What to do With You

New IKEA fabric for me... now let's see how long I leave this stowed somewhere until I think of the perfect use for it!

Peggin' Around

Photos by me.

Pippijoe

Ohhh I think I'm in love... I've seen Melbourne based textile design company Pippijoe featured in a few magazines and other online hidey-holes in the past, but my friend pointed me in the direction of the website yesterday.

Do you ever find things that you love so much that it actually hurts a little inside? Or is it just me?!

Sometimes the simplest things are the best, and this is certainly the case with Pippijoe's beautiful screen-printed fabrics. I want them really, really badly. Especially the birds on the line.

LOVE it!

Strawberry Goodness

A sprinkle of castor sugar and a splash of balsamic vinegar = sweet strawberry goodness... mmmmm

A Note to Kiwi Sewers and Stylists

Photo, fabrics and SQUAB from www.estherdiamond.com

A top tip for the day... Do NOT say the word 'squab' to an Australian. They will look at you as if you have just dropped in from another planet.

A Wee Travelling Pickel

It's such a long way away that it probably is a little useless talking about this now, but I've decided to start a separate blog that will be purely devoted to our travelling around next year. That way I can keep the really random things on this one, and the travelly things on that one. Weellll that's the plan, but my plans hardly ever go... accordingly!? We shall see. There won't be anything much happening over there until early next year but keep an eye out... and that means YOU family! http://www.travellingpickel.blogspot.com

La PhotoCabine

And just when you really thought you'd had enough of seeing me, there are more photos! And it's me being a dork at that. I'm sorry, but I really wanted to share the link to this site which is TOO much fun.

I spent... a LONG time playing around on here last night. Catherine at My Folk Lover got me into it, it's all her fault! tehe

Have fun at La PhotoCabine!

New Toy

Well I harped on a little in my last post about not being able to spend money on setting up a creative room/studio, and I may have left out a little portion of the story as though it is 100% completely true that we are saving our booties off right now, it is also because we are choosing to buy other nice things... like toys.

When C went away to work up north for 10 weeks his 'reward' was a playstation 3, and he got that with no complaints. But then I thought well, what about me? (of course).

For so long now I have wanted to get a digital SLR camera, and I've just sucked it up and thought well there was no way...

So as a compromise of sorts, I did my research, and instead of buying a hugely expensive top brand camera, I settled for a not so well known brand which was half the price of the others. Plus it got really good reviews too. It does all the things I want and I won't feel quite so terrible if it doesn't get as much use as I originally intended. After all, enjoying photography class in 6th form was one thing, I haven't touched an SLR since! Chances are I will smash it or drop it or lose it somewhere in Europe next year anyways knowing my track record...

But I am stoked now and I am certainly intending to be in everyone's faces for the next wee while, practicing and re-learning all the in's and out's of manual operation.

Now that's it. No more toys! Must save! Sheesh.

My Blog HQ

Over at Hazelnuts the other day, Jacqui blogged about her sweet wee 'blog hq', and the place where she creates and writes and other such magic happens. Every time I see a fellow blogger share their gorgeously organised, creative goodie filled space I get a little sad, as because I class myself as a bit of a nomad this year, and as we are saving saving saving for our trips overseas I haven't been able to spend the money on setting up a designated creative space like those. But then it suddenly hit me that while I don't have a room as such, I have my IKEA shelves. When we arrived in Perth 11 months ago, IKEA was one of the first stores we hit, totally beside ourselves with excitement over the cool bits and pieces we could get for next to nothing. (Well I know I was, I don't think Corey is quite so prone to having sleepless nights over a piece of kit set lacquered chip board furniture). So I am going to share my 'blog hq' - and show you where surprisingly enough, I have still un-intentionally managed to cobble together a lot of 'creative stuff' and zone it into some classic IKEA shelving, enough so that I will often blog away, and look at my shelves and get just a little inspired, feel a little stir of excitement, and then I'm off on a creative tangent once more... Blog HQ includes; (left to right, top to bottom) My printer/scanner * Framed drawing * Corey's race car bourbon container! * Pile of invoices and bills * Another framed drawing * Dream catcher * Around $300 worth of Lonely Planet books * Fimo * Sewing kit * Millions of pens and pencils * Collection of ribbon and various tid-bits * Beads * Beading wire * Massive stack of design and interiors magazines * Sketch books * Doodle books * Yoga books * Folder of bills and invoices * A pear (!?) * Tracing paper * Butter paper * Old mp3 player * Bobbyrobin * Various random cd's * Novels (borrowed) * Thyroid book * Foot powder (!?) haha * Jar of coins * Rendering markers * Frankie magazines * Prints * Christmas pressies * Post from home * Chargers and other boring tech stuff * Paints * Sculpey clay * Jewellery findings * Stash of old wood veneer * Pieces of fabric * Video camera * More mags * More paint and associated things * Phew!

