the first Wednesday in September . . .

Greetings all,

Did you know the first Wednesday every September in Australia is The Battle For Australia ceremony at the War Memorial??  We've been involved in this since we moved to Canberra, a heart warming memorial to commemorate all the battles which helped defend Australia from the WWII enemies after the fall of Singapore in 1942, like the Battle of the Coral Sea & the Kokoda Track.  Today was the 70th anniversary & many gorgeous old soldiers, sailors & airmen were in attendance, their faces tell a million stories.  My father & husband have been to many wars between them, however, in relatively modern conditions, nothing could possibly be as harsh as jungle warfare with unsuitable equipment, against a ruthless enemy on that damned Kokoda Track.

 While dignitaries laid these beautiful wreaths . . . 

 high school students (children of military parents) placed bunches of wattle into a huge wreath to represent the future generations of Australians who are grateful for the sacrifices made in WWII to protect Australia.  It was particularly heart breaking to see the Canberra Grammar boys, as they lost a former student last week in Afghanistan, they laid the wreath on behalf of all the students.  This year my 3 daughters were involved, i was incredibly proud.

I entered the Lego Festival of Play in August & my message won the opportunity to go up on the giant Built Board in King George Square, Brisbane.  It was to read Welcome Home Handsome Soldier, however, in light of losing 5 soldiers last week, they were sensitive to the families & requested i change it, so we just made it Welcome Home Daddy, being Father's Day on the day they built the message.   

It's days like this when i think even more deeply about our military & making the most of my life, as i'm free & live in this amazing country.  Most importanly, every member in my family who has served, has come home safe, from Gallipoli to Afghanistan.  Love Posie

my creative space 'handmade Christmas fixings'

Greetings all,

After the excitment of Christmas decoration shopping, i have also been storing up the fixings for handmade Christmas decorations too.  Some for the children to make for our tree, some for my market stall tomorrow night (SIDS&kids Christmas Extravaganza).

 I'm starting off with obvious traditional red & green coloured ornaments, then i'll branch into pretty blues, stay tuned.  Let's just say my Sizzix machine die cuts felt like a dream so i'm making some super cute garlands too in fabric, felt & card stock!!

Governor General Quentin Bryce, looking stunning as always.

 Craft aside, it's Rememberance Day (or the 92nd Armistice Day) so we tripped to the War Memorial.  Handsome soldier's medals got us some VIP seats & we sat with Veterans from many different wars.  We were behind the mates of some of the soldiers we've lost this year, THAT was incredibly emotional, to see these young men with so many medals already, their arms around each other, sobbing when the new names of the fallen soldiers were called out by Quentin Bryce.  Makes me squeeze handsome soldier even harder!!

 You'd think these medals show my husband has seen enough action but he's decided he has one more deployment in him, so he's not discharging just yet!!

The Federation Guard doing what they do best!!

So for actual crafty & clever Creative Spaces, head over to Kootoyoo, love Posie

my creative space 'handmade panic'

Greetings all,
It's that time of the quarter, where i start to panic/ pretend i am totally OK with the stock levels i have for the Handmade & Mathilda's Markets, both on this weekend in Canberra.  I do have glazed over panic in my eyes . . . the mums at school are excellent monitors of my work/ life balance - they keep asking how i am (read: Jennie looks shell shocked, distracted & unprepared for this weekend).  I have to be comfortable with what i can achieve & admit, i've done my best with working at Shop Handmade, 4 children & an absent husband all year.  Toss in P&C events i run, insurance claims from the burglary & tax.  Cracks are appearing i assure you!!
I have also been able to procrastinate about sewing for this market, for example, my washing is up to date, the fruit bowl is fresh & full, dishes done, children eating plenty of vegetables for dinner & home baked goodies in their lunch boxes.  Even the floors are clean.  Not vital for a 2-day-before-massive-market-priority, but hey, clean floors always make me feel better.

Proof i have been sewing - a couple of dozen sets of skirts & tops in my new bolts of Japanese prints.  Hmmm, must chop up FQ for the market too.

Today at Shop, Rachel let me hand sew a few dozen penny wheels between serving customers!!  How pretty are these Flower Sugar fabrics from Retro Mummy going to look on headbands & brooches with fabric covered buttons??  Should be doing them now, hmmmm . . .

