fifth

Our Fox Lane family spent most of the fifth day of the new year in Ballarat shopping for jeans, and boots, and archery supplies, and art supplies and undies. It's wasn't a day that I had particularly been looking forward to but I have to say it went pretty smoothly and we actually even enjoyed ourselves. 

On the way home in the car my farmer boy asked me what I planned to blog about this evening and it occurred to me that I still had no idea. He suggested, jokingly, that I tell you all about our shopping trip. Lucky for you guys I didn't take a single photo and have no inclination to do so whatsoever. It did make me realise two things though; The first being that I am not the type of blogger to plan out or schedule posts but rather make them up as I go along. And the second being that my blog posts are still not speaking to me during the day and letting me know what to write about. I know that when I am deep in the blogging routine I often hear whispers of suggestions, themes, words and story ideas as I go about my day. I'll get there I'm sure but at the moment it gets to about six in the evening and you'll find me racing about taking a few snaps and then tapping out the words. Maybe I should write myself a little list.

So this after shopping post is a discussion of eight photos that I just snapped. Here we go.

The first is a photo of a quince, still a while off but beautifully fuzzy and photogenic. There aren't all that many on the trees this year but looking at them I can almost smell that sweet aromatic haze that hangs over the kitchen when I'm chopping them, cooking them, leaving them to drip through muslin and then cooking the rosey red liquid and ladling it into jars. It won't be long and we'll be back there again.

The second photo is of an article I wrote and a photo I took in the latest issue of Slow Living magazine. I wrote about how we use craft to help us through challenging times and I included a simple pattern for a crochet washcloth.

That photo makes me want to print it out and get Pepper to hold it, and then take another photo and print it out and get Pepper to hold it, and then take another photo and print it out and get Pepper to hold it....

The third photo is of a project I have planned. I really, really, really want to get back into sewing clothes. Especially after a big shopping day out.

Somehow I bought two copies of the Dottie Angel pattern, so keep your eyes on this space for a giveaway I'm putting together very soon.

The fourth photo is of a present that instagram sent me in the mail today to celebrate the new year. Crazy!! Inside that cute bag is a sweet animal calendar.

Maybe I should write out the story of some of my big instagram stories from last year and pop them on the blog. Maybe that's number one on the what to blog about list!

Sorry about the fifth photo I know it's a bit scary. Jarrah and Pepper were so inspired by the tree change dolls and their story that they wanted to make their own. First we took a trip up to the Daylesford Sunday market where they bought a few scary looking specimens, now they're stripping the paint off them and later they'll repaint them, do their hair and dress them like normal kids. Hopefully I'll show you the after shot in the next few days.

The sixth photo is for Reannon who asked how we trellis our tomatoes. But now that I'm looking at it I can see that my photo doesn't explain the process at all because I've cut out the important bits, and now it's getting too dark to take another. Oops!

Basically we bang in wooden stakes as we plant the tomatoes out into the ground. Then we use bits of old tee-shirts to loosely tie the middle, thickest, straightest stem up and that becomes the trunk. As the plant grows we tie the trunk up further up the stake. Does that make sense?

We're still waiting patiently for our first red tomatoes here. We were late planting because of our trip but still.....

The seventh is a plan I am desperate to put into action.

Oh and there's movement on the Daylesford Organics wool project. I'll let you know as soon as it's definite but it's all getting very exciting. Farmer Bren even sent me a text message today filled with tiny sheep. Eeeeeeep!! Or rather shEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!

And the eighth and last is of a granny smith apple. So close but yet so far.

And that's my eight on the fifth!

I hope you've had a gorgeous day. Or are about to.

Big love,

Kate xoxo

This is/was a craft blog?

A few days ago I was reading through a list of Australian Women Bloggers when I came across the words personal blogger next to me. Personal blogger?? When did that happen? Foxs Lane was created two years ago as a way for me to document the crafty stuff I was making and to connect with the crafty community. And there I was listed as a personal blogger.


So in order to get in touch with my crafty blogger roots and to record some of the stuff I've been making, here is a crafty blog post.


First off we have the Star pot-holder, details here. The Star pot-holder was crocheted when there was a family suggestion that I should decorate the spot just above our bed in the caravan. There will be more pot-holders to follow soon I hope.
 

Next up we have Daisy the Birthday Fairy named by Jazzy the birthday girl upon receiving her last week. Daisy's details here. The pattern I knitted Daisy from is super cute and includes a dolly with thumbs and feet and a dress and even undies. Miss Jazzy loves her.

