Been a while, but we're back with a vengence :D

Jessi was on her swing the other day every time there was a pause in the rain. Surprised she didn't get a wet bottom!! But at one stage nanna came to get her and as she skipped across the lawn to get to the car I saw something move. I called her back and we found this little guy resting on some long blades of grass. He didn't like our observations very much as he moved a few times. Shania was here too and I think she was more surprised to see such a little frog than Jessi. We see frogs every now and again when it is raining but I guess Stace keeps Shania tucked up inside when it is wet. Ah.. whatever! Wet or dry you need to just enjoy the day. I am glad we got to make a new friend in this lil guy, he was so small! Only maybe 4cm long. I have no idea what kind of frog it is but I'd be guessing some kind of common garden frog as we don't have a pond or anything to draw them in so he'd need another reason to be here. Safe travels my lil amphibian friend. Come to visit again soon. We do so enjoy watching you.

My first scrapbook page in I couldn't tell you how long. Since well before christmas! I am not overly impressed with it. I don't know why I don't like it or what I think it needs. But I wont do any more to it, I know I will fully destroy it. I am always trying to remind myself that as much as scrapping is a creative outlet for me, it really is about the story I tell for those to come after me. So.. the story is told so leave alone! *lol* Round seems to be very "in" within my scrapping mags so I gave it ago. Been there, done that and am over it already *lol* It's a nice photo of Jessi and it's very hard for me to scrap those non-gorgeous full frontal photos. So this in itself was an achievement! The photo is Jessi playing in a cubbyhouse at playgroup, dressed as a fairy for a little friends birthday party. My Feral Fairy!

My second page in as many days. I am much happier with this one. I knew what I had in mind right from the onset. So imagine my disgust when I misplaced the letter S stamp!!!! I sat for hours on and off trying to work out what to do bt not getting anywhere as I had planned to do it just like this! Last night I was looking at some papers that came free with a mag and voila! There was the cheeky lil letter S. This is my first effort with foam stamps, acrylic paint, ink and dry brush painting. I am pleased with how it all came together. The second photo being included was a last minute.. "hmm it needs something". The tulle through the ribbon letters spelling ballerina is interesting. I had no ribbon the right colours and didn't know how I was going to attach them to the page. I stumbled across some white tulle and it really fit with how the white acrylic paint was somewhat translucent and the tulle has that effect with it not being a "full" fabric. I like it. The tulle fits the whole ballerina thing to! That only just hit me *lol* Yeah.. I'm a dope :P This photo was taken the day we bought Jessi her very sweet little tutu for $15 at Gosnells Railway Markets in Perth. We drove to my great-uncle's to see my great-grandfather and Jessi wanted it on "now!" *lol*. This was July 06. Needless to say that tutu is nearly worn out now! She has even worn it in winter with stockings underneath.

My test page for the letter stamping. Notice how the S is missing? :P I really like this piece of paper. Bright and fun. The butterfly is yellow but I was using the brush I dry brushed black paint on the ballerina layout so the black has come off a lil with the yellow (nah, I hadn't washed the brush). Looks good. What will I do with this paper? Who knows. Maybe it is time I started an A4 album for.. I dunno. Just cos. Maybe for her dad if he ever wants to know about his daughter.

I found this little business card holder in the newsagency yesterday. When I saw them I automatically said "I can use that!" and bought 3 of them. Only $1 something each! I decided to try doing mini cards. I've only done one (which you see, the others are just cut out ready to use) but I am just not sure what to do with it. I might make a little "I love you" box for my sister. I find I need a goal to really get stuck into it. The other 2 I am thinking maybe little accordian albums. Who knows what this twisted lil mind of mine will come up with. I will be sure to share ;) Incase anyone is interested, this bus-card holder is about 9.5cm long x 6cm high

How proud am I of my little princess!!! This is Jessica's FIRST EVER scrapbook page! The photo is my sisters cat Shadow when she had kittens (yes, Shadow is a ginger cat. she was named Shadow as she followed my brother in aw everywhere when she was little, not her colouring). I gave Jessa the photo and asked her what colour paper she wanted. She did start with a white piece that had black pawprints on but she just hacked at it with decorative scissors. I thought she was going to use those cut pieces on the page but I guess not! I made some suggestions of things she could stick and she just did what she pleased. She actually got pretty grumpy at me for writing the title on the page as she wanted the stickers to spell it. Unfortunately they were cheap stickers and bits tore off as I tried to remove them from the backing!

These are Jess's following attempts at scrapbooking. The red one, her and her dad, was all her own doing. See how she has grouped all the hearts, stars and flowers together respectively? She is rather methodical like that. Ever since she was really little. I remember when she was only maybe 10mths old we were playing with her wooden blocks (I was making towers and she was knocking them down! *lol*) and she would hold either two cylindrical ones or put two cone shaped ones together. She likes grouping things. Anyway, that was off track! Jess was getting rather bored with the scrapbooking thing. She and Shania were both doing it. I will need to borrow Shania's 4 complete pages to photograph. For a 9yr old she totally amazed me!! She has such creativity and a real "idea" of what she wants to do. I help buy cutting the paper for her and such and making the odd suggestion, but I try to let the girls do it themselves otherwise. It isn't theirs if I do it all! Shania was also very pleased with herself and beaming when she took her pages home to show her mum. I promise pics as soon as I can. You will be stunned at what that clever little cousin of mine achieved.

It's school holidays here and I have been a lil inundated with kids. Shania has slept over, but it all started by nanna needing to do something so leaving Shania and Jessi here, then Nichola coming to see me and Kristina wanting to stay with the girls. So the 4 of us squished into my totally trashed craft room and piled the table high with Jessica's crafty bits. We put heaps into these "chinese take out" containers mum bought that somehow made their way to my place. With everything in its place they were able to just grab what they were after. We made peg dolls and popstick boxes, giraffes with paddlepop sticks and foam balls and decorated cardboard cut outs. Those you see above are all Jessi's. The 2 older girls took all their things home with them. I am so proud of Jessi's flower. She did it ALL BY HERSELF. I mean all of it. Shania and I were busy doing something and Jess says "look"and held up the flower. It looks amazing. Well done my lil princess. You have really shocked your mummy this week.

My very first attempt at broomstick lace. A small scarf suitable for a little girl. Little did I realise I was supposed to use back-loop-only throughout to this is not right!! I was pulling through both loops. It curls up at the edges. I actually rather like the "shells" this has created on the back though.

My second attempt. No curling, yay! This is supposed to be a birthday gift for my lifelong friend Helen. It is well and truly late as her bday was April 1st and now I am not sure if she will ever get it. But it's better in that I did it right this time *lol*

Last but not least the 2 squares from the Leisure Arts leaflet Dragonflies, Butterflies and More for the dragonfly afghan. I haven't done their wings. No idea what I will do with these squares. I really only made them just for the hell of it. The colours don't go together at all but hey! I don't mind. I might make a little pillow for Shania.


