List #'s 7 and 10!

In the weekend I managed to tick two more things off the list.
Abraham and I decided, nearly two years after the actual day, that maybe it was finally time to print some of our wedding photos. The girl at the shop couldn't believe I hadn't printed even a single one, she said most girls are in the next day! I guess I just didn't get round to it. We were going to have them printed 'properly' at the photo shop so I was waiting until the wedding bills were paid, and then Otto arrived.. and then it was last weekend.
I'm really stoked with our 14c Harvey Norman prints, and the cute $20 album from Farmers. Seems a lot more 'us' than the fancy pants option.

I also bought an external harddrive to back up all of our photos. My Dad was buying one, getting a good discount, and I thought 'if ever there was a time..'

Feeling very pleased with myself. Now to buy some shoes and plan a childless night...

List # 20 a bbq with more than 10 people. And a list update.

What: Early evening bbq.
When : Last weekend.
Who: B-side fm djs and families (essentially our 'xmas do'..)
How many : 11 adults, 5 kiddies.
Good times!

So, with another thing ticked off the list and only a month and a half to go, I think a list review is in order.
I've scrapped two of my goals, both knitting ones, so they are in grey like the completed ones, but not crossed out. The 'still to do' goals are in black.

1. Fit into my favourite summer top. - Does up and not super tight- counting this as done!
2. Sew myself at least one DRESS. - Done!
3. Knit myself a cardigan I love. -Am canning this goal. My knitting isn't improving fast enough to spend the dosh, and the time, on a cardi. Stink.

4. Make Abraham a hoodie. - Done! Pictures coming soon.

5. Start sewing to sell again.  - Started this month!

6. List GIANT pile of thing on Trademe. - Have listed around half. Am calling it a day for now.
7. Print the majority of our photos. - have printed about 1/6th of them.. getting there! Still hoping to at least print some wedding photos.

8. Plant a vege garden. -  Done in februrary Yay!

9. Go to the movies. - Done in March

10. Back up our photos on hardrive/ preserve fruit, make jam.   Done in April. We haven't been able to afford another harddrive yet, this will carry onto my goals for next year, I think.

11. Start blogging again. 01/01

12. Get business cards. - Made my own in June!

13. Buy 2 pairs of decent shoes. - Will order a pair from Willow this week but won't be able to afford another for a little while now.

14. Take Aesop to the zoo. - Done in July!

15. Send (at least) 2 parcels to Amy. - done.

16. Finish at least 2 duathlon type events. - Done!

17. Sort out entire garage. - Done in April! With thanks to Abraham!

18. Finish yoyo quilt. - Done! phew!

19. Earn $1000 through sewing. - done!
20. Have a bbq/dinner with over 10 people. - done!

21. See some live music. - Done Feb.

22. Save over $1000/ have an outdoor movie night  Done!

23. pay off our laptop and buy a new camera. -

24. Sew 10 garments for the kids.

25. Knit Aesop a jumper. - Canning this one too. Will sew him a few instead. He was not interested and my knitting is just not fast/good enough.
26. Make the mix cd to end all mix cds. - Still hoping to get this done!

27. Cover the cushions on the window seat. - Done in August!

28. Get away for a night without the kids! - Not sure how much luck we will have with this one, funds are just too tight to fork out for accommodation. Do you think a romantic night at home, without them, counts?

29. Get mentioned in a magazine. - Does a local news magazine count? But it was about the radio station not sewing!

30. Make most of the gifts we give (this year). - A bit of a continuous goal this one. But going really well.

List Update- October

Am getting through my list, slowly. I still have a few things to achieve in the coming months though.

I must confess, I am giving up on two of the challenges. Sorry. I haven't done any knitting this Winter (due to struggling with a touch of depression and also focusing on finishing the quilt of doom..) and I just don't feel like my skill level is high enough to complete a jumper for Aesop, or a cardi for myself. I can't justify splashing out on decent wool or putting in the hours to complete them. As a compromise I'll be sure to sew each of us a top before the year is out.

The completed are in light grey, the give-ups are in dark grey and the to-dos are in bold black.


1. Fit into my favourite summer top. - Can do it up, but still not 'decent' enough to wear out.
2. Sew myself at least one DRESS. - Done!
3. Knit myself a cardigan I love. -Am canning this goal. My knitting isn't improving fast enough to spend the dosh, and the time, on a cardi. Stink.

