Morning Festivities

The tribe and I have made and posted a little festive, good morning garland to my Mum.

Inspired by something seen on screen.  I thought it was on Justb or Pinterest (or both??) but now as I'm hunting for it I can't find the link for it - sorry.  So, this is not an original idea, it belongs to some very clever little custard who had lovely numbers stamped on their pegs. I'm not quite that clever or organised so we have some red glittery tape stuck to ours instead.

(Edit: Yay! I found the link.  Check out the original here on Just B)

It's nothing too glam or tricky but it made us smile thinking that Mum might do the same when she has a cuppa in the morning leading up to Christmas.

It was supposed to be for the entire month of December but the first week or two snuck by a little too quickly so the smalls and I compromised and made it for 12 days instead.

Here's how we did it ....

Simple but cute and hopefully it made her laugh when she opened the little box in the post.
Hope your lead up to Christmas or Hannukah celebrations (or whatever your lot does) is going well and is not too crazy ...
Cheers
Jenny

It's a wrap!

First of all let's announce the pop-up shop giveaway winner ...
It is Jo who has some goodies on their way with the postie this week.  
Congratulations and thanks Jo!!

These baby wraps (are you sick of them yet...) are now in New Zealand so I can give you a little squiz.
Made for friends of my sister in-law who have both squeezed out little ones last month.

The request was red and bright.  Luckily she liked them!

Fabric from Amitie.

Hope you all have a nice weekend
Jenny

Tea Matters

Tea does matter.

It can be tasty, stimulating, therapeutic and calming - sometimes all at the same time.
Even the process of putting the kettle on can make me feel good.

If tea matters to you and you live not too far from Black Rock in Victoria you should check out "Tea Matters" - a brand new shop and my first Bricks & Mortar stockist.

They have quite a large number of different ranges of organic, locally produced/owned teas with some ready for you to taste as you walk in the door.

These Tielka teas were so fabulous I had to buy one to bring home!
There are also heaps of tea accessories and homewares which would make great gifts (including some really nice aprons and tea-towels ... nudge, nudge, wink, wink).

If you live around that way pop in and say Hi to Mj - she'll be the chick in the lovely green apron with a cup of tea in hand.

Tea Matters
Shop 3, 2-4 Ebden Ave
Black Rock

The word of the week is .... POSTURE

I've had a niggly neck (stiff and sore) for a couple of weeks and have been employing the clinically researched approach of "do nothing and hope it will get better".

Unfortunately that hasn't worked - hmmm, does it ever ?

So off to the (fabulous) physio I went.  

Apparently it all comes down to POSTURE and mine is (no surprises here) shocking.

Guess what sort of things are bad for posture or usually linked to bad posture?

• Sewing
• Knitting
• General crafty stuff

What?!?!?!?

To be honest I think it is the sticks that have brought me unstuck.  

I would like to be the really relaxed knitter that watches the world go past and not her fingers.  

In reality I am hunched over the sticks watching every clumsy little stitch, scrunching those shoulders high up near my ears as I probably chew my lip in concentration.

The plan here is:

• to give the sticks a rest
• sew and craft in short bursts
• walk lots
• swim a bit
• and imagine I'm a slouchy teenager back in high school with my Mum and Dad constantly saying stand up straight - but this time listening to them!

Shoulders down, chin in, tummy in (if only...) and up straight.  Sounds comfortable doesn't it.

Posture, posture, posture ladies!  That is the word of the week.

What do you do to keep you crafting/sewing?

Birdies

A little stack of tea-towels finished off today with Ink & Spindle lovely bits - with some more to do.
Shall we call them the "birdie num-num"collection?

They are off to a real, actual SHOP (I know - good grief!) that is about to open in Black Rock.
Very "pee one's pants" exciting.  More details soon.

And this week these little lovelies arrived in the post to be turned into (wait for it ...) tea-towels.  Aren't they just beautiful!

