I'm changing

Hi,

Thanks for stopping by. This blog has now transfered over to my very own website complete with an online store for all of your fabric needs.

Click the link below and head on over. I cant wait to show you whats new and oh so pretty...


Not Quite Nans - fabric, fun, fellowship

We pause to remember

While Remembrance Day is a time we pause to remember those men and women who have fallen, it is also a time to give thanks to these people who enabled parts of the world to have freedom, democracy and hope.
I have family members who have been in active service, reserve service and know others who have followed their calling to protect and give voices to the oppressed and forgotten. For these men and women I say thank you.
Thank you for all that you do, for all that you inspire and for all of the hope you pass on to us.

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While I should be studying...

...but am so absolutely not at the moment; I have happened upon a rather good book.

Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Book Store - Robin Sloan - was quite remarkable, funny and intriguing.
A book I started and then didn't want to put down. Its all about, you guessed correctly, a 24hour bookstore with interesting clientele a cryptic and distinguished owner and the new guy that heads the 10pm to 6am shift.
I don't want to give too much away, but this was definitely a pleasant way to spend my time that didn't involve hypothesis testing, f-tables and econometrics in general.

And now for some answers

 

 

I haven't really given much insight into myself on this blog - other than my pic and some brief info.

Aha you say, we get to hear her story!

Well, actually no, not at this moment. There's lots I'd love to say, but those of you who've seen the inside of the Federal Court - long story, I wasn't in trouble, I was making my case for justice - you'd understand that you can't always put the whole story on paper/blog. There's rules regarding privacy and the issue of not pi**ing off people no matter how much of it is the truth.

Kat sent me a list of questions months ago to share on my blog. At the time I half filled out the questions and something must of come up - usually an emergency with Lego or sticky tape - because I just never finished answering it.

So here they are, my answers to misplaced questions.

Favourite holiday destination?
London, hands down, everytime.

Favourite family holiday tradition?
The September school holidays. My family did a lot of car-trip holidays visiting relatives in those two weeks. It always started off early and cold, but by the time we came home summer was really starting to be felt.

Worst habit?
I can be a little anal (yes Dad I heard that laugh, even from here) about organisation and the correct way to do things. Patience is also not my virtue.


Have you ever broken a bone?
I have. I broke my toe when I was about 14. I was pushed in front of a car (don't gasp, the car was a fair way away) and my rescuer launched at me to pull me back. But he stepped on my foot (very hard) in the process, splitting my big toe bone straight down the middle. He always said 'remember the day I saved your life?' - 'Yes, you also broke my toe'. 'Ahh, but I did save your life'.

Tea or coffee?
Tea. Coffee makes me jittery, very jittery. Same thing happens to Jackson too, he asked to try my sister's iced coffee one day. You'd think he'd had the whole drink, not just a sip. Lets just say iced coffee, a 3 year old and a child harness used as an improv bungee cord do not mix well.

Favourite sport?
I'm not a sport person by any stretch of the imagination. Can I count walking up my stairs?

Skill you would most like to learn?
How to ride a motorcycle. That would be cool, but my sister is a nurse and has seen what happens to people when they come off (she was in theatres - so pretty horrific) thus I am banned from ever doing so. Plus, if I'm honest, I'm pretty uncoordinated. You know, that person who always trips themself up - thats me. Any loose paver or concrete crack, I promise to find it and stumble.

Song of the moment?
Loving Florence and the Machine's Spectrum.

Favourite movie?
Ooh, thats a tough one. It really depends on my mood.
I like older movies and musicals: Singin' in the Rain, Sabrina (the Hepburn one).
Obscure movies: Dogma, Thankyou for Smoking, Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.
Fantasy: Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter, Stardust.
Girl Power and Inspiration: Mona Lisa Smile, An Education.
British Based: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day,Gosford Park.
Good Laughs: Fools Gold, Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
This list is not exhaustive, of course. Its the ones I can remember whilst I'm typing.
Oh and I am partial to the odd Bollywood film too!

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Summer desires

Well wouldn't you know it, uni is all but finished for 2012 - one exam to go.

So what does a girl do?

She window shops her heart out and dreams about all the things she could buy/sew...

