justinamaria

2010-04-11T00:13:00.002+10:00

Waaaah! It's been forever I know. Babies! Children! Life!

Life.

Something tonight has prompted me to come back to this. Something I just feel as though I can't write about anywhere else.

Life lost too soon and in too silly and selfish a way.

A little over six months ago one of my dearest and oldest friends died from an accidental drug overdose. Yes, I'm still cross with him.

And I'm sad, really really sad.

I miss him every day but every now and then it just overwhelms me. I won't ever see him again. And we will never grow old together, which we had planned to do!

G and I met when we started kindy together at the age of 3. He was always a bit odd or maybe "half mad", just like Alice in the new Wonderland film, " All the best people are, you know".

A truly kindred spirit.

We went on to primary school together and it just felt like I'd always known him. He was a definite, a constant part of my life.

As adults I think we really came to appreciate each other and were better friends than ever before. G was the celebrant at my wedding and the godparent to my children. A stayer.

I wish.

It's funny you know, there's the cliche, "time heals all wounds". I don't think time is healing this one very well at all. In fact I feel as thought the more time that passes; the longer it is since I've seen him, since he has embraced me, since I have heard his voice.

Maybe more time is what's needed.

However much time is required to dull the pain, I know that the memory of a truly wonderful man will never be dulled. My children and I speak about G regularly and his influence on our lives and our hearts will always remain.

I miss you G. We all miss you.

going around and around in circles

2008-01-08T11:29:00.000+11:00

Being unable to move with much speed or flexibility the last few weeks (my hips are killing me!) has left me with a whole lot of couch-sitting time. So i've been crocheting. I don't have wonderful skills so it has to be fairly simple. Going around and around in circles is pretty much right on the money as far as my days go - feeding, tidying up after and breaking up fights between my children (not to mention trying to come up with new and exciting ways to entertain them!) - repeat until bedtime. And in between crochet some circles!
This is just three different sized circles, using SWTC Oasis Soysilk and a 4mm hook. Easy peasy. I think this one is a birthday gift for a pretty lady i know.And now I've begun a baby blanket using exactly the same method except all the circles are the same size. I'm using whatever 8ply cotton I can find about the house. Round and round and round..........

the title of my post goes here

2008-01-03T21:34:00.000+11:00

hmmmm......
Rustier than I thought. I'm finding myself in a not very bloggy state of mind. Being 36 and a half (yep, I'm feeling every day and every moment closer to my due date matters!!!) weeks pregnant in stupid hot weather doesn't seem to really be helping.
I think I stopped blogging mid last year as things started getting a bit hectic. My little sewing/etsy/market endeavour combined with kids just left me without the time to type and I have enough trouble getting my act together to take photos for etsy let alone for the blog. I just let it slide. Now that I've done with markets for the moment (I'm on "maternity leave") and my body just won't let me do very much I'm hoping I can pick it up again. A wee babe in a few weeks might throw a spanner in the works eh?
All I can do is try. I'm going to start by busting out the camera. I've got LOADS of un-photographed crafty treasures to show you!

the first

2008-01-01T23:21:00.000+11:00

Ahem.
Okay, let me just clear away a few of the cobwebs. Aaah, there we are, it's been some time dear blog. Quite some time.
Lara reminded me recently that the last thing I'd posted about was poo. What must you all think of me? If indeed there are any of you?
So, it seems the first day of a new year is as good a place as any to try to resurrect my typing fingers and talk again to the internet at large. In fact I think it's quite a dandy place to start.
Um, so I've started. I'm going to have to do a bit better than this though aren't I? Maybe I'll come back tomorrow, the second say of the year, slightly less heat addled and do a better job. Yes, that's what I'll do. And I'll oil my typing fingers in preparation too, they're a little bit squeaky.

would you ever have imagined

2007-05-23T14:58:00.000+10:00

that when a toddler eats a lot (like maybe 2 handfuls) of sultanas for aternoon tea, there will be grapes in her nappy the next morning? Yep, rehydrated sultanas..........

One of the little moments of joy peppered through my day!

oh my

2007-04-20T10:08:00.000+10:00

well......

i am still alive. just lacking in words. so much has been happening and i really should be writing about it, it's exciting and i will want to be able to come back to read about it and reminisce at some point down the track...

my shop at etsy is slowly getting there, i just need to make sure i put in the effort that is needed to keep it all well updated and exciting looking, i really need to learn how to take better product photos.

i am also having a fortnightly stall with megan (aka platypus face!!) at the rose st market which is really fun. if you're nearby on a saturday, pop in and say hi! our next one is april 28th, and then every second saturday.

and as a result of all this shop keeping i have been sewing a lot. a lot!

i love my new bags, i bought some of lara's beautiful fabric recently and the bags i have made with it are fantastic, if i do say so myself.

sweet.

too hot, can't talk

2007-01-17T18:34:00.000+11:00

Look at my cute baby instead.

golly

2007-01-12T08:15:00.000+11:00

It's been a while, sorry. I'm such a lazy blogger. Think of it as my Christmas holidays since I don't actually get holidays.

So, what's been happening? Um, lots. Am I going to tell you all about it? Um, probably not. My memory is the proverbial sieve. I'll try to recall the large chunks and globs that didn't fall through the holes for you.