Two Poppets on a Page

When I started drawing this pair they were going to be two French poppets, but the boy looks decidedly British if you ask me (minus the baguette)... never mind, we're a multi-cultural bunch these days anyway!

It's funny, because the more I look at it the more I think this chap is based on my Grandad - he's a splitting image just a little younger obviously... but they even have the same knobbly knees! There's mischief written on that face, which is very appropriate indeed.

Red Earth

The fact that nature is capable of producing colours this vivid and contrasting will forever blow me away. Australia you are beautiful, and I can honestly say this even though I'm a little biased towards your neighbour. Photos taken by my other half 'Cozza' near Broome, WA.

My New, Old Office

How To Make Banana Bread...

... and not stuff it up!

I surpassed myself again last night with my baking (which usually goes horribly awry), by making a half decent banana loaf! Nom nom nom! So that you too can feel the elation I felt when I took this out of the oven, here is the very easy recipe. As I say, I am not an expert, but I think that it is the golden syrup in this recipe that leaves the outsides, top in particular, rather sticky, but this can be good as finger licking is always a joyous follow up activity to any bout of baking.

Banana Bread Recipe

Mix together 2 mashed bananas, 3/4 cup castor sugar and 2 tbpsn golden syrup. Add 1 egg, 1 cup of self raising flour and a pinch of salt. Put into a greased loaf tin and bake for 30 minutes at 180 degrees celcius. Take out, cool for a wee while, then slice, spread with butter, eat. Ooh yea.

Lovin' This Week

Some really awesome things have been happening in the little world of 'me' this week, here are a few I will share... Meeting, re-meeting and making some great new friends. Friends of friends are so cool when they become your friends too! Even better when they've come from various places around the world. I think it's so crazy when the wee threads which are our paths in life, cross with the threads of others, even if it's just for a short while. It's magical :) Booking tickets to Canada and Europe for March next year. The next phase in our exciting trip is now just around the corner and I'm jiggling around in my chair at the moment I'm so beside myself with glee! Yummy part vegetarian BBQ with garden salad, potato salad, roast vege salad, vege kebabs... three days later I'm still drooling... thanks Mouse and Christie! Spring is well and truely here in Perth. OK so spring in Perth is like the peak of a Wellington summer, which means I am DREADING the real summer here again, I don't function too well when I have sweat patches down my back and butt and my glasses are sliding off my nose and it's dripping into my mouth... but for now the weather it purrrfect and there's nothing like waking up each morning to a crisp blue sky and that smell of the heat on the pavers outside as the temperature dial gets cranked up a notch. SO goooood. Starting to paint again for the first time since college (high school). I forgot how blimmin' time consuming it is having to layer the paint, wait for it to dry and so on. I am so used to my pencils where I can spit something out in an hour! I am re-learning the value of patience, and I think it is paying off. I will post my efforts here soon as an incentive to me to keep going with it! The last week in my current job! Even when it's super difficult to peel yourself out of the comfortable, butt moulded impression in your favourite chair, change is a really good thing. This is my last week in my current design position and next week sees me starting a new design job. I'm excited to see what I'll be up to over the next few months with the new company. I am hoping that I will be going from this design assistant position to something with a bit more responsibility, so we shall see! Becoming a brunette! The last time I attempted this I was 16 and in the midst of a hairdressing apprenticeship. I ended up looking like a very ill, pasty goth chic. I then remember a flurry of tears and desperate calls to my hairdressing friend and slowly but surely converting myself back to a blonde. However 8 years on, health issues and budget constraints have called for me to try my hand at sticking to my natural colour *gasp* and I am actually LOVING it. Woo hoo! Well that's just a few highlights from my week so far, I hope your week has provided highlights of its own!

