STARASHAN

final sprint :: handprinted fabric swap

2011-11-11T15:21:00.000+11:00

A few weeks ago, I excitedly joined up for the hand printed fabric swap I discovered over at Maze and Vale. In the process, I've discovered some very beautiful makers out there.

Today, I received my first parcel, and realised that the deadline is looming- this Monday! So this afternoon, as soon as I dropped Zeph at Kinder, I started printing. A looong process. I have made my old faithful vintage caravan print into a half drop repeat. But seeing as this is usually the stencil I use for children's tees, there is one one van- which meant I had to pull the hair dryer out to dry each print before doing the next!

So this is one of two prints I will be sending out: 'caravan' printed on vintage unbleached cotton sheets (lovely texture) using a non-toxic ink in eggplant.

my creative space

2011-11-10T13:12:00.001+11:00

I have recently uncovered a bit of an obsession I didn't realise I had- quilting. I use the word 'quilting' loosely... I don't think I have the patience for the meticulous measured work I see from others. But I do like free form quilting. Finding scraps that work together and watching the creation grow as I sew them together.

As a custom order, I was asked to make three quilt-style pouches. I began sewing pieces together, and before I knew it, the piece grew larger and larger. I knew I couldn't cut into it for the order. In my mind, it was the start of a bed spread, or cushions. Suddenly I wasn't making pouches anymore!

So, work on the bedspread/cushions/something has halted, and I have finished these. By next week, I think I will be showing a much larger.... something.

More creative spaces here.

sampling ideas

2011-10-17T20:29:00.000+11:00

Thinking that I have perhaps left my run a little late on my idea for these tops, I chose to use a much lighter fabric than I originally intended. The contrast fabric is a beautiful light vintage kimono wool. The fabrics of this top are light enough to make this a trans-seasonal piece, especially with the removable collar. Depending on how you twist and fold the collar, it will look different each time.

the old, the new

2011-10-12T21:02:00.000+11:00

Today, I've been playing with fabric new and old. The new is subtle, with texture. A deep black with a light houndstooth pattern. The old is a glorious vintage Japanese kimono wool. So light and lovely. I sampled a top using a combination of both. I made something like this for myself during winter, but wanted to try something lighter and trans-seasonal for the warmer weather. It works. Tomorrow I'll be making a few to take over to Olive Grove for the weekend. I'll take some pictures tomorrow to show how it turned out.

making

2011-10-10T19:59:00.000+11:00

Freshly made this morning: a double batch of lavender, bergamot, rose geranium and chamomile soap. The house smells divine. I can't wait to cut it into bars in the morning!

my creative space

2011-10-06T10:37:00.000+11:00

It's that time of year again when creativity is often spurred along by necessity. The weather's warming up, and I'm suddenly realising I have nothing to wear. Nothing that I'm overly keen on anymore, anyway. So, the screens and blanks tees have come out. I've printed two for myself: a bicycle cog, and another in a bloom/clover style print. Huzzah! Two new tops! I'm happy with how mine came out, so I'm thinking I may end up doing a run of these to take over to Olive Grove.

More creative spaces here.

beginning blogtoberfest

2011-10-04T21:13:00.000+11:00

I've had it in my mind that this Blogtoberfest would kick my little blog back into action. Four days in, and at number 247 in the list (wow so many players!) I'm just starting. Ah well, better late than never.

My smallest small and I were walking through the bush today. He raced back to give me these. Simple sweet little heartfelt treasures.

More Blogtoberfest players over at Tinniegirl.

on your bike!

2011-09-21T16:40:00.000+10:00

Each time I make my way to the Olive Grove Studio's, I notice that pretty much as soon as I cross the Merri Creek, the amount of people out on their bikes multiplies, a lot. Are people on that side of the creek hard wired to ride? What ever it is, it's good! These new prints celebrate biking goodness. They're now in store at Olive Grove.

in readiness

2011-08-06T16:31:00.000+10:00

Friday night in:

Sewing: pouches for the upcoming Found in Alphington market. (Next Wednesday night, between 6-9pm, 3 Adam Street Alphington - details in the post below) These are one of a kind pouches, sewn using remnants of Ink and Spindle fabrics and vintage kimono wool.

Drinking: Coopers

Listening:

Oh. It's a wild life I lead.

my creative space

2011-08-04T09:00:00.003+10:00

Next Wednesday night, I have a stall at a new market called Found in Alphington. So in preparation, I'm wrapping a bunch of soaps to take along. I'm using old knitting patterns that I've collected over the years. I know I'll never actually knit from them! That's a skill I've never quite grasped... So, today is a day of cut, wrap and fasten with lovely Japanese tape.

More creative spaces here.

EDIT: have just got a copy of the market flier... if you're in the area, come check it out. It looks to be a nice little market.

to tread gently

2011-08-03T12:27:00.000+10:00

I was reading this post yesterday, and it got me to thinking: what is it that I do that lowers my environmental impact? I do the sorts of things that most people I know do, standard stuff. I choose not to buy over packaged items. I shop locally, avoiding the big supermarkets where possible. I make my own clothes. I bake. I garden, growing my own veges as much as I can (realistically this is mostly a warmer weather thing...). Lots of 'environmental' ways of living are ingrained into who I am, and how we live as a family. This is just a start. I know I have a long way to go, especially in lessening my dependence on my car.

One positive thing that came to mind was soap. It's a small thing, but I make my own soap. I haven't bought soap in over two years. I know what goes into my soap, and what doesn't. No palm oil or petrochemicals or other synthetics, for a start. To fragrance my soaps, I use essential oils and spices from my cupboard. The water I use is often a tea I have steeped with herbs grown in my garden. Above, you can see rosemary from my garden, and calendula petals gathered from my mothers garden. It's lovely, local and home made. And that has to be a significant start along the path to treading lightly, right?

in bloom, again

2011-08-02T14:30:00.001+10:00

Today I snuck down the side alley next to Olive Grove and took some pictures of the skirt I blogged yesterday. It's still kind of windy today, but for a brief moment the wind played nicely. Such a perfect day today, warm and full of promise. Too nice to be inside. My garden is calling.

in bloom

2011-08-01T13:29:00.001+10:00

It seems the seasons are turning. Ever so slightly, I can feel the weather shifting. I'm spying trees blossoming, and jasmine vines slowly filling with flowers. Is it too early to hope for spring?

This is a new design I drew last week, and now have on screen. After a mammoth week of sewing last week, these have now landed at the Olive Grove: a-line skirts in a lightweight charcoal denim with a deep scoop pocket, and a red screen-printed 'in bloom' motif to one side.

