Reality and the Reasons

Firstly, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for all your supportive words on my last post.  They have lifted me and helped me move forward.  As you know I work from home and have little social interaction, some days it's debilitating and lonely.  I have no family in this country and few friends, so those kind words really do mean the world to me.  

So just a few very random things.....and nonsense if you make it to the end.

I've been hooking like mad for my little mad/expanding childish obsession :-) Heaven help me!!!!!!  But those little hats come together SO fast and i get to use fancy sparkly silver and gold crochet thread.

 I've started a new obsession with these cheap and cheerful 1950 's (?) ceramic elephants and lambs. I know, nuts, but for a dollar, I can't say no!

 Last night I go stuck into some sewing.  First I fixed this cranky old machine. It belonged to my MIL, it has the weirdest bobbins, sews like a tank, but does do a nice stitch. I really don't care to sew on it, don't know why, but I don't.  As it was working and ready to sew I did a little stitching (small quilty thingy next to the machine).  I thought you might like a peek at my messy sewing area.  This is it in its natural state and I'll be honest with you, it ALWAYS looks like this.  Apparently, I'm not tidy by nature. :-)

 And this is the disaster of our dining room table.  Overflow from my sewing. It's been a few days since we've eaten at the dining room table.  Please don't be too horrified, but if you're like me I know you love a nosey in other peoples houses.  Oh and see that thick folder on the table?  That'll get a mention later.

 On another note, my garden is going nuts this year!  I love it.  It really has helped keep me from going over the edge.

 I love going outside to piddle around in the evenings and see what's growing. It's a little wild.

 But I love picking the peas and pulling up weeds.  Good therapy I tell ya!

OK so seriously, that was a wacky post and I'm impressed you've made it this far.  Just briefly, lets talk about the things that are driving me a little crazy.  We'll go in order, from less bothersome, to ok this is going to drive me b@tsh*t crazy:

• Little J and his attacks of the wanties.  Not the, I want a bar of chocolate, or buy me this $10 toy, but I want a pair of headphones that cost $380.  Kid can work a really good guilt trip, can be like an endless dripping tap on the annoyance level, but I've worked really hard an almost mastered him with the firm NO. No twelve year old needs wireless Beats by Dr Dre, right???
• The Mister.  My doctor described my relationship with him perfectly. I love him to bits, but 6 days out of 7 I can't stand him. Apparently her husband is the same?  He may drive me crazy.  He's very understanding and apologetic, as long as HE isn't the problem. Man does not know how to say sorry. Ugh. Can't be all that bad, we've been married 19 years!  Sorry, just had to get that one off my chest.
• Ever increasing, never decreasing medical bills (folder on my dining room table is now over an inch thick with bills)!  I could have flown home to Australia and had my health issues dealt with for cheaper!  Health insurance in this country SUCKS.
• My Job.  Still hanging precariously in the balance and the people I have to deal with are getting more insane by the day. Actually, now I've typed that I think my give a damn is busted. I don't really care if I lose my job anymore.  Bring it on I say!!!!
• My neighbors.  This is actually the worst thing. The thing that has made me really fragile.  I'm the kind of person who doesn't like conflict.  Not one bit. I'm the peacekeeper who tries to see good in everyone. I've tried for 18 months with these people.  Tried.  The trying is over, they are now trying my patience. I'm from the school that my pets are my family. They're from the school that pets are like toys, you put them in the cupboard when you are tired of them.  It breaks my heart, it breaks my sons heart.  We've had tears over it today when we nearly convinced them to let us have their cat (the one who helped me break my ankle and is sister to our cat).  Tell me, who leaves their puppy/dog tied up in a torrential downpour that saw land slides on our street and the end of it under 4 feet of water?  Who locks up their cat cage outside, because they don't want it to get pregnant, don't want it in the house, but are too cheap to get it spayed?  UGH I tell ya!  UGH.  The good news is I'm not the only annoyed neighbor, we're banding together to solve this one.

Phew!  That was ALOT wasn't it?  See why I'm crazy? Is it just me, or would these things make you nuts too?

Ok I'm off. I've ordered pizza for dinner and then I plan to get stuck into some more sewing.  Actually, while I was typing this, Little J has just 'sold' me the desk in his room for $5.  Anything to get him to stop pestering me while I write this post.  :-)

Toodles...L x ♥

Smitten

It's officially out of hand.  My first custom Blythe.  Isn't she amazing?