Song for the Week: 'Relator'

Now and then a song comes along that I will set onto repeat in my ipod, and listen to over and over and over and over... and never get sick of cos' it's so good. This week all I can listen to is 'Relator' by Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson. I love the retro vibe it has and extremely catchy tune. I'm not particularly 'relating' to the lyrics as such as this is just one song off their 'Break up' album made up of entirely 'break up' songs but it's still good none the less.

Glee-full

Time for some more mindless c**p that no one wants or needs to see. A clip from last nights Glee episode which i am fast becoming hooked on; Beyonce's 'Single Ladies' performed by football players. Love it!

Hello Cuteness

Cuteness and innocence in the palm of your hand...

Kowhai for my Papa

Over the weekend my Dad turned 60. That to me, is a pretty awesome milestone. If he read this (which I'm sure he doesn't) he would not be too impressed by the fact I am broadcasting his seniority to the world, and I'm sure he would have preferred it if the date just slipped by unnoticed, but I think it's worth celebrating.

I clearly remember when I was a little girl, thinking that 60 was so old, as my Grandparents were in their sixties, that's a Grand sort of age to be in! Well my Dad doesn't have any Grand kids yet, and now that I'm older I realise it isn't really that old at all.

Some of my favourite moments over the past years have been on warm sunny Sunday afternoons, when I would take a moment from lounging around, to potter with my Dad in the backyard. Dad finds it impossible to sit still, and every Saturday and Sunday is filled with gardening, potting, watering, fixing, or bee-keeping. It was something that me and Dad would always do, just us two, and I will always cherish those small moments. One day when I'm home again I hope I can have many more moments like those!

So I was understandably a little sad that I couldn't be in New Zealand to help celebrate, (though I know Mum made a big hoot of it). So instead, Dad, here is a wee kowhai flower for you, I hope you had a super fantastic day.

xx

Amy Butler Patterns

Today became a magical day when I checked our mail box - inside was my recently ordered parcel of Amy Butler patterns. I have been so completely beside my self with excitement that I was finally getting around to ordering some, that I didn't stop to think that these are from America. Meaning they are in yards and inches- a thoroughly irritating and incomprehensive language. So, instead of acting surprised when I stash these in a corner and don't attempt to use them any time soon, I will pre empt it and suggest that it is super highly likely that this will happen. Until I muster up the time and patience to sit down with them and see if it's maybe not so bad after all. Watch this space, or... maybe not!

Random Doodle of the Week

These are my feet. On my desk. At work - i.e. not working.

I have strange feet, they are a size 9, and they have squat, unformed toes. My pinky toes curl under at each side. I had both my big toe nails cut out on all sides when I was a teenager, as they were forever ingrown. One worked, one didn't, so now I just cut it out myself. Ouch!

A couple of weeks ago I was diagnosed with Graves Disease. Subsequently my right foot swells so badly I had to buy new shoes. What a shame. But that's why I've hidden it under my left foot in this doodle.

This excercise has also shown me that I desperately need to re-paint my toe nails.

Bugger. Just gonna have to go out and buy some nail polish now too. Oh well!

Rolled Hem Master on a Convertible Dress

Image from Runningwithheels.com

Yesterday I added a new string to my bow, by mastering the art of using a rolled hem foot on my sewing machine. OK, to some people this may not seem like such a great achievement but this is coming from the girl who basically sticks to regular straight stitch, and maybe if she's lucky the odd zig zag here and there. Button hole feet are a whole other game all together, so I am feeling quietly pleased with myself.