Oh yeah, I fell over, that was a good one. Finn and I were walking home from school on a Friday afternoon, I think it was the week before Christmas, I was admiring the beautiful artworks he was bringing home and wa-la! I stood in a hole. At first it was just a massive graze but by the middle of the next week the inside of my left ankle had a gigantic bruise and started to swell up. Turned out I tore the ligament, I had crutches (also known as crunches!) for Christmas. I'm fine now, thanks.

And I saw snow for the first time in real life, on December 27th!! In the middle of summer, so nutty! It snowed on the mountains on Christmas day and Boxing day so we all went for a drive up to the summit of Mt Donna Buang and lo and behold!

Somebody had even made some snowmen.

Um, what else? Oh, I sold my first purse on Etsy to a stranger! That's such a fantastic feeling! It's also a fantastic feeling to sell them or do some swaps with people i know or have met through Etsy but this one yesterday was just out of the blue! So very cool!

Okay, my memory is tired now, I'll come back again soon. And i'll try to be a bit less scattered, promise.

it's beginning to look a bit like christmas....

2006-12-10T20:57:00.000+11:00

We put up a tree this weekend. A dead branch actually. We have a christmas tree in a pot but it gets a bit sad if we bring it inside for too long and Archer was desperate for some decorations. It looks a little bit sparse in this photo but we are slowly adding more, today we made a yo-yo garland and strung some coloured popcorn together. Gingerbread cookies are on the agenda too, just not today - it's too too hot to turn the oven on. We had better not put too much on it, what a disaster it would be if the whole thing toppled over....

straight stitch only

2006-12-02T15:28:00.000+11:00

My usual sewing machine went berserk this week. So I have had to use the old Singer machine, it limits me to straight stitch. Luckily for me I can still make my quilted stuff. That's a red zippered purse I made this morning. I love it! This one has a dodgy zip so I will keep it for myself but I will so be making more of these.

And this one's for sale.

a great way to start the day

2006-11-27T20:16:00.000+11:00

with a good ol' boogie.

Friday, wip

2006-11-24T18:51:00.000+11:00

I believe that Friday is the day for showing off works in progress. This is what I have been working on today.
Bags.

I opened an Etsy shop yesterday, just on a whim, and I only have one thing to put into it. So the lonely bag needs friends.

I love this fabric so much. I found it under my Nana's house years ago and it was pretty ratty but I've kept it because I thought it was so beautiful. This was just the perfect project for it, I think I managed to cut around all the stains and tears successfully. The print is called 'Isadora'.

And that's all I can manage to say at this point, it's Friday and I'm tired. I'm going to sit down with a cup of tea and another wip, the knitting, and watch Collectors on the ABC at 8 o'clock.

And remember to vote tomorrow!

pleased and annoyed

2006-11-20T18:13:00.000+11:00

I tidied my fabric today, I'm so pleased with myself. I think I mentioned not too long ago that this day would never come. It seems pigs fly too. Admittedly, it isn't the entire amount of fabric I own. This is just what was in the dining room making that corner look cluttered and ugly, that one up there...... and down there is how it looks now. Ask me in a week or so if still looks like that! I'll probably make up some big fat lie about how the kids got into the cupboard and pulled everything out....

I'm also annoyed with myself. I forgot to take the camera to the wedding on the weekend. So there aren't any photos. I'm slowly getting over it, but I was so cross when I realised in the car on the way to town.
It really was a beautiful night though, had a great time - Erin knows how to organise a good party! And believe it or not, Ivy stayed awake ALL night, until 11 o'clock or something crazy like that. But she had fun!

Holy Silkworms Batman!

2006-11-17T14:02:00.000+11:00

Told you I'd get it finished......
It really is very beautiful. I just hope it fits!
So, the pattern is I do from Knitty , I used Debbie Bliss Pure Silk (beautiful but a bit painful) and 5mm Addi Turbo circular needles. All in all actually quite a fast knit, once I got going. There are a few areas in the pattern that could have been explained more thoroughly ( the increasing and decreasing for example) but if you are a knitter who can think and trust themselves to just make it up, not such a big problemo. Would I knit it again? No, I don't think so. But now I understand the shrug concept and construction I might make one with a different lace pattern. But probably not .
It's going to look beautiful on, with E's big red frock. I will have to make sure I get a photo!

because i could (should!) be knitting right now.

