It's done- part 3 bubba Eve

I think she's bewdiful! and I can't claim credit...it was Owen. We actually had a huge fight over her- I came up and said some things and he didn't like it and I offended the artist...and so on. I said I was sorry and this is the end result of a joint collaboration (mostly Owen). She's essentially wool roving laid in thin layers over a felt base and then needle felted a tiny bit to make it a little more stable as per the method in Magic Wool. We love our little god daughter and we hope she likes her fairy princess.

It's done- part 2

This is a pair of silk butterfly wings for my niece Tahlia. It was probably the easiest, most fun and beautiful present of the holiday season. silk painting is so fun, and then it was just a matter of gathering the middle with ribbon and sewing some hand loops on. I can imagine her running around the backyard arms outstretched, hmmm... wouldn't mind a pair myself actually. I just have to stress to her Mummy that they ARE for playing with and not to be precious. I think that children should be surrounded by beauty, even delicate beauty- the impact it has on the child far outways any material cost (which really wasn't that much)

It's done- part 1

Thought I might catch you up on my crafty pursuits. Well I decided on a more wholesome and meaningful Christmas this year- my new years resolution for 2006 was to be do more with my hands like garden, cook, sew and generally create. So I DID start early on Christmas I promise. Inevitably I was panicking with a week to go but with C - 2 days I'm able to sit here blogging that it's finally over. I feel kind of guilty for the people I made stuff for- cause they get my crappy craft, but I also feel guilty about the people I bought stuff for! Yes they got a nice shiny store bought pressie but the they didn't get the hours (or days) of me thinking fondly of them as I worked on their project. Not that anyone knows that except me. So first cab of the rank was a very special baby for Lorien, based on the Waldorf doll philosophy which suggests that the fewer the features on the doll's face, the more the child's imagination is awakened in play and the more he or she bonds to the doll. Waldorf dolls are always made with all natural materials to absorb and reflect warmth and to provide wholesome materials for the child. Louise and I got a kit each from Sarah's Dolls and here is my result, hopefully she'll be loved despite or because of her extra long arm and odd feet. Obviously she'll be dressed in more natural materials after Christmas!

Heavenly Host

my heavenly host using the instructions from Echoes of a Dream

Sing Hallelujah! My nativity scene is looking pretty schmick so far, I would almost call it a nature table but until now I've kind of had in the back of my mind that it was a little , well, Paegan and not in keeping with my Christian beliefs. In the weeks of advent for instance the Steiner nature table devotes a week to minerals, then plants, animals and finally the heavenly. But I was thinking yesterday, I already have a nativity scene and don't consider it a shrine- why can't it be beautiful and represent the natural world

like this passage from Luke 19

³⁷When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
³⁸"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"^[b]
"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

³⁹Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"

⁴⁰"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

⁴¹As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it ⁴²and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.

So I'm OK with continuing to teach my children about natural beauty as a testament to God's wonderful creation, and all for his glory. Might have to explain it to the other churchies that come through the door, but they already think I'm a bit of a crackpot anyway.

Peanut Pervesion

NOT A GRANDMA FRIENDLY POST. This really couldn't be blogged before the recipient had been gifted with this Charlie Brow corruption. Trust me, it is totally in keeping with afore mentioned birthday boy's personality, he wanted this. It was done using officeworks dark t-shirt transfer paper and machine and hand stitching. If he puts it in the dryer I will SCREAM. Guess it would be better than him never wearing it (even if it is just over to our house... hint hint).

blossoming

I signed on for my first crafty swap via Whipup and am having a moment (week) of anxiety. I'm no super crafter, I figured christmas ornaments were a small insignificant project. 400 (!?!) people have signed up for the Holiday Ornament Swap- that meants that 399 people will be looking at my poor attempt and 9 people will be able to critique in detail and be directly affected by my efforts! I'm aiming to get it all posted by the endof the week as all but one of my swaps are overseas, and I have no idea how long it takes to get things to Norway and Denmark. Edited to add- all overseas packages have now been sent on their merry way, I'm holding back my Perthy swapper's so hopefully they'll all arrive around the same time. Plus hers is different because she doesn't need it to be dripping in Australiana.

