Squirt Baby

Summer

2012-01-15T17:52:00.003+11:00

There and back

2012-01-14T17:52:00.000+11:00

Oh golly - Christmas has been and gone. Our beach holiday seems but a distant memory.

Tomorrow is my first market for the year. Low key. An easing into the new year.

Shirt and Skirt Market

Abbotsford Convent

1 St Heliers Street

Abbotsford

10-4

Oh, and I'll be having a "Nothing Over $20 SALE" (knitwear excluded). I'm clearing the decks for new things to come. So get in quick!

I'm in a slightly different spot tomorrow, teaming up with Pia Handmade. Still near the bakery, just down closer to the driveway. The weather gods are going to be kind tomorrow, to make up for December's disgraceful conditions!

Here I am

2011-12-17T08:15:00.000+11:00

It's the last weekend before Christmas.

The last of the markets for the year -

Last night (but I guess it's a bit late for you now!) and today I'm at the Sister's Market at the Brunswick Town Hall. 10-4. In my usual spot.

And tomorrow - Shirt and Skirt at the Abbotsford Convent 10-4

Quite close the the coffee, which always makes me happy!

This weekend...

2011-12-09T15:01:00.000+11:00

You know my life is out of control when the blogging is thin on the ground! And it always seems to happen at this time of the year. Life is busy. I'm not alone on that score!

This weekend is a double header as we get closer to Christmas. On Saturday I'll be here -

I will be there on December 10 (that's tomorrow) - my last Yarraville for the year. It's a gorgeous venue, nestled in the heart of the Yarraville village and filled with handmade loveliness, as always!

Sunday sees me trying out a new market. It's a little bit of a road-trip (but not as far as the last one!).

I'm off to the Design Exchange in Ballarat. It means an early start, but I'm a little bit excited. I had family living in Ballarat for many years and have many happy memories.

Right now I'm finishing off some new elephant singlets and bodysuits, so I'd better get back to it!

wordless Wednesday - collecting

2011-11-30T08:39:00.000+11:00

Playing along today with Faith, Hope and a whole lotta Love

Mathilda's Adelaide - tomorrow!

2011-11-25T22:25:00.000+11:00

We're in Adelaide ready for Saturday's Mathilda's Market.

Burnside Ballroom - on the corner of Portrush and Greenhill roads in Tusmore. From 9-1.

I'm looking forward to seeing the interior of this grand looking heritage listed building, and meeting some of the local creators.

Our journey to Adelaide from Renmark got off to a rocky start when Luce fell in the playground resulting in three stitches just above her left eye. The local medical centre saw us straightaway, despite a very busy waiting room. The delay meant less time in the Barossa, but we still squeezed in visits to Angas Park, The Barossa Cheese Company (we are pleased to know we can buy their fantastic cheese in Melbourne) and Peter Lehmann. Cheese, wine, dried fruit. Yum!

Our accommodation is close the the market venue. We've discovered a little strip of shops in Dulwich with a great butcher (they cut everything on demand -fancy that), a couple of bakeries and a little supermarket with an amazing selection of gourmet foods. We're certainly eating and drinking well on this trip!

Well it's time to get some shut-eye before tomorrow's early start! That's it from me for a few days. When I get home I'll share some pics. Until then friends!

Halfway

2011-11-23T08:25:00.001+11:00

We're halfway through this road trip and we're currently in Renmark. When you're traveling as a family of 6 and have an iTrailer in tow, suitable accommodation can be hard to find. Well, as far as the kids are concerned we've hit the jackpot here. We're staying at the Renmark Big 4. You'll have to google it - I can't figure out links and photos and such stuff!

From our poolside villa we can also see the bouncy cushion and playground from here. The only disappointment is we're only here for one night. There's so much more - tennis, paddle boats, more bouncy cushion/pool/playground/feather collecting (sadly the wind blew away last night's collection from the table on our verandah).

Oops - had a bit of premature posting there. I just wanted to mention we're heading into Adelaide today via the Barossa. See the sacrifices we have to make on our path to national domination?? The MOTH and I spent some time in the Barossa BC. It's been a long time between drinks. We're just wondering how to squeeze in a couple of dozen red (in the iTrailer, not us!).

Mastering technology (I hope)

2011-11-21T21:02:00.000+11:00

We're a few days into the Squirt Baby road trip (We like to call it City to City to City to City for short). Canberra is done and dusted and now we're overnighting in Hay, enroute to Adelaide.

I'm trying out something new - blogging via an iDevice. Not sure if it's working yet! I've switched the Squirt Baby shop back on. It occurred to me that since I have all my stock with me, I am a truly mobile business! As we pulled into Hay tonight I did wonder for a moment about doing a bit of a pop-up shop in the main street. Nice idea, but perhaps some other time. It made me thing of traveling salesmen of years gone by. Having the children as part of the traveling circus does put a dampener on any such ideas! They sure do get in the way sometimes!

Sadly I haven't figured out how to post photos taken with my iDevice when blogging with same said device. Any tips out there??

Public announcement

2011-11-19T01:11:00.000+11:00

Obviously I haven't managed to post any sneak peek pictures. And that's mostly because I didn't take any. Well okay I took one with my phone but it looked really bad! I've been attached to my machines for longer than I care to remember. But all that's about to change. Tomorrow. Oh, make that today, since it's tomorrow already! On Saturday we're off to Canberra, to be there in time for Sunday's Mathilda's Market. While we're away the shop will be closed. But I'll have my trusty iPhone handy in case anyone needs anything. Okay!

PS I think this post sounds just a little odd - perhaps it's the lack of sleep! Watch out Canberra - here we come!

The Travelling Circus

2011-11-14T10:17:00.000+11:00

{insert sound of insane laughter here}

At this relaxed* time of year, the MOTH and I have decided to take to the road. That's right. The geriatric pets are being shipped off to their Nana in the neighbouring suburb. The kids are already fighting in the back of the car and our super dooper iTrailer is being packed - with Squirt Baby goodies. The people of Canberra and Adelaide are full of excitement and anticipation! And so am I! We love a road trip at Squirt Baby HQ - any excuse and we're off. The excuse this time is a "business trip" (makes it sound legit, yeah?) for a couple of interstate Mathilda's Markets.

So here's the plan -

and then -

In between will be a little touring holiday, before rushing back to Melbourne to finish off the year.

I'll be back tomorrow with some sneak peeks. Ciao!

*my attempt at humour

This weekend...

2011-11-10T17:32:00.000+11:00

This is where I'll be on Saturday. This month, as always, the market is brim-full of handmade loveliness. I'm hoping to stock up on a few Christmas presents myself. I've been rather busy (hence the lack of blog-action) whipping up shorts (for boys and girls), skirts, dresses, blouses and even some appliqued Ts. Basics start from $25, Ts from $15. And there's always the little bits and pieces that make great stocking fillers, from $5.

Number Six

2011-11-03T20:03:00.000+11:00

Number 6.

Down there in that diagram.

That's the one I've torn.

Yes. It hurts. Yes. It's slowed me down. Yes - I am determined to wear heels today as I head off for an Oaks Day luncheon. Why? Because I'm not right in the head.

I have lots of things to catch up on. Lots of bloggy loose ends to attend to (I haven't forgotten you Jo).

Breast cancer the bitch

2011-10-25T14:56:00.000+11:00

October is breast cancer awareness month. Jo of Frankie and Ray has made this beautiful scarf and is auctioning it - the proceeds are going to the Cancer Council. All you have to do is pop over to Frankie and Ray and leave your bid in the comments section. I'm kinda hoping to add this one to my F&R scarf collection, but supporting the cause is more important than my scarf-needs.

You only have until November 4 - so get cracking!

To market to market...

2011-10-22T20:25:00.001+11:00

Yup - it's the weekend and I'm packing up my wares to head to Mulgrave very bright and very early in the morning. Actually, the early start means I get choice pick at the farmers market this makers markets runs alongside - so there is an up-side!

Mulgrave Makers Market

Body Shop HQ - enter via Jackson's Road Mulgrave

8-1

Landslide

2011-10-20T14:59:00.000+11:00

Last night I went along to the opening night of an exhibition at Red Gallery by talented artist Fleur Summers. I can't help but admire her artistry and attention to detail. That girl has great fine motor skills!

Still reeling...

2011-10-18T12:36:00.000+11:00

Whoa! I'm still reeling from the weekend. Two markets, a bit of weather (not fond of the wind, me) and lots of lovely customers taking home Squirt Baby goodies. I am a happy, if slightly wind-blown, camper.

