tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10270939604592498382024-03-13T10:02:42.325+11:00pencils and pinsCatherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.comBlogger169125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-87814764066257348452014-03-20T13:03:00.000+11:002014-03-20T13:16:12.554+11:00Reginald and Quentin<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had planned to post weekly updates on my progress in making an entry for the <a href="http://reginald.com.au/">Reginald</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead, I found I had barely enough time to finish my entry before the deadline (I made it with mere hours to spare!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did at least manage to take some photos along the way, so I can belatedly share the making process here.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJIagw7O2_FMMKV-NAsvhpEwM17DQ2bhe-nJlr-g87YwcrNmU8l3c6GxbbQ7do9afvXG9lYyXvSiTBm9JY9SA8Vb2Jsrsvw7LJfOMC7PhJbBVF1EyWAv238ctFci8D5gUbeN6s84LQHA/s1600/eye.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJIagw7O2_FMMKV-NAsvhpEwM17DQ2bhe-nJlr-g87YwcrNmU8l3c6GxbbQ7do9afvXG9lYyXvSiTBm9JY9SA8Vb2Jsrsvw7LJfOMC7PhJbBVF1EyWAv238ctFci8D5gUbeN6s84LQHA/s1600/eye.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Drawing with pencils, then drawing with thread.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmw0GZJ2HAnD-YTJ514d5uf2ao1qssvIlqJy7cLerBh2XNfeEVUG2gOyl19epyYl6OOeNSlKVtdyBT5kv8xT0UBXo2-_8z2nvvTbVKj6bPSPhNmXh5nduwebHt7jgZP3l5-a54v5hfFIE/s1600/waitingroom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmw0GZJ2HAnD-YTJ514d5uf2ao1qssvIlqJy7cLerBh2XNfeEVUG2gOyl19epyYl6OOeNSlKVtdyBT5kv8xT0UBXo2-_8z2nvvTbVKj6bPSPhNmXh5nduwebHt7jgZP3l5-a54v5hfFIE/s1600/waitingroom.JPG" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I realised I was running out of time, I started to bring my stitching everywhere I went - from a Parents' Association meeting to medical appointments.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsPU0NeGmEeoUljoASmdaeK8zXFE0KVMDBMck7A8zqkrDQzZggxou8jMB7pyUD59zZADWiTsaiWrEIe0O_BXBgvWcQODJfp2f2prZvN8efEf5XdxduPjGrW3zZ1UCBPS2JDoBSqQpC_4/s1600/muslin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsPU0NeGmEeoUljoASmdaeK8zXFE0KVMDBMck7A8zqkrDQzZggxou8jMB7pyUD59zZADWiTsaiWrEIe0O_BXBgvWcQODJfp2f2prZvN8efEf5XdxduPjGrW3zZ1UCBPS2JDoBSqQpC_4/s1600/muslin.JPG" height="640" width="430" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The person I was trying to recreate in softie form has immaculate dress sense, so I realised a practice dress -a muslin - was needed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFZ06jjytyl3stfa_z0m92aAh7k0u4HuUSAWVGvAPBg8rdIsD_Ifk7Sx_bETlr6ZzW3L49US7sEs3ZnZZAh-55i_2eycugz95lOi08GYVwXzyRHJOg37Fck4f7eNIMH9KvN7EfRVpDAU/s1600/pattern.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFZ06jjytyl3stfa_z0m92aAh7k0u4HuUSAWVGvAPBg8rdIsD_Ifk7Sx_bETlr6ZzW3L49US7sEs3ZnZZAh-55i_2eycugz95lOi08GYVwXzyRHJOg37Fck4f7eNIMH9KvN7EfRVpDAU/s1600/pattern.JPG" height="522" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Squeezing the pattern pieces onto an only-just-big-enough piece of felt.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllq7Vf3sXh8MwsHSmWkvdEAfkfbG3DkNOKKCsNJgkTVJ5Ql2f6Fn8aafck5zmB8Qnp1750lWRVCLhfaststAc9bqiSo99vaM0STA6AizjvueU6bQZ2bOQeMgJIslqSylSr59t0Wtg_gA/s1600/quentinbryce+fullshot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllq7Vf3sXh8MwsHSmWkvdEAfkfbG3DkNOKKCsNJgkTVJ5Ql2f6Fn8aafck5zmB8Qnp1750lWRVCLhfaststAc9bqiSo99vaM0STA6AizjvueU6bQZ2bOQeMgJIslqSylSr59t0Wtg_gA/s1600/quentinbryce+fullshot.JPG" height="640" width="412" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My finished softie portrait - complete with pearly button earrings and matching shoes.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimrgaWVePbHxHyWERRzZYtCYyDomFKOFeVg2iTiZh_v8MfN8ANwFQztxZimad3657mCG9odhXcpAgRJMP8c3-WkU2ZTc-q_x4rDx-Ts9XWhY1ECquj0RJ_vQsIcq98rFiL4nYDuQzDJw/s1600/quentinbryceface1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimrgaWVePbHxHyWERRzZYtCYyDomFKOFeVg2iTiZh_v8MfN8ANwFQztxZimad3657mCG9odhXcpAgRJMP8c3-WkU2ZTc-q_x4rDx-Ts9XWhY1ECquj0RJ_vQsIcq98rFiL4nYDuQzDJw/s1600/quentinbryceface1.JPG" height="640" width="472" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you guessed who she is?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have done my best to make a softie representing </span><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her Excellency the Honourable Quentin Bryce AC CVO, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gg.gov.au/">Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia</a></span></i></b><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (her term as Governor-General ends in just a few days).</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I read the main requirement for entry to the <a href="http://reginald.com.au/">Reginald Softie Portrait Prize</a> (to make a Softie Portrait of someone you admire/appreciate), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quentin_Bryce">Ms Bryce</a> was the first person I thought of. Her career and life has been characterised by many "firsts" for women, including her role as first female governor-general. She has shown great commitment to human rights and equal opportunity in many of her roles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I have never met her, I see her as a gracious, kind, intelligent woman, with a generous smile and a great sense of style. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was my very great honour to attempt this portrait of her.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgvAqW3jwHGa9nCIFOh04ckmupPNWT_PWnzoZs0hTh_ORK1-axZgea2WjQbtvhJLs64blTVzgDAu3XE7kXfU7N9QnZzIZeLRTMNtrQ1xvb-vSKlcU4ggtm2C_7gCSfNR05CQqM27_wPQ/s1600/Quentinandmary+abc.net.au.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgvAqW3jwHGa9nCIFOh04ckmupPNWT_PWnzoZs0hTh_ORK1-axZgea2WjQbtvhJLs64blTVzgDAu3XE7kXfU7N9QnZzIZeLRTMNtrQ1xvb-vSKlcU4ggtm2C_7gCSfNR05CQqM27_wPQ/s1600/Quentinandmary+abc.net.au.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>The dress I made is based on the dress in this photo (via <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-20/bryce-admires-royal-couple27s-kids/3682724">abc news</a>)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my favourite aspects of making this softie was the chance to share the experience with my daughter. We got to talk about women in leadership roles (including her lovely school buddy who is now school captain!) and what we admired about them, and about how people can be leaders in many different ways. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am so glad that Ms Bryce is the first governor-general she has known.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_235JPcaaSWnxJxSAVRpytYdNwHgZw-VZNftIZXvfIHVjzYi1Dy3w4gSvEdv33ElFn_6dFUekDx9gty9qIcoXzYUZR3LgWIChfunteYBTNMbX9JHJWpyaoKVFVS1e_hqnvTCDVV6XiE/s1600/reading.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_235JPcaaSWnxJxSAVRpytYdNwHgZw-VZNftIZXvfIHVjzYi1Dy3w4gSvEdv33ElFn_6dFUekDx9gty9qIcoXzYUZR3LgWIChfunteYBTNMbX9JHJWpyaoKVFVS1e_hqnvTCDVV6XiE/s1600/reading.JPG" height="626" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love that my girl got the chance to imagine she was reading to Ms Bryce (with the most lovely clear reading voice!)...