It's the things that make you go mmmm

STREAT Dinner Party Giveaway

2011-11-19T19:27:00.002+10:00

My other blog (EAT AND BE MERRY, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE(T)) has a double pass valued at $300 for the Melbourne STREAT Dinner Party to be held on Tuesday 29 November.

STREAT is a fantastic charity helping Melbourne's homeless youth to long-term careers in hospitality through running street cafes. For around six months they learn hygiene, kitchen etiquette, how to cook and how to follow a recipe while working on one of STREAT's cart. And all the proceeds from the STREAT Dinner Party go to funding a new STREAT cart.

Leave a comment (one only per person) over at the post on EAT AND BE MERRY and a lucky winer will be drawn randomly on Friday 25 November at 7pm. The giveaway is open only to Melbournites who can attend.

Spread the word.

Flea Market Finds

2011-03-14T08:26:00.005+10:00

Sometimes flea market finds are sexy, amazing, stunning; and sometimes the "flea market fairy" points me in a far more practical and useful direction ... like this week with three big glass jars that can be used for storing lots of things.

Mr H, you see, has decided to preserve lemons, and alas, for his first effort a few months ago, all we could find in the cupboard were a couple of smaller jars, including this one with a metal lid ... and not a great choice when you're dealing with caustic elements like lemon juice and salt but ... needs must.

Now we no longer need to worry about that as I found not one, but three, large ex-coffee jars between the nine op shops I managed to get to this week ... in about three hours! (Poor Mr H ... I've already snaffled two of them for sugar!)

And just so you know they're out there if you're interested in glass jars ... Mr H and I found this huge glass jar a few months ago (we now have three which store SR and plain flour, and the "newer" one for regular sugar).

I can't wait to find more because I love the sturdiness of these jars (and because I need to find at least another one for Mr H), and maybe next week I'll be a little luckier with the vintage sheet finds. Can you believe I've been to 11 op shops over the last week and I managed to find only one sheet worth getting for the swap: a pretty but slightly faded striped lilac sheet? Lucky I have almost no purple/lilac sheets and I love stripes so I was excited all the same.

What have you been up to? Find anything good ... or did the "flea market fairy" not smile on you? Lots more flea market finds over at Sophie's place.

So funny

2011-02-10T18:59:00.003+10:00

This list of funnies landed in my inbox today ... apparently they're puns for educated minds!

I'm quite partial to numbers 13 and 18. Do you have a favourite and why?

1. Was the fattest knight at King Arthur's round table - Sir Cumference? – and did he acquired his size from too much pi?
2. Would an eye doctor on an Alaskan island be an optical Aleutian?
3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her Still.
4. Would a rubber band pistol be confiscated from algebra class, because it’s a weapon of math disruption?
5. No matter how much you push an envelope, it'll always be stationery.
6. If a dog gave birth to puppies on the road would it be charged with littering?
7. Would a grenade thrown into a kitchen in France result in Linoleum Blownapart?
8. If two silk worms had a race – would they ended up in a tie?
9. If a hole was found in the nudist camp wall, would the police look into it?
10. Although time flies like an arrow - fruit flies like a banana.
11. Atheism is a non-prophet organisation.
12. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other: 'If you stay here; I'll go on a head.'
13. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
14. Would a sign on the lawn at a drug rehab centre say: 'Keep off the Grass.' ?
15. If a midget fortune-teller escaped from prison, would there be a small medium at large.
16. If a soldier survived mustard gas and pepper spray – would he be a seasoned veteran?
17. Does a backward poet write inverse?
18. In a democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.
19. When cannibals eat a missionary, do they get a taste of religion?
20. If you jumped off a bridge in Paris, would you be in Seine?
21. If a vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. Would the stewardess tell him “there’s only one carrion allowed per passenger.'
22. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says 'Dam!'
23. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.
24. Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says, 'I've lost my electron.' The other says 'Are you sure?' The first replies, 'Yes, I'm positive.'
25. If a Buddhist refused Novocain during a root canal – would his goal be to : transcend dental medication?
26. There was the person who sent ten puns to friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did.

Ruby Tuesday

2011-02-08T20:52:00.005+10:00

In the absence of any red photos I wandered down to Union Lane, of course, to see what street art was around.

There were a few new things but nowhere near as much good stuff as usual ... and very little had any red, except this little darling.

I'll just share a few more because I was there, not because they're red.

Do you think this is the cowardly lion?

This girl's so stylish and elegant.

This bird's very cute ...

and this girl's gorgeous too.

This girl looks a lot like a Debs ... but she's not! I'll check out the name next time I'm there.

For more ruby redness ... visit Mary at Work of the Poet.

Flea Market Finds

2011-02-06T20:32:00.003+10:00

I managed to pick up some gorgeous pyrex and glasbake this weekend from two separate op shops ... and think myself very lucky. I almost didn't find the blue pyrex dish and it's so pretty. It was inside another dish with a lid on that and it was a fluke I looked inside it because it was so ugly!

So I had to use them ... the blue pyrex held our vegetarian beans in homemade tomato sauce. Very yum!

And an apple and rhubarb crumble in the largest of the glasbake dishes. I gently cooked the apple and rhubarb in a little brown sugar, orange peel and cinnamon stick, which turned our nice. The crumble didn't turn out so good, but I didn't make it. It needed more butter but Ms C had to make it her way! Them's the breaks!

I hope everybody had a great weekend and if you'd like to play or see more flea market finds ... visit Sophie.

Ruby Tuesday

2010-12-07T20:13:00.003+10:00

Union Lane in the city is an interesting place.

For a start it's right in the centre of town running between one of our premier department stores (David Jones) and other stores. It's narrow and awkward since it doesn't really have a purpose in the way as it once would have.

But I love the way the building walls act as an art canvas and the lane as the venue for performance art.

And so it was one quiet lunchtime as I walked down the lane on my way to my favourite yarn store.

What I was faced with was a pile of balloons filled with water and glitter sitting on upended milk crates ... and several more stacks of crates and balloons along the lane.

And was it all about? Performance art ... with balloons to throw at the walls and add glitter to the street art.

Or to throw at each other. It didn't really matter much.

It was fun either way.

Interested in more red ... visit Mary at Work of the Poet for more.

Flea Market Finds

2010-12-05T11:25:00.008+10:00

My vintage sheet collection is really getting out of control ... to the point where I have to seriously think about what to do with what I've got and about collecting.

My stash? Two stacks high of about 2-3 feet! Truly.

There's lots of stuff in there including a few heavy white cotton sheets for backing and flannelette for winter (or softies). The striped single sheet (mainly pink facing) is in fantastic condition and I'm keeping the purple floral for winter for my bed.

I've also managed to collect a small stash of pillow cases. I like the ones on the top and further down I've a picture of my favourites on my bed.

This is all the stuff under the pillow cases and white sheets ... and I have to call almost of them favourites. Most are in good or better condition, and many are a little faded. But there are gems. Check out the jade blue near the top and the pink towards the bottom.

I've got a few older sheets, lots of good stripes, which I love and stuff from the 1970s. Some are ordinary looking 1980s or more recent patterns that I'm thinking about passing alone. The single bed set on the top is gorgeous and will be gracing Miss W's bed when she visits at Christmas.

I have a few choices re what to do next ... and I just can't think about about stopping soon because I love looking for sheets too much. Next year making a quilt is very high on the list of my plans ... again. This year I just actually have to achieve it. Other options including swaps and maybe becoming the first Australian on Made It to sell vintage sheet fat quarters?

Until I make up my mind I'm using some of the stash on my bed ... as well as stuff I deliberately picked up for my bed.

I love these pillow cases and these sheets are favourites I'm keeping. (It's kinda interesting my favourites tend to be from the 1980s and 1990s).

These 1980s sheets are also a favourite and sit really well with the white floral embroidered doona cover I found a few months ago. (Sorry about the unmade bed).

And lastly my favourite I picked up yesterday ... for the princely sum of $6 at Vinnies. Beautifully stylish and so 1980s! LOL

I'm off to visit Sofie at Her Library Adventures for lots more Flea Market loveliness.

Ruby Tuesday

2010-11-30T07:34:00.004+10:00

My Ruby Tuesday posts are starting to look as if I spent my time bouncing between graffiti and the second hand store Lost & Found … because this week we’re back to Lost & Found again to admire the numerous examples of red to be found.

This most recent visit to Lost & Found happened after an amazing lunch with friends at the Napier Hotel. I’d been lucky enough that day to spend a very pleasant morning with a couple of friends touring second hand stores in the Fitzroy area, and after lunch I promised them the treat of scouring through Lost & Found to admire the vintage goodness.

So what did we see … because I didn’t buy anything?

Would you like ice with your whisky? Or maybe a boiled egg?

We seem to have salt and a lovely kettle to make a nice cup of tea.

And our choice of teapots and tea cosies to keep the tea warm.

We could always fill a thermos full of tea and have a picnic.

Especially if I was able to bake a cake ... it looks as though we have flour and sugar and maybe there's a little butter, eggs or milk somewhere close?

If I can't find any I could ride my bike to the store.

In my favourite red hat.

And something red to wear ... of course.

But I can't decide whether I should bring everything home in this red bag,

or maybe eggs would be safer in this red basket.

Of course I can't go to the store without making sure I have the right accessories ... and everything's neatly displayed on a red background to best effect.

And when we sit down and relax under this beautiful red lamp,

we can enjoy our cake and tea, and watch the children play on this gorgeous rocking horse.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you'll come again ... go visit Mary T for lots more.

Flea Market Finds

2010-11-28T13:50:00.003+10:00

Mr H has a much better eye than me for stuff ... he actually picks over a place and finds the most amazing things.

This is one of those things.

She's so beautiful and I always wonder whether she was painted here or if someone visited Eritrea and brought her home with them. A nice thought either way.

For lots more flea market finds ... visit Sophie at Her Library Adventures.

Friday knitting pattern

2010-11-26T17:15:00.002+10:00

It's always interesting choosing a pattern book each week ... basically the most common patterns around are the 70s (which are almost all identical especially the Patons books) and the 1980s (which I'm not particularly fond of knitting wise--eek to big shoulder pads!).

But I made an exception this week with this pattern book put out by the Australian Wool Corporation. I thought the Wool Corporation was created in the 1960s, but fortunately I checked and it turns out it was created in 1973 as a single marketing oriented body to facilitate research, promotion and marketing ... and knitting patterns.

Wool has always been important to Australia. It's always been one of our more important natural resources, and it was as early as 1796 when John Macarthur bought his first merino sheep from a flock of Spanish merino reared in South Africa. Apparently at the time farmers also bought merino sheet but they cross-bred them with other sheep which resulted in coarse wool of a low quality.

I quite like the warm cardi but those pants look evil ... anybody for S&M?

This is totally my favourite. It fits my love of 40s frocks perfectly.

Do you have a favourite? And do you remember the patterns put out by the Wool Corporation?

My Creative Space

2010-11-25T21:00:00.003+10:00

I'm still working on baby things, baby hats really ... and concentrating on learning how to knit on dpns. I'm actually loving it, the more so as it becomes easier.

This week's effort ... I started this totally cute winter's hate for a 9-12 month old.

And it's so exciting because Baby H has arrived and will be wearing hthe baby version sometime soon.

Over to kootoyoo ... lots more gorgeous creative spaces happening there.

What's Hot & What's Not

2010-11-24T08:51:00.003+10:00

It’s the second last time I’ll be looking back over the year that was … looking at how I’ve done against my New Year’s Plans for 2010 and what I need to work on.

It’s sad because there’s so little time left but I’m more excited than sad. Excited about what the new year will bring, excited about what my plans should be for the new year. I’m just excited really!

So what’s been hot or not for the last month?

What’s been Hot.

Exercise more. I’ve been sad because there’s no more Pilates until next year and my body misses it, but it’s encouraging me to get back to walking the stairs and be more focussed on my exercise regime. I’m glad to see it’s doing just that. It’s amazing how much better I feel when I’ve exercised and how my body and my mood misses it when I don’t.

Cook more. That’s been its usual total failure for the family but something I’ve noticed has been happening is how much better I am at making breakfast and lunch for myself at work, and how much better my blood sugar has been because of that.

Spend more time with friends and family. Pluses and minuses here. I was tired and lacking in energy for part of the month but in general I’m spending far more time on balance with friends than family. And, unlike the last decade or more, I didn’t visit Ballarat to take my niece Miss T to the Show … but she’s now more interested in spending time with her friends for activities like that than her aunt and it’s time to start a new tradition. Maybe the movies?

Finish 5 craft projects. I’m still doing well working my way through the baby items for Baby H, who arrived a couple of weeks ago. I have a small stash of stuff to send and I’m working on two or three final things before I send them before Christmas. I’ll share photos before I send them or maybe after they’ve arrived. I know my Auntie M watches this space!

What’s Not been Hot.

Renovate. No joy still on the renovations front but Reverse Finds is coming along nicely although there’s still so much to be done. My stash of vintage sheets is huge and I have to think what to do about that (like use it maybe?) and I have all sorts of bits and pieces I should put together for a giveaway. Stay tuned.

Next month I’m planning to wrap up the year and look at how my life has changed over the year, and where things have improved. I haven’t used the various individual retrospectives to develop a bigger picture and I’m looking forward to seeing how far I’ve come.

See you in a month’s time.

Ruby Tuesday

2010-11-23T07:20:00.004+10:00

I met up with a friend for dinner last week at Hu Tong dumpling bar in China Town and after a sumptuous dinner of dumplings (I love the chilli dumplings), Jo and I took a wander along Paynes Place and Croft Alley to view the street art.

I've made mention of Melbourne's embracing of street art and I'm proud ofliving in a city that understands art in its widest sense.

Not only understands it but embraces it.

So much so the City of Melbourne allows building owners and other to register street art.

I think this really encourages street artists to do their best, and for their art to improve in quality and scope.

You can see all the street art here registered at STA25 ... and it's in the tiniest space.

And another Debs ... a little light for red but it's still there.

And what could be more fitting to close this post: don't ban the can ... except for those annoying taggers!

Lots more glorious rubyness over at Work of the Poet ... check it out.

Because I can: New Year's Plans for 2011

2010-11-22T10:17:00.006+10:00

I’ve sucked at blogging over the last couple of weeks. I restarted last week with good intentions that obviously went south … and today I’m going to try to start again. (What is it they say about roads and good intentions?)

The imminent arrival of the silly season has had thinking about next year and what my plans for 2011 should be. After never doing it before, my plans for 2010 have turned out to be so positive and inspirational I’m going to do it again.

I like the idea of plans rather than resolutions. A resolution is so permanent and inflexible. Contrast that with a plan. There’s so much for flexibility with a plan.

And flexibility turned out to be required because some of my plans for 2010 were well and truly achieved. Others have fallen by the wayside to be picked up again next year.

The most important part of my plans turned out to be choosing a wish for the year. That was inspired by Cathy (tinniegirl) who offered herself as the custodian of our wishes for the year. Mine was to explore: explore my creativity, explore my life … to just get out there and see who I was and what I wanted. (Thanks Cathy … it was a wonderful idea and so much appreciated).

