So ages ago when I first started this blog I had an aspiration to crank up the creative gene and try out some new crafts, after the initial burst of inspiration and bunting-induced satisfaction my enthusiasm or more the to point, patience, waned a little which is why there has been a suspicious absence of craft related posts since then.  It's not that I don't have the materials and equipment to get on with things, in fact the £19 sewing machine I snapped up with dreams of Kirsty's Vintage Home-style applique cushions and other such delights is still sitting untouched in it's box and my half finished bedside table project is awaiting it's final transformation into a decoupage masterpiece, but as of yet everything remains annoyingly incomplete.

In my defense I only have certain windows of opportunity to work on these projects without the helpful assistance of a 2 year-old and now that Koru kitten has joined the family, she is equally as keen to be involved by way of crazed claw-sprung ambushes and frenzied attacks on the scissors mid cut.  By the time the evening rolls around and the toddler is in bed, the couch is looking pretty inviting and my works of art sit forlornly awaiting attention for yet another day.

Crafting with Kids and Kittens



I know that this pattern of infinished business runs deeper than just the distractions of everyday life, I'm pretty sure that when it come's to personality type I am classic 'starter' but not such a great 'finisher'.  I love the initial spark of ideas and accompanying passion that comes with getting into a new project but as a lifelong avoider of routine and repetition I find it difficult to complete things.   I've had to learn to get better at finishing tasks for professional reasons but personal pursuits are a different ball game, so when I got a rare child-free morning recently with renewed vigour I decided to crack on and finish a button name picture I started for Squigglet some 7 months ago.

Koru the Crafty Cat



All was going swimmingly, I sat listening to loud Kiwi music whilst gluing coloured buttons on a canvas to make up squigglets name and fended off the curious koru who was excited by this new game until she tired and fell asleep directly on top of my button bag (what is it with cats and items you are using?).  I had just plotted out my button postioning for the last letter when I took a tea break and surveyed my handywork.......only to discover than in my haste and apparent baby brain fog, I left the 'a' out of Rhiannon and had no room to squeeze it in. Bugger.  I now have to wait for the glue to dry and pull off most of the buttons to try and reassemble the whole thing, I think it'll have to wait for another day.

As is evident from my Chaos Cooking posts, the kitchen has never really been my domain either but not one to give up without a fight, I've been tackling culinary competency head on with a frenzied bout of baking.  The whole idea was to involve the squigglet as a way to fill up days at home but also to save money on shop-bought baked goods, so far so good.  However my slight control freak tendencies have emerged and I get a little panicky when the flour starts flying and the eggs are being cracked willy nilly so the experience is less than relaxing for both of us.  Still we've managed to knock out some pretty decent bread, banana and choccie muffins and some delicious ANZAC biscuits in the last week until suddenly the magic went away and the last 2 batches of bikkies are soft in the middle and burnt at the edges, urgh!  I think I'll stick to bread and muffins.


Rhinno? Crafting Fail!



As Squigglet loves 'doing making' as she calls it, we've started creating our own home-made xmas cards which have been a reasonable success but can only manage 2 in one sitting before the toddler and her attention span wanders off to another corner with gluey hands after unravelling entire rolls of ribbon and attempting to gift wrap the cat.  If we manage to beef up production a little and actually get around to sending any, watch out for these in a post box near you soon. It's a wonder I am capable of anything requiring brainpower at present as I find myself wandering into other rooms with a purpose which I promptly forget as soon as I arrive, leaving me standing there glazed-eyed and starring into space trying to recall just what the heck I was going to do.  I blame the hormones.

Still I haven't tried to freeze the car keys, cook the remote control or flood the kitchen yet as I believe one of my sisters did when she was preggers...Shell?  But there's still 4 1/2 months to go, so anything could happen.

What are your best hormone related fails??