my creative space

Today my creative space is all things caravan.  This morning I've screen printed some men's tees, printed a smaller van onto some denim and sewed it into a pouch, and also made some cards with vans I've gocco printed onto vintage maps of Sydney.  Yep, it's a pretty caravan-y kind of a day...

More creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.

the dirt on soap

While I haven't made any for a while now, soap making is something I really enjoy.  I love wandering around my garden to see what herbs I can add to provide colour, scent, texture and interest.  I love the making itself, and unmoulding the soap to check the final product.  Most of all, I love knowing exactly what it is I'm using when I shower.  Something I have never used in my soaps is palm oil.

There is a growing awareness around the loss of Orangutan habitat caused by the palm oil industry.  It is directly responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Orangutans each year.  I've been sitting here trying to summarise exactly what it is that the palm oil industry is doing, but to be honest, I'm lost for words.  It's horrific.  The links through this post are a good starting point to see what is happening.

A few days ago, I called the Melbourne Zoo who have been active in fighting to save Orangutans through the Don't Palm Us Off campaign. The woman I spoke to was quick to tell me about not only 'bad' palm oil, but also about 'good' palm oil accredited through the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.  The Roundtable accredits manufacturers who farm oil palms sustainably, without the destruction of Orangutan habitat, and with fair wages to workers.  The woman I spoke with from the Zoo stressed the importance of supporting sustainably farmed palm oil to encourage demand for the product.  I've found it hard to get my head around the idea of a 'good' palm oil, but what she said made sense.  If we support an industry doing the right thing, our consumer dollar will be taken from those who aren't, assumedly weakening the demand for unsustainable oil and the destruction of Orangutan habitat.

It's a huge issue.  One problem is that we unknowingly buy products containing palm oil.  Manufacturers don't have to label their product as containing specifically palm oil, especially when vegetable oil would suffice.  Click here to read the palm oil shopping guide.

Back to the soap.  From all of my soap making, I have miles of offcuts from making the soap into bars.  There are only so many soap offcuts that my friends and family can get through.  So I've decided to package up a mix of different scented bars into 'sample packs' which will be available at Olive Grove from this Saturday.  Speaking of this Saturday, Olive Grove is having an Election Day Garage Sale.  Lots of stock throughout the shop will be heavily reduced on Saturday only.  If you visit the Olive Grove blog, or the Olive Grove Facebook page, you can print out a copy of our flier to receive a further 10% off storewide.

flea market finds

In between Porepunkah and Bright, the Old Tobacco Sheds are absolutely brimming with second hand goodness.  A lot of it is overpriced, but in amongst it all, you can find some really interesting bits and pieces.  After trawling through rooms of vinyl, furniture, crockery and glassware, kitsch-and-collectable-pretty-much-everything, I stumbled across a box of vintage postcards.  I don't know how long I spent looking at them, and reading all the old messages.  Many were just 'having a great time' postcards, but then there were those that were between families and lovers separated by war.  It's hard to imagine such a time.  No internet, no easy access to telephones, just what could be squeezed into a letter or crammed into the back of a card.  In the end, I came away with just four.  The oldest postmark dates back to 1908, with the newest being from 1930.

* This is my second week of playing along with Flea Market Finds.  Usually this is hosted by Her Library Adventures.  I don't think Sophie is hosting this week though, but go and have a visit anyway- there is a lot of vintage goodness to be found there!

my creative space

My creative space this week is full of unfinished business.  Before Christmas last year, I cut out dozens of pinnies for wee girls.  I printed them, and then failed to sew them up.  These are the pinnies I referred to in my post a couple of days ago.  I really need to get these done, rather than just moving them from one spot to another. 

More creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.

indulge me....

(Unrelated picture... I just like how the spines of these books look together.  And a picture of a tissue would be, well... lets just look at the books!)

