inconsistent

I have been gluing and doodling in my art journals and enjoying the process so much.  I always have a few journals on the go at any one time because sometimes I like to work small (A5) and other times larger (A3).

It is feast or famine with my journals though.  Sometimes I practically carry them around with me all day, then I may put them down and not open them for a week or so.    This is how I am with all things creative like my mixed media work, sewing and stitching.

 I am constantly thinking of creating but not actually creating everyday.   I find this damn annoying but I can't seem to change my way of working.  I just can't force it.  e.g. I am constantly thinking of some mixed media works I will be doing for swaps, but I keep putting off starting them until other projects are out of the way.

Maybe part of the problem is not having the space.  I have to clear away sewing to make room for paint and mixed media work.  It would be wonderful to have a table set up for both.

My workspace is in a corner of an open plan living space so I am always trying to keep it tidy and tend not to get all my stuff out that fills the big tubs because of the mess it will make.

I think this really stifles creativity but I should be happy to have a space I know and most of the time I am.

 Having said all that, I couldn't live without having my journals within reach for when I need them and they are portable too.  I can work in them anywhere.  They are the best therapy I have ever had and the cheapest.

Do you spend a lot of time thinking about creating?  Or do you create with consistency?  I'd love to know...

ps..I am sad Doc Martin has finished but glad it had a happy ending...does anyone know if there is another series???

knit,stitch,bake

It's a been a little slow in my creative space this week.  I have 3 projects on the go and slowly they are getting done.   One is the blanket from my last post.  That sits in the same position in my machine as that photo but I do plan to sew more of it today.

I have finished the wrist warmers and they have sat pinned and ready to be sewn up for a couple of days.  I knew I would finally have a completed knitted project just in time for summer!

you may remember this stitchery from a few weeks ago, well it is practically finished.  Just a few more little bits to be done then it can be made into what it's going to be made into.  I can't say yet as it is a gift.  A very belated birthday gift and I am now soooo happy I gave a store bought gift on the actually day.

and of course more baking, this is my chocolate cake recipe (see recipes in my labels for recipe as I am being way too slack to do the link) but of course minus the chocolate as I  had run out of cocoa.  I have made it as a plain cake before and it works really well.   Above is the last piece and below is what's left.   It's OK though that the cakes disappear so quickly because this recipe is so easy to make.  It literally is throw the ingredients into the bowl, whip up on the beloved old Sunbeam and then in the oven for 50 minutes.

drop into Kirsty's place for lots of creative spaces, there are lots to choose from

this weekend...

I have made a start on the other chenille blanket..

compulsory macro shot included.....

got over another migraine, they are plaguing me once or twice a week again which really knocks me about and imposes on important creating time

made a cake which has been eaten already....

and I am happy about sunny days because it  means the washing is drying, no Chinese laundry look to the lounge room, yay for dry washing, see how easily pleased I am

my chenille space

I am joining in with My Creative Space this week.  I haven't joined in for quite a while, but I do actually have something to show this week, for the first time in ages.  I have finished the blanket using the thrifted chenille bedspread and the QS flanelette sheet from the linen cupboard.   I find it hard to find a fitted flannelette on it's own.  They always seem to be in sets and this is a great way to use up all those spare flat sheets.  This is so snuggly on the couch with the softness of the sheet and the weight of the chenille

I have been knitting my wrist warmers too and they are coming along slowly.  The Japanese wool/silk mix is lovely knitted up

and I love the snuggly chenille blanket soooo much I have gone through the abyss that is my stash, and found this single bedspread I knew I had in there somewhere and I'm going to make another one.  Pink this time...yay for pink chenille

Pop over to Kirsty's there are a bazillion crafty, creative peeps to check out...

today...

cut out and ready to go, chenille for the top and an unused queen flat flannelette sheet for the bottom, just waiting for the mojo to appear,

trying to fight off the need for a nanna nap,

making pot after pot of tea,

piling up wet washing around the house...again,

admiring the size of the dust balls around the house,...again

wishing it would either rain or be sunny and not just still and overcast,

watching a documentary about IKEA and their history and design process..loving it,

looking forward to Doc Martin tonight,

will drink more tea,

will have a nanna nap.

xx

op shopping cont...

I was so happy to find a sifter that wasn't rusty and can actually be used.  I used to have one exactly the same as this, it was Nan's but in the end it fell apart so it's great to have another.

I am always on the look out for good quality plates for everyday use and to find this sweetie and to discover it was made in Australia I was pretty happy.  It's hard to find this kind of mass produced dinnerware that was made in Australia anymore

This plate was made in Japan and I found it at the op shop many months ago but I thought I would include it too as I hadn't taken a photo of it before.    I love having an eclectic mix to use.   We have been using a dinner set that was also Nan's.  It was given to my grandparents as a wedding present in 1932.  I didn't want to keep it for "good"  and have it just sit in the cupboard, so we have been using it for a few years, but it is starting to discolour and the gilt edge is wearing away so I am trying not to use it so much anymore.  Maybe "good and in the cupboard" is not such a bad idea after all...