Our internet connection has been a bit dodgy of late. Kinda makes it hard to stay connected, you know! I'm pleased that this morning I've had an uninterrupted run which means I've been able to restock the Squirt Baby shop. So yes - I'm open for business again!

So if you'd like some of these -

or these -

or even these -

Then pop here.

Oh, and you might even find a couple of sale items listed. And when I've recharged the camera battery and the internet is cooperating, there'll be even more.

Double header this weekend

2011-10-14T09:31:00.000+11:00

Do I need to explain how crazy our family life is at the moment? The MOTH and I are trying to exist on about 5 hours sleep a night, and it's not working well for us. We're just trying to be good parents and in the process we're probably turning out less than satisfactory! Next week things will quieten down a little and I'll actually have an opportunity to reopen the Squirt Baby shop. Yay!

This weekend sees my wares and I getting around a bit. On Saturday I'll be hanging out at the Penleigh and Essendon Grammar Craft Market (details below). As a Lowther girl, I'm entering enemy territory - but I do have a hard time turning down an invitation! It's being held at the Raleigh Street Campus with plenty of parking in the grounds of Essendon Primary (I'm a graduate of that one too!). And I've just discovered from the poster below it finishes at 3, so I get to knock off an hour earlier than expected. Totally Innocent and I will be market buddies for the third time in two weeks. Luckily she's a great chick who also happens to be hugely talented.

I'm excited to be returning to Shirt and Skirt for the first time since May. It's such a lovely spot, filled with lovely people and great coffee. So on Sunday I'll be here -

Shirt and Skirt Market

10-4

Abbotsford Convent

St Heliers Street

Abbotsford

I'll be just across the way from my previous usual spot, and closer to the coffee (so no complaints from me!).

Kids Clothes Week Challenge

2011-10-10T18:10:00.000+11:00

Inspired by Natasha, I'm going to join in this challenge with Elsie Marley - Kids Clothes Week. I know this might be an odd one for me to join, since I make childrens' clothes as a ~~hobby~~ small business. But my kiddos don't always benefit from my productivity. So this week I'm making a concerted effort to make some things for them too. I'm starting the challenge by announcing I'm taking part. Let's just hope I manage to pull it off! My goal - one item per day for at least one of my kids. Mate may miss out, but the girls are sure to benefit! Stay tuned.

To market to market...

2011-10-06T19:52:00.000+11:00

I've been quiet on the blogging front, because I've been busy on the creating and marketeering fronts.

On Saturday I'll be at the delightful Yarraville Markets -

I'm on a bit of a roll at the moment and new garments are rolling out of my sewing room daily (or nightly, to be precise!). On Monday I had a long day at the Royal Melbourne show with Totally Innocent and A Piece of Cloth. They'll both be at Yarraville on Saturday too - plus lots of other lovely gorgeous makers.

Sister's Market - tomorrow

2011-09-30T09:30:00.001+10:00

Yes, I understand that tomorrow is grand final day and that the forecast is looking a little iffy, but this market is worth the effort.

I'll be in my usual place in the foyer with plenty of these toddler mitts (extra colours available)

and a new selection of boys shorts. There are two styles to choose from. Basic, in a variety of fabrics, for only $25 and Deluxe (also in a variety of fabrics) for $40 - sizes range from 3-6 months to 4 years. Basic shifts are still available for $20 (sizes 2-10). The fabrics constantly change and aren't available in all sizes, so get them while you can!

New styles and fabrics are gradually making their way onto the Squirt Baby racks - so stay tuned for new baby dresses and skirts for all ages (well 1 -10 at least!).

Sister's Market
Brunswick Town Hall
Sydney Road Brunswick

Ah, the 80s

2011-09-26T16:47:00.000+10:00

Last week the MOTH and I caught an episode of The Supersizers... (Eat...the Eighties). It's a television series about the history of food where the presenters also take a look at life during the period in question. The 1980s saw my transition into teenage hood and out again, so this episode brought back lots of fond (and some not-so-fond) memories.

It was the age of the New Wave music and we were listening -

I was wearing white heels with my denim skirts -

and hairstyles were big, which perfectly suited my naturally curly boofy hair. We went to concerts like the Eurythmics, where Annie would strip down to her bra -

and then to the Warehouse or the Metro to dance to tunes like this -

and this song would have everyone rushing to the dancefloor -

Look, there was a bit of binge drinking going on. And when we weren't drinking scotch and coke, or knocking back tequila slammers, we loved our cocktails. Fluffy ducks, anything with Kahlua, Tequila sunrises, Screwdrivers and (if you were game) a Screaming Orgasm - just to name a few.

Afterwards we'd don lycra and get sweaty with Jane Fonda - this clip is great for the whole 80s look of hair, make-up and exercise outfits.

Alright, that's enough. I'm starting to feel a little queasy at all this 80s goodness.

Mulgrave Makers Market

2011-09-24T10:42:00.001+10:00

Did you know that tomorrow is World Stay in Bed Day (in support of mitochondrial disease)?

I won't be staying in bed. I'll be up bright and early, leaving home at about 6:15 to make sure I'm in Mulgrave for a 7am set-up. Tomorrow will be my first taste of the Mulgrave Makers Market. It sits alongside the Mulgrave Farmers Market at the Body Shop's HQ (Jackson's Road, Mulgrave). Heaven - handmade and farm fresh produce in the same place! I'm gearing up for the summer/gift season, so if things go to plan today I'll be finishing off lots of goodies for tomorrow. Fingers crossed! The market runs from 8-1 and then I'll have the rest of the day with my family. Sounds quite civilised really.

Lockdown

2011-09-22T17:56:00.000+10:00

This is me right now - wedded to my machines. There's nothing like a close up to show how much fluff is collecting on the overlocker. I do vacuum her fairly regularly, but a 5 hour stint has made her look somewhat careworn (bit like me really!). It's windy and hot/cold, fine/wet here in Melbourne at the moment. This spring weather is a little unpredictable. I'd be quite happy to have autumn all year around.

The next few weeks has me popping up just about everywhere -

Sun 25 September - Mulgrave Makers Market

Sat 1 October - Sister's Market

Mon 3 October - Makers Alley, Royal Melbourne Show

Sat 8 October - Yarraville Markets

Sat 15 October - PEGS Craft Market

Sun 16 October - Shirt and Skirt Market

So right now I'm busily sewing shorts - for boys. That's right, a return to stuff for the little men out there. Soft, cool cotton for hot summer days. Too bad my little man is now rather tall, he would have looked cute in these!

Showtime

2011-09-18T13:09:00.000+10:00

There is much excitement in our household. Marv is performing today at Hisense Arena, and we have tickets to tonight's show. Can't wait! It's a gorgeous day here in Melbourne, so we're heading in a little earlier to promenade along the Yarra. Enjoy your weekend!

wordless Wednesday - Flight

2011-09-14T11:04:00.000+10:00

Playing along today with Faith Hope and a whole lotta Love

Six

2011-09-12T17:36:00.000+10:00

Six years ago today, Dad. Time has not stood still. I've moved into another decade, discovered a couple of greys and I play with my curls and remember yours. My big boy is tall and strapping, he has your curls, intellect and attention to detail. My littlest girl is now old enough to wonder about you, realising that once her Mum had a Dad. And the other girls have no memory, but they have a sense of who you were and understand you have a hand in shaping their lives. Mum and I have spent the day in two gardens you once called home - inspecting flowers, pulling weeds and quietly reminiscing. Quietly, calmly, happily.

wordless Wednesday - daisy chain

2011-09-07T09:22:00.000+10:00

Playing along with Sarah at Faith Hope and a whole lotta Love

First

2011-09-01T14:50:00.000+10:00

The first nectarine blossom on the first glorious day of Spring.

wordless Wednesday

2011-08-31T09:54:00.000+10:00

Playing along with Faith Hope and a whole lotta Love

M.I.A.

2011-08-29T13:22:00.000+10:00

It's time for me to accept my blogging habits are cyclical. I'd like to be reliable and consistent, but then I might also become predictable! This is a tricky time of year for me. There's a lot going on - both inside my head and in the real world. We took the opportunity to spend the weekend in Lorne, staying here.

Allenvale

Erskine Falls

Daisy chains

Otway Fly

When time would allow, I continued knitting toddler mitts. These popular little mittens sell out before I have a complete range of colours. Now in a market hiatus until September 17, I'm determined to build up my stocks!

