Sweet Fabric [Search results for the date] 

I loved reading Nan's post on The Frenchman & so I've put together one of my own. I confess I've not received questions about The Date. Hailing from suburban Melbourne doesn't really conjour the same romantic ideal does it? I do know that he's won over more than a few of you with his taste in music.

Where did you meet The Date?
The Date & I have known each other for 25 years! We met when I was in Year 7 & he was in Year 10. Our family homes were about 2 kilometres from each other. In those days he made himself scarce when I was in the house because he reckoned I was way too loud and annoying. We've been together for 19 years...more than 1/2 my life.

Does The Date have an accent?
No accent but he is guilty of mumbling and he and The Boy do speak a language that I don't understand. They speak in tongues about all manner of sporty things.

Is he a romantic?
Nup, but he is thoughtful. He makes lunches, pretty drinks, brings me coffees & is very kind about being the "crap courier". To be truthful I don't think I respond that well to romantic gestures anyway.

Would you recommend The Date (local) as a life partner?
Yes I absolutely would. We've grown up together, so very different from when we met and so very much the same. The Date is pretty cruisy. He's my very best friend, a really good person and an amazing parent. If you can snag yourself a version of him...hang on tight...they are pretty hard to find.

We all know I'm a huge fan of just about anything "on wood" but I had no idea just how much I was going to love the crochet table cloth hacked & tacked to a couple of pieces of thrifted furniture.

Things are coming together quite nicely in the new house. If you've had a peek inside my place you'd notice that there was only a tiny patch of our bedroom photographed. We've been looking for something nice & skinny for the TV to sit on. It's in an awkward place because it's very close to the ensuite door.

I'd picked up this glass fronted cabinet at the Op Shop (for $5) intending for it to be hidden in The Date's office & reserved for his "straight to the pool room" golf trophies & such. It looked ridiculous & he pitched it out into the hallway earlier in the week. I seconded it for this maybe temporary maybe permanent fixture in the bedroom.

I'm not a huge wrap for the basket shelves (which came out of this unit) I've fashioned below & prefer a more open look. I've got another idea for that (which will hopefully still hide the power cords). I'll keep you updated.

While I had the glue gun out I worked a bit of crochet magic on this sweet chair (also Opped for the princely sum of $5).

Beautiful floaty images by Bricolagelife.

So I think I've managed a pretty nice bedroom makeover for under $20! Unbeatable value & my very favourite ... reused, repurposed, recrafted, upcycled.

If you fancy having a go at this yourself it's just super-easy-thrown-together fun.

You'll need...
double sided tape, spray adhesive, hot glue gun, a thrifted crochet table cloth ($2-$8).

For the cabinet...
Using double sided tape create a frame on the inside of the door (as close to the glass as possible).

Then...
Rough cut the table cloth to size. Keep all the motifs intact at this stage.

Now...
Expose the double sided tape & position your crochet piece.

And...
Use your hot glue gun to more permanently adhere the crochet piece.

Finally...
Trim away excess fabric so that everything looks nice & neat.

Repeat for the other door.

For the chair...
Rough cut the table cloth to size. Keep all the motifs intact at this stage.

Then...
Spray the wrong side of the tablecloth piece with spray adhesive.

Now...
Position on the chair.

And...
Use your hot glue gun to more permanently adhere the crochet piece.

Finally...
Trim away excess fabric so that everything looks nice & neat.

I love my strip shopping centre.

Sure, there's an odd mix of shops & businesses. I confess I've only been into the Aquarium once but it is nice to know that if I decide I do want a goldfish I don't need to go to Shoppo. That place gives me a giant headache. I hate Coles & Safeway too. So many aisles, so many bulging shelves and yet only 2 choices of flour???

Wai & Rita are the Friendly Grocers. Their supermarket has only three aisles but the range is fabulous. Choices for everything. They carry a good range of organic bits and pieces and have plenty to cater for the Gluten Free too. When my babe's were tiny I used to leave the capsule at the counter with Wai & Rita while I buzzed up & down the aisle and now Wai lets the kids scan the shopping.

