reconstruction

I Shrunk The Hand Knits........... There. It is said! 
Mum - I am sorry!

I'm a knitter. A - not especially often and very slow knitter - but a knitter non the less. I know how much work and love and not-particularly-cheap yarn goes into a child's jumper. I know that when it is a gift it is made with thought and generosity and a whole-lotta time.

I know that wool hand knits require hand washing. HAND washing!

I now know that the hand wash setting on the washing machine does not mean that the machine has hands...... no no no - that machine does not have hands, so don't you go believing that when you read it. And, even though that machine is only attached to the cold water tap - it can heat itself up All On Its Own. It's true.

I also know that even when the grubby hand knits that have been sitting in a pile for days, weeks.... waiting to be hand washed because well - 

there are lists upon lists of things that are waiting around to get done and it's only the basics that ever seem to get a look in -

that actually, It Really Is Best to let that pile remain a pile for as long as deemed necessary, than be thrown with ignorant trust and faith in everything 'n anything written (setting: Hand Wash) into said washing machine that does not come with hands - and get...... shrunk.

But surely there are ways to redeem such naivety (laziness)?
Re-construct. Recreate. Recycle. Redeem.

                                                     

Even in the midst of Summer our girls like to take a hot water bottle to bed....yeah, go figure. 

Anyhow Harper Blue needed a cover for hers. 

Done.

And all that lovely work that my mum created has not gone to waste. It will still be snuggled into and loved - every night - yep, even when the temps hit 30.

And there is still plenty more for pieces to be made into small cushions for both the girls.
Redeemed? maybe...

Any recreations or redemptions been going on at your place this week?

Visiting: our creative spaces

the countdown calendar and a creative community

The countdown calendar got done! Phew!

I am personally looking forward to the 5th day before Christmas - it reads:

"paint mama & papa's toenails any colour, everyone get Dress-Up-Box dressed for a pancake & popcorn dinner!"

If you're interested in the painting above the fireplace - it's by local artist Marcia King. We bought it from a wonderful shop called can't think straight - just around the corner from us.

When I saw it - it immediately left a very deep imprint. I couldn't let it go. Some people find it very dark and then they look at it a little longer - a little harder - and see that it is quite the opposite. 

To me it says... 'we're all just feeling our way'.

I live in a small town full of creativity. I am reminded of it in the corners of my home.

That beautiful bird painting was created for us by our friend and artist Josh as a gift for a bit-of-a-celebration we had back in February (i'll write about it soon... it was insanely fun!). 

She's special that bird, don't you think? She Knows things! 

You can read more on Josh here and here.

The mortar and pestle were also gifted to us In Celebration by a group of very thoughtful women who know that I am quite taken by the works of local ceramicist Bridget Bodenham. The majority of her work is exquisitely fine - smooth - personal somehow. If you follow the link and see her spoons, you'll see that they have no place in a home that is shared with a 21 month old.... no way!

And the plates on the lower shelf - again gifted - and again by another very talented local ceramic artisan who forms a part of  Clayspace - Daylesford Region Ceramics Co-operative. If you're ever in the area - please visit them. Their very inspiring, beautiful space sits looking over this lake:

via

Yep - not a bad place to live at all....
~
Visiting: Kootoyoo's creative spaces

better late....

It's late I know - but I'm on the job to get this made As Soon As Possible!
It's time to stop putting it all off and embrace the spirit of it!
Also - finding a whole lot of inspiration here - and wishing I could get my knitting fingers to dance....
Oh - and if you recall me ranting about this bloke - you'll know I'm a fair bit fond of him!
We SAW him perform on Friday night at the Corner Hotel - He absolutely did not disappoint!
Nor did the surprise Melbourne getaway - nor the Greek feast - nor the very fun company of 'me man'...

blackout poetry

I was visiting artistic odyssey a few weeks back and came across a post on blackout poetry featuring the work of Tyler Knott.

It encouraged me to search for more ....

And when I did - i discovered Austin Kleon

I have to say...... there's something about blackout poetry. 

I love it!

It ignites curiosity - maybe a bit of intrigue - bit of cloak 'n dagger - revelation of code....

You know those movies where you get access to an underworld. 

Where you're driven through dark empty roads lined with very tall ominous trees. Usually you're in a limousine driven by someone who is very still, very silent and very faceless. 

There's music - it's unsettling.

And then you're driven up a very long driveway and at the end there's nearly always a mansion. All lit up and powerful against the dark. They're beautiful those mansions - just like the Siren's song.

But usually you're not really getting all this because you are - of course - blindfolded.

