all images courtesy of old classic car forum, UK.
Hope you are having a lovely weekend!
xo
Thursday
I meant to do my work today
I meant to do my work today...
But a brown bird sang in the apple tree,
And a butterfly flitted across the field,
And all the leaves were calling me.
And the wind went sighing over the land
Tossing the grasses to and fro,
And a rainbow held out its shining hand...
So what could I do but laugh and go?
Richard Legallienne
Just found this in my son's 'bought home from school pile'...grateful that it was there.
xo
my creative space.....a sweet light voice
I just can't seem to get enough of wool felt at the moment...I have been cutting out a few circles for a Christmassy project...not sure how it's going to work just yet, but enjoying a play.
There wasn't much light when i took these shots this morning. Perhaps it matches my mood a little, as after I took ~ my sweetness and light ~ to care this morning, for the second time ever I cried on the way home.
I just want to know she is being listened to, but that's hard with other distractions around. I do know she really enjoys her time there, it's just me at the moment, feeling torn. When she is with me, most times I can give her the attention, and bend down to listen to her sweet voice. You know, really tune in. If there is ever a time I don't understand her, she just repeats herself, and i try again....sometimes over and over, until 'i get it'. She is quite articulate for a 3 year old, but you know we have those times, when she is trying out a new phrase or sentence, and she is very good at persisting (even shouting), to get me to understand. Sometimes, I'll even get right down to her level, and bend down to try and get what she is trying to tell me. It reminds me of this phrase...'Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! (Psalm 116:2 *New Living Translation). I feel pretty awed by that.
Isn't this how our children learn to communicate, love and feel cherished, and grow healthy self esteem, in being valued and listened to?! As I'm getting older, I am valueing more to listen, rather than to talk (doesn't mean I don't always have a lot to bang on about!)
Listening to that soft, quiet voice, not always necessarily the loudest, gives way to understanding.
I am off to see what bright and lovely spaces are being made over here.
xo
There wasn't much light when i took these shots this morning. Perhaps it matches my mood a little, as after I took ~ my sweetness and light ~ to care this morning, for the second time ever I cried on the way home.
I just want to know she is being listened to, but that's hard with other distractions around. I do know she really enjoys her time there, it's just me at the moment, feeling torn. When she is with me, most times I can give her the attention, and bend down to listen to her sweet voice. You know, really tune in. If there is ever a time I don't understand her, she just repeats herself, and i try again....sometimes over and over, until 'i get it'. She is quite articulate for a 3 year old, but you know we have those times, when she is trying out a new phrase or sentence, and she is very good at persisting (even shouting), to get me to understand. Sometimes, I'll even get right down to her level, and bend down to try and get what she is trying to tell me. It reminds me of this phrase...'Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! (Psalm 116:2 *New Living Translation). I feel pretty awed by that.
Isn't this how our children learn to communicate, love and feel cherished, and grow healthy self esteem, in being valued and listened to?! As I'm getting older, I am valueing more to listen, rather than to talk (doesn't mean I don't always have a lot to bang on about!)
Listening to that soft, quiet voice, not always necessarily the loudest, gives way to understanding.
I am off to see what bright and lovely spaces are being made over here.
xo
Tuesday
walnut boats
A simple toy for a day -
Ingredients: walnut shells, wool felt, toothpicks, modelling beeswax.
My kids picked these summery colours from the felt box....
Hope your week has been smooth sailing so far...
xo
Monday
a yak on the water
No, I don't mean a shaggy bovine folks! I thought I would share some pics of my hubbie's kayak fishing trip on the weekend...not cause I want to show you any gory pics of fishies...(not too good at that stuff, I'm too wussy), but because it's always looks so lovely on the water, relaxing and peaceful. I just love the idea of exploring little nooky bays, and the quiet of it. Hubbie has a Hobie fishing kayak, and loves it, it's powered more efficiently by pedal than paddle, and very stable on the water. (apart from a little tip-over last year, when he lost his fish-finder...that really was the one that got away).
This trip was at Little Swanport, on the East Coast of Tasmania...
