six and a half stitches

SUGAR OVERLOAD

Did someone say cupcakes??

1 two year olds sugar laden birthday party later, and we're all tired.

Despite it being Max's birthday today, it was me who had a wonderous day. Perhaps it was just the chocolate sweet talking me.

I hadn't been feeling so good yesterday, and this morning I woke full of cold and really not feeling good. This is what Sick Days are for. The men left on their morning adventures with public transport, and I set too. A sick day, despite its intentions, is the best day for sewing. Out came the bags of material, out came the patterns, the sewing machine, the ribbon stash, the button stash, the iron, and lastly, the ironing board cover.

I've felt a sewing frenzy coming for a few weeks, and needed the solitude and time to get into it. There's been a nicknack notions (ok, that's a really american word, included for the hard of comprehension amongst us, and everytime I see it written I think of a box full of potions with green smoke coming out of it) bag I've needed to get done ever since I did the needle roll way back when (when? that long ago? surely not), some suprise 'things' for, err, suprises when they're needed, and two more dolls. I actually sorted the material for 4 dolls, and figured I'd get two underway this afternoon, but didn't figure on how long it would take to turn the friggin legs and arms inside out and stuff them. I only got the body of 1 doll done this afternoon.

Just as I was sitting down, there was a knock at the door. Really I should just give the postman a key and he can let himself in, drop the boxes off, have a cup of tea, and be on his merry way. He's stopped giving me bemused looks now, and I'm getting slightly sick of expressing deep suprise everytime another parcel gets delivered. I should just cut to the chase and tell him what's in the boxes (porn!!!!!!!!! and loads of it!!!!! You wanna come in?!) but it would take far too long to explain.

I half expected 1 box, but not 2 boxes (see it's a lucky number today, everything has had 2 in it). And poor Quarantine, what the hell must they think of me? Surely they must know I have 5 pamphlets from them already, I don't really need some more. However, I know they enjoyed unpacking one of the boxes...and suprisingly given the contents of one of them, I'm suprised they didn't confiscate anything. Like I said, it's a lucky day today :)

Box 1:

Phiiiiiiiiiildarrrrrrrrrrrrrr Neige (I can't say it as a short word. It needs flourish) which could very well be mistaken for marshmallow it is so fluffly and cloud like and honestly, if you're going to make Kate's Bunnies, you gotta use this stuff. And coffee chocolates - there's a pile of wrappers under the sewing machine. Good sore throat elixir I swear. Kate is an absolute goddess for sending the wool and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. She's having a Power of 2 Universe time too. I tell you, there's something in it - for sure.

Box 2:

An assortment of goodies including merino/tencel fibre for spinning in Dragonfly colours (go see it spun up here), some white mongolian cashmere which just likes to be held softly for a little while, white tea with honeysuckle which is as delicious as it sounds, and chocolate covered orange peel which is very good for stuffy noses. Once again, Leila has outdone herself and got me itching to get the spindle out. Is it bad manners to boot in-process spinning off a spindle?

The men are home. Time to play sick.

2

When you were born, I didn't believe you were you it all seemed so alien and strange and to be honest I was completely off on another planet anyway and trying not to shiver in shock off the operating table. Your daddy held you, and you looked so perfect together, it almost felt wrong to intrude on your closeness.

You amazed me with your grown-up-ness and there's been more than one occasion when I've wondered whether I will keep up with you. I know you've been here before, and I know you are wise beyond your years.

Years. I can say that now.

Now you are no longer a baby, but a person who has independant thoughts and desires and goals in life. Your mind is your own, and you're just starting to see what that mind can do. You have so many choices ahead of you that it's daunting thinking of them for you, but I trust that you'll find your way, whichever path you take.

2 years on I still marvel at the closeness you and your daddy have, the way you walk like him and bounce along when you're happy, the way you need to have his input into the games you play together. You have an incredible relationship with your grandfathers as well, and I hope you will always hold them dear.

And your mummy - her heart breaks for you everyday, and one day you'll understand the decisions she has made for you, that gingerbread men can't be eaten for every meal, that sometimes we can't stay at the park all day, that I turned many of my parenting beliefs upside down to be a better person for you, and that every trauma I've experienced was so I could give you everything of me.

And in those moments when you look into my soul, I fall in love with you all over again.

FELTED

I am so glad Uplifting Arts decided to share, because I am trully inspired by these felted pieces by Praha. The bag is perfect, the corsages would make an outfit grande, and the hairpieces really should be in my hair.

YOU DIDN'T THINK I'D FORGET...

...To tell you what the roving on top of the books was? Take a closer look

It's a little bit of silk (? help me out here Di), and some wool top which will be just dandy in a little felted something from this book, pictured underneath the wool.

Both of these were birthday presents. The wool from Di, and the book from my fairy godmother. The book has some of the most beautifully simple ideas for felted projects which I can customise and make my own, and the felters have a wonderful sense of colour and presentation which I find helps to spark the creative juices enormously. I'm being coy about the book. I know you can all google and find it, but for now I'm keeping its deceptive simplicity to myself. It's just a thing I have about not revealing too much straight away. It's a little like the coy smile a 2 year old gives, just before they move aside and show you their latest effort at rearranging the pantry all over the kitchen floor.

I never knew weetabix could go so far.

1WEEK 7 DAYS

2 new books - Norsk Strikkedesign and Simply Felt; Gratuitous child photo; Noro Gloria; A box load of Strikkegarn; Clapotis II; Frangipanis in my garden; Aran Pullover

GET YOUR BLOODY SKIS ON

Finally I've found my nemesis, and can sleep safe knowing when I am not around, my child will have someone to look up to and respect and hold close when he sleeps.

NO WONDER MY KID DOESN'T CALL ME MUMMY

You're Lolita!
by Vladimir Nabokov
Considered by most to be depraved and immoral, you are obsessed with sex. What really tantalizes you is that which deviates from societal standards in every way, though you admit that this probably isn't the best and you're not sure what causes this desire. Nonetheless, you've done some pretty nefarious things in your life, and probably gotten caught for them. The names have been changed, but the problems are real. Please stay away from children.
Take the Book Quiz at the Blue Pyramid.

Does this strike you as someone who would like to receive a garden trowel for Valentines Day? No? No, I didn't think so.

WHO SAID ROMANCE WAS DEAD

And I was filled with such trepidation excitement yesterday when my dear partner turned to me and said "I got you a valentine's present" - remember this is the man who took me to the hardware store for my birthday - and I nonchalantly said 'hnmm, what, dear", thinking maybe this was the year he'd buy diamonds, or something jewellry like, or maybe even flowers...

And he said: "I got you a trowel, for the garden. I got a really strong one." And the best bit - "because you dig hard".

Because I dig hard.

SHE BEAT ME TO IT

Damn you Nicole, you beat me to the cupcake post!

As it's that time of year when I start feverishly thinking about what amazing architectural/creative/artistic birthday cake I can make my child which will outdo any other birthday cake, ever, I've been tossing up between a cake, or small individual cupcakes. There was going to be something with wheels on it, but then I came across a lady who does cupcakes out of one of the toy stores. They are amazing, delightful. And very, very cool. And 12 of them will be mine. You'll just have to come back on the 27th to find out.

And there will be so much sugar in them, that none of the children will sleep for an entire week, Mwhahahahahahahaah. Just what a good kids party needs.