That led to me engaging more with my life than achieving certain plans … but that was alright and I cheerfully and unselfishly submitted to a sybaritic lifestyle. You’re only young once right?

With that in mind I’ve been looking forward to next year. I have renovations and other boring stuff that really needs to be done and I wondered what sort of wish could see these achieve as well (like “organise”) but they invariably took me to a point where I’d forever been comparing 2011 (as the most boring year) with 2010 (as a totally fun year!).

I absolutely didn’t want to fail before I started so I’ve settled on somewhere in between … with BALANCE. After that the detail should fall into place.

I'll have to see whether I can devise some sort of art work to reflect balance. I wonder what I should do?

So what are your plans for the new year? Or do you like to wing it and see where life takes you?

Ruby Tuesday

2010-11-02T12:53:00.009+10:00

Yesterday I met friends for lunch in Gertrude Street, Fitzroy and it was the perfect place to find red stuff for Ruby Tuesday.

Like Abbotsford from a couple of weeks ago, Fitzroy is also an inner city suburb ... even closer to the city than Abbotsford. To put it into context Fitzroy is only a 20 minute walk from work ... it would take about an hour to walk to Abbotsford.

Fitzroy is Melbourne's smallest suburb in term of area ... it's approx 100 hectares in size. Fitzroy was also planned as Melbourne's first suburb in 1839.

There are some impressive shops along Gertrude St. I particularly liked this building with flats above, although it's now has been converted to a boarding house. Those little red squares you can see on the first floor balcony are bathrooms.

The area was surrounded by factories and industrial sites in adjoining suburbs, working class homes were built during the 1860s to 1880s. Somehow or other I managed to switch my camera on to B&W (who knows how) but this is one of the earliest homes in and the oldest on Gertrude Street (and you'll just have imagine the red lidded bin outside).

Despite being such an established suburb Fitzroy was always primarily a working class suburb, although it's undergone waves of both urban renewal and gentrification since the 1950s. At some stage around the 1970s, many of the working class homes were knocked down and those awful multi-storey monstrosities came into being. Fitzroy wasn't the only suburb to suffer fromthis particular problem ... but the flats in Fitzroy are the closest to the city.

Many of the buildings along Gertrude Street are original ... with less of the shop modernisations (like new windows) that have happened in Abbotsford. I think that's one of the things I really like about Fitzroy. This is a good example of the lack of sprucing up in the area ... a hairdresser in what looks like original condition from the 1950s.

And another of the shops I remember from the 1980s (at least) is this costume hire place with loads of red in the window ... and can you see the bike with red plastic milk crate. Double red whammy!

Fitzroy is the centre for Melbourne's Aborigines, with a number of services in the area. The Melbourne Aborginal Youth Sport and Recreation centre ... across the road from where we were lunching.

... and located in this unrenovated building.

And Melbourne's only Aboriginal restaurant Charcoal Lane is located in Gertrude Street. It's located in what was a bank from the 1850s and it has the most delightful outside eating area ... with gorgeous red and yellow tables and wooden benches. It's one of the places on our long list of eateries to try.

But the area is starting to change and there are lots of examples of gentrification and yuppies moving in ... ooops, I guess that's me!

Funky hair dressing salons ... with cute names.

Hand crafted items.

Interesting shops.

Amazing and avant garde jewellery.

Snazzy boutiques ... with trendy clothing.

And my favourite type of store with the most appropriate name ... of course, vintage clothing.

Do you like red stuff as much as me ... visit Mary at Work of the Poet for more glorious redness.

Because I can ... Free range kids

2010-11-01T15:35:00.005+10:00

I’ve long thought kids were over parented … parents worry about what might happen so kids don’t walk to visit friends or the park. And don’t get me started on children’s lack of free time because of hot housing kids via structured activities like tennis and violin and ballet.

This isn’t a new phenomenon. The world was heading in that direction 20-odd years ago when I had my daughters (now 22 and 24).

But why is it so (thank you Professor Julius Sumner Miller)? And what should be done about it?

I’ve long thought this behaviour driven by fear … fear of abduction, fear of rape, fear of attack and politicians don’t help with their fondness for using fear to manipulate us (reds under the bed, illegal immigrants, the Taliban etc).

Despite the constant barrage of stories in the news I don’t believe the world is more or less safe than it’s ever been. We now live with running water and better hygiene but these are technological advances, and people are basically the same as they’ve ever been because human nature is what’s always been.

What we actually have is greater access to information about what happens—at any time anywhere around the world—which makes the world feel unsafer and we have sensationalist media who bring it to us ad nauseum … think of large events like 9/11 (2001) in the US or the Bali bombings (2002). Or the awful things that happen to children like the disappearance of Madeleine McCann (2007), the US toddler duct taped to a wall for entertainment (2010) or the death of the Indian toddler Gurshan Singh in Melbourne (2010).

What seems to be happening (and probably increasing) is an assumption that terrible things are waiting for unsuspecting parents and children each time they leave the house … and so life is modified. Life becomes increasingly car dependent, house-centric and life’s options and children’s experience diminishes.

I strongly believe that the events that happen outside the house, while tragic, are the exception, and that we are in more danger from those we love than strangers on the street: child abuse, incest, rape, murder … these are more likely to be perpetrated on us by people we know than a stranger. But for some reason the idea that we’re not safe from the people we know or love doesn’t seem to raise an eyebrow.

What to do?

Lenore Skenazy of Free Range Kids horrified many in 2008 when she dropped off her nine year old in Manhattan and left him to take the subway home alone.

A scary thought and probably a little young in my opinion … but as parents we have to put what happens in the world into context and concentrate on teaching children independence and social skills, and that can only happen if they are placed in situations where they make their own decisions.

The next steps seem to be acknowledging our fears and reclaiming the world … but I’m not sure how to get to that point.

Any ideas?

Flea Market Finds

2010-10-31T09:12:00.003+10:00

I thought this week I'd take a little wander through the eclectic blue and white (with a touch of gold) mix that is my crockery cupboard.

Thanks to Reverse Finds hosted by Catherine at pencils and pins I've been working my way through my kitchen cupboards and so far I've managed three ... of which one is the crockery shelf.

It was cluttered before and it still is ... but now it better shows off all the blue and white stuff I've managed to collect.

One thing that struck me after I'd done this is how dull too much white and blue of the same shade of blue looks. I think that might be part of the reason why Jo at Joe Bloggs stopped collecting blue and white china.

So instead of abandoning the cause I've decided to add a little lime green in ... and you can see the tiny little platter I found a few weeks ago with some lime green in it.

I just noticed a largish platter at the back with some yellow in it but I just can't warm to that colour in crockery? Can you? And I can see my favourite little bowl ... in the top right corner. I guess I'll just have to share that another time.

And the theme fits perfectly with the blue and lime green glasses I picked up a couple of months ago ... which I still totally love.

For more flea market finds ... Sophie Isobel at Her Library Adventures is the place to go.

Reverse Finds

2010-10-30T21:25:00.004+10:00

I haven’t been very dedicated to Reverse Finds lately … I haven’t been very dedicated to anything much including blogging. I just don’t seem to be able to get motivated.

But I definitely need to continue destashing and uncluttering and I tackled Miss C's desk which had a great stash of Miss W's Sweet Valley High books from when she was in primary school.

Miss W loved (or is that loves?) to read and it was always a pleasure to encourage her.

But sometimes I need to be less sentimental and more practical ... and this time I've managed.

For more Reverse Finds visit Catherine at http://pencilsandpins.blogspot.com/2010/10/reverse-finds-and-giveaway-winners.html.

Friday knitting pattern

2010-10-29T08:25:00.002+10:00

I wasn’t a fan of the excesses (clothing wise) of the 80s … when everything went big: big shoulder pads, big hair, big jewellery.

But there were some things that were pretty … take a look at the pretty pin tucked blouse underneath the cardigan.

And how about this jumper? The lacy look and boat neck was all the rage during the 80s and I knitted two identical jumpers: one in pink and another in blue, which I wore all the time.

The only difference was my version had a ribbed neck, which this one does.

Have a lovely weekend guys.

My Creative Space

2010-10-28T08:02:00.004+10:00

As happens with all “twelve steps” program, the first step involves acknowledgement and let me start today … “My name is Susan and I’m a perfectionist”.

What’s this got to do with craft and why am I sharing? Because I frogged this week’s project because I wasn’t happy with it!

I hadn’t done that much: 3 cms of rib on a baby hat for Baby H and another dozen or so rounds in two colours at three rows at a time. About 6 cms in all I guess.

But it was driving me crazy and I’d never have been able to give it away … there were spots where the knitting was really loose when I moved from one needle to the next. And I hadn’t jogged the colours when I changed from black to red and back again, and I couldn’t stand the uneveness of it.

So I started it again and it wasn’t easy. It took me hours to cast on and redo the first round … I kept getting it twisted between the four needles, and at one stage I felt like throwing it all to the ground and screaming out at the unfairness of it all. (Gee … maybe I better change that to I’m a perfectionist and I’m stubborn!) But I finally got it to work in the end and so far I’ve redone the rib and I’m very happy with it.

Now, Auntie M, before you email me telling me not to worry … it’s not you, it’s definitely me. And it’s weird because I put this level of pressure on myself and don’t judge others to the same standards. I’ve always been the same and for most things I manage to keep it under control but that little personality flaw remains with me for crafting.

Does it happen to you too? Do you drive yourself crazy with the whole perfection thing or do you focus on the experience and getting things done, and it doesn’t matter whether things aren’t perfect? Sometimes I wish I could be like that too …

Want to see what others have been up to? Visit Kirsty at kootoyoo.

What's Hot and What's Not

2010-10-27T15:07:00.003+10:00

It’s the end of the month and time to consider how I’ve travelled this month against my New Year plans … not bad on average.

What’s been HOT

Exercise more. The stand out success for this year has exercise more. I’m nowhere near obsessive but it’s become easier as the year has passed. Yoga started back this week after a two week break and it was so nice getting back into it. And those 23 flights of stairs up and down a couple of times a week are starting to pay dividends … it’s as easy as pie now walking the three flights of stairs up from the train station and I’m running the single flight between floors at work.
Cook more. Can you believe I cooked twice this month? That’s probably two out of the four times I’ve cooked this YEAR! So embarrassing.

Spend more time with friends and family. A little more time with Miss C, less time with Mr H (who’s been cranky this month) and lots of time with friends. A nice month on the friend fronts really.

Finish 5 craft projects. Despite whingeing about not getting anything done I managed to finish two things: the cutest red pixie bonnet, and I’m working on a Manchester United cap for a certain Baby H. Auntie M is going to love it.

Renovate. Yeah whatever! But at least I’m managing to get a few things cleared out using the Reverse Finds process over at pencils and pins each Saturday. Thanks Catherine for a great idea ... having too much stuff is my major stumbling block when it comes to renovating and another year of Reverse Finds will see this hurdle overcome.

What’s NOT been Hot

EXPLORE. I can’t even remember what this means any more and I can’t wait to choose something different next year.

Travel. No travel here. Hopefully next year. I already raised the idea with Mr H about going to north America again and he was receptive … I wonder if I could arrange to visit western Canada.
So how are you going? Are you doing well against this year's plan or maybe you can't wait for next year to try better ... I'm finding myself falling more and more into the latter category.

Ruby Tuesday

2010-10-26T20:34:00.005+10:00

A couple of weeks ago I met up with my youngest Miss C and my blogging friend Phil for lunch at a North Melbourne eatery called Di Bella's Coffee Roasting Warehouse.

It wasn't the best place we've eaten at but nor was it anywhere the worst and what was great was it filled with lots of red stuff:

Lots of coffee machines for sale including this gorgeous red machine.

Burgers topped with luscious roasted red capsicum.

Red covered menus on glass topped tables.

And my favourite ... this gorgeous red lamp shade. I'd love me one of these!

Are you loving red too ... visit Work of the Poet for lots more.

Flea Market Finds

2010-10-24T10:12:00.004+10:00

It turns out today is Flea Market Find of the Year ... I lucked on to that considering what I have to share IS probably my best find of the year.

And without further ado ... here it is. A gorgeous vintage beauty case in fantastic condition. The exterior, in particular, doesn't have a mark on it.

I didn't get out op shopping yesterday. I didn't actually get out at all. I spent the day cleaning and knitting and watching DVDs ... a lovely slow day pampering myself and a great use of the day considering the crappy weather.

But that's OK because I'm still excited about this find. Look at the huge and almost perfect mirrow inside And do you like the way the neighbour's tree shows up in the mirror? I had to include this photo because it looks so cool.

I'm also still excited about the beauty case despite the obvious purple stain on the inside. It looks huge in the previous photo but not actually that big. Any ideas for how to remove the stain? The interior is absolutely perfect otherwise and I'd love to get ride of it. I have no idea what leaked although the offending bottle (an unmarked no name bottle so I'm guessing hand cream, conditioner or body wash) was still in case..

There are always lots more vintage finds to explore with Sophie Isobel at Her Library Adventures. I can't wait to take a look at the best vintage finds for the year.

Reverse Finds

2010-10-23T18:43:00.005+10:00

Last week I cleaned out my wardrobe and managed to fill this bad for charity. Sorry, I didn't get the chance to photo after I'd finished!

And while I was at work Mr H managed to fill a second bag.

A good effort between the two of us.

Sometimes Miss Cathy over at pencils and pins plays and sometimes she doesn't ... a bit like me! In any event it's a great way to sorting through those over flowing cupboards and moving this along to a new home.

Friday knitting pattern

2010-10-22T09:18:00.006+10:00

Oh joy, oh bliss ... my compter's back from the doctor and it's all go. It was nothing serious money wise to cost, just too much dust clogging the works and it was covered under warranty ... but not having a computer wise it cost a huge in time and impact. I missed my baby ... seriously!

Now we can get back to regular programming and to start I'm going to unveil today's knitting pattern ... these sweet little patterns for dolls.

I was sure I had a photo of a doll of my sister Debbie wearing this or a similar dress ... another photo to add to the list.

My Creative Space

2010-10-21T07:20:00.003+10:00

My creative space lately, unsatisfactory though it feels, has been all about this gorgeous book by Zoe Mellor.

I borrowed it from the library a couple of weeks ago and I renewed it last week.

I absolutely love it ... and this is my favourite pattern.

I made a pair in a variegated purple/blue pattern but it looks too boyish and doesn't show the gorgeous moss pattern enough.

So yesterday I went out and grabbed some red yarn and I knitted up the first slipper last night. It looks fabulous and I can't wait to finish its partner in crime tonight.

Maybe I'll even be organised enough, and my computer re-installed and next week I'll be able to share what I've been up to).

(Yesterday I found out little Baby H is due at the end of the month. A little breathing space to get my fingers flying about.)

What's your creative space full of? Are you on a mission or slow and steady? kootoyoo's the space it's happening ...

What's Hot and What's Not

2010-10-20T11:00:00.007+10:00

It's weird but I feel as though my week's been more down than up ... I just don't seem to be able to stay on top of things this week.

What’s HOT

Work. More on the upside than not … although I feel as though I’m behind in everything.