This trip was at Little Swanport, on the East Coast of Tasmania...
jetty...
pelicans....
more pelicans...the best fishers
shanty on the shore...
something about this tumbled down weathered building is so serene...
pedals sans feet
And, for those who are wondering, we did have some Australian salmon patties for dinner.
xo
Thursday
vanilla snap biscuits
I was asked by Susie from Flowerpress for the recipe for these delicious cookies...and thought I would share with everyone, as really, they are so very easy, and will have your kitchen smelling of vanilla. These biscuits are a favourite in our house!
Recipe is by Donna Hay (Modern Classics 2).
185g (6oz) butter
1 cup caster (superfine) sugar
1 & 1/2 ts vanilla extract
2 & 1/2 cups (all purpose) plain flour
1 egg
1 egg yolk, extra
icing (confectioner's) sugar to serve
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C (350F). Process the butter, sugar and vanilla in a food processor until smooth. Add the flour, egg and egg yolk and process again to form a smooth dough. Knead the dough lightly, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Roll out the dough between sheets of non-stick baking paper until 5mm (1/4 inch) thick.
Cut the dough into shapes using cookie cutters. Place on baking trays lined with non-stick baking paper. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden. Cool on wire racks. To serve, dust with icing sugar. Makes 45.
my recipe footnotes:
We don't using the baking paper when we roll, mainly because my 'helpers' like to see the dough squishing underneath as they are rolling - i just use a little flour on the pin...they do stick a little but it's not too bad.
We usually eat them 'undusted'...just as delicious.
We seem to have amassed quite a range of cookie cutters, but if you need a good supply source, these from Bisk-art are made in Australia.
happy baking
xo
Recipe is by Donna Hay (Modern Classics 2).
Vanilla Snap image by Drizzle and Dip
1 cup caster (superfine) sugar
1 & 1/2 ts vanilla extract
2 & 1/2 cups (all purpose) plain flour
1 egg
1 egg yolk, extra
icing (confectioner's) sugar to serve
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C (350F). Process the butter, sugar and vanilla in a food processor until smooth. Add the flour, egg and egg yolk and process again to form a smooth dough. Knead the dough lightly, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Roll out the dough between sheets of non-stick baking paper until 5mm (1/4 inch) thick.
Cut the dough into shapes using cookie cutters. Place on baking trays lined with non-stick baking paper. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden. Cool on wire racks. To serve, dust with icing sugar. Makes 45.
my recipe footnotes:
We don't using the baking paper when we roll, mainly because my 'helpers' like to see the dough squishing underneath as they are rolling - i just use a little flour on the pin...they do stick a little but it's not too bad.
We usually eat them 'undusted'...just as delicious.
We seem to have amassed quite a range of cookie cutters, but if you need a good supply source, these from Bisk-art are made in Australia.
happy baking
xo
my creative space - shape and colour
Happy Thursday! We've been mucking around with all sorts this week...lots of time for playing at home, and baking, and sewing, and eating outside again, now that the weather's turned. It's been good.
Do hope your week has been lovely.
Head over to Kirsty's creative space, to see what other peeps have been doing.
xo
Wednesday
Decorations...how do you do?
There's nothing like receiving an Ezibuy Christmas catalogue that just screams 'mass manufactured in China'.
I rang Ezibuy just after I started the Dottie Angel Challenge of the Upmost Kind, last year, and asked them to stop sending me their catalogues, after all why did I need the temptation?...save paper, etc.. and now I've finished the challenge, the deliveries have recommenced (I said I would only need to cancel the subscription for 1 year), so they are now bombarding me with all the Christmas....stuff.
I'm just so over tinsel. Don't even get me started on those faux pine Christmas trees in white.
Ok, maybe, there are some things that appeal...like I just can't resist the twinkly lights. Especially the starry and snowflaky ones. I don't even mind that we don't do snow Down Under in December (except for one very freaky year about 20 years ago, when I and it settled in Hobart.)
Maybe I'm just feeling a little over stimulated by all that faux colour.
