pin cushion swap

I've joined in on the Pin Cushion Swap organised by sweet Kate of Foxs Lane.

My ummming and ahhhing, dilly dallying, tooing and froing time is now up. I've got to pop my pin cushions in the mail! Whether I like them or not.

Here they are:





Now, I only learnt to crochet just last November so I am rather proud of myself for figuring these out all by myself and without a pattern. Having said that, had I consulted a pattern I may not have needed to pull them apart quite so many times...but where is the 'learning' in that eh?

I hope these cheery pin cushions leave a little ray of sunshine on my swap partner's sewing table! I'm just putting the finishing touches on my 'Sunny Songs to Sew By' mixtape and then I'm off to the post office...

how to: floral cheer on a budget

Everyone loves flowers, right? I just get so sad when they die. And in this heat (yes, it's a sunny 28 degrees in Sydney today - where did that nice cool Autumn breeze go?!) cut flowers don't last as long as I'd like them to. But it's someone special's birthday party today and I knew they'd appreciate some floral cheer so I popped into the florist to see what was on offer.

I was excited to see little pots of colour on sale for $2 each. I'm thinking that this floral cheer might last a little longer if it's still attached to it's plantly home and nestled safely in soil. But the plastic pot? I think we can do better than that...

It's a little shabby chic in this colour scheme, what with the antique lace, twine and floral paper but if we can't indulge in a little girliness once in a while then what's the world coming to?!

So if you, or someone you know, is in need of a little floral cheer and you're strapped for cash then I would definitely recommend doing the following:

* Head to your local florist or gardening centre and pick up a pot or two of cheerful blooms. If your friend is more of a foodie - pick up some herbs instead
* Rummage through the recycling for some tins - soak them in hot water to remove the label and give them a good clean
* Squeeze your plants into the tins - you'll need to loosen the roots a little, pat them down and then give them a little water
* Wipe the tin clean so no soil is, errr, soiling the outside of your vase
* Decorate your vase with scraps of wrapping paper, fabric, ribbons, lace, wool or whatever takes your fancy and secure it with double sided tape for extra ease and speediness!

Too easy! Cheap and cheery! Win, win, wouldn't you say?

I'm thinking these sweet little tins would look lovely as table centrepieces on special occasions like Christmas or at a wedding. Or you know, for those occasions like every other day. Life is too short to wait for special things to happen - sometimes you've got to initiate the special yourself. Be 'specially proactive!

happiness is...

...a warm blanket to snuggle in...

...fresh clean sheets to rest your weary body on...

...and sweet, sweet dreams of otters holding hands...

Well come on now, could something so adorable be real?!
That had to be a dream!
That moment at 1:18? My heart explodes with happiness. I'm otterly in love.

And if that didn't melt your frozen heart I don't know what will. I've decided I do believe in reincarnation - in the hope that my next life will be spent as a hand holding otter who fills their days snoozing and floating in a pool with the one they love the best.

Hope your weekend is filled with snuggles, sweet dreams, hand holding and happiness.

this couch potato is getting a serious makeover

I'd love a new couch. But I've been told by my better half that there's absolutely nothing wrong with this one.

I'd beg to differ.

I mean sure, it's actually quite comfortable, if you don't mind sinking into it and never getting up again. And the fact that it only cost 40 cents on ebay makes it hard to imagine a replacement that could scream !!!BARGAIN!!! quite like this one does. Everyone loves a bargain. Everyone that visits our home gets told "that couch cost 40 cents". If we didn't have the couch, what bargains could we brag about?!

But it's so dark and shows so much dust and is getting threadbare on the arms and the cushions are sad and flat and missing buttons...

Oh, it would be so lovely and grown up to own a piece of furniture that I'd actually bought because I like the design, rather than the price tag. But I guess I'll have to wait until I am...more...grown up.

In the meantime I shall exercise my powers of discretionary spending on soft furnishings.

Enter my Umbrella Prints cushions. I picked up two packs of Umbrella Prints remnants at the last Sydney Finders Keepers markets. Holy thread count, Batman, I am seriously impressed with their stuff.