2006-11-16T09:58:00.000+11:00

48 Things You Couldn't Care Less About

1. FIRST NAME?
Justine
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
The book, Justine. By Lawrence Durrell. I haven't read it. But my mum did.
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY?
Um, can't really remember- I cry all the time.
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT?
Errr..... cheese.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I hope so, I want more friends. I'm nice, honestly.
7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL?
Nope, but this is a surrogate journal right?
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yep.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Nope.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE CEREAL?
Porridge (also known as podgee at our house ) with brown sugar and cream.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Rarely. I don't have many shoes with laces.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Yes. I have given birth 3 times. That's tough, you need to be strong.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ICE CREAM FLAVOUR?
Green.
14. SHOE SIZE?
39.
15. RED OR PINK?
Do you mean red AND pink? Yes please.
16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
I put things off until the last minute.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My mum. She lives in Brisbane.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
Nope.
19. WHAT COLOUR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Black corduroy skirt, pink top and pink knee high socks with my beautiful pink shoes. It's a pink day today because the sky is very grey.
20. LAST THING YOU ATE?
Vegemite toast.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Quiet. I can hear the fish tank bubbling beside me but that's all. No small people demanding my attention- bliss.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOUR WOULD YOU BE?
Today, tickled pink.
23. FAVOURITE SMELL?
Babies.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Mum.
25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO?
No one thing with everyone, depends on the individual.
26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON YOU STOLE THIS FROM?
As far as I can tell, she makes beautiful things!
27. FAVOURITE DRINK?
A good old cuppa thanks, no sugar, lots of milk. Although I have had a hankering for a nice Campari and orange juice lately.
28. FAVOURITE SPORT?
Nope.
29. EYE COLOUR?
Blue.
30. HAT SIZE?
Um, nope.
31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No.
32. FAVOURITE FOOD?
Christmas trifle.
33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
If that's all I have to choose from - happy endings.
35. SUMMER OR WINTER?
I prefer the in betweens, spring and autumn. Growing up in Brisbane, they didn't really exist.
36. HUGS OR KISSES?
Hugs please.
37. FAVOURITE DESSERT?
See 32.
38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Dunno.
39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Really, I don't know.
40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING?
I have bookmarks in a few books. The most pressing is Dirt Music by Tim Winton, it's due back at the library soon.
41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Scribbles, thanks Archer!
42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV?
Tripping Over.
43. FAVOURITE SOUNDS?
Peace and quiet. And heavy rain on a corrugated iron roof.
44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES?
Beatles I suppose.
45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME?
The Northern Territory
46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT?
Waking up early and getting my children breakfast without complaining. Too much.
47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Mater Hospital, Brisbane. Funnily enough, where my first babe was born too.
48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
I pinched it from Shula. Thanks.

procrastination knitting

2006-11-14T16:00:00.000+11:00

I have no idea why I do it. When I have something that actually needs finishing by a deadline (yes, Erin, this would be your shrug!) I start something else. Don't panic E, I am going to get it done but there was something stopping me getting it finished with lots of time to spare. It could be because it makes me swear. I had to un-knit a couple of rows lastnight. It's a pain to un-knit lace.
This little jacket on the other hand was mindless and knitted all in one piece with very minimal shaping or sewing up.

The pattern is from a recent Debbie Bliss book, sorry I'm not getting up to go and find it, that I borrowed from the library. I used Cleckheaton Merino Supreme I got from Clegs for $2.95 a ball (sweet!) instead of Cashmerino Aran. 5mm needles, in the largest size - 12-24months I think. Love that chocolatey brown.

And then in true procastinator fashion I have been baking a bit too. Lemon meringue cupcakes on Sunday and this one, ginger cheesecake yesterday. So i will only just manage to get things done in time and be bursting the seams on my clothes. Excellent.

i collect

2006-11-10T17:44:00.000+11:00

I have way more pretty glasses than I will ever use, but I can't help it, I feel a compulsion to acquire more. I always head to the glassware first at the op shop. And I don't like plain ones. Just printed. I really enjoy deciding which one to use when I have a drink and I find it interesting to see which ones visitors pick to drink from.
I love my collection.

really big gloves

2006-11-03T20:20:00.000+11:00

Not really.....it's oven mitts. I'm quite proud of them actually. I traced the swanky Gold Coast souvenir oven mitt we have in out kitchen and made these as a housewarming present for Ez. I'm so excited to be going to visit at their brand new house tomorrow! I'll be bringing presents!!

Thanks so much for all the positive comments on the idea of selling the quilted patchwork bags! I think I will try to get a stall at the Rose Street Markets in the new year. Megan and i are going to see if we can share one- her beautiful jewellery and my bright handbags! Cross your fingers for us that we can get this one off the ground..... we have been tossing ideas like this around for years now!

it looks like a marshmallow

2006-10-25T12:16:00.000+10:00

I finally got around to making more labels to sew into my *finished things*. The lovely miss Megan made a screen for me at her work so that I can just print my name straight onto tape. So effective and so cheap. I ran out ages ago but was too lazy to make more. Now that I have, I wonder why? I just suppose I didn't feel like making a mess, which is funny when I think about it, mess is the state my house is constantly in. What's the harm in a little bit more? And after all that, I didn't even make a mess!

To celebrate new labels I made another quilted handbag. I'm pretty pleased with this one. For some reason, unknown to me, the red and blue thing is still going on. I seem to have lots of blues and reds stashed away with my huge mess of fabric and scraps. I really should sort through the whole lot and organise it so that I can easily know what I have. What am I saying? That's not gonna happen! I will forever be digging around in my suitcases and boxes and secret hideyholes full of material to find just the right ones, "Aha! There it is, I thought I still had some of that!"

Anyway, back to the bag- the handles are made from some of the woolen blanket I dyed a while ago and I think they are just so perfect. The colour is a bit mottled but they feel right.

The highlight though? That button, it looks like a marshmallow!

