Are we there yet?

Winter that is. We have scraped ice off the car, had semi-frozen washing, had dragon breath in the house, turned on the heater, used the electric blanket. Yes, I know it's still May! We have had some respite over recent days though, with mild nights and days, allowing me time to complete some urgent Winter warmers.

My first pair of socks are now complete!


Mittens (or knittens as she puts it) for Miss 3 (yes, we have had a birthday!)


Scarf for Miss 3 made from double thickness polar fleece, buttons and felt. An easy sewing project that littlies can help with.


I am now over the sock hump, and have grand plans for a matching pair for Master 7, and socks for friends and for Mum. They are so cosy and imperfect. Long live wonky craft! Mr BB kindly noticed that they were slightly different lengths... this is all part of my impatience with wanting things NOW... I'm working on it.

The other thing about the socks, is that one is narrower in the foot than the other. After making the first and realising how roomy it was, I made additional decreases and the second fits more snugly, but us a little short in the toe. Despite this, I wear them as often as I can. Bring on the hand-knitted socks! I get it now Bells!!

The other little project that has been on the go is a desk for a dear little Miss-almost-5. A $5 desk from Aussie Junk, plus some cut-outs and paint, and voila. I'm really happy with this, and hope she is too!


Finally, also for Miss-almost-5, a hanging rack for her dress-ups. Not at all like me to get out the hammer and drill, but I had so much fun with this. It needs paint etc but you get the idea. Phew! A busy weekend!


In family news, Mr BB has had 2 weeks of gentle, part-time-hours back at work. Dr has just prescribed another 3 weeks part-time. He is getting there, slowly.

Take care,

Jess
x

Can You Please Help?

Can You Help? Please ask your networks!

I am searching hard for a needle plate (B) for a very old Janome Overlocker JL-603A

As you know I would prefer to re-use, re-cycle an existing machine than buy something new. The issue is the machine that has been generously offered is missing a stack of accessories. I can get hold of everything else, just not a needle plate (kinda useful to have....)


I await your comments!

There will be a fabric bundle and sewing notions mailed off to the helpful peep who can assist! I will pay postage etc.

Many, many thanks.

J

Cheeky - clever possum (Ruminations on motherhood)

My favourite seven-year-old and I were walking along the other day having a lovely chat about things. Where does electricity come from? What's inside lightning? You may also have had these conversations. I realise how little I know of the world when they occur. I also realise what a wonderful mind my little man has, so inquisitive and interested in learning. It's truly pleasurable spending time with him.

Image from here

As we walked and chatted, we passed a group of Mums out for coffee. They looked at me with a smile. As we came level, Master 7 suddenly exclaimed: "When can I get my very own mobile phone?"

Image from here

All adults gave a little laugh. I was rather astonished, as I am not into technology and children. Once a month he might get ten minutes on the computer, if that.

"When you have a job and can pay for your calls!" I replied.

Master 7 then floored me with: "But you don't have a job Mum and you have a phone?!"

Image from here

The mums were laughing hard now, and I was in awe of the mind of the child, and the literal mind of the Aspergers' mind.

I am so grateful that he has an inquiring mind, that he has such a quick mind. I love his sense of humour.

Being a mother has not always been a joyful time for me. I sometimes wonder how I got here. I am certainly aware of the amazing gift that has been given to me, and I adore my kids. But what does it take to be a mother?

Once I knew I was pregnant, I considered myself a mother. I was growing a life. We bonded immediately. The dreams you have as a potential parent begin. You visualise your child, your famil. You long to meet them.

I ache at this time of the year for all the women who have lost a child. Friends who have "angel babies" are also mothers. A local church had a vigil service last night for all women who have had children, lost children, been unable to have children. It was an opportunity to reflect, listen to music, look at artworks, and meditate. I will be lighting a candle tonight for those friends who have carried a life, some brief, some to term, and have had to say goodbye. It's a tough time for them. They are mothers too.

I will not see my mother, as she is in Victoria, however I will call her and try and have a cup 0f tea with her over the phone. She's a great role model and a friend as well as a Mum. I know she will be thinking of her Mum.

