[Masha Richart]

Wow LightningMcS – that is awesome!

[Lightning McStitch]

Oh bummer. Seems that we missed the deadline by a day and the designer had to use another image. That’ll teach me, must add Oliver+S to my address book so emails go straight to my inbox.

boo hoo.

[needlewoman]

Oh what a pip, L! Think of it like the Oscars – it’s pretty fantastic to be nominated – although winning is better. And chances are, another bike/kids company may ask you; it’s such a fantastic outfit and photo.

[Tamara]

I wrote a reply yesterday but obviously didn’t press “add topic”! It is a complete shame but like Fiona has already stated someone else could ask so be ready! An exciting opportunity that I am bummed you missed though!

Show entry forms are due in tomorrow and I don’t know what to make!! Finding my skates!

[Masha Richart]

I’m so excited about the summer sale and I have FIeld Trip, Rollerskate and Fairy tale in my cart. The only problem is that my girls are currently size 3 and size 4 and I don’t know what sizes to get. If I were sure I’d use Fairytale before next year I’d get the 6m-4 size, but I can’t be sure. Decisions decisions.

[Nicole]

I just picked up several Straight Stitch patterns. I thought I would take my own advice and get started on a few early presents.

McStitch, that is such a pity. I am so disappointed for you.

[Tamara]

They’d be good as presents, especially for hard to please teens and teachers.

I just received two watch minder 3’s through the mail. They are a normal looking digital watch but they vibrate with programmed reminders. Of course they came from the US because there is nowhere here that sells them without an outrageous price tag! I bought them for the kids mainly to help them to self manage more efficiently – the likes of my nagging are on the out! Things like paying attention and remembering to stick the hand up (N is one of those enthusiastic learners who forgets the little things and they seem to be the things that frustrate the hell out of the teacher) and remembering to practise the piano and cornet for my girl who wants to be a famous musician yet seems to think practise isn’t needed (who da thunk?!) just the things that they most need to be reminded off to take the strain away and help me to cease the broken record.

Yes it is a tool that kids with ADHD can use but no my kids aren’t diagnosed yet parents use it to make sure they are saying positive things to their kids which means it has many uses. It gives off a little vibration so it is discreet and so the kids wont disrupt the class and get themselves into even more trouble. I am hoping it will help N especially tweak a few habits and learn new ones.

We have also had a bit of rain – just a bit. Not sure on the feed situation still though the crops are getting along so hopefully it will still keep raining through to late September.

[Masha Richart]

I took advantage of the sale and got the Field Trip and Fairytale as well as the Straight Stitch wallet patterns. I decided to get the clothing pattern in the smaller range – baby boy will obviously get a lot of use out of the Field Trip pattern as he’s “only” in 12 month clothing at the moment! I can’t wait to start a fall wardrobe of raglans for him. And I think I should be able to get at least two years out of the Fairytale for my nearly-4-year-old since her chest measurement still falls in the 12-18 range. The nearly three-year-old is a bit larger and may only get one dress before I need to size up. It won’t be long before the hand-me-down chain is reversed and younger daughter starts getting things first!

Tamara, I am surprised it is still cost-effective to buy from the U.S. with shipping costs! The mark-up on this thing must be huge in Australia.

[Tamara]

I found one place here that had them for something like $199 each but I managed to get two for $69 each. The postage wasn’t alot surprisingly but I find that this varies greatly depending on where in the US you purchase. The postage was the average ten to fourteen working days and it was here within twelve which says something for the efficiency of service. Of course it cost ore because I paid through paypal – but then I figure you pay extra for the extra security (fingers crossed). I bought them from the guy who invented them so I guess they don’t want to be greedy in helping others. The price was very reasonable.

The house has this lovely wafting smell of freshly cooked “pizza lunch box biscuits”. All in my bid to pump up the healthy foods in the kids’ diet – whilst listening to Philippa Gregory’s latest book on audio. But I will have to cut it all short and go feed a wailing four legged baby.

[Robin]

You know those days, when you think you’ve finally got it all together and the world is a good place and then something minor happens to change your mind? What do you do to flip it all around? I’m going to pet some fabric and flip through some patterns.

[Sarvi]

I’ll cook or bake something, starting with cleaning my kitchen. It gives me a feeling of control, and working in a shining, orderly space is a pleasure. usually my sewing room just has so much going on, by the time I’d gotten every last bit and bob sorted, I’d have no energy to sew. My kitchen projects are never so long-running that the whole room can’t be put in order reasonably quickly. And at the end of it I have something I can share.

[with love Heidi]

Sew! Just to hear the machine go up and down:) But if it’s a day where you feel you will make mistakes I leave my main project and make a “it’s Ok if I totally stuff this up” project. It has to be very easy, made before, have all the pattern pieces ready to go, made from stash fabric and no purpose/recipient. This last one is really important for me as I am not stressing out over it working. My favourite projects that fit my criteria are Tea Party Sundress, Doll Tea Party Sundress and the drawstring bag from LTTS.

[Masha Richart]

I usually watch TV and knit on days like that (well, when the kids let me, as usually it is something about them that puts me in the mood to break down). I currently have a very long-term project on the needles – a queen sized blanket that does not require much attention to detail – so I know I won’t mess it up, and it’s easy to pick up and put down. I find that I don’t sew much when I am in the dumps.

[Lightning McStitch]

Hang on, does everyone else have days when they DO feel like everything’s under control?!

Permanent state of chaos round here but the world is always still a good place. So I go out and get in it. With the kids; then to the park, museum, library, coffee shop. Anywhere just to drop whatever’s troublesome and run away for a bit. Without the kids (when does that ever happen?) I go for a ride. When you’re alive and riding the bike the world is definitely a good place!

[Tamara]

I generally do what I can and leave the rest – like yesterday after a very undainty fall, I ended up staying on the couch for much of the afternoon as the ankle blew up. But in that time, I helped my son with his maths workbook as he was home sick and did some reading – the housework I had planned to do was only looked at and again only half done today as I had a repeat day (not situation). In fact the whole week has been one of THOSE weeks!

The large spool holder for my machine turned up today so hopefully I will be able to test it out tomorrow.