tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70496938636721537822012-01-28T12:57:05.435+11:00cottage industrypenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.comBlogger11201100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-51073816546679010692012-01-28T10:16:00.000+11:002012-01-28T10:16:22.713+11:00

Vintage floral linens make me happy. Yesterday I started cutting and sewing new batches of cushions. I couldn't work on the damn Swiss cotton dresses because I ran out of cream thread and needed to get buttons (which I discovered last night I had already bought) and I couldn't finish the skirts because I had no 20cm invisible zips, my haberdashery wholesaler was off on a long weekend so

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-13727189316029465562012-01-27T09:24:00.000+11:002012-01-27T09:24:01.674+11:00

Thursday felt like Sunday. Sitting in a backyard, eating good food, enjoying the breeze and the chat and not actually 'celebrating' Oystralya Dai. I'm scared of the flag waving, the cars with flags attached, the face painting, the jingoism, the xenophobia. But it's nice taking a day off to hang with friends. Now this morning I am all over the place- is it Friday, Monday or another Sunday? I"m

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-87805296687261697882012-01-24T22:53:00.000+11:002012-01-24T22:53:50.220+11:00

Thankfully the humidity is sticking around 30%, it may be hot, hot, hot but at least I'm not a greasy pile of sweatiness. The studio isn't actually too bad and I've spent the last few days working on a new batch of dresses. Lovely Swiss cotton floral voile. The components are all ready to go, the skirt bits, the bodice and the facings, they just all need to come together, then lots of button

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-9582650623024666972012-01-23T09:09:00.000+11:002012-01-23T09:09:23.774+11:00

Fingers crossed any day now my internet connection will click back over and we'll be back to full speed again. Of course this means you won't have to hear any more complaints on that front- although I am sure I can find something else to whine about. Jethro and I spent most of yesterday on the bed snoozing and reading. I'm wishing I had a real weekend, one where you get a day to rest and a day

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-52011250422750180312012-01-21T10:09:00.001+11:002012-01-21T10:14:48.202+11:00

Have a close look at that jacket- 3D flowers! Traditionally the last Friday before Oystralya Dai is marked in the diary (if I had one) as Fryerstown Friday. We jump in the car and head off to attend the Fryerstown Antique Market. It is always hot, plain hot or extreme hot, and very dusty, this year was mainly pleasantly hot, sweaty but not stifling and everyone seemed in a much more relaxed mood

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-82982893163926522932012-01-19T09:08:00.000+11:002012-01-19T09:08:04.761+11:00

A bit of late evening strawberry jam making. I let this batch boil over whilst I was ferreting in the shop cupboard. The strawberry man came around the other day, a January Fitzroy tradition, where the growers send their excess stock out to be sold door to door. Back in my restaurant days you never knew what produce would walk on the door during harvest time. Quite nice when the fruit comes to

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-52602687986172573452012-01-18T09:52:00.000+11:002012-01-18T09:52:55.344+11:00

Apologies for the weird nerdiness of yesterday, just blame it on serious lack of sleep. I'm slowly knitting that ravelled sleeve and feeling a little more together. Maybe the hot nights are at fault too, although I don't really notice it when we have dry heat, which we have been having, rather than any humidity. With dry heat I just end up thinking 'oh was that 35℃? I didn't notice' whereas 35℃

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-88553627710157934832012-01-17T10:10:00.002+11:002012-01-17T15:00:08.594+11:00

Excuse my absence for the last few days but I have been on a journey into Geekdom and back through Nerdistan. As you know I've been complaining about the throttling of my internet speed over the last few weeks and I have to own up that it was totally my fault for downloading 'Game of Thrones' right at the start of my billing time and during peak hours instead of in the darkness of off-peak

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-56247811514564834362012-01-14T10:24:00.002+11:002012-01-14T10:28:08.647+11:00

My morning is in disarray, hopefully I will be able to catch up on lost time! I just caught myself taking a deep breath and willing myself to slow down before my head explodes. ( I hate it when people say 'breathe', if I wasn't breathing in the first place I'd be what is technically called 'dead'. Those self help mantra posters and plaques make me want to do something violent and destructive.)

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-33997992453866468112012-01-12T21:45:00.000+11:002012-01-12T21:45:50.467+11:00

I have to say Norden was quite nice to put together. I didn't have one moment of Ikea-angst during the whole build. He was an absolute pleasure. This picture was taken earlier in the day, he's now decorated with some cookatoos, a pile of tins, a collection of Johnston Ware Jamboree plates, a long compartmented wire basket and the start of a regiment of storage boxes. Nothing has gone into the

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-74818074010257607782012-01-12T09:48:00.002+11:002012-01-12T10:53:43.465+11:00

The extent of creativity here at the moment has been hanging tapestries and waiting for the delivery truck from Ikea to arrive ('any time between 7am and 1pm, they'll text you half an hour before' and I am really hoping it is before 11am......). Yes, I have made a decision. I've gone with the Norden, all 48kgs of it, I'm planning to lug it upstairs piece by piece. The wall has been patched and

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-22978279032766568452012-01-11T10:07:00.000+11:002012-01-11T10:07:08.331+11:00

I really am being quite lazy. I'm doing things, running about but in a very half-arsed way. Yesterday was another trip to the optometrist's as they managed to totally stuff up my new prescription. A lovely more experienced lady did the tests this time and bingo! The test specs were perfecto! Hmmm. I had such a hard and depressing January last year and am taking things differently this year as I

