Dana

on with the show..

Those Melbourne storms sure did their darndest to destroy everything inside my studios last weekend. After a week of washing about 30 loads of fabric (15 years of vintage collectible and a large lot of wholesale new stuff bought just days before) and with about 30 more loads to do I really did feel like chucking the whole business in. There was so much irreplacable production material thrown away (patterns, trims, wool thread) and my sewing machine and overlocker are yet to be checked. I have decided, though, that it would break my heart to give up Twiglet up, to cancel exciting up-coming events and to not make cute new products that were on the cards. So I am mopping up and moving furniture and finding space to work and salvaging what I can to keep on going. And will still be here tomorrow bright and early:

 

my only friend, the end.

Actually my health and luck didn't quite make it to the end. I got through 7 of my 8 Christmas markets and ended up with a nasty flu and throat infection and dosed up on Panadiene Forte for a few days. There was no talking or eating. Just fever and vomiting. Two lovely market mates manned my part of our shared Meat Market stall which I was very thankful for and Hannah, our new au pair, manned my children - the timing of her arrival so very perfect. (She sure got thrown into her role..) Meanwhile my studio flooded due to a burst water main! So once I had emerged from my sick bed I had to go assess the damage (not too bad) and begin the clean up (not so fun). There are a few pics of the studio flood over at Susan's blog - of which none of it I witnessed as the studio residents had cleaned most of the water out by the time I got in there..

Aside from all the disaster things have been looking up around here as far as the daily grind goes. Having Hannah here has certainly taken the edge off having two toddlers and two businesses. I am nicer to the kids and now have a bit more time for simply organising myself, having leisure time to myself (which I had almost forgotten even existed) and generally being less frustrated and exhausted.

So the end of the year is near and I look forward to focusing on working hard at what I do, having lots of fun with the kids, living a bit healthier and getting in some me time.

Hannah & Mahlie:

 

An afternoon in St. Kilda:

Still good!

Okay, first of all I would like to thank all the goddesses whom left me comments (and those whom did not but sent me actual e-mails!) about my last post. Clearly I was a little wigged out.. I have recovered from this by:

a) reading the comments of other mama's confessions from the playroom.

b) booking a trip to Sydney for 3 nights with a girlfriend at the end of October to shop, drink and read magazines in bed. Even though we can't afford it - can you put a price on sanity?

c) digging out my copy of "Kid Wrangling" and having a giggle. One quote in particular - "if my kids are alive at the end of the day, I've done my job". - Roseanne Barr

d) bitching to my mothers group which opened a can of worms I tell you... hours of entertaining conversation about screaming at children to make me feel normal.

I never really blogged about the woes of motherhood before - I thought it was dull reading and we all just wanna look at great pictures and get good ideas and you know, buy great craft and vintage stuff... Nope! Talkin' crazy mama brings out the lurkers and strikes a chord with everyone! Perhaps I shall whinge more often...

Aside from all of this I have missed a few days of my self-challenge "digital spring cleaning" and now it's the last day of September so I will just purge at the last minute (isn't that how all spring cleaning ends up?) and throw a bunch of shots at ya:

Some Bali Purchases - glass fishing floats VERY cheap yet VERY hard to bring home.
White Rabbit - carved timber, so beautiful and I had to stop myself from buying one of each 5 sizes. His limbs all move, so sweet.  Hobby horse, owl and deer - also carved timber to add to my collection of lovelies, cos you know, I don't have enough ornaments...

Leon and his amigos - Owen and Hardi, all whom have now turned out to be total boofers can't wolf down enough breastmilk/formula/food. Boy do we go through apples around here...

A birth gift from Megs.  Can't.pull.tag.off.  Must.preserve.vintage.goodness.

So there was my marathon clean-out post. Now I can go back to normal blogging - a post per month! (kidding - I think I may have re-trained myself to be here more regularly - but don't mark my words!)

 

dooooon't do thaaat!

Does anyone else ever feel like all they do is say to their kid "stop it!", "don't do that!" and "stop being naughty!"? I try to be patient, calm, rational. I try not to go berserk and lose it. I strive to set a good example and be a good role model. But geeez! These two little monkeys, this week in particular, have driven their mama absolutely bananas. My day goes in waves of emotions - I feel happy then angry, grateful then hard done by, content then frustrated, amused then annoyed, and sooo tired. I get resentful because I want to enjoy the time I have with them while they are still this age but it seems like the day is over and the feeding, changing, disciplining, cleaning bathing and putting to sleep has taken up every second before I have had time to "enjoy the now". I acknowledge the fact that I should enjoy the feeding and bathing etc. but with Leon still waking every hour around the clock at six months old and Mahlie going through an overly naughty phase (please be a phase) it's hard to not be so exhausted with it all. I have nothing left for Pete when he gets home. I am interrupted by someone or something with everything I do. Should I give up my 1-2 days a week of work? I love what I do, I'm booked for the next 18 months and we need the cashola. It's my time out. I feel better when I've been away for a few hours. It's not the answer to give it up, but it's what most people seem to think is a problem. Maybe it's just their age and it will get easier (please say it does). Maybe I need to re-train my mind to think a different way. Maybe I should read this. Maybe I just need more sleep. Maybe I should just shut up and be thankful and think of my friend whom has a year to live, my friend with a special needs baby... all of it goes through my head everyday... It's a bit messy in there.

21 of 30

It shouldn't annoy me as much as it does - but he leaves the buttery knife on top of the butter on the kitchen bench every single day. It's like "here, babe, I only used it on my toast so I left it here for you encase you wanted to save on dishes." Can't think of any other reason one would do it? And everyday I chuck it in the sink and get a new one out anyway...