Organised Chaos

 I owe the biggest, most belated thank you to Kali of

POPPY LANE

I won a giveaway she hosted way back in, hmm.. March? Yes, I have been a BAD blogger! I am so glad she emailed me to tell me of my fortune, as I had been such a bad blogger I wasn't even reading blogs! There is one item missing from the above photo, a lovely quilted notebook folder. Which I coveted and used right away. Jessica tried sneaking off with the little pink purse (which is for her) and I made her return it until I had taken photos.. ummah that I did not do the same for myself! I will photograph it soon!! I love everything! The fabric used for the little zippered pouch and pocket tissue case is soooo sweet, and those coathangers, omg gorgeous! The little round wooden things are buttons, aren't they sweet? Knowing me I will always be "saving them for good" then in 4yrs time wonder why I never used them. I'm terrible like that. Whether I am reading blogs, or recieve a RAOK like this, one of the first things I do is "OMG!! I have that fabric!". I have no idea why, it seems so stupid. But each and everytime I catch myself doing it. The only fabric I have which Kali used above is the tiny pink and white spotted poplin. I LOVE all the corduroy she used, it's so soft. Check out her blog, she does lovely work and shares tutorials for some of it.

I don't think winter and I really get along. I feel so drained all the time. That said, I feel worse in summer! Hmm.. So I haven't really completed anything. Infact, I've spent so much time with a friend that everything at home has been very neglected. Now I am trying to spend more time at home, she is feeling neglected. Does anyone see the trend here? It's no win no matter what I do.

Jessi had her first ever fringe (bangs) cut into her hair

Jessi's new fringe makes her look a lot older. Well, she is 7 and I guess to her that is very "big girl" but wow.. My own mum didn't even recognise her for a few moments. That made Jess very sad but it highlighted how one small alteration causes such a drastic effect. Her skin's looking a bit nasty again but she's been generally very healthy. She hasn't had any serious problems with her asthma this winter!! We still run backwards and forwards to Perth far too frequently to keep a check on how the immunosuppressants are going in her system. They (currently azathioprine) have some nasty side effects which we've managed to avoid. Jess has finally caught up in school and is now reading with the top of her class. Over the last 2yrs she missed so much due to her health that I was worried she'd lag for some time but she's a determined lil thing and works hard. She likes school. Last week she tumbled, head first, off her monkeybars. Now, that was a little scary! I didn't see it happen but I ran to her when I heard her screaming and when she told me what happened I was a bit wary as she said "my legs feel weak". I took her to the hospital, they went into "neck/back damage" mode and had her in a makeshift neck cuff (small sandbags as we weren't sure what the paediatric neck cuff was made of). She was fine, she is fine. Kids fall down. A lot of people are moving away from town and she's having to say goodbye to a lot of friends. It's been quite disruptive.

We celebrated a first birthday party for Tian (Tee-arn) and my-oh-my was Jessica jealous! We spent a good 2 days with June and Tian setting up the party and Jessi misbehaved so bad! She's usually such a delightful little person. But it soon became obvious an attack of the greeneyed monsted was in hand. She hasn't had a party since she was 4, and she let us all know it!! Because we live in a small town and you're lucky if the supermarket has milk in stock, we found decorations for Tian's cake and the cake decorating activity June wanted the child guests to do, Jess and I spent hours one night at June's dining room table separating licorice allsorts and using tiny tiny cutters to cut out shapes, and I sliced fruitsticks to create little flower shapes. June also had a kids pizza topping activity, and finger painting. Look at what Jessica did to her dress! It was only a $6 opshop (thrift) dress, but it was in great condition and we both loved it. It's now a dig-in-the-dirt-to-your-lil-hearts-content-dress. Not to worry, it's only a piece of clothing and is easily replaced. She wasn't very impressed about me recording the moment!

  

Above: I am still unable to tame Blogger! Grr! Stupid photos.

A scrapbook page sitting on my desk. Nothing is glued down, I can't decide where I am going with it. Believe it or not, it's been on my desk about 3 weeks and toyed with one or twice. Blergh!

I got a nice, new book. The plan has always been to do some vege gardening. Our house is on a 1/4acre block so we have the room, but do I have the mojo? Moving right along..

Tian's actual 1st birthday present, still a pile of fabric. I have a pattern in a Handmade magazine for a teddy bear made from towelling nappies (diapers) or old towels. June had some cloth nappies that had worn thin and happily gave me a couple without questions. My friends kindly picked me up some Parisian Essence on a trip to Kalgoorlie (they found it easily in Woolworths) and I used an entire bottle to dye the nappies. I added in some vinegar then rinsed with Epsom Salts. Will see if that helps set the colour any. Tian's bday was 10th July.. the photo was taken today, 15th August.. SHHH!

