Matching Pegs

These are the beautiful plates that Amelia and Rory made at Preschool over several years. There is one for each member of the family.

Amelia’s first one was made when she was not quite 4. 2 years later she made a family one for me (the blue one) when we got a free plate, (I organised the fundraiser) but we only had one special marker left. I like the monochrome effect. I love the fact that each family member is on there (I am the enormous one) even though she made it a month or so before Michaela was born. Unfortunately Rory’s from that year broke.

The following year Rory made another one for himself and the red and orange one for his father, also with each family member. Amelia made one for Michaela who was too young to participate at the time.

We use them almost every day. I feel the need to record the plates for posterity in case one breaks again.

In case you are wondering about the artful smudges on them, they were not produced by the kids, but I smudged out our surname and location. No offence blogosphere, but I would like to preserve some privacy for the Matching pegs household.

Not a lot of creating has been going on here, at least by me, but Rory has been busy.

I did manage to get out and purchase some material for the shark library bag, which has now been washed and dried. I have been itching to get started but I have just been too busy with being-a-Mum “stuff”.

Yesterday was a low point as the car broke down (again) and later Michaela (2.5) managed to swallow a toy of Amelia’s that is still yet to make it’s reappearance. A frantic call to the “Nurse on Call” hot-line calmed me down somewhat. Under directions from the nurse, I gave Michaela some water to drink and a piece of bread to eat. Her lack of problems in swallowing both showed that it was not lodged anywhere and had made it’s way to the stomach. Now we are hoping it comes out OK. The item was actually quite large, and very hard, so I watching Michaela nervously for any signs of stomach pains, etc. According to the nurse, if the kids can manage to swallow the item, they can usually manage to expel it at the other end, so if it does not appear in the next two days we will be making a trip to the hospital. Fortunately we have an appointment at the GP for another matter tomorrow morning, so I can get her to check Michaela over while we are there.

Here is the only think that I have made in the last week, another felt hair clip. This time a Butterfly.

Here is a look at Amelia’s current project, her name stitched out for her reader bag, for school. She chose the variegated thread from a couple of packs of DMC threads that she won as part of her prize. She chose the background fabric as well, and after I selected a pile of related fabric choices from my stash, we have a vague plan for how her new reader bag is going to look. In order to decide on the font, I wrote Amelia’s name in about 8 quite different fonts in an Illustrator file, and she chose the one she liked the best (the curliest of course). My selection were all ones that would look good as an outline. While this is by no means an ambitious project for Amelia, the deadline for finishing it (school starting) may be. I think I will be stitching quite a bit of it. Both Amelia and Rory have done some stitching today. After spending all morning, and some of the afternoon buying school shoes and clothes for the start of school in 18 days, they were both tired when we got home. Amelia picked up her sewing and Rory asked me to find his as well. He has not done any since about November, being far less interested than Amelia. Rory did about 5 miniutes stitching, finishing the head of his alien, before going outside to jump on the trampoline. Amelia lasts a little longer, but tends to do it in little bursts as well. She just picks it up far more often.

I must say I am very taken with Rory’s little alien, he has a very friendly face. The planet in the background has a flag on it just like one of the planets on the quilt I designed and made for Rory when he turned 2.

What do you get when 2 designers have a child - a young designer of the year.

Our daughter Amelia has been announced as the winner in her catagory of 11 years and under for the Homespun Magazine’s Young Designer of the Year Competition, an Australia wide competition. She is pictured in the current issue (Vol 9 No. 1) and was also profiled as a runner up in the prior issue.

We were told of Amelia’s win way back in September, but due to publishing constraints, it has only just been printed. She won such a haul of stuff, (including a sewing machine, digital camera, printer, lightbox, crafting books and lots of fabric, buttons and sewing related notions) that we have only just managed to find places for all of the stuff in our little house.

And here is the work that won her the prizes - “The Ladybird Queen”. Amelia drew this back on the 18th of March 2007, when she was 6 and a half. I transfered it the same day, and she started stitching straight away. The hand stitching - which took 4 months - was all done by Amelia, and I stitched it into a wallhanging.

Amelia’s drawing was done with no suggestions from an adult regarding subect matter - she has an amazing imagination. While there were other things on the page, you can see her backwards tick in blue (she is left handed and often draws them this way) indicating that this figure was the one she wanted to stitch.

Here is a quote from the Editor, Bianca Tzatzagos, regarding judging Amelia’s entry; “I thought this project was truly charming - the drawing was whimsical and sweet, and the stitching was simply outstanding.” Apparently the judges decision was unanimous.

Needless to say, we are extremely proud of her wonderful achievement. Since winning the prizes she has designed a doll that she would like to make (from drawing many possible faces, to the details on the clothing), chosen fabric from her brand new stash to make a lap quilt, and is currently stitching her name out for her reader bag. If only Mummy had more hours in the day to spare for making things together. Rory is determined to enter this year with a stitchery of a drawing he has done of an alien in a rocket ship. I think he is convinced that if her enters, he will win - after all Amelia did.

Many thanks to the lovely people at Homespun, particularily Catherine Sanchez (Managing Editor) and Bianca Tzatzagos (Editor) with whom we have spoken several times on the phone to organise photos etc. Also thank you to the many companies who supplied prizes for the competition - our little girl is well and truly inspired to keep creating - this will not be the last you hear of her talents!