Exercise. This has been going surprisingly good. I’ve started walking up and down 23 flights of stairs 3-4 times per week. There’s a group at work who get together to do it a couple of times a week (although they do the whole 48!), and I’ve been doing it on my own as well on other days.

Going out. My weekends have been full of wandering around, eating, walking, op shopping and meeting up with friends. It’s so nice going back to work after a fun weekend. I always find the week so much easier when I’ve had a good weekend before it starts.

Weeding. I’ve managed to get the garden almost under control with several massive early morning weeding fests. It’s starting to look so nice though that it’s a pleasure walking through it to the front door. Now I just need to find a way of getting my neighbour to get theirs weeded because it’s like walking through the middle of the jungle to get to the letterbox … between the ivy on one side and weeds on the other there’s hardly any space to walk!

What’s NOT been HOT

Computer. The darn thing’s at the computer doctor … poor baby was overheating and I don’t get it back until tomorrow. Still, I love MSY Technology who I bought my last computers from and I got one for my brother last year. Labour’s guaranteed for five years (yay!), and they’re cheap and good. But I miss it so much.

Knitting. This is a bummer for me at the moment. Little Baby H is due in about ten days and I find myself with hardly anything to send … and I really mean almost nothing. So many things started and frogged because I didn’t like them is the reason why. So I’m madly knitting little things on the train so I at least have something to send … and I feel so dissatisfied with it.

Octoberfest. I’ve hardly had a chance to post in weeks and I’ve given up on the idea of reading other people’s blogs. Without a computer at home there’s just no time at work to get through everything and I already spent over nine hours a day at work.

Definite pattern really … more happening outside the house than in.

Probably a good thing and the increasingly good weather might be part of the reason why.

How’s your week been ? Lots of exercise or crafting?

Drop me a line … I’d love to hear.

Ruby Tuesday

2010-10-19T11:44:00.007+10:00

It’s Tuesday again already ... where has my life gone?

Over the weekend I met up with a friend Phil for breakfast at a trendy inner city café called Three Bags Full in Abbotsford. My review of breakfast is elsewhere but it led Phil and I to attempt to burn off at least some of the calories earnt sharing a chocolate brownie (yes … sweets after breakfast is an acceptable way of eating) by wandering around the area. (It was such a miserable day I think I burnt off more calories shivering than walking .. but that’s another story).

I love Abbotsford … if for no other reason than it’s where Mr H lived when I met him almost 30 years ago.

It's so cosmopolitan. Where else would you see elderly Vietnamese woman squatting on the pavement selling greens and Vietnamese sweets?

I love Asian food and Victoria Street is like a mini Vietnam with restaurants everywhere.

Abbotsford is so inner city but still "ungentrified" ... just off the main street is this bright red fridge in a scrap metal yard.

I love finding signs written in red paint instead of the usual black … so much more in your face.

What about a little fresh fruit (red of course) from many of the small shops along Victoria Street?

How much more interesting is it to find the building in red and the door in black when it’s usually the reverse.

I love the menus in the window … and so nice to see one in red instead of the usual white.

Or maybe a relaxing massage ... I could do with right about now.

And right at the end of such an obviously Asian area is this pizza shop … I guess everybody loves pizza.

So much glorious red ... and I haven't shown everything I saw!

If you’re interested in even more ruby redness … check out Work of the Poet.

Ruby Tuesday

2010-10-12T20:56:00.004+10:00

Wandering around the streets of Carlton last week on my way to lunch with Big Fil at Soul Soup Café that I passed Dracula’s theatre restaurant. No secrets about what sort of theatre.

I’ve heard about this place for years but I had no idea where it was, or it was so close to work.

I’m not really a theatre restaurant person … often the theatre element will be ok but the food’s generally so/so.

As a general rule if I’m going to eat before I see a show I’d prefer the food to be as good as the show.

Lots more red in the world to enjoy … check out Work of the Poet.

Friday knitting pattern

2010-10-08T18:00:00.002+10:00

Here I am at the last moment uploading Friday's knitting pattern ... and this one is so sweet and girly and 1980s.

My mum knitted me something similar to this but I don't have a photo. I remember taking it with me to the UK when I visited in 1984 ... but I think this one is even prettier.

This whole book goes from pretty to prettier ... so much work in this one.

And this one is so elegant ... what self respecting woman in the 80s didn't wear metal accessories (I've got my hand up!).

My Creative Space

2010-10-07T12:04:00.003+10:00

I feel as though I’ve hardly done anything for weeks … and judging by my pile of yarn and lack of even UFOs that’s pretty accurate.

So it’s with great embarrassment I present what I’ve managed to do so over the last fortnight on the Baby Boheme by Allegra Wermuth.

A few weeks ago I was using this yarn to make a Morris and Sons cardigan but I ended up not liking it so I frogged the thing (yee hah!) and I’m much happier with this sweet little pattern.

Feeling creative? Want to see what others have been up to? kootoyoo's the place. See ya there.

What's Hot & What's Not

2010-10-06T07:06:00.005+10:00

It feels like forever since I looked back over my week ... but here goes.

What's been HOT

EXPLORE. Lots of exploring happening in my universe, lots of getting out there to see what the world has to offer ... it makes life so much more fun.

Renovate. Reverse Finds has got me on the road to renovations, even if I haven't actually started yet. I'm sorting through things, recycling, keeping only what we really need and that alone is a good thing. Maybe next year we might arrive at the point where we can start actually renovating.

Exercise more. I'm still doing yoga and pilates and now the weather is getting warmer I'm considering walking at least part of the way home, or even joining a gym located at the train station before home and then walking home. Lots of possibilities and there's still the stairs at work I can get back to.

Spend more time with friends and family. Lots of time spent with friends eating out (especially lentils this week for some reasons) but not much with family ... I have to work more on that.

Not so HOT

Cook more. I haven't cooked at all ... just ate!

Finish 5 craft projects. Not much crafting happening at the moment although I carry my knitting everywhere with me ... mostly reading for some reason.

Travel. No travel ... I can't find the time at the moment to even think about it let alone get any done.

Want to play? Are you forever behind on your plans and need something to keep you on track, or do you find it helpful to look back on your week? Add your name and blog post url below ... I'd love to see what you've been up to.

Ruby Tuesday

2010-10-04T06:11:00.010+10:00

Over the weekend I made it to my favourite second hand market in gorgeous Collingwood--of course it's the Lost + Found Market.

While everything in it's looking for a new home, the market isn't hard to find sitting at 12 Smith Street Collingwood ... very close to the CBD and close enough for a stroll for out of towners . And even better, it's open 7 days a week from 10am-6pm so even if you're only in town for the weekend and have no idea where to find an op shop you can still rummage Melbourne style!

Now to our guided tour, red wise, of my visit to Lost + Found yesterday.

Racks filled with red clothing everywhere I looked.

Red crocheted handbags.

This gorgeous red tin ... definitely a favourite.

Even the odd out of town model catching a little spring sunshine in the window.

These dolls in their original clothing. I love the red dress.

I loved this red dress.

I remember these thermos' from when I was a kid ... and I've always wondered whether you can still buy the inserts for them when they break?

Who didn't have one of these in the 1970s? Very cutting edge.

These red shoes and ice bucket in a red cabinet look so elegant. The piece de resistance of the day I think.

Lots of red jewellery.

And what day would be complete without red shoes ... those square toed sling backs are very me!

A red tartan suitcase.

But did I buy anything? No. Yesterday was a day for relaxing and enjoying myself ... and besides I was very good this weekend and only picked up two crochet hooks on Saturday for the princely sum of $2.

For lots more delicious rubyness ... visit Mary T at Work of the Poet.

I had a great time

2010-10-04T06:08:00.002+10:00

Some weekends are different ... sometimes it's the people, the place you go or just how you feel at the time.

This weekend it was all of the above and more ... being busy having fun is so much better than anything else and doing it in sunshine has to be the best.

I've been looking forward to seeing Jo from Joe Bloggs for a while. We met about six short months ago at Sew It Together and I was fortunate enough to share a room with Jo. Fortunate in so many ways because from the first few minutes we met I could tell I would like her ... it would be difficult not to.

We spent an action packed 24 hours ... and probably about 12,000 steps ... I definitely need to get myself a pedometer. We wandered all around Carlton and Brunswick and Richmond. We ate at Bimbo Deluxe (apple, almond, mascarpone and cinnamon pizza ... mmm, my favourite) and Vegie Bar, and listened to music at Bar Open, and just window shopped and rummaged for junk at Lost and Found.

But even though everything we did was fun it's so much more than that ... I admire Jo's honesty, her openness, and how much fun she is. I'm glad to call her a friend and I hope to see her very soon.

Thanks for a terrific time Jo.

Flea Market Finds

2010-10-03T14:51:00.004+10:00

I haven't found much over the last couple of months ... and so I thought to share these Japanese cups and saucers in the Blue Danube pattern.

I'm not sure how vintage they actually are ... the pattern itself commenced in 1951 and my research suggests what I found dates from somewhere between 1977 and 1996.

I was also shocked when I saw the price of a cup and saucer ... $18.95 a set when I got a set of four for the princely sum of $3!

Probably the best bargain I've ever found.

Visit Sophie Isobel at Her Library Adventures for more Flea Market Finds.

Reverse finds

2010-10-02T08:27:00.005+10:00

I met Catherine from pencils and pens at NCB on Thursday night and it was so nice to meet her ... she's so bright and bubbly, and I totally look forward to the Softies for Mirabel she ends up making. I should get myself organised to contribute ... but I hesitate to commit myself and then have to renege, and even if I don't make anything I can still claim a contribution (I passed over a plastic bag full of stuffing to Catherine).

On to Reverse Finds ... I'm still working my way through my kitchen cupboards and I'm extremely happy at passing on this dinner service to a better home.

It was a gift a very long time ago (20 years ago?) and it's never really been me. One of the bowls has a small chip on it and a bread and butter plate and tea cup plate are missing, but it's barely been used.

We mostly use spaghetti bowls for eating and I have a gorgeous white with gold edging dinner service if I really want to go to town.

If you've got stuff you'd like to pass on or you'd just like to unclutter or destash you life ... the idea is that each week we focus on for something that can be recycled, donated etc. I'm breathing easier already. The Reverse Finds Queen at pencils and pins is leading the march!

Good luck with destashing and have a great weekend.

Friday knitting pattern

2010-10-01T18:56:00.004+10:00

Sorry for being so late posting folks ... it's a terrible start to Blogtoberfest and I absolutely promise (cross my heart and hope to die) I will do better from now on.

Today's post is brought to you by the oldest Patons & Baldwin book in my collection, a men's knitting pattern book which may date form the early 1940s.

Not in the best condition (although you wouldn't know to look at it) ... the darn thing's missing its back cover and I think I picked it up before I made it a rule not to buy patterns if they weren't in good knick.

Some of the patterns scream things have changed ... although the pattern on the left above has stood the test of time. But I'm not sure how many of the fellas would be happy with this checkerboard look.

And this last example just looks too effeminate to appear on a man ... and I can't make up my mind whether it's the midriff length, the pointy collar, the clinging look of it or the way the model's standing.

Okay ... time to stop embracing the inner bitch. Usually time for a nap about the time that starts happening!

Happy Blogtoberfest to everybody, and I'm off to visit the Queen of Blogtoberdom (aka Tinniegirl) to see what else is happening.

Ruby Tuesday

2010-09-28T14:03:00.002+10:00

It’s time for Ruby Tuesday … probably my absolute favourite reason for getting my camera out and taking photos.

This week I found another laneway, this time in lovely downtown Windsor when I met up with my blogging pal Big Fil for breakfast at Yellow Bird.

My friend Phil's also interested in street art and we often take a wander through various laneways looking for new examples. This week’s find was beautiful and probably recently done … this gorgeous mural in muted blue and salmon pink the whole way along the side of a chic upmarket bar.

Isn't this amazing ... the sweetest turtle.

I think this is a cow.

A fish swimming uphill!

And I have no idea what this is? Ideas?

Melbourne’s an interesting place for street art. We get our share of graffiti, which nobody likes. But for some reason, and I think it’s because street art is not only embraced in Melbourne but welcomed and encouraged by building owners and especially restaurants … that there’s so many good examples and they change regularly.

What’s happening red wise in your part of the world? Mary over at Work of the Poet has lots more examples to share.

Flea Market Finds

2010-09-26T09:17:00.004+10:00

I don't usually post about clothing ... but yesterday was exceptional and I just had to share ... a Leona Edmiston original from the 1980s for the princely sum of $5!

Isn't it gorgeous?

It's nasty synthetic but so elegant and it fits brilliantly ... it could have been made for me.

There's lots more Flea Market Finds happening with Sophie Isobel at Her Library Adventures.

Reverse Finds

2010-09-26T08:34:00.005+10:00

It’s hard to know where to start at my place for Reverse Finds (not because everything I have is amazing but simply because we have so much stuff!) but one obvious place was to sort through the cupboard beside the stove.

I’m sure everyone has one of these … that kitchen cupboard equivalent of the drawer that everything that doesn’t have a home gets shoved. And it’s timely too because that dear little cupboard hasn’t been sorted through in years.

So what did I manage to pass on to new homes?
· 4 lunch boxes that haven’t been used in more than ten years
· Assorted moulds
· Stuff

I didn't end up binning much stuff ... which was good to know what we have is mostly good and can go to new homes and won't end up in landfill.

In the end it was more about moving on things we no longer need, and then rearranging so that things fit … all the storage and measuring stuff is together.

Do you need a little order in your life … or just your house? Do you want to play? Pop over to pencils and pins for a little inspiration. Catherine's definitely keeping me on track … and it’s cheaper than therapy!

Reverse finds

2010-09-11T09:05:00.004+10:00

The lovely Catherine over at pencils and pins has started Reverse Finds, a sort of clean up and make space for new op shops ... a very welcome thing given the op shopping I like to do.

This is actually my very first Reverse Finds and the launch of Reverse Finds as well, so I'm veryexcited to get started. And it's very timely given the time I've been looking into how to sort and organise and rationalise ... and really just plain clean up my act!

The sanest and most sensible place to start was the sheets in the linen closet ... rather fitting considering the number of vintage sheets I've purchased over the last six months. Not to mention the darn cupboard was like humpty dumpty; ready to fall down.

So sheets it was ... and the closet looks wonderful now. A lot less sheets ... and neat and tidy to boot.

The result: a couple of sheets in the bin, this small stash to the op shop, and a larger stash of single bed doonas and sheets to my brother Mr J for my niece Miss T.

I hope I can do equally well next week. I just have to work out what to tackle next ... the list is pretty long.

If you think this is a good idea, or you have a list of stuff to clean out and you'd love the inspiration to keep you on track ... join up with Catherine at pencils and pins. I know I'm going to enjoy getting my life in some sort of order.

Friday knitting pattern

2010-09-10T10:32:00.007+10:00

Most vintage patterns in the stores are more of the same … the same colours, the same styles, the same poses. Patons, in particular, the best selling providers of patterns and yarn is guilty of this.

So I was really excited when I found two pattern books from the 1960s … stuff made with a sort of string called Tarabast.

And fortunately there was a great explanation of what tarabast is in the pattern books.

I remember this stuff … and it looks great as a bag. There were both knitted and crocheted versions in the books.

