My Place & Yours - Show me something you collect

The theme for this week at My Place & Yours is collections. I suspect there will be a few interesting collections in the mix. Click on over to Hello Owl to see some other collections. Here are mine.

Collection #1.

 Patterns! I have more patterns than sense I think. I collect them when I see a good pattern at an opshop because I never know when I'm going to need it! The decades that I like most in fashion are the 1950's and 1970's which is where most of my patterns originate from. I have got a few 80's-90's because while I still find them hideous I can be sure that one day I'll want a particular style and be very grateful to myself for having it. [Can you be grateful to yourself?]

Collection #2. 

Vintage aprons. I have about 20, some are in the wash, and some in use around the house. I think there is no sense in collecting something just for it to gather dust, so I use them. Its a rule with everything that I collect - if its not actually useful then I can not justify keeping it. I love the prints on my aprons - in fact the background to my blog is from one of my fav aprons.

Collection #3. 

Sewing Machines. This one has kind of happened by accident. The Janome centre-back was my 21st present. I asked everyone who was going to give me a gift to give me the cash value of whatever they would have given me instead, so I could by a machine. I think that I ended up with about $500 which was fantastic. So I went off and bought a good solid machine which should hopefully last me a lifetime.

The black 201k Singer is a British made 1949 machine. I know that because Singer have a list of all the serial numbers to easily determine the model and year of manufacture for your machine. It needs a new belt but after that I plan on using it for plain stitching whenever I can until I get a zigzag attachment for it! [Please God?] I was given this by an elderly friend of mum's who has since passed. She knew that I wanted a machine [before my 21st] and gave it to me. I've kept it all this time, because it was pretty, but I've recently found out that these are still wonderful machines to use and are often touted as the pinnacle of Singer craftmanship.

Behind the 201k is another Singer - it actually doesn't belong to me but is living with me until I fix it. It has a few issues and needs a service. I need to find the time to do it properly. It probably won't happen until May at this stage.

The 3 other machines are also Janome. I can't tell you the models and years, but they're a good 30 years old - more I'd say. I bought 1 at Lifeline for $15 and the other two at the tip for $5 each. I aim to practice servicing on these machines, and resell or gift two of them to some one who needs a machine. I think they are well worth having and certainly far preferable to the new plastic Brothers and Singers - but if you have one of the newer plastic ones please ignore my snobbery and enjoy your machine, for goodness sake!

Collection #4.

 Teapots YAY!! This is the one that I am most well known for. I have over 30 teapots [including two coffee pots] and a few other tea related bits and pieces. I do love a good cup of tea, and there is something communal and lovely about sharing a pot with someone. Also in this picture [click on it to see more detail] are a set of 6 glasses given to us by Andrew's Ma. They belonged to someone in their family and are very old. They have a very cool greek pattern on them complete with naked men and doodles. I should do a post about them some time, I like them very much. If you want to know about anything else in there just ask :)

Collection #5

 Useful old things with style! I've blogged about everything in the above 2 pictures before. Unfortunately the Mixmaster doesn't work properly as it shorts the main house fuse after a few minutes of operation. I still have it despite my "useful" rule because I'm positive that it just needs fixing. I need to look into a new motor or something for it. I'll get dad to look at it when he visits, trawl fit-it forums, and do everything that I can to keep it!!

I collect pretty much anything that I think is beautiful and useful. I'd rather have something 2nd hand that still have usefulness than buy a new version of it - though I'll admit there are times that my head is turned by the shiny promise of a new item. My most favourite era to collect from is the 1950's. The 1950's seeped into the marrow of my bones in the years that I worked at Bells Milkbar. I think it is incurable.

BlogThis -How I learned to use a pincushion.

BlogThis Challenge 38: How I learned to...

How I learned to use a pincushion.

