You galah!

This morning as I was cleaning for a house inspection, I saw some movement on what was once the front lawn. This is what I saw.


Can't tell what it is?

Here's a closer look:


Galahs! Dozens of them. I do love their colours. There are so many galahs and cockatoos in Canberra - come for a visit and see them!

A reminder too for any of you from Canberra; Lifeline Book Fair tomorrow.

x

LP bowls

Image from here.

Am I the last person to try and make these?

There is a very good reason for me not doing a craft that relies on the oven. Simply that I forget things. Bath is running. An hour later - the hall is flooded. The sprinkler's on. Five hours later, the garden is knee-deep (years ago, pre-drought!!!!)

So when there are clouds of toxic smoke in the kitchen, and you throw open windows and doors to let fresh air in and search frantically for the source of the smell.....

Remember you were melting an LP.....

For the uninitiated, I have since been told 10 mins at 100 degrees C is sufficient, NOT 40 mins in a fan forced oven at 220 degrees C. Really!

Mum, I need two cakes! Pleeeeeeeease?

So Master 7 wanted a cake like a seven, but also a Ben 10 (*shudder*) cake. "Like an Omnitrix Mum, you know!" (actually, no, I don't know...!)



The things we do - and although there was disappointment (read Aspergers' meltdown), that there was not an Omnitrix in sight, the Ben 10 cake was later proclaimed "awesome".

Phew. He's now making up for his lack of "stuff" by compiling his list for Santa. Yep, it's March..... How did this happen?????!

j

"Happy days are here again...

... The sky outside is blue again!"

There is nothing like an open afternoon to create without any time pressures. This weekend I had such an afternoon. Miss 2 and Master 7 were with friends, Mr BB was bike riding; so I had no impediments.

Skirts made a triumphant reappearance on the agenda. I love these. I now have a little system going when I do them, and no longer have to think. After nearly ten down, I am still not finished with them! A dear friend has offered a skill swap for some of her artwork, so another one to make for a little poppet! Yay!

Size 2 for Miss 2 with thrifted denim and ric rac, and stash fabrics. A fine leaf pattern from years ago, and a more recent toadstool print from Japan.

Lemon yellow for my niece Miss almost-2, little PP. This is also lined as the cotton voile I made it from is so fine.

Size 4 for Miss 2 as a longer skirt, to grow into. Thrifted everything except the floral, which was a 30cm strip from my old work.

Also made a library bag for Miss 2 who starts 3-year-old kinder in a couple of weeks. Handles used to be a draw-string in a pair of Miss 2's track pants.


Tried my hand at some more piecework for a patchwork class. The fabrics were all provided, so I did an eye-spy cushion for Miss 2. I'm no good with novelty prints usually. Miss 2 was a little overwhelmed too I think, as she keeps the backing up (a mermaid print) rather than the chaotic front. Zippered for easy washing it may not be here long.


Love, love, love having the Janome back out, and reluctant to put it away. Do need to clean her out though - vacuum the fluff out etc, oil the bits, change the needle. Do you clean your machine regularly? Ever? It works so much better when you do!

SO SICK OF The Little Mermaid! Kids watch it too much. Miss 2 has taken to quoting it: "Dad, I'm not a child!" which of course is pretty funny.
CAN'T STOP EATING choc-coated bullets - the choc part is fake, the licorice is painfully chewy, but they are. as Mr BB would say, Spanish! (Moorish)
READING Pride and Prejudice (Did you watch Lost in Austen? Rather fun take on an old classic, complete with Mr Darcy/Colin Firth comparisons and wet shirt scene!), Does my Bum look Big in This Clutter, Brideshead Revisited, TV Guide.
WATCHING Life on Mars Series 2 (UK version) and 24 (Jack's back!)
WORKING on my CV to get a job that is not cleaning, retail or reception. Those years at Uni won't be wasted!
LOVING the cooler weather in Canberra this week. I'd forgotten what it was like to be cold. Lovely!

xx

SEVEN

Seven. Lucky for some. Master Six has now reached that magical number.

I feel humbled by the amount he has grown, what he has achieved, how he blooms every day. He is my perfect little man and he is growing up so fast.

Mr BB took the big day off work so we could marvel that seven years ago we were at the Freemason's watching Nee Naw tap dancing to pass the time in delivery suite. A great way to celebrate the achievements and to mark being parents, together, for 7 years.

Master 7 took lamingtons to school to share with his classmates. Grandparents came to Canberra for the party. He coped with the fuss admirably. We are so proud of him.

Happy Birthday Darling.

xx

Life could be a dream (sha boom, shibori...)

Shibori is a Japanese method of essentially tie-dyeing. Stitching then dying creates a beautiful effect for the patient craftster. I am more an immediate gratification/results please craftster. I did some the other day with friends, using the old techniques of pegs, string and rubber bands.



We then tried a Japanese technique using clamping with triangular blocks. In this method the fabric (in this case silk), was folded between and around the blocks, and then held together tightly with rubber bands. The end product shows the sections of the fabric which were exposed to the most and least dye.


Now I will learn how to do a rolled hem (perhaps best by hand) and complete this as a scarf for Mum for Mothers' day.

Nothing like trying something new - particlarly when you can recover previously stained old shirts and items to create a new life for them.

What are you learning at the moment?

j

Pottering around with friends

This week has been wonderful. I have crafted almost every day. As my friend Ruth said on Tuesday (as we did some quilting): "it's the cheapest therapy around!"

Wednesday Consumption Rebellion and I did some book upcycling. I had a battered and falling apart copy of Pigling Bland by Beatrix Potter. Quite damaged in sections, but lovely illustrations. After the previous post and the use I am getting from the Kamahl jotter, I thought I needed a dainty little book for ideas.

After a brief trip to Officeworks for the binding, please meet my new pal:


Some pages have been retained for character, and also as they have delightful sketches on them for Miss 2 to colour. I have some lined pages, some plain pages, and some reused envelopes for pockets for ephemera. I am rather chuffed, and have many more planned, including a little pressie for this girl who has lent me her binder and guillotine! Thanks E! You can see what she spent the day making here. Much more impressive!!



j