The Weekend

I like to save my haircuts for days when I have an event on. No point in letting a good blowdry go to waste. Saturday night I met the Mr's first Mrs and thought it would be a good idea to visit the hair dresser to cover up a few greys and get my ends trimmed.



I saw Rose Byrne in Madison Magazine whilst sitting in the chair and decided to get a fringe cut in too (which I haven't had for a long time). This is about as creative as I get these days as the Mr is a long hair lover. If I had my way it would be off boy short.

Anyway, I'm liking the new do and Mrs's old and new were lovely and pleasant.
Hope your weekend was top notch.

Mx

its apostrophe S

I know a lot of people don't, but I care about punctuation and spelling in my text messages and the question of when to use the apostrophe in its has been bothering me for a while.

My brother is my to go-to guy for all questions grammar related, and this is what he told me yesterday...

It's a wise dog that scratches its own fleas.

Now I'll be able to remember it and so can you. Thanks Mikey.

Mx

Little Green Man

I've written the pattern and I finally have pictures of Charlie at the Disney Extravaganza going away party we went to last month.

The beanie was a huge hit and Wee man won best costume.

Here is our L.G.M. with Snow White...

here he is with Tinkerbell...

and here is the pattern I put together with the help of this pattern and this pattern.

Size: 6 mo
Yarn: 100% Acrylic Little Grins Yarn in Apple, less than 2 x 50 g balls (it doesn't say what ply but according to the info sleeve a 10cm knitted gauge square on 4.5mm needles is 19 stitches by 25 rows)
Hooks: I used a 3.5 mm for the antenna and the top part of the hat, switching to a 4 mm hook once I started on the sides for quicker progress.

Antenna & Beanie (worked from the antenna down)
Start with a magic loop. Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of your round and move it up to mark first stitch of the next round as you go.
Round 1            -   6 single crochet in to magic loop
Round 2            -   2 sc in each sc (for 12)
Round 3            -   *2sc in next sc, 1sc* around (for 18)
Rounds 4-6       -   sc around (for 18)
Round 7            -   *sc2tog, 1sc* around (for 12)
Round 8            -   *sc2tog, 1sc* around (for 8)
Rounds 9-27     -   sc around (for 8)
Round 28          -   *2sc in next sc, 1sc* around (for 12)
Round 29          -   *2sc in next sc, 1sc* around (for 18)
Round 30          -   *2sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc* around (for 24)
Round 31          -   *2sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc* around (for 30)
Round 32          -   *2sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc* around (for 36)
Rounds 33-43   -   continue with above pattern increasing the number of sc between 2sc by 1 for each round (you can always add more rounds if your child is older/has a bigger head, mine was about 13cm across)
Rounds 44-61   -   sc around

Ear Flaps (just continue on from where the hat finished for the first one and then start the second one on the opposite side of the hat)
Row 1   -   sc 17, chain 1 turn
Row 2   -   sc2tog, sc in next 13 stitches, sc2tog, chain 1 turn
Row 3   -   sc across, chain 1 turn
Row 4   -   sc2tog, sc in next 11 stitches, sc2tog, chain 1 turn
Row 5   -   sc across, chain 1 turn
Row 6   -   sc2tog, sc in next 9 stitches, sc2tog, chain 1 turn
Row 7   -   sc across, chain 1 turn
Row 8   -   sc2tog, sc in next 7 stitches, sc2tog, chain 1 turn
Row 9   -   sc across, chain 1 turn
Row 10 -   sc2tog, sc in next 5 stitches, sc2tog, chain 1 turn
Row 11 -   sc across, chain 1 turn
Row 12 -   sc2tog, sc in next 3 stitches, sc2tog, chain 1 turn
Row 13 -   sc across, chain 1 turn
Row 14  -  sc2tog, sc in next stitch, sc2tog, chain 1 turn
Row 15  -  sc across, ch 1 turn
Row 16  -  sc2tog,
chain stitch for ties and fasten off.

Ears
Row 1   -   chain 9, chain 1 turn (for 9)
Row 2   -   sc 9, chain 1 turn (for 9)
Row 3   -   sc 9, chain 1 turn (for 9)
Row 4   -   sc 2 in next sc,sc 8 to end of row, chain 1 turn (for 10)
Row 5   -   sc 2 in next sc, sc 8 along, sc 2 in last sc, chain 1 turn (for 12)
Row 6   -   sc 2 in next sc, sc 10 along, sc 2 in last sc, chain 1 turn (for 14)
Row 7   -   sc 2 in next sc, sc 13 to end of row, chain 1 turn (for 15)
Row 8   -   sc 14 along, sc 2 in last sc, chain 1 turn (for 16)
Row 9   -   sc 2 in next sc, sc 13, sc2tog, chain 1 turn (for 16)
Row 10 -   sc 15 along, sc 2 in last sc, chain 1 turn (for 17)
Row 11 -   sc 2 in next sc, sc 12 along, sc2tog, sc2tog, chain 1 turn (for 16)
Row 12 -   sc2tog, sc 13 along, 2sc in last sc, fasten off.
sew ears on to beanie.

