Eye Spy Jars and other stuff

I've been wagging the blog again, I know. My to-do list exploded and I became utterly over-whelmed, not only with the things I had to do but, in fact, more so with the things I *wanted* to do. Too much, too much. So I stepped away from everything for a while to try and clear my head.

I need to learn to slow down. I'm getting there.

My little big boy turned four just a few days ago and we had a little road trip up to Rockhampton where my husband was working, so we could all be together for Clarys' birthday. It's about a five hour trip, so not as bad as spending 12 hours in the car but still..............if the kids are unhappy the whole way 5 hours can be a very, very long time :(

I am always on the look out for new ways to entertain the kids in the car. When you travel the roads we do there's only so much 'I spy something with my little eye, starting with T' you can take (because IT'S A TREE, IT'S ALWAYS A TREE because there is nothing else to see). Actually Clary's only just graduated from the kind of 'I Spy' which goes like this

'I spy with my little eye something starting with..........five!!'

You cannot beat 'I Spy' with the little ones for some tricky stuff, that's for sure.

Anyway, these babies have probably been doing the rounds of blog-land for years but I have only just discovered them........Eye Spy Jars! Brilliant.

 You fill are jar (or two) with rice and an assortment of little trinkets, shake the jar up and you're pretty much done. Before putting the little bits and bobs into the jars I placed them on white paper to photograph them printed the photos out (only just a little bit bigger than business card size), laminated them and then provided each child with a jar and matching card to see what they could find.

 I did these at the last minute and didn't know if I would be able to find enough stuff to go in them but, ah, amazing how many little bits of 'stuff' I came up with by rummaging around (you'd be amazed what was in the bottom of my handbag). I popped a number 6 in for Ruby and a number 4 in the other for Clary, those two things came from my scrapbooking stash.

 No I'm not going to tell you that it kept them entertained for hours and hours, but it did keep them busy for  a little while. When I got a chance to have a go at them and the kids told me the things they hadn't been able to find.........it kept me quiet for a little while too :)

Even my husband was intrigued for a bit there.

Another last minute job was the train drivers' cap. I decided I would make Clary a train drivers' cap for his birthday after seeing a great tutorial/pattern here. I had only just a week or so before picked up some blue ticking fabric (very randomly, had no specific plans for it at the time in true 'second stitch' fashion) so I was all good to go.

I have never made a hat before and I was surprised at how well it came along.

 I lined mine with calico.

 But even as I was doing it........ I just knew........it was going to be too small. But I was pushed for time, no time for a re-do, so I just kept going hoping it might just be OK.

Uh uh. Too small. But I'm happy with the way it turned out and am going to make another one, a bigger one. Even though I don't actually think anyone else was excited as me over the train cap ;)

Get your skates on!

Does anybody else remember these?

The skates that strap on to your shoes, they're adjustable in size?
I remember them so clearly. Cumbersome and awkward. We would skate around under our house for hours.

I have been thinking a lot lately about the way kids grow up today, compared to when we, their parents did.
We had just a few toys, if we were lucky.
Our kids have everything. Way too many toys.
Too much of EVERYTHING.

As a kid all of my clothing and shoes were second-hand or hand-me-downs.
My children have loads of second-hand clothes, but they have new clothes too.

As a kid, I was allowed to just be a kid.
I wish the same for my own children.

I want them to play and dream and be happy, without exposure to adult concepts, thoughts and worries, for as long as they possibly can. You would think that every parent would want this. But sometimes it seems that it's not much of a priority for some people.

Even looking through store catalogues sometimes, I get annoyed.
I see childrens clothing. But it's not. It's mini versions of adults clothing.
Why do people want their kids to dress like little adults?
I don't understand.
I love vintage childrens clothing because it could never be mistaken for something that might belong to a petite adult. 'Back then' there was clear definition between childrens clothing and adults clothing. Now, not so much.

Anyway, I'm rambling and I could go for hours with no direction, waffling on, and reaching no real conclusion.

Cut the waffle.

I found two pairs of these skates in the op-shop today and it made my soul happy.
Didn't know if my kids would feel the same but you know what? They do. They were so excited when I showed them to them, and had a blast mucking around when they got them on.

