Never Never Never Give Up

In April 2009 I went on my first practical experience in a school, as part of the teaching degree I was doing. I thought it went beautifully: I had good feedback throughout and the lessons I had done went well. 

Nearly two weeks after finishing and being thrilled, I was told that actually I had failed - completely and irrevocably.

I cried. For about 3 months.

I have almost always wanted to be a teacher, even playing 'schools' with my siblings. It seemed as though my dreams had been shattered... my confidence was completely broken and I had lost direction... how could I fail my teaching prac? Everyone had always said I would be a great teacher.

The university did not do anything to revoke the unfair assessment (yes, it was unfair). I found out that my degree would take an extra year, all because I failed a 2 week prac.

I tried to continue in my course, but could not function for trying not to burst into tears. I decided to defer for a semester, and thought seriously about quitting entirely.

I could not shake the feeling that I needed to go back, even though I did not want to because I had been so adversely affected by what had happened. It took almost 8 months before I finally handed in my application for acceptance into the new Master of Teaching course. After submitting the application I cried because it was so emotionally difficult for me to do.

I remember thinking, "God, if you want me to do teaching, you need to give me the desire to do this or I will fail again." 

God heard my prayer. One day, towards the end of January, I realised I was starting to get excited about returning to university and studying teaching again.

Today, I completed my first practical experience for the course. I passed with great marks. 

I am so happy, so pleased with myself and so thankful!

When I failed the prac last year, I could not cope with the thought of returning to try again, but I did, and I succeeded. It was hard won, and others would have given up, just as I nearly did.

There might be other negative experiences while I do this course, but I believe I am meant to be a teacher, and by God's grace I will persevere and I will complete what I have set out to do. 

God does not give us dreams or desires for no reason.

Never, never, EVER give up!

Sheep Art (Shart?)

Handmadehobart Market

It is a couple days late, but I think some mental space was needed before I even felt up to posting some pictures of.................

Our stall at the handmadehobart market! 

My SIL, a friend and myself all shared a stall. This picture is from the second day when we had improved our look (stay tuned for another post on that), and I think it looks pretty awesome :)

I made these neckwarmers using my Urban Shells Scarf pattern (free!). (My other free crochet patterns can be found here, two of them also have pdf downloads). The shawl pins are made from horn, I think all the ones you can see here are made from ox horn.

My SIL made these adorabe overalls. She is one clever chicky! The best part is..... custom orders! She also made the recycled denim bibs you can see hanging up on the basket and the pink flowery dress lying on the table. If you scroll back up to the first photo you can see some more of what she makes. The few things that did not sell at the market are now in her shop, Wee Threads.

In this photo you can see two of the crochet beanies (pattern coming soon!) made by me for the stall. Hanging up are the gorgeous knitted dresses made by Jeka B Handmade. These dresses are incredible. My neice has a pinny like the red one hanging up and it is so adorable on her. The blue and brown baby beanie and the two neckwarmers you can see at the front (the black one and the light blue one) were also made by Jeka B Handmade. She does custom orders too!


The market goes over two days and happens every two months in Hobart, Tasmania. All the stalls were amazing. I bought a gorgeous scarf from one and did some swaps with a couple other stall holders. I will be back later in the week to show you what I got! 


It was a great experience, I loved meeting other stall holders and am hanging out for the next market we do!


Kathy xxx


P.s. I have a few more market-related posts coming up... other stall holders... what I got... my thoughts on markets in Tasmania... what we learnt and what we will change...

So Happy Right Now!

A couple of years ago I fell in love. On Wednesday I realised that My Love was half price. 

Would you like to see?

Isn't it just wonderful! It is a picture by Charles C. Ebbets, and it was taken in 1932. It is called "Lunch break on the 69th fl. of RCA". You might know the building as the Rockefeller Centre.

They are up so high! That would never be allowed now. Never ever ever. I love this picture. 

Did you understand what I am saying? I l-o-v-e this picture!

Right now... Loving Lists

Right now I am...

...tired, stressed and headachy.

...a bad homemaker. I have no clean dishes left :(

...a terrible student.

...running out of time before the Handmade Hobart market (see previous post).

...annoyed that the shawl pins I bought are going to eat up most of the profits I would have gotten from the neckwarmers I am making (really, it was the freakin' postage!!!!)

...not sure how to infuse this blog with a sense of my personality.

...in the mood for a list.

