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