Stuff antenna tightly with hobbyfill so it will stand erect, and glue goggely eyes on front in an arc.

I hope that all makes sense. This is my first go at writing a pattern so if you've got any useful feedback please let me know. I'd love to see any photos if anybody makes one, they are serious cute overload when they are being worn.

Mx

The Weekend

...was Margret River with friends.

the house

the view

the river


the walk

Charlie on the walk

all packed up and ready to head home

I do not complete enough projects for this to be craft blog, and looking back through my posts I enjoy the reminder of what's been going on, so I will endeavor to at least post weekly after the weekend. For myself, and memories.

Mx

Happy Mother's Day

I've enjoyed my first Mother's day and want to share a favourite photo of my beautiful mother.



My Mum is an extraordinary lady and I know how lucky I am to have her. She has always let me follow my own path and loved me unconditionally. Not something everyone gets I've learned.

Love you Mum.

And thanks to my Mr* for making me a mother, it's the best thing I've ever been given, such an honour and a joy.

Mx

*he doesn't read my blog, but anyway...

Co-Sleeping

The Mr has been sleeping in the spare room for a month or so now to see if it would help him feel more refreshed in the mornings. It is helping a little. I knew the wee man and I were disturbing him but now I know he was also disturbing us. The first week I really missed him, but I got used to it and it has given me the opportunity* to co-sleep with the wee man... and I LOVE IT!

It's just lovely to have the wee man so close during the night. It feels very natural to have him sleeping cuddled up next to me and I'm not at all worried about smothering him, I'm very aware of his presence, but it doesn't hamper my sleep. I think it enhances my sleep because I'm reassured by his proximity and feeling his little chest rising and falling with his breath and knowing that he is warm enough and safe in my arms (especially since the nights have turned cold).

Wee man wakes up just as much but I don't have to get up and get him out of the cot when he does, he either resettles himself or its just a quick side lying breastfeed and we're done (I couldn't do this before because it used to give the wee man the gomits, and I'd be wiping up chuck off the floor and myself all day) so I am not feeling as tired, which is great!

There are a couple of other girls in my mother's group who co-sleep, so I'm glad it is becoming more mainstream, and I highly recommend it.

Mx

*You can co-sleep with both parents in the bed but my Mr was not comfortable with this, worrying that he might roll on the baby and hurt him. We compromised with a sidecar set up on my side of the bed (a 3 sided cot pushed up to the bed with mattresses level).

April

1. 2011 0401, 2. 2011 0403, 3. 2011 0406, 4. 2011 0413, 5. 2011 1504, 6. 2011 1604, 7. 2011 0417, 8. 2011 0424, 9. 2011 0430

:: A last Hoorah fancy dress up
:: Easter camping
:: Rain!
:: Days and nights holding an unhappy teething baby with a cold

Mx

Our new town

We're moving to the country! Husby's new job is for a company based in a small wheatbelt town and we've decided to move. Now we need to find somewhere to live.
These are a few photos I took on the weekend on my first visit to check it out.

Mx

A cute onesie

[front]

[back]

I hope there are girl babies being born somewhere, in my world it is ALL boys!
This is a little gift put together for the latest one. I embellished the onesie with printer transfer paper, totally taking my inspiration from this utterly adorable creation.

Mx

I did not make the little rabbit.

March

1. 2011 0306, 2. 2011 0311, 3. 2011 0313, 4. 2011 0316, 5. 2011 0318, 6. 2011 0319, 7. 2011 0320, 8. 2011 0325, 9. 2011 0326

:: a new job started
:: thoughts of a new town and hopes of moving to the country soon rekindled
:: days still hot but nights starting to cool down
:: more holes in my project 365

Mx

Opportunities Taken

I've learned not to share my op-shop scores with my mister, he just doesn't get it and his lack of enthusiasm rains all over my cheap shopping high parade. I will start sharing here instead.

Taken home from the op-shop this week...

• $2  Twister
• $2  Tangram  (by Haba, the German maker of a lot to the beautiful wooden toys I see in the boutique kid shops)
• $5  Spicy orange shoes for winter (just need to rub off the black marks on the toe)

Cheap $9 thrill!

Mx

Yarn Along

Working in alien green, and reading Perfume as our new book club selection.

We have a Disney Party next weekend, the crochet will be part of a "little green men" from Toy Story costume for the wee man. If it works out I will post the pattern.

Playing along with Ginny over at Small Things.

Mx

Creative Space

In my Creative space today, 5 old work shirts ready to be ironed and cut in to 5 inch squares for a quilt for the wee man.

Lets see if I can have it ready for his 1st birthday!

hop on over to Kirst's to check out other Creative Spaces.

Mx

Yarn Along

Playing along with Ginny again.



Knitting :: a Wurm beanie that was supposed to be for me but has turned out so small I'm hoping it will still be large enough to fit Charlie. This comes (again) from jumping straight in without doing a gauge square and using Granny's hand spun mystery ply wool. When will I learn?