The Subsequent List (complete the majority of this by Sunday evening)

• Return jacket I have decided I do not like.
• Buy the picture of men sitting on a beam suspended 100s of metres above the ground (I have loved this picture for years, and it is half price!).
• Do the majority of the dishes.
• Cook something that has vegetables in it.
• Take the rubbish and recycling up to the bins.
• Do not get sick (have an early night).
• Finish the beanie I am currently working on and crochet another one.
• Start on university assignments due next week.
• Go to SIL's on Saturday.
• Go to church on Sunday.
• Go to bed before midnight and get up before midday.

Ah! Lists! I feel a bit better now that I have something to refer to over the next three (only three!) days.

Three cheers for lists!

Beanies, Markets and Deadlines

I feel like I am the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland: I am late, late, I am very, very late!

Is it just me or has the year been in fast-forward mode for everyone?

My main concerns at the moment are university and the upcoming Handmade Hobart Market, which is only two weeks away! OH NO! 

 One of the beanies I have made. And wonder of wonders, is that actual money I see?!

I am making beanies for the market and I am starting to feel like they are coming out my ears. The problem is, I still need to make more - many more! I am making my seventh now, but out of those seven, only three are for the actual market. Out of the rest, two were presents, one is mine and the other is pre-sold.

This is one the neckwarmers I have made for the market.

I want to make seven or eight more beanies, as well as a few more neckwarmers to add to the three neckwarmers I have already completed. The question is, can I fit this in alongside the two university assignments due right before the market?

The answer?

I have to!

But oh my, I am looking forward to semester break! (Only seven weeks to go!)

Kathy xx

Spring Blossom Hairclips

Last week I shared a pattern for Spring Blossoms, a cute little crocheted flower.

Since then I was emailed by Katu, who has the Etsy Shop Remembery Lane, asking permission to use the pattern to make hairclip sets to sell. I said yes (I said that it does not hurt to ask!) and she already has several pairs of Blossom Hairclips for sale!

Please go have a look at Katu's shop, or even check out her blog, if you feel so inclined!

Kathy xx

Oh, and if you want to make any of my crochet patterns to sell, please ask permission first, like Katu did. I don't bite :)

Love, Happiness and Marriage

One of my friends is moving to England (the other side of the world) to be with her fiance. On Sunday she had a farewell barbeque. To say goodbye I made her this:

I also wrote her a letter. At the end of the letter I felt like printing myself out a copy so I could remember my own advice (I especially like the last dot point). Some of this I have learnt, much of it I am still learning. I hope that what I wrote will also benefit you. Here is some of it:

...I wanted to share with you some of the things I have learnt about love and marriage. I hope dot points are okay as I should be working on my university assignment right now.

• Love is precious, like a rare gemstone that must be guarded. 
   
• Love is beautiful. 
   
• Love is hard work.
   
• Love is worth it.
   
• When we love we put the other person before ourselves.
   
• We don't love the other person so that we will be happy (that is selfish).
   
• We love because that is what we choose to do. 
   
• We love because we want to make someone else happy. 
   
• Happiness is a by-product of choosing to love someone more than we love ourselves.
   
• Many people do not understand that love does not always come naturally.
   
• When we aren't feeling the love, we need to choose to be loving anyway.
   
• Happiness is not the goal of marriage.
   
• Learning to love and cherish someone before ourselves is the goal of marriage. 
   
• This first blush of romance and happiness does not last. 
   
• If you are committed, something better than what you have now will become yours. 
   
• The stability and trust and confidence in a solid relationship where there is dedication and commitment is far more satisfying than the exciting whirl of romance. However... 
   
• If you have a good, loving relationship, there will always be romance! 
   
• Surprise cuddles are wonderful!
   
• Sometimes men get grumpy when we give them a surprise cuddle. Timing can be crucial.
   
• When you argue (and you will) do not say “you never...” or “you always...”
   
• When you argue, make up before you go to sleep.
   
• Say "I love you" everyday.  
   
• Do not wait for the other person to apologise first, even if they are wrong. 
   
• When you go through a hard day or year (or ten), remember what you have: do not throw it away, but hold onto it, because night does not last forever.
   
• Do not try to change the other person, change yourself first.
   
• Marriage is something that refines your character and teaches you how to love.
   
• Learning to love is a never-ending lesson.
   
• Always remember and appreciate what you have!
   
• You hold the success and happiness of your marriage in your hands.

Have you got anything that you are bursting to add to this list? Share in a comment :)

Kathy xxx