(I'll have more pictures up later in the week - it has been near to impossible to take decent pictures- so windy today!)

my creative space

2011-05-26T15:11:00.000+10:00

I've spent some time printing today, which has been lovely. It's been ages since I've done any printing. This print first appeared on skirts some time ago, but last time it was all in shades of grey, charcoal and black. Red on denim really pops, making the print look so much different. When (if?) we get some better weather, I'll take some better pictures of these outside. (I've printed a whole size range that will make it down to Olive Grove in Brunswick on Saturday.) More creative spaces here.

:: wrapt ::

2011-05-18T13:30:00.000+10:00

I've just arrived home from running around delivering the newest round of wrapt tunics to some lovely independent boutiques in Melbourne. You'll find these at the Olive Grove Studios, I Dream A Highway, The Cat's Meow and Inspirasia. These have been selling really fast - if you love layering, pick one up soon, as I don't think I'll be doing any more in these fabrics.

my creative space

2011-05-12T12:02:00.000+10:00

I really love clothing with interesting built up necklines. I love wearing something that I can play with and vary each time, keeping it fresh. I've been trying to come up with some ideas for a new top today that encapsulates all of that. As part of the process, I've been draping and pinning fabrics on my sewing lady to get an idea of what may work and what probably won't. It's all a bit hit and miss and this point, but hopefully I'll come up with something I love soon!

More creative spaces over at a new home... Our Creative Spaces. Thanks for hosting for so long, Kirsty!

peace

2011-05-08T14:12:00.000+10:00

A woke this morning to three excited little faces bringing in a cup of tea, brekky in bed, handmade cards and lots of cuddles. I love that they love to make Mothers Day special. Now, I'm here alone. I've had a few hours alone to just potter and do my own thing. I've even had a chance to read my book, uninterrupted! Pure bliss. They'll all be home soon. We'll head down to Olive Grove for the finale of the artisan skirt silent auction. Then maybe out for dinner? Wishing all mothers out there a lovely day! x

time

2011-05-07T21:42:00.000+10:00

Time is an amazing thing, isn't it. I find it amazing how days, weeks and months can slip by, almost unnoticed. It seems not so long ago that my garden was even vaguely tended, and bearing all sorts of goodness. Now, it's been neglected so long that even the pitchfork is being strangled by a vine, and the garden itself is being swallowed by giant amaranth that have made the jump from next door.

Today was one of my first forays back into the garden for a very long time. I mowed, weeded, and snipped. We had a fire going, the boys happily burning their marsh mallows to next to nothing. I think more landed in the fire drum than in their mouths. Not that they minded. It's a happy kind of a day. Working outside, fingers in the earth, the smell of a wood fire and happy kids. Yes. It's definitely time to get the garden back into shape.

this moment

2011-05-06T09:00:00.001+10:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by Soulemama.

my creative space

2011-05-05T12:17:00.000+10:00

In my creative space today, cards... lots of cards. These amongst others are soon to be trucking off to a lovely little bookshop in Bright. More creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.

gocco and card making

2011-03-29T20:58:00.000+11:00

It's been a while since I last pulled out the gocco. I love using it most for making cards. It's fantastic for creating large numbers of something in a way that allows it's handmade nature to shine.

Created in the late 1970's, the Gocco machine is a Japanese printing system that was a huge hit during the 1980's. Due to falling sales however, there was talk of the gocco machine going out of production- I'm not sure how the campaign to save the humble gocco is travelling now.

There are some truly amazing artists out there using Print Gocco to produce their work. If you're interested, have a look on Flickr (gocco groups). People's creativity is astounding.

soap

2011-03-22T15:00:00.000+11:00

Today while working at the Olive Grove Studios, I put together some soap sample packs, and set out a bush of now cured hand made soaps. This bunch smells lovely. There's lemon verbena and black pepper, mocha spice, patchouli and ylang ylang, and peppermint amongst others.

I think I'll be making more soap soon. What's your favourite combo? I always seem to lean toward the same familiar scents. I'd love some fresh ideas.

2011-03-21T10:49:00.000+11:00

It seems insane to be posting about pants. How can it be pants weather already? Aren't we still waiting for Summer? Apparently Summer's not going to happen, so it's time to embrace the coming cooler weather instead.

- available at Olive Grove Studios.

this moment

2011-03-18T09:00:00.003+11:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. {inspired by Soulemama}

my creative space

2011-03-17T16:21:00.000+11:00

My creative space today has been about making brooches to fasten these tops with. They are simple fabric covered buttons finished with a brooch backing. There's something soothing and quieting about the repetitive nature of making brooches. It's best to embrace it, it's all part of the process!

I first made these tops about this time last year in a different fabric, and sold them through Olive Grove and also I Dream A Highway. These ones are now available at Olive Grove only at this point.

More creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.

handmade hearts

2011-02-11T15:57:00.001+11:00

A couple of weeks ago now, my lovely friends were married. They had a fantastic vintage inspired, handmade wedding. They made metres and metres of heart shaped roadmap bunting which they strung through the Wesley Anne bandroom for the reception. Now these hearts have been installed in the window over at Olive Grove - a small concession to the arrival of Valentines Day on Monday!

simple chemistry

2011-02-09T17:02:00.000+11:00

I love the simple chemistry of soap making. Oils and lye combine so easily to make such a luscious product. Essential oils and spices create magic. This batch has been lovely to make; lemon verbena and black pepper, topped with poppy seeds. It smells incredible. I have another batch on the go that I'll cut into bars tomorrow. It's what I call 'mocha spice'- freshly ground organic coffee, chocolate, with the oils of nutmeg, cinnamon, bergamot and patchouli. Last time I made this, I discovered the bite mark of a certain four year old... apparently it doesn't taste as good as it looks!

Dad

2011-02-07T14:31:00.000+11:00

This gocco print was taken from a picture of my Dad when he was in late Primary School. I made these cards a couple of years ago now.

I've been out of the blogging loop for a while now. Life has thrown some pretty serious curve balls, ones that have been hard to catch and accept. Ones that have floored me and have been hard to get back up from.

Two days after my last post, my Dad had a very sudden and unexpected stroke. He was airlifted from Mallacoota to Melbourne, kept alive via life support. My Mum, brother and I sat with him the next day as he died. He was 65. It's hard to express the pain of losing my Dad. He was a rock. An amazing man. He was always there... and now he's not.

