Working from home with children

Playing with buttons while Mama works

I have found that working from home with children is the perfect way to develop your distraction and interruption management skills! It's also a great way to develop an understanding of your personal patience levels. I am quickly learning when I need to stop and take a break, and when lack of sleep, hunger, or unresolved issues are contributing to the frustration I am experiencing. It is my tendency to set a mental goal and work uninterrupted until I have reached that goal, whether that means missing lunch or staying up late. This is not an option with children! Interruption, distraction and having to walk away are all parts of the process. While working at the bench today I have been listening to Inspiration Bombs and thinking about ways to maintain the balance between mothering, self and working creatively. I decided to see what Google had to offer in terms of advice about working from home with children.

This is the first helpful article I found that wasn't written by a man working from home while his wife was taking care of the children. Rather, it deals with finding a balance between working for short periods of time while your children play independently, and then spending time engaging with your children. Exactly what I needed to read today. And on that note, we are off for a spot of scooting on our lunch break.

Any tips you'd like to add? Whether about working from home, or just getting things done around the house with little ones?

Made By Hand - Link Up

 

'Made By Hand' is a weekly creative show and tell, with an aim to foster community, conversation and inspiration.

My aim is to craft a life of homemade, home grown happiness.

So, what are you creating right now? Join in by leaving a link below.

 

My crafting this week has been all but consumed by my market plans. I'm gaining a much better appreciation for all those makers who sell their crafts at markets. I am slowly discovering all that goes on behind the scenes. My days have been spent working at the bench and wrangling children, while my nights are spent writing lists, placing orders, stamping bags, cutting lengths of string, trying to guess how much stock I will need and budgeting for new business cards and packaging. I am thoroughly enjoying the process, despite the lack of personal crafting. I did manage to finish the Twin Leaf Loop for myself - right in time for Spring. I'm itching to start another knitting project, but with one cardigan still on my needles, I think I need to make an effort towards finishing it first... at least in time for next Winter.

 

What have you been making this week?

Leave your link below!

 

 



8 Little Things

 

1. Kumquats from a dear neighbour and friend

2. A cheeky little breakfast baby

3. Flowers from my garden

4. New in the shop - 'Tea for Two' studs

5. I believe tomatoes will be gracing my windowsill for some time yet

6. Mama heart melting moment

7. Sigh

8. Sky gazing on bright, beautiful days

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PS. I made a new header yesterday. It's difficult to sum up your blog with one image, isn't it?! I used Pic Monkey - a free online photo editor - to crop and add text to an image I took in my studio yesterday. (Before posting off the large silver crochet necklace to its new owner.) I'm pleased with how the header turned out. What do you think?

Cute Crochet Flower DIY

As the weather warms and wool and leggings are being replaced by short sleeves and skirts, Emerson's home made wardrobe was missing a few staples. I wanted a few t-shirts to mix and match with her skirts and shorts, but I didn't want too bright prints, lots of glitter and graffiti or lots of pink. A hard ask when looking at the girls department. I did find some sweet tops at Target with crochet embellishments on them for $18, which inspired this little homemade version. I picked up this plain T-shirt for $4 and had the acrylic yarn in my stash.

A little hooking and stitching later and Emerson has a sweet, thrifty new t-shirt and a happy Mama!

Simple, quick, cute and thrifty! I crocheted up these little flowers, making them up as I went, then played with the arrangement and stitched them on. I wrote the patterns down for you too. I think these little flowers would be just as sweet on hair clips, cardigans or hair ties.

 

 

5 Petal Crochet Flower

 

8 ply 3.5mm hook

Chain 4, Slip stitch to join - creating a loop

Chain 1, 8 Single Crochet in to hole, join

Chain 3, 2 Double Crochet in to next stitch, slip stitch in to next stitch, 3 Double Crochet in to next stitch, continue until last stitch, slip stich, cut thread and pull though loop to finish.

Weave in ends.

 

Chain 4, Slip stitch to join - creating a loop

 

Chain 1, 8 Single Crochet in to hole, join

 

Chain 3, 2 Double Crochet in to next stitch, slip stitch in to next stitch, 3 Double Crochet in to next stitch
 

Continue until last stitch, slip stich, cut thread and pull though loop to finish.

4 Petal Flower

 

8 ply 2.5mm hook

Chain 4, slip stitch to create a loop

Chain 3, 2 Double Crochet in to hole, slip stitch, 3 Double Crochet, SS, 3 DC, SS, 3 DC, SS, cut thread and pull tail through loop to finish.

Weave in ends.

