It's Me: Day 10 (The Outsider)

I know, I know, it's not strictly day ten, but I decided to go AWOL. How many pictures of myself can I possibly plaster on my own blog? It felt like way too many. And yet today, I must finish this small project because otherwise it's hanging over my head.

Today my outfit* is dedicated to all the mothers at the Doctor's pre-school. The ones who avert eyes and never say hi.

This is me saying hi to you. How do you like them apples?

* Please note - no stripes or cardies have been harmed in my outfit today. Are you feeling proud? I am.

ANZAC Day

Today is ANZAC Day. Have you ever been to see the diggers march through the city? I love it. Though we didn't do it today, maybe next year when the kidlets are a little bigger. But seeing those service men and women march is incredible. It has really helped me understand that these are real, live people that went off at an incredibly, heart breakingly young age to fight for our country. And many of them never returned. It made me realise just how many people went off to war.

My favourite spot to perch is right across from the non-marching servicemen and women and nurses. My goodness it is a good spot. They see someone they know and call out and a short dialogue ensues, just as the marcher is marching off. Left - right - left - right.

So I'm watching from home today, with the stray tear in my eye, listening to stories, watching with pride. I love the bagpipes. I love the drummers. It's incredibly moving. If you get the chance to go and watch next year, do it.

Still on the Aussie front, last night I started making my first project from the Mike's book.

Ta da! It's not finished, oh so close! This is Angela's (Three Buttons) pattern (check out her blog, it's delicious. It's capricious). It's the very handy 'Shopping bag keep-safe' that my kitchen needs! Oh yes, it needs it. I try not to have many plastic bags, but they do somehow muzzle their way into our kitchen and cause quite a riot. What a mess! This is a cure, and it just so happens - shazaaaam! It's an Australiana teatowel. How apt.

And now folks, it's on with the show. I'm going to whip up a batch of ANZAC biscuits to keep the memory alive. Smell some rosemary for rememberance. It's a small tribute.

Here's to honouring the sacrifices made for us. Lest we forget.

Buns of Steel:: Days 1-4

I've joined forces with this group in a bid to get fit. Here is my take on days 1-4.

Day One:

I set out early evening to squeeze in 20 minutes of walking before the babies head to bed. Instead I wind up walking for 45, and enjoying every minute of it. Spying through darkened windows. I spy a little boy sitting up for dinner all on his lonesome. An old man says hello. Yellow lights map out my walk. Over-sized dogs guard a large house that looks better suited to English country-side. The hardest bit on day one is starting.

Day Two:

Today I really can only go for 20 minutes because I have to be home to fulfill feeding duties, my husband has barren boobies. I slip into cruise control, but because I've left it 'til later, it's dark. Here are a few pointers as to why you should avoid night-time walking:

- my head came into very close contact with a branch - ouchy ouch
- it was so cold my ears started aching
- visibility is poor, so unless you're wearing a reflective safety vest, you're like an invisible target for fast-moving cars
- I wasn't so much interested in perusing houses, as wanting to be in my own
- I almost, so close, just missed it by a fraction, trod on a very dead, very squashed, very bloody possum that had met it's maker on the road. Tasty.

Day Three:

Recovery from my head-banging incident. I head out early afternoon. It's the weekend and I am going to make the most of it. 45 blissful 'me minutes' later, after powering through our backstreets I am plum tuckered out, but feel good. I've been throwing a few hills into the mix, to ensure my hindquarters get a good work out. I'm heading for buns of steel. Look out!

Day Four:

A less hectic pace sees me walking beachfront with my family. Today we're dodging weekend crowds, but it's nice to have someone to chat with, a welcome distraction. No 'me minutes' today - but when you're in the sunshine, taking in the long, inky line of ocean meeting horizon, who cares?

I have started feeling muscles I thought I'd lost. Walking is good. Get out there!

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So there's a snapshot of my first few days of forming a non-rehab-requiring habit. 17 days to go.
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Finally my camera became friends with me again. I can show some pics of some fabric my sister sent me as part of a swap (yes, we play swaps - she's in Perth, I'm in Sydney, it's bound to be a surprise). These gelato-inspired goodies are destined for my yo-yos... YO! YO! And the patterned fabrics, they are from my other sister, and they are being saved for a quilt for my little one. That's when I learn to sew.

