red quilt

so, ummm. here i am trying to get some solid work done on number one of the list (which does involve sitting at my computer, but not umm... reading blogs). and already i'm distracted. to my defense, the kids aren't in bed yet and don't show any signs they will be soon - so until they're asleep i can't devote total concentration to the writing of a business plan.*

anyway - i've been watching little snippets of this beautiful quilt project, all around some of my favourite blogs. it's a bit of inspiration for the quilt for Ari (the not-yet-started-though-promised-for-more-than-a year-now quilt). he likes red, and i wanted something that wasn't dinosaurs or cars or any kid / boy generalised thing. and something that would continue to look beautiful for many years. if i'm going to make a special quilt, then i should make it really special.

have a look around at these places:
Kootoyoo
Maika Creations
Clutter Punk
Badskirt
Craftapalooza

there's a whole rambling tumble of amazing bloggers who are quilting in red - check out the list here, and the photos here. Can't wait to see the finished piece of work.

Okay, good night. Back to my 'real' work.
* just wanted to mention for any of you thinking of starting your own (craft) business, the business plan writing is a very important aspect. its a living, breathing document that can change with you as your business ideas change and evolve. so, don't skip past the writing of a business plan - take your time and think about it.

** photos are from Maika Creations and Clutter Punk. Click on each photo to visit their flickr sites. Used with permission, thank you.

doing ::

i have a long list of need-to-get-done. writing it here may keep me accountable to finishing it all in a timely manner. some things on my list are work related, some are personal, and some for the family.

work ::
write business plan + financials
think of name for this new venture
get a wiggle along with sewing stock for the Racecourse Rd Steet Party Market
organise new business cards, swing tags, etc to be printed
(this is the edited list)

family ::
finish bag with Ari
make kids at least two new outfits each
source fabric for quilt for Ari - I'd love your advice on any fabrics you can suggest that a 5yr old boy may appreciate
finish binding on Mishi's quilt
make fabric baskets / buckets for kids room for storage
make shorts for Sam
make placemats for dining table (can you believe we only have store bought ones!)

me ::
finish organising craft room
cover + hang all my inspiration boards
get through my mound of paperwork (which includes doing our tax)
make myself some pin cushions (only have some piddly little thing that looks like an over spiked echidna)
make some new skirts + dresses for myself for Summer
make one of these lovely little rabbits for a cousin (who's about to have her baby)
read through my new craft books and actually make some projects from them
make some new cushions for the chairs in my craft room. something like this


So, where to start.......
Please follow me along, as I attempt to cross things off my list.

** Bamboo photo was taken at Sydney Botanical Gardens, while on my holiday; it saddens me the way people write on plants like this, yet is also looks quite interesting.
And one of Mishi + me, playing games last night (using the computer photobooth camera).

model shoot on the front steps

ari took these sweet photos of mishi, on the front steps of our house.
i was inside sewing frantically, to finish the gift for a dear sweet little friend. and sent them out to take some photos, which they both love doing - him the photographer, her the poser.
i managed to get a few of him, with my film camera, wearing the digital around his neck and looking oh so grown up. i'll have to film developed soon, and show you those.
mishi is wearing the beautiful outfit i bought at the market from Blossom Child, the pants are fantastic red striped, with great little pocket details. ari wants some, seriously i want some. these are beautifully crafted clothing, pieces that will transcend any season or fashion trend, and i imagine will outlive anything a child can throw at it. i'm hoping to see these on the next generation of children (considering i think i have finally admitted that having a third child just isn't right for us, much as i love the dream/ideal of it.).

apart from looking at week's old photos, and ignoring the mess of the house, i've been working on the business plan, financials and doing endless hours of research (which the kids don't really believe is work - get off the computer, mum).
i'm also planning (in my head) the stock i will be making for the Racecourse Rd Street Party Market in less than a month away (ummm 3 weeks, who's counting). more on this soon.

also, today is sam's and my 5th wedding anniversary. we've been together 11 years, but it's always nice to have two different anniversaries to celebrate. the kids went to my sisters for the evening, and we went to see "inglorious basterds" - very fun, though quite gory movie. and totally packed out; i guess it only just opened this week.

too darn hot

Today is too darn hot. 33 degrees C (90 F). I think Spring decided to skip this year - straight on from Winter to hottest Summer.
I do promise sometime soon there will be some proper crafting and sewing and designing. Let me assure you there is lots and lots of behind the scenes work, that I can reveal very soon. I'm itching to tell you all about it.