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-81692524133854258862012-01-10T11:51:00.000+11:002012-01-10T11:51:27.398+11:00

They say that dreams are the 'clearing house of the mind', I say 'gee thanks for those nightmares last night'. As I have said I am a bit paranoid about one of the GSIs (Gertrude Street Irregulars) ripping the new doilies off the tree after hearing one of them say on Saturday that 'it's strangling the tree'. Well founded paranoia it seems as someone did manage to damage a foot long piece

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-84231148966194171282012-01-09T09:44:00.000+11:002012-01-09T09:44:03.753+11:00

My internet connection is driving me completely and utterly bonkers. It is so slow and then pages won't load and picture scroll down about a centimetre and then stop. In this particular case I am not a patient person. Perhaps it's payback for teasing Jen for the last couple of years for being on dial-up! I loved lying in bed yesterday listening to the rain. I ventured out sleepily to get the

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-91302732554450107352012-01-07T09:45:00.001+11:002012-01-07T09:48:46.171+11:00

I ventured out yesterday. A little unproductive op shopping on the outer northern fringes. Vinnies Epping seems to be the home of some seriously bad art that I was almost tempted to buy. It was also the home of a seriously funky bad smell and escape was necessary (this sentence contains the only use of the word 'funky' I will permit, as in bad, wrong, off). It also has some quite good furniture

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-90775044853559840502012-01-05T20:52:00.000+11:002012-01-05T20:52:15.694+11:00

I spent today out the front frocking up Miss Magnolia after she got stripped bare by one of the Gertrude Street Irregulars on New Year's Day. Oh my, she is looking stunning! She's lost her 'Miss Havisham' look and is glowingly white- until the rain and cars send her tattered grey again. People stopped to thank me for re-doing her and a car pulled up for its passengers to take photos. I am

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-43035535714603993182012-01-05T10:40:00.000+11:002012-01-05T10:40:09.404+11:00

Popped down to Ikea last night to pick up the brackets for the New Project and was excited to see they have a new product instore- Pållett. I feel this new system is ripe for a bit of hacking! It's a bit 'earthier' than the usual finish of Ikea products but I think they are possibly tapping into the whole industrial look. Can't wait to see it appearing in The D-Files home profiles!

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-66744615489401440302012-01-04T10:06:00.000+11:002012-01-04T10:06:34.736+11:00

I had grand plans to post yesterday that the shop was open again after the Xmas break, somehow it just didn't happen- so better late than never, the shop is open again! I managed to finish the screen door re-vamp, Jethro has climbed it, he's found it a little saggy on the right side but he hasn't managed to tear it yet so thumbs up. I patch painted marks on the walls, moved stuff around, packed

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-54718414788748730382012-01-01T22:15:00.000+11:002012-01-01T22:15:44.117+11:00

I moved very slow today. Don't really know why, yes it was hot but not overly hot inside even though I forgot to shut the windows and keep the heat out. I tend to keep the windows open to let any breeze to creep through. Tomorrow though I think I should shut the house down. I managed to get a bit more of the shop done but I started to feel queasy and lethargic and just had to crawl upstairs. I

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-1265069276225657662011-12-31T12:35:00.000+11:002011-12-31T12:35:39.957+11:00

It is peaceful here in the Vale of Sloth. I got up and out this morning as I always do on a Saturday but rather than a quick dash to get the papers, bread, milk it seemed to take forever. Holiday brain in control. I dawdled and wandered and got lost in Piedimonte's  supermarket (would much have preferred being at Leo's but too far to travel this morning). Normally I race on Saturdays to get

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-21980667049497290162011-12-29T19:16:00.000+11:002011-12-29T19:16:15.247+11:00

I got the bread baking bug yesterday, a nice crusty loaf of rye/white sourdough.  I'm happy with this loaf, it's not perfect but it's yum. I love a good bit of rye toast with honey, Tasmanian CWA creamed honey in this case with Pepe Saya handmade butter, I know, I'm such a wanker. Today I ventured out to Bunnings, felt like I needed a good nap when I got home. I now have some supplies to start

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-20174551318828740672011-12-28T14:35:00.001+11:002011-12-28T15:52:33.663+11:00

After a day of picnickery yesterday the hammer, chisel, paint and brush have come out today. Just couldn't help myself. Of course everything I have started has come with the 'oh god, why have I started this....' and now I have walked away from it all leaving piles of crap in my wake. Jethro came downstairs took one look and retired to the thunderbox (last Xmas's project) outside for a snooze in

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-66502668225796037752011-12-26T21:50:00.000+11:002011-12-26T21:50:49.400+11:00

Our new family member, Sam Junior, a little bundle of ridiculousness for Dad to play with. Xmas Day was a mix of turkey, nephews, kitten and crazed weather. I ended up in a traffic jam caused by the storm and sent out a huge thank you to the SES volunteers for chainsawing trees off the roads. Boxing Day. Sleep, tea drinking, book reading, trashy afternoon TV watching, pyjama wearing all day.

