Kelly

Cast on, cast off!

The knitting bug hasn’t left me and isn’t likely to any time soon. Likewise, the yarn dyeing bug 🙂

The pattern is Granny’s Favourite by Tikki. The yarn is hand dyed by me, merino 8ply.

It’s my first attempt at lace knitting, and though I had to enlist a little help from Tas to read the instructions properly, it wasn’t hard in the end.

I got some lovely little heart buttons from here.

It’s a snug fit on Gem, but luckily her 2 younger sisters will be more than willing to take it off her hands next season 🙂

I’ve been working on so much stuff lately it makes me giddy to think of it all! You could say I’m well and truly immersed in everything handmade. There isn’t much I can show you yet, but before too long I can reveal what’s been taking up my creative time.

Been sewing a little..

by Kelly 2 Comments

The cooler weather brings not only the urge to sew but the necessity as little girls become less little and need new, warm clothes.

This pattern is called Burda kids t-shirt, which seems rather drab to me – it’s more of a crossover top. The fabric is a stripy Japanese knit from Spotlight which I was keen to test out. I found it a little slippery under the machine, not too bad, but I prefer the Euro and Australian knits I usually buy. Yes, they’re more expensive, but you get what you pay for.

Gem loves the top 🙂

Funky pants – pattern and beautiful velour fabric both from Crafty Mamas.

The pants were too long, so I cut them off, hemmed them and made a matching headband from the excess.

I have plans for more leggings and long sleeved tops, of, and guess what?! I finished another cardigan, it just has to blocked and buttoned now 🙂

This has been a bit of a staple breakfast here of late – porridge with maple syrup and double cream. Yum!

Now I’m off to bake my bread and make a large pot of minestrone for dinner. Who says cold weather is dull?!

How do you do it all? Aka myth busting big time!

by Kelly 1 Comment

The question I am constantly asked is “How do you manage to do it all?” and the answer is so simple.

I don’t.

I’m imperfect. And the truth is, I’m probably more imperfect than you.

Just because I’m creative and love to make things doesn’t mean I do a better job than anyone else, it just means I prioritise creativity because I love it.

Just because my kids are (thankfully) well behaved in public most of the time doesn’t mean they don’t squabble amongst themselves often, disobey their parents and tend towards laziness, because, believe me – they do all these things regularly!

Just because my husband and I seem to have a perfect marriage doesn’t mean we don’t argue and treat each other unfairly at times, because that happens too.

Every time I choose to do something creative it is time that I’m not spending doing something that probably needs to be done. Perhaps my “admirers” are actually better homemakers and mothers than I am because I make the time to do things I want to do and they are more selfless.

So next time you look at someone and think they have it all together just remember that no one is better than another, we are all God’s children and all very imperfect.

God bless you all and have a very happy weekend!

I’m linking up with Raising Homemakers today.

New tools (or toys?)

by Kelly 2 Comments

Delving deeper into dyeing yarn has been a painful experience! On my back, that is – winding skeins and balls by hand is not only time consuming but doesn’t agree with my easily aggravated back.

I made an agreement with myself that if my last 2 skeins of dyed yarn sold, I would buy some tools. They did sell 🙂 So I now have a yarn swift.

And a ball winder. Watching the swift and winder working together for the first time is like magic!

I bought them from Petlins and their service was perfect.

I’m really pleased to see my yarn re-skeined, it shows off the colours better and gives a more even wind, hence a tidier appearance.

Oh, did I mention these 2 hanks are available for sale? You can head to my Madeit shop if you’re interested.

I’m hoping to have time to dye some new skeins over the next few days and I may just be drawing inspiration from the Limestone Coast and redback spiders! Sound interesting?

As things stand.

by Kelly 3 Comments

There are always so many things I want to do, constantly swimming around my head and it can lead to a feeling of futility – that I don’t have time to do all these things, that I don’t have my priorities straight, or that there is so much that half of it is forgotten anyway.

So here is my little self help session for the things that I want to do and are important to me at the moment.
I want to:

* Read the bible daily.

* Learn more about fixing our poor garden soil and working towards having a lot more success with growing our own food.

* Continue to dye yarn and hopefully sell it more often.

* Work on my husband’s art business and making it a tangeable reality.

