commuting hell.

Oh, what I'd give for a dash of robin. I do miss my little car mascot. Especially when it took me just over 3 and a half hours to get to my classes(late) one morning.

I have spent these last 3 days driving my kids to school over the other side of the city, driving back into the city for training courses then back out of the city to collect my kids and then back across the city to my home. And someone said to me I looked much younger than my age, 'you look 27'...and I said well, honey I sure don't feel it...phew.

Anyhow, getting introduced to so many people and to the focus and enthusiasm of the business babes training days is hard to get my head around after trying and struggling and being out here, on my own, so to speak, for so long.

It is confronting to be closer to my dreams. It sometimes feels too much like closer to risks and closer to potential loss. But honestly, what is the alternative?

Underneath my tiredness and fears, I am inspired and once I surface from this sea of information that is currently washing over me there will be much to be done. In short, the women running the course and particiapting with me are amazing...and I can't wait to get on with it all!

I am miffed to say my crocheting has still been at a stand still. I am having a mini break, down the coast this weekend(public transporting it' no driving, yippee!), and I plan to take my crochet hooks and some yarn and just see what happens (no pressure, just a suggestion for my fingers!)

xKate

crochet blues

I have lost my crochet cravings. Where has that thrill gone?? When I look at my crochet books, hooks and wools I feel well...nothing...just, hmm :o(

It's my little thing, to do anytime, anywhere, and I just dont seem to want to now.

I have been sewing instead but I miss the slow and steady progress of making each loop, watching a piece grow, it is meditative and calming. But right now its annoying and boring! EEK! Where has Dash-robin crochet crusader gone? Maybe its the weather or maybe I need a really good sleep. I got up at 4.30 am to get my lil sis Kwis off to the airport during the week and I have felt in need of a nanna nap ever since.

All is not bleak though, cos instead of crocheting(sniff, sniff) I have been making some little fuzzy felty heat-pack toys. They are like the heat-wheat bags, but are filled with lavender essential oil scented barley(which my aunty suggested) They are the perfect size for sore necks or tums. They are maybe a bit like cat-alien-gingerbread shaped fellas(I know its a terrible description, must put up a photo!) The best part has been coming up with ridiculous names for them..'period pals', 'menstrual mates', 'ache angels' etc.

Anyway, back on the subject of crafty-blues! So everyone has tired, uninspired, 'over it' days, and who knows, maybe there are some very good reasons not to be creative and unleash your 'gifts' on the world (*Slipknot please read this!* You do not need to create!!)

I am not going to name the people who posted these but I pay silent homage to:

...painful stuff ups

Confusing patterns...

Confused minds...

and projects that are icredibly ugly!(This is a bag!! My god!!)

Mind bogglingly so...

So there we have it, nothing to be intimidated by, or to want to copy or emulate! Put your feet up with me and we'll have a chat about the best tv shows from the 80's,

xKate

circles...

I have been doing, mainly sewing and apart from finishing loads of half made things I have been working on a screen/curtain/room divider-thingo.

As you can see in the fabrics above there is a selection of indigo blues, some snake dreaming aboriginal designs, japanese prints and sky images. The piece is for my boys room so these bold yet intricate patterns, seemed right., and were all found in my own stash which I have been sorting through( its getting to a more manageable size as the projects keep getting whipped up)

Essentially the design is dozens of circles attached to long felt straps....I am getting pretty good at sewing curves, I tell ya.

Anyway, it is still a work in progress but is looking very unique and noice and unusuuuual so I will finish it, hang it up and post a piccy of the finished piece soon.

And speaking of the boys here's super hippo (and the dodgiest photo shopped image you're ever likely to see.)

Lukas hero and companion...

Joining him on flying foxes...

Or even being a warrior-check out the spear!! Eeek!

And not to worry, 'cos Jack has his own cuddly hero too, dear fiesty Miss Lovely(she honestly does look out for us, even follows us to the shops, scouting out the terrain for us!)

Anyway, enough guff from me, I fear this bloggy will become little more than an excuse to post up cute pictures of my kids and cat, will try and be more artsy (arsey?) again next time ;o)

hope your sewing machines are whirring or your needles are clicking,

xKate

Happy valentines day....

Happy Valentines day everyone, hope you feel loved, special and important. It is a beautiful rare thing to feel truly adored by someone, so enjoy even the smallest moments of it.

And if you don't feel so loved and cherished , I suggest you give yourself something special, give yourself permission to be happy anyway! And never forget to love yourself.
I would love to say I made the adorable woolly love hearts shown above, but I have been steering clear of wool in this humid weather and sewing instead. But to check more fuzzy loveys out lookit these websites;
lilfishstudios
tamdoll

xKate

Cool Water

Cool Water

Originally uploaded by trulysomething

"Cool clear water,

In my mind I see,

A big green tree,

And a river flowin free.

