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

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!