thirtieth - a giveaway

Oh my goodness you guys there is only one day left in January this year. Which means after this post there is only one post left in my blog-a-thon for this year. And one more day of our summer holidays for this year. Wow! Wasn't New Year's Eve like a couple of days ago, a week at most?

So I guess the most appropriate thing to do on the second last post is to give some stuff away. Just for fun. Kinda like a thank you for coming along for the ride and holding my hand and making me feel like I'm not alone in this crazy uncoordinated dance I'm doing.

The prize is made up of five parts;

1. My book! It's called Vantastic: Retro holidays in the modern world and it's full of pictures and stories from the caravan trip we took up the centre of Australia and down the west coast a few years ago. There's loads of practical info, craft how-to's, recipes and heaps more fun stuff. If you like caravans and family and adventures - then this book is for you!
2. That Dotty Angel dress pattern that I bought two of by accident. I still haven't made mine but hopefully you'll get yours off the cutting table, onto the machine and be wearing it before I've even opened the packet and chosen my fabric. And you'll look great in it of course.
3. A couple of wash-cloths I crocheted.
4. An apple carry bag that I screen printed.
5. A copy of Slow Living magazine that includes an article I wrote about craft as therapy and the pattern for the wash-clothes above.

Cool?! Awesome.

To enter leave me a comment below telling me something you think I'd like to know. Simple.

You gotta be in it to win it folks. 

Big love,

Kate

xoxo

listening in

I've had one of those days. Some days are wonderful, some are crappy and some days are just blah, blah-di-blah-di-blah. Today has most definitely been the latter. You know those days, nothing is quite wrong but nothing is exactly perfectly right either. It's like I've used up all my energy, and have nothing left. I've been sighing a lot.

This morning I woke up, got everyone dressed and ready and then I took myself back to bed with my knitting. I never do that. I have way too much to-do, to do that. But today I did.

At the start I felt guilty and a bit embarrassed. Especially when my farmer boy came in from fixing the tractor and my Mum came over to show me her new hair. But I couldn't help it, I felt heavy and stuck.

But then I sat there under the blankets and knitted a few rows and thought about kindness and being kind to myself and realised that I had to stay there. I had to look after myself and honour the way that I was feeling. I had no choice.

And then I felt a bit teary thinking about some of the stuff that has been going on in my world lately. Some huge life changing stuff, some house rearranging stuff, some changing of the seasons stuff, some sickness, some excitement and a lot of other bits and pieces in between. Sometimes I find having a little sob by myself feels just so sad, but also so cleansing. It's nice not to have to explain it to anyone else and just to let it all wash over me and then off and away.

After a while I got out of bed and did some things. Nothing big or bold and nothing that meant I had to get dressed. But doing nice stuff made me feel a bit better and that was good.

First I made a rainbow out of lots of odds and ends of wool. Making tidy and making pretty at the same time was always going to make me feel a bit better.

Then I picked some celery from the garden for a snack. This is the first year that we've been able to grow such great celery and eating it and running my hands over the tops of those lush green fronds is a wonderful thing.


Then I finally wove in the ends of my face washers and popped them in a parcel to post to Cath for the Bellingen ladies to pop into their Day For Girls packs. What a honour it's been to play a little part in such an important project. Thanks for organising it Cath. x



Then I looked out and found this dead bird outside my window. Poor little, tiny bird. When I went outside and picked it up I was amazed at it's weight. For some reason I had thought that it would be light as a feather but it wasn't. It felt heavy and earth-bound. I hope it had a wonderful life flying about our farm being free and fabulous and died in its sleep and not from hitting our window.




Then I took some pics of all my motifs so far. What a wonderful project it's been. The crocheting time, the thinking time, the zoning out time, the patterns and colours and cottons. 21 motifs made, 10 to go, I'm going to miss this project when the month is done.


Then I did some clearing and cleaning up of my new crafty office space, more on that later, and came across this photo of another time and place. Only about seven years ago but a lifetime ago all the same. I miss those times and those smiling faces. (I'm sobbing again…..)


Then I picked some leeks for dinner. I planted so many leeks this year and now we need the space - every 'what's for dinner?' question works its way back from leeks.

And then I ended up back where I started, writing my blog in bed with my knitting for company when the words needed time.

In the end I had a difficult but surprisingly lovely day. The outside jobs never happened, I didn't do nearly as much as I'd hoped to inside either, but I listened to what was going on with me internally and I honoured that and was kind. Tomorrow I'll be better off for it.

Sending love and kindness out to you guys wherever you are, whatever you are doing.

xx

Feeling crappy.

This morning I'm sitting here feeling crappy.

Its Wednesday today and that means that for the past three days the soundtrack to my life has been the sound of poor little Pepper crying. It breaks my heart and at times has had me in tears too, but seriously, the noise.

I'm feeling crappy for the big girls who are desperate to get out of here and into the big wide world to go and do some stuff but instead are stuck at home again. I feel guilty that most of the time I can't play with them because their little sister is so needy.

I feel bad because Miss Pepper just wants to sit and snuggle with me but I am not great at sitting still for extended periods of time. If she'd let me knit then maybe...

I feel bad because I am so tired after all these nights of not sleeping that I am only doing the barest minimum around here and no one has clean undies and we are living on shortcut food.

I feel bad because Bren has so much work to do on the farm but I need him here with me to make marble runs with the girls and take turns with Pepper.

I feel bad because when I went in to Pepper in the night she started crying harder because she only wanted her Dad.