The world that we created

2011-08-09T17:37:00.000+10:00

What's going on? Millions starving in Africa, riots in the UK, turmoil in the stock market, desperate people turned away from our shores, unrest, misery and goodness knows what else all over the world. Has humanity dropped its collective bundle? Please let common sense and our humanity prevail.

This clip is from a concert back in 1986. Some of us will remember Live Aid - you young ones will have to google it.

Sister's Market - tomorrow

2011-08-05T10:25:00.000+10:00

Contrary to the advice I may have given to some people last week (when my poor little brain was slightly overwhelmed!), the Sister's Market is on tomorrow.

I'll be there, in my usual spot in the foyer, with some recession busting specials. See you tomorrow!

Winter Magic Market - it's a wrap!

2011-08-03T11:44:00.000+10:00

Oh my stars! I'm still reeling from the weekend that was the Winter Magic Market. And it's all good.

When this idea was first kicked around we knew it would be a project that ran on the smell of an oily rag. There was no budget, only hope. Our school is a little one in terms of students - only about 230 or so. But golly we're big on talent, hehe! The call went out for folk with skills - PR, design, organisational, creative vision. And they came and brought their talents with them. We wanted to use our BER funded hall to hold a little market with food and live music to raise much needed funds. We hoped, with everything crossed, that we would at least cover our expenses.

During the holidays we had a little feature in the local paper. Gee we felt clever! The preparations continued, donations for the art auction came rolling in, lists and rosters were created and filled. On the morning of the market we made it to two ABC radio stations and appeared in The Age. And then, as the clock ticked over the start time floodgates somewhere were opened and the crowds came pouring in. I don't know where they came from, but they did, to our little school hidden down a quiet side-street. The bands played, the wine flowed, the posh cake stall was descended upon, the customers came with open wallets and open hearts.

As an organiser and a stallholder it is one of the most satisfying events I have ever been a part of. If I wasn't selling I was talking to folk about our school, catching up with friends and family and marvelling at the crowds. Our Parents' Association had a fundraising figure in mind. We quadrupled it. I am still smiling. Thank-you to our fantastic stallholders who were the drawcard, thanks to the donors, the musicians, the bakers and chief cooks, the blokes who put up the marquees and did lots of bloke work, to the committee and other volunteers. And thank-you to the public. The folk who had never known of our existence, who came and saw and spent and gave our little community a huge boost - we are very very blessed. Thank-you.

West Brunswick Winter Magic Market

2011-07-27T19:08:00.000+10:00

Okay I'm feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment - so it's easy to forget minor details such as where this market is actually located!

Saturday 30 July 3 - 8 pm

Brunswick North West Primary School - the School on the Hill

Culloden Street West Brunswick

Just off Melville Road, near Jacob's Reserve, between Albion Street and Moreland Road. Car parking available onsite, access via Shetland Avenue (gold coin donation).

This is a school fundraiser, for a school that needs funds (don't they all!?). Your support is greatly appreciated. It's going to be great!

AWOL

2011-07-25T22:26:00.000+10:00

I've kinda fallen of the blogging wagon of late. I have 1001 excellent excuses, but not the energy to share them all. One of the excuses I will share is a project I'm part of -

Brunswick North West Winter Magic Market

We are excited to be putting together a market bulging with local talent. It's an opportunity to showcase not just the school, but the community that supports it.

Saturday 30th July from 3-8 pm

Art auction

Indoor art and craft market

Home-made cakes, savoury treats, devonshire teas and gourmet BBQ

Live acoustic music

Home-made cakes, jams and plants to take home

Real coffee

Creative activities in the Kids Zone from 3-5pm

Wine tastings, beverages by the Good Brew Guy, warm chai and gluwein

Shiatsu massage

The appeal for me is that both adults and children are well catered for and families can eat before heading home for the evening. There'll be ample off street parking. There is a huge emphasis on locally produced handmade goods - no mass production going on here. You can head to our Facebook page to see some of the wares on offer. Hope to see you there!

Home

2011-07-11T16:17:00.000+10:00

It's the school holidays, so of course I had the kids up and out the door by 8 am this morning (so why can't we do that on school days??). We were off to the airport to pick up my Mum. She wan't expecting us, and it would have been much easier to let her catch a taxi as planned. But, while she was away we had to euthanise her 18 year old cat, and I didn't want her to arrive home alone.

We walked around the garden my Dad had so lovingly tended for 30 years, and talked about the other cats buried there in their favourite spots. We sniffed the daphne, marvelled at the blooms on the camellias and looked for the tulips just poking through the soil. We discussed the health of Kali who had another massive seizure last night and wondered what the future has in store. The garden, even in winter, continues to grow and change. A reminder that life goes on whether we are ready for it or not.

This afternoon our lounge-room has been taken over by a massive cubby, and I'm making some cushions for the playroom. We are bunkered down at home for a few hours, and it feels kind of good to let go and just be. And as I write this I'm thinking about "home" not just as a physical space, but a state of mind. Today my Mum is back in her usual spot, probably snoozing right now as she fights her jet-lag. My children are within reach, happily playing. Our pets are snuggled together on their mat by the back door. The scent of jonquils wafts about, and dinner is simmering on the stove. For the moment we are safe and happy, oblivious to the cares of the outside world. Home.

Tomorrow

2011-07-08T14:42:00.000+10:00

Tomorrow you'll find me here -

at the lovely sweet Yarraville Markets.

A day out for me, right in the middle of the school holidays - a nice little sanity saver!

Forty-six

2011-07-06T10:33:00.000+10:00

I've been away from the blogging world for a couple of weeks. A lot of water has passed under the bridge during that time. It's been one of the hardest periods in my adult life. Within the space of a week we had a family member go missing for several days, the death of a friend, the death of a pet and a sad diagnosis for our beloved Kali.

I've thought what I would say about each of these situations, but the reality is it's just too hard. It's the realisation that during those times you want to be of the most use, you are of no use at all. The realisation of your inability - through no fault of your own - to change undesirable outcomes is a bitter pill. Instead, you struggle to reach a level of acceptance.

Yesterday I went to the funeral of a 46 year-old. Today I feel empty. Tomorrow I will forge ahead. Trying to live the best life I can.

Stay safe.

Winter Solstice

2011-06-22T13:24:00.000+10:00

Oddly, for me, I'm not embracing winter this year. I'm still wearing 3/4 sleeves and pretending it's all okay. Frankly, it's just stupid behaviour for this very cold Melbourne weather we're experiencing. Yesterday I popped out for cold and flu tablets and cough mixture (so much for Monday's hopes!) dressed as though it was April. I learned a valuable lesson - face up to reality, love!

The winter solstice is here and I've been madly knitting little things to keep little people warm. In the usual Squirt Baby choice of Bendigo wools, with the addition of Bark as a new colour.

They're kind of toddler sized, depending on your toddler's hands really! Luce, nearly 4, fits into them at the upper end of the scale. They'll fit from about 12 months. Next on the to-do list is a bigger kids size - maybe 5-8. Maybe I should knit them first and then talk about them! Right now though, I'm trying to fill the gaps in my beanie stock - they proved rather popular at Yarraville last time, as did the cardigans. Looks as though I can justify watching DVDs by knitting at the same time and calling it "work".

Mine

2011-06-21T09:22:00.000+10:00

You know when something is on its way - the waiting is so hard!

Yesterday, this arrived in the letterbox.

A new case for my phone from Susannah Tucker.

She is gorgeous. Her products are gorgeous.

Love. It.

This week...

2011-06-20T12:08:00.000+10:00

...is going to be normal. I'm sure of it. We will feel well, organised and in control. There will be no nasty surprises, emergencies, illnesses or accidents. The house will be tidy, the kids will be happy and well-fed and I will spend time with my sewing machine. There will be a bit of knitting, catching up with the telly and responding to emails. Maybe even some social activities.

What are my chances? Do dreams really come true??

Revisiting Yarraville

2011-06-10T13:28:00.000+10:00

Tomorrow I'm off to Yarraville Markets. It's been a while - but it's the perfect spot for an indoor winter market. Cute and cosy and full of handmade loveliness.

This week has been another one full of challenges. Sick kiddies, a visit to the RCH to have Luce's head glued back together, and a wobbly tooth that wobbled in instead of out. Poor Im - as her tooth got looser, her excitement levels soared. And then, shock horror, the realisation that the tooth had indeed fallen in AND BEEN SWALLOWED!!! Thankfully, the tooth fairy was gracious and left a little tooth fairy offering. I'm off to pop my cold and flu tabs and hopefully finish off some bits! See you tomorrow!