4. Make Abraham a hoodie. - Done! Pictures coming soon.

5. Start sewing to sell again.  - Started this month!

6. List GIANT pile of thing on Trademe. - Have listed around half. Am calling it a day for now.
7. Print the majority of our photos. - have printed about 1/6th of them.. getting there!

8. Plant a vege garden. -  Done in februrary Yay!

9. Go to the movies. - Done in March

10. Back up our photos on hardrive/ preserve fruit, make jam.   Done in April.

11. Start blogging again. 01/01

12. Get business cards. - Made my own in June!

13. Buy 2 pairs of decent shoes. - No joy on this front yet.

14. Take Aesop to the zoo. - Done in July!

15. Send (at least) 2 parcels to Amy. - done.

16. Finish at least 2 duathlon type events. - Done!

17. Sort out entire garage. - Done in April! With thanks to Abraham!

18. Finish yoyo quilt. - Done! phew!

19. Earn $1000 through sewing. - Around $60 to go!
20. Have a bbq/dinner with over 10 people. - This one is in the planning stages. Thinking will be in the next month. Wanna come?

21. See some live music. - Done Feb.

22. Save over $1000/ have an outdoor movie night  Done!

23. pay off our laptop and buy a new camera. -

24. Sew 10 garments for the kids.

25. Knit Aesop a jumper. - Canning this one too. Will sew him a few instead. He was not interested and my knitting is just not fast/good enough.
26. Make the mix cd to end all mix cds. - Also in the planning stages.

27. Cover the cushions on the window seat. - Done in August!

28. Get away for a night without the kids! - Have had a night without the kids, but not 'gotten away
 as such. Will be sometime around out anniversary in Dec.

29. Get mentioned in a magazine. - Does a local news magazine count? But it was about the radio station not sewing!

30. Make most of the gifts we give (this year). - A bit of a continuous goal this one. But going really well.

List #18 - The quilt that never ends...

.. Is finished!
I started this quilt in my last few months of being pregnant with Otto. One of those crazy pregnant ideas, I guess. I had run out of things to clean or organise, and it actually worked out quite well with Otto being so overdue.
I picked up a single vintage yo-yo quilt a few years again in an antique store and thought 'Hey, I've got some time up my sleeve. I'll make a double!'. Obviously, I had NO idea quite how much time/fabric/effort that would entail. Turns out even cutting out that many little circles is enough of a project.
I ended up making this one only slightly bigger than the single.
I worked out that, for the double, I would need 997 (I think) of these little things and, in the end, I gave up at around 760. Then I realised I still need to sew them all together.. oh geez!
It has sat on the window seat, taunting me, for over a year now. I've gone through little bursts of sewing a few rows but never very long stints. Handsewing is my worst nightmare. Why oh why did I think this was a good project for me?

But it is complete.  And I'm fairly happy with it, and with myself.
It is safe to say, though, that I won't make another yo-yo for quite sometime.

List update for June.

About time I updated this! Still slowly plodding my way through but feeling confident about completeing most things!

1. Fit into my favourite summer top. - Maybe Summer for this one. Being done with breastfeeding will help though.
2. Sew myself at least one DRESS. - Done!
3. Knit myself a cardigan I love. - Not feeling confident about this one. Just seems like such a huge long project.
4. Make Abraham a hoodie. - Done! Pictures coming soon.
5. Start sewing to sell again.  - Started this month!
6. List GIANT pile of thing on Trademe. - Have starting the photographing.
7. Print the majority of our photos. - have printed about 1/6th of them.. getting there!
8. Plant a vege garden. -  Done in februrary Yay!
9. Go to the movies. - Done in March
10. Back up our photos on hardrive/ preserve fruit, make jam.   Done in April.
11. Start blogging again. 01/01
12. Get business cards. - Made my own in June!
13. Buy 2 pairs of decent shoes. - No progress on this one.
14. Take Aesop to the zoo. - Next weekend! Yippeee!
15. Send (at least) 2 parcels to Amy. - done.
16. Finish at least 2 duathlon type events. - Done!
17. Sort out entire garage. - Done in April! With thanks to Abraham!
18. Finish yoyo quilt. - Chipping away at it.
19. Earn $1000 through sewing. - $140 to go!
20. Have a bbq/dinner with over 10 people. - This one is in the planning stages.
21. See some live music. - Done Feb.
22. Save over $1000/ have an outdoor movie night - Will be for my birthday in Sept.
23. pay off our laptop and buy a new camera. -
24. Sew 10 garments for the kids.
25. Knit Aesop a jumper. - Have knit the body, arms still to go.
26. Make the mix cd to end all mix cds. - Nope. But I have begun the list.
27. Cover the cushions on the window seat. - Still waiting to buy a new couch so we can decide what colours they will need to be.
28. Get away for a night without the kids! - Now that breastfeeding is over and done with this is looking like it might happen sooner thatn I thought! Will let you know.
29. Get mentioned in a magazine. - Nope. 
30. Make most of the gifts we give (this year). - A bit of a continuous goal this one. But going really well.