Sometimes it still doesn't seem real. It's hard to imagine a world that he's not in. But this is it I guess. I'm getting back up.

laneways

2010-11-09T21:40:00.000+11:00

Last week it was Ash's birthday. It doesn't really seem that long since he was born (here at home!). For his birthday, he decided that he wanted to go into the city after school for dinner at the Camy Shanghai Dumpling House in Tattersals Lane. The boy craves all things red bean... dumplings, pancakes, spring rolls- you name it. After eating, we spent time walking the laneways. I love my boys love of Melbourne's street art. So much to see if you take the time.

doresu : kiku

2010-10-30T21:08:00.001+11:00

I've been in production overdrive this month. Lots of new dresses and other bits and pieces. This dress is the same cut as my 'doresu', although it incorporates a panel of Japanese fabric - katazome kiku or stencil dyed chrysanthemum fabric. It's such lovely fabric. These have already made their way to both Olive Grove and I Dream a Highway. Hope your weekend is treating you well....

my creative space

2010-10-28T13:22:00.000+11:00

Tucked away at the back of the house, I have a dedicated creative space. It's a tiny room, but it's mine. It crammed full with sewing machines, silk screens, two tables, books, miles of fabric, patterns, card making stuff, soap making stuff, and random stuff. It's amazing that so much is in such a little space. But it works for me.

My creative space today is filled with projects on the go. Freshly gocco printed owl cards, newly made swing tags, and all the other stuff that usually lives in my space. These pictures are a little glance into my space. Many many more creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.

why

2010-10-26T20:55:00.000+11:00

Why is it that at bedtime, Ash decides to tell me it's crazy hat day tomorrow?
Why is it that my iphone has decided to crap itself?
Why is it that I cut half of a big run of pattern pieces the wrong way?
And why is it that the corner across from my kids school always has a bizarre assortment of forgotten chairs? Why?

zested

2010-10-25T21:01:00.000+11:00

A couple of weeks ago, we picked up a bag of lemons and a bag of limes from an honesty stall out near Kangaroo Ground. Since then, lemon or lime has made it into many things. Tonight lime was zested into our pasta, and I made a lemon delicious pudding. Yesterday I made lemon and coconut cupcakes. I'm thinking that soon I'll have to made some lemon butter, or a lemon and lime tart. I have a lot of lemons and limes to get through!

(At Day 25 of Blogtober, I'ce got to say it: more power to those who blog everyday, always, and with something new and interesting to say. You are amazing! I've tried to post everyday, but have missed a few here and there.)

sunday

2010-10-24T20:52:00.002+11:00

Joy is: gardening with my family
enjoying the sweet taste of borage flowers
learning to make daisy chains
goccoing cards, filling all surfaces
recycling drawers into mini vege plots for the boys
coffee in the backyard with home made lemon and coconut cupcakes
finishing the day with dinner outside.

on freedom

2010-10-22T14:23:00.001+11:00

I’ve been thinking a lot about freedom lately. That is, the freedom of my children. My partner and I have always given our kids as much freedom as possible in our city environment. We’ve taught them how to be safe around roads. We’ve set boundaries. They have our trust, and trust themselves enough to be alone to discover new things. Isn’t this an important part of growing up, and learning to be a normal functioning human being?

I continue to come across people who afford their children so little trust and responsibility. Their children are cloistered and rarely have any opportunity to develop independence. What have we as a society become? Why is it that children no longer roam free, are restricted, and always have eagle eyed parents on their backs? Children are given so many no's. So many opportunities for learning and growth are taken away.

Instead of telling children no, and teaching them to be afraid, shouldn't we instead provide them with the tools for independence?

A couple of weeks ago, I heard Lenore Skenazy talk about letting her 9 year old son navigate the New York City subway alone to find his way home. At first, I thought "what???" - but- is this necessarily a bad thing? She has provided her son with the tools for independence. He knew how to read a map and buy a ticket. He grew up knowing that it was okay to talk to strangers, just not to go away with strangers. He knew what to do. He made it home. I bet Lenore's son would be able to walk to the milk bar alone, or ride his bike to school, just as we did as kids!

Are things really so different now that we can't give our children even a fraction of the freedom that we had? I don't know that it's so much different. We have just as a society become more paranoid, more fearful, and far less trusting. And sadly, this transfers to our children and their life experience.

You know, it's okay to let go a little bit. Really, it is.

my creative space

2010-10-21T12:40:00.000+11:00

A little while ago, a couple of women came into Olive Grove and tried on my cowl necked dresses. They asked about the possibility of having them made up into bridesmaids dresses. The thought was kind of horrifying (my god what if I stuff it up!) and exciting (how cool that someone likes my work enough to customise it into a bridesmaids dress). They chose a silk duipon for the dress, and lovely Japanese fabric for the contrast. I'm rapt with how they turned out- I hope they will be well received tomorrow when we meet for a fitting.

More creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.

in progress

2010-10-19T20:08:00.000+11:00

I have been cutting all day, literally. I think I am giving myself a permanent ding in my fingers from the scissors. But it's all good... I'm excited about what I'm making. Dresses with gorgeous Japanese fabric panels, and more bags finished with lovely handmade wooden buttons. I think I have officially cleared The Friendship Tree out of all their button stock!

searching...

2010-10-18T21:57:00.001+11:00

I'm not really a shoe person... I tend to go for practical-wear-it-with-everything shoes. This summer is going to change things a little though. I can't wear my favourite (erm, only) summer sandals anymore. I got orthotics a few months ago, and now have to wear shoes with a full back. Bleh. But. I've been looking at shoes here and here. Maybe Summer's not looking so boring after all?

If you know of any great shoe stores, or interesting summery shoes, please let me know!

Image found here.

Ninja

2010-10-16T22:09:00.001+11:00

The small boy had a birthday party this afternoon. Which is great. It really is. Except when you realise maybe half an hour before leaving that it's actually a dress up birthday party, and that he wants to be a skeleton. Not today, sunshine. All good though... he decided to be a ninja instead. One karate uniform, a pirate sword and a quick head covering later, and he was happy. So happy that he wore it out to dinner later that night. Ah yes. All is good in the land of Ninja.

(BTW- I'm playing around a bit with my template, so it's all a bit all over the place at the moment...)

my creative space

2010-10-14T14:33:00.000+11:00

I'm sure that like many women, my bag has a tendency to become full of... well... crap. I like making myself little pouches to put in my bag to contain the chaos. This one (made this morning) is big enough for a little notebook, visual diary and some pens and pencils.

