When I read I switch of completely. I plonk myself down & read & read like a woman possessed until the book is finished. I'm sure it's not the healthiest way to devour literature & consequently I don't read as much as I'd like ... my family needs feeding after all.
I was sent Like Being a Wife (a collection of short stories) last year & found it to be the perfect antidote to my obsessive nature. I took the book a story by story just when I had a few moments ... very civilised.
The wet, windy and grey few days in Queensland meant that I had the luxury of having absolutely nothing to do. I spent a lazy afternoon finishing Like Being a Wife by Australian author Catherine Harris.
Catherine writes beautifully. She is witty & wordy & wonderful. I highly recommend this work of fiction to you all.
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.
Just look at that INCH high stack of full size pattern pieces from Pip Lincolne's new book!
Always one to appreciate the details...imagine my excitement when I opened the pattern envelope at the front of the book & was greeted with this pile of deliciousness.
I'm still unsure what I'm going to make but I'm fairly certain it will involve the ponies.
See you tomoz with a (hopefully finished) something from Sew La Tea Do.
PS: Hooray for Pip for totally getting off her butt & making stuff happen.
I love a can do attitude. I like people who make stuff happen. I like folks who enable other people. I like a generosity of spirit.
A couple of items have come my way this week (via great girls with "can do" attitude) & I thought they might interest you guys...
YOU CAN help someone else...
Help raise much needed funds for young cancer sufferers.
How You Can get in the Christmas spirit It’s simple for the public to get involved this Christmas. You Can’s primary fundraising mechanic calls on Australians to recycle their old mobile phones – turning trash into much needed funds.
You Can Post It! Simply log onto www.youcan.org.au and request a Reply Paid mobile phone recycling envelope to include in your gift-giving this Christmas. Redundant mobile phones can also be dropped into You Can bins located in a range of retailers nationwide: Sony Centre, Best & Less, Harvey Norman and Leading Edge Computers
How does You Can work? It’s simple! You Can’s chief fundraising mechanic calls on Australians to recycle their old mobile phones – turning trash into much needed funds. It’s estimated that there are anywhere between 15 to 20 million unused phones in Australian homes!
Sony Foundation has partnered with Folamh, an Irish recycling company, to swap old mobile phones for cash to raise money for the development of youth cancer centres. All donated phones will be recycled for reuse. That means, once collected, phones will be refurbished and resold. Any mobile phone that cannot be resold will be broken down into its constituent parts and responsibly recycled. So simply by donating an old mobile phone, Australians can directly contribute to You Can’s fundraising appeal, whilst also contributing to a greener planet.
&/OR
YOU CAN help yourself...
Learn to screenprint right here in Melbourne.
If you book into a class in the next two weeks Laura is offering a FREE hand printed tea-towel! - you can find out more here for class dates
You just need to do is get in touch with Laura via email learn2screenprint@gmail.com to express your interest.
Since my disastrous ebay chaise purchase I've been on the hunt for a little sofa/settee/love seat for the space under the window in the family room.
Most of our furniture has been handed down, rescued, opped or picked up on the side of the road. This was not. It was purchased from 20th Century Scandinavia, 79 Lygon Street in Brunswick (9387 2664). That place is like heaven on earth. I was spoilt for choice!
I'm very pleased with the way everything has come together. I whipped up the cushions yesterday from a Warwick Fabric sample.
Read Lucy's post on 20th Century Scandinavia here.
I am the very proud owner of a Victoria Mason Granny Square ring. I love it!
I shall be sporting this little baby at the Finders Keepers on Sunday (& quite likely until my dying day).
Are you going? I'm just a little bit excited about the whole event. I've been lucky enough to get an advance showing of the wares of both Victoria & Shannon. I think it's going to be a ripping weekend.
Vic has a very special Finders only offer which you should absolutely know all about...
Maybe see you Sunday? I'll be helping out Shannon (& chewing the fat with the Mikes crew).
These are the best hooks in the universe. Perfect slipability & pretty colours too. I got them from meet me at mikes on Saturday.
I had a lovely weekend. I had the sticks out while the girls puzzled in the craft room, got whipped at scrabble, hooked a bit. Yesterday I saw Making it Handmade which left me feeling more excited about making stuff and about the fabulous people who actually get off their butts and make an ace documentary about it. Terrific effort Anna Brownfield.
I know I've blathered on before about how I like to have kits for new projects. Each "in progress" is carefully kitted up in it's own bag/box/basket waiting patiently for the mood to strike.
I've been plotting & planning the hand piecing for a few weeks & now I have my pin ring I'm ready to begin.
You can make a pin ring too...Kellie will show you how.
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.
I am so enjoying my Tuesday morning with Auntie Pat. Although I am enjoying the knitting it's really not about that at all.
Last week we talked about Politics, lucky babies, lucky mothers, great coats, perceived inappropriate behaviour and Woolcraft Nominees* and Fantasy 8 yarn. Do you remember Fantasy 8? Are you old enough?
When the conversation turned to Fantasy 8, Auntie Pat went to retrieve her "blog". An unassuming little book. Long and thin with dog eared pages. A green marbled cover and partially perished canvas tape binding.
I knew before the first page was turned that I was going to love this body of work. It's a catalog you see, of patterns. Patterns written by Auntie Pat. Each and everyone numbered. From 1 to 1072!
And don't you worry about the original patterns. They are all filed in ring binders. In plastic pockets. In sequential order from 1 to 1072!
I have no idea what a cocktail tunic is but I know I want to make one.
*Woolcraft was Auntie Pat's shop (chain actually). They had yarn stores around Melbourne from the 60s-80s.
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.
A few months ago Jennie joined in with My Creative Space. I fell quite in love with her hand painted dolls & asked her to make a "Milly" doll. I sent a photo to Jennie, the next week I spotted Milly's lips on Jennie's post & the very next day she was in the mail.
Milly phoned to let us know that Milly doll had arrived & she loves her. She thinks her pretty long socks are wonderful & has asked her Mum for a pair.
Jennie makes to order, she dyes the face fabric herself, handpaints the faces & makes the dolls using fabric of sentimental value. I'm a sucker for a bit of sentiment so this is right up my alley.
All images have been taken from Jennie's flickr. Jennie's shop here. Jennie's blog here.
The Heat Beads Hawkers' Market is running as part of The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival.
What a magical event this is!
I was lucky enough to be there to watch the Vic Market transform into a bustling Hawkers' Market (& then back again ready for this morning's regular market).
Last night the Vic Market sheds were filled with the smell of delicious Asian foods sizzling over hot coals. There was live entertainment, cooking demonstrations & tables jam packed full of people soaking in this rather magical event (& they are doing it all again tonight & Wednesday).
It's certainly an experience I'd recommend so if you're in Melbourne you should consider making tonight or tomorrow night's meal plan "The Heat Beads Hawkers' Market".
Hipstamatic (for iPhone/iPod) is just so much fun & produces images just like the photos filling our family photo albums.
Snapped today on the front beach at Pt Lonsdale. Look at that gorgeous old couple walking hand in hand along the beach. She was wearing a rashie...I admire that.
I'm not sure how I hadn't seen this before but the very clever Paul Thurlby has the whole alphabet! I shall be starting with "A".
I was searching for "zip" on flickr & had planned a whole my handbag zip's busted thingy & needing to make a new one but now I'll just be killing a bit more time in Paul's shop & on his blog too.