The no-pants mission is going slightly less awesome, have worn my jeans out of the house 3 times since my last list update. Whoops. Once it was pouring with rain, once when we went to the hotpools at night time and it was just easier, and once when it was freezing and somehow every pair of tights I owned was in the wash. Sometimes you just can't beat the 'easiness' of pants, especially in Winter.

April list update.

Phew! Another month down..  not too far off half way now, but still a way to go!

In April I intended to do numbers:  4, 17, and 24.
Half of numbers: 6, 10, 15, 16
And carry on with 18, 23 and 30.

1. Fit into my favourite summer top. - Nope, no way.
2. Sew myself at least one DRESS. - Done!
3. Knit myself a cardigan I love. - Have chosen the pattern.
4. Make Abraham a hoodie. - Done! Pictures coming soon.
5. Start sewing to sell again.  - Started this month!
6. List GIANT pile of thing on Trademe. - Everything still ready and waiting for me to start.
7. Print the majority of our photos. - Still waiting for a sale.
8. Plant a vege garden. -  Done in februrary Yay!
9. Go to the movies. - Done in March
10. Back up our photos on hardrive/ preserve fruit, make jam.   Done in April.
11. Start blogging again. 01/01
12. Get business cards. - Having them designed and getting quotes.
13. Buy 2 pairs of decent shoes. - No progress on this one.
14. Take Aesop to the zoo. - July is the month for this! Waiting on an Auckland-dwelling baby niece or nephew to arrive!
15. Send (at least) 2 parcels to Amy. - Have sent one in Jan and am amassing things for the second.
16. Finish at least 2 duathlon type events. - Done!
17. Sort out entire garage. - Done in April! With thanks to Abraham!
18. Finish yoyo quilt. - Chipping away at it.
19. Earn $1000 through sewing. - $194 down $806 to go. Not too bad for someone whohasn't been sewing til this week!
20. Have a bbq/dinner with over 10 people. - Nope. This might need to be a Winter event.
21. See some live music. - Done Feb.
22. Save over $1000/ have an outdoor movie night - Have found a projector to use but haven't set a date.
23. pay off our laptop and buy a new camera. - Laptop on track to be paid off in June. Awesome!
24. Sew 10 garments for the kids. - 7 down (ottos crawling pants, ewok costume  and a hoodie for aesop, 3x pants for Otto and a vest for Aesop), 3 to go.
25. Knit Aesop a jumper. - Have knit the body, arms will be done post Craft2.0 in June.
26. Make the mix cd to end all mix cds. - Nope. But I have begun the list.
27. Cover the cushions on the window seat. - Nope. Our couch is dying so might need to rethink my fabric choices.
28. Get away for a night without the kids! - Will be the end of the year (read: end of breastfeeding) for this one.
29. Get mentioned in a magazine. - Nope. 
30. Make most of the gifts we give (this year). - A bit of a continuous goal this one. But going really well.


No non-exercising wearing of pants this month.

Shweet!

List # 10 (part one)- Preserve FAIL.

I tried to preserve fruit. I reallllly tried. Twice.
But you know what? The first time I ended up with two jars full of mostly syrup and the next time I, stupidly, followed a recipe and didn't do the sugar by taste. You guessed it, the apples were so sweet I couldn't even swallow the spoonful I attempted. And in true Rhiannon style I had already sealed three jars!
I was pretty upset at first, not only because of the wasted time and ingredients,  but mostly because I was really keen to be the sort of woman who could fill the cupboards with jars of fruit and vegies, and of jam and chutney. I love how those rows of preserves look and I love the idea of saving money and hoarding things away. I love the idea of doing things that my female ancestors would have done for their families.
But then I came to a conclusion that has set my mind at ease.
No one person can be good at everything.

