Wednesday 28 May 2014

Children make the world go around

I was awoken yesterday morning by the sound of the phone ringing...of course I jumped out of bed and ran to the stairs (as it's usually for me) but no....this time what I heard was The Little Lady chatting away. 'Is it for me?' I yelled down...'No Mum, just making a business call'.....Oh!!!!!...Business call? It was only 8.30am and The Little Lady is only 9!
I stumble back to my room a little taken back that the call was not for me...hmmmmm
It wasn't long before it emerged that The Little Lady had indeed decided that day that she was going to embark on an instant money making venture and somehow she had also involved her friend....and before I knew it plans are made and the day organised but not by me, by her......'Oh, well I'll just clean the house then shall I and be your taxi service for the day?'

Well, the business was cushion making. She had obviously been planning her little venture secretly for the past couple of days as she asked the lovely lady I sew for for some fabric scraps and came back with a little stash that she busily ironed, cut and stitched into little pillows, using MY sewing machine may I add (no work today then for me...well not of the usual kind!)

The plan for the sale was to take the little cushions to our local home ed group and to set up a mini stall...which the girls did. Not sure that they made much money but I was impressed by the process and the pattern of thought.

 
Table scenes (in fact scenes anywhere and everywhere) are common sights in our house.

 
Temporary sculpture built using unconventional building bricks.

In daily life my children witness me first hand trying to make a living sewing and at present selling shoes and whatever other opportunities come our way. They see the trials and tribulations involved in creating the product, advertising and then selling it. They are directly involved in being part of the team, the work force. Recently a friend of ours who has been home educated started school. One of the projects she has been set is to create a business with £5. Miss P was very inspired by the idea and then I pointed out all the business ventures she has witnessed and the projects she has created for herself. Being at home doesn't limit such experiences, in fact, the mere fact that you do have more time, gives rise to such opportunities.

 
A collection of friendship bands handcrafted and ready to sell.


This afternoon Small Boy has been busy. I didn't pay much attention when her changed into his red overalls and a cap. I did notice when he came in covered in oil asking me to come and look at his new creation. A few weeks ago he dug an oval shaped piece of metal out of the skip (that skip again). He has spent much time out in the garden hammering the metal into shape, a shape which he has been telling me is like a tractor seat and indeed it was. Today in farmer-mode he turned his little toy tractor (partially) into a real tractor, he'd even found an old can of oil to keep things lubricated and some paint to paint the tyre (and the gravel on the path). That boy is always creating and 'mucking on'.

 
He just needs another wheel......


Giving the children the freedom to live their lives as they choose, to a certain extent, provides wonderful lessons and life skills. They are not controlled or governed by bells and the need to rush things, they are not forced to do projects that are not of interest to them. I watch them from a distance flourish and grow individually everyday and marvel at the creations and ideas that come into being. These are real ideas that come about through genuine innate inspiration. Ideas that they become passionate about and work on until they achieve their desired outcome. I treasure these moments and look forwards to seeing where their journey's take them. :-)

Friday 16 May 2014

Dance for your daddy......

Life has been stupidly, wildly busy recently, I've had two weeks of total non-stop madness. This weekend marked the end of that period with further fun and frolicking in the form of complete and utter mind blowing craziness at the Rock Bottoms weekend in Torquay.

300+ dance crazy madmen (and women) seized and ambushed the entire Derwent Hotel and neighbouring establishments for a packed weekend of feasting, partying, cabaret, foolishness and DANCING :-)

Such a busy lead up meant that I had little time to become excited or anxious about the experience to follow, it didn't leave a whole lot of time for packing either. Two weeks prior to the event I dreamt two nights in a row that I had forgotten my clothes (except the ones I was wearing). Arrrr no clean knickers......unthinkable!
Thankfully those dreams didn't become a reality.

So following a busy day Friday, I finally managed to leave home ready for action!
It took me three hours to drive to Torquay, quite a nice surprise really as I had estimated it would take four. I do get a little 'throttle happy' when I want to get somewhere fast......
I actually quite like car journeys on my own, my own choice of music and head space to look around and be in awe of the wonderful surroundings I pass.
Arriving virtually last was not so cool though. The only parking space left was deemed inaccessible and required some 14 odd manoeuvres to squeeze the car in. Undeterred I did just that and abandoned my beloved chariot for the weekend. Of course the only remaining space was also in the most remote car park and furthest from the hotel. So loaded up with tightly overstuffed bags (I the dropped wine -luckily bottles survive concrete bruising....someone up there thought I deserved a good time!).
Arrived at hotel in a dishevelled state, hot and shattered from the ramble wondering how on earth I was going to survive the endurance test ahead?

I did manage a little bit of forward planning on the costume front for the Saturday night themed Greek or Geek evening. Initially I had thought sexy Greek goddess in something white but as I researched the Goddesses I came across Artemis, the Greek 'Goddess of the hunt'. The seed was sewn and in usual 'Kim style' quickly took root. A couple of days of thought and a trip to the wonderful Mason's inspired me to buy this......



Which quickly turned into this........it's a basque.....


 And this......



Oh, that's the booby bit!!

 
There it is...all finished :-) There's a bow and arrow on the back, although obviously you can't see that. I also put in eyelets and laced the back :-) 


It was most comfortable although a small mess up with my choice of zip meant I needed serious help getting the thing on and off (I wasn't short of volunteers for help here!!)


I always have a spring in my step but after a whole weekend (extended weekend too) of hours of classes and free styling, not to mention partying, swimming, seaside capers, dining and late nights, I'm quite frankly KNACKERED!

It seemed I am somewhat of a 'lightweight' rolling in at 2am three nights on the trot and functioning with an increasingly glazed, zombie-like appearance as the weekend progressed. I honestly think that another night may well have literally killed me, I would certainly not have appeared at all 'human-like'....perhaps I had already reached that state? It's hard to tell.

I met some lovely people whilst away (the Jive folk are always so friendly and inclusive), and had a jolly good personal experience too with some fantastic classes and some very talented dancers, I even learnt to fly :-) (loving air steps classes).
So home safely, caught up on sleep and booked to go again in November!! :-)