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7HTP29NIY-CaWZm6LvAkAoGGkUp8mEY4EU3iSre3OPZePmu99i00vPKCVigm9tO4DJs6cSACYcqa_v-skKgmopahPy0WXs9JWTZCvBtho3-R5TOpxU-NCVUBvvC9rUlc-ma2RXBbToA/s1600/brooch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7HTP29NIY-CaWZm6LvAkAoGGkUp8mEY4EU3iSre3OPZePmu99i00vPKCVigm9tO4DJs6cSACYcqa_v-skKgmopahPy0WXs9JWTZCvBtho3-R5TOpxU-NCVUBvvC9rUlc-ma2RXBbToA/s1600/brooch.JPG" height="636" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">... then make her own gifts for "our" softie - a brooch (inspired by <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/national/tributes-paid-at-canberra-service-20121012-27iju.html">this</a> dove brooch) and a bangle made of alfoil and cardboard, and the beginnings of a "crafty handbag" (which will look like a regular handbag but will in fact be filled with craft supplies!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved the whole experience of making this softie, and taking part in this wonderful, supportive competition. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To discover I was a finalist, and that my work would be on display in the windows of the CAE in Melbourne, was an enormous surprise and honour. If you would like to see all the finalists, you can find the details of the exhibition <a href="http://reginald.com.au/reginald-exhibition/">here</a>. There is also a <a href="http://reginald.com.au/vote-for-peoples-prize/">people's prize</a> that you can vote in online (voters also get the chance to win a prize!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I nearly forgot... joining in My Creative Space <a href="http://www.kootoyoo.com/2014/03/inkery.html">here</a>.</i></span></div>
Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-49890819773003454052014-02-06T11:24:00.001+11:002014-02-06T11:24:41.305+11:00Once upon a time, I had a craft blog<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not quite sure sure how it happened - how a few week's break from this place turned into more than a year (and far far more than a year since I posted about anything I had made).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The truth is, I miss what this blog means to me - a space to celebrate making things, a space to be reflective and thoughtful, a way to be part of a really lovely community. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course I can do these things without a blog (and I have in the last year - maybe one day I might even show a little of what I've been up to while the blog was sleeping) - but it helps. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two <a href="http://melbourneepicure.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/muesli-bars.html">lovely</a> <a href="http://www.mybeardedpigeon.com/2014/01/back-to-blogging.html">friends</a> have written posts about blogging that sum up my thoughts pretty well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am also excited that the wonderful weekly ritual and community that is <a href="http://www.kootoyoo.com/2014/01/and-just-like-that.html"><i>"my creative space"</i></a> is making a comeback ... </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to celebrate, I've decided to take on a new challenge. I've decided to enter the <a href="http://reginald.com.au/">Reginald Softie Portrait Competition</a>. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://reginald.com.au/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgSp_DWjoVmUrt0ji5qrclB_VkgRYH_gSQXDCVGIZvtS_U5CDF5IeplLUD12kAlXVe_4v00YjMoSBavEPBuYOA4hPQ-bAtCa8BiZdRQ19ROa-sFAAE3B60pZv8zl2pgyowe-nWU7k7W4/s1600/reggie_buttons4.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://reginald.com.au/"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>reginald.com.au</i></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's it. I've said it. I am going to give it my best shot, stop worrying about how I am going to sew a portrait when I'm still unsatisfied with my drawn attempts so far, and, in the words of the inspiring <a href="http://www.kootoyoo.com/">Kirsty</a>, "have a crack".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(if you are interested, entry details are <a href="http://reginald.com.au/register/">here</a>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wish me luck!</span><br />
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<br />Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-90864502991624762442013-01-15T21:08:00.000+11:002013-01-15T21:40:55.014+11:00harvest<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the very end of last year, after returning home from time with family and friends, we came home to a vegie garden that was, frankly, a mess.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my biggest disappointments was our potato patch. By early December, I already knew things were not going so well. It was clear that these poor plants were not getting anything like the amount of sunlight they needed - they were long and lanky, flowers few and far between, and over-run with insects. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few weeks later, we decided to cut our losses. We prepared to pull out the plants and rummage through the soil.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYdSA9fobYsZeHgnZ9KOfuNrX5sBnbwgVrZL3bNBgQbwCxMbSxYgAy8MthsthhL0Csrw8z3lJOIEx1WUwIwi7BeDqDU4sEuzWtI2GxbYXJBfpHgbEdD90-lqXoSBHUYzsRxHlEyBaF24/s1600/taters1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYdSA9fobYsZeHgnZ9KOfuNrX5sBnbwgVrZL3bNBgQbwCxMbSxYgAy8MthsthhL0Csrw8z3lJOIEx1WUwIwi7BeDqDU4sEuzWtI2GxbYXJBfpHgbEdD90-lqXoSBHUYzsRxHlEyBaF24/s640/taters1.JPG" width="638" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A surprise was to come. As I expected, our yield was poor. What I didn't expect was the absolute joy I shared with our daughter as she found each "tiny tasty tater" (some of them barely 1 cm in diameter), and the excitement when we found a "colossal" potato (in other words, a potato approaching baby potato size). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we worked together, up to our armpits in dirt, I felt incredibly lucky. This girl is so good at celebrating the little things, and being happy with what we've got. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGU6M4RxLpnlm4ZKEngrmyxD3zUw4I3eDQe9OeRee8tY7SvrVD87o4etmKhJC1l1xFdUZ_fqLbkGCNTq-NGTEwmE_cRnnz42wOShCW8YDxQN2s0oPTpBos__6o9V7KHu2OqzLN6LM19o/s1600/taters2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGU6M4RxLpnlm4ZKEngrmyxD3zUw4I3eDQe9OeRee8tY7SvrVD87o4etmKhJC1l1xFdUZ_fqLbkGCNTq-NGTEwmE_cRnnz42wOShCW8YDxQN2s0oPTpBos__6o9V7KHu2OqzLN6LM19o/s640/taters2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While growing a garden hasn't quite been the success I'd hoped for, we are growing a pretty wonderful girl.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>* A disclaimer - while my description of our wonderful curly-haired girl is accurate (in a biased mother kind of way), she is a real kid with real challenges too ... </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-1564118112401476622012-11-11T21:47:00.000+11:002012-11-11T21:47:55.807+11:00Splashdance<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you love bright, blue sky, sunshiny days, but secretly yearn for a puddle or two to jump in?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yearn no more - there is an answer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Simply pull on your favourite gumboots and fill with water.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrjRRWbkKRWSRneRytuMfUZoxDgrGSIgn9ztBsQk_pmOai1ELgFGKDR8IHVZbH_Vwvk63oa0fhd4vu4m9AnGS1jwTjCccwDKAAp5mY99CVNZpPISAQ4pxIwMfBb4KDUVOM_kixikrnjo/s1600/_DSC1692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrjRRWbkKRWSRneRytuMfUZoxDgrGSIgn9ztBsQk_pmOai1ELgFGKDR8IHVZbH_Vwvk63oa0fhd4vu4m9AnGS1jwTjCccwDKAAp5mY99CVNZpPISAQ4pxIwMfBb4KDUVOM_kixikrnjo/s640/_DSC1692.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stomp, dance, spin, jump and skedaddle away. </span><br />
