would you like ice with that?

It's November. 

We should not be sweltering like this.

I don't think I am going to be able to stand another 5 months plus of this.

Arrrggghhhh!

I will end up like Little Black Sambo's tigers- a pool of melted butter (or rather- fat).

Note to self- do not leave an open jug of water in the fridge along with a lump of rancid brie, that ice cold water will not be refreshing in the least.

I spent this morning running around like a lunatic organising the last part of the proposal I needed to get in and with no air-con in the car at the moment things were not nice. By midday I was exhausted and ended up heading home with the intention of getting some 'homework' done. Sadly no work done. I did wash the couch cover and a quilt, perfect weather for it, the only thing this weather is good for!

So the studio will be sweaty tomorrow but I really need to get on to all those summer clothes I've been promising everyone. My own little 'sweat shop'.

9.45pm update The other reason I hate hot weather is that everyone on Gertrude St goes a little crazed when the evenings are hot. Some idiot has just smashed one of the panes in the front window, scared the shit out of Jethro who was sleeping on the big table in the middle of the shop and I've had to spend the last 3/4 an hour cleaning up and patching the window. I will now have to organise a glazier in the morning and there goes a couple of hours out of the studio tomorrow. Why? Why? Why? Stupid senseless destruction. Grrrrrrrr.

You'd think I would be used to living in the inner city after all these years.

sun day

As you may know I hate this weather.

I'm as far from being a summery type person as is possible. Especially hot and humid. Around here it equals red and sweaty. Mind you when it's hot and dry I am actually quite sparky and pleasant to be around.

This morning I scooted down to Sophia Mundi for the fete, a bit quiet this year with lots of hats and sun-screen out. I always forget how busy it is down at the Convent these days. There was even a wedding being set up in one courtyard. It feels like a corner of France and I always feel a little disorientated when I leave. 

I got to check out Coco's class room and her amazing assignment on snow leopards. Each child chose an animal and put together a book on their subject, made a clay sculpture and a needle felt critter. Sorry for the bad photo, her mum's hand was shaking too much!

Cleaning got put on hold (again) as I had to get a proposal written this afternoon. Well and truly procrastinated on that one and now I'll have to run around tomorrow to get the last stuff together and get it delivered. Oooops. Think it's ok. Oh well. Typical.

Definitely need a nap now.

And some way to get the house clean whilst I nap. I seem to have mislaid the 'self-clean' button. Damn.

the devil's cloth

Ahhh Saturday morning, here again.

How the weeks fly by.

I've spent my morning running around, sending  off parcels, picking stuff up at the studio, getting the papers and making Jethro wear his kitten harness (he escaped yesterday and poor Dell had to chase him down the street, so back to shop training, although he's so headstrong I don't think it is going to work, at the moment he's lying on the shop floor having a tantrum).

Now school is over for the year (bar a bit of marking entering) I'm trying to get in the zone. The zone where I am head down, making, making, making. This week's new stock includes new tea-towel cushions (if they grew legs they couldn't leave the shop faster!), more tea-towel shoppers and, making a return appearance after many years, quilted tea-towel jackets. Tea-towel theme happening there!

For something different we also have sleeveless dresses in black and latte stripes, hence the 'devil's cloth' title. 'Devil's cloth?' I hear you ask..... wish I could find my copy of Michel Patoureau's book to give you the full lowdown but basically stripes were always worn by the near-do-wells, gypsies, tramps and thieves, harlots and heretics. So if you want to live life on the wild side we have a lovely frock for you to wear.

felix

I bought myself a Lomo camera last Xmas. So far I have managed to fire off one and a half rolls. Pathetic really. It even took me months to get the first roll developed and this week I finally got a few images printed up. That was a problem in itself. Gone are the days of enlargers and choice, now it's all automated, scanners and limited possibilities. 

Sometimes technology does not free us.

Especially when you go lo-fi on the camera.

But I kinda like the images, although they looked better as transparencies.

The ghost boy is Felix.

We are related.

He is one of my five nephews.

Sometimes I just forget how nice it is to just do something creative for the fun of it, not to make a living. So much of my creative life is tied in with my everyday professional job and sadly there is often little time or energy left over to just play.

I've got piles of film I should really use.......

beware the scare-penguin

The interweb thingy has been severely playing up this week. 

Annoying beyond belief.

I'm thinking of setting this scare-penguin on my internet provider. He guards a fabulous wog garden down the road. 

So my apologies to all those people whose emails I haven't had a chance to reply to. I will get there sometime soon.

Fingers crossed.

Sic 'em Rex!

fetelicious

The Sophia Mundi Spring Fair is on this weekend- and it's back on a Sunday so I can go this year! 

They always have the best sausage sizzle and the craft tent is always good for a Steineresque felt doodad. The' kid's tent' has my friend Suzie and I wanting to mug the younger set for their purchases (adults aren't allowed in, children get to peruse and buy the most beautiful and whimsical  handmade objects). And of course it's down at Abbotsford Convent, where you feel like you're in the country but only five minutes from the city. While you are there you can go to C3 gallery and see Simon McEwan's exhibition, take a drink at Handsome Steve's and pick up a loaf of bread at the bakery. So glad that we managed to save them from turning the Convent into another ghetto of apartments and townhouses.

And there is the Children's Farm too for that whole country feel.

Too much fresh air!

how to make the people at the post office smile

Yesterday I got a home to find an Australia Post reminder to come pick up a parcel. 

So I tootled down to the post office, stood in the queue, handed over the card and waited while the man went out the back to find the parcel. He came back to confab with the post-lady saying he couldn't find it. After reading the card a huge grin spread over her face, she laughed and turned to check out the person who had come to pick up the parcel addressed as follows......

I never get mail like this!

How lovely!

Dear Fran the Seamstress sent me the loveliest letter and two (!) gorgeous and very beautifully made vintage tie brooches. I do have to say I love an 'old skool' letter and Miss Alison knows how to write a damn fine one. 

I've been thinking a lot about letters lately, Bright Star is all about letters and there was the article in the weekend papers a couple of weeks ago about Amish teenagers courting each other with love letters. Just as we are all getting back into making things and giving the handmade, isn't a personal letter, on paper, handwritten or typed with care, one of the highest forms of craft? It takes time, it takes heart and it communicates and connects so deeply.

Thank you Miss Alison. You have made me feel very special.

Oh -and I'll be wearing the spotty one on Thursday.