Cheers
Jenny x

Goodbye Ohjoh Kids Pop-up Shop

The Ohjoh Kids Pop-Up shop officially closes today.
Thankyou to everyone who has supported it!
There is only one pair of boys sz 6 Pj's left - everything else has been sold (YAY!) and all the $$ have been donated to The Peter MacCallum Cancer Hospital.
Thanks so much - you guys are ACE!!!
And to Emma, Trav, Bill & Lisa (and the 100's of others doing the ride next weekend) happy peddling!
Have a great weekend people.
Cheers
Jenny

My (not so) Creative Space

On Tuesday I finished last week's green aprons and thought you might like a squiz.

I'm really happy with how they turned out and hope their new owner will like them too.

Today, however, is not so creative.  I'm at the beginning of organising 135 kids to get their Grade 6 graduation jumpers for next year.  Yep, that's a lot of kids in grade 6! It's a big school.

So it's looking at designs, timelines, lists and getting my little ducks in a row before I chat to the school principal tomorrow.

Maybe if I'm lucky I'll be able to do a bit of sewing ...

Meanwhile you can check lots of other creative types here...

Cheers
Jenny

Procrastination

Today I have lots of sewing to do - and I'm not in the mood.
Does this happen to you too?
But it has to be done as I promised someone.
So what to do ??

Kettle on.. check
Get the iPod and find the "pull your finger out" playlist ... check  (the boy has been known to assume role of "King Of Music" and delete any playlists that he thinks are not worthy - I wasn't happy as a new favourite one that I had created was culled.  He is no longer King Of Music)
Put iPod on loud (sorry neighbours) ... check
Stop reading blogs ... check
Do not click on Pinterest
Turn off the computer
Stop procrastinating.

See you on the other side hopefully with pics of some finished bits and pieces.

Hmm I have a sudden urge to scrub the floors and clean the oven ..... and have I hidden chocolate somewhere in the pantry?
Procrastination ... it's an art form!

My creative space

Lots of pleats and tucks for a custom apron order today

and (crikey look at the time!) kids probably standing in the rain at school waiting for me as I faff around here ...OOOPS!!!!

(Must remember to put on shoes and leave uggs/slippers at home)

More creative types here

Extending the pop-up shop and a GIVEAWAY!

When you're on a good thing ... extend it!

I know I said that we would run the fundraising pop-up shop thingy until the end of September but, hey, I'm an out there sort of gal who does crazy things like extend it until the 20th of October.
I still have some stock and I still feel good about making them and donating them to the cause so why not!

All $$ from every sale in the Ohjoh pop-up made-it shop will be donated directly to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Hospital (via my brother's sponsor page).
You'll find kid's t-shirts ($12) and kids pyjamas ($20) in a range of sizes.
I have a few more that need to be finished and popped on (sz1, sz6 and sz8) so keep checking the shop.  Otherwise if you would like something specific let me know and we'll include it in the donation run too.

If you can help spread the word that would be great!!  

In fact, if you pop a mention of the Ohjoh Kids shop on your blog or Facebook page and leave me a comment telling me that you have,  I'll put you in the draw for a surprise bit of handmade goodness (which will probably include a You Sew Girl pattern that I've purchased from Curlypops).  

Entries close Wed 17th October (and include comments from the previous giveaway post).  

The winner will be drawn by my kids in some convoluted random fashion on the 20th of October 2012.

Who know's, one day the money raised could help create a treatment that saves the life of someone you love.  (Mum started a new treatment  - her 3rd - on Monday ... so here's hoping this one works for her)

Thanks for your help, people.

Enjoy your Wednesday

Jenny

3 kids and a fabric shop sale...

Yep, this could be a recipe for disaster but surprisingly it wasn't.
OK I was flirting with danger but it had to be done.
The Amitie sale finishes tomorrow and my sister in-law has asked for a couple of baby throw rugs/wraps for some friends.