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<i>(she insists there was skedaddling involved)</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Spend the rest of the day wondering why your crazy mum keeps singing "What a feeling!"</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope your day has been wonderful too xo</span>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-72782270331893658972012-10-04T16:01:00.002+10:002012-10-04T16:01:28.705+10:00the eye of the beholder<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The girl and I had a big talk the other day. Some other kids had told her that her artwork was "ugly," and she felt sad and angry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We talked about how everyone has different opinions about art. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I told her about artists -</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Monet">Monet</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_van_Gogh">Van Gogh</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Seurat">Seurat</a> - who were told that their art work was "not good enough" at some stage in their life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I told her some of the reasons why I find her art work beautiful - because I loved hearing the stories behind her work, because I love that she doesn't just make art that looks the same as everyone else's, because I can see how much she loves the process of art, trying new ideas and techniques along the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We talked about how it feels to be told that something you have made is ugly - and about how, while it's totally OK to dislike someone's art, it's not a good idea to tell them that.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Qn6FFImlcnsxQ9oyOdtDb9eIxfzjHYrZ_mhCZ6qhnsNffnDzXtElf9Y1_nyJ3dNvFQVNey43PjBB_6abyEqMgQcfo_W3CUxv3R66v4MUhYZ4LhqlO4x7DE3R8KONaXhh7PsrU1ZgZtE/s1600/herseurat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Qn6FFImlcnsxQ9oyOdtDb9eIxfzjHYrZ_mhCZ6qhnsNffnDzXtElf9Y1_nyJ3dNvFQVNey43PjBB_6abyEqMgQcfo_W3CUxv3R66v4MUhYZ4LhqlO4x7DE3R8KONaXhh7PsrU1ZgZtE/s640/herseurat.JPG" width="640" /></a><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">She made this painting for me as a tribute to Georges Seurat, one of my favourite artists. Some might see a few blobby dots - I see thoughtfulness and love. It hangs proudly on our bedroom wall.</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How do you handle the "beautiful / ugly" thing at your place?</span><br />
<br />Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-46805102689449091812012-09-28T11:14:00.000+10:002012-09-28T11:15:23.917+10:00an accidental hibernation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm6YXzZU1G0o89HoUgx58VaDH9quPT0msioUIRe6GRzikudtxiHDu4yBPRgHUgkb_OcSXv-vroRZp0aQL3RiVVr4DwUQsJhbCgPu2lvsE15Sr5CjpVKdRgVvZwb3y1nioxM9uYpJyPI8/s1600/calendula+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm6YXzZU1G0o89HoUgx58VaDH9quPT0msioUIRe6GRzikudtxiHDu4yBPRgHUgkb_OcSXv-vroRZp0aQL3RiVVr4DwUQsJhbCgPu2lvsE15Sr5CjpVKdRgVvZwb3y1nioxM9uYpJyPI8/s640/calendula+(1).JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not entirely sure why I took a 4 month break from blogging - but I do know that in the last few weeks I have thought about why I do blog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I blog because sometimes writing about my thoughts helps me to think more clearly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I blog because I like to have a record of lovely things in my life, and of things I have made (very occasionally I need to record the not so lovely things too - but I like to make my blog a mostly lovely place, even if that is a bit dishonest).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I blog because I like to be part of a kind and supportive community, and I feel so grateful for this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I planned to get back to the blog yesterday, but instead spent a glorious, sunny day in the garden working and playing until I ached (in a good way).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/09/28/3599633.htm?site=melbourne">I woke today</a>, and now my heart is aching, and the sky is crying, and Melbourne (more than Melbourne) is so sad. In the midst of this, my blog seems so trivial.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My thoughts, love and sympathy go out to anyone today who is sad or grieving - for Jill, or for anyone xo</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*NB: please remember to avoid any comments about the case or the accused that may compromise court proceedings, here or anywhere on social media. Thank you*</span><br />
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<br />Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-84346141641120332212012-05-29T12:48:00.002+10:002012-05-29T12:48:41.188+10:00reverse finds revisitedNearly two years ago, I made a deal with myself (and my blog) to find a new home for some of my things every week during Spring. I called it "<a href="http://pencilsandpins.blogspot.com/2010/08/reverse-finds.html">reverse</a> <a href="http://pencilsandpins.blogspot.com/2010/09/reverse-finds.html">finds</a>."<br />
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In doing this, I realised that, while I am by nature a hoarding type, it can feel pretty great to give things away...<br />
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I look around our cluttered place today, and know I need to get on the reverse finds bandwagon again... but I need some inspiration - so I thought I'd tell the story of something big (for me) that I gave away last year - a story that still makes me smile.<br />
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This old printer's box was one of those things that became "mine" because no-one else wanted it. I can still remember the strain of carrying it to my car with all the drawers sliding out (until I worked out I should carry it the other way around).</div>
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I remember finding a few odd tiny letter type pieces in one drawer (they are now safely stored away somewhere I can't remember...).<br />
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I remember trying and trying to come up with some way I could use the tiny compartments - but they were just too small for anything I needed to store... even too small for buttons, or a little person's stone collection... <br />
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In the absence of any "practical" use for it, I used it as a little side table.</div>
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Then, I visited a work friend at her new home, and was lucky enough to be given a tour of her husband's studio. He designs and makes beautiful stationery using a beautiful old letterpress machine - a really old, carefully restored working piece of history... and I knew where "my" little box should live.<br />
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It took a week to convince my friend that the printer's box should become a printer's box again.<br />
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The day before I gave it away, I took a mountain of photos, to help me remember all the little details I'd loved but never used.<br />
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I love that I gave this box a home for so many years, and "saved" it from being scrapped.<br />
I love knowing that one of the marks on the top is from when I left a drink on top and fell asleep after a long solo drive from my Adelaide "home" to my Melbourne "home".<br />
