my creative space

By elizaIO via Flickr

I came very close to not posting anything about my creative space this week.  But...I am being a good girl and sticking to this fantastic weekly ritual.

This week I haven't been doing much creatively at all.  Aren't you glad I posted that? :)

Actually, I have creative ADHD at the moment (it's a real thing - honest).  I've done a bit of crocheting.  A bit of sewing.  A bit of crocheting again.  A tiny bit of sewing.  A bit of thinking about sewing.  A bit of material purchasing.  A bit of crocheting something else.  A bit of thinking about how I should be cutting out fabric for my quilt...

So, there you have it.

I have nothing particularly inspiring to show you all, but I will have soon.  Promise!

Now, I'm headed over to kootoyoo to be inspired by some real creative spaces

this day

Today makes 8 years since mine and my lovely husband's first date.  Awww!

Back then we had a lovely lunch at a cafe in the vineyards, and later enjoyed a beverage at a nearby pub.  It was a wonderful day, and we've had lots of even more wonderful days since.

Tonight we will quietly celebrate with some dinner and a beverage or two.

(Note: The picture is not of us on our first date.  Sadly we don't have any pictures of that occasion.  This is a picture from our recent trip to Japan with some Picnik.com magic added)

my place and yours

This week's theme is your favourite pair of shoes.

Now it was a tough choice but I think my current favourites have to be the red boots that I just happen to be wearing today.  They are fairly new so the novelty hasn't yet worn off.  Plus they're red!  How awesome are red boots? These ones have become a bit of a Winter staple.  I love them!



Check out some other shoe favourites over at helloowl

TGIF

The weekend is here!

I'm pulling out the pasta maker tonight and whipping up something (hopefully) delightful.
Then I will be drinking wine.
I will be sewing.

Tomorrow, I will be going to Yoga class.
I will be shopping and cooking.
I will be drinking some more wine.

On Sunday I will be sleeping in.
I will be watching AFL.
I will be sewing.

I will be thoroughly enjoying every second of my two days of freedom, much like in these vintage photobooth shots.  Maybe sans top hat and feather boa.  

How about you?  What exciting things will fill your weekend?

my creative space

My creative space this week has been a bit BLAH because I've been a bit BLAH.  So my apologies for not dazzling you with my creative brilliance.

I haven't been doing too much in the way of crafting at all.  I'm slowly working on another crochet washcloth.  Actually I was telling my 76 year old aunt about doing this and she was very intrigued.  She's going to make a few herself to sell at various school and church fetes she's forever making things for.  No doubt they will be about 4 billion times better than mine!  She's been crocheting and knitting for longer than I've been alive so it was nice to be able to offer her an idea for a change!  I wish we lived closer to her because I know she could teach me so many things.

My quilt-a-long  is more like a quilt-a-stop at the moment.  I haven't even touched it this week and I have heaps of cutting out to do.

I'm making another Shearwater Kaftan out of a gorgeous vintage sheet I purchased on ebay.  Photos to come when I've progressed a bit further with that (can you tell I'm counting down till my September trip to the Sunshine Coast?).

I guess that's not too bad, is it?

Check out what everyone else has been doing at kootoyoo's blog here

all on my lonesome

My hubby is away for work for a couple of days and I am all on my lonesome.  I don't much like being on my lonesome.  I mean, I do enjoy having complete control of the remote control, and noisily sewing away whilst watching Gilmore Girls (sans groans)...I just don't like sleeping in a big bed by myself in an empty house - because I am a big scaredy-cat.  Day time alone = excellent.  Night time along = scarediness.  It's crazy!  I am very good at giving myself lectures and reminding myself of how silly it is - just not so good at not being a scaredy cat!  Oh well...

Speaking of cats, cute little Jasper has been keeping me company in this kinda fashion.  I know he is only using me for my warmth, but I don't mind :)

my place and yours

Here's what's on my fridge - amid a many and varied collection of fridge magnets from different states, cities and countries.

Check out hellowl to see what's on fridges everywhere

konnichiwa

Here's a few pictures from our amazing trip to Japan back in March.  I can't believe it was that long ago already!




1.  best sign ever  2. our amazing chef at this amazing sushi restaurant in Tokyo  3.  paper cranes at Peace Park, Hiroshima  4.  me thoroughly enjoying the Hello Kitty merchandise at Kiddyland, Harajuku  5.  Ginza billboard  6.  beautiful Sakura  7.  making sure my fortune comes true - it was a good one!  8.  delicious Shabu Shabu in Tokyo

Happy weekend everyone!

my creative space

Do you remember a few weeks ago I ran into a bit of, let's call it drama, with the versatile wrap skirt?  Well this weekend I decided I would stop being angry with myself for cutting out the wrong size (too small!) and make the darn thing anyway.  I have younger sisters and it would be bound to fit one of them. I was still annoyed that someone else would be enjoying the beautiful fabric I had splurged on especially for myself but c'est la vie.

I worked my way through the easy to follow pattern and...

TA DA!



It fits me!  It fits me!  It fits me!

Are you getting the immense joy that came from this discovery?  Obviously the sizing was VERY generous.  I was so excited by it all that I wore it to work on Monday and got lots of lovely compliments which made me feel very happy indeed. (I did have another picture to share but I just clicked on "delete forever" instead of "edit" - oops!)