If you're happy and you know it

Our little patch is rapidly greening up. I decided on a more haphazard planting of the veg- on Jackie French's recommendation (so the plants can hide from pests) but now see the benefit of nice neat rows. Getting a bit of blogger envy when I see posts like sooz' with big fat tomatoes and full heads of lettuce but gardening is an exercise in patience- you can't MAKE plants grow faster. Currently on the go in the main patch are roma tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, basil (as yet unmunched- YAY!), 3 kinds of potatoes (which I HOPE I am doing the right thing with) capsicums, lemon balm, continental parsely, broadbeans, silverbeet (Still!) and hopefully tomorrow some lettuce.

what do I know?

This little creature is currently doing her best to carve up her big brothers face, by tooth and nail- any means necessary. We've trained Rohan too well I feel (it was necessary due to regular interractions with an 'extra grace required' friend) to a point where he just looks at us helplesslywhile she has her way because she is smaller than he is and doesn't know better. 'No, I don't like it' just isn't cutting it, she takes too much delight in having so much impact on someone so much bigger than her. So why do I blog this? Because things like this send me into a 'are we doing the right thing/going about this the right way' spiral of analysis. So what do I KNOW about our parenting practices? Am I blundering through blindly? No, I don't think so. What are some things I DO I believe about raisin' young'uns? To begin with the premise that children are naturally hedonistic and sinful and your chief job as a parent is to direct them away from their sinful desires is absurd in my opinion. Why would God give the parent child interraction so many STRONG biochemical cues that make COMPLETE sense (funny that, being the creator of all) just for us to strive to overcome them? My top 'parenting' principle is not hidden in proverbs amongst the rods and spoiled children, but in 1 John 4:19 "We love him, because he first loved us." I need to get it through to my children in any way that I can that they are LOVED, I need to figure out HOW they understand that. A tiny baby just doesn't function in the same way as a miniature adult does, nor does a recalcitrant toddler, or a sulking preschooler. The closest 'theory' that I have ever found to that resonates is Dr Sears' attachment theory- which basically states that you need to give a baby everything they ask for, food when they need it, close physical contact, sleep when they are tired, and they will learn to trust you. They trust that you will respect their needs and they matter as a person and you will begin to have an open line of TWO way communication. It is from this that true discipline can begin, from a level of mutual understanding. You understanding developmentally appropriate behavior and what 'need' it is communicating to you, and they understand that you have their best interests at heart. I DON"T abide by the idea that it's an excuse to allow for 'feral' children as some may use it. It's NOT about letting children have their own way, but preserving their value as people as you go about the shaping of their character. It does need shaping- but the sinful nature in the child should not be an excuse to exercise our greater power and discount what we know about developmental psychology. What if the authoritarian model itself is a symptom of OUR sinful nature- our desire to control and to have things OUR way? Maybe it's a symptom of a broken society where people are going it alone no longer have the community support to parent how they are meant to and it has formed as a survival response? More rambling later.

wanna see something freaky?

Well it is to me. MY daughter cosying up to a CLOWN. Not only is it a clown, which by definition is hiding something, it's even pretending to be an inanimate clown. Pretending that it can't move, watching, waiting... I hates them. I think I always had a problem with them but when I was about 8 a certain aunt let me watch IT and I still get a bit of a shiver sometimes. I don't do clowns. Lorien on the other hand freaky child that she is decided she wanted to sit on it's lap and give it kisses and cuddles... blech. The kids had a great time, although Rohan had a mini meltdown everytime Daddy went on a ride that he was too short for (I think there were six in total and they were SCARY). It's no good telling him that it will be all the sweeter when he goes next time and has grown the extra 10cm required. I think every kid needs to go to an amusement park and taste the dissapointment of being just a little too small. Am I a sadist?