I'm pretty good at baking, I can do a bit of sewing, a bit of knitting, I can cook a great meal, I can do crosswords, I can finish a duathlon (two in fact! Another tick off the list!). I can do many things, and some of them quite well, if I do say so myself.
So, if the trade off for being good at those things is failing miserably at preserving, and we have to eat all of our fruit fresh and in season, and buy our jam from the market (or even the supermarket shelf) for the rest of our lives, then I'm okay with that.

List update- March

Okay, so I didn't end up doing many of the numbers I planned to. In fact this month was another slow one! Jeepers, I better pick up my game if I want to get anywhere near finishing this list.

In April I intend to do numbers:  4, 17, and 24.
Half of numbers: 6, 10, 15, 16
And carry on with 18, 23 and 30.

1. Fit into my favourite summer top. - Nope, still the boobs. Though I think I gained over Aesop's birthday week too. 
2. Sew myself at least one DRESS. - Done!
3. Knit myself a cardigan I love. - Have chosen the pattern.
4. Make Abraham a hoodie. - I hear there's a birthday in April...
5. Start sewing to sell again. - Might have changed my mind about this one.
6. List GIANT pile of thing on Trademe. - Everything still ready and waiting for me to start.
7. Print the majority of our photos. - Still waiting for a sale.
8. Plant a vege garden. -  Done in februrary Yay!
9. Go to the movies. - Done in March
10. Back up our photos on hardrive/ preserve fruit, make jam. - No. And no. But I might try and see if my friend will leet me raid her fig tree in April.
11. Start blogging again. 01/01
12. Get business cards. - Have had them designed. But not sure I'll need them if I don't start sewing!
13. Buy 2 pairs of decent shoes. - First pair ordered and they're too big. stinkoes!
14. Take Aesop to the zoo. - July is the month for this! Waiting on an Auckland-dwelling baby niece or nephew to arrive!
15. Send (at least) 2 parcels to Amy. - Have sent one in Jan and am amassing things for the second.
16. Finish at least 2 duathlon type events. - One down, one to go!
17. Sort out entire garage. - Have made a start, but nowhere near finishing!
18. Finish yoyo quilt. - Chipping away at it.
19. Earn $1000 through sewing. - $91 down $909 to go. Hahah. Also not going to really work if I don't start sewing.
20. Have a bbq/dinner with over 10 people. - Nope. This might need to be a Winter event.
21. See some live music. - Done Feb.
22. Save over $1000/ have an outdoor movie night - Have found a projector to use but haven't set a date.
23. pay off our laptop and buy a new camera. - Yet to pay off the laptop but did buy the camera 01/01
24. Sew 10 garments for the kids. - 4 down (ottos crawling pants, ewok costume  and a hoodie for aesop), 6 to go.
25. Knit Aesop a jumper. - Have decided on pattern and started to do gauge swatch.
26. Make the mix cd to end all mix cds. - Nope. But I have begun the list.
27. Cover the cushions on the window seat. - Nope. Our couch is dying so might need to rethink my fabric choices.
28. Get away for a night without the kids! - Will be the end of the year (read: end of breastfeeding) for this one.
29. Get mentioned in a magazine. - Nope. Looking very unlikely if I choose not to start sewing again!
30. Make most of the gifts we give (this year). - A bit of a continuous goal this one. But going really well.


The anti-pants plan is going okay. Did wear pants under a long tunic-y  top/dress the other day, not sure but that might count as my first slip-up? tsk tsk.

List #2- A dress!

So, when last week arrived and I realised I was 5 days out from an important wedding and both beautiful dress-less and money-less the solution seemed obvious. Not easy, or even particularly sane, but obvious. Amongst the rest of my tasks for the week, I would need to sew myself a dress.

I decided I should stick to something simple, and something I knew would work and would suit me without alterations. I knew that the fabric would have to be what made it a wedding-attending dress as opposed to a round-the-house dress, but that I wouldn't be able to buy any. Then I remembered I had picked up this curtain fabric a year or so ago and figured that a 'statement' dress was in order!