 

Chain 4, slip stitch to create a loop

 

Chain 3, 2 Double Crochet in to hole, slip stitch, 3 Double Crochet, SS, 3 DC, SS, 3 DC, SS
 

Cut thread and pull tail through loop to finish.

Let me know if that doesn't make sense!

If you make some flowers I'd love to see them - leave a link in the comments. :)

34/52

 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013." Che and Fidel.

 

Cohen and Emerson: And their loving Aunty and Uncle.

 

Time, technical difficulties, teething and tummy bugs have been conspiring against blogging this week. And it seems I have hardly picked up my camera. These photos were taken last weekend at an impromptu park meet up with Aunty Noni and Uncle Dylan. I'm hoping our internet issues will be sorted out Monday and that we've seen the last of sickness in this house, at least for a little while.

 

I'm looking forward to more impromptu park dates.

 

 

Made By Hand - Link Up

'Made By Hand' is a weekly creative show and tell, with an aim to foster community, conversation and inspiration.
My aim is to craft a life of homemade, home grown happiness.

So, what are you creating right now? Join in by leaving a link below.

 

 

It feels as if everything has changed this week. New doors have opened, exciting opportunities await, new routines are being made. The Morning Tea I went to on the weekend really had a profound impact on me and the way I work. Previously, everything else came first and my jewellery work came second. Once I had everything else (children, house, food, garden, family etc.) under control, and if there was any time left over, I worked at the bench creating pieces for my shop. And, as we all know, house work is never finished and life always gets in the way. I did manage to schedule some time for my work, but it was never very consistent and was generally reliant on my husband looking after the children. I felt that this was the way things would continue until Cohen went to school, then I might have a little more time, then when Emerson went to school I would be able to work in my studio full time - but that would not be for another four years. In the meantime it seemed I would have a clean house and not a lot of time at the bench.

 

I kept musing on Clare's questions after the event. What was my dream and where did I want to be in five years time? What three things could I do this year to help get closer to my goal? I thought about my priorities. I kept coming back to the five year question and felt that in five years time I could have a clean house, or I could have a successful business. It really hit home. I decided to schedule three days a week as my jewellery days, or work days (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and create a routine around them. On those days I ensure that only the bare minimum of house work needs to be done and that working at the bench is my focus.

 

Being a stay at home mother to two little ones, I want to ensure that there is enough balance and interest in the children's days and weeks that spending some time hanging out in the studio with me playing Lego and play dough isn't an issue. Mothers guilt was another thing that had been standing in my way. But my children won't suffer from spending time amusing themselves. (I remember many days from my own childhood drawing and sewing in my mothers sewing room while she worked on commissioned dresses and costumes).We break up our days by playing outside, going to the park and baking. There is still play group, trips to the library, soccer club on the weekend and play dates. But my time, my work, my creativity, have come in to the focus as a priority too. It's a great feeling. And while it is still early days and the excitement is yet to wear off and the routine to take hold, already each day that I have spent making jewellery I have been as productive as I would usually have been in one week. Two weeks work in two days! I know I am repeating myself, but I am so very glad I went to that morning tea!

 

Whave you been making this week?

What's been inspiring you?

Leave your link below!

 

 

PS. Don't forget to join in the super sweet Whimsy + Juno giveaway. The winner will be announced tomorrow.

 

 

 



Big Hearted Business in Brisbane

For many years Clare Bowditch had a dream to 'teach creative people about business, and business people about creativity, in ways that make sense.' That dream is becoming a reality as her business venture, Big Hearted Business, grows. As a jeweller and one woman business, trying to make a carer from my creativity, I knew I wanted to hear the wisdom Clare has earnt on her own journey.  And so I eagerly attended the Brisbane Big Hearted Business morning tea, taking my place in the old theatre seats, surrounded by creative talent. I'm so pleased that I did.

 

With honesty, humour and generosity, Clare spoke about dreams, community, careers, marketing, networking and money. She asked, 'what is your dream'? A simple question to which I thought I already knew the answer. Funny how the simple questions can throw you. When I started to write it down, I was surprised by my response. She continued, discussing the process of growing that dream with "tiny consistent actions" and declaring that all successful businesses needed, "The three M's. Money, marketing and mental awesomeness."

 

I left the talk feeling energised and inspired, having reached new conclusions, ready to push myself out of my comfort zone. However, it was the post morning tea discussions with Kylie, Nic and Jennie that really cemented those thoughts and pushed me even further. Without Nic's suggestion, and Kylie and Jennie's encouragement, I may have continued to talk myself out of one dream in particular. I didn't think I was ready, I thought it was too soon, too big a financial gamble - but I am going to take the risk and apply for the Brisbane Finders Keepers markets. I'm really very excited about it, and nervous too. They may not accept my application. But I won't know unless I try!