More creative spaces at Kirsty's, and Blogtober players at Cathy's.

self portrait

2010-10-13T20:22:00.000+11:00

I'm cheating a bit. I just came across the blogtoberfest self portrait bit that's going around, so I'm grabbing a picture off my phone from the other day... I was sending a picture to a friend to get her opinion on the sleeve length on a dress I'd just made. More self portraits over at Tinniegirl.

pressed

2010-10-12T20:28:00.000+11:00

I was working at Olive Grove today, so I made use of the huge printing table to iron some interfacing onto larger lengths of fabric. I thought it would be okay to use the iron at the shop- it’s just interfacing. My god. I know I’m pretty anal about ironing as I go. I know I’m a bit of a perfectionist with pressing.... I just didn’t realise how much of an iron elitist I have become! It’s kind of funny. What would have taken a short amount of time took an age longer, and it didn’t even fuse. It just shifted, scorched, melted and generally did not adhere. I gave up in disgust and did it at home later. Yep, I’m blaming the tools.

If you’re new to sewing, invest in a good iron. A good, strong sturdy heavy iron with a good burst of steam. Leave the $20 cheapie on the shelf. And while you’re getting a good iron, consider an iron shoe. These things are brilliant. No more scorching or leaving a sheen on your fabric. No more pressing cloths. These things are brilliant.

Um yeah. My name is Sherrin, and I am an ironing nerd.

doresu

2010-10-08T22:05:00.000+11:00

It's been a long process involving a lot of procrastinating, but I finally have a new dress pattern ready and firing! The first variation will be at Olive Grove as of tomorrow. I'll take some full photos then. I couldn't get a clear one today, no matter how hard I tried. I'm excited about the variations I've designed into this dress; incorporated obi belts, contrasting panels. Or, just simple, like this one.

It's nice writing this post after yesterday. It shows that even little steps take you somewhere eventually.

taking time

2010-10-07T13:49:00.000+11:00

My relationship with time is fraught. I always feel busy, and yet often feel like I am achieving nothing. From the outside looking in, I’m always doing something. I have three children, run my own business and am part of a handmade retail collective. I do a lot of things. But I always feel busy, rushed. Little is done properly or to fruition. When I’m not rushing around, I feel stressed that I should be doing something. I tend to take too much on, and let my ideas and dreams get ahead of me. I jump from one project to another. I get overwhelmed. I need to stop, focus and breathe. I need to slow down.

Usually, I drive the boys to school. We live just a little too far away from school to make walking feasible. But today, I didn’t have the car. We caught the tram to school, and afterward, Zeph and I had coffee with Cathy. Walking back to the tram, Zeph scooted ahead on his balance bike while Cathy and I talked about time, and making time. Every so often, Zeph would stop, pick a flower, or marvel at a caterpillar. He is present, in the moment, now. Racing around, I miss so much of these very real things that truly matter.

So, what do I do? Bemoaning a lack of time and energy doesn’t get me anywhere! Experience has shown me that creating a timetable for myself is a waste of time; I never stick to it. Plan better? Maybe, if I knew what I was planning for.

You know what my problem is? Beyond expecting too much of myself, I don’t think I have a goal. I don’t think I really know what it is that I want. I haven’t refined any dream to focus on and work toward. This is why my time and focus is so fractured.

So, I need to:

· Let go of unrealistic expectations

· Set some goals- be realistic, I can’t do everything

· Focus on one project at a time

· Slow down

· Breathe

Reading back over my list above, I can see that it doesn’t address an overall goal. That’s a big one. That’s big picture stuff. I’ll get there. But in the meantime, I’m slowing down. I’m smelling the roses.

kids craft :: postage stamps

2010-10-06T14:55:00.000+11:00

I collected stamps as a child. Now, I'm really wishing I have have hung onto all those albums. I'm thinking of all the incredible things I might have done with with them. I've seen them as brooches, and sewn into belts and bags. A quick tour around the internet, especially flickr, opens a whole other realm of invention and possibility. My smallest small likes stamps too. Together we removed the stamp from his letter from Grandma, then he glued it into his scrapbook and created a world around it. We're collecting stamps together now.

gold

2010-10-05T16:49:00.000+11:00

Sometimes you see something you have to have. Yesterday, this was it. Op-Shop gold, in the form of a tin. Nice.

on soap

2010-10-04T21:18:00.001+11:00

For nearly two years, I've been making my own soap. I love making soap. I love the process, but I especially love cutting it into bars the next day- big earthy, chunky free-form bars of soap! I love knowing what's in my soap, and especially what's not in my soap. I won't rehash my anti-palm-oil rant here, but if you're even vaguely interested, please have a look.

Before giving soap making a go, I always thought it would be hard. But you know what? It's really not. The recipe I use makes a fair bit, but my Mum has used the same recipe and halved it, and her soap has turned out really well.

If you want to give soap making a go, then do! Try it! I use a recipe I found over at the Down To Earth blog. It's fantastic. And palm oil free!

to gift

2010-10-03T21:01:00.001+11:00

All of a sudden, it's Spring. Gorgeous warm weather, friends and picnics. Good stuff. This is how we spent our afternoon, this last of the September holidays. A whole afternoon in the park with friends. So very good. (One of these friends had her birthday last week, so I made her this little coin pouch this morning, and added a bar of handmade soap.)

today, in pictures.

2010-10-02T22:28:00.001+10:00

Today, in pictures:

Coffee at Chair 14. So lovely and quiet while the Grand Final was on. They've got Oktoberfest on at the moment, and were also talking about pumpkin carving on Halloween. It falls on a Sunday, so it could be good.

Tea at home. I love this teapot. It was my Grandma's. The collage in the background is an amazing piece done by a friend of ours. He did a whole series around water, mostly reservoirs. Some pieces he collaged, others were stencilled.

Homemade pizza, topped with pine nuts, roasted pumpkin, soft goats cheese and baby spinach.

And now, a quick look at other Blogtober players, and then I'm making myself comfortable in front of the tele. I read Running With Scissors a while back... I hope the film doesn't ruin the book!

Blogtoberfest

2010-10-01T14:35:00.001+10:00

You know, it’s so easy to get caught up in the day to day of life. It’s easy to move through the motions of life and suddenly days, weeks, even months are gone. I’m like that. I get ‘busy’. I get caught up. I forget to do things and push things down an imaginary list. Blogging is one of those things. I love it. I really do. I love putting my thoughts and ideas out there, seeing what others are up to, and feeling somehow connected to other creative types. My problem is I find it hard to maintain my energy for it.

But now it’s Blogtober. And it only takes a few weeks (hopefully that wasn’t a few months!) to form a new habit. This month’s new habit is going to be daily blogging. For the whole month of October, and hopefully beyond.

