Nettle & Brier

Beautiful Clothes...

2011-07-21T11:11:00.001+10:00

Check out these gorgeous Resort 2012 designs from the
Mod Cloth Blog...

Opening Ceremony- New York

Carven- Paris

Jill Stuart- New York

Erdem- London

I really wish I could travel the world collecting clothes. I can't believe that is not my job!

Nothing much to see here....Creative Space

2011-07-07T12:29:00.005+10:00

I would love to be one of those prolific crafts people that always have something fabulous for show and tell, something new and exciting and different, or 10 projects all happening at one time in organised chaos.

But the truth is- I am having one hell of a lazy winter. I rarely go in my sewing room because the temperature suddenly drops 100 degrees down that end of the house. (Yes it's Iceland in my sewing room, really!)

I have become prone to migraines, developed an addiction to watching The Tudors and my aversion to mowing and weeding my garden has resulted in a jungle appearing out my back yard that is so prolific it is just best I stay indoors from now on.

Yesterday I chose to stray from home and wandered into the city to visit Charlie Lily for designer eyebrows.

In the early nineties I plucked my brows with such a heavy compulsion that they have never been the same since and it was time I did something about them. It was 1993 and around that time I also had my nose pierced and I recall my mother saying to my father "Oh Jimmy look what she has done to her face"..... and my father said "I like her new nose" and then my mother shrieked "not her nose her EYEBROWS! She HAD such beautiful eyebrows". It always struck me that not even a large silver ring in my nose could divert my mother's attention from what I had done there. Hence my need for the artistry of Charlie Lily's designer brows. The only problem was that I encountered a psycho on the train to the city who tried to steal my iphone. My iphone Clarence Hansel 3rd!!! Can you believe it? My pride and joy.

Just at the last second as he came at me from behind my intuition spiked and I was fast enough to keep my phone and my bag, thankfully. But he was so angry he attacked the girl behind me, took her phone and left her with bleeding hands. Everyone on the train was very upset after this commotion and as I sat there kissing and cradling Clarence the iphone, I realised that I needed more than just great eyebrows to make up for this level of unprovoked violence. So I went to the Theosophical society bookshop and bought a Richard Freeman Ashtanga yoga DVD. You see I cant go to yoga at the moment because Grandpa the babysitter has gone on vacation and as yoga is such a great outlet for stress- a DVD was the solution to all my problems. I finally made it home to the haven of my loungeroom and proceeded along with Richard Freeman through the 70 odd asanas, mudras and bandhas (and my cat lying gracefully across my mat in all the wrong places at all the wrong times). Everything was wonderful. Except.....

Today I cant move!

Can't even walk properly.

Or bend.

Forget crafting, what about just being able to sit down?

OUCH! Damn it Freeman what have you done to me?

The upside of all this is my thighs are like rocks. My buttocks like steel.

And my new eyebrows make me look at least 5 years younger.

For some actual creative spaces go to Our Creative Space.

Winters Beginning- Creative Space...

2011-06-02T11:00:00.000+10:00

My friend Angelina gave me this wonderful vintage Bunny lamp for my collection of rubber toys.

Is he not fabulous? Those Eyes!

He has nothing to do with my creative space though, I just wanted to have him in the background because he is so cute.

Today I am working on Rose, Lavender and Spice scented dolls for wardrobes and drawers.

I made some for my last market as little extras and they were very well received.

I had one Rose left over so I put it on a hanger in my new wardrobe.

And now my clothes smell Beautiful. I am completely loving myself to ridiculous proportions because I smell so good! My day is so much brighter now.

So today I am making more to have on hand as gifts for friends.

I bought the lovely fabric at GJ's in Brunswick specifically to make the pot pourri dolls as I had some beautiful dried roses, organic lavender and also some spice pot pourri that I needed to use up.

So simple to make, I just lined the front and back of the fabric with thick iron on pellon (fusible fleece) to provide softness, then sewed them and filled them lightly with one of the three scents.

I can't wait to put a lavender scented doll in with my woollens. I had such a terrible time with moths in my house, but never again.

Visit the new and wonderful Our Creative Spaces for more fun things so see.

A Little Bit of Pride...

2011-05-15T00:39:00.003+10:00

Last week I excitedly discovered Meet Me at Mikes Bookclub are reading Pride and Prejudice. Yay!

As this endearing classic is a beloved favourite of mine, I could not help but join in.
(Any old excuse right?)

But then I devoured this novel ever so quickly that I was left twiddling my thumbs and wishing it was 10 volumes long instead of 3. So then of course I had to go out and hire the 6 part BBC production starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. (I know you all swoon over that particular Mr Darcy.) The acting is superb and it is a true rendering of the text to the finest detail.

Then, inevitably, came the Keira Knightly Pride and Prejudice film which is not a true rendering at all but the two leads have good chemistry which makes it an ok diversion.

And now, after living and breathing Jane Austen's world for a whole week , I have only the Lawrence Olivier and Greer Garson 1940 film left to complete my obsession.

How fabulous does it look?

Remember when I made a Jane Eyre Doll? Check her out here.

I think there may be a little Eliza Bennett idea forming in the coming weeks.

But until then how cool are these Etsy finds for all the Pride and Prejudice admirers out there?

Pride and Prejudice book bag by Rebound Designs

Necklace from Just Be Designs

Mr Darcy quote-

"In vain I have struggled. It will not do.

My feelings will not be repressed"....

Early 19th Century replica Bonnet by Regency Regalia.

I think we should all wear a bonnet at least once in our life!

The Pride and Prejudice book purse is so much my favourite, quite a clever and well executed idea.

It has been the most satisfactory week for me, swooning all over the place and imagining I too am married to a high born gentleman and have a Pemberley Estate of my own.

Sigh...............

Grandma Wolf...

2011-05-03T21:42:00.003+10:00

The following is based on a true story...

Once upon a time there was a toy maker who was Obsessed with Little Red Riding Hood.

And she had a son who was so scared of Wolves that he could not sleep alone in his own bed

for fear that they were hiding there.

One day he went to visit his Grandma with a basket of Easter eggs.

But could not go alone into any of the rooms in her big house

because he thought the Wolf was hiding there.

Hiding out, under the bed, in every room, even the toilet.

Luckily the toy maker had made her son a Wolf Toy.

A toy so cute that all his fears would fade away.

She crafted a Wolf dressed up as Grandma with Little Red Riding Hood hiding in the belly.

With the addition of a floral nightgown, with lace trim.

This little boy could not be scared of a cross dressing Wolf in a Nightgown carrying a tiny doll.
Could he? Surely not!

Alas he could....

"Oh Grandma, what big lips I have"

"And what a sly grin You have"

"And Grandma what big Hips you have"

"All the better to Hold you with."

And so the toy maker put Grandma Wolf away on a big high shelf,

and went back to the drawing board.

The moral of this story is, don't introduce your children to Wolf stories before they are old enough
or no one will ever get any sleep.

Happy Easter...

2011-04-23T11:36:00.000+10:00

Have a wonderful and safe Easter.

May you experience the joy of friends and family and I hope the Easter Bunny's are gracious with their bounty of deliciousness. :)

Come to Thread Den Market this Sunday...

2011-04-16T11:30:00.000+10:00

Thread Den Market- 10am to 3pm. I hope to see you there.

Australasian Quilters Convention...

2011-04-14T11:09:00.000+10:00

Golden Afternoons by Ruth de Vos

The Australasia Quilters Convention starts today at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre until 17th April.

I like to go every year and check out all the latest fabrics and see the Amazing quilts on display.

Hours and hours of work have gone into these quilts and it is very inspiring indeed.

A wonderful way to spend a cold Autumn day.

"Ahoy Me Hearty's"...

2011-04-13T12:02:00.002+10:00

Today my father would have turned 82 if he was alive.
Bless his old soul.
This exuberant, generous and wonderfully loved father of mine (and my 6 siblings) was a sailor and
in honour of his sea-faring shenanigans, I have made a Pirate doll...

It's Ye Olde Pirate Girl

Arrrrrr Shiver Me Timbers...

When Cat Met Fish...

2011-04-08T23:23:00.000+10:00

" They came from different worlds but they liked each others looks..."

"Fish told cat about the water..."

"and cat told fish about the woods."

"cat wasn't so sure [she] liked the ocean."

"They decided to live where the sea and the land met..."

"and rest until their next adventure."

All words written by Joan Grant from the book Cat and Fish, illustrated by Neil Curtis and winner of the Children's Book Council Picture Book of the Year award 2004.

A must read for anyone that loves unusual friendships.

Creative Space...

2011-04-07T10:29:00.001+10:00

I have been really busy in my Creative Space this week.

I sent off this little personalised Bird Boy and have lots of other little things to complete

Such as stuffing these girls.

Worrying about what I'm going to dress them in.

(Sometimes I spend more time 'choosing' fabric than actually sewing!

Last night I agonised for 45 minutes over 3 types of grey???)

This guy needs a body and some ears.

Oh and a nightgown because he is going to dress up as Grandma.

Do you think the eyes are too creepy for children? I never know. Today my son turned down the offer of wearing his Spiderman T shirt to Daycare because he

"might be scared of it at rest time".

I don't want to make a toy that has to be spirited out of the room at bedtime.

I'm off now to make some clothes for those girls. I have a girl from Berlin staying with me at the moment and she calls clothes "clothers" (sounds exactly like clovers). I love it!

I just cant say it any other way now.

Remember Cat and Fish from last week?

I think they fell in love.

For more creative spaces vist Kirsty at Kootoyoo...

The Art of Australian Picture Books...

2011-04-06T00:46:00.003+10:00

The day little Jim wore his Turtle suit

and made mischief at the State Library...

he joined with all the children across Melbourne for the great

Children's Book Festival of 2011,

and had the most Amazing day.

There was the beautiful big old library to explore.

(Without having to be quiet)

Live music and a special production by Drop Bear Theatre of Mem Fox's 'The Magic Hat'

With shadow puppets that were so beautiful they brought tears to my eyes.

Peter Rabbit.

A petting zoo.

And of course the free exhibition which runs until 29th May 2011 featuring the art of Australia's finest illustrators.

The little boy had such a fun day that he hopped into bed in his Turtle suit and went straight to sleep.

And he didn't need 20 books read to him as he had read so many at the festival. :)

Here are some of the books featured in the exhibition:

Stephen Michael King 'Leaf"

Gaye Chapman 'Little Blue'

Glenda Millard & Rebecca Cool 'Isabella's Garden'

Armin Greder 'The Island'

If you have not read this book to your children then you must do so immediately! And I challenge you to do it without crying. Recommended for ages 8-11. Sparks insightful conversation and is a great way to open up discussion about cultural differences, tolerance and refugees.