I bet lots of op shoppers have even seen versions around and never realised. I may have too.

You can even use it for hats and placemats and coasters .. who would have thought?

I like the knitted bags. Very stylish. I think the blue and white bag is my favourite.

So which is your favourite item? A bag? And which colour?

My creative space

2010-09-09T11:24:00.004+10:00

It’s not often I feel like jumping on my bed screaming yippee because my creative space is so exciting (and I can actually say that when it’s my first week back to work after two weeks off) … but it is. Phew!

The main reasons it's been so good is because I’m knitting my first pair of socks and I’m actually getting it … thanks to the first week of a three session “how to knit socks” class at Morris & Sons in Melbourne. What the hell didn’t I get about this bit of knitting a sock?

I’m also so happy because I’m using the Moseley Park 40 Silk/40 Bamboo/20 Nylon (colour Leila) I picked up at the Bendigo Show. The colour is so pretty and I like the variation in colour it’s giving … bamboo/silk always look sparkly and the changes in colour are only adding to this.

And Tuesday I finished the pretty pink and lime hat and scarf for Baby Hannah. I still have to sew in the ends … am I alone in hating the tidying up? Yuck!

What about this gorgeous yarn (Morris and Sons Empire 8ply) I picked up for a little jacket and hat for baby Hannah … but this time for when she’s about 12 months of age and up. So far this is the hat ... unfortunately not knitted in the round because it's knit every row. Poor cousin Ms H … she’s going to be tossing my stuff into the back of the wardrobe so she gets the chance to pick her own clothes for Hannah!

I also went through my stash looking for what to use for my first quilt. I wanted something cheap (fabric wise) and easy (pattern wise) and fortunately I have loads of stuff stashed that’s cheap! I feel really nervous about my first quilt and I don’t want to mess up anything expensive.

I loved choosing the fabric in the end. Can you believe I had all of the following already in my stash and it was definitely cheap: the patterned fabric is from an 80s sheet I used in the recent FQ swap (and I love the orange and green), and the calico was only $2 per metre. The green and beige fabrics I picked up cheap at Carmel’s Discount Fabrics in Mentone at around $10 per metre. The orange gingham I got for about $2 at the op shop and I plan on using it as the binding. All I need to do is grab 2-3 oddments of orange to balance out the green. I feel pretty happy being able to make the top and bottom for a lap/single bed quilt so cheaply … it feels less daunting that way.

But I still can’t decide what pattern to make … at first I was leaning towards a simple coins quilt but the fabric just doesn't look right. For inspiration I’ve been trawling through stuff made by Patch Andi and Red Pepper Quilts … everything they do is so beautiful: colours, pattern, sewing etc. I just hope someday I’ll be as good as them. Any ideas people?

So as soon as the sock class is finished I plan on starting work on the quilt … I haven’t decided yet whether to take a beginners class or to attend the Freestyle classes at Amitie in Bentleigh on Tuesday nights. Both seem fantastic options and the advantage of Amitie is that I can work on whatever I want at my pace. Now I just need to look into getting my machine serviced … it’s way overdue and really needs it.

I can’t wait to visit you and find out what you’ve been up to … pop over to Kirsty’s at kootoyoo and add your name to the list. I’ll be around to visit soon.

What's Hot & What's Not

2010-09-08T11:09:00.004+10:00

It’s Wednesday … I can hardly believe where the weeks go time seems to be passing so quickly. Is the same thing happening to you?

What’s Hot

Baby knitting finished. Last night I finished the scarf and hat I’ve been making for baby Hannah. I love the colour combination (although I couldn't photograph it properly) and the yarn is so soft and warm. I hope Holly likes them.

Knitting socks. I’ve learnt to knit sock on an 80cm round needle … and it’s so exciting. Isn’t it silly to feel so clever about something just about anybody could do … but I do! It's like growing up in the knitting world; a right of passage as it were. I love knowing how to do it.

Exercise. After two weeks of doing nothing more than walking I went back to Yoga yesterday and Pilates tomorrow. I feel so much better and I was happy not to have lost too much of the strength I/ve built up over the last eight months. I even managed four rather pathetic push ups last night … showing off to Mr H.

Craft groups. I’ve managed to find three amazing craft groups that I can’t choose between them. They’re all different and fit different parts of me: NCB is large and vibrant. The crafts represented are really wide and varied, and a larger group usually gets together. They’re a great group to get together and chat about anything and everything. NCB meets once a fortnight on a week night and not much crafting ever gets done (by me). Perle 8 is a smaller and quieter group who mainly knit and quilt, so it’s easier to chat with people. They meet every week on a week night and I always get some crafting done. My last group is a knitting group through Ravelry … and it’s nice to spend time just with people who knit. It’s a small group who meet once a month for lunch and I always get a little knitting done.

New shoes. I’ve been looking for a not too high heeled pair of brown shoes and on Monday I caught sight of the perfect pair at Campers. They are so soft and comfortable and have a relatively low wedge heel. They were more expensive than I wanted to pay but I’ve been looking for so long I just sucked it up.

What’s Not

Not enough time. I just have so many things I want to get done at the moment I feel as though I’m swimming against the tide.

Sore toe. I have no idea what I’ve done but the darn thing is swollen and painful. I might have to make a visit to the doctor if it doesn’t improve over the next couple of days.

Busted TV. My TV of two years went blind (no picture) and is currently with the doctor having something or other replaced. I miss my little darling and I’ll be so happy to get it back on Friday.
Overheating computer. The computer’s likely to go critical soon so I’m watching it carefully because I can’t bear to be without it. But I’m going to have to bite the bullet and once the TV’s back and hooked up I’ll drop the darn thing off on Saturday morning. I’m so sad already.

Wanna play? I bet there’s lots happening around your place as well: sick kids, crafting achieved, new car, work plans … I’d love to hear.

Ruby Tuesday

2010-09-07T11:50:00.002+10:00

It’s no secret Miss C’s Boy loves cars … he has three, and he works as a fitter and turner at his dad’s workshop which specialises in high performance cars. Definitely a petrol head (Aussie slang for car loving) family given his four brothers have also passed through the dad’s workshop and emerged as fitter and turners.

The rivalry in Australia amongst car aficionados is Ford or our home grown Holden. My family are Ford fans … my brother Mr J is a big petrol head too. But the Boy is a Holden fan ... and this is his beloved HJ Kingswood.

It's painted in matt black with black leather seats, and enamelled red wheels. Very stylish. The Boy’s also modified the Kingswood from a three on the tree (three gear column shift) to a four on the floor (four speed floor shift).

And a close up of those wheels ... lovely red wheels.

Because his cars are modified, each of them is very hard to drive. And after many years of driving with power steering and power assisted brakes I’m not much interested in trying … especially after driving a three on the tree Kingswood in the 1980s with the worst turning circle of any car I’ve ever driven.

For more royal redness ... check out Mary over at Work of the Poet.

Flea Market Finds

2010-09-05T10:33:00.005+10:00

This week's finds to share are part of my preparation for Christmas ... yes, it's only three months away.

What I've managed to find so far are four op shop tins for Christmas biscuits and sweets.

Those red Santa ones are really ordinary ... the sort of thing you see in every $2 shop. But a couple of them are really cute. I love this crazy Santa ... who wouldn't like Santa to whip up a batch of gingerbread when he drops off the pressies?

But this tin I picked up this week is my favourite. I love the colours and it's so beautifully sparkly.

I'm not sure yet what I'll make ... I'm tossing up ginger biscuits and rum balls, maybe toffee, but I'm open to suggestions.

Any thoughts?

There's lots more flea market finds over at Sophie Isobel's place Her Library Adventures.

Friday knitting patterns

2010-09-03T13:16:00.004+10:00

It feels like forever since I posted a knitting pattern and this book is so sweet ... a book of bazaar patterns from what must be the 1970s.

I'm not sure which one I'd rather knit first ...

I've been looking for a tea cosy pattern for ages and I don't exactly love any of these. But on the upside I can play with one of them and make them in the pretty pastel cottons I have set aside for it. All three are knit so that's good.

I quite like the giraffe ... it's in crochet. Time to learn a new skill I suppose?

And how about the gorgeous doggie sweaters ... definitely what the best dressed dog in 1973 was wearing.

Have you got a favourite?

My Creative Space

2010-09-03T10:46:00.004+10:00

I spent the last week furiously knitting a baby hat and scarf, and then the baby booties for my aunt's first granddaugther. Baby stuff is so sweet. I just love baby stuff and how quickly it knits up.

And now I've started on a hat and scarf for the baby. I've learnt from last week and I'm going to make it a little bigger.

Hannah will be born in October to a northern hemisphere (Canadian) autumn. That means she'll get good value out of a scarf and hat and I need to make sure they'll last six months at least and maybe even the next winter as well.

Just in case you're interested, the hat pattern is the Boyfriend Hat from Ravelry. I've banged on about this hat before including posting an example a couple of days ago of a blue/green version but it really is so simple and only takes a couple of day ... the ideal project for a beginner. It's definitely a better project than the usual boring scarf.

The pattern is in blocks of ten so to make it larger all you need to do it add ten stitches at a time until you get the size you want. I've also made it in exactly the same size (100 stitiches) for an adult male (10ply yarn/4.5mm needles) and for a baby (5ply yarn/3.25 needles). This time I'm going to try it with 110 stitches/5ply yarn/3.25 needles.

Happy crafting and pop over to Kirsty's at kootoyoo for lots more craftiness.

What's Hot & What's Not

2010-09-01T08:56:00.006+10:00

I'm glad it's the last Wednesday of the month ... I'm a little lost for what to write about the last week and looking at my plans for the year seems easier somewhow.

WHAT'S been HOT

Finish 5 Craft projects. I managed to get two things finished during the week ... the cutest baby beanie and a matching scarf for a (third?) cousin Liam who's only 8 weeks old. And don't they look cute on? I didn't really understand the size of babies--it's been such a long time since I had one--and I guessed the dimensions. It was sheer good luck I got it right but I think I'm going to make the beanie and scarf a little bigger next time.

Spend more time with friends and family. It's been a big week for spending time with family .. my mum and her brother and his family. I enjoyed that and I only wish they didn't live so far away. On the upside though I discovered a second cousin in Melbourne ... that is so exciting.

And then when I got home my mum arranged for a birthday get together and I got to see everybody, with the exception of my niece Miss T. Everybody is so grown up, getting on with their lives and doing well. I liked seeing that.

Travel more. I got to do that this last week and I really enjoyed it ... it was sad Horace wasn't there to experience it with me because I really missed him. I so wanted to go home and see him.

Cook more. I actually cooked last week. Wow! Several breakfasts and dinners too.

WHAT'S NOT been so hot

Exercise more. A week off work and a week off exercise too. I suppose I could write that off as a good thing but I feel better when I exercise and I just can't do it on my own.

Renovate. No actual renovating happening ... although I have started on the reverse finds so I'm treating the clearing out of my life as the first step towards renovating.

Find something good each day. Not a good week for this ... I'm more aware of how I let little things play on my mind and then reacted to them. Not the most impresive week.

If you want to play ... to consider your life for the last week, your day, whether you're meeting your goals? Pop your name and link in the Linky below ... I'd love to hear how you're going.

Ruby Tuesday

2010-08-31T11:13:00.004+10:00

This week's Ruby Tuesday is a little light on for red ... just a red berry baked cheesecake really and what's left of a glass of red wine.

But it's important because it's a red berry baked cheesecake for my birthday ... an important birthday with a "0" in it!

You'd be forgiven for thinking I might have been singing "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to" because there's nobody at the table. If you look really hard you can see them congregated outside ... the upside of smoking laws is we non-smokers don't have to suffer secondhand smoke as we eat cake but the downside is the waiting as the birthday cake melts while the smokers get their hit.

A few photos ... just because I can. My lovely daughter Miss C and the Boy. Doesn't she look thrilled Mummy has a camera and she's getting her photo taken? And nice Miss V's so happy she's hiding behind a menu. (Look, the Boy has a red stripe down the arm of his shirt ... phew, red at least).

My niece Miss V and her Boy. No red here unless you count the the red brick wall behind them.

And my sister Ms C and her Boy (Mr M) ... I don't think I can stretch his shirt to red. But don't they look happy?

My brother Mr J and his girlfriend Ms K. No red whatsoever ... unless we go back to the brick wall!

It was a great lunch and I really appreciated everybody getting together ... despite the unlucky 13 who sat down. Lucky I'm not superstitious or the last person to arrive (Miss V's Boy) would have had to go home.

Thanks everybody for the cake and presents ... they were wonderful and I so didn't expect them.

For more and (probably) much better examples of red pop over and visit Mary at Work of the Poet.

Because I can .... I'm back!

2010-08-30T19:12:00.008+10:00

I've been away for the last week with my mother ...visiting family and wandering around the Lake Macquarie area.

Upside ... visiting family was great. It was important for my mother to visit her brother and reassure herself he was OK ... which he was. He's had a couple of strokes which has reduced his understading of the world and limited his mobility but he's in great spirits and looked after wonderfully by my aunt. I enjoyed my visit with him, especially the second time where it was clear he remembered who I was and we spent the whole visit holding hands. That'll always remain the highlight of our visit.

My Mum and her brother Stanley.

We also got to see four of my uncle's great grandchildren ... new members of the family neither my mother or I had met before. That's always wonderful.

My cousin Sandy's granddaughters Jazzy and Marlee.

My cousin Christopher's grandchildren Sean and Liam.

Upside ... it was beautiful. We saw quite a bit of the countryside around Dora Creek and Morriset and I'd willingly move there if I could find work and move everybody there. We only got to take one short bush walk at Boarding House Dam and that was amazing. I always love a walk near water.

Upside ... there is so much history to explore in the neighbourhood and we took quite a few trips to see some of it. We visited gaols and forts and even Caroline Chisholm's house in East Maitland.

Downside ... I was horrible to my mother. She and I are quite different people ... her outlook is narrow and I think she's probably spent most of her life afraid. That's not me at all and in the end it all got too much for me ... enough said!

A bridge to mend there I think.

Friday knitting pattern

2010-08-20T10:38:00.003+10:00

I was in a hurry last night looking for a vintage pattern to share when I caught sight of doll’s patterns on a cover and was even happier to see it’s costumes from around the world.

And how cute are they?

A Scotswoman in a sweet little kilt.

A Swedish and Finnish costume for the Scandinavians.

This darling little Dutch girl, who led me to start singing "I'm a little Dutch girl I don't care ..." and the rest is quite rude. Anybody else remember that rhyme from their childhood?

And what would the book be without a swagman?

My favourite is this Japanese traditional costume, complete with kimono and obi. She looks absolutely gorgeous and I love the combination of purple and green ... my favourite shades.

Which one would you make?

My Creative Space

2010-08-19T07:29:00.004+10:00

About a week ago Miss C’s boyfriend told me it was his birthday on the Saturday (that's last Saturday) and since he’s usually wearing a hat of some kind or another every time I see him, I thought I’d make him a hat. Since it was already Sunday, I rushed to visit Morris and Sons on the Monday and picked up some of their Woollahra … an 85% wool, 10% silk, 5% cashmere mix.

