>Pants party.

>

I finished a whole two pairs of jumper-pants yesterday (or dacks, Bec?). I probably could have managed a couple more, but I got distracted.

Here is my lovely model, in Dr Evil mode (Can’t you see he is saying “Excellent!”?)…

…and cheeky monkey mode….

For peeps wondering how I made these, it was very simple – using the green woollies as a template, with one leg inside the other, I cut one leg from each sleeve, put one inside the other, right sides together & sewed the crotch seam. Then I just made a casing at the top for a drawstring – easy peasy!

>My Creative Space.

>

Today, my mission, should I choose to accept it (or, should The Boy find it in him to watch both kiddos for a bit after work..), is to make one or more of these old jumpers;

…into pairs of these…

…for this guy.

More creative spaces with the lovely Kirsty.

>Vic does Regretsy.

>

I still love Regretsy, they find some weird @#$% on Etsy & the posts & subsequent comments are often more funny than the misguided crafts they are…. “critiquing”.

I thought I’d compile a little list of things that I’ve come across recently that should have been on Regretsy with some witty remarks, but instead are just here. With me.

Feel free to be sardonic in the comments, just like the real thing (Also just like the real thing, the pics link to the shop, so… well, what are you waiting for…?)

Soleless shoes! Who knew we each had several pairs of these lying about in the form or twine, old string & for the particularly ironic… shoelaces? If you have none of the above, you probably can’t afford shoes WITH soles, these are bound to be in your budget for a mere $5 plus post.

I was going to post this just because I was well freaked out by the head; the title of this piece is “Aretha Fishing From my Going Fishing & Throwing them back in Collection” & I was thinking “I’d bloody well throw that back in too love!”. Then I saw in the description that it is meant to be ‘utterly ridiculous’. In the most wonderful way. Of course.

From the description; “This is the greatest thing!I made this out of our sugar container when it was empty I wiped it clean,then I cut the top off and added a cute golden pipe cleaner for a handle!!”

I really don’t think there is anything I can add except to express my deep disappointment that she doesn’t ship outside America.

 

>Posted too soon!

>

The mailman has been!

Thank you Kate! (Punky said, as soon as she saw it “Kate made that too!” & wanted to try it on… who am I to say no?)xo

>Kidnapped.

>

This is Punk with her oppy find from yesterday on the way home from the play centre.

She’s wearing a very special new outfit & looking super cute, but I feel like I’ve stolen a pretty girl from here.

(On a sidenote, This Week… is working! It is! We’re doing stuff, Punk & me, we’re having fun too! Not too late to write down your intentions for the week & then, well, DO THEM! You may be surprised!)

>This Week…

>

…buoyed by my procrastination elimination success, this week I am going to make more time for The Punk, starting with a trip to the play centre today.

It seems that time with Miss Punk, quality time where we draw or make something or just play whatever game she wants to play, comes last at the moment, & that’s just not right.

With Suspence finally sleeping better & more often, I should have had more time for Punky but alas I have just used it to breathe. Time to pull my socks up & have more fun with my beautiful big girl again.

What are you up to this week?

>Roll up, roll up!

>

Good afternoon ladies & gentlebeans & welcome to the Punky Awards!

There has been a little unrest lately in some quarters of the blogging world, about authenticity, sponsorship, honesty, motives, ethics… while eavesdropping on some of this it occurred to me that I don’t have any inkling of any of those sorts of “issues” when visiting my favourite blogs, & maybe that’s why they’re my favourites? If I don’t like what I think someone is doing on their blog I just don’t go back – it’s their blog, not mine & they can do whatever they like with it, but if they are obviously out for fame or whatever meagre fortune a blogger might be able to squeeze from promotions, ads & free trials, then their place is not somewhere I want to be. My favourite blogs are comfy cosy places, made so by their genuine owners who are part of a vibrant community online.

Ironically, I don’t know where my little blog sits in that community; I don’t post purely crafty stuff, I rarely bake, I don’t just blog about kids or being a mum, I just do my own eclectic thing over here & if someone likes it they are welcome to stay, but if they don’t, well, tough titties as they say in the classics (…which genre those classics belong in I shall leave to your imagination…).

Anywho, without any further ado (What IS ‘ado’?!) I would like to present the very first Punky awards to some of my favourite bloggy peeps, peeps you probably visit too, just because they’re ace & I like them & want them to know it. I want them to know that THEY make blogging fun for me & so many others & I appreciate them sharing little bits of themselves with me, you, us. Because I wanted this to be a sneaky surprise I have blatantly stolen pictures of them from their blogs without asking. It’s not at all good form to do this you know, very bad blogging etiquette indeed, so no telling, okay?