An outstanding picture book.

Visit The Art of Australian Picture Books at the State Library of Victoria website for more details.

Little Red Riding Hood...

2011-04-03T02:00:00.017+11:00

My four favourite words.

Those of you that have visited Nettle and Brier from the beginning would know how enchanted I am by Little Red Riding Hood, how enamoured I am by this tale and indeed how it has inspired me to create that little Maid over and over with glorious affection. She has been purchased by doll collectors, given to children, bought by adults and even now, the very beginnings of her, are again laid out in my sewing room.

It started when I was very young with this tiny porcelain cake topper (above). Red Riding Hood and the Wolf. My mother placed it on one of my cakes when I was a small child, just as she had likely done with my four sisters before me, and that is when the love affair began.

So it was with great excitement that I set off today to see the new film Red Riding Hood by Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight). However the excitement very soon turned to real horror (and occasional laughter) when a few scenes in it was like looking at a B grade Telemovie.

Yes indeed the woman who gave Robert Pattinson to the world has made a seriously bad film!

[image source]

How can a film with such stunning cinematography and a great cast be so bad you ask? Was it the clunky script? Was it Gary Oldman reprising certain aspects of Bram Stoker's dracula? Was it Virginia Madsen's incredibly cosmetically enhanced face? (Oh Virginia what big lips you have!) Or was it Shilo Fernandez's vacuous impersonation of Robert Pattinson acting a Vampire that was the final diminishing factor?

(Incedently Shilo Fernandez was passed over for playing the role of Edward Cullen in Twilight and perhaps this was his way of getting a little bit of Edward screen time;)

Visit Andrew Lee's review over at Cinephilia, his summation is superb.

One positive thing I can say- Amanda Seyfried (Big Love, Chloe) is gorgeous to behold. Her beauty is as enchanting as a Red Riding Hood should be and her ever lengthening Red woollen cape (handmade by Grandma) makes for beautiful imagery as it trails blood red in the snow.

This film makes a big departure from the Red Riding Hood stories that have been handed down in print. The wolf becomes a Werewolf and it is no longer a cautionary tale about straying from the path, such as in Charles Perrault's and the Grimm Brothers version. But rather it combines horror mixed with romance and the roles of Mother and Grandmother are lost. Especially in the case of Julie Christie as Grandmother, her role is laugh out loud ridiculous and Virginia Madsen as Mother has none of the true wisdom and intuition that underpin this beloved fable. However it is important to note that the film does explore some of the motifs from the older folk tradition. One oral telling has the bzou (werewolf) feeding Red Riding Hood a stew made from her own dead Grandmother and this is rather grizzly depicted on screen. She also outwits the bzou as she cunningly does in the folk telling of The Grandmothers Tale, however the film incorporates the Grimm Brothers version, so she does not outwit him alone but has substantial help from the Woodcutter (Shilo Fernandez).

This is my copy of Little Red Riding Hood and Other Stories by Charles Perrault. These stories were first published in 1697. Incidentally it was he who first introduced the red hood to the tale.

This is now such an enduring motif- Red could be interpreted as a sexual colour, the colour of harlotry or perhaps it symbolises menstruation and the cusp of childhood and adolescence. The wolf is a motif for a predatory man and in the above printed version of the tale Red Riding Hood is commanded into bed with the wolf. "Little Red Riding Hood took off her clothes, but when she climbed up on the bed she was astonished to see how her grandmother looked in her nightgown".

You see how "the better to eat you with" originates from a sexually devouring situation not a culinary one.

"With these words the wicked Wolf leapt upon Little Red Riding Hood and gobbled her up."

The End.

The denouement of The Brothers Grimm is rather different and much more hopeful. The woodcutter saves both Grandma and Little Red and we are left with the strong moral lesson of not wandering off the path when our mother forbids it.
(Heaven help we stray from the path!)

In Clever Maids, The Secret History of The Grimm's Fairy Tales Valerie Paradiz offers us a third and somewhat obscure version where Little Red Riding hood returns to Grandmother's house and encounters yet another wolf but she sticks to the path this time and so remains unscathed. You see she has learnt her lesson.

I was once told a fabulous joke about Red Riding Hood wherein she takes out a giant bazooka and has her way with the wolf the way she wants it. I think a modern retelling of this fable would have more of these elements. At the very least Little Red should be able to distinguish her own Grandmother from a wolf in the bed?? Or perhaps in her infinite wisdom she imbibes her dear old Gran and goes willingly naked into the bed of the wolf-man through sheer natural curiosity.

Please stay tuned for more Red Riding Hood tales when I unveil a new toy very soon. I would like to delve further into the origins and the oral tradition, which appeal much more to my feminist sensibilities. I am about to read "From the Beast to the Blonde" by Marina Warner and I'm certain she will give me enough insight for a whole other entry.

For Further Reading:
Little Red Riding Hood (5 Versions including Grimm Brothers and Charles Perrault)
Little Red Riding Hood: Heidi Anne Heiner, Surlalune Fairy Tales.com
Touch Magic: Jane Yolen, (A short collection of great essays about the importance of Fairy Tales).
Clever Maids, The Secret History of the Grimm Fairy Tales- Valerie Paradis

Creative Space...

2011-03-31T10:06:00.001+11:00

Is has been so long since I have graced Kirsty's Creative Space. Just under a year I believe.

Hopefully I can be welcomed back into the fold after such a hiatus:)

I am again working on my toys for Thread Den. Doing variations of my Pussycat Doll and Monsieur Rabbit.

This little Monsieur has limbs for the first time, but his trademark face still prevails. He is for the Easter Market and will be adorned with an egg. I have not decided yet whether it will be a crafted egg or an actual egg? Mmmggh any ideas???

And this little Pussycat doll will not be holding a kitten this time but rather a fish.

As it is the Childrens book festival in Melbourne this week I have been totally inspired by my favourite childrens book Cat and Fish by Neil Curtis and Joan Grant.

It is a beautiful beautiful book about a cat and a fish who are best friends but are, of course, from different worlds.

So I was thinking that Pussycat could hold a little fish, sounds easy enough, but I do have a tendency to complicate my toys, that's for sure.

I like all my faces to be distinguished, yet matching within the range and of course significant to my style of embroidery. So a fish with a face like this.....??? Well maybe, somehow.

So that is my creative space for today. For more be sure to pop over to Kootoyoo...

Childrens Book Festival in Melbourne...

2011-03-30T14:11:00.001+11:00

This Sunday 3rd April 10am to 4pm at the State Library.

There will be a petting zoo, performers and Children's book authors in Conversation.

Check out the Wheelers Centre and the State Library website for program details.

The Busy Little Bee Award...

2011-03-30T00:35:00.003+11:00

The Busy Little Bee award does not go to me.

As you see I have been terribly un-busy.

Although, I do think a LOT about potentially busy things.

These ideas stay firmly in the mind.

But if there was an award for 'thinking' creative thoughts

Then I would win this kind of award.

Because I have many ideas and are always thinking them.

However-

For actually producing these ideas in a tangible way.......

mmmgghh, that is where I have fallen a little short.

And so, sadly, the Busy Little Bee award does not go to me!

If there was an award for sitting on the couch, watching Mad Men

and knitting complicated diamond patterned shawls.

I would win, hands down.

Unfortunately no such award is in existence.

Lastly

There is one award I am in the running for-

The Glandula Fever award goes to..........

Me.

I win this one, no contest.

Because I am very good at being sick with Glandula Fever.

The illness that goes on and on.

But never fear, Nurse Fifi is here.

And now if I could just teach her to read

my obscure miniature Latin medical book

then I will surely be cured.

And back to the business of Toy making.

I'm Celebrating Julia...

2010-06-24T15:29:00.002+10:00

Warning Politics! The below entry contains absolutely nothing to do with Craft.

Wow! A history making day for Australia as our first ever female Prime Minister is sworn in by our first female Governor-General. What an amazing day. It is with happiness that I celebrate not only the fact that she is a woman- but that she sits to the left of the labour party, is clearly intelligent and handles herself better than any other politician I can speak of.

When an unmarried, childless woman who speaks straight from the heart and holds genuine care for the health and education of ordinary Australians steps up to such a high position- I'm thinking that is quite a feat unto itself and is something to truly celebrate indeed.

Go Julia.

(Now if we could just get rid of Tony Abbott and let Julie Bishop lead the opposition then the next election will become a Julie and Julia battle and I think that sounds like a much more interesting contest.)

Mr Abernathy and Co...

2010-05-30T22:58:00.004+10:00

I really love checking out the art of Matte Stephens on Etsy.

Are they not splendidly clever characters?

Sigmund Abernathy taking a ride through Central Park On Thunder Bolt On his first Trip to the United States

The Duke Of NY

The Duke Of NY riding his bike

Vivienne riding her bike

I love a smoking fox, I truly do!

You can visit Matte's blog here..

Creative Space XVI...

2010-05-27T10:38:00.002+10:00

Today I am playing along with Kirsty's Creative Space and revealing to you all my Knitting project for my friend Katarina using this divine mohair from Wool Baa in Albert Park.

The only problem is- my knitting keeps magically, frustratingly, camouflagingly disappearing!

Let me show you how...

Mon evening 9.55 pm.

We all know that it is extremely difficult to prise a Birman off knitting.

However did you know that it is next to impossible to even FIND your knitting when it is hiding beneath a Birman?

Wed evening 8.49 pm.

It took me an entire 20 minutes of hair pulling searching last night to locate my knitting when it had magically morphed into my flokati rug.

Thurs morning 9. 46 am

And as recently as a few minutes ago my knitting was swallowed up by this seemingly innocent fluffy stool.

If only I had known how much adversary everyday household items would pose to my knitting.

Would I have still chosen cream coloured Mohair at such peril?

Be sure to check out Kootoyoo for more Creative Spaces.

The Selling of the Dolls....

2010-05-23T13:14:00.001+10:00

It is official, my dolls have all sold. I never really knew if they would or not, but they have and I am very pleased. Especially because they have gone to wonderful loving homes. And that is important. I like to think of my little cloth friends tucked up somewhere warm and cosy, being admired and looked after well.

Otherwise I may not have been able to part with them at all.
They are being sold almost exclusively through Thread Den right now, but this blog has helped of course. I have been tentatively thinking about having an Etsy store or a Made It perhaps, but I must confess to you all that I don't love sitting at a computer for hours working things out. I know many clever people that can do this with ease. But it is just not my bag.