Did you know that these original Umbrella Prints fabrics are hand screen printed in Australia on organic hemp/cotton and linen/cotton and the inks used are water based 100% solvent free. YES! It's true! And unlike some other Australian, hand screen printed, environmentally friendly fabric* I bought recently, I'm really impressed with the quality of both the fabric and the printing. Seriously professional product. And it was a dream to sew.

Well, I dreamt that part up. Actually, my awesome, wonderful, kind and sweet mother sewed these up for me for Christmas. Bless her and her sewing skills!

So things are looking up, on the couch front, don'tcha think?

But there's still so much brown....so I've decided to put my new found crochet skills to work and embark upon an epic project - my first granny square blanket!

I've purchased 15 balls of Moda Vera 'Cupcake' yarn, which is ever so soft and snuggly, in colours which I think will compliment my cushions nicely. I've got 4 base colours for this rug - a navy, pumpkin, mustard and red.

And then I've got 3 bright and cheery colours - turquoise, rose and purple - to add a little pop of colour here and there. Then I'll bind them all together with a nice cream. Yum!

And this granny square rug will not be anything like the rug on Roseanne, which is what my 'so called' better half exclaimed when he saw my granny square pile growing...

Now, If we add up the cost of these cushions (easily $100 with feather/down cushion inserts and not including labour) and the wool to make this blanket ($70 so far but since I haven't finished I'll bet I have to buy more, 4 balls of cream to crochet it all together is definitely not going to be enough) I think I'd have just enough to purchase another (albeit pre-loved) couch from ebay. But where would the fun be in that eh?!


*No, I shan't name names. I'd probably be ostracised by the Australian blogging community as this company gets a serious amount of online love. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and put it down to bad luck/exceedingly high fabric quality expectations/bad day at the press...but I doubt I'll be spending any more of my hard earned discretionary dollars there in the future. Sad face...

Zine tripping with June, Tammy and In the Light of the Sun

I don't know what you'd call them really but I used to LOVE these when I was a girl of 10 summers. Fresh, sunny and sweet (me or my reading material?!). Girls magazines? Cartoons, comics, pulp fiction for kids? Did you ever read them?

I used to have a hard cover annual that I absolutely treasured, I can't remember what it was called (maybe mum knows? I think it was a June Girls Annual circa 1975?) but it had stories about exotic adventures, boarding schools, tennis, horse riding, sewing tips and beauty info. I was smitten. I read it over and over and over and wished they still made them, and that was back in '92. Those were the days before Dolly and Girlfriend magazine took over my must have reading list...

I stumbled across a bunch of old school girls paper zines in a little antique junk shop on the way to Healesville on our last trip to Melbourne. If we hadn't taken carry on luggage only with a weight limit of 15 kilos I would have bought them all...alas, all I could squeeze in my bag was 2. One 'June and School Friend' circa July 1969 and one 'You're never alone with Tammy' circa July 1978. A decade apart but the content is still the same - exotic adventures, school girl antics, tennis stories, making fun of that fatty Bessie Bunting, handsome and dangerous men.

I didn't go on holiday this Easter long weekend, but discovering these forgotten zine purchases whilst cleaning up our house makes me feel like I've traveled back in time to my childhood, and the childhood of the original girls who saved their pennies (all 7 or 8 of them) to purchase these papers and be transported to a world of adventure.

I might chop these up when I'm done reading them. I think they'd make fun envelopes, paper cranes, wrapping paper and cards. If anyone wants to know what happens in any of the above stories, let me know and I'll scan the next page for you!


P.S I hope you've enjoyed this zine trip down memory lane more than poor Ann (who speaks her mind) did...

Autumnal Elixir

I have most definitely overdosed on chocolate this weekend - my bad skin and poor temper will attest to that. This gloriously cool and drizzly weather has prompted me to ignore my sweet tooth for just one minute and indulge my savory side - my stomach is calling for some healthy, soul soothing soup.

If you're in need of a belly full of goodness after a long weekend of indulgence I can highly recommend this autumnal elixir concocted by yours truly!