I hope to go to a local park tomorrow for a Mothers' Day party in the park with an Abba cover band. Pop in to Glebe Park if you are in Canberra and be a Dancing Queen with me!

Image from here

Happy Mothers' Day to you - high five to all mums - we all do our best with the tools that we have. Take care,

J

You can't get much for five dollars these days...

Or so the ladies in the Rotary Op-Shop in Rosebud mused. It was a cold morning, rain was trying to become horizontal, and Mother-In-Law and I braved the conditions to make a dent on the 7 and counting op-shops in the Rosebud area.

I went straight to the haberdashery section. Totally disorganised, zips with knitting needles, buttons scattered everywhere, and patterns and magazines piled in a corner. It was an Aladdin's cave. Judging by the dust and moth carcasses it had been some time since the area was excavated.

Under a pile of magazines was a lovely tin. It reminded me of some Willow brand tin canisters I had passed by in Mont Albert the day before. Labelled $5, I thought it battered and a little rusty, but certainly a lovely tin.


I picked it up - well, I tried to. H E A V Y T I N. Hmm, getting better I thought! Upon opening it, I discovered the mother load of thread, wooden cotton reels, delicious colours so rich that I possibly drooled on it! It needs airing, being rather musty, but is beautiful in the endless possibilities.


All for $5. Happy.

Add a 50c Golden Hands bonus, and I was content with the haul. So much thread, so little time...


Thank you so much for the comments and thoughts about Mr BB. He really gave us a scare, but is certainly improving daily.

Take care,

J

It's been a long time, been a long time, been a long.....

It really has been a long time since I blogged. Unintentionally. After a few weeks, my bloglines stand at 533 and I may have to clear them and start again. Easter has come and gone. School holidays came and went. Sewing made a regular appearance on my to-do list. I had a lovely evening whipping up presents for littlies.

A top for Pops from Sew Hip - she looks super-cute in lemon and turned 2 this week.

Jonty turned 2 and got a pair of pants that over time will become shorts (the beauty of the draw-string waist).

Russian dollies for Miss 2 and Pops to cuddle and play with.

A skirt for K who just turned 3. K loves pink, her mum prefers black, skulls, etc. Here thanks to Spotlight they can both be happy!

We had a week in Melbourne during which I had some time to myself in the beautiful city, saw friends and family, celebrated Mr BB's 40th birthday, and made it back up the Hume to Canberra.

Mr BB then fell ill with meningitis and spent some days in hospital. Scary time. What do you do when a Dr says to you: "He'll either be better in 24 hours or he'll be dead" ????? I did very little. I kept it together around the kids. I catastrophised when they were at school. I envisaged the kids and I living in a caravan in rural Victoria. Without an annex. I swore that Life Insurance was something we should spend on. I prayed. I cried. I knitted feverishly.

I visited The Man I Have Loved for 15 years who was residing in isolation. After donning a mask, gloves and a yellow gown I sat with him. He oscillated between sleep and hallucinations. Morphine for pain. I sat there in the "dress-ups" that were supposedly to prevent me becoming infected. It seemed pointless really. The night before I had sat with him for hours in emergency. Holding his hand, kissing his forehead, pretty much rolling in any germs to be had.

Thankfully, he's now home, and very much on the improve. Time will bring good health and strength. The knitting has continued and I have immersed myself in my sock. I began this sock years ago. It has been unpicked, re-worked, thrown aside, and fiddled with. I spent an age working out how to knit in the round. Then I paused a few months to work out how to turn the heel. Then again it lay waiting for me to work out how to pick up stitches and do the foot. I was so worried about Mr BB that I didn't even pause to worry about how to graft a toe. If craft is therapy, then it has really been a wonderful way to get through the week.



One down, one to go! I wore it last night though and loved the feel of my first hand-knitted sock. Maybe I can do the second one in a shorter time frame.

Pics and words following later in the week of happy op-shoppiness of the past month.

Take care,

J.