Perhaps you creative computer people out there can send me some positive internetishness brainwaves?

So now I guess I shall begin creating some new ones. I have become a little obsessed with the Pussycat Dolls, which were so admired. (Below) And as always there would have to be a Red Riding Hood in there. I thought it may be interesting to work in porcelain again, which I have not done for 10 years. Maybe a porcelain sailor girl with tattoos????

Anyway just a thought. In the meantime I am planting out my veggie garden and adding some more to my herb garden (chamomile, peppermint and echinacea).

Hopefully the garden and the dolls will flourish all at once. :)

Days of Cake and Tea...

2010-05-18T22:59:00.002+10:00

[image]

Just in case you are wondering what I have been up to, it is not really very much at all!

I can say this without the slightest amount of guilt because in all seriousness I really deserve a chance to do nothing but sit and relax and have cake and tea.

It was orange cake one day, chocolate another. On more than one occasion I came home to discover something delicious like a cinnamon cake, just waiting for me.

I've been drinking a lot too. Earl Grey, Lady Grey, Lapsang Souchong....The odd Chai.

It could really go on and on.

Just so you know.

I must confess I have read 4 more of the Sookie Stackhouse books and I'm not sure I should confess how many movies?

(5 Including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang which deserves a whole post to itself. Truly Scrumptious indeed)

I predict there will be a little more of this for a few days or so.....And then Hopefully something Wonderful will arise from my restful hybernation.

I will be sure to let you know. Either way.

Creative Space XV...

2010-05-06T10:50:00.004+10:00

Recently I have started making personalized make-up cases and pencil cases using a heap of linen I bought from Spotlight. I like to sit and embroider whenever I watch T.V. (Except for when watching Glee which always requires a spectacular amount of focus). This one is for my sister, who loves to be called by her initials. It will eventually become a padded make-up case with red and natural linen on the outside and the lovely Ginkgo Biloba cotton lining the inside. I will machine a button hole there at the V under the embroidery and I have a cute button covered in an undyed cotton knit.

What I love about embroidery is that it's so very relaxing and if my stitches look uneven (they often do) I can easily pull them out, re-thread and continue on. Much better than quick-unpicking machine stitching.

Other than that it is off to the Stitches and Craft fair this afternoon. My 3 year old little Jim is home sick from day care today so he will make the event interesting I'm sure :)

For more Creative Spaces head to Kootoyoo.

Friday's Film: Bunny and the Bull...

2010-04-30T00:17:00.000+10:00

For lovers of wildly offbeat comedy and inventive visual design- the makers of The Mighty Boosh deliver this incredibly eccentric film about a man called Stephen Turnbull (played by Edward Hogg) who relives a European adventure he took with his best friend Bunny the year before, entirely from within the confines of his flat. Using snapshots, paper sets, replica landmarks like snow domes and deeply clever use of stop motion, his memories and the characters of the past are beautifully imagined from one side of the room to the other.

The Mighty Boosh comedians Noel fielding (who I love, what with that hair and all) and Julian Barratt appear briefly in the film, the latter in what can only be described as one of the most grotesquely hilarious scenes I've seen in some time. I saw Noel Fielding at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival many years ago and found him unforgettably brilliant and I just really 'get' his surreal humor. This film is worth seeing for its art direction alone, but definitely an appreciation of absurd, off the wall humor will greatly add to ones enjoyment. Check it out if you dare :)

www.bunnyandthebull.com

Creative Space XIV...

2010-04-22T09:02:00.001+10:00

Ooh I have had such a big break from Creative Space and am excited to be playing along again. I have quite a few projects going on at the moment, some quilts, a silk scarf design, some knitted things and am trying very hard to finish off all my unfinished projects, the ones I have been putting off because I have lost steam along the way. I could never decide for instance how to finish off this Bird Boy until thankfully someone gave me another Lindt Chocolate Bunny with this bow that I can put to good use. These vintage buttons from Cheeky Little Monsters are my favourite and I always want to use them but have a strong dislike of button sewing. (These are pinned on, but I'm getting there, really I am.)

Sometimes I think my dolls look almost scary when they are inside out, stitches EVERYWHERE as I'm so particular about reinforced seams. And then when they are turned out they look almost cute, but oh so strange until finally they are stuffed and dressed and then they are my little friends and I love each and every one. Well this Sailor girl above is somewhere in that 'between' world- not yet loved but no longer seeming like she was cobbled together by Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. (I'm reading this at the moment and Gothic literature is so exquisite- it makes me want to recline on my 1950's sofa and sigh heavily all day with a hand to my brow).

For more wonderous Creative Spaces tottle on over to Kootoyoo.

Pussycat Doll...

2010-04-19T12:20:00.001+10:00

How Amazing is this Pussycat cotton from Kelani Fabric? I truly love being inspired by beautiful fabrics as I was here with my latest Pussycat Doll and another Madamoiselle Pussycat. You can see the lovely texture as well and how it goes so wonderfully with thick black wool and vintage red velvet.

Arrggghh fabric obsession, will you ever go away?
Hopefully not!

I Can Never Stop Listening to Tunng.......

2010-04-09T23:28:00.006+10:00

Finally I have Tunng's new album 'And Then We Saw Land'. They are just so cute, I can't stop listening

at home, in the car, at the gym..... So special. :)

The fundamentals of Hats and High Tea...

2010-04-04T23:34:00.003+10:00

Every year at St Lawrences Catholic School we were subjected to the Easter Bonnet Parade.....

(My hats were all quite forgettable, especially Grade 2 and that ice-cream container monstrosity)

They were nothing like this for instance-

Or this in fact.

Kimono Ken riding a Hmong headpiece rodeo style was sadly absent from my Primary School experience.

I firmly believe when celebrating with High Tea one can never be too lavish.

Nor too gastronomically indulgent.

Less is never more for example.

I do maintain that the more preposterous the millinery creation-

the greater the appeal to the audience.

One can never be too over the top or too daring.

Nor should one feel the need to relinquish their cocktail during the Parade,
it only adds to the overall feel of the show.

One should choose their surroundings well and be not afraid to stalk that runway.

And finally the odd channeling of an iconic style queen here and there should never be underestimated.

I hope these notes do help you if you are ever prone to this kind of ludicrous activity and please remember- the more angular or perpendicular the hat- the greater the prize pool. :)

A Little Jane...

2010-04-03T18:54:00.003+11:00

Recently my friends and I spent a weekend away at a cottage in Daylesford and I found myself tucked up in a giant four posted bed once again relishing the opening paragraph of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre.

Marty had graciously pointed out the giant copy of The Complete Works of the Bronte Sisters to me in the op-shop and I quickly snapped it up as a book to keep in the car for my many and varied trips to country Victoria.

But alas I was barely up to the second chapter when my Daylesford weekend came to an end and I found myself longing for another trip away so that I could take up with Jane again and immerse myself in her humble world. Some time later I had a weekend away at my mums and there she was at last with her terrible orphan years but I was barely introduced to Mr Rochester before the book was out of my hands and tucked under the seat of the Volvo once again.

Which gave me an idea......

Since Jane Eyre was decidedly my 'away' reading and I was going to be home for a while, why not bring her to life in cloth instead???

So I did.

A black wool cloak seemed the most fitting. Green eyes and brown hair.

I could not bare to give her a black dress as well, I felt she deserved a little bit of colour in her life.

Though somewhat ill-fitting for a character who speaks thus:

"My habitual mood of humiliation, self-doubt, forlorn depression, fell damp on the embers of my decaying ire."

I could not resist the dusk red lining.

She is for sale now at Thread Den's new store on Brunswick St. Sitting in the front window looking exactly like the clever yet reserved lady of her namesake.

The new store is beautiful and full of gorgeous things and the Thread Den girls have done such a great job with the art deco styling. You truly must drop in if you are ever passing by 422 Brunswick st Fitzroy.

In the meantime it is the Easter holidays and I am again away with my family and Jane Eyre (the novel) is tucked up just where it should be with me nightly:)

Happy Easter......

2010-04-01T15:15:00.000+11:00

(Illustration by Marjorie Flack 1934

I'm skipping off to the country to be with my wonderful family and wish you all a Joyous Easter break full of fabulous food, family, fun and frivolity.

Upon my return I promise to fill you in once again with my crafting explorations.

Until then Happy Easter....:)

A Wee Little Break...

2010-03-02T12:52:00.001+11:00

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Once again I'm taking a wee little break from blogging for a few weeks.

I know how boring I am, but when I return from the country house I will be more relaxed and more happy and more amazing. I surely will.

Plus I will have been sewing solidly for the opening of the new Thread Den store on Brunswick st, due to open around March 13th. So can show you some new little things. Very exciting.

See you then. xx

The Three Gifts...

2010-02-16T23:11:00.001+11:00

Today I was spontaneously given 3 mysterious gifts by my son.

A little yellow car hidden within the pages of a Peter Singer book.

A book that has absolutely nothing to do with crochet wrapped in crochet.

And my remote control sandwiched between the pages of

The Science of Parenting.

Now the very fact that he has 'gifted' me with objects that I do, actually, already own- is beside the point.

Is is after all the thought that counts.

Nonetheless this third and final gift really captured my imagination this morning. I particularly loved the symbolic gesture that would have one searching out good parenting ideas only to find the television remote control is the answer.

How many times have I let ABC Kids or a DVD like Toy Story babysit my son while I sneak off for some sewing time?????? Well lets just say it has happened more than once. Particularly around a market week.

But ssshhh don't tell anyone, just concentrate on my awesome gifts.

Now I just need to find a place to put them.

To Market to Market...

2010-02-15T01:38:00.009+11:00

The Thornbury Market was on again yesterday and I did quite well, despite the rain.

I famously forgot to photograph my stall until after I had made sales (will I ever learn?) but I really enjoyed the day and loved the social atmosphere of the new location. Due to the hall being renovated the stalls were set up in the Thornbury Womens Neighborhood House. Which has a little play area, so the children were vastly happy. Happy children make for relaxed parents and many of the visitors to my stall were chatty and shared great ideas with me about my Thornbury community. Met some lovely new people too.

And we like that.

My 'Valentine inspired but not necessarily Valentine' cards sold like hot cakes.
These little Kokka prints are so adorable. I'm going to make more one day.

I was left with one however to give to a certain special someone???