Waitin up ahead,

For you and me."~The Joni Mitchell Project

a gift, a pretty picture, a deep breath...a moment of peace.

The devastating fires down in Victoria and the incredible floods in my home state make me aware climate change is real and happening and all manner of fearful anxious thoughts can kind of swirl around in me and make me feel helpless...

BUT today I choose to focus on helping, on feeling blessed and generous and on being happy.

My heart goes out to all affected and my hope is for each to find thier own way to healing and courage.

xKate

busy-ness

I can hardly think straight to type this morning. I am so saddened by the fires sweeping across Victoria. I do not watch TV, don't even have it set up, and I do not miss the news images. I can't help but think the visuals create in me, and other very sensitive people such sadness it becomes a block to our doing anything to help...others though are moved to action by such images.

I am typing these words with Eden at my feet, her little hands pulling at me. I am feeling pulled in more than one direction often.

I got accepted into a business babes mentoring program last week(will share anything which might be helpful ), and Blackstars' mini market had a great start on Friday night. It was lovely to see so many familiar faces and meet some newies too.

The potential for this space and ideas seems huge. The night was HOT but still people flowed in and the atmosphere was good.

Lilla in one of my tea-cozies...which we discovered make lovely children's hats. (Or if you are an adult with a tea pot shaped head, go for it!)

We had a big reunion party in my household on Saturday as we needed to celebrate little Finn and Inez coming back into our lives. Asger's lovely family and girlfriend and my own little fellas made a happy group. Ulrich was balloon crafting for all the kids and the rest of us sat back, eating, talking, playing and feeling peace in our hearts to see such happy children together.

On Sunday my boys and I went for a ferry ride into the city and browsed through bookstores and ate ice cream(s). We attempted to go home but the heat drove us out for a swim under the full moon down at the southbank beach, we transformed into a gang of frogs and flopped and plopped and washed the memory of the days humidity away. And rested with our little pussy-love who follows us like a faithful dog when we go to the shops.

Must go and spend some quality time with Eden,

xKate

ani de frickin' funky franco & fashion moments...

I am busting to write something....I can't hold back a second longer....bless you ANI DI FRANCO! Last night she played, no, make that rocked the Tivoli and delighted with her centred positive presence(she is a 'joyful girl' indeed.)

She had such a big warm grin, what a pleasure to watch her, listen to her and to watch the crowd absolutely enjoying every moment of the show.

She has a great new exciteble song about how she felt when Obama was voted in as president, and her joy and hope and belief that her country could be healed, could be reconstructed into a better place for all...there was an electrically positive energy in the room, great, like a victory dance party. Sigh.

She also sang 'fuel' which has the most hilarious (yet inspiring and fiesty) lyrics...hearing it live was a treat...gush, gush...I dig ani, oh i do.

'all the radios agree with all the tv's

and the magazine's agree with the radios

and I keep hearing that same damn song

everywhere I go

maybe i should put a bucket over my head

and a marshmallow in each ear

and stumble around for another dumb numb week

for another hum drum hit song to appear.....'

Ani DiFranco 'Fuel'

I have been out in Reddo (can school really be happening?again!!) so aside from driving and chatting to Sam and adoring Eden, I have been busying myself with my most favourite hobby, 'opportunity shopping.'

Best purchase so far this year was a great yellow flowery retro dress(a bargain at $3).

It was styled as perhaps a strange maternity dress/tent complete with eagle wing sized collar...kind of crazy, really. But it had definite potential.

After really considering the whole styling of the garment I decided it was just too out there to be wearable dress, so the crazy collered top got the chop!

Then I tried it on and worked out roughly how I wanted it to look. I am a fan of the below knee a-line look and it had that shape. To preserve the style, as it was very large, I took it in down the centre seam mostly and made only slight adjustments to slim it down at the sides near the waist. It was all done with folding, no pinning. To get the length I simply folded the skirt in half and cut it from the top.

Trying it on several times during the process and slightly adjusting things as I went worked really well for me.

I considered putting in a zip for about 1 minute then decided zips are fiddly buggars so I folded over the top, slung some elastic through and by wearing it lowish, (like high hipster?)the elastic has no bunching effect.... anyway, voila...

...a ani gig-worthy skirt for the princely sum of $3 plus half an hour of my time devoted to very fun and creative reconstructing...not bad, hey? I am so pleased with it that I am casting an apprasing eye over all my hardly ever worn collection of retro dresses(which I have bought over the years cos I couldnt resist the fabrics, despite not being much of a a dainty dress girl...)

So I am happy( in my own eccentric way)and glad to say my favourite word for the moment is 'reconstruction'.

xkate

p.s- this Friday night Vonney et all are holding a little artsy-craftsy market night from 6.30 at Blackstar...I will be there so c'mon in and have a coffee with me.