I can see more of these bags in my future, maybe I should start selling them? You should see inside- the inside looks almost as good as the outside. I'll get a picture to show you...

worn out

2006-10-24T13:45:00.000+10:00

look at those guys! this was the state of things at our house by 8pm lastnight. on Mondays the boys are allowed to put their pyjamas on and stay up late to watch Mythbusters. they didn't last very long- two little snoring boys!

and our friendly parrot has started coming back! we know he's the same one who used to visit because he has a crooked toe. Archer calls him Carrot and he is so tame and inquisitive that if he were given the chance i think he would come inside the house. he's a beauty, isn't he?

that's all today really. lots of crafty happenings over the past few days but no piccies yet. it is just about time for a nana- nap. ha! i wish!

my lovely new blouse

2006-10-18T17:38:00.000+10:00

it's a bit scrunchy, just off the clothesline. i really like this top a lot. the pattern is Vogue 2654, the fabric is Liberty cotton lawn. can you believe i bought the fabric for $10 a metre? i know, so cheap! i've seen it cost $50 a metre! and the gorgeous vintage buttons, how cute are they?
this was a really fun pattern to sew, had a few challenging bits, but not so challenging that they upset me, you know what i mean? just stuff like matching up gathering, pretty easy over all, maybe a better word would be fiddly.
and it's fantastic to wear, i will be making this again. and then maybe again!

the dirt tastes good today

2006-10-17T14:36:00.000+10:00

mmm-n-mmm-n-mmm plllllghhh. and then try some more.

and these are the red and blue pants, cute yes?

progress report

2006-10-16T19:05:00.000+10:00

i have been knitting away on a few things, no finished projects to show, just works in progress. i did finish a pair of socks and a scarf last weekend but they weren't all that exciting and i didn't remember to photograph them. oh well, i need to remember to take the photos!!
plugging away on the I Do shrug for Erin. i have to admit, it's looking better than i thought it was. looking at the photo gives me a little bit of perspective. sweet. the Debbie Bliss silk is lovely to feel, slightly annoying to knit with but worth it i think.

and i like to have a pair of socks on the go to keep in my bag, knit in the car, on the train etc. just finished the gusset on the first of a pair of Embossed Leaves socks from the winter 2005 Interweave Knits. the yarn is called On-line Supercool. i love this wool. i bought it last year from a shop in Brisbane and now i can't get more from anywhere. this is leftovers from a wee baby cardigan i made.

the pattern is pretty gorgeous, and the heel. it's the best heel i've ever turned, not even the hint of a hole. love that. see?

i got to sew on the weekend too. such a luxury. i finished a couple of things. yay for me! on saturday morning i finished off a blouse for myself, just in time to wear to uncle Gavan's birthday party. i really cut it fine, had to sew the buttons on in the car. i'll show you as soon as i can get a good photo.

sunday seemed to be a bit of a blue and red day. the fabric i used for this cute kimonoesque top for Ivy is from my childhood. i have a really vivid memory of my mum covering a brick to use as a doorstop with it. it looks very cute on the babe, it's a little bit grubby in the photo because she wore it today.

and pants, cute blue and red pants. with a pocket. because babies need pockets.

thankyou jenny and paul, you crazy kids!

2006-10-13T11:34:00.000+10:00

you know what? i am a lucky lady with some very excellent friends!
out of the blue this week a parcel was chucked (quite literally) at my front door by the Parcel Delivery Contractor For Australia Post Who Makes All My Parcels Smell Of Cigarette Smoke (that's his official title).
i was so excited to see that it had come all the way from Jenny in Brisbane and i had to fight Archer for the privilege of tearing it open. what did i find inside? a rather hilarious knitting book that they found in an op shop and made Jenny and Paul think of me! shucks guys, even though we rarely get to see eachother you do know me awfully well, don't you? i suppose i probably am pretty predictable.

even before i opened it Jenny had added a note to the back of the envelope mentioning the uncomfortable baby on page 91. oh the poor wee babe, and all in the name of fashion!

and then in her letter Jenny mentioned a few of the garments, this one offends her. i must say it is rather shocking. is this woman pulling her hair to stop her thinking about how tight her pants are?

this is one she also mentioned, i was thinking that i really should knit you something from the book as a thankyou Jen, maybe this? the Batwing!

but then there is this, it has detachable sleeves! gah!

for me i think i might may just have to knit this 'lively duo'. it will loook fabulous when i next go to the nightclub, sorry, niteclub.

but for the kids? how can i not?

thanks again Jenny and Paul! you do realise Paul that Jenny lays the blame squarely on you, she claims that you found the book! good one!

when i grow up

2006-10-06T13:52:00.000+10:00

the boys and i were discussing future aspirations over breakfast thismorning. turns out, Archer is deadset on being a girl when he grows up. "a growed up girl mum!"
and Finn, who was planning on being a radiologist a few weeks ago now wants to be an archaeologist. but he is very wise in adding that he still has lots of time to decide so he might change his mind again!
Ivy can't talk yet so i'm not certain of her plans for the future. watching her lurch around the house using her newly discovered walking talents, i'd say she was planning on being a drunken sailor. but i could be wrong.