On the personal front everything is crap. My car wont even start now. I need my car. How am I supposed to get Jess to school when it is raining? We don't have buses or taxi's or even a school bus. Jessica has been on antibiotics as she had a REALLY nasty infection on her hand. This was 2 weeks ago but it seems overnight her hand is infected again :( Our dr called to get authorisation for Jessi's Singulair asthma preventer tablet during the week and was deined as she uses a Flixotide puffer as well and apparently you aren't allowed to use both. Yet she has used both ever since she was diagnosed! She had 4 asthma attacks on Thurs night and yet some idiot on the end of the phone feels they have the right to tell us "no, she can't have that medication" cos some bigger idiot who likely has their own gvt office somewhere has decided that you should be able to keep asthma under control with just one preventer. Dr said to go back next week and when they ask if she is using an inhaler too he will tell them no. Well.. we shall see.

I've been pretty miserable. Spent hours on the phone to nanna just crying last night. I know I am not well and I am doing what I can about that. But our finances wont fix themselves and my daughter wont just become healthy. Nor will someone decide to love me. So.. very little will change no matter what happens. At the end of the day when Jessi is in bed and I am allowed to be "Michelle" and not "Jessi's mum" I would love to have someone to talk to, someone to hold and hold me, someone to help so I don't have to get up to my 4yr old 4 times a night! Until I get myself sorted out I know I don't deserve to have that, but that is what I want. I am fed up with all the promises I hear and no one but me ever makes the effort. I don't want to force someone to love me. Why can't I be loved for who I am?

So, so tired

Sunday was a disasterous day in terms of Jessi's asthma. She had a nasty day, and then in the middle of the night I had to take her to the hospital. But of course with my car being unreliable, nanna had to come get us and take us. We were there for well over an hour. They said her oxygen saturation levels were fine but could see she was in respitory distress. She ended up with more oral steroids and me being lectured on the maintenance of her asthma. It isn't even a maintenance issue!

Turns out yesterday was worse :( I kept her home from school mainly as I was so tired. As it was she spent all morning coughing and you could really see her chest sucking in and her tummy doing the breathing. She threw up once while at my cousins Stacey's. We spent the morning down there to meet her new arrival Alexander and played with Eli while Shania was at school. It was a nice morning but for poor Jessi feeling so yuck. So she had a big sick and felt a lil better, but you could see she was getting tired.

We had to go to see the dr that afternoon anyway, which was kinda good. It was so cold in the waiting room from the aircon that I asked for a towel or something to put on her. They gave me a nice warm blanket (from a special cupboard that keeps them heated!!). Lucky too as Jessi spewed everywhere! The blanket wore it rather than Jess. So we waited, and waited, and waited. We got there at 1:40pm as our apt was for 1:45pm. We didn't leave the hospital until 4:15! Jessi was tired and irritable. Skye was there too as she needed to have her hand looked at so we went to her house for a while after. Jess was well and truly asleep by 7pm last night. She was just exhausted from fighting to breath all day. I am less than impressed with my dr at the moment and have asked to see our pediatrician again. I wont see her til June though as she only visits the country area every 6mths. Jess has been complaining of sore knees a lot and I asked about that and all he said was "it's a bit hard to tell with kids of this age" and left it at that! Didn't ask Jessi about it, didn't look at her. Nothing. Just sat typing at his computer and said it as a passing comment.

Last night I was a wreck. I spent ages on the phone to mum crying and just wanting to scream. It's all so unfair sometimes. I think I made mum feel bad by her not being here to support us or help us. Plus she couldn't talk long as her recent phone bill is $1200! After I got off the phone I still wasn't feeling much better so I called Kaz and asked her to call me back. We had a nice chat. I am so pleased to hear she got the mature age apprenticeship she wanted! I am so very proud of you Kazza, love you heaps and miss you so very much.

I got a water bill yesterday too. So now I have every single bill I could possibly have. I don't know what I am going to do about the car. I need it, for Jessi. But I can't afford to repair it or get another. I am in such a bad place at the moment. I really do need a break, or for something to break! An anonymous inheritance would be a life saver at the moment. Just to pay the bills and fix the car and to know I can afford Jess' meds. She needs bath oil and I just don't have $33 to buy it right now. So yup, her skin is still nasty too. I see the psychologist tomorrow. I don't think 45mins is going to be long enough *lol*. I need something, I just don't know what. Something..

Experimentation and Explosions

This weekend my friend Skye burnt her hand pretty bad while emptying hot oil from the deep fryer at work. I had to babysit her and her kids hesterday *hehe* She was doped up on morpheine and her kids are all under 5, so a bit much for her what with nappies to change and bottles to make etc. I didn't mind. Was a nice excuse to spend the day with her.

Before I went to Skye's I picked up a pair of 4mm knitting needles and some of the 8ply yarn Chantelle RAoK'd me. I didn't know why or what I hoped to achieve, i just wanted to knit. I never before realised alternating rows of knit and purl makes a lovely flat fabric. So I knitted this fabric for a while then started decreasing. I decided to make a little top for Skye's daughter Hayley (8mths). It was waaaaay too small :D But, rather than admit defeat and give it to a doll I grabbed a crochet hook and adapted it. I will admit it looks a lil too much like a bib *hmm*.

So today I decided I best make one for Chloe too! Again using 4mm needles and yarn from Chanti. It was a variegated jewel tone yarn and the pink was not blending how I wanted. I didn't know how to combat this problem as I didn't want the pink to keep bunching up in one corner. I decided to try eyelets as they use less yarn and I thought it would help redistribute things. It did, after like 3 lots of eyelets!! It looks nice, I am happy with it. i crocheted the straps and a little trim across the bottom. I will have to take photos when I get the girls in them. I just hope Chloe's fits! I haven't had her near by to check size and shape.

Meanwhile, Jessica has been in an awful mood tonight! Her asthma has been bad today. When she got home from nannas this evening she was soooo irritable and itchy and grumpy and teary. Gosh it was full on. Her hands had been bandaged for the past 2 days as her eczema was awful and I was trying to prevent infection and such. She is really good about it, doesn't mind at all. I think she feels it's quite a novelty. Chloe decided she wanted a bandage last night too. As Jessi and her mummy had one she wanted to fit in. She was sad Tallis couldn't have one too. She really doesn't like her lil bro to miss out. It's one of the rare times I see sweetness in that child.