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-57697782104953194272011-12-24T09:16:00.001+11:002011-12-24T09:16:34.537+11:00

I've just dropped a cheesecake on my big toe. You'd think that wouldn't be the most painful thing but said cheesecake was in a Fowlers Vacola jar and has split my toe open and left a bruise. Non-usual food in jars is my latest obsession. Except when they land on feet. Cheesecake did not survive but it did manage to hold most of the jar together so it was a bit less dangerous as I limped about

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-69598658785658198202011-12-23T09:51:00.000+11:002011-12-23T09:51:11.524+11:00

I just raced out the door this morning to realise I didn't know why I was running around like a mad thing. The bank wasn't open, I didn't need to go to North Fitzroy until tomorrow morning, nowhere else I needed to go was open, so I did a U-turn and headed back here. A symptom of Xmas I think, furiously buzzing  like a bluebottle in a jar. I have vacuumed the shop ready for opening, I am

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-85214050029149202182011-12-22T14:45:00.000+11:002011-12-22T14:45:16.484+11:00

Afternoon all. Been on the go since sparrow's fart. Actually that's not true- having put clean sheets on the bed last night Jethro and I slept a lovely sleep and only got out of bed when we really really had to, so a quarter past sparrow's fart is probably more accurate. The Cottage got in yesterday's edition of Broadsheet. To our amusement the writer thinks we sell knitted hats covered in

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-56567688314338955622011-12-21T10:00:00.000+11:002011-12-21T10:00:11.904+11:00

We are a nice little community along here. Visitors even say we are the nicest part of Gertrude Street. We have magnolia trees and little cafés (Sonido, Radio and Breizoz Creperie). We have been known to hang out on the footpath and chat, we send customers to each other if we don't have what they are looking for and we just compliment each other very nicely. If you are heading west from

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-56770150888958004202011-12-20T11:08:00.000+11:002011-12-20T11:08:24.017+11:00

Jethro has picked up on the Xmas vibe. He really doesn't like 7 days a week shopping, he doesn't like the feeling of being excluded on the other side of the screen door and he is curious about all the fussing and high energy. Yesterday morning he went out the back quite happily but then when I closed the screen door he sat and screamed at it and finally threw himself against it until the door

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-84144100330844536442011-12-19T22:25:00.000+11:002011-12-19T22:25:54.955+11:00

I ran off to the city today. I needed some time away from the shop and I desperately needed to run a few errands, like buying a new pair of jeans and getting my eyes tested. Choosing a pair of glasses wasn't fun, rather like trying on bathers, someone really needs to develop new mirrors and lights for shops like this. Do I really look that ugly and blotchy? Sigh. Poor Anna was left alone in

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-53886088902641829622011-12-17T09:50:00.001+11:002011-12-17T09:50:20.552+11:00

Normally I try to get a nice Saturday type photo for a Saturday blog post but I just haven't had the time or energy this week. I've just spend 15 minutes trawling through old photos and phone photos to decide on a pic of the necklace Dell made for me. Everyone needs a bit of spectrum in their day. You should see the one she's been sporting! Spectrum on steroids! Anyway, it is the second last

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-2660659845092813872011-12-16T17:07:00.001+11:002011-12-16T17:08:47.885+11:00

After whipping up the Chutney Club hamper shopping bags I raced off to delightful (not) Derrimut to pick up the last batch of Cambridge Satchels for the year. Look what we unpacked! Little 11" satchels in gold and silver foiled leather! These babies have only just been released and were only available online but we were asked if we would like some and of course we had to say 'yes please!'. They

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-72716837996658267632011-12-16T09:36:00.000+11:002011-12-16T09:36:52.534+11:00

I'm running horrendously late now. When I woke the computer this morning the dictionary screensaver said 'irksome', perhaps it can be a new form of horoscope, interpret it as you will. I managed to turn my phone to silent and lose it in the bedclothes after a friend texted this morning at a time that is early for me and not so early for a farmer's wife. I fell back into that deep weird morning

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-28013858849831614002011-12-15T08:52:00.000+11:002011-12-15T08:52:00.535+11:00

I actually forced myself to go to bed before 11pm last night, rather than the usual after midnight, and I have to say it was worth it. I drifted about in SleepyLand® and although Jethro mewed and stomped on me a few times I managed to pretty much get a good night's snooze. I am looking forward to the morning I get to sleep in until afternoon..... I've actually written a list of things I need to

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-68995866240207465422011-12-13T19:07:00.000+11:002011-12-13T19:07:25.969+11:00

Oh thank you! You shouldn't have! It's just what I wanted for Xmas! How did you know? My very own Airstream! Brilliant (in more ways than one)! I spied this on the way home from the studio last night. Glinting in the sun. It's just a medium size one but that's fine. If you want to ogle it it's behind Labour in Vain on the corner of Moor and Brunswick Streets- until I steal it that is.

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-16981358478929570642011-12-13T09:16:00.000+11:002011-12-13T09:16:15.348+11:00

Things have gone from the sublime to the ridiculous around here. The unsold stock is back from the DFiles Open House, the butcher's twine delivery has arrived, there are boxes of Xmas feathered creatures with nowhere to roost and today I need to get a whole pile of tea towel cushions made and stuffed , where we are going to put the damn things I have no idea. How did the shop get so chock full?

