Heart times in the city!

I really wanted to call this post No sex in the city but one of my sisters thought it would be bad for her reputation. Ahem.

And while there isn't that, there is a whole lot of other stuff. Drama stuff. You know all that stuff that happens when you are living through big life events? New babies, death, trauma, new love, weddings, surgery...big life stuff.

It's like you are living inside a bubble and nothing else matters. You know that life is going on around you but you don't care, it doesn't interest you, there's no more room in your head to deal with it.

The people in the bubble with you are living the highs and lows too. They get it. But for everyone else it's difficult. It's like its ok when they are talking about your stuff, but then when they start telling you about their cousin's new job or their great theatre tickets, your eyes glaze over. It's like there's no room left for other stuff.

It's almost like we should have a sign on us that reads: Our Dad is recovering from open heart surgery. Please be nice to us. Please excuse us.

One morning we went to visit my Dad in intensive care and he was so happy to be on the other side of the surgery. He was chatty and ready for rehab and the rest of his life. He asked me to knit his nurse's three year old son a jumper and bring it in the next day!

We practically skipped all the way home. We visited a department store on the way and bought handbags for us and fancy chocolates to thank the ICU staff.

Another visit he was exhausted, he couldn't breathe deeply and could barely speak to us. At home we discussed him and we cried. We went to an action movie to take our minds off it.

Before hand we had discussed how he would walk on Wednesday and he did. He moved downstairs to the ward, he sat in a chair by his window and looked out over autumnal Melbourne, at an oval he used to jog around when he was a med student.

We were sure he was home free. His quadruple bypass was in the past and we could talk about which day he would be released. We went out and had a delicious dinner and fancy cocktails. I slept for about six hours despite the crazy inner city noises.

And then this morning we learned that his heart beat had shot right up over night and unable to control it with medication, they had shifted him back to the ICU.

He's in the best place he could possibly be. He knows we all adore him.

Two steps forward, one step back.

Life!

PS. Abby we miss you like crazy. In June we'll take these pics again with you in them.

PPS. If you haven't entered my giveaway, you totally should. Who doesn't need an I love craft t in their life? Leave a comment on this post.

PPPS. You'll have to excuse any misplaced commas or typos for the next little while, my Dad is my editor.

PPPPS. I've said it before and I'll say it again, THANK YOU for your comments, calls, emails, texts and love. Trust me, its making this so much easier for all of us.

PPPPPS. Thanks for returning my post blogger. I am most disappointed you didn't bring back the comments too.

Genki giveaway.

Ok, here's the thing: two of my sisters and my Mum and I are sitting here waiting for the surgeon to call to tell us that Dad is out of his operation. Then we can go to the hospital and see him.

Today has been one of the longest days of my life. We've walked the city streets, we've had coffees and picked at sandwiches and now we're here and waiting and occasionally I'm knitting and I need a distraction.

So to take my mind off it, I thought we'd have ourselves a bit of a giveaway. Well actually my gorgeous friend Chanie did. She wrote me a letter the other day. Have a look, see what you think and leave a comment below.

Dear Kate,

When Genki created the “I love craft” tee it was inspired by women like you. Not a flash in the pan kind of craft girl, but the one that weaves the beauty of craft into her everyday and by sharing it with others makes the world a better place.

Excuse the soppiness, but as someone who’s very new to craft (but always admired from afar), I now get what all the hype is about. While my work is often messy, crooked and a little dodgy, I’m hooked.

I love having a peek into your life via Foxs Lane and enjoy the warm, funny & insightful comments from your beautiful community of readers.

So here is a pressie from Genki to a lucky Foxs Lane follower who is a lover of all things crafty. I have an “I love craft” Genki tee to giveaway in the size & style as chosen by the winner (see photos).

All they need to do is tell me what's the next crafty project on their to do list.

In case they don’t know this already, Genki tees are all made here in Melbourne from 100% Australian or NZ cotton and are limited edition.

Good luck to everyone!

Stay genki,

Chanie x

The boatneck t is also available in white with green print.

How cute are those t's! I hear all the cool crafty gals will be wearing them this year.

Check out the rest of the Genki range and Chanie's blog.

We'll choose a winner on Friday.

And thank you all sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much for the emails and comments about my Dad. I and in fact my whole family have been moved and overwhelmed. We really appreciate it.

Update: The surgeon called. He's out. It was a success. We're off to the hospital now.

Love::heart::ache.

While its true that Foxs lane was created as an online journal of the stuff I make, somehow it has evolved to also be an outlet for me to express how I'm feeling and to capture a moment in time.

Right this minute in time I am not feeling all that great. I have constant butterflies in my tummy and I am having trouble eating and sleeping and concentrating.

On Monday my Dad is having heart surgery. I know its for the best. I know its routine surgery. I know its a small amount of time and then he'll have years of healthy, happy times across the road from us.

But he's my Dad and I adore him and it kills me to think of someone I love so very much in such agony. I can't stop myself from thinking about the details.

So this weekend I am squeezing these girlies and their Dad tightly and often. I am taking lots of pictures of them to take to my Dad in hospital. I am trying to be positive and normal.

We'll celebrate Mothers' Day with a bonfire and a quiet day at home and I'll be thinking of my Mum sitting by my Dad's hospital bed as he checks in and does all his tests.

