Sweet Fabric:
This is... cool stuff

I've not been around much. It's all been smoke & mirrors...just logging on to update & then getting over to the old place to work. I'm hoping that it will all be worth it & I'll be able to justify another 12 months without paid employment because of all the "renovating" I've been doing. Anyway enough of the excuses.

It's poor & I'm sorry. I've really appreciated the lovely comments, favourites, visits & encouragement despite my "help yourself & slam the door behind you when you leave" attitude lately.

I thought you all deserved a little present & I reckon this is one you'll appreciate.

More signage!

I've sent it to Flickr nice & large so that you can download & print as you like. Ours is hung on the pantry door but I think nice for the studio/craft space or master bedroom if you've got co-sleeping issues you're trying to work through.

Anyway...lots of love to you all & see you soon (I hope). x

from under the house.

The poster was designed by my aunt for the production when she was at school.

It made me smile so I gave it a very light press & framed it (Ikea style) & I've put the poster above The Date's side of the bed.

And another thing...The Date went to school at Carey & I went to school at Strathcona.

Issue 11 is now available for PRE-sale

The cover was designed by gemma jones and it is the first ever square mixtapezine.

And another thing... there's a tute in there from me. The instructions for the multi tasker are in print (tested by The Date - if he can do it anyone can)! Scoot on over & order your copy pronto.

Super excited when I spotted this chair. I flew home as fast as I could to grab the car.

My head is just full of the new house at the moment & I'm hoping that this will go nicely in the window at the end of the kitchen...fingers crossed.

The cushion (which couldn't be more perfect) is made by Nan. If you're in Sydney you should go & pay her a visit at Stitches & Craft - she's really good.

The run has been lucrative recently. I've had a wonderful couple of weeks scouting good stuff from hard rubbish.

This office chair is Swiss made. It does have a little worn patch on one arm but I'm not at all concerned about that & if I do decide it warrants patching...I've bookmarked this.

The cushion is by Aunty Cookie. You can buy them ready made or buy the letterhead craft panel & you'll be able to make your own & a glasses case too.

The latest addition to my collection of red stools.

Other good stuff that s is for...

shannon
sosser
sewing by hand (I'm particularly excited about this month at sew mama sew)!
sustainability

Cute eh?

I'm not normally that big on dolls but there was no way this little girl wasn't coming home with me.

I was talking to Pip & Sue at Brown Owls last night about the merits of the funny little Op Shop on the hill in Kew. GOLD for me this morning.

She's a little bit like Hamble from playschool. It was a sad day for me when Hamble was replaced by Meeka. I LOVED Hamble and couldn't understand why they hadn't chosen to replace Jemima...afterall she couldn't even have a bath!

Function is important to me.

I've been on the hunt for a stool for my kitchen "desk" in the new house for a while.

This little beauty actually has 3 functions - step ladder, stool & ironing board! Brilliant.

Picked up in the "junk" sideway at Camberwell Antiques. So not junk in my opinion.

I try really hard to be a thoughtful consumer.

I buy just about all my own clothes in Op Shops & I've been really good about not accumulating extra "stuff".

But every now & then, something comes along that a girl simply must have.

This little person was peering out at me from a glass cabinet last week. I confess, my heart skipped a beat when I saw her. She made me think of my Grandma. Then I imagined her maker & the careful selection of felt & stitching & it made my heart ache a little more.

Her price tag was face down.

I don't know about you but I always take this as a bad-antique-shop-sign. I did a couple of laps around the antique shop & kept coming back to her. I strained my neck & squinted my eyes to read her price tag.... I was sure that she was $95. Too much, but the ache in my heart made me ask to see her anyway.

Antique shop owners in nice suburbs obviously don't value craft too highly. $12 & she's mine.

& today he won! (convincingly...9 holes up with 8 to play)

He's the Club Champion. It's been a long time between drinks. He hasn't won since 2001.

It's all about keeping up with the Jones isn't it?

Teeny tiny magnifiers.

PS: While your visiting Gemma you should buy a raffle ticket for "Art fights Fire". There are some absolutely brilliant original artworks to be won & you'll be aiding the bushfire survivors too.

The photo I posted the other day is a photo of a disused swimming pool.

It is part of The Connault retirement apartments in Balwyn.

The house was built by draper Oliver Gilpin in the 1930s & named Idlewylde.

I've got a pretty good imagination & I lose myself for hours thinking & dreaming about what it must have been like when it was built & used.

with this place.

How beautiful are the tiles? This pic shot through a broken window pane.

I really want to get inside this building.

Do you know where this place is?

Way back in August (a lifetime ago in Blog terms) I caught a little smidge of excitement from my brother about these codes. My excitement had nothing to do with marketing & everything to do with this.

I can't claim full credit...

The words are from the big girl, I needed a bit of tech support & this lovely girl helped me out with framing.

according to the big girl...

She's the early adopter in our house.
She sets the pace & the other two follow along.
She's the mood ring too...if she's happy, we're all happy...if she's grumpy - you know the drill.

Today we had to go to Smiggle for a Secret Santa for school & the three of them wanted everything in the shop but badges were high on the "rad list".

The love o the badge was helped along on Saturday & now I've got to set to work on an uber cool bag on which to display the badge collection.

View Master & heaps of "wonders of the world" 3D slides.

I had a View Master as a kid & I loved it!

I obviously never got the 3D thing because I don't remember being as amazed then as I am now. I really want to walk into the scene on Bondi beach & pull up a towel next to those 1960s bikini clad girls.

Thrifted from my favourite Op Shop last week.

but I really like it (& how pretty does my blog look in images).

cool iris

Making this day happy...

sun shining
old lace
feeling connected
being able to buy recycled labels
sipping ginger beer
peeling glue from my fingers
looking at tin cans
looking at pencils
beautiful crochet by super clever girl

is mine.

I found her in the Op Shop (thrift shop) on Friday.

& she sews beautifully.

I know by now it probably seems like I'm just a big fat show off - sorry.

If you'd like me to share some of my recent Op Shop luck please sign my Op Shop Wishlist.

Edit: An Op Shop is an Opportunity Shop or Thrift Shop.

Thank you Bricolagelife for the inspiration.

I've actually got a few today:

One good thing: Meet Me at Mikes Pendant. Handmade by the mikes crew & super good. Available here.

One good thing: Good tradesmen who work on Saturdays & are clean & neat & making my house look so good.

One good thing: Going out for good coffee & breakfast with a good guy.

I'm looking forward to a day filled with good things.