Marcs

David Lawrence

Seed

Washi Tape Wednesday (yes I know its Tuesday)

My days of the week are all topsy-turvy at the moment. I could have sworn last night was Tuesday and couldn't understand why the bin-guy hadn't collected the bins. Then I realised...the bin-guy comes Tuesday...and its not Tuesday. Oh well...

On Sunday Jackson and I went to the Brisbane Craft Show. I love going every year to see what's new (and old) amongst the crafters and their stalls. This year was the first year Jackson really really wanted to go. Every time an ad came on TV, 'Mum, Mum the craft show'.

So we went. He was a little disappointed that he couldn't do craft at the craft show (not really child friendly activities - but next year with his dexterity it should be all good). But when he realised you could buy things to make at home, well he thought that was just mickey.

I am pretty sure he spent all of his pocket money in the first 20mins; think paper packs, erasers, 'Cars' fabric etc; and then continued to spend mine; a DIY Advent Calendar - to be honest I'm kinda 'cited about making it to.

And just to prove that apples never fall far from the tree (though Jackson says they do if bats/birds pick them) he supported my buying more, and is completely in love with Washi Tape too!

I'm a survivor, not a victim

A few months back, when I'm sure I was supposed to be doing something other than trawling the Internet, I happened upon a blog/e-shop/meeting-place called Kind Over Matter.
Its run by a great gal called Amanda who shares her life, perspective and global family with the world through kindness, inspiration and love. I get the email updates every few days and love to see what's been happening in her world and that of her contributors.
Today's blog post caught me. Wide eyed, deer in the head lights kind of caught.
Its a post by a woman named Shelly who has let the world know that she is a survivor, not a victim.

While my story of past abuse is no where near the violence that Shelly encountered, its the same emotional, mental and fear-based campaign that I identify with. Its the descriptions she gives of having people turn on her when she spoke up. Of people not believing her, the person that hurts; rather looking at the 'perfect couple' image projected out in public.

It's kind of ironic, because in the last two weeks I've been talking to some newer people in my life journey who got the 'Cliff-notes' version of my past, and I had to define myself. I'm not into the idea of describing myself as a victim. I really don't like that word. But to describe myself as a survivor...I'm not sure how I feel about that. Its not that I don't acknowledge that, its just that in the grand scheme of things I never had to explain away bruises, scrapes and bumps. My scars are internal, some etched over my heart, some on my psyche, and some in more intimate places.

But it is what we are, survivors. We were able to walk away. No matter how painful it was, because ultimately we do believe in the hope that a person's actions will change. To be able to on that day, that clarifying day, that the circumstances will not change, that you do indeed value yourself. That my friends, is what makes a survivor.

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Pretty Package

I couldn't help myself...

This paper bag has been sitting on my kitchen counter for a week. The ice-cream went immediately, but I can't bring myself to throw this bag away.

Its just...so, well, pretty.

I must get some more ice-cream.

In my neighbourhood

This is what I saw at the bus stop the other day when I went to catch the bus.

Now I know about the indie craft movements that leave spontaneous gifts and embellishments in public places in the southern states, but I have never seen it locally, until now.

This gorgeous rainbow is all crocheted. Every last stitch. And it was definitely not there the day before, I have good Intel it was done in the dark of night.

No, I am not the mystery rainbow crochet-er (don't even start me on the subject of trying to crochet - not pretty, lots of knots), but as my parents live opposite the bus stop they are adamant it wasn't there the day before.

It certainly put a smile on my face. 

I haven't forgotten the blogging world

I know it seems like I may have forgotten to post...in awhile.

I haven't forgotten.

It's been a busy time lately.
Uni has been hectic,
I've been in hospital,
My son has had some school behaviour issues,
I've been a little bit down.

Fear, loathing, sickness, pain, mummy-stress, student stress, fear, health problems, bad headspace, taking on too much, fear, not saying 'no' to others...

Yes I realise these are most likely excuses of some grander scheme,
but its the best I can do at the moment.

Forgive me.

Life and Liberty

I completely meant to post last week. Honest to goodness I did.
Then uni kind of got in the way, very much-ly got in the way.

Second year subjects are definitely different to first year subjects. And even though I took one second year subject last semester I really wasn't expecting to be hit full-on one the first day of semester.