Nooooooooosa

Haven't posted much lately, mainly because we were hit by one malady after another (flu, gastro, weird high temp and rash illness, broken toe etc.) all while in the lead up to coming away to sunny Queensland. And O doesn't understand why I had a stress headache for the first few days! Bit of adjustment, staying with fadgirl and family and another single friend, trying to balance family time, girl time, father son time, together time etc. but I think we are all heading towards relaxed. Will try to blog my funky unique type finds from Eumundi later, but for now here's something festive from the Coolum kite festival

Fly away home

7. Needlefelting obligatory ladybug completed, have also done a funky bead since then. Hoping to start on The Very Hungry Caterpillar and maybe part of someones birthday present

4. Hung door plaques

10. Nearly finished night nappies

5 years!

My honey and I have been married for 5 whole years! It's been sooooooo fast, and yet forever aswell. We're going to Jamie Oliver next week and Queensland a couple after that so we promised each other minimal spending- I made hime a silly little collage on canvas, he did the lovely traditional roses and red wine (snuck home at lunch time so they were waiting for me). Sigh, I love him so.

Mmmm Nummy.

Lemon Meringue Pie - Margaret Fulton

shortcrust pastry (OK so I didn't make the pastry)

Filling
3 egg yolks
1/2 cup of sugar
2 tbsp plain flour
grated rind and juice of 2 lemons
4 tbsp of water

Meringue
4 egg whites
pinch of cream of tartar
1/2 cup of sugar



In a saucepan mix egg yolk, sugar, flour and lemon rind. Gradually stir in lemon juice and water. Cook stirring continuously until mixture is smooth and thick. Cool, pour into pie shell. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until thick and gradually add sugar 2 tbsp at a time, beat until the sugar dissolves. Spread over filling in pie shell, sealing completely with meringue. Bake in a 180oC until merigue is golden. It's good to have a camera back!

Short/Medium Term Project List

1. Hang Lorien's mermaid curtains
2. Patch Rohan's long pants which ALL have holes in the knee
3. Try out the pillowcase dress directions from here
4. Hang the kids letters on their doors
5. Redecorate the dolls house
6. Felt a lampshade for MIL (if it's good enough, she's a great MIL)
7. Try out my new needle felting needles on a small project
8. The Angel Quilt- finish it!
9. The Mermaid Quilt- start it (but not until the Angel quilt is done)
10. Sew some night nappies
11. Paint the wicker chair (apple green)
12. start getting through all of those aqua and orange op-shop finds and actually produce something useful

In Between

Seasons that is. Our winter veg seems reluctant to go to seed (thus saving us money and having hardier crop for next year) despite unseasonally warm weather, and the spring garden really needs getting started. So we're trying to work around it. It's really for the kids, they love it. You should hear Lorien's squeals of delight when she opens a pea pod to see all the little babies inside! What's more she actually EATS them. Dolomite, Cow Manure (see a few posts ago) and blood and bone.

Cute Cloth

OK I have a little obsession, although it's nowhere near as consuming as it was. Cloth nappies- how can cloth nappies be an obsession I hear you ask? Well obviously you've never come across Modern Cloth. It's ecologicaly friendly, reliable and darn adorable. I initially wanted to do cloth because

a) I hopefully will raise environmentally aware children who would be a little annoyed if they were responsible for the consumption of so many non-renewable resources for no real reason.
b) the cost factor was appealing, given that the average child will cost $3000 to keep in disposable nappies and a good cloth system can cost as little as $100 (I have spent a little more than that, probably close to $400 but it's like a hobby).

Now I'm quite proud of my 'stash' as we like to call it on Nappycino, but it's nothing compared to this girl's, or this ones. They're right, much of it, especially the wooly stuff is more like art.