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-38994848626018958882011-12-11T23:38:00.001+11:002011-12-11T23:40:25.930+11:00

Around here Xmas means one really important thing....... it's time for the Chutney Club annual fundraising raffle. Over $900 was raised last year and all the money went to KIVA and Oxfam. If you pop over here you can actually follow the KIVA loans, they really are a donation that keeps on giving, it really is amazing. The draw is coming up shortly so pop over here are buy some online tickets or

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-91725480726847671142011-12-11T11:56:00.000+11:002011-12-11T11:56:39.289+11:00

I'm here in front of the computer shovelling arepa con huevo  and chorizo, also known as 'latin eggs and bacon', down my gullet and getting my head around being shopgirl today. I've vacuumed and found places for the new batch of pianola shades that arrived yesterday evening. Jethro is running around like a loon, he knows it isn't a normal Sunday and I might need to leave an extra 5 minutes

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-13495697314333689822011-12-10T10:07:00.001+11:002011-12-10T10:08:08.886+11:00

Anna and Dell have been encouraging me to pull my finger out and start making some clothes for the shop. I keep telling customers they are coming (.... like Xmas blah blah blah...) but I finally managed to get some done yesterday after the aborted start in the middle of the week. That was until the iron finally attempted suicide and had to be unplugged and raced outside. Guess who has to find

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-63175748233468406032011-12-09T09:16:00.000+11:002011-12-09T09:16:55.546+11:00

There has been a bit of discussion this year about glitter. Seems some people just don't think glitter is a serious material for professional crafters to use. I've got to say I do love a bit of glitter, I was going to say used sparingly but then I remembered the year I was commissioned to do three shop Xmas fit outs for Ipanema. Everything was covered in glitter and I was shitting glitter for a

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-61993644668877308812011-12-07T21:21:00.000+11:002011-12-07T21:21:29.839+11:00

You can always tell if I'm a bit over stretched at this time of year- I start baking. In this case I have developed an addiction to perfecting a decent loaf of sourdough. A fair chunk of this little loaf was devoured with my other addiction, artisan butter, slathered on the top. I managed to get a chunk of today in the studio but I can't say with any confidence that anything worthy actually

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-75171778402904332372011-12-06T09:45:00.001+11:002011-12-06T09:57:50.820+11:00

Yesterday afternoon there was a mad dash to Derrimut again to pick up 4 huge boxes containing our lastest satchel order. Amazing what I can get in the Nissan Pulsar hatchback...... especially as I had actually cleaned the back of the car out this time unlike last time. I almost ran out of petrol in the darkest Derrimut but was lucky enough to notice the mileage (petrol gauge is wonky) in time

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-16111462361555341602011-12-05T11:18:00.001+11:002011-12-05T11:30:39.289+11:00

Why is it that on a Sunday when I can sleep in and I end up awake before 8am and on a Monday when I should be up and out I am still lolling about under the covers? It probably didn't help this morning that when I did come upright for the first time I had a splitting headache arcing over my left eye. My head went back on the pillow after that rude awakening. Jethro, who always likes a good lie

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-20311363899494742842011-12-03T10:04:00.001+11:002011-12-03T10:35:23.418+11:00

Yet again last night I spent hours unpacking boxes and moving stuff around in the shop. I don't have enough horizontal, vertical or any other type of space. I made some new vintage linen cushions yesterday and now the lower level of the bunk is chock full, next week I start the tea towel cushions and then we really will be in trouble. Bursting at the seams indeed. To top it all off Mr McEwan

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-51004433509057676522011-12-02T00:09:00.001+11:002011-12-02T00:09:37.237+11:00

Not sure what's in the water at the moment, I think my tea might contain hallucinogens. The Xmas window is a bit weird- a giant fluoro god's eye, bound branches, a bit of retro styling tinsel and some brown paper chains. Yes, definitely a bit strange. Whilst I was doing the window I overheard two young teenage boys talking about how much they loved the doily tree out the front and wondered

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-56582567504736646902011-12-01T10:17:00.001+11:002011-12-01T10:21:00.472+11:00

Last night was the opening of the Design Files Open House, in a warehouse down Little Napier Street, with lovely people and nibbles and drinks. It was sort of like visiting a house inspection and having a party, there was a bit of bathroom envy and lots of staring at unusual views of Fitzroy through windows and checking the sky out from the rooftop terrace. It's always fun seeing your

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-17144047513145554522011-11-30T10:46:00.000+11:002011-11-30T10:46:05.763+11:00

There has been a bit of sleeping in here, no setting of the alarm, just waking up when we wake up- which is strangely the same time we always get up just without the blaring of the buzzer and the hitting of the snooze button. Monday, post Markit, was spent on the computer emailing and paying bills and checking up on stuff. Yesterday was a run up country in the heat and humidity to look for

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-66500424824807568132011-11-28T14:00:00.000+11:002011-11-28T14:00:25.227+11:00

....where, after unloading the car and putting the shop back together, she fell asleep watching 'Pride and Prejudice' late in the evening. I really do need to get a Rent-a-Roadie for doing things like Markit! I felt guilty watching Jen lugging things out to the car as I packed boxes and shoved stuff in bags but at least we had trolleys. Markit has to be one of the more civilised craft/design

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-40894999386365743902011-11-26T09:34:00.001+11:002011-11-26T09:43:57.458+11:00

So we are now in the finishing stretch! The boxes will be packed tonight, the car loaded in the morning and off to Markit we will go! Please post a comment if you want us to bring anything in particular. I'll either end up taking too little or too much, I do tend to be on the 'kitchen sink' side though. We will be set up in the BMW Edge foyer if you get all overwhelmed when you get there.

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-33715244710850326512011-11-25T16:56:00.000+11:002011-11-25T16:56:05.569+11:00

In today's edition of The Age Melbourne Mag's Xmas gift guide. On the green page our kelly green Cambridge Co satchel (editor's pick) and on the red page our vintage Welsh blanket cushion (rated 'safe bet', not sure what that means). Phone has been going crazy. Tomorrow is going to be fun.......