This is a really nice looking yarn. It comes in a range of different colours and I loved the charcoal I found, and the texture … it’s a little nubby. There's a but though … the wool is really delicate. I was pulling the yarn to secure the first stitch and it came apart in my hands. I had to yank out the whole thing and start again because I was left with about an inch of tail to sew in. And because I’m so nervous about the whole breaking yarn thing my knitting is so much looser than it normally would be.

Fittingly the hat I picked is the Boyfriend Hat from Stephanie Likes to Knit.

This has been the easiest hat to make ... it took me a tiny four days to finish it, and that included unravelling it a couple of times. And it was ready on the Friday night, wrapped and ready to give to the boyfriend on Saturday.

Here's the rub ... his hair was all done when Miss C gave him the hat that I haven't seen him wearing it since.

OK … last whinge for the day … what’s the fascination with knitting on a circular needle? I don’t get it. It may be because I’m using a 16” needle and there’s just not enough needle to grab onto securely … plus I hate having to push the stitches from the skinny bit to the actual needle. I’m sorry … but that gives me the s*#%s! Having said that though, I either love a challenge or I'm a sadist ... you guessed it, I'm knitting another one.

There’ll be lots more activity … and probably a whole lot less bitching at Kirsty’s at kootoyoo. It’s probably best to leave me alone to grumble …

Ruby Tuesday

2010-08-17T20:10:00.003+10:00

On Sunday I ventured out with friends to an exhibition about Titanic held at the Museum and found my weekly splash of red in a number of huge woven tapestries at the Museum.

These were amazing … and there were so many of them.

I decided to do a little research and it turns out that tapestries are in celebration of federation … when the various Australian states and territories merged in 1901. There were ten tapestries in total, woven by 24 weavers between June 2000 and November 2001.

Here's a taste of a few of them:

The tapestry We All Live in Australia was a favourite of mine. This was designed by Murray Walker, who incorporated drawings by Aboriginal children from primary schools in Echuca, Cape Barren Island and Bathurst.

In essence they plead with us to take care of one another, and to look after all parts of the environment. Worth acting on ... I think.

One of the tapestries … this one with the number 1901 at the top was a giveaway federation had something to do with it. This one’s so soft and subtle … with touches of red and orange to draw the eye in.

The seventh tapestry celebrates the important role of Australia's artists in the Federation process. It celebrates ways Australians in the last two decades of the 19th century used literature and art to create and express a unique national identity.

And this beautiful red flower of course forms part of the mural ... please don't ask me what kind. I can't name trees ... let alone flowers.

This is a close up from the sixth tapestry which celebrates Home Sweet Home. The panel concentrates on the importances of the family home, and its important to many Australians who dream of owning their own home with a garden on a large block of land.

The next panel is quite different ... a summary of the themes underlying the whole suite. It presents an historical process from before the arrival of European settlement, through various voyages of discovery to the first white settlement of Australia.

The images are all part of our history, including the picture of Bungaree, an early Aboriginal from Sydney during the very earliest settlement of Australia.

This panel forms part of the tapestry focussing on Alone in the Bush. It depicts the loneliness and isolation many Europeans felt. The shepherd newcomer, his dog and sheep are shown with other animals including a kangaroo, now under the control of the British crown.

And last, but not least ... the Celebrations 2001 tapestry celebrating the 100th anniversary of Federation. A fitting close to this post and the week's red theme.

I hope you enjoyed this little look at Australia's history ... but this is just a peak at the many types and shades of red around the world, so visit Mary at Work of the Poet. There's much more to enjoy.

Because I can ... announcing the vintage sheet FQ winners

2010-08-16T13:19:00.007+10:00

After a very busy and highly enjoyable weekend I finally got the giveaway drawn … lucky I said I’d announce it on the blog today and didn’t say a time. I don’t like saying one thing and doing another.

Thank you to everybody who entered my first giveaway. It's been very exciting and I've enjoyed it a great deal.

So without further ado, the winners are:

1. Cam @ Curlypops
2. Catherine @ pencils and pins
3. Kellie @ Green Tea and Red Nails
4. Nicole @ Dabbling All Day
5. Marian @ Marian Edwards DreamWeaver

I hope the little win helps you feel a little better Cam … and I actually get to drop off a few of the parcels in person at the next NCB in October. That will be even more fun.

I love it as well that the people who won are all people who seem to read my blog and I definitely read (and comment) on theirs as well.

And there’s an extra piece of karma (or something equivalent) … I won Nicole’s giveaway back in June and now I can return the favour.

Aren’t giveaways fun?

Flea Market Finds

2010-08-15T20:56:00.005+10:00

Mr H and I spent the day wandering around Dandenong on Saturday and we only managed a quick trip to Savers ... I managed to pick up some clothes and a cute pink floral sheet but I won't bore you with those. Instead I'll share a pair of gorgeous white leather gloves I picked up a couple of weeks ago.

I was driving through Black Rock and saw a sign on the side of the road pointing me towards a church op shop in a side street. It turns out this op shop is only open once per fortnight and it's in a hall behind the church ... you'd never know it was there from the front.

It was fantastic.

I picked up so many vintage knitting patterns, some white cotton already cut into 12" squares I intend to use in quilting and the shoes were great ... too bad for me none of them fit.

The find of the day were these gloves.

The leather is so thin and soft, and the stitching so delicate.

They have a couple of signs of wear ... none too obvious: a little stretching on a couple of the fingers and dirt stains on the couple of the fingertips.

I think they might be from the 40s or 50s.

But they confuse me a little too ... the gloves aren't lined. I don't know if they used to be the way they are now. And they're not finished around the wrists.

Maybe they were always like that.

Sophie Isobel at Her Library Adventures is still busy with Grease, but I thought I'd still share my finds anyway. Have fun Sophie ... I bet it'll be fantastic.

Because I can ... Interviewing

2010-08-14T08:11:00.005+10:00

Applying for a job is hard but perhaps I can make it easier … I’ve been both an interviewer and an interviewee and given I’ve just finished interviewing I thought I’d share some learnings from the most recent process. (PS I work for the public service but I think my thoughts work equally well for large organisations.)

Let me tell you first what I’m looking for when I interview. Understanding the difference between skills and knowledge is important. Most applicants won’t know how to do a job before they start and they’ll learn that on the job … that’s knowledge. But skills are different: like time management, computer literacy, written and oral communication, working well in a team and good judgement. Skills take much longer to teach, eg written skills, and I expect an applicant to be able to demonstrate the skills for the advertised position … perhaps not at the highest level but at least have some experience.

So, a few things that might help a few of the recent candidates who didn't interview so well:

Ring the contact person. Before a resume/application is submitted DO ring to find out about the job. DO ask about the job and the skills being sought. This is a chance to make yourself stand out from the rest of the applicants. Please DON’T ask “how much are you paying?” straight after you’ve introduced yourself.

Resume. If the job has a duty statement or selection criteria DO address these. This document tells you what the job entails and what skills the successful person should have. Addressing these shows attention to detail and understanding. I only want to interview six people and not addressing these makes it easier for me to throw an application on the discard heap.

Research. Once you know the name of your prospective employer DO find out who they are and what they do. This may be the first question you’re asked, but even if it isn’t DO make it known that you’ve done this. This shows initiative, research and self motivation.

Preparation. DO think about the questions you’re likely to be asked at the interview. A duty statement or selection criteria is pretty much the questions you’ll be asked. DO prepare answers to the questions and DO make a list examples you’d like to use in the interview. It's hard trying to think them up on the spot.

Promptness. DO turn up 5-10 minutes before an interview. The trend now is to provide the questions before the interview starts and it’s a chance to think about what you'd like to say and apply your examples to each question. PS Where you can, DO try to have a separate example for each question, and not reuse the same example.

Greeting. DO shake hands with each member of a panel, and please ladies … no limp handshakes. DO repeat each member of the panel’s name as you meet to help remember their names, and DO take off your coat. DO ask whether it’s OK to use any resource material you’ve collected eg list of examples, copies of website material, etc. I’ve never said no (or been told no for that matter) and it shows a well prepared, interested candidate.

Interview. Each question is looking for your experience (and this is where a relevant example is so helpful) and your understanding of the skill(s) behind it. DO try to cover both of these things for each question, and maybe an example will help:

Question: Give an example of where you have demonstrated good time management skills.
Answer: Last July was a busy time as I was involved in preparing a contribution to the annual report as well as my usual work. One week I was asked to prepare an urgent brief for the Minister. I discussed this with my supervisor and suggested that some of the routine work I usually do could be shared between a couple of staff who don’t regularly do the same sort of work but are available to help when things are busy. That would allow me to make the urgent brief my priority and I would go back to the annual report contribution while the brief was being checked. Everything was submitted on time. To manage my time I also maintain a diary, prioritise my work each week based on deadlines, complexity and how long work will take to complete, and I actively work with others in my Section to ensure all our work is achieved.

The example gives the interviewer context to the answer and lists the skills: organisation, working with others (more senior and junior), pro-activity, self starter, planning and information sharing.

Closing. DO ask questions if you have any, including how much the position will pay if that hasn't previously been mentioned.

I've finished interviewing for the position I have and the successful person starts next week. Good luck with your interviews or interviewing in the future … it's a time consuming, laborious process with an uncertain outcome. (PS If you read scary ... you got it!) How do you go about organising yourself, and what preparation do you do? And what are you or would you be looking for as an interviewer?

Friday knitting pattern

2010-08-13T07:40:00.003+10:00

Ages and ages ago Mairead posted about old knitting patterns with men with one foot on a rock and staring out into the horizon wearing a nice green cardigan. Look Mairead … no green jumper but a gorgeous fair isle vest from the 1940s(?), staring into the horizon ... and he’s holding a pipe!

I’ve been on the lookout forever for that green cardi wearing fella … but no joy.

I totally love this fair isle vest. So complicated … but so snazzy.

What I wonder about is that pipe. Inside the book are a couple more patterns, and most of the models are using a pipe as a prop.

And the fair else vest must have been popular because it was reprinted (that’s the “R” in R14) on the cover … but with a different guy and he’s looking very manly with a pipe too.

Is it the same pipe? Pipe smoking can’t have been that popular back then … can it?

(PS I’m a bit creeped out now.)

My Creative Space

2010-08-12T07:10:00.005+10:00

My creative space has been filled with yarn lately (and thank goodness because it's so cold all the time) ... but I'm stepping away from the needles this week for my contribution. This week my creative space is all about vintage sheets, appliqué and giraffes!

I asked a question for my vintage sheet FQ giveaway ... not because it's part of the rules for winning but to give people something to write about when they said they were interested. I’ve heard some lovely stories … but one stands out as they do and show how Melbourne and craft and kismet come together to make magic.

A few days ago Bellgirl mentioned using vintage sheets to appliqué giraffes on t-shirts … and sent through a picture of what she'd done with her favourite sheet which she thought was donated by me.

It was … and I loved seeing what she'd made. Even better is I have left overs from that sheet which I offered. It was never my favourite sheet and I'm more than happy to pass it on to someone who will use it.

And when I got home I found an entire untorn sheet Bellgirl can have if she's interested ... I wonder if that would be Christmas come early?

But wait, there’s more ... and not another sheet. It turns out Bellgirl's a member of a craft group that I don't get to regularly and we've never met before. Sound strange? You bet, but not really when you consider the status of my “membership” … by member I mean I met Patch Andi back in May at Sew It Together, and I've been once because it's so cold and miserable all the time but I keep meaning to go ... you see what I mean.

Don't you love crafting?

For lots more stories about creative space ... visit Kristy at kootoyoo.

PS If you're interested the vintage sheet FQ giveaway expires on midnight Saturday 14 August.

What’s Hot & What's Not

2010-08-11T08:52:00.002+10:00

It's been a pretty good week for me ... lots of good things happening and lots to look forward to.

What’s Hot

Knitting. On Monday Miss C’s boyfriend mentioned it was his birthday this Saturday coming … which saw a quick trip to Morris & Sons and two balls of nubbly Aran equivalent later I’ve started the Boyfriend Hat from Ravelry. Kinda fitting don’t you think? (PS Photos tomorrow. It's looking so good.)

Lake Macquarie. Mum and I head off to Newcastle in less than a fortnight and I'm really starting to look forward to it. Questions though: any ideas for places to visit, op shops, places to eat. We're renting a car while we're there so getting around's not a problem and we're staying between Maitland and Lake Macquarie. Any and all ideas are welcome.

Soon hopefully we'll be seeing scenes like this ... beautiful sunsets on glorious water.

Photo by Gaz610 at Flickr.

Lovely crafty internet people. I’ve been getting such lovely comments from people recently and I'm loving this. Thank you everybody.

Work. Work is pretty amazing at the moment ... I hate to jinx myself but things are going pretty well and I can feel myself easing into the role.

What’s not

I’ve lost my reading mojo. I don’t know where I left it because I’d love to get it back. I miss immersing myself in another world but it’s kinda good in one way because I have a lot of other things on my plate at the moment.

The cold. Is it just me or is anybody else sick of the cold ... and the dark for that matter? It seems to have been worse this year, maybe because we're getting more rain. I don't mind the rain but travelling to and from work in the dark is getting really old, and I'm totally over wearing so many clothes every day.

How has your week been? Have wonderful things been happening to you or are there things you need to work on? I'd love to hear ...

Ruby Tuesday

2010-08-10T08:16:00.002+10:00

Last week I was wracking my brain for a red photo and I had one all along … at least I get to use it now.

I was in Malvern a couple of weeks ago and in a wonderful mood … I’d had a nice homemade pumpkin soup for lunch and bought way too much double cream fudge (although it was delish!), and with arms full of op shop goodies I was making my way to the train and home.

And these red shoes caught my eye from a shop window.

Aren’t they amazing? And not just the red shoes but every single shoe in the window.

In in our world of mass produced and synthetic everything all the shoes you see in the window are handmade … and handmade by Rocco of Malvern (in Melbourne, Australia).

I was so excited I put my handbag, camera case and goodies in the street and started shooting. I love all things handmade being a crafter myself and I went to the door intending to ask Rocco if I could take photos to put on my blog.

But no joy … I’d missed Rocco by a mere 30 minutes.

I wonder whether Rocco would have been interested?

For lots more Ruby Tuesday redness ... check out Mary's blog Work of the Poet.

Because I can ... I'm a work in progress

2010-08-09T13:53:00.004+10:00

I love I Saw You Dancing’s blog … she’s a fabulous writer and a couple of days ago she wrote about stocktaking her life, and how the way she currently lives impacts on her and others around her.

I like that sort of posts because that’s me … especially about a year ago, and it's comforting to know you’re not alone in wanting more … not just for yourself but for others.

I know the reasons why I cocooned myself from life … but my life has changed and last year I began the process of reclaiming my life and myself. (And a big thank you to Cathy from tinniegirl. Cathy started this process herself and mid January she offered to be the custodian of wishes made by others. Being given that opportunity was a great catalyst for me, and the icing on the cake was winning the wish canvas created by Cathy to celebrate.

And it was about time I did something.

Setting small goals for the year was the first step and I’ve tracked them every month.

