before buying. I am also at that point where I am going to place a NO JUNK MAIL sign on the post box.

I still need to make more of our clothing. I have been using up stuff laying around the craft room But the card making addiction is NOT helping and maybe I could start using recycled stuff I find laying around.

My vegie patch was a DISASTER! But I am going to try again.
Cooking more and grocery shopping less is going well and saving packaging and money and health.
The kids are going really well with turing lights off and switching off power points. But there is always room for improvement.

This week I am to do 10 things "green"....and this will become a weekly post!

Monday, July 6, 2009

Granny Square mania

You may remember earlier this year when I started these:


I am pleased to say I have put my second granny square rug together this year...
This one is for my Uncle who turns 68 this week. Happy Birthday Uncle Bill!
I am sure he will enjoy this wonderfully warm and masculine looking rug in the winter months.



Friday, July 3, 2009

Week one : the holidays

eating out but cheap! $40 buys us a Turkish feast of dips and bread and other yummy things!


Watching DVD's in the morning in Mum and Dad's bed in spite of Mum's objections and pleas for time to wake up first



Martha baking Cakes




A new book for Mummy