Ironing anyone?

When I made Mum's Peg Bag, I also found this fabric, which is chuckle-worthy as I love vintage prints, domestic prints, and things that make me Smile. Ironing is not something I love, (clearly, as this fabric has been pre-washed but not ironed...). HOWEVER, a friend gave Miss 2 and Master 6 an ironing board for the cubby house. It is old, wooden, a super-cute, but I thought it needed a face-lift :-)

My first attempt at using a staple gun (thanks Jen!) and now I am stapling everything in sight!


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Inspirations of the day

It may be cold, but lots of bright things keep me going -

Near National Gallery

Pears in the carpark


Sculpture near the lake

Bike rack

Easter arrangement from Poland at a favourite cafe.
Granny Smith apples before they turn into pie


Snuggly cushion.

This is... my trinket box

I know that I am a messy and disorganised person, and this is becoming increasingly evident in the This is... posts! My handbag, my trinket box, next one should be My Clutter!

I have several trinket boxes, each containing different treasures. A recurring theme with them is Mum, who made one, bought one, and maybe chose one. Thanks Mum :-)

This is one Mum and Dad bought for me in France - I have always loved Monet, and his waterlilies. In it is 'work' jewelry, going-out items, etc.


This is one Mum made when she was doing wheel-thrown pottery - I love the colour, the weight, the shape, the handle, everything. It contains silvery items, earrings, and earthy items.


This was given to me by Nan for a birthday I think in the 1970s or early 1980s. Made in Taiwan, it plays the theme from Dr Zhivago. It has always been a treasure itself, although it has a limited capacity...

Contents vary from a tooth, a worry stone my brother gave me from Ireland, petit point-work, old Opera glasses, etc. I love looking through it.

Thanks for this week's theme Anastasia and Angela!

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Snakes and Australia

This is a Brown Snake that met my friend Em at her front door recently when she came home from picking the kids up from school. She lives in South Australia.

I was blown away that she was calm enough to take a picture IN FOCUS with this nearby.

After Master 6's Olive Python, I just had to share!


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Challenge - are you up for it?

The lovely Curly Pops has suggested that I host a challenge, which is not buying anything unnecessary for a month.

I am definitely going to do this! I am not sure I will last, as I know that the essence of it will not allow "I HAVE to have that button!!"-type need.

Great idea Curly Pops - who will join in?

Just leave a comment and I will add you to the challenge sidebar.


(Totally unrelated photo - Master 6 at his 6th birthday party with an Olive Python - yes it's real - yes, it's in my loungeroom!)

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Stuff

This is a brain-dump. I hope you don't mind.

I have been watching Wendy Harmer's show on the ABC, Stuff. This has really resonated for me, as I oscillate between decluttering and giving things away, and madly collecting, buying, grabbing, and 'must-having'. I know there is some psychological 'need' associated with the behaviour, and several things in this series have been 'Ah-ha' moments for me.

Two quotes that I have noted are:

• The best things in life are not things.
• The Earth pays for everything we buy.

I really agree with these. I have accumulated so many THINGS, and as all people with craft habits know, there is no better way to accumulate stuff than to learn a new craft. Then we have to store it all.

Despite this recurring behaviour, I'm actually a huge believer in reducing our footprint. The first blog I ever read and subscribed to was Consumption Rebellion, by my friend Eilleen. She opened my eyes to this consumerist behaviour, and lived it by challenging herself to not buy anything new for 12 months, except food and medicines. It's entirely do-able. She made some of the most beautiful and thoughtful birthday presents for friends' kids, found joy in simple items, and introduced me and others to the concepts of ethical goods. I am now more aware of what I am buying, particularly with coffee and chocolate. This has also made me examine why I feel the need to buy, own, and shop. I tell myself that I will Use What I Have rather than acquire more, but at times choose to ignore that, 'treat' myself, or worse, don't think about what I am doing.

On Stuff last night, someone said that it's not the physical things that we love but the memories of people or place attached to those things. That's so true. I love some things because friends, Mum, Nan, Grandad gave them to me or used to own them. Sentimental attachment. The Buddhist slant on this in last night's program was that things on their own are not a problem, but being attached to them is a problem.

My son exhibits the same behavioural traits as me in this way. He loves to have things, but doesn't really use anything. He just likes to know it's there, and he likes to be able to see it.

I realised after posting this week's This Is... that I cart around a lot of stuff in my bag. Today I tried just taking my keys and wallet out rather than a whole country, and I actually felt like something was missing.

We as craft-sters brag about our 'stash', and collect more and more beads, wool, fabric, buttons, whatever it is. I am going to TRY not to buy anything for a month that is not actually NEEDED. This may sound easy to some, but I make a lot of spontaneous purchases. Magazines, fabric, books for the kids, food when we are out, op-shop items, a bar of chocolate when I am in the queue at the supermarket or petrol station.

I will also USE what I have.

This is a great opportunity to even sell a lot of things I don't use, but knowing me, I will just give them away, which is harder to do, but more liberating! I try not to hang onto things that others could be getting pleasure from and benefiting from.

Sassy Apron Swap - Summer!

This will be a whole lot of fun - Betty In The Kitchen has a link to the organiser - join in! I can't wait. The theme is Summer, which will be great, as the apron should arrive here in time for a gloomy and freezing Winter!

Summer is:

Cicadas
Gelati at Brunetti
Beach
Roadtrips
BBQ
Parks
Moonlight Cinema
Swimming
Ice cubes
G & Ts
Drought
Water restrictions
Bushfires
Dry, dusty, red dirt
Sunscreen
Sun burn
Hats

What else................?

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