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-87675766043011142462011-11-24T08:49:00.000+11:002011-11-24T08:49:35.164+11:00

It's been one of those weeks. There has already been a few emotional tears shed this morning and a pot of moderately expensive moisturiser splattered all over the floor (tears were not over spilt face cream I should clarify). On the up side I now have fabulously moderately expensive moisturised feet and arms. I'm off to Bunnings for plastic storage boxes this morning, I seem to buy these damn

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-58398396939090142022011-11-23T23:26:00.000+11:002011-11-23T23:26:58.887+11:00

A new shipment of carved wooden animals arrived today and we couldn't help but have a play with them all over the counter. We enacted our own miniature version of this. Dell felt the fawns needed to be corralled. They'll be looking for homes tomorrow once we find the two packets of stickers that have gone missing......

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-35110954948895363472011-11-23T08:51:00.000+11:002011-11-23T08:51:02.963+11:00

Early on sunday morning I awoke to a familiar noise, if you live in the inner city it is a magical sound. The sound of hot air balloons firing their burners, I love it when ballooning season comes around. They sailed passed my window, first one, then four and then a single last of the pack, then up and over the housing commission flats at Atherton Gardens. I love the story of a friend and his

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-88221822561994002602011-11-22T09:25:00.000+11:002011-11-22T09:25:48.997+11:00

Sorry for the radio silence, I've been up country visiting our Queens of Craft. I just got back last night with much unpacking and pricing to do. Whilst I was away a big box of new Cambridge Satchels arrived, I hadn't know what we were getting and I opened it to a fluoro-fluoro-fluoro! Mixed in with all Ann's crocheted goodness the shop is looking like a Pantone colour swatch book. Ann has made

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-2884679797241482962011-11-19T10:03:00.000+11:002011-11-19T10:03:06.932+11:00

Tripped out in the pouring rain to get the papers and bread this morning. The new improved (??) tropical Melbourne..... I must remember to buy a new fan for the bedroom, it's times like these I am tempted by the thought of living with an air conditioner. I managed to get the stock off for the Open House yesterday and kind of fell in a heap after. I have a big week next week so thought 'bugger

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-4876584288641675132011-11-16T23:14:00.003+11:002011-11-17T08:51:24.567+11:00

Some of the quilts finished today. Just a few. Some of these are going off to The Design Files Open House so if you are interested in any of them them drop me an email, call the shop or pop in as I'll be packing them up on Friday for delivery. We can mail them to you if you are not able to drop in. I raced back to the shop so Dell could help me photograph them, the breeze was a bit strong but

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-24036815589890171592011-11-16T09:18:00.000+11:002011-11-16T09:18:34.022+11:00

I've just got the call to say the quilting is ready to be picked up and the email to let me know the cushions are on their way and I've just realised the studio is going to be mucho squashy for the next few day! That's a lot of stuff I need to find room for. I took home a big batch of hearts ready to be eyeletted and filled but only got to the punching holes for the eyelets stage but I did seem

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-14094688839884890702011-11-15T08:59:00.000+11:002011-11-15T08:59:07.888+11:00

I have no idea why today's word is 'axolotl', it just popped into my head in the shower and now it is in your head. You'll be thinking that word all day now. I like to share you know. After last week's run of NQW/NQR things happening (nothing quite wrong, nothing quite right) I am trying to stay positive this week. All the fabric is at the quilter's, even though it nearly killed me, it should

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-78974933382609155922011-11-12T09:46:00.000+11:002011-11-12T09:46:02.382+11:00

The denim quilts are underway although I need to get another days work in on them and the quilter needs them delivered first thing monday. Aren't gonna happen between now and then.... It was really calming working on them, I go through a love/hate relationship with work like this. I hang the panels up as I finish them, one minute I am passionately in love with them, immersed in their beauty,

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-90335770109077673502011-11-11T09:08:00.001+11:002011-11-11T09:08:32.171+11:00

There has been a lot of binary days over the last two years, I think this is the last one for quite some time, and it is Remembrance Day too. Remember to stop for a minute at 11am won't you? If you are in the city the bugler will probably step out into the middle of the road at  the intersection of Collins and Swanston to play the Last Post. Last time I was there for it tourists were all

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-55547976605889317512011-11-10T09:19:00.000+11:002011-11-10T09:19:19.203+11:00

Yesterday was not a good day to be up to my eyeballs in woolly goodness. It's done now. Twenty plus metres of patchwork blanketing ready to go to the quilters this morning. The vintage denim lengths still aren't dry though, what with all this humidity, so I am going to have to do a bit of juggling with the new patched denim quilts I have been planning. I know you are thinking I must be crazed

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-86994581774676365172011-11-09T09:20:00.000+11:002011-11-09T09:20:35.472+11:00

Well Monday ended up being a crazy day. The lads came in and tinkered with the sewing machine (basically fixed just needs slight oil adjustments now) and Chris gave me the semi bad news about the steambox iron, pressurestat and thermostat rooted and needed replacing, good news I am more than capable of doing the repairs. So off to Jackson's I went then back to the shop to catch up with Harriett

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-52166231995663580972011-11-07T09:08:00.000+11:002011-11-07T09:08:22.801+11:00

I was given roses on the weekend. So pretty. I'm waiting this morning for a call to come through to let me know when Chris is coming up to the studio to fix my new sewing machine. Friday was not a good day. The Compacta iron decided that although it had a new cap that was not the problem and shot steam everywhere, then mid afternoon the Pfaff flashed an 'error 7' message and seized up. I threw

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-583028988512908902011-11-05T09:58:00.002+11:002011-11-05T10:05:48.115+11:00