....while I sook, and whinge a bit.  I'm sick.  I am.  And I'm over it!  It's just a cold, but when two out of three boys have it too, and I'm doing the solo mama bit for a two week stretch, it hurts!  I wish someone else was here to get the meals, and do the school run.  Ah well.  This too shall pass.

creating... a list

My creative mojo is elusive at the moment. It’s... well, at present, it’s pretty much nonexistent. For me, it goes through waves. I’ll have a few weeks where I’m creating like a mad thing, and feeling pretty happy for it. Not right now. Nope. The ideas are flowing, but finding any enthusiasm to do anything about them is a whole other matter. Blogging is getting pretty much the same treatment.


I’ve given myself a virtual kick up the butt and decided to see what all the ProBlogger hype is about. I’ve downloaded the 31 Days to a Better Blog e-book, and am starting to work through the daily tasks. Today’s task is writing a list post, which is obviously a post containing a list. I’m thinking that shouldn’t be too hard. I’m a chronic list writer. I actually kind of got excited about the idea of writing a list. What first came to mind was all the projects I have on the go, and ideas I have mulling around in my head. Maybe it will be me inspired to actually tackle some of those projects.

Patterns:
• I have a couple of patterns drafted and waiting to be sampled. I have everything needed for each project, I just need to do it. One in particular I am keen to try. It’s a dress I’ve designed which should work as a staple block. I’m seeing it with an obi, and with some layering of fabrics.
• Alter my pants patterns to ¾ pants/shorts for the coming warmer weather.
• Alter my tunic pattern to incorporate a wider, scooped neckline for Spring/Summer

Sewing:
• Sew up the dress pattern! I know the pattern is not quite right, so I need to sample it to see where I need to make changes.
• Sew up the collection of cut bags I have grazing throughout my sewing room.
• Sew up the girls pinnies I have had cut since before last Christmas. While I’m at it, I should sew up the kids shorts I’ve also had cut for about the same length of time!

Soap:
• My soap supplies are dwindling. It’s time to make some more, and to also revise how I am packaging them.

Cards:
• Make more cards, and while I’m at it, work on some new card designs. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten out the Gocco.

This is only scraping the surface, but it’s a start. What do you do when your creative mojo is missing in action? Does anyone have any ideas for sustaining creativity? I’d be really interested to hear how other people maintain their creative energy and keep things flowing.

bagged

This morning was spent at Olive Grove.  When it's my day to work in the shop, I like to take in my sewing machine and work on smaller projects.  Today I sewed up some bags using hand screenprinted fabrics by Lara Cameron as feature pockets, finished with handmade wooden buttons.  These are the first two completed out of a whole bundle I have cut out.  Finished, they look a litle like this.  No two are ever the same though, as of course each pocket will have slightly different fabric, and different buttons.  This is what I love about handmade- no two things are ever really the same.

sashiko

I love Japanese textiles and the simple elegance of Japanese design. Where I can, I love to incorporate these fabrics into my work. Recently, I made the (short!) pilgrimage over to the Kazari Warehouse in Richmond. They have such lovely textiles, crafting books and other bits and pieces.

I came away with a beautiful length of kimono fabric, and a book on Sashiko... which of course I cannot read a word of! I have been really inspired by sashiko embroidery for some time. Earlier in the year, I screen printed some sashiko designs that I hand drew onto men's tees. They turned out pretty well, and I have plans to do more as the weather gets warmer.

As far as actually embroidering myself...  Ahem.  It's going to be a long journey!

flea market finds...

... or for those in Australia, Op Shop finds!  This week I've decided to play along with Flea Market Finds via Her Library Adventures.

Not so long ago, I found a fantastic typewriter in a country oppie.  It still has it's case, and is in great condition.  I asked how much it was, and was surprised when they said I could have it for four dollars.  Four dollars!  I've just done a quick scan around the computer, and found the orange version listed for USD$450.  Gold!  I've had my eye out for a typewriter for a while. I've wanted to use one for crafty labels, cards and bits and pieces. So I am very happy with my find! Huzzah for country opshops!!