I'm still all unsure about that email last week. It hasn't even been a week! A week tomorrow, Monday. Not today. I made a phone call today and that REALLY helped. Amazing how different talking on the phone is. Oh god, I got my first phone bill since I went to a mobile plan too... yeouch *lol*. But it is home phone combined as well so it isn't all bad. Just at the moment with a car about to die completely, phone, power and gas bills pending it's a bit much. Not to mention how Jessi's dad is conveniantly back on the dole so I wont be getting any child support. Financially my life is up the creek at the moment! Nah, I think the whole lot is up the creek. I mean seriously, when you go to the Dr and ball your eyes out knowing he is going to put you back on anti-depressants there has to be a problem. Oh lets not forget the psychologist apt this Wednesday.

I need to take Nichola to Esperance in a couple of weeks to see her specialist and then in a week or two after that I have to take her back to have the baby!! How exciting. Oh, she left a card in my door today. I found it when I woke up. She tells me what a great friend I am and wonderful mum and that she hopes I feel better soon cos she knows I've been down. You know something? It's the first time a friend has ever done that for me. It's usually me who does that for them. It was so lovely.

Mum called tonight to ask who was killed in a car accident here over night. It was on the news, but no names mentioned. I hear from gossip that it was a 'P' Plater, and non local. Whoever it was, RIP. Jessi misses mum heaps. When mum was on the phone Jess asked if she was coming home tonight :( Between mum and Darren (Jessi's dad) leaving, Jess has taken it hard. She was talking this evening about school and she was all funny. I mean, she wasn't in the best mood as I have already mentioned, but this wasn't good. She said she didn't want to go to school as she doesn't want to leave me all alone... I don't know why this is suddenly an issue. She said she will miss me but she says that a lot, and I reinforced that I will be there at the end of the day to get her and we will be together again. Then she said "I don't want to do anything without my mummy". It was really very sweet but it is also very concerning. I don't know what to do. I hope she goes to school ok in the morning as I am not sure how I will handle it if she doesn't. Please let this phase pass soon.. I promise her all the time I will never leave her, but what if the unthinkable happens? What if I die? Will she forever hate me for breaking that promise??? I love her so so so much *tears*

I think seeing this psych is probably a good thing, my head is about to explode!

Minnee minnee me!!

I've been at it again with the miniatures. I just love them, I think they're super sweet!! No idea what I will do with any of them *giggle*. The rabbit was really fun to make, though I still find it hard to see the "rabbit". It looks more to me like a dog. The bear is all the same pattern but for the ears and tail. I don't like the bear. I think his ears look way too big and sewn on badly. That's my fault though, not the designers. I love love love the bunny tail!! I am so glad she found a way to crochet it and not just stick on a pompom. These are the Lazy Days Set (part 1 of 3) from Kristies Kreations Etsy Store.

I thought it would be interesting to see just how small I could go with oldbaglady's Baby Snow Dragon pattern. This little mauve masterpiece is number 20 cotton and a 1mm hook!!! OMG does it feel like crocheting with little pebbles when that small. Ouchies on the fingers! The little mauve dragon is quite a bit smaller than the ecru one. You know, I don't think I like the mauve one at all. It's disproportioned. I wish there were an easier way to assemble these things as my sewing skills really aren't improving.

This coming couple of weeks there are so many birthdays! My cousin had a baby on Monday morning, Jessie (my friend from Crochetville who just lost her hubby) has a bday on the 17th, my nanna on the 20th, friend Skye on the 21st then April 1st is my friend Helen and my cousin Joseph and I share the 5th. Wonder if my mum will get me anything this year. It was a lawn mower last year. Great pressie but bring on the sewing machine or digital camera!! Jessi keeps asking if it is my birthday yet as we had to keep telling her that Stacey's baby came first. In her lil mind, Stacey has the baby so it must be mummy's birthday already *lol*. Gotta love em!!

Jess had kindy again Wed and I got 2 phone calls. The first asking if I could come down as Jessi had thrown up and said she wasn't feeling well. I told them on the phone it was probably asthma as I wasn't sure if they would have given her ventolin. I grabbed a change of clothes and raced to the school. Luckily all that was dirty was her jumper, so she didn't need the change of clothes. I left them in her pigeon hole just in case! She was fine, she wasn't feeling well but would you after vomitting in front of your whole class? So I sat on the mat with her and the kids and played a while. I asked if I could go home and she nodded and gave me a big hug. She really was fine. I suspect it was the apple she'd been eating at fruit time. Sometimes she can eat a whole apple without incident, and other times it makes her throw up. No idea why as she isn't allergic, I've had her tested. The second phone call was cos I ordered her lunch from the school canteen but they don't have white bread. Something I wasn't aware of. So the teachers aid was wondering if Jess was allowed wholemeal bread. I suggested they don't give it to her as I never have and I am not sure if she would react. They told me they have white bread in the freezer and could make her another sandwich. No need to go back to the school, yay! When she came home that afternoon she told me she wasn't allowed her tiny teddies at recess. I asked her why not and she said Miss Ross said they have hazelnuts in them. I asked her what she ate and she said her tiny teddies. Ok, I was confused. "I thought you said Miss Ross wouldn't let you?". "yeah, but Sharon [teachers aid] said I could". Ok good, at least she ate. Why would they think something I send her would make her sick?? Seriously...

I am a bit crocheted out from all those miniatures. I am not feeling the best emotinally anyway. Been a lot to deal with recently then I got an email. One email and it's thrown out my entire week. I'm not sure what to do. Nanna is in Kalgoorlie getting her eyes operated on. Can't wait til this week is over :D

*Squeek!*

I just finished this totally ADORABLE little dragon, who stands all of 2.5 inches tall!! The pattern is on Crochetville and the very clever oldbag lady designed it. Again, this is typically a yarn pattern but I have chosen to make it in #10 crochet cotton and a 1.65mm crochet hook. 2 x 4mm gold pearl beads make his eyes look really neat! He's still learning to be ferocious and as a lil babe can only manage a squeek thus far. Jessi insisted on the ribbon around it's neck. It does make it look "complete" but I am not sure if I will leave it there.

So much happening, so lil time to comprehend it

Well, after Jessi's last allergy attack which happened on the Monday, we had another on the Thursday! This time it was my own stupid lack of judgement and I fed her carrot cake. Completely forgetting it had walnuts in it! Her lip got sore (not so much swelled, but went a puss-yellow colour), her cheek broke out in hives and her eye went very red. Of course.. straight back to the hospital where she politely puked everywhere!! I spoke to her teachers aid about this as 2 reactions in a week in the home is bad enough, let alone the thought of what would happen at school. So.. she arranged for either the class teacher or herself to be present at meal times, to help ease my mind. I am so grateful to them!

She had school photos on Friday. They called her first for the individual portraits and she scoweled!! Refused to smile or cooperate. She doesn't like being the centre of attention and she had to go first, so she didn't get to see anyone else do it before she had to. One mum Jean had to take her son home. He just wouldn't have anything to do with the whole process. Even the class photo! They did the class photo in the sand pit, 2 kids sitting on bikes and the rest lined up on huge plastic cubes. You know something... My babe is the smallest kid in the WHOLE SCHOOL! They did a whole school photo also, which my girl is also in.