I've always been messy. I can not ever remember being tidy. I remember painful afternoons spent cleaning my room, and as a last ditch attempt to end the pain, shoving everything under my bed, in my clothes basket, anywhere just to be done with it. Of course mum would come for 'inspection' find the mess in the usual hidey holes and the whole thing would end with a spanking, many tears and still having to clean it all up. After years of this cycle, you'd think I'd have learned to put things in their proper places first time round. You'd be wrong.

Way back in 2008, I had drawn my sister's name in the Bird Family Christmas Lottery, and was making her a fashionable shoulder bag. I worked hard on it, designing and printing the fabric, lining and sewing it. It took quite some time, and I was keen to have it perfect for her present. It was 2 weeks before Christmas, and I had only one thing left to do, hand stitch a 10 cm seam and it was finished!

I figured I could get it done before going to work that night, so I sat on the couch and began sewing. Before I'd finished I needed a drink, so I got up putting the needle into the arm or the couch for safekeeping. Upon returning I sat down and looked for my needle. Where was it? I remembered putting it... oh dear. I lifted up my hand and sticking out of it was a brand new piercing! 2 cm of the needle stuck out, enough to grab and pull. So I did. I pulled until I couldn't pull any more of it out. The eye was still stuck in my hand and it was beginning to throb. I took a picture of it to prove it really happened.

So off to the hospital I went, to have the needle removed. A local anaesthetic and tetanus injection later, and I was beginning to feel like a pincushion! Thankfully there was no lasting damage, just a couple of bruised tendons, and a day or two off work.

I'm pleased to announce that I have learned from this misadventure, and` have for the past year used a pincushion as a place to keep pins and needles. How very sensible of me.

Edit: You may vote for me if you like my story. April 1st - April 6th at BlogThis.  No registration required!

Baby Drama

Her looks will deceive you!

Adelaide is a beautiful baby. She loves life, she is so inquisitive, she's extremely responsive and I love spending my days [and nights!] with her.

Even with those things, the past few weeks have felt like a constant battle with her. Her strong will and love of company mean that she HATES sleeping, and she has hit the stage where only mum can satisfy her. So what's a mum to do?

For a little while we'd gotten into a happy pattern of a morning sleep, and afternoon sleep and a 7:30-8:30 bed time. It was brilliant! She'd even sleep in her cot, by herself quite well. I was thinking, 'I feel like I have an idea of what I'm doing' and BOOM! Addie hit 6 months and nothing is like it was.

My first thought is to go backwards in time and go over all the things I've been doing. What have I done wrong? Should I be home every time she wants to sleep? Did I wreck her for sleeping by letting her sleep in the sling? Am I being too firm/not firm enough? Should I have enforced her naps from the day she was born? Have I been reading the wrong books, listening to the wrong people? Should I be putting her down before she's asleep, after she's asleep? Should she be in my room/in another room? Am I being selfish in wanting her to sleep? Am I being undisciplined in not letting her 'cry it out'?

So many questions!! Am I being too permissive/too strict and thus spoiling her forever or breaking her spirit?! It can do your head in!!!!!!

I hope you aren't reading this in hope of an answer. I googled my "6 month baby sleep refusal" and found a swath of contradictory information by well meaning advisors - Drs, Parents and Psychologists. None of it has really given me an 'answer' and I suspect there may not be one! *Gasp!*

The website that helped the most though was www.askdrsears.com In Australia I don't think we have heard that much about him, but Dr Bill Sears is America's resident expert in babies. He actually has some experience, having 8 of his own children as well as being a paediatrician. So I figure he's at least practised what he preaches. I feel so much better when I read his advice!

I don't really know how to 'fix' Addie and I suspect thats the wrong way of looking at it. Dr Sears says that developmental milestones can make babies go a little haywire, which I'm sure is a factor here. I also am beginning to wonder if she needs to get up earlier in the morning, or sleep later in the day. See, I still have no answers, but I have some ideas and I feel a little better than I did before I asked my dear friend Google, though that could have something to do with the fact that she is sleeping at last!!!!!

