Now.

Today is the last Friday in January, we're four weeks into 2011 and its the only Friday left of the school holidays. Today I have that fluttery happy feeling in my tummy for no real reason at all. Today it feels like its all good and I'm not going to question it but I am going to record this little moment in time.

Today; I am reading The Secret Garden to the girls.

I am eating sun warmed, just picked apricots, plums and berries. Mmmmmm

I am wearing a sundress, jeans, thongs and a straw hat when outside.

I am knitting bits of my charcoal cardi.

I am threading elastic through the neckline of a little dress.

I am trying to remember to get to critical mass at 5 this afternoon.

I am marveling at how grown up my big girls are. This morning I dropped them off at a cafe where they ordered and drank hot chocolates. I met them half an hour later at the fruit shop when I'd finished my deliveries. I must say my heart almost burst when I drove past them crossing the road holding hands.

I am loving that the boys are laying irrigation lines and planting carrots and beetroots. Farmers need to farm and after the uncertainty of the last few weeks after the flood that's what they are doing. Hooray!!

I am looking forward to the weekend when our Farmer Boy will be ours and we'll go swimming and hang out by the dam.

I am smelling lavender. Jazzy has been making fairy cups full of sparkles and flowers and beads and lavender.

I am imagining what it will be like when my parents build and then live on the block opposite ours where these photos were taken.

I am popping the auction cushion in the post.

I am listening to Pepper 'read' to me the pages and pages of stories she has 'written'. I must remember to film her.

I am marveling at Indi making eggs for the boys for lunch the past few days.

I am not shopping for school uniforms. A lovely lady stopped me in the street the other day to offer me three bags full. She saw I had girls and her girls are off to high school this year. Yay!

I am worrying about those communities trying to pick up the pieces of their lives after the floods. Like people have said all along, the recovery will be a marathon not a sprint, and we cannot forget about them now that the media circus has moved on.

That's me today.

I hope you are happy and I hope you have the most wonderful weekend.

Bye for now. X

Not so random.

I am thrilled to announce that the lovely Michelle has won my cushion cover auction. I couldn't think of many better homes for a granny cushion to go to. Not only is Michelle a fabulous crocheter herself, she also sent me a photo of her very granny lounge room and I think this cushion will fit right in.

After a few attempts at random colour selection that did not work at all, after leaving the whole package of wool and crochet hooks at the beach and having to wait for it to be posted back to me, I am finally on the home stretch.

Michelle, hopefully I will be posting this big fat granny off to you before the week is done.

Thanks to everyone who participated in my auction and to those who cheered it along from the comments section. You guys are so ace!

And just in case you thought it was all lazing about with my feet up and hook in hand at our place. ITS NOT! After playing buses, vets, doggies, babies and squeezing in some laundry and cooking, I have set up a bit of cupcake decorating so I can have a few minutes off to myself.

Now if only they'd stop describing each cake to me in minute detail and asking me if I like it....

Have fun out there. X

ps. Have you ever tried completely random colour selection for anything? Did it work for you? Mine was awful. I think maybe I'm too much of a crafty control freak.

A day.

We've been away at the beach for a few days. We left last Saturday when things just seemed too big and too difficult too deal with and came home last night.

Today is a strange, dream like, flitter from this job to that job kind of day.

We have been on the phone to plasterers about fixing our soggy kitchen ceiling, the boys have been chainsawing trees that have fallen down since the rains and have started to clean up around the place and we have been discussing leaving on our caravan adventure sooner than we had planned.

Indi is moving boxes of my stuff out of her new bedroom. Inside these boxes I am finding treasures from another time. Old diaries, fabric scraps, photos and other mementos from my life before now.

In one box I found the wings in the photo above. I made them and wore them to a dance party in the bush one time.

All my craft work used to be made in this fashion. I would draw an outline on a scrap of old op shopped blanket and then set my sewing machine to zig zag and colour in the shapes with millions of stitches.

After so many stitches, the work became hard and three dimensional. I haven't sewn like that in years.

This is today's craft. A row here and a row there on my grey cardi.

It is such slow going and the pattern is complicated but I am loving it.

And today the puppies started to eat food.

They gobbled it up using their whole bodies to launch them further and further into the bowl.

I feel the same sort of melancholy I felt when my babies started to eat solids and became less baby and more person. Any minute now they'll move away from our house and in with the chooks.

I'll miss these snugly, furry, sleepy puppies.

And I am thinking about all those affected by the floods. I can't imagine how emotional and physically draining this time must be.

I am crocheting round and around the back of the cushion cover and can hardly wait to stitch it all together and see how it looks.