I know it is officially Mothers' Day weekend here but why don't you give your Dad or the Dad of your kids an extra big cuddle. Dad's are pretty awesome.

xx

On my mind.

The truth is, I've got so much on my mind right now that I feel like I could explode. Happy, scared, excited, protective, nervous, overwhelmed, proud, challenged, grateful, in love...it's all there.

I've always said that I'm the type of person who deals with things intensely as they happen. I discuss, I think, I workshop and process, but then after a while its done and I can move on. A bit of a roller coaster for those around me, but its it's my way and mostly it works.

Over the past few years I've found the woolly crafts incredibly helpful in the processing of emotional stuff. If my hands are busy with a hook or some needles, it helps my mind focus on the task at hand. Its almost meditative. Hands moving, head thinking.

This morning with so much emotional stuff going on and a plan to spend some time in Melbourne next week, I have my woolly crafts on my mind. Which projects I am working on, which projects have time limits, which projects I can pick up and put down and which need a bit more thought for complicated stitch patterns and colour choices. And then if I finish the projects I am in the middle of then what next and what needles and yarn do I need and patterns do I need to print out?

At breakfast this morning, Indi asked me how many projects there are in my queue before I get to her leg warmer request. There's the Tikki pattern test, Michelle's pattern test, Dad's hot water bottle cover, Tania's baby Milo and then hers. Cables are in this winter she informed me. Thank goodness its only Autumn I thought!

So what gets you through the stressful times?

And what's on your mind today?

Why don't you play along over here.

Have a fabulous weekend and the happiest of all Mothers' Days! x

Pretty pillow.

The next step in the caravan prep is the really fun part, the sewing part. I need to sew up pillow cases and fitted sheets and doona covers for the four beds and some curtains to cover all the windows and then one for each bunk bed for privacy.

I made a start yesterday with a pillow case for Miss Jazzy.

First I measured up a pillow case that I already have.

Then I made a pillow case from these measurements from scrap fabric.

Then I ripped up the scrap pillow case into bits and measured these bits adding seam allowances.

Then Miss Jazzy chose some fabrics and I followed the measurements and made her a pretty pillow case.

Then I crocheted a trim around the edge using this tutorial. Too easy.

I've popped the deets on Ravelry here.

Miss Jazzy slept on her new pretty pillow case last night and this morning claimed she had the best night's sleep EVER!!

Since then there have been little piles of fabric appearing all over the place. The one above was put together by Miss Pepper.

I'd better go and get to work, she's a tough task master that one.

Have a great day y'all.

Details.

These are the tiny details that are getting me through the fights at breakfast, the can't find any socks, the constant hum of the washing machine, the after school pick ups and drop offs, the lunch boxes and the every day routine.

These are the tiny details of our bigger picture, our great caravan adventure.

The caravan itself is in Ballarat getting sealed and upholstered and fixed up. There has been a hold up with the car we have chosen and we might need a back up plan, but the details are still going on around us.

A new to us granny rug for our bed.

A stack of old china crockery for the kitchen.

A meeting with the school principal who has given us his blessing and is excited for us.

Computer searches of how to make elasticised sheets and curtains and stenciled names.

A pair of new bathers. Ahhhhhhhhhh beach and warmth and sand and bathers.

Discussions about a DVD player, yes or no? How many computers to take? How we will access to the internet? Will I blog? Phones? A GPS? How many pairs of shoes can I take? eeeeeeeeep!!!!!

The start of a collection of sewn pot holders.

A definite yes and a date for the family staying here to move in.

Cleaning and decluttering for that family.

Lots of tests of colours for the inside and for the stripe on the outside.

The studying of a map and planning our route. My goodness it's a long way.

And bedtime reading material.

Right now a couple of months seems like an eternity. But with all these little details going on around us, its starting to feel real. Hooray!!

I'm excited. What are you excited about and looking forward to?

Bye. x

Three dress challenges.

I've had a few sewing disasters lately. A couple of sewing mess ups that have had me avoiding my machine and even my sewing room all together.

First there was a knit dress for me that I could hardly get over my head, let alone squeeze the rest of me into. How on earth did I measure that so wrong??

Then I measured again and sewed another dress only to discover that I looked like Kermit the Frog when I tried it on. Waaaaaay too green!!!

So after a week away from the machine, it was time to return. But how??

I decided that what I needed was some design and sewing challenges.

Challenge one: Pull five bits of vintage sheeting out of my stash without thinking or planning. Do not pause to consider how they will look together, just yank and sew.

The result is The Green Sleeve Dress.

It's in my shop.

I added some lace around the hem and a napkin pocket, but other than that I played by the rules and I think it worked.

Challenge two: Make a dress from all the bits and pieces lying around on my desk. Do not pull fabric or trims from the shelves, make do with what's there.

The result is The Bits and Bobs dress. The process was scary at times but a lot of fun and not like any dress I've made in ages.

It's in my shop.

Challenge three: Finish one of the dresses in my works in progress pile.

The result is The Little Tree Dress. I have absolutely no idea when I started this one. Perhaps it was as a gift for a new baby. In any case I am happy to have finished it and popped it in my shop. I'm guessing its about a size 0-1 but I'd err on the smaller size to be sure.

So that's where I'm up to. Who knows where I'm going next. Do you have to trick yourself into doing things sometimes?

I hope your Monday is a fun-day.

Ciao. xx