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I love imagining it being used back in the 1940's and wondering what was printed - newsletters? cards?<br />
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I love love LOVE that it has a new, more fitting home...<br />
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and I love that the week after I said goodbye, I found myself able to rearrange furniture and see new possibilities for our room - that one less thing really made a difference...<br />
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Do you have any favourite stories about things you've given away?</div>
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<br /></div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-19904640241125489802012-05-08T10:19:00.000+10:002012-05-08T10:19:29.547+10:00trying and not tryingA few days ago I made my first toy from <a href="http://www.hopskipjump.typepad.com/">this gorgeous book</a> - to celebrate the birthday of a delightful, adorable one year old boy.<br />
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It took me days to choose the pattern, and hour upon hour to make... not because the pattern was hard, or the instructions hard to follow (it was in fact beautifully set out), but because of me... my worrying, my procrastinating, my trying sooo hard (I tried so hard I managed to break an embroidery needle)...<br />
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In the end, this little hippo turned out pretty well, but I see him and think of my struggle making him, wishing I'd felt joy instead.<br />
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Last night, just before bed, the curly haired girl announced that her whale <a href="http://pencilsandpins.blogspot.com.au/2011/04/avoiding-oppie-day-1.html">Teacle</a> was now fully grown and wanted to have a baby (!)...<br />
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I found my chance to make with more joy and less trying.<br />
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A rough pattern was made, the trackie pant and t shirt scraps box found, and by the time <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/">QandA</a> was finished (with regular breaks from stitching to talk back to the television), a baby whale was born.<br />
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Baby whale is by no means perfect, but is absolutely gorgeous.<br />
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Teacle is a very happy mum...<br />
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I'm glad I'm a person who tries hard, and cares and worries a lot about things, but I'm glad to learn the lesson that less worrying and less trying can sometimes be a better path...Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-48922048079298492242012-04-29T15:02:00.000+10:002012-04-29T15:05:18.081+10:00colour in our garden<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our backyard is a tiny strip along the length of our unit, so we have a lot of fence to look at... and it's not a pretty fence. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lately I've been checking out paint websites, coming up with lovely colour plans (and even dreaming about covering the whole fence in blackboard paint to make giant chalk murals)... but have baulked at the cost and time involved</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday, I came up with another solution... and pulled out our lovely big bottles of kids paint...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">enlisted the help of an enthusiastic little artist... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and began to paint a mural (inspired by <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/books/isabellas-garden-9781921150333">"Isabella's Garden"</a> - a beautiful book).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The little artist developed a wonderfully effective technique for making the "worms" and insect tracks - scraping off paint with a paddlepop (ice lolly) stick. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was the sort of project that makes you lose track of time... and I have no idea how much time we spent... but it was worth every minute.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We even managed to get out the chalk...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inspired by all this colour (and by a <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-make-mini-garden-gnomes-170054">post</a> we'd seen that morning), we embarked on another crafty garden project...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">making our own mini garden gnomes (somewhat more rustic than the original).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope your weekend has been full of colour and happiness too!</span></div>
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<br /></div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-12338965221514399212012-04-22T16:38:00.003+10:002012-04-22T21:07:13.929+10:00earthy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When our curly haired girl was just three years old, she made up a song: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"When I get bigger I could fix the world" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(it was an easy song to remember as these were the only words, repeated three or four times, until her big finale, riffing on her final "w-o-o-o-r-l-d").</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nearly two years later, I still think about this song with immense pride and love, but also some sorrow and guilt - how and why should a three year old know that the world is in need of fixing? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most days, the love and pride wins out - together with a reminder that I could do more right now to make things a little better before she gets "big".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday we hung out in the garden, and decided to try making a big soil and mustard seed stencil for fun (and it was fun!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today we found out it was Earth day, thanks to the wonderful <a href="http://lolanovablog.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/word-to-your-mother.html">Lola Nova</a>, so a big soil love heart seems like the perfect thing to pop on this quiet little blog for a while.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Earth day!</span>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-54199148329434780292012-04-02T21:38:00.001+10:002012-04-02T21:38:14.731+10:00rainbows...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">... for <a href="http://artdomannie.blogspot.com.au/">Annie </a>x</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Visit <a href="http://www.shinyhappyart.com/family/rainbow-toes-for-annie-the-official-post/">Anna's </a>post here to find out more and join in (and don't forget to check in with <a href="http://makeminemid-century.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/rainbow-hoofs.html">Horsey and Eustace</a> for some extra inspiration and encouragement...)</span>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-24882272456231470942012-03-16T14:57:00.000+11:002012-03-16T14:57:03.995+11:00our little patch of green<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Finally, we got some fake grass for our tiny concrete backyard. It's just 2m by 3m (the grass, that is).<br />