5 more sleeps

2006-09-27T10:49:00.000+10:00

it's the school holidays at the moment and i can tell you right now, there are 5 sleeps until school starts again. it isn't that i don't love having Finn home from school (and not having to think up new and exciting things to pack in his lunchbox) but the boys fight. a lot. it's really difficult to find something for them both to do- they can't agree on anything and when they do play a game together it's just about an all out brawl over who is the boss. unless said game involves running around the backyard showing all the world your bum, they think that is a fantastic game and they agree on that! 5 sleeps......
as a result of my mad house this fortnight not a lot has been achieved. no sewing whatsoever. if i even thought about getting out the sewing machine i'm sure the boys would fight over who got to pester me the most. so knitting is my salvation at the moment, in the calm hours after the squids are snoring in their beds i sit. and i knit.
i think i mentioned that some important knitting projects have arisen recently. first of all my father requested a couple of pairs of slippers for his sister's daughters. the older, 12 year old wanted red on the bottom and mid-blue on the top and the younger, who i think is about 8 or 9, wants sky blue. very specific, yes? so first up i've made the red and blues. they are the knit then felt ballerina slippers from Fiber Trends. great little pattern and knits up very quickly (love that).

i used Bendigo Woolen Mills Rustic and they came out of the machine very fuzzy. i hope i got the colours right! the other pair, in sky blue, will be from Knitty's Fuzzy Feet pattern. haven't started those yet! i have until Christmas!

more pressing is this:

this is going to be the I Do shrug, again from Knitty. it is for the lovely miss Erin to wear on her wedding day in November. i know, you think November, pretty warm, but as anybody who lives in Melbourne will tell you- you never know! i'm knitting it with Debbie Bliss Pure Silk, so lovely and soft and silky but gee whiz, it's hard to wind into a ball. and right now it just looks like a blob but keep your fingers crossed for me that once it's finished and blocked it will be transformed into a thing of great beauty (don't worry E, i'm sure it will!).

and the last project at the moment that needs finishing is my scarf for the mama made scarf swap at CraftyMamas. i think i was supposed to send it by last week but i am a little bit behind (i dyed the wool on the day of the deadline)! my partner has a slight Christmas obsession hence the colours. once it's nice and long i will chuck it in the washing machine to felt. i figure if she doesn't like it as a scarf it will make a great christmas decoration! ok, i'll show you the photo of that one later, blogger won't let me upload the photo right now. 5 more sleeps.

i love shoes

2006-09-19T08:49:00.000+10:00

i've just found my perfect shoes. so shiny........ now i need to figure out how to get a pair!

clever lady

2006-09-18T10:49:00.000+10:00

my sister in law, Shara, is a very clever lady. recently she opened up a shop on Etsy. i'm about to add the link to my sidebar. you should go and have a look. among many other talents she is a crocheting genius, it's nice to have someone i can go to for advice because my crochet skills are probably best described as remedial.on ya Shara!

egads, two weeks!

2006-09-16T09:06:00.000+10:00

golly, isn't it typical that the living of life gets in the way of writing about the life but then when the opportunity arises, one has very little to say? hmm....
it's been a pretty busy couple of weeks for me. let's go all the way back to the start shall we? oh the knitting.... i had to rip out my progress on the Swallowtail Shawl due to an unfixable mistake, i just freeze when i mess up lace knitting, so ripping out and beginning again was the only option for me. i haven't got to the beginning again part yet. more urgent matters have arisen on the knitting horizon.
my mum also came down from Brisbane to stay for a week. it was so lovely to have her here, the kids adore their Neenie! i really miss not having my mum around but i am so glad that she promises to come back soon. soon, ok mum?
Archer had his 3rd birthday while mum was here,
Happy Birthday Sausage!! my funny little (big, mum!) chap.

we had a birthday party last weekend and Aunty Shara's friend, Mark, came in his Monster Truck!! Archer and Finn both got to have a ride around the block and i think that was even better than the birthday cake! Archer is still asking about when he might get to go for another ride in Mark's truck.
um, what else? i don't know.... i have the flu so my thinking is somewhat hindered due to the massive amounts of mucous taking up space in my head. i will come back again soon and hopefully have much more interesting things to tell you.

warm and sunny

2006-08-31T05:51:00.000+10:00

that's the forecast for today. 22 degrees! the sad part is why that excites me the most: it's warm and sunny enough to wash the couch covers. thank the heavens (also known as Ikea in this case) for removable, washable couch covers. they are so grubby, they are always grubbier towards the end of winter than at any other time (well, unless they've been spewed on- but that's different, right?) of the year. it's nearly impossible to get them dry in the cold damp days. they need sun. and warmth. and when i wash them i need them to be done in one day, it's dangerous to leave the couch nude for too long! but the covers will be done today! hooray!

another reason to be looking forward to today is that i am having a visitor. Erin is coming over to play! goody! well must go- lots to do.

* the pictures are of the farm animals at Gulf Station on the weekend- oh wait, sorry, it's my kids.

i'm just not a one project at a time girl

2006-08-29T09:50:00.000+10:00

how long has it been? a week! crikey, sorry. what have i been doing all week? um, not a lot. i've been feeling a bit ugh actually. not sure why, i'm just really tired. but that's nothing different is it? oh well, it's just a little bit ugh. at least it's not a lot ugh, right? right.
i did start on two new knitting projects. i know, why two? your guess is as good as mine. i just can't help it!
i spent a good part of the day on saturday flicking through books and old magazines, ferreting through my yarn and fondling my favourite needles. i was searching for someting to knit, something. you know that one? that something that you know you will know when you find it, when the yarn and the pattern and the needles all just click? so i eventually started on the Strawberry Bud cardigan from Rowan Babies. i stayed up late on saturday night watching Heaven on SBS just to get through to the first row of *buds*. they are so lovely! i have all year to knit this- i'm making it in a size two, for next winter. yes, i know. it's pink. i am gong to have a lot of ends to secure when i'm done!

