Made By Hand - Link Up

As has been established, I am not a speedy knitter, despite my best wishes. Nor have I found much time to devote to my knitting lately. This little sweater is still on my needles. It seems when the jewellery work takes over, knitting takes a back seat. But thankfully, stitch by stitch a garment is built, no matter how long it takes. And unlike weeding or cleaning, time doesn't serve to undo ones efforts. 

Once this project is finished, I do believe I will try to learn how to lever knit (which is apparently the fastest way to knit). I would like to make another blanket, but the last one took me three months...

What have you been working on this past week?

'Beautiful Day' Brooches + a catch up

My life lately has predominately revolved around children, domestic concerns and Finders Keepers Market preparation, (but not blogging, it would seem). It is the life of a stay at home Mama, with a small creative business. Full of routines and surprises, satisfaction and drudgery, creativity and preparation. My little darlings have certainly been keeping me occupied. While my precious 20 month old Emerson discovers the joys of stealing caster sugar from the pantry, or flinging drawers full of clothing on the floor, my almost-five-year-old Cohen has been testing his independence, and practicing the art of selective hearing. (A friend once said that you can tell when children are ready for school, because at least once a day you wish you could send them. Oh, how I understand!)

Apart from Mothering, I have managed to read a few books - and can recommend The Yarn Whisperer (for lovers of knitting) and The Forgotten Garden (an easy, enjoyable read). I've planted a few seedlings in the veggie patch - silver beet, onion, rhubarb and beads - while the self sown tomatoes are going strong, the parsley has taken over the compost pile, the capsicum is fruiting in large quantities and the sweet potato is threatening to take over more of the garden that I had anticipated. I've added some delicious new meals to our meal plan, after falling in to the habit of cooking the same ten meals over and over. I've caught up with some of the amazing women in my life at book club and a crafty morning tea. And of course, I've washed basket after basket of laundry, wiped up cup after cup of spilt milk, prepared approximately 2,000 meals, picked up several tonnes of toys and worked on stock, packaging and all manner of other things related to market prep. 

Which leads me to the pictures above. While cuddling Emerson to sleep recently I decided I needed a lower price pointed product for the Brisbane market. Something sweet for everyday wear, that would also make a great gift or stocking stuffer. I mulled over several possibilities before hitting on the idea of making brooches from the same art clay I make the beads from. As soon as Emerson was asleep I started experimenting with clay, doilies and lettering. These new 'Beautiful Day' brooches are the result. Affordable cuteness at $12 each. I'll be bringing them to the market with me and updating the shop in the aftermath. There's a mixture of embossed doilie patterns, marbled clay designs and text, like 'knit', 'maker', 'quilter' and 'craft'. Though I'm happy to take custom orders too.

Oh, and look, here I am on the Finders Keepers blog.

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.

A gorgeous vintage cross stitched notebook cover made by greenbuttons

Giveaway goodies from Creative Chaos

I am still (still) working on my little sweater - the front and back are finished, and I have started on the sleeves. But, look at the loveliness that arrived in my letterbox! I spotted these beautiful covered notebooks made from re-purposed cross stitched linens on Louana's blog. A perfect little Christmas gift for a certain great-Aunt this Christmas. Though, of course, I am tempted to keep it for myself. Also in my letter box, these crafty goodies were a lucky win from Kimberley's blog, and will be put to good use. Thank you Louana and Kimberley!

So, what's been happening in your creative space lately?

Shoe shopping the blues away - DFO

When life gives you lemons, one is told to make lemonade. However, when life gives you two unruly children, a husband who stubbornly refuses to agree with his wife (hmpf!) and a series of 'nothing seems to be going right' moments, the answer is to go shoe shopping. Am I right? It would have been an even better solution had it been a solo shopping expedition. Alas, it was not to be.

Ah, the joys of shopping with two children. Some days they are dear little angels and old ladies stop me to tell me what delightful children I have, while my heart bursts with pride. Unfortunately, this was not one of those days. Cohen, who had promised to sit nicely on the over sized ottoman at the front of the store, was either sprawled all over it, or had snuck off it completely in order to pull strange faces in front of a large mirror. Miss Emerson meanwhile, sat in her pram and busied herself by removing and throwing her own shoes around the store, before demanding loudly that they be reattached to her feet, only so she could repeat the process...