The Bee rattles sold well again. I know this is a terrible photo, but hey- lucky there is a one at all! Some things were sold without me ever having a picture of them.

I truly love the Birds and the Bees.

The birds had little squeakers inside them.

This little madam didn't sell. I cannot understand why? I'm in love with her.

Her name is Iris, she is intelligent and well educated and important in the science community.

But she has a wild side, oh my she certainly does.

She is most famous for saying "E=MC Hammer".

And she just whispered to me (as many people do) that I should start an Etsy store.

Well Iris we will have to see about that....

This little Red Riding Hood was sold to a doll collector. Always an honour when someone that already has many dolls can make room for one more. I know she will be well cared for and it makes me feel shiney.

My summer frocks never sell well on rainy cold Melbourne days. There is just something about that phenomena, if I was selling woolly scarves they would have been a hit.

I totally understand though, when I was a young girl I could never dress my dolls in woolens during the summer or my Barbies in their bathers on a cold Gippsland autumnal day.

But I sold a pretty green dress and will not need to sew any more of these for the North Melbourne Market in 2 weeks and I'm quietly relieved about that.

I really love Thornbury, I wish it had a bigger market where all of us Thornbury crafters could have a stall at the same time. There are so many of us. It is craft central here. :)

Made n Thornbury Market Time....

2010-02-12T22:41:00.000+11:00

Come along and support women in small business at the Made n Thornbury market tomorrow. It is always a small but bustling place to chill out and meet new people and crafters. Hope to see you there. :)

Creative Space XIII...

2010-02-11T11:22:00.001+11:00

Today I have quite a bit to sew for the Made n Thornbury Market this Saturday, including dresses for dolls, little bird and bee rattles and hopefully I will have time to craft some Valentine's cards too.

I was hoping to complete most of said sewing yesterday but we had a terrible accident in the house.

My son acquired a 4 inch iron burn on his gorgeous little leg. I feel so hideous about it.

He somehow climbed up onto the table where the iron was resting and even though he just touched his calf to it for a second, the strip of burn was incredibly painful for him.

The worst thing about it is I had gone to great pains to keep him out of that room all morning. I repeatedly mentioned that the iron was on in there and it was safer to play in the lounge. But in some kind of reckless 3 year old abandon he made a run for it and insisted on remaining in the room, so I moved the iron to an out of the way table, but alas....

I turned my back for a second to the sewing machine and then for some reason he climbed. He will probably regret that climb for the rest of his life, as it will most likely scar. It looks so sore and nasty.

I cannot even believe it happened. I feel all the Catholic guilt in the world, I feel all the jewish guilt, even though I'm neither Catholic or Jewish. I feel all the guilt of mankind.

That beautiful little leg. Scarred. And its all my fault.

So that's where I'm at, sewing, lamenting.... I have 10 toys for the market and 6 dresses. I'm certainly not the most prolific of crafters, but then again sometimes less is more.....??

Please tell me sometimes less is more.

And then go visit Kirsty for more Creative Spaces :)

Mad Hatters Third...

2010-02-10T13:07:00.006+11:00

We celebrated the Third Birthday of my son Mihali Jim recently with a Mad Hatters Tea Party.

It started with an invitation.

And then a costume...

I found the invite image many moons ago whilst traversing cyber space looking for a sneak preview of Tim Burton s Alice in Wonderland opening soon.

The White Rabbit costume was fun to make. I used a vintage suit that Little Jim wore to my neice's wedding and removed the sleeves to make a vest. I embroidered the clock face and then made the ears knowing he would wear them only momentarily.

He wore them only momentarily....

I am very particular about cakes. Some would say I'm too particular. I grew up with a Mother who constantly baked an amazing assortment of cakes, pavlovas and slices. Every day in my school lunch there would be Golden Wattle cake or Lemon slice...and endless list of culinary delights.

As a consequence of this- cakes need to be exceptional for me to take an interest in them.

Which is why I asked BB to make the Birthday Cake.

This is BB...

She made her famous Chocolate Pavlova.

Its neither too sweet or too chocolatey.

Not too much cream, just the right amount of raspberries.

It is perfect.

It is freaking delicious.

But I didn't have enough cake to go around. (Sigh!)

So it was lucky that my amazing Rachel helped me make other cakes.

Giant chocolate cupcakes with ganache and tiny hearts.

We had an Alice.

The beautiful Lucia in her wisdom was able to masterfully aid the 3 year olds at game time.

We also had a Mad Hatter and the Red Queen of course.

(BB made Aunty Rosie's top hat, it is an extraordinary work of millinery achievement.)

I also made a top hat, but out of cardboard and not so much of an achievement. Although it is still structurally maintained it is covered in tiny cake hand prints.

The Birthday boy somewhat suffered from Character confusion. He was the white rabbit one minute then he was Buzz Lightyear and then suddenly Mad Buzz.

He loves dressing up at the moment. Sometimes he has 5 superhero changes a day.

There was also Pin the Smile on the Cheshire. This was really fun. I had pass the parcel as well but unfortunately had to cancel Mad Dancing and Musical Chairs as it was 35 degrees and we were Meeeeeeeeelting.

Mihali Jim received an amazing array of lovely toys. Manni and I gave him the Plan Toys railway from Eco Toys and friends gave him matching wooden toys to go with it.

But it was simply this Woody doll from Aunty Rosie that won his heart that day and every other since the moment he opened it.

I am often woken at 3am to the sound of Woody crawling into bed beside me.

He says cowboy stuff when you pull the string.

It was a wonderful day, full of yummy food and family and friends, spritely little ones and crazy hats and way too much Sparkling wine.

A most memorable day indeed.

Creative Space XII...

2010-02-04T14:23:00.003+11:00

(For April's Creative Space please go Here, Cheers)

Today I am bone tired, I have been feeling this way for weeks now but it is only today that I decided to visit my GP and plead with her to take my tiredness away. She said that I may be tired for one of 3 reasons-

I have a virus.
I am an exhausted mother to a spirited 3 year old.
I have borderline chronic fatigue.

Arrrggghhh, in other words she has absolutely no idea why I'm tired and is grasping at straws and blood tests and why did I not just go and get a reiki or acupuncture instead??????? Sometimes when I'm talking to my Doctor I see a look come over her face which spreads from the corners of her eyes right up through her crinkled forehead and seems to suggest that she thinks I'm a mental case. "Mmmggghhh right, I see" she says with her sidelong doubtful-yet-curious eyebrow furrow. What goes on behind my Doctor's eyes (countless lonely nights gorging chocolate in pajamas or torrid swingers nights) I can only imagine, but what I really wanted was some kind of magic pill not a psychological assessment.

Anyway today's creative space consists of lying on the couch watching Toy Story 2 for the 30th time and printing out swing tags for my little Shirring dresses which I have been slowly (and what I'm saying is s-l-o-w-l-y) making for a few weeks now. Mostly I'm just laying on my couch with my head thrown back and my hand to my brow being pathetic. Sigh!

But there is a compelling sense of completion in the pinning on of those swing tags. There really is.

Please go and visit some actual Creative Genius spaces at Kootoyoo.

Love Magnified....

2010-01-26T23:58:00.002+11:00

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I have just arrived home from a wonderful day to discover that my boy is going to give me a not-so-wonderful night. I knew it was a terrible sign when I picked him up from Grandpa's this evening and was met with the discovery that he had just eaten an entire Magnum ice-cream and slept for FOUR hours through the afternoon. I don't care what planet you're from, an almost 3 year old boy having a four hour midday sleep cannot be good for anyone involved. Yet this revelation seemed to be completely lost on Grandpa who was quietly proud of his amazing sustained somnambulist inducing skills. He seriously expected me to applaud him and mistook my open mouthed silence for admiration instead of outrage!

Meanwhile I am here tapping away on my computer while the little one is sitting in bed half singing, half crying.... half human, half beastie. And its nearing a hundred o'clock, time we were all asleep!

It is also nearly February. The whole of January almost gone and I have not so much as even said Happy New Year to the 7 people that read this blog :)

So Happy New Year.

Here are some revelations that could potentially lead to resolutions....or the other way around.

The Melbourne Museum is Awesome. And so I have decided to take Little Jim once a week, starting last week. He likes to pretend that all the stuffed animals in the glass enclosure can really fly even though they choose not to at the moment we see them.
Devendra is playing Billboard tomorrow. How AMAZING is this artist???? Devendra Banhart being ridiculously beautiful and musical in ones home town is about as good as it gets.
Ron Mueck at the NGV is pretty awesome also. I was planning on taking my son with me to see this tomorrow. I have seen Ron's work before and think it will be amazing for a small child for all it's humanist aspects. Plus I figure if I can take him to the Tate Modern and the Musee D'Orsay, I can take him to the NGV. However in light of his current mood (yes still singing in bed and its now a thousand o'clock), I'm wondering if it would be tantamount to unleashing a dragon upon the city???
Being close to the beach is a wonderful thing. Why did I ever move so far away? (Crossing the Yarra River may sound simple enough in Theory but in reality North siders rarely do it these days unless they take a packed lunch.) I love the beach, I love Gippsland beaches in particular. Even just the sight of the sea makes me feel good. So much natural beauty to ponder and pioneer.
I have decided that this year I'm going to see at least one film a week. So far I have seen Avatar, Bright Star, Fantastic Mr Fox, Up in the Air and Nine. These were respectively Awe-inspiring, Brilliant, Fantabulous, Unassuming and Not as amazing as you would expect for a cast of great women but nonetheless had amazing art direction and cinematography.
I believe I need to spend more time going out of my way to meet new people or see new things or new places. I have been spending far too much time in my head or reading books or blogs or sewing and not enough site seeing. I solemnly profess from this moment forth to endeavor to do more interesting things, instead of reading so much about other people doing interesting things.

There now the little one is finally off in slumber land and I shall soon follow.

See you next week, hopefully with some great pictures from Little Jim's Mad Hatters 3rd Birthday. x

Merry Christmas...

2009-12-22T23:49:00.004+11:00

Well it has been a travesty but my little laptop has been struggling along far too slowly for me to upload anything, so I have been quietly wrapping my gifts and biding my time. Then suddenly a friend of mine appeared and 'defragged' my computer???? Amazing, absolutely amazing. And now ever so fast again. Thankyou.

Where I left off was the Made In Thornbury Market, which went really well considering I was in a terrible position. (Facing the back wall- practically invisible). It is a very friendly and gracious market and the people that did notice my little stall were very warm and encouraging.

I chatted a little with the other crafters but was able to have long chats with Felicity from Flicketty Splits, who fantastically let me ramble on and on about absolutely nothing in particular.