Clem owns the fruitshop just as his dad did before him & probably just as his sons will after him. There's always a happy mix of organic & non. They are always up for a chat & always offer to carry your shopping to your car.

A few years ago the butcher was taken over by Ralph & Anna. I'm "Kirst" at their place. They sell organic & biodynamic meats & we chat happily about the run and the kids. If Dave is working I can be assured of hearing about how terribly the Hawks are playing & whether or not Clarko should be sacked. I'm not really a follower of the Footy but he knows The Date is. He never forgets to ask about the run, the kids or The Date's handicap.

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name.

All this loveliness & the added bonus of supporting my own community.

I'm a suburban local & I wouldn't have it any other way.

PS: Yesterday's soup was fabulous! The little guy said that each mouthful was just like a little corn explosion in his mouth. Too much Masterchef?

The date & I talk a lot about the making of a memory.

I have so many wonderful childhood memories & we really want that for the smalls.

We've come to the conclusion that the very best memories of childhood holidays were not the "once in a lifetime" trips. It's more about the ritual type of holiday. The annual event...

the packing
the pilgrimage
the daily routine

These annual holidays & therefore the memories seem to merge into one event. I can't remember on exactly which Murray River holiday I learnt to slalom, or which year I burnt my feet on the parched earth, or when it was that we purchased garbage pail lollies from the milk bar. I've no idea which year we invented thong skiing, I'm pretty sketchy on the details of when the Block Ice Manufacturer closed, & how many years it rained.

In my memory... every day was 40 degrees, the sprinklers were always going, the meals at the golf club were in a class of their own, cartwheels on the putting green were always perfect, I never got burnt, the shrimps stayed away & a soft heavenly glow settled over our holiday rental belonging to Bee Jones.

Part of what has helped cement these memories is the footage shot on our Super 8 camera.

My Dad had these put onto video about 15 years ago...this confirmed that our holidays were nothing short of perfect (I'm skiing to Chariots of Fire!).

I'm planning to share some holiday snaps "Super 8" style. Feel free to switch off if you like...

OR maybe you've got some great holiday memories to share.

The Date's playing a golf tournament & he asked if the kids & I wanted to come along.

At first I had a minor breakdown about the kids missing school. The Date raised his eyebrows at me & I gave myself a stern talking to & now we're all on a plane heading for a bit of warmth.

I'm planning to share some of the recent op shop purchases that have made my little op shopping heart skip a beat.

I figured that might get a bit biege for you guys. So...

I thought you might like to take a little trip of your own...around my home town. I'll have a clue accompanying each post this week. You'll need to follow the clues & at the end of the week you'll unscramble to find something that is also close to my heart.

You'll need a notepad & pen beside your mouse (or something more techy if you're opposed to the pen). All the answers are contained within recent posts on each blog. That is I found the answers on the first page of each blog on Friday 11th September. Don't panic if you can't find the answers straight away...it's OK to cheat a little & email/twitter a buddy.

There'll be further instructions with the final clue!

Sound like fun? If you play to the end you'll go into the draw to win a prize (yet to be determined but I promise it will be good).

CLUE #1
Skip on over to Claire's.
What it was that was warped in Claire's creative space?
Use the 3rd letter of this word.

I asked The Date to help me out & test my instructions for the Multi Tasker. It's going to be included in issue 11 of Mixtapezine & I really wanted to make sure that there were no glitches.

Far out...he did it & he multi tasked too!

...watched the footy, drank beer (2), crafted(!) & swore a bit.

At the end of the whole exercise I asked him how he went & he said "I EXPLETIVE hated it". Ha...he's a good sort.

You can see more multi tasker action here & Lara's wonderful multi tasker post here.

I've had a few people express interest in another multi tasker workshop. At this stage it's looking like being mid October. Are you interested? If so please email me: kootoyooATgmailDOTcom with MULTI TASKER in the subject line.

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I was tagged ages ago by August Street & then Drewzel for this 7 songs gig.

**** WARNING **** music lovers should read no further!

Music is not really important to me. I like stuff, I just don't know what I like & because I share an office/studio/tip with the date I just leave it all up to him.