A few photos from our Sydney trip.Quote reads

"I love fools' experiments,
I'm always making them"
Charles Darwin.

not stupid

Photos from our glamorous movie premiere in Sydney.
Look at us three women. don't we look very sophisticated and grown up and all that - i actually don't think that we are; just good at pretending.Kelley, Sylve and me (hailing a taxi - i know what i'm doing, don't i!)Kelley, Sylve and me - on the green carpet at the launch of Age of Stupid. It's a really excellent movie - do go out and see it. A story about climate change, told from the future - with wonderful little views into everyday-people's lives from today. And some just terrible quotes from people, who think they care about the environment yet they don't want a wind farm in their back yard because it'll ruin the view!
The US premiere will be 21st and 22nd Sept. It will be screened all across the States, via live satellite. This is a movie with no advertising budget what-so-ever, yet a strong and important direct message that needs to be seen. Check where your local screening is.
Let me tell you that she, my sister, looked this gorgeous every day of our holiday, regardless of if she was in jeans and boots or her dress-up outfit.Ben and Kelley in their vintage and op-shopped green carpet outfits. Beautiful couple.

building up my library

i'm building up my library of design, craft and inspiration books. whatever i may pass it off as, my Sydney holiday bags came home a tad bit heavier!
oh - we visited the most intoxicating bookshop, Kinokuniya. Sylve + i could have spent all day in there. i think we showed quite a good bit of restraint in our purchases. also, their prices seemed actually cheaper than i had anticipated.

i'm going to try and review them for you over the coming weeks, as i know i really enjoy having little insights into books from other artists and crafters. oftentimes seeing the cover (on Amazon, etc) isn't enough to let me know if a book will be as beautiful as i imagine. if there's one in particular that you are interested in hearing more about - do let me know and i'll write about it first.
if you happen to visit Sydney anytime soon, do visit Kinokuniya; but make sure you plan a few spare hours for the pleasure. and have lunch at the little cafe right at the exit; we had a delicious homemade soup with cheese and apple (very Japanese, serving us some apple pieces - a lovely and thoughtful end to a simple meal).

The Garden at Eichstatt (though mine is a different cover) - beautiful botanical prints.
corsage for weekday ... accessory for everyday - sweet little flowers and corsages broken into 'weekday', 'corsage for sweet lovers - date', 'sometime get dressed - party', 'saturday and sunday with sunshine - weekend'. The styling is just lovely. And the patterns at the back, while written in Japanese, are very easy to understand with well illustrated instructions.
Felt Work Fun - felt things - bags, necklaces, accessories, seat bags, carpet and other little trims and details. Has templates to photocopy or trace, and fairly easy to understand instructions (written in Japanese).
Happy Homemade vol 2 - clothing for children age 5 and up. i'll let you know how easy the patterns are to use, when i get started on them. Suitable for girls and boys
Start Walking - for boy and girl - clothing patterns for younger children up to about age 5. The instructions look very easy to understand, excellent illustrations.
Textile Designers at the Cutting Edge - this will be one that i use and love for the rest of my life (i'm assuming). A pretty pink ribbon ties the pages together. Many many hours of inspiration in this, i can tell.
Juxtopoz Tattoo (for Sam) - this looks like a very intricate and amazing display of some fantastic artworks - bodyworks. it's organised by each artist, which is a really good way to find a style or artist you particularly like, and follow their work. check out this link to see some of the images - it is very very mind blowing that people can draw/ink like this, and that people can withstand that pain.also in the pic is the newest MixtapeZine, issue 10, which was waiting for me when i got home. a bowl of random sewing things - pins, scissors, and assorted clutter. and my new toy - it's all mine and i don't have to share it with anyway. sweet little thing it is. and did you know that Mac has the greenest 'puty you can buy (or so their marketing literature says).

and the winner is......

my sister picked a number, this morning, for the draw of my little giveaway.
the purse and fabric goes to number 14, who is Sandrine - she blogs here, and sells her exquisite hand felted pieces here.
i was chatting with Sandrine the weekend before last at the Boutique Market, and she is a beautiful, friendly and generous woman, so i'm glad she won this little giveaway.