 

So, if things go quiet around here it's because I am writing my application, working at the jewellery bench and designing my market table. You can keep up to date over on instagram. :)

 

PS. If you are interested in what I make, please join my mailing list to be the first to find out about shop updates and special offers.



33/52

 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013." Che and Fidel.

 

Cohen and Emerson: My favourite photo taken this week. My two little loves, sitting together, enjoying the early Spring weather with an ice block. I even love those grubby thong marks on Cohen's feet and the band aid marks on his knees - two more signs of warmer weather!

 

My heart has been so full of love this week. Two days ill in bed gives you perspective and appreciation, and serves as a reminder about the important things. Nothing like a tummy bug to make all the other little nuisances disappear! I held my little ones longer and sat with them more often in the aftermath. Soaking up the sun in the garden. Reading extra stories at bedtime. Patiently answering Cohen's pressing questions after lights out each night. I wish I could hold on to this perspective and not only gain it fleetingly.

 

My highlights this week are watching Cohen and Emerson water the veggie patch for me as I potted up some self seeded tomato seedlings. Cohen showed Emerson how to fill up her small watering can as he filled up his. She followed him as they made several trips from tap to plants. Back and forth, back and forth. And just too cute for words. Also, Emerson has started really interacting with her doll and pushing it in it's pram, cuddling and kissing it and telling off (squealing in frustration at) Cohen when he interrupts her games (most notably when he is "fixing" the doll - hitting it on the head with a toy hammer.) After raising a little boy, the differences between he and Emerson continue to surprise and amaze me. And make me laugh.

 

What are your highlights for this past week?

 

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PS. Don't forget to enter the lovely Whimsy + Juno giveaway!

'Travelling Poet' Ring - Back in Stock

 

The 'Travelling Poet' Ring is a simple and beautiful piece for everyday wear. The hammered finish means that no matter how far you roam, or how rough you are on your jewellery, you will only add further character to this beauty.

This solid sterling silver ring is handmade by Christina Lowry and features a textured hammer finish, which is unique to each ring. Inside the band is polished and stamped 925. The ring is 6mm wide and measures 1.4mm thick.

Suitable for lads and lasses, this ring also makes a wonderful wedding ring. Matching sets available for order in silver or gold.  It is also available for order in your desired size and width. Please select 'special order' at checkout and email me the correct size - christina-lowry@hotmail.com
(Most jewellery shops will check your ring size for you for free.)

Sponsor Spotlight - Whimsy and Juno + A Giveaway - CLOSED



I thought a few fun questions would be a lovely way to get to know the people behind the blogs and shops that sponsor my blog (thus enabling my knitting and handmade addiction). My next guests in the 'Sponsor Spotlight' are two Brisbane lasses, Lauren and Sarah, from the delight-filled online shop Whimsy + Juno. Their sweet online space is full of treats and treasures, set to pretty up your craft, brighten up your gift gifting, or indeed become the perfect gift. The girls have their fingers on the pulse when it comes to design, pattern and giftware, and both are crafters and lovers of handmade. So please welcome Lauren and Sarah, browse their virtual shopping isles for goodies, and don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end.

 

 

Our shop is... a place where we sell all of our favourite things! We love anything fun, creative and a little bit quirky and we want to share these beautiful things with our lovely customers. We sell a select range of design-led stationery, craft supplies, accessories and homewares from here and abroad. We hope that whenever we sell something to someone they love it as much as we do and that it makes their day a little brighter! (And whose life isn’t vastly improved by an adorable Jackalope, a pretty new necklace or a stack of washi tape?)

 

 

The best part of working with my sister... is that while we both have very similar taste when it comes to craft and design, in other ways we are very different, which is great when it comes to making decisions about what products to buy and how to style them for the shop. We both have our strengths and we are lucky that they are different for both of us. Sarah is the resident stylist and photographer while Lauren loves hunting down new products for the shop. Plus we get along so well with each other that it’s kind of like working with your BFF, which is lots of fun!

 

 

We find inspiration... everywhere! We’re both addicted to reading blogs, books and magazines. We especially love reading Simply Crochet, Uppercase, Kinfolk and Extra Curricular. We also get lots of inspiration from other cultures and are obsessed with anything Japanese or Scandinavian. (And who couldn’t love the land that brought us both Shibori and Hello Kitty?)

 

Our favourite three items in our shop are... the Coffee Dance Mug from Gemma Correll’s Pickle Parade range, all of our Japanese MT Masking Tapes (they’re the original and the best washi tapes) and the MoTEX Embossing Label Maker- it reminds us of our 80’s childhood and can be used to label literally anything!

