It’s tipitty top on the list of why I love this space. I’ve been lucky enough to meet & make a lot of 5th date mates through this space (if you don’t have a blog you might not get this – but hang in you can probably apply it to other areas of your life).

I confess most of them are in my “wave”. Do you know about the wave? I made it up – so I guess you might not. I think about my internet wave a lot. You know … all those people who were floating about together with their wetsuits on when you first started out. Everyone was crazy enthusiastic & cheering each other on & high 5ing each other when they had a win. Most of the folk who were riding that wave are now sitting rugged up on the beach laughing at the few of us still bobbing about in the water. Every now & then they pull on their wetsuits and dip their toes back in (I’ve learned not to get too excited about this, they’re weekend surfers now).

Due to the fact that I’m pruned & chilled to the bone from staying in the water so long there have been a few folk who were a couple of waves behind & somehow managed to double somersault & land feet first on my board or in one case with her arms wrapped firmly around my waist. There have been a couple of world champs too, who were many waves in front and gave me an encouraging nod. The seasoned surfers who know where all the rips are.

It seems like it’s a good day in the ocean – just looks who’s back on the board.

As a result of this thought provoking piece I found a kindred spirit…she’s been bobbing about on the same wave but maybe surfing Ocean Grove while I’ve been at Lonsdale. She managed to articulate exactly what I haven’t been able to.

I’ve been banging on about this stuff to people in my real life but somehow it’s felt too much to say out loud here.

My work is unpaid but it’s work I love & I’m duly rewarded. I have three great kids who are happy & having a crack at being the very best they can be. I have a husband I adore. I choose them.

The craft & the click & the run & yes the surfing too…it’s just cream.

Ever so slightly things have been changing around here.

I’ve kept it on the hush because it seemed unrelated to the craft but now I realise that it’s ALL about the craft. I’m different now. I’m being creatively sustained by the click stuff & by the plans I make on the run. Don’t get me wrong I’m still loving the making but it’s just seeming to be more about quiet moments of nothingness. I’m hatching fewer crafty plans than I have for a long time.

You may or may not have noticed that the blog was broken last week. Instead of being concerned, I actually felt relieved!

I seriously considered not coming back to this space but then I thought about why I started it in the first place & I felt a little sad that if my kids do chance upon the blog when I’m long gone that they won’t really know what was feeding my soul in May 2011.

So here it is…

the date – the constant, my very best friend & owner of my heart
my big girl – on the brink of so much more
the little guy – with a giant heart & so good to his mum
the curly girl – cheeky & full of fun
the family
the run
the click
& in moments of quiet … the craft.

“what has been seen cannot be unseen”

So, this space will be more about what’s inspiring me, what I’m looking at, what I’m thinking about & much less about the output.

I understand if you’re done with kootoyoo… (I felt like being done with it too). But if you’re still around when I blow in next…thank you.

Did you know I’m the mother of a teenager?

It’s a tricky time isn’t it?  I remember it well … thinking that I was totally alone & that my mother couldn’t possibly understand.

It’s true I know, I’m old & annoying & disconnected from the experiences of a teenager today but it really truly feels like ground hog day around here … it could be me.

I feel like it was yesterday … raw & real & very fresh in my mind.

I’m mucking around with stop motion … perhaps not quite as old & out of touch as I seem?

Edited to add: The big girl is fabulous. She’s not at all an angsty, stressed out teenager (yet?) but I’ve been thinking a lot about it & I’m working on something for school. Sorry if I came over all ARGHish. I’m not…we’re not. x

Proof!  It really is all about the process for me.

By far the most exciting part of me making a quilt (yes, the second in as many days) is the preparation of the space.

I’ve dragged the old office chair over to the machine so that I can swivel between machine & waist high ironing board & then back to the machine.

Please note the essentials…rules (you know I love them), coffee & the phone in case emergency quilty calls are required.

Have a cracker weekend all.

Lot’s of stuff for you to poke through here. I wonder what it reveals about me & the crew? Plenty I guess.

If you want to play iSpy you can take a closer look at the pic here.

General observations…

i like red
i like junk
i like coffee
i make stuff

but you knew all that already!

Further observations…

jamie oliver is where it’s at “whack that in, toss that, bang that there”… i love his attitude
my kids are growing up … quite a few books on that & how to parent
I’m not just about the look … much of the stuff on these shelves is in daily use.
i’m lazy … the date on the apple calendar is Mon 10 APR OCT.
i’m into nostalgia.
i like grey lead pencil.
the dog’s on sentinel.
ikea for inspiration!

There’s probably heaps more you can read into this if you can be bothered.

Are you keen for us to snoop your stuff? Pop in & add your link if you’ve got a pic to share.

PS: Does anyone know why these pic links are so small? MOST annoying.