Please be generous and make a bid on it if you can. ALL money raised goes to disaster relief for the families and communities that have been devastated by the recent floods.

What are you up to this sunny Wednesday afternoon?

Bye for now. XX

Would you??

Would you wear it as a hat?

Would you use it as a mat?

Would you place it on your chair?

Would you use it for your hair?

Would you give it to your Mister?

Would you use it to hit your sister?

Would you lay on it for a rest?

Perhaps you'd use it for a nest?

Whatever the reason, whatever you choose,

Please, please, please, please make a bid, you cannot lose.

All auction details here.

HUGE apologies to Dr Seuss.

Flood relief auction.

OK lovely people, let's have ourselves an auction!

The prize is this Grandma Daisy Cushion crocheted by me from the softest Australian and New Zealand wool.

Here's how it's going to work:

1. Due to the weight of this item, this auction is open to Australian residents only.
2. All bids for the cushion are to be in Australian dollars and indicated in the comments section of this blog post. Please include your email address in your comment.
3. After you leave the comment indicating your bid, please tick the box that subscribes you to the comments of this post so you can stay informed of the new bids.
4. There is no limit to the number of bids one person can make.
5. If you do not have a blog and would like me to place a bid on your behalf, please email me at foxslane@gmail.com with your bid and I will make one for you.
6. Offers are open from NOW and will remain open until Monday 24th January 9am (Australian Eastern Standard time).
7. The highest bidder will be the winner and must make an online donation to The Premier's Flood Relief Appeal and then email me both the receipt and their mailing address within 24 hours of the end of the auction.
8. Please be generous with your bids. ALL money raised goes to disaster relief for the families and communities that have been devastated by the recent floods.

This photo is to show you how big the cushion cover is

This photo is to show you how it would look as a beanie.

Thanks so much to Michelle for donating the wonderful pattern, to Sarah London for donating the round cushion insert, to Purl's Palace for discounting the glorious wool, to Toni and Carli for hosting the big list of auctions and raffles and to my family for allowing me the time to make the cushion. You guys are so ace.

So that's it folks, now it's up to you.

Let's raise some big bucks.

See ya. XX

ps. All the cushion details are on Ravelry.

pp. The back of the cushion will be random circles of colour.

Cushion cover ramblings.

Hello!

I was speaking to my farmer boy just before and he told me he thought I would have much better chances of raising some big bucks in my auction if I made something useful. Some thing practical. A cushion is all very nice and all, but a beanie is better.

I hope he's wrong.

I was loving the calming watery blues and greens but then the sun came out and changed everything and so I added some purple and pink.

Michelle's gorgeous pattern has five rows of petals but I'm thinking mine might need one more round before its finished. Maybe a red or a burnt orange. Did I just consider orange??

I just visited the biggest haberdashery shop I think I've ever been to and they looked at me funny when I asked if they had any round cushion inserts. Is that such a strange request? Well they didn't of course but they did suggest I buy a round velour Bratz cushion to fill my cushion. Sorry but NO WAY!! No Bratz cushion even for the inside.

Did you notice I'm sewing in the ends as I go? I am being so strict with myself on this one otherwise I'm scared I'll never do them. Jazzy's rug, my first ever crochet project still has all the ends undone.

Because I had to take a bit of time out from the cushion making yesterday to deal with our own water issues I might not finish this by Monday. I wonder if people will bid on a work in progress. Hmmmm...

So do you wanna see the back of the front?

So how are you? Are you auctioning? Buying? Making? Sewing in the ends?

Bye for now. XX

So far.

Oh crochet, I had forgotten how therapeutic you are. I had forgotten that meditative feeling of letting your fingers do what they know so well; yarn over, through the loop, draw up a loop, pull back through, over and over and over and over.

I agonised for ages about colour orders and combinations but decided in the end to go with something watery, it makes sense after all. Maybe I'll keep with the blues and greens or maybe I'll turn it into a bit of a rainbow, I'm not sure yet.

So this is my Queensland flood relief auction cushion so far. Michelle's pattern is so beautifully written and designed and is such a pleasure to follow. Thank you so much again Michelle.

My auction will be starting next Monday but if you are eager for some crafty fundraising action now, you can visit Jodie's softie raffle, Cath's brooch and cushion raffle, Nic's fabric giveaway, Georgie's Sorello and Fratello donations, Tas's handbag raffle, Tracy's quilt auction, Jenni's doll face cushion auction, Wendy's wrap dress auction, Becky's red cardi auction, Jennie's crafty goodness raffle, Lizzie's quilt pack auction, Fat Quarterly's subscription raffle, Sophie's brooch sales, Sarah's wall hanging auction, Alexandra's fabric auction, Michelle's Molly doll auction, Off The Peg's red dress auction, Brydie's t'shirt and dress auction...

