Artful Blogging.

If I am to be totally honest with you and with myself, I am terrified of reverting back to the Kate I was six months ago. The Kate who lived here before our adventure. That Kate was happy but I think she was tired. She found it easier to keep doing the same things in the same way rather than making changes. The thought of painting walls or building things or putting new rules in place just seemed too hard on top of everything else she felt she had to do.

One of the biggest gifts from our trip is my new sense of who I am, what I want and what I like. I feel a bit like I did before I had kids. Like I have remembered me. I've come home with a vision for how I want this place to look and how I want us to live. We spent hours and hours discussing all our homecoming plans while we were still away and now it's time to start making changes. Straight away.

We came home with some definites that are keeping us on track; no TV or movies during the week, no microwave, a walk a day, as much outside time as possible and no being a taxi driver between kid activities until next week.

And then there's the decluttering (day two and we have filled the back of my car for the op shop and a skip is arriving later tonight for rubbish), the redecorating, the plans for outside and the farm plans.

I feel such an urgent hurry to get things done and put in place just in case the old Kate returns and I lose my motivation.

And while we were away the latest issue of Artful Blogging came out with my article and photos in it. It is such a beautiful magazine and I am thrilled to be part of it.

I wrote an article about a dress I once made out of bits and bobs sent to me from bloggers from all over the world. A zip from here, a doily from there...after I finished sewing the dress I packed it up and sent it to Miss Deb who then gave it to a little girl who had lost everything in the New Zealand earthquake.

Unfortunately for us Aussies,  I think Artful Blogging is only available in America. Actually, when I asked Jennifer, the Assistant Senior Managing Editor, she thought I was the only Australian blogger they had ever featured. Just a little bit exciting I think.

I hope wherever you are that you are happy and motivated.
Bye now. xx

This is/was a craft blog?

A few days ago I was reading through a list of Australian Women Bloggers when I came across the words personal blogger next to me. Personal blogger?? When did that happen? Foxs Lane was created two years ago as a way for me to document the crafty stuff I was making and to connect with the crafty community. And there I was listed as a personal blogger.


So in order to get in touch with my crafty blogger roots and to record some of the stuff I've been making, here is a crafty blog post.


First off we have the Star pot-holder, details here. The Star pot-holder was crocheted when there was a family suggestion that I should decorate the spot just above our bed in the caravan. There will be more pot-holders to follow soon I hope.
 

Next up we have Daisy the Birthday Fairy named by Jazzy the birthday girl upon receiving her last week. Daisy's details here. The pattern I knitted Daisy from is super cute and includes a dolly with thumbs and feet and a dress and even undies. Miss Jazzy loves her.

And then the gorgeous Ms Chooky sent me one of her fab vintage Western Australia cushions and I stitched our journey so far on it.

Mine are not neat stitches and I'm not even sure what they are called, but they sort of blend in together when there are lots of them. I probably could tell you some story of each stitch representing an hour of driving, or a memory created, or an 'are we there yet?' but I haven't quite worked that one out yet.

That's where we are now, at the bottom left there in Carnarvon WA. We have been checking out some farms in the area and stocking up on organic produce. We're heading to Coral Bay after the farmers' market tomorrow.

And then there was that afternoon a week or so ago when I decided that as a knitter I really should learn how to knit pretty pictures and change colours. So using the book Picture Perfect Knits, I taught myself the Intarsia method.


It's a bit tight in the middle and the back is a bit of a mess but I think for a first go it's alright.

And lastly there's my car crochet project.


This is slow one because I'm this family's long distance driver but it's still handy to have a bit here and a bit there project.


I don't know what this is. I am too impatient to commit to a big blanket, I like the idea of learning new crochet stitches, it's worked in cotton so it's not too hot or sweaty and perhaps one day it'll turn into a throw or a lap rug or something.


So there you have it. Maybe this isn't a craft blog anymore but it still contains crafty interludes from time to time.


May your weekend be a wonderful one.


Happy travels. xx


ps. yes, I know the spacing and text sizing in this post is all over the place but blogger is driving me nuts and I've been playing with this post for ages and its time to let it go and press the publish button.


pps. I know the layout of this blog must be driving you mad Dad. If you want to have a go at fixing it let me know and I'll give you my deets. x

In and Out.

