Sweet Fabric:
thanks

What a lovely "welcome back" I received. Thank you all for your keen support.

The big girl has some vile gastric thing. She's small & thin & really can't afford a couple of days off the tooth. I'm crossing everything that the rest of us don't fall like flies.

The mattress has been dragged downstairs, off the carpet & in front of the Teev. It's just the way things roll in our house. You get sick & you move to the family room...a hangover from when I was a kid. I think a mattress on the floor is much more comfy than the sweaty brown vinyl couch I enjoyed as a kid.

Buddy sleeps on his own dog bed...always. BUT a comfy bed on the floor was simply too much for him to resist & I thought he looked so gorgeous so I left him.

Hoping she's back to her normal self quick sticks as she has quite a lovely crafty plan.

hands - an ongoing project by me

I had planned a little TTFN post last Friday & then I kind of faded to black without warning...sorry.

It seems I've just slipped quietly into holiday mode...watching trash on the teev with my big girl.

It's been a big year & I'm looking forward to a bit of downtime. I'm going to take a bit of time off to really enjoy the break with the fam.

I might be back with a holiday something or I might not. I'm just going to let the summer of 2010/11 wash over me.

Thank you all for your very valuable contribution to this space during 2010. If you've read, commented, laughed or just nodded along...you're totally ace...it's why I keep showing up & hoping that maybe something in my sometimes-cheaty-sometimes-serious makings will make you want to make something too.

Have a safe & happy holiday...TTFN.

xoxo

Eeeek...look what arrived in the mail today!

When I was in Canberra we went to the Canberra Glassworks. Firstly just to have a look & then we went back the next day to DIY. It was an AMAZING experience.

Obviously there is MUCH hand holding ... it's a dangerous business.

It was just sensational to be part of it all in the Hot Shop.

Look at Nan shaping her paper weight. Pretty cool huh?

Nan gifted me this utterly gorgeous "Turf" paperweight. The collection just got a whole lot posher with the addition my own & the really truly artist one too.

I highly recommend the experience if you happen to be in Canberra.

A wonderful long weekend spent in Canberra with just the toppest people going around!

It was totally relaxed but full & exciting.

Nan & I had two of the best ever thrifting days in the history of thrifting! Nan's little vehicle was full to overflowing with amazing finds.

I need to sift through my little (plane friendly) treasures but they are all pic worthy so you'll be swamped soon enough with pea green goodies.

I'm off! For a whole weekend by myself!

Not quite to Paris ... but almost.

I will be staying with a really truly Frenchie & a not Frenchie & a couple of gorgeous halfies too. Yup...I'm off to the house of Rummage.

I was given this spectacular map by my gorgeous mate.

She went to a lot of trouble for me too...even taught herself a bit of stem stitch to over stitch the streets. It's wonderful.

Isn't it excellent?

Of course all our bathrooms are unisex so this little cross stitched bit o signage is just perfect.

Tarn made it for me! It does actually hang in the doorway of the powder room...just as intended. I love it & am absolutely chuffed that she took the time to make something just for me.

I've been thinking a lot lately about relationships & marriage. The Date & I are fast approaching our 15th wedding anniversary. I'm just ever so grateful really ... for all the things he is & for all the things he isn't. I'm mighty glad to be sharing my bathroom with him. x

Just look what I scored in the Downunder Doll Quilt Swap!

The swap was organised by Kate ... you can read all about how to register your interest for round two right here.

Thank you Nic ... for getting it so right! You're ace!

I had such a great day with Aunty Cookie and the Meet Me at Mikes guys yesterday. Finders Keepers was a fabulous day out. You can read about the day & see fabulous pictures of the stalls & the event over at The Design Files or Mikes.

Shaz gave me this lightly hot water bottle vase & it joins Kate's hand in the bathroom (ring is by Victoria Mason) .... I know you need three to make it a collection so shall buzz off to etsy now.

& a bit on finding & keeping friends too...