I have more than half a dozen dresses in this style (see here and here and here and here and here for a few examples!), you could pretty much say it's my staple. I have found them over the years in all different colours, patterns and sizes. They're just so perfect for just chucking on in Summer with my jandals, and in Winter with leggings and a merino top. 
So when I found one early this month in the Sallies, in the right size but a hideous pattern, I snapped it up (and then chopped it up). I had planned (and still do plan..) to make myself another half dozen dresses from the pattern, but certainly not in such a rush as this one!

So I present you with my first dress of the year. Perhaps I will get through this list afterall.

(More on the wedding later in the week..)

List #16 (part one!) - Duathlon

The photos speak for themselves, really. Sweat, lycra and me.. running!
One down, one to go!

List #9- Go to the movies

I don't go to the movies very often. To be precise, I've been three times in the last five years.
I just can't justify spending that much money to be cramped into a small dark room, eating million dollar popcorn when I could wait a month or two and watch the same movie in the comfort of my own home, eating whatever I darn well feel like eating.
The three I have been to are:  'Little Miss Sunshine' (which I LOVED) with my Mum, 'Monsters Vs. Aliens' with some of the family and then, yesterday, as a birthday treat for Aesop we went to see 'Astro Boy'.
The movie was fairly average, it had a few funny moments and it was all-in-all pretty feel good. Nothing spectacular. I definitely don't need to see it again.
But, I left feeling like it  was well worth the small fortune we forked out, to spend an hour and a half with two of my favourite boys, in the dark, eating junkfood. A true treat.

List #8- Plant a vege garden.

I planted my vege garden this week. Well, technically I planted two gardens. does that mean I can cross number 8 off twice?
With thanks to my friend Lee for building me a raised bed, and my friends Kelly and Josh for the soil, I finally have what will, hopefully, be a successful wee patch of vege-growing goodness. I have doused the soil in blood and bone, scattered handfuls of fertiliser and dug in litres and litres of organic compost. I even have chicken wire covers for both places to keep the stinky cats out while the plants establish! Green fingered super gardener ahoy!
I thought I would start of simple and I have planted broc, cauli and lettuce. I also have marigolds planted around them to keep the bugs away and have borage and what might be a pumpkin plant thanks to Aunty Christine. (Oh, and a rhubarb plant from Rachie!). I'm most excited to see what else I can find to grow.

Now to plan some serious handstitching so I have an excuse to sit and watch the back episodes of nz gardener!

# 21- See some live music.

There is not often much going on in Whakatane. No bands really tend to come and play here, the 'club' scene consists of  about 6 pubs/bars that always feel like they are either full of old people, barely-eighteen year olds or very rough and ready people. The one 'street feastival' we did have has been cancelled for the past two years due to lack of funding and this year it is running but has only two weeks advertising and we're busy that night anyway.
Needless to say, every year when 'Jazz in the park' comes round half of Whakatane jumps at the chance to sit, watch some live music and drink a few beverages. It's very child-friendly and picnic-friendly and both times I have been the music has been excellent.
This year Tauranga band Kokomo played. They were a very cruisy sounding jazz band with funky covers and a few originals and great instruments such as the washboard. The lead guys voice sounded just like Van Morrison when he was talking, and pretty good when he was singing too.
We didn't get to stay too long, the kids needed dinner (we weren't organised enough to take a picnic after a long day in Rotorua, but thanks to Donna and Lee who shared their nibbles with us!) and bed. But we did manage a few dances and have plans next year to make more of a night of it!

List update: January

Thought a bit of a monthly list update might be in order.
Obviously the first month of the year wasn't a big one in terms of ticking things off. Alot of the things on the lists are 'chipping-away-at' things, and I estimate that the middle-end of the year will incur the most crosses. But all the same, and mostly for my own benefit (and encouragement), I thought I would see where I was up to with each thing.