Out: My FlowerPress Brooch swap.

My doily brooch, some small love heart brooches, some Australian animal chocolates, a little purse I made and a Foxs Lane card.

Out: The Green Sleeves dress,

...a little appliqued t'shirt (it's always nice to add a little surprise) and Foxs Lane card, all tied up with a vintage sheet selvage ribbon.

Out: The Second Blue Flower dress,

...a little t'shirt surprise, a Foxs Lane card, all tied up with a vintage sheet selvage ribbon.

In: The most divine doily tea towel from gorgeous Susie at Flower Press. It's a caravan prezzie. Hooray!! Thank you so much Susie, I adore it. xx

Out: A bunch of interchangeable circular knitting needles Mary lent me when I was trying to decide on a brand. How ace is blogland! Thanks Mary.

Out: A doily brooch and a couple of love heart brooches for Miss Jennie just because.

I often wonder if the post office people draw straws when they see me coming.

Have you had any fun mail lately? Hope so.

And be honest, were you hoping this post was about something a bit more exciting?

See ya! x

Stamp-a-licious.

So I'd love it if you could turn to the closest person over the age of about six and ask them if they collect stamps...if the answer is YES, then stamp on their foot and tell them 'there's one for your collection'. If they say NO, then stamp on their foot and tell them 'there's one to start your collection'.

Can you tell we're on school holidays?!

Can you tell I'm over the moon excited about my new Foxs Lane stamps?!

Chantal made them. Isn't she the cleverest. Aren't they amazing. How cool that she made me a summer and a winter dress. And they look like the dresses I make, down to the ruffles and florals and the granny pockets. I am now prepared for all seasons. Love!

I think I'd better put aside some time to sew some stock for my shop, so I can package up my orders and decorate them with my new stamps. Eeeeeeeeep I can hardly wait.

Chantal has an Etsy store here and you can contact her at chantal_j@hotmail.com if you want her to make her your own custom made stamp like I did. And you totally should, they are so ace.

And yesterday, being the school holidays and all, I took my three girlies to the movies and to buy some essentials in town. When we got out of the car I realised that we all had the same shoes on. Is that ok? As the official style police of this family I have decided that it is. Especially as they are all same, same but different. But I draw the line at that. NO matching hoodies, or t'shirts or anything else for that matter.

Do you do that, dress your kids the same as you? Do you all have the same look? Farmer Bren does have his own pair of Converse too, just in case you were wondering.

I think my family have a look. We like layers. Dresses and skirts and tops and tunics and cardis over jeans. Most of the time Jazzy and Pepper and I dress like that, although they are all colourful and I am not. Indi does too but with her own type of skater girl edge. I guess we all fit together.

So a very happy Thursday to you my online friends. Thank you so much for your comments on my last post. I found them so interesting to read and think about.

Bye for now. X

Sewing & selling & shopping.

I was walking through the most gorgeous shop the other day when all of a sudden those familiar thoughts started talking to me. They were saying things like: Hey I could sell my stuff here. My little dresses would look so great hanging up on these racks. How wonderful would it feel to see my clothes as part of this stunning collection...

But pretty soon after it started, it stopped. I don't have to have that conversation in my head anymore. Now I have my own shop.

And I love having my own online shop.

I love that I get to make whatever I want, how I want, whenever I want, as the inspiration drives me.

I love that the customer pays the price I think is right rather than double that.

I love that I 'know' so many of the little princesses my dresses are going to live with and I love the interactions and stories and feedback and photos I get from their Mamas/Grandmothers/friends who buy them.

Blog posts like Vic's and Catherine's make my day!

I love that I have my own paypal account with my own money in it. As anyone who runs their own business knows, often you don't actually get paid a wage for the work you do. So I feel happy and guilt free spending a little bit here and there on some craft supplies. Some yummy hand dyed yarn, a knitting pattern, a Foxs Lane stamp or a book, I've earned them myself. Yay!

So I guess this is just an enormous thank you to everyone who has bought something from my shop, has commented on something I've made, has been supportive, has suggested something or sent me something that they thought I could use.

Thank you Vicki for the parcel of doilies.

Must be off now. Indi gets home from camp in an hour and I still have to make her bed and make her favourite dinner.

So do you buy online? Do you have your own little shop? How's it going?

Bye for now. X