(Not my photos, from the eBay listing)

I don't spend money on fancy clothes, expensive make up or hairdos (the Mister cuts and colours my hair and I rarely wear makeup) and we don't go on lavish holidays (in fact we rarely go anywhere), so when I fell in love with this girl on eBay, the Mister said go ahead.  I placed one very low bid and figured it would be out bid and not meant to be.  For whatever reason mine was the only bid!  It was meant to be.  I have vowed to buy no more and mean it.

I know this isn't a blythe doll blog, but to me she is a piece of art, a creation from someone's heart (Lady Alice in Kansas) and she is a little light of happiness in my grey days.

Thank you for putting up with this post, I promise to be back before the end of the week with a little bit of patchwork.

Toodles...L x

This & That

 

Sorry I've been gone so long. I've been thinking about my blog lately, but honestly didn't think I've had anything remotely interesting to say.  So I'll summarize the last few weeks:

• The weather has been up and down, snow, snow and more snow, then 60's on the weekend, mega snow melting going on with water everywhere you don't want it and the polar vortex is back today so all that water is now frozen solid - fun times.  NOT.  Please spring, hurry up!
• The Mister has installed a new light in the stairwell.  After 15 years of begging and falling down the stairs, the light is in. I love it.
• I've been sewing and swearing.  ALOT.  Sewing that is, swearing only a little, because these little dresses can be fiddly as all get out.  But they are CUTE.  Thinking (?) opening a little shop, but probably won't.  Far too critical of my work unfortunately.
• Making things girly in the living room, or as I like to call it Xbox central.  The second TV that was relocated to the living room over Christmas is STILL there. No chance now I'll ever get to watch Downton on the big screen again, just my little Ipad.  Not that it matters now since it's finished now, for another year. 12 more months to work on reclaiming the big TV.  Best get cracking on it.
• Thrifty.  I've found a lovely collection of Fire King cups and saucers over the last few months. I love them and I should probably take them out of the fancy stuff cupboard and use them.  The plate however is too nice to risk to my ever increasing tendency to drop things.
• Secreted in the back of the fancy cupboard I found this tiny silver bunny. I forgot I had him.  He's too cute.  Actually, I think he's a hare, more than a bunny.

So that's it really.  Not much to say.  No yarny stuff going on, other than spilling over out of baskets in every corner of the house.

What's new with you?  All is well I hope.

Must be off!  Back to work....uggghhhh....

Toodles...L x ♥

The Mister Makes

The Mister outdid himself this year with my Christmas present.....

....a beautiful shelf for my silly obsession and Mr. Fox and Miss Maggie Rabbit.  He used scraps of wood we already had, made a little rail at the bottom for me to hang a little quilt and Big J and I 'wallpapered' the back with some pretty wrapping paper.  It still needs a coat of wax, but I couldn't wait to use it (as usual).

 

He's the BEST that Mister of mine.  ☺

 

Toodles...L x ♥

 

 

P.S. Big J indulged my silly obsession with a new girl for Christmas and the other two are fakes (and therefore not eye wateringly expensive), but still sweet.

Today :: 24 October

Today it snowed for the *first* time this season.

Crappy photo from Big J's phone, but I squealed with excitement when I saw those flakes.

Today I made my *first* pot of Potato Soup.

YUM diddly YUM

This week I made a hat using the magic circle for the first time.

I gave it to the Mister.  I was excited, he didn't say well done or what's a magic circle, or even thank you, he said "Another hat?" It's only the third hat I've made him in probably 5 years.  It didn't dampen my excitement.  LOVE that magic circle.

Today I started on my last ball of yarn for this cardigan. I really thought I had bought enough, but obviously I haven't.  Of course, with my luck, the silly store no longer has this yarn, so I have to order it online at a ridiculous price.  It may have to wait until after the 'C' season is over.  

Fingers crossed I love this cardi when it is done.

This weekend I knitted up three little items from the very first knitting pattern I ever created!  Teeny tiny little cardigans for Blythe that take minutes from start to finish.

So much fun!

This week I feel in love with my hexagons again....

 ....I had fallen out of love with them, after being stuck in bed with my broken ankle and nothing else to do.

Now I love love love them again!

So looking forward to Friday tomorrow.  

They are calling for more snow overnight.

Secretly wishing we wake up to white!