Pretty Things I Made

I am very happy to have these lovely flowers in my living room. I had a couple of friends turn 25 last week, but I really had no idea what to make for either of them until I saw this post on Craft.  Not only did I make a posy for each of the birthday girls, but at the same time I made one for myself, and I'm so glad that I did. They make me happy!

Its a fairly quick little project, and only cost me about $5 to make a bunch. I'm teaching the flowers to my craft group next week, and would like to make some attached to hair clips etc. I wore a green one in my hair for St Pats day, and thought I looked quite charming :)

This pennant bunting was my project for the tail end of last week. I should have been making nappies, but seriously, this was so much more fun! It is made from cotton tape and 4 different vintage bedsheets. It was great to be able to use even the threadbare sections of the sheets in this project, so not much went to waist. It was quite simple, if not repetitive to make all the pennants - about 44 in total and sew it up.

The bunting is for Addie's dedication next month, and I'm planning to make more for each child we have as an alternative to paper streamers and decorations that end up in the bin. Of course, nothing can take the place of balloons though! This would be a great project to teach a young child to sew was well.

My Place & Yours - Top Drawer

My Place & Yours is back with this week's theme, Top Drawer.

My draws are a bit untidy, and I fought hard with myself not to tidy them up and add a few interesting things! So here they are, just as they were when I opened them!

TV unit top draw.

This is supposed to be the Wii drawer - for all things Wii, but I can see in here my headphones, and also the [most boring in the world!] DVD of "An Inconvenient Truth" which Andrew borrowed to write an essay on for uni.

Addie's Top Drawer

These are Addie's singlets and socks. To be honest, this drawer hasn't really been opened much because it has rarely gotten cool enough here to wear either socks or singlets. In about a month or so they may get used more.

Cutlery

I have 3 top drawers in the Kitchen. This one is our cutlery drawer. I can see some of my picnic set in here. That needs to go back where it belongs!

The Bitsa Drawer

Every kitchen has one of these, except for seriously retentive ones. Mine is pretty bad though. It houses everything that I want to be able to grab, but is too small or fiddly to put anywhere else. I need to bring some organisation to this one!

The utensil drawer

The last of my top drawers is where my utensils live. The ice-cream scoop is new, never used because I don't have any ice-cream! I can also see a corn cob holder and tablespoon measure that should be in the bitsa draw. Disgraceful!

My sister @ Bubblegirl has joined in too.

Happy Birthday Katie!

I have to mention my little sister Emmalie-Kate. She turned 21 today! Right now she's out with my family and some others, celebrating her birthday and hopefully getting lots of very nice gifts!

Katie

You can see her pictured above in a lovely dress she made from a 1940's pattern, and cute shoes to match. If you want to see some of her other stuff, you can find her at Bubble Girl. Don't be surprised if you see some similar themes in her posts - we are sisters after all! Its lovely to see her work and watch her grow, even if she is fast outstripping me in her artistry and skills :)

Magic Salts

I thought I'd share my latest success in the laundry. I don't like using commercial fabric softener for a few reasons. The vast majority are heavily fragranced, they coat the machine with goop, and it hinders absorbency so I don't use it for Addie's nappies at all, and I don't want to use it on the rest of our washing either.

A few alternative softening options I'd found were the usual suspects, bicarb, vinegar,  and Epsom Salts.

I'm sure all of the above options are just as good, but I think it probably depends a little on the type of water [hard/soft] and the drying conditions where you are as to which one works best.

I do love vinegar, so I used it for about 5 months as a softener in the rinse cycle.  The special waterproof fabric that I'm using as a part of Addie's nappies can break down faster if vinegar is used in the wash, and to be honest, all the washing was feeling like thick cardboard. A softener that isn't softening is no good, so onto the next one!

