The latest Op Shop haul & my end-weaving-in-needle (which I had to search the entire house for). I've grand plans.
The most exciting thing in my creative space today is this! I've grand plans for her too.
We're going for a little drive today which I'm very excited about... maybe lunch at The Heads Diver Dan's?
Have a fabulously creative day you lot!
Don't forget to add your link if you're playing along this week.
The convent is located at 1 St Helliers Street Abbotsford in Melbourne.
More information about how to get there here.
What better venue to have our quilt stitched by (mainly)women displayed than at the convent?
If you've been following the project & you're available on the 23rd we'd love to see you.
Just RSVP by replying to my RSVP comment on this post or if you're shy you can email.
The Quilt Project site will be launched on this evening also & will be live on the 24th of October.
In the laneway on the way to pick up my coffee this morning. I didn't touch it - I hope it made someone else smile.
They are popping up everywhere.
Do you know where this laneway is?
I've banged on before about how I've lived my life on Map 46. I was born on the map, grew up on the map & married a boy from the map. Both our siblings live close by & we spend a lot of time with our families.
It was a tearful farewell when my sister & her husband made the move to Darwin 5 years ago. We've visited often & they came back each Christmas. I thought they'd never come "home".
The decision to move back was made swiftly and definitely.
They've moved into a gorgeous house (just a stone's throw from us) & I've been helping to get them settled in. She's done a sensational job of decorating on-a-shoestring. I finished off the family room with half a dozen cushions made from Warwick Fabric samples which serendipitously pull everything together.
It feels like she never left. I'm so grateful that she's made it home.
Daybreak on January 11 2011 @ Broadbeach QLD
Life is mostly froth & bubble,
Two things stand like stone,
Kindness in another's troubles,
Courage in your own.
This contribution came out of "Enid's" autograph book. I bought the book with the all time Rummager.
B Williamson
Our Lady of Mercy College
Goulburn July 24th 1917
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If you would like to help Pip has a fabulous list of links here.
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I wasn't quite ready to pack away the remaining pony fabric.
Words scrawled by me & then embroidered using two strands of floss. Stem & chain stitches...play to your strengths I say.
I've never upholstered anything in my life so it's absolutely the have a crack make it up as you go along type of thing & really more for decoration than feet which is a bit daft...
Made for someone very special who occasionally needs a little reminder. xx
I'm quite fascinated by still life.
I went to the library & did a bit of research recently. Not content with the traditional symbols I made up my own & have made his & hers portraits.
Have a cracker weekend.
PS: The subjects of these portraits are still very much alive & kicking.
It's been a while since I've had the power tools out.
Truthfully, I didn't need this monster but I couldn't for the life of me find the drill bit for the little guy.
It's just a distraction really, but quite a lot of fun.
Lovely space from last week here.
Playing along? Pop in & add your link.
The Big Girl is on holidays.
I asked her to give me a hand this morning which she willingly did. After about 1/2 an hour she asked...
"Is this your life mum?"
"Just making stuff & gluing stuff?"
"Don't you get bored?"
PS: Someone has been watching a LOT of Harry Potter related stuff on YouTube. We are now on less.....than.....dial.....up.....speed.
pin toppers. For the stitcher in your life. Just another little thing that's been keeping me out of mischief.
I had planned on sharing the crochet cuff how to today but the Flip ran out of batteries halfway through the filming.
Today's a huge day with kid's activities so I won't get to it today. Assuming I can make them all be quiet for half an hour over the weekend then it'll be Monday.
Happy weekend all.
We had the very bestest time ever.
Nan didn't put the camera away & I didn't get it out.
Thursday: trip to Kyo/The Mill/How Bazaar was amazing & of course my regular Melbourne haunts seemed somewhat crap in the shadow of the Day 1 shop. I stitched & laughed 'til I cried.
Friday: Nan hatched an exciting quilted garment plan. There was much swearing & carry on about the quality (or lack thereof) of the Janome & many pro Pfaff arguments were put forward. I stitched & laughed 'til I cried.
