Tuesday, October 30, 2007

I Saw A UFO, & Nobody Believed Me

Another Nowra-cloth

I've decided to embellish, randomly and ad-hockly, the quilt for Little P, and thus rendering it a UFO, destined to float around the house to be picked up, embellished by hand, and put down again, and therein begins the vicious cycle.

A finished custom order, for a new born - I like to call it 'pini with bloomers'.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Flashback Friday - Favourite and Best Toy


This is me with my big sister, Leah, in South Africa taken in 1970. I am holding my little horn-blowy-thing that I took EVERYWHERE with me for AGES - even in the surf as you can see! I can't remember what eventually happened to this toy, but that's okay cause I'm able to leave the house without it these days!

Leah has her goggles on and is studying the bottom of the rockpool, this is funny because she later went on to do 1st class honours in Bio-chemistry, so she always had and enquiring mind. I didn't go on to win any ARIAS for playing trumpet needles to say, but hey, I still love light purple, one-piece, cozzies and going to the beach!

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Secret Dog's Business


This is one of the linen finds from Nowra hanging on the line, trying to get some rust stains out of it. So many op shops in Nowra, I bought a couple more, but wanted to post this picture because I managed to capture Kabuki, our red cattle dog, rolling in something in the corner - probably a bit more of Kabuki than you really needed to see!

Secret Children's Business





I found about 8 of these images when I was downloading some photos today, I had no idea Little P even had the camera, not sure what this show is, but it's on the ABC, she managed to capture the logo - gifted AND talented!

Monday, October 22, 2007

Useful Stuff




I made this sewing machine cover with a 60's screen printed place mat that I found at the Oppy, there was only one of them, but I had to have it - after the classic 'what are you going to do with that?' convo, I finally worked it out - so here is what I've done with it. the print is signed 'Coq Dor' so no guesses what I'm going to call my sewing machine cover!

Back to Life, Back to reality


Had a great time down south, Culburra beach house was a dream, and just to keep it that way, this is the ONLY photo of the whole trip. Big D accidentally wiped all the pics whilst trying to free up some space on the camera, then the battery went on the camera, fated not to have a pictorial memory of our trip!

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Flashback Friday - Handmade


This is my Sister, Gran and Mum (you can just see my legs and my favourite green playsuit behind my Mum) all looking rather resplendent in our handmade (by Gran) outfits, I just love my Mum's pink, puffed sleeve chiffon number, and my sister's pant suit!


Taken in Zimbabwe somewhere circa 1971- not sure where, will have to check with Mum, no doubt we were heading back to the car to continue on our road trip somewhere.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Swapping Stuff


I just fell in love with Jade's pincushions as soon as I saw them, and now I've got one - and as you can see, I've put some pins in already, I was tempted to colour code the pins - had to resist that urge! We had a little impromptu swap and I made her little one a dress for summer! Jade, I hope it fits her soon, they look pretty good with T's underneath if it doesn't fit till Autumn, and thanks for the extra goodies, I'm in the process of collecting trim, for Little P's quilt, I'm going to sew on all sorts of trim/dollies fabric etc, in a very ad-hoc, random sort of way - so that was timely!


Parker and I went visiting this morning, we went to a friends house for morning tea and a play, I was so inspired by her gorgeous, organised home that I came home and immediately started throwing away all the tatty bits of plastic that have bred in our house, if it's crap and or broken then over the next couple of weeks it's going in the bin - never to be seen from again! I'm in total defenestration mode, going to be ruthless!! I'm not sure how it all got here, and when it started to take over, Big D must be in hell, not only does Parker's stuff take over the floor and bench space, mine does too, I've got way too much fabric migrating into the dining room at the moment, the thing is though, I think if I can't see it, then I'll forget to use it! Ridiculous I know.



Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Making Stuff





This coming Monday, we are going for a little break here:


And so, I've been busy making things for the trip. A couple of beach bags, one for Little P and one for Mum (first and last matchy, matchy). And a button down skirt made from previously mentioned vintage brushed cotton, we are in the process of trying to take a good full body shot of me in my hand made skirt, proving difficult tonight, or I'm just a diva, I've deleted a few already. So I'll post that when and if it happens!

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

More Alphabet fun

Just in case you aren't sick of me yet, here's something that might tip the scales, I've been tagged again, and again by that talented minx, Ingrid! Here’s how it works:1. Players must list one fact, word, or tidbit that is somehow relevant to their life for each letter of their first or middle name.2. When you are tagged you need to write your own post containing your first or middle name game facts, word, or tidbit.3. At the end of your post choose one person for each letter of your name to tag.4. Don’t forget to leave a comment telling them that they have been tagged, and to read your blog. C = Has to be CRAFT. It nourishes me on a daily basis, keeps me feeling and looking eccentric, just the way I like it! (Wish I had another C, for COLLECTING) L = LOST - just like 'Emily' A = AFRICA - my birthplace, and a place I love I = INTUITION - I love and hate having acute intuition, sometimes, I'd rather not feel the way I do about situations/people etc. MOST of the time it's a blessing, and I should listen to it - always. R = RUDE - yup, I've got a very smutty sense of humour. E = ECCENTRIC - (refer to C,L,A,I and R). I'm tagging: Jade, Cathy and Fiona

A is For...