The kids were fabulous with the big boy being the most helpful and interested.
The normally crafty Miss number 2 was the one muttering "can we go yet??"with lots of sighing - I think she is moving into the very beginnings of the "So, you know, like, er no way (insert eye roll)" phase.  I told her she could choose a fat quarter to take home which perked her up a bit.  (Bribery is a legitimate parenting tool isn't it ??)
The smallest was happy choosing and re-choosing fabric and ensuring that her little pet-shop friend (who had travelled in her pocket) enjoyed the shop.
All up we were in there for about 50 minutes - maybe more.  I know!  Amazing!!!
The baby wraps are cut out ready for some running stitches to hold them together before I bind them.
I have some t-shirts ready for some hand stitching too,

but I should really go and be super nice to my kids.  They were (well, are) amazing!
Gotta love those moments when it comes together...
Hope your moments are.
Cheers
Jenny

Apologies for the shadowy pics but this is the view out our backdoor.  A little burst of winter in Spring.  Aaah, Melbourne.

Funky singlets and our dirt had babies!

I'm putting a few more things in the Ohjoh Kids shop this week (all proceeds from any sale in September goes to the Peter MacCallum Hospital - more on that here).

Here are a couple of tops/singlets for older girls (as I've had a few requests).  These are both size 10 and there are a couple of white size 8's on my to do list which should join them in the shop shortly.

 On the home front ... our dirt has had babies! We're so very proud and excited.  We just have to remember to water them .... (not one of our strengths).

Check out more creative types here

Cheers
Jenny

Some girlie pj's

Some new girl's pj's hot off the press.

100% cotton shorts with a decorated Bonds singlet top - to keep girls cool (& looking cool) in the coming summer months.

Sz 8 floral girl's pj's

These ones are now in the Ohjoh Kids Shop where all proceeds from every sale in the month of September will go to cancer research via the Peter MacCallum Hospital.  You can read more about that here.

Sz 8 striped girl's pj's

My kids have grown SO much since last summer (must be all the rain) and will not be able to squeeze into last years pj's.  They've put their orders in so I'm off to get more singlets.  Do you make your own pj's too ??

Hope you're all enjoying your Friday.

Cheers

Jenny

Ohjoh Pop-Up Online Shop & a kinda giveaway

I've touched on this here before but, basically, cancer sucks the big one!
It touches so many people in many different ways.
My grandmother was a victim, my sister is a survivor and my Mum is in her third year of trying to beat it.

So, its time to do something good.

One of my sisters (the survivor!), her partner and one of my brothers are joining the 200km bike ride on Oct 27-28th to raise funds for the Peter Mac Cancer Hospital in Melbourne.

I'm unable to ride (ok, ok I'm too unfit, too lazy and don't have a bike) so I'm helping by creating a Pop-Up Online Shop for the month of September.  ALL proceeds from any sales in this shop will be donated directly to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Hospital (via my brother's sponsor page).

The shop is called Ohjoh-kids (on Made-it).

Kids clothing and pyjamas, handmade and/or decorated by me.

Girl's T-shirt sz 4

Boy's Pj's sz 6

Girl's Pj's sz 8

Girl's T-shirt sz 3

All of the fabrics, clothing and labour have been donated so that every cent of the purchase price will be forwarded to Peter Mac.

If you could share this with your friends I would really appreciate it.

In fact, if you pop a mention of the Ohjoh Kids shop on your blog or Facebook page and leave me a comment telling me that you have,  I'll put you in the draw for a surprise bit of handmade goodness that we'll draw in late October.

Who know's, one day the money raised could help create a treatment that saves the life of someone you love.

Thanks
Jenny

New beginnings

A few new beginnings that will (hopefully) soon have an end...

Watch this space ...

And some new beginnings in the garden with the kids.  

We have the "plant & hope garden" - lots of good intentions with minimal skill.

Here's hoping something grows.

Hope you're enjoying your Monday.

Jenny