The cast:
* 2 spanish onions sliced roughly
* As much garlic as you like - I used 3 big minced cloves
* 1 heaped teaspoon of harisa paste (or chopped fresh chilli if you don't have harisa)
* 1 heaped teaspoon of ground cumin
* 2 tins of peeled roma tomatos
* 1 tin of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
* Half a bunch of silverbeet, stems removed and the leaves chopped thinly

Added extras:
* Some cheese like feta to crumble on top (I only had cheddar in the fridge though.)
* Toasted sliced almonds or pine nuts on top also add crunch

Lightly caramalize the onions in your biggest pot with olive oil and a little salt to release the liquid. While the onions are simmering away I chop the silverbeet and rinse the beans off.
Once the onions are thoroughly cooked add the harisa paste, ground cumin and the minced garlic, stir and lightly fry for a minute or so. Then add the 2 tins of tomato, stirring to break down the whole tomato pieces and bring to a boil.
Once the tomato has been bubbling away for a few minutes and turned a rich red hue, throw in your cannellini beans and chopped spinach. Stir it well to combine - put the lid on the pot, turn the heat down and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
Taste test for seasoning - does it need more salt or pepper, cumin, chilli etc? Or a small teaspoon of brown sugar for sweetness perhaps? If not - it's time to grab a bowl and ladle up. YUM!

Hope everyone has had a relaxing and enjoyable Easter long weekend. I'm going to snuggle up on the couch and rest in the quiet before the madness that is life takes over once again - what about you?

Go!

I have a lot to do on my To Do list today. Mainly because I am made of equal parts procrastination, lazy and sloth. It's hard to be me I tell you. Basically, I haven't made my bed and now I have to lie in it...actually that sounds rather managable. It's waaaay worse than snoozing in an unmade bed.

But while I go do all that needs to be done I'll be listening to Go, the debut solo album from jónsi of sigur rós.
Tom and I want to marry jónsi and have millions of his musically talented babies. No, make that squillions.

They'll be cute and blonde like this lil Icelandic princess and have extraordinarily long fingers for playing the guitar like a violin and sing like Scandinavian elves, fairies and sprites.

I always get a little emotional at sigur rós concerts and hot happy tears stream down my cheeks and my heart feels like it's going to burst right out of my chest. We like to play their albums in the car, really freakin loud, and sing along loudly, even though we don't understand the words. (They're mostly in icelandic, or some language Jonsi made up.) We'd get married if they'd accompany us musically as we walked down the aisle, but unfortunately we can't afford to hire them, so we've called the whole wedding off. I'd also like them to accompany me musically to the otherside, but I don't think having sigur ros play at your funeral is covered in any of those funeral insurance plans advertised on daytime tv....


You can listen to the new album Go before it hits the stores in a few days time over at NPR.

Here are a few of my favourite tracks from the new album too...




UPDATE! I have made the bed. It's a start, right?!

WIP It!

Into Shape!
Shape Up!
It's Not Too Late!

Sorry to put Devo in your head but I do like appropriating tunes to match whatever I'm doing. And lately I've been making stuff! Hooray for making stuff! And since I no longer work in an office where Management requires a weekly hour long Work In Progress meeting where I have to detail every single project I've been working on, leaving less time for actual work on said projects, I've felt a WIP meeting gap in my life. Perhaps I need some KPIs. Then I'll need to see some ROI for my efforts at those KPIs. I'll action this immediately and get back to you all by COB today okay?!

So here is my WIP report. Feel free to judge, provide constructive criticism, feedback or tell me to work harder, faster, better, whatever. Just do it condescendingly so I get that old office hierarchy feeling flooding back!

WIP #1 is inspired by soft lil yellow ducklings and fluffy grey kittens. Well, actually those thoughts came to me well after I chose the wool plucked from my mother and her mother's stash. But it's a nice thought, isn't it?

This little WIP is destined to be a cozy neck warmer/cowl. Double sided, lemon and grey, knitted up in a moss stitch using two different sized sets of needles. I even learnt how to knit button holes for this project, which is quite frankly an amazing feat of learning on my behalf, from a book no less. Yes that's right, I followed instructions from a book. I can't even follow a recipe without thinking I know better. Very proud of my humble restraint and will to learn here! Although, foolishly I knitted button holes for buttons which I don't actually have yet, so now I'll have to find some that not only match my colour scheme but also fit the holes!