The pic above is the list (compiled by the date) of seven songs I've been listening to lately & enjoying. I think he's done pretty well considering I just mumble at him if I like something & grumble at him if I don't like it. I guess I'm just a background kind of girl.

This shouldn't come as a surprise. I spent alot of time with my Grandma as a kid & she always had the radio tuned to "easy listening 3MP".

The date loves music! I'm a sad disappointment to him. We are currently in negotiations. I want him to host the blog on a Monday for Mixtape Monday. He wants to know what's in it for him! .....Hmmm.

I won't pass this on but if you'd like to have a crack at it consider yourself tagged.
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The door at Auntie Pat's is big & heavy.

I knock - a little melodious knock. "Come in", I hear. I think how cool it is that my eighty something Great Aunt is happy to have her door unlocked.

I let myself in.

Auntie Pat is all organised and ready for our knitting date. The radio is tuned to Magic 1278 and her current knitting project is laid out on the dining table.

I'm offered a cuppa and say yes to a cup of tea. Once the tea is made we settle ourselves at the table. Auntie Pat examines my homework. She's very happy with the way I'm knitting. She runs her fingers over my work and says softly "Mmm, yes, you're going to be a beautiful knitter Koo". I feel well pleased with this. I like to be good at stuff.

I've brought along the pattern as well as my 365 knitting stitches desk calendar. I hand the pattern over to Auntie Pat & ask ernestly if I should begin at January 1st or maybe today's date? "No", Auntie Pat says firmly. "Close that book." I do. "Right, now just open it up and work on whatever pattern it throws up." I do exactly that and open the book at the diagonal rib. Auntie Pat is pleased and tells me to get started.

I cast on using my thumb and Auntie Pat begins reading. We sit together in an easy silence, knitting and reading. "Islands in the stream" comes on the radio and I smile to myself. I don't think I've heard that song since 1987. I hum along happily.

Every now and then Auntie Pat offers a "interesting" or "hmmm, clever".

Very quickly the two hours is up. I pack my things and say my thank yous and goodbyes at the door. Once I start the car I'm tempted to tune the radio to 1278 but decide to save the Magic for Tuesdays with Auntie Pat.

Square by Jess

Did you know that Flip is coming to Australia? It's going to be available in time for Christmas.

I'm one of the lucky folk who gets to trial the new Mino HD Flips. The camera arrived yesterday & so I decided to make a little Quilt Project video for you.

I have a gadget geek brother who owns an earlier model of the Flip which I've used a bit...you can see those efforts here.

Obviously the quality is far superior using the new flip & the addition of a tripod jack is fabulous as is the mobile phone size. It's smaller than an iPhone & just as easy to use.

The most appealing thing for me is the fact that our videos can easily be stored (if I can do it anyone can) in the same place as our images rather than hanging around on teeny tiny digital tapes which neither myself or The Date know how to manage on the computer.

I guess the main questions are...
Would you buy it? Yes...built in USB (for quick & easy camera to pc transfer), built in battery, super easy to use. Tick, tick, tick.
How much is it? Look here.

So you'll probably see a bit more video around this space in the next little while if I can get over the fingernails-on-blackboard-cringe when I have to listen to my own voice.

The most exciting video news in ages is that Handmade Nation will be released on DVD November 3. This movie made me proud to be a maker of things. If you haven't seen it (or even if you have) signup to receive an email alert to let you know it's available.

I made a lemon birthday cake for The Date...for desert at the family(his) lunch.

I'd scoured Delicious and found just the recipe. A nice list of ingredients that made me sure the resulting cake would live up to the "delicious" promise.

I made sure I had the best ingredients, nice olive oil, home grown lemons, quality prosecco, beautiful eggs. I set to work and made the cake. It did all the right things in my new oven (which I'm not great mates with yet) & looked gorgeous when I removed it from the tin.

I tasted the tiny bit that stuck to the side of the tin & my heart sank. It tasted very eggy.

What was I worried about? I'm normally pretty good with this sort of thing. I thought that there'd be plenty said about the egg cake rather than the lemon cake. Then all sorts of crazy food poisoning scenarios were running through my head.

