Stop Growing!!!

Because I cannot keep up. The kid has grown again, and yes I know they are meant to, but geez...

After spending a small fortune on not very much at all, it was time for a stop gap measure. In other words, cheap. But not so nasty.

Usually I avoid Target like the plague, all those bright prints make me want to put on sunglasses, and most of the kids clothes look cheap. But a white t-shirt is a white t-shirt, inoffensive, and to be honest, at $4 a pop - slightly fabulous. I've bought these before and they really do last forever. Target outfits may look cheap, but they never fall apart, or go out of shape. Just like the ad says.

These are replacing size 4 tees from a couple of years back (yes, the kid is small, and they do kinda still fit). I made a few to match the Oliver and S skirts I made. 

These have been made to wear with denim jeans, skirts and long blue shorts, perhaps teamed with a cute pair of espadrilles or converses. 

It's a bit hard to see the detail here, but the red is a crocheted heart. I used this pattern, a 2mm hook and DMC Babylo cotton. These hearts are so easy to whip up, and they've decorated letters, envelopes and even my bike. Believe it or not, the envelope arrived intact after travelling halfway across the world.

The next one was trimmed with a simple ribbon sewn on with that invisible thread that I both love and hate, then tricked up with a twisty flower and felt leaves. It attaches with a brooch pin so the tee can be washed without fear of the brooch disintegrating. Because I'm lazy, the flower is pretty much held together with hot glue, and I'm sure it wouldn't like being washed, dried, washed, dried.

The third one with the rosette though is sewn on. I've used acrylic yarn, and I figured that if it does get a bit out of shape , it was only $4, and I can always make another. I kind of made the pattern as I went along, have a go, it's pretty basic to work out. If I make another though, I might extend the ribbony bits a little more, they kinda seem a bit short I think.

And here's what I started last night. Not sure what purpose they will serve, but I really like those colours. Not the most economical way to buy your wool, but those little skeins that are meant for tapestry are perfect for small projects. You'd hardly crochet a scarf that way, but the colour range is huge. I think I will get about three flower from three skeins, so really, 75cents isn't too bad. I'm thinking perhaps thankyou cards, or maybe Christmas cards...

And a question. Can someone explain scribd to me in 25 word or less? I seem to have somehow joined (not sure how), and subscribed (again not sure how).

What's on my table today

Chincherinchees.

Giant freckles.

Homemade cordial.

And a bird ready to take flight.

It's been a busy kind of week. Ballet concert rehearsals, marketing, and a short stint of paid work. How does one fit it all in? I've been itching to get back in the kitchen and do something about the oodles of lemons that we have. After a recent trip to IKEA, I was super enthused about the possibility of homemade cordial and maybe some ginger beer. I came home with 18 swing top bottles, all ready to go. The cordial has been made (and rather good, with a dash of gin), but the ginger beer requires a bit more planning. The plant alone will be eight days in the making, and everything i've read warns against using glass bottles.

Lemon curd has been made, biscuits are in the oven and everything feels just a little bit more organised.

The teensy bird will be off in the mail on Monday to a very special friend. I do hope she likes it!

Gettin' my craft on

With all the spring busyness going on around here, I've had a hankering to get back indoors and get my hands on a bit of fabric.

This little peep is what I made this morning. Standing just 8cm high, its made with felt, fabric and wire. Simple blanket stitches and basting hold it all together.

Crafting gives me such immediate satisfaction. Especially small projects that can be completed in a day or less. At any given time I have a dozen or so things that I'd like to be making. Obviously they don't all get done, but it's nice to dream....

A scarf for next winter perhaps?

And in my great tradition of biting off more than I can chew, I've started another blanket. Flowers in squares this time, and much, much smaller than the one I am making for my bed. Pure wool, and gorgeously soft.

It may end up as a teensy doll blanket, but I'm hoping for something slightly more substantial.

Mushrooms!

Have you ever grown mushrooms? Easy peasy. When I saw these little kits at the market last week, I just couldn't resist. These kits were no run of the mill mushrooms either. I bought two, a tube of Shimeji and an Oyster mushroom. At only $5 each, it was money well spent.

It's taken just over a week, and we've already harvested our first meal.

Beautiful aren't they?

Dinner was a chicken and blue cheese pizza topped with oyster mushrooms.

The shimeji have not sprouted yet, but we are continuing our daily misting. Perhaps they are just a bit slower.

Fingers crossed, but I won't be too devastated if nothing happens. At only $5, I won't have lost too much. Certainly more economical than those cartons I've had previously, which are around the $20 mark. Now if only I can convince the kids to eat them...

Down and Dirty

Not all functional things need to be ugly. Our little garden shed is a great example of this. Despite the shadows, I think you can probably see the little rosemary hedge in the making, and the giant rhubarb that is currently looking for a new home. Ideally, window boxes will be added some time in the future to add a splash of colour, but for now, a tiny bit of bunting is doing the job nicely. This little garden shed of mine is my second favourite space (after the kitchen). It houses all my tools, seeds, etc and has a rather spacious potting bench running down one side. I also have shelving to store my summer preserves.