I've crocheted Jessi a fairy "comfort blanket" for those times she is in hospital, or when we go away etc. She likes to have something from home. She loves this blanket already! The pattern was designed by Ferosah Harold (http://www.ferosah.com/) and her intent was a filet fairy wall hanging. She wrote about my making it in yarn here http://www.ferosah.com/http://ferosah.blogspot.com/http://ferosah.blogspot.com/. I didn't ask Jessi to lay like that on the fairy, she asked to lay on it and I said yes to show how big it is, and she splayed herself out. Looks cute huh! The fairy is something like 48" long!!













This weekend was the local horse races. It's gotten very small in years gone by and somehow still manages to be the years #1 social event. There were only 5 horses in most of the races, less horses in a few others. We took along Jessica's friend Chloe. She and Jess seems slightly inseperable these days. Which is nice in a way :) I went out after the races and once again I was invisible. I spent half the night at the table alone as my friends kept going off to gamble, dance, smoke etc. I was almost in tears (they were there but I refused to blink and let them fall) as it was quite clear how "alone" I am. When Cissy wandered off, no one else came near me. They only talk to me when she is about. I hate being so shy!

I must have fairies on the brain at the moment as I have made a little 3D one. It was supposed to be made in yarn, but I made it in thread. The pattern is by Kristen of Kristie's Kreations Etsy store. This is the "Blushing Becca" pattern with a couple of small mods. My first time using "doll hair" and I made a total mess of it....!!! She is about 3" tall.













My friend Jessie from Crochetville has just suddenly lost her hubby. He was found dead by his car. It's so sad as he was only 34, Jessie almost 29 (this week) and their daughters just 5 and 2. I ordered Jessie a nice bunch of flowers and a teddy for each of the girls. I hope she likes them. Flowers seem so insignificant at a time like this. I wish there I were more I could do. I guess it is all up to Jessie now. These are the flowers I bought FTD Big Hug Bouquet (apt name, no?). I wish flowers weren't so expensive! At such a time and so unexpected, it is a lot of money to find.

Get in the car, quick!

I had my baby back at the emergency room last night,

an allergic reaction. They pumped her full of oral steroids

and antihistamines and monitored her a while. What

happened? A bread roll.

It's getting to the point that if eating a bread roll does this,

I don't want her to eat anything! *frowns* I am starting to

be so scared all the time...

Barbie Bizzare

As my little princess was having a birthday, and I was very broke (what's new?), I sat down and got busy with a Barbie doll. I crocheted for weeks, making up my own designs along the way. I am really pleased with so many of these items! I am also pleased with myself for creating them.
A pink halter top, size 10 Aunt Lydias crochet cotton, 1.65mm/#7 hook, 2 buttons roughly 6mm and 2 small fabric flowers pulled off a bunch.

A pink set in size 10 Aunt Lydias cotton, probably a 1.5mm crochet hook, 2 snaps.

A teal and white set.White is likely DMC Cebelia #10 cotton, teal is DMC Babylo #10, 15.mm hook, 2 snaps, 4x4mm pearl beads and a handful of shell pearlescent sequins. A matching clutch purse and a tiny tatted necklace in #20 Twilleys cotton and a 4mm pearl bead.

A halter bikini in Aunt Lydias size 10 cotton. The skirt on the bikini has built in panties and the halter part slips over the head of the doll. The handbag is unknown cotton from my stash and the flower on it and thoseon the lei are ebroidery floss with a 0.6mm hook. Her towel was cut from a face cloth!

This is a little cardigan in Milford 4ply cotton in some kind of "natural" state. It's certainly not dyed and every so often has little flecks of a darker brown, really quite nice. A 2.5/2.75mm hook. Something like that. No buttons or snaps but a simple belt with 2 buttons. Suitable for my little girl to do up on her own. This was rally quite a challenge to make, but I do love it.

The sleepwear is an odd mixture! The mint nightie is a piece of fabric cut into a long trapeziod and edged in crochet, whip stitched from about mid thigh upward. A little cap in matching cream crochet cotton. Cotton was unlabelled cheap stuff, roughly a size 30 and worked with a 1mm hook. The red nightie was designed by TampaDoll on Crochetville, thanks Mary Jo!! I added the ruffles on the sleeve, Mary Jo had only included the ones on the bottom in her pattern. I crocheted a tiny little moon and stitched it to the front with a couple of stars. The red nightie has elastic in the waist, there are no other fasteners on these items. The mask was just a fun extra, and the slippers something I challenged myself to see if I could create them. Thepillow comes from Jessica's toy box and the 2 blankets are both baby yarn (4ply) and 3mm hooks.

I love this coat! It's an OLD crochet cotton by Strutts Milford. It says on the label #8, but it is almost like the 4ply cottons.Certainly much thicker than what I recognise as number 8 cotton now days. Crocheted with a 2.5/2.75mm crochet hook. It was really a fluke that I pulled this on off. I wanted it tailored (or tight to the body) and I managed that. I don't like the camoflauged look the cotton has to it. There are 6 hooks and eyes sewn down the front.The collar corners are sewn in place. The headscarf started out a bit different but became and ear warmer thing as it was getting too big too quick. The leg warmers are just something I decided to do as a fun extra.

Aunt Lydias #10 cotton and a 1.65mm hook create this lil number. Plus about 24 inches of scrap lace. The 1inch lace was worked into directly and the skirt worked up from the bottom. There is one snapon the skirt and 2 buttons on the top (like the pink halter). I love how the waist band in the skirt looks different, when it is the exact sam stitch! Only the body of the skirt is worked in rounds, and the band back and forth.

A nice little blue top in #8 pearl cotton. I can't recall the hook size. The ribbon halter is just looped through stitches and not at all fixed in place (it wouldn't go over Barbies head otherwise). The buttons are 4mm pearl beads which were sewn on after the garment was completed. The button loops are a strand of thread being sewn through, looped, knotted, then sewn on to the next one. I still think it needs some kind of embellishment on the front where the ribbon is, but no matter.

A nice little blue shawl in Strutts Milford #8 (that weird stuff mentioned above) and a 2.5/2.75mm hook. It fits Kelly better than Barbie. Then a scarf, a skirt, handbags, lei and a hand towel.

Some Kelly doll clothes. Not sure if I have shown them before, but here they are. There are others somewhere. I made all these a couple of years ago.

And I am still crocheting for Barbie as we speak. Still trying to see what I come up with!!

School, Birthdays and Pressies

I have been meaning to come and write up some news for a while, I just never seem to get here to do it! A lot has been happening, and when it isn't I'm trying to recouperrate or have been busy doing other things, like crochetig Barbie clothes for Jessi as part of her birthday present. I've collaged my photos as Blogger takes ages to upload pics. Click them to see better :) Lets start at the beginning, her first day of school!