Some of my goals have been duds and they’ll need to be added to next year’s list … mostly home renovations but my environment is as important as who I want to be on the inside.

I’ve taken the “working on myself” goals the most seriously including the spending more time with friends and family, and especially the exercising more goal.

Exercising feels like the foundation of what’s changed for the better. I have so much more stamina .. and it occurred to me the extra oxygen getting to my brain might be the reasons why I feel more positive about things!

Sometimes I feel so fireproof after I've finished exercising I could add new things to the list I made at the beginning of the year … but so far I’ve stopped myself. Change is incremental … you can’t just do ten new things or do them differently and it happens overnight. It takes time and work to get there, but the beauty is that with even the smallest success comes a confidence boost. I really like that bit.

So far I’ve managed to achieve the finishing five items, exercising, exploring my world more (through regular crafting groups and a group that eats together and blogs their experiences), and spending more time with family and friends. And I’m going to do the same thing next year … with a new list and new things to work on.

What are you working on? Have you joined a gym but it’s hard to be motivated because there’s no-one to go with? Maybe you’re doing well with something and others could benefit from your secret. I know I wouldn’t mind hearing … I so need help motivating myself (to get those pesky renovations done) so tips on anything would be so appreciated.

Flea Market Finds

2010-08-08T10:44:00.010+10:00

On Saturday I met up with my friend Phil for breakfast in Hampton at Brown Cow, which meant I ended up travelling a little further afield than usual for my op shop fix.

I didn't find anything much spectacular but what I did find I love (although I thought the $2 price tag on it was a bit of a cheek!). I think the scene on the front is a Dutch church by a canal or river. I found a few similar tins on the Netherlands version of eBay also made for the Dutch biscuit manufacturer Patria.

It's a little battered ... but not impacted in the slightest by it and it's large enough to hold my knitting and pattern. Exactly what I've been looking for. And it's hinged, which I love on tins.

I've no idea when the tin was made ... but I found Patria were making biscuits 90 years ago and Sir Douglas Mawson took Patria biscuits with him on his exploration to the South Pole.

It doesn't look as though Flea Market Finds is on today ... I know that Sophie Isobel at Her Library Adventures is busy with Grease at the moment and I'm sure she'll be back to regular programming soon.

Friday knitting pattern

2010-08-07T15:56:00.004+10:00

The bonnets in these pattern books are a little scary looking.

Believe it, or not, this style of bonnet was popular for girls up to the early 1970s, and I remember them in glorious white acrylic with long strings with poms poms on the end. I would have loved one of them at the time but alas … yet another of the things clothes wise I never got as a child.

These are definitely something that doesn’t seem to be part of the vintage cross over going on at the moment, and I’m not so sure I’d really want to see them again.

My Creative Space

2010-08-04T16:51:00.010+10:00

A couple of weeks ago I started this cute garment from my vintage pattern stash … and opted to use Mulberry 5 ply Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino yarn and 4mm needles, instead of 3ply synthetic and 2.75mm needles.

This may not have been the cleverest idea because pattern makers don’t put warnings about the risks of not using the recommended yarn just for the fun of it. You guessed it … the pattern needs adjusting to fit a human child of real dimensions.

But the problem is I don’t have a child of the appropriate age to hold the garment against as I work out whether my modifications to the pattern are working. (I must think more broadly about who I can “borrow” of roughly the right size).

My first try for the body looked like it would fit a 2-3 year old so I unravelled it and this time around it looks like it will fit a 12 month old. But using the pattern has led to sleeves that for a much older child so now they need to be unravelled and rescaled to fit the body. Fortunately the pattern is an easy 8 stitch pattern, and having knitted the pattern a few times now I've got some valuable insights into how the garment is constructed.

Believe it or not after learning to knit 40ish years ago this is my first experience with modifying a pattern. I usually never deviate but I’m so inspired by the efforts of others I’m throwing myself into creating what I want. That’s a huge change to my world.

And I hope my Auntie M in Canada (and my cousin) like it. I’ve really enjoyed having so much lead time to make things and I’m not fussed making something that won’t be used for a while. Like most parents I’m sure she has loads of newborn baby things already.

What have you been up to … if you’ve a story to share or want to see more creative spaces pop over to Kirsty’s at kootoyoo. It’s always one happening creative space over there.

What's Hot & What's Not

2010-08-04T08:10:00.003+10:00

Lots happening in my life over the last week:

What’s Hot

Vintage sheet FQ giveaway. Five bundles of vintage sheet FQs on offer … one each to five lucky people. Drawn on Sunday 14 August. Everything you need to know is on this blog post.

Crafting. I’m working my way through some tags and knitting … and feeling pretty organised. I added a tag each to the FQ bundles for the giveaway and another I sent as part of a thank you to Ange for organising the FQ swap. I didn't get it done before the swap … and I was determined to send something. Thank you again Ange.

Vanilla slice. Both my kids are handy in the sweets/cakes/desserts department and Miss C made vanilla slices with passionfruit icing. It tastes as good as they look. Miss W and Miss C are both fantastic with custard.

Rest. I got the whole of Sunday to myself last Sunday. Of course I did a few chores … but I got to watch DVDs and knit and get a little general crafting done. I haven’t managed to get a day to myself for a while, and I got to sleep early and then rose early as a result. Such a great start to the week.

True Blood. I managed to see the first six episodes of season 3 of True Blood. I was warned it was slow to start up but I didn’t find that at all. There are lots of new characters and things happening … I think season 3 is better than season 2 which got really bogged down (and a little absurd) with the maenad plot. I can’t wait to find out what comes next.

What’s Not

Housework. This is absolutely not my priority and things are a little out of hand. I worked through the laundry over the weekend and I’m doing a little every night this week. A total pain in the proverbial … but I have to I guess.

Blog reading. I am so behind on my blog reading and commenting … I usually work really hard to stay up to date especially with commenting. There’s nothing nicer than reading comments on a blog post … even if it’s only something small. Time to learn how to better incorporate it into my day.

If you’re interested in playing I’d love to hear what’s been making your week.

Ruby Tuesday

2010-08-03T08:15:00.002+10:00

It can be challenging finding red … mostly because I’m not a very observant person and again because I don’t always have my camera with me.

I made a special effort this week to look for stuff and didn't come up with anything much by way of new photos. So I've decided to share some photos from the food review blog Eat and be Merry, for Tomorrow we Die(t) that I write for and take photos.

I'm a dedicated tea drinker and I love a tea cosy, so I was entranced at Fandango in North Melbourne with the cutest red knitted tea cosy with licorice allsort decorations.

And for my meal I had poached eggs with beetroot, spinach and feta relish on toasted sour dough. My favourite meal (breakfast) for lunch and my favourite vegetable (beetroot). Maybe there was more red in my week than I realised.

I hope your week was also delightfully red, and make sure to pop by Mary's blog Work of the Poet for much more ruby redness.

PS I'm Snooze over at Eat and be Merry, for Tomorrow we Die(t)!

Because I can ... free train travel and donations

2010-08-02T12:07:00.011+10:00

It was weird travelling to work on Friday … there were constant messages blaring telling us train travel was free.

Most of Melbourne was inconvenienced going to work last Tuesday because of a power outage, and the people who weren’t stranded for hours on trains were caught in the traffic jams created by people using their cars to escape public transport.

For some reason I wasn’t one of them … sure I spent 3 minutes sitting outside Flinder St station, and my train went directly to Flinders St rather than through the loop and I had to change platforms to catch a loop train. But that was it … and if I catch an express (which goes directly to Flinders St anyway) I have to catch a loop train or walk. In the end I was hardly put out at all.

So I felt like a fraud on Friday not swiping my Myki … and when I saw the RSL guy collecting for the Weary Dunlop Appeal I was glad to donate the cost of my train ticket to such a worthwhile cause.

I would have spent the money on nothing much, and I felt so much better not swiping my ticket on the way home knowing the government had donated to a worthy cause.

Flea Market Finds

2010-08-01T10:01:00.009+10:00

Mr H and I wandered around Frankston on Saturday and found a few things at the four op shops we visited. I also wandered up to the Salvos in Mordialloc to make a deposit … five white oval ramekins we never use, and I thought might find a better home elsewhere.

The best find for the morning was this blue and white goodness to add to my already eclectic collection of blue and white for the kitchen.

And it's sitting on top of a gorgeous Twinings wooden box, complete with tea, I found intact at the Posh Op Shoppe in Ormond a couple of weeks ago.

I also managed to find two more vintage sheets, a brand new pair of cord trousers for Mr H ($7) and brand new pyjamas for me ($3).

A good day’s work.

For lots more flea market goodness … visit Sophie Isobel at Her Library’s Adventures. Sophie seriously rocks.

Vintage Sheet FQ Giveaway

2010-07-31T09:05:00.004+10:00

I’ve mulled over hosting a giveaway for so long … and what’s stopped me is not knowing what to give away.

But it became really obvious as I put away my vintage sheets and FQs that I can quilt until I’m 80 and still not use them all.

After that it was easy … some of the FQs on offer are from the delicious stash I scored from the Ange’s Ramblings vintage sheet swap. Others are left overs from the FQs I sent into the swap. I’ve tried to divide them into vaguely co-ordinating piles based on colour or florals or patterns, and here they are for drooling.

So, how will it work?

The goodies? 5 sets of ten vintage sheet fat quarters each (5 lucky winners)
Closes? 11:59 pm EST Australia Saturday 14 August 2010
Who can enter? Anybody and everybody, anywhere in the world
How do you enter?
1. 1 entry: Leave a comment on this post about whether you’ve made something with vintage sheets.
2. 1 entry: Become a follower, and leave a comment on this post letting me know.
3. 1 entry: Spread the word on your blog and leave a comment on this post including a link to your website.
Winners announced? On my blog on Monday 16 August 2010.

Housekeeping:
1. Leave one comment or separate comments for each … I’m not fussed.
2. Make sure I can contact you eg an email address such as marybrown(at)hotmail.com or via your ID. I will redraw if I can’t contact you by email.

Good luck everybody.

Friday knitting pattern

2010-07-30T07:36:00.002+10:00

There are times the most innocuous of things can surprise or shock me … and this week it’s a knitting pattern.

I’m always trying to think of interesting ways to share the patterns I have—looking for themes or ideas of interest like a couple of weeks ago when I found a number of Starsky & Hutch lookalike cardigans from the mid 1970s.

This week as I looked at my patterns hoping for inspiration something leapt out at me immediately as I looked at this pattern … there’s a guy holding a double barrelled shot gun on the cover! Can you believe it?

It’s not the scruffy, not quite squeaky clean model holding the gun (that’s the guy next to him surprisingly), but the clean cut, perfectly coiffured guy holding the gun.

And it’s not just the once. He’s holding it possessively over and over again on several pages.

Walking in the great outdoors wearing aviator sunnies.

Get a look at the macho body language? And is it just me or is the way Mr Clean Cut is standing at odds with the “scarf wearing Benny Hill gay” look?

Checking to see whether the gun has shells maybe? And are you feeling the envy coming from Mr Scruffy? Mr Scruffy looks as though he's longing to get his hands on the gun.

I never knew knitting could be so scary ...

My Creative Space

2010-07-29T09:46:00.005+10:00

My creative space is again all about possibilities … and this week it’s about vintage sheet quilts.

Earlier this week I arrived home to the welcome sight of a very large envelope sitting on my door step in full view of the street. (PS thanks Australia Post for the care you take delivering parcels!)

What a welcome and wonderful sight ... 80 fat quarters of gorgeous vintage sheets (and only a couple already in my collection).

I love them ... so many pretty blues and purples.

And what about these piles of pretties?

I went through my pile of sheets (many of which I've found after I sent my sheets to the swap like this sheet) ... and don't two of the fat quarters I got go so well with this sheet I found last weekend?

I found this sheet last weekend too ... and I love these two fat quarters with it.

This is likely to be the first vintage sheet quilt I make ... I just love blue and green together and I've been saving these sheets. The green stripe was the first sheet I ever found.

But I love the florals from the 80s too (including the top floral sheet I purchased from etsy) ... and three fat quarters from the swap that fit perfectly. (PS Lucky ducks who scored the green/blue combination I sent in ... I found two of these sheets and it's one of my favourites.)

Thanks Ange for an amazing experience. I'm loving seeing what others got and I definitely plan on swapping again.

Kirsty at kootoyoo has lots more creative spaces to explore.

What's Hot & What's Not

2010-07-28T17:49:00.002+10:00

Last night I was thinking about the goals I’d set for myself this year and how I was tracking against them … which took off on the tangent of how long a year is and how flexible you need to be as life changes around you.

That’s really been the case for the goals I set at the beginning of the year but here goes ...

What’s Hot
EXPLORE. I feel as though I’m really living up to this. My craft is filling that artistic niche that needs nurturing, I’m trying my hands at different things, I’m out so much of the time spending time with people, and work is stretching me and making me think more about who I am. 2010 has definitely been a year devoted to growth.

Travel more. I got a little away time this month with Mum to Ballarat/Bendigo and it’s getting ever closer to Port Macquarie … about a month to go. Next month though I want to arrange somewhere overseas with Mr H before the end of the year. I know he’d like to do a little travelling and he’s a great travelling companion.

More time with friends and family. I’ve been managing to do this really well, with lots of time spent with friends and extended family. But I’ve been remiss with the people who count the most: Mr H and Miss C, and calling Miss W in Canada. It’s hard to get the balance right all the time.

Exercise more. This is the total standout for this year … I’m still doing yoga and Pilates each week and sometime soon I’ll restart the stairs at work.

Finish 5 craft items. I am so on my way and more tomorrow on the vintage sheet swap and the myriad of possibilities for quilts it’s brought with it.

What’s Not
Cook more. Yeah right!

Renovate. In whose universe am I going to get the time to do that?
I think it really needs to be put on next year's list.

So how’s your year travelling? Do you feel as though you’re kicking goals or is this year spiralling away from you? Let me know … I’d love to hear.

Ruby Tuesday

2010-07-27T11:13:00.003+10:00

I love red and I love a story that comes with my Ruby Tuesday post and this week's it's all about camera cases. I have one I bought with my camera … a big, black, bulky thing that I've never used except to store my unused lenses. It’s just too awkward, heavy and inconvenient to carry.

But it’s also awkward lugging an SLR with external flash attached, and I was so excited when I got some fabric from Ink & Spindle when I was at Sew It Together way back in May … and equally excited when Cam from Curlypops made a case for me.

It came sturdily and prettily packaged; just like a Christmas present. Cam hoped it would arrive in time for me to take to Ballarat and the Bendigo Wool & Yarn Show, and it would have if I’d left on Friday night.

And now—without further ado—I formally unveil another Cam original.

Isn’t it gorgeous? And look at the Curlypops tag on the outside ... aaaaah! LOL

As I told Cam at Cathy’s art exhibition … I didn’t mind it being “late”. What’s late anyway when I lived without a bag for two years and she was ill while she was making it. Cam’s health is far more important.

And I have another photo with my camera inside the bag ... on Miss C's camera. I'll add it when I get home tonight from work.

I am so glad I have the bag now. Thank you so much Cam. I’m yelling from the roof tops that I love it! LOL

For more Ruby Redness ... visit Mary at Work of the Poet.

