What is it with boys clothes?

- Why is it such a challenge finding affordable clothes for boys that are not

1. mostly blue
2. without teddy bears and twee paraphenalia
3. not dull and bla
4. and oh yeah affordable!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A big ask it seems or perhaps I am looking in the wrong places?  So instead of consistently winging to other parents and offending parents who love this kind of stuff, I have begun to take matters into my own hands. Here is my first offering. A vest made out of some spare polar fleece. Just trace round a t-shirt minus the arms and off you go. Love a bit of slap dash sewing. Always gets my creative juices flowing – anyone relate?

It survived an Autumn leaf fight with the cousins and Dadda so it passes the kidability test for me.

                                       cheerio,

Amanda

Wrapped with love

Knit, knit, knit, knit – it’s good therapy. Did you know knitting is not only fantabulously fun but it is considered to have lots and lots of physical, spiritual, cognitive and emotional benefits. Hooray I say that sounds like a good justification for more crafting to me. See www.knitmagic.com for more on the meditative and healing aspects of knitting.

The other great thing is you end up with something at the end of it that’s unique and full of handmade love.

Over the last couple of years, one of my work colleagues has been getting us all knitting squares at lunch times for the Wrapped in Love project. This involves knitting squares to be part of a bigger blanket to send to those who are in need of some Winter warmth at home and overseas.

The blankets are amazing, unique and above all warm. My work mate was telling me a story from last years Knit In about a refugee who had received a blanket when arriving in Winter in Australia. A few years on he remembers the kindness of being welcomed with a blanket and it is now a special family heirloom which he says will be passed down as a reminder of the welcome. Warms the cockles of your heart ay!

You can also be part of the great Knit In. It’s taking place on July 27th at the ABC studios in Harris Street Sydney. Paste the following into your browser for more details

 http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2007/07/23/1912042.htm   

See you there ,

Amanda

What’s old is new

I had a lovely time whipping these bibs up for a friend’s impending arrival whilst the boys went for a ride to the park. A few wonky bits here and there but hey, with food all over them, no-one will notice. Made from some old sheets found at an Op Shop

 

 

No. 11? What life changing news has it been witness to over it’s years of receiving mail. Letters of friendship and love, bills, newspapers, junk mail. It looks like it’s seen a lot of history and is waiting patiently for someone to tenderly restore it to it’s former glory. Sadly, the little old 60’s fibro houses are being demolished round here to make way for apartment blocks and McMansions…perhaps I’ll keep an eye out and salvage it from such a fate. The shape is such a classic round here.

A picture paints a 1000 words..

 

Untitled    oil on canvas         120mm X 180mm 

Sometimes I really struggle to find the right words. While having another little clean out attempt in the art nook (still a work in progress), I came across this very little painting I had done a while ago. She first appeared in one of my drawing books as a sketch and made her way to canvas as a little study one afternoon. Although I don’t think this is her final formation it does capture something of where I am at right now – two weeks into long service leave! Need I say more?

Cheers,

Amanda

Down but not out

Hello there on this Wintry evening,

After much grief and loss over the past couple of months, I am finding my way back – oh it knocks you around doesn’t it? I’m taking some long service leave after a tough year and a half in my professional life and every Wednesday I’m having a just me day to heal by doing some therapeutic art and whatever else takes my fancy! It is so delightful. I’m loving spending more time with my little fellow and having the emotional space to just be with him. He is such fun.

I’m feeling my sense of purpose clawing its way back having struggled under the weight of heavy burdens and when I sewed sewd sewed on Wednesday it warmed me up – I felt alive again. I sewed some pyjama pants for a nearly due friend, the beginnings of decorating  a blanket for my son and designing a softie to work as a transitional object (or lovey) for my nocturnal Jasper. He is such a little possum.

P.S. On long walks round our neighbourhood streets to try and get Jasp, to sleep i’ve become fascinated by letter boxes – I might just have to share some of them with you.

Cheers

Amanda

Some crafty creations for a new creation

Yesterday we gathered for stitch and bitch whilst the fellas looked after the little ones. We didn’t make much as we were clucky and distracted by Gracie the newest creation – all I can say she is so bubbalicious! New babies smell so good. This bib, singlet and beetle was Sarah, Amanda and Marcia’s crafty creation for Gracie the new creation which I forgot to post at the time.

 The  pattern  for the beetle bug came form the book SOFTIES 22 Friends for you to sew, knit and crochet. The pattern was designed by Carly Schwerdt. You can find her at neststudio.typepad.com. Very inspirational stuff

 

Cheers and Beers,

Amanda

What’s old is knew

There are so many good things about being a bit skint sometimes. I find creatively flows when funds are tight. Necessity is the mother of invention right? I look at the world differently and I often surprise myself with rethinking what we really NEED to buy and what we could make – so many things can be hand made. I love handmade things – they just exude soul and character… I get a bit frustrated with patterns and love a bit of free form sewing, it feels like I’m creating an artwork – the exciting and sometimes not so exciting bit is that you never know how it is going to turn out!

With the finance climate looking a little ominous i’ve been looking at this ripped flannelette sheet as a bundle of material full of possibilities! Wa – la flannelette pyjama pants are the first re-invention – these are so comfy and I reckon I’m one of the only people who has pyjama pants that much their pillow case – granted I’ve chopped up the sheet, nothing else does match but I love a bit of eclecticism  - was fun to re-use what might otherwise have been destined for the rubbish .

Before – put your head on the side – (will get the pics round the right way some day!)

After

Sweet dreams – good night z z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z 

Amanda

Mother’s Day

Sometimes living in the bigger smoke gets me down – I have to be reminded to enjoy the smaller moments when overwhelmed by the bigger ones – thankfully I have some good little reminderers (a new word for our glossary). They bought me these happy walkers on Mother’s Day – be gone seriousness, how can I not have fun in these?

Cheers and fun beans

Amanda

 

 

Weaving

 I have decided that camping with children is a winner. Invest in one super michilin man suit for each child and do not take it off them except to sleep. Ignore the grot and you are set for a wonderful week. Children love being outside when they are little. Rocks are especially exciting.

Whilst the kids were proccupied with exploring (eating) their surroundings, I tried my hand at some basket weaving. I collected some beautiful grasses and vines and just had a go. Varying degrees of success ensued. The greatest success being that I loved it! Maybe one day when I am wealthy with spare time I will invest in some lessons. A few hints wouldn’t go astray. Until then, nothing is sacred in my backyard and there will be many wonky baskets to choose from in which to collect the chicken eggs…

Ell

Hello little lady

It’s a lovely crisp Autumn day in Sydney. A good morning for spending out the back basking in the sun. We are washing the Winter woolies, getting ready for what feels like it’s going to be a cold winter (well… cold

by Sydney standards).  When checking on the tomatoes for any edible fruit (we have been a bit preoccupied with other things this year and have neglected the tomatoes and thus they are looking a bit grim!),  I found a little lady friend there –  Enjoy the feast little lady – its all yours.

Amanda