SCHOOL GIRL

On January 31st Jessi had her first day of 4yr Old Kindy. She started at 8:45am and finished at 12:30pm. She was ever so excited and I was really worried she wouldn't like school as she is very shy.

These pics are at home, right before hopping in the car to go to school. She was NOT happy with mummy as she didn't want pictures, she wanted to get to school right THEN! She refused to smile, refused to cooperate and "hmph" and "ugh" the whole time. It was cute that she just wanted to get a move on! From here we went to my cousins house to borrow her digi cam, as these were taken on my video cam which has no flash. I was so scared of not getting good pics as this is an important milestone! (btw, the wooden step under her feet.. my front step? yeah you see it right? gone now! I stepped on it maybe Thursday/Friday last week and fell through it! lucky it was the very bottom step not the higher one. dad has replaced it with some industrial ones for the time being. My comfy lil pozzy is ruined *cries*)
Once we arrived at the school Jessi was much happier to pose. But just enough for mummy to be happy as she wanted to get inside! Her daddy came and met us at the school (oh another thing that's happened, he's moved to Adelaide *woohoo*). She looks sooooo cute in her uniform!! Such a tiny girl looking so big just cos of the shirt and shorts she's wearing. Very sad for mummy. But I left and I didn't cry, she didn't cry. It was lovely!!

She happily played with puzzles as soo s we got in the door. It took her about 10mins, but she soon wandered down into the little dress ups/kitchen/home corner. I knew she would as she adores that kind of thing. When she came home that afternoon she was soooo proud to show me her art work. She'd already decided it was for nanna and NOT happy when I said she could give the following weeks work to nanna, this is mummy's! So now every Monday and Wednesday from 8:45am to 3:05pm sees Jessi at kindy and mummy kind of lost!! I wish it were the 4 half days most schools do as she is coming home so irritable. It really is a long day for little people. She loves it though and that is brilliant. I am so proud of you Jess!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!

On Sunday (Feb 18th) Jessica turned 4. I just can't believe it. You know, we've been on our own 2yrs now and we do pretty well really. It was just after her 2nd bday I separated from my 1yr domestic relationship with Andrew. Anyways... She had a nice little party in a local park with a few friends and family. It was extremely pleasant! I got her a Barbie Horse as her "big present" as well as a stack of other Barbie items like clothes, shoes, Kelly dolls etc. She loves her Barbies right now. I like that, I can handle that. If it were Bratz I'd say no. She also had a LOT of Barbie clothes I made for her, as well as her knitted scarf. I am still very proud of the scarf :D She looked very cute in a dress her daddy gave her just before he left. It once belonged to his younger sister who is about 9. I had to fix up the embellishments as some were falling off, and sew up the straps as Jess is so tiny, but overall she looked like the little anegl she is.

We got to the park about 3pm, party wasn't until 4, but Jessi was getting so impatient! The photo in the top left was the reuslt of me asking her to get a nice photo of her in her pretty dress. She layed on the picnic rug, head down and deliberately pulled her hair over her eyes and said she didn't want one. After she finally got up she was just being cheeky about it all and I only managed to snap one or two pics where she wasn't scowling. She opted for a banana cake, and gosh was it yummy! Can't have a birthday without Dora, so of course she featured on the cake! The photo in the bottom right is Jessi rubbing ice on her noze. She got bit by a mozzie and had been playing with the ice for ages. It was cute :)

RAoK's

From an FGM in Liverpool, England I got 3 wonderful sheets of scrapping stickers, a card, a magnet, a butterfly bookmark and a 1.65mm crochet hook. All are perfect :) Thank you fgm

Vicki sent us a package which was supposed to be Jessi's birthday present. Looks more like it's for me than the girl :D Cotton in size 10 and 3, 4pks snaps, a pony and lollies for Jessi, a magnetic notepad, a Mary Engelbreit magnet and some "samples" of yarns :D Thanks Vicki, we love you!

Last but by NO MEANS LEAST a really fantastic RAoK from an FGM in Oklahoma! #10 crochet cotton, Peaches and Creme cotton, massive ball of WW yarn, 2 magazines, a DAV cookbook, a Crochet Pocket Refernce, 1.65mm/#7 crochet hook, BUTTONS!, and a little handbag, playing cards and lolly for Jessa. Ooooh, and choccies and tea for me! Thank you FGM, we really love it and I have already eaten all the choccies and put the hook and some cotton to good use!

For my lil Dora fan!

I am just making a note here of the Dora the Explorer dvd titles I see that we don't currently have. Jessica adores Dora! We have many titles, but these are those we defintely don't have;
Dora the Explorer - Dora's Ultimate Adventure Collection
Dora the Explorer - Animal Adventures
Dora the Explorer - World Adventure
Dora the Explorer - Musical School Days
Dora the Explorer - Dance to the Rescue
Dora the Explorer - Shy Rainbow
Dora's Christmas (Dora the Explorer)
Dora the Explorer - Dora's Fairytale Adventure
Dora the Explorer - We're a Team
Dora the Explorer - Dora's First Trip
Dora the Explorer - Cowgirl Dora
Dora the Explorer - Super Babies
Dora the Explorer - Dora's Halloween
Dora the Explorer - Dora's Egg Hunt
Dora the Explorer - Save the Day!

Ones we own;
Dora the Explorer - Rhymes and Riddles
Dora the Explorer - Pirate Adventure
Dora the Explorer - Super Silly Fiesta
Dora the Explorer - City of Lost Toys
Dora the Explorer - Catch the Stars
Dora the Explorer - Meet Diego
Dora the Explorer - Map Adventures
Dora the Explorer - Big Sister Dora
Dora the Explorer - It's a Party

Unfortunately this list was compiled using amazon.com and therefore many of these titles aren't even available in Aus (yet?). But I hope to collect all the region4 Dora dvds we can get our hands on. I just needed a list so I can easily recall which we do and don't have!!

I stopped procrastinating.. for once!

Well, no promises that this isn't an isolated incident!! But for a very long time now I have said "I know how to knit, I just don't *get* knitting". With my lil miss having a birthday on Feb 18 (she'll be 4) I asked her what she wants. It went something like this..
"bub, what do you think mummy might like to get you for your birthday?"
"umm.. but I am just getting a Dora cubby house" (Dora the Explorer playhouse)
"yeah but babe daddy is getting you that, what might mummy get you? what would you like?"
she looks long and hard at me crocheting, unawares to her that I am making Barbie clothes as part of her present
"hmm..." she says and thinks some. she looks so cute when she thinks! Then crochet in sight she pipes up quite happily and very cheerily "a new scarf"
She looked so proud of herself! I just looked at her bewildered
"a new scarf? you want a new scarf??"
Jess gives me a "yes" with that 'don't be so silly mummy' tone of voice with a little hint of 'are you deaf?' thrown in there too! Right.. a scarf.. It's mid summer and averaging 40C every day and Jessi wants a scarf?! Ok, so I can crochet a scarf yeah? Of course! What do I decide to go and do? Knit one!!

