assemblage

to break

my habit.

can you guess?

she shall dance

thankfully, for the past 2 weeks, the only spinning has been anais in her tutu. [she chose the black, i promise!]

true to my last post, i did not take any crafting on my holiday and immersed myself in books, water and icecream. that queensland sunshine is particularly conducive to such ventures.

now while i finish the loads of washing and find my work brain, please enjoy:

made-to-order leather buttons

the diy farm

and the narcissist's dream.

re -

somehow i have made it to this point.

hanging on by what is left of my fingernails.

but only just. truly.

you know when you start to wonder what the point is of all the various things you are ? the work, the wife, the mother, the carer, the friend, the craft ... uh huh. i feel like i have been letting people down on various levels and in various ways. and forgetting things that normally i would not.

but tomorrow we are flying to warmer climes for 2 whole weeks. i cannot remember a time when i have been so desperate for a holiday.

i have started the packing. and there will be no craft. none. a sketchbook, yes. but no knitting or sewing. feels kind of odd but so very necessary. my brain needs time to reboot. my body needs time to relax. my back needs to recline. my energy levels need to refresh. my anxiety needs time to realign. and my fingernails need time to regrow. okay, so maybe that last part won't happen but it would be a wonderful bonus!

cashmere confessions

not that this comes as any surprise, but i confess i cannot sit down without doing something.

and so, after selling our house on saturday and having finalised a few other projects, i found myself with some available time. and finally, finally, i have seamed my cashmere knit.

smooshy soft with slouchy comfort and credible style. bliss.

and another confession: i haven't washed it yet so it still has a slight oily smell but i want to wear it, wear it, wear it. [that novel/new feel is peaking.]

and so, back to square one: a few hours trawling through ravelry is high on my agenda. we can't have me sitting around with nothing to do!

sold!

||

my life has been seriously. out. of. control.

last week, though, my stress-induced haze appears to have lifted somewhat. i'm not saying it is 100% under control but somewhat relieved. if nothing else.

and i am trying to claw back some balance. a little 'decluttering' of my headspace, if you will.

first priority is 'technology free days'. if it can't be 2 days, then at least one day, over the weekend. where i don't turn the computer on. if someone is desperate to reach me, they can call. or wait.

likewise email. i am working on not checking it every 2 minutes. aiming for 2 or 3 times a day only. still failing miserably but let's call it a work in progress. and like any good addiction, the recognition of my 'problem' is Step 1 in the battle! i am choosing to only answer urgent emails immediately. sometimes, allowing emails to 'wait' 24 hours either removes the pressure associated with it or eliminates the need to respond at all. and unsubscribing to a newsletters or updates which i don't get time to read anyway.

also my work methodology. the larger 'chunks' of work time i am committing to achieving larger 'chunks' of actual work. so, when i have 6 hours available, getting stuck in to some of my larger projects and turning off all other distractions (see email note above!). in my smaller allotments of time, i aim to answer those emails, make phonecalls, send faxes, etc.

and so far, so good. i have suddenly found my ability to concentrate again. and my motivation to exercise. and while i can hardly walk after the impromptu 7km run last friday evening, it feels SO good.

going, going...

 

phew. hard to concentrate on anything at the moment with all this house stuff going on...

a standing ovation

i attended a truly memorable funeral yesterday;
incredibly personal, encouraging and surprisingly inspirational.

a thoughtful and gentle person,
she lived large in the love department.

with a powerful faith and gracious heart,
she did the little things big.

if i managed to leave even 10% of her legacy,
i would think 'job well done'.

with tears,
i stand and applaud your life.

"new" toy

found yesterday with tom:

1 typewriter in perfect working order = 1 happy 6 year old.

fascinated with the mechanism.
curious about the technology.
enthralled by the function.
confused by the 'missing' number 1.
and zero.
committed to typing up his weather presentation.

1 amused and bemused mother.

and breathe out

today.

photos done.

awaiting the copywriter.

tomorrow the carpets shall be cleaned.

and the mr and i shall head to sydney for a 3 day weekend with friends. sans children.

yes - i can feel the cacophanous head clatter subsiding as i type.