*Learn more about incubators and hatching eggs and whether it’s a viable venture for us.

* Work on releasing some more embroidery patterns.

* Find more time to teach my kids all the skills I’ve developed these past few years!

* Get back into healthy eating and exercising.

And that’s a start, I actually feel like I’m doing “pretty well” at the moment but lists are a great thing to keep me focused.

How about you, what are you working on at the moment? What do you want to improve on or do more of?

In my classroom.

by Kelly 5 Comments

In my classroom the learning is flexible. Children are all different so why should they all learn the same things at the same rate just because they’re the same age?

In my classroom there is time for each student to have individual tuition.

In my classroom there are no set seats and in fact, if you don’t feel like sitting down you don’t have to (you can even go to the toilet when you want to and without asking!)

There are no bullies in my classroom. All students are equal, and although they sometimes tire of one another’s company, they are still expected to be kind and respectful.

In my classroom there are no set plans. If it’s a beautiful day we go out. If we don’t feel like working we do something else.

In my classroom prayer is encouraged.

In my classroom the truth is taught.

My classroom is governed by a higher authority. Not the Principal, not the state or federal government and not even me. It is governed by Almighty God and we work at doing His will.

In my classroom there is much laughter, hugs, kisses, respect and love.

My classroom is nothing like the classrooms of my childhood that make me shudder to this day.

My classroom is my home and my students are my children.

We love spending our lives together and wouldn’t change it for the world – thanks be to God!

Gossamer Dreams surprise Mother’s Day stocking

by Kelly 1 Comment

The Gossamer Dreams team surprised all newsletter subscribers with a Mother’s Day stocking.

It’s on right now until 1:30pm tomorrow. I’m lucky enough to be one of the guests!

I made some beautiful glass bead stitch markers.

And dyed some fabulous yarn colours.

‘‘

There are all sorts of goodies for sale with Mum in mind, but of course there is no reason why you couldn’t buy for yourself as well!

Head over to Gossamer Dreams for a look, You will find my hand dyed yarns under “Supplies”.

Happy Saturday

by Kelly 2 Comments

I awoke with a good feeling today, that sort of “I’m ready to take on the world” type feeling. Wouldn’t it be great if we could bottle that feeling and take a swig as needed? I’d be swigging it often, trust me!

Strolling around the garden I find it is very dry as we’ve had a lot of light showers but no soaking rain. Still, there are always good things to be found. Like the new, fresh blooms on the Datura.

Like the totally laden persimmon tree (and persimmon just happens to rank very highly in my list of favourite fruits!)

Like the red climbing rose that my husband grew from a cutting and that now insists on flowering 3 times a year! I’m not complaining 🙂

And in the kitchen I’m whipping up a batch of husband’s favourite pate fermente bread.

I hope your Saturday (or Friday as it may be for you) is feeling as good as mine.

God bless.

Christ the Priest

by Kelly 3 Comments

I promised Vicky a look at our beautiful Christ the Priest statue.

It was gifted to us by my brother in law, who is a priest with the Confraternity of Christ the Priest.

It took some getting used to this statue – perhaps because I’m used to seeing statues of Our Lord clothed in white or red but never green. I absolutely love it now and it takes pride of place on the desk (another special gift from a family member when she left to become a Missionary of Charity) that we kneel before to pray the Rosary.

These statues are available to purchase, and amazingly they are only $40!

God bless you all 🙂

3 ways to save money today!

by Kelly 2 Comments

1. Credit Cards.

I’ll keep saying it. Credit cards make people poor and stressed. Cut up your card now. Save for purchases instead of using credit. It’s a big trap!

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2. Shopping.

Don’t go shopping without a plan. This goes for groceries, clothes, appliances – whatever you are going shopping for. Have a plan, write it down if necessary. Decide before you go how much you’re prepared to spend and stick to it. Don’t impulse buy!

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3. Wait and reconsider.

You want to buy something. You really waaaaaant it! But do you need it? We are used to getting what we want, when we want it, right? If you decide you must have something, and particularly if it’s expensive and not a necessity, I dare you to wait (a week, a month?) See how you go without it. After the waiting period, do you still really waaaaant it? It can be worth the wait, especially if you decide you don’t actually need the item and can save the money instead.

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