break over

I've had my blog break and it feels like ages, not just over a week. I have managed to get some projects finished. I have been playing around with photos of my china too. Photos inspired by a need to clean the china, this of course is a very rare event. I don't have photos of finished projects but I will take some over the weekend. Also I have some goodies that have come in the mail I must photograph.

Thank you so much too, to those of you who wished me well wishes!!! It always helps and I do feel a little "cyber refreshed" is there such a thing?? there is now

So I will share some of the photos I have taken, firstly is my creamer and sugar bowl from James Sadler, Sophie Chintz. This is not vintage but I adore it. These two pieces were given to me from mum a couple of years ago for my birthday.

This baking dish has been a favourite of mine since I was a kid. It is circa 1958 and was a wedding present to mum and has seen many a tuna mornay!!

I have been meaning to mention too about PIF. I asked a while back what were you thoughts and experiences with the Pay It Forward system. I really appreciated all the comments and must tell you that due to those same health and time restraints for which I had a blog break, I pulled out of PIF. Yes I know, I hear the gasps from here. I must be the first Blogger ever to pull out, but I had to do what was best for me in the end.

Some weeks ago I notified the 3 that put their hand up and I haven't heard a word back from them so they are obviously not happy with me.

I clearly have commitment issues.

I would like to say thank you to sweet Jo of Sparkly Green Knickers for being so understanding. I put my hand up on Jo's blog when she wanted 3 people to comment for PIF, and she was fabulous about me pulling out.

happy weekend xx

mugs and things

these mugs are available at Spotlight, isn't it sweet. There are quite a few different knitting ones and it was hard to choose. It is a little chunky and heavy, not as nice as drinking tea out of a porcelain mug, but cute all the same. I have been using it for hot Milo before bed.

I haven't posted in a week as I have started a new medication, an immuno suppressant (chemo meds)and it's pretty yuk. So I have decided to have another week or so break from blogging to try and get some projects done in the little time each day I actually feel OK. I have several artworks in progress and I MUST get finished a swap I have been working on for waaaaay too long.

So I will be back in a week or so, hopefully with lots to show for my break. I also have some goodies from Sophie to show you too but I don't have a photo yet. I am loving the rain and wintery weather at the moment, it's inducive to arty crafty work, back soon xx

thursday again already??

I have been busy in my creative space this week but the only piece finished to show you is this inspiration journal collage. These are in an A3 journal and even though they start out as images I love for inspiration, I do spend days on them. I feel the image has to be just right and the composition just right. I have done a couple now where I have tried to stick with a colour theme like this one. If you want to see any of the others they are over here in my collage set on Flickr.

I feel inspired to start another one in pink.

On the left of this photo is a brown canvas and this work is finished but I can't share it with you until it is gifted in a few weeks. The other piece is also a gift and in progress. I have started a little knitting too which I find quite soothing of a night curled up on the couch. I am such a slow knitter though.

I started 2 different pairs of wrist warmers a couple of months ago as a portable project while mum was in hospital. I have undone them and started another pair and this pair I will finish, probably just in time for summer!
find more creative spaces over at Kirsty's

alice in wonderland

I am so excited about the new Tim Burton film Alice in Wonderland. It is due to be released next year.
Alice is played by Australian actor Mia Wasikowska

the production will be the most whimsical ever being a Tim Burton film....

the Mad Hatter is JOHNNY DEPP...yum yum

a Tim Burton film would not be the same without his partner Helena Bonham Carter in it.... with a very large head

Anne Hathaway plays the White Queen (who is actually from Alice Through The Looking Glass)......but doesn't Anne look amazing like this

Matt Lucas is Tweedledum and Tweedledee. This is a film I am extremely excited about, I can't wait but I guess I'll just have to..

etsy lurve.......

I have had my eye on a few things on Etsy for a while and I went ahead and bought two of them. This gorgeous hand dyed wool from Kate, I won't be making socks though, I don't do socks! (even though I wish I did of course) and a very sweet journal from Mellimoomoo. Megan makes the covers with vintage books and I fell in love with this one. After looking at them for ages when Sophie went ahead and bought one recently I thought "yes I have to have mine too, can't wait any longer"

then you open the journal and it's the first page of the book, it feels like you are about to start reading a story......love it. These would make great gifts but I am keeping this for myself.