Definite Highlight/Shock of the first lecture, first day:

      "Hello everyone. I'm going to be a total bitch and tell you that 25% of you will fail this subject. I'm not trying to scare you, I'm telling you how it is. So, hello again to the quarter of the audience I had last semester."

So that's the life part.

Now for the Liberty bit.

I did in fact finish one more sewing project before uni started. Its the actual shirt I wanted to make with the Liberty fabric (OK so its 'knock-off' Liberty fabric), the shirt I made in the bird fabric to test out the pattern.

My 'Liberty' fabric (bought from Spotlight: Cotton lawn)

And I must say, I'm pretty happy with the results! Bring on the warmer weather I cant wait to wear it.

I'm thinking: skirts and shorts.

The I Love Vintage Show

On the weekend I got to go to the I Love Vintage show and art expo 2012.
I have been to a few vintage fairs that have been put on locally over the seasons, but this was the first vintage show that had space in the Brisbane Convention Centre with sellers from other parts of Australia.

While I enjoyed the vintage part of the show I was a little disappointed at the number of overseas reproductions that were asking near the same price of the originals. While I can understand a genuine 1957 silk and tulle cocktail dress, with tags still attached, can sell for hundreds of dollars, I was a touch disappointed that the repros' thought a similar price could be charged when the quality differed.

Anyway... it was a lovely day out and although I didn't purchase any clothing, I did find a March 1961 Australian Home Journal complete with patterns for a small bust size. (True fact: The myth that after having a baby you have a bigger bust size, was for me, just a myth. I had a larger chest before I had Jackson). Cost = $15.

I also found a Simplicity pattern from 1965 for a cute jacket with hood or collar and for two differing lengths. Cost =$8.

By far the best buy of the day was the Butterick New Sewing Book. Printed in 1953 by The Butterick Publishing Company Limited in Great Britain, this book is a true gold mine. It has everything in it for the home sewer with chapters like; Your Figure and Your Face - How to select a style that will do the most for you, Get the Most out of Your Pattern - How to cut, mark and assemble the new, easy way,  The Important Sewing Techniques and Consumer Buying - How to shop efficiently for sewing tools, fabrics and notions. The technique pages alone are a find, but all of the 1950's speak and illustrations even better. Cost =$4.

Oh, yes, and I also picked up two sweetly embroidered Swiss cotton hanker chiefs. Cost =$4 each. I can never pass up an old fashioned hankie. The cotton/linen always washes well and they don't wear out as quickly as any 'new-improved fabric' variety.

Sew and Sew - shirt and a skirt

With the school holidays finally over...no I don't really mean that. But both Jackson and I were suffering cabin-fever on Sunday. He was hyper and I was most definitely not!
The holidays were full of lots of laughter, silliness, lunchbox and school shoe shopping, the museum, getting Jackson a 'go-card' (5 means I have to pay for him on transport now) and general home things.

What I did get done for myself, when Jackson was asleep, was some more sewing.

So this is the next instalment:

Pattern: Lisette (Simplicity) 2211 - Market Shirt
Fabric: Now here's a story. I have some gorgeous Liberty print lawn. Wasn't going to cut into it unless I had tried the pattern first on some El-cheapo fabric. So I picked up this cute cotton kids print for $3p/m and some green poplin for the 'trial'. I absolutely will wear the trial shirt now its made up! So for the Liberty I will just make a couple of minor adjustments; 1 - add some length in case I want the option to tuck it in and 2- take it in a little at the side seams. While I have the shoulders of a size 10, my waist and bust are no where near the measurements.
P.S. I don't have swimmers shoulders, that would imply that I swim and I'm too lazy for that.

Pattern: Issue 20 SewHip Magazine - Tartan Skirt.
Fabric: Taffeta (on sale at Spotlight: $10p/m - was $25p/m). I fell in love with this fabric when it came in about six months ago but the price was an issue for me as well as having fear put in me by being told it would fray and be difficult to sew. Turned out the taffeta was a breeze to sew, hardly frayed. The lining on the other hand; that I wanted to kill - it frayed non-stop.

