A bit of this and that...

Well since I last blogged there has been a fair bit of kindy work, and a fair bit of Creative Memories "work" (if you can call training at a 5 star resort "work" LOL) but there has also been a bit of cropping using Chris Lothian's fabulous "Fast Formulas".

There has been a bit of spinning (more "Ivy" and some "Happy" from Kathy's fibres)  I think I am addicted to Navaho plying!!!

There has also been some more knitting for charity.  The pink one with the heart is going to a friend's new baby girl.  The heart is a bit crooked but I am hoping that is part of the handmade charm!  This wool is so delicious and soft to work with that I am dreaming of a Baby Surprise Jacket (Toddler version) in lime and watermelon stripes for Miss Maddie.

Amongst other things there has been a slow and tentative start on my February WIP - all I can say is thank God for leap years because I am going to need the extra day this month if I am to get it finished LOL

Happy friday,
Nell

Back in the crafty zone!

Why will I never learn that when my crafting mojo is at a low I just need a few quick easy projects.  There is nothing like a bit of instant gratification to get the crafty juices flowing again.  A friend on www.ravelry.com is collecting little hats for a NZ hospital that was affected by the earthquakes so I have been "playing" with some beautiful watermelon coloured 4ply from www.kathysfibres.com and some leftovers from my stash.

This little hat ended up too big for the hospital but found a willing recipient.  I love how this one turned out!  I also really love that it turned out how I planned.  I find crochet so easy that way - I could never mess with knitting the way I play with crochet.  Now I want to make some smaller versions of these for the hospital.  If anyone else is keen to get involved Kathy and I are sending the hats off at the start of March.

Some more impromptu projects - the kids had school swimming this week and needed a separate bag for their swimming stuff - these took next to no time to make using bits from my stash (I think I bought this fabric to make jammies and never got there?)  I lined them with a really thick vinyl that was bought to make a weighted quilt for Autism SA (I sometimes have good intentions - I bought all the stuff and then it got too hard and the child it was for moved on before it was finished - I still feel a bit guilty about that so it was kind of nice to at least put the vinyl to good use)  If I was making these again I would try using the iron-on vinyl as this is pretty heavy duty.  Not to worry as I figure I've probably only got a few years before these Mummy-made bags will be considered seriously uncool!

I've also been doing some alterations on a nasty little 80s number for the 80s Murder Mystery that I am going to on Friday.  My alterations left me with enough fabric for 2 whopping great scrunchies to complete the look - urk!!! The 80s were so not good!!!

There has also been progress on my applique borders and I have finally figured out what I am doing for the Very Hungry Caterpillar.  I may or may not have been slightly sidetracked by a yummy Ruby layer cake that fell into my bag at quilting last weekend (I know - so against the simple living stuff and the 12 WIP but I just HAD TO!)  I am itching to start that project!!!!

I have also spent considerable time op shopping with the Madster (ostensibly to find 80s accessories)  The last thrifty finds included a pair of near new pink converses in Maddie's size, a metre and a half of vintage floral (yeah, I feel just like Kate www.foxslane.blogspot.com )  The gorgeous blue bowl cost a whole 50cents and the Royal Albert saucer (I LOVE Royal Albert!!) was 30cents!!!  I have a slight obsession with mismatched china.

Last but not least, today I found these new cups (4 in blue and 4 in red!) that fit perfectly in the coffee machine - oh happy day!  Can you see a trend emerging in my new crafty space?

You won't hear from me again this week - after teaching tomorrow I fly out Thursday for my Creative Memories Leadership Conference at Kingscliff (such a tough life!!!)
Until next time,
keep smiling,
Nell
xxx

Getting into the Groove

This dear boy started school this week.  He went off happily and confidently.  It felt good knowing that he has an awesome teacher, and a great group of classmates going through from kindy with him.

He was extra happy to see one of his favourite people, Kathy (who volunteers at our kindy and had popped in just to help settle them all - Kathy is one of the sweetest people I have ever met so I can understand Dan's crush on her!)

It has taken Maddie and I a while to get used to being "home alone" just the two of us!  I worked Tuesday and Wednesday but today I feel like we have truly found our new groove - just the right mix of housework and playtime.  I took Maddie to Spinners and Weavers (how very strange to just have one little person with me!) and she played quite happily so that I could actually get some spinning done!  There may or may not have been a little bit of adding to the stash (but I figure I have earned it with all the destashing and finishing and purging I have done lately!

Look how organised my storage looks in the new craft room!

On the weekend I also managed to finish my last project for January - my gorgeous ex-pat SIL sent me this tea towel last Christmas and I thought it was much too nice to use as a tea towel.

So now I need to start thinking about February projects (including the dreaded caterpillar quilt!)
Happy Thursday to you,
Keep smiling,
Nell

A Much Better Day and more Page a Day Layouts

Today was a much better day.  I think it always helps to have Daddy around to put things in perspective LOL

My big girl made meat pie with a pea floater for tea - so proud of her, she is becoming so competent in the kitchen now and I am even starting to let her stir things on the stove and cut onions with a proper knife.  She is showing that she is up to the task and really shines under all the praise and the "master chef" scores that her family give her.  I love that my kids love to cook.

I have enlisted Hubby's help with the bath/teeth/bed routine and tonight seemed much calmer.  It is funny, we had a big storm here tonight and I realised that I had felt exactly like that - a big build up of stormy skies and rain clouds and negative energy and now I feel just like the calm after the storm, all washed new.  I think I need to remember an old favourite quote that says "Life isn't an all out tug of war between misery and bliss, sometimes it is not the end of the earth, it is just one bad day"

I managed to get the 2nd coat of white paint onto the remaining walls in my craft space today and then realised that unfortunately it is going to need ANOTHER coat before it is done (Grrr!)  I also did a bit of pottering around my sewing table and threw out a lot of junk and recycled other bits and pieces for Dan's classroom and the kindy.  It felt liberating to throw some stuff that I know I will never finish and I found a few bits and pieces that really don't need much work at all to finish and then put in the present box.  I also found a few half finished softies that really should be done and saved for Pip's Softies For Mirabel drive as I felt bad that I didn't get any finished for them in 2011.

