Help?

Hello!

How're things with you?

I've just been sitting here looking at the pictures and videos of the awful devastation caused by the floods in Queensland and feeling pretty helpless and devastated. I can't even imagine how terrifying it must be for all the people living through this disaster.

So, we've already donated money but its time to make a difference with some crafty action. Early last year I crocheted a bunny and auctioned it off on my blog to raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake and I want to do something similar again.

But I need your help. What should I make? What would you be likely to bid on in an online auction? What do you think would raise some serious bucks? A dress from my Everything But The thread range? A screen printed t'shirt? A knitted/crocheted softie? A knitted girls' dress or cardigan? A crocheted cushion? Something else I can make?

Thank you so much for your help.

I hope you and your family are safe and well and happy. XX

10 beanie things.

1. This beanie was the first birthday prezzy my Farm Boy received this year. I cast off and darned in the ends and gave it to him just after mid night on the seventh. Oh how I wish I could reach up there into that top photo and adjust the brim so the ribs sit straight.

2. Did you know that knitted beanies, like this one, are started on the brim and knitted up to the crown, whereas crocheted hats start at the top and work out to the edge? Fascinating huh!

3. Farmer Bren wears a beanie most days to protect his ears from the wind. He has two favourite beanies that his Nana once knitted for him. She was the most amazing knitter. I think for the rest of my life I will try to make him his favourite beanie.

4. Knitting this beanie from wool that a blog friend hand spun and then gifted to me was the most wonderful feeling. Thanks Tracy!

5. Knitting this beanie from hand spun pushed me a little bit closer to buying some merino sheep to have our own certified organic wool source.

6. The one hundred and ten meters of wool it took to knit this beanie were the first one hundred and ten meters entered into my newly installed KnitMeter. Its over there on the side bar. Oh my goodness, I really am a knitting geek now, there's no denying it.

7. This beanie is Raveled here.

8. This beanie was knit while watching season two of Weeds.

9. I love that by knitting two and then purling two and then knitting two and then purling two...it created these cool looking ribs.

10. I love this beanie pattern. I'm pretty sure that I'll knit a few more in the future. But I think one of the best parts of it isn't the pattern at all, its the bit at the end of all the written, knitting stuff where the author wrote: Feel free to distribute it, copy it, profit from it, learn from it, discard it, and/or share it. Pah! on copyrights that keep loved ones warm! Pretty cool huh!

Finally, thank you all for the wonderful Birthday messages you left for him yesterday. You guys are the best chuck out the rest!

See ya! XX

Birthday Boy!

Happy, happy, happy, happy birthday Farmer Bren!

Wishing you a year that is full to the brim with laughter, adventure, gadgets, dancing, singing, beauty, inspiration, love, apps, happiness, Dad jokes, family, fun times and everything that is good.

You totally rock our socks!

Let the celebrating and adventuring begin!

XXXX

Preparing & parenting.

Its our boy's birthday tomorrow so today we are busy, busy, busy.

We are drawing and colouring in and knitting and wrapping and knotting and baking and freezing and planning and giggling.

Oh how we love our boy.

Yesterday Miss Wendy emailed me to suggest that my kids might be so demanding at the moment because they sense that I'd rather be somewhere else (ie at my sewing machine). So today I have closed the door to my sewing room and they have my undivided attention. I haven't said 'hang on a sec' or 'not right now' or 'can't you see I'm in the middle of something' or 'careful the iron is on'. I have been available and present. I have listened to their stories and answered their questions. I have made lots of snacks. I have included them in everything I am doing and I have cuddled them and let them sit on top of me until they were begging for space.

I love that Indi has drawn me in my Hunter boots.

So far, so good. Everyone is calm and happy and cooperative. I wonder how long it'll last. I wonder how long I can last.

Its fascinating that one tiny change of thought can make such a huge difference.

So how about you? Have you got any parenting pearls of wisdom for me? Are your kids sitting on top of you as we speak? How long do you think you could focus solely on them before you went bonkers and had to make a mad dash for your own space? Do you remember trying to tell your distracted Mum an important story when you were little? How do your nieces and nephews cope when you tell them you don't want to jump on the trampoline, you just want to talk to their Mum?

have fun out there. XX

Dreaming.

I can't be bothered being a mother today. I'm tired of telling them not to pick up the puppies by their necks or legs, not to bring sand inside, to be nice to each other, to wait a sec, to put their plates in the sink, to clean this up before they pull that out, that they can't possibly be hungry again, that clothes aren't dress ups..........

I want to play with this pile of gorgeousness instead.

The book I won in Tracy's wonderful giveaway. The gorgeous skein of her hand spun that she so generously included and is begging to be knitted into a beanie. And the pile of fats for sun-hats that we chose yesterday after a wonderful crafty girls picnic in Ballarat with Andi, her kids and her parents (who said I look the same as I did last time they saw me 20 years ago!!) and with Jodie, Rachel and Maya, Lizzie and Annie.

For some reason my idyllic picture of sitting on the sun lounge with my knitting and an iced drink always ends in me being covered in sand from their 'cups of tea' and having to get up a hundred time to fetch more water.

Oh well, they'll all be asleep in about ten hours.

Have a great day!

I choose.

So here we are on the third day of the new year and I have yet to commit to any resolutions. I know I don't have to, but I like the contemplation of the past and the optimistic look towards the future that a new year brings with it.

I've had the usual: be more patient, live in the moment, make more, buy less, drink more water, exercise, call people back....rattling around in my head but I make them every year. This year I like the idea of a word or two that will underpin everything.

After much contemplation I have decided on my words: I choose.

I am great at being chosen, great at letting other people choose for me, great at wandering along for a while before I realise I have no idea what the choices were that helped me arrive at where I am and I am great at avoiding conflict. But I am not great at putting what I want first and choosing and sticking up for my own choice.

This year I will choose.

I know I have many years left of putting my family first but that's not really what I'm talking about.

I'm talking about learning to say 'no', about getting in touch with who I am and making choices accordingly and about making choices socially.

Over the past few days I have started putting my I choose into action and gosh it feels good. I have been doing some great things and hanging out with people who I really enjoy. There will be difficult times and choices ahead I know that, but bring on the I choose, I'm so ready for it.

Do you choose?

Happy!!

Coincidentally the last Critical Mass of 2010 fell on New Years' Eve, so yesterday we spent the last afternoon of 2010 decorating our bikes and making them look oh so fancy.

Then in the early evening we gathered with all the other decorated bikes and their riders and pets, behind the main street for our turn to ride in the New Year's Eve Parade.

There were the usual tractors, fire engines, motor bikes, brass bands and us. That's me and Pepper on the far left.

That's us again when we saw Bren and Jazzy in the crowd.

And there is Miss Indi on her yarn bombed bike.

Miss Jazzy refused to be in the parade for fear that she would miss out on the lollies lots of the floats throw out into the crowed as they pass by.

Miss Pepper did so well on her bike riding three circuits in all, but I have to say that her steering leaves a lot to be desired.

It was such great fun and quite emotional riding our bikes through the main street of our town being cheered on by thousands of people.

Later we partied on at Meg's and for the first time in forever, the five of us were together and awake counting down to the new year, hugging and kissing and waving sparklers around. We were at a party until after midnight!!!!!!

So lovely people, on this first day of our planet's 2011 circle around the sun (thanks Dad!), I wish you health and happiness and love and creativity and inspiration and passion and satisfaction and many, many completed projects.

What did you get up to? Hope you had fun.

Have a great one. XX

Eeeeeeeeeeeeekk, our caravan adventure is happening THIS YEAR!!!!!!