*****
Also, if any of you live in Sydney, or know the city well - i'd love some ideas of lovely places to visit. my sister + i are going down on wednesday, with our friends Kelley + Ben.
we have scheduled lots of child-free shopping time - hours and hours of carefree wandering. interspersed by some visiting the art gallery and the stitches and craft show. as well as the most decadent looking high tea (where we've already decided that we'll bypass the cucumber sandwiches in favour of extra chocolate fountain).

*** beautiful photos are from Sandrine's Etsy shop - thank you for letting me use them.

a giveaway

Well, I promised a giveaway. And yesterday was filled with wonderful, busy, tiring things. So here it is today.
Can I just say, though, that yesterday I visited Nook, for the second time in a week. I bought a beautiful brooch, made by States of Nature, (also dropped off some Red Seed Studio stock). Nook has such an excellent selection of handcrafted items. Michelle really has done an amazing job filling her teeny little room perfectly - it's the sort of place that you want to take home at least one of everything. And in my opinion most homewares stores stock the same old thing, so it's lovely to see a local who is stocking beautifully crafted and sustainable items.
Then, we went and bought a new computer (still waiting for it to arrive - don't you hate spending lots of money and not being able to bring your new toy home then and there. Have to wait until Monday). After that the kids and I had d-e-lic-ious chocolate tart with gold leaf at Pearl cafe in Woolloogabba. I loved that Ari noticed the cart next door, at Nesting Bird Interiors, full of our Red Seed cushions. Was also fun watching people stop and pick them up while walking into the shop.
We headed up the old worn stairs, full of memories, to visit Danielle at Nesting Bird, and found a sweet little ceramic bird to bring home as a gift for a little friend. And a wind up old tin toy for Ari. I've written about Nesting Bird before, and each time I go in there I love exploring and looking. Such a beautifully styled place.
The Logan Rd section at Woolloongabba has finished all it's roadworks, and looks super cute with old-style looking lamp shapes for the lights, made of fun coloured plastics. Its a lovely spot to spend a few hours exploring.
So get out this weekend and explore your own backyard, and support your local shops and products.

******

But before you dash off, do please enter my giveaway for one of my little zip purses and a piece of fabric. I'll draw the winner on Sunday night, so I can get it posted before I leave for Sydney early Wednesday morning.This purse is made from our own hand screen printed hemp/organic cotton, printed with the Lipstick image. The back is an indigo-dyed denim, really great colour. And fully lined with hemp / org cotton as well. I've got one of our fabric panels in the bamboo print for you to do some of your own crafting.To enter, please tell me about your favourite local handcrafted store and why you love it. Or what you'd love to see if you did have a local store.
Enjoy your weekend, dear friends. xxx

hail in the dark

we've had a lovely day of sprinkles of rain.
threatens of thunderstorms.
double rainbows outside our windows.
replanting some of our pot plants (well, Sam + the kids did that, while I was inside researching and writing and planning a very exciting project that I'll reveal soon soon soon, lots more writing and researching to go).
enjoying a brief visit with friends.
and a very special farewell-just-about-to-hit-the-road visit from my dad + brother (who arrived home, yesterday, from 3 months walking the mountains in India), and my sister + nephew who were driving them back to their homes in the bush.
and the kids jumping the fence to play sandpits and kick the ball around with our new next door neighbour kids.
and having afternoon tea parties on our back deck
and lunch
and coffee
and chasing the hail that fell tonight.
directly as soon as the kids were out of the shower
so we had to let them watch the small blocks of ice fall
while still in their towels.
and Ari + me watching the last remains of the lightning from across the other side of the city, across the ocean.
and reading new stories, that Sam brought home the other day
about dinosaurs and bees.
and settling two little creatures into bed.
and a quiet house, with the quietish city noises.
and more writing and figures waiting for me at the dining room table.

I hope you had a lovely day.