I've barely touched knitting needles since I was 12yrs old. I was alright at knitting back then. I suck nowadays! But Shell had asked me to find her a nice pattern for some cashmere she wants to use and I found one or two I really like. I think knitted lace looks soooo much nicer sometimes. Late Tuesday evening I decide to make Jessi a knit scarf, using one of the patterns I found when linking Shell. It had eyelets and all. I didn't bother reading through the pattern, I just opened Lion Brand's how to knit pages and sat it side by side with my pattern and hopped to it. I had to frog my first attempt after only 7rows. I kinda missed the whole 'yo' thing in row5!! I started again and made sure I actually read the row this time. I had to copy and paste the pattern to a Word document and throw in all the lines they bunched up and had completely out of order (what was with that?).

It is far from perfect. I had to drop a stitch here and there, there is an extra eyelet here and there and some of the cats paws aren't too great, my tension changes and my cast off was a bit sloppy at first. Overall I am extremely pleased! I mean really, all these years of not knitting and I pick up a pattern like that and just do it. Ok, so I should be accustomed to my ability to just do things, but knitting has given me hell the last few years! What's best is that I can now try all those gorgeous lace patterns I have wanted to for so long. Not sure when as my wrists are sore from knitting for the last 3 days. And even that was sporadic! I want to get back to Barbie for a while too. Knitting is interesting when you only have 2 pair of needles to select from!! *hehe*

I have purchased a new Barbie doll, some clothes, some Kelly dolls and hope to get a furniture set for her soon too. My plan is to give Jessica my bedroom and move myself out into the "craft" room that has been unused for months and months as I just craft in the living rooms. The craft room is just as big as my bedroom, so it gives Jess more space for all her STUFF! That child has soooo much stuff. Plus I want to give her my Barbie house (yes, from when I was a child) as part of her birthday present. She is really into Barbie and playing house and the like so i think she will really appreciate it. I saw a new Barbie house in a toy shop the other day and it was $250. As much as I would love to get it, I just don't have the $$ to buy her anything at the moment and shouldn't have bought the dolls and clothes I did. I just couldn't bare the thought of buying her nothing. I wont eat well for a week, like that is something different for me! I know she will love the clothes I make just as much as the ones I bought, but it is mummy's issue not hers. I am sure she will treasure the doll house too, especially as it was mine. She is very intuitive like that. So grown up for a little girl and wise beyond her years. My baby has been on this earth before, I swear it.

While I am on the whole my-baby-is-the-best kick, I was setting up the climbing frame my mum bought her for xmas on Wednesday (mum had to bring it back from Perth and we only just got it). I was getting extremely irate at the silly thing and cussing a bit. Jessi had on foot on the seat of her seesaw and one foot on the bar of it and says to me "mummy will you be quiet! I am trying to concerntrate". Right then and there I was ready to bop her, I was pretty annoyed at having no help and her being a little smarty-pants so I very nearly told her to shut up. Looking back on it later that day when all was calm and nice again all I could do was laugh. Such a cheeky monkey!!

**Jessi's scarf was knitted with Panda Regal 4ply cotton in a deep purple-pastel purple variegate on 4mm needles, eyelets are threaded with cream double faced satin ribbon. Scarf measures roughly 78cm long (30.5") and about 10cm wide (4"). There are 13 cat paws, and I have no idea if it is going to fit! It needed bigger needles to get the effect seen on the pattern page, but I like it all the same. The recommended needle size for the 4ply cotton is 3.25mm. I used about 2/3 of a ball so cost is well under $3 for the scarf. Funny how I can crochet a whole top for the child in just over 1 ball and yet wouldn't get more than 1 scarf from a ball!

I've been tagged! - what is tagged? lol

This morning I *finally* got back to my blog. Thanks to everyone who left msgs in my absence :) I find myself tagged. I was "ooh.." then "what?". Off I toddled to said tagger's blog and there is the details. 6 weird facts about me. I am sure Shell could tell me a few cos I sure as heck can't think of much! Here goes.

THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the ‘6 weird things about you.’ People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says ‘you are tagged’ in their comments and tell them to read your blog.”so here it goes.
Weird thing #1: I can strip a bed while sleeping.. no joke. I can go to bed at night with the bottom sheet (fitted or flat, it makes no differnce) and wake in the morning with it all untucked
Weird Thing #2: That said, I cannot sleep with my top sheet and blankets tucked in at all. I just can't. Walk into a motel room and the first thing I do is untuck the linen
Weird Thing #3: I eat everything on my plate separatly. Ever since I was a kid I eat the peas first, cos cold peas are simply disgusting, then some potato, then some meat, then some corn, more meat. I can't pile a bit of everything on my fork to eat.
Weird Thing #4: I don't like shoes. I hate enclosed shoes. Shoes are only worn when they must be
Weird Thing #5: I LIVE in my PJ's. I get showered and dressed to go to the supermarket or whatever, but the moment I am home I am back in my jammies. The exception to this rule is knowing I need to go back out again. I will suffer through "real" clothes til after that.
Weird thing #6. Because I am obsessive and everything has to be done perfect, I find myself at the opposite end of the spectrum. I do nothing. My house is a disaster area simply because if I clean it goes too far and drains me. Clothes go on the hanger facing one direction, clothes get folded in the right way, towels can only be folded one way, everything has a place and even my books go on the shelf in Alphabetical Author order.

Hmm.. that was a lil to easy! I thought it would be much harder to think up 6 weird things about myself lol Now, to find 6 victims to tag :D
http://crochetqueenheavensent.blogspot.com/
http://www.glorious-day.org/blog/blog/index.html
http://www.folk-n-fancy.blogspot.com/
http://yarnmamapanj.blogspot.com/
http://adaslovinglyhandmade.blogspot.com/
http://www.mytangledthreads.blogspot.com/

Lend A Hand

Once upon a time I was a Brownie (Jr Girl Guide) and the Brownies motto is "Lend a Hand". I am remembering something about doing good deeds for others being drummed into us too. But I really wasn't a Brownie very long. Just after myself and a small group of girls got sworn in our dear leader left us. No one ever took it over :( But keeping in the Brownie spirit, when Clare @ Crochetville sent out a request for comfortghan squares I stepped up to the plate.