I do have my eye on just one more teensy tiny thing, I just hope it doesn't sell quickly. It feels so good to buy handmade, supporting handmade and dismissing mass produced. Even though money is extremely tight, the feeling of buying a little handmade goodie for yourself now and then is so sweet.

SOS for Sandra

the lovely Sandra over and Pepperberry & Co is in a bit of a predicament. Sandra and her partner are due to go overseas very soon and their pet care has fallen through. Which means if they can't find pet sitters or maybe a house sitter they will forfeit their trip and all the money they have paid for it too.

Here is one of their cuties Manhattan the Malamute puppy. If you live in Melbourne or surrounding area and think you can help or know someone who can please pop over and leave Sandra a comment or email her.

It truly is a crisis for them

edit: Sandra has found a baby sitter for her babies! yay

handmade loveliness

Check out these gorgeous goodies. I was so lucky to have won these from Amanda over at Krafty Panda. Amanda had a guessing game to guess a type of snake she had a photo of...yes, a snake.

There were two of us who won and look at the amount of things I have been given, thank you Amanda. I think Amanda must of felt sorry for me in the end!!!!!!!!!! as I had sooooooooo many guesses, but I was having so much fun.

Everything is so lovely and such wonderful quality. There are two felt baskets, one with a handle and flower and butterfly detail and the other with pearly buttons sewn on, a handmade button brooch and flowery necklace and the very sweet ice cream purse. Also a packet of die cut embellishments for scrapbooking or journaling.
Thank you again Amanda, it's been fun and you have been so generous.

These weren't the only goodies to arrive in the mail this week. I bought a couple of necessities from Etsy, but I'll save those for another post. happy weekend xx

frocks and heels????

As much as I love the fashion and the furniture of the 1950s I must stress that I am thankful things have changed for us as women. Sure a lot of us love to bake for our families and friends and we like to cook the evening meal some of the time (thankfully too a lot of partners do share this now). I also love the illustrations and advertising of the 50s and 60s. It was a love of these that first inspired me to do Graphic Art at TAFE when I first left High School .

This was a long time ago now and it was done by hand, pens and paint, not computers. I only did it for a year and then left to find "a real job". Dreams of being an artist was not going to give me the independence I craved at 17.

But can you imagine how hard it would of been to spend all day cooking and cleaning in heels and a frock and be expected to look like this when your husband got home?? Now that is a crock. But, I hate to say, it was this very advertising that promoted that image to women.

some sewing.....

finally starting some fun sewing......

but still ploughing through the alterations pile....2 appliqued long sleeve tee shirts bite the dust of the pile
thanks so much for the cupcake love on the last post, I have passed it on to the girls. They enjoyed the cupcakes very quickly of course but managed to keep one each for school lunches!!

it's the last day of holidays

....and it's raining.....

so what better way for the girls to cheer themselves up

than to bake cupcakes...

and plenty of them.......

illustrations by Dyna Moe

illustration by Dyna Moe - Cooler De Menthe

I must send lots of cyber hugs to Carolyn over at Comfy and Cosy as she is a Mad Men fan too and she pointed me in the direction of Dyna Moe on Flickr. Her illustrations are brilliant. She captures the mid century look just perfectly. Jump over and check out her work!!!! Thanks Carolyn!!!!

cuties

Fudge up Bel's sleeve

snuggling in the beanie

Look at these little sweeties!! These are Bel's little Hooded Ratties, Sushi and Fudge. They are so clever and clean, loving and responsive, playful and cheeky. I never thought I would allow rats into the house until daughter no. 1 came home with one after me saying no to it for a year!

I am so happy she did as they really do brighten up my day so many times. They behave like puppies. These 2 sisters are 5 months old now. The girls have 2 each and when I can get a decent photo of the other 2 I will put that up but it's hard to get a good one as they rarely stay still.

This shot is after a lot of playing then they thought they would have a snooze in the beanie!!