Wet paper bag

2011-05-31T15:20:00.000+10:00

It's been a shit of a year, really, when it comes to our children and their health.

Luce has been in the Royal Children's Hospital with pneumonia. She's recovering well, as kids do. It's an almost forgotten episode for her. But once again the MOTH and I feel as though we've been hit from behind, and are still reeling from the blow. I keep asking myself how we make ourselves and our lives more resilient, so that an incident like this doesn't completely throw us off course. I'm tired. I can't think straight anymore.

By nature I am a list maker and an organiser. I like to tick tasks off, and feel productive and clever. Sometimes I call myself Resources Manager, since I'm always trying to track down plastic containers and bits of school attire. But right now, it's all too much. Nothing is happening. The washing is piling up, dust is gathering at an alarming rate. I put uninteresting food on the table at night to fill empty tummies. I am incapable of caring enough to do anything about anything. So I'm just heading for the couch with a cuppa and my knitting and a child to cuddle. Tomorrow I'll find a way out of that wet paper bag. Until then...

little clicks

2011-05-20T20:07:00.000+10:00

I'm playing along with Natasha at little love

Marv (then aged 7)

Mate (then aged 9)

wordless Wednesday

2011-05-18T10:12:00.000+10:00

Pout baby

playing along with Faith Hope and a whole lotta Love

Making in May - the impatient experimenter

2011-05-17T17:25:00.000+10:00

I was never destined to become a research scientist - I'm way too impatient. I'm not too keen on repetition (although titrations are my secret skill - but perhaps that's more about precision!) and I want to be free to go where the mood takes me. When an idea pops into my head, it must be easily translated into an instant success. I hate fiddling around with no end in sight. Time wasting is irritating. It is possibly related to the Presbyterian work ethic (thanks for the reminder Jo). A new skirt idea has come to me. Straight skirts are my favourites because they're so easy to care for (that Presbyterian work ethic only goes so far!) and they sit nicely. But my girls demand flouncy feminine ones. So I'm compromising. A straight skirt with flounces, in pre-wrinkled fabric that shouldn't need ironing. Here it is so far.

I plan on adding the other three tiers tonight, and finish off the experimental pink woollen jacket too. Then, if Melbourne graces us with some sunshine tomorrow afternoon, a little photo shoot.I had to add my lovely scissors to the pic - they've changed my life :)

I forgot to mention last week that Sunday was a market day - Shirt and Skirt at the lovely Abbotsford Convent. It was chilly, but no rain - thank goodness! Cottage Nerd and I won't be at Shirt and Skirt for the winter months, but we'll be back in the spring. When it's warm. And not raining...hopefully!

How's the Weather?

2011-05-14T11:34:00.000+10:00

This unseasonal weather is a little hard to take. We are so unaccustomed to rain in quantity. This week I've fallen off my making bandwagon for a number of good reasons, all of them child related.

On Thursday I accompanied Marv and 60 or so other kidlets on an excursion to Point Lonsdale and the Queenscliff Marine Discovery Centre. It's a trip I've done numerous times in both a professional and personal capacity. I love seeing children take a closer look at their environment and being amazed at what they find. We were rather lucky with the weather - I think there was protective shield around us as we explored the rock platforms and had outdoor time at the MDC.

Looking across the heads from Point Lonsdale to Point Nepean. Real time webcam images available here.

And here's what it looks like from above, on a clear night, during a romantic Valentine's Day dinner flight -

Point Lonsdale on the left, Point Nepean on the right, the entrance to Port Phillip Bay in between. Oh, and wing and engine of the beautiful old bird hogging the limelight.

wordless Wednesday

2011-05-11T13:58:00.000+10:00

Playing along with Faith Hope and a whole lotta Love

Making in May - peasant dresses

2011-05-10T15:40:00.000+10:00

In the malaise that is, so far, dogging 2011 I had forgotten that I am actually capable of making garments in a timely fashion. When I give myself the chance.

In an effort to slow down and seek some sort of equilibrium, I've found myself languishing in a messy heap of nothingness. I think every one of our children has had at least one significant illness this year, requiring me to downtools for days on end. I have all these amazing ideas swirling around in my grey matter that never make it into the real world. The past three months have seen me walk into my sewing room countless times, only to walk out again, nothing achieved.

When the idea of the beautifully named Making in May came to me, I was sceptical that it would actually work. For the first few days I forced myself to do something, anything. I delved into my basket of long-ago-started-and-probably-never-to-be-finished work, and I've come up trumps! Chuffed is how I feel, reinvigorated.

Now I'm on a roll, and have even made some new dresses. Not just finished them off, or cut them out or sewn a few seems here and there. Actual complete garments. Here are three frocks on their way to Kids in Berlin. And I'm off to pat myself on the back (cos if I don't, no-one will!). Bravo me!

Making in May - progressing nicely

2011-05-09T16:33:00.000+10:00

This Making in May idea has been fantastic for finishing long-discarded projects and getting new ones started. I've had a really productive weekend, which is possible when your family decides a low-key approach to Mother's Day is a good idea. I'm sure they won't be making that mistake in 2012. The camera battery is flat, so no pictures today.

In addition to the making, I have to give myself a big thumbs up to my de-cluttering efforts. Now, I'm not a candidate for Hoarders, but there's a bit of stuff around, filling up corners, bursting on shelves, sheltering in the garage. As with all undesirable habits, I blame my mother. She keeps all sorts of crap. And now that we've all long left home, our old wardrobes are full of her stuff. So, at first glance, her house looks neat and tidy - just don't open the wardrobes! I find it hard to throw away or pass on artwork, little notes, toys, books, clothes. Just about anything that might have sentimental attachment. But now we're at the point where I don't want to manage all this stuff anymore. Suddenly it's easier to make decisions about what to keep and what stays. Our house and garage are being emptied at an astonishing rate.

It's too big a task to complete in one go, so I've been breaking it up into small achievable chunks - like the kitchen drawers, or the bookshelf in the lounge. Today, as I was flicking through a magazine, I found an article about combatting clutter. It's interesting to read the reasons why people hang on to things - memories, emotional ties, avoiding waste, feeling deprived, needing to see your life represented in your belongings. The availability of inexpensive goods contributes to the problem, as does buying things because you think you should be the kind of person who does x, y and z - only to find these items gathering dust.

My big tip (aside from breaking down the task into smaller, achievable goals) is to take two plastic bags with you. One is for donating, the other is for rubbish/recycling. When they're full, pat yourself on the back! Well done!!

Grateful for...making and loving

2011-05-07T12:07:00.000+10:00

Today I'm continuing with my Making in May challenge to myself, and joining in with Maxabella Loves...

Yesterday afternoon was Mother's Pampering Hour at school. Each class spent the last hour of the day pampering mums, nanas, aunties and special people. I've had my nails painted, a bit of a shoulder massage, a drink and some tasty treats. I've been entertained by 8 year olds learning the violin and ukelele. I've been pampered by little girls who needed to pamper someone. I've seen the look on the faces of children whose mother's surprised them by taking the afternoon off work to be with their children.

I'm grateful for the love of my children - something I strive to deserve every day.

I'm grateful for my making time, and having the resources and ability to choose to do it. A simple statement perhaps, yet heartfelt.

little clicks

2011-05-06T09:38:00.000+10:00

Today I'm joining in with Natasha of little love and her little clicks.

Last Christmas Mate and Marv were given their own cameras. When I was a kid there was this thing called "film". It cost money, and had to be "processed". It was a slow process and full of surprises when the prints finally turned up. Nowadays it's all so instant - as soon as you've taken a snap it's there for all to see. Initially I wasn't happy about the notion of digital, but I've come around to like the idea. Mate and Marv love their cameras. They actually look after them rather well, for kids raised in a disposable age, and use them a lot. It's funny to see the results when we download them - lots of self portraits, pictures of one another posing in creative ways, close-ups of insects, flowers and rocks. Photos taken through the car window, when the car is moving, of parents feeling tired and emotional. Observing the world around them, and capturing that moment in time.

Marv, aged 7 (at the time)

Mate, aged 9 (at the time)

Making in May - it's in the bag

2011-05-05T15:06:00.000+10:00

You can imagine how much stuff a family of six has. And you might also be able to imagine the effort required to manage all that stuff. It is not always a task I enjoy - managing other people's stuff.

The MOTH and I have worked out how to travel long distances successfully with our tribe. And perhaps I'll share the whole plan with you one day, but not today. I've made quite a few draw-string bags to keep things together. Personalised ones, made from calico (easy to wash, not too precious, nice 'n' sturdy). Bags for in-car snacks, bags for underwear, bags for bits and bobs. You name it, I have a bag for it.

