Just a minute... in October

Thank goodness for Jenaveve's just a minute meme. Sometimes I get to the end of the month and think 'now where did all that time and energy go?' Good to trawl back through my diary, the blog and my photo stocks to jog the memory.

Mmmm... now that's my cup of tea

Editing... a book, just a wee bit at a time, mostly in the evenings because during the day I'm very busy playing 'tackle time', visiting the zoo and trying to get the mushy weetbix out of my eyebrows.

Thinking... about underwear, my new ethical clothing pledge and what I'm really going to do when the Beloved runs out of decent jocks.

Exploring... thread sketching ideas. I've done a bit more machine fiddling, but mostly I've been surfing the net and oggling at the artistry of many talented people who already employ such techniques in their textile arts. *Sigh*. I feel like I've found something creative that really excites and compels me... and I'm just letting it sink in and develop somewhere in the back of my head for a while.

Meeting... lots of lovely, lovely people, for the first time or again, at the Quilt Project Live! It was such a privilege to be involved, and fun to see my little offering nestled there amongst so many gloriously designed and executed squares. Have a look at the virtual version if you haven't already.

Hand stitching... various bits and pieces when I get a chance (and potentially when I should be editing). Hexagons (some of which wound up on a little pinch pouch);

some stitching on a skirt;

a bit of quilting-ish stitching experimentation;

and a cute Dear Fii burrito for a little friend (I do recommend this as a lovely way to use fabric scraps, and a perfect cuddly size for a one-year-old too).

How was October for you? I'm sure Jen won't mind if you join in a day or two late... I'm just scraping in on time!

My creative space...

In my space today I'm...

waiting for some fabric to dry in the glorious sunshine

drinking chai

watching my boys enjoy the simplicity of a better-late-than-never birthday present (thank you Peta for the idea, and the ever-thoughtful, random-gift-giving Nikki for the supplies!)

and regaining some perspective, on mess, clutter and parenting:

Thank you all for the reminder after my last post that mess and chaos are just par for the course. And in fact, according to Amanda, a healthy sign of creativity going unstiffled. Duh. That's kinda what I told myself when I started out on this little bloggy adventure.

Children + Mess = Good Clutter.

Concern about appearances + keeping up with Joneses = Bad Clutter.

Got it.

For more creative spaces, visit lovely Kirsty.

One Day...

Dear blog readers,

One day, I will present you with pictures of my wonderful children frolicking through fields in cute handmade outfits.

Note to self: youngest child appears to have astigmatism. Must book him in for his (long overdue) 1-year-old check up.

One day, I will give you a tour of my serene and stylish family home.

One day, I will tell you that we made it through an entire day without reaching for the growing pile of DVDs; without resorting to bribery; without mama raising her voice; without at least one kitchen cupboard being emptied; without anyone eating glue or running with scissors.

One day, I will become a Real Mother.

Today is not that day. But salvation may be at hand... I just received this book in the post:

Help me, Amanda Blake Soule, you're my only hope.

My creative space...

Playing around with a bit of applique, thread sketching and pears.... mmm, pears....

A set of serviettes, each one just a bit different. The green solid is scrap fabric from a quilt I'm making for my sister. I like that pop of green but actually I'm still pretty partial to the basic black-and-white scribble on the reverse side...

Now enough of my lame-o pears, if you want to check out the real thread sketching talent around these parts, please pop over here and salivate over Tara Badcock's work (thanks Lauren for pointing me in her direction). While you're at it go give Linguisticky lots of praise and adulation... she found my thread sketching tute via WhipUp and immediately took it to another level with THIS:

BAM! A continuous line drawing taken from a life drawing class and transformed into fabric art. LOVE IT. And I love the fact that a little tutorial from my blog has prompted a new burst of creativity for someone over the other side of the globe. That really gives me a kick.

Anyway, I'm grabbing a coffee and heading off to check out the explosion of creative spaces happening at Kootoyoo... see you there!

Beyond refashioning... a new clothing pledge

My six months of being on the Wardrobe Refashion pledge is drawing to a close. Time to do a summary post about what I've learned during this time, and also to have a think about where I'm going to from here.

Here are some of the great things that have come from being involved with WR:

1. I've tried my had at new creative/sewing skills: I've felted and refashioned jumpers; I've made lots of different aprons; I've made kids' pants that have actually been wearable, and I've made skirts from a tablecloth, a men's shirt and even from a pattern!

2. I've become a decent op-shopper: I've learned to look at items of clothing from a different perspective. Instead of just rifling through racks to try to find something in a style I like that also fits (a tough ask!), I scan entire sections for textures, colours and patterns that catch my eye. Some items have fit me or fit my friends, others have been refashioned or joined the 'stash'.

3. I've started to find a style that suits my own tastes and shape: A year ago, I lived permanently in jeans and baggy tops. Now I'm barely out of skirts and dresses, and I often throw in a scarf or brooch for a bit of flair. I'm clearer about what suits my figure. A great benefit of this is that I've become far more content with my body. This is in spite of the fact that I am significantly heavier than I have been before. Dressing the body as it is with respect and acceptance does wonders for the self-esteem!

4. I've thought a lot about where clothing comes from: I had no idea just what a big impact our cultural appetite for 'disposable fashion' was having on the environment. We buy cheap stuff, made in sweatshops, then toss it and let it go to landfill. I feel ashamed about my part in this to date.

So... now what?

I really want to carry on developing my skills, style and new attitude towards clothing. I was trying to figure out whether to take the WR pledge again on behalf of my whole family, when I came across a new-to-me blog Isismade, and THIS:

T H E E T H I C A L C L O T H I N G P L E D G E

I pledge to only wear clothing that is one or more of the following:

1. Pre-loved

2. Handmade (preferably by me)

3.Reconstructed

4. Made with ethical / environmentally friendly materials

5. Made by a company with strong ethical policy & workers' rights

Isis adds: "Companies with environmentally friendly practices (such as cutting down on waste/energy/water) get brownie points. If I get one little inkling of sweatshop labour, I'm outta there! Above all though, I think the most important thing is reducing the amount of things we use in the first place. Not purchasing ANOTHER piece of clothing just for the sake of it is the biggest statement we can make."

I heartily agree. So with permission from Isis, I'm joining her pledge. My aim is to clothe my family primarily from the first three sources, and the latter two where necessary. For specialty items (like shoes and underwear) I'll do my darnedest to find things that fit with the pledge but, failing that, we will buy things to LAST.

If you've been thinking about the same things and want to join in the pledge too, you're welcome to copy the button for your blog, from here or from Isismade.

My creative space...

Well, there are thousands of things I could be working on... things already started, things with time limits, things that I've promised to people, things that are needed around the home...

But the combination of continued wet weather, my new multitasker, Sew Mama Sew scrap-buster month and some gorgeous donated little scrap materials, are all screaming 'handstitching time'.

I'm just hoping I don't find even more crafty distractions in all the lovely creative spaces today...

Oh, the teacups...

I don't usually do this, but goodness gracious, this is a giveaway not to miss. Have you popped over to Bespoke Press recently? They've got a doozy of a project going on, supporting up-and-coming illustrators... and there's a lovely, lovely set of 10 limited edition prints up for grabs. So go on over... and if you win the set, pretty please may I have Krystal Melson's "The Sugar In Your Tea, In My Camomile Dreams" illustration? Because really, a set of 9 is much better and would look good hanging together in 3x3, so you'd have one left over. And I could help you out with that.

Am. Obsessed. With. Those. TEACUPS.

They will be mine... oh yes... they will be mine....