Av bee Originally uploaded by inakid Crochet is so quick now that i know how, I can make things fast and off the cuff. Av wanted a bee and so he has one!
A bag crocheted from string for oranges.
I used up the last of my own coloured aran organic merino making a newborn elf hat. It is very cute.
In the afternoon after T's marching we travelled to Wangaratta for a get together to celebrate my sister in law turning 30. It was warm yet a relaxed time.
J was given some bubbles and he adored them. He is now 14months and has been walking 6 weeks. I have so many shoes yet he is not keen on them. He did wear real shoes and actually walked in them.
The kids were fascinated by the pool table and had their first go at playing.
The weather is crazy. Its hot, its cold, its warm, its not.
My daughter was involved in marching out for St Johns cermeony to thank and award St John volunteers.
It was held at the Governor's Mansion on a cooler morning than most this month.
My daughter is the youngest in her region. She was spoken to by the Governess who asked her where was her uniform. She doesn't wear one because she is a junior cadet.
We then had a BBQ organised by Rotary which the kids loved.
I wanted to make something similar to Shalom with 2 skeins of Cascade Ecological wool. I tried to crochet something similar but I wasn't happy with my attempts. I decided to do a prayer shawl that I could also use as a blanket.
It was quickly made and used just one skein. I think its big enough.
Just a few pics of my awesome boys modelling a crocheted shawl from Noro Furoside and Plymouth baby alpaca. I might redo the lower edge in another yarn but I love it all the same. The textures of each yarn are the opposite, the alpaca being super soft.
Neighborly again. This time in the suggested yarn (Lamb's Pride). I much prefer Lanaloft that I used last time but I still liked the end result. Noro again for the collar and stripes. I did 10 stripes to make it a tad longer.
Again it fits Av and J. N hasn't tried it on yet. I left the armholes unfinished which I actually like, surprisingly. I used a flat button with another on top and I like the effect. I also made the button placement on the other side albeit unwittingly.
We got a pamphlet in our mailbox which Av promtly stole and looked through. It was for the local community festival and he had spotted the kids cooking session. He was so excited about going and I thought why not? He was not quite old enough (targeted for 5-15 years) but N decided he would go too so it was worth going.
They started with pizza topping. I think it was overwhelming for Av though N really got into it and took it very seriously.
They also made berry muffins. Av came into his own when he carefully put his mixture in the pan. The teacher came over and was so amazed by this that she awarded him a prize. He was taken aback by the attention and went shy. He was too cute apparently.
N also got the same prize (sushi making kit) for answering a question about leafy vegetables.
The muffins looked delicious and the pizza was good too.
They each got a showbag and all this for free, I thought that a great deal.
There was free entertainment and much to see.
N had a go at hip hop dancing at the workshop. He was given loads of attention and he was really keen on it.
I made one (uterus shaped) for me and the berry one for my daughter for when her time comes. The uterus shaped one is fantastic, fits my mooncup snugly. Not that I need it at the moment, but its nice to be prepared.
Crocheted in 1824 cotton and the green is Anchor Magicline.
I was looking for something to make with 184grams of handspun wool from Ridge Didge @ Yarn collective. This is a simple crocheted shawl/wrap. Its not very big but I think its great anyway. My kids agreed to model it for a good photo each, I am grateful!
I read with great interest these two articles 2002 2008. I grew up wanting to be a mother. A career never interested me. Not sure why. I would say I wanted to be a teacher, a childcare worker, a youth worker or anything to do with children. Really I just wanted to be a Mum but you can't say that. You have to make something up! I was never told I could be whatever want (something I tell my children) but rather told that I couldn't do certain things for totally irrational reasons. I wanted to be a youth worker. You can't, you aren't confident enough. I wanted to be a writer. You can't, you don't have what it takes. Maybe I am weak for listening to them but I am glad I did. It would have not been what I really wanted to do. I didn't want to marry just anyone or just have children at any cost. But at 21 I did fall in love and marry. I had my first child at 22 and though my Mum cautioned against getting pregnant straight away, our marriage survived and its stronger now.