Prior to our latest holiday I made a couple of bags for my knitting, reading material and miscellaneous stuff. As we travelled around I found my knitting getting tangled with the spare wool, scissors and measuring tape. So today I made a bag to go inside a bag. And I'm feeling happy. A small project for a day with limited making time. Perfect!

Making in May - crossing the start/finish line

2011-05-04T15:39:00.000+10:00

Early this year I bought this lovely little French Knitting dolly. Sure, she was way more expensive than a toilet roll, some icy pole sticks and sticky tape, but she's also prettier and sturdier.

I had planned for her to become a communal dolly, but I just can't hand her over! I want to keep her safely, in her little box, with her little instructions.

Today's Making in May is a combination of old and new.

The little blouse was started way back in December (again - there was a lot happening back then!) and just needed casings, elastic and hemming. Don't know what took me so long, really!

The "necklace" is some French knitting I whipped up today. Satisfying in a mindless kind of way! From time to time I knit simple flowers and put them aside in a special glass canister on my work bench. Here I've sewn two of them onto the French knitting with a lemon button. Kind of happy with the result. And, most importantly, another half-finished garment (well, three of them actually) is now finished, pressed, hanging, ready to go. Yay!

De-cluttering Gold

2011-05-03T22:19:00.000+10:00

Look at this gem. It makes the de-cluttering effort worthwhile. It also tells you how important it is to flick through your finds rather than immediately discarding them.

From The Australian Women's Weekly "Best Ever Knitting Book", passed on to me by my MIL. What a manly man, and the scarf is a nice touch. I can see she's eyeing off his chest hair, or is she avoiding eye contact? De-cluttering Gold and the winner is me! The question is - can I knit it for the MOTH in time for Father's Day??

Making in May - finishing off

2011-05-03T13:24:00.000+10:00

Is it cheating to finish off a project and present it as "Making in May" when it was, in fact, largely made in December?? Part of me thinks it is a little naughty, but then again the whole "Making in May" had to start somewhere. And, it got this bundle of a not-quite-finished project off the pile and into my wardrobe. I'm patting myself on the back.

So for the details - it's a reversible wrap skirt (striped denim on the reverse). Luckily it is a wrap skirt, or it would never have stayed on the size 8 (child) mannequin! The great thing about a wrap skirt is that it can see you through all sorts of times. That's all I'm saying about that! I've teamed it with a flouncy scarf (not made in May) in a soft interlock. I'm so relieved to have actually met my own challenge (even if it's only the first day, well second if you count yesterday...), but now I need to go and finish off something else!

Making in May - seriously

2011-05-02T12:58:00.000+10:00

Oh my stars I have struggled this year. I'm really not sure why. I just can't seem to get my act together. Time seems to evaporate. Stuff is happening, just not sure what kind of stuff...

So I've set myself a challenge. The month of May is going to be Making in May. Catchy title, eh? I'm going to make stuff and show it to you. On a daily basis, except weekends. So that would be a weekdaily basis. Don't laugh! I need to be accountable to someone. And, you're it. It's an attempt to rediscover my creative mojo, to jump-start my fickle blogging habit and perhaps develop some new skills. Yes, this is my very own make-over show. I wonder if I can shed kilos while I'm at it?

This morning (after taking Mate to the doctor for his tonsillitis - again) I decided to make myself a pin-board. All I needed to complete my project were some shiny little brads. So off I went to the garage, and spent an hour throwing things away. Still haven't found the brads. No wonder I'm not getting anything done!

Fingers crossed - by the end of the day I'll have something to show you.

Post-reunion blues

2011-04-28T17:48:00.000+10:00

My eldest sister lives in the UK. I wish she was here, within reach, in the same time zone. But, for now, her place is on the other side of the world.

Most years she comes for a visit with her family in tow. It's fantastic. It's intense. We spend as much time as possible together, but it's never enough. And when they go home the grieving starts again. So right now I'm experiencing the post-reunion blues. I'm not blogging much, nor am I checking other blogs. Commenting is even rarer. Sewing - nah. Knitting - kind of. Ditto cooking. Reading yes - because it's an escape. I'm rather grumpy and ever-so-slightly-touchy. My other comfort (aside from chocolate) is de-cluttering. Not sure why. But gosh it feels good! Our neighbourhood is preparing for next week's hard waste collection. I'm going out after dark to pick up a few discards in our street. At least, I hope they're still waiting for me!

I'm also replaying our latest journey in my head. I love exploring our country. Soooo much to see, like this -

Does anyone else get unsettled by holidays? We're already dreaming up the next one...

T.E.N.

2011-04-27T16:31:00.000+10:00

Ten years ago this baby came into our lives. I held him in my arms. He'd made it. Alive, well, perfect. Ours. We had hoped and waited for this baby for quite some time. At that moment I believed he would be the only one, and I felt incredibly fortunate that I had this boy to love and cherish.

Today he is ten and he has three sisters too. At the moment of his birth, I couldn't see myself ten years down the track. But here I am. Here we are. And my heart is bursting with love.

Happy birthday my dear, sweet boy.

Back in the big smoke

2011-04-19T23:09:00.000+10:00

Eleven days. 3480 km. Exploring, experiencing, examining. Family. Young & old. Laughing, drinking, sharing. Swatting flies. Cursing mozzies. Loving every moment.

On our way...nearly

2011-04-04T11:13:00.002+10:00

image via here

I'm signing off for a couple of weeks as our extended family goes on a road trip to the Flinders Ranges.

Look at those amazing colours, the landscape. We're all very excited. Stay tuned for the slide night!

To market to market...

2011-04-01T15:58:00.000+11:00

Tomorrow I'm off to the Brunswick Town Hall for the Sister's Market - the first for the year. It's on from 10-4 and I'll be in my usual spot just inside the front door. And speaking of doors - a lovely parcel made it's way to my front door today -

So over the next couple of weeks, during the many hundreds of kilometres we'll be travelling, this wool will become little beanies and cardigans. But since we're heading into red soil territory, the cream will be staying at home!

So - who do you think I am?

2011-03-31T11:31:00.000+11:00

1974 Kinder Christmas party. Inside that parcel is a hippo money bank, in blue and purple flock. It changed colour with the temperature. It was, quite simply, the best.

And that girl in the photo, showing a bit of leg in a mum-made dress, she was taking shape as a person. Reserved, awkward and forever self-conscious of the curly blonde hair everyone wanted to touch. And she retreated inside. A while ago Rosie wrote about unconditional love. I felt as though she was talking about me. So without going into too much depth - yes I did grow up loved, but it was not always unconditional. We had to look right, behave right, study hard - make our parents proud. There were boundaries which we were not allowed to cross. So I grew up knowing not to ask, because the answer would be no. I grew up with the understanding that one day I would be free of the dominance of home. But by then, some habits were so ingrained they could not be changed without a tremendous amount of effort. Mistakes were not smoothed out, they were dwelt upon and there was guilt to be had. And we weren't even Catholic!

I don't have a great sense of my own self-worth. It's hard for me to accept praise for what it is. Usually I feel as though it's misdirected. And generally I feel that whatever I do, it's just not quite good enough. Yep, I'm hard on myself. I recognise that. I can understand that. It's hard to change that.

I don't know how I present myself to the world. I look at other people who seem so self assured, self-confident and brave. How do they do it? I'm constantly wracked with self-doubt and perhaps a bit of self-loathing for all the things I'm not that I think I should be. I've been told I'm a closed person - it's a protective mechanism. If you keep people at arm's length they can't judge you harshly. Perhaps it makes me seem aloof. I can't really tell.

Yesterday I had a chance meeting with an old school friend. One of those friends you got along with at school, but wasn't in the "inner circle". We haven't seen each other for the best part of 20 years. So there was a lot to talk about. This girl was apologising for her lack of formal education as she explained the path she had followed. Whilst I may be hard on myself, I make no judgement on other people and how they conduct their lives (unless they're into bad stuff). At school she'd come across as a happy, funny, friendly girl. I didn't expect her to feel, perhaps, embarrassed by the fact she'd gone straight from school to employment. And then she was asking what I had done. Because, she said, "You're so smart - you would have had a fabulous career before you had kids, and I bet they're really smart too, just like you." She said some other nice things. Stuff that surprised me. She might have been wrong on a few counts, but in a few sentences she had told me who she thought I was. And it was all nice. She didn't say I was a dud and she said she'd like to keep in touch. She didn't say I was a overthinker who was a bit f*#@!d in the head.