 

 

If I had to pick one craft and only one, I would choose...

Sarah: At present I would have to choose crochet. I tend to have many crafts on the go but this is the one I always go back to as it is so relaxing to do in front of the TV. I’ve also loved the chance to make some lovely crochet rugs for my baby daughter.

Lauren: I would probably choose sewing as the possibilities of what you can create are endless! I’m currently working on a range of homewares for the shop and it’s great fun picking out pretty fabrics and then deciding what to turn them into.

 

We came up with the idea of opening our store...  because we had trouble buying the things that we loved here in Brisbane. Plus we’d always wanted to work together in some way so we thought we’d just go for it and open up our own little shop full of happy, crafty things!

 

 

The Giveaway

 

The girls have been sweet enough to offer my dear readers the chance to win the gorgeous items featured here - a Pickle Parade by Gemma Correll notebook, 2 MT tapes, 1 MT Wide Design tape (with a super-cute bear and squirrel design!) and an MMMG Grizzly Bear Pen.

 

To enter, pop over and 'like' the Whimsy + Juno page on Facebook and leave a comment below to let me know you have.

Winner will be drawn next Friday, 23 August 2013.

 

While you're commenting, I'd love to know, are you are a washi tape fan? Do you have one roll? Or a collection? Do you use it for special occasions? Or on everything? Or have you never heard of it before?

I love using washi to pretty up my packages and have several rolls!

 

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Many thanks to Lauren and Sarah for supporting my blog this month.

If you are interested in being featured in a 'Sponsor Spotlight', please check out my Sponsor Info page or email me - christina-lowry@hotmail.com
Advertising spaces range from a tiny $5 - $12 for 30 days.

 

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And the winner, thanks to Random.org, is comment 12.

 

Jennie from A little vintage doll.

 

Congratulations Jennie and thanks to everyone who entered! :)

Made By Hand - Link Up

'Made By Hand' is a weekly creative show and tell, with an aim to foster community, conversation and inspiration.
My aim is to craft a life of homemade, home grown happiness.

So, what are you creating right now? Join in by leaving a link below.

 

 

I was ill with a stomach flu at the beginning of the week. So ill in fact that I could neither drink tea or knit. (An awful fate for any crafter, as I am sure you will agree.) I was able to return to my knitting a day before I could rekindle my relationship with tea. While recovering I have added several satisfying, leafy rows to my second Twin Leaf cowl. Knit from a never ending ball (250 grams!) of Cascade Yarn Ecological Wool. This 12 ply Peruvian wool is the stuff of dreams.

 

So, welcome to the first Made By Hand Link Up! I hope you'll join in, link back and link up.
What have you been making this week?

Leave your link below!

 

 



PS. Pop back tomorrow for a Sponsor Spotlight and Giveaway with Whimsy and Juno.

Welcoming Spring

 

This past couple of weeks Spring has made an early appearance in Brisbane. The cool nights give way to very warm, clear days, full of possibility. There is new life in the garden. And my urge to Spring clean has been awoken. We started with the garage last weekend and I moved on to the laundry this weekend. How quickly 'things' accumulate, and how happy it makes me to have reduced their number yet again. My carefully folded linen cupboard, my rows of home made laundry liquid and my neat store cupboard are a source of satisfaction indeed.

 

My studio is next on the list. An exciting, yet overwhelming prospect. I can't wait until it's done. But just thinking about it is a little exhausting. Everything needs to come out of the cupboards and drawers and be sorted and stored more efficiently. My craft supplies need culling and rearranging, my tools need cleaning and sorting and my storage solutions need attention. I want a space that is welcoming and easy to use, with a place for everything. I also want it to be a more friendly space for my two little helpers. One of whom has a habit of pulling everything off shelves and out of drawers...

I'm sad to see Winter go, but I am hoping it will take our coughs and sniffles with it.

How do you welcome Spring?
Does warmer weather unleash a flurry of cleaning at your house?



32/52

 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013." Che and Fidel.

 

Cohen: My big boy is officially enrolled in school for next year (sniff).

Emerson: Her first piggie tail. My 'baby' girl is no longer a baby, but I can't help still referring to her as such.

 

I'm really enjoying the rhythm of our family. We seem to have moved through a difficult stage, or time. And when Mama's happy, everyone seems a little happier.