The first Golden Punk goes to…. *insert drumroll here* Cam of Curly Pops fame. Cam is amazing, truly.

She draws, designs fabric, makes brooches, sews, provides tutorials, provides encouragement, links freely & without obligation & is, I think, just a pillar of the crafty community. Her only downside is a dirty little Milo habit.

Next up is Kate of Foxs Lane.

I am in awe of Kate, quite honestly, & what she manages to fit into her hours, her days, her weeks. She has three gorgeous girls & a devoted farmer boy come husband, she has an organic farm, an online store, a knitting/crocheting/sewing addiction & somehow seventy hours in every day. I am always amazed when I pop over & she’s finished another project, or twelve, solves some parenting crisis or other & more than likely ploughed a field….

This Golden Punk is for someone so truly beautiful it shines through her blog, her emails, her comments… it shines so bright you have to squint a bit to see clearly, but then you do, you can see & you can read & you can FEEL that this woman gives a damn, she might be the most genuine person I am yet to come across in blog land, she is certainly the best baker.

I’m talking about you Cathie!

A couple more, if you are sitting comfortably? If I had a budget of millions (okay, just ‘a budget’) this is where I would undoubtedly have to insert some sort of Beyoncé interlude, but thankfully, I don’t & we can just move on….

Jess. A Golden Punk with teddy bear ears on for Jess.

 

A heart of gold, a houseful of bears & someone you can tell anything to (& I have!). She doesn’t realise at all how special she is you know, & that’s a crying shame. She doubts herself too much, but that makes for some of the most amazing little bears & animals you’ll ever see. She’s not happy until they are perfect; perfect in their unique little wonky way.

Another special one, an embroidered Golden Punk for Cath of Chunky Chooky, I like Cath’s piece of blog land because she pulls no punches.

She’s brutally honest when she needs to be & doesn’t take any crap from anyone. She’s an ethical crafter & a talented one.

And last (for now, there are SO MANY MORE…) but not least is Nic from Yardage Design.

Everything Nic makes is beautiful. Seriously. I have had the pleasure of winning, buying & being gifted work from Yardage Design & everything has been so gorgeous. It took me a very long time to use one of her tea towels for the first time as I thought it was too nice to use! I’m glad I started though because it makes me smile when I’m in the kitchen, it’s fun & bright just like Nic herself & her blog is just great too. Lovely pictures of lovely things – what’s not to like?

…and that folks, is it for the very first instalment of the Punky Awards. I hope you had fun, don’t get too messy at the after party, okay?

>Smitten.

>

Really I am. i get all teary when I think about how beautiful this wee boy is & how much I adore him. He is such a joyful little being; The Punk was a pretty grumpy bebe earlier on, but this guy has been so sweet from the get go. And of course, he just keeps getting better…

Luff you my little big man. xo

>Have you ever…

>

…bought vino just because you liked the bottle?

*coughs*

Me neither.

>Think Positive.

>

Already it’s working! Yesterday, instead of telling myself that it’s too hard to organise both kiddos to do the rounds of the oppies, I just did it. And I am so glad I did!

We didn’t leave a single oppy empty handed & I am so happy – the few times I’ve been into oppies lately I haven’t found much at all, I thought perhaps my thrifting luck had finally run it’s course, but maybe I just didn’t have the right attitude…

Yesterday’s haul;

…I have been looking for a big basket for The Boy to collect his produce in for ages, this one will be perfect! Stuffed inside it;

A cute wee sewing box with the very same pineapple crochet hook I have etched into my memory from a traumatic “lesson”…

A little plate I’ll send Mum for Mother’s Day; 1982 would have been her first.

And an adorable vintage sleeping bag for Le Punk.

There was also a vase, & two brand new pairs of shoes THAT FIT. I only got one pair, came home & lamented the fact, remembered “no more procrastinating!” & rushed back down to get the second pair.

I also saw some preserved bread & snapped a pic for Jodie as her mum used to be a master varnished bread craftswoman (do pop over to Jodie’s & donate $5 to the tsunami appeal; you’ll be in the running to win an adorable softie made by the woman herself; I’m going to!)…

Last but not least when I was photographing my goodies Miss Punk wanted a photo of her finds too…

Hullo Oppy Mojo! Don’t leave me so long next time.