Some quiet shopping

With the stress of it all lately, my body decided I needed a wee rest and I have had a very heavy cold. Never mind, I view this as a chance to sit around on the couch- movie watching, crafting, and taking nana naps.

I'm feeling better now but have lost my voice. For the last three days I have gone from squeaking and croaking to no voice at all. Luckily I am a super fine actor with absolutely no shame and have been acting my way through all the mummy directions that need to be given. Also the girls and I know just a little bit of sign language, that has helped too. The girls dragged me out for a shop last night and giggled every time a shop assistant was confused by my mute response. You see the girls know that given a chance I will make friends with every shop assistant that looks kindly my way. I am that annoying person who is inclined to answer the "how are you" question honestly. I promise I don't go on and I am always positive but I am never just fine "I am great/fantastic/excellent, thanks for asking, how is your day going?"

This morning I headed out on my own with a note book in hand. An op shop happened to be in the middle of all my messages and I found these lovely tins in the window. I had to write a note asking if they were for sale and they were, which ones she asked, all of them I signed. And for how much? just $1 each! excellent. I already gave one away to a friend who will appreciate the Scottish theme, the rest will be used in my play space to store some of my bits and bobs. Of course these days I can't look at a tin with out thinking of Tinniegirl who has the last of her tins avaliable at her shop, if you want your own full of treasure go her see her before she sells out.

Not being able to speak has sure made me think about what I really want or need to say and given me a chance to be a lot more introspective but I have missed singing at the top of my lungs when at home alone or driving around the city. Anyway; I'm great thanks, how has your day been?

edit to add Little Sparrow has some of Tinniegirl's tin as well.

A long week/fortnight

A fortnight ago I logged off wondering if it would be a long week. It sure was, perhaps evidenced by my lack of blogging, I have just been to busy dealing with life to have the time to reflect here. Having a mixed readership I have been wondering about how much to write here, my uncertainty has lead me to say nothing.... however I have felt privileged to share the ups and downs of many of my blogger friends, and your honesty has encouraged me to share this wee stumble.

The short version is this(and hang in there, I tried to keep it short): A fortnight ago we made the decision to withdraw our very unhappy 2nd born out of her school and leap, hoping that we would find a soft place to land. Moving to a new city, and country has been an adventure for us and really the only thing that has been difficult has been the girls schooling. Only one thing, but oh that one thing is a major.

We resolved the problem for the first born at the beginning of this year and had plans for the second born for next year, but then a fortnight ago it was clear that this was just too far away. So we took the leap and to my great joy and relief the soft place arrived, and after a crazy week of interviews, Dr visits, uniform and stationary shopping, rearranging of finances and farewells, our gorgeous girl headed off, nervous but happy. Most importantly she came home happy and the most relaxed I have seen her in a long time. I am so relieved and now guilty and a little lost. I have been worrying about this situation for some time and relieved though I am, I find myself unsure what to do without the worry. I was unaware of how much it was hanging over me until it was gone. That feeling hasn't hung around to long, already my focus is shifting, (more about that later) but briefly I felt strange and lost without the weight of worry.

Why does it take me so long to leap? I have always found that everything works out ok but I still struggle to hold on, to have all the i's dotted, t's crossed and the ducks lined up, to know for sure before I let go. I need to remember to have some more faith, that I do not have to have all the answers and that I can handle whatever comes my way. Although I know mother guilt seldom does anyone any favours. Choosing school is part of my job and I feel guilty to have failed in this aspect. On the other hand I also know that this journey has lead both my daughters and myself to some good friends, friends we wouldn't have otherwise found. And life is a journey isn't it and an adventure and sometimes it is smooth and sometimes it isn't and as far as life stuff goes this was just a wee stumble along the way.

So there you are out the other side of this little stumble with only a grazed knee.

And on the way my creative space went around in wee circles starting like this on my return to Australia

Getting a bit of a tidy up

And then returning to chaos as I tried to keep on making things amongst everything else going on

before being sorted again.

This cycle is pretty constant for me and the first time I have been brave enough to share the chaos, but while I'm being honest right? For more creative spaces go see Kirsty

Sharing the stash

The first born is doing a design and technology course at school or what I used to call sewing. She is making a bag this semester, I recently invited her to go thru my stash and see if there was something suitable she wanted to use. One of the options I presented her with was this op-shop dress I had brought with the intention of cutting it up and recycling, but "no" she cried "I could wear that!" And so with a little bit of altering -taking it in and bringing up the hem, she has headed out for the evening in a brand spanking new dress.

Browsing in town this afternoon she was complemented by an assistant in a groovy wee shop, proof I am told that this is indeed a great wee number. I love that I have a kid confident enough to believe she can alter clothing and that she wants to wear something rescued from her mother stash.

Don't you think it would be perfectly suitable to have a picnic of this fabric, just like wearing a flash table cloth- in a good way. And the good thing about taking up that hem is I get a little bit of fabric to play with - hooray everyone is happy when we share the stash.

Wearing....

Today I am wearing a dress a friend gave me.... I love to wear hand me downs, and I love to wear op shop finds, and I love to wear things made with love by clever people. I have grown to love all these things, it wasn't always the way.

When I was a kid in a small town in New Zealand, op shopping was oh so very embarrassing. I loathed being dragged into an op shop by my mother- what if a friend from school saw me? or worse my teacher! Oh I so wanted to impress Mr Farr.

My Mum has always been super clever and resourceful, I liked being able to draw pictures and then having her make them into applique t-shirts or knitted jerseys (jumpers) but I don't think I really appreciated the wonders of having a mum who would stay up late the night before we went skiing to make us all new ski pants. Or our floral togs! Thanks Mum

Then at some time it changed, I raided Mums wardrobe most mornings and wanted the 'opshop' look and even made some clothes for myself. What I love most is to wear outfits with a story. I love to know who else has worn it, or where I found it and what a bargain it was. In our house one of our games is to add up our outfit - how much did it cost, the reward- looking stylish at a bargain price. I am glad I caught on to Mums great idea and I love to share these adventures with my first born. I reckon even Mr Farr would be impressed. Do you love to op-shop? what do your kids think?

Not enough time!

There is not enough time in the day....

Off to teach little bunnies again tonight but before that as you can see from my clock it is time to stop and make dinner for the family and whilst I do so, bring in the washing, supervise homework and get changed out of the sloppies into something halfway respectable. All I can say is at least I don't have to travel for ages to get there. Little Sparrow is just down the road... so handy.

I must confess that I did already stop in to see Shelley, but you see the coffee was just to fuel us for our 'meeting' - we started with giggling about the Comedy Gala on TV last night. I was also picking her lovely brain, as I have been working on a new range of kit sets for my brooches and other lovely things yet to be revealed to you all. They are so close, but it really doesn't come naturally to me, I love to make things and I love to share things but committing to paper and trying to explain my little ways I have found to be trickier than I thought. I think part of the reason is 'cause I love them so much and want you to enjoy them too. For it to be a joy not a nightmare to create I must get it right. No pressure huh?

Well right now I must be pleased with what I did achieve today and put it aside to do the aforementioned tasks. Tomorrow is another day and the school holidays will be upon me before I know it. so type, sketch, stitch, photograph and felt... see you all again tomorrow.

btw the clock is by fossil stonecraft in Christchurch, New Zealand. A reminder of home.