Holey moley, I know there are so many more. Let me know if you're having yourself a bit of a fundraiser and would like me to add you to the list.

Stay safe. XX

Auction prep.

Armed with my 3.5mm hook, a rainbow of wool generously discounted by Andy at Purl's Palace (who are having a massive closing down sale right now) and the most gorgeous cushion pattern donated by Michelle @ TheRoyalSisters (thanks so much Michelle), I am about to get started on my item to be auctioned for the Queensland Flood Relief.

The auction for my cushion cover will kick off next Monday morning.

My auction will be part of a long list of blogger auctions and raffles that will go up on Toni's blog next Monday.

To all those affected by floods or fires, we are thinking of you and wishing you safety, dryness and relief from it all.

Gosh, let's hope I remember how to crochet.

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

SOLD!!!!

Firstly I would like to thank you all so much for your support with this auction.

Thank you for your help in setting it up. Thank you for your lovely supportive comments. Thank you for spreading the word on your blogs.

And of course, thank you for your unbelievably generous bids!

In the end, the highest bid went to Amanda of Eco-Possum. Thank you soooooooo much Amanda for your most generous bid.

According to the Care Australia website $200 will supply 10 families in Haiti with emergency survival packs.

While I was crocheting the bunny, I was hoping that his/her sale would make a difference and thanks to Amanda, I believe he/she really has.

And something tells me that this bunny is not going to be upset to leave this house...

Schools back!

I thought I was so prepared for the first day back at school. I had washed, combed and cut their hair, I had let down a dress hem, I had baked banana bread, I knew where their hats and bags were but somehow I had forgotten the school shoes.

One pair were far too small and the other pair have disappeared off the face of the earth.

So no photos of nice, clean school shoes this morning, just a bit of first day back at school, parent sponsored rebellion.

Let's hope this is a happy, productive and satisfying school year for all of our kids.

There's still a bit of time left to bid on the bunny. All proceeds go to the Haiti relief effort.

Pop on over to Vic's place to check out some more shoes, the theme chosen by this week's theme queen Gypsy.

The silly billy dress.

This dress represents many of my problem personality traits.

I started this dress at 11 o'clock last night after driving home from a few days at the beach, feeding the girls and putting them to bed.

I made this dress instead of unpacking the car, cleaning up from dinner, searching for school uniforms and shoes, relaxing on the couch with Bren, pulling out jars to sterilise before this week's jam making, cleaning out the stinky fridge, writing lists for the week to come, going to bed or doing anything else remotely useful or productive.

I made this dress in the most impatient manner. When seams were wrong I cut them apart with scissors, I did not measure or pin or baste or press. About half way through, I even admitted to myself that it was a disaster and that no one would ever wear this dress, but I continued on rather than doing any of the things I should have been doing.

I am the procrastinating queen.

Pepper called it the Silly Billy dress when it got stuck on her and I had to cut her out of it.

The Silly Billy dress was made out of an op shopped sheet. To check out some more great op shop finds click on over to Sophie's.

And while you are here, don't forget to place your bid to win this dear little bunny. All proceeds, every single cent, goes to the Haiti relief effort.

Thanks so much to those that have been so generous, encouraging and kind. Thanks also to those who have mentioned my auction on their blogs to help spread the word.

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

Bunny auction for Haiti!

Okay, friends - let's have ourselves an auction!

The prize is this dear little bunny crocheted by me from the most beautiful cotton and wool from Bendigo Woollen Mills, Victoria, Australia.

Here's how it's going to work:

1. This auction is open to all readers world-wide. Please include your email address if you don't have a public profile on your blog.
2. All bids for the bunny are to be in Australian dollars, and indicated in the comments section of this post.
3. After you leave the comment indicating your bid, please tick the box that subscribes you to the comments of this post so you can stay informed of the new bids.
4. There is no limit to the number of bids one person can make.
5. Offers are open from NOW and will remain open until 4 p.m. (Australian Eastern Standard Time) on Tuesday 2nd of February.
6. The highest bidder is the winner and must make an online donation to Care Australia or the Haiti relief charity of their choice, and then email me both the receipt and a mailing address - within 48 hours of the closing time.
7. Go to it. And good luck!

The major earthquake that hit Haiti and is being called the world's worst disaster in recent years was only 18 days ago and already it is no longer mentioned on the front pages of our newspapers.

Please be generous with your bids and remember these families and communities that have been devastated by recent events. Let's try to help these people out with their basic needs like water, fuel, food, shelter and medical assistance.

I am happy to answer any questions you might have.

Thank you so much in advance.

XX