The new year arrived under a heavy blanket of smoke from the many bush fires burning around us.

We’re super thankful for the firies that are risking their lives to help save others. Many properties lost, much land has been burnt, wildlife killed and injured. Several people have lost their lives in the fight. They’re not super close and unlikely to affect us directly, but we have the affects from the smoke and anxiety they bring. We have friends and family caught up in the chaos. We feel totally helpless and just keep hoping/praying for rain.

We ended the year fairly quietly. A few close friends and family gathered for a BBQ. Those with children faded off early, then me, my sister and my cousin had a bit of a knit/crochet session to bring in the new year whilst Guy chatted to my brother and sister in law.

2019 was a much quieter year than 2018. The blog fell into silence for several months, as your all probably aware. And in all honesty, so did my creative desires.

I did manage to get a few projects in.

I took on a commission for a quilt for a close friend. I had a ton of fun making it!

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The finished quilt

I did a whole bunch of dyeing!

cooking a rainbow of alpaca fleece
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The rainbow cooking
tie dye patterns
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All the different patterns I have been playing around with
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I up cycled a chair.

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after..

And who can forget the Fbomb crochet! I seriously need to make more of these!

crochet fbomb
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Don’t drop the F bomb!

And crochet this lovely shrug

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The finished shrug on the dress makers dummy. I think i need to make a nice wooden shawl pin! It’s currently held together with my wooden crochet hook!

On a more personal level there was a few things that took our breath away…

I started a new job in February, which has proven to be more challenging than expected. I’m amazed I lasted a year to be honest.

Easter was spent at my parents house repainting their living area. That was quite the task!

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Day 3 – we painted the walls

My mum got really sick and ended up in hospital, and I spent a few days trying to help out, but feeling absolutely useless. She seems ok now, a bit tired of what the year has thrown at her.

We found out we were expecting our first child.

baby due march 2020
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Then went over seas for four weeks. That was a hard four weeks! Trying to navigate through Europe and horrible morning sickness at the same time.

waffles in belgium
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Of course we had waffles in Belgium!

One big thing I managed to tick of my goals list was to attend a market! It was a lot of fun, and a big learning curve, but I’m hoping to get to a few more this year!

Cate with the stall
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Me with my exceptionally bright store!

Now we’re into 2020, I’ve tried not to write a massive list of goals. Of course there are things I would like to achieve, but I’m trying to allow myself to breath and savor what I know 2020 will bring! My one true goal is to survive 2020!

I will become a mother this year, that I do know! And I have no clue what that will bring. I have, what I feel is a healthy dose, of being terrified! lol

What I would like to achieve however I’m hoping are small enough bits and pieces to fit into the survival tactics…

  • I would like to attend some more markets
  • I am reallllllly going to try my hardest to keep up with my weekly blog posts! This may mean you get inundated with things I make for bub.
  • I have a whole bunch of things taking up room in my cupboards that need to be up cycled and moved on.

So…

Here’s to 2020, here’s to becoming a mother, here’s to surviving and trying to make the most of the next 12 months! And here’s to getting a rain dance happening to help relieve the fires.

Stay safe, take care!
<3 Cate