organisation

I am presently struggling/attempting to keep productive despite my tendencies towards distraction and multiple conflicting projects (like creating silly backyard alien photos)


Maybe its the lack of routine...with school about to begin again I feel this force towards having a clear plan for this year. And I don't, at all really.

It's sort of scary but I am just trying to see what arises and so far what has arisen has been-lots of swimming with my kids and lots of beng with various visitors(especially enjoying the teeny tiny ones)I don't seem to have words available to describe these days or ideas so I thought I would post a few of my favourite photos instead,

best wishes,
xkate

morning lovelies and night sweets

Been photographing like a mad thing lately...around my backyard 'meadow', capturing these beautiful visitors. Ladybugs are so sweet and cute, watching them awkwardly clamber over the tall grass stalks is such fun-it must be a lush jungle from their viewpoint.
This heron has been popping in each morning, such a careful bird, so graceful, too flighty by far to sneak up on, so this image was taken through a window.



I have not been taking many of my work lately, cos not a lots being made! In between trips to the pool, the coast and visits from friends there has not been much time or energy for anything substantial! But a few nights back this was snapped, Lukas' new green sleepy friend. I allowed little Lu to select a colour, from all my wools, cottons and yarns. And the one he chose was a yarn carefully recycled from my dads old favourite jumper, which more than thirty years ago was hand spun, dyed and knitted by my aunt. Warm fuzzies. He is sitting in a bag of rickrack ribbons.

These packets are not my usual mess of un sorted craft materials; my mums' friends have been going through their collections and passing their un-wanted but special things along. Oh, I love them-they supported and put up with me as a kid...and a teenager...and still so generous and sweet to me!
groovy 70's orange and green embroidered rickrack... yards and yards of vintage embroidered ribbon-navy blue,red and yellow....white ribbon with red roses...really beautiful.
xkate

school holidays

Everything seems more open and natural on the summer holidays...I know some parents are probably going spare right now but I am loving these days. Walking down to the end on the street to look at the sunset beautiful clouds...staying up late talking...watching sponge bob and laughing til ribs ache...eating bowls of ice cream for morning tea and dessert...floating in cool water...playing chasey in the pool...making little crochet friends while my children watch mr men...my only complaint is that the days pass by too quickly...except maybe one other complaint; that green ants seem intent on finding tender parts of me to bite, 3 bites and counting. bl@#dy things!

The little sleepy one, complete, made in blue...meditating beside the cucumber vine.
It's not the picture perfect one of the illustration with the pattern, but for my first go it'll do...and I have 2 more in progress, red and green, I might just make a whole rainbow family of them!
xkate

multi tasking

have been...
uploading this collection of piccys of Bertie Blackman and such from Sunset sounds...while looking through the enormous range of patterns at Ravelry and finding this... http://owlishly.typepad.com/owlishly/2008/10/free-pattern--sleepy-sarah-amigurumi-pattern.html
which I will be making,
xkate

wattle tree

A teeny tiny view of a year in the life of a wattle tree...

Sam mentioned this bighugelabs.com mosaic maker on knitglob, and ooh, I couldn't wait to try it out...but umm...its little huh?!
I will have to work out how to size up the images cos clearly I haven't quite got it right yet, but I am sure anyone else using it would be better at it than I(not very tech savvy yet) and it's so much fun-check it out here.
http://bighugelabs.com/mosaic.php
xkate

summer-time

D-bar beach, Coolangatta.

a familiar pattern of summer, long journeys for fleeting joys...maybe next year it will be different?
xkate

all is quiet on new years day

Life passes, as fleeting and delightful as a delicate bubble floating into a strange atmoshpere, what will this year bring to anyone, who knows?
happy new years,
xkate

Peace and good will to all

ahhh, Christmas...day of the over stretched stomach and overfilled heart. It's like a cute explosion in this family, I may be biased but my nephews and nieces are so adorable! I melt when they turn thier little faces towards me and say, 'aunty katie', even if its usually followed by, "can I have a....."(insert sweetie or junk food they think they can get me to give them on the sly!)
Peace to all, have a beautiful day. And if you're struggling do your best to find some meaning or happy moments...after all its only one day!
xKate

last market of the year...

