I had a great weekend!

Misschief Maker High Tea at Pialligo with old friend Kellie - YUM.

French and Saunders Saturday night and met a legend after the show!

I am all smiles!

J
xx

The Mother Load that PMM would LOVE!

Do you read Potty Mouth Mama? She is one of my must-reads on a daily basis. You know who your must-reads are, they're the ones who you clear first from your bloglines when you have 200 posts looming to read. They're the ones that are like old friends, and they make you laugh and smile and cry.

PMM had a brilliant time during the hard rubbish collection in her area not too long ago. We were all tuning in eagerly waiting for the next haul in the covers of darkness. The expeditions were rarely fruitless, and only once did we cringe with her:

"This is where it gets exciting. So I'm checking out what I have scored. Old t-shirts (and y-fronts?!) still in their packaging. I was pretty excited about the prospect of vintage fabrics, so I went for the suitcase that was holding this treasure. The vintage fabric...? Well it was a pair of old man pjs. Poop. No - surely this is a bag full of treasure?! I delve further.. Hmph. Not the score I was dreaming of. Another pair of pjs. And you know what else?! An enema kit. Yes, that's right. An enema kit. No sewing paraphernalia. Just an enema kit. " - from Potty Mouth Mama post here

Rachel (mother of Miss M of the shoes and bib) recently saved an old suitcase from landfill for me. Her step-mum was decluttering, and getting rid of childhood items.


Inside I found a treasure-trove of delights in hankies (most soaking at the moment). Some are still in their original boxes. There are tins aplenty, a doll, leather driving gloves, books, sewing notions, all manner of great loot!


Consumption Rebellion came over yesterday and we sorted through it all, oo-ing and ahh-ing a lot. CR loved the driving gloves, but decided that she would need goggles to go with them... Maybe also a hat E!!??

Image from here.

Hankies galore!
Old Hoadley Chocolate box filled with hankies.

Tins galore! Two of them filled with hankies!


Driving gloves - soft leather and great buttons.


Lovely little doll with blinking eyes.


Lovely boxes filled with mint condition......


Hankies! Lovely Irish Linen in lots of pastel shades.

Old Golden Books - Annie Oakley and Ginger Meggs - brilliant!

More loot than I can use so: giveaway alert!

Miss 3 came in the other day from the car helping me carry in the shopping. She was confused why I fell about when she declared: "I carried the watermelon!" (Dirty Dancing, 1987).

To enter, please tell me your favourite movie quote!

MMaM Project One!

So have you bought or borrowed The Book? Everyone is talking about and snapping up Pip's lovely creation!


My mothers' group bought one for the library and it happens to have come home with me (thanks Rachel!)

I had a go this morning of Project One - the Teeny-tiny Goody-two-shoes.


Miss M seemed to think they were ok - I think that the pink buttons I added (Miss M loves buttons!) should have been red, but not bad for a first attempt. Hoping to do 2 more pairs before the weekend for Miss S and Master C just because their feet are tiny enough to fit into them!

Only a teeny bit of swearing involved in this project, so perfect for beginners and confident seamstresses alike. Fabric was left over from obi belt of dress I made for Miss 3 for Mr BBs 40th after being inspired by Little Munchkins. Great project for re-using scraps.

Tourist in your home town

Back in April, we went to Melbourne as a family for a week,to celebrate the birthday of Mr BB. I had a morning to myself in "town" quite early one day, before most shops were open, and I wandered past some of my favourite places just to say 'hi'.

Back in the olden days, "the nineteens" (i.e. 1980s, 1990s; as Master 7 says), I went to school in the inner city. A bus, train and a tram, then a walk, and we were there. This opened up the city to us as we all travelled some distance to get there, and we spent a good deal of time in the city after and before school.

We knew lots of short-cuts and lane-ways, places to go, hideaway spots, parks, fountains, cafes, and shops. The Sportsgirl Centre was being built, as too was Southbank, McDonald's was underground, and we'd meet the guys from the boys' school Under The Clocks.


courtesy Flickr
I love reminiscing as I walk around the streets. The Hill of Content Bookshop where I bought "Joseph and His Technicolour Coat" illustrated by Quentin Blake in the mid-eighties. Pellegrini's where a glass of Fruit Cup is available at any time to go with magnificent minestrone. Where an old boyfriend got Mark Seymour's autograph for me before an underage "Hunna's" concert at the (gulp, how embarassing...) Metro...


Ancient Times' House where I discovered my love of all things Ancient and Egyptian. A mummified cat sticks in my mind. Little Lonsdale Street where Dad took me to my first Archeological dig in 1983, a dig I went on to study at uni ten years later!


Job Warehouse which has NEVER been open when I have gone past! Now For Lease - tragic end of an era. Those moths have been in the windows for DECADES.


The Manchester Unity Building - a gem of Art Deco (sorry Steve, Moderne) architecture.


The Nicholas Building where I love riding in the old-style, hand-operated lifts. Of course one must visit Button Mania...



At the end of the day though, hopping on a tram is the best reminiscence of them all. Catch a tram to This Park , which has old ones that we used to ride to school as play structures for kids. They've been a drawcard for years. Despite numerous vandal attacks however, they are restored and ready for you any time you fancy a picnic. My two thought they were brilliant!

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