I must say, the girl at Tony Bianco DFO* was quite patient and generous as I browsed the displays. She smiled graciously at my unruly children and pretended not to notice my hissed requests that Cohen remove the stock from his feet. While I sat to try on the shoes of my choosing, Cohen unleashed a typical four year old torrent of questions upon the young sales assistant, who thoughtfully answered such queries as "why do your jeans have holes in them?" "why don't my clothes have holes in them when we buy them?" and "how many phones do you have?" I smiled apologetically, secretly glad that I was offered a short reprieve from such questions, which continued at the counter as I paid. Still, success! New shoes! Hooray!

Wildly optimistic, or stubbornly deluded, I decided to try and repeat my success at Novo. Now though, both children were on the loose - Emerson refusing to remain in the pram a moment longer - and the shoes I fell in love with weren't available in my size. Still holding tightly to my previous success, I decided it was time to call it a day. As I shuffled my children back to the car my best friend called.

"Yes, I would like to stop in for a cuppa while our children play. Wait 'til you see my new shoes!"

*This post was brought to you by DFO, but my opinions are my own. DFO is a well known destination for leading Australian and International brands at up to 70% off. DFO Jindalee is located at 16 Amazons Place, Brisbane. Open 7 days, 10am - 6pm. You can find their website here and they are also on facebook.

A big thanks to DFO for the opportunity to be a brand ambassador for the last few months. 

42/52

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

Cohen: Behind the fairy floss, beneath Dada's sunglasses and hat, my darling boy  

Emerson: Exploring at every opportunity, with that serious little face of hers

What a jolt those numbers give me. 42/52. My goodness. How true that old saying, 'the days are long but the years are short.' And so it has felt lately. 

Yesterday, we had Cohen's first school interview, for Prep. Cohen explored the classroom, while Dave and I answered the teachers questions. She was quite surprised when we explained that Cohen has never been in child care and hadn't gone to Pre-Prep, having been at home with me until this point. It seemed assumed that each child going to Prep would have been to child care and Pre-Prep, though neither is compulsory. (Prep is compulsory in some states I believe, but not Queensland. We could wait until grade one to enroll Cohen, but I do think he is ready for school now.) She returned to the question on the form later to inquire, 'Not even a family day care?' in a tone of disbelief. Is it so uncommon these days to raise a child at home?

I felt as though she thought we had disadvantaged Cohen in some way, which left me feeling disappointed. I suppressed my urge to justify my decisions. I know his days are full of friends, books, craft, activities, playgroup, library trips, soccer - as any four year old's are. However, he will most likely be included in a program at the end of the year where he will attend the morning session of Prep once a week for three weeks. This way he can get used to the requirements of school and they can 'asses' him. The program is generally offered to fifteen children each year, so surely Cohen isn't such an odd one out?

It's funny how something can seem completely normal to you in one environment, and so foreign in another.

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.

Thank you for all your kind words about being accepted in to the Brisbane Finders Keepers market! (I was excited to see Christina Lowry Designs listed with the Debut stall holders on the FK website yesterday.) This weeks making has largely been jewellery and market related, with a few rows of knitting here and there. The back of the sweater is finished, as is the ribbing for the front. Now I am slowly patterning my way up the front piece. 

I really would like to knit faster. I knit in English style (thrower) and have wondered if I couldn't knit faster if I learnt how to knit in Continental sytle (picker). Last night I discovered lever knitting, which is the style of knitting production knitters use, and it seems, is the fastest style of knitting. The average knitter apparently knits less than 30 stitches a minute. (Sometimes much less in my case!) While the world record holder knits a whopping 118 stitches a minute! Almost two stitches a second. Phew!

Are you a knitter? What style of knitter are you?

Finders Keepers? I'm in!

Guess what? I'm going to be at the Finders Keepers market in Brisbane! My first ever market! I received an email to say there was a debut spot open for me. Hooray!

I'm excited and nervous! Excited at the prospect of meeting lots of lovely people at the market and having a stall alongside such amazing creatives as I know will be there. And nervous too, at the prospect of getting everything done in time and selling my wares on the day.

There is much to do to prepare. I've made several (hundred) lists. I've been ordering packing, working on earrings and trying to calculate how much stock I will need - but I really haven't got the foggiest.

I do know that I have new pieces in the works especially for the market, and promotions planned for the weekend. I also know it is going to be a fantastic market if the last one is anything to go by, and I can't wait!