Score one for me in my battle to see kids being kids.

A Simple Scarf - from old sheets

This is the easiest thing in the world to make, but still, it's cute, I think. I have oodles and oodles of old sheets in my fabric stash, this did not even make a dent on it.

 Just grab a few different prints, cut out some squares and sew them together. This is backed with a piece of flannel sheet, a very well worn flannel sheet which makes it so super soft and snuggly.

That's it. It's simple and adds a bit of cute to your day.

 It's not exactly scarf wearing weather here yet, so I was sweltering a little taking these pictures.

 It will be perfect for autumn.

I have another one cut out and ready to sew up, I want to add a teeny little pocket to the end of it, just big enough to pop in a sprig of lavender so I can squish it up and enjoy the smell of lavender all day long.

Japanese Craft Books

Like so many others I am a serious lover of Japanese Crafting books. I first became aware of their existence 5 or 6 years ago and I've been smitten ever since. Simple things, beautifully made.

 Presented in the flawless, simplistic style that Japanese crafters seem to have running through their veins. I treated myself to a few books at the end of last year and I don't think I will tire of looking at them for a long time to come.

 The way they showcase each piece just makes my heart go pitter patter (and the models are adorable too).

Look at these two, they are sweet enough to eat.

 And this!!

 I desperately want to make this cape and have been working on one for the last week or so, it is frustrating me no end. If you are not familiar with Japanese Crafting books, the instructions are entirely in Japanese (imagine! how strange?) and I do not read Japanese.

 Just can't figure out how to attatch the hood to the cape, the pattern seems an odd shape. But I'm still working on it. Haven't given up. Yet.

 I love yo-yo's (or Suffolk Puffs as my mum calls them), and would love to make one of the necklaces. So cute.

So much cuteness. I want to make all of them.

Please wait here.

Please wait. I'll be back soon.

Bed Nooks

I love little nooks, all kinds. Bed nooks, book nooks, brekkie nooks, any kind of nook at all. I don't really have any nooks in my home right now, apart from a couple of spots where I have pushed chairs into corners and declared those spots to be reading nooks.

But I'm always looking for inspiration both for the home we are in now, and the home(s) we may be in in the future. I hope one day to have bed nooks, reading nooks AND a breakfast nook. That would be dreamy.

For now I am loving this little blue bunk bed nook, ever so cute (picture found here).

 This bunk bed nook with brilliant yellow curtains is just perfect. I have looked at a whole lot of nooks online and so many of them are 'design magazine perfect', which just isn't me, but I can imagine having something like the nooks above and below in my own home.

This reading nook (found here) is a converted cupboard.........AWESOME!!!

 And this mishmashed up bed nook (image found here) with it's crocheted blanket and sigh-inducing quilt would be just the perfect spot to get comfy and read my favourite magazines.

I guess by the time I get my nooks we may even have some more pets so............why not....bunk beds for cats!!! I never would have thought of suitcases for cat beds (bunk beds at that), but the amazing LoveNostalgicWhimsy on Etsy did. She makes these to sell. Adorable.

What I (almost) Wore.

A summer outfit for under $10. Easy peasy. This is my 'What I (almost) Wore' due to the fact that I had serious doubts over the length of that dress, and got changed, ha ha. But it certainly would have been a bargain basement outfit if it had been worn.

 The dress came from Wayne's World. Yes......Wayne's World, the shop. For those of you who are not familiar with Wayne's World, it is a two dollar store. And yes, again, I shopped for fashion in a two dollar store. The dress was $5 and has previously only been worn over jeans, and after this brief trial in the privacy of my own home, will continue to be worn only over jeans. Way too short as a dress for someone who spends her days picking stuff up off the floor/ground.

The belt (I apoligize in advance for any horrific 80's/90's flashbacks any of you may suffer after seeing this) came from the op shop, I think it was about $1.
White sandals, also from the op shop, $2 I think (it was a while ago).
So that's a total of $8.
If only that dress (isn't that print cute) was just a smidge longer.