Now time has gone on and Christmas is nearing way too fast. I'm exploring lots of crafty options this Christmas. A teepee cubby house, dresses, shorts and also I finally perfected my

Little Red Riding Hood doll.

On Sunday I had the pleasure of lovely company for my Annual Christmas Drinks which I combined with my Annual Croquet Match. And I did run with the Kitsch Kringle idea. It was pretty funny, but not quite as funny as last years Krap Kringle which has made its way into my Top 10 Funniest Moments ever list.

Thats Little Jim and me with our Kitsch Kringles. Priceless I know!

I'm very proud to announce that I only needed to buy one Shopping Centre gift this Christmas. Which was an electric grill for my nephew to make his delicious tosdadas on. All the rest are handmade gifts or gifts that support small business. Our Christmas tree was purchased from the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Little Jim's toys are again made from sustainable materials such as this Plan Toy which is an ethical company.

Some time ago I alighted to the fact that giving friends and family beautiful gourmet food and fine wines is always a winner and this year I have boxed up a pile of gifts from Outback Pride, which is a fabulous business providing jobs and training for Indigenous Australians.

They make beautiful jars of pickles, relishes and spreads amongst other things all made from native bush food grown in outback communities. You can purchase them from Oxfam. I also discovered my local Naturapath sells beautifully packaged and delicious Organic toasted Muesli. All in recycled materials. The idea of giving natural, healthy and beautiful foods as gifts makes me feel extra good and I'm happy to say that there is no pre Christmas stress in my life.

I'm reading Peter Singers 'The Life You Can Save' at the moment.

Peter Singer is a beautiful writer, speaker and philosopher. His lectures on Ethics are esteemed the world over and in this book he reminds us as individuals about how we can modestly save a life from poverty. If we all take up his challenge individually then collectively as a Nation we can achieve much. And we can do more than we think. Read more about his vision here. Or here if you wish to take up the challenge.
Peter Singer will be giving a talk at Melbourne University about 'What responsibilites do Australians owe the global poor' on February 16 2010.

Christmas is a good time for us all to think about how much we have, how fortunate we are and about how we can help others too. There is no greater evidence of this than the effigies and Nativity scenes all around us at this time- as Mary and Joseph are the most famous refugees in all of history.

I would like to leave you all with a little Christmas wish list that a crafter like myself would be extremely excited by.

Oxfam Christmas Decorations (now half price). Stunning and proceeds go to a great cause.

Subscription to Frankie Magazine A magazine to your door = Yeah! Plus one that features other crafters, double yeah!

Honeyweather and Speight Dolls House. Made from recycled cardboard. For the child within, you can never be too old for something so beautiful and handmade.

La Creuset cookware I'm told it's the best and makes cooking pure unadulterated joy. Now this one is an expensive gift but you can spread the love by cooking for friends, family, neighbors and cooking for them Forever as this cookware lasts a lifetime. No more throwing away crappy pots!

Barkcloth. The most challenging gift of all to find, but this is like the Holy Grail of fabric for a crafter or lover of vintage, the most beloved and coveted fabric imaginable. Buy it on Ebay or buy it here. Buy it anywhere you can. Don't ever feel weird about buying second hand.

Merry Christmas to everyone and hopefully will catch you sometime before the New Year. x

Made'n Thornbury Market Today...

2009-12-12T00:05:00.002+11:00

Creative Space XI...

2009-12-10T15:24:00.003+11:00

Today I am pretty much like Kirsty who hosts Creative Space over at Kootoyoo, finishing off all my projects and getting ready for Christmas.

I have a terrible tendency to start something and then become distracted by some other venture- so today is all about Completion. Especially as the Made In Thornbury Market is only 2 days away.

Here is my Kitchen table...

This particular table was once my Nanna Molly's and then it was my Mum's and now it is mine and that may have something to do with why I love sitting at it. I have a seperate sewing space but it just does not invite me in like this table does. I also like to do all my embroidery on my couch and only at night.

Here is a close up of some faces that will become my Mama and Baby dolls in the next few hours. Well.... Hopefully!

A face for Little Red Riding Hood for my Thread Den order.

This little flock of birds need some stuffin. (Can see how they will remain this way until the last possible minute...)

And the Beeeees, the Beeeeeeeees.

Hey wouldn't it be great if I remember to photograph the finished toys before they sell this time!!!!!!

Here are some realisations-

You can lure an obstinate Birman Pussycat away from precious fabrics by placing a woollen blanket on the workspace as well. Then you need to take her off the blanket 2 or 3 times to prove that it is also precious and then finally she will settle there thus saving your fabrics from catness.
You can place a lamp underneath an ironing board as a very easy light box for tracing faces.
Sewing Velvet to Cotton is freaking hideous and therefore I don't recommend it.
Sometimes the faces of dolls resemble your friends but never, never ever tell that particular friend about the likeness you alighted upon.

As this is the last Creative Space for 2009, make sure you head over to Kirsty's to check them all out.

Oooh some lovliness.....

2009-12-05T01:10:00.004+11:00

Today I have decided to chat to you about random stuff and not show you any photos of my week of craft whatsoever. I Have been doing lots of sewing for the upcoming Made 'n Thornbury Market but everything seems to be unfinished and forming little puddles around my home in a topsy turvy kind of crazy way. But there is some kind of method to my madness... I think??

Firstly- I am very excited about the summer.....

Photo

I cannot wait for the weather to become consistent here in Melbourne. Oh when will it ever?

My own garden is a mess at the moment. I'm embarassed about it but aim to have it fabulously planted for my annual Christmas party which will actually be combined this year with my annual croquet match.

A Very Croquet Christmas.

Surely that can work.

Marty came up with the brilliant idea of having Kitch Kris Kringle this year after she fatefully received a dirty old vaccuum cleaner at last years Krap Kringle. Krap Kringle was the funniest group present unwrapping I have Ever been to. But I think Kitch Kringle will be just as humerous.

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I have been thinking a lot about presents, but have actually sorted none.

Last year my family received handmade gingerbread, florentines and heart and bird shaped shortbread.

This year I was thinking of making Lemon and Rose water cordial. I would need to find beautiful bottles. The queen of craft Martha Stewart has a great 'How To' for turning an ordinary glass bottle into a lovely vase. But as for finding beautiful bottles for cordial I have no idea???

I can already tell I will be slow sending off my Christmas cards again this year. My sisters Julianne and Rosie have an unspoken rivalry between them about who will get their cards out first. It's pretty funny, they are earlier and earlier each year.
My card making last Christmas led me to fall in love with Elsa Mora the most amazing artist/crafter/fashionista and whenever I check in on her I am utterly blown away at the magnitude of her papercut imaginings.

And lastly I will leave you with this lovely free Christmas Calender from 74 Lime Lane, you can download it and print it and put it on your fridge like I have done so I can keep track of all the millions of little things to do for the countdown to Christmas. I'm off to play Kamahl now, I love that his album is sponsored by BP??? And the way he sings The Little Drummer Boy touches me somewhere deep inside. Cheers.

Creative Space IX...

2009-11-26T13:28:00.006+11:00

"The Bees....The Beeeeeeeees......." *

Today I'm playing along again with Kirsty, I have not had a chance to do this in a while, but it is not because I've not been creative- it is because, quite frankly, I am a very lazy photographer. There, I said it.

I am totally confounded as to why I find it so utterly difficult to pull out a Digital camera, set it to Auto,then point and shoot! Especially after spending long years in the dark room doing all of this myself- developing, pushing, cross processing, enlarging, burning, dodging.... now I do it by plugging the camera in and clicking on one or two buttons with Canon Software.... oh goodness lazy old me!

Today's Creative Space takes place on my couch.

I am making more of the Bee Boy Rattles in the beautiful Kokka fabric from Kelani.

I bought this linen Bee print fabric so long ago and have been waiting to find matching corderoy. Where do people buy good quality corderoy I wonder? Usually I just stumble upon it by accident in my frequent thrift shop pilgrimages. This corderoy is Colonel Mustard yellow and black.

Bee boy is getting new wings sketched today as his sample wings were too big and made turning out difficult.

See how beautiful the print is.

Bees drinking tea is really too cute.

I drew his face on as a way of reducing time, it takes about 13 seconds to draw as opposed to 10 minutes to embroider. But I do love embroidered faces so. Perhaps I will do some of each.

My kitchen has a creative space of its own at the moment as I have started making my Christmas cards for my lovely brothers and sisters. And I cannot tell you what is materialising in my sewing space as it is a project for next week, however I promise to be more adept at photographing my little creative ventures from this moment forth.

For more creative spaces visit Kootoyoo here.

*Quote from Job, Arrested Development Season 2, if you have not seen this series you must endeavor to do it very soon as it is clever and witty and ever so endearing.

Thread Den Market Day...

2009-11-21T12:46:00.005+11:00

Finally I have been afforded a quiet little moment to sit down and relax in my newly arranged lounge room and post about the North Melbourne Market day last Sunday, which was hosted by Thread Den.

The Thread Den girls were so very welcoming and the amazing Lithuanian club was all abuzz with good cheer as another beautiful sunny day was delivered to Melbourne.

The venue was a large maze of rooms, so the market was spread out front and back and upstairs and through the halls. My stall was in the ballroom which had chandelier lighting and was a perfect atmosphere for selling vintage clothes as well as handmade crafts.

As I am living alone with my son now and am sometimes sewing to 2am- I tend to lose perspective on what I'm actually creating and wonder if people will appreciate the end of my labours. But what I loved about the market was that people were genuinely encouraging and my toys were well received. I think it is important to get such positive feedback.

I was particularly thankful when a wide eyed 7 year old exclaimed that this little Monsieur on the left was the most beautiful toy ever.

Cheeky Little Monsters buttons sold consistently over the course of the day but probably not as crazily as I imagined. I had 2 large suitcases of them and my favorite selection in this lovely 50's basket. Children really liked them, so I was often selling one button from here or there and it reminded me of my own childhood button fettish, I was obsessed by their shiny sparkling goodness. I still am obsessed if the truth be known, particularly if they are of the vintage persuasion. I do believe that these buttons will find their place in the future somehow and someday.

I sold some of my collection of vintage clothes as well. This is my personal collection, so it was wrought with emotional difficulty when the time came to price them. I found myself telling people when my son had worn a particular item and what we had done that day. But I know I cannot keep everything forever, so it is wonderful to know that others will appreciate the beauty and elegance of a garment that was designed 30 or 40 years ago and is still going strong.