I was BITTERLY disapointed that to see as an Australian, Clare had very few responses. People on Crochetville are always asking for people to make squares of one thing or another. It is quite hard on the heart to see them get more than enough squares, and someone like Clare not get many responses, let alone actual squares. Is it just cos she is in Aus? I couldn't be sure. But my opinion on the topic is yes. People are fed soooo often "international postage is a killer" so without ever enquiring they just write it off. A 6" square would cost maybe $3-5 I am sure. I doubt that even, as it would fit into a A5 envelope and be charged letter rates. Anyways, I've never made blanket squares before and decided to give it a go. Knowing my impatience at things and the hate to repeat patterns I really wasn't overly confident. The first few squares I tried were NOT working in the slightest. I was very worried I would have to tell Clare I was unable to fulfill my offer. That would have saddened me further. But I did it!! I found a pattern that took my interest and got to it.

This is a great pattern. Thank goodness she posted so many photos as the written instructions weren't very clear. After the firt square was made I didn't need to look at the instructions further. I completely surprised myself by completing 8 squares!! I would have done more but I decided what little yarn is left should be sent with the squares so Clare can "finish" them as per the pattern if she chooses. I didn't do the final round to give her the option of not doing it at all, or doing it in her bordering colour to tie it all together. But if I throw in the yarn she has some options. I can't find a needle to sew in the ends..

The squares were made with blue 8ply and the purple a boucle type yarn, both were given to me and are unlablled. I used a 4.5mm hook and each square takes me not very long at all. Maybe 30mins? Hard to judge as I tend to crochet and chat/watch tv etc all at once.

this is the pattern http://undisthreadness.blogspot.com/
found using http://www.myhq.com/public/c/r/crochetpoet/

Enough of this laziness!

I'm surprised Shell isn't yelling at me again to update my blog! I've been so lazy of late I know. It's about to change! Well.. there's a new post today anyway lol. I make no promises... I find myself spending more and more time offline now ;)

Holiday RAOK'sÿ
Vicki - Washington state
Shell - New South Wales
Texas Elf
UK Christmas Angel
Wisconsin Elf

This was more than I ever, ever imagined when completing the wishlist! I am astounded at people's generosity and kindess. It is such a humbling feeling to open the letterbox and find a package with my name on it. Someone took the time to think of me? That same someone then decided I was worthy of gifting? And best of all, the only anonymous RAOK is from the dear elf in WI. The other 4 I am now friends with. How awesome is that! Now.. for piccies!

From Vicki we got 4 separate lots of mail! The first was many items for Jessi, some crochet cotton and a pattern book for me, 2 dresses for Jessi. The second a Christmas card for me, then a parcel for me containing a gorgeous pink shawl which I am yet to photograph as well as chocolates, candy corn, and a calendar. Last but by no means least a Santa Letter to Jessi which she just adores!

Many weeks ago Shell sent Jessi and I Christmas presents. These weren't at all associated with the Crochetville RAOK, she sent them because she wanted to. The tatting book is something I linked her while chatting one day. I forgot the auction, she didn't! She bought it for me!! The Christmas card with Forever Friends on the front was surprising as I love them a lot, and she didn't know that. I was so very glad she included one of her 4ply cotton doilies. She is always making them and talking about them, now I am lucky enough to own one! Stickers for Jessi and I and then 2 Shirley Barber fairies puzzles for Jess. I love Shirly Barber fairies too! Shell knows me so well..

Today we got a small RAOK package from an Elf in Texas. She thought Jessi would like the "make your own" journal, and she is very right! As soon as Jessi comes home from our nannas I will sit down and craft with her. I love the little calendars, they're so cute! She also asked to be penpals. Yet another new friend thanks to Crochetville!! I love that place! Thank you elf in Texas (she has asked to remain anonymous, please respect that).

Now... above you see a very large collage of a LOT of items! These all came from one very special friend in the UK. She knows I really enjoy tatting and emailing one day she asked me what kind of shuttles I had and what I liked. If I was a selfish person I would have then realised she was asking the appropriate questions to gift me. The truth of the matter is it never crossed my mind! Even as I opened the envelope I was still clueless as to what it contained. Fighting the sticky tape holding the lid on the tin closed I was wondering what secrets lie inside. As the lid came off and I gently set it aside I was agape! Not only was I in disbelief how many items fit in such a small tin, but the items that lay in wait... FIVE shuttles. 5! And the two wooden ones are Gergia Seitz!! I had seen them online many, many times. Never did I think 'I' would have one, let alone 2!! The Boye plastic shuttle was so unusual to me that I studied it quite lengthely. I have a couple of the small plastic clover hooks. Until Now they've been my favourite. I've already started using the Boye metal hook and I must say I LOVE IT! It has a very nice weight, slim line. It's just wonderful! The little hooks are perfect for the joins. The one with the amethyst handle is to link to your pinky, ready to use as needed. The wooden fan-like item is a picot guage. It is intended to make your picots more uniform in size. I am having some trouble grasping its use! I needed/wanted embroidery scissors and made myself NOT buy them a few months ago, so these are perfect! And lastly, the blue 'thread' shown with the scissors is a little floss thingy I have seen used to help tuck your ends in neatly. Tatting is so small that the ends can pose a real problem. I know I have seen this floss in use somewhere online, so I will have to look it up and practice. There was also a crocheted snowflake for Jessi!

To the right you can see a small piece of tatting I have started. The pattern you see is in the book gifted by Shell, the shuttle from UK Christmas Angel and the cotton from a lovely lady at Crochetville whom I purchased it from. 'REAL' tatting cotton! I normally use crochet cotton. Tatting cotton is so much finer and it doesn't appear to separate or twist so much. A real Crochetville piece of art! *lol*

Thank you ladies for the smiles you have given me this Christmas! It's made a very bleak looking Christmas so much happier. All of you ladies deserve the best life has to offer, and I wish you and all my friends and family a fabulous 2007. Best wishes now and always. Oh, I almost forgot, the WI elf sent us a xmas card and a crocheted snowflake.

Shell n Jessi xxx

More silly questions!