Honestly, I just don't know how I feel about baubles. It's just all too much for me, I guess I'm just a simple gal, with simple ideas about tree decorating. I have no qualms about my tree being less beautifully decorated than the Jones' next door.
I like the idea of sweet, handmade, kid made, things hanging off the branches of a tree that we plucked from the side of the road, and in turn did some good for the environment by eliminating another weed. The upside is that you get that piney resiny smell from the pine, not the plastic.
I rang Ezibuy just after I started the Dottie Angel Challenge of the Upmost Kind, last year, and asked them to stop sending me their catalogues, after all why did I need the temptation?...save paper, etc.. and now I've finished the challenge, the deliveries have recommenced (I said I would only need to cancel the subscription for 1 year), so they are now bombarding me with all the Christmas....stuff.
I'm just so over tinsel. Don't even get me started on those faux pine Christmas trees in white.
Ok, maybe, there are some things that appeal...like I just can't resist the twinkly lights. Especially the starry and snowflaky ones. I don't even mind that we don't do snow Down Under in December (except for one very freaky year about 20 years ago, when I and it settled in Hobart.)
Maybe I'm just feeling a little over stimulated by all that faux colour.
Honestly, I just don't know how I feel about baubles. It's just all too much for me, I guess I'm just a simple gal, with simple ideas about tree decorating. I have no qualms about my tree being less beautifully decorated than the Jones' next door.
I like the idea of sweet, handmade, kid made, things hanging off the branches of a tree that we plucked from the side of the road, and in turn did some good for the environment by eliminating another weed. The upside is that you get that piney resiny smell from the pine, not the plastic.
xo
Sunday
Friday
Friday at 'the hive'
I headed into town this afternoon, and had a cuppa and a chat with the effervescent and energetic Kristan from the Craft Hive. I must say that place is looking specky, it's probably all those lovely vases of flowers from next door at the Flower Room, or maybe it's just the array of handmade goodies adorning the shelves...it's probably a lot to do with the craft hive queen running the show. Whatever, it has a lovely vibe.
I had a 16 flag bunting to bring to Kristan, as she ordered a custom one for the shop a while ago. (no pics -blogger is on strike)
Then, I spent an hour or so cruising around Spotlight...which actually was a pleasant trip for a change...the staff seemed friendly, and chirpier than usual, and I found what I was after!
It's going to be a cold, cold weekend, - we are expecting snow down to 400 metres tomorrow!
Have a great weekend readers!
I had a 16 flag bunting to bring to Kristan, as she ordered a custom one for the shop a while ago. (no pics -blogger is on strike)
Then, I spent an hour or so cruising around Spotlight...which actually was a pleasant trip for a change...the staff seemed friendly, and chirpier than usual, and I found what I was after!
It's going to be a cold, cold weekend, - we are expecting snow down to 400 metres tomorrow!
Have a great weekend readers!
Thursday
Kokka star set for Houston
Remember a while back, I posted about this?
Telling you that this was coming?....
(Ruby Star Rising Fabric, designed by Melody Miller)
All you fabric collecting aficionados, this gorgeously retro collection is coming to a stash building shop near you soon (after the Houston Quilt Show), early Summer down Under!
And, if you want to know how tough it can be, as we all sit and daydream (or maybe it's just me), about how very cool it would be to actually launch our own fabric line, have a look at this post from Melody's blog.
Moral of the story: never give up on your dreams.
These 'wet your appetite' pics, are also from Melody's blog.
I love them all, though I think the 60's vintage dishes is my fav....now, what to make?
Click here for more pics and the full story on 'the fabric'.
xo
Tuesday
vintage goodies fair
This is something for us Hobartians to get excited about! A vintage fair!
'Racks filled with fabulous fashion spanning over two hundred years. Boxes full of photographs of fashionably dressed men and women. Shelves bursting with crisp, starched French and Irish linen. Polished wooden cabinets full of glittering jewels. Exotic textiles from lands far beyond Australia’s shores draped across tables. Umbrella stands full of parasols, umbrellas and walking sticks. Hat stands bedecked with exotic creations from milliners’ workshops. Walls covered from top to bottom with original fashion drawings. This is what awaits you at The Way We Wear Fairs.'