For some extraordinarily daft reason I forgot to photograph my handmade shirring dresses, which look like this but were in different fabrics. There was one dress made from lovely light Japanese cotton that had splashes of violet coloured flowers that I wanted to show you. Ah alas I cannot. But I think I will go searching for the fabric again because it was incredibly beautiful and quite 50's looking. When I showed this fabric to my best friend she said that she had actually dreamed of her daughter wearing the very same fabric when she was pregnant!!!!!!!

So there in lies a snippet of my time at the market. I believe everyone else had a great day as well, but I cannot be sure as I was pretty much bound to my table for the day except for a brief wander around. I did however love the calendars by Able and Game and the beautiful table set up of Spin Spin Handmade.

Any market that combines my two greatest loves- Vintage and Handmade, has found a friend in me. :)

Thread Den Market this Sunday...

2009-11-13T20:15:00.004+11:00

Come along and say hi to me this Sunday at the North Melbourne market presented by the lovely girls at Thread Den. I will be selling some of my handmade toys and dresses as well as some of the cutest vintage clothes ever. I will also be selling Cheeky Little Monster's Amazing vintage button collection.

It would be so very lovely to see you there. x

My Place & Yours- My Secret Weapon

2009-11-08T01:30:00.004+11:00

I very much enjoy this weeks theme for Pip's My Place and Yours, which was excellently chosen by My Bricole, as it gives me a chance to talk about my beloved boot collection, undoubtedly my greatest weapons and now no longer a secret at all.

Boots are my Boyfriend. I'm practically married to them!

Here let me show you some:

They are from trips to Barcelona, Paris and London, Leongatha and Bendigo and Savers in Greensborough.

Sales at Fluevog and Camper and birthday shopping on Brunswick Street. My God, they have been retrieved from rivers and jealous ex-boyfriends, been lost in Amsterdam, up mountains, in temples and danced to Bowie, The Cure, Nick Cave and countless others.

They know everything about me and have the power to make me feel amazing or stylish or crazy or flirty or just plain cool...

I have never had a bad day in my well worn Brazillian tan boots.

I bought burgundy cowboy boots moments after my first ultrasound. I actually wore them the night my partner left and Martha Wainwright mentioned she liked them.

I have a pair of Amazing boots that are soooo difficult to walk in, I keep them in the shed so I can't be tempted and break an ankle.

The black cowboy boots are the ones I have owned the longest.

Somedays I think the boots wear me.

I really need to take better care of them. They look exhausted!

Many of them had incredible lives even before I knew them.

Oh to think what they have seen. I blush just thinking about it.

So that's enough about the boots. Now I urge you to check out more of our Secret Weapons here.

My Creative Space VIII

2009-10-29T11:18:00.003+11:00

Today is my birthday and I'm having a little morning celebration with tea and blackberry croissants and watching Anne of Green Gables while I embroider hearts. Life could not be sweeter.

Well, it would be if not for the arrival of my second wisdom tooth overnight- a sure sign that I am getting older.

I can feel the beginnings of it cutting through and it's rather tender indeed.

I'm planning on setting off later to use my Birthday ticket from Palace Cinemas to see Terry Gilliams new film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Although Gilliam's last film Tideland was a freak show, Imaginarium's cast includes Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp and Jude Law so it simply Has to be wonderful.

Does it not?

I'm playing along with Kirsty again today, here is my Creative Space:

Lately I have been enamored with the idea of Bird Girls and Bee boys and Rabbit hearted girls.

These are some pictures of Bird girl.

Some of the dolls I have given as gifts in the past have had compartments that unzip to reveal their hearts and I'm designing a new doll that is similar but has a string of hearts hidden inside. I will let you know if I have any success with my plans.

Until then check out Kootoyoo for lots of fabulous Creative Spaces.

Le Monsieur and the Pussy cats...

2009-10-28T01:15:00.014+11:00

My little Monsieurs have developed into full grown Rabbits this week and they seem to be getting along really well with the Pussy cat sisters. A little too well it seems, I'm fairly certain that shortly there will be a whole bunch of little babies running around, hopping and purring all over the house.

They are for the upcoming Thread Den market and hopefully will be as popular as Monsieur was last time he made an appearance. I have been flat out sewing and mothering and driving all over the place that I totally forgot that it's my birthday this week and I'm wondering what I will buy me???

Every year I receive something special from myself and I'm seriously thinking that it could be an amazing Nancy Bird bag this year. Well I'm hoping so. Fingers crossed.

Bon Voyage Pierre...

2009-10-24T01:10:00.004+11:00

Where oh where has little Pierre gone?...

Oh where oh where can he be?

Missing: One Frenchman called Pierre.

First Introduced: Here and Here in April 09.

Last Seen: The Greek Islands July 09.

Known For: Incident at the Parthenon.

Reward: The happiness of a 2 year old.

Pierre (right) pictured here with Fi Fi "just a friend"

There can only be 3 explanations for his disappearance:

1. Unzipped bag on plane, parachuted into Turkey, possibly captured by pirates?

2. Under the cloak of invisibility he travelled to London and is now dating Prince Harry?

3. He never left Greece and is currently teaching French to young Greek orphans on
Mykonos by day and working on fishing boats by night?

Or perhaps even a Fourth explanation:

4. Was sent home via post to make extra luggage space and was Lost by Australia Post and will remain forever in the murky depths of the dead letter office.

I'm quietly betting on possibility number 3.

If you see him, Love him.

Or....Remind him of what home looks like.

Home looks like this:

Pierre how I miss thee.

My Place & Yours- On the Shelf...

2009-10-17T22:15:00.008+11:00

Have just arrived home from seeing Woody Allen's hilarious new film Whatever Works where the absolutely talented and fabulous Patricia Clarkson completely steals the show.
And I'm sitting at home and thinking what to do now? Thinking....thinking....thinking....when I suddenly discover that Pip from Meet Me At Mikes has gone and got herself a cool Saturday night Meme called:
My Place and Yours....
And todays theme is What's On the Shelf?

So I'm playing along and I think everyone should, just cos its awesome (and she says the word 'totes' which never ceases to amuse me and is in fact a word I hate to love or love to hate).

Here is a shelf....

It is the shelf in Little Jim's room, my friend Macca put it up when he began his apprenticeship as a carpenter. He really took his time and given the nearby powerpoint, I'm Amazed he didn't electrocute himself. It is also slightly on an angle, yet secure nontheless.

It could be pride? Or a workman's insecurity? But he checks it Every time he's over.

On the Shelf are my original Enid Blyton books my Fairy Godmother gave me as a child.

There is also my beloved copy of Charles Perrault's darkly imagined Little Red Riding Hood which is pictured here with Old Foxy- the squeak toy, who is totes cool.

I have a lovely collection of rubber toys, perhaps I will show them to you sometime.

The feature of the shelf is undeniably Train Night-light, he is freaking awesome.

I found him after 10 years of searching from the Lost and Found Market in Collingwood.

The fact he is a Train is important!

My father Jimmy was a diesel engine train driver for over 30 years and my six siblings and I love trains.

We Heart Trains!

Trains are one of the ways we bring our father alive again.

So that is my Little Jim's shelf, photographed stealthily by me while he is sleeping.

For more On the Shelf action be sure to visit Pip.

Creative Space VII

2009-10-15T09:59:00.000+11:00

My Creative Space began in a garden beside a beautiful rare Ombu tree.

We call it the Faery Tree because of all the winged creatures we imagine inhabit it's branches.

An inspirational space for drawing faces of particular creatures.

Today it is Monsieur and a feline friend.

I believe it is possible for a bunny rabbit and a pussy cat to fall in Love.

But time will tell.....

Under the watchful eye of Kameko, I finished the embroidery this morning.

Kameko has lately been under the weather, but thankfully using grey wool won her over.

I now have 6 faces covered in a mass of white cat hair, waiting for me to select their wardrobe.

Stay tuned for the next exciting chapter where hopefully these faces find bodies.

And check out Kootoyoo for more Creative Spaces...

What's Hot + What's Not....

2009-10-07T23:08:00.005+11:00

I have recently discovered this great blog Loobylu and I'm loving 'What's hot and whats not Wednesday'. Also loving that this week we can all join in. Yay! Ok so here we go.

HOT!

Fashionista Friends,

I spotted these two ladies leaving the metro in Barcelona and was imediately struck by the awesomeness of their outfits. Friends everywhere should unite in fabulous fashion because that is Hot.

Cups of Tea are Hot.

Most notably Natures Cuppa Organic Earl Grey Tea. Forget Twinings, it is forever rendered meek by comparison.

Friends winning the Vogel literary award is Hot!

This year beautiful Lisa Lang was a joint winner of our nations most prestigious award for young writers.

Being around talented creative people is very hot indeed.

Florence.

Ah this album renders me speechless & awestruck in its Hotness.

The mechanism on my Canon camera called Colour Accent that allows me to do black and whites featuring one colour is really really hot. I know most people just use photoshop for effects but it is quicker this way.

I don't think I could ever get sick of this feature. I'm obsessed!

Ok Now.

NOT HOT!

The Birman.

Between the vomiting, frequent indoor urination and constant meowing my little Kameko is most definately Not Hot!

Poor little pussy cat. I would be a lot more sympathetic if she were not so gross.

Another thing that is terribly, most hideously Not Hot, is when friends drop you like a hot burning coal the minute they get into a new relationship- as if love is the all sustaining, one and only nutrient necessary for life?

Mmmmggh!

(That little rant was an ode to people everywhere that have had that happen to them.)

Tonight, rushing into my sons bedroom annoyed that he is noisily playing instead of sleeping only to discover that he WAS sound asleep until I woke him and it was, in fact, the washing machine making all the noise.

Is utterly NOT HOT.

And what a fool I am.......

Lastly I find sometimes the photos I upload to blogger have an annoying ghostlike way of moving themselves around when my back is turned and then utterly Refusing to go back to their rightful spot. They may only go left when I want them right, they may only go small when I want them big, they disappear for days on end only to reappear when I'm on someone elses computer complaining about their disappearance.....Occasionally I have been known to 'ask' an online forum for assistance. In the lamest of lamens language I will seek my answers out only to receive a reply in some freaking computer psycho-babble, heavily reliant on the use of strange unknown terms or quaint known terms such as 'cookies' but disturbingly out of context. Or I'm told to change my template which takes forever only to have the same thing keep happening, strange gaps, flying photos, its like Alice in Wonderland in here some days.

