softie mania

As someone for whom sewing and craft does not really come naturally I am constantly amazed by its therapeutic properties.

Perhaps it's the neverending tasks of maintaining a house with three children - it doesn't stay clean or tidy for long. The washing needs to be redone, floors vacuumed, surfaces dusted ... you get my drift. (Typing this out makes me realise how rubbish I am at "keeping house") Nothing is ever finished. But with a little doll or giraffe or pair of cufflinks or brooch it can be finished and a new one started. And the satisfaction of actually finishing something is immense.

I also really enjoy learning new skills - and boy do I have a lot to learn. However I am no longer frightened of the sewing machine eating my finger (don't ask) and that's a big step for me.

Mum and I took the big kids along with cousins to see The Wizard of Oz last night. It was held in a little outdoor amphitheatre* and we sat on cushions munching on popcorn as we watched.

I hadn't seen the movie for ages and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it and how much it scared poor Elijah. That green witch was pretty creepy but I must say Glinda the good witch freaked me out the most. That dress! And the voice - too saccharine to be true. Or maybe I've just seen too many movies. But Judy Garland was such a talent and I really do like her ruby slippers.

* actually not an amphitheatre at all because amphitheatres were enclosed, otherwise what would stop the lions, bears and Christians from escaping! I remember having this argument with a tour guide in Alexandria. (The Egyptian one) She insisted that the ancient Greek theatre we were standing in was actually an amphitheatre where gladiators fought wild animals. Tim contained his eye-rolling as I explained how it couldn't actually be the case as the beasties could simply leap onto the front row and gobble up whoever might be sitting there before taking off and running riot through the town. I know I'm a pedant. But not about everything. :)

While my etsy shop has been sadly neglected I am hoping to rectify that this week. I do have a fairly realistic and sober view of my own crafting abilities (they are seriously limited) but yet I find myself strangely attached to the peculiar things I make.