If you want a small pet for your kids or you live in a flat, these would be ideal. Not only small, but as loving as a dog. They are incredibly clean, nothing like the other kind of ratties you are probably thinking of.

I have been feeling crappy for quite a few days now. Feeling pre flu like but not getting it. It's rained for days too. So I have been doing a little knitting and I also went and rented series one of Mad Men! Based on an actual group of MADison Ave MEN who worked in advertising in Manhattan mid last century. It was fabulous to watch all the remaining episodes in one hit.

I love it as it not only has great fashion and furniture but covers real life events such as Nixon vs Kennedy, tobacco companies trying to claim cigarettes are not bad for you and living the post war dream.

The blatant sexual harassment of women in the office is covered too and is appalling and makes you realise thankfully we have actually come a long way in the last 50 years!

I won't spoil anything, but needless to say I can't wait for series two, and there is a third too yippeee, but I am a little pissed off with myself now because I enjoyed watching it on Thursday nights, but hey, I guess I can watch it again.

xx

I heart a creative space

Last week Kirsty had a challenge to find a heart in her MyCreativeSpace photo. I found it quite challenging and was about to give up, then decided to have another look and there it was! Have you found it yet?

Anyway for this week's MyCreativeSpace Kirsty thought it would be fun to put a heart to find in the photo. I have two in my photo and they are quite easy to see I know, but it was fun doing it. I am a HUGE fan of Where's Wally!

In the corner is a snippet of a piece I am working on at the moment. It's 2D work keeping me busy (well as busy as I can be - I am having a slow week physically) but plodding along and doing a little each day.

I also must add, it's been terribly slack of me but about A MONTH AGO (isn't that terrible)the sweet Clare from Clare's Craftroom gave me a lovely bloggy friendship award and I haven't mentioned it yet. I did thank Clare at the time but meant to put it on here. Thank you again Clare and I am sooooo sorry it has taken me this long to mention it!!

Thursdays seem to come around so fast. For me, Thursdays mean My Creative Space. This makes me think about what I have been doing creatively through the week, no matter how small that may be. Thursday's also mean watching Mad Men that night on SBS! I do love that show and it's one of the few I pick out each week to make sure I don't miss!!

Pop over to Kirsty's and see other spaces with and without hearts!

knitted

I finished my wrap/shawl/very wide scarf!! I got so into it that it has ended up quite long! It ended up about 3 metres long and nearly a metre wide!!! The girls have been using it. It has been used as a blanket on the couch and a blanket around the shoulders while being on MySpace!!!! I actually haven't sewn the ends in yet but what the hell, it felt great to finish it.

I must get onto another unfinished project and also that tote I was talking about!

I have some 2D works in progress too which I am enjoying :)

creative space sort of organised....

My new space is pretty much organised. I still have some work to do but I can sit down to work now. I have most supplies pushed to the back of my big work table......

bookshelf is full of books, journals and tins, I still have big tubs full of fabric but have reduced the number of tubs. I have put quite a bit of fabric and yarn in the suitcases. I have another large one but it just looked too many so that will stay under the bed.

sewing machine on her table but I will put her away when I need this table for messy mixed media stuff hence the plastic......

and look what I discovered in the large brown case under the bed. I forgot I had it so it was a lovely surprise. Two Laura Ashley curtains I bought for a song ages ago to cut up and two pink chenille bedspreads.

a couple of small cases........full of course, with paints and stuff

I have a new cupboard too...which is going to be great to hide stuff away...

see what I mean

the bottom shelf has fans stored for the summer but the rest is my sewing stuff and the middle shelf is all my 'alteration pile'!!!! I have made a start on this during the week. I have hemmed two pairs of school pants and three pairs of new track pants.

I always feel I can't get on with the fun kinda sewing with a pile like this!

All I want to do is make myself a bag, just a simple, sturdy tote out of some of my vintage furnishing fabric so I am going to ignore this pile until I have a bag!!

If you are wondering how my crocheting is going, all those granny squares...........well my knitting is coming along fast! I should have a finished shawl next post!

thanks to Kirsty for hosting, pop over to check out some fab creative spaces