Learning

The big kids had parent teacher interviews. No surprises with the reports or the teachers' comments. I am actually suprisingly impressed with the school. Though I know they could never care as much as us (the parents) about their general welfare I can see they are interested in teaching and helping the kids to understand.
They are finally moving campus next term. The school will be closer and the learning environment even more innovative and open.


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Tree Hugger

Crocheted yoked top and shorts made with Beflecked merino Daintree colourway and green organic contrast coloured by my 3 year old.

Colouring with a 3 year old

Av was very interested in learning how to colour wool so we did some green and purple with food dyes.

Handmade Boy

I made pants on the sewing machine for J today. I think they go very well with the yoked crochet sweater in Prism wool/soy.



Av was disheartened that pants didn't fit him. They just fit J. So I made a couple of simple bags for holding ...toys!

Colouring & Spinning

Av helped me with colouring some roving. Its so much more fun to spin!

Spun

I bought an Ashford low whorl hand spindle and merino roving some time ago.
I finally got around to trying to spin. Just a small amount that took a while to acquire…Getting quicker though more experimental. I am not sure if I am doing it ‘right’ but thats the fun of it.
Single ply because plying is something I don't quite get.

Special delivery - JarSwap July09

We received a special delivery and its the MM jar swap. We got spoilt!
Felt board and pieces which is adored by Av. Also purple 5ply wool, Fair trade chocolate (yum!) and some great things from Oxfam, fabric pieces and sewing things, swirly pencils, eco bag and a notebad plus more. I feel it was too much but I appreciate it so much! Thanks Mel.



This is what I sent.

MM July swap

Early this morning I got some woolly mail and the MM swap! A wonderful mat with a cute dinosaur on it as well as a lovely warm hat that happens to be one size fits all which I love.



I sent a singlet and hat and shorties.

Blankie

Finally finished with simple crochet border.
This is made up of mitred squares knitted with leftovers and recycled 8ply, mostly light merino.

My littliest boy is 10 months

J is now 10 months.
He is still very tactile, poking, scratching and biting.
He is mostly breastfed with an eagerness to try what everyone else is eating. He is a social person, always wanting to play with his sister and brothers.
He is standing on his own, cruising, trying to take steps between the gaps.

The school holidays went by quickly. The big kids stayed with their Nan for a few days and we didn't have any 'bored' days.
Their school reports were good to see. Reading is a strong point for them both.
I continue to think about unschooling and have found many opportunities for the children to learn while at home and its so rewarding to be able to teach them new things. Av, who is very independant and stubborn, has even asked me to help him count to 10. He likes to count his own way - 1, 2, 6, 4, 7 etc.
I love my kids very much even on the challenging days like today where I can barely move due to illness and having my youngest two get upset because they feel just like me.

Ribbed singlet

My little boys and I have severe colds at the moment so its been slow with the knitting. I wanted to make a ribbed version of my singlet pattern. Its longer too. Knit with Cleckheaton natural cotton 8ply. Its splitty but gorgeous as far as cotton goes.

My husband's take on J's birth

Hello


My wife had her first home birth(son) last year sept21-08 we have 4kids total the other 3 where a hospital births , So when she decided to have our last baby at home suprised the heck out of me I thought she was just kidding/phase she was going through but she was very serious about not having any medical intervention ie doctors/hospitals or midwife . She went to see a doctor when she was 30weeks pregnant just for legal requirments and didn't attend any hospital appointments because she was pretty confident right throughout the whole pregnancy and nothing phased her ,alot of negative vibes came from myself and close family memebers . I personally thought she was"NUTS" but i did a bit of research before the birth ie emergancy response and so on She really wanted the baby with or without me

Crazy sums up the experiance for myself we had waterbirth it was awwwwesome it took about 2hours from 1030pm to about 1245am that whole night/day seemed surreal and has to be most spectacular moment in my life(with exceptions 3other births)

Everyone was suprised when they visited(same day) us at home without realising we had the birth at home and that it went so well we had no problems and 10mths later have a happy bubble boy who is doing so well and my wife everyone says she's brave but she just thinks that its nothing to brag about it was normal experiance for her , she just likes to do things her way

In Law

My mother in law requested a pink hat and her partner wanted a bllack one. I hope they appreciate them. My SIL said I was to make a scarf but can't remember saying that! But I have great in laws so I like to do this.

Shoes

I wanted to make a pair of shoes that would be practical for J. They are a tad long, even fitting my 6 year old's big foot. I ended up buying him some guitar Robeez.

Purple singlet

Handmade singlet from my own pattern and to make it more interesting, I dyed it purple.

Yoked

J in yoked sweater
Originally uploaded by inakid

First ever yoked sweater was a simple crochet baby sweater for J in Karaoke wool/soy. Very happy with this.

J is almost 10 months and has been cruising his way around even standing for a second at times. He has taken the occasional step too.

Av's new jumper

My cheeky son is quite rapt with his new jumper handknitted in Cascade 220.

Soy silk nappy liner

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The pattern for this soysilk nappy liner came from the book Natural Knits for Babies and Toddlers (Tina Barrett). It was my first time knitting with tofu (!) and first attempt at blanket stitch. I think I could have made the stitches bigger.

Organic shirt

Folded organic shirt
Originally uploaded by inakid

It took some time for me to make this shirt using remnants of Woolganics organic merino wool. Finally done and I am quite happy with it.

Jewish Holocaust Muesum

My Mum had free family ticket to see 3D Ice Age 3 Dawn of the Dinosaurs at the Jam Factory. She took the big kids and we took the opportunity to visit the Holocaust Muesum like we have wanted to for a few years now.
It was the first time I had met Holocaust survivors which it made it very real.



We were interested to find that the Australian Aboriginal people protested the actions of the Nazis before the fact. There were many who didn't speak up til it was far too late. Unfortunately the Aboriginal people were basically ignored in Australian papers.

"In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;

And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;

And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;

And then... they came for me... And by that time there was no one left to speak up." Original and translation here

There were a few 'heroes' who did help (or hinder the Nazi cause). The righteous amongst the nations.


Why did one volunteer choose to come to Australia? Because it was as far as he could get away from the atrocities without freezing in Antartica.



I have read and heard much about the Holocaust but not much about any resistance. I found this information very interesting, especially how many knowing certain death they still fought with dignity. There was also passive resistance ie. putting on performances in the ghettos and finding extra food.

Can you handle the jandal?

Crocheted sandals
Originally uploaded by inakid

Made in 12ply wools and 5.5mm hook. Such a fun pattern!

I'm all misty eyed...

Autobots cloth for Brett
Originally uploaded by inakid

The big kids had Pioneer day today at Church. After that activity, the boys went to a friend's 4th birthday party. He will be returning to the US soon.
I made him two washcloths, one has the Autobots logo, the other is crocheted. Av amuses me when he sings the Transformer theme song. "I'm all misty eyed" Instead of "More than meets the eye."