Cathie of Tinniegirl fame is hosting Blogtober again this year. Feel like playing along? Yes? Then go visit Cathie and add your link.

my creative space

2010-08-19T11:28:00.003+10:00

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

2010-08-18T16:57:00.000+10:00

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

2010-08-15T23:43:00.000+10:00

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

2010-08-12T15:34:00.000+10:00

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....

2010-08-11T20:37:00.000+10:00

(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

2010-08-10T14:39:00.000+10:00

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

2010-08-03T14:52:00.000+10:00

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

2010-08-02T12:43:00.001+10:00

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...

2010-08-01T16:00:00.002+10:00

... 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!!

harmony

2010-07-31T11:19:00.002+10:00

Perfect colour and harmony in nature. It would be near impossible to capture these colours and textures artifcially, yet here they blend perfectly. I remember coming across a program somewhere that took colours from photographs and then created a design/colour palette. I wish I could remember where I found it...

These photos were taken recently in Mallacoota, along a stretch of coastline that is destined to be destroyed. Plans have been approved to destroy these rocks and create a marina. This will be devastating for Mallacoota and Croajingalong National Park, which has always been a beautiful untouched coastline. These are the rocks I grew up climbing on, scouring for seashells, crabbing and playing. Now my boys love to do the same. If you want to find out more about the area and the plans to destroy this coastline, visit http://savebastionpoint.org/.

opshop gold

2010-07-30T13:41:00.000+10:00

As a little girl, I used to love looking through my mother's sewing box. It's one of those huge wooden concertina style sewing boxes, and was always filled with beautiful buttons, trims and cotton spools. It's amazing the magic that thing held!

Recently, I travelled up to visit my parents in the country. A day long journey means passing by many country opshops! On the way back, I hit real gold! How I managed to spot it outside an op-shop, while travelling at about 70km and hour I have no idea, but I did. A sudden turn and park, and this beauty was mine. This sewing box needs a bit of love. The hinges on the lid on one side are broken, but that's easily fixed. So now I have my own lovely sewing box... but I still have my eye on Mum's!!

under the big top

2010-06-23T21:27:00.000+10:00

The boys have been practicing for weeks for tonight. We have been hearing about their school circus, what they are doing, how they have been practicing, and of course how excited they are. Tonight has been the big night. The school hall was filled with excited children dressed to the circus nines, and the proud faces of parents watching on. It was the cutest thing, watching my little preppie do his tightrope act, and the bigger boy balancing his way through his act, and throwing a little pantomime in! Both of them wore the results of my inability to throw fabric out- all manner of scraps were sewn together to create crazy clown pants. Of course I have no photos... I was still sewing them at the last minute!

Are you a maker/designer?

2010-06-22T14:06:00.002+10:00

For just over two years now, I have been part of the Olive Grove Studios, a retail collective on Sydney Road in Brunswick. It's had it's highs and lows, but mostly it's been great. I've learned so much, had the opportunity to trial what I make in a retail environment, and have met a lot of great people along the way. We operate at the moment with eight members in our collective. We share the rent on the shop space, and share working in the space to keep the shop open every day. Which brings me to what this post is really about: at the moment, we are looking for three new members.

Do you live in Melbourne, and are a designer/maker? Are you looking to expand (or start) a small business in craft/design/textiles/art/your chosen medium? If you are, we'd love to hear from you. Maybe you have a whole bunch of questions you'd like answered before you think any further. You can call us on 9388 8006, email on olivegrovestudios@gmail.com, or drop by the shop: 159 Sydney Road Brunswick. (Mon-Sat: 11-5pm and Sun: 12-4pm)

If this is not your cup of tea, that's ok. Maybe you know someone you think would love to consider something like this? Please let them know we're looking. Thanks!

to market

2010-06-21T14:36:00.000+10:00

Last week I headed off to the Camberwell Market in search of the elusive Button Lady. I trawled the aisles, asked around at various stalls, and eventually discovered that she is out of action for a few weeks because of knee surgery. It would seem I am not meant to have handmade wooden buttons. The poor Button Lady! And the maker of the wooden buttons I had been buying has had a stroke. And my attempt at button making was in vain- they just didn't work.

In the closing minutes of the market, I found this jug. I love it. I have no idea exactly how old it is, but it's very sweet. It measure in ounces, pints, cups and gills (?) - so now I'm set! Bring on the old church ladies guild recipe books! Have cup, will measure!

simple photography?

2010-06-20T21:51:00.000+10:00

A couple of months ago, we spent the weekend with some friends who live at the base of Mt Buffalo. A beautiful, beautiful place. And of course I forgot to take my camera. I took loads of photos with my iphone... at the time I thought they looked great, but once I got home and saw them on the computer, I decided otherwise. So these photos have just sit in disgrace in a forgotten corner of my pictures folder!

However, tonight after cruising through some blogs, I've changed my mind. I came across this post by Angela of Three Buttons. She too has seen her iphone camera in a new light. There's a lot you can do with this humble device, and in my case, a bit of tweaking with the 'soft focus' effect of Picasa!

The mushroom in these photos were amazing. Our friends have lots of chestnut trees on their property, and under the base of some of them, there were rings upon rings of these magical beauties.

I'm loving this photo too. My friend and I took leave of the menfolk for the day, and spent the day trawling through second hand stores. For lunch we had the best fish and chips ever. Mine was spice crusted salmon with hand cut chips and home made tartare. To die for. Especially when coupled with a cold coopers, on the banks of a mountain fed river. Bliss.

Now, I'm back off to have a further look at some of the links Angela put up to iphontography. I'm all inspired!

for the love of buttons

2010-06-18T14:28:00.000+10:00

Earlier this week, I picked up a bag of gorgeous hand covered buttons. I chose the fabrics from my stash, choosing mainly kimono silks and wools, some quilting fabrics and also some hand screen printed fabrics from Ink & Spindle. Seeing the bag bulging with over 400 buttons was like stumbling across a huge bag of lollies as a child! These beauties are set to adorn skirts and pants. I can't wait to start using them!

By the way, if you have a bit of a button penchant and live in Melbourne, Buttonmania are having their annual sale, starting this coming Monday. It's certainly worth checking out, sometimes you can come across some little vintage lovelies. Buttons by the kilo... how good is that!

my creative space

2010-06-17T21:25:00.001+10:00

It's time to dust the cobwebs from the blog, and blow away the dust bunnies. I haven't been around here much- for ages. And you know what, I miss my little corner of the blogosphere. I miss poking about and seeing what all of you are up to, too.

What better time to jump back on the blogging bandwagon than on a Thursday, creative show and tell day! For a while now, Kirsty at Kootoyoo has been hosting a weekly meme where people play along, blogging about what is happening in their creative spaces.