I'm very fortunate to have great gardening tools. Mine are a bit of a mix, but the basics are all from a small Australian company called Digadoo. Beautifully handmade, and just the right weight. The important part though is their strength.

Good tools can be expensive, but if you buy well, they really do last the distance.

Not so new is this very vintage wooden ladder. Salvaged from a hard rubbish collection, it patiently waits a bit of love and attention. I'm thinking along the lines of a whitewash, and using it to hold a pot or two of geraniums, or perhaps a succulent or two.

Do you have a favourite garden tool? Are yours new and shiny, or vintage lovelies?

Unglamorous Gardening

Today I thought I'd share some less than glamorous shots of my garden. Here in Melbourne, we have been under very tough water restrictions, which due to recent rains have finally been eased. Previous summers have had us only able to water twice a week, using a trigger nozzle hose, between the hours of six and eight AM. 

Its been tricky trying to establish a garden with limited water and searing summer temperatures. In summer its not uncommon for us to have over 40C, several days running. To keep everything going it has been important to establish alternative water sources, harvesting as much as we can from rainfall, and saving grey water from both bath and washing machine. It's all been of a rather temporary nature, given that we have plans to renovate the house, and will eventually add more usable water storage in the form of tanks and pumps.

A couple of years back we very cheaply bought three olive barrels, attached a tap near the base, and diverted our guttering with a simple open/shut valve so we could fill them, then turn them off.

They've worked well, and each can hold roughly 120 litres. It does however require all plants are hand watered using a watering can, which is very time consuming. It also relies on rain to actually fill them, which isn't always around.

Diverting our grey water is what has kept the trees going. We use an eco-friendly laundry detergent, low in sodium and phosphorous, which is garden safe. Our final rinse is saved, then a hose carries it down to the trees and shrubs. Obviously not the vegetables or herbs, because that would just be a bit blaghh. Again, this can be turned on or off, and now that the garden is a bit more established, we find ourselves using it less and less. When things get really dry, we bucket out saved bath water.
Using grey water has meant a rethink on the products we use in the house for cleaning. I've never been a fan of chemicals, and the thought of them going either down the drain or into the garden isn't really appealing either. 

Our biggest tank is 1000 litres, and runs off our garden shed roof. Again this is strictly for hand watering as we don't have a pump for this yet. 

Because we have a tiny garden, every available inch of space is put to work.

Compost bins do take up considerable room, but they are screened off by a soon to be tall hedge, and won't be visible from the house.

The three bins seem to be the right number for us, and supply the garden with rich compost at planting time.

This year I have again planted tomatoes in tubs. While I have larger, heritage varieties in the garden, the pots are good for smaller, cherry tomatoes and eggplant. This side of the house has sun for most of the day, and I have a tank nearby for easy watering. Likewise, our herbs and lettuces are pot grown, and can be easily moved into the shade on the really hot days.

The back garden has just recently been replanted, and this area will soon be paved and screened by shrubs. A smaller rosemary and lavender hedge defines the borders, and a new row of buxus will edge the pavers. This back area houses our small garden shed and clothes line. More lawn will be removed meaning less watering demands. We still can't water lawns or use sprinklers, but mulching garden beds helps retain moisture.

 The clothes line is a must. Even in the depths of winter I try to hang the clothes out. Until a few weeks ago we had a rotary line, but this new, retractable line takes up less space.

So all in all, lots of messy bits, and very much a work in progress, but I'm loving it more every day.

Inadequate Parenting

Do you watch Junior Masterchef? We here do, but I've got to say it leaves me feeling rather inadequate. It's a sad day when you realise that a twelve year old is a more focussed, talented and faster cook than yourself. Can I cook pretty looking Lemon Meringue cupcakes in 45 minutes? No I cannot.

Can my children cook a Lamb Wellington? No they cannot (however hard I try to convince myself, a six year old making nachos with a lot of assistance is not the same). 

How can such small children have so much talent? I can only assume they have rather dedicated parents, who have made a real, concerted effort in training their kids to such a high level. All I can think about is the mess I will have to deal with every time mine want to create something in the kitchen.

Other than trying to emulate a twelve year old, this is what I have been up to today.

Party favours for the soon to be seven year old. Spurred on by all things culinary, we are having a cooking party. Simple little cupcakes, tiny little pizzas and milky milkshakes. And no, not at home. The mess will all be elsewhere. A purpose built kids' kitchen that caters for parties and the like. 

Rather than a sugar filled party bag, I'm making up kid sized pot holders with kid sized wooden spoons to give away. These first prototypes have a big case of the wonks stitching wise, but I doubt they will notice. Just to be super safe, they have been double lined with that crazy insul-bright stuff, before quick quilting. I do plan on sending home a teeny treat bag, perhaps with a giant freckle or two inside. I am thinking I might add a couple more things, but will try to keep them fairly simple, and foodie inspired.

And just so you know...those cupcakes took me an hour and a quarter!

