how Miss Dove got her groove back.

 

It seems my crafty mojo has started creeping back. The day before last, I made a long overdue start on tidying my studio. I didn’t get very fair, but that 15 minute spurt was enough to get me inspired. Yesterday, I set Boy2 up on my computer for his Reading Eggs lesson, and instead of settling in the doorway next to the computer, reading, I pulled out my beads. Despite my burst of cleaning, my main crafting areas are still hopelessly cluttered, and so, being the domestic type I am, I studiously avoided those areas, and set myself up on my husband’s desk. Yeah. I know.

 

The little posts of beads laid out before me, I scrambled through a drawer for my pliers and sidecutters, and slowly started threading beads on, trying to develop a pattern, adding little sparks of gold or pink break up the teal of the crystals. My supplies are a little low, but I needed to keep rolling while the inspiration was flowing, so I made do with what I had on hand. Which means this little wrap bracelet isn’t my usual style, and to be honest, I’m not sure I like it all that much. I went with a symmetrical design, which I don’t think really works, and instead become more repetitive than anything, especially since I ran out of gold anything to keep adding accents into the pattern, so there is a decent chunk that is mainly teal, and not all that interesting. But still. I made something. I enjoyed the process. And it’s only a few beads on a bit of wire – I can always pull it apart at a later date and refashion it. Which, I think, sounds as good an excuse to go bead shopping as any, don’t you think?

I can sing a rainbow.

Remember a little sneak peek last week? Well, that little peeky belonged to this little birds nest necklace:

A rainbow for the colourful Miss Bacoon. One of my quilt camp gifties, I was reluctant to reveal too much, especially the colour, as she is a rainbow girl. The quilts she creates using the whole spectrum of colour are stunning. I will confess, there was a minor moment of panic, when, with her gift completed, based on her well documented love of rainbows, I asked on Facebook for favourite colours for a couple of gifts yet to complete. And she answered “purple”. Uh-oh. Purple? Not Rainbow? Not “I love all colours”? Should I make another, or would she be happy with this one?? In the end, I decided rainbow it was, and she did seem to like it, so we’ll call it a win.

The normal Tuesday craziness is slowly subsiding, and the muggy cloying heat is mulitplying the post camp lethargy. I’m thinking a lazy afternoon is in order, maybe some Zentangling as the children play under the sprinkler. Baby girl is happily chatting away in her room, “resting” with her dollies, and I’m trying to find the mojo to go sand my craft cupboard. I may just find the nearest fan to collapse under, instead.

a little thank you.

I am blessed to have such awesome friends. They make me smile, occasionally make me cry, and quite often make me addicted to crazy new crafts. A while back, one friend sent me a message – would I be interested in an old-school light meter? Um, YES PLEASE! And a few days later, a little parcel turned up. Not just a light meter, but a proper working-condition antique light meter. Absolutely floored, I named him Albert, and he joined my camera collection. Bee’s mum didn’t want payment, it was enough to know Albert has a good home, and he does and is much loved, but I felt the need to do something. So a flurry of messages back and forth, and a plan was hatched.

I hope she likes it! I made this little pretty yesterday, while I hung out with the small people who were absorbed in Lego after school. No crafting for me this afternoon, we’ll be baking a cake for a special little someone turning TWO tomorrow! How’d that happen? One princess cake coming up…wish me luck!

{linking up today’s Blogtoberfest post over at Diary of a SAHM for I Blog on Tuesday}

Fly little birdie.

There’s a little bracelet kit that has been sitting on my shelf in my studio, tainting me. Last week, I had half an hour to myself, and so I tiptoed past the door where a small girl dozed, slipped into the studio and grabbed it. Then the hunt began for my pliers, which, it seems, are lost in the depths of the space-time continuum that has been warped around the mass of of gravity collecting in my studio (I know, I still haven’t finished tidying it. The cutting table fell through so I’ve lost my mojo).