This Thursday, I've been making cards. Westgarth Books is now stocking my cards, so I made some up this morning to take over. It was a lovely morning- a friend of mine reads to children there every couple of weeks, and afterwards we have a coffee. Noice.

More creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.

ghost trees

2010-06-04T16:50:00.000+10:00

After screenprinting six skirt front pieces yesterday, they are now all sewn up. I feel like I've been running on overdrive the past few weeks, but it's good. I'm feeling productive, and I love seeing ideas come to fruition. I'm loving that these skirts match the 'wrapt' top. I love shades of black, grey and charcoal... I don't seem to do colour well! These skirts (sizes XS-XXL) are making their way to Olive Grove tonight, so will be there to have a look at if you're in Brunswick tomorrow? More of these tops will be in the shop too, once I have finished making their fasteners. Ah yes, more sanding to come! Joy.

my creative space

2010-06-03T14:53:00.000+10:00

My creative space is a busy one today. I have a few projects on the go. I'm making a pair of pants, am working on finishing some 'wrapt' tops, and have also done some screen printing. The prints are for some skirts- simple a-line skirts made from a lightweight charcoal denim.

More creative spaces over at Kootoyoo. Thanks for hosting Kirsty!

respect

2010-05-30T12:19:00.000+10:00

Today I have developed a new sense of respect for builders and users of power tools! I have been sanding back reclaimed timber to make buttons. My hands are sore, I am coated in dust, and even now as I type this, I feel my hands being pulled forward, as if I were still sanding! But! Soon I will have buttons, lovely buttons made from redwood and mirboo. A bit of scrabbling down the side of my house, and at a friends house, has uncovered some lovely wood. Now I'm about to strap all the sanded wood to my bike and venture off to the house of a friend who has kindly offered to let me use his drop saw. Ah yes... all my buttony plans are coming to fruition!

afternoon

2010-05-28T15:04:00.000+10:00

As soon as my son is in bed for his nap, most afternoons run the same course. I make tea or coffee, and head into the sewing room to work. This is a precious stretch of time where I get as much done as possible. This afternoon, I’ve been sewing up skirts: simple a-line skirts with contrasting lining in the pockets with a matching fabric covered button detail. But why oh why does 3pm come by so fast? It’s always suddenly time to wake up Zeph and get the other boys from school. Seems kind of criminal to wake a sleeping child!

funnel necked tunic

2010-05-24T14:46:00.000+10:00

It's raining outside... hoorah for rain! I love this kind of weather- it's makes me feel great about being inside pottering. Today I've made myself a red funnel necked tunic. I love layering in the cooler months. Maybe that's come from necessity... I haven't owned a winter jacket in years!

(Excuse the dodgy pics- rainy, dim days do not make for great photograps!)

Shagpile Designs

2010-05-22T16:36:00.001+10:00

I received a lovely parcel in the mail yesterday from Andria from Shagpile Designs. Andria is an Australian currently living in Spain... what a life! My little parcel was a giveaway... she sent me an email to let me know I had won- I can completely forgotten that all people who follow her blog go into the running to win a prize. Hooray! You should go an visit Andria's blog to see at the goodness she creates, and while you're out and about, maybe visit her shop too? Thanks Andria, I love the buttons, especially the blue one.

new pants pattern

2010-05-21T14:08:00.006+10:00

Yesterday I said I was going to post pictures of the pants I recently drafted and sewed. It's great to have a pair of pants that are made exactly to my measure. They come in where I want them to (ie. a little higher on the waist to hold in all that mummy goodness!!) and flare out a little below the knee (to balance out the hips!). The idea with the pockets was to have a contrasting lining with matching buttons. They aren't sewn in yet, I got a bit keen and wore and washed them before they were fully finished. I'm not fully sold on the lining, and not sure about the buttons... what do you think?

my creative space

2010-05-20T13:52:00.007+10:00

This afternoon, I will be seeing my childhood friend for the first time in maybe seven or eight years. It's funny how things change, and people drift apart. This friend was a hugely important part of my growing up years. Our parents were friends as children, and through their married lives. Every May school holidays, my brother and I would travel down to Melbourne to spend a week or two with them, and every Christmas, they would hitch their caravan to holiday with us. So many childish dreams were shared between us, and confidences shared as we grew older. When adulthood hit, we went our own ways. She did her thing, I did mine. I always thought we would see each others children come and grow. She hasn't seen two of my children. I missed her wedding and the birth of her daughter some weeks ago. I didn't even know.

So today, my creative space is thoughtful. I'm thinking about the past, and the future. I'm cooking from my favourite cookbook, and hoping to re-establish a very special childhood friendship.

Come back and visit tomorrow. I'll show a pair of pants I made the other day from my first attempt at drafting a pants pattern... I'm very happy with how they turned out!

(That's me on the right in the photos- except on the tandem where I'm at the back. The gorgeous wooden spoon was made for me by a Ngaanyatjarra woman out of mulga wood when I spent some time working in a desert community.)

More creative spaces over at Kootoyoo. Thanks for hosting Kirsty!

to gift

2010-05-18T15:18:00.004+10:00

I'm feeling a little wordless today, so thought I'd just show a bag I made recently. It's made of a strong flat denim, 'birch forest' fabric by Ink & Spindle, and finished with a handmade wooden button. (I'm loving those buttons at the moment!!)

new stock, and a new stockist!

2010-05-17T12:07:00.006+10:00

I've been getting the nudge from my Mum to start blogging a bit more regularly again. She lives a long days drive away, so blogging has been a way to keep her in the loop with what I'm doing. So Mum- here I am... blogging again!!

I wanted to show some photos of the 'wrapt' top I posted the other week. It looks so much different on a body form rather than just hanging flat on a hanger. I've been loving the versatlity of this top. You can have a completely different looking top depending on how you wrap the scarf. I initially chose to fasten these with kilt pins, but unfortunately, they left holes in the fabric. In the end, I made brooches with handmade buttons of recycled timber. I wasn't sure how they would work out, but I'm happy with the result.

These are in stock both at Olive Grove in Brunswick, and also at my new stockist I Dream A Highway in Northcote. (It's a bit exciting to be branching out!!)

my creative space

2010-04-22T15:01:00.006+10:00

After such a long break from blogging, it's great to be playing along with Kirsty's 'my creative space' meme again. This me is a weekly show and tell about what's going on in your creative space, now.

Today, my creative space has been on the move... I started out by visiting a lovely woman who kindly loaned her sewing lady after hearing me moan about not having one the other day. Thankyou so much if you're reading this!! She's lovely... I love how old school she looks, the wood and fabric finish, and the big metal screws to adjust her.