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It feels much bigger - suddenly we have a place for picnics, for lying down and watching the clouds, for hula hooping and skipping, for backyard yoga (kind-of) and for who knows what else (Melbourne weather permitting).<br />
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Even though I will continue to dream of a bigger space and real grass, this little change has been a wonderful one for us.<br />
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We've been growing more green this year too (though at times we've been better at feeding the caterpillars than ourselves!), and loving the little side salads and pesto dinners that we've been able to source from our own backyard.<br />
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Finally a little bit of blue - because I just realised it's St Pat's day tomorrow and feel a bit silly doing a green post, and because it is the curly haired girl's favourite colour (and I'm so proud she has not given in to the "real girls don't like blue" messages she has been bombarded with lately).<br />
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Happy weekend to you xo<br />
<br />Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-37298680367684849102012-02-28T21:55:00.000+11:002012-02-28T22:01:04.477+11:00celebrating the leapI don't really think of myself as a "leap-er" - I'm more of a "look before you leap-er" (who sometimes spends so long looking that the time for leaping is long-gone...).<br />
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Lately, though, as leap-day approaches, I've been thinking about what leaping means to me - trying something new, stretching to or even beyond perceived limits, being brave, and also having fun (I especially remember leaping all over the lounge dancing to 80's music with my sisters - in the 80's!).<br />
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I've been thinking about people I know and respect and love who've been making their own leaps in their own way - many wonderful blog friends included.<br />
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And I'm thinking I will try to be a bit more of a "leap-er" too.<br />
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Happy Leap-day's eve! xoCatherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-13273330062719306262012-02-24T12:22:00.003+11:002012-02-24T16:14:19.754+11:00muppet inspired puppet storage<br />
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This is one of my favourite makes, which may seem funny, as it doesn't look like much: an opped frame, some cardboard, paint and paddle pop sticks... (oh, and some papier mache clay made from toilet paper, which you fortunately can't see...)<br />
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but it holds all our finger puppets (well, there's one space free, and I know at least one or two are missing - where are you, <a href="http://pencilsandpins.blogspot.com.au/2010/06/my-creative-space-book-inspired-making.html">Mr Pigeon</a>? - so <i>almost all</i> might be more accurate!), and it makes me think of the Muppets song every time I see it (which is not surprising given my design was <strike>ripped off from</strike> inspired by the Muppet Theatre) and I had so much fun designing (and redesigning) it, and making it, and filling it up with puppets...<br />
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(and just because I couldn't resist an animation...)<br />
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<a href="http://picasion.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="how do you make gifs"><img alt="how do you make gifs" border="0" height="343" src="http://i.picasion.com/pic50/a668c7922676d87ebc20dad7132d6a6d.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://picasion.com/">How do you make gifs</a><br />
<br />Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-7774225273678940452012-02-19T13:23:00.000+11:002012-02-19T13:24:58.103+11:00good thingsI'm just taking a moment to enjoy some of the good things in our life right now...<br />
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Celebrating with the gorgeous <a href="http://teddybearswednesday.blogspot.com.au/">Jess</a> and her lovely family and friends at the opening of her (and Martin's) <a href="http://www.outregallery.com/browse.aspx?Category=318">exhibition</a>.<br />
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Making yummy carrot-banana-sultana cupcakes, with a recipe I first made in my teens (I think).<br />
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Styling advice - "pansy cupcakes would be nice" - courtesy of a certain curly haired girl.<br />
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Celebrating 156 months since our first date (we went <a href="http://www.moonlight.com.au/venue.php?location=Melbourne">here</a>, saw <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119280/">this</a> and froze on a cold Melbourne night...) with fancy pancakes (thanks to <a href="http://chunkychooky.blogspot.com.au/">Cath</a> for the <a href="http://www.moredesignplease.com/moredesignplease/2011/3/24/pancake-doodles.html">link</a>).<br />
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and having fun with some "secret pancake messages"...<br />
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Hoping your day is full of good things... xCatherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-72280466497576083822012-02-07T09:25:00.000+11:002012-02-07T09:25:53.859+11:00Rorschach catWhat do you see?<br />
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Oh, and her name is Lena Germfur Inkblot Cat (yes, I know, perfect!)...<br />
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Hope you're having a good week xCatherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-48748102267388647402012-02-01T21:07:00.000+11:002012-02-01T21:07:06.014+11:00my place and yours - green (in our kitchen)<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When <a href="http://punkysmamma.blogspot.com.au/">Vic</a> announced this week's <a href="http://punkysmamma.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/my-place-and-yours-green.html">My Place and Yours</a> theme was green, I headed straight to our kitchen (well, after a few days of not getting around to it...).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In many regards, our kitchen is pretty ordinary, pretty modest... but when it comes to green-ness, it positively shines (in a crazy, slightly kitschy, <i>I hope you like bugs on the wallpaper</i> kind of way...)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(just outside our kitchen window)</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you love green too? Visit <a href="http://punkysmamma.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/my-place-and-yours-green.html">Vic</a> for more green places...</span>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-61930538445071029742012-01-19T11:01:00.000+11:002012-01-19T11:03:15.555+11:00stretchy loveOne night at bedtime, we were having one of those "I don't want to go to bed" "well it's bedtime" conversations.<br />
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She said "but when I'm on my own, I can't feel your love."<br />
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LOVE.<br />
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How could I explain love, make it visible, feel-able, understandable? How could I explain that my love would always be reaching to her no matter where she or I might be?<br />
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In the end, I told her that love was stretchy, stretchier than the stretchiest elastic, and stronger too.