1. Fit into my favourite summer top. - uh, my belly fits but there's no forcing the button over Otto's kitchen. 

2. Sew myself at least one DRESS. - have multiple designs in my head, need to make them happen.
3. Knit myself a cardigan I love. - too hot for knitting! goodness me, much too hot.
4. Make Abraham a hoodie. - off to Rotorua next month, will purchase fabric there.
5. Start sewing to sell again. - have done one update but am not counting that as a true start!
6. List GIANT pile of thing on Trademe. - have everything ready to start taking photos.
7. Print the majority of our photos. - waiting for a sale.
8. Plant a vege garden. - dirt organised, wood organised. Even found someone to make the raised bed! Feb is the month for this!
9. Go to the movies. - waiting for a good movie to take Aesop to.
10. Back up our photos on hardrive/ preserve fruit, make jam. - no. And no.
11. Start blogging again. 01/01
12. Get business cards. - have had them designed. Waiting to start sewing again and for some extra $$.
13. Buy 2 pairs of decent shoes. - have ordered one pair, waiting for them to arrive.
14. Take Aesop to the zoo. - july is the month for this! Waiting on an Auckland-dwelling baby niece or nephew to arrive!
15. Send (at least) 2 parcels to Amy. - have sent one 01/01
16. Finish at least 2 duathlon type events. - March and April are all booked and ready to go.
17. Sort out entire garage. - have made a start, but nowhere near finishing!
18. Finish yoyo quilt. - chipping away at it.
19. Earn $1000 through sewing. - haven't  made a start on this one.
20. Have a bbq/dinner with over 10 people. - nope.
21. See some live music. - not yet.
22. Save over $1000/ have an outdoor movie night - have found a projector to use but haven't set a date.
23. pay off our laptop and buy a new camera. - yet to pay off the laptop but did buy the camera 01/01
24. Sew 10 garments for the kids. - 2 down (ottos crawling pants), 8 to go.
25. Knit Aesop a jumper. - again, too hot.
26. Make the mix cd to end all mix cds. - nope.
27. Cover the cushions on the window seat. - nope.
28. Get away for a night without the kids! - will be the end of the year (read: end of breastfeeding) for this one.
29. Get mentioned in a magazine. - nope.
30. Make most of the gifts we give (this year). - a bit of a continuous goal this one.
Am also happy to report that, other than exercising, I have not worn pants or shorts out into the public eye. Viva la skirt!

The List.

Every year, like most people, I make a few New Years resolutions. Usually they are things I strive for during the year anyway, such as weightloss, tidiness, organistation, productivity etc. Most years I, also like most people it seems, break them in the first month and then forget about them for the rest of the year.
So this year, along with my regular, unrealistic attempts at weightloss and other normal resolutions (and one not so ordinary, but I'll post about that soon) I also decided to write a list of things I want to do/see/finish.
30 (20+10) things by 2011:

I intend to document my finishing/doing of these things on this here blog (along with other things, of course!) and I am hoping that my blog and my list become fast friends and sort of egg each other along. Goodness knows with my combination of nappy brain and distracting kiddies I will need some motivation!
My list is not quite as ambitious as knitting 10 shawls and 10 pairs of socks, but it should keep me busy for quite some time.
In case the scan wasn't very clear (and so that I can come back and cross things off, using this as a reference point!) these are my goals:

1. Fit into my favourite summer top.
2. Sew myself at least one DRESS.
3. Knit myself a cardigan I love.
4. Make Abraham a hoodie.
5. Start sewing to sell again.
6. List GIANT pile of thing on Trademe.
7. Print the majority of our photos.
8. Plant a vege garden.  19/02
9. Go to the movies.    10/03
10. Back up our photos on hardrive/ preserve fruit, make jam. (backing up photos wasn't going to make an interesting blog post! so technically I have 32 things to do.)
11. Start blogging again. 01/01
12. Get business cards.
13. Buy 2 pairs of decent shoes.
14. Take Aesop to the zoo.
15. Send (at least) 2 parcels to Amy.
16. Finish at least 2 duathlon type events.
17. Sort out entire garage.
18. Finish yoyo quilt.
19. Earn $1000 through sewing.
20. Have a bbq/dinner with over 10 people.
21. See some live music. Jazz in the park with Kokomo 13/02
22. Save over $1000/ have an outdoor movie night (again with the blogging interestingness.)
23. pay off our laptop and buy a new camera. Camera bought in Jan
24. Sew 10 garments for the kids.
25. Knit Aesop a jumper.
26. Make the mix cd to end all mix cds.
27. Cover the cushions on the window seat.
28. Get away for a night without the kids!
29. Get mentioned in a magazine.
30. Make most of the gifts we give (this year).

Let the fun begin!