And then the gorgeous Ms Chooky sent me one of her fab vintage Western Australia cushions and I stitched our journey so far on it.

Mine are not neat stitches and I'm not even sure what they are called, but they sort of blend in together when there are lots of them. I probably could tell you some story of each stitch representing an hour of driving, or a memory created, or an 'are we there yet?' but I haven't quite worked that one out yet.

That's where we are now, at the bottom left there in Carnarvon WA. We have been checking out some farms in the area and stocking up on organic produce. We're heading to Coral Bay after the farmers' market tomorrow.

And then there was that afternoon a week or so ago when I decided that as a knitter I really should learn how to knit pretty pictures and change colours. So using the book Picture Perfect Knits, I taught myself the Intarsia method.


It's a bit tight in the middle and the back is a bit of a mess but I think for a first go it's alright.

And lastly there's my car crochet project.


This is slow one because I'm this family's long distance driver but it's still handy to have a bit here and a bit there project.


I don't know what this is. I am too impatient to commit to a big blanket, I like the idea of learning new crochet stitches, it's worked in cotton so it's not too hot or sweaty and perhaps one day it'll turn into a throw or a lap rug or something.


So there you have it. Maybe this isn't a craft blog anymore but it still contains crafty interludes from time to time.


May your weekend be a wonderful one.


Happy travels. xx


ps. yes, I know the spacing and text sizing in this post is all over the place but blogger is driving me nuts and I've been playing with this post for ages and its time to let it go and press the publish button.


pps. I know the layout of this blog must be driving you mad Dad. If you want to have a go at fixing it let me know and I'll give you my deets. x

Eight on 9/10/11.

Dearest Jazzy,

Very, very early this morning you jumped out of your bed and came into ours for a cuddle. There were no more days left on your calender for you to cross off. Your birthday had arrived.

We spoke about the day you were born, you did a dance for us in your birthday suit, you opened your prezzies, ate some lollies and got dressed in the dress you had been saving since Broome.

You could not believe your day had finally arrived.

We gave you a new bike, a PINK helmet, a dolly I knitted, lollies, a tiara and lots of cards.

Your road trip friends Sammy and Shelby came over and gave you prezzies and we cut up lots of fruit

and feasted on a stack of J pancakes.

A man came over and gave you a red fishing rod. He said he was leaving Exmouth and didn't need it anymore.

And then you ran off to play with your friends at the playground next to our caravan.

Later on we watched the movie of your life that Dad made for you. You cried. You swear you never cry in movies but you had tears streaming down your face while you watched this one.

We rode our bikes into town and came across a little town market. You jumped on the jumping castle, then on a trampoline and came home for a swim in the pool.

As I write this you are at your friend Stephanie's cabin making a stuffed toy.

No wonder you can't stop telling us that this is the best birthday ever!
And its only 4.30pm. You've still got candles to blow out, icecream cake to eat and the outdoor caravan park movie to watch that you and Indi chose.

To think that I worried about celebrating your birthday away from your friends.

Happy birthday Miss Jazzy our fairy princess.
May your life be filled with sparkly, sweet, giggly, happy things.

xxxxxxxxx

Miss Jazzy's 6th birthday here.
Miss Jazzy's 7th birthday here.

Crafting by the pool.

It all started with this guy.

He was made one sunny day while sitting by the pool in Broome. He was made after a long search on Ravelry for patterns to make with only small scraps of yarn. He was perfect for this. He was also a perfect pattern to knit on a hot day. He is little and was quick to knit and made me feel happy.

But he wasn't happy. He was lonely and needed a friend.

I tell my girls to smile at kids they want to be friends with and chat with them, but this didn't work out for him.

So I knitted him a friend instead.

He is so much happier and nicer to be around now.

And then came the ball.

Some thought it was going to be a sand ball like the ones the crabs at the beach dig out to make their holes. Some thought it was going to be a jelly fish or a ghost.

But then it got some hair and became a she.

And then some arms and legs and a red dress. La-di-da.

Dolly in a red dress was another great hot day, by the pool in Broome project. She came out of a kit sent to Miss Indi from her new pen pal Eva.

A craft kit with all the ingredients needed for a project is the best prezzie for a traveling crafter. This kit had a hook, cotton, needle, thread, safety eyes and even the stuffing. Too easy!

Caravan critters are Raveled here.

Red dress dolly is Raveled here.