All this was in aid of helping my friend to make four bridesmaids dresses yesterday (yes four, in one day). They are actually really easy, and are based on the good old convertible dress/infinity dress that apparantly has been around since the 70's!? I was thinking I might put up a 'how to' for them on here... so let's see how I go with that!

The Boy Done Good

Over the weekend my wonderful boyfriend and I got engaged... please excuse me while I go and float on a cloud for the next wee while! (and excuse the cheesy photo... yikes!)

Diary Woman

I found a mysterious lady at the bottom of my diary page...

Saving Neshima

Today I just wanted to post some pictures of absolute cuteness and a happy story.

Yesterday one of my dearest friends became the proud owner and 'mother' to Neshima, a gorgeous wee rotweiler/kelpie pup from the Malaga RSPCA. I got to come along and meet her and help buy all the toys and things, so much fun!

Poor wee Neshima was abandoned at 2 days old, and since then has been hand raised by foster parents for the last 2 months. She has successfully batteled the parvovirus and now has two of the best owners she could possibly wish for. I'm so happy for them!

She became a bit of a miracle puppy in the Perth animal world for a while, see more of her story here!

A Different Style

I've been mucking around with some different styles of drawing lately, sometimes I get so sick of drawing in a style where everything has to be 'perfect'. This, of course, matches my perfectionist traits to a 'T', but I'm trying to force myself to try things where the outcome isn't necessarily going to be as correct as a photograph, and to just be OK with seeing what happens!

Oh my goodness, it's hard to let go! But I'm getting there slowly, and I actually had fun drawing these faces - I want to do something else with them, take them a step further, but I'm not sure exactly how just yet. We'll see... I got some great technical tips from Catherine over at My Folk Lover so I'm going to keep practicing, keep working on it. Good things take time!

Feather Love Photography

This photo makes my heart skip a beat, I just adore it... it is by Feather Love Photography and I found it over at Bash Eco Events, check out more of their super stunning photography here!

A Widdle Wabbit

Well my man is away in the middle of nowhere in Western Australia, building houses for aboriginal communities out there in the great red, dusty desert! He's gone for at least 8 weeks (yikes! The things we do for money!) so I am trying to find things to keep myself occupied.

An opportunity came up to work Saturdays at my old workplace so I grabbed it, and when there are no customers in the showroom I've been given permission to 'muck about', so here's a widdle muck-about wabbit I just doodled.

pinchandspoon

A couple of weekends ago I dawdled down to a designers market in Perth called Made on the Left - there were some fantastic stalls there, and it felt quite assuring that I was seeing some of the same designers that I'd come across at previous markets so I know I'm seeing the best of the best from Perth now.

I think my absolute favourite stall would have to have been the gorgeous 'neck pieces' from pinchandspoon. Isobel takes old clothing, fabrics, lace and tid bits to make these works of art... see all her other super fabulous pieces here!

A Home Base Summer

I wanted to share these lovely images from Home Base Collections - their fabrics are gorgeous on their own as it is, but these summery photos make me dream of all the goodies I could turn them into... or just drape myself in some 'toga style' and dance around like a summery goddess with flowers and feathers in my hair too!

Mags and Bags

Today I received an unexpected parcel from the lovelies at ES Design - two copies of World Sweet World magazine, and a bag from AQ Bags, all wrapped up in delicious brown paper and ribbon!

The fabric on the front of the bag is 'Nature Nurture' by Homebase Collections in NZ- one of my favourites.

Talk about making my day, (and making me a little bit home sick) I am so stoked - thanks guys! xx

New York, New York

A collection of bits and bobs, for a New York friend.

Meander in Kings Park

I have let my blogging slip lately, and I have no excuses really, other then that my little sister has come to stay with us for three weeks, and so right now I couldn't be happier. There is nothing better then spending time with one of my dearest, best friends in the world. Today we meandered through Kings Park, enjoying a mild winter's 18 degree sunshine, and doing nothing much else except 'hanging out'.

Jenn Shelton: Take II

Another wee glimpse into the musical stylings of the lovely Jenn Shelton, she's come a long way from the days in college where we sang together in a barbershop quartet - local homegrown superstarlett!

