the fruits of my labour

My god. I can’t believe it’s taken me over a week to get to write this post. Actually, I started it days ago, but only wrote the title and the first sentence, both of which I just changed completely. Anyway, last Sunday we (Chris, Elliott, Isobel and I) had a great time seeing Dan Zanes and Friends for a family sing-along last Sunday at Arts House’s Meat Market.

I think I was looking forward to it more than anyone and I wasn’t disappointed. We all had a great time, although Elliott kept asking, “Was that the last song?”. I’m sure he enjoyed himself the rest of the time .

I will admit I kind of forced (in a kind and motherly way) Dan Zanes onto Elliott. I had had it up to the back teeth of The Wiggles (at least the one Wiggles CD we have) and had heard great things about Dan Zanes. I liked the idea of family, as opposed to kids’ music, and it’s really refreshing for kid-friendly music (not that I think there’s much music we listen to that isn’t kid-friendly) to be all about the music and not the licensed merchandise. And Elliott likes it too.

It was wonderful to see and be part of a musical experience involving people of all ages singing and dancing along. And I think it’s a good sign, when days later, we’re still singing the songs and not annoyed by the fact we can’t get them out of our heads!

To me, it really seems to be as easy as reduce, reuse, recycle. If toddlers watching Bob the Builder can catch on to this, we all can. So, what I try to do (and I’m by no means saying I’m a model citizen, but I definitely do try) is think about all my actions, particularly purchasing, usage and disposal. I try to buy only what I need and of that, I try to make sure I make the best choice, environmentally. Given the amount of choice available in nearly every product type, this can be pretty hard and sometimes I nearly have a breakdown in the supermarket aisle, but I try to stay calm and make the best choice I can, based on the information I have to hand. If I think I need more information to make a better choice in future, I attempt to make time for research.

And when something is no longer useful to me, I try to think of other ways in which I can use it, and if I can’t, then I look for the best method of disposal. Food scraps go to the worm farm, recyclables go in the recycling bin (corks to the zoo, batteries and light bulbs to Ikea), items that might not be useful to me, but may be useful to someone else, leave the house via either eBay or Freecycle. If I can’t get rid of an item by any of these means, then it goes in the bin and off to landfill. I must admit I can procrastinate a bit on these decisions, which is one of the main reasons for the clutter in our house, but our rubbish (not recycling) bin is usually no more than half full each week. Which, for a household of our size and makeup, isn’t bad. (It helps that Isobel’s bottom has never seen a disposable nappy. ) Not that I wouldn’t like to improve on that. Sometimes I shudder at the amount of packaging some items are sold in, but we generally don’t buy anything over-packaged.

These are only small things, but if we all do them, the cumulative effect can be great. I truly believe that if we all make changes, however small they may seem in the scheme of things, they will make a difference. And if we can influence at least one person to change with us, then even better, because it doesn’t take long for another and another to be influenced.* However, there is more we can do. For example. in Australia, we have an election coming up next month. Firstly, I strongly urge you to ensure you and your family and friends are correctly enrolled to vote by 8pm this Wednesday, 17 October. If you’re not enrolled by this date, you will not be able to vote. Go here if you need help with this. Secondly, use your vote to let our leaders know what action you think needs to be taken to secure the future of this planet. After all, what else is there?

Thanks for listening.

*Yes, my blog is virtually unheard of, but I do know some people read it. (Hi, Chris!) If one person reads this and enrols to vote or thinks twice before accepting that plastic bag when shopping, it will have been worth it.

How cute does Isobel look in this dress? OK, you don’t have to answer that (not that you were going to), I know I’m biased. I also know I’ve gone a bit crazy on the kid shots lately. But how cute is the dress? This was mine and it has a matching bonnet and cardigan. I’m not sure who made it, probably Mum or Grandma. Was it you, Mum? Whoever made it, it looks as though it was finished yesterday, not 30 years ago.

I love the fact that something created in another place and time, can find a new life in some other place, some other time. And I love that I can share things like this with Isobel. I never had a preference for a son or a daughter in either pregnancy, just a healthy baby, but it is nice to be able pass on things, mother to daughter. Sure, I can pass on all sorts of things to Elliott, maybe things I won’t or can’t pass on to Isobel, and I have and continue to do so, but I guess clothing and especially handmade clothing, is one of the most intimate things a person can share, so it seems extra special to me. Who knows, though, maybe if Mum had given me all these old clothes of mine when Elliott was a baby, I might have put him in a dress. That’s the great thing about little kids: they’ll wear whatever you tell them to. Usually.

I would like to think that something I make for Elliott or Isobel is treasured and used by another generation. I have a feeling that more and more people are going to start to value the handmade over the mass-produced. I know I am feeling that more every day.

No, not another baby. We bought a new camera.

For a long time I didn’t think we really needed a new one. I mean, of course we didn’t need a new camera, but I thought the one we had was fine. And it is. But when I saw what could be done with a camera like the one we got, I started to wonder. Chris chose it, with my eventual blessing - you see, it’s Chris’s job to propose and promote the purchase of a new gadget and it’s my job to resist until I can resist no longer. And after seeing the results by a complete novice like me, I’m sold on the new camera thing. It’s a little late to think otherwise, though!

I didn’t actually take the top two photos (probably my favourites so far), Chris did. But I did take the one below and I hope to make the most of our new camera and take increasingly better shots for the blog. Hopefully we’ll all see some progress!

I must say, I’m pretty pleased with myself. I bought a pattern (Kwik-Sew 3126), chose some fabric, followed the directions and lo and behold, here is the first article of clothing sewn by me (aprons don’t count):

Pyjama pants for Elliott. They’re not perfect, but I’ve realised I say that about everything I make and that perfection is really not that important much of the time. I mean, I’ll always strive for it, but I’m going to accept when things are good enough. Besides, it’s kind of nice to see the little imperfections; they’re the mark of things made by hand and with love. Because let’s face it, things that are mass produced are seldom (if ever?) made with love.

Most importantly, Elliott loves them. I didn’t make a top to go with the pants (the pattern includes two styles of top to go with them), I’ll probably try that next time. Instead, I’m going to embellish, probably with applique, a plain white t-shirt, a la Blair of Wise Craft.

I know it’s just pyjama pants, but I’m really pleased and this exercise has been a real boost to my confidence. I discovered that elastic isn’t half as scary as I thought it would be!

More sewing news in the coming days, hopefully. It largely depends on how many consecutive hours of sleep Isobel gives us!