*************

I also want to say a very big thank you to all of you who have given me such beautiful and warm comments and words over the past weeks. Moving house has been more intense than I imagined, and it's been wonderful to have you all so caring and thoughtful about us. I do so appreciate each and every comment and thought from you all.

Also, I'm planning a giveaway tomorrow (or Friday), so please come back to visit then.

glass

One of the big things I'm loving about this new house is all the little spaces for us to fill with all our things. In the last house everything was jam-packed onto a few (mainly one) shelves. And turned into clutter, rather than beautiful things to look at.
Now we have this sideboard, which the previous owners left here, that is topped with a cluster of our collected bottles. Both Sam and I like old bottles quite a lot. Discovered all over the place, some dug out of the dirt at houses we've lived in, some spied at the back of a shelf in an op-shop, some given (generally by my parents, who understand our old glass bottle love). With the little mirror at the back, it's all green-whitey reflections. Right now there are some orange nasturtiums that my nephew brought me for our house warming party. I can see it from where I sit right now. More corners coming soon.

quiet market days are good for chatting

Today I had my first market stall at the Boutique Markets at Portside. A cold and dark morning (5am wake up), turned into a gloriously warm Brisbane day.
If you've never been over to Portside before, do come by next month when we'll all do it all over again. It's a lovely venue and the quality of stallholders is very high and very friendly. Including some BrisStylettes ~ Ruby2GoGo, BlossomChild, Hot Toffee, Rellesh, Little Diva, Taybian Design, Sandrine Marsh.
The sprinkle of customers who came by where lovely, and admired (a smaller few bought). Being Ekka weekend, we should have expected the quietness.
Anyway, one of the good things about a slow and quiet market is, you can chat with your lovely guest helpers.
Firstly my sweet and dear dear friend Christy dropped by, with Brian and their kissable little Oliver. They brought me a box of stock I'd left at home. And they took a Peppermint Mag home with them.
Ms Kelley herself stopped by a few moments (silly people making her miss ferries, and then other silly people arriving an hour early for their appointment meant she didn't even have time to sit down before she had to rush home again).
The most talking and dreaming and planning was with ever so stylish Danielle. She's just returned from an adventure in US. Visiting friends, and exploring felt exhibitions. Wearing the most adorable red scarf she'd knitted herself, and stripey red stockings. If she and I have our way (which, we will), there is amazing exciting fantabulous news in the coming weeks. So stay tuned.
I did come home with a perfect little outfit for Mishi. I'll take photos and feature it tomorrow, as it really does deserve it's own post!

Good night. xxx
*sorry, photos are from the Boutique Market and Portside websites. Left my camera at home this morning.

Nook - opening tomorrow

19 Browning St, West End, QLD, 4101.

If you live in Brisbane, then you really must make the time to visit a new store that is opening tomorrow.
A lovely looking little shop :: handcrafted :: local :: ethical :: eco :: recycled :: funky.
I haven't yet seen the shop, but I've visited the blog many times. Enjoying the views of the setting up. And I've chatted with Michelle (of Pedrosprout) about it. About how she found all the fit-outs on Ebay - they look like great finds, beautiful piece, not regular shop fit-out at all.
And I've spied the pieces coming in. A few I know personally; Beckybean (sisters Bec and Jade), Edward & Lilly (beautiful and intricate embroidery), Hot Toffee, Scampsville, Peppermint Mag, Paper Boat Press... as well as a handful of others.
Red Seed Studio will be there, too. As soon as I get on top of all my orders and printing and sewing.
Brisbane really is a lovely place to live. So many exciting things happening and starting. The handcrafted movement is in full momentum. People are taking notice. Regular people. Not just crafty people.So, pop in to Michelle's shop and support a local business who is supporting handcrafted.

*All photos from the Nook site, with thanks.

empty

on the last day of our old house, i took some photos.
wanted to remember our space.
where the kids spent the first years of their life.
where sam and i met each other, and grew to know and love each other.
where our life was.
the rooms look so familiar - i chose and painted those colours.
yet the rooms look so foreign in their emptiness.
no noise and laughter.
none of our collections of us, our life, our things.
trying to view these rooms, this house, in an unemotional, unattached manner.








this is the before photos, with all our "pieces of life."