Late last night I did a few more pages for my page a day layouts.  I used mostly paper scraps.  I love it when I can just use up bits and pieces and still be happy with the results.

So how about you?  Are you having a productive weekend?

Scrap lifted from an old Scrapbooking Memories Magazine - I love the freehand /doodling look.  Might have to do some  more like this!

Using scraps that were left on my table

Very quick 2 minute page

Another scraplifted idea from Scrapbooking Memories

Scrap lifted from a Bo Bunny advert and modified to use CM  products  (the line through it is because I was too lazy to take it off the everyday display!)

Happy weekend,
keep smiling,
Nell

MEAN MEAN MUMMY!

This feels like it has been the longest holidays.   We have had SOOOO much fun.  There have been playdates, trips to several playgrounds, beach days, family days, lots of baking, licking of spoons and bowls, lots of "making" - sewing and scrapping and papercrafts.  There have been tea parties, water fights, sprinklers, wading pools and picnics.   Yet as I write this my daughter is sobbing in her room because I won't put up the 7 person tent so that she can sleep in it tonight.  My littlest has fallen asleep on the floor of her room after crying herself to sleep because mean, mean Mummy said that 3 days of no nap was 3 days too many.  My son has just grudgingly put back a huge box of hand-me-downs that he emptied and threw about the room in a fit of rage.  Despite a puppet show, a visit from a lovely friend, and a whole pack of chocolate biscuits, it has been a TOUGH day.

I thought long and hard about whether I wanted to write this here but you see, I don't keep a diary anymore, I blog instead and I like to hope that maybe there are others out there who know and understand my frustrations.

I adore my kids.  I would do anything for them (well, almost anything, putting up a tent on a whim on the one night of the week that I selfishly reserve as my own is not one of them - wink) but I want to say this PARENTING IS A TOUGH GIG.
In lots of ways I find my paid job (teaching preschoolers) far easier than the 24/7 kid wrangling.  Most of the time I have great kids, but put all 3 at loggerheads with each other and me and it can be hellish, and at the end of the day you rarely get any thanks or appreciation.  I look around at the crumbs, and the sticky patch of I'm-not-sure-what near the fridge, and the shoes left wherever they were taken off and I am just a bit bewildered by it all.  I have been a parent for 7 and a half years and somedays I still feel as powerless and as clueless as when they first placed that tiny newborn in my arms.

Please don't get me wrong.  This is not a wallowing in self-pity or a woe-is-me lament, this is me saying "Is this normal?" Is there anyone else out there who sometimes feels like it is all too much, and like it might never get easier?  Is anyone else fervently looking forward to Monday?  It makes me so sad that I feel like this.  I am hoping that the insane sibling rivalry stuff and the throwing/destructive stuff and the temper tantrums are all just a passing phase.  Please tell me that you have been there too.  Please tell me that you understand? Please tell me that this is a temporary gliche in an otherwise happy house.

Yours from the crumbs and chaos,
Nell

Simple Living Pledge

I've been thinking about this coming year a lot.  Thinking about how I want our home to feel.  Thinking about how much I love reading to my kids but hate the nagging and whining and meltdowns that precede our bedtime stories.  Thinking about how much t.v. my kids watch and whether it is worthwhile.  Thinking about how I will cope later this year, working 3 days a week.  Thinking about how I tend to overcomplicate even the simple things.  Thinking about how much joy we get from our garden, from eating things we have grown or made from scratch.  Thinking LOTS.

When I saw thisI knew that I should get involved.  I think taking the Simple Living Pledge can mean different things for different people.  It certainly doesn't mean that I am planning on spending 3 weeks in the forest eating berries and foraging for edible weeds (not that I would judge you for that)  but it does mean that for 3 weeks I might have an everyday reminder to consume less, to live more, to dream more, to turn off the telly and play with my kids, to blow the dust off the pasta maker, to maybe "make do and mend" more often.  Hopefully it will be a reminder to declutter and simplify.

Bring it on.

p.s. to all you fellow Aussies, happy Australia Day!  We had an awesome day eating woodfire pizzas and chocolate pav with great friends!

Chorizo and Spinach Fettucine

Isn't it funny how blogging actually changes your life?  This was a thrown together tea but I had to stop eating half-way through to take a photo to go with the recipe because it was just so yummy!!!

This is basically like our usual fettucine recipe I just mixed it up a little.  Just chop one largish onion and some bacon and fry it up in a glug of olive oil with a couple of chopped chorizos.  Add in a couple of handfuls of baby spinach and some sundried tomatoes towards the end.

Mix together about a cup of grated parmesan, some cream, and an egg yolk.  Stir through the rest of the ingredients and add to some cooked spinach fettucine.

YUMMO (oh, and I cooked the onion, bacon and spinach first and reserved some for the purists in our house before adding the chorizo and tomatoes - that kept everyone happy!)

And lastly I just had to share this photo because I love that children learn in so many different ways.  This sweet boy is about to head off  to Primary School.  He has very set ideas of what he wants to learn, and of what he needs to know before he gets there.  He asked Hannah to teach him to count by 2s, 4s and 10s because he thought it might be useful to know that before next Monday!  We are doing lots of reassuring that he doesn't need to know it all - just to be willing to learn, and "have a go"

Zippo happening on the craft front.  Hoping to finally get the craft room painting finished this weekend.
Happy Wednesday!