What has worked for me is the Epsom Salts. My method is dissolving 1 tablespoon of salts in 1/2 cup of water, and putting that 1/2 cup in the fabric softener dispenser. To make it easier, I just put a cup of salts into a 2 litre bottle, fill it with tap water and let it dissolve over a few hours.  I use it in every wash now, even with the nappies and they feel lovely and soft, but haven't lost any wee-soaking ability!

My Place & Yours

Hello Owl is running a game, called My Place & Yours. The rules are easy.

Each week there will be a new theme. The theme will be a place/perspective: out the window, in the top drawer, down the lane, at the post office, in the kitchen, at work, your cafe, under this, behind that..Just a common place or perspective we all will have. Think about the things we do each day, places we go and find the magic in all the things around us.

I don't play games where no one wins [and don't tell me everyone wins!!!!] but there is a time and place to try new things. Today's topic is Pink.

Addie's unfolded clothes pile

I don't like pink. I don't remember ever liking pink. I have actively avoided pink, to the point of not wearing anything if it has the slightest amount of pink on it. I don't have much in my house that is pink at all. [I'm such a Negative Nancy today!]

All the pink that I do have belongs to Adelaide. I was sure that I wouldn't dress her in pink much. Pink is too cliché, too prissy, too... pink. But I was wrong. Looking at her clothes, she wears a lot of pink. True, most of it was given to her, but I do dress her in it all the time. She looks SO CUTE in pink! It really looks good on her.

Girlie Toys

Addie has a few pink toys. The ball is one she was given by her Aunt and Uncle at Christmas. It makes noises and flashes lights as it rolls around and has given her hours of delight. The toy kitchen is adorable. We found it at a garage sale, and Andrew wanted it [for Addie, not himself]. He got it for $15 - a steal!! It will be so much fun to watch Addie playing at it as she gets older. I feel a little jealous, as my play kitchen was cardboard boxes, but mum let me play in the real kitchen too.

Like it or not, pink is invading my house and it will probably only continue to entrench itself in my life. I think pink and I are making our peace. Who knows, one day I may even like it!! :)

Dreadband

These dreads have brought back my mojo! I feel very energised, and though my house is a mess, I've been doing some great things.

This week I made a little headband to pull the dreads back off my face. Very useful, especially as they're short and not long enough to easily ponytail. The design comes from Katie of Two Hills Design, who has a great little Etsy store - if you're into headbands, hats and dreadie type things. [I am!]

My face is having a 'shiny' moment. Nice dreadband though.

Cotton Tam

My new dreads are a little fuzzy. That is to be expected, its part of the process and there isn't a lot that can be done about it. It is however a really good excuse to make a hat!



My tam [a tam is a slouchy beret] is made from 4 ply cotton, and a pattern of trial an error. I couldn't quickly find one that I liked, so its just made up. I've used simple treble stitches, and a scalloped edging.


It keeps my hair neat and its very comfy to wear. The major drama in it's construction was a silly mistake of mine. I began the hat without checking that I had enough of the red cotton to finish it. So when I ran out I crossed my fingers that I'd find more at the same store that I bought it from originally. Nope. Nothing even close! I made do with a brown, and did the headband part of the hat with it. Its not too bad.




Andrew decided to be clever and see if it suited him. It doesn't.

Demi-Birthday

Yum! Thanks for the sign mum.

Isn't it exciting? Addie is 6 months old today!! I took her to Maccas this morning for breakfast to celebrate. I ate hotcakes and she ate a biscuit. I think I got the better deal.  I made her a little sign to  hold, so that in the future I'll be able to pinpoint her age without trying too hard :) Of course, she just wanted to eat the sign.

Woah, the baby in the mirror learned to sit at the same time as me!

Yesterday Addie sat for well over a minute, completely unaided! It was so exciting! I ran and got the camera and got a few pictures before she face-planted.

Hey! I'm actually doing it!

This is still from her first ever solo sit. She looks pretty amazed by the whole thing.

These are two toys that I borrowed from the Toy Library for her. Its a table with a seat in it, and a soft piano toy. I tied the piano onto the table and she stands there and plays it. She reminds me of a little Paul Shaffer from the Late Show with David Letterman! Same bald head and open mouth.

The time has flown since her birth, and I don't imagine it will slow down any time soon. Addie's next birthday is her real one, 1 year in September. My sister is expecting her first baby right on Addie's birthday. A cousin sounds like a lovely present, don't you think?

Oh, you've had a baby!

Finished and washed!

I had a sneaking suspicion that I was known in Broken Hill as being "that girl with the dreads".

Yesterday confirmed my suspicions.

I went to a shop that I have gone to at least once a month for the past 4 years or so. Approximately 3 different ladies work there [ could be wrong, but all old people look the same to me]**. Addie was on my hip as I looked for what I wanted to buy. The sales lady came up and said "oh you've managed to fit in a baby since you got married". I looked at her perplexed. Addie has been with me every time I've gone in there for the past 6 months. They always talk to her and comment on how cute, interested, happy or asleep she is. The lady said, "I remember, you got married out at Silverton, didn't you? And you've had a baby since then." I agreed with her, that I did get married at Silverton a year and a half ago, and pointed out that I'd been coming into her shop, with straight hair for the past 1.5 years on a regular basis.

The lady's face showed me that she hadn't made sense of what I'd said. At all. I tried again, telling her that I'd only just re-done my dreads. She still didn't get it. So I smiled, told her the wedding was lovely, and that yes, we'd found time to have a baby since.

At least she'll recognise me from now on, right?

**Ok, that was rude and untruthful, but having read my pithy anecdote, I'm sure you can see why I said it? Can't you? 

Going over old ground.

After a couple of dreads - but nothing you'd notice.

I decided to re-dread my hair. I've been looking longingly at pictures of dreads, mine, anyones for long enough now. 

I've been blessed with 'good' hair. Good in that it is insanely strong and healthy. It doesn't get splits, it doesn't get dry, its as if my hair is teflon coated and invincible. It bugs me so much! I can't curl it, or put clips in it - they slide right out. It has no body unless it is short - and even then its iffy. Theres heaps of it, and it hurts when Addie gets her little fat fingers in it. I don't like that I need to use conditioners and spend lots of time to keep it tangle free and 'pretty'.

The top row finished. See how much shorter they are than my 'real' hair?

I like it better in dreads. When I had dreads, I never [not kidding] wished it was straight, normal hair. When it is straight, I wish I had dreads. So its clear to me which it should be. I feel really happy about dreaded hair. I feel like it is a natural part of me. So, over the past few days I've been rubbing and knotting my heart out! I can only do it when Addie is asleep, so its taking me a little while, but I actually think that its better that way anyway, because I keep approaching it 'fresh' and its easier to resist the urge to 'get it over with'.

No turning back at this stage.

You can see the length of the undreaded hair as opposed to the length of the dreads. Dreads tend to shorten hair like that. Over time they'll grow, and as my hair grows fast, it'll be long in no time at all. 

 Compared to 4 years ago when I first put my dreads in, I've learned a lot about dreads and how they work, specifically how my hair works. 

Top dreads. Pretty little things.

2006, right after the 1st time I dreaded.

This time my technique is obviously much improved. I'm also going to stay away from using any wax products in my hair. Its sticky, attracts dirt and I ended up not using very much of it last time anyway. I'm going to use a citrus/salt solution which most dreaders use to tighten the hairs, as well as aloe vera which keeps the hairs nice and healthy [as much as dead cells can be] and keeps it all looking neat. 

A new dread just made in the back. Good exercise for your arms!

I'm quite sure some people will be disappointed at the resurgence of the dreads. I also know that they probably won't tell me, because they have manners. So to my family, I'm sorry. Andrew I suspect, would prefer my hair to be "normal" but he gave his blessing. He'll get used to it again :)