I knew I wasn't going to be serving my cake. We went to Browns on the morning of & picked up a white chocolate & raspberry cheesecake (stunning) & a flourless orange cake (meh).

The cake was duly sampled when we returned home on Monday evening & it was, just as the magazine promised ... absolutely delicious.

There's a lesson here ... if you think it's good - it IS good & who cares what other people think.

A little while ago I picked up these beautiful crochet cushion cover/cosy pieces at the Op Shop for the princely sum of $2 a piece!

They are stunning & the work that has gone into making them...incredible. If you're all about the hook & proving your eye straining worth then go for it I say. You'll earn my respect.

BUT I'm all about the smoke & mirrors & figured I'd have a go at a bit of fakery based on the original.

I love the combination of natural & white. I've used a thrifted/opped table cloth & a hotel grade (also opped) sheet. The sheet further adds to the fakeness of the whole deal as I didn't even have to hem the envelope closure.

I ripped the sheeting to size & whipped a pair of these up in under 20 minutes. I figured this bit of magic might be something you guys would like to have a crack at. I think that they would make excellent Christmas gifts.

The Date hates the pretty girly lights, hates the TV cabinet & chair but surprisingly doesn't mind the cushions! He still thinks the room's too girly but I'm not convinced. I prefer fresh.
Faker crochet cushion
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The run to Canberra was hugely successful.

We were hosted by the wonderful Rummage clan. The delightful smalls & The Frenchman have lodged themselves permanently in my affections right alongside Nan.

Shannon's stall at the market was busy & kept me out of trouble. Everyone's super loving those eyecharts!

The searing Canberrian heat meant that it was quite acceptable for me to eat flavoured ice for dinner on Friday & lunch on Saturday.

I missed the first downpour in the new house & the search for the leaks & weak spots. Hmmmm...it turns out there are quite a few.

Most amazingly The Date & my own smalls did a wonderful job with the kids' bedrooms back at the old ranch.

The image above has nothing to do with anything except that I thought it would appeal to my weekend companions.

When I chop onions I cry, I have tears streaming down my face.

To combat this problem I started wearing goggles. I look an absolute sight (I admit), but I'm much more about function than fashion. There's the added bonus of making the kids & The Date laugh.

At some stage during my goggle wearing & onion chopping I'd made a plan in my head to share my genius. I'd formulated a plan to sell these high fashion items. Of course I was going to muck around with the design & cute them up a bit.

Being the true procrastinator that I am I never did anything about it & continued to wear the goggles, and remain tear free.

A couple of weeks ago the date and I were at Shoppingtown. Walking past Matchbox I caught something pink and sunglassesish out of the corner of my eye. I knew what they were before I did the double take. Sure enough, there they were ... my onion goggles.

For a moment I felt a bit jealous. That coulda shoulda woulda been me.

Then I caught myself. The onion glasses genius actually got off their procrastinating butt and did something about it. Good on her/him.

I'm rather attached to the speedo goggles but I really think that people who make good on dreams and ideas should be rewarded. I'm going to buy a pair.

EXCITING
Snippets from my week.

I really enjoyed my delightful week last week & so I'm backing it up with exciting. Saturday is a bit of a slow day in the blog world & it seems like a good day to weekEND.

The date & are in the preliminary stages of a very big project...exciting.

Yesterday I ran in the pitch dark at 6am. I normally love running in the street-lit-Melbourne dark but running along the Promenade at Lonsdale is quite another thing. I scared myself silly...& then repeated the experience this morning...exciting.

Today, the kids & I played Mini Golf. The date always wins & the small & I take turns in coming last. But, today I won...exciting.

Out of town Op Shops turned up gold (again). I bought 40 Ladybirds for $5.00...exciting

Hard working, talented, local & particularly lovely girls are being rewarded for their efforts & embarking on new crafty adventures...exciting.

Care to suggest an adjective for next week? I'm game if you are.

I had lots of ideas for people to invite to a sensational dinner party with the date but in the end I've settled on my friends from school: Jo, Tan, Soph, Lise, Jen, Tiff, Megs & Myself.

The date will decline his invitation & we will all sit around drinking pretty drinks & laughing til our cheeks hurt.