It worked.
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As we prepared for a new year of kinder, I made this stretchy love heart for her back pack, so that a visible, feel-able, stretch-able reminder of our love would always be easy to find (and then I made two more, because even grown-ups like reminders).<br />
<br />Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-22406768209184787522012-01-05T14:56:00.001+11:002012-01-05T22:44:33.216+11:00quick!I am normally a slow, s-l-o-o-o-w maker - mainly due to my tendency to overthink, procrastinate and change plans along the way.
This last week has been different for some reason.
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Last Friday, I decided to clean up my fabric stash in an attempt to avoid going to a fabric sale (I succeeded!), and found a tablecloth that I had planned to make into a dress... except when I washed it (more than a year ago), I noticed some stains that I couldn't cut around. Looking at it again, I decided to embrace the (tiny) stains - nothing like some pre-existing imperfection to lower my stress levels! I grabbed one of our favourite <a href="http://foxslane.blogspot.com/">Kate</a> <a href="http://www.pencilsandpins.blogspot.com/2011/03/little-bit-of-daylesford-whole-lot-of.html">dresses</a> and carefully stretched it to make a kind-of-pattern, and then cut and sewed and made a dress (and hastily took a photo before heading out for dumplings).
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This morning, I saw <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2012/01/diy-project-recycled-cardboard-organizer.html">this tutorial</a>. A couple of hours later, I stuck up our own version - not so carefully made and a lot more colourful - in her craft corner. Now I want one too...
Hope you're having a happy time - fast, slow or whatever speed you like! xCatherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-88845273192255838762011-12-24T18:04:00.000+11:002011-12-24T18:04:42.875+11:00Happy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wishing you a happy time, whatever you're doing, wherever you are.
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xoCatherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-27983818734190573372011-12-21T21:09:00.006+11:002011-12-21T21:36:59.014+11:00the last few weeksSome of my favourite bits from our last few weeks...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9fnGvPAQLEqMXrIPpJU_0F6OXWZ99-oaLKyIQ-GuHlpLawGhNUYao_rZ-uubuhRz3ZnV0F9FhOkFGI1Eqz2Q8apStXiNd9ob2K5ibbCppc7hbn1-5E9QfCFcTNjrX7c6mFVlKout_qw/s1600/candlebundles.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9fnGvPAQLEqMXrIPpJU_0F6OXWZ99-oaLKyIQ-GuHlpLawGhNUYao_rZ-uubuhRz3ZnV0F9FhOkFGI1Eqz2Q8apStXiNd9ob2K5ibbCppc7hbn1-5E9QfCFcTNjrX7c6mFVlKout_qw/s400/candlebundles.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688526853729403154" /></a><br /><br />making special and yummy smelling presents for special teachers and friends...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDEDoejI-EFOCtSnkUFCwnjof8-5xenIAI_ao7413jHfKc2cZlnVIfKLLfQqK2eqWJmYUXhIVX8J8XzlqdISFxuPx3PzV0izmmF4RODRSGFMlmI61zNrOSqn7GILJYMC4lfaunzjs7eU/s1600/colourmixing.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDEDoejI-EFOCtSnkUFCwnjof8-5xenIAI_ao7413jHfKc2cZlnVIfKLLfQqK2eqWJmYUXhIVX8J8XzlqdISFxuPx3PzV0izmmF4RODRSGFMlmI61zNrOSqn7GILJYMC4lfaunzjs7eU/s400/colourmixing.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688526861954471250" /></a><br /><br />having the loveliest end-of-year mum-and-child yoga class, with presents exchanged, lots of hugs and two gorgeous little yoga friends holding hands as they left...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8q8IlO_5LWTq5xBsxNGV5s5i6UL7IvETUmq9oCXOuTpVbXh2f7XzKYTnd6kC8sq-lT7Srv7-I_AhKIjk-Z_mGsyqWTeSFrFwBX8Ea1vcrfq-T7NwlcP8e25MKIB07lcszEPXlTuk8X2Y/s1600/cards.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8q8IlO_5LWTq5xBsxNGV5s5i6UL7IvETUmq9oCXOuTpVbXh2f7XzKYTnd6kC8sq-lT7Srv7-I_AhKIjk-Z_mGsyqWTeSFrFwBX8Ea1vcrfq-T7NwlcP8e25MKIB07lcszEPXlTuk8X2Y/s400/cards.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688526851809441522" /></a><br /><br />spending time with some really lovely people - work friends, blog friends, family friends...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1V8evdmQYB1jgn_Hn8egM8iD4eC_4i3s1GFa8zhHjvGRPXnI44VwPzq2lqS5mjFHN8txWLtAtFfAs72gxh5aGrJurNUlGEQGX3b1ASNp7pFEfvwaxgLWJo44Fyj8EZ6Vz_kSb6LD0ms/s1600/fuzzy+tree.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 287px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1V8evdmQYB1jgn_Hn8egM8iD4eC_4i3s1GFa8zhHjvGRPXnI44VwPzq2lqS5mjFHN8txWLtAtFfAs72gxh5aGrJurNUlGEQGX3b1ASNp7pFEfvwaxgLWJo44Fyj8EZ6Vz_kSb6LD0ms/s400/fuzzy+tree.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688526864798880802" /></a><br /><br />enjoying the continuing evolution of our little hessian tree - now decorated in thrifted fuzzy felt pieces (though Lena our cat loves the challenge of pulling off decorations as quickly as they go up)...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCb0ai5Ue_E_lDIJGMzPiQJ6bgJuyp0ROf8EOWgF9DKyHHBOyr166IcyC_7t-NNYEbQ1UOoLiSAfHrpJ2nf9ixcNC3dTz45Q0kAWyHK_yvITBvaud9NjPirvhLNdYTB_OFoA0_-sC3RU/s1600/knex+snowflake.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCb0ai5Ue_E_lDIJGMzPiQJ6bgJuyp0ROf8EOWgF9DKyHHBOyr166IcyC_7t-NNYEbQ1UOoLiSAfHrpJ2nf9ixcNC3dTz45Q0kAWyHK_yvITBvaud9NjPirvhLNdYTB_OFoA0_-sC3RU/s400/knex+snowflake.