Another round of party planning

Just to prove that I really have become an uber-geek, I am in the process of organising a Harry Potter party. 

At nearly twelve years old, the kid has become simply too cool for school. Birthday idea after birthday idea was shot down. Then I struck a winner.

A movie at the Imax, followed by a play, get-together in the park. Obviously not a play because that would not be cool. Even though it is in a playground....

As a happy coincidence, the party is just two days after the launch of the latest installment of Harry Potter. Tickets have been bought, and a party is being planned. Invitations are going out way ahead so we can send out a second round if need be (don't want to waste those tickets).

I think the key to a tween party is to be low key. Oh the embarrassment I could inflict without even trying. The invitations have been printed on parchment paper, and tied with a simple black ribbon. The Harry P font was downloaded from here, true home of Harry Potter geekery. I had thought at first that I would write it in Potteresque language, but I think that would be taking it just a little too far. Don't want to be uncool after all.

The little cauldrons were a happy find at Spotlight, on sale pre Halloween. These will take the place of lolly bags, and will be filled with creepy crawly sweets - spiders, frogs etc. I also like the idea of these.

It's about now that I have to confess that I have not actually read a single Harry Potter book, or seen any of the movies. Do you think it's necessary for the movie to make sense? It is after all, two and a half hours long, and I don't really want to be confused the whole time.

As for cake. Hmmm. Stumped. I haven't seen anything in the theme of Harry potter that I like. Given that it will be cut and eaten in the park, it need to be transportable too. Thinking caps are on. Any suggestions?

Got me

Yep. Got me good. Ten attempts I have made of these and now I'm admitting defeat. I so wanted to make these, and try as I might, I just can't seem to get it. 

Obviously maths isn't my forte. I think the stitch counting is my main problem.

Initially, I thought the teeny, tiny size was my main fault, and no doubt about it, the first few were small. Doll size. Even when I changed from newborn size to 12 month old, they were still smallish. Moving up a hook size helped, but then further problems arose. The straps didn't align.

Such a shame. The yarn was beautiful, Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino.

I'm putting these aside for now, and maybe I might feel like tacking them again later on. 

Instead, take a look at these:

Radishes!

Easy peasy, and cute if I do say so myself. The pattern was from this lovely book by Lesley Stanfield. 

Lots of sweet flowers, fruit and vegetables, both knitted and crocheted. I've bought the wool and put in my order for asparagus, carrots and lavender. Sadly, I can't knit, so I'm relying on more capable hands for these (thanks Mum).

Here's a quick couple of shots of our latest project.

Any guesses?

Half Way

Out of bed. Fevery, flu symptoms have finally gone, replaced by something almost as bad. 

Itching. Unrelenting itching. 

Although I feel much improved, I daren't go out. I'm still covered in nasty blisters, and infectious. So more crochet is the order of the day. Frustratingly, I have run out of red, and am also nearly finished all the other colours. A visit to the wool shop is out of the question, so I'm taking the time to sew in ends. 

From the beginning I adopted a sew-as-you-go attitude, and I'm glad I did. I can't think of anything worse than reaching the end, and then having to sew in the ends of 150 squares. I'm up to sixty, and it is only the last eight that need sewing up. These are the ones I have done in the last few days, and I figured I would do them as a batch. 

Laying them out today, I am a bit unsure as to how it will all come together, given that my tension has changed quite dramatically. Some are quite noticeably larger than others. I think I will simply sew them together, rather than crochet, then crochet the whole blanket together with a decorative edge. Any ideas?

My usually very easy going husband has pronounced a dislike of the blanket but I'm hoping he will come around. How dreadful to sleep in a room, under a rug you don't care for. I think it's the Nanna-ness. It certainly can't be the colours, and I know for a fact that he loves red, however he is no fan of crochet quite obviously. I had thoughts of making a contrasting cushion, but perhaps that may be pushing his tolerance too far. As it is I make him keep his boyish collection of F1 cars in the cupboard, out of sight. Mean aren't I?

A pox on your house!

Okay. Who did it? Chicken Pox has reared its ugly head and bitten me. I have a nasty case of Adult Chicken Pox (shingles), and am out of action. Luckily the kids have been immunised, but I am quarantined and under strict orders to rest in bed. For a week. 

So, the blog break continues, and I am becoming a bit like Jimmy Stewart in Rear Window, spying on the neighbours.



Thank goodness for books, crochet and computers. And drugs. See you on the other side.

Tooth Fairies and other stuff

 Someone here is as pleased as punch. Finally, after several weeks of wobbling, the family baby has lost her first tooth.  The last in her class, but possibly the most excited.

I've been ready for this for the last twelve months.

A fairy door is outside Poppy's bedroom you see. Waiting.

(and yes, that is possibly the world's ickest looking fairy, but she loves it)

An official Tooth Fairy kit had been delivered via said Fairy Door when the wobble became apparent. 

And we waited. And waited. And waited.

Until finally...out it popped.

So to celebrate, a sugary, sticky Bombe Alaska. As you do.