EMPLOYED!!

Well....not officially, just yet (still have paperwork to do, like bank account numbers and the like to give to them), but I got 'the' phone call this morning, confirming my employment with the Cerebral Palsy League!!  Just another area that I want to delve into.....besides nursing, that is!

So.....I will be doing a minimum of 48 hours per week (ETA - Um....I meant fortnight!)....permanent part time - shift work.  I dont know how it will all go, right now, but I am gonna give it my best shot!  Weekends will no longer be mine, no doubt, but I hope to get the important weekends off, when my bestie gets married next month and my bro gets married in September!

I was actually successful for both job interviews, but this is the better one (more down the career path that I would like to go - not so much the pay rate).

I got my proverbial finger out over the weekend and 1/2 completed another crochet project for my friend.  Honestly, it was WAY too hot this afternoon when I would normally sit down and do some more for me to continue it!  Here is what I am doing:

The pattern is from the August/September issue of the UK mag Inside Crochet, called "Azure Skies" and worked in Moda Vera Believe.  Not my immediate choice, but when K trawled through my patterns, this is the one that she chose herself.  I am actually liking it!  I dont like making a mistake (but, then again, who does?), coz it is a fluffy wool and catches on itself all the dang time!  However, this would have to be my biggest project using a small hook that I have done and I am getting quite proud of myself because of it.  I reckon she will like it!

Alrighty, then!  That's all from me today!  Hope everyone had an excellent weekend!  And hope you have an even better week!!  TTFN!

I have been quiet because....

I have started the nerve racking experience of finding a job!  Our situation dictates that I need to find a job in order for us to live the life that we want to live, so I have been here (but not exactly on blogger) searching for a job online!

I am amazed at just how easy this internet has made it for us job hunters (well...as easy as job hunting can be)!  There are many sites that will have vacancies up and you are able to apply for them online or print off an application form and head in with it and your resume/CV and hand it in.  No more heading into your choice of workplace, acquiring an application form and having to head back after you have filled it out or filling it out right there!  My problem was making up my resume....I have not done it for many, many years (obviously)!  It took me about a day to get mine together before I actually liked it!

BUT it hasnt all been dull and gloomy here!  I have started on some crochet projects that my friend commissioned me to do for her birthday a little while ago.  Her birthday is on the 25th, so I thought I had better get my finger out and do something about them!

I have started to go over to the school in the mornings and help out Weez's class with their reading.......VERY rewarding stuff that!  I had a kid this morning that I hadnt heard since about mid last year and then he was horrible to sit with!  This morning, he was a gem!  He had improved soooo much!  I have also realised that I have a love of working with children.

Then there is this:

The Pledge

I Michelle Watts pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 / 4 / 6 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings!

Signed MLWatts.

I took this up this morning!  I will have to work out something to do with a 'real' signature.  No doubt I will have to buy some uniforms to go to work in, but I am thinking that it should be ok.  It will probably be just shirts, because I have plenty of different coloured pants!  All my other clothes will be refashions!  I have also decided that I will venture into it for the kids as well......all of them are growing soooo much and they will need new clothes soon!  PLUS the boys are forever needing new shorts!  But what do you expect from boys, hey?  LOL

Free Friday!

Here is some of the free stuff that I have found on the web this week:

Crochet Patterns/tutorials:

 Craftzine.com - where people write in with a link to their free pattern, tutorial or whatever and have it published here.  Gives you plenty of links to patterns and has a category for just about everything you wish to know about!

The Crochet Dude - not many people know about Drew over here in Australia, but I would like to think that I am spreading the word about him and people are becoming more aware of this talented man!

Sewing Patterns/tutorials:

Indietutes - here are a lot of tutorials, technique directions and information!

Confessions of a sewing dork - HEAPS of information with tutorials!

Inspriations:

Crochet - Attic24 blog - lots of pictures in this post.  Her personal reflection on her year that was in '09 and the (very colourful) projects she completed.

Sewing - Wardrobe refashion - Lots and LOTS of inspirations here!  Follow the links to their blogs and you will get even more tutorials and inspiration!

