Wendy Treseder

Dad said I don't update my blog regularly enough

It's true, he told me today how annoying it is to go to my web page and find nothing new. So, I thought I'd better put something on here, quick smart. haha

The past few weeks have been a very busy and sentimental time for me and everything seems to be of ending. Since my last post, Chelsea had her final day at school and has only one more exam to go (french written next Wednesday) then she'll have finished high school forever!

Chelsea and her two besties have been friends since Kindergarten and have been at Woodleigh together since grade six. I have a cute photo of them, like this one, on the day they were presented with their grade six badges. I'm pretty sure their heights were totally reversed in that photo - haha. I'm sure they'll be BFF's (that's Best Friends Forever - Dad).

 
  
We have also been up to Ballarat for Chelsea's Calisthenics Team competition and we had the best time! It was a super friendly, happy comp' and the girls gave their best performances of the year. They got a second for their Song & Dance item (thank you Neil and Peter for the lucky ties - wink) and got two fourths, for Free Exercises and Clubs. The best part of the trip was how many of the coaching staff came up to me and told me how I should be so proud of Chelsea, what a great leader and reliable performer she is! Is there anything better than having other people tell you how great your kids are? Tears all 'round.

Since then, we've had the Calisthenics Medal presentation day where lots more lovely speeches were made. Also our final Calisthenics class for the year (and the final one I will ever have to drive Chels to, as next year she will be able to drive herself - YAY).

The end of year concert is on this Saturday afternoon, which also happens to be Harry's 13th birthday! Wah! My baby will be soon be a teenager!!! By the end of the year I will officially have NO CHILDREN, I'll have one teen and one adult! boohoo

I am totally loving the week of 30+ weather we are having in Melb this week (30+ degrees and 30+ sunscreen) and we've all been hanging by the pool most afternoons, mostly swimming but some of us couldn't be bothered getting our hair wet. Not Harry, as you can see by this pic. haha

I've been on a bit of a sewing spree lately and so far I made myself a top, which I promptly hated and ended up turning into a cute skirt. Then I made a black singlet top based on my favourite shaped one out of my wardrobe. The next morning I decided to add a row of buttons from my stash to the neckline. It turned out so cute and I've already worn it to work this week. 

Tomorrow I am making a couple of sheep costumes for my girlfriend who is a kinder teacher and needs new one for their nativity play. Can't wait to get started on that, because I've got such cute ideas in my head. I just hope they translate to the sewing machine.

Okay so that will have to do for this post. I won't leave it so long next time (promise, Dad). hehe

stay happy :)
 

watch out for angry students!

I saw this sign on a Ballarat roadside this weekend and Chels was happy to play along, but I've seen her look much crosser than this. haha

We were in Ballarat for the Royal South Street Calisthenic Competition on the weekend. Chels' team of Championship Juniors were competing and I went up with her to be a supportive Mummy. We drove up Friday evening and back again after the comp, arriving home just after 1am on Sunday. Then on Sunday afternoon Chels and I had a 4 hour calisthenic class for her Senior team to go to. It's such a busy time of year for us, but particularly this year.

Chelsea has her first VCE exam tomorrow afternoon (VCE Dance - performance exam). The exam is in the city, at the National Theatre, after school. After that she will have to go straight to Calisthenics class, the final stage rehearsal before her team competition in Ballarat which is split between Thursday evening and Friday morning.

Harry has an appointment with his Paediatrition tomorrow morning in Mornington and on Wednesday, it's Chelseas' final day of school and she is speaking at the reflections service at 8am. Wednesday night will be time for her to have a small celebration with friends and the next day we head up to Ballarat for her comp. 

Meanwhile Peter is going to Geelong for a conference on Wednesday night, so Harry is coming to Ballarat with Chel and I, then Peter is coming up to watch the comp, pick Harry up and take him back to Geelong with him, where he will have to entertain himself for a couple of hours while Peter finishes up his final session at the conference.

It's a big, messy, emotional and complicated week!

Saturday morning, I will be zzzzzzz 

clean up or create?

I started clearing away the mess I'd made while working on a few papercraft projects on the weekend, but decided it would be more productive to actually make a couple of cards from the scraps. Basically, I'll do anything to get out of cleaning up. haha

 

I used some pretty crazy combinations, but I decided to restrict myself to using just scraps. The cool circle flowers were leftovers from the project Leeanne taught at our recent crafternoon session.

I cheated on this card, by drawing on the stitching lines in pen, easy!

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I've added another free step by step workshop to the handmade flower blog today. This time it's making pretty flowers using paper towell and glimmer mist. It's a very easy, messy, but fun workshop. You can get to the instructions by clicking on the link in the sidebar on right, or clicking here.   Enjoy!

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We went to my niece Evelyn's confirmation on Sunday. It was a lovely service and I was very proud of Evelyn, she's growing up to be such a lovely young lady.

