More knits

Two posts in one night, that's unheard of! Just getting round to taking some photos of a jumper I made Mr 4 for his birthday. I love it!

This soaker skirty for Miss 4 months is just off the needles.

My knitting bag is so full it is ready to explode. I'm making dresses, soakers, jumpers, vests and cardi's. I'm getting in early this year so I don't get caught out by cold weather and have to buy my children winter woolies!

yarnie

Today was one of those days where Miss 4 months wouldn't sleep anywhere but on me. So into the Yamo she went, on my back, and I dragged my yarn boxes out to do some winding. It's the one thing I can do happily for hours with a sleeping baby on my back. Mr 4 and Miss 2 were straight over. As usual. Mr 4 is always so eager to try whatever it is that I'm doing, so I showed him how to use the ball winder. I held the yarn for him as I don't have a swift and to my surprise, he wound a pretty decent ball! It's a bit loose, but easily knitable!

Then he wanted to try being the swift for me so I could wind the remaining skeins quickly and make lunch, and again, he held the skein up perfectly and even had the wrist flicks down pat! Anyone who has ever had the joy of hand winding a centre pull ball knows what I mean!

How gorgeous are these two skeins? The rainbow is my kind of rainbow. Bright and fun! The second one is such a stunning metallic shimmer, it's just beautiful. They're both 12ply WOOT, and they're from Fauve Fibres. Love.

I've got some lovely hand painted yarn that I'm going to make into a pair of shorties for Miss 4 months but I needed a co-ordinating colour for the waistband and leg cuffs because I won't have enough of the variegated yarn on its own. So out came the dye pot, the vinegar and food dye. And my audience :)

So all in all we had a wonderful day. Miss 4 months slept for hours, Mr 4 and Miss 2 were busy and happy and I got to dye some wool and cake loads of wool!

Winter knits

I've started this winters knits for my children. I finished this lovely handspun pinafore for Miss 2.

The purple trim is the divine WOOLganics and the gorgeous handspun is from Fauve Fibres. I'll be at the Northey Street markets this Sunday, alongside Fauve Fibres and many other creative souls. Looking forward to a day of great company, great atmosphere and great food!

Bedding to bedding

I finally did some sewing last night, after blogging yesterday about having to find time to sew! I used one of my op-shop finds from yesterday as well. A lovely single bed cotton fitted sheet that had no elastic left in it. It cost me $2. I turned it into a pair of cotton summer pj's for Miss 2, and have plenty left over. I heart op-shopping. And Miss 2 hearts her new pj's.

So single bed sheet to pyjamas. Easy peasy.

Op-shop bargains

I went op-shopping with my 3 kiddies today. Check out my bargains!

Op-shop number 1

One of my favourite op-shops, with very low prices and a real mix of everything.

Honourable mentions go to the huge funky dinner plates with red circles round the edge for 50c each, the pink cotton single bed fitted sheet with no elastic that is going to be recycled into a pair of pj's for my daughter for $2, two complete puzzles which will keep my son amused for hours for $5, and a set of gorgeous vintage duck plates for 50c each.

Op-shop number 2

The closest op-shop to me, and it's a super centre. It's HUGE! The kids always head straight to the toys to play and I get to browse around and ferret through everything.

Honourable mentions go to the funky orangey yellow corduroy I found in the fabric pile for $1.50 and the vintage floral woven cotton that seems to match perfectly for $2, a pair of well loved girls Birki's for $6, and a gorgeous handmade dress for $2.

Miss 2 modelling her new dress!

So, as usual, I picked up some lovely fabrics and have wonderful ideas for them.... now just to find the time to make them! 

2 months?!

Has it really been 2 months since my last post? Really? Gosh, where has the time gone?! I might do a quick recap of the last 2 months to fill in the gaps then. What has happened to me in last two months? Well...

I turned 30!

My MIL bought me a brand new fancy pants sewing machine which I pick up in a few weeks, and my family got me this...

... a Nikon D3100! I've always loved photography so my new digital SLR is a much wanted and longed for gift. I'm off on a short course next weekend to learn how to use it properly.

We had Christmas.

I think the biggest surprise for me was my husband buying me this...

... a wool winder! He found the Tangled Yarns shop location online and went in himself and bought it, all without me knowing. He's definitely a keeper! I've had loads of fun winding wool. Loads!

Hmm, what else has happened?

We got a four year old on Boxing Day :)

We got piggy tails!

We went from counting Anya's age in weeks to months!

Otherwise, I guess the biggest thing that has happend is lots and lots of rain! All the river crossings around us are in flood, and for a waterway ecologist like me, there is little more beauty than to drive around and admire all the swollen rivers, inundated floodplains and active birdlife. Except maybe birthing a baby into your husbands hands by candle light at 2am in your own house, surrounded by family and powerful women.

So what's in store for us this year?

We're off to Ballina for our annual Australia Day holiday with the in laws, Mr 4 is off to kindy, we've sworn to do a handmade pledge cross consumption rebellion type challenge and only make or buy our clothes secondhand, loads more revegetation on our block, attending markets regularly and making the most of long weekends and holidays by doing as much camping as possible!

Back in the groove

I spent this morning soaking in the atmosphere at Northey Street market in the company of my two girls, Miss 2 and Miss 7 weeks.

It was delightful! I thoroughly enjoy being back in the market groove; the hustle and bustle of packing the car, getting to the market, setting up the stall, sitting back and enjoying the vibe and chatting to other stallholders. It's so nice to be in a place where people are passionate about things that matter so much to me- breastfeeding, babywearing, homebirth, sustainable living, ecology, permaculture to name a few.

Northey Street always has such lovely caring people. I met some wonderful people today, and bumped into many friends. I'm looking forward to going back in 2 weeks time with Fauve Fibres.