I have made this skirt twice before and each time I make it I love it more. So now I have three. One in a yellow roses print, one in black with white spots and now this gorgeous taffeta.

And finally she got to sew

It has been ages since I have sat and sewn something on my sewing machine. Though I did finish my quilt last weekend, there is nothing more satisfing when you finish sewing a garment and it actually fits!! And this one does.
What started out as this...

turned into the meringue skirt from the 'Colette Sewing Handbook'. I have been lusting over this book for months and finally bought it as a present for myself for my, ahem, 31st* birthday a fortnight ago. So pleased with it so far. Can't wait to sew the other patterns in this book by the talented Sarai Mitnick.

* Jackson asked me how old I turned on my birthday (which incidently is the day after his birthday. All of those well meaning people when I was pregnant said it would be so great to have him on my birthday. They all seemed a bit shocked when I kept saying "hell no, we both need our own day!". Anyway, digressing).
So I replied that as he turned 5, I got to turn 31.
"Wow, 31, mum -".
Me smiling, happy at his comment (way to soon)
"- that's nearly 1000".
Smile suddenly frozen.

The end of a UFP

Any crafter will tell you that finishing any of their UFP's (un-finished-projects) bring a sense of elation and slight sadness. On one hand it's super exciting/good/rewarding to have finally finished the project, and on the other hand it's a little bit of sadness as that project is the one they have been dreaming of finishing and now that its finished, well there is just a bit of 'oh, is that it?'



Detail of my quilt

I started a quilt for myself about... 3 years ago. I loved collecting all of the fat quarters I needed to make the size I wanted (all 30 of them). And then there was the cutting (so,so much cutting) and endlessly stitching together. There was after this a brief pause for something - I gather there was a reason I stopped the assembly for a while, but now I can't think of the reason. Then there was the sewing it all together. That took a while - it was summer and sitting under a growing quilt top was a little hot and sticky for January weather.

I think after that there was Tafe, then the start of univeristy, Jackson and general apathy that led to the quilt top being completed but not any further progressed. Until... I moved into my own place this year and realised I wanted a darn quilt for my bed too! Jackson had his - and quite rightly pointed this out to me.

So here it is. My own quilt. All for me. No longer a UFP.

Its a huge quilt. It goes to the floor on both sides.
Note for future reference: Queen size (American) is more like king-size.

Now all I have to do is finish some of the other UFP's lurking around my home.

When it all gets muddled

The last few weeks have been an interesting learning (and observing) curve.
Jackson has been having some ups and downs at school; and to be perfectly honest, at home too.

While he is one of the youngest kids in his prep class (his 5th was on Friday - the cut-off for attending prep this year was a birthday no less than 15 days later than his birthday) he is at times one of the smartest. I mean, I'm not bragging, he has a natural aptitude for maths and computers (where I have next to none), he can memorise just about any book or TV show he hears/sees; but he has a propensity to act before thinking, get frustrated with himself and though he is able to recite right from wrong rules wise - he has a habit of breaking them in the 'moment'.

So after talking with his school Principal, his unbelievably patient and caring Prep teacher and a family friend within the education/psychology system, here's hoping we get something that works.

Step 1: The Rules/ Guidelines/ Notes - make sure he is aware of them (and knows what they mean).
Step 2: Gaining rewards and losing rewards regarding his behaviour - I am getting to be Queen of the sticker chart.
Step 3: Understanding that Jackson effectively has 2 to 3 sets of rules to follow and that there are allowances made according to his location - Okay, so this needs further explanation. There are rules that he has to follow at school. There are rules that he has to follow at home with me (which are on par with the school rules, as his primarily lives with me). And, there are the rules that he has to follow at his Dad's home. While I wish I could have an adult communicative relationship with my ex, as my 'about tab' points out, it sometimes isn't the ideal option.
And lets not forget Step 4: Remember he has just only turned 5. He has had a lot of changes in his little life, and even though he might be intelligent in some areas, he does think bodily functions are hilarious ("can you smell my fluff Mum?"), wont hesitate to put food from the ground into his mouth, and believes that I do have all of the answers. (While I have explained to him that in fact I don't know everything, he responded "but Grandma does, doesn't she?")