So Brisbane-ites, write it in your diaries, keep the 16th or 17th of November free and make sure you come and say hello! I'll be on the verandah and my darling twin sister, Fiona, will be helping out at my table.

41/52

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

Cohen: Butter wouldn't melt in his mouth... ehum.

Emerson: Little bruiser.

I never thought patience was something that could be taught, and yet I find I am learning it from my children. And  not because they're patient, but because they teach me how to be patient. Before I had children, I thought of myself as being a patient person. Since having children, I often wonder if I could ever have enough patience! When the children intentionally provoke each other, when Cohen is being defiant and won't eat his dinner, when he plays roughly with Emerson and hurts her, or continually asks me questions when I am on the phone, or one hundred other moments in a day, I feel my patience tested. And while patience is elastic and springs back remarkably quickly once tested, prolonged pressure can cause even the most patient person to snap. That's when I wonder how deep my patience reserves run. However, I have also realised that I have a measure of patience that I didn't have prior to having children, which relates to pace. Specifically to slowing down. It's much easier to have patience if you move at the speed of your children. I moved at a much faster pace pre-children and I am tempted at times to return to my previous gait. But, when I am rushed and trying to speed up my children, I am guaranteed to run out of patience. While it's not always possible to slow down the pace, when it is, I find patience is more abundant. (And I am quite sure more children move slower than usual when they sense urgency in my voice...)

Lately, Emerson has been asserting her will in order to walk everywhere. Little toddler steps to the park, with lots of pauses to examine seed pods, rocks and sticks. Or one little hand in mine, and one in Cohen's, she will walk around the shops. She will even walk very slowly down the three flights of stairs at the library, as I patiently hold her hand. It's such a wonderful way for her to experience the world around her. When Cohen was this age I may well have gotten impatient half way down the stairs and picked him up, as I was so used to moving at a faster speed. Now, Emerson and I both beamed with pride as we reached the last step.

And while it is still frustrating at times, I am endeavoring to slow down as much as possible and let Emerson set the pace - and marvel and the things our children teach us.

Fascinating photography

 : cody & molly

 : dave & joann

 : jen & corey

 : julia & mathew

: mish & colin

All images by Hana Pesut

When I stumbled across the Switcharoo photography project by Hana Pesut, I found the images incredibly engaging. I scrolled through them all, eyes flicking back and forth between each image, accounting for the differences and similarities. Something powerful is revealed by the concept of photographing 'accomplices' in their clothes, and then in each others clothes. Interesting questions about gender, fashion, image and identity are raised with humor in these portraits. How much or how little you derive from the images is left entirely up to the viewer.

Do you find them as engaging?

You can see more of the images here, or purchase Hana's book here.

Found via Flatout Frankie

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.

Rather than share a photo of the same piece of knitting I have been working on, I wanted to show you a beautiful handmade gift that arrived unexpectedly in the mail for me this week. A free motion machine stitched neck piece, handmade by the talented and generous Jennie, of A Little Vintage Doll. Isn't it all sorts of lovely? I've had to hide it from my little ones, who both insisted on trying it on, while trying to assume ownership of it. Thank you so much Jennie! It's beautiful.

What have you been making lately?
Or what handmade goodness has come in to your life?

40/52

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

Cohen: I never appreciated the humble dandelion until I became a Mama. Now they seem such bright and happy flowers, hardly a weed at all. I have a dish full of dried dandelions that Cohen has picked for me. With each flower gift he tells me he loves me. It's like a little dish of love.

Emerson: Precious blessing, who falls asleep each day in my arms. How rich I am. How rich every parent is.

I seem to have lost my blogging mojo of late. I feel like I have lost my voice. Perhaps I just need a little quiet time? Does that ever happen to you? 

I hope to return again soon. xx

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 missed our creative show and tell last week. However, I was too ill to put together a coherent blog post and at times like that I know I need to listen to my body and rest. 

This week, my creative energy has been channeled in to knitting a small sweater. I uncovered the pattern in a thrifted, vintage Patons knitting book (Book 921) and was drawn to the texture of the fabric. I also found patterns in the book which are identical to a hand knit sweater and cardigan that I found at an op-shop. They were baby blue, beautifully knit and unworn. Both my children have since worn and outgrown them. I can't help but wonder if I brought the book and hand knits from the same op-shop? And if perhaps the notations in the book are the work of the same knitter? 

So, lovely readers, what have you been making of late?