This Friday is the last little market of the year, it all seems to have gone by so quickly.
This was taken at one of my earliest market nights, very shy looking aren't I...it always feels a little daunting in the lead up to any event, standing right behind your products, especially when so much care and attention has been put into their creation. Its exciting, also scary, no p.r person to hide behind...but I get so much encouraging feedback and it always ends up being a really enriching experience. (this photo from the lovely http://littlebrowndoggie.blogspot.com/)

Anyhoo, I am totally looking forward to having a happy pre Christmas celebratory evening. I plan to have some of yummy wine, eat some tasty nibbles' and catch up with the sweet, oh so sweet, wonderfully gifted crafty women who have shared such a lot of fun nights with this year.

I always love seeing new things everyone is working on, these are my latest'...

They are bookmarks and came about because we are all contributing a gift towards a hamper of goodies for the owners of the bookstore(Avid reader, Boundary Street, West end)which hosts our market. So I was thinking of something I could make for a book-lover.

...and then once I had made one, I was a bit chuffed with it and got a bit carried away.

Au revoir for now, and looking forward to seeing lots of dear people before I take off on hol's for a bit!
xKate

gentle hands

I had an early Christmas party with my sons and used recycled wool felt sheets as wrapping with recycled ribbon fastening to cover their gifts...


and once opened the felt became a play mat for the small toy pieces...(which was very handy with a keen lego fan to please and for my other son with a his magnet construction set!)

I spend my life wondering how to live an enriching and generous life which will sustain us all.
To be with my kids is so important and valued, I want to be with them as much as I can. So I craft around them and include them in my work and social life. It is made so much easier when friends are supportive and inclusive of children too.


The gentle hands and loving imagination of the wonderful people in their life help shape them into the kind of people who care and support others. They also reflect what they see, what is said to them and shown to them and this keeps me on my toes in a really grounding and valuable way.
I like spending time caring for other peoples children too and as my lovely friend Melania said to me, it is an absolute privilege to be trusted to look after someone else's children.

and hopefully one which will bring a LOT of joy!
It can help to connect with nature and the senses, viewing the world from a much littler persons perspective...
...and it also allows the wonder of an unfettered imagination to exist freely...

I am very excited to be making some secret presents for my most special little ones this week, not sure who will be reading this so I can't reveal much yet...but felt+cute+love=smiles!
xKate

whimsy

visited goma, apt6 opening weekend, such a whimsical delight. Came home and made some little tea cups brooches, was feeling all inspired by thoughts of whimsy, impermanence, joy and warmth.
xKate

market

Bleeding heart Boutique market(Bleeding Heart cafe, Ann street, Brisbane city) Avid reader little market(Avid Reader bookstore and cafe, Boundary Road, West end) and the bris style market(held at St Augustine church, Racecourse road, Hamilton) have all been on locally over the past 3 days.
More handmade goodness than you could poke a stick at, more warm and kind smiles than I could count. Joan at Bleeding Heart Boutique market.
The support women give each other is nothing short of beautiful and profoundly touching, the past few days I have been held in a very safe nest, pieced together by the small actions of friends, shoppers, other stall holders and more.

Angie at Avid Reader little market.
Natalie at Bleeding Heart.
The veranda of the school of arts building, where the boutique market was held.

Some wee treasures I bought from the bris-style market, including a delightful brooch from edward and lilly.

My stall, which Melinda set up for me, at Avid Readers little market.

Lynne at Avid reader little market.

And the circle of friends gets larger and looser, and my heart spills over when I am with these women and their lovely children. Thanks all who visited and supported my stalls, my friends stalls and to all who came with their smiles, presence and words and made these busy and hectic past few days so enjoyable and affirming.
xkate
P.S-Last market for the year, AVID READER, 18 th, 5.30-8-put it in your diary now!

see you tommorow!