and so on sunday we went out for the day and i needed a small project to take in the car. i took a scarf i was knitting with the divine laceweight cashmere i bought myself for my birthday back in March. i had chosen a lace shell pattern from an old Mon Tricot book but it just wasn't keeping me interested, nor was it doing this beautiful yarn justice. it occured to me that there was a pattern in the latest Interweave Knits for one skein of laceweight yarn. and you know what, there was. thus, we have the beginnings of the Swallowtail Shawl.

so far i have done five repeats of fourteen on the first chart, i'm really enjoying it. ask me how i feel about it further down the track when the rows get longer and longer.......

we had a lovely day on sunday. there was a new foodie market on at the historic Gulf Station farm in Yarra Glen. i must admit that the market itself didn't hold my attention for very long but i just love walking through all the old buildings. the kids really had a good time too. it's a monthly affair i think- fourth sunday of the month.

ok, blogger says no more photos, i'll try again tomorrow. what a pain.

today we are going to discuss the knitting

2006-08-22T11:39:00.000+10:00

i am a knitter. mental about it. when i have a particular project in mind or a dilemma to solve i have even been known to dream knitting.

here we have a couple of finished objects. i go through little phases where i lament my lack of finishedness when it comes to the knits but in reality i do finish many more things than i give myself credit for. but i do rip lots out and start again too. first up is the very pinkypink vest made from Marta's divine 8ply merino. this is the one i made with short row lengthened shoulders to accommodate a big noggin. and my conclusion on this method? fantastic! i don't know why i hadn't thought of it before. such a simple solution. as you can see it is being modelled beautifully for me by Archer. it's intended recipient has a girth several cms smaller than my little fellow so it should be a good fit. next is one of my favourite recently finished objects. i knitted it and sewed the whole lot together months ago but only got my act together to sew buttons on last week. it fits Ivy just nicely now and will be a lovely spring weather jumper. it's knitted with Bendigo Woolen Mills 4ply cotton (in lipstick, sadly a discontinued shade). the pattern comes from my favourite op shop knitting pattern book find of all time- Knitting In Vogue Number 3, Patterns from the 30s to the 80s...... by Christina Probert. It's the Lacy Yoked Sweater, originally published in 1951.

and then lastnight i was sitting on the couch watching Top Gear with the fam and had no knitting in my hands. strange. so i dragged out the Ruffles scarf (from the Scarf Style book) that i had grown tired of. don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful scarf and i am using more Marta's 8 ply merino (my favourite!) but it's the second one i've made and it is really very repetetive. if i get into a rhythm i won't even notice it will i? i should just get on with it! i am, i am. i think i must've added at least 10cm lastnight. oh all those shortrows.....

speaking of getting on with it, my house looks as though we let farm animals in at night to sleep on the couches. i had better do something about it.

yum!

2006-08-21T11:42:00.000+10:00

this time last year i had a newborn and look what i have now. a cake eating, almost walking, five toothed, growling baby girl!

it's ok, the birthday dress went straight into a bucket of napi-san to soak.

happy birthday possum!

oh, and not only did Finn's class sing Agadoo (do do push pineapple shake the tree!) but they sang the Flying Purple People Eater song too! they did a fantastic job and now i can't get the songs out of my head. i will have to get Finn to teach me the dance moves they were doing, they had a great little bum wiggle thing going on. probably won't look as cute if i do it though!

my baby's turning one tomorrow!

2006-08-20T21:15:00.000+10:00

wowee, what a day. Ivy's first birthday party. she had a fantastic time, the best things about the day? the blocks in a trolley (she got the hang of walking with it really fast!)

and the cake (it didn't take long to get the hang of that either!)

ok, blogger doesn't want to play, i will show photos later.

right now i need to go to bed, Finn's grade one class is singing Agadoo at school assembly tomorrow morning and i can't wait!

now coming to you in pink

2006-08-17T13:31:00.000+10:00

ok, pink today. pink and red is what i always go for. i was trying to break away and be wild and unpredictable. but i always come back to the pink. the eleven year old me would be horrified if she knew.

do we like the blue?

2006-08-16T16:42:00.000+10:00

i was wondering if i could fiddle with the html in my template to change the colour somehow. and i thought to myself, " what if i just type in the name of a colour and see what happens? i can just put it back the way it was if it doesn't work". so now my background is lightblue (it didn't like spaces). i am rather impressed with myself. i don't know if this is really the right colour, maybe i should fiddle some more.

or maybe i should just leave it at that before i totally stuff the whole thing up because really, i have no clue. and not even the foggiest notion how to fix anything!

head holes for big boofy baby heads

2006-08-15T09:59:00.000+10:00

my voice hurts, it's no good for singing "miss polly had a dolly" i discovered thismorning. the babes didn't care, they wanted more. "heads shoulders mummy!!"

but, dreaded lurgy aside, i did have a productive weekend.

on thursday i headed into the big smoke to visit Marta's. i am knitting a vest, my favourite pattern from the Rowan Babies book. i probably don't really need a pattern to knit a vest but i like it when all the numbers are already figured out for me, i'm mathematically lazy. the pattern actually calls for Rowan All Seasons Cotton but i like to make it from Marta's 8ply merino. it's a lighter weight yarn but i like the looser tension. plus, any excuse to go to Marta's right? it's like a wool lolly shop, i could spend hours in there figuring out the best way to spend my pocket money.