Jessi took this photo of my stepfather and I putting together her cubby house? Did I ever blog about this? I don't recall. Anyways, the house is together, the frame is together. Those 2 pieces still need connecting and the slide and rockwall to be added to complete it. This was bought for xmas 09. Yes, it's now Aug 2010 and she still can't use it.. again with SHHH

So, that's kinda what I have been up to (or not) of late. I have some hyacinths from a friend in bloom which make me smile. She gave them to me the night before she moved away. I have some other bulbs in the ground that seem to be sprouting and an order in for more. I have to go away for 2 weeks at the end of the month and I am really looking forward to it. Work's been a complete and utter nightmare and as pathetic as this is to admit, I don't want to work anymore. I stick it out, but I am beginning to despise it and the more I feel that way the sicker I feel. It's not been fun. My cousins are all pregnant again. By Feb 2011 my four cousins (they all live locally so they're friends too) will have 11 kids between them ranging in age from 12 to newborn and it includes 1 set of twins. My sister and I only have the one each. She's sort of sworn off kids but I've wanted another for so long now. Jessi does too. Well, she wants a brother or a sister lol She can wait at least 15yrs before she has a child of her own!

Once more I find myself glad I didn't share this blog with a bunch of real life people/friends/family. I feel so censored all the time at facebook and such that it's nice to have this outlet.

As the sunshine fades

Summer is gone and the cool air is already moving in, which is surprising as it was such a HOT summer! Not only is summer gone, so is almost 1/4 of the year. I just don't know how time gets away from me so bad! I always mean to pop in here and update my blog, and then I get bored with the idea (or as is more the truth, too distracted by other people's blogs!) and when I finally go to do a post it's HUGE! I really need to blod more regularly. Yet, since I say that every time I do blog, don't get your hopes up :) I'm quite annoyed right this minute, I was doing the rounds of my fave blogs and it seems Flickr is down which means many of the images on blogs are little red x's. Boo!! On this note, I uploaded all my pics to Photobucket this time, since I didn't like the idea of another 6 hours for one blog post. I'll load them in as thumbs, you *should* be able to click them to see bigger images, if you so desire :)

My friend Marrissa of Through the Garden Gate and I have decided to try our luck at this years Mother's Day markets. Every year our small town holds a markets in the park and it gets smaller and smaller every year. We both enjoy creating (I'd say crafting, but we certainly don't limit ourself to crafts!) and it's not only our way of giving back, but to see if local people really are as interested in what we do as they say they are. We live in a tiny town, some 800 people, and the majority of them work for the local gold mine, so lets just use the S word and be get the nastys out the way. Snobs. They drive 2hrs ONE WAY to buy their groceries, they don't support local business. You know the kind, right? Nothing is ever good enough. We have a town full of them. So we'll try it out, see what happens. If we sell nothing then I guess all our friends know what they'll be receiving for bdays this year *haha*. It will cost us probably $5-10AUD to hold the stall so it's not like we'll be losing out. If we keep our target small and aim for the kids given $10 and told to "go buy something for mum" we might make back our fee. *lol* So as you see, we're in it more for the fun than to make mega bucks. It's always so nice to sit and socialise and markets are a great place for it.

It seems I had a blog giveaway win way back in January, and I had no idea!! Probably cos I wasn't checking blogs much then as I was away in Perth a lot (and my prepaid broadband is so expensive and that's what I use when not at home). It would have been some buttons. I've just sent an apology email to the wonderful host Jane of Pretty Jane. And here I was feeling like I've never won anything, ever. Well, now I can say I have, I just don't have it to show *lol* (I'm not claiming the prize after such a long time, just so you now. the email was merely for good manners.)

My gorgeous nephew is getting big. As much as I hate all the trips to Perth which Jess requires since being on Cyclosporin for her eczema, it allows us to see little Hayden all the more. Jessi dotes on him! She still wants a baby sister :)

My baby girl has turned 6! Amazing.. we didn't do anything for her bday as we had a very stressful drive home from Perth with her asthma. We only arrived home at noon the day of her bday, my mum was at work (she works away on a 2week on 1 week off roster) so she went to our toy shop with nanna while I raced home and wrapped some presents.

I've promised her a belated party cos Feb is just hectic in this little town, so many bdays! I have ideas piling up thick and fast.. Should be interesting. Jessi's eczema has never been sooooo brilliant! She was put on immunosuppressants (which still scare the hell out of me) but they're working! Jess is finally wearing socks! I can't believe it! It's been almost 2yrs since she agreed to wear them last. Such small things but so significant in our home.

I made some bits and pieces for Jessica for her birthday and she seems to have passed them. First off is my first ever patchwork and quilting. I've never done anything like it before, and I'm not sure I ever will. I didn't follow any patterns or directions. I made my quilt top, my quilt back, then made a sandwich of the two with wadding between, quilted it, then did the binding. Of all that it was the binding which made me wanna forget the whole thing! I flowed with the fabrics and I wasn't sure you could patch mitred corners but since I had no one to tell me I couldn't or that it wouldn't work, I just did it.