Op shop chic

This will one day be the decor in my craftroom/ sewing corner/ Mum's space. I have more in the retro aqua/orange op-shop range, have been going a weeee bit overboard. But it'll be good. maybe. Have I mentioned I love op-shops (thrift stores) yet? I even love other peoples finds, such as the recently consolidated Thrift Craft but the archives still give me a buzz.




This will one day be Lorien's little friend's (Maya) first birthday present, or part thereof. I'm thinking a flower pot with some flowers, or a pinnafore, or a giraffe. maybe it's ALL in there waiting to come out.

The current

It's moving and I can't do anything to stop it. Rohan seems perfectly fine with the fact that he will be starting school in less than six months. Lorien seems to want to start to speak and possibly toilet train. There's a 2 day a week job I really should apply for but am yet again frozen by the usual fear of failure, and it would also mean my little family is old enough for me not to be there 24/7.

Gettin' Crafty

I got Owen to take delivery of some books from Amazon while he was away to help inspire the creative process. I've been navigating my way through crafty type blogs for a while now- starting with the now idle Red Currentand more lately basing myself at Whip Up for my inpirational journey. To start with I got these-


For potential direction of the ultimate fadgirl Louise if we ever get stuck for creative brain-exercising ideas, something that is very important for intelligent types that choose to stay at home, something that is wonderful and fulfilling but at times mind-numbing.




For use with my friend Katie so we can all participate in a fad together that doesn't involve nappies (more on my cloth nappy obsession later) I have the most GORGEOUS wool roving waiting to have something done to it.



Wardrobe refashioning has always fascinated me (it appeals to my resource conservation side- I'm cheap) and recently my Mum bought me a jacket that I love- but hate some bits. Working up the courage to give it a go.



We also got some parenting books too but I'll save my rant on the subject for another time

Gran's House

Took at trip to sunny Taree with the IL's to visit Owen's grandmother (the man himself being in San Francisco). Rohan is having a blast and I think the rest of us are pretty relaxed. Photo ops a plenty. I miss my hubby!

wishy wash

2 down 6 to go. For Owen- Rohan had pre-school photos today, which meant he spent a good 15 minutes doing his hair. The result was certainly well sculptured. We got there just in time because as we were leaving our new DISHWASHER arrived. 5 years is more than enough time without one I think. Now I just need to get the darn thing to connect. Lorien and I had quite a relaxed social day morning tea, a spot of op-shopping and lunch with Katie, tea with Cath and a quick visit to Louise to show her my spoils on the way home. She seems to make herself at home wherever we go.

An Ocean Lies Between

My honey has gone- off to the hills of San Francisco to revel in his nerdishness with others of the same persuasion at WWDC. Rohan got hit by a quite spectacular bug on the way home. My sister assures me it is of a 12 hour nature but none the less it is a great start to our week. I just home O doesn't have to deal with it on the plane! As part of this blog attempt I need to commit to trying to take more photos to journal our life. I also need to learn the ins and outs of links.

Sunny Cows

Collecting manure this morning for the veggie garden-straight from the source in sunny Mt. Kembla! Today is 2 days before my beloved leaves us for a far off land. The house is covered in (clean) laundry- still recovering from the week without a washing machine. What an exciting life I lead that makes such news noteworthy. The next few days will concentrate on

a) sending him off in an orderly manner
b) placing my orders for US goodies to be delivered to him over there

And it begins

So. I have a blog. And it has nothing to do with boats. Well it might one day, we can't discount the possibilty of our lives involving boats some time in the future. But probably not on a regular basis. No- that was pretty much what my peers could come up with- Merrily merrily merrily merrily life is but a dream. Well that and Feral Meryl. If you're in a boat and all it has is oars, you pretty much have to be motivated if you're going to get anywhere. Maybe this will help. And the image is by D Cutter on sale at www.etsy.com at the moment- a lovely place to get lost in and do not much of anything looking at what everyone else has done.