Yet I have to remember that things can get muddled in his head with all of the new things he is encountering and experiencing everyday. So we came up with some notes that mean everything we hope our home reflects; and it hangs on our wall right next to the front door.

Jackson suggested many of these. But his favourite (and mine too):

                                                              Give lots of huggles.

Who can argue with logic like that?

What goes around comes around

We all know that what goes around comes around, and that karma is a bitch. But, have you given any thought to what comes around when you are always the nice person?
To be perfectly honest I was having a bad week. Not bad as in bad things are happening, but bad as in motivation and sick to death of those who find it a sport to kick you when you're down.
When all of a sudden karma happened: A random woman at the supermarket stopped me to tell me she loved my haircut.
A friend called me and said she had organized for me to pick out some yummy skin care as an early birthday present.
And a lovely mum from Jackson's school gave me a belated mothers day present of perfume.

See, karma does come around, and it's not always the bite you in the arse kind. Thank you world xoxo.

Thanks Susannah

I love getting parcels. Doesn't really matter if it's one I sent myself either. When a parcel arrives its like Christmas when you were a child (except you know what it is and how good it will be!)

Last week I received a book parcel. I had ordered Susannah Conway's first book 'This I know - notes on unraveling the heart'. While its a book that details how Susannah has lived through grief and self awareness after the death of a loved one, it is also a book that reflects on how grief touches all of us whether it be death, loss or divorce; and reflects on why, how and when our heart begins to heal, and what Susannah did and felt to unravel her heart.

I fell in love with Susannah's blog last year. She speaks candidly and honestly about a great many subjects and thoughts people tend to gloss over in their grief and get glossed over by 'supportive' people who think there are things you just shouldn't talk about at the time (or ever, really).

I really needed this book, it's just that I didn't know how much I needed it. I have felt for a while that I was becoming bitter about the end of my marriage, even though I did the smartest and safest thing I could do for myself and for my son by getting out.

While I have only read half of Susannah's book since it arrived (uni is gearing up for exams) it has really spoken to me. I have realized that what I thought was bitterness, was actually my grief for the end of my marriage trying to get out, trying to surface so I could deal with it. I realised that I hadn't really acknowledged my grief and that I really needed to look into my heart.

So that's what I am going to do. Read this beautiful book, look into my heart and feel what I need to feel.
Thanks Susannah, thank you from my heart.

A Helping Hand

Yesterday I had the opportunity to give something back to women, globally. A great friend of mine heard about an event that was looking for volunteers to help pack birthing kits to be sent to developing (third world) nations. The event sounded intriguing. Just what would be in a birthing kit anyway?

For those of us who are in the developed world, we would never think that having a large piece of black plastic, a surgical scalpel, gloves, gauze, ligatures (pieces of cotton string) and a piece of soap would be a luxury when giving birth. When we ask after a friends birth it is usually to inquire 'Which drugs did you go for?"

This birthing kit day was hosted by the Brisbane River Zonta Club. Zonta International is a global organisation who share commitment of womens' rights and gender equality for all women - regardless of their global location. The women who join are primarily professional women (or who were in the professional sector) who wish to give something back by strategising and organising awareness of womens' issues, working to advance the status of women, and fundraising to make a difference. Zonta International exists in about 65 countries worldwide and has thousands of women members.

The women who attended the event yesterday cut hundreds of metres of plastic and string, separated numerous boxes of gauze, paired cases of single gloves, dug into buckets of pre-cut soaps and filled approximately 1200 zip lock bags with all of the things that can mean the difference between life and death to a woman and her newborn child. Simple items like soap to wash their hands, string to tie off the umbilical cord, a scalpel to cut the cord and gauze to wipe the nose, mouth and eyes of a newborn are a luxury that thousands of women only dream of. Just having a sheet of plastic to give birth on (and not on a dirt floor) is something these women are thankful for.

It really makes you think about all we have and take for granted.

It sure made an impression on me.

Mums' are the best

I am a lucky girl.
Not just for the school-made present from Jackson, or the gift he bought from the school's Mothers Day Stall.
But for the number of smart, strong and inspiring women that are in my life.

So I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to all of the women in my life. I wouldn't be where I am today without all of your support, care, cups of tea and hugs.