Sweet Fabric [Search results for the ranch

  • my creative space...

    my creative space...

    I'm craving a bit of routine.

    I really loved on my desk in 08. It kept me motivated & kept things neat (OK neatish) around the ranch. The management got in the way of the fun but I think I've found the answer.

    This year I'm playing my creative space which allows for the roving workspace so many of us enjoy. Details of this weeks offering here.

    Each Thursday I'm going to post an image of what's in progress either on my desk, in my spot, on the sofa, desktop, at the kitchen table...whatever. If you'd like to play along & find some new blogs along the way then you just need to post & then pop into my creative space post for the day & paste your post URL into the auto link widget - it will do all the work for us (I hope). What it really means is that all the obligation is taken away... it's an easy game to play & if you're in one week & out the next that's absolutely fine. Everyone will know exactly who has played each week. Sounds simple enough? Keep everything crossed OK.

    I'll test to make sure it's working in a second. I've tested & would you believe it - it works. Yip to the pee!

    Here's a button if you're into that sort of thing...

    & the code too...

    <a href=" http://kootoyoo.blogspot.com/"><img src="//farm4.static.flickr.com/3542/3524211463_7a76c33326.jpg?v=1242113746"/></a>

  • The runaway...

    The runaway...
    Old Man Coaster

    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.

  • Friday Archives...

    Friday Archives...

    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?

  • Family bonding...

    Family bonding...
    Family Bonding

    The Little Guy is big into games that involve both his sisters (& preferably both his parents). He calls them "family bonding games". My favourite of these games is indoor cricket using teeny tiny cricket bats & ping pong balls. I made sure that the cricket set had pride of place in the new ranch.

    I confess that after the initial excitement on Wednesday & Thursday morning now I'm just absolutely exhausted & feeling like I'm not doing too much bonding with anyone. They're all happily set up in the new place & I'm dealing with the aftermath at the old house...it's not inspiring or exciting & frankly pretty lonely. Thankfully Mum gave me a hand yesterday afternoon & the Op Shop & rubbish piles in the old family room are growing steadily.

    This afternoon I am looking forward to breaking out the tape measure & the hacksaw to attempt a DIY modification to the blinds I'm trying to hang in our new bedroom. I think it'll be quite therapeutic.

    Thank you all for being so excited about the house...it really is lovely & hopefully I'll have some housey pics to share tomorrow.

  • 30 days of the everyday - Day 29...

    30 days of the everyday - Day 29...

    We call this the "shaving sink". It's not really a bathroom & not really a powder room.

    I have named the quirky little spaces in our house. We have a "utilities cupboard" which is a disused shower & a "service porch" which is the little 1m square area outside the kitchen door. It makes the ranch sound pretty grand doesn't it? I can assure you it's just a 1960 cream brick.

    And another thing... the photo on the wall isn't me. I can only dream.

  • The lights are on...

    The lights are on...
    eat lights

    but nobody's home.

    It's true for the new ranch...so frustrating!

    It's true for this space too & I apologise for that. I plan to rectify that over this week as it seems I won't be moving anywhere in a hurry. Thank you all for reading & for contributing to make kootoyoo a space I enjoy.

    I went for the lettering after the difference of opinion over the knife. The Date gave the letters the thumbs up. I think that they will look great in the new kitchen.

  • My creative space...

    My creative space...
    Creative Space Polaroid

    Sadly still in the old ranch. I've managed to clear myself about half the kitchen table to work away on some photo album covers.

    I purchased a pile of photo albums still in plastic wrap from the Op Shop/Thrift Store a few weeks ago & I've got a little embellishment plan for the covers.

    In the space are...
    the albums
    my washout marker *
    a polaroid I've hacked up to make a template
    twine
    a beautiful tin full of old floss (which was gifted to me during the week by a lovely friend)
    my pincushion (one of) **

    *Same brand as the fadeout marker from last week. Both are Clover - not from any brand loyalty but just because that was what was available. I will say that the fadeout fades VERY fast.

    **You can make a pincushion like this one in about 15 minutes. See my how to here.

    Visit last weeks favourite space here.

    Don't forget to pop in and add your link if you're playing along this week.

  • My creative space...

    My creative space...
    Creative Space New

    It's been a whirlwind of excitement around here since Tuesday. We finally got our certificate of occupancy & last night we slept in the new ranch!

    Today I'm planning on tackling the craft room/laundry.

    In the space today...

    Get excited & make things purchased some months ago from here. I love everything about this print but most especially the spanner crown.
    The framed granny square was a gift from a very dear friend.
    & most importantly me - can you see me?

    We don't have any technie stuff at the new ranch so it's doubtful I'll be around today. Any internet activities require a trip back to the old place which, in it's current state is a trip best avoided!

