In which Katherine breaks her silence to demostrate that she has in fact, been doing something

Some of the things I whipped up in my spare (!!!) time.  I got a bit excited and made 30 or so in various colours and styles. Unfortunately the pictures don't quite show the details - think glitter and sparkle.

Quick Takes unFriday

This is going to be quick, because I really don't have time to blog, but I haven't blogged for a while and I thought I had better post an update... just so that those who read this know I am still alive ;-)

Lessons from the last two weeks

1. Going away for consecutive weekends strains my ability to keep up with all the housework - hence the lack of blogging!
2. I still cry when I read Anne of Green Gables - I reread this when I was staying at my in-laws a week ago and even though I knew what was going to happen I still cried!
3. Alex needs to be supervised when he "helps clean". He decided of his own accord to clean the TV screen last week (after watching Daddy do it the week before) and managed to temporarily break the TV via over enthusiastic spraying into the electronic controls.
4. I really like card making. I made these cards from my new "Three for you" stamp set and punch.





5. "No Spend Month" would go better if we a) did not go away so often during that month and b) didn't plan holidays which need paying for that month either. (Other than that no-spend month was OK - I only went to the supermarket once, and if you deduct the holiday costs we did save money. The most important lesson was the need for delayed gratification. If you still want it/need it at the end of the month, then its probably an OK spend.)
6. It is better to sleep than to have a clean house. I suffer from the problem and inertia - I want to get up and do work before I go to bed (tidy, pick up toys etc), but am too tired to move so I just sit there. On Sunday I had a three hour afternoon sleep and I now have the energy I need to get through the rest of this week.
7. Alex is not yet ready to sleep in a bed. On Friday night we stayed at my parents and Alex slept on a mattress on the floor (having attempted to climb out of their cot on our last visit). Between when I went to bed and 2:30am he fell out of bed 4 times before we had enough and just put him to sleep between us. He then slept soundly (once he had reached preferred sleeping position of head near Mum and Dad's feet!) till 7am.

Well that is seven quick takes of our fortnight - hopefully I can get back here again soon.

Scrapbooking

Since I finished most of my UFO's I have been able to start on some of the planned projects that I have in my head.

After going through the files on the computer and sorting out our filing cabinet I realised that there were hundreds of photos that were just taking up space (virtual or otherwise) so I had started sorting them to put in Albums.

In the last three weeks I have managed to complete 5 pages - courtesy mostly of a predesigned kit.

Here are the pages I have done so far. (I haven't quite got the journalling and titles done - but that it because I am still working out how to do them).

Alex's Birthday


Skiing




Other photos of Alex (for some reason, these uploaded on then side and I can't work out how to fix it!)

UFO update

I gave myself about six weeks to get through my UFO's. and the timer is up. I also promised to post some pictures on the web of the projects that I have done so here goes.

1. Mending (done, - but no pictures ;-))

2. Lavender Bag (I cheated and 1/2 filled with lavender and used rice and lavender oil for the rest!)

3. Cross stitched height chart

4. One double sided multi-textured mat (still one to finish!!!) (the fluoro pink is actually a fluffy fake fur, and the white is some sort of plastic coated fabric)

5. Cutlery Keepers (I actually made seven)

Number six on the list is still unfinished, but I am working on crocheting squares for that in the evening.

This means that I can now go on to all my other craft projects (knitting, scrapbooking etc) that I have flying around in my head!

Christmas Gifts

I made these small gifts for some of my work colleagues. They are short-bread stars and paneforte wrapped in cellophane with a Christmas covered ribbon.

As these are difficult to wrap and I am not good at that I bought some asian food boxes and wrapped a metallic pipe-cleaner around to make it look like a bow. I just added a "Merry Christmas" tag as well. [I made similar boxes for the ladies in my day-time bible study but I filled them with tea and chocolates]

I think that they look pretty good for minimal effort - that is definitely my kind of craft.

Christmas Cards

I have been busy recently assembling our Christmas cards for the year. They are not at all fancy - I made a potato stamp for the star and printed the verse from Isaiah with the computer. (Inside I printed the family newsletter) I just used paper and cardboard that I already had at home. Now all I have to do is write in them and send them out.

UFO update 1 and Christmas preparations

One week after I discovered the pile of UFO's which had been packed away when we moved, I have actually managed to finish the first one on the list - the rather large pile of mending. Unfortunately, the mending isn't very interesting to photograph (it has metamorphised into a pile of ironing ;-)).

As for my Christmas preparations, I put up our Christmas tree on the weekend. I waited until Alex was asleep, because it was not the sort of job one does with a 16month old about.

I know that if I was a true advent lover that I would wait until Christmas Eve, but we are going away for Christmas. It is also the first time since I left home that I/we have had a Christmas tree. (or decorations of any description really!)

According to some magazine I read there aren't enough decorations (apparently for a 180cm tree, there should be about 240 - I only have 80), and it is rather monochrome, but Alex isn't fazed. None of the decorations are precious, so it isn't a major drama if he does touch one. We are attempting to dissuade him but I suspect he will not remember.

I also wrapped the Christmas presents I have already acquired. They will not be staying under the tree as I fear that they will be far too tempting for a little boy, so they are ensconced on the top of our wardrobe. Instead, I have left a 'Christmas Train' - minus batteries under the tree - that one is ok to touch ;-)

UFO's

No - I haven't been visited by creatures from another world; I'm talking about UnFinished Objects. I was tidying up the linen closet (it had been visited by a 2'8" visitor!) and found a stash of UFO's - projects that are partially (or even nearly complete) but not quite.

[As an aside, I was also quite good at the grand plan - eg designing study plans for the entire semester - but the execution has always been less than the plan!]

I found

1. a pile of mending - missing buttons, dropped hems etc
2. an embroidered lavender bag - embroidery done, sewn up - just missing the lavender!
3. A cross stiched height chart (that I started at uni for one of my nephews) - I have done the cross stitch and just need to sew the backing on
4. Two mulittextured mats. I started this before Alex could crawl. I have cut up all the offcuts and worked out how to put them together. I even sewed one side up - just three to go.
5. Tea towels to make cutlery keepers
6. Crochet baby rug (plan to make two, but have only started one!) which I am making for friend.

I have decided that I need to actually complete these before I can start on any of the UnStarted projects (projects I have the equipment for, but haven't started) or before I buy any materials for any more projects. Hopefully I can complete most of them before I start an extra day at work in January.

I plan to

1. do the mending in the evening after Alex has gone to bed
2. acquire some lavender for the bag
3. pull out the sewing machine sometime next month when Alex is asleep, or when we are on holidays for projects 3 - 5
4. Once the mending is done, crochet at least one square for the rug/s a night.

It would take less time, but I still have to finish getting ready for Christmas (cards, presents etc) so I have given myself about 8 weeks. I will try and post updates each week (and maybe even photos as I finish!)