My Creative Space...

Yesterday I had another letter box moment accompanied by feelings of guilt. I retrieved a parcel marked from America and a I snuck a look left and then right, just in case the neighbours had seen me. Surely they must wonder about all my mail? Did they sense my guilt? I mean, even I couldn't remember ordering anything else...

Relief washed over me and the knot that had been forming in my tummy was replaced by drunken butterflies as I excitedly unwrapped pale blue tissue paper and got a glimpse of a wonderful gift from Christina, The Sometimes Crafter. Can you see that fabric? And the ric-rac? My goodness! Can you believe she sent me a just-because gift? All the way from America to Australia? Thank you so much Christina, it really made my day!

So this is my Creative Space.

Gorgeous fabric to play with, including more Paint by Numbers fabric to add to my stash for a quilt for Cohen.

More creative spaces here.

A trip to the coast...

The day was filled with sun light. The kind you can feel on your skin when the wind is not blowing. The kind of day that makes you forget that it is really Winter. We drove two hours with conversation, the baby asleep in his car seat. Or playing with a toy. Or asking for a feed. Trees and mountains rushed past our windows. Road works and trucks being passed or passing us. Service stations that stand lonely on long stretches of highway.

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We knew what we drove towards. Not sight seeing or soaking in sun. This was a trip to say goodbye.

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There was time to introduce Cohen to the beach - the grittiness of the sand, the shells that littered edge of the waves furthest reach, the smell of salt in the wind, the roar of the waves as they rush to the shore.

He is too young to remember being afraid of the waves. Too young to know or remember that he was saying goodbye to his great grandmother in case there isn't another chance.

I made this...

The baby has forgotten how to sleep at night so I am catching my sleep in 30 minute to one hour intervals, crafting continues never the less.

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I joined the seventh fabulous Doll Quilt Swap and have made my first experimental block with thanks to Kaffe Fassett's Quilt Road.

What do you think about four tea cups in different fabrics for the doll quilt?

I also attempted the impossible... and succeeded in sewing in the zip with only a small amount of unpicking... so now I have my very own handmade bunny crochet hook case.

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PS. I am flickr-ing here. Are you on flickr?

Sunday Stash...

My dream fabric stash...

Here.

More Stashes here.

The result...

My first attempt at spinning wool into yarn... A little ugly, a lot brown and lumpy... but it is my baby, I made it and although I can see its faults I love it.

Now, what to make with it...

New trick...

Cohen is overjoyed at being able to poke out his bottom lip.

Note tooth in bottom gum in last pic?

It gives Mummy the giggles too.

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(Poor image quality to be blamed on Winter sun.)

Spinning...

The yarn above is hand spun wool. It is known as 'novelty' yarn, in that the thickness of the yarn increases and decreases randomly. Experienced spinners find it quite difficult to achieve a yarn as novel as this one. However, those amongst us who have never spun before will achieve results similar to this upon there first attempt...

The Spinners and Weavers Group gave a demonstration at the library and I was fortunate enough to be guided through spinning carded wool into yarn. I suppose the spinners weren't in need of any 'novelty' wool, because they let me keep it. As per instructions I have washed it and it is drying, so I will share a photo of the finished yarn when it is dry.

My Creative Space...

I have started. Tentatively started sewing in a zip.

I'm making a zakka zippered bunny pencil case.

A zip is not something you would have seen in this space before. Finishing this pencil case could take awhile.

You can leave now if you like.

I totally understand. This will probably be boring for all you have-already-sewn-zippers out there. Or you can nod and smile and bear with me while I make my first attempt at a zip.

Words of encouragement are welcome...

In non-zipping news, I have been enjoying my stay at home mum status. How else could Cohen and I attended Mums and Bubs yoga, Nursery Rhymes at the library, bake bickies and cakes, wash clothes, make Cohen's food, sweep the floor each morning for the commando crawling baby, day dream about building a veggie garden and sneak in a bit of reading of wonderful books generously lent to me from said library? I'm not being sarcastic. I don't have enough hours in the day for all the things we could do. I just thought I would share in case you wondered if zips were the only thing on my post-baby-brain mind...

Pattern.

More spaces.

I love mail...

Last week I saw something.

Something different.

Something beautiful.

Something I could see myself wearing.

Something I wanted to be mine, all mine.

And now it is...

After inquiring as to the purchase price the generous Kylie replied and offered to give it to me, as she is not yet selling them. Oh boy oh boy. So I offered a swap. I sent Kylie a little package and in return I found this wonderful brooch and crafty packaging in my humble mail box today. Of course, a little body decided to commando crawl into the light when I got the camera out.

