fiveandtwo

Return From Unannounced Blog Break.

What have I been doing? Battling demons. With a bit of teen wrangling for light relief

What else? Walking. Changing the garden around - seem to do a lot of digging things up, moving them and changing the size and shape of garden areas when unwell. I think it parallels the changes I struggle to make within.

Two views of garden work in progress.

Doing what else? Sewing clothes for Clare and Ally to not wear.

From this book (ISBN 978-4-579-11132-9)

In a past life it was a linen shirtdress from the op-shop.

Used the same pattern for the "Lady" jackets  for the Book Day costumes.

Little top, cute bumblebee fabric (from Spotlight, as with apple fabric, below)

From this book (ISBN 978-4-579-11954-4)

Heh, could've ironed it! Lovely green linen from the op-shop.

Old Burda pattern (9995) with sash added. Fabric is two vintage pillowcases. All from op-shop.

Clare actually wore the one below..!

Used Ottobre Design's "The Best T-shirts" pattern for these, all op-shop fabrics. The stencil came from Stencilry, loads of stencils you can print and use (personal use only, of course). I used freezer paper for the first time and was very pleased with the result.

A couple more things to sew up and a couple needing buttons. I want to make some pants and skirts for summer. Thinking of making a duct tape "body double" to help with fitting, perhaps then there won't be so many duds - look terrible/don't fit properly.

The Japanese pattern books come from Yesasia. They have free shipping.

Not Making Cheese Anytime Soon.

In my weekly foray to the op-shops I came across Home Cheesemaking by Neil and Carole Willman. I've made soft cottage-type cheese before, and paneer, after I did an Indian cooking workshop ages ago. The book looks to be a very good guide (it's Australian), but this region has quite a few excellent cheesemakers. I'll make my own cheese if I want to or if I have to, in the meantime, I'll let them do the work. I think I'm kind of over my farm woman fantasies!

Another book that piqued my interest was an old edition of Gregory's Street Directory of Melbourne. For some reason, I'm attracted to the colours of old maps and street directories. In my head, churning around, is some sort of art work that will be made, perhaps. I feel like I haven't got the headspace - though that's probably just a lame excuse. Heh, doesn't stop me collecting them, just in case this miraculous work ever comes to fruition.

Turns out this particular Gregory's is a first edition. Melbourne was a tad smaller then. Couldn't find a date - Tullamarine Airport under construction - no freeways - much less sprawl. Interesting in spite of me only having any familiarity with Melbourne in the last five years or so.

However, it wasn't all not going to, might do, going to do in the next life etc.

Soup bowl and two red linen tea towels. Yes, two. Yes, lucky.

Fabric, a bit Mondrian-like. Background actually more greenish. Heavyweight upholstery type stuff. Hmmm. Another bag?

I'd been looking at this once a week, for seven weeks. Resisting buying another object. It's quite small (nasturtium flower for reference), ummm,  I really like it. Why didn't anyone else buy it? Perhaps this is not a question I should ask...

Once upon a time, pre-twins, I had a regular market stall. Secondhand stuff. Any excuse to go op-shopping, garage sale-ing etc. It was very educational, I came to realise that if I wanted to make a business of the stall I couldn't afford to be generous with my pricing, I had to bargain down the price at garage sales, bid low at auctions. I loved having the market stall, but what it came to, to make it work, just didn't sit right.

A couple of times I've had a stall with a friend to sell our handmade goodies with only very moderate success. People round here think you pay $5 or less for very well made handmade goods using natural materials."Yes, I can make that easy. Acrylic felt, polyester fibrefill. Much cheaper."

Must go - teenagers want computer.

Ladies

Lady Clare and Lady Alexandra with their loyal hound Suska.

Book Day Parade yesterday. Clare was Clara from The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann & illustrated by Dagmar Berkova, Ally was The Sleeping Beauty from the version in The Barefoot Book of Princesses retold by Caitlin Matthews & illustrated by Olwyn Whelan.

The Nutcracker was given to me, along with Swan Lake, by my Aunty when I was seven. She had a whole set of these children's books, all associated with famous ballets. Recently I found The Firebird at an op-shop. My Aunty was the dance critic for a Sydney newspaper for quite a while, and had a whole wall of dance related books. Her whole house was a library actually, she's an extremely literary and articulate woman.

My Aunty would've loved one of us to have become a dancer, but not a chance out in the boondocks. No such refinements as ballet lessons, not even at boarding school.

There was some hope with Leah, who was a late starter at ballet and quickly became her teacher's darling. Scooting through the levels. Changing peer groups was the death of that, moving from primary school to secondary school. However, cajoling, coercing, forcing, anything really, is pointless if the desire to participate has gone. I have no doubt I'll get grief for not "making her" continue ballet (and saxophone). I am not into making my parenting harder than it already is. Isn't there a story about perpetually pushing a stone up a hill? Why do that.

I find it very difficult to allow my kids to "throw away" opportunities. All those music lessons - trying out different musical instruments. Dance, martial arts, all sorts of sports (and associated equipment!). No point flogging a dead horse though. Nuh huh...But have I been too lax?

Wednesday's Stuff on a Sunday

So weird last evening/night. Only me at home. It was enjoyable, but very, very quiet. I think the last time I spent time a full 24 hours or more by myself was when we lived in Alice Springs and my husband did bush work (pre-children). About twenty years ago , he was often away for weeks at a time. I've spent time away from family and all, but there's always been other people around. Weird. I'm not hugely social, but obviously I'm used to the noise of people, and having it as a backdrop to my life.

Those who were away had a ball, came back all rosy-cheeked because no-one remembered to pack sunscreen. Tired, cranky and sore, but also full of stories and anecdotes. And wanting to go back next year.

In my endeavours to clear the sewing backlog - getting there, getting there...I did not post on Wednesday. I found a couple of special things on my tour of "the five".

Clare and Ally both wanted to be photographed wrapped in this lovely crochet blanket. And blanket it is. It fits on a single bed. There was a really ugly tartan backing which I unpicked - gone. It's the backing  that probably preserved it though. Condition immaculate, made of pure wool, amazingly not felted (=lovingly looked after). Makes me wonder about the previous owner... May she rest assured the blanket has come to rest where it will be used and appreciated.

Old glasses. Always on the lookout for these because they get broken in this household. We use them of course, no room for display only! The blue and yellow banded on the left are for a friend who has the matching jug. I have collected a couple of others to package up for a gift - she's having a new baby soon.

Why does my font size revert to normal when I insert a picture? It's really annoying, I just tried something that worked...!

Oil pastels, remember Sakura Cray-Pas? I had them as a kid. I had to get the Reeves Greyhound Pastels.

My dog is a greyhound, a reject racer. Best dog I've ever had.

Excellent family pet. We have cats, chooks and young kids as you know.

Some chairs, for your perusal.

The fishing game I bought last week. Broken. The little motor operating it burnt out. I am dark on people who park broken, unfixable things at the op-shop. No favours, no charity there, just somewhere to dispose of "stuff" that's never going to work.

If it doesn't work at home, what makes a person think it's going to work at the op-shop? Worst case scenario is the increase in tipping fees for charities dumping all that unsalable junk.

Just my little rant for the evening. Cheers to you all.