op shopping 1

I thought I would show you the rest of my op shopping over 2 posts as there are quite a few photos all up.  This gorgeous green Depression Glass juicer is a present for mum as she collects it.  Once I got it home I thought "I'm sure mum has a juicer or 2 so maybe I will have to keep it!"  but I'm not sure yet.  Mum has collected over 100 pieces over the years so I immediately thought of her when I saw this

and look at this little beauty...I love these card treasures and there were quite a few different ones in a pile, for some reason they left me with a tinge of sadness as it seemed that some sweet old dear had been making them and maybe she had passed away and so her things like this went to the op shop....I guess that's what happens and hence we find such lovely, charming things

It opens up for a notebook which was already in it.  The notebook reminded me of my own Nan as she loved to give us notebooks all the time

back later with the rest

miss milla's

There is a heavenly shop you must pop into.  It's Miss Milla's and it's owner is Kirsten.   Miss Milla's is full of crafty kits and gorgeous things AND Kirsten is offering my readers a 10% discount on any stock until the end of July, yippee.  Just use the code LL10off on checkout.

 I bought myself a fabulous pendant kit to have on hand when a gift is needed to be made (even for myself!!)

Pop over and say hi and look at all the loveliness

baking joy

I could resist no longer.  I had to buy these measuring cups after looking at them online for quite a while.  So many different prices, and now some kitchenware shops stock them.  They range from about $20-$35.

 Imagine my joy, a couple of weeks ago when I found them at the op shop still in their box, seemingly untouched for $4.  I thought I was seeing things.   Why would they be there?? Maybe an unwanted gift?

At least they have a good home now, welcome home my little cherubs....

Last week's treasures coming soon, it takes me too long to get around to photos sometimes

absolute genius!

You have to watch this it is hilarious.  It's from the Getup website!!!! So well done and clever

this week

over the last week I have...

been op shopping and found some wonderful goodies but so far only have a photo of these tea towels,

have done a little knitting while watching the Tour De France,

done some stitching,

felt lousy and weak for the most part,

baked biscuits,

art journaled loads to try and remain sane,

constantly shuffled washing from the washing machine to the clothesline to the clotheshorse,

left sheets and towels on the line for about 3 days,

cut up the chenille bedspread I bought from the oppie a few weeks ago,

started a fabulous new book called Lunch In Paris,

have been in denial Doctor Who finishes this Sunday,

as much as I love sitting in the winter sun I have decided the house is dirtier and horribler (?) in winter and looks much better in summer with the curtains constantly shut to keep out the light and sun and I can't see the dust and dirt

how has your week been?

knit

you may remember a few weeks ago I started a scarf with no plan, just adding in different fibres, well that totally turned to crap.  The main colour was so fine it didn't hold the weight of others I was adding in so I have abandoned it as is usually the case with my knitting.
I have started another pair of fingerless mittens and I may actually finish these.  I have only ever finished one pair and all attempts since have failed.  Usually one looser than the other.  I even tried them on the same needle at once but that drove me batty
For the knitter's in the know, can you tell me please is it best to go up a size in needle after doing the band?  I am doing this thin rib as the part for the fingers end then will do a wider band for the wrist end.
I am using the beautiful wool from Bec.

the main reason I thought I would have a slow knitting project on the go is because it is Tour De France time.  Not that I would humiliate myself by officially joining in on the annual Knit Along.  But we like to watch it so I thought I would knit too.
The Tour goes back a long way in this house back to the day when you were lucky to get a snippet  about it on the SBS news sports section.  Things are certainly different now.
I love the scenery and Gabriel Gate's cooking bits, hubby loves the race itself being an ex racing cyclist himself.

of course you must buy the guide each year.  It's not only full of good stuff but you can enter to win a trip to The Tour the following year.

I am feeling pretty low at the moment due to health issues causing frustration not being able to be as creatively productive as I want to be.   Sometimes it frustrates me to hell.  But it usually passes fairly quickly.
I should count my lucky stars I am not in the situation some unwell lovely bloggy mates find themselves.
Doctor Who is on tonight and that is always just the right tonic for me, tomorrow is another day I guess.
I know...I am totally feeling sorry for myself and I promise I will get over it very soon....maybe

thimbles and Delft

Some more sweet gifts from Europe from my sister. Look at these adorable wooden thimbles.  Hand painted in Prague, I am in love with them, such sweeties.  The are pretty front and back.

and this I LOVE.  A pin dish made by Delftsblauw which is now the name for Delftware in The Netherlands.  The blue and white of Delftware has always been a favourite and it is wonderful to have this little piece for my sewing table.....

I have the thimbles there for scale for you

aren't I lucky....

Paris

My sister recently returned from a holiday in Europe.   I had one request and that was could she please bring me back a kitschy tea towel from Paris.  A map one with bright colours.  Most of the tea towels in my collection are vintage ones, but I have new ones too.  I love the colour and the kitsch.  I love the linen too. These are so thick (and made in Italy not China..yippee)

Julie couldn't find one in Paris so she bought me two in Italy! Aren't they fabulous.

However, I did still get one from Paris but it's far from kitschy. 

It is sooooo pretty.

I am thinking cushions with the Italian ones and a tote with the Paris one.  I definitely want to make something with them and not just put them away in a drawer.

and these 2 postcards...they are gorgeous...a collage one

and a sewing one

next post I will share a couple more sweet gifts which are sewing related also...thank you Julie we all love our European pressies, but next time take me with you...