Drives me CRAZY

Definately NOT hot.

Check out Loobylu for more Hot + Not Hots....

The Court of Versailles...

2009-10-07T00:56:00.005+11:00

I finally went to the Nova to see The September Issue tonight and I absolutely loved it. The film is a behind the scenes look at the enigmatic personalities that create American Vogue, most notably the legendary Editor in Chief- Anna Wintour. My favourite scene was when Grace is styling a photo shoot at the Palace of Versailles and is spellbound by the majestic gardens. Watching her excitment build as she walks through the vast rooms admiring the ornate splendour, reminded me of my own wanderings through the Palace and I have been inspired to share my photos with you. Such a perfect place to photograph.

Opulently constructed in the 17th Century to fulfill King Louis XIV's vision for a new royal court, Versailles is incredibly elaborate and so exquisite in detail. I love the bust of Marie Antoinette and the king and queen bedrooms respectively (below), the ornate chandeliers, the gardens, oh I love it all. So totally appealing to my girlish sense of history and romance, life and death, just as any good palace should.

My Creative Space VI...

2009-09-24T15:58:00.005+10:00

My Creative Space on this fabulous rainy Thursday in Melbourne is sifting through all my new buttons and op-shop aquisitions and trying to spring clean my sewing space. My collection of haberdashery is starting to take over my house, really and truly and to be honest I ran out of cupboard space a long time ago and yet I am still collecting..... Here are some of the latest finds.
Some very cute fabric from Leongatha Salvation Army op shop and some amazing leather buttons from a thrift shop in Korumburra. (So much better than the fake ones made of plastic that were big in the 70s).

While we are on the subject of buttons, check out these lovely ones I received from Tania at Cheeky Little Monsters on the weekend. They are fantastic, but once again I ask myself "where do I store them" because, lets face it, it will take a lifetime of sewing to use them all.

Is it just me or are these knitting books Camp or what? 'That Unhurried Look'- surely is because you would not be seen outside your house in jumpers such as these! And what is with the chess champion?

This one is my favourite, I bought it from St Vinnies for my friend John who totally adores 80's woollen jumbers (and he can pull off wearing them too). I love that it is for men only, which kind of gives it a 'wool porn' feel and raises the question- are the fantastically hideous jumpers enclosed within Only to be viewed by Men? Or can they Only be Knitted by them????

Lastly here are some other recent op-shop purchases. This really pretty 70's acrylic knit is too small for me but I have been squeezing into it all the same, because it is awesome. The practical guide to crochet is the sort of book I always dream of finding and finally have. And as for the 80's bikini pattern- well I just could not say no!

So that is really all I am up to today. Once everything is put away (read 'shoved' away), then I can begin the next creative project, I have a few markets coming up so I had best put on my skates as my mother would say :)

Visit Kirsty for more Creative Spaces.

Coveting 1950's Dresses.....

2009-09-19T22:05:00.003+10:00

As I am being incredibly lazy at the moment, having neither started a new project or finished off an old one, I thought I would share with you these amazing 50's dresses I have been coveting on Ebay. They are simply exquisite and flattering in their design- the fitted bodice with full skirt and tulle petticoat, the pin tucks and bows and beautiful fabrics. I happened upon them whilst looking for inspiration to make vintage style dolls dresses. Now I just imagine wearing them myself and picturing how much more amazing my life would be if I wore a different one each day. For the last week I have been tucking myself up in bed early with a cup of tea and watching the first season of True Blood, so it may be some time before I have any of my own creative little things for show and tell, until then enjoy these dresses and my new 'Spring look' blog. :)

My Creative Space V

2009-09-17T16:36:00.004+10:00

Today my Creative Space is having a hair crisis! A seriously terrible, perplexing, gigantic mess of a hair problem. Sometimes no matter what I do I just cannot get my own hair to look good and now this affliction has transferred itself to my dolls. Having tried so many variations over time on this doll, I set about today to remedy the situation, but alas- no success (again). Perhaps she will forever remain unfinished. I have decided to give up and work on my photo albums instead. Try Try again, another day, maybe when the rain has cleared things will start to look up. :)

See more Creative MySpaces at Kootoyoo.

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So much to talk about...

2009-09-06T17:24:00.022+10:00

Have arrived back in Melbourne at last and my cosy little home is still standing and Kameko the Birman is meowing louder than even I remember. Travelling to Europe is extremely exciting, amazing architecture, galleries, designers, shoes..... I have so much to share with you all. But firstly just wanted to say that we Melbournians are freaking awesome too, especially in the arena of fashion and craft and the wonders of Handmade. Our blogs are being read and loved in the Northern Hemisphere just like in the south, so it is a very exciting time. I am also excited to see that upon my return there is a new Northside Makers Collective which I can't wait to join and a new market for us all to share our crafty passions.

As I was allergic to the internet during my time away (distracted me from time in the sunshine), I have much to catch you up on so will endeavor to devote serious time to that, whilst sewing and running around after my 2.5 year old whose body clock refuses to adjust after flying into the future. So for now I will just share a little with you.

There is a really beautiful Boutique in Paris called Manoush, check out their website the clothes are just ridiculously divine. I love this shirt modelled here by Betty from my favourite fashion blog Le Blog de Betty . Some of the more beautiful clothes in Paris and Spain this summer were in delicate fabrics with lovely frills and buttons. Above knee dresses with large pockets and balloon hems were also very big. It is a wonderful feeling to be wearing new clothes in Paris and picnicing in the Jardin des Tuileries or under the Eiffel with cheese and wine, such a stunning city.

This is one of my favourite dresses from London's eponymous All Saints Spitalfields label. I could easily handle being dressed from head to toe in their amazing clothes. I'm loving their soft leather and fabrics and military style boots and the way they contrast amazingly together. I wore an All Saints dress to a party yesterday and people commented on it all night.

Shopping in the UK gave me so much joy. Toast (above) have some really cute things to suit a Melbourne autumn/winter. Camden market has fantastic affordable vintage as well as anything you could ever possibly imagine. Portabello rd market was so popular on a Saturday morning that I could barely take the stroller through the street. But Spitalfields market was my favourite for handmade.

Photo's courtesy of the very cool Beyond Retro website, it is my dream store where I bought the most fantastic 80's boots made from leather and suede AND corduroy lining. My 3 loves in one boot!

The two awesome UK knitwear and textile designers from Studio Roam make the most divine blankets for little ones using natural and sustainable materials. They also can personalise baby blankets for newborns with name and date of birth using the finest Scottish cashmere. Something that you would truly keep forever.

And lastly in Amsterdam De Sprookjeskamer-Fairytale and Dottie Shop is a little gem of a store that caught my eye from a tram and I had to get off and walk around in circles for a while until I found it again because I'm totally obsessed with polka dots. I bought the little shoes above for my Godchild to dress up in, but would have bought so much more if I had any room left in my case. More of these fabulous things after I have some sleep. Until then....

My Creative Space

2009-07-23T17:58:00.005+10:00

Today my Creative Space is a huge mountainous rock on the Greek Island of Kalymnos. It is so absolutely amazing here, beautiful and very peaceful. I woke early and climbed with my french friends and now am utterly exhausted and will spend the rest of my day having siesta, swimming and eating the most divine Kalymnian foods- Octopus, dolmades, mussels, saganaki......
Kalymnos is garnering a name for itself as a rock climbing mecca, but is still a secret from tourists, which is why I favour it. The sea is the most beautiful blue and the sunsets are impossibly wonderous. Time is also a paradox here, the days go slow but the weeks go fast.

I have been Island hopping for almost two months now and what I love most is that the Grecians live life to the fullest at night and also take their children everywhere. Families are always together and the children are allowed to be children. Not reigned in all the time by adult rules. This is important. This is also what I will miss the most when I return to Melbourne where children are in bed by 8 and are rarely seen in restaurents.

I'm not sure rock climbing can be actually deemed 'a creative space' but in the absence of my sewing machine I have to be creative with my creative. Hee Hee
I will try to upload more over the next few weeks but when the beach is calling me, it is hard to think of anything else. x

More Creative Spaces at Kootoyoo

Bon Voyage...

2009-06-03T17:38:00.007+10:00

In a few hours I will embark on my big European vacation and this humble little craft blog will be temporarily transformed into a blog of my travelling adventures.

First stop is Dubai for a Bedouin feast under the Arabian sky. I cannot wait and have chosen to read Arabian Nights on the plane. I have the most beautiful leather bound copy with beautiful gold writing and pictures.

Above we have my last outing in my Melbourne wintery warmers. I am too excited about travelling to summer to even have the words to articulate so I will just simply say Fare thee well and I will catch you soon. xx

P.s My dolls will be stocked at Thread Den and will be having a whole adventure of their own. x

Tucked Up In Bed...

2009-05-29T10:06:00.004+10:00

Once upon a time Little Jim slept only with Luvy Monster who he would tuck under his arm and sleep joyfully through the night with. One day Nanna Panna, in what was sensationally deemed a post-modern move, gave him Dolly for his name day gift. Little Jim loved Dolly instantly and gave her prime position upon his pillow in the night time. Early in the year a Frenchman, named Pierre, came into the life of Little Jim and so it was Luvy, it was Dolly and now Pierre in there, tucked up all together. And yet it seems not a month goes by without another toy creeping its way into the fold, we now have Owl, Bunny and Mr Peculiar, each with its own night time ritual and position in the cot. Going off to bed can be a drawn out affair these days, with all the stories, hunting, kissing, placing and tucking in. But it must be a wonderful place to be, all the cool toys want to be there and so does Pussy- who has a magical ability to surmount all opposing forces and walk through walls to get within that warm and cosy good-night realm.

Tucked Up In Bed is hosted by Pip

My Creative Space IV....

2009-05-28T19:51:00.013+10:00

Teeny tiny little shoes-

Today I finished these little shoes for a little newborn baby girl. I discovered that there is great satisfaction in knitting small things, as you complete them so much sooner. I have been known to take a couple of seasons to finish a knitting project so finishing these shoes in just a few hours brings me great excitement.

I'm off to make an earl grey tea now and snuggle in for reading time with the little boy. Tonight he has chosen The Giving Tree and I wholeheartedly approve. :)

More Creative Spaces at the fabulous Kootoyoo...

Crafternoon Delight

2009-05-23T23:49:00.019+10:00

'Some Musings on a Knitting Afternoon with Friends'

lovely cakes and lots of tea = Happiness...

knitting, counting & chatting takes practice...

little boys + cake, do not perfect stitches make...

knitting ladies & babies make wonderful conversation...
time really does fly when you are hosting a crafternoon...