This little fellow wanted to be close to me last night, so in order to not neglect him, he set up a bed next to my sewing machine.  Oh to be young & stress free & have time for sleep.

On an unrelated topic . . . today i passed a few thousand of these gorgeous National Servicemen . . . fondly called Nashos.  Throughout the 1950's to boost our Army after WW2, Australia had a National Service, then it was reintroduced in 1965 for the Vietnam War.  They looked so proud in their suits, berets & medals.  I saw many big manly hugs in this massive 'reunion' too.  A new memorial in their honour was opened at the War Memorial.  We'll go & have a look in the school holidays (i have one child who can't bring herself to visit the War Memorial without her soldier Daddy).   

On the way home from school i also found time to swing by Revolve to pick up a cradle on a stand ($15 in fantastic condition) as you do with 4 tired children.  I might not have enough stock to actually put in it (children's clothes, or maybe cushions, or perhaps quilts - next market) i also found a cool cabinet which has all the glass & shelves missing, but would look magical lined with fabric with perspex shelves on my market table, oh filled with brooches or hair accessories.  Stay tuned, shall reveal in December.  Oh December, by then i'll have had my husband home for 2 months . . . imagine my productivity!!  Friday I'm at Shop (any Handmade Marketeers, pop by & do say hello, before 3p.m.) then i'm packing the car.  Saturday & Sunday are markets.  Deep breath!! 
Thanks for propping me up with your lovely comments, for less chaotic Creative Spaces check out the list of talent on Kootoyoo.  Love Posie

listening to my body & what's saying (screaming)

Greetings all,
Are you also having a very wet weekend??  Well it's hot chocolates & movies on here today. 
I can't believe i'm relaxed enough to take a break from sewing (read: clean the house from top to bottom, cook & bake) when . . . a) i've been so unwell due to that silly finger; b) i have orders & stock to make for Shop & Handmade Market; c) i have a motherload of submissions for Handmade Living & d) my husband is away on what seems an endless trip to the desert, i'm the answer to every car/ toilet/ child & dog issue which arises.  I mean, a week on anti biotics, the children's toilet stopped flushing, the car wouldn't start & our dog has been barking!!  But my finger's better now (thanks for your comments, all so kind, yes an infection under the nail, took me down, hard!!)  I'm also listening to my body & what's it's screaming out is "slow down".  I have a lot of responsibilities with home, children & business, without any back up, even so, i created all of this . . . i can slow it down as well. 
It's also this time of the quarter where Handmade Market is a week away - on Saturday 5th June (June i know, already??) so my well timed deliveries of fabric, knitting needles, hair clips & buttons start pouring in.  Yes, there will be a GIVEAWAY shortly!!  I just know i won't be able to sew as much as i normally would for the market, but with the back up of the Shop Handmade (open 6 days) the pressure to perform on market day has been raised a little.  So this market i'm more 'handmade craft enabler' than handmade by Posie.

. . . another 50 pairs of Tasmanian oak knitting needle goodness + 10 more tubes with sets of 3 or 4 pairs . . .

. . . lovely Katie from MissChiefMaker & gorgeous Rachel from Mr Mudge at the Biggest Morning Tea on Thursday, on the verandah of the Forrest Hotel, good luck with your baby Rachel - doesn't she look fabulous 3rd time round & 7 months pregnant . . .
After the Morning Tea (they raised over $5K!!) I took myself out for lunch & to the War Memorial.  I just had a bout of missing my husband, thinking about losing my mother-in-law to breast cancer, my finger hurt, i missed my girls on school camp, i didn't want to go home & just found out this new Army exhibit opened . . . so i bravely went in.  Going to a War Memorial is NOT an easy task when your husband is at war, i can assure you!! 

I won't try to describe helicopters, vehicles or the camp as i am sure i'll be wrong.  Some Army wives practically manage their husbands careers, know every course/ base/ detail/ weapon & every movement.  Me, well, i listen out for the date he's coming back home to us, where he is & how he's travelling only makes it real & i like to play pretend, that he's not in danger.

This was a nice way to end the exhibit, with an image of Sabi, the explosives dog who was MIA for over a year, now back on duty. 
So this week it's serious work for the Handmade Market, working at Shop every day, meetings with Handmade Living & that's right, parenting, feeding, loving 4 primary schoolers.  Have lovely weeks everyone & stay tuned for the GIVEAWAY on Thursday, love Posie