Here we go again

The 2011 competition season has started.  It was the Counties Manukau Rhythmic Champs on the weekend.
Tamsin competed L3, and had a disaster.  Only two routines ready, memory issues, me getting her there late for warm up and she freaked out - running off the floor barely into her rope routine for an automatic score of zero.  Ball, while no drops, was full of small fumbles and shuffles so got the blah score of 6.65.
Discussion with her coach needed.  What to do?

Jess, on the other hand, went out and did clean, solid routines and came away with scores that she's really happy with.  Result: 3rd free, 2nd clubs, 2nd hoop and 2nd overall with a 44.65.  This is up on this time last year - GO JESS

Holiday training this fortnight, then back to school for term 2.

Do you know your ABCs?

Spotted this on From Fat to Marathon Runner's blog (was StitchieKiwi) and thought, why not? looks fun!

Age: 43
Bed size: Queen (need room for up to five cats you see, never mind DH!)
Chore you hate: dusting
Dogs: fine mostly - better if I know them (e.g. brother's lovely chocolate labrador Bella)
Essential start of your day: shower
Fav colour: yellow
Gold or silver: either
Height: 5'4"

Instruments I play: I learnt the piano when I was 10, tried oboe in Year9
Job title: HR Admin
Kids: Jess (nearly 14) Tamsin (9)
Live: near Auckland Airport, NZ
Mom’s name: Betty
Nicknames: Evil Gym Mom
Overnight hospital stays: 2 for childbirth, once in the run up to childbirth, once for eye op age 3
Pet peeve: bad formatting of MSWord and Excel docs - setting tabs is soooo easy people!
Quote from a movie: One ping only, Vassily - Hunt for Red October; You are soo blonde, Chelsea - St Trinians
Right or left handed: left mainly

Siblings: elder sister and brother
Time you wake up: 5.30amish
Underwear: Got to have it.

Veg you dislike: where do I start?! And I work in horticulture, lol.  Beans definitely
What makes you run late: reading
X-rays you have had done: Teeth, foot
Yummy food you make: choc fudge
Zoo, favorite animal: tiger
Give it a go, I dare ya!

El Matador

Tink wanted a red, black and gold leotard, her rope is red, and her music is called "the bullfighter" - so this is what emerged:

Like the previous leo, it is too large... sleeves too floppy and the butt very baggy.  She has rope next year (Level 4) but I suspect she'll be taller, but no wider/ rounder so it still won't fit.  Oh well - it was worth giving matching the music a go!  But it definitely means she's a size 7 with extra long arms.
Anyone need a size 8 leo? or two?

Where there's lycra, there'll be leotards...

Still stitchin' and blingin'
This one was done for StitchItAndie's 8yro DD who has just started gym:

It arrived safely at its new home; most importantly it fits!
This one I made from the lycra stash cos I love the colours - both separately and in combination:

It's a size 8 and too big.  I'll keep it to hand in case Elianor has grown out of her birthday leo by the 9th (mock comp, with first real comp the following weekend).  Else it will be up for grabs - need $$$ for more lycra doncha know!



To the people of Japan

oh. my. god.
Huge thoughts and sympathies to you all re this awful awful earthquake with its resulting tsunamis and fires.
And,
THANK YOU so much for your brave, professional and extremely hard working rescue teams that were here in NZ in Christchurch.  They are on a plane right now, heading back to you.

love
the people of New Zealand

Another weekend, another leotard

I bought the black fabric last year cos I just couldn't resist it for Tink, even though she had plenty of leos at that point.  Picked up the contrast colour a couple of weeks ago from Angel Fabrics when shopping for this year's leo fabrics.  Then had to let the ideas and construction method simmer for awhile... the success of the daisy leo for Elianor gave me the confidence to just get on with it.  So here it is, the first of Tink's three comp leotards for the 2011 season:

She and Jess think this one is cool - yay!

While the cat's away...

..or in this case, DH was off fishing with his brother, Jess was staying over at Nana's and Tink was happily entertaining herself, and so look what I managed to make during one day of peace and quiet:

I really like this one.  Love the base colour, love how it all came together in one day from cutting out through to the last crystal going on.
It's a birthday gift for one of Tamsin's team mates, a sweet kid who is turning 8 three days before Tink's 9th birthday (next week, yikes).  Cross your fingers that I haven't made it too small...
Either way, one done in a day and 3 leos in one month - gotta be a record, no?

UPDATE:  Elianor loves her birthday present, and the fit issue?  Her mum, Elianor and I are all glad the season is early and short this year and are hoping she doesn't grow too much over the next 4 months as it fits very very well....