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As things stand.

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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My next reno project…

by Kelly 2 Comments

Involves a free doll house with some furniture and accessories that apparently sat in someone’s spare room for many years.

It’s a little worse for wear but mostly cosmetic and the classic style reminds me of a beautiful vintage doll house I had as a child (it apparently belonged originally to one of my Aunties – my Dad found it in an old shed on the farm and cleaned it up for me).

Searching online has lead me to having to restrain myself from buying all sorts of ridiculously expensive but absolutely gorgeous miniatures!

Nope, this is definitely going to be a budget project. Wish me luck!

Oh, and if you have any ideas or recommendations I’d love to hear them 🙂

Daisy’s Garden

by Kelly Leave a Comment

I was so thrilled to be the winner of Carol’s “treasure chest” giveaway recently.

And even more thrilled when my parcel arrived today!

So many beautiful laces, buttons, silk threads, silk ribbons – oh my!

Thank you so much Carol, all of these pretties will be put to very good use!

Daisy’s Garden is a fantastic little shop for embroiderer’s, do take the time to have a look.

Carol also has a blog with lots of tutorials and resources (and giveaways!)

Waldorf softie doll tutorial part 2.

by Kelly 3 Comments

I’m a little embarassed at how long it has taken me to complete part 2, but I’m terrible at finishing what I start! Part 1 of the tutorial can be found here.

The pattern can be downloaded and printed from here.

For the body you will need 2 9x 9 inch pieces of knit fabric. Use a good quality knit with a percentage of elastane for a good result. If the knit is too stretchy, your doll will stretch out of shape.

You will also need clean carded wool for stuffing.

For the pixie hat you will need approx. 11 x 11 inch piece of knit to be folded.

Place your knit pieces together, right sides facing. Pin the body pattern on with the most stretch running horizontally and trace around it onto the fabric.

Place a few pins to stop the fabric moving. With a ballpoint needle and matching thread, stitch on the lines you traced, leaving a gap where indicated. Use small stitches to make strong seams. If you’re concerned about seams parting during stuffing, stitch right around the body piece again, leaving the gap open.

Cut around close to the seam lines being careful not to snip the stitches! Snip the curves. Be very careful when cutting between the legs, go slowly.

Turn the body piece right side out, running your finger around the inside seams to turn all the pieces properly. Ain’t that cute!

Stuff the body with clean carded wool. It is up to you how firmly you stuff, but keep in mind that the wool stuffing will relax over time. When stuffing, try to leave a hollow space where you will insert the neck.

Pop the head into the opening and stick pins into the “muff” that you created when making the head. Make sure the raw edges of knit are folded in around the neck – the great thing about knit fabric in this case is it tends to naturally roll inward, so it makes it easy to get those raw edges in.

Now, beginning at the back of the neck, hand stitch all the way around the neck, catching the head and body together. I use a little “catch stitch” which is almost invisible. I use a doubled thread in a complimentary colour. Stitch the little shoulder seams as you go. I stitch around the neck twice to ensure it’s really secure.

You can do a full head of hair if you wish but here I will show you how to do a pixie hat with a little hair tuft peeking out. Using a lovely, natural yarn make 3 – 4 loops. Pin these to the top of the head so that the cut end is poking towards the back of the head and all the nice loops are at the front, over the forehead. Stitch across the loops in a place that won’t show once the hat is on to secure them to the head.

Now the hat! Fold your second piece of knit with right sides together. Place the pixie hat pattern (triangle) onto your fabric against the fold where indicated and with the most stretch running horizontally. Stitch along the long, straight side, up to the point, leaving the bottom edge open.

Turn right side out and poke out the point of the hat with a knitting needle or similar. Placing the hat seam at the back of the doll’s head, pin in place. See how the knit has rolled up at the front to make a rim?

You may have to tuck up the hat at the back, which is easy to do. Using a catch stitch and matching thread, sew all the way around the hat, catching it to the head.

How does your doll look? I’d love to see it!

I’d also love your input (i.e. let me know if there are any mistakes in the tute!)

Just a little heads up. I’m approaching 800 blog posts and am in the mood to celebrate with a little giveaway. I’m thinking this mushroom doll may be featuring. Ssshhh!

Stitch markers

by Kelly Leave a Comment

I was in need of some stitch markers so thought I’d make some up for my Madeit shop as well.

They’re $4.50 for a set of 4.

They can easily be put in with a yarn purchase without having to pay for postage.

Speaking of postage, Australia Post has been very popular this week for all the wrong reasons, mainly that they are way too greedy and are making things really difficult for business owners who rely on the post to get their products out there.

“Change” is running a petition which you can sign here.