    Visit last week's favourites space here.

    Don't forget to pop in & add your link if you're playing along this week.

  • Stage fright...

    Stage fright...

    The pool table was picked up on Wednesday night.

    This space is going to be all mine until the new ranch gets built. Hopefully sometime before I turn 40! (I'm only just on the slippery slope from 35)

    BUT... I've got perfomance anxiety, I can only get as far as the doorway. It's tragic.

    I need coffee...and then I've got to work...and then I've got to cook & make stuff & chat & drink pretty drinks. Maybe tomorrow.

    I'm pretty excited about being able to say that all my Op Shop treasures are going "straight to the pool room". Just quietly I think the date is too.

    I think I might cover the door in green felt...tomorrow.

  • All the best stuff...

    All the best stuff...
    All the best stuff...

    is made in japan!

    How good is this platter? I love it so much. Opped in Blackburn for the princely sum of $8.

    Cheese is often our Friday night dinner (it goes very well with Capiroska don't you know).

    CLUE #4
    Shannon's got the door to her ranch wide open.
    What's the name of the Chez she lives in?
    Use the first letter of this word.

  • My view...

    My view...

    of relaxing Friday at the ranch tonight.

    The rain made it hard to hear but gosh it was lovely.

    The "Christmas rains" was what we used to call these storms & it's been a long long time since we've had rain like tonight.

    I stood in the rain until I was saturated & felt fantastic.

  • Framing...

    Framing...

    with feeling.

    I've been slowly collecting from Etsy for the new ranch (if it ever starts). I've been buying from artists I "know". Please Sir had some good stuff to say on this subject.

    I purchased these from Bricolagelife. I love them & today on the run I picked up this old cupboard door from the hard rubbish.

    I like it, I think that the frame honours the creator. I'm pretty confident she'll be happy with my choice.

    I'm just trying to figure out how to "adhere" them without spoiling the beautiful images.

  • Grannies are good...

    Grannies are good...

    Since my coffee & crochet session with this lovely girl I've been obsessing about Granny Squares.

    Then I checked in here & saw Claire's book with this gorgeous blanket on the cover. I spent some time pouring over a few vintage craft books and now I'm committed.

    I'm hoping to make a Granny Square rug for the foot of everyone's beds in the new ranch. I've made a start on ours.

    I think I'm going to aim for a square a night - I'll mix it up so I don't get bored. Every second night I'll do a square for the the little guy. He's having red white & blue. Very Jennyesque I think.
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  • Pillowcase Craft: Drawstring Backpack Tutorial...

    Pillowcase Craft: Drawstring Backpack Tutorial...

    Tutorial: How to make a drawstring backpack from a pillowcase can be found in PDF form here.

    Drawstring backpacks help us stay organised around the ranch. We wash & fold our swimming, gym, soccer & drama gear & then repack the bag. They hardly take up any room & we are always ready to fly out the door.

    Fancy a bit of weekend crafting?

    It's nothing startling but a making a drawstring backpack from a pillowcase is a quick & easy project. I've put together a little how to make a pillowcase backpack PDF here for anyone who wants to have a crack at it. You'll find links to all my other Pillowcase craft projects in my sidebar.

    Don't let your lovely pillowcase collection gather dust. Pillowcases are no good just sitting on a shelf.

    Click images to enlarge & print

    If you're looking for great quick & easy handmade gift ideas there are plenty listed in my sidebar.

    Thank you Sew Mama Sew,

  • Another parcel in the post...

    Another parcel in the post...

    and this is one I'm a bit obsessed with. I just can't stop looking at it. Now I've got to find the perfect frame.

    I went on a clicketty trip from Design for Mankind & landed in Matte Stephens etsy shop. There was no way I could click on without this gorgeous print.

    I've been buying straight from the maker/artist/crafter lately & Pip is right buy handmade - it's better. I feel really good about my purchases & you always get a lovely little hand written note on the receipt - what's not to love about that?

    If you would like to read more about Matte this interview is fabulous & just check out Matte's ranch. I'm his new number 1 fan.

  • Pure 1960s gold...

    Pure 1960s gold...

    Our 1960s ranch has one of those zoned bathrooms. Instead of being one big bathroom there's a tiled area with a bathroom (with bath, shower & basin), a separate toilet, a shaving area & then there is another shower. It's back to back with the bathroom shower!

    I can't imagine ever using it & my grandparents never did. For as long as I can remember it's been a cupboard for crap. I now refer to it as the utilities cupboard.

    The utilities cupboard was full to overflowing so I had to give it a bit of a clean out. I found these - super kitsch & super 1960s gold. These are going straight to the pool room new house!

    Who calls their toilet "Ooh la la"? - hilarious.
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