Goodness gracious me!

I don't know if you all are fans of "Hattie and the Fox" but it's one of my kids' favourite books and whenever I exclaim I think of it! We Love love love Mem Fox in this house. You can read all about her here. But I digress . . .

It's been nearly a year! Yes! A year! Where has that time gone? What have I been doing? Are you still out there? All questions that I ask myself on a regular basis.

Well, since you asked . . . our family home has had a massive renovation (September-October-November 2010), the usual Christmas/family stuff happened (December/January) and then I went back to part-time work for the first time in 7 years! Holy Moses and wasn't that a shock to the senses? But I'm recovering well and I should be able to start having a life outside work again soon. How is it that two days a week has taken so much out of my time? It's supposed to be part-time, people! But I suppose that is the nature of teaching - your brain is in teaching mode during term and it takes up a lot of energy. Plus, I think I had forgotten how challenging Year 9 students can be. Oh, but funny! I tell you I just laugh from morning to night -that hilarious brand of teenage angst. (You do know I'm joking, yes?)

Amazingly, I have found some time to do some crafty things. During the June/July holidays, a local shopping centre had this deal - $5 to make your own stuffed bear. So we went along and the kids chose a bear skin each and the lady there put it over a big hose connected to what actually looks a lot like a fairy floss machine. The kids stepped on the foot pedal and Voila! The bear skins were filled with lovely soft fluffy filling. The hole in the back of the skin had threads already there that were just pulled up and knotted to close the hole. Very clever. Also very clever were the little outfits they were selling for $10 a pop! I refused to buy the outfits so we went home and made our own.

E's polar bear was definitely a ballerina so we made a leotard and a twirly skirt for her to dance in.

And Oscar's bear became an army doctor.

For the doctor's coat I used Enid Gilchrist's dolls' clothes book and I just winged it for the mask and hat. Also drafted a pattern for the polar bear's leotard and it is just a simple two layered circle skirt with elastic waistband.

Oh, it's good to be back!

Justine Clarke rocks!

Miss E and Master O loooooove Justine Clarke. And I have to say, I am quite partial to her as well. Her songs are great for kids and they're groovy as well so I don't mind listening to them ad infinitum - I know all the words! We were lucky enough to go to her recent concert two days ago and it was great. I thoroughly enjoyed it - great musicians and a great time.

Here we are waiting for the concert to start.

Miss E sat on my lap the whole time :-) I can understand that it must be overwhelming for a 3-yr-old. But she sang all the way home in the car.

A shot of O at the front of the stage - can't *really* call it a mosh-pit. He had a ball - showed Justine his newly lost toothy gap and got the thumbs up. He was very excited.

These inflatable balls were O's favourite - as evidenced by multiple pictures taken.

And there she is! With her dancing pants on. I highly recommend going to a Justine Clarke concert if you ever have the opportunity.

Tooth Fairy!

What a momentous occasion! The first visit from the Tooth Fairy! Master O has lost his first tooth - we're just not sure where! I think he must have swallowed it during the night or it's somewhere on the floor of his bedroom :-) He wasn't upset though, rather intrigued at the thought that he could have swallowed it. "Cool, mum!" he said.

The following photo is his favourite, needless to say :)

Can you see it mum??

It's amazing how one little tooth can change how they sound as well. There's the slightest whistle now :-) So cute!

Sewing with Knits

Recently I've been inspired by a bunch of Crafty Mamas to start sewing with knits. Here are a few of my adventures.

This is Ottobre 4/2009 LIttle Maid shirt. Lovely pattern but the horse print is a rib and I think I stretched it a bit while sewing so it doesn't sit perfectly. I am going to try it again with a sturdier knit.

This is an IMKE from Sewing Clothes Kids Love. This is becoming a favourite and I've already made three! I only have pics of two though as the third one was a present for someone and I forgot to photograph before we gave it!

Here is Miss E's IMKE

Purple is Stella knit from Crafty Mamas shop and the pink is from the op shop :)

And here's Mr O's IMKE

And yes, he *wanted* to look like a stunned mullet in the photo. With milo on his face. The pattern knit has ninjas all over it so he loooooooves it.

I think I have to learn more about how to use my overlocker though - it's not being nice to me :)

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.

Oh my!!

http://oh-write.blogspot.com/2010/06/marens-kitchen.html

I don't know whether to be glad or sad that I didn't see this post before buying E her kitchen over 12 months ago for her birthday. Glad probably - otherwise she probably would have had bits of old furniture only half completed into kiddie kitchens scattered about her bedroom :)

Awesome-ness, yes?

I forgot the cake!

All year E has wanted a Peppa Pig Fairy Cake. This is what we came up with. 1/2 slab from Woolies with fresh whipped cream and sugar icing picture on top. We copies a pic from the internet and made each section individually. I'm quite impressed with the quality of the colours, if I do say so myself. We were loving ourselves sick over it! Then on the birthday morn, Miss E said to her father . . .

Daddy: Are you excited about your Peppa Pig Fairy Cake?

Miss E: *frown* I want a turtle.

Needless to say she got a Peppa Pig Fairy Cake.