Speaking of prezzies, I have been so blessed to receive some wonderful packages in the mail lately. Enormous thanks to Miss Jess for Tim Turtle, Miss Abby for the huge bundle of goodies, gorgeous Fiona for the delicious bikkies, Jennie and Eva for the treats and my Mum for your new book. I am the luckiest duck!

I hope whatever it is you are making is fun and that you get some exciting stuff in the mail sometime soon.

Happy adventuring and making. xx

top ten...

My top ten reasons that go to prove that I am losing it.

1) This morning I sat in my car outside the post office and sobbed. Who does that?? I had just opened a package from Jennie with her Kate dolly complete with vintage sheet bunting and she was so perfectly me it was overwhelming. Thank you so, so much Jennie, I love her.

2) Deciding that if it came down to space, I would leave behind my favourite boots if it meant I could bring Kate dolly along on the caravan adventure.

3) Spending hours crocheting trims to tie back the curtains in the caravan. Yes, I know a few meters of ribbon would do the same job, but crochet lacy trim is so much prettier. Oh my goodness, I just saw the mistake...eeeek, does it make me even crazier if I undo it and start again?

4) Being asked by a daughter why farmer Bren and I have to make and do everything for ourselves and why we don't pay other people to do things like lay the floor or make the curtains. Until then it had never occurred to me.

5) Turning up to a birthday party at the finish time rather than the start time.

6) Getting a phone call from the girls' school telling me I was three quarters of an hour

late to pick up the girls from school on the last day of term. How was I to know they finished

an hour early?

7) Finding myself speaking to inanimate objects aloud. Thank you ruffling foot for saving me so much time today. I know you are so tired and need a service Ms Nina Bernina but it wont be long now and you are doing the most wonderful job. Please, please Mr Bobbin, just last one more seam and I'll love you forever...

8) Being waaay more worried about running out of cream coloured sewing cotton than toilet paper.

9) Finding myself sewing cozies for the computers out of our childhood sleeping bags.

10) Spending hours sewing gifted hexagons (thanks Mel!) onto the back of blankets to line the curtains. I know this one must be mad because my farmer boy keeps telling me so.

So there you have it, one crazy crafter. Let's just hope I can last another week until lift off...

See ya. x

Softie 4 Mirabel.

Well hello there!

Actually, truth be told its goodbye!

You see I am leaving the farm today and heading into the bright lights of the big city for a real adventure.

I am dressed in my fanciest outfit. I have my matching shoes, scarf and hat on and my designer handbag is filled with all the important stuff that a girl simply cannot live without. I've spent hours getting my hair just right, I just hope this rain doesn't make it frizzy. And I've been hiding from Miss Jazzy who wants to cover me with glitter and make me look like a rock star. You see, its just no good for my complexion.

A girl's got to look her best you know. She simply has no idea who she might meet on her travels.

I must be honest and tell you that I am most excited. This farm and all the dirt and green is OK for some, but you see I am a lady who appreciates the finer things in life. I love nothing better than shopping, gossiping and lots of long lunches.

I have my sights set high and I wont let anything get in my way on my journey to the top.

So its farewell from me for now.

I'm heading to Pip's and from there to my new best friend's place. I cannot wait to see what delights my new future holds...a star on the Hollywood boulevard? A hit music video? The new female lead on the next Twilight movie?...the sky's the limit.

So ciao ciao for now.

Oh and if you want my personal details so you can text me, I am Raveled here.

My creative space.

Its so quiet in my creative space today. The big girls are back at school for the first time in weeks and Miss Pepper and I are pottering around, doing a bit of this and a bit of that.

First off was some hair for the dolly Amanda made her a while back. I've never sewn dolly hair before and just threaded strands of cotton through her head. Does anyone know how I can secure them now so they don't pull through?

I suppose she'll need some clothes now too.

Not content to just sit and watch me, Pepper decided she wanted to sew too, so we set her up with a hoop and off she went.

Then there were cupcakes to be baked.

And a few rows of The Rainbow Speckled Olearia to knit.

Its funny, I got so used to knitting with hot sweaty hands while we were away, that now I can't seem to get a grip on the wool and the whole experience is quite slippery.

My crochet ric-rac tutorial has been featured on the Craft Online magazine and on One Pretty Thing and I've started a Ravelry pattern page for it here. Wow and yay and oh my goodness!

Also sitting in my space today is an application to a gorgeous looking December market. But now I can't decide. Market or online shop?

So what's going on in your space today?

I'm off to Kirsty's to check it out and maybe then I'll unpack.

Have a happy Thursday. X