paper horses

Spotted on Collins St, Melbourne. Hermés window display. Paper horse sculptures. So clever!

Update: Thanks Lexi for the tip off on who's clever hands are behind these beauties — Anna-Wili Highfield

mr tickle

Mr Tickle is on his way to Meet Me at Mikes for Softies for Mirabel 2011.

Mr Tickle likes vegimite, dirt and swinging from trees. Although he is a monster he is actually really friendly and loves to make new friends. He has a little bit of monster attitude but mostly he is just messing about. Good luck on your new adventure Mr Tickle.

Check out more softies over here.

whatcha doin?

Another week down! They are still flying by. 

Here is a little list of the week that was, in my world. How are you trekking along?

Learning to meditate more — its good for the soul

Reading Scoutie Girl's post, 'Do Less, Better' — her motto for 2012, which I think I may borrow

Making more Soda Rye Bread x 2 ...its addictive, simple and yum! Here is a similar recipe by the same cook.

Watching Get Low and Writers Bench 
Listening Kick by INXS

Eating other than bread, a yummy homemade veggie frittata

Drinking Kopparberg, pear cider — its not too sweet like some ciders  

Wishing everyone happy days and nights! 
 

This pic was also taken on the same trip home as the one mentioned below. I have been meaning to photograph this wall ever since moving to the neighbourhood. The printers is still there and the phone number used to be from the 80's before they increased the amount of digits but it has since been repainted. Which I only noticed when taking this.

i thought you said robin!?

Spotted on the way home last night. And to think I thought catching 2 trams was a drag, it turned out perfect — if only for coming across this wonderful paste-up.

Update: Tram line 6, between Chapel and Williams

weekend baking

101 Cookbooks.

visitors

My wish in the below post came true! We were graced with the presence of these pretty visitors over the weekend. Rosella's Rainbow Lorikeets make the happiest little chirping noises — such a nice way to be woken, instead of an alarm clock buzz. Thanks to the husband for the sweet pics.

Edit: Thankyