Today is the very first day that Samuel is at school... and Im free to sort out my sewing haven in the back of the garage.

Im lucky that it is steel and has a very high roof line internally..... there arent too many spider webs and someone has generously left very nice and very comfy to walk on.... carpeting inside.  My sewing table is in place.... but Ive got a fridge and a few boxes in my way.  I want my desk and a cutting table and a sewing table AND my ironing board all just in the right place.... I havent sewn anything for weeks and I dont mind the hard work to rearrange the shed.... if it means I can get back to it.

Samuel is loving school.... and the weather is warm and the beach is calling.  A lovely week ahead!.

Im so blessed.  Everything is falling into place for us.

I wonder what "it" is.... what a young person can have in his/her mind / makeup / life : one young person is highly motivated and another isnt.  The theorists say we are brought up by the combo of nature and nurture.  Sometimes if I wonder if nature will always win through regardless of the nurture.  I really really wanted my children to be more self driven than this.

Finally all our stuff is here from the old house and it shouldnt take long to put it all away.  The good thing is a beautiful shady tree out the back ... as well as a great big table.  So sorting and packing or putting away is easy.

I am so looking forward to being able to sit and crochet / knit / read really soon.  It has been quite a busy two months and I havent made anything at all.  Im just not happy.

OMG the computer table is sticky..... I share my computer with my 7 year old LOL and everything is always sticky!!!

Peter is loving and kind and we are getting along great at the moment.  It is really nice to have someone wake up in the morning and search out your hand so they can hold it.

Ive too much to do to make a "to do" list.  Ha ha.... I might wait until next week.

One thing though.... it is Valentine's Day soon.  I love it!

M.

Officially as of yesterday my new front door and the view out the back door.

Our blue house is close to the beach .... a great beach better than before.  I hope we have a happy life here.

**Newspapers today in Australia are making the assumption that President Obama will change gun laws in USA.  He would have to wouldnt he?  The National Rifle whoever in USA have blood on their hands.  They are getting the blame anyhow for the lax gun ownership laws.

**Oh dear human's are so predictable when it comes to things like religion.  People coming to my door trying to convince me that it matters in the least to God whether I celebrate Christmas or not.  Honestly people take the time to love each other and leave it be.  We are STILL competing, trying to get a vote in with God on how we worship Him.  Seems we havent learnt much at all since 2000 years ago.  If we love each other and are trustworthy, honest and giving.... sharing hope with everyone..... what more important way of worship could there possibly be?

**Well it's week two of working in a take away shop and I have to say my shoulder and pain coming down into my elbow is making life difficult.  But a job is a job.

**In exactly 3 weeks Im applying for a different rental property.  Peter can be in or out.... Im out of here.

**I have to get back to sewing.  Im very very sad that mostly Ive been cleaning and housekeeping through my days and trying to physically recover at all other times.

**Summer stock is going on sale in a lot of big stores.  We havent even finished the first month of summer yet.  It just gets worse doesnt it?

...so I had a trial run... and I start regular work as kitchen hand at a local takeaway tomorrow evening.

It isnt the job of my dreams but I can work up to quite a number of hours and it will pay me ok until I get my cleaning customer list going.... and of course it will help me buy more material and get to the markets with my dolls and my dress screens..

It is really really fast paced hard messy work.... Im living on pain killers at the moment because my ankles are killing me.... but I will be ok.... just so very grateful I seem to have found a job that can give me plenty of hours.

Ive worked at cleaning / housekeeping nearly every day this week and Im really really tired.  Luckily a good sleep and Im off and running again... but it is hard to get excited about my own chores when I get home at the end of work.  I keep telling myself I will toughen up.... I just have stand up and work through the pain.... get on with the washing and the cooking.   Will I ever have my dream and work all morning and sew all afternoon?  Absolutely!!!!!

Bought the mag, loved the shawl

5 more rows to go, then blocking, dyeing and beading....

SOAPBOX - Artist Trading Cards Part 1

ATCs: WHAT ARE THEY? WHO WANTS THEM? ARE THEY FUN? WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THEM?  mmmmm well this is my view

What are they?
3 1/2 by 2 1/2 card stock YOU decorate and OTHERS collect.  People make, swap and collect. Between friends, in groups, via your local scrapbooking shop, via internet groups.

     ATC Fun are a terrific group on yahoo

Are they easy to make? Not everyone finds it easy to start off.  Sometimes a theme will drive you towards just one idea and the card is done in minutes.  This is what happened to me when I made my dragonfly ATC.  I was embroidering something at the time and really loved the metallic thread... which reminded me, when I thought about it, of how the whole dragonfly shimmers in the light.

Other themes or ideas can take a while to get together.

So how do I start?  I think the easiest way to begin is to find a photo (it is going to be for inspiration so copyright is fine) and then use ink, paint, crayon, decoupage or whatever you are in to....reproduce it.  "Reproduce" is not really what you will be doing.  You only have a small surface are so you will probably find one section of the picture that really appeals to you.  From here... you make a card that is an interpretation of what you love about the photo.

I found a Christmas card that I really liked and used fabrics to reproduce a snowman. I guess Ive pinched the hat shape but really the Christmas fabrics I had guided me to his final look.  I had some copper like paper that I used to cut out a wood nose.  I chose some handmade paper that had some texture to it... for the head so I got a "snow" look.

NEXT time : why on earth? and what do I do with them all?  how do you feel about inchies?

TIME AFTER THAT : can the digital world help me make wilder (read contemporary, exciting, original)  ATCs?

In the post tomorrow to S.A.

Osgood Family Digital Journal is now online

I love photography and keeping track of what we are doing.
Ive been considering a digital family journal for sometime

Trees - Child's screen

I've just extra leaves to quickly attach, complete the binding .... then "Trees" is done.  Over 100 little tiny trees hand quilting.... yep..... it's official.... Im insane LOL

The number of screens is slowly growing... they take some time to make but Im really very proud of them.  Would you like to see them all?

Business "supporting" umm themselves

Wow it is a 24/7 thing working at your own small business.  I seem to have it on my mind constantly and Im never doing just one thing at a time now. I just thought I would make a note of a couple of things that are happening right now.  I dont know if anyone reads my blog regularly but lots of people are working hard on their own business and some of this might ring true for others.  It might help someone.  Anyway this is more of a note I suppose to document where Im up to now.  It feels like a turning point... something (good or bad ??) is going to happen.

*Jack & Bill* are boy dolls that I have been planning for some time.

I finally am happy with the beginnings of Bill's head.  Im not sure if I have shared his little face before so sorry if it is a repeat.