This handsome devil arrived yesterday. A barn owl. I could stare for hours at his beautiful plummage. He is so incredibly soft and he's back camouflage is amazing, like bark on a tree. I've made him a special pile of logs to stand on from driftwood I collected in Tasmania and I think he may have to go in a lovely glass dome. He is such a lovely Owl Rex (if you haven't read/heard of/seen

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-18382221623115169152011-11-04T09:39:00.000+11:002011-11-04T09:39:48.413+11:00

In amongst doing boring jobs yesterday, like trimming down tea towels, I thought I had better do some work on some First World War recruitment bunting cushions that have been sitting there mocking me with their unfinishedness. Then I got sidetracked and started cutting up an old wool flag I had scored. I'd washed it and then it had hung around the house until I finally remembered to take it to

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-43030021812841113982011-11-03T09:03:00.001+11:002011-11-03T09:04:10.283+11:00

Someone has taken to sleeping in in the mornings. I wish I could. I managed to spend all day yesterday in the studio, I worked on the vintage Japanese purses, I bound felt oven gloves, I sorted and ironed tea towels ready to make cushions, I moved stuff about and unearthed other stuff from under mountains of more stuff. My studio occasionally resembles an archeological dig, sometimes a treasure

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-1219032581987157022011-11-02T08:44:00.000+11:002011-11-02T08:44:49.151+11:00

I chose to stay home yesterday. I needed to find the time to sort out the piles of crap in the big room. It's been getting me down and might be the cause/effect of my malaise. There is still stuff everywhere but there is more of the floorboards showing, the rubbish has been dragged out (it's Garbage Eve last night) and there is now stuff stowed in boxes (out of sight issue there, let's see if I

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-78491833632557483532011-10-31T09:10:00.000+11:002011-10-31T09:10:53.758+11:00

I seem to be dealing with an emotional/creative furball at the moment. I'm feeling antsy and angsty and annoyed and I just wish I could cough it up and get on with things. Jethro managed to spit his real one out the other evening and I just wish I could do the same with my virtual one. I know it's just the time of the year, the pre-pre-Xmas trough of despair when money is leaking out and not

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-29151003870294041392011-10-29T09:55:00.000+11:002011-10-29T09:55:25.384+11:00

After a bit of a flat week that morphed into the flat grumpies I got home yesterday to find the book delivery had arrived. Joy oh joy! We've been waiting weeks for this order and it was worth it! First out of the boxes was our old favourite the Tasmania CWA 21st Anniversary cookbook, we sold out of these a couple of weeks back and it's nice to have it in store once again. One of the boxes

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-51276484043204373982011-10-28T09:09:00.000+11:002011-10-28T09:09:52.060+11:00

A box of Marnie's Miss Mousies arrived yesterday. As I unpacked them this is what Dell saw- a rainbow of mice. (Marnie did you realise that you made a mouse rainbow?) She just couldn't help herself, the Queen of Rainbows, Miss Colour Spectrum. When we popped them in the basket on the table I was chided for getting it all wrong, mixing them up, much laughter ensued. Sometimes I get back to the

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-15428184419075440112011-10-27T08:43:00.000+11:002011-10-27T08:43:21.862+11:00

I was down one end of the city whilst Her Maj was down the other, I heard the squealing but that was it. Mind you many years ago I attended the Australian Ballet with QEII so I view that as my life's allowance of royalty proximity. Having a Royal Family and being part of the pink bits on the map (aka the Commonwealth) amuses me no end, CHOGM always seems a bit like the nerds taking over the

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-47673068303915858072011-10-26T12:01:00.000+11:002011-10-26T12:01:48.283+11:00

Sorry for being AWOL. No particular reason, just an overwhelming sense of 'arrrggghhh' and a desire to hide under the blanket. With so much to do I have been finding that settling to one thing is little hard. I need to go and do the city supply run but as the Queen is doing the rounds it might all be a little hard..... and I seem to have lost my morning. I seem to get all a bit mashed up when

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-24546650863872165542011-10-21T21:30:00.000+11:002011-10-21T21:30:24.686+11:00

It was satchel delivery day today.... well actually satchel pick up day as Fedex stuffed up and I had to race to Derrimut in the middle of the afternoon to pick up three boxes of stock. Rainy Friday afternoon traffic is not much fun- especially when I almost got stuck in the city when the police decided to get a bit gung-ho. As we tried to mark stock off we had people waiting to buy the

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-33404909864120387602011-10-20T22:20:00.000+11:002011-10-20T22:20:12.988+11:00

The scent of petrichor* was strong this evening when I went for a walk. Hot concrete and spits of rain. A bit of a mishmash of a day. I was awake most of the night (damn daylight saving's lag), I went to bed knowing that there was no use in trying to get to sleep so went and sat outside on the thunderbox drinking tea, chatting with Jethro and listening  to the pigeons tumbling off the roof next

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-84381854631887318052011-10-19T09:50:00.000+11:002011-10-19T09:50:08.637+11:00

I've been wanting to re-work the scarf dresses for sometime now. It's such a classic but it's also such a bugger to make, slippy and slidey and silky and I really have to be in the right frame of mind to do them. I also wanting to re-draft the pattern and last Friday I stood at the cutting table and was totally bamboozled by the base block I use for this garment, it made my head swim, so I

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-86789943143480328272011-10-18T21:55:00.000+11:002011-10-18T21:55:17.832+11:00

Anna and I were chatting this evening just after we closed the shop and we turned around to discover someone sitting in the Haberdashery Box box. We're sure he was just waiting to be noticed. Ridiculous.