You're taken (by the faceless silent) through those towering doors - you're blindfold is removed.

And there it is - (you can fill this space with you're own imagery....)

For me, it's the thought:

"So! That's what's been going on behind these doors..... so that's what's Really been happening"

Blackout feels the same. 

Like you've been let in on a secret.

"So that's what's Really been going on behind those words! And all this time I though it was saying something entirely different"

via

And what a wonderful way to write horoscopes!

I think this process of creating poetry would be great for kids. Mine can't read yet - but just getting them to circle words then colour in the rest of the page..... well - it would be so interesting to see what they reveal.

Reminder

I have framed a drawing I did a while back.

Not because it's especially good.... But to act as a reminder.

A reminder that drawing - for me - is relaxing, meditative.... enjoyable.

At certain - particularly! -  busy times of life, these things get overlooked. Why we don't prioritise the things that are good for us is a reoccurring question.

We have two notebooks here, one for each of the girls, to record their observations and the wonderful quirkiness of their experimentation with language. One is completely blank as the youngest is still talking in a very unique and magical language Completely Of Her Own (oh what awaits those pages....)!
The notebook that belongs to our eldest has some beauties..

"the moon is awake and he's at my house!"
"strawberries..... don't eat strawberries!"

But then - this:

"Mama! I can't hear you, you're very busy cleaning!"

Oh.... Dear!

So - this framing has a few reminders stamped on it should I choose to see them. 

Drawing is pleasurable - Yes. Take time to do more of it - Yes.

And - if she and she and I all sit beside each other and draw together - well.... that speaks for itself.

.....just after I wipe the cereal from the table, change a nappy, wipe a nose, resolve a conflict, interpret, negotiate, feed.

It will happen - I'm-Sure-Of-It!

How about you? Anything 'written' on your wall? What does it say?

More Creative Spaces here.

To follow the pattern - or not follow the pattern.....

Ok..... so I found this pattern on Ravelry. 

Beautiful huh?

Clearly..... when I was (ahem) following the instructions -

I wasn't concentrating!!! ...... at all.

But you know - I don't mind the outcome of my lack of concentration.

I added the bead but I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it!

Have you come across a knitted necklace pattern that you'd recommend? That you followed - or didn't!

I think I'd like to give it another go....

Visit some more creative spaces here!

Rock

Get INSPIRED - by the intricate and beautiful work of this Artist - then...

grab a rock

paint it

and put it in your garden.... or with some other rocks... or next to the letterbox for the posty to check out!

Visit some more spaces here.

My creative space

I'm not great at sewing! Really, really not great...

But I'm lucky - I like a rough edge. A raw, incomplete, irregular, surprising edge.

And I enjoy sewing.

I found some inspiration in Growing Up Sew Liberated (great title don't you think?). 

The project - seen here - that I (sort of) followed, uses numbers instead of letters, straight edges instead of....., colourful fabric cut-outs instead of basic outlines, pegs and branches instead of velcro and double sided tape.

But I'm happy with my adaptation. And sometimes my 3-nearly-4 year old is too.

I don't have a strong interest or inclination toward 3 years olds learning the alphabet. The world for them is pretty big on sensory stimulation and learning as it is.

In growth

In relating to their surroundings and to others

In themselves

In play - most importantly 

In Play

But providing opportunity in learning, as opposed to the possible anxiety of expectation, certainly has weight for me.

At the moment our letters are used as tools for actions. 

Play, Dance, Fun, Make, Cake

Or a friend's name

The letters themselves aren't of much interest as yet - except that it's fun to put them in different spots, and feel their texture, and hide them.

And when that interest evolves and grows into something else, these rough edged - sewn with love - softly textured letters will be waiting..... well, at least the ones that haven't been hidden too well!

What's been happening in your Creative Space?

My creative space

I've been inspired by quite a few posts from Kootoyoo in the past.

But this was a particular gem that got me very busy sewing lacey fabric pieces around jars.... lots of lacey fabric pieces, lots of jars.... lot's. 

Most of them were used as lanterns for a 'rather big bash' we had at the start of the year.

We used candles. It rained.

Never mind. Fun was still had and the lanterns still looked beautiful - drowned as they were.

I recently decided to make a few over - give them new life - new perspective.... 

I filled them with soil, chucked in a succulent and hung them from a circular metal frame we found at the market. Then hung that at the front of the house.

So far - succulents, jars, lacey fabric pieces and myself, are quite happy with the new (dry) arrangement.

The favourite still lights our way at dinner time!

What's been happening in your Creative Space?