And on the way home, Vanessa Amorosi was singing This Is Who I Am

So, I'm not sure if I really want know who you think I am - I've probably revealed too much already!

My inner and outer selves don't always seem to match. I am an overthinker, and perhaps a little sensitive. But I'm a work in progress.

The needles are clacking

2011-03-29T15:16:00.000+11:00

Now before I go any further - is that picture up there big enough?? Hmm, might have to keep playing with that one!

With the summer that wasn't, my knitting needles have made an appearance much earlier than they normally would. I've started to whip up some beanies to go with the cardigans. I'm a results-driven person, so 8 is my ply of choice. These hats require me to use 4 ply. So I've been resisting the change. Until now.

Since introducing these cardigans to the Squirt Baby range, they have been available in two sizes - 0-3 months and 6-9 months. Happily I can now announce they will also be available in 12-18 months. Hooray! Now I have to start knitting them, so don't expect them right now! Coordinating beanies will also be in each of the three sizes. Double hooray!

Next week our extended family is heading off on a bit of a road trip, so there'll be plenty of in-car knitting happening to while away the kilometres. Hopefully my order from Bendigo will arrive soon, so I can get started!

Struggling

2011-03-27T17:24:00.000+11:00

The ill-health fairy is in orbit over our house. The latest disease is a rather nasty gastro. Three girls all sick at once. Last night we finally got to bed at about 3:30 after numerous changes of bedding and lots of other stuff you really don't want to hear about! So my life as a blogger has come to a halt, as has blog-reading, commenting and surfing. Actually, most things are on hold as we hold sweaty little bodies, soothe sore tummies and wipe up all manner of stuff.

See you all soon, hopefully!

Earth Hour 2011

2011-03-25T20:06:00.001+11:00

Tomorrow night at 8:30pm. You know you can do it. It's only for an hour. I'm imagining children in bed, lots of candlelight and a big glass of red. Heaven! For more info go to Earth Hour Australia.

An enduring affair

2011-03-22T12:07:00.001+11:00

I've been expecting my affair with greens to wane. I'm even feeling a bit guilty that I've fallen so heavily for this hue while my one true love (red) waits patiently in the wings. As the new winter gears rolls slowly off the production line there seems to be a theme. Green. And I can't say that I'm sorry.

Market Day

2011-03-18T12:55:00.000+11:00

It's been a while between posts. A nasty chesty cold is making its way through our household. And since my two little girls have a history of pneumonia anything chesty sends me into uber-alert mode.

First term is a crazy time. So much seems to be happening. Birthdays, excursions, day trips, volunteering, washing, road trips, decluttering and reorganising. Tonight we are having a girly sleepover for Marv's birthday. And when they all go home tomorrow, I'll be hunched over the machine doing some last minute bits and pieces for Sunday's Shirt and Skirt. This month Cottage Nerd and I will be joined by another mate - DaVia Designs. She'll be right next door to us, which is handy because I need some of her wares!

Thanks Canberra

2011-03-11T10:30:00.000+11:00

This time last week I was in a little bit of a panic preparing for the big road trip.

Today things haven't started so well either. I've broken the glass shelf in the shower, the kids are niggly and I'm still trying to put the house in order. I haven't loaded the pics of the trip, so instead I'll show you the entrance to the rather elegant Hyatt Hotel Canberra, venue for Mathilda's Market.

I like a bit of elegance, even though it reminds me how much of a klutz I am!

Lovely neighbours, lovely customers, delightful weather and Mum to keep me company. Thanks Canberra!

Road trip

2011-03-01T12:40:00.000+11:00

This weekend I'm off on a little road trip. It's part of the new order this year - get out and about a bit more. It is a working trip - Mathilda's Market in Canberra. Originally it was going to be a family mini-break, spending a couple of days in our nation's capital. However, we have other holiday plans happening very soon, so it will be a quick visit instead, with Mum to keep me company. Bless her.

I'm really looking forward to some different scenery and checking out the beautiful wares on offer - hope to meet some of you there! Just need to go and get organised now...

Cold Reading Series

2011-03-01T10:11:00.000+11:00

Yesterday as I was shaping and ironing and pinning I happened to see a little of the Oscars. And one acceptance speech in particular hit a chord. Tom Hooper, Director of The King's Speech thanked his parents and, in particular, his Mum. His mother had attended a script reading - something she'd never done before. Apparently she wasn't keen to go and thought it might be a little dull. However, she came home from the reading full of enthusiasm and told Tom she'd found his next film. The rest of that story is now history.

Next Monday the work of a very special friend of mine is to be showcased in the Cold Reading Series at the Felix Bar in St Kilda. The Cold Reading Series gives writers the opportunity to see their work performed by actors, to gauge audience reactions and do a bit of networking all at the same time. I am thankful for the number of outlets for folk such as myself to sell their wares - markets, wholesaling, online or even from one's home "studio". Writers don't have the same opportunities which is why the Cold Reading Series is such a fantastic event. So I'll be there on Monday night holding Rosie's hand as Flea gets it's first public airing.

Christchurch

2011-02-25T10:01:00.000+11:00

I've been to Christchurch.
It was the last stop on an adventure-packed holiday in New Zealand. It was beautiful. My memories are full of parks, lovely old stone buildings, punting on the Avon. Elegant, cultured. Australians are no strangers to natural disasters. Already we are helping our neighbours across the Tasman. There are many ways to donate or help out there on the web.

Image from here

Another day gone

2011-02-23T17:50:00.000+11:00

I'm having a hard time adjusting to this new "routine". Or should I say lack of routine? This new year has brought about some change here and we're yet to find our new groove. Three kiddos at school. My no-longer-a-baby has a couple of kinder sessions (by the time you drop them off it's time to pick them up again). Cricket continues, swimming has resumed and ballet has been added to the list (that deserves a whole post on its own!).

My days are spent wandering aimlessly to and fro. Unable to settle on one thing I find myself doing little bits here and there. I have turned into the toddler with a non-existent attention span! Perhaps it's the nightly tipple, or growing older. Perhaps it's the sheer number of things I have spinning around in my head (brush your teeth, put your shoes away, where is your lunch box, socks don't belong at the back door/sandpit/couch, hand in your notes and remember today is swimming/cricket/ballet, send off claim forms, fill in permission slip, sign up for kinder duty, make biscuits for school canteen) that individually aren't that important but would bring this whole family machine grinding to a halt if I just let it go.

I know I'm not alone. There are others out there who have similarly lost momentum. A friend has suggested a weekly roster to help order my mind and reclaim the lost time. She also wants me to email it to her so she can check on me but I think that's going a little too far! (Thanks Rosie!!). Any other suggestions gratefully received. In the meantime, I'm off to do some baking...

wordless Wednesday

2011-02-23T12:05:00.000+11:00

Playing along with Faith Hope and a whole lotta Love

Grand Clearance Sale

2011-02-18T14:23:00.001+11:00

S A L E

This weekend I'll be at the Shirt and Skirt market with Cottage Nerd in our usual spot sipping lattes, or perhaps an organic lemonade if the weather's steamy.

I'm sure I've mentioned recently that I'm going to have a rather impressive sale. It's happening. I'm ready to clear the decks for all the new stuff I'm in the process of creating. Should I be calling my handmade goodness "stuff"? Anyhow I digress. There's going to be a sale with silly teeny tiny prices. Like dresses from $15. Not everything will be on sale, so don't expect to find a half-price hand-knit cardigan, for example! And, if there's anything left I'll be listing them on-line. Everyone's a winner!

wordless Wednesday

2011-02-16T08:16:00.000+11:00

Playing along with Faith Hope & a whole lotta Love

Not sewing, cooking

2011-02-15T18:08:00.001+11:00

I am a city girl with country connections and a family background in small business.

So it shouldn't be too hard to imagine my support of Australia's primary producers. As a family we do what we can to directly support the people who grow our food. Reducing my own market commitments enables us to attend a farmer's market close to home. I've been wanting to go for some time. Last weekend was the first opportunity to visit the North Essendon Farmer's Market. We were impressed by the quality and variety of the produce and *ahem* spent a whole lot more than we anticipated! The MOTH has a thing for blackberries. I should have photographed them before their transformation. You'll have to settle for an "after" shot instead. A family of jam eaters - this will be gone in a flash!

No wonder I'm not getting any sewing done!

PS Apologies for any confusion surrounding the "afternoon delight" reference. Click here for details. Hopefully that answers all your questions!

