sending me crazy

Okay...

So here's the sad truth...

MY KIDS ARE SENDING ME ROUND THE TWIST!!!!

I don't know exactly what the cause is - but I'm really at the end of what I can tolerate from them.

I think it's probably a number of factors at play.

For one... they haven't been able to 'go wild' outside much lately... the weather has keep them indoors, and I think that 'cabin fever' has started to set in.

Plus, with me working now, their routine has had to change a bit too... which doesn't always please them.

And they don't get as much time with me... so when we ARE together, they seem to have turned into NEEDY little monsters... each of them wanting my full attention, ALL of the time.

Which just makes me wish I was at work...

(loving work, by the way)

Anyway, the other day I managed to keep them entertained for hours with the simplest of activities.

Just a few recycled materials, and a roll of tin foil.

Bread tags... beer caps... plastic bottle tops...

Who would have thought...

They made their own currency... precious gold coins (beer caps) silver coins (plastic bottle tops cover in tin foil) and unusual little key cards (bread tags given the tin foil treatment)



The 'minting' process itself lasted ages, and then they went off to play shops... buying and trading services from on another.

I'm not going to pretend that everything was perfect... but it was delightful to see them working together...

They were industrious...and focussed... and they LEFT ME ALONE for a while...

(you'll have to ignore the serious case of bed hair that my boys have going on)

dreary weather

Well, today is one of the dreariest days we've had this winter...

Cold... dark... wet...

Sitting here listening to the pounding of heavy raindrops on the corrugated iron roof.

It's kind of day which makes me long for a wood burning fire...

And makes me miss my mum.

On a day like today, she'd have a roaring fire going. She'd assume her position, stretched out like a cat on the mat (which always amused me, since she could barely tolerate cats) Soaking in every possible wave of radiated heat. Sometimes she'd lie there for hours at a time. Even when she couldn't get up or down without assistance. It was her favourite place to be. And I would lie beside her. It still feels all wrong to walk into that house, and not see her there.

Anyway...

We don't have a wood fire here.

Instead I've opted for the simmering pot of G.P.S. on the stove all afternoon. In case you're wondering, that would be Garlicky Potato Soup. For some reason, my family are obsessed with acronyms - and like to have our own little codes for everything. It's been that way for more years than I care to remember, and not likely to change any time soon.

But I'm getting off-track again.

The delicious aroma of slow cook onions and garlic is filtering through the house. The windows are getting a little steamy, and I'm terribly tempted to draaw a smiley face on the glass with my fingertip.

But I resist.

Since I'll be the one who has to clean it up...

I'm feeling in a bit of a limbo at the moment. Don't really know what to do with myself. I have 100s of projects in progress (no exaggeration, unfortunately) and yet I'm wanting to start something new.

And I can't decide whether to indulge myself or not.

What to do?

getting pricey!

I started reycling yarn about two and a half years ago... and I can still remember the first garment I unravelled.

A hand-knitted grey cardigan, with patch pockets... 100% wool.

And I can still remember the mess I made of it!

Getting those seams undone was a nightmare. I didn't really have a clear idea of what was seam and what was stitching, so I kept snipping away at things which I should have left alone...

Long story short?

Every ten metres or so, there was a break in the wool... just because I had been a bit too scissor-happy. It really pays to take it nice and slow, and if in doubt... DO NOT CUT!

But as you would imagine, practice does make perfect... and these days I could almost do it with my eyes closed.

So if you're strugging along with your early efforts - don't be disappointed - I was exactly the same. With time and perseverance, you'll master the technique of knowing which thread to snip.

Mind you... something else that has changed in those few short years, is the cost of a jumper. When I first started, I would generally pay $4 for a knitted top. These days, the same type of top in the same op shop???... $8

Now $8 is an amazing price for a WHOLE garment's worth of yarn, but the price has doubled! How cheeky is that???

need more yarn

I really need want more yarn.

This ripple blanket is really chewing through my supply of bright colours.

I'm not even half way through it yet, and I'm already running out!!!

I've started paying close attention, and each stripe of colour is eating through about 50g of yarn...

So it's time to add some more colour.

I found this fabulous bright orange jumper at the local op shop yesterday - it will be perfect for the blankie - but I've got some unravelling to do first.

I'll be sure to take some progress photos of the unravelling process for those of you who are curious about it, and don't forget that you can always take a look at my tutorial on recycling yarn if you want more information.

oh happy day...

So, yesterday morning I was sitting at a local cafe... minding my own business...

when I saw a woman walk past the window...

WEARING THIS VERY HAT!!!!



I almost jumped out of my skin with excitement!

I mean, I know that my stuff has been selling... but this is that FIRST time that I have seen a stranger wearing an accessory that I MADE...

I know... I'm easily impressed... but it was a big WOW moment for me

still smiling about it now!

busy bee...

The last few weeks have been a blur of sequins and lycra - no time for any blog posts!

Last weekend, Little Miss Six had her first calisthenics competition of the season... and the prelude was a month of madness, trying to finish all the necessary costumes!!!

The girls scored wonderfully - much to EVERYONE's surprise (including the coach)

And now, I can get back to MY craft... I've been missing it terribly...