Some crafty animal blocks to make, B for Beaver? Don't think we have those in Australia (although it does resemble a platypus) it's printed in Australia, with designs from an American Artist. I like the Cockatoo a lot.
A rather drunk looking Koala


A guilty looking vulture


And my favourite - Mystery Animal?? This won't cut it with Parker, she will HAVE to know what it's called, and if it has no name we'll have to give it one.



Monday, October 08, 2007

White, Plastic, Italian, 60's!


What's in the bowl?



Guzzah, a melamine picnic set!!
I found this at the Op Shop today (the 2nd hand Universe has been very kind to me lately). It's atomic 60's at it's best, so sturdy and well made. I will be imaging the good times this has seen every time we use it!
I also found the brushed cotton this is sitting on, and I've told Big D that I'm on a fabric diet, so will have to slip this into the stash without showing it off to him first. Such is the life of an addict.

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Flashback Friday - Nana Love

Ethel and Fred, out for a walk - my Gran preferred to be known as Jenny - must have seemed a bit more modern at the time.

I love these mocked up photos, there is a few of my Gran around this time, I think you can still do this in shopping centres!

Gran on one of her visits to Zimbabwe, check out the size of those bulls in the background on the right! We don't seem to mind, there's bananas to be eaten!

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Neighbours....Everybody Needs Good Neighbours

I just want to get something off my chest re. my neighbour's neighbour's 9 year old boy. Our neighbours to the left have 2 girls aged 4 and 9, and their neighbours to the left have 3 boys, 2 teenagers and a 9 year old called Max. (No chance they will read this, I'm friendly but very private!) Max is (or was) very close to left side neighbour's 9 year old girl, they've grown up together, but the girl has outgrown him, nonetheless, he is ALWAYS over there, playing with the littlest girl. It bothers me, because I don't want this kid playing with my Little P - I think 9 year old boys should play with, well other 9 year old boys. And here, in brief is why I think this. About a year ago he was playing with the little girl (so him aged 8, her aged 3) and he was yelling at her that she was a "stupid lesbian" she was asking him what that was, he explained, in a 8 year old boy way (that's when I first thought, note to self, Parker isn't going to play next door - when he is there). A couple of months ago, I was indulging in a little Nana Nap - and Max is playing next door, out the front of their house with littlest girl, as per. I can hear them clearly and out of the blue I hear the wheelie bin slam shut and the little girl screaming, and Max laughing his head off, I think, oh great he's put her in the bin, and he had! Then he lets her out, and consoles her, and promises if she gets back in the bin he won't close the lid, she gets back in - and bang, he shuts the lid, this is really starting to piss me off, she's so little, so I say out loud, "right that's it, I have to say something" just as I am at my front door, the little girl's Dad appears and says, "Max, don't put her in the bin please". I go back to the comfort of my bed, cross, but at least he's stopped putting her in the bloody wheelie bin. THEN the other night, neighbours to the left are having a Footy Grand Final Party, and I can hear Max playing down the side bit of our houses (shared bit down the side) with the little girl, he's yelling at her "Stop lying, it's NOT YOUR Birthday" she insists that it is, and he gets really irate, and smacks her, I don't know where he smacked, I only hear this, cause it's dark, and then he says "I'm sorry it had to come to this, but it is NOT your birthday" (what an odd thing to say). Now the little girl cried, but I don't think she 'dobbed' on him. Not sure if I should say anything to the neighbours to my left, I know that I'd want to know, but don't want to be "Nosy Beryl" as big D is prone to saying when he takes the piss out of me! There, I've shared, it's nice having a public place in which to vent/brood/sulk/showoff and or otherwise off load!

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Chic Not Shabby (as they say on e-bay)!


I couldn't wait to use some of the vintage fabric I found yesterday, this skirt is for a little girl who is 1 and a bit, hope it fits, I haven't made her anything for about 6 months and they grow so fast, and easy alternation if not. I trimmed it with vintage yellow gingham, and didn't iron it before I took the photo - but you get the idea.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Op Shop Tuesday


A morning to shop, unencumbered, and finally some vintage fabric at the Op Shop. I was beginning to formulate a conspiracy theory revolving around one of the sorters stashing all the 60's fabric for her daughter to make library bags out of!
Any way, paranoid theories aside, I felt very lucky carrying my stash home, thinking of all the possibilities, skirts, dresses, pinis, going home to do nothing but sew for the rest of the day - so I'm home now...and nowhere near the sewing machine, and looking at my very messy house. House-work is not my favourite OR my best, anyway I'll get on to it, and knock it on the head in no time, just as soon as I've had a look at the crossword!