Flea Market Finds

2010-07-23T12:01:00.011+10:00

Last week on Thursday night I went to Cathy’s (tinniegirl) first art show, and I was lucky enough to meet Miss I Saw You Dancing (and I can see Cathy shaking her head at me I've forgotten someone's name and I'm haging my head in shame but names just won't stick in my head). I regularly read her blog and it was so nice of Miss I Saw You Dancing to introduce herself (and it really was despite forgetting her name) … oh boy, this isn't going well.

As we were chatting my luck with vintage finds was mentioned … which I find perplexing as I spend more time envious of other people’s finds than belief in what I find. Sure … every now and then I find something I really want or like … like the glasses from a few weeks ago or even the clothes I’ve found over the last couple of months.

But maybe there’s some truth in it (or I might have found myself a lucky charm despite my unfortunate memory) because this week was totally special … I found a set of four Chinese made and style blue and white coaster tiles.

Not really vintage but totally gorgeous and completely at home in my blue and white bedroom.

What did you find? Something you love or have you been working hard and coming up with nothing? I went to 11 op shops on Saturday using public transport (Frankston line) over about 3 hours because I find the minimum is four or it’s hardly worth leaving the house: Mordialloc (2), Parkdale (1), Mentone (2), Cheltenham (3) and Malvern (3).

Sophie Isobel at Her Library Adventures has lots more vintage loveliness to share … go take a look.

Because I can … Bendigo Show

2010-07-19T11:19:00.008+10:00

On Saturday my Mum and I headed off earlyish to the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show … the first year either of us have been.

It was so worth going. My Mum was dubious beforehand and made sure I was clear that she’d be leaving the show if she got bored, and then coming back for me. She didn’t … get bored that is or head off elsewhere without me. Quite the opposite. We both enjoyed the wool and the exhibits and the sheep and the yarn and the fashion show.

Before I continue I’ll get the comparisons between Bendigo and Ballarat out of the way. Sorry Ballarat (and I can say the following because I grew up there and my family still lives there) … but you suck! You seem to think that having best tourist destination in Victoria for over 20 years (Sovereign Hill) means you’re the best. Excuse me … but people either don’t visit Sovereign Hill at all or visit once per decade. What about diversifying and creating different things that appeal to different people: sidewalk cafes, interesting shopping, alternative lifestyle anyone? Bendigo definitely knows how to support innovation and to organise things to keep you going back. I’m really loving exploring Bendigo. (Sorry … I promise to start my yoga chants and stop ranting).

And Bendigo definitely has a sense of humour ... who else would put the knitting, wood turning, hand spinning and accessories in the pigeon shed?

Everywhere we looked it was hand dyed yarn everywhere but Mum and I were very good ... I got some sock yarn in a 40 Merino/40 Bamboo/20 Nylon mix for the sock workshop I’ve signed up to in September. And Mum got two balls of hand dyed 12 ply Merino boucle to make a wrap. When she’s finished I’m going to make the same thing.

And I stopped myself from buying this tea cosy kit ... but only just. I've been longing for a simple, elegant tea cosy and this is it! I took their business card with the idea that if I still wanted it weeks or months later I would get and I can't shake the idea out of my mind. It looks like it will be mine sometime soon.

The exhibits in the hand crafts part of the show were fabulous. I don’t think I’ve seen better in any show ... and this is always one of my favourites parts. There was so much ... some were more works of art than craft like this interesting piece.

And this scarf was so much fun ...

Lunch was wood fired pizza … a delicious Greek lamb balls and feta. I think the people making the pizzas were selling the ovens but by the look of it the pizza was far more popular than the ovens. They were so good Mum and I could have gone back for more.

I also wanted to meet up with a couple of Ravelry girls … all of whom I missed: Helen (Bellsknits), Kylie (klgirlknits), Louise (WiredforFibre), and Michelle. I just never seemed to be able to co-ordinate where to meet (basically I didn’t understand the instructions). Maybe next year, and I’ll see Kylie, Louise and Michelle in a couple of weeks at the monthly lunch. At least I’ll get to see their Bendigo wool stash there.

Did you go and what did you get? Photos please … LOL

My Creative Space

2010-07-15T06:56:00.004+10:00

My creative space isn't exactly creative at the moment ... it's more a hiatus between creative endeavours.

That doesn't mean I'm not thinking about crafting because I've spent the last couple of weeks leafing through this book of geometric cross stitch patterns I picked up at the op shop.

I love symmetry and balance (so of course geometric is totally me) and these are so striking ... I'm thinking of modifying them and doing them in red and black on a cream Aida.

And these if I can ... maybe a cushion cover?

My creative place is only one of a million ... you'll find the other 999,999 over at kootoyoo.

What's Hot & What's Not

2010-07-14T08:21:00.003+10:00

This is only going to be small this week because I had the biggest news at work … a new job, which is pretty well the focus of my daylight hours and some of my middle of the night sleepless hours as well!

What’s Hot.

New job. It’s huge … it’s ginormous really. For the next 12 months I’m joining the ranks of the bosses and supervising three or four staff. After a couple of days to think about it I feel more prepared for the challenge and wonder what the next year will bring.

Sheep and Wool Show. I’m so looking forward to going this weekend. I’ve already worked out the train to catch to Mum’s on Friday and the route we’ll drive to get there, I've got the address, I have everybody’s numbers in my phone … all I need to do is pack my lunch! LOL Did I mention I was excited?

Camera bag. Poor Cam’s (the lovely Curlypops) been sick for ages so I haven’t seen my camera bag in the flesh yet. I don’t mind because I’ve done without it for so long (like 2 years!) and Cam’s health definitely comes first … but Cam is a total trooper and the bag will be in the mail sometime soon. I wonder if it comes before the weekend so I can take it to the Sheep and Wool Show? That would be very cool.

But I can't see that gorgeous Curlypops tag on the bag. It better be Curlypops branded … I want my Curlypops tag! So exciting.

What’s not so Hot.

Less time to blog. What’s with that? I can’t have my cake and eat it too?

No crafting done. I finished Miss C’s scarf and just haven’t started anything else yet … in some ways I can’t be bothered so I’m going with the flow. But I’m also sad …. I want to be working on something and I was going through my stuff last night sorting stuff out and wondering what to do next.

That’s me for the week … a mix of big and small, things of great moment and tedium all mixed together. How about you? Wanna play? I’d love to know what you’re up to …

Ruby Tuesday

2010-07-13T08:31:00.002+10:00

One of the many things I like about the red experience is that it’s made me a lot more aware of my immediate environment … which is how I found this sign on the platform of my train station.

Are you aware of whether you're are risk for kidney disease?

I know I've never thought about it.

For more ruby redness visit Ruby Tuesday at Work of the Poet.

Flea Market Finds

2010-07-11T21:27:00.006+10:00

I had a good weekend for finds but the best were these glasses ... can you believe I got six of the blue and seven of the green?

This kind of changes my colour scheme for the kitchen ... it's all blue and white/cream so far but I don't mind. I love blue and green together so I'm happy with the new direction.

I was so excited when I saw glasses as I rooted through all sorts of crockery in one of the old fashioned type op shops. The sort of op shops I hardly ever find any more.

I was even so lucky there were even half a dozen pink ones I left behind because the colour wasn't very nice.

Sophie Isobel at Her Library Adventures has links to lots more people playing Flea Market Finds ... and lots more fun flea market stuff to admire.

Friday knitting pattern

2010-07-09T08:52:00.005+10:00

I hate to admit I caught the odd Starsky and Hutch episode … but I was never a Team Starsky or Team Hutch devotee.

Best remembered, by me, from the show is this cardi (picture from Jango Wolof).

And my stash holds quite a few versions of it ... firstly from the ever popular Patons patterns.

The cardis were absolutely everywhere ... Cleckheaton/Lincoln also had a version this time with a matching hat.

And naturally enough the pattern mutated ... check out the blue version the woman on the top left is wearing in this Patons book ... and the two guys wearing a more direct lift of the 'Starsky and Hutch' version.

Cleckheaton/Lincoln also did this simpler version for women ... Miss C has one very similar to this in cream.

And I like the soft blue colour of this Sirdar pattern.

Even though Starsky and Hutch are NOT groovy in my book (they were referred to disparagingly at school recess as "Starkers and Muff"), the cardis are totally cool and very now.

And best of all they've given me a way of dating my pattern stash since there's nothing much in the books themselves ... Starsky and Hutch started in 1975 (when I was 15!).

My Creative Space

2010-07-08T09:04:00.003+10:00

My Creative Space over the last week has been a lot of fun … and very productive.

The most exciting part was the lovely sound of ripping, and then bundling, ten vintage sheets to send on their merry way to Ange's Ramblings. (PS And if you want to see LOTS more vintage sheets pop over to Ange's place ... there are more pictures there to drool over!

I was terrified at first but thanks to a really useful tutorial explaining why tearing was better (and it sure takes the pressure of cutting straight if nothing else) I was cooking with gas before I’d finished the first sheet. (I just wish I could get a job at Spotlight so I could rip cloth all day every day!).

I also finished Miss C's scarf but she won't let me take a photo of her wearing it! Instead I'll report a conversation between the little wretch (sorry, Miss C) and I … she did her usual opener which is a sort of throat-come-mind clearing and said something like “I’ve been thinking about annoying you and not wearing the scarf”

Quelle horreur, huh? Diabolical punishment, huh? I think not!

As I told her “No problem darling. I’ll just wear it myself!” And very glad I would be to get my hot little hands on one for myself after knitting two of them forothers! LOL

For more creative spaces; pop over to kootoyoo. She’ll have lots more to creative spaces to visit … and probably stories about far more grateful children than mine!

Thank you everybody

2010-07-07T21:07:00.016+10:00

I thought I'd make today a blessings day and publicly thank the people and list the good things that have happened to me over the last couple of weeks ... and there have been a couple.

Card from Jo at Joe Bloggs
I arrived home to a postcard from Jo thanking me for a parcel of odds and ends I sent her for picking which eight year old was me. How nice to get snail mail ... and a card in my favourite colours of black, red and white. I'm adding this to my cork board of favorite bits and pieces. You're more than welcome Jo.

Headband made by Nicole at Dabbling All Day
During the week I received the sweetest parcel of goodies from Nicole when I won her giveaway for a crocheted headband. Her crochet is perfect and the colour is so deep and vivid. And it came with peppermint crisp organic fair trade chocolate (sorry, it's already gone it was so good!) and an assortment of vintage buttons. Thank you so much Nicole ... including for a new favourite chocolate!

Cushion made by Christine at Acorn Apron
A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to win the giveaway on Mustard Seed Creations ... a very soft and elegant cushion from Acorn Apron. Thank you to both Christine at Acorn Apron, and also Marian at Mustard Seed Creations. I love this on my bed.

Ruby Tuesday

2010-07-06T09:05:00.004+10:00

It's tax time again in Australia and "Love Thy Tax Man" be damned!

Show me the money, I say. LOL

PS Cute display in the kikki.k shop window downstairs in the building I work in.

Lots (and I mean lots) more glorious ruby redness can be found over at Work of the Poet.

Flea Market Finds

2010-07-04T22:35:00.007+10:00

I've been quite lucky over the last couple of weeks and found quite a few lovely new things to wear ... skirts.

Dresses always seem so 80s ... the ones I look at anyway, and if I want something from my favourite period (the 1940s) I usually have to pay the extra at a vintage store.

Shoes can be good ... and so can coats, and I found a pretty red cardi on Saturday that's currently undergoing a little renovating. A matter of those strange knitted flowers at the front I'm not loving at all.

What have you found lately?

For more flea market finds ...visit the lovely Sophie Isobel at Her Library Adventures for lots more links.

My Creative Space

2010-06-30T23:24:00.009+10:00

My creative space has been fun this week and I thought I’d show some tags I’ve made ... a case of recycling the tags that come with clothing and pages from magazines.

I love clothing tags … they come in all sorts of colours and shapes and the tags of many clothing companies are quite distinctive … the red Esprit tags come immediately to mind.

And who doesn’t have an excess of magazines around the house. Well, I do thanks to Miss C who always seems to have a few kicking around.

So I like to reuse the tags to add to gifts … sometimes I write on the tag and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I add a separate tag with a message. It just depends on how I feel at the time.

Cheap and fun.

For moe creative spaces ... visit kootoyoo.

Ruby Tuesday

2010-06-29T22:30:00.006+10:00

I'm a little late ... but better late than never I guess.

I found more graffiti I just had to share ... in Union Lane just off the Bourke St Mall to be exact. Right in the middle of the city ... literally.

This time it's a huge installation ... a satirical piece on taggers (rather than graffiti artists). They're portrayed as sinister, ghoulish entities ... the whole thing's in macabre grey with the exception of a huge splash of red (for today's theme of course). The project is also so large I couldn't photograph it in one go. The lane's just too small to allow me to do that.

So here it is in snatches ... the glorious splash of red emanating from the paint can of the first ghoulish tagger.

The red's been thrown towards these graffitists. I particularly love this character at the bottom. Look at him hiding his face behind the bandanna ... and the serious hardware to cut fences etc.

Standing on his shoulders is this guy stretching across to tag a wall.

Here's a better shot of the three of them ... and sadly defaced by taggers. They just can't help themselves.

And at the top right is this strange character stretching across from the window painting the wall. Perhaps he's preparing the surface for future work?

For more glorious redness ... visit Mary at Work of the Poet.

My Creative Space

2010-06-25T08:20:00.008+10:00

I wasn't going to bother with My Creative Space this week ... I feel so blah and I’m working on another version of the same simple purple scarf, this time for Miss C. Pretty, but it's so boring to sharing the same thing every week.

So I'm going to cheat and show another project I put down a couple of weeks ago ... cross stitch hearts I plan to use for a matching pincushion and sewing roll.

On a much happier note I’m so thrilled with another creative space I have a vested interest in … Cam from CurlyPops to be precise.

A few weeks ago I passed along some Ink & Spindle fabric I bought on the Sew It Together bus tour with a request to make a camera bag that I can use for the camera when it’s wearing its flash … which it usually is.

Check out Cam’s creative space for the “oh so wonderful so far” results (and here’s Cam's photo repeated here because I’m so excited I have to have a copy too!).

It’s looking amazing. I love the black denim Cam had to hand with the Ink & Spindle fabric. The black will set it off so nicely and be such a nice contrast ... and to give it a little extra pop some black will show on the outside.

Now ... I have to wait a week until I get the bag. I know it's a week but I feel worse than a kid at Christmas. I really can’t wait.

Thanks Cam for doing such a great job and for your wonderful ideas along the way.

Ruby Tuesday

2010-06-22T08:11:00.005+10:00

Anybody who’s read my blog before or knows me knows that I believe graffiti to be a legitimate art form. It’s topical, it’s current … and I like it also because it’s underground. Graffiti artists—which I think they are—are the Rembrandts and Van Goghs of today.

Before I’m slammed for promoting vandalism … I’m not talking about tasteless and pointless tagging done by people without talent or a life. I can’t stand buildings and trains defaced by people who should be made to clean off their childish rebellion. Being able to buy a can of spray paint doesn’t make you an artist any more than getting behind a fast car makes you a racing car driver!