My fabric of choice

The Results


And a little dolls outfit made from a thrifted ladies shirt as seen some posts ago. The doll is one we bought at a stay in Princess Margaret Hospital when the doll we took with us went missing. She is Jessi's fave doll of choice right now and always seem to be naked! I used an old (I am reluctant to use the term vintage) pattern for these, I can dig out the details later if anyone's interested. I free formed the shoes with craft felt.

As mentioned, Feb is a big month of birthdays here so of course, we were invited to more than 1! The twin girls got these bags with hair accessories, while the other bdays got purchased gifts.


March saw the running of the local horse races which is one of the few social events in town. I had known for a long while I wanted to make myself an Infinity Dress, of which there is a really great tutorial on Craftster by Rostichery. Now, I looked at a LOT of similar dresses online to see what I wanted. I didn't "follow" the tute as such, just remembered the basics. I had bought fabric from my last trip to Perth to try this dress and it was quite hard to work with as it kept stretching all over the place. I borrowed an overlocker (serger) but the power cord seems to have been lost, which meant I sewed this on my regular machine. Nothing about the dress is "neat" or even "finished" (only the hem). I made a circle in a square skirt to get pixie hems and cut the circle too big *duh*. I also made Jess a dress from yet another old pattern. This one is without dates on the pack but I'm leaning toward 70's from the style. It's a "one size only pattern" and one of the few I had in a 4. I let Jessica choose the fabric, I wasn't even sure I had a zipper, but it all came off well. I don't have any good photos of my dress and will have to get some at a later date. As I cut the circle too big it was a bit too short in some places and I kept tugging at it all day! It was fun to wear, very comfy, and we both got some very lovely comments about our attire. I just found a pic of Jessica's pattern online at Wikia


Last minute I also made us each something for our hair. Mine is crazily crap, but hers was very sweet!


Since Jessi is anaphylactic to latex (as well tree nuts and sesame) I made some beanbags for her classroom to use in place of balls where possible. Her teacher was delighted. I think there was around 20 in all in 2 different sizes. So easy to make! I didn't hand stitch them closed as I was making so many and they're no worse off for it.


I've made myself a pincushion, trialling an idea/pattern. I am sure I have this in a magazine but my recent reminder was from Whosie at Whosie's Written Whatnots which she has titled Doily Pincushion. I would love to have had some small vintage doilies to play with! I'm still pleased with my pincushion. It helps that I am IN LOVE with this particular fabric! These are in mind for our afore-mentioned Mother's Day Stall. Not sure..

Also in mind for the stall, some pocket tissue covers. These are all the wrong size, too big, too small. Still trying to get it just right.


Sew Hip is a really cool magazine which I am so pleased to be able to buy here in Aus. So far we've had 3 issues and I am in love! I am sick of buying mags a few issues then they stop selling them. Bring me back I Can Make It Myself (which I didn't realise was Aussie until just now, so will be hitting up the newsagents to reorder this one!!!!) and Better Homes and Gardens Quilts and More. Anyway, getting back to Sew Hip, I have issue 3 and decided I liked what was coming in issue 4 so much I made it already, without the mag. As you can see, it's not perfect but I didn't put too much thought into it anyhow! I figured I can wait to read the pattern in isse 4 *lol*. I do need to move the button embellishments as they're far too low.


I've had some interesting thrift finds lately. Would you ever believe what size this dress is?

If you open the pic with the tags you will just see it's a size 8!! That's tiny! Compared to me anyhow, I am a 22! Yet the pic of me, in the dress, is me in the dress. Completely un played with. Hard to believe, huh? I decided to refashion it into a comfortable fit as that elastic waistband is sooooo tight, and add some length to it. I almost had it, almost wore it out. Then realised there were some ginormous errors and haven't yet got back to it. I need to rework that dress! But alas, winter is coming so the urge to perfect dresses is dwindling.

Another interesting thrift find is this fabric panel. I have no idea what I am going to do with it, but I can assure you it wont be making a box o_0 what an odd reason to make a panel. It has some really cute prints which I am sure can find a much cuter home!

Some unusual printed fabrics, again I don't know what I am going to do with them, I just find it impossible to leave fabric at the thrift shop!! I got plenty more, these are just more interesting. And I am sure you get sick of my posts being weighed down with images of fabrics that are all so old! I wish I had the $$ to go buy some Maria Horner and other bright, fun, modern fabrics. Maybe if I get the job I have an interview for on Monday I can. What's the bet I have to order them from the US?


A cute apron I thought would be good to draft a pattern from. I was disgusted to see it was made in China, I thought it was a handmade piece. Oh well. I wonder what they used the Velcro strip for?

And a pic of Jessica with her 11yr old aunt, whom she hasn't seen since she was 6mths old. To me they look very similar yet people keep telling me how much she looks like me. I think she is her dads family all over. Not that it matters, she's my princess no matter how she looks :)


I am sorry for the ultra messy layout. I am tired, this still took ages, and Jess has been begging for the computer for hours. Enjoy :)