Antique, Vintage and Retro Fashion, Textiles and Accessories
MASONIC HALL, 5 SANDY BAY ROAD, SANDY BAY (OPPOSITE PARK)
ADMISSION - GOLD COIN ($2).
TIMES - FRIDAY 15 OCTOBER 6PM-9PM SATURDAY 16 OCTOBER 10AM-5PM
SUNDAY 17 OCTOBER 10AM-4PM
Check out their slide show here.
Check out Fair dates for 2011, all over Australia, here.
'Racks filled with fabulous fashion spanning over two hundred years. Boxes full of photographs of fashionably dressed men and women. Shelves bursting with crisp, starched French and Irish linen. Polished wooden cabinets full of glittering jewels. Exotic textiles from lands far beyond Australia’s shores draped across tables. Umbrella stands full of parasols, umbrellas and walking sticks. Hat stands bedecked with exotic creations from milliners’ workshops. Walls covered from top to bottom with original fashion drawings. This is what awaits you at The Way We Wear Fairs.'
Antique, Vintage and Retro Fashion, Textiles and Accessories
MASONIC HALL, 5 SANDY BAY ROAD, SANDY BAY (OPPOSITE PARK)
ADMISSION - GOLD COIN ($2).
TIMES - FRIDAY 15 OCTOBER 6PM-9PM SATURDAY 16 OCTOBER 10AM-5PM
SUNDAY 17 OCTOBER 10AM-4PM
Check out their slide show here.
Check out Fair dates for 2011, all over Australia, here.
According to this website, 'To look totally unique, vintage clothing is the way to go and some of the best vintage pieces can be found online at sites run by expert curators who pick through the trash to find real treasure. Wearing vintage clothing sets you apart from the crowd and it's fun to play with pieces from different eras, mixing a Victorian day dress with a hippie fur vest. When you wear vintage, you can be sure you won't look like anyone else.'
Maybe it's that, but maybe it's just that we are sick of hearing people being exploited to clothe us, and maybe we just want to lessen our ecological footprint.
Maybe it's because clothing from even as little 30 years ago, was made to last, fibre manufacturers took less shortcuts, hence finer cloth was produced to make those garments. While vintage clothing isn't necessarily cheaper, it's certain that it will never come again.
I also quite like the fact that there is an era for every body type, from the straight up and down flapper dresses from the 20's, to the cinched in waists of the 50's.
1950's sheer chiffon dress by
What's the reason you like vintage?
What's your favourite vintage era?
Monday
garden party treasury
oh......pretty excited that my wind wand that I posted earlier today, as been featured in an Etsy treasury.
xoxox
(I'm so excited!)
See it very clearly here.
It's quite an earthy autumn garden party treasury....but we 'South Hemispherians' can still appreciate it, I'm sure!
(I'm so excited!)
silk wind-wand streamer
Finally!
I'm very happy to say these are now listed in the store.
It took me an unbelievably long time to get all the components together on this little project, unforeseen hiccups, and finding a really good woodturner (who would LISTEN to my stringent requirements!). But I didn't want to give up on it....and am really happy with how they have turned out. I've had them available at the markets, but only today are they on-line (I get excited about the little things, ya know!).
They sell for around $16.00 AUD, plus postage, and heavens above, I have a somewhat limited supply for the first batch, and once these babies are gone, it may be a while before I can get another batch on the brew.
So, if you want one for a Chrissy present, please don't leave it too late! That's all I'm saying...
Have a super, duper week peeps!
I'm off for a walk.
xo
I'm very happy to say these are now listed in the store.
It took me an unbelievably long time to get all the components together on this little project, unforeseen hiccups, and finding a really good woodturner (who would LISTEN to my stringent requirements!). But I didn't want to give up on it....and am really happy with how they have turned out. I've had them available at the markets, but only today are they on-line (I get excited about the little things, ya know!).