How would you describe your feminism in one sentence? I am not a part of a movement, I am my own person. I don't belong to any group or label. But Ifeel strongly that as an individual I can make an impact and I have rights. Its all about human rights for me. When did you become a feminist? Was it before or after you became a mother? I have no clue- I am only starting to realise that I am and I believe it impossible for me not be interested in my rights! I have always been interested in human rights so its the same to me.
What has surprised you most about motherhood? I didn't expect to learn so much.
How has your feminism changed over time? More aware of the need for it, still trying to understand it. What is the impact of motherhood on your feminism? The balancing act - we all have value, nobody's needs are more important than anyone else's needs. So though I attend to my children I have to look after myself too.
What makes your mothering feminist? My children are equal with me in their value as is my husband, we work together as a family, I am not their slave, I am their mother, my husband's wife. How does your approach differ from a non-feminist mother’s? Honestly have no idea. What is a non-feminist? A misognist? How does feminism impact upon your parenting? I aim for equality and fairness. I question anything and everything whenever I can.
Do you ever feel compromised as a feminist mother? It is a balancing act. Do you ever feel you’ve failed as a feminist mother? Yes, no one is perfect.
Has identifying as a feminist mother ever been difficult? Yes. Its not something I talk about much. Its still something I am trying to work out. Why? The general consensus is that feminism is no longer necessary and we should be just be happy we have the vote. That is why we need feminism, we are far from equal with that attitude.We are given the impression all is well with us and we don't need to fight and we are should get on with our lives. The powers that be don't want us to indentify as feminists as it ruins their status quo.
Motherhood involves sacrifice, how do you reconcile that with being a feminist? Yes that is the balancing I realise. I need sleep, my child needs my care. I have learnt to meet in the middle ground and its something I have to think about in the big picture.The way I parent facilitates as much as possible the needs of our family as a whole.
If you have a partner, how does your partner feel about your feminist motherhood? He has only started to realise I am a feminist but is not that surprised. He has commented about those crazy feminist hippies. He married one and its changing the way he thinks and we are working more as a team than ever before. What is the impact of your feminism on your partner? We have more respect for each other. He sees my needs are just as important as his, that women are human and the issues that women face affect us all.
If you’re an attachment parenting mother, what challenges if any does this pose for your feminism and how have you resolved them? I think it makes it easier in some ways. Helps keep a better balance. If I feel connected to my children then I can address their needs and wants, in turn they feel more confident and independant and I feel more whole too. I still feel as though at times I don't have personal space or me time but it comes around and it is important to me. My children's well being is of utmost importance so its just a matter of prioritising, which is the challenge. Its not meant to be easy.
Do you feel feminism has failed mothers and if so how? In some ways yes, because the belief that feminists can't be mothers or don't want to be is wrong. We need the free thinkers and the questioners to be procreating. We need stronger families and it starts with mothers. Its sad to me that the biggest feminist issue is largely being ignored ie. Birth. Its the beginning, it is everything, it is so important and it involves women solely. Personally, what do you think feminism has given mothers? Perspective....
I enjoy reading other people's blogs as they articulate so much better what I want to say. I don't feel that confident in what I want to say so usually keep it brief. I have found it helpful to answer questions people put out there on things that interest me so I might put them up. There are some things that are so very important to me and the right words are hard to find. Most of the time I have my children here so they are the priority and I can't write clearly anyway without interruption. At the moment I am feeding J while I try to protect myself (he likes to tweak) and write this. As much as I multi task, its never perfect. There just isn't enough time in the day. My 6 year old asked me why do I like photos so much. I explained that sometimes a picture can say 1000 words. Much easier sometimes to post photos than write essays.
So though some of my photos aren't that great, its the moment and it says more than I can say in words.