What I’m talking about are people with real talent. And I’m lucky to live in a city that not only understands this … but which provides them with multiple canvases to share their talent.

The location I like best is the Hosier Lane area at the top end of Melbourne … this place totally rocks.

Check out this gorgeous girl … courtesy of Deb, one of the best known Melbourne graffitists. Debs has done work for various mainstream media in Australia and has even travelled to Los Angeles for her art. I love catching her work in the most unexpected places and I’m glad she’s able to work creatively in her preferred field.

And because I can ... a few more views along Ruttledge Lane, just off Hosier Lane.

The umbrellas look fantastic and I’m just sorry I arrived after one of them had blown away and another is askew. It would have been amazing when it was first put up.

And what about this? I love this new form of graffiti ... a sort of wallpaper installation that's taking Melbourne by storm. And wickedly red!

So what do you think of graffiti? Do you think it’s art … or do you lump tagging and graffiti into the same bag and think it’s all just vandalism? Maybe your city sets aside a canvas for local graffitists to explore their talent? Drop me a line … I’d love to see.

For more Ruby Redness ... visit Mary at Work of the Poet.

Flea market finds

2010-06-20T10:00:00.008+10:00

A few days ago at work we had a number of mini lectures on the 'back'.

I don't always go to them but this subject's of particular interest to me ... of course Mr H's spinal operation. I've also been working hard to improve my back by building up my core with yoga and pilates but it's not enough when the computer chair at home is a life sentence to everybody who sits on it: the seat rocked (and not in a good way!), and there was no lumbar support. In short ... it had to go!

And so soon after I found its replacement for a paltry $15 at Vinnies in Edithvale.

It's in perfect condition ... and so comfortable. And I've given Mr H strict instructions to adjust the chair to his requirements each time he sits on it.

I had a pretty good weekend generally and found my way to four oppies in my local area, sandwiched either side of my lunch with the girls at the Mornington Peninsula and Bayside Stitchers ... the knitting group I joined via Ravelry a couple of months ago.

Vinnies, 254 Nepean Hwy, Edithvale
St Chad's Op Shop, 432 Nepean Hwy, Chelsea
Salvos, 503 Main St, Mordialloc
Lions Opportunity Shop, 497 Main St, Mordialloc

I managed to pick up a few goodies: a few more knitting patterns for the Friday share, needles, a lovely tin and get this ... five more sheets for the sheet swap! I now have at least 24 sheets, of which about half are pairs (that's 18 different patterns in total). I have well and truly exceeded my expectations of finding sheets ... perhaps I'm a sheet magnet the way other oppers attract clothing or crockery or books.

Vinnies in Edithvale is above average as an op shop for my area ... but I love St Chad's in Chelsea the best. It's like an op shop from a decade ago before they became gentrified but it has something going for it over every other shop I've ever been to ... the women who work there. They sing (especially the Italian lady) and she and one of the English women there laugh and play around together ... and they engage the people who go in there. They always make me feel happier for visiting.

I hope you all had a great 'opping' weekend ... and for lots of flea market goodness visit Sophie over at Her Library Adventures.

A spelling brain teaser

2010-06-19T16:00:00.001+10:00

This little piece of fun popped up in my inbox the other day and I thought I’d share.

Here goes ... can you think of a nine letter word in English which is still a word as eight letters are removed one by one.

Take a few minutes to see if you can come up with a nine letter word that fits the bill … or be like me and go straight to the video because you’re never going to figure it out.

Enjoy!

Friday knitting pattern

2010-06-18T10:11:00.002+10:00

I recently picked up this 1960s Patons pattern for school jumpers … in pretty well mint condition.

And hand knit school jumpers, complete with the obligatory stripe around the V-neck and cuffs, were a big thing back in the day (I love that saying).

I didn’t realise quite how big until I hunted out this primary school photo of mine … it’s my grade 3 primary school class photo from 1968.

Check out how many grandmothers and mothers have knit jumpers using the basic Patons patterns … including the school jumper.

PS Which one do you think is me? A prize to the person who gets it right.

EDITED TO ADD: Jo very quickly identified the real me ... the blonde with missing teeth seated right in the centre of the front row. I wonder if Jo had an unfair advantage having spent the weekend as my roomie at Sew It Together? Jo ... an email's on its way.

My creative space

2010-06-17T12:05:00.008+10:00

I worked hard this week—well, I had an extra long, cold weekend and more time to knit but it sounds good—and I got the scarf for my aunt done. All it needs now is a little blocking and it will be winging its way to the relatively warm location of England.

And I have confirmation that Miss C likes the pattern and colour. I never thought the day would come when she would be happy to accept a hand knit. She usually turns up her nose at the idea. So it’s off to Morris & Sons to get three more balls of the same yarn … definitely my "go to" project for train rides and stitch and bitches.

Now I need to get back to the baby clothes for my Cousin H’s first baby due in August. It’s amazing how fast her due time is arriving.

The last time my mother and I spoke about the baby she hadn’t been able to start knitting because she managed to cut herself cooking a few weeks ago (right at the top of her finger) and it hasn’t healed enough to knit. (PS But it hasn’t stopped her bowling … and winning! Priorities huh!)

I’ve managed to get a few things done so far although I’m only about half way through the package I want to send.

So here’s a teaser Auntie Mary … one cute little winter bootie so far for a cold Vancouver winter and the pigeon pair started. I just wish I had a sweet little six month old to model it for me ... I had to stuff this one with tissues so it stopped looking totally freakish and it still looks weird!

I’ll be starting a ribbed hat shortly … it’s a simple pattern and I’m thinking about making one for Miss C’s boyfriend A. The pattern’s a freebie called the Boyfriend Hat I found at Ravelry (the best yarn site in the universe), and it shouldn’t take me more than a few hours over a weekend. And the nice thing is I don’t need to modify the pattern for a baby as the yarn I’m using is half the ply of the pattern and the needles correspondingly smaller.

I can’t wait to wrap it all and send it.

If you're interested seeing more creative spaces ... kootoyoo is the place to go.

What's Hot and What's Not

2010-06-16T08:16:00.005+10:00

Another week has flown by … is it the dark of winter doing this to me or is my life disappearing without my even noticing?

Not much to report this week at my place. I feel as though I’ve hardly done anything but I guess that's not the case.

What’s Hot.

Music. I bought a couple of new CDs last week … amongst them is The Best of Johnny Nash. He’s a black Texan from the 1970s … and holds the record for being the first non Jamaican to record reggae in Jamaica. Not the reggae made popular by Bob Marley … Johnny Nash has a softer more laid back style that I really like. I particularly like his song Guava Jelly … crazy name I know and it starts off slowly but take a listen.

Knitting. Lots of crafting happening in my house at the moment … but more of that tomorrow in My Creative Space. I can’t give everything away today.

Stargate Universe. I’m not sure why I’m adding to my list of What’s Hot other than I managed to watch episodes 11-15. I have misgivings about this show given my enthusiasm for SG-1 and even Stargate Atlantis. I’m sorry … it’s hard to rave about a show whose protagonist (ie the tension that keeps the showing moving forward) is so subtle I haven’t worked out yet who/what it is. And wait there’s more … I usually drive myself crazy moaning about how unsubtle the majority of shows are because they have to spell everything out … is this a case of me feeling uncomfortable because subtlety is being used or is it just a crap show? I can’t decide and I keep tuning in trying to work it out.

Exercise. I signed up for another 8 weeks of Yoga and Pilates. I’m getting so much more flexible and it’s paying dividends, mainly in improving muscle tone ... I now have some! LOL Definitely something not seen in my neck of the woods for many a year.

What’s Not.

Cocked up weekends. This weekend things went pear shaped … plan wise. I had so much I wanted to do and none of it happened because of misunderstandings and things getting turned around by other things. It drives me crazy when that happens and in the end I gave up and retreated to my knitting and DVDs … so I guess in the end I managed to salvage at least part of the weekend.

I’ve decided to see whether others want to play. Add your name and the url of your blog post … I’d love to hear what’s been hot—or not so hot—in your week.

My Place & Yours

2010-06-15T13:19:00.005+10:00

I thought Danielle at HelloOwl wasn’t doing My Place and Yours this week … but it seems she’d only forgotten and our date is still on.

So without any further ado … my version for the treasure theme chosen by Linda of Stripey Monkey (PS cool blog name): my trusty notice board.

I’ve blogged about this baby before but it’s important to me and I’m going to do it again … so there!

It sits on the wall beside my bed and as I look at it I realise it's become a shrine to my daughter Miss W, who's overseas in Canada and won’t be home for a visit until after Christmas.

There's a favourite photo of her from when she was about four years of age, a shot of her with her best friend from her high school graduation and notes from her when she was little.

And there's other stuff as well ... print outs from the library (I must get those books back on time!)

A photo of a public meeting held in Tasmania during the 1980s … it reminds me that trip: lots of laughter, , a birthday at the old Hobart casino, driving from Hobart to Tasmania, sightseeing about Launceston and very little work really except a public meeting one evening.

Tags made by me.

Odds and sods that make up a life really.

If you'd like to play I know Danielle would love to see you over at HelloOwl.

Ruby Tuesday

2010-06-15T09:15:00.005+10:00

Last week in my other life as a food critic at Eat and be merry, for tomorrow we die(t), my fellow foodies and I visited +39 to review the best pizzas in Melbourne.

And ... hey they were pretty darn good. Mine was broccoli, pine nut and anchovy. No arguments here getting my five serves of vegetables every day and I love the saltiness of anchoves on pizza. Totally yum!

Not only is the food good, but each table scored this tasty condiment set in glorious red ... it makes everything taste so much better.

PS... Any ideas of where the name +39 comes from?

For more ruby redness pop over to Mary T at Work of the Poet.

Flea Market Finds

2010-06-12T09:36:00.008+10:00

Every now and then I luck on a little something different ... and I use the word luck because I'm usually not looking for anything but knitting patterns, shoes and vintage sheets.

The first thing is a full set of Qantas Max Altitude playing cards.

Not worth much but in pretty good condition and definitely a piece of Australian aviation memoriabilia.

The other thing is this full set of mathematical flash cards ... I loved this sort of thing when I was a kid, and perfect for altered projects.

Pop over and visit Sophie Isobel at Her Library Adventures for more awesome flea market finds.

Friday kniting pattern

2010-06-11T21:43:00.004+10:00

My stash of knitting patterns mainly between the 1940s and 1970s must be getting close to two feet high (I kid you not!) and yet there’s so little in it I can actually be bothered to make for myself.

This is just about the only pattern that serially calls to me … a cute 4 ply Sirdar pattern (probably English judging by the 7½p for a pattern from the 1970s).

My problem with patterns (knitting, crochet or sewing) is that I’m shallow (or maybe short sighted?).

The garment has to be in a setting or colour that doesn’t detract from the garment itself. Most of the time I don’t seem to be able to get past someone else’s colour choices or the yarn or fabric to see the garment’s possibilities.

But there was nothing to get over with this pattern. I was drawn to the pretty blue of this simple top. I like the layering over a groovy white blouse. And I like the model … she looks exactly like the girl next door.

Now to track down whether I can still get Sirdar 4 ply and a maybe purple yarn at that … the Patons 5 ply I bought the other day just won’t cut it so it’ll stay in the stash for a future project.

My Creative Space

2010-06-11T08:46:00.010+10:00

I decided to take a little break from the baby stuff ... not because I'm bored but because I wanted to make something to send to my Auntie Roz in England.

You see I "borrowed" a photo from her when I was visiting England last year and, while I thought I'd returned it ... it turns out I haven't and I wanted to add a sweetener as a thank you and apology, combined.

The photo's important to both of us because it has my Dad (the litle sweetheart in the centre rear) and my Auntie Roz (front left) in it ... the County Modern School winners in the 1948-49 South Northants Sports. Believe it or not each of these kids are the same age (15) ... my Dad was only ever about 5' 6" in height.

So I trawled through Ravelry and settled on the Lime Scarf. I was going to use the recommended yarn (Rowan Lenpur Linen), but anybody who's ever looked for Rowan yarns in Australia will know how hard they are to find unless you buy them online. So I plumped for Morris & Sons yarn again but this time the 6 ply Paddington.

The yarn's a 6 ply 80% bamboo /20% merino which is soft in a way bamboo does so well, with a little of the sheen of cotton. A really nice yarn and the scarf is knitting up so quickly. I started it on Wednesday and I'm almost half done already.

I modified the pattern a little too. The first thing I did was to cast on less stitches so I'll end up with a blocked scarf of 12" rather than an unblocked scarf of the same width. The lace is also not as open as the pattern as I'm only using 4.5mm needles and the tension isn't 4 stitches to the inch as recommended. I'm not worried though as the pattern is still easy to see, and it'll open up more when it's been blocked.

I hope Auntie Roz likes it ... I"m planning to make another one in the same colour for Clarissa it's so cute.

PS For more creative spaces visit Kootoyoo.

What's Hot and What's Not

2010-06-09T20:08:00.002+10:00

There’s not so much on my list for this week … but the things on the list make me feel closer to achieving my New Year’s Plans for 2010. It’s as though they’re part of some deeper change that’s happening as my life changes.

What’s been Hot

Chatting with Miss W. I talk more with Miss W now she’s in Canada than I ever did when she still lived at home, and I find myself looking forward to seeing her more than even in December/January when she’s coming home for a visit. I just have to get her care package organised so she actually gets it before she arrives home. I love you darling girl … you’ll be my baby forever.

Changing my blogging routine. I feel positively freed up. Blogging every day about something good was really starting to bore me. I felt as though I was committed to two blog posts per day and if it’s not fun it’s time to move on. Asking myself the question for the last six months has taught me something about myself—that I am a positive person—and I don’t have anything to prove. Enuff said!

Being busy. I’ve been busier than ever getting out and about. Spending time with family, blogging, going to crafting groups like NCB and Perle8, crafting and eating out with friends for the restaurant review blog are taking my life in exactly the direction I want to go.

Snail mail fabric. I got some of the Kokka Loving London fabric from Pepperberry & Co on Etsy. I got it as a journal cover at Sew It Together and absolutely loved it (the cover and the fabric!). It’s perfect for the black and red quilt I want to make and I love the ‘Britishness’ of the fabric. I just had to get some as well as a natural linen to ‘match’. I think it'll be a while before the fbric is properly organised … I'm going to let this one evolve.

Planning the August trip. My Mum and I are off to the Lake Macquarie area in August to visit my Mum’s brother and to do a little sightseeing. We got the cheapest tickets (two for one deal) and neither of us are in the slightest put off by the colder weather we’re likely to experience. I love the awesome power of the ocean during the winter and I’m hoping we can stay somewhere nice around the lakes so we can take advantage of the views. Any and all ideas of places to stay and visit are more than welcome.

What’s Not been hot

Thinking about a job interview. I haven’t given this a thought since the interview over a week ago. But it was mentioned yesterday in my weekly Section meeting and now I find myself thinking about it. I personally don’t believe I had a snowball’s chance of getting the job and I’m not sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to find out either way … I just don’t want to think about it either way!