Sponsor Spotlight - Hypnobirthing Brisbane

I thought a few fun questions would be a lovely way to get to know the people behind the blogs and shops that sponsor my blog (thus enabling my knitting and handmade addiction). My next guest in the 'Sponsor Spotlight' chair is Caitlin from Hypnobirthing Brisbane. Caitlin is a childbirth educator, nurse and mother who is passionate about enabling women to birth in a positive and empowering way. So please welcome Caitlin, and do pop over to her blog or facebook page for a visit and a little chat.

Hypnobirthing is... Reaffirming that birth is a natural event, hypnobirthing is a set of techniques that enable a mother to approach labour without fear and to believe that the birth of her baby will be a positive and empowering experience.  

The “hypno” part of hypnobirthing refers to the self-hypnosis that is practiced during pregnancy and is used during labour to help the mother relax, believe in her body, release the beta-endorphins that will help her to cope with the surges and then to euphorically bond with her baby.  The self-hypnosis brings about a deep, meditative state in which the mother is in tune with her birthing, feels confident and in control and is less likely to require interventions during the birth process.

Birthing a baby into the world and becoming a mother is an extraordinary moment, and hypnobirthing allows this event to be positively anticipated and celebrated.

My desire is to... I strongly believe that, if your pregnancy and birth are the positive events that you hope they will be, you will enter motherhood feeling confident and better able to cope.

I found that hypnobirthing enabled me to have a relaxed pregnancy, a natural birth and demonstrated that trusting my mothering instincts led to ideal outcomes for me and my baby.
It is truly my wish that every woman has the opportunity to experience the pregnancy and birth that she desires.

 

I discovered hypnobirthing... When I did it myself!

I wanted a natural birth and I found that the hypnobirthing techniques really worked for me.  

Hypnobirthing involves a very interesting combination of calm surrender and control.  

As a bit of a control freak I liked that I still had command over my body, my baby my birth. But I needed the breathing and relaxation techniques to enable me to release my mind and submit to my instincts. 

 

 

 

If I weren't a ---, I would quite like to be... My primary job is as a registered nurse but my dream job is to run a community birthing centre that would bring midwives, doulas, lactation consultants and other birthing educators and supporters together to care for women.

 

You may not know this but... I am an American who have been living in Australia for over six years.

The things I miss most about home...besides family and friends...are Mexican food, grocery stores and frozen yogurt!

Three books I recommend to expecting / new mothers are... Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering by Sarah Buckley

Any of Ina May Gaskin's books are wonderful too...as is her movie Birth Story.

Also I thought Baby Love by Robin Baker was a fantastic common sense guide to mothering.

And if you want a bit of a laugh, The Best Friend's Guide to Pregnancy is hilarious is worth reading at any point in your pregnancy or mothering journey!

As a Mother I... I try to ensure that the time I spend with my toddler is time just for him.

I work three days a week so I try to make sure the two days that I have with him are special. This is not to say that we do special things...in fact most of our time spent together is doing very ordinary activities.  But I try to pay special attention to him.  To sit with him, to chat while we play trains, to listen to his little voice talking about all manner of things.  

I believe that he has a lot to teach me...and I try to be open to learning all of those lessons.

Before I was a Mother... I could blend in...now I feel like where ever I go I am a spectacle!  A mother, a toddler who is usually trying to squirm out of his pram, a dog who is usually chewing on her leash trying to get free.  I just sometimes feel like I take up so much room in the world!  I miss the days where I could easily slip in and out of places unnoticed.

 

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Many thanks to Caitlin for supporting my blog this month.

If you are interested in being featured in a 'Sponsor Spotlight', please check out my Sponsor Info page or email me - christina-lowry@hotmail.com
Advertising spaces range from a tiny $5 - $12 for 30 days.

Made By Hand

 

1. The beginning of a pendant or brooch (or maybe both!), this crochet flower will be cast in sterling silver

2. Stamping bags with 'Christina Lowry Designs'

3. Making beads while the children nap

4. A new project in the works

5. A custom order

Day to day creativity, squeezed in around two small children and a cold. This is how I work. A little here, a little there. A load of laundry and a tray of handmade beads during nap time. Stamping and packaging orders next to Lego play. Crochet while lunch cooks. Knitting on the couch at night. Over a week these creative moments add up. Sometimes there are more. Sometimes less. At times it's frustrating. More often it's satisfying. Right now I wouldn't have it any other way. This is how I work, so I can be a stay at home Mama, and still express myself creatively.

What have you been making?
How do you work?

Are you missing 'My Creative Space' too? The inspiration, communication and community?
Join in! Post your own 'Made By Hand' and leave your link in the comments.
I'm tentatively putting it out there. If you are interested in joining in, let me know.
Perhaps next week I can add a link up list if enough people are interested?