But don't you love the cute, chubby, inquisitive hands?

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Thanks again Kylie!

Sunday Stash...

Love at first sight.

People may argue if such a thing is possible.

I for one whole heartily believe it is possible to fall in love after just one glance. Stories abound of such moments.

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And so it was for me with Erin Michales 'Lush' range by Moda. My heart has been racing, my palms sweaty, ever since I laid eyes on it.

I had to make it mine. My first purchase only made me hungry for more.

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It was like Valentines Day when I discovered the wonderful 'Giddy4Paisley'. No time to photograph the packaging.

Elizabeth generously included an extra piece of wood grain fabric as we have a mutual admiration for another blogger and sometimes crafter with a lovely name...

I also brought a piece of Denyse Schmidts 'Flea Market Fancy' range.

Just a one night fabric stand, it didn't mean anything, honest...

Our love was settling into a steady routine. Like an old married couple we knew what each other were thinking. Not good thoughts.

I suggested counselling or time apart.

In the end I knew there was only one solution...

One yard...

But then there were more dramas.

With love comes jealousy. I'm trying to fight the green eyed monster, but when you agree to a photo session and then run off to play hide under the stool with others, how am I supposed to feel?

Have you ever fallen in fabric love at first sight? Do you have stash of love squirreled away? Want to share your love with the bloggy world?

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Let Tam show you the way...

It's a beautiful day to...

Today has been a beautiful day to find a lovely parcel in the mail from the wonderful Quilt Sandwich, I'll show you what was inside on my Sunday Stash post...

I'm not sure what it is about fruit arranged on a table, like flowers it has inspired artists to paint and draw for centuries. I'm quite in love with these pears on my vintage silver-plated stand paired with a pineapple crochet doily from Claire. I have been sneaking glances at it while cleaning the kitchen and then making a mess again. When the cake goes in the oven, this baker gets to lick the spoon and the bowl...

Cohen and I found some Winter warmth in the garden. Cohen concentrated on eating his rusk and then rusking his elephant. I concentrated on Cohen and thought about what a beautiful day it has been to play with him in the garden.

And it was, until the 'green ants' started to arrive...

My Creative Space...

This week a few crafty and creative things have been keeping me occupied...

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: The ripple crochet throw :

: Button sorting :

: An attempt at cross stitch :

: Secret squirrel business :

Follow Kirsty down the rabbit hole and she will lead you to more creative spaces.

Cohen...

After your birth a whole new world of emotion and thoughts was opened up to me.

I had thought it was such a cliche.

I never knew that I could feel like this.

That I would change so much.

That I could love so much more than I already did.

That it would be such a delight to watch you grow and learn.

That each and every baby is so amazing.

Now your little legs push you around on your tummy and you creep all over the floor, exploring everything.

We love you.

Gliding, food and flowers?

It is not everyday that we are driving along, on our way up the mountain and spot a hill side covered in hang gliders and para gliders.

Has it happened often to you?

Curious as cats we stopped to watch.

Oh look, there we are, see the baby in the sensible blue hat and myself in the perhaps not as sensible yellow coloured op-shopped cardigan?

Yes, on the right, in front of the hang glider like excited tourists.

While we eagle eyed the para gliders...

a certain little man with teething-red cheeks... remembered the joy of trying to grab the camera.

Nary a hang glider left the hill before we did, though the para gliders made the most of it.

We indulged in lunch at the St Bernard Hotel while gazing out upon the perfect landscape. Our explorations continued via a trail that lead from the hotel to a waterfall and lookout.

We continued our journey, pausing at a quaint nursery in order to browse amongst their loveliness.

Among the naked branches, colour and life.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend too.

Eye Spy... my favourite childhood party game.

I remember those birthday parties.

Envelopes with folded invitations handed out at school.

Excitement and the hours dragging.

Balloons on the letter box, the street sign, the doorway.

Best dresses, shiny shoes, tidy hair.

Cupcakes, snakes, fairy bread, cordial.

A table covered in presents.

Children running, skipping, somersaulting.

here

Pin the tail on the donkey.

Pass the parcel.

Duck, duck, goose.

Statues.

All favourites.

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A goodie bag on the way out the door.

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Kirstie brought this memories flooding back.

Pop by Cindy's and share your memories and favourite game.

Sunday Stash...

'Swell' by Urban Chicks.

Courtesy of Lois's giveaway.

Why not tell Tam what's in your stash?