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688527398993866274" /></a><br /><br />decorating with op-shopped k'nex pieces...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWDWVCXdRsvWMBeCpBpD58Hj-xCv9vf-2ny85fjlRCvMpeKR8jkkf_6KBZ06-d-5sByIBtXUYfIi-2JZ3Lwj5oZCPdtTgcn7Q6OBxeHZSA2WZJon1c2r_WSy1plddq-hHeEI4Emr63aI/s1600/stockings.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWDWVCXdRsvWMBeCpBpD58Hj-xCv9vf-2ny85fjlRCvMpeKR8jkkf_6KBZ06-d-5sByIBtXUYfIi-2JZ3Lwj5oZCPdtTgcn7Q6OBxeHZSA2WZJon1c2r_WSy1plddq-hHeEI4Emr63aI/s400/stockings.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688527407333006386" /></a><br /><br />and stockings made from inherited crocheted and knitted pieces (some finished but unusable, some unfinished)...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwY9wfHF90Wf6tjdweiWcEvqGGDjChMdsve3xzXsNJH9R9ieDsad3aC-ddwv3V2XZ0NNwlv2bJUQm7ygXFZ_vZeS63GMU-ewwQz3ITKS7elyAVeJCo9K4E3ywWzeqlf8L0JycGCUUbW8/s1600/pressies.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwY9wfHF90Wf6tjdweiWcEvqGGDjChMdsve3xzXsNJH9R9ieDsad3aC-ddwv3V2XZ0NNwlv2bJUQm7ygXFZ_vZeS63GMU-ewwQz3ITKS7elyAVeJCo9K4E3ywWzeqlf8L0JycGCUUbW8/s400/pressies.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688527402497443762" /></a><br /><br />receiving some "just-right" early presents (thank you!)...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikliaHwKQWOigVyjfMJKQy0QSVBDM6oNpieg-FSSOXlLsZuSWEEbhfqNoT7iEvJOaCWwzn9Um1DOpXPdFDOje4pd0BDLNL2lXCg1omUI6C_v_G8xtDcU5qAucvE2mCcNoAoxeqBWYMeEE/s1600/giveawaybook.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 287px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikliaHwKQWOigVyjfMJKQy0QSVBDM6oNpieg-FSSOXlLsZuSWEEbhfqNoT7iEvJOaCWwzn9Um1DOpXPdFDOje4pd0BDLNL2lXCg1omUI6C_v_G8xtDcU5qAucvE2mCcNoAoxeqBWYMeEE/s400/giveawaybook.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688526871590551330" /></a><br /><br />and a giveaway prize from a wonderful person (sorry it has taken me so long to say thank you, Mel!)...<br /><br />I hope your days are being filled with favourite bits too! xCatherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-19042904916608215042011-12-03T20:01:00.005+11:002011-12-03T20:18:50.081+11:00My slightly Christmassy place<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkCNuBPlh9eceKuSZ1ezaA-KR83nmWRXSaEdn6mWOkB5_BJdZb9BdErCros_Fo8hyBUpWYce9qi15w2J4TThTEcJsHkmQL56ODzUm_hEqiYk8LVGKZGniyrbvt8xlxjDn0Rnph636UKo/s1600/_DSC0086.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 258px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkCNuBPlh9eceKuSZ1ezaA-KR83nmWRXSaEdn6mWOkB5_BJdZb9BdErCros_Fo8hyBUpWYce9qi15w2J4TThTEcJsHkmQL56ODzUm_hEqiYk8LVGKZGniyrbvt8xlxjDn0Rnph636UKo/s400/_DSC0086.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681829014361697410" /></a><br />I prefer not to make a big fuss about Christmas - I don't like the pressure, the costs, the rush... so Christmas tends to creep up quietly in our house...<div><br /></div><div>or should I say, <i>tended</i>... because now, a four year old speaks regularly and excitedly about trees and fairy lights and Santa (as long as she doesn't have to meet him!) and baubles (<i>Mum, why don't we have any more baubles? We need more baubles!</i>).</div><div><br /></div><div>Swept along by her enthusiasm, I'm actually starting to get Christmassy - albeit in a low pressure, low cost, slow kind of way.</div><div><br /></div><div>So far, we have started on a "tree" of sorts, carrying on with <a href="http://www.pencilsandpins.blogspot.com/2010/12/very-cardboard-christmas.html">our tradition</a> of making a tree from stuff around the house, and of not actually finishing it right away (though given that our cat thinks this is a toy, it is unlikely to ever be exactly "finished"). Next, maybe some fairy lights?</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm linking up with <a href="http://punkysmamma.blogspot.com/2011/12/my-place-and-yours-christmas-party.html">Vic's My Place and Yours Christmas special</a> (by the way, her <a href="http://punkysmamma.blogspot.com/2011/11/oh-christmas-tree.html">tree</a> is fabulous!), and also wanted to mention <a href="http://oeschanddoots.blogspot.com/2011/11/our-emerging-traditions.html">Sarah's post about traditions</a>, as this has inspired me this week too.</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-9518703536552302142011-11-03T09:40:00.003+11:002011-11-03T10:03:11.111+11:00my place and yours - where I sleep<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtKJVsT2Ep-_RW9tad2R3KM_qc31GE0b3o9sj-bDFfzNBKkTPSjNBkk1c1rSppEFhNK2DUIrrTTPUvCwvJg373watcR0nNLYoYKHrgVGU6x16WDjSHGKBc2AHAyye2yudA7p0917tvNg/s1600/_DSC0895.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 390px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbewDcBh7er5dZa87VGIjuV5W7IrGHJMlOPDWTFeXMr5BhRCCg-c7uOulpVEpd8Agk1u95a10uBuwrHiqoCAtBSSt8hkUao29ly4_P6IloTG-W-ofr7vkuIiQe5o5ePJOzX4YISys4qE8/s400/whereisleep.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670537470542797298" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></a>When V<a href="http://punkysmamma.blogspot.com/">ic</a> announced this week's <a href="http://www.blogger.com/unkysmamma.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-place-and-yours_29.html">MPAY</a> theme, it seemed the perfect time for me to finally join in - this blog's been a little sleepy of late!<div><br /></div><div>Our bedroom is not so photogenic right now, so I was not sure what I could share, until I woke up from a nap on the couch...