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-18101540666920791862011-10-18T09:28:00.000+11:002011-10-18T09:28:32.338+11:00

I seem to be unable to get out of bed at the moment, I am enjoying that morning sleep in far too much. Yesterday I finally crawled from bed at 9.15 and really it totally threw my morning into disarray (mainly because there was a whole pile of things I had left undone the day before and I had an hour to put them to rights) so I decided no studio but to venture out on a quest. I had been trying

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-48102229390741150802011-10-15T10:21:00.001+11:002011-10-15T10:21:45.794+11:00

Last week I went out to the back and found a cocoon on the ground next to the car. Being a wunderkammer type of person I picked it up and popped it on the dashboard with the intent to take it inside but being a lazy soul I left it there with a piece of wave polished glass I found in Tasmania. Next day when I got in the car I noticed it wasn't on the dash and found it rolling around the floor, I

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-85880776939710168382011-10-14T11:18:00.000+11:002011-10-14T11:18:45.096+11:00

You might remember back when Dell organised the 'Denim' show that some very important work didn't arrive from Antwerp. Sadly the package of Renilde's work seemed to have been stashed under some postal worker's desk , suddenly a tracking email popped up and it was on the move and so it finally arrived 2 and 1/2 months late. Dell grabbed a window of opportunity and is having a two week exhibition

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-89827585660995747102011-10-13T08:54:00.000+11:002011-10-13T08:54:38.820+11:00

Sorry for the lack of posts, flat camera batteries and a lack of motivation primarily to blame, and lots of other activities going on like getting to rummage through the first three boxes of treasures collected in Mexico by the lovely Zara. She's brought us the cream of the crop, the Best in Show, the bee's knees and there is more to come! First on the racks are the new coloured Frida dresses.

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-61267473914182505772011-10-10T09:11:00.000+11:002011-10-10T09:11:40.936+11:00

Nothing to report. Quiet day yesterday, pretty much doing nothing, I needed things to be still for a few hours. I didn't get the drill out, I didn't do any vacuuming, I did put on a load of washing. Jethro slept for hours on end. I drank tea and stared at the wall, although by 9pm I had to stop myself from rearranging the big room, as you do when the piles of boxes and stuff starts to totter

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-45088784522245188882011-10-08T10:08:00.000+11:002011-10-08T10:08:22.136+11:00

Actually all eight of them. I have nowhere to store them as they will have to be under lock and key thanks to a furry housemate who will want to 'love' them. I think I may have caught poultry fever but how could I turn down a whole chicken coop of crazy roosters?! We've got leghorns, a silkie, cochins, frizzles and a gamebird (sounds like a bunch of homie rappers). I think people who came into

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-50825098658886830072011-10-07T09:04:00.000+11:002011-10-07T09:04:23.550+11:00

This weeks big project was making 3 tapestry pouffés. A pretty exhausting effort really. I had to break the tapestries out of their frames, piece them together, back them, sew them together..... you know the deal. They are pretty stunning if I say so myself. We decided to get in an external product tester- Mr Finn of Maxwell, Finn and Associates. On arrival Jethro quite happily handed over the

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-54159626113977041072011-10-05T08:57:00.003+11:002011-10-05T09:01:04.750+11:00

Jethro is three years old today. Looking over photos last night I marvelled at how he's changed and how he's stayed the same. There are no presents but we had a cuddle and I thanked his little white socks for being such a handsome character of a kitty. According to the cat wall at the Show he is now 28 human years old, great that's all I need, a late 20 something male in my life. Normally I

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-90945031213163154422011-10-04T09:18:00.000+11:002011-10-04T09:18:35.341+11:00

Yesterday was parcel day and the best package of all was the one from our friend Zara. Zara is the collector of all the beautiful Mexican clothing we stock and the first batch of new Summer stuff arrived in that box of delight. A whole new stash of Frida dresses in cream and I have to say they are the best I think we have ever had. They are always great but sometimes there is the joy of pulling

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-92189705837790050812011-10-03T08:50:00.000+11:002011-10-03T08:50:51.040+11:00

The drill was out again this Sunday, three weekends running. Perhaps it was the whole daylight savings change but I decided I really really needed to do a bit of cleaning. Of course the amount of cleaning here would take a whole week (if not longer) so I didn't get very far and of course it has caused mayhem, the cleaning ripple effect. Four loads of washing which will probably end up on the

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-35314976894132249062011-10-01T09:53:00.003+10:002011-10-01T09:57:30.955+10:00

Just a few gratuitous animal shots from the Show on Wednesday. I wish that you are allowed to go into the stables but they have banned people from mingling with the horses. Nothing like a calm plodding Clydesdale to make you feel tiny or a fully turned out dressage horse to make you feel inelegant and ungainly. Nothing like having a friend to lean on. (OK that was a bit corny.) You can't

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-89971418102445913442011-09-30T08:45:00.000+10:002011-09-30T08:45:12.400+10:00

I see that certain compadres managed to be at the Show on Wednesday too but they got there a bit later than we did and managed to get blown to Kansas in the Big Storm. I was home safe and dry and drinking cups of tea and eating Bertie Beetles in the Cottage with Dell. I felt quite knackered after all the excitement of Show and Storm and lying in bed yesterday morning listening to the rain

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-44660542228609530132011-09-29T09:09:00.000+10:002011-09-29T09:09:31.724+10:00

Whilst I was off at the Royal Show yesterday the new batch of satchels arrived. We have them in red, we have them in yellow (and some green, black, navy, brown). Sadly no fluoro this time but the yellow and red are both really lovely shades, strangely they match my Bertie Beetle showbag booty. Wish I'd bought more showbags.... sigh.... an adult with a showbag is a crazy critter.

