I’m one of those people who has resisted signing up for Facebook – until now that is! I really have no idea how to use it but have managed to upload some pics etc and would love you to visit via the link on my sidebar. I noticed you can also link to Twitter from there. Hmmm….
1000 miles an hour
That’s my brain at the moment. No sooner do I sit down to do something than I have to leap up again and then there is the constant noise – none of it’s very conducive to calm and rational thought. Add a teething little one (yes, again!!) into the mix along with sleep deprivation and life is, well, a little messy right now.
It’s been a full on week with the show preparation, music lessons, stitching group and …. what else? I can’t remember now.
Sound familiar to any of you Mums out there? š
Creativity with the children has taken second place but I’ve managed to fit in a few moments here and there.
Jamming with the girls. Did you know that finger sucking can be quite instrumental? Speaking of unusual instruments, check out these guys who make all their instruments from fresh vegetables.
More colour swatches. I’m pretty much trying anything and everything now to see what effect I can get. This one was painted, scrunched then dried.
The results are pretty random, some turn out a little like preschool paintings!
I think salt resist is one of my favourite techniques thus far.
Christie over at Childhood 101 has recently suffered the tragic loss of an unborn baby and is asking for others to speak about their own experiences in order to help women going through miscarriage. I don’t feel inclined to go back over my experiences but perhaps you would like to visit her blog and make a submission. It’s a very good thing to have the support of others at these times and I think many of us don’t receive the sort of support we need.
My Melbourne Show entry
Hooray, finished in the nick of time!
A doll and her doll!
I used 3 different yarns for the big doll’s hair – sheep’s wool, mohair and alpaca in three colours.
If you’re braving the show this year please do pop in to the art and craft pavillion to see one of my dolls “in the cloth”. She (they!) will be in the Novelty Toy section.
Little embroidered wool felt shoes (recognise the bird print Nic?)
This will be my first entry into any art and craft competition so it’s quite exciting. Thanks to Nic from Yardage Design for the heads up and encouragement. Wish me luck!
Committing to creativity
I’ve been increasingly frustrated by the lack of time I get to work on my own art and craft projects. Sometimes it seems every waking minute is spent caring for others and working at jobs that aren’t particularly thrilling or inspiring but nonetheless essential.
This has led me to ponder my role and responsibilities as primary educator of my children and the fact that I have many talents I can share with them and partly fulfill my need to create at the same time. So, as of this week I’ve made a commitment to be more creative with my children even though it means more mess and more planning. Because it also means more fun for us all and education that is not monotonous.
Here are a few things we did this week. Colouring in pictures together.
Making a terrific mess with shaving cream and paint.
Constructing and painting insect models that also became pretend lollipops. Check out the fierce concentration!
We’ve also done wool threading, picture painting, baking and playdough. Now I need to start planning for next week, I think we’ll need to go scouting for some new materials!
Lil’ Mim sisters
I finished the other doll I was working on, her new owner loves the colour blue and has hazel eyes with brown hair. I decided to give her super long hair, I just love a doll with long hair.
This is the first time I’ve made a pair of dolls for sisters, I think it’s really beautiful that they’ll both have their own special doll for Christmas. These 2 are about 13 inches tall and made with the my usual favourites – cotton tricot, carded wool, mohair yarn and lovely prints for their dresses.
Last night I started work on my doll for the Melbourne Show, I’ve left it a little late, but it’s cool, she’ll get there!
Strawberries and cream
That’s what she makes me think of. She is a custom order I’ve just finished for a little girl. I’m working on a doll for her sister now. I knitted her a little bolero shrug out of cashmere that turned out very nicely even though I don’t really know what I’m doing when I pick up the knitting needles.
A back view of the bolero shrug.
I like to always put a little surprise like this into my customer’s parcels. I want them to be really delighted when they open it up and get something extra that they don’t expect.
I hope her new owner likes her!
Rain, rain, don’t go away
Last week must have been my lucky week, not only did I get the parcel from Nic, but I also won Becky’s giveaway. 3 patterns, a knitted dishcloth and some soap. Thank you so much Becky!
I’m loving the vinyl tablecloth I picked up at Spotlight today. If you’re crafting with kids a vinyl table cloth is essential!
I’m so grateful for a wet winter, the garden is flourishing. Daffodils are one of my faves.
Lots of broad beans, we planted hundreds of seeds we saved from the last harvest.
And the most thrilling of all – the first blossom on the apricot tree (can you see it?)
In the midst of all this rain the grump in me is finding a few things to gripe about. It’s my first winter with 4 little ones who want to get out to parks and for walks and can’t in this weather. It’s also nearly impossible to get much washing dry (I won’t give in and buy a dryer – never, never!)
I can’t complain too much though, the tank is constantly overflowing, it’s wonderful.
Some people are really sweet
As a general statement (I’m good at making those) I’d say there is a great deal of greediness in the world today. People who want, want and want some more. Who take from others thoughtlessly.
Through having this blog I’ve gladly found some people who are the exact opposite. They are thoughtful and will give without expecting any return. They will send you something just because they know how nice it is to get a parcel. Or just because they know you would like it or could use it.
Thank you Nic for a parcel of loveliness that brightened my day.
Thank you to all others who take the time to think of me and who bother to read my little blog.
More adventures in colour
Now I’ve started this thing with colour I can’t stop, it’s so much fun!
Magenta and turquoise handpainted on homespun with sea salt resist.
Magenta and red hand painted on homespun with sea salt resist.
Yellow and purple hand painted on homespun with circle (I used little plastic bottle lids) resist.
Light green hand painted on homespun with leaf resist.
Make your vote count
Unless you live under a rock you will be aware tomorrow is an important day for Australia.
When I was growing up there were a few “taboo” subjects – one of them being politics. There was no discussion, just an expectation that you would vote a certain way simply because that was what the family had always done. This is what I did for a while until I became interested enough to really look into who I was voting for.
I urge you to take the time to find out as much as you can about the party and candidates you intend to vote for. You may be surprised at what you uncover. Don’t rely on the media to tell you who to vote for, they are very biased and sensationalist.
So, who am I voting for tomorrow? I’ll tell you who I won’t be voting for. I don’t think an atheist who supports abortion up to birth and has communist affiliations is what our country needs. I hope that whoever wins will steer Australia in the right direction and have the citizen’s best interests at heart.
Happy voting!