They sell for around $16.00 AUD, plus postage, and heavens above, I have a somewhat limited supply for the first batch, and once these babies are gone, it may be a while before I can get another batch on the brew.
So, if you want one for a Chrissy present, please don't leave it too late! That's all I'm saying...
Have a super, duper week peeps!
I'm off for a walk.
xo
Sunday
Fibre burn chart
You just never know when you may need this...check the fibre content of your fabric with this chart.
Happy (safe) burning!
xo
Saturday
a mountain of festivals
So, so many school fetes, a bi-ennial Wildflower show, Olliebollen festival, the barn market........even a mountain festival, all happening this weekend.
I just love October in Hobart!
I just love October in Hobart!
Do hope you have yourselves a wonderful weekend dear readers.
xo
Friday
no chocolate!
All I can find is a box of additive laden Cheezels. Who put those there??! That Nutella in the pantry just ain't gonna cut it either!
It's not an ordinary Friday night.
Thursday
my creative space - entanglement
How many hair clips do little girls lose? The answer is quite a lot!
So many in fact, that I was getting tired of replacing Beth's with lovely handmade ones, because it was starting to get expensive...the solution:
I came across this seller 'mimumee', who sells the basic alligator clips that we love...add some ribbon, a hot glue gun, and some embellishment, and we're done!
The two clips on the left were just needle felted, then I finished with some machine stitching.
The blue / cream one is simply circles of wool felt, and you can't go wrong with a pretty button.
Now we can tame that curly entanglement once more!
Do head over to Kirsty's for some lovely creativeness, won't you?
xo
chenille
Have I ever told you I am a chenille fan?
Currently I have a stack of bedspreads filling a cupboard (fabric stash takes priority over other bits!).
I love everything about those old bedspreads...the potential of that soft, cuddly, and texturally superior fabric is endless. My fav bibs I have made, have been made out of chenille. I have never been quite brave enough to make myself some chenille trousers though!
Here are some other gorgeous chenille goodies I found while scouting around....
Currently I have a stack of bedspreads filling a cupboard (fabric stash takes priority over other bits!).
I love everything about those old bedspreads...the potential of that soft, cuddly, and texturally superior fabric is endless. My fav bibs I have made, have been made out of chenille. I have never been quite brave enough to make myself some chenille trousers though!
Here are some other gorgeous chenille goodies I found while scouting around....
Birdie rattle, by Aussie Etsy seller leahkl
Patchwork Rag Quilt also by leahkl
Yellow cushion by Aussie seller, Sweet Chenille on Made It.
iphone ipod case (chenille inside) by US Etsy seller, SeaSideSew
Sling pouch by Tractor Girl on Made It, from OZ.
Cupcake from Emily's Crazy Cakes
Chenille is the French word for caterpiller!
Monday
vintage LOVE bunting
My current favourite is this:
I'm so happy with how it's turned out, I really want to keep it!
I do love bunting and I do LOVE vintage!
xo
Sunday
market report
I'm sorry to anyone who may have popped by the market today, and couldn't find me! I've been feeling a bit under the weather lately, and I'm so grateful that my wonderful hubbie kindly offered to go in my place. Despite feeling a little guilty at 'leaving the lot' with him to sort out, he did a lovely job, even made some sales, which of course I am thrilled about. I had to wake the poor darling up even earlier today, with the first morning of daylight savings, so he missed even more of a sleep in (Sunday's are his day's, Saturday morning's at mine!)
I was a bit sad at not being able to catch up with my market comrades, but also very excited when my first 'vintage linen' bunting sold -here is a pic of what it looked like....
I was a bit sad at not being able to catch up with my market comrades, but also very excited when my first 'vintage linen' bunting sold -here is a pic of what it looked like....
It's kind of feminine and floaty...and it matches the lovely weather we had today.
I just love daylight savings - it lifts my mood just thinking about it!
I plan to sew up more flags of this fabric, (fortunately I have some left) - and will pop it into the shop soon.Hope you all have a lovely week.
Keep smiling now, won't you?
xo
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