i have made this pattern lots of times, although it has one fatal flaw, the head hole is too tight for big boofy babies heads. i have used several strategies to fix this in the past, using the stretchiest cast off i possibly could, buttons on the shoulder..... this time i am trying short row shoulders that are longer than the pattern calls for and i left the stiches live so i can do 3 needle cast off once i've done the front.

and this is another back piece of the same pattern. this one is knitted from some merino i dyed with food colouring. i still have to wind the second hank into a ball so the knitting has come to a standstill on this one! but you can see another neck widening strategy i am trying here. i decided to do moss stitch instead of ribbing at all the edges and i've put a little placket at the centre of the back.

i will eventually finish them both and be able to compare the effectiveness of all the methods. eventually.......

the sewing machine made an appearance this weekend too. another quilted bag, i'm hooked on this quilting thing, love it! i wanted to use this little apple print i made last week so i put it in the centre of a log cabin square then sewed those bits on either end to give it a cute shape. the floral fabric on the back is a sheet from the op shop. yay for op shop sheets!

the op shop sheet was also used to make Ivy's calico dolly a dress. so far she has bloomers and the top half of a dress, man those puffy sleeves and collar took ages. so i will have to sew the skirt on one night after the squids are all in bed. the dolly is a present for Ivy's first birthday, she is turning one on monday. my how time flies!

now i'm off to cough up a lung and then sing some more nursery rhymes. have a lovely tuesday!

2006-08-11T10:11:00.000+10:00

dear blog,
sorry to have neglected you like this all week, i'm still here and i've been thinking of you. i know we are still geting to know each other and i don't want you to think i don't like you. i do, i really do. it's just been a bit of a slow week craftwise. i promise to be a better blogger next week. there will be crafting over the weekend....i can feel it in my waters.
yours sincerely, justina

a right scone

2006-08-06T18:03:00.000+10:00

what a loverly sunday. i baked and i sewed and we had a guest for lunch (she just visited, we didn't eat her). and now it's almost dinner time. and then bedtime. i love bedtime.

it started with pumpkin scones. i'm no Lady Flo but i am a fan of the old pumpkin scone. my recipe comes from Stephanie Alexander's lovely stripey book. love that book, i use it for everything. yum. although she says to cook them all as one big lump and cut the scones into squares. i am so not in agreement on that front. scones simply must be round. so much more oh, proper. just proper.

then i got to sew. i saw pictures of a beautiful quilted bag in a Japanese patchwork book at Kitty-Craft recently and i just couldn't stop thinking about it. my lovely sister-in-law bought me a little surprise last week when she went to the quilt show in town, and these fabrics were screaming out to be made into a cute new purse. i couldn't find a picture of the book again so i'm not sure how my memory compares to the original but i'm so chuffed. it's the first 'proper' quilting i've done (i went to the quilt shop and asked the woman there for some squishy stuff, luckily she knew i meant batting!). i'm not sure yet who this is for, i don't think it's for me, but i might give it a little test, just to check that it works ok.

i pledge

2006-08-04T10:13:00.000+10:00

The Wardrobe Refashion Pledge

I, justinamaria,
Pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 4 months.
I Pledge that I shall refashion, renovate, recylcle pre-loved items for myself for the term of my contract.
I Pledge that I shall create and craft items of clothing for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract.
I Pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoated, recylcled, crafted or created item of clothingon the Wardrobe Refashion blog,so that others may share the joy that thy thriftyness brings!

snot city

2006-08-03T10:46:00.000+10:00

you know it's a good day when the baby wakes up with her face covered in crusty boogers. it seems the winter snifflies have made it to our house. i thought we might just get through the snotty season reasonably unscathed this year, but i was foolish wasn't i? it was probably me thinking just this week about how great it was that my kids have all been fairly healthy recently (we won't mention archer's infected nostrils!!) that brought it on. good one.

once i wiped off the crusty bits it's not all that bad. she is still well enough to harrass the teletubby.

i'm so lucky. lucky, lucky, lucky.

2006-08-01T16:11:00.000+10:00

i 'm such a lucky girl. a couple of weeks ago the lovely justine at 62cherry (we share the same name, hehe) gave away some of her gorgeous little purses. and i got one! just as soon as i was able to wrestle it away from archer i put all my knitting thingimys in it. perfect. although archer still thinks it is his! thanks justine, we love it.

new (old) machine

2006-07-31T12:34:00.000+10:00

i was lucky enough to me given a beautiful old Singer machine recently. it's a 99k model, electric. i finally had the chance to sit down with it and have a proper look and play. i discovered the manual in the box too, so threading it was a breeze (i think that without the manual it would have been confusing and involved swearing!)

i made a little smock for Ivy. the fabric is from Ikea a few years ago, i didn't have enough in one big piece so i pieced it together in stripes. the whole thing is made on the Singer apart from the buttonholes. i had to bring out the modern machine for those!

i signed myself up to become wardrobe refashionista thismorning! i'm pretty excited.

happy G day

2006-07-30T00:23:00.000+10:00

who would have thought that lolly teeth make such beautiful roses?

this is my dear gerard's (G) birthday cake. never mind that it's almost two months late. it has pretty roses. and it's pink. he loves it!

fangs and 'towboy dirts'

2006-07-25T11:16:00.000+10:00

see those fangs? they are causing quite a number of sleepless hours at the moment. ivy is growing teeth left, right and center and those top ones are enormous. ouch.

i did manage to do a bit of sewing over the weekend.