Reading :: two books to help me with parenting once I have a walking talking little person, and loving them both. While How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk is specifically dealing with Children Punished by Rewards has chapters focused on both Children and adults. Such interesting books saying similar things.

The gist of Punished by Rewards is that rewards are the other side of the punishment coin and just as manipulative and ineffective a way of controlling people as punishment. Rewards may appear to work in the short term,but actually have the opposite effect of what you are trying to achieve in the long run because extrinsic motivators reduce intrinsic motivation and the desired result ends up being viewed as an obstacle to a goodie (reward). I think this book should be on the reading list of every teacher and manager of people. I'm just about to start the second half of the book where it discusses alternatives to using punishments and rewards.

I'm happy to have found How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk because its based on respect for children and their feelings as people not just little beings to be controlled but gives you effective and respectful ways to communicate with kids so they aren't little brats embarassing you at the supermarket (I'm totally frightened of being the too soft mum who can't control her kids). The opposite of "because I told you to" parenting without the use of punishments or rewards! So easy to read and has great examples of the principles being used by real families.

What are you reading? Any favourite parenting book recommendations?
Hop on over to Small Things to check out other Yarn Along'ers

Mx

0.5

the wee man passed the 6 month mark this week, where does the time go??

A quick look at where we're at...

- I've never slept less in my life, but I'm coping better than I ever thought I would.

- The cot has been pushed away from the bed and the fourth side has been attached to it. I wanted to co-sleep but wee man sleeps better in his own space (though you wouldn't guess it by the following).

- Naps have shortened to 45 minutes and last night he woke up every 45 mins. I hope this is just temporary and related to teeth?

- One tooth, bottom LHS. Probably the sleep thing is teeth related, he popped another between writing this and posting.

- Wee man enjoys a quarter of an avocado for dinner and likes to try and drink my drinks out of my glass.

- We have not done EC as I would have liked but wee man is pretty regular with his BM's and we generally catch them first thing in the morning in the laundry trough.

- Still sporting his baby mullet and not much else in the hair department.

- Weighs about 8kg but I prefer to carry him in the hug-a-bub over pushing him in a pram.

- Baths are outside on the back deck in the tummy tub, this may change soon as he grows and the weather cools down.

- Fingernails seem to grow at the speed of light and are kitten sharp.

- He still gomits (niece for vomit)

- I wish I had taken more photos when he was tiny.

so, does this gig get easier or harder? I've been told both.

Mx

February

1. 2011 0202, 2. 2011 0203, 3. 2011 0209, 4. 2011 0213, 5. 2011 0218, 6. 2011 0219, 7. 2011 0220, 8. 2011 0221, 9. 2011 0224

February

...was a month of heat...

...catching up with friends from overseas...

...a time of firsts (food and tooth)...

in regards to my 365 project, my inner perfectionist would say "it's got such big holes, so many days are missing and it's only been two months, give up already." I must be letting that part of me go a little because I don't care.

How was February for you? Do you believe summer is over? It certainly doesn't feel that way here.

Mx

knitted slouchy

Finished* on our camping trip to Cervantes, Australia Day week, and more than a year on the sticks.

based loosely on the Alice Beret in Knitting Little Luxuries by Louisa Harding. Knitted in hand-spun from Granny.

Mx

* actually the knitting was finished some time ago, but I only got half way through the seam before I ran out of wool.

January

In the style of "1/4 of an inch" I've made a mosaic of January photos from my 365 project.

1. 2011 0102, 2. 2011 0103, 3. 2011 0110, 4. 2011 0114, 5. 2011 0116, 6. 2011 0118, 7. 2011 0119, 8. 2011 0127, 9. 2011 0129

January

...was a month of quiet chaos...

...from moving from flat to house...

...and included a windy, beach camping holiday.

I may have to rename it "project 300 and something"... I've missed a few days already, but not to worry, I am picking up my camera more than I would otherwise and I've already learned more about my camera too.

How was your January?

Mx

my favourite time of year!

fresh figs off the tree at Mum's. It's only little now, but every year we get more and more figs :)

I don't know if it helps but often I check on the little tree and tell it I love it and that it's my favourite. Is it wrong to play favourites in the garden? Do you think the others get jealous?

Mx

I hope you are enjoying this time of year too and have missed the devastation of flooding around the country.

Project 365

I was inspired by Chez Larssons's 365 project last year, and just yesterday by this gorgeous montage of images throughout the year from Garden Mama. Being the lucky girl I was last year getting a DSLR for my birthday, I think a Project 365 will help improve my photography and capture some moments that perhaps might go unnoticed.

Anyway, I needed a new New Years Resolution, as I just don't think I'm going to get very far this year with my usual stand in of 'get organised'. At four months old Charlie is no longer a new born, but I'm still trying to find out how I'm meant to get everything done... I suppose you just don't.

On top of that, we are shifting from the flat to house in a week and I don't know if that will help or if the unpacking (or boxes sitting around waiting to be unpacked) will nudge me further away from my perpetual goal. I am terribly excited though to be getting a bit more room!

You can find me and my Project 365 over on Flickr, and I might post some of them here.
What projects are you starting this year?

Mx