Later in the week, the wee girl and I happened to be cruising the street, doing some odd jobs. On my list was a roll of tie wire to round out a different project – a housey type of one, so there was no craft ban breaches. Well, at least there wasn’t until I found the plier aisle, with mini needle nose pliers, and mini side cutters, for a bargain $4.95 each. Slipped those chappies in the basket along with the wire, secreted them into the office on our return, and awaited the perfect opportunity to get hooked in. The perfect crime.

Arriving home from church this morning, we had our usual lazy lunch, and Butterfly popped her thumb in her mouth, and started rubbing her nose with the leftover fingers. “No want wunch, mama. I weally tired. Bed time please?” and so I scooped her up and carried her to bed, promising I’d stay near while she went to sleep. And so I found myself in my studio with a moment or two to spare, just made for beading. Instructions laid out to one side, neat piles of beads and findings in front of me, I slowly started joining rings and threading beads. Lost in the rhythm of my creating, I didn’t hear the footsteps until too late. “Did you want the rest of your lunc…hey, are those new?” whoops. Busted.

With the truth revealed, and the baby asleep, I decided I may as well craft in comfort. I set myself up on the floor of the lounge room, and flicked on the tv for some company, and within around three quarters of an hour, I had a lovely new little bracelet.

I also managed to get a bit done on a skirt for me – hopefully a nice quiet Monday at home will give me the hour or so I need to finish it off. A little crochet dragon is in progress, another one waiting to be started. I’m itching to get back to my ripple and embroidery as well sooner rather than later. And paint. Car will disown me if I don’t at least make a start on the mixed media canvas. In between all that, of course, is spring cleaning and the #drawmeseptember challenge, and planning a party for two small boys. Can we slow time down a bit please?

LWD goes international.

I’ve been waiting for AGES to show off this little bracelet! I posted up on my Facebook page that I was thinking of making up some bracelets to list in the etsy shop, and Meg mentioned she’d like one for her mum’s birthday. Easy as that. And next thing, I had a little parcel bundled up and winging it’s way over the Pacific to the United States. Kinda cool for this little Dove!

 

I have to say, it was VERY hard to let this little beauty go! I think I need to order in some more wire and get beading! Last day of holidays today for the big boy today, little boy is already back at preschool. So we are taking it easy. The boy has been sewing a dolls quilt. We’ve been playing and reading and hanging out. I feel a photowalk in our very near future. There are a couple of little projects on the go that I NEED to get done this week, and another new commission joined the list last night. Reality has hit with a vengeance. Hello Monday, I’m here to whip you into shape.

 

lady in red.

It seems a lot of my wardrobe this winter is dark with splashes of red. Red coat. Red shoes. And my new favourite piece of bling is purple. Yeah, smart move. So when I ordered the beads for a commissioned bracelet, I slipped in some cute gem toned Czech glass beads, and some cracked glass beads in blues and reds. I know. I’m on a craft ban for another month still. But I did buy them with the thought of maybe making a bracelet to sell. Truly. Would I lie to get around a buying ban? The “gem tones” collection ended up having more purple and yellow beads than I expected, so I ended up making a 1.5 loop bracelet, which I’m not convinced really works. I’m still tempted to pull it apart and redo it with more beads when I get the chance to buy some. It looks nice enough by itself, but when worn, it’s an awkward wrap. I think it’s actually less to do with the bracelet and more to do with my odd shaped bony wrist. Hasn’t stopped me from wearing it though!

One day to the weekend, and I’m hoping tomorrow is as productive as the rest of the week – a painting started (including a mercy dash to the art store after running out of white paint. Yes. Already. And no, it’s not a breach of the buying ban. It’s for a gift painting. There are more than a few loopholes in this ban ), a mug rug finished, a new fabric collection very close to completion. I can’t wait to share this one with you, it’s very special. I’m working late tonight to free up my weekend for fun and frivolity and some creating. We’ll see if my plan works…

swapsy changy

 

This is a little something I made for Anna as part of a Mothers Day swap – a little peas-in-a-pod wrist pincushion (something made), a box of yummy Lindt balls (a treat), and a beaded stitch marker (something senders choice) because I know she is just joining the rest of us in the addiction that is crochet!

