Making do with what's in the shed.

Miss E has been very helpful with hanging out and bringing in the clothes lately. After I picked her up for the 2nd time yesterday to peg a washer on the line, and heard my spine creak under the pressure, I decided it would be better Workplace Health and Safety Practice if I made her a clothesline her own size.

I My initial thought process was "Where will I get one? How much will it cost? Maybe there's an second hand one on ebay? I'll scour the markets next Sunday morning?" None of these thoughts were satisfying as I needed (or, rather, my back needed) a child-sized clothesline *immediately*!

I caught sight of some garden stakes and I had an A-ha moment! "A-ha!" I thought. "I shall build one myself!" So I did, with two timber garden stakes, some galvanised wire, electrical tape (to cover pointy bits), pliers and a sledge hammer. Within 5 minutes she had her dream clothesline and was happily pinning up socks and undies.

Then Miss E said "I need a basket Mummy" and I remembered that I had an old basket with two handles, not unlike a laundry basket, that we had got a Christmas hamper in many years ago. Perfect! So there *is* a good reason to keep things :-)

I am loving myself sick over this! And more importantly, MIss E is in hanging-out heaven. Win-win.

Thanks for looking.

Our latest set of wheels . . .

. . . well it doesn't have wheels *yet*.

But it is a two-seater, with a baby seat (for a baby pony of course) and seat belts. It has had some minor bodywork done - some limited edition graffiti by Miss E.

All in all - it worked out pretty well and they do love to play in it. So far it is standing up to rigorous playing without falling apart. The only thing is Baby Pony's seat sometimes gets overloaded and the bulldog clips give out. Might have to book it into Kidsafe House for a safety assessment :-)

I was going to make a tutorial for it but ended up making it in the 30 minutes before dinner last night after the kids had been begging me all day to make a two-seater cardboard car - and I kept putting them off because of gardening. So my guilt kicked in at 5.30 and it was done by 6! Nothing quite so satisfying as crafting by the seat of one's pants! I do have more cardboard though so sing out if you think you might like a tute.

Do you think she likes it?

A few random sock monkies

Trying to make as many christmas presents as I can this year. I've been quite organised about it actually. I've surprised myself! :) Just ask my husband - organisation is not my strong suit.

Here are the two latest.

This one is for my niece's 8th Birthday next week.

and this one was given to our god-daughter for her early christmas present as she and her family will be in Geelong for Christmas. She loved it and called it "Chip".