A Slow Week

It has been a bit of a struggle this week to find the energy to do anything. I cannot decide if it is my health or just the weather or a bit of both. It is still taking a couple of hours first thing to move around and my kness are still painful. Will be interesting to see what my blood results will produce in 2 weeks. What a worry all these fires have been as well. My Brother in Law  and wife are still hovering in Bega and thinks his house is ok in Quaama  NSW as the fire came up to the walls,  but definitely knows he has lost a 2nd car, caravan, trailer and all the land on his large block. Hopefully this coming week they will be allowed back in. Luckily there has been a cool change, that has calmed things down a bit, but NSW and Vic are still in a lot of strife.

This lack of energy and going to our TV room where there is air conditioning has given me a good chance to work on the dolls for the shop. I finished one and really pleased with it.

It has taken a while with embroidering the face and getting to know this pattern with not much time over Christmas/New Year, but finally getting to spend every day doing a little bit.

Over the past 4 months I have been trying out a lot of different body patterns, the heads are the hardest to make a doll cute and saleable, but slowly getting to what I like. I am adding ears and a bit of sculpturing to this particular pattern.

I like using the embroidered eye system so will try doing this on different shaped heads on different bodies I have experimented with, and see how that goes.

One of several experimental bodies.

 The smoke is again over the garden today and we are now only watering on odd number days. We are picking approximately 12 tomatoes every 2nd. day to the point I think I  had better do something with them but can't think what. We have enough puree,relish and bottled ones now from last year. Also the chilli plant which is only small has been producing well. They are really hot too, and I think John will make some sweet chilli sauce with them, hopefully a tomato one lol. Anything hot or super vinegar pickles is his domain as I don't eat it. 

I really don't enjoy this time of year the heat and humidity gets to me, especially now while I get control of RA. When I get enough energy, the tomato plants can come out. Once the temperature gets to over 30 they don't produce any as too hot. I could still put in some young ones just to grow but will wait till February for that, which is also the time to think about cabbages, more carrots, lettuce, bok choy. The potatoes aren't all dug up yet as they stay fresher in the ground till we need them.

I also have a long list of projects to do from decluttering, clothes,books,objects to big renovation projects, but it is all too hard at the moment. 

Mum had another fall this week, and I think both my sister and I are just waiting for her to go. We visit every week, but she is getting weaker and weaker and needs help just to stand up to hold her walker, then she is off constantly going round and round the halls. Her eyes though show nothing.

Prayers go out to all those who need it in these fires.

Till Next time.

Ginger, Garlic, Sweet Potato and a Garage Sale

My sister had her huge garage sale today. Most of the stuff was scrapbooking items, and fabric.
It has also turned rather hot, and after 2 hours or so I decided to tidy the kitchen in the cool. My neice was also down from Brisbane to help and is going to take some preserving stuff from my stash, and plants, home as well.

Not a huge amount of people but they were slowly coming and going, and we left early so we could get some lunch.

This week though I have been concentrating on the garden every day. Sweet potatoes are now all dug up and some little ones replanted.

This lot was from a Large Pot.

Digging them out, have replanted some little ones back.

From the front garden I ended up with a bucket full.

Dug up all the garlic in the front and very pleased with them. The largest ones I have ever grown so will now stick with Russian Garlic in the future. Still the back ones to dig and I don't think they will be as big, just goes to show what cow manure and mushroom compost mix can do.

Hung them in my pantry, as I thought they needed a bit more drying out, eventually will put in the fridge so they don't shrivel up all together.

Ginger had died back and was starting to regrow again, so sorted that out as well. Planted more of course and giving some away. There is still two more pots to go. If you leave ginger, for another year it will grow bigger again.

One pots worth.

Exciting news though is I sold my first lot of cards, which at least made me work out the Madeit system. Have been working on the dolls to try and get a good pattern, my area is full of arms, legs, heads and bodies, like some factory, but I am getting there. 

The smoke has also been dreadful this week and I hope none of you are battling the fires. Stay safe.

Till Next Time.

My New Online Shop

Yesterday Oct.5th, was my father's birthday, he would have been 91, and the significance of this day is I promised myself, I would open my online shop by then.Whether I was ready or not is another thing but if you don't make a day specific plan lots of things never get done and I have wanted to do this now for 6 years.

My dad Jack talking to me on the phone, my favorite picture.

Of course what I sell may not be what people want but card making is a thing I do and that's what I started with. The other love is Cloth Doll making, I have entered them, and judged them so it is a natural start. There are other crafts that may come about but this is the beginning.  Although I still have to make my first doll, time is still my enemy.

I have always sold my creations, usually with consignment stores that someone has opened, a real store and takes in all sorts of craft. Every town used to have them but they are also dying out and I suppose the online store we have now a days is the replacement. The downsides to this though is there are hundreds and hundreds of online stores. Most sell from a store based company in China, where they list the item and then when someone purchases it notify that base to send it out. No making or stocking anything just the go between. Takes weeks usually to get the item as well. This is called Dropshipping and you can make a lot of money.

A craft I made years ago. I may make them again,

 I chose to make my stuff and  go with the Australian Made It, rather than Etsy which is world wide but ever so big. Small little me will probably get lost in there, not to say I won't in Made it but there is a better chance of being noticed. You actually have to make your own, to join, no retail anything.



They have a neat little logo which is now live and appearing on the upper right hand side, top of this blog and  takes you straight to the store. So if  you my readers remember and pass this on, it will also be a great help. Getting the word out is the most difficult thing in this day and age. So much easy when there were real shops full of handmade gifts, that people passed by.

 Petit à Petit

 This name came about after much searching as it means little by little or bit by bit. A process of both crafts or any craft really. My Son in Law designed the logo for me and I have had business cards printed, and address labels, which are both still to arrive here. I now have an ABN, who knew for a hobby, but Paypal requires that  and Paypal is also required by Made it. Hmm the plot got thicker and thicker, and one big learning curve, which I keep saying did me good at my age. So a slow start but it can only go up ...hopefully.

 

Should I drop off the planet by the way,  Dolls and Cards are always easy to give away, dolls to children at hospitals, and free cards to any church group, but lets hope I sell a few.

Till Next Time.