Doing it in style

2011-02-15T11:41:00.000+11:00

Last week Sarah wrote about hanging out the washing serenaded by her unseen guitar-playing neighbour. Yesterday I hung out the washing to the sounds of a couple's afternoon delight. It was a valuable lesson. In a quiet neighbourhood, sound travels. Even during the day.

Last night the MOTH and I boarded this glorious DC-3 for a dinner flight around Port Phillip Bay.

Our seats were over the wing, which didn't please me at first. And then I found myself gazing at the beauty of her construction and the way the setting sun played with the rivets and ripples in the metal.

I found myself taking photos of the plane more than the scenery.

Wing at sunset.

Wing with the Heads in the background.

Wing over Melbourne CBD.

Flying and sightseeing conditions last night were fantastic. There's something magical about a bird's eye view. Imagine a time when this aircraft was the pinnacle of modern aviation. Twenty-eight passengers. A crew of four. There's even a lounge at the back of the plane. It seats four. The cockpit is open to the plane and passengers are expected visit the pilots. Fancy that! During our turn we flew up Punt Road as the sun set and the city was lighting up. Gorgeous, breathtaking, marvellous!

Love is in the air

2011-02-14T14:41:00.000+11:00

Now, Valentine's Day isn't a big thing for the MOTH and I. That said, we are actually going out tonight, sans children, for a dinner flight over Melbourne. It is, in fact, my birthday present. Last year when booking the flight, there were only a couple of dates open to us so we settled on Valentine's Day cos the thought of it made us giggle.

As passengers, we are asked to dress up a little. I've purchased my dress, sorted out the shoes. This morning I was buying the finishing touches when I witnessed new love in all it's Valentine's day glory. The shop assistant was surprised by her new beau bearing a beautiful arrangement of red roses. Their first Valentine's Day. He was dressed beautifully and had made a big effort to track her down at work. She blushed, stumbled over her words, acutely aware of the assembled audience. And afterwards when he'd gone I told her my young beau had done the same to me - when I was working for my Dad! That was in 1993. Maybe this will be the first of many Valentine's Days for them. Fingers crossed eh?

Still smelling the roses

2011-02-11T14:34:00.000+11:00

I gave myself permission to have January off. Devote myself to my offspring. Time to smell the roses and make sure my children understand they are much more important than my sewing machine (I'm sure there are moments when they wonder...).

Here we are, February 11. I'm still smelling the roses. I'm spending a lot of time wandering around a little lost. A period of adjustment is required. My little Im has started school, and my no-longer-a-baby-Luce is at 3 year old kinder. I need to reprogram myself.

I need a little more time.

Big Red

2011-02-02T16:57:00.000+11:00

Late last year the kidlets chose a large pot and a tomato plant. They promised to love it and nurture it and eat the fruits of their labour.

They were true to their (collective) word. Bless them!

Open for business

2011-01-31T16:28:00.000+11:00

The summer holidays are nearly over, and it's time to hang out the Squirt Baby shingle again. And to announce a couple of changes.

I do struggle with balance. I'm sure I've mentioned it before!

2011 is the year to do something about it. Because things aren't going to change unless I change.

So here's the deal. This year my only markets will be Shirt and Skirt and Sister's Market. And maybe the occasional special one. We'll see. I love Squirt Baby, but Squirt Baby has become too big for me to manage in it's current form. So I'm downsizing a bit for this year. I made this decision on Christmas Eve, in the midst of chaos. Then one week into our holiday, Marv had a fall that resulted in a fair amount of damage to her mouth. It changed the pace of our holiday dramatically and brought about a lot of soul searching. I'm not good at relaxing (never thought I'd hear myself say that!). Staring down the prospect of unproductive time I hopped down to the local craft shop and bought some cross-stitch kits for Marv and I to do. Ladybirds, galahs and bumble-bees. It's been a long time, and I've taken it up again with gusto. And the best part is - these projects are just for me. It feels so good!

On a roll I've even started a new scarf for myself.

Today I have tentatively reacquainted myself with my beloved machines. They have lain idle for the past month. I made the decision to limit my sewing during the school holidays and instead spend quality time with the kidlets. Then I found myself unable to even contemplate it for fear that once I start I will find it very difficult to stop. Because that's the sad truth - I am incapable of self-monitoring sewing machine time. For my offspring I can limit time spent on the computer, in front of the telly, on the Wii, on the iPad, iPods, iPod touches and anything else starting with an "i". Sadly, for myself, I can often be found sewing my way into the next day.

So in order to achieve this goal of fewer markets (as I type another application form has winged it's way into my inbox) and less sewing time I'm overhauling my product range. While that range is yet to be pinned down and branded, I know what I'm not going to be making anymore. And that means I'm ready to clear out the racks BIG TIME. (Gee lucky I check my own spelling - I just typed "bog time". Eeew!!)

The next time you see me - at the February 20 Shirt and Skirt there will be a massive sale. I seriously want it all to go, so be prepared for some fantastic bargains. Mark that date in your diary now!

Low tide

2011-01-21T11:24:00.000+11:00

During our beach-side holiday I like to take walks at low tide. The kids have fun collecting pretty shells and discovering the inhabitants of the inter-tidal zone. I marvel at the sand sculptures.

Gee, I should have touched up Im's nail polish!

Summer

2011-01-20T17:59:00.000+11:00

Face ache

2011-01-18T15:37:00.000+11:00

I have a face ache. And I blame Billy. He makes me laugh. A lot.

Last night my beloved and I went to see Billy Connolly. Two and a half hours (no interval) of story telling, swearing, observations and laughing. We've reached an age, my man and I, where we pay an awful lot of money to laugh. And we go home feeling happy, albeit a little sore from sitting in one spot for so long!

Billy spoke about his sister, and their difference in approach to playing music. His sister plays the piano, but only with the sheet music in front of her. Billy, on the other-hand, just plays his banjo, wings it. And I thought about this in terms of how I live my life. I'm like Billy's sister - I kind of like to have the music in front of me, but I long to be free of it at the same time.

I don't make New Year's Resolutions, but during our January retreat from the world, the MOTH and I set ourselves some projects for the year to come. Past examples include solar panels, water tanks and going back to being a one-car household. This year, we feel, is to be a year of consolidation. Which is a bit vague, I know so it may be a little hard to achieve. It really means balance.

I get hung up on keeping the place organised. There are six of us with our own collections of stuff, so it's fairly important to be organised. I don't cope well with miscellaneous bits all over the place. This need to be organised often takes over and can be overwhelming. It takes first place above all else. It is never ending. That's a problem.

My children need me to be more than the nagging woman. Yes I am a safe anchor, but there's also an adventurous fun-loving girl in there. I want them to see me as a woman living a fulfilling life rather than the person who grudgingly performs domestic tasks and plays the role of taxi-driver. Not an observer but a participant. Golly, I'm starting to sound a bit deep and perhaps a tad dissatisfied. Not so. Just in need of balance and a change of perspective.

Stylish Blogger Award

2011-01-17T11:28:00.000+11:00

Thanks to Emma At Play for passing on this award to me. It makes me feel just a little bit special, so thanks Emma!

So the deal is I share some little known facts about myself and then pass the award on. For long-term readers of this blog, you'll remember how much difficulty I have passing on awards because -

Fact #1 - I am a chronic over-thinker. It's crippling. I wish it wasn't so. But it is, so sometimes I just have to opt out. Instead I'm going to ask you to find a new blog and follow it. Okay, that's done!

Fact #2 - This is a new one and only recently discovered. Despite being a fairly practical person and reasonably calm in a crisis, when one of my children is bleeding profusely, I am at risk of fainting.

Fact #3 - I envy peeps with fabulously neat and organised studios/workspaces/desks. Oh how I aspire to have such organised space. I've found that the only way for my work space to be neat and pretty is for me to not be working in it. *sigh*

Fact #4 - I like to plan my spontaneity.

Fact #5 - I like being a kept woman. I get to do stuff I like and call it "work".

Fact #6 - Humidity makes me grumpy.

Fact #7 - I am yet to master crochet but I can tat.

Thanks again Emma!

Signing in

2011-01-15T20:53:00.000+11:00

The world has been a busy place since we last spoke. Christmas, holidays, New Year, anniversaries, birthdays, accidents and natural disasters. It's hard to keep up. It's impossible to adequately convey feelings about the state of things in just a few words. But then, we're all on the same page aren't we? Shocked, dismayed, perhaps even a little thankful. How do we manage to steer ourselves and our families around the bad things that happen?