Saturday: Shopping for craft supplies & a bit of parental running around for me & a lot of time with the Janome for Nan. I stitched & laughed 'til I cried.
Sunday: Camby Market & back home to the trusty Janome for Nan. I stitched & laughed 'til I cried.
I didn't feed her (like at all - - - I was too busy stitching & laughing 'til I cried), but I think there's plenty of nourishment in a Capiroska & I made her plenty of those.
I've been very lucky to meet & make some really truly ace real life mates because of this space. Let me tell you...Rummage is one of the best.
Big giant ups to The Date & to The Frenchie too for making it happen.
Hoping that your weekend was fabulous too. x
The Big Bite is here!
I've been mucking around with spacing of holes & I'm almost ready to make a start. It won't be today though (I'm working). It won't be tomorrow (I've friends for lunch). It won't be Saturday either (I'm ferrying kids around all day). Pity about life getting in the way really.
Hoping that you're finding time in your life for plenty of makings.
Lovely space from last week right here.
Sorry about the Link man having an afternoon snooze last week. Hopefully he's had his coffee this morning.
Don't forget to pop in & add your link if you're playing along this week.
I had planned to make myself a grey Granny Shrug but now I've tried the Mulberry on I'm quite taken with it.
This one is NOT for me but I thought you might like to see a version done in 14ply & on a life size person rather than my little twig. I've got another on the hook for my bossy mate. There is actually quite a list ahead of me now. So much so, that by the time I get to make my own I'm sure I won't want one at all.
Thanks for your interest. Please know that there is now a granny shrug how to with pattern available here.
Have you seen something at my place that you like?
I've made a lot of stuff, hacked & re-worked a lot of stuff, found a lot of stuff & of course bought a lot of stuff too.
Some of the places I've made purchases over the years are listed here (in no particular order except to say that most of my favourite pieces have come from Step Back).
Step Back
Youngs Auctions
Camberwell Antique Centre
Camberwell Market
Maling Road Antiques
Smith Street Bazaar
20th Century Scandinavia
Arthurs Circus
Kyo
Simon Ancher
Bunnings
The Works
The Mill Markets
Op Shops
Ikea
Hard rubbish
Family "rescues"
& online
Ebay
Etsy (including but not limited to)...
Aunty Cookie, Loobylu, Bricolagelife, Vandalized Vintage, Tsk Tsk, Red Pepper Quilts, Meet me at mikes, Bellalulu, Yardage Design, Lil Sonny Sky, Gemma Jones
... for prints, soft furnishings & small vintage pieces.
Well here it is! The Granny Square necklace by Victoria Mason. As amazing as it looks in this photo - it's so much better in real life. Just how Victoria has managed to make it drape & curl is beyond me.
You might remember that Victoria asked me to crochet her a tiny square & if you follow her blog (& you should because she's so amazingly generous with her process) you will have seen it develop further...
here, here & here.
Victoria's work is incredible, every piece she makes has a beautiful story behind it & the attention paid to every step of the process is beyond compare.
Victoria has given this to me to pass on to one of you! Amazing!
These are brand spanking new (not yet available for sale) & this one is a one-off. Vic was trialling enamel colours and has settled for a couple of different combinations for the "for sale" pieces.
How lucky you would be to wear this piece around your neck? Want to be an early adopter? Comment away people & we'll draw a winner Monday night.
Thank you Victoria for including me in the creation of this piece, for being so clever, for being so generous & just generally for being ACE.
Comments now closed 10:44pm Monday 17 May. Winner announced Tuesday 18 May. Thanks.
Absolute favourites in our house.
I made these last night. The delicious buttery vanilla smell filled the house.
I let them cool & then put them straight in the freezer for lunches so I wouldn't wipe the lot.
Seriously, these are just the yummiest cookies ever.
white chocolate cookies...
180 grams softened butter
1/3 cup caster sugar
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/3 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/3 cups plain flour
1 packet nestle white chocolate drops
Preheat oven to 160 fan forced.