I'm endlessly amazed by the number of really truly gorgeous mates I've made because of this bit of online drivel. My goings on are hardly ever poignant, personal or even humourous. But something in the way I've presented myself has led me to a growing number of found & kept friends & for that I will be eternally grateful. xxx

This is a little something I made for a giggle & for you.

I'm hoping that I'll give Pickering (mine's safe for work folks - I promise) a run for his money & grace the back of toilet doors globally...nationally...locally...ok at least at Claire, Christie & Shazza's places because they encouraged me to take on this project in the first place.

I've been tinkering away on this for a couple of months...since you first got a laugh out of my noticing & beret shots. All crafty "disguises" have been fashioned by me, some especially for the project & some were just loitering about the house in various states of completion.

I dragged the little guy in to check out my "folio". He watched in horror as I flicked through the images & then we had this conversation...

Little guy: "Mum, this is terrible. Nobody is going to want this."
Me: "It's free buddy."
Little guy: "Even then Mum. Only your friends will look at it, because they'll feel sorry for you."

I'm confident that anyone who reads here regularly will enjoy the calendar & take it in the spirit in which it's intended. For any new-to-me folk who are saying to themselves "This girl's got a touch of the Warren Beattys about her." - well, there's something in there for you too. x

Get your free 2011 calendar here.

A very happy weekend to you all.

PS: Thanks Jod for the scribd assistance.

Recently The Cookie provided me with an op shopping/thrifting/side-of-the-road type brief.

I take a "if you happen to see" pretty seriously & sourced said item for her. The death of the people mover has impeded me a bit (but only a bit) ... if you're after a baby grand we might be in a bit of trouble.

Unfortunately The Date's much more about the golf clubs than the drill so it'll be up to me to hang it.

Did you know that I'm part of the Down Under Doll Quilt Swap? It was organised an embarrassingly long time ago by the gorgeous Kate.

In true kootoyoo style I've left it & left it & left it some more. Don't get me wrong...there's been plenty of think time & in my head the finished quilt is really, really beautiful. In reality I have one (yep 1) block pieced and another cut out. Not a fabulous start eh?

No more new anythings until this piece is finished so I'm going to share my in progress shots. If you catch me wandering off course do you reckon you'd prompt me with a comment like "Hey Kirst, haven't seen much on the white quilt front...what's up with that?".

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In other news...
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I've been included in Kidspots Top 50 Bloggers which is hugely flattering. Considering this is a "just for fun" gig for me & there are heaps of professional writer types included I'm quite chuffed. Thanks a bunch Kidspot.

There's the opportunity there to win a holiday to Dunk Island which is pretty cool so maybe check out the list, see if you're favourites are there. If so - click to vote.

I've got to say that I think that the craft blog community is pretty under represented on the list. So many beautiful, thoughtful, productive, positive, creative women I love who haven't been represented.

A big hearty thanks to those of you who have voted for me & saved me from left-on-the-shelf embarrassment. Muchly appreciated. x

If you give people the opportunity...the answer will usually be "yes".

I was recently asked a question by a nearly 8 year old friend.

She handed me an envelope & said "Can you make these Kirst?"

I opened the envelope, it contained one piece of royal blue origami paper & one piece of royal blue paper with white stars. There was also a rough sketch of the PJs she wanted made from said 'fabric samples'. The stars were to be for the top & the pants were to be plain blue.

Of course the answer was "yes" & here they are. I did add a rider "for your birthday Millie...OK?". I'm not entirely sure how they'll go down as a birthday gift but I'll keep you posted.

Way too much time invested into something you can purchase for next to nix at Target in my opinion but they certainly are made to order. The big girl drew & prepared the stars which were machine appliqued and also made a drawstring bag for the jarms. She saved me at least another hour & her work is most profesh.

PS: To the lovely people who said "yes" to my question yesterday. THANK YOU! I didn't expect such a fabulous response or such an amazing list of blogs. I will make up a proper link list so that everyone can easily navigate around your recommendations. It will be a fabulous resource for us all I think. x

Hello!

I hope you've had a gorgeous weekend.