WIP #2 is supposed to be bright, cheery and fun. A burst of sunshiney goodness and floral frippery in the form of a crocheted pin cushion. I'm not sure if that's just too much to ask of a crocheted flower or just too much to ask of my crocheting skills. Luckily it's just a practice run for the Pin Cushion swap over at Foxs Lane because it's really not doing it for me. I think I'm going to have to get all Blondie on this one and rip it to shreds.

WIP #3 is not really a WIP anymore, but I'm going to share it anyway. I SEWED! I haven't sewn anything on a machine for years. I never really made friends with my sewing machine in the past. We'd fall out over silly things like broken needles, forgetting how to thread a bobbin, snapping cotton thread or slipping stitches. Plus with an expert sewer for a mum, it was always easier to put in an order rather than make something myself. Lazy, I know. But I decided that this is the year to move on from whatever trials we'd experienced in the past and learn to be a better, more understanding, caring friend to my machine. Listen to it. Hang out. Have cups of tea together, maybe a chocolate biscuit or three.

So I ordered Mum to hand it over (do you still stash stuff at your parents house even though you're grown up and own your own home? nah, me neither.) dusted it off and enlisted the help of a kind and patient real life friend, Alex, to help me re-learn some basics and whip up a simple tote bag, even though I didn't have a pattern or a clue.

Alex was super helpful and encouraging and we had whipped up a tote in (almost) no time! I was 99% of the way through, racing towards the finish line when a horrible groan escaped from my machine. Actually it was more of a frustrated growl, which I promptly matched with my own frustrated growl. We'd had a few hiccups along the way, but nothing that a timeout and a rethread hadn't magically fixed. But this time my machine decided enough was enough and officially carked it.

So I marched back to Mums and she kindly applied the finishing touches on her machine. She also told me not to tell you that she helped me like that, that I should take all the credit for my efforts and sewing success. She's nice like that.

Now that I have conquered a simple tote bag I'm thinking my next project should be something like a three piece suit. You know, to look smart and professional for our next WIP meeting. Well, once my machine is back up and running of course. Whaddaya think huh!?!

judging books by their covers

The other day in St Vinnies I picked up a delightfully illustrated paperback. I must admit, I was judging the book by its cover, and the score was high.

It was this book here:

It was only $7 and I was about to purchase it when my brother informed me that he'd actually bought that book for Dad, for Christmas, with a similar cover, although not as nice, but I could just save my money and read that copy instead. And that the book wasn't that amazing after all. So I placed it back on the shelf.

But now that I've seen this delicious image on Design is Mine -

and followed the link to the artist's website - Chris Silas Neal - and found out that he is the artist behind the illustrations I held in my hand, plus many, many more lovely others such as these....

...I wish I hadn't listened to my brother after all. What do you think? Should I have purchased the book?!

Do you like to judge a book by its cover too? What are you reading right now?



P.S For your Information: Wildbirds & Peacedrums is a Swedish band, and I think I like 'em! Well, from the 30 seconds of preview itunes gives you...purchasing now!

fringes, cringes and binges, oh my!

I was tagged by the artful, brilliant and consummate Evie of Handmade Romance for a Kreative Blog Award. To play along I have to share 7 things about me then pass the award along to 7 others.

Evie truly is the ABC's of awesome - check out her 7 things here or oooh and aaah at all the sweet vintage doll finds she's been posting lately.

*1*
Ever since I could sit, I've sat like this: right leg folded, left leg outstretched.

I still do it, even in office chairs.

*2*


*3*
No-one ever believes that we have the same parents, but, it is true.

We have matching recurring pimple spots, share a fresh banana fear, proficiency in English and are equally incompetent at Maths.

*4*

P.S This is NOT a phase either.

*5*
I chronically cut my fringe and regret it, grow it out for a few years and then repeat the process...

...Meaning I am due for a haircut and another holiday to Japan! It's been almost 3 years!

*6*


*7*



Thanks to Evie for passing on this award!

I am passing this Kreative Blog award along to...
The Textured Leaf,  Regenerate, Foxs Lane, Brown Hair Blue Ribbon, One Day, Oh the Places You Will Go and The Craft Revival


Also - regarding my giveaway - thanks to everyone who entered! I'll be emailing the winners shortly, I promise!