After picking up said creative lady, I met friends in Westgarth and trawled the shops. I bought fabric at both Flashback and Tombo. Not exactly sure what I'll make. I have some ideas floating about... perhaps draft a dress pattern for the honeycomb faille, perhaps panels for the obi fabric?

More creative spaces over at Kirsty's.

wrapt

2010-04-20T14:57:00.006+10:00

I've falled into the habit of going along to pattern making classes each week, drafting something new, and then pretty much never testing the pattern. But today I did! I sewed up the pattern I made last week. It's just a simple tunic made of a heavy weight knit. I've sewn in a scarf/collar to play with. So here it is, and I'm... wrapt! (yeh... cheesy, I know!)

long time between drinks

2010-04-19T22:14:00.006+10:00

It's been a long time between drinks. A really long time. Our computer had died in a serious way... so we have been sans computer, and now sans a serious amount of un-backed-up photos. But that's enough said about that...

So, while the computer has been visiting all sorts of strange and exotic factory floors, I have been creating. The cowl dress that I first showed glimpses of months ago has been fully realised and graded into sizes XS through XXL. Maybe not the best time to be stocking the shop with sleeveless garments, but I'm thinking that this dress will work well as a layering garment.

Lots more to show over the coming days, but for now I'm off to try and get the computer happening how it should... Truth be told, it's really not playing nicely!

sashiko circles

2010-02-12T15:02:00.005+11:00

This morning I left the smallest boy with Mim and exposed the design I drew up yesterday. It worked! It's always the biggest relief to see the design show up on the screen and see the stencil fall out. I've printed up the image onto black men's tees with a green ink. They will be in the shop on Sunday when I'm next working.I've also drawn up a new sashiko design. I tried to expose this one too, but it didn't work. Maybe the lines were too fine? More than likely I just coated the screen emulsion badly... an even and thin coating is so hard to achieve! I'd like to think that one day it won't be so hard! By the way... the record cover is what I use to take my artwork around in for screen printing... I've finally found another use for all the record covers I've amassed over the years!

my creative space

2010-02-11T13:36:00.002+11:00

I'm loving the idea of wabi sabi; embracing impermanence, imperfection and incompletion. I have had in my mind for a very long time that I wanted to screenprint sashiko designs onto men's tees. Everytime I've sat down to draw up the design, I have been frustrated with the imperfection. I've been unable to get lines straight and I end up giving up. I'm not that much better on the computer. I barely know one end of Illustrator from the other. Today I was very much in a 'I don't give a toss' frame of mind. And I'm glad. Because I'm enjoying the imperfection of this piece. Maybe organic is a better word. It's not imperfect, really. It looks hand drawn. Which is good. This will be making it's way onto some men's tees very soon.
More creative spaces over at Kirsty's.

back to this blogging business...

2010-02-08T14:35:00.003+11:00

Today I've been making some cards. I took the image I've used for screenprinting on men's tees, shrunk it, and gocco-ed it onto the pages of a vintage Sydney street directory I found in an opshop a while back. Some of these prints have already been used as gift tags and swing tags.

I took a couple of days away from blogging and it turned into a month... how does that happen?? I'm hoping to be around more now, sewing, making and blogging!

back into it

2010-01-10T22:14:00.003+11:00

Today is the first day I have seriously sat down since before Christmas to sew or make anything for my business. It's been so hard to get motivated. I have really enjoyed the break, and just playing Mum for a change. It's been nice to have one less direction to be pulled in. But, today has been about making again. I've done some sewing, and have also pulled out the gocco to make some prints for cards. It was kind of nice being crafty again. It's been ages.

on plastic and precycling

2010-01-06T21:59:00.002+11:00

No matter which way you look at it, this is a huge pile of crap. Plastic has a way of creeping and seeping into our household. I like to think that I am environmentally minded. Plastic seems to be my downfall though. There is so much of it. I do all the usual stuff. I send kids off to school with reusable containers, I take my own bags when I shop, I don’t buy products packaged within an inch of their lives... but what plastic I do have, breeds.

I like the idea of pre-cycling. This is when you buy products that aren’t packaged. Healthier for the environment, but also healthier for you. Just a quick look around any food store shows that it’s generally healthier options that aren’t packaged or that have minimal packaging. Think ‘by-the-scoop’ chickpeas or such at a wholefoods store, or fruit at a greengrocer. This doesn’t always just apply to foods though. Friends of the Earth sell detergents, cleaning products and shampoos by weight, as do other health food shops. And today I noticed that the nursery at Ceres sells seaweed and fish concentrates by weight too.

For some time I’ve been trying to pre-cycle. I’ve been shopping at the Preston market, Asian grocers and health food stores, and only going to the supermarket for stuff like milk or cat food. I wonder if I keep shopping this way the plastic will stop breeding? Or is the stuff too bloody promiscuous?!

simple pleasure

2010-01-05T16:51:00.002+11:00

I could get all metaphysical or something. But lets tell it how it is. Opshop gold is simple pleasure. And this time it comes in the form of a vintage tin showing Niagra Falls. Cheesy but good. Just how I like it!

flourishing

2010-01-04T21:33:00.002+11:00

When my garden last truly flourished, my now eight year old was perhaps eighteen months old. It rained then so much more than now. Enough rain that it seemed worthwhile owning an umbrella, or having a raincoat. There is something in rain that no amount of hosed water can replace. It’s something life giving and natural. Or perhaps it’s just the absence of chemicals. Whatever it is, rain makes a garden bloom.

Since late Spring and early Summer, we have actually had rain. Enough rain to make the garden grow. Enough rain to make my boys rediscover the happiness that comes with playing in puddles. Enough rain that my tomatoes are close to seven feet high and producing at a rate of knots! I am loving it!

living

2010-01-03T20:22:00.004+11:00

When I was at uni, I lived in a share house right around the corner from the Hare Krishna Temple in Albert Park. I used to go there often on a Sunday evening for the free vegetarian feast, and to sit in the Temple and listen to the chanting. Now years later, I sometimes go back for the prasad with my own boys. My eldest in particular loves going. He sits listening to the chanting, and is eager to pass his hands across the blessed flame. While we are not a religious family, I love exposing my boys to different cultures, spiritualities and ideologies. I want my children to grow as human beings with an openness that comes through a rich lived experience. Visiting the temple may be one small thing, but it is part of a larger whole.

making

2010-01-02T16:53:00.003+11:00

Over the past week or so, I have been really enjoying not sewing. I usually spend a fair chunk of time each day making things, so it's been fantastic having a break. Yesterday I got the urge to make something though. So late last night I pulled out some great fabric I found in an opshop last year, and made some of it into a cushion. The fabric at the back was also found in an opshop, and the buttons (three to form a closure at the back) were handmade by my father in law. The odd shape of the cushion comes from late night improvising... I stuffed it with the filler I bought to make a bunch of softies that never eventuated. I didn't get it too even! Ah well, no matter!

slowing down

2010-01-01T21:13:00.003+11:00

It’s a new year. A new decade. Time does go faster the older you get. I remember as a small child, time seemed to drag. The months between Christmas or birthdays seemed years, and days became weeks. Now, the adults around me bemoan time flying. My children still feel the length of the days and truly live in the moment.