Melbourne has turned on another rainy miserable day today. The girls & I have spent the day in the craft room though so I'm not complaining.

I'm wondering if you might be able to help me out? I would really like to know your very favourite foodie blogs.

If you're a reader of cooking blogs please leave your recommendations in the comments.

Thanks muchly in advance.

See you tomorrow.

Kirsty
x

It's been an amazing week in my neck of the woods.

Just truly gorgeous things have been happening over the last seven days...

My sister & her family are coming home!!! You can't even imagine how insanely happy this has made me.

An amazing, amazing person sent me THE NECKLACE in the mail! Just a totally inspiring act of generosity.

I've received sweet handwritten notes, posts & lovely, lovely emails from internet mates. You know who you are and I thank you from the very bottom of my heart.

Finally, yesterday for no particular reason Auntie Pat gifted me a box of lambswool/angora Anny Blatt. This is an incredible treat.

All those years ago when I worked at Woolcraft I used to spend far too long "tidying" the Anny Blatt shelves so that I could enjoy the luxury of this yarn. I imagined that one day I'd be able to make something amazing with it.

Totally inspired by Assemblage & Aunty Cookie I've cast on a few stitches.

It's Leonie's wrap.

I hooked it like Michelle, Kate & Tania ... I'm way to slow on the sticks.

I followed Leonie's directions for the measuring but I left it a bit shy of where I want it to sit as I expect it to drop with wear over the next couple of days.

I'm calling it the Chameleon because it looks completely different in different light & depending what you're wearing underneath (or if you stand against a rust wall I've discovered).

Just as I did with the slashed vest, the armholes are set a little higher to give more flexibility. It can be worn upside down, inside out & round about. You can check that out here.

Details...
Yarn - Cleckheaton Coutry Paintbox 8 ply Col: 31
Hook - 9mm (yep 9 - I was going for drape)
Stitch - I used double crochet (Aus/UK) or US single crochet

Edited to add: I used 6 balls & my wrap was 23 inches x 34 inches

Happy weekend all.

make me happy.

Totally should have been on the vac but made this instead.

Just completely ridiculous but certainly smile worthy.

Hoping that you had a cracker jack weekend. I finished off a couple of things & started a couple of new things & generally lazed about in very fine company.

Yesterday I went to breakfast at Design Made Trade.

After a casual but informative talk with hosted by Pip & Lucy & a cup of tea we wandered around and had a look at the exhibitors.

A couple of highlights for me were...

cocoon fires
I'm totally saving up for one of those!

yellow diva
In particular the m series & the non series ottoman for all seasons & the m series mcl chaise (which is nothing like the one I just bought on ebay & everything like what I really want).

craft victoria
Fabulous to have craft vic included this year.

hookturn
Sensational reusable coffee cups that look just like a takeaway cup...cute.

If you're looking for something to do this weekend I think it's worth the visit. It's great to see the stuff that super clever designery type people are up to. It gives you all sorts of great ideas for your own makings.

Today marks the return to school for the smalls.

I really enjoyed the Noticing project and plan to continue it. Maybe quietly on Flickr & maybe here too...we'll see.

I'm back into the swing of all things crafty too. Amazingly, I'm following instructions. Usually, I would have a look, read ahead, cut corners where I could & sort of adapt the instructions to suit my style. I probably wouldn't have bothered with the tracing & just hacked straight into the original pattern...oh horror!

But as I've been charged with testing responsibility I thought I better do it right!

Noticed elsewhere:
divine knitted beanie

Necklace winner is...

Stomper Girl.

Thanks for playing along everyone. If you really do want a necklace of your own perhaps you could send Vic a really nice email & she might sell you one before the official release.

Look what arrived in yesterday's mail. Not one but two gorgeous pin cushions from lovely Sara. It was beautifully packaged with a whole swag of little treats including a mixtape of songs to sew by.

I've knicked the image from Sara because she'd done such a great job with her photo.

Thanks Sara for the pin cushionS & thanks Kate for organising. It was fun.