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Friday to you!

Toodles...L x ♥

Little J Love

Hello!  Welcome & Happy Wednesday.

Finally on the downward slide to the weekend.

Phew!!!  This week has been exhausting.

Let me tell you a little about my Little J, the youngest of my three J's at almost 12, as he would say.

Of late, Little J has taken to spending his pocket money on trips to the hardware store to buy wood and nails and a fancy hammer.  He mostly spends his time creating all kinds of guns and swords and other things to shoot stuff around the yard.  

It's fairly harmless, better than video games and he is actually very creative.  Little J spends most days outside sawing and hammering and generally keeping himself occupied.  

Once in a while he'll dash inside to show me his latest handiwork.  

Explain how it all works.

Drag me outside for demonstrations.

And tell me  how he's going to create a fortune selling his guns.

Of course, he's already decided when he grows up he wants to be a gunsmith.

I myself am not fond of guns, but he is a boy and we do live in a community where guns (for hunting purposes) are the norm.

He does have a real gun, but it spends most of it's time locked up in the gun cabinet - safe and sound.

He knows all about gun safety and has only fired it once, under very close supervision.

So, we shall see if he sticks with his idea to be a gunsmith.

Would you like to see his latest creation?

It's my favorite.

Remember, he's 11 and it's a one of a kind.

Little rustic, but awesome in my books.

Here it is......

 Yes, Little J has made me a little bed for Blythe!

I had given him a little hint, since he's the only one who doesn't make fun of my new obsession, but I was thrilled beyond belief when he handed it to me. I didn't actually think he listened or would use his precious wood on something for me.

It is something I will treasure for EVER. 

He cut out the headboard and footboard with his Dad's jigsaw and used two dowel rods for the bed rails/frame.

Then I helped him stretch an old piece of denim between the two dowels to make a mattress of sorts.

Of course I had to add a few stitches to it and Little J helped me with the red coat of paint.

Isn't it sweet?

 Love you Little J!

Little J is not so little anymore.  He's off to middle school in two weeks.  I wish just once when I took his photo he wouldn't pull some crazy face. Crazy Little J with the sweetest kitty ever, Miss Skittles from next door.

Aren't the things your children make the best gifts ever?

Toodles...L x ♥

And on Monday it All Went Too Far......

Happy Monday!

I'm feeling mighty cheerful for a Monday.  

Determined to stay smiling, despite another long work week ahead.

Mrs. Spudinski (I call her that because after finding out 'he' was really a 'she' the Spud name was stuck, but it just didn't seem right) has enjoyed her Monday snoozing in the window.  She's on a quest to meet the boy cat next door, unfortunately for all the wrong reasons.  Five weeks till the vet takes care of *that* issue.

Sorry, blurring photos taken with my work phone.

 A lovely little posy of flowers from my wild and crazy garden.

 And here's when my Monday went too far on the side of crazy....

 Another cute polka dot dress.....

OK so that's not too crazy.....

But spending your evening making tiny socks to go with the cute polka do dress most DeFiniTely IS.

Yep, tonight I'm smiling and working on the other side of crazy.

Wooo....hoooo!

Pretty sure I'm not alone.

Toodles...L x ♥

Sunday Stitching Gone Bonkers.....

We had a lovely, although a bit wet weekend away this weekend in our caravan.  It really was a blissful weekend by the creek and I thoroughly enjoyed the very cool cold night on Friday. Nothing better than being bundled up in crochet blankets in our caravan. I've had it up to my ears with stinky hot weather.  Unfortunately the grey skies and rain made for little photo taking.

Little Man made the most of every stick and log in sight and put his new knife and whittling skills into action.  I lost count of the number of times I cringed in fear he'd take off a finger or two.

 Big J cooked up the most fantastic spuds on his new little stove.  It's teeny tiny little thing, but it is fantastic for cooking.  The best part of it is that it all folds down in a lovely little wooden box for transport and it is beautifully handcrafted.  Big J was not amused I snuck up and took his photo.

 The little creek near our campsite is really very lovely and picturesque but the grey skies didn't help my poor photography skills.

 We were literally less than 10 minutes from home, but after spending my days working at home it is a real delight to have a change of scenery.  There is a small fairground and this weekend there was a little train going around the track.