The kids had wanted to paint but the paintbrushes went missing. I decided to cut up some potatoes. I meant for them to stamp with them but they initially moved them around the paper. Meanwhile my daughter was using tissue to paint with acrylics on canvas.
J was very curious to see what the kids were doing so I tried getting a hand print and foot print.- the latter didn't work out so great but the hand print is great.
This became somewhat a community project! Av coloured the yarns and decided he wanted me to make him a dragon hat. The boys picked a button and my 6 year old sewed on the button.
He was asking why I didn't use the sewing machine to sew the button on so I showed him that it's easy enough to do it by hand. He was surprised at how quick and easy it was.
I wasn't too sure about the stripes but the colours are amazing and makes for a fun hat. The heat has been on lately yet Av still wants to wear the hat. It is knit in aran organic merino.
My husband, the 2 youngest boys and I supported the rally which took place in Werribee at Julia Gillard's MP office. We are in this video at about 40 seconds.
It was a good turn out on a rather warm day. I am feeling quite bitter and let down about the Goverment's lack of understanding of what this will mean for women and society. I am concerned for my daughter in particular, she deserves to choose for herself.
I had wanted to make Autumn Leaves for a while but thought it may be better for a small baby. I finally decided to make it just for cluckiness sake and its so cute. I used leftover Woolganics in Gaia. Its tiny though its big on the kids' dolls so I imagine it may fit a newborn.
On Av's birthday he wanted to colour his wool I gave him with jelly and food colour. It was excessive by the amount he used but its all fun!
The result was fantastic, he wants me to make everything with it! but may just settle for a dragon hood. Av also helped with colouring some more organic merino with jelly - lime and grape.
I tackled the sewing machine and didn't quite win but here was my effort anyway. A pair of lazy pants and bag in air fighter fleece print. I added a crocheted drawstring because its easier and lazy pants are all about easy.
Av loves his lazy pants so that is the main thing. And for $3 for the fabric its good to practice my sewing.
The shorties crocheted from the wool received from Jodie. It looks not unlike a world map at least with the colours. They are a good fit on J who hasn't been very well in the past week. This crazy up and down weather in Melbourne is to blame, I think.
We asked him what he wanted to do on his birthday. "Just get me everything"
I was worried he would be upset that we didn't get him "everything" but he seemed to adore all that he got and did on his forth birthday. For the record, he got a blanket and toys crocheted by me as well as clothes, wooden pretend play toys (cooking related), drum pad and drumsticks.
I also gave him approx 50grams of organic merino with jelly and food dye. He was very excited to have his own wool to colour and has grand plans for me to make something for him.
It was a warm day so we went to get icypoles.
The big kids were home from school so we all went bowling with Dad.
Av got a strike as did his brother. J wanted to pick up the bowling balls and throw them no doubt!
J fell asleep after a feed while the kids played 2 games and then had games of air hockey.
4 years ago, I had my third baby. I had wanted to 'accidently' have him ( I didn't know he would be a boy ) at home in the shower. I didn't. I went to hospital and breathed him out hoping I wouldn't tear. I had been kicked out of the birthing centre for borderline low iron levels and was considered high risk. This meant I was monitored/ watched and I did my best to tune out the world. I still tore as he came into the world but my recovery was better despite having a drip and catheter inserted post partum. It was then that I decided I didn't need the interference and my next child would be born at home ( and he was).
My daughter's birth would have been all that much better if I was left alone to birth her. I still feel traumatised at how I felt being watched during my first son's labour. I found it very difficult to overcome and this being the year of birth trauma awareness it is something I want to work through.
I feel I have been on a journey and so I do not regret what I have experienced as difficult as it has been. I think it has given me passion to listen and trust my instinct. There is nothing more important.
So today my boy is 4.
A wonderful boy he is. He still likes to climb and play, have cuddles and chat. His vocabulary has improved and he has such a way with words. Unfortunately his health isn't the best though he takes it in his stride. Asthma sucks.
So today I wish my son a very happy and healthy birthday with many more to come.
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