I just copy pasted this from my Yahoo360 blog (private) since I can't craft I will inundate you with pointless info!! *evil cackle* I stole this one from Lucy at the Great Bookmark Exchange. This entry is dated 28th August 06! And the pic is the pic I had with it at Yahoo. Why change it! Cute pic too huh!! Nothing like me of course! hehe Very sad blogger doesn't have smilies. All my yahoo smilies just made the piece! hmph! Things in square parenthesises [] are added today

I have been blog browsing on blogspot cos I have joined a crochet forum and it seems everyone uses that particular blogger. Any how, came across this, thought it would fill in some time. enjoy...
1. FIRST NAME? Michelle
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes, my mom's best friend and my paternal great-grandmother
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Hmm.. friday night
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? I used to, but I use 'puters too much now so it's all skritchy-skretchy
5. YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? None of that processed ucky stuff (chicken pieces if I must answer)
6. KIDS? Just my Miss Jess
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Ah huh
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? This blog is the closest thing to it
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? No, not a great deal
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yep
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? I'd like to say I'm open to the suggestion.. but no, I don't think I could
12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Crispix
13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Nah.. I don't even unbuckle my sandals
14. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Banana
15. DO YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE A STRONG PERSON? I did, once upon a time
16. SHOE SIZE? 10-11
17. RED OR PINK? Pink
18. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My teeth (soon to be a thing of the past ) [now 100% a thing of the past!!!!!]
19. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My 2 best friends cos they live so far away (I've been lucky enough not to loose anyone too close. Just elderly friends and family. Yes I missed them but I appreciate what time I had with them more)
20. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Is always interesting, so if you're bored...
21. WHAT COLOR PANTS ARE YOU WEARING NOW? Chocolate Brown
22 YOU COULD BE 18 AGAIN WOULD YOU? Nah..
23. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Some guy who came in off the street needing assistance speaking to Department for Community Development (cos mum works for them and she is away and someone suggested he come here and see if I knew where she is. She isn't here so sucker me called the Kalgoorlie office for him)
24. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Metallic Blue
25. FAVORITE SMELL? Jasmine flowers in bloom
26. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED ON THE PHONE? My sister
27. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Their smile
28. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON THAT SENT THIS TO YOU? Well.. I pinched it but she seems like a pretty cool gal from her blog [yeah Lucy!!! hoorah!]
29. FAVORITE DRINK? Iced Tea, Iced Coffee (Masters only) and Coca-cola
30. FAVORITE SPORT? Netball
31. EYE COLOR? Green/Blue (depending on the light and who is looking at them)
32. HAT SIZE? Hat..?? Yeah right! I haven't worn a hat since primary school
33. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Nah, but am considering them
34. FAVORITE FOOD? Good ole home cooked roast
35. WHAT WAS THE LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED AT THE MOVIE THEATER? Over the Hedge (mum and I took Jessi while in Perth, her first time at a cinema)
36. SCARY MOVIE OR HAPPY ENDING? Happy Ending
37. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Brown prints
38. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter
39. HUGS OR KISSES? HUGS!
40. FAVORITE DESSERT? Custard and banana
41. WHO WILL MOST LIKELY RESPOND? n/a
42. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? n/a
43. WHAT BOOKS are you READING NOW? Ash: A secret history (yes.. still. haven't been reading much at all) [yes still... lol]
44. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Don't got one
45. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? CSI and CSI Miami
46. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Spring (daytime: birds etc, evenings: crickets, frogs etc)
47. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Who? (*lol* ok so the only song I can think of is Yellow Submarine but I don't think that would be a very objective answer)
48. THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Adelaide
49. WHAT IS YOU PRESENT OCCUPATION? Store Manager/Mother/Volunteer [no longer a store manager]
50. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Norseman, West Aus
51. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Flogged it hehe

More pointless questions!

Stole this from Vicki's blog. I dunno why I enjoy answering all these silly questions, but I do! Here goes..

RED
1. Closest red thing to you: perle cotton #5 (Coats Pelicano)
2. Last thing to make you angry: Jessica's daddy
3. Do you have a temper: ooh yeah
4. Are you a fan of romance: not the stories, but real life stuff I am all for!

ORANGE
1. Closest orange thing to you: a tissue box
2. Do you like to burn things: is this a trick question? *looks around cautiously*
3. Dress up for Halloween: Aussies don't do Halloween
4. Are you usually a warm-hearted person: usually? always!
5. Do you have anything against redheaded people: nope!!
6. Are you usually full of energy: no

YELLOW
1.Closest yellow thing: empty Calippo icey pole package
2. The happiest time[s] of your life: everything since my daughter came along, spending time with Kazza
3. Favorite holiday: Christmas
4. Are you a coward: depends
5. Do you burn or tan: burn then tan

GREEN
1. Closest green thing to you?: Aunt Lydias Caress Microfibre
2. Do you care about the environment: yeah
3. Are you jealous of anyone right now: probably
4. Are you a lucky person: I have a good life compared to many, I should feel lucky
5. Do you always want what you cant have: not always
6. Do you like being outdoors: yep
7. Are you Irish: I'm pretty sure my maternal grandfather was

BLUE
1. Closest blue thing to you: Jessie's halter dress/top I've been working on
2. Are you good at calming people down: usually
3. Do you like the sea: I do like it, but couldn't live there. always good for a holiday
4. What was the last thing that made you cry: the thought of losing Jessi
5. Are you a logical thinker: yup
6. Can you sleep easily: no

PURPLE
1. Last purple thing you saw: Jessi. she was wearing all purple and even managed to find a purple wand in her dress ups!
2. Like being treated to expensive things: it has its moments
3. Do you like mysterious things: no, i dont like secrets!
4. Favorite type of chocolate: Red Tulip easter egg choccies!
5. Ever met anyone in royalty: my Jessi sure thinks she's a princess, does that count? lol
6. Are you creative: yeah

PINK
1. Closest pink thing to you: my bra (lol, well it's true! my t-shirt if you prefer)
2. Do you like sweet things: yes and no. i find some things too sweet
3. Like play-fighting: not really
4. Are you sensitive: yes, and it can be a very easy weakness for others to find
5. Do you like music: yes

WHITE
1. Closest white thing to you: my skirt
2. Would you say you are innocent: me? umm.. *quick look around* of course I am!
3. Good at keeping the peace: I do my best
4. Do you like to play in the snow: *cries* never even seen snow!
5. Are you afraid of going to the doctors or dentist: nope

BLACK
1. Closest black thing to you: a straw
2. Ever enjoy hurting people: NO!
3. Are you sophisticated or silly: neither really
4. Would you like to go to space: I dont think I would
5. Do you have a lot of secrets: not with my friends and family
6. What is your favorite color: pastels (pink, blue, purple mainly)
7. Does the color you wear affect your mood: no, but my mood affects the colour I wear

Nothing to Post

Yes, been rather quiet around here. I hurt my hand!! On the weekend I was out and I went to grab one of those waist height rounded door knobs on an inward swinging door, and some kids shoved it hard from the other side right at that moment. YEOUCH! It really hurt and I fought back tears so hard in front of those smug lil brats who were stifling laughs between asking "are you ok?". Gotta love 14-16yr olds. Not!

I sat back down and a while later got a glass full of ice and rubbed the ice over it. My pants were soaked where the ice was melting then dripping all over the place!! The next morning I could hardly move my thumb. It's getting better now but it still hurts to hold a pen and crochet is out of the question. Even typing has it's limits. It is soooo frustrating, being so close to christmas. I need to get some things made and finished etc etc. UGH! Oh well. Better stop typing before I only make it worse. Hopefully can update with something achieved soon! I am so annoyed right now.