Oh, and I am still cutting out bits for the crazy mom quilts quilt-a-long.  I'm still a few weeks behind everyone else and I think it will probably stay that way.    

So hurrah! A happy and successful creative space for me this week.  I'm looking forward to reading what everyone else has been up to over here

winter days

Sometimes you just have to stop and photograph the flowers.  Or something to that effect.

I am really struggling with this whole Winter thing at the moment.  Having lived in Queensland for a number of years I didn't have to worry about the whole cold thing.  Winter in Queensland means jeans and a jacket.  No scarves.  No gloves.  No multiple layers of clothing.  And certainly no hot water bottles and ducted heating!  Winter in Queensland is pretty much the perfect temperature.  No humidity, just loveliness.  Ahh, I miss it!

Melbourne Winter is brutal!  And seemingly never-ending.  I am tired of wearing big jackets and gloves.  Stockings and tights are fun for a little while and then they become increasingly annoying.  I'm tired of hitching them up all day long.

I am absolutely dreaming about warmer weather right now.  Where I can wear skirts (without tights) and thongs and dresses.  And go outside without suffering.  When I actually want to go outside.

Ok.  I'll stop complaining now.  

my weekend

was excellent. How was yours?

We went to see Toy Story 3 in 3D and it was FABULOUS! If you haven't seen it yet, go and see it! It is funny and clever and has such a beautiful ending. Take your tissues! I don't believe I've cried that much in a movie for a long time. I'm such a softie!

Check out the trailer:

I also spent much of Sunday sewing, which was wonderful.  It was a great sewing success too, but more about that later.

(un)Happy Monday everyone!

friday-itis

Originally uploaded by ricsen via Flickr

If you're one of those office-bound types like me, you might need a lovely picture of Tuscany to brighten your Friday afternoon. Doesn't it just look divine?

Can you imagine me there?  I totally can!  Maybe living up in that house on the hill.  I am very much looking forward to visiting this insanely beautiful area soon.

Hope you have something lovely and inspiring to look forward to as well.

Happy (almost) weekend!

my creative space

This week I have been busy entertaining my visiting sister and helping her get organised for her first ever overseas trip.  As such, not a lot of crafting has been going on.  But, I did manage to do some cutting out for this quilt-a-long over at crazy mom quilts.  Tonight, my rotary cutter beckons!

There may have also been an incident with some fabric, some scissors and a mis-read pattern late last week.  But I would prefer not to talk about that.  Let's just say that the versatile wrap skirt won't be featuring on here anytime soon.

Check out some more creative spaces over here

travel planning

By laura e via Flickr

When I travel:

• I buy the Lonely Planet guide to wherever I am visiting months before I travel.  
• I read the entire thing - making notes using colour coded post it notes.  
• I buy a travel journal and write down all of the things I want to do.  
• I record all of the useful websites I find.  
• I make an itineray.  I send copies of the itinerary to family (just in case).  
• I register on Smart Traveller.  
• I make copies of my passport.  
• I learn at least the basics of the language of wherever I am visiting.
• I talk to people who have been where I am going and get their recommendations.
• I scour the internet to make sure I won't miss out on anything that is "must-see".
• I record everything I do while traveling in aforementioned travel journal and paste in ticket stubs, lolly wrappers and anything of note.

I have been called crazy because of this.  I have been called anal, obsessive, nuts, mad.  People always remind me that things don't always go to plan.   But I don't totally lose it when that happens. I understand the nature of travelling and the need to be flexible.

So today I would just like to say that I am totally happy with my level of travel organisation.  Call it what you will!  Today (whilst I am helping my sister not freak out get ready for her first ever overseas trip) I am truly thankful that I am an organised kinda gal.  

It has always served me well.  

my weekend

I had a great time hanging out with my sister, who is visiting from sunny Queensland.



The Swans (sadly) lost but we still had fun.

And Richmond fans - that was the best rendition of a team song that I have heard in a long time!

guess what?

I am going here!  To Venice!  Can you believe it?!


By MorBCN via Flickr

In October this year I shall be heading over to London and Europe for a yet-to-be-decided time (probably a few weeks).  My lovely husband has a training course in London, and we'll be tacking on some extra time for a trip to Italy.

Hooray!  Yay!  Woohoo!

If you can't tell, I'm pretty excited.  Expect lots of Italian references popping up around here for the next few months.

Note:  I have just decided that we will be going to Italy, and informed my husband of this decision.  My husband has graciously accepted this.  He is lovely like that.

my creative space

...is a mess this week!



I've got half-completed, and yet-to-be-started jobs all over the place.

Plus, I have just (foolishly or otherwise) decided to take part in this quilt-a-long at crazy mom quilts.  It will be only my 2nd ever quilt, and I am planning on giving it as a Christmas present if:

1. it turns out okay and;
2. it's not so fantastic that I want to keep it for myself!

So this week has all about planning and thinking and debating various creative endeavours.  And visiting Spotlight.

I'm enjoying reading what other (far more organised) people have been doing over here.  Thanks for the inspiration, kootoyoo!