Of course while the men folks built campfires and fished I spent a few quiet and very enjoyable hours knitting and crocheting in the caravan.  Running around in the rain was not my thing.  I'm making very slow progress on my latest cardigan.  Trying very hard not to give up!

Of course it frequently gets put aside to make things that come together very quickly.  Items on a small scale that make me grin from ear to ear.

After whipping these teeny tiny dresses up in just a few minutes, when I got home I couldn't wait to do some sewing machine stitching on a tiny scale.

A little package arrived all the way from Hong Kong while we were gone and I knew these ridiculous, but adorable shoes needed a matching polka dot dress!

   Seriously, aren't these the cutest shoes ever?  I'd love a pair in my size!

 Ok so I might have become slightly obsessed with this girl, but it is SO much fun to create these tiny dresses in just a few minutes.

 Of course when Big J inquired as to what had come all the way from Hong Kong in a little brown envelope with incredible stamps and I showed him, I got the "Oh Mum" and then a few words that maybe things were getting a little out of hand.

Yes, maybe he is right, but for now I'm having fun and smiling.

Do your children think your crazy?

I think mine do.

Toodles...L x ♥

Small ♥ Scale - The Inner Child is Out

If you're not EVER about indulging your inner child, then best skip this post before you think I've gone totally mad.  Which of course, I may have, but I'm fairly certain thanks to Mr. Google I am not alone.

To the point, about two years ago I came across this delightful blog and have been enjoying the tales of this fabulously crafty lady and the amazing things she makes and finds at the Op Shop.  It was from reading this blog that I spied a certain big eyed curiosity from my childhood.    I have never known what happened to the dolls of my childhood, I am sure once I'd been gone across the pond for a few years my Mum passed them on after tiring of the space they took up in the shed.  I was intrigued by her big eyes and woeful expression, did I have one of these as a child? This girl seemed familiar and it wasn't long before I was hooked.  However, these girls are expensive, not just a few dollars too expensive for a 45 year old wanting to indulge in a short term love affair with her childhood, but eye-wateringly expensive.  So for two years I admired them from the pages of google and flickr, watched them sell for silly money on eBay and continued to fall in love.  I then one Sunday evening, with a little push from the Mister (after many days/weeks/months researching the BEST/SAFEST way to buy one) I found my myself clicking the Buy It Now button on eBay.  Instant buyers remorse ensued  but after about 48 hours I started to get excited.  Ten days later this little brown package arrived in the mail.

Well timed it was too because I had just spent my morning thrashing out THE most horrendous report for work and I needed a little lift.

I have to say it was exciting and terrifying to open the box. Had I just wasted my money? Would she be as adorable in real life?  Then I spied these delightful flowers.     

The writing on the box made me smile.  Not sure why I was surprised to see very little written in English, she had after all swanned her way around the globe all the way from Hong Kong.

  And here she is! Nicky Lad Neo Blythe courtesy of this seller on eBay, should you be on the search for a good place to buy Blythe.

Opening the box of course required the help of my new assistant, Mrs Spud (previously thought to be Mr. Spud...opps!)

And now the madness of knitting and crocheting all things tiny has set in. I know, I know, that is completely bonkers, but do you know just how fast you can crochet a tiny  hat?  Minutes I tell you, very rewarding.

 And I have to thank my Blythe for allowing me to successfully create my first ever knitting pattern!  How ever tiny it may be.

 Oh and tiny sewing has commenced too.  Frightfully tricky and patience testing.  It may be short lived.

Oh and in case you are wondering, it did take some serious pleading/begging to convince the Mister it was ok(ish) for me to spend a little bit of my bonus check on something completely frivolous.  He, like many (my three boys), couldn't quite grasp why a women of my aging years needed a doll.  The little push that sent him over the edge to say, yes it's ok, was a gentle reminder of a trip to the Lego Store last year to indulge his love of those little blocks. Of course those block purchases are in his mind justified by a certain three sons, who of course have no interest in a doll!

So there you have it, a little introduction to Miss Blythe.  I feel like I have bared my soul and may have scared all three of my readers away.  Never fear, should you dare to come back I promise I will NOT be posting feverishly now about all things Blythe.  Lucky for you one of the conditions of this purchase involved promising NOT to spend my days photographing said purchase (I snuck these in when the Mister was outside...hence the crappy photos)

Toodles....L x ♥

P.S. If you want to see some seriously amazing girls, type custom  Blythe into Flickr, and be careful not to fall in love.