Sure - we are all very different people now & our lives have moved us in different directions & around the world. Maybe if we met in the street today we wouldn't all be friends. BUT... there is something really special about a shared history & the easy, honest & kid-like way you interact with a friend you've had forever. It's priceless.

The photo with the pink cut outs is the final list but we need to add Jo & Megs into the pink voids. Can you match all my friends with their before & after shots?

Thank you Lily & Agathe and Three Buttons.

School holidays have started!

I've mentioned before how much I love school holidays. BUT we are super busy these holidays. There is way too much gym training & work & football & the like. The date's pretty annoyed about the amount of gym but that's another story.

You might remember last holidays I had Slide Night. Which I really enjoyed but there won't be time for that sort of hoo ha.

So these holidays I'm going to share the big girl's Polaroid Photo Diary from our family holiday in 2001.

The Barbie Polaroid Camera was a gift from her Grandpa & we loved making this diary together. The text dictated to me after each image was added to the page.

I'll post everyday but I won't really be around the blog so I'll catch you all at the end of the break.

If you've got kids enjoy the time at home & if you haven't ... enjoy the peace on the roads.

HOT
-Mao's Last Dancer. Everyone in the family is reading/listening to Mao. The Big Girl (who is reading the original) says it's hands down the best book she's ever read.
-Being three quarters of the way through piecing the top of The Red Quilt.
-Coffee
-Jubes
-The promise of the move.
-The Date playing good golf despite the weather.
-New babies! My sister just had one & my sister in law is just about to pop.
-Where the Wild Things Are. It's everywhere! Hottest wild thing this week.

NOT
-Having a sore back from kneeling on the floor all day.
-Head rushes from standing up too quickly.
-Less than ideal Melbourne weather.
-Running out of jubes.

What else is hot/not? Find them here.

This is the very first thing I have ever made for The Date.

Daisy fortunes & apple stalk love interests were all the go when I was in about Year 5.

It wasn't for Valentine's Day or any day really. I think all the hearty stuff that has been popping up around the place during the last couple of weeks certainly had an influence though.

That's what the petal folding was all about & the French Egg too.

I reckon he probably needs the affirmation at the moment because Kirst on a deadline is fairly hard to get along with.

made using juice bottle lids & cotton from an old bed sheet.

...back to the old house for me. x

This gorgeous girl has kicked off a bit of Friday fun & always up for a challenge I thought I'd have a crack.

After all...I went to a fabulous school that offered ceramics, printmaking, textiles, painting & drawing, garment construction & photography. True to form I tried my had at all of these and had wonderful parents allowed me to do Art 1 & Art 2 (read 8 hours of art per week) instead of maths! I was always more about the experience than the end result. I thought I'd have some giggle worthy stuff to share.

I had a feeling that most of my "folio" (& I use the term loosely) had been skipped during the most recent clean out. No great loss there I can assure you. BUT...I thought I had some stuff under the ranch. I donned the head torch & went for a rummage - I came up short. I did find all the letters the date & I wrote to each when we first hooked up! That gave the two of us a giggle but they have now been ceremoniously binned. I wanted to fire up the incinerator - if only it weren't illegal!

Anyway, enough of my drivel. In short - my Friday Archives offerings will be thin on the ground I think. Sorry Claire.

The above is a mother bird guarding her eggs. I made her when I was 3 with my next door + one neighbour who had a ceramics shed & her own kiln - incredible.

Ahh Betty was gorgeous wasn't she Jo?

I've got plenty o' hot this week...

- Mixtapezine. I read this yesterday while I ate my bircher (also hot). There's a lot to love about this edition...Sooz's thoughts on rules...The Date's music reviews...Aunty Cookie tear out...Gemma Jones cover...& the "multi tasker tute" by me.

- Starting to feel like the new house is almost "done".

- My stud finder... a really truly one for walls (not the failing eyes or the overworked ticker).

- Pin cushions. Really how many does one girl need? If you think you might need another. The square one is here & the pieced hexagon pincushion is here.

- A visit on the fly to The Mill.

& very little of the not...

- Just tired...to the core. Even missed the long run last week - you know it's serious.

More hot & not over at loobylu.