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-59264556834112315892011-09-27T08:56:00.002+10:002011-09-27T08:57:53.783+10:00

A bag arrived in the mail yesterday. The flap had been prised open slightly. Perhaps they were trying to escape. Marnie's Mouse Army has landed! They are being lead to World Domination by Slutty Mouse, she's down in the right hand corner slightly out of focus. 'Slutty Mouse' because her skirt is a bit short and we regularly find her flopped down, half propped up drunkenly  on the counter with

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-41344549513569411812011-09-26T08:55:00.000+10:002011-09-26T08:55:10.698+10:00

No reason for the post title, I was just searching out a photo to use this morning and thought these two went together in some way. The top one is from Mersey Bluff foreshore and the one below from the roadside in the Central Highlands, holiday snaps you know. A sort of lazy day yesterday. I had the drill out for the second Sunday in a row, hammer drilling into the bricks out the back to

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-52557530542593643492011-09-24T10:12:00.002+10:002011-09-24T10:12:17.224+10:00

This week has conspired to keep me out of the studio for hours on end and as usual the 'to-get-done' list (different from a 'to-do-list' somehow) is getting longer as this year seems to be flying by. I did manage to get the first small batch of springy-summery sundresses done, sleeveless, button through, pleated skirted sprigged cotton voile. I also got my hands on the first of the summer

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-47462377060009249442011-09-20T10:17:00.000+10:002011-09-20T10:17:32.421+10:00

I forgot to tell you about last Friday's haul. I had one of those strange Op Shop incidents where you really start to think there might be an Op Shop deity, a secondhand spirit. Last time this same thing happened was up in Healesville on the Tarrawarra day out. So on Friday I was out north picking up some stuff and I thought while I was out there that maybe I should pop into the Mill Park Savers

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-3954684521253105492011-09-19T09:02:00.000+10:002011-09-19T09:02:46.391+10:00

I had an intense relationship with my spirit level yesterday. Yes sadly I am the type of girl with a spirit level. I had decided that Sunday was 'Install Shelves in the Stock Cupboards Day'. We've been fighting major space issues for the last month (and three years) and I had to do something about shelves otherwise we were all going to go mad..... of course this is going to be a very short

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-15849179190075861022011-09-17T10:06:00.001+10:002011-09-17T10:10:02.880+10:00

The Royal Melbourne Show window isn't quite right (I seem to have misplaced my window mojo somewhere) having a splitting headache- still/again- didn't help. It's OK, just not great, but it did stop a few people last night I noticed whilst I sorted the shop out. It is still funny that people think they can't be heard when they make comments out on the street, the Power of Glass! Jethro of course

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-78078606139495662092011-09-16T09:14:00.000+10:002011-09-16T09:14:34.046+10:00

Really really didn't want to get out of bed this morning and neither did Jethro. I love it when I wake up to find him stretched out fast asleep and I especially love it when he grimaces in annoyance when the alarm goes off. I got a few more Show cushions done yesterday and didn't get a chance to photograph them before someone else snaffled one of the new ones, my friends like to do a 'sneak and

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-52449536427715814202011-09-14T20:10:00.003+10:002011-09-14T20:12:09.188+10:00

I'm getting bits and pieces done, here and there, little by little, in between squinting through blinding migraine-y headaches. I had to lie down this afternoon in my bedroom after an attack that felt like I was being hit around the side of my head with a cricket bat. Perhaps I am allergic to Melbourne. I finished the first batch of these 'Best of Breed' cushions yesterday. They aren't even in

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-71987852932086033242011-09-13T08:52:00.000+10:002011-09-13T08:52:52.373+10:00

I love the road from Bothwell to New Norfolk. As you drive down through valleys and up again, you spy long vistas across rolling hills to jagged wilderness. At Hollow Tree there is a fabulous late Georgian grand house that was in the process of renovation last year (no picture as I annoyed the ute driving behind me by slowing down to gork, so you have the abandoned farmhouse instead). Studio

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-29546529954237171432011-09-10T10:05:00.000+10:002011-09-10T10:05:20.111+10:00

I've managed to fall behind with archiving all the press stuff that has been popping up over the last few months.We've had mentions on interwebworld type places like Mr and Mrs Smith but I never seem to find the time to collect them all in one spot.  The hard copy stuff is a bit easier and I have a box of magazines and tears jammed in the corner. The latest edition of inside/out magazine has

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-22499909892138177392011-09-09T15:19:00.000+10:002011-09-09T15:19:08.157+10:00

A rather weird picture of Jethro. We have had more boxes arrive, it really is a bit like Xmas around here at the moment (although it's not all Xmas stuff that's being delivered). Nothing beats parcels turning up on your doorstep and our shop postmen are both lovely and conscientious, that's saying something for Australia Post contractors, we can always tell when they go on holiday. Jethro

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7049693863672153782.post-29203099691379056272011-09-09T10:18:00.000+10:002011-09-09T10:18:44.930+10:00

It's Friday now I haven't quite worked my way through all my emails and computer chores. I'm going to see if I can be a bit focused today and get all of it done. It's raining outside and there has even been a few bouts of hail so generally perfect bunker-down weather. I'm drinking tea and eating creamed honey on toast. I just had to buy a tub of creamed honey at the CWA shop in Hobart, it made

penhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267416259888049673noreply@blogger.com0