mothers day 2012

I slowly peeled one eye open as a little hand tapped on my arm. “mummy!” came the stage whisper, “are you AWAKE yet?”. I think I must have been conscious enough to nod, because two little pairs of feet were flying up the hallway, and I could hear chairs being dragged, plates rattled and glasses pulled from drawers. Husband rolled out of bed with a groan, and I heard hurried consultations, and then the small feet whizzed past again, returned with a bag of gifts wrapped in hand drawn paper, followed by a reluctantly-drawn-from-bed little brother. All three small people perched on my bed as I opened their gifts. A new tin of pencils from Bear “because you’re the best drawer, mummy”, a stainless steel drink bottle from Bubba Boy “so you don’t get thirsty”, and a ball of wool from Butterfly, which can only be described as interesting, as you would expect from letting an 18 month old loose in the yarn aisle. With gifts duly admired and placed safely on the bedside table, breakfast was produced, complete with a pretty little flower, and coffee, nectar of the gods. Bear also thought I might get a bit bored, so very kindly went and brought me back a book. All in all, I was very spoilt by my beautiful family!

 

My mind is running in a million different directions at the minute, after a busy day yesterday going to mummy groups and getting swap parcels in the mail and working for the afternoon, and no time for craftiness and creating. I have two new fabric collections on the run. I have spent this morning getting my etsy shop up and running to my satisfaction. A 3am inspiration strike is slowly taking shape. Admin and housework are calling, having been ignored all morning in favour of hanging with my small people, reading stories in the sun, and baking vegemite scrolls. I’d kill for a coffee, but we are out of milk and I’m not sure I can be faffed going to the shops. I’m hoping to race through some must-do jobs now the children are finally asleep, so I can get stuck into some want-to-do jobs before they awake. This afternoon I’ve promised a boy some digger craft, so I feel a recycling pile raid coming on. Maybe some painting in the sun for them and for me. A quick tidy of my desk so I can squeeze in a moment of two of sewing as the afternoon progresses. A girl can dream! Going to keep rolling while the mojo’s hot and the to-do list is shrinking. Hello Wednesday, let’s do this!

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Hapy birthday to…Pooh Bear?

The day stretched out before us, nowhere to go, nothing in particular that needed doing. As I wiped the final crumbs of breakfast from the bench, a small furry head poked around the corner. “Hurro, mummy” growled a low voice, which rose suspiciously as the boy behind the voice dissolved into giggles, and showed himself. “Mummy. It’s Pooh Bear’s birthday today! I think we should have a party!”. I eye off the bear, and the boy. This isn’t the first time such a prnouncement has been made – from my recollections, this would be party number three. Or four. I’m kind of starting to lose count. “Really, sweetheart? We can have a party. How old is Pooh Bear?” and for some reason, I’m not all that surprised when the answer quickly comes back – one. I stifle a giggle, and we set to work on a cake – honey pot of course. It comes out, and once cool, we set to decorating. Daddy wanders in, casting an eye over our creation. “What on earth is that supposed to be?”, and doesn’t really seem all that impressed when I declare it a honey pot. Well, I never professed to be a professional cake decorator, and Master Five is blissfully ignorant of it’s non-honey-pot-like characteristics, so I banish the nay-sayers, and we complete the cake. The kettle boiled, a candle found, and we assemble on the patio. I’m not quite sure what the neighbours must have thought as we sang happy birthday to dear Pooh Bear, but the enchantment on a little boys face was worth it. A slice or two, and before long, the cake was gone, the party over, and a bear on a sugar high put to bed

Five weeks in, and I think we are getting a handle on the school routine. Groceries bought and packed away, housework done, coffee consumed. Two little people rested and played. We loaded up the bike trailer and went for a ride. The obligatory swings. Cuddles for a girl, grumpy her routine is being forced into the school day. A photo walk in the backyard with my big boy, and then, not wanting to feel left out, my little boy. The sun is setting on another productive day, and yet, I still hope to squeeze some creative time tonight. Even five minutes for a bit of cutting. Some new fabric is on the way and it’s got the sewjo following. Tonight might be a good chance to clear out the “must do” sewing before the “want to do” sewing becomes pressing. The small people are tucked up in bed. I can hear the low murmur of Daddy reading stories as I sneak five minutes on the computer.Thursday’s almost done, Friday is just around the corner, ready and waiting to herald in a fresh weekend. Busy, but good.

baking day.

A little head at each elbow, two grasping hands on my knees. “I do dat, mama?” “can I lick the spoon, please, mummy?” “I has lick of ‘poon too, mama?” “bub bub bub mama, BUB BUB”. The old Kenwood churns away, adding to the cacophony that is baking day. Chocolate cake, biscuits. Maybe a slice if we have time. And all made with recipes passed down through the women of my family. I love baking my great-grandmothers biscuits, filled with memories of many after-school snacks, dunked hot, into cold milk. Mixing them on my grandmother’s Kenwood mixmaster, a gift from my grandmother when my mother was a tiny child. And now, it’s my turn, with three small people “helping”.

 

But today, we won’t be baking. Bubba Boy is unwell, and we’ve been up half the night with a cough. So today is all about the snuggles. A movie or two, a quick trip to the doctor. Some playdough if he perks up enough, maybe some sewing for mummy. Doing a great deal of nothing until school pickup time comes around. Holding him close and getting him well. Horrible bugs, rack off and leave my boy alone. Downhill run to the weekend starts NOW!

 

camping out…

The rain was still falling, and the cabin fever was starting to set in. The toyroom thoroughly destroyed , and two small boys were in search of a new adventure, so out come the blankets and sheets, and with the addition of some chairs, a cubby house appears. What I love most about playing with my children, is how they take the seed of an idea, and create a complete story from it. The cubby house was soon labelled a tent, and from there, a spark of inspiration called me to the craft box, and a pile of torn orange crepe paper became the camp fire. An old shoe box was repurposed as a camp stove, and the games began.