</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><div>I'm not normally a couch-napper, but have found myself falling asleep here a bit lately.</div><div><br /></div><div>As of yesterday, though, this couch has a new resident, an outstandingly good sleeper - our adored adopted shelter cat!</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtKJVsT2Ep-_RW9tad2R3KM_qc31GE0b3o9sj-bDFfzNBKkTPSjNBkk1c1rSppEFhNK2DUIrrTTPUvCwvJg373watcR0nNLYoYKHrgVGU6x16WDjSHGKBc2AHAyye2yudA7p0917tvNg/s1600/_DSC0895.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtKJVsT2Ep-_RW9tad2R3KM_qc31GE0b3o9sj-bDFfzNBKkTPSjNBkk1c1rSppEFhNK2DUIrrTTPUvCwvJg373watcR0nNLYoYKHrgVGU6x16WDjSHGKBc2AHAyye2yudA7p0917tvNg/s400/_DSC0895.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670537480143386322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px; " /></a><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Find more my place and yours places <a href="http://www.blogger.com/unkysmamma.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-place-and-yours_29.html">here</a>, and check in with <a href="http://punkysmamma.blogspot.com/">Vic</a> on Saturday to find next week's theme.</div></div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-22661122159930082362011-11-01T12:23:00.001+11:002011-11-01T12:24:41.420+11:00morris hoped against hope for a cup party invite...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKj4ubGlEn9JtOvkErOChw_WcJR8hQ8ui4oYBBFl_xgF_IuJsQBXeJXQgJ6yJwUMc4pwD-pxqTGjanzhEiyCjYmb2vmjEjuJd4T3mn6Aj6LBSnHX0CxdeMcwxtN32v4YRw9WiCCeMTlY/s1600/morris+cupwear.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKj4ubGlEn9JtOvkErOChw_WcJR8hQ8ui4oYBBFl_xgF_IuJsQBXeJXQgJ6yJwUMc4pwD-pxqTGjanzhEiyCjYmb2vmjEjuJd4T3mn6Aj6LBSnHX0CxdeMcwxtN32v4YRw9WiCCeMTlY/s400/morris+cupwear.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669832175973756514" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Hope you're having a good day today!</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027093960459249838.post-29249425528693954032011-10-20T17:11:00.004+11:002011-10-20T17:41:04.581+11:00snatching snippets<div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div></div><div>Recently, I have felt that life has been moving too fast and in too many directions for me to catch up... that no matter how hard I try and how much I want to, I just can't stay "on top" of things.<div><br /></div><div>Finally, I've decided to try something different for a while... well, actually, to stop trying so hard.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>To lower the bar a little and let things go, to spend some time working out what matters and what doesn't. For me, being creative does matter, and I know I need to give myself more time and energy to be creative and do creative things.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>In the mean time, here are a few "snippets" of creativity that have emerged from our home in the last few weeks...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div>I've enjoyed snatching moments to hook (at times veering into obsessive hooking, just as <a href="http://nicolemdesign.blogspot.com/">Nicole</a> said I would), enjoying the rhythm of repeating trebles as I make a scarf that will probably be ready in mid summer...</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8oCGrh3PEVU4jj-fZCulVFcqHahuSjPJSrkOxEEMLF80dFBjSUvYyd9up4N4-okQLAv9fy6s0LADQkwDBZ6p3BHgvCEVsR22_10CPIZ-3e2cv8Ml-xGhNF6chS-zNZVJ_9f7IP7mJZk/s400/_DSC0846.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665458954912547234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div>Mum and girl collaborations have continued...</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhbW0Jk_Hz-eW27PBa3Jk7A5oALDtQAoXkdFdbJey3LiNtrc5Vx0ekXV0uCg9a6DuvgeS7TXhN1xf2KdatyjPjgQEzoJOPjOLMWQfyMZ49e8I4mnXWzYDuqePWp93O__cNLsmm8MIyVE/s400/_DSC0765.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665459234572299986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></div><div></div></div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i>muslin baby wrap, decorated with fabric markers</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>but have possibly been outshone by this amazing dad and girl collaboration</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1TN8M5ws60Ti2f6kv6ZrRtgTom6go14CYxfIcbZSG6rWUT78FVDJSgfq88qZwGxsrbz2ny7KvWmixiTCcWRVat6CNsDk3gicUl1OJSoq-c3tBHOXT5POpkCupMWJtjGM9Gt0jaeZdFs/s400/_DSC0818.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665459241099899410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i>WALL-E in Lego, cute, hey?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i><br /></i></span></div><div>My favourite creative moment of the week was watching our amazing 4 year old act out the life cycle of a fly...(possibly the first and only time in my life that I will think kindly of maggots)</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnRghoZpQ1L939KKbZfH_toeKMmkex9vNOHIQc-2n94biHrlMICeo5sAxNQhldliaTiKMOPON1Iuthk_k-hFPbPo91Kuz-4TfhRLPCP1Z06Lchbo1hJCaq06TVcc-hdBiEhLYEsWNZ1E/s400/_DSC0838.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665459241400824322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div>For creative spaces of all kinds (probably not involving maggots), pop over <a href="http://ourcreativespaces.blogspot.com/">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14117014438588991872noreply@blogger.com5