 

Friday is here, and we are winding down for the weekend. Getting the admin out of the way so we can kick back tomorrow. If I get the housework all done, I might try and paint. We have friends coming to play this afternoon to get the weekend off to a great start. I’m already thinking ahead to tomorrow’s Saturday Bloggers Boogie. I hope you all have a wonderful creative weekend! x

a creative life.

When I was younger, I used to play a game. In my game, I was grown up, and I had at my disposal a full array of art & craft supplies, to rival the largest art store. I had paints and beads and fabric and brushes and paper. It was all stored neatly in a large chest, which now as an adult, realising how much space real supplies take up, was more in the lines of Hermione Granger’s beaded purse in the last Harry Potter book. But it was a game, and imagination is a wonderful thing. It was an ongoing thing, this game. I would perch myself up in my favourite spot, and set up a couple of chairs to create my “studio”, with either a desk or an easel, depending on that day’s activities. I would rifle through my “trunk”, looking for the items I needed, pausing to earnestly consider which “brush” would be perfect for my painting, or which “fabric” I might sew with. The yearning to not only be creative, but to not be restricted to one single outlet, goes a long way back.

And this last week, it feels almost as if my game is slowly becoming a reality. On top of my growing photography business, my other crafty endeavours are slowly, unexpectedly, gaining traction. My little fabric shop has kicked off, and on my very first day, the lovely Maree Louise bought some of my fabric. A day or two later, I posted up a photo of mum’s mothers day bracelet on my Facebook page, and within the hour, I had an inbox, wondering if I could make one to order for a friend to give to her mum for mothers day. Another friend commissioned a custom fabric design to match a party exactly. I am honoured beyond belief that so many of you think so much of my little muddling that you are willing to help me reach for my dreams, and build a creative life. Thank you xx

{the commissioned bracelet of Swarovski crystal and Czech fire polished glass}

Today we are all systems go. Bindings have been pieced and pressed. Libraries have been visited. Stories read. The sun was beating a warm path to a bright corner of the yard, so we headed outside and went nuts with the bubble blower. Baby girl is now down for the count, and Bubba Boy is about to lay down with a movie, and I see my chance to make a move. A quick whizz around the remaining housework, and I’m planning on laying down the first layer on a new painting, and attaching those bindings. Small goals today. A bit of work needs to be attended to, but some crafty time to kick me off will get me in a much more productive state. Hope you are all having an awesome Thursday.

she.

A cuddle after an owies. Fresh baking on a Monday afternoon. A friendly face at canteen. A sewer of dressups. A teacher of crafts. A reader of books. A buyer of books! A voice through the tears. A holder of babies. A hanger of washing. A strength in the face of darkness. A light shining as she emerges from her tunnel. An inspiration.

Mothers day is becoming more and more important as I get older, not just because of my own children. But because of my mum and her journey, inspiring me to dream big and live bigger. Mothers Day I can take or leave for me, but for her, it is a day worth celebrating.

I always struggle for a gift. This year, I decided to combine her love of bling, with my newly-rediscovered love of beading, and made her a small wrap bracelet.

{how cute are those little star beads?}

The purple has ended up more dominant than planned, it was originally going to just be a small accent with the focus mainly on the green (mum’s favourite colour), but I think it worked out well this way, I’m not sure if it would have been a bit bland in just green/gold/pearl. Either way, I like it, I just hope mum does too!

We’ve had friends over this morning, to share yummy pumpkin scones we baked on the weekend, and a caramel slice I made last night. A special delivery has just arrived that I can’t WAIT to share with you. The girl is sleeping, the boys are at school, the house is clean, I’m thinking it’s sewing time. Mug rug MUST be finished today, and inspiration has hit for the quilting. I’m hope to also find time to finish quilting the stars (I know, I’m as sick of talking about them as you are of hearing about it). Swoon is waiting. Scrapbooking is calling my name. Knitting is growing impatient. Can I have an extra five hours in my day please? Monday’s playing nice so far, let’s hope it stays that way!

{oh, and I’d love it if you came by the Facebook page and joined me and my 5 friends }