I took a photo of Chels & Harry outside the church. It's pretty rare to get them dressed up at the same time these days, so I thought I should grab a shot while I could. :)

Harry is fast catching up to Chelsea's height (check out how high her heels are!). I have to keep reminding myself that she will officially be an adult in a couple of months time. How can I possibly have an adult child when I barely feel like an adult myself? haha

Happy Monday :)
  
 

International Card Making Day

I heard through the grapevine that today is international card making day. woohoo! let's here it for cardmakers all over the planet!

I decided to join in the fun and throw a few quick cards together.

 

 
 
This card features a glimmer misted circle flower that Leeanne taught us how to make at our crafternoon session the other day.

Lately I've been enjoying really pushing the boundaries of good taste and combining a wild assortment of colours and patterns. so much fun! Happy Birthday Erin (sorry it's late).

 

This card features a paper towell flower I made yesterday. Watch out for the instructions, for these flowers, coming soon.

I've moved the handmade flower workshops to another section on this blog, so you can take your time and follow them whenever you like. Check out the link in the sidebar or here.

HAPPY CARDMAKING DAY EVERYONE! :)

  

Fabric Flowers Step by Step

   

Gather your supplies:

1 strip of cotton fabric approximately 2" wide x 8" long
1 contrasting patterned fabric scrap (note: small pattern designs work best)
a scrap of thin chipboard
1 button
embroidery thread
glue stick
double sided tape
1" circle punch
scissors

Fold the long strip of fabric in half. Then fold it in half again.

Snip the folded edges but DON"T CUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

Snip between the edges to create two sections (once again NOT ALL the way through). Cut petal shapes from these two sections, cutting through all layers of fabric at once - as shown below. If you feel daunted by cutting the petal shapes, fold the fabric wrong side out and draw the shape on (in pencil) before you cut.

Step four. Punch a 1" circle from the scrap of chipboard and add double sided tape to the back of the fabric.

Step five. Remove the backing from the double sided tape and gather and pinch along the bottom edge of the fabric, as you stick it to the punched circle.

Continue working this way all around the circle. If you find you have more fabric than your flower can handle, simply cut one off (an odd number of petals will look better anyway).

Here's what it should look like at this stage.

To create the centre of the flower, apply glue to the scrap of chipboard and cover it with the other piece of fabric.

I like to just free hand cut a circle for the centre because I like the wonkiness, but if you don't, you could trace a circle (approx 2") on to the back of the chipboard before you cut it out.

Once you've cut it out, use your fingernails to rough up the edges.

Attach the circle to the centre of your flower.

Tie a piece of embroidery thread through a button and attach it to the top of the flower. Note: double sided tape works best for both these steps.

Finally if like me, you prefer things to look a little shabby, rough up the edges of the petals with your fingernails and you're done. Easy!

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Here's a couple of other flowers I made using this technique.

I cheated with this one and just stuck a circle shaped sticker in the centre. 

With this flower I used a fabric centre with a sticker in the middle.

Have Fun! :)

 

 

 

 

jersey caramels

That free workshop I mentioned a couple of weeks back is still coming.

In the meantime, here's something sweet to keep you going while you wait.

ETA. They didn't last long once the photo was taken. haha

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Did I tell you Chelsea won a scholarship to a full time dance and performing arts course at Dance Factory? She auditioned a couple of weeks ago, just hoping to get accepted into the course and we were so blown away that they offered her a full scholarship!

I'm still so excited everytime I think about it. They called today (to follow up some paperwork) and told me how impressed they are with her! They said she has a lovely performance style.

As a parent, is there anything better than the buzz you get when someone tells you something great about your child? Well probably lots of things, but you know what I mean.

More soon...I promise.

Make a wish

I just love the macro setting on my camera and I've been playing with it more and more lately.

I've noticed how when you get up really close you get to see the most ordinary and everyday objects in a whole new way. For instance, check out the tiny dimples in the white ball at the centre of this dandelion where the seeds have been blown away.

Love how this annoying weed is so beautiful.

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It's my last official week working for CHOICE Switch. I've had a shocking cold since Saturday, but woke up this morning and felt I'd turned the corner. Possibly due to the penicillin I took after finding a couple of tablets in the cupboard yesterday. haha

I'm working from home since we got kicked out of the office, so it's perfect timing to be sick (I can take a little sickie break whenever I need one) and also making Chelsea's formal dress has kicked off a dressmaking craze and I'm making myself a dress to wear to the Cowboys Footy Presentation night on Friday. I drafted a pattern last night and bought the fabric this afternoon. I cut it out tonight and have marked all the darts and I can't wait to get sewing tomorrow! I just hope it turns out as good in reality, as it looks in my imagination. haha

I'll keep you posted.

:)