Toot toot toot!

That would be the sound of me tooting my own horn, as I have successfully managed to customise my blog format from two columns to three... AND this included adding, deleting and writing new coding (scary, un-chartered territory from my perspective!). So now that I have mastered this, I am going to be attempting more changes in the weeks to come, so my blog may look a little piecemeal for a wee while, never fear I am still around, still blogging, still reading, it's just a work in progress... like everything in my life!

Sweet Fan Finds

Hello sweet little fan shaped leaves, I found you on my lovely Sunday afternoon walk yesterday. I don't know what you're called or what tree you're from, but I just had to draw you, I hope you don't mind.

Today

It's raining in Perth today, which is a bit of a novelty for me as I can still count on my fingers the amount of times it has rained in the whole 6 months we have been here.

I have succumbed to the nasty winter hooglies, rather badly this time I must say, so I am stoked up on cold and flu drugs and rugged up on the couch with the laptop, making my way through blog land. The best way to spend a snuffly, drizzly day.

It was going to be made even better by some hot toast drizzled in butter and honey, except that I popped it in the oven (we have no toaster) only to get distracted with my blog reading, and I well and truely burnt that toast to charcoal like smitherines, setting off the smoke alarm in the process, and then discovering that those two pieces were the last bits of bread in the house.

So gelato it was for breakfast, (to sooth the sore throat of course), only to discover the hooglies have taken over my taste buds and I didn't get to appreciate the sweet strawberry sorbet goodness one little bit.

When all else fails, some trashy day time soaps and chat shows may just do the trick!

One Guy Starts a Dance Party

I was a bit bummed this morning about having to go to work on a Saturday, but I then saw this video over at Gala Darling's iCiNG and suddenly my day was a lot brighter... try watching this without at least smiling! Happy weekend everyone :)

Just a Little Bit More Music: Zee Avi

Yes yes, I've been posting a lot of music clips lately, but I've found another goodie (yea I'm a bit behind the 8-ball, she's plastered all over the net at the moment) but either way, I'd still like to mention the cute as a button talents of Zee Avi, 23 year old singer song writer, and creator of good ear love to make the mornings that little bit easier. Enjoy :)

Noted

An interesting thing happened the other day... During my lunch break, I was working away on a particular drawing that I am intending to send to a friend. The general idea of the drawing is as if a whole lot of bits and bobs have been tipped out of a bag and scattered around, and these are the things I have drawn. Each item relates to my friend in some way or another, so though to the average person it might look like a strange subject for a piece of artwork, it is has a lot of meaning to him. One of my managers came over, and, seeing what I was working on, said, 'What's this for?'. 'It's a gift for a friend of mine,' I replied, to which he responded with a rude snigger, 'Geez, what a waste of time, wouldn't it be quicker just to photoshop it or something?'. I was totally stunned, and as he abruptly walked away, I was lost for words. At first, I was admittedly a little offended, I have spent hours and hours on this drawing, and to have that kind of reaction towards it felt terrible. Slowly however, as I've thought about it more and more, I've managed to realise something very special (and I don't want to get all mushy here but it will probably come out that way). I realised that I have a gift, just like all of my fellow design and crafty bloggers out there, and the fact that we can find peace, passion, excitement, delight and so many more emotions through the daily processes that make us happy, is super fantastic. Design, art and general hands on craftiness is such a huge part of what my life is about, it is what makes me tick, and I'm sure it is the same for a lot of you out there too. So in the end, I thought, wow, I really do feel sorry for my manager, who obviously cannot see the merit in making/designing/creating something just for the pure wonderful feeling you get from just doing it, and not necessarily needing an outcome. He cannot see that the thought that goes into that sort of thing often means a lot more then the thing itself, and if he cannot measure the success of something, or produce it in a way that proves he has cut down time/costs/energy then it's not worth doing. What a dull, uninspiring life that must be! I feel so blessed to have my artistic talents, and you all should too. Not everyone has the ability to create the things we do, or appreciate the things we do. But we all know how great it is, so let's be thankful, and long may it continue!