My Creative Space III...

2009-05-14T19:22:00.006+10:00

I just arrived home from a little pilgrimage to Gippsland and have acquired these fabulous new items for my vintage pattern collection. As I was flipping through one of the early 80's knitting books I excitedly discovered my friend was modelling one of the jumpers. I can't wait to send her a photo of it and say "surprise"!
My mum showed me once again how to crochet (she is a Very patient woman) and I have started making something from the Patons Little Gems book.
I am also pleased to say that I completed my first knitting project for the year- a mohair scarf, which I was finishing as my friend arrived to take me to the theatre last night. Such a cold night, I'm so glad I had my scarf to wear.

Left to Right:

A 1970's Patons Swiftaknit for Junior Jetters- The toddler modelling this awesome outfit is actually sitting in a cockpit. It's hysterical.
Patons Little Gems crochet bag pattern book.
Simplicity toy pattern from 1966.
Mohair scarf
Leatherbound classics- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Treasure Island and some Dickens.
1960's Patons knitting book where everyone looks a little too nice. The men smoke pipes and the patterns have names like Carl and Gwyneth.
Shiny Red buttons.
The beginnings of a hat (for myself) in blue 8 ply cotton.

For more Creative Spaces do go visit Kootoyoo you will not be disappointed :)

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Famous Blue Raincoat

2009-05-08T13:32:00.003+10:00

I love Famous Blue Raincoat by Leonard Cohen. I am sitting here learning it on guitar and decided to share it with you. I find it very meaningful, I always have. Recently I saw Leonard sing it and I found that seeing him live- his inflections and so forth, rendered the song with new meaning. Now I find different meaning in this song all the time. I love this line:

"Thanks for the trouble you took from her eyes,
I thought it was there for good, so I never tried."

So poignant, I love the humanity in being able to say these words to a friend who betrayed you.

Let me know if you have any thoughts, I love sharing ideas on music. Now enough of my ranting, I promise to be back to the business of crafting very soon :)

My Creative Space Today

2009-05-07T14:39:00.015+10:00

quiet musings....internal dialogue.....relaxation...

and Miranda July's short stories.... That is all...

(Photos by me)

Kootoyoo

Hooray for Market Day...

2009-05-03T21:46:00.005+10:00

Yay, with a giant sigh of relief I am pleased to say that the Thornbury Market was a Success. Both for myself and for Tania from Cheeky Little Monsters who I shared my table with.
I had a really slow start but thankfully after Monsieur the bunny sold, interest in my little things found momentum and I can honestly say that even though I was only able to sew a small collection, I am really happy with the day. Other stall holders were divine and I found the Thornbury community to be super friendly and encouraging. I think I have also learned a bit about markets from the very well organised Tania who is rather cheekily smiling in the top picture where you can see our collection side by side. Pictured in the bottom photo with Little Red is the lovely Kylie from Thread Den where my toys may possibly find a home while I am travelling Europe. That is if I don't give them away to all my friends as it seems to be baby season at the moment, which we love, of course!

You can see more photos of the Made 'N Thornbury Market by these other great crafters:

My Creative Space I...

2009-04-30T10:58:00.004+10:00

Today my creative space is my lounge floor, my bed, my sewing table, my kitchen table, my brown couch, my red couch, my bedroom floor..... Oh it's ridiculous here really. Hee Hee
Here we have the following features from my bed space:

Mama and Baby doll
Le Petite Chaperon Rouge (on right)
A bunny rabbit (exquisite fabric by Moda)
A new dress for Madamoiselle (on left)

It is a beautiful day here, born out of the coldest night. My garden has just been weeded and mowed all ready for some new plants. Oh so many projects. Wonderful.

C'est la vie

2009-04-30T10:22:00.000+10:00

So I had the Flu!!!!! (Vast amounts of sympathy pleeeese). And it felt like forever. I was starting to feel stressed about not having a full range of beautiful little things for the Market this Saturday but then I remembered- I'm going to EUROPE next month, I will be swimming in the Greek Islands and eating pastries in Paris.... what do I have to worry about?

In all seriousness I am disappointed to only have about half of what I was hoping to have finished, but c'est la vie. Right?

Last night I finally finished clothing the above dolls that were literally hanging around for ages.
I guess all is not lost :)

Made 'n' Thornbury...

2009-04-24T10:39:00.000+10:00

Finally here is some information about the new Made n Thornbury Market, where I will be sharing a table with the lovely Cheeky Little Monsters. Come along, it is the cutest market, environmentally aware, very small, undercover and reminiscent of a C.W.A country market. And we like that! Of course I am yet to fill my side of the table. Running around after Little Jim most of my day. It is uncanny how any time I sit down with Janome (Jay Nome as she is affectionately known) Little Jim needs a cuddle at that exact moment. Recently I discovered that it actually IS possible to sew with 2 year old on knee and Birman cat on sewing machine. You just have to watch out for fingers and big fluffy tails. The upside is, crafting has never been so entertaining.

Six Dresses in Six Days...

2009-04-19T00:57:00.001+10:00

I chose some pretty florals to make these little dresses and based
them on a pattern from 1973. This technique is called Shirring and
it is no longer the lost craft of our Grandmothers due to renewed
interest in all things vintage. I believe the secret to shirring is good
quality elastic and drawing your lines on to your fabric first, this
makes it easier to achieve perfect lines. For two dresses I decided
to do an invisible hem!!! I know, what was I thinking? I am only just
learning, which is evident in the fourth picture above where my
*invisible* hem is clearly visible. Normal hems for the rest. Hee Hee.
Now I have six new items for the market in Thornbury in 2 weeks.
Hopefully by then I will have a few more beautiful little things.

The one where I am obsessed by a tablecloth...

2009-04-16T00:20:00.002+10:00

Here are some fabulous new acquisitions featured

with a vintage table cloth I fell in love with.....

I had wonderful plans for the Easter break to consist
entirely of galloping creativity and an unprecedented
burst of inspiration. But the simple truth is I spent it
foraging in my Mother's house for trinkets and going
to markets and antique stores in Gippsland. Which is
my favourite thing in the world to do of course.

So here is my new tablecloth from the Kongwak Market
which I was eyeing only from a distance until my friend
Tania gave me a reason to purchase. Ahh a true friend!
The beaded purse once belonged to my Aunt Eileen, the
Pearl brooch is from my mum and the freaking awesome
Snakeskin purse was $2 from a shop in Loch!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I actually also tried to purchase a vintage sewing basket
but a divine and impossibly old lady gave it to me as a gift.
Can you believe it? A gift! God I love the country.

The little doll basking here in the glory of my tablecloth
is really my only Easter completion, but I have been working
on some dresses which are coming soon......

These are a Few of my Favourite Things...

2009-04-11T00:54:00.004+10:00

afternoon tea...

my christening gown...{beautifully embroidered}

favourite shoes, bag and quilt...

favourite dolls...

awesome but creepy doll...

mother, father, favourite lamp...

Details of note that may, or may not be visible in the photos of my parents:

The 'Death Before Dishonour' sailor tattoo on my fathers right arm.
My mothers casual pose as she exits her FJ Holden.
The exquisite tailoring of her jacket worn as a cape.
The imeasurably infitismal love I have for them both.

The Purple Coat

2009-04-11T00:16:00.000+10:00

My creativity is humming along like a busy bee in slow motion. That is to say that I am always crafting and sewing but turning out things Very slowly indeed. Maybe I should pay more attention to the Chicks on Speed at Craft Victoria!!!

Last week however I did sew this little jacket for a market coming up in Thornbury soon. It is made of french wool, very soft so I have not lined it. My first jacket, but the first of many (I hope!)
www.twnh.vic.edu.au/events

Autumn in Melbourne

2009-04-10T23:42:00.001+10:00

It is often said that Scorpio's Love autumn. And for this Scorpio, that is very true. Although I enjoy the turning of all seasons, I must say I particularly love autumn in Melbourne. The trees are turning gold, the boots are coming out, it is knitting time again and hats, coats, gloves and scarves are just around the corner. Today I had a wonderful time at the park with Karly- the Brier half of Nettle & Brier, who is pictured here in an Eiffel tower made of rope. It was especially hilarious too as Karly lost her new copper owl necklace, purchased recently from Northcote's The Local Shop and we spent forever looking for it through the tanbark only to have it turn up down baby Molly's stockings some time later. I'm going to tell you right now that searching for a 'copper' object amidst tanbark is tantamount to a needle in a haystack and was absurdly difficult. However, Molly's unfortunate uncomfortableness aside, we were elated that it turned up again!

This Moral Pandemonium

2009-03-30T00:36:00.001+11:00

I am presently reading this new book from L.M Robinson about the notorious Madame Brussels. I highly recommend it not just because L.M is my closest friend in the world, but because it is a richly descriptive portrait of a scandalous Melbournian and a women of great intrigue.
http://www.arcadepublications.com

Weird Hipped Pierre

2009-03-28T00:09:00.000+11:00

Here is a photo of Pierre as promised. He is pictured here with his new girlfriend Fi Fi.
Turns out he is not so gay after all!

Le Petite Chaperon Rouge

2009-03-27T01:19:00.001+11:00

French Doll number 3. I do love her so.
My beautiful copy of Charles Perrault's Petite Chaperon Rouge was my inspiration. If any of you have ever been lucky enough to have studied Myth and Fantasy at Deakin under Anne McCulloch then you would have unravelled the meaning of this tale over and over again. How fear of the wolf keeps a young girl from straying from 'the path'..... I like to believe that my red riding hood does stray off the path, she has the strength to face the wolf and in fact devours him whole, which explains her rather rotund appearance. More on this later.....

The day my dolls turned French....

2009-03-27T00:08:00.001+11:00

Lately my home has become decidedly French. This is somewhat due to the presence of a tall handsome new French friend and the acquisition of some french books, but recently my dolls have been turning out French also! It all began with Weird Hipped Pierre, a creation for my two year old Mihali Jim. There is no way anyone can deny that Pierre is a french doll. He just seems to exude French-ness, as though he had leapt off my table saying "oh Oui Oui ". (My housemate is almost certain that Pierre is also Gay).

Tomorrow I will post a photo of Pierre, can't do it now as I would have to wrench him from the arms of my sleeping boy. So I present you instead with this Mademoiselle which I made for little Charlie over a very long glass of wine.

I recommend a listen to Vanessa Paradis' Divinidylle if one wishes the appropriate French accompaniment.....