In a large bowl, cream butter & sugars until light & fluffy.
Beat in egg & vanilla.
In a separate bowl sift together flour & baking powder.
Blend into creamed mixture.
Stir in white chocolate drops.
Drop tablespoons onto baking sheet about 5cm apart.
Bake about 10 minutes or until edges are lightly brown. Cool for 1 minute on tray & then transfer to wire rack to cool.
Recipe originally posted on kootoyoo a blog lifetime ago.
in about 1/2 an hour the blocks fell away from the quilt.
It struck me that the quilt is exiting my life in the very same way it entered. The blocks have little white stitches as a reminder that they were part of something bigger.
There's still a bit to do but I hope to have everything in the mail by 31 March.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the wonderful people who were part of the quilt project.
What I've been doing for the last month (& a bit)!
Thought you guys might like a tour of the old place.
Obviously not our furniture but I did do the bathroom & had to kitchenify the kitchen (nobody I know has three pairs of vases in their kitchen).
Trades I've used (& heartily recommend). This should be the "go to" list for Melbourne folk.
A bit of back history...I used to work in Property Management so I've dealt with a lot of tradespeople in my time & these guys were all amazingly accommodating & just a pleasure to deal with. I'm sharing them with you because I know how hard it is to find good tradespeople & it's so helpful to have referrals.
Garden Maintenance:
LC Mowing
Lucas 0409 998 508
This guy is a machine! I have never in my life seen a skip packed so neatly or efficiently. He just goes & goes until the job is done. If you need your lawns done, weeding & general garden tidy up then Lucas is your man.
Builder:
Glen Johnston Home Improvements
Glen 0414 325 722
Professional, helpful & extremely particular. Just absolutely top quality workmanship. Glen's the man if you're renovating or building in Melbourne's East.
Plumber:
Marty 0438 771 007
Just a complete champion. It seems to me that finding a good plumber is like the quest for the holy grail. Marty is it!
Electrician:
Armadale Electrical
9509 9133
Gary was "my" electrician when I worked in Armadale & frankly I'd never use another electrician. The guys from Armadale Electrical are all super professional & just lovely blokes.
General Maintenance:
Polished Properties Maintenance Group
Mark 0438 019 994
Mark was recommended by our Real Estate Agent as the guy "who does it all". He co-ordinated painters & carpenters & general maintenance items. He's professional & a pleasure to deal with.
Concrete:
RL Concreting
John 1300 790 775
John did the driveway at our new house (which is exposed aggregate) & also helped us out at the old house. He's professional, prompt & a pleasure to deal with. He went above & beyond offering advice & options for us.
Render:
Jolley Textures
Reegan 0425 773 684
The house was rendered about twelve months ago & it's transformed it! Probably the best thing we did for the place which was previously a hideous orange brick. Reegan was extremely flexible & professional & will be coming back to the new place to render our new fence.
Garden Design:
Imperial Gardens
Tracey 0419 200 116
Tracey came in & offered practical advice on excellent low maintenance (& not too costly) garden design. The difference the plantings have made to the house is unbelievable. Imperial Gardens have some pretty impressive "cap feathers" in Toorak & Hawthorn & Tracey is offering consultations so that you can DIY. She works with what you have & offers no nonsense solutions to maximise the look of the property.
Further details on the house can be obtained from Tom Ryan (0413 872 550) at Jellis Craig.
Where am I?, originally uploaded by kootoyoo.
I've posted a little "how to" over at Feeling Stitchy today.
I know embroidery takes some time & it isn't everyone's bag. If you're not into stitching this is pretty quick (just a bit of waiting around for glue to dry) project.
I actually used an old pillowcase to make mine so you could do that too or use lovely new designer fabric or maybe even go wild with the fabric paint. Whatever takes your fancy.
I'll be spending the day (yet again) over at the old house. I'm trying to breathe some new life into the Castlemaine Slate on the front verandah. I wonder about that CLR stuff? I think I'll have a quick "chat" with Mr Google before I head off.