I’d like to feel a little of that. I want to slow down and experience things. Play more. Be. Feel time passing like a child does, instead of always feeling rushed and time poor.

Today I brushed the cobwebs off my bike and rode down to the creek. It’s amazing the pleasure that something as simple as riding can bring. The wind in your hair, feeling the burn in your legs as you make your body work, being there instead of just rushing by.On my ride, I noticed how beautiful water reeds and flowering fennel look growing tangled together along the creek. So, when Zeph decided to do some drawing this afternoon, I sat down with him to do some drawing of my own. Slowing down is kind of nice.

my creative space

2009-12-10T21:30:00.004+11:00

This week my creative space is all about getting ready for tomorrow nights drinks, nibbles and festivities at Olive Grove in Brunswick. I've been making bags, and making cowl necked tops. You man remember this one? (dodgy pics here - low batteries and shade = crap images ... ah well!)I've also been redrafting some elements of a dress I drafted some weeks back. I've sewn it up, but the pattern needs a few little tweaks. I hope to have it ready so I can sew some up for the shop after Christmas. I'm loving it so far, especially sewn up in linen with contrasting woolen kimono fabric.

More creative spaces over here. Thanks for hosting Kirsty.

bagged

2009-12-09T15:43:00.003+11:00

I've been on a bag making mission over the past couple of days. I haven't really made any bags before, so I've been enjoying the process. I made the first one for myself (not pictured). I wanted a bag that was big enough for a book, bottle of water, biy big chunky camera and other bits of paraphenalia I invariably cart around. This size does the trick! The bags are made from a thick black (flat/non-stretchy) denim, and are lined with pockets inside and out, and finished with a spunky hand made wooden button. I have more of these cut out- they'll be ready for the little shin-dig at Olive Grove on Friday. By the way, there are two $50 gift vouchers up for grabs on the night, as well as some other give aways.

what are you doing this Friday?

2009-12-07T21:03:00.005+11:00

Free on Friday? In Melbourne? Love shopping handmade? Come along to Olive Grove in Brunswick and have some drinks and nibblies with us. We'd love to see you there!

Our designers include Ubu Lala, MiM, Troika, Polly Pratt, Pieces of You, Finki, Deb Fell Over, Grrl Assassin, Troika and me!

my creative space

2009-12-03T15:21:00.003+11:00

I didn't mean to have the little blogging break I did... it's the time of year. Is it as equally insane for everyone else?? My creative space and I have been spending a lot of time together. I have been making like a mad thing. Tees, tops, skirts and soap. I'm planning to start some dresses soon too. I have drafted a couple of dress patterns that I'm really excited about. I'm hoping to make one up for myself tomorrow.In my space right now though- skirts. I found a few metres of this bamboo fabric yesterday. I'm sewing them up into simple a-line skirts with a zipper at the back. I only have enough fabric for 3, so they're in small, medium and large. They'll make their way into Olive Grove tomorrow.More creative spaces here. Thanks for hosting Kirsty!

my creative space

2009-11-26T16:27:00.003+11:00

Does this count as 'my creative space'?? My lovely friend is due to have her baby at any moment. She had her Blessingway the other day, and I did a henna tattoo on her belly. I saw her briefly today, and it has stained beautifully. Her three year old daughter added some of her own special touches... checking first that it 'wouldn't hurt baby'.

More spaces here... no doubt more on the crafting side!

forks

2009-11-24T19:47:00.002+11:00

Wahooo! I finally have a 'forks' screen that worked! I got a finer mesh screen, and that seems to have made a difference. I am so happy!! As soon as the kids are in bed, I am printing! Lots of these are going to be at Olive Grove on Thursday. Have a fella in your life who needs a tee...?

my creative space

2009-11-19T15:19:00.002+11:00

Today I'm sewing a bunch of skirts... I did mean to be printing men's tshirts, but that's not happening now. I couldn't get a clean exposure of my forks pattern. I think I need to get a screen with a finer mesh. This is the test print I did. Maybe I have overly perfectionist tendencies, but I really want a nice sharp, crisp and clean stencil. This is none of those things.I also have a new desk! A street find, and a great one. To maximise storage and shelving space, I've put some old chairs at the back of the desk, and have used planks of wood I scavenged from the old Carlton United Brewery when it was being demolished. It's great having this desk, as it means that I can now use the old desk for printing and cutting.

More creative spaces over at Kirsty's.

quick and not so dirty craft with kids

2009-11-18T12:03:00.004+11:00

It's funny how different children can be. You know- likes, dislikes. My boy likes... no. My boy loves figurines. Mix that with a love of making things, and you're set for quick and easy kids craft. We have a lovely natural/felt/Steiner type of shop near us - The Friendship Tree. (I sell some cards and badges there - like the wee plug??) Anyway, I was there this morning, and Ash discovered the small wooden faceless figurines they have there. He desperately wanted to take one home and make it a little outfit. Which we did. An outfit of sorts, anyway. Like I said, quick and dirty. He loves it though. And I love the sweet little face he drew, and how it's already being carted everywhere.

australiana

2009-11-17T19:14:00.003+11:00

Does two items make a collection?! I think I am developing a new collection theme... There is something lovely in the overt kitschness of vintage Australiana. I found my first piece in an opshop in Myrtleford some months back, and recieved the second in the mail a couple of days ago via Yardage Girl. I left a comment on Nic's blog after she found the tea towel in an opshop. I'm a 1975 girl, so she sent it to me. How nice is that?!

fork

2009-11-16T09:55:00.003+11:00

Am feeling stupidly excited. It feels like that for as long as I have been on this crafty adventure, I have wanted to learn how to create pattern repeats. And now I think I am finally figuring it out!!! I cannot express strongly enough how rapt I am that I am getting my head around the software (ever so slowly) and am actually making repeats. This idea has a bit more development to go, but it's happening. It didn't really work in the half drop repeat, I like it better as a block repeat. I might put them onto a screen to see how they go on fabric. *bounce bounce*