Toy Society

These two little folk are off to Brisbane as part of the Toy Society Drop.  Sad but true story: their bodies were knitted at least a decade ago and moved interstate with us in a zip lock bag.  In fact, when I thought about it, I don't remember ever knitting these dolls with my husband around (so I think they may have been knit pre 1995 LOL)  When I was in highschool and first year uni I knitted HUNDREDS of these dolls.  They were mostly commissions for friends and family and also sold through a craft shop (and I am also sad to say that as a nieve teenager I had no idea about the copyright issue - although I think Jean Greenhowe patterns have been around so long that you are allowed to sell limited numbers? ) Certainly I have seen many of them at fetes and fairs and op shops over the years!

Anyway, I think I knitted so many of them that I just kind of burnt myself out and lost interest! I am very glad that these two have finally made it out of the UFO pile and will hopefully find a good home.  They have already passed the cuddle and squeeze test conducted by a very excited small boy who has named them "John" and "Londa".  The same small boy WILL be posting them this afternoon and I am keeping fingers crossed that he doesn't ask for his own set of them LOL

On a totally unrelated topic, I have thoroughly enjoyed the guest blog series on "mothering" over at http://www.soulemama.typepad.com/ Some seriously beautiful writing.  I've been thinking about mothering a lot lately as my dear sis takes her first steps into the mothering jungle, as a beautiful friend undertakes a second precarious pregnancy, as my extended family (in Queensland) celebrate milestones and special days without me, and as my own little family close the chapter on "babyhood" forever and I move into mindfully mothering a toddler, a preschooler, and a tween.  I don't think any mother can ever get it right all of the time.  At my best I am an above average mother - I feel this way in the midst of sleepovers, successful birthday cakes, time spent at the park, and days when they find something special and handmade on their bed as a surprise or something hot and home-made for afternoon tea.  At my worst I wonder whether I should ever have been a mother at all - I look at the crumbs and the piles of laundry and I hear the cross, exasperated, frustrated words hurled out of my mouth and I cringe.  Most days we are a happy compromise, somewhere between the two extremes.  It is a tough gig, but also one of the most rewarding.
Happy Friday to all Mothers!
keep smiling,
Nell