A Busy Beaver

Boy oh boy, am I kicking goals today or what?!

I've zoomed through my son's room, it's so clean you could eat off the floor. Not that you'd want to (particularly as you wouldn't want to get those bits of carpet stuck in your teeth, would you?), sheets changed, toys put away, oh man, I just love kicking goals. Score!

I've done the washing. Though it's raining here so everything is bound for the dryer. Boo hiss....!

I'm just about to start a big cook-up to freeze some purees for my wee little one. Wahhhheeee!

I did some stitching last night (man I am officially the slowest stitcher in the world, I got four piddly puffs done - better than none though, huh?). Yahooo!

Shame on me - because it's raining, and because I am completely hooked - I just bought a piece of this fabric - but really you should say, hey good work because I am HOPELESS at buying yellow fabrics.. How cute! Click here and you can get addicted too and I won't be so guilty. - Boo hiss? But big YAY!

I've taken some photos of my next project, but due to the grey-ness of today, I have been shooting in my *ahem* studio (also known as under the heat lamp in our bathroom). Please don't expect to see my photos ever hanging in the MCA.

I've done some work.

I've paid some bills. Boo hiss!

Yesterday I went for my walk (played relays with Matt so I could go) - yay bravo! Today due to the weather, I will be going in wet weather gear and will look even daggier, if that's even possible?!

And now. Well my camera has given up the goat (or is it ghost?). So pictures to be added later skaters.

PS - My two past titles have no link. Don't get any ideas alrighty?

A Finished Project

I'll give you time to pick your jaw up off the floor.

I know. I know. This pillowcase project has been in the works since, oh , forever.. Well at least since early June - and it's not even that large a project, but I have said before, I am a slow stitcher! And my friends, it's now finished. I tossed it aside in favour of pom poms, but I returned today, faithful as ever, and it's ready to be slept on.

It has endured a funny path. It was intended for one of my friends birthdays, but given my hate of measuring things, my transfers went a wee bit wonky (that's the understatement of the year) and I decided I couldn't give it to her. So who in my life deserves a little haphazhard pillowcase? Well, my dear husband had put his hand up for something featuring this swallow, so it's his. And given he's my 'beauty' (and I really do call him that), it was destiny's child - but without Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and that other girl no one knows the name of.

There's one thing complete. Feel proud of me. Raise a glass to me. Something. This is a rare occurence.

Crazy Quilt

I'll take some better shots tomorrow, but for now, it's just lucky I've hooked my camera up at all.. I've been a little lax lately.

This is a quilt I made with my sister ChoccyBangles last May for my son. It's been back and forth between Sydney and Perth ever since.. But here it is in its final stages.. Kind of..

It was such a fun project to do together. My little boy and I went to Perth for a short week and Choc and I banged this together between kiddies sleeps, picking up the big little boys from school, and general sisterly chatters. We worked hard - it's a big quilt (probably more a queen size than single), made of a mash-up of fabrics, and I really love it. Not just for its aesthetics (I love those vibrant colours, patterns) but for what it represents. A whole lotta love.

And I think my little guy is a bit fascinated with it. Each time I unravel it, he comes over to examine each of the fabrics - a different one each time.

I'll take some better 'whole' shots tomorrow.

Oh and I must mention, given my non-sewer status (or very novice skill) Choc took the reigns on this project and did most of it. Kudos to the girl, she sure can sew!

Inedible Doughnuts

Firstly, for some reason Blogger keeps rotating my photos. It's annoying. That's my disclaimer. Now I can continue.

MollyChicken had this genius idea to make pom poms out of fabric scraps. Such a gorgeous idea (go check out her daughter's beautiful bedroom, and that quilt, oh that quilt!). I decided to give it a go too with great results.

I had a big box of fabric scraps that my sister had given me, that I'd completely forgotten about. Until now! Such a fun and simple project, and it's something that I think I'd like to try with my little guy. I think it's manageable (with a little help) and perfect for these chilly days.

I think they even look good in the first stage of winding the fabric around and around the cardboard. Like doughnuts. Or a little fat crown!