Tomorrow I'll be at Shirt and Skirt to kick off the market season. In the usual spot, close to coffee.

2010 - it's a wrap

2010-12-25T23:59:00.000+11:00

Just signing off for the year.

It's time to have some quality family time and chill out.

Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year to all those out in blogland!

The Squirt Baby shop will be closed until January 17, 2011. The next Squirt Baby outing is scheduled for January 16 at Shirt and Skirt.

The early bird catches the worm

2010-12-19T06:41:00.000+11:00

Has anybody checked out Melbourne's weather forecast? If you haven't, now would be a good time. Cos it's not pretty, especially when you have your last market for the year in an outdoor setting! Cottage Nerd and I are definitely heading to Shirt and Skirt today, but we are anticipating an early finish (not because we want to, but because we may have to!).

The set-up is going to be a simpler one, not quite so pretty as usual, to make for a quick get-away if required. All stock will be there, including new shorts for boys. So my tip would be to get in early, have that latte, so some lovely handmade Christmas shopping and get home again - dry! Oh, and bring an umbrella just in case.

This is it

2010-12-17T12:31:00.000+11:00

This weekend marks the end of the 2010 market season. It's been another busy year, and I'm wondering when the learning curve will start to level out!

Tomorrow I'll be in my usual spot in the foyer at the Sister's Market

and Sunday sees Cottage Nerd and Squirt Baby sharing space and coffee at Shirt and Skirt

There are new shorts for boys and dresses for the little girls this weekend. In strictly limited quantities - first in best dressed!

Summer Days

2010-12-14T09:18:00.002+11:00

Apparently adding an oversized YouTube thingy into a blogpost throws everything out of whack. So I might have to remove it - but not until tomorrow's day of action is over. I don't make political statements. I don't make for or against union statements. These things are for you alone to decide. However, I do make equality statements. And for me tomorrow's protest is an equality statement. Enough said.

So here's a pretty picture to look at now.

Cool soft cotton, easy to wear, easy to care for, perfect for summer and available here!

For Equality

2010-12-13T17:02:00.001+11:00

Call me naive, but I'm astonished that equality in pay between men and women here in Australia is not a reality in some sectors. Apparently the Federal Government has backflipped on equal pay for community sector workers. What???

This Wednesday sees the second National Day of Action for Equal Pay for Community Sector Workers at 12 noon at the State Library, Swanston Street Melbourne. You can show you support by attending, and even learning the dance moves in preparation.

And I apologise for the YouTube thingy below not fitting in neatly. But there you go. You can't miss it!

And no, that's not me in the leotard.

Christmas Countdown

2010-12-10T11:15:00.000+11:00

In just over a week my year of markets will be over. Tomorrow I'll be setting up shop at the Sister's Market at St Kilda Town Hall.

I haven't exactly been an active blogger of late - busy creating, attending to the busy-ness of year's end and battling a triple combo of ear/sinus/throat infection. Oh the joy!

The St Kilda Town Hall is a rather amazing venue and it will be jammed full of lovely goodies. I'm going to be ticking items off my own Christmas list tomorrow!

North Melbourne Market - this Sunday

2010-12-03T15:20:00.000+11:00

On Sunday I'll be at the North Melbourne Market.

Making their first appearance will be Squirt Baby's new reversible bucket hats for kiddies and grown-ups alike. Very limited production and very desirable (even if I do say so myself!)

Parenthood

2010-11-30T21:27:00.000+11:00

Parenthood is about desperately wanting the best for your offspring. Cherry picking the best bits of your DNA to bestow upon them. Wanting them to avoid the pitfalls and to be happy and fulfilled.

I had my fist migraine around the age of eight. It took me a while, and a few more migraines, to understand what was happening. In those days medication was the first port of call. So I went on that medication and I'm still paying for the side effects.

Thankfully adulthood has brought relief, and it's been a few years since the last one.

Yesterday Marv - my cast-iron-constitution child, the one who has not yet needed saving by modern medicine - had her first migraine. And I feel responsible and devastated and angry. I want to stop it from ever happening again, but that is beyond my control.

So today she stayed home from school, still recovering. Did I keep her home for me or for her? I wanted to watch her all day, to reassure her and explain it all again and again. But she wanted to dress up like a fairy and write me a poem. She is okay. I'm not sure that I am.

New for summer

2010-11-30T19:46:00.000+11:00

I've spent a bit of time today fiddling in my online shoppe. I find it a chore, quite frankly - everything takes so long and is, on the whole, unproductive time for someone like me who does most of her selling face-to-face. And I like it that way, perhaps because it means coffee time without children in tow!

This summer I've expanded the size range up to a 10 and sometimes even a 12. I like to play around with styles and sizes, some more successfully than others! And after a couple of years in this game I've learned I have a style. I know that may sound odd, but there you go! I choose fabrics I like and style them into clothes I like to dress my children in. I don't like too much fuss, and patterns aren't really my thing either so if I choose a patterned fabric it really has to appeal. I'm more of a block colour with accents kind of girl. So perhaps that's where this came from -

Neutral linen with a floral cotton panel topped with a little bit of delicate lace. A-lines in sizes newborn to 3 years. Available from Sunday's market in North Melbourne, and maybe even online. There's only a few (7 to be exact) and once they're gone, that's it.

When I choose patterned fabrics they either fit into the colour scheme swirling in my head or are chosen for my daughters. Luce has a touch of auburn in her hair, so when I saw this fabric I immediately thought of her and her love of swirly dresses. Pleased with the result I went back for more fabric and these will also be available from this weekend.

New fangled gadgets

2010-11-23T17:10:00.000+11:00

This week I've missed a few calls, even when I've had my phone in my pocket. Today I missed a call from the school. How can that be? I have the volume turned to max, the phone is always close by (it's more than just a phone).

So I began playing. And I made a discovery. Last week I changed the ring tone to something pretty. Problem is, my brain doesn't register the something pretty ring tone as a ring tone. So I'm back to the unoriginal "old phone" option. Might actually hear it and answer it now!

New Friends

2010-11-22T22:58:00.000+11:00

Today I visited Zanin at Kids in Berlin. From Wednesday, Kids in Berlin will be stocking a range of Squirt Baby gear just in time for Christmas shopping. Yippee! It's rather exciting to be in a place full of independent handmade goodness. It makes me feel like a player rather than a dabbler. Zanin's support and enthusiasm for businesses like mine is uplifting, and she's cheered me up no end after a bit of an average weekend. Aside from the soon-to-be children's wear, Kids in Berlin stocks clothing and accessories for men and women plus lots of gorgeous jewellery, cards and toys.

Kids in Berlin - 472 Victoria Street North Melbourne.

Balance? What's that?

2010-11-18T19:17:00.000+11:00

From time to time I am complimented on my ability to be a SAHM to four kidlets and a small business proprietor at the same time. Apparently looks are deceiving and folks think I have it all worked out - raising children here, doing a bit of sewing there, whipping up delicious feasts and have time for me. If only they knew the effort required to maintain this charade!

This weekend sees me pull off the ultimate party trick - being in two places at once. Sunday is one of my regular gigs - Shirt and Skirt. And then there's Mathilda's too. The ab fab Cottage Nerd will take a range of Squirt Baby gear to Shirt and Skirt in the morning while I face the madness of a Mathilda's Christmas Market. Then, when Mathilda's is over, I will rush to Abbotsford and set up the rest of my wares before settling in to sip lattes with my market buddy.

Remembering that all Squirt Baby wares are sewn by yours truly, this week I am aiming to beat my record of sewing 29 garments in one week. Not sure if that sounds like a lot, but for me it's huge! I have lots of lovely new dresses, and have extended my size range up to 10 years. And now for a confession - it's all about the girls at the moment. Sorry boys!

My children don't recognise me any more. All they know this week is how my back looks as I hunch over my trusty machines. Thankfully their father takes pity on them and throws food at them occasionally. And they have each other. Bless them!

The Sounds of Sewing

2010-11-09T15:34:00.000+11:00

If you don't like the hum of a sewing machine or the roar of the overlocker (is it supposed to make that much noise??), then you'd best stay away. It's all business here at the House of Squirt (hang on, somehow that sounds wrong). All weekends from now until Christmas are booked with markets.

So I'm busy.

The problem with being a small business where handmade by me is at it's core, is that everything is made by me. And I have limitations. I have learned to live with less sleep, but it also reduces my tolerance for other things (like children, especially my own!).

But I love it.

Besides, since handing in my resignation, this is it now!