it's a cowboy shirt for a grumpy cowboy. it's made from a sheet we bought at the op shop and the beautiful buttons are from the huge Buttonmania vintage button sale last month.

heart of glass

2006-07-13T15:20:00.000+10:00

i made mention of my slight obsession with printed glasses. today i have a photo for you. just the one, i don't want to frighten you off.

i have eight of these ones. nice shape yes? i was lucky enough to find four together at an op shop for twenty cents. i was rather pleased. they have a lovely round shape that sits in your hand just so.....i could go on and on.

ever since i was a teenager and first moved out of home i have been buying printed glasses from op shops. it used to be easy to find all the old vegemite and honey jar glasses for 5 cents but now it's increasingly rare. the old ladies in the op shops have become pretty ruthless with some of their pricing! but that hasn't stopped me buying, oh no. it seems i have a sickness. i simply cannot leave a pretty glass in the shop, it has to come home with me to crowd in amongst all the others!

in fact, the only glasses in my house that are plain are beer and wine glasses, and i don't like to use those. i'm such a glass snob. i have my husband pretty well trained, he doesn't bat an eyelid at any new additions to the family, in fact he thought it was pretty great when i discovered that i could support my habit through ebay! (i think he may have the notion that we could cash them all in for a retirement fund, i think he's dreaming with that one) but they make me so happy.

blankety blanks

2006-07-11T14:41:00.000+10:00

the food colouring works. i dyed some pieces of blanket lastnight. the method is slightly flawed though. it wasn't until the third go that i managed to get an even colour throughout the piece. my first couple of attempts came out with a mottled, uneven look. not unuseable but not ideal either. but i have loads more blankie to get it right with. i am going to try out the dylon dye next.

the yellow at the top of the pile is the original colour and you can see the unevenness of the pink and black pieces. i will perfect it, i must!

oh christmas tree

2006-07-10T17:45:00.000+10:00

so it was a fairly ordinary monday today apart from the appearance of the "christmas tree" on our dining room table........

we also went to the op shop thisafternoon. i was looking for a woolen blanket to do a bit of this with. i looked around and didn't find any but i did find a lovely glass* to match the one i bought from there last week along with a couple of skivvies for finn to wear to school. after i had paid i noticed the pile of new donations right near the front door and what do you suppose was sitting on top? uhuh, two pale yellow woolen blankets, yay. the lady gave them to me for $2 because they had a couple of moth holes. moth holes? pffft!

i have been thinking about whether i could dye them with food colouring the way i dye woolen yarn. i think i could. i figure if i soak the blanket in vinegar and then boil it on the stove in water with the colouring in it i might just get away with it.

and what will i do with my wooly goodness you ask? i am going to make ivy a dolly for her first birthday next month. well, i will attempt to, i haven't made a dolly before. we shall see!

*remind me to tell you about my extensive (read: obsessively large) printed glass collection next time we chat, i'll bring photos!

she sewed something! not by the seashore.

2006-07-04T14:16:00.000+10:00

hello blog! let me tell you of my recent sewing adventures.......

after weeks of wincing and apologising to myself every time i looked at my sewing machine i finally had the chance to use the old dear. yay! i miss her when i don't have a chance to sew. one day i will have a studio of my own where i can leave the machine out all the time. one day when i am an old lady. but one day nonetheless!

i had the opportunity to sew not one but two entire garments, can you believe it? no, nor can i!
this one, the first, is a little jacket for Ivy. it is an old McCalls pattern i bought when Finn was a wee babe. i have made it in several incarnations but i must say this is my favourite. i added lining to the whole jacket to make it nice and snug.

cute huh? the body is some red corduroy i had hanging around, i didn't have enough cord for the whole lot so the sleeves and hood are denim from a pair of my old pants. the body and sleeves are lined with some nice warm pink flannelette and the hood is lined with some beautiful craft fabric i ordered from the internets. those are some funny little mouse ears you can see on the top there too! pink lace, red ricrac (i am a ricrac lover) and cute green vintage buttons complete the deal. and she looks super cute in it!

and then yesterday i sewed myself a blouse. it's a pattern from the women's issue of Ottobre magazine. i altered it somewhat (of course!) the pattern is actually a wrap top but i wanted button and the original also had a proper collar up the top but i left that off and decided to fold the lapels up so my boobs don't hang out (they have a dreadful habit of doing that you know). so it's gone from being an average blouse to a bit of a 60s mod number. makes me feel slightly less suburban housewife than the original would have. but i am not kidding myself here, i don't look cute in my new clothes the way the babe looks cute in hers!

reasoning

2006-06-28T10:51:00.000+10:00

this year i have started reading a few craft blogs, and it's got me thinking a lot more seriously about my own crafty endeavours. craft has always been present in my life and now with three children i feel the desire to craft stronger than i ever have, but the time and opportunity available to me are more limited. although as a stay at home mum i am pretty lucky in the flexibility that it allows. mostly it's about my own organisation and taking the moments to do things like drag out the sewing machine when they arise.
so i suppose this is where you, my little blog comes into it. i am going to use you as a journal. a place where i can write about and show off all the things i want to remember. and none of the things i don't want to remember! i will be selective, i am only going to tell about the things that i choose to, it is going to be somewhat removed from my actual life....... housework, you are not invited to this party.

the very beginning

2006-06-27T10:55:00.000+10:00

blog. my blog. what's it about? stuff.