Boredom

Thanks Nic for the tip off on this one.

Image from Amazon

I haven’t read this book, but it has been added to my reading list for 2010, after reading this quote on 22 words….

…boredom is necessary for a child’s development, and will eventually spark a mental state known as “daydreaming.”

For those not in the know…. daydreaming is a good thing.

I cheer loudly, with fists pumping the air,  if the girls say they are bored.

I say “Mum 1 kids 0″.

Are you the Jetsons?

Yesterday Nomes sent me an interesting link that I thought was worth sharing.

Image from Wikipedia

Energy Australia are wanting to test run an energy efficient home. They need a family to live for a year (rent free), in a partly furnished purpose built house in Newington, and write regularly about their experience. The family will also have the use of an electric car for the duration of the ‘experiment’.

Does this sound like you?

” And we’ll probably need a family who’s got a good sense of humour and plenty of patience, because not everything we test in the house we know is going to work perfectly every time.”.

The A team are thinking we might throw caution to the wind and submit an application. Sounds fun.

Upcycled Anything Interesting? -Skateboards

I know not a lot of you will have these kicking around waiting to be upcycled for fear of extraordinary amounts of landfill, but they can be put to unusual and inspiring use.

image from Skate or DIY

Reply image via Kris Lovett Dot Com

I have blogged about these previously here.

Image from: http://beckycity.com/ via greenluxury

photo from etsy.

phot from 2ReVert Etsy store

This one reminds me of honey joy biscuits. Image from skatestudyhouse

Belt buckle . Image from alldeckdout on etsy

bangle by alldeckdout Photo from etsy

Even buttons. You know how I love buttons. Image by sevenply

My first bloggy award. How exciting!

Yes, even though I haven’t posted a picture of anything I have made for over a month (no one seems to have minded).

This is a particularly lovely award because it is for being a beautiful blogger.I’m not sure exactly what that means…. but I accept…. I’ll take it….. thank you!

I was awarded my first award from my friend Steph.

Those who read my blog regularly will have read many comments from the ever encouraging Steph. As soon as she became aware of my blog, she has been leaving me little morsels of her wisdom and encouragement. Thanks Steph. I  featured her extra cute ‘ designed by kids and made by adults’ Moobear designs here

To accept this award I have to

• thank the person who gave it to me…..Thanks Steph!!.
• paste the award on my blog and link back to the person who nominated you…check out Steph’s blog here.
• tell 7 interesting things about myself…..

1. I would really love to live on a boat full-time
2. I love  rugby. They are ‘my boys’.
3. The first instrument I learnt was the piano accordian. I kid you not.
4. Tim and I have designed a board game “There be Dragons!”
5. I love to paint and collage. (Will show you some soon!)
6. I love tupperware a little too much (party this Friday….. come ….. share the love.)
7. I have been , and may be again, a pastor’s wife.

As I read back over my list, I realise I am more odd than interesting. Anyway……

• nominate 7 blogs for this award then link to them!!

1. Nic: A dear friend who’s gift for writing clearly about her love for Jesus and other’s encourages and challenges me.
2. Cathy: Another dear friend I am proud to have in my circle who’s commitment and depth of thought in all things makes my heart sing.
3. Ali:  A beautiful troubled poet of sorts, who’s honesty I find refreshing and encouraging.
4. Goldy: Who never ceases to surprise.
5. Tim: He was so beautiful….. I married him.
6. Sophie: A recent find, who’s way of seeing things  inspires me.
7. Rachael: A thinker, dreamer, theologian and woman after my own heart.
8. Sarah: My one truly bloggy friend, who I have never met in real life but have come to enjoy in the past couple of months. ( I know it was supposed to be 7 but one more won’t hurt)

Inspire Me: Maison Martin Margiela

ht: www.outsapop.com for image

This guy can upcycle anything! Here it’s shoes…. ah yes… you can see them now.

Grab a coffee/tea or other slowing down beverage, click on the image , and enjoy upcycling by the master. Maison Martin Margiela.

If you just want a teaser watch this.

Underwater Photography

Something to aspire to.

Flying the flag

I hope everyone had a great Australia day and flew the flag correctly.

Image from wikipedia

• The flag should be raised briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
• The flag should be raised no earlier than first light and lowered no later than dusk.
• When the flag is raised or lowered, or when it is carried in a parade or review, everyone present should be silent and face the flag. People in uniform should salute.
• The flag should always be flown freely and as close as possible to the top of the flagpole with the rope tightly secured.
• Unless all flags are raised and lowered simultaneously, the Australian National Flag should be raised first and lowered last.
• When the Australian National Flag is flown with flags of other nations, all flags should be the same size and flown on flagpoles of the same height
• When flying with only one other national flag, the Australian National Flag should fly on the left of a person facing the flags.
• Two flags should not be flown from the same flagpole.
• The flag may be flown at night only when it is illuminated.
• The flag should never be flown if it is damaged, faded or dilapidated. When the material of a flag deteriorates it should be destroyed privately and in a dignified way. i.e it may be cut into small unrecognisable pieces then disposed of with the normal rubbish collection.
• The flag should not be flown upside down, even as a signal of distress.
• The flag should not fall or lie on the ground or be used as a cover (although it can be used to cover a coffin at a funeral).

Nope….. no breaking of the protocols today!!

Protocols taken from It’s an honour

Rips

*In our recent beach safety survey on NSW beaches, only

40% of people could confidently identify a rip in a picture -

even though 80% thought that they could.

Given another tragedy yesterday, and that lots of you have children, please take the quiz.

I grew up taking holidays at the beach most years. I have spent hours swimming in the surf.

By 12 I had my bronze medalian in life saving and had the skills to fully resuscitate a person pulled from the water.

But I would have failed the “Can you spot a rip test?”….until about a year ago when I saw this video.

Please watch it and show it to your kids regularly

*University of New South Wales NSW Injury Risk Management Research Centre,

A new page ….

For the last month or so I haven’t been making anything for harrysdesk, but I have been doing a lot of thinking about the year ahead.
One of the things I am keen to put together are gallery collections of items that I have made.
I hope to make a number of separate collections. Bags, T-shirts, broaches, jewelry and others.
Here’s the first one. Enjoy!!

I am hoping that these will serve a couple of purposes.
1. I can have a record of everything I have made, and 2. It should make it easier to get a feel for what I do, without having to search through the whole blog.
What I would love from you, if you are willing, is some frank feedback. If you think the way I have done it looks naff, say so. I’ll still talk to you! Really! It would be enormously helpful to know what you think.

A few holiday pics…..

Make a Smilebox slideshow