Knitting With Stripes.

I'm on to the exciting part of the little kimono jumper using double pointed needles to make ties. It is so quick and easy that ropes seem to fall from my hands like magic, like Rumpelstiltskin spinning his straw into gold.
You might have noticed I mainly knit in stripes. Well, there are a couple of reasons for that. First, I get bored if I am only using one colour and then the other is that it is so much easier to count the rows. And I have boys, they seem to be made for stripes.
Sail making activities are now well under way. Last night I had a play around and am thrilled by how simple it was. Just knitting two together every three to four rows on one side gave it a sort of billowy triangle shape. Now I will have to start attaching it I suppose.
Archie and I finished reading the first Harry Potter book today. I have read it at least twice and loved it but, I have never enjoyed it as much as I have sharing it with Archie, listening to his giggles and gasps. So now someone has to always have a lightening bolt drawn on his forehead, just underneath his floppy blond hair. That very same person asked me if it would be okay to dye his hair black. I said no.

Boat Thoughts.

I'm still pretty tied up with Ann Wood's boats (check sidebar for her link). Well, with the sails and masts to be precise. The hulls are addictive but I think I am getting towards the stage where I should at least complete one. So now I am thinking that maybe knitted sails might be good, and cotton liberty sails with slots for the mast and bottom thingy to go into. Hugo's room had a much needed tidy up today (as did the bathroom - my chest now has more room to breathe) and I now think he could do with a few sail boats hanging from his ceiling.

Maureen (my lovely mother in law), if you are seeing this, here is a photo of your tomatoes which Archie and Jonno collected. Delicious and a very big thank you!!!

Odds and Ends.

I am now onto the sleeves of this little kimono style cardigan. I have made so many mistakes along the way just from being a little tired at night but it seems to have absorbed them with minimal scarring. Because I am really enjoying a bit of escape with the telly at night, knitting has been a great way to unwind as shamefully, I can still see the screen. Cheap and tawdry of me I know.

Tomorrow I am going to have a pocket of time to myself and I am trying to avoid the whole, must finish pile of paintings, must finish pile of sewing, should finish pile of washing. There is only so much that can be fitted into the time and I certainly don't want to drive myself into a tightly scheduled, spiralling insanity.

The boys have been playing with my acrylics and loving the colours that have suddenly become available to them. Just for a bit of a change, we have been experimenting with not mixing colours and ending up with a canvas of sludge brown. I felt like a bit of a nazi but it has been worth it as they are so proud of their paintings and how the colours sing out.

I think I might go and write a list of the things I would like to do and work out from there what is possible. No need to pile myself up with ridiculous expectations.

Until tomorrow xxooxxooxx.

Friends on the Weekend.

Friends who come with "Blueshi".

Friends who arrive and ignore the crafting mess and crafting table cloth.

And plums to fill us with summer sweetness.

Hope you had a good weekend.

xxooxxooxx

Taking Inspiration.

At the moment our house is in a major state of craft and relaxation. I have been completely bowled over by Julie Arkell (google her, she doesn't have a blog) with her amazing paper mache creatures and Ann Wood with her wonderful paper mache boats. As a result, the giant kitchen table is covered in paper, glue and paint, a mess which will remain for the next few days as the boys and I have become obsessed with it.

The by-product of all this is a very relaxed household. Even our rabbit Big Ears is just slouching about, napping here and there willy-nilly.

Last night was a late one because after finishing the rabbity-creature's face, I then had to crochet a body and head for it. Lucky there was enough random T.V. to keep me company... hurry up ratings season and begin again.

Movies and Crochet.

In the first week of school holidays, Archie and I went to 'Where the Wild Things Are' at the movies. It was a special day being just the two of us so I made him a Maxesque boy (with no tail and quite different so please don't sue me) with fierce teeth as requested by Archie (although without the dripping blood he thought would be a good finishing touch). We both loved the movie and I so appreciated a book/film being made where the consequences of anger were explored and not sugar coated. I know a lot of people thought it may have been a bit too scary but as the mother of two boys, I can honestly say that anger in small and tall people is a frightening thing and the result even short term is often devastating to all those around. Anger is a real issue for lots of smaller people (I am meaning children here, not actually short adults) in the world and it is not often issues like this are addressed in film. And then beyond that, the puppets, the music and the scenery are sublime (and filmed in Victoria which filled me with goodness and warmth).
Today being the second last week of the holidays and with two boys wanting to see 'Fantastic Mr. Fox', I didn't have enough time to crochet fantastic fox-like creatures for two. Fortunately, Mum had made a fox for Archie which a promptly attached to a piece of wool which Archie then wore proudly. Hugo graciously made do with wearing Archie's 'Almost Max' with many promises to have something special crocheted just for him.
I am utterly mad on 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' by the way (although the book will always come first in my heart) and am thrilled to see wonderful films being made for children that capture the essence of handmade. Computer animated films are terrific but it is hard to beat the warmth that radiates from 'F.M.F.'. Added to that, the dialogue and casting in it are spot on. Who is more fantastic than George Cloony I ask.
Posts have been a little bit slow lately, school holidays have been great but also long so there has been a lot of parenting time going into the day. They just don't handle neglect as well as I would like. More to come, Archie and I are experimenting with paper mache tomorrow. Can't wait. xxooxxooxx.

Let's pretend it's just all Zen.

Small, scruffy haired boys watching Dr. Harry early in the morning. These holiday lie-ins have been great I tell you. And to think, one day (a long way into the future) they might be bribed into bringing me cups of tea. It will definitely have to be on the pocket money list when they are older.
I am testing my fingers out with a bit of knitting. So far so good but with much less padding on my right pointer I am ready to down needles by the end of the evening. The wool is very soft luckily, part of the 'Luxury' range by Bendigo Woollen Mills although in this photo, the colours aren't really showing up properly.

A few works-in-progress. I always like leaving a few plans lying around during school holidays. It helps me to remember there will be daytime routines again and eventually, even the odd spot of daytime creating.

Ohhhhh, that's nice, I just heard Hugo say sincerely to his brother, "Sorry I said I hate you". Yes, one of those afternoons where they veer from love to hate and back again in the blink of an eye. I have just started reading Sarah Napthali's book "Buddhism for Mothers" which has been a wonderful reminder that I am allowed to separate my emotions from the boys and deal with the situation at hand rather than take it on board. Breathing deeply has been the most powerful tool in helping me with this and has really made a difference. Bombs exploding... breathe... spiky words being thrown... breathe... matches being lit... umm, better react. xxooxxooxx.