I feel guilty because I know that this will be over in a few days and I know how lucky I am and that I have no right to whinge.

I feel bad that it made me feel so happy to sew this dress yesterday when Bren took Pepper on a drive to the irrigation supplies shop. I loved working with these gorgeous vintage fabrics and sewing them into a dress for my soon to be shop.

I guess one funny thing to come out of all this was the look on my face, and my snort, and then the look on Indi's face, when the doctor told me Pepper has a severe case of coxsackie virus. Say it aloud and you'll see what I mean.

I am so lucky to have my farmer boy who makes me love heart lattes each morning and I am grateful that the sun has come out. Maybe we'll rug up and go for a walk.

Huge thanks to Jodie for this wonderful package of washer swap goodies that was waiting in my post office box to brighten my day yesterday. I love it all, its so sunny and springtimey. Thanks also to Jodie for organising another wonderful washer swap, its been great.

So what's going on with you this fine Wednesday morning?

I hope there's a bit of sunshine in your life today.

Crocheted egg cosies & more.

I've been thinking about ways to decorate our market stall and make it look a bit festive for the last few farmers' markets of the year.

The egg cozy pattern out of the Vintage Crochet book that I bought in Melbourne last week, but haven't seen since we've been home, really appealed to me. I'm pretty sure this is what they looked like.

I love the button detail.

I made these two first but soon realized they aren't really the look I'm after. I think I might put them in the present pile.

I'm thinking about making a few more and then maybe some crochet bunting to replace the fabric ones.

I've also started another washer and just finished these two pot holders. Do you ever feel that crazy panic to make everything you want to make, so you have to do a bit of everything all at once?

A huge Happy 42nd Anniversary to my parents!

I hope you are having a lovely weekend.

No more school & a bit of baking.

The teachers' thank-you presents were finally finished late last night and then gifted this morning. One each for Indi and Jazzy's teachers and one for the music, art and Italian teachers.

I've got a few more to make but I work better under pressure, so I'll be making them at the last possible minute.

I love how these little stacks look.

I hope they understand the whole hand made wash cloth thing. Recently I was knitting one at a market and more than one person looked at me strangely when I told them what it was.

I had so many sewing plans for the last day before school holidays, but unfortunately Miss Pepper woke up from her nap just after I'd put the washing away, so not a lot got done.

Instead we made cup cakes.

And apricot and peach pies in these gorgeous little dishes we found at the op shop yesterday.

I hope you are having a lovely Thursday.

Owls, cottons and teachers' presents.

Look hoooooooooooooo arrived in the mail today.

A little while ago the lovely Leah admired one of the pot holders I had crocheted and asked if I wanted to do a swap. One of the most fun aspects of blogging for me so far is the swap, so I quickly accepted.

Can you imagine how much Indi, my owl lover, is going to adore these gorgeous, made from the softest thrifted jumper, little friends? I reckon there will be a bit of squealing. To be honest, there was a bit of squealing from me when I opened the package.

Thank you so, so much Leah, your work is divine, I'll pop your package in the post this afternoon.

I also got a package from Bendigo Woolen Mills. Nine more balls of their wonderful cotton (they were on sale!!!!) I love working with their cotton about as much as I love having them on display in the kitchen.

So today its all about catching up on the laundry and presents for the teachers as school finishes tomorrow. I've got a ridiculous amount still to make but I can't think of a better way to spend this afternoon. Washers and rose brooches here I come.

And maybe a few more cherries because they are so quick and easy to make, and because I always prefer making other things more than what I should be making.

I hope you are having a lovely Wednesday.

Love Kate

XX

My creative Space.

With one week to go until the end of the school year, I am crocheting washcloths and flower brooches for teachers' thank you presents. I am adding a bar of gorgeous Cleopatra soap to make each package smell delicious too

.
This Tulip Stitch washcloth pattern is from here.

I am putting the finishing touches on my softies. I am hoping to sew them a zippered pouch when Pepper has her sleep today and get them in an express post pack this afternoon.

I have taken delivery of two boxes of stale organic Himalaya Bakery bread.

I am slicing, toasting, crumbling and then toasting again to make bread crumbs.

I hope this Thursday finds you full of inspiration.

To see what lots of other crafty kids are up to click on over to Kirsty's.

Today.

Today my house is a tip.

Today there is slumber party residue every place I look.

Today my friend's Dad is so sick in hospital and I need to make her and her family a lasagna.

Today I really have to work on my softie. I'm not good at these long projects, I'd be a terrible quilter.

Today I need to do the week's lunch box baking.

Today there is constant chainsaw noise as the trees too close to the house are being cut down.

Today I have not yet seen Bren who woke up and went to work before I opened my eyes.

Today I need to wash the school uniforms as I never got to them on the weekend.

Today I had a lovey coffee with my Mum and Dad and Bren's Mum before they all headed back home to Melbourne.

Today I need to heat set and label more clothes to go to Dear Prudence.

Today I need to food shop for the week and to shop to set up Bren's parents' house across the road which will be our bush fire refuge.

Today I have to pick up the big girls at 3.20 so realistically a lot of this list will be seen again on tomorrow's list. Isn't it funny how some days you feel overwhelmed, where on other days the same list feels ok? Luckily I am having an all is ok week.

The top two washers are the ones I sent to my swap partner in Jodie's wash cloth swap. They are; It's a spring thing and Garden swan.

I made the Little garden girl for our house.

And the Knitted baby feet cloth I made for a beautiful friend who is making Indi's best friend a sister.