 

I am…

…listening to the sounds of two small boys having their second shower of the day after making mud pies.

…smelling a beef casserole in the slow cooker for dinner

…busting a move to some Bruno Mars

…plotting and planning some crafty stuff.

What are you up to this lovely afternoon?

pincushion

After nearly two years of both boys having their afternoon naps together, the time came to put a stop to Bear’s nap time. Much to mummy’s disappointment, as I had become quite accustomed to my little slice of ‘me time’ of an afternoon.

So to ensure our now non-sleeping boy had the energy to make it to dinner time with a minimum of tantrums, I introduced “quiet time”. The general idea was for him to gather a little basket of toys, a couple of books, and settle himself in the corner of my studio as I pottered.

Unfortunately, Bear could talk with a mouthful of marbles underwater, so quiet time generally comes with a running commentary of what he is doing. Quiet time is very rarely “quiet”. But a couple of days ago, the little voice in the corner went strangely quiet. A few moments later the chatter resumed, and later that afternoon I discovered what had captivated his attention long enough to stem the torrent of conversation.

The precious little chap started arranging my pins by colour. Big pile of mummy mush I was, when I saw that.

It’s 4.30 am Monday morning, and I’m blogging as I cuddle a tiny girl, her sleep disturbed by a blocked nose. I’m hoping it clears quickly, and nap times today carry on as usual. I have a little painting in mind. And a quilt to start. A mini book in progress. A spot of toddler craft. And if Butterfly won’t settle, well, I’ll just have to spend the day cuddling one babe and playing with the other. Tough gig, but someone has to do it. Happy Monday! (Now who’s got the coffee?)

hello? anyone there?

I do have a valid excuse, I swear. I never meant to be away this long, but there’s something about living with your head in a bucket that kind of interferes with blogging, crafting, or just about anything, really.  But never fear, I am back! After a full four months of disappearing off the cyber-webs, I’m back, slightly rounder, ready to craft and blog my way through the next 18 weeks. Huh? Yep, as I sit here and blog to you all, baby number 3 is busy kicking me in the ribs! Life is going to get a lot more hectic come October!

Lots of fun crafty things planned, so consider this official notice that it’s time I resume my regularly scheduled programming!

Yes, sir, I do have a note from my mother…

Well, not really, but, dearest blog, will you forgive me for being absent for far too long?

Creatively, life has been pretty flat lately, not from lack of project, nor of mojo,  but with various goings-on conspiring to keep me out of my disgustingly-untidy studio. However, on Saturday, with the realisation that the next day was mothers day, and that my sole responsibility was to produce a card for the maternal parental unit (3 thumbs up for chipping in on sister dearest’s present!), I threw caution to the wind, chucked the bulldozer into ‘drive’, and managed to plow a path from door to desk. Surprisingly, I managed to to find not only inspiration but supplies in the various piles which surrounded me.

 

The backing paper inspired the green hearts, which were three-dimensional – mounted on chipboard & machine-stitched around the edge – something I’ve been wanting to try for a while. I’m pretty chuffed with the end result.

 

Mothers Day for me was delightful, with my three boys spoiling me rotten. A ridiculously indulgent but long-wished-for gift, wrapped in paper decorated by my favourite 3 foot artist. Breakfast of my choosing, cooked to perfection. The sweetest card made by husband and children, complimented by freshly picked roses. Snuggles, kisses, games. No housework. No sleep-in, more’s the pity, but it also means more time to spend with those I cherish most.

 

With both boys asleep, I’ve got big plans for this afternoon. Sewing, and the satisfaction of seeing my very own design come to life. Photography & the stretching of my creative muscles as I learn new techniques. Plotting & planning for future projects. Some baking, a bit of housework, and wishing my children awake to run in sunshine, loving, laughing, remembering how truly blessed we are.

 

Joy in every moment, even the teary ones. Joy in each other, in God, in life, in creating and doing and being. Let’s rock this Monday!

Tagged again!

By Tracey & Esther, to list six things that make me happy.

 

1) A tiny boy, sleeping peacefully (or not) in his bed (or not). I could watch him sleep for hours, his face is the picture of innocent perfection, and fails to betray the mischief that lies just beneath the surface, awaiting the wakeful hours to be unleashed upon his poor, long-suffering mother.

 

2) The wonderous, bizarre, delicious sensation of a growing baby moving within me. As uncomfortable as it can be, it is delightful to see a little foot poking out the side of my belly, or watching a little bottom roll from one side to the other. I often lay in bed at night, watching the contortions of my belly, and marvel at the miracle that is procreation.

 

3) Being secure in the love & support of my wonderful husband. No matter what I attempt, he is behind me 110%. There are so many horror stories out there, and I feel truly blessed to have a loving, devoted husband.

 

4) Watching said son & said husband playing, and listening to their somewhat one-sided conversations. Perfection.

 

5) Creating. A child, a quilt, a painting, a scrapbook page, a memory. I love getting stuck in & making stuff.

 

6) The horribly scrumptious sloppy kisses of a two year old boy. Far & few between, the kisses that I am bestowed with are treasured as if they were gold. Sloppy, sticky, noisy, and beautiful.

 

The rules say to tag six others, but I’m going to be a rebel & not tag anyone, as most people have been tagged several times over. Feel free to spread the happiness if you haven’t yet!

 

“All the gold in the world cannot buy a dying man one more breath, what does that make today worth?” (I can’t remember who said this). Cherish today, make every minute count, and live life to the fullest. BE HAPPY!