Handmade Christmas

In an effort to make this Christmas as 'cheap' (but not nasty) as possible, I set off with my crochet hooks a couple of months ago and started to craft up some goodies for my friends and family.

Every year, Pete's family has a 'Secret Santa' list (not so secret when everyone gets a copy of the list!) that needs to be filled with monetary amounts allocated against each name. Each year, I feel like a cheapskate for not spending that full monetary amount on who I am supposed to buy for, but I have decided NOT to feel that this year, since I have basically spent next to NO money on the presents that I plan on giving out! Most have been lovingly handcrafted by my hands from my stash (I will admit to buying a couple of things when Spotlight had a sale on balls of yarn recently) or bought at an earlier stage at sales and kept in a box, just waiting for a time like this to come along.

Here is what I have managed to make so far:
A nice, soft lapghan for my Dad











Nice and easy lapghan for my niece and nephew
(Pattern can be found here)














And a little shawl for another niece (modeled by my beautiful daughter, Weez!)
(Pattern can be found here)



.








A beanie and scarf set for my brother
I used a plain dark blue yarn and added white sewing thread while crocheting.













Slippers for one of my besties. I made some a little smaller for her daughter in purple and pink, but I have already wrapped them! hehe. These were so easy and quick to make! I got the pattern from a crochet mag I usually buy. More to come, since they are so easy!










I plan on getting a few more things made before Christmas. My sewing machine will be coming out and I will be whipping up a few things on that, too! Better get my butt into gear, hey? LOL

Been a while!!

But I havent been idle!! As you can guess, I have been kept relatively busy with my hoard, but it hasnt been just the everyday things that have kept me from blogging!

First off, there is my sciatica, which prevents me from sitting down for long periods of time at the computer, in front of the TV or just anywhere in particular! I have not been able to sew (sorry Tracy no update on that quilt just yet!) or do much at all except read a good book or two, because crocheting with my hands in the air while I am lying on my back tends to make the blood rush from my hands and make my arms ache just a little.

Yes, I have picked up my hooks, again. Winter tends to have that affect on me. This time making a very easy beanie pattern I found in the May, 08 issue of "Get Creative" magazine. I have made about 5 so far and plan on making some more. No real need for the kids to wear beanies in Central Queensland, but they are a good fashion accessory, anyway! Here is Mickey posing for me:



I have also made up a poncho from a pattern from the same magazine for one of Weez's friends who had a birthday party last weekend. It turned out ok.....except the beanie was a little too small for her head! No matter - I took it home and added some more rows to it and it turned out fine. Here is Weez modeling it for me:



Mickey fell sick on Thursday night. A lovely vomiting bug that he has decided to share with his brothers! Nothing like sharing and I am glad they are learning that, but they have to learn that some things are just NOT good to share, hey? Bubba fell sick this morning and I dont think little Will is altogether good, either. He has slept most of today! But he has managed to keep his bottles down, so that is good.....just grumpy as anything when awake and refusing to play the game of "nice little baby don't scream in Mummy's ear". But.....we will persevere. Besides - what doesnt kill them only makes them stronger, hey?

I cant believe that tomorrow will mark 12 weeks since I gave birth to him!! I am trying not to blink, but the time is just flying by and he is getting bigger and bigger every day! He was smiling at 4 weeks, but it took Aunty JuJu to come over and get him to smile for long enough for me to take a bloody photo! Here it is:



Took me 4 weeks to get that darn photo, but its worth it hey?

In other news - my car conked out the other week! All I wanted was another week so that Pete could get my bus in order and I could run that one around! But, since it decided to play a game of its own, I have been stuck without a car for the last couple of weeks. Just lucky that Dad is on long service leave, coz I have had to call on him a couple of times to do the school run on some rainy mornings!! Other mornings have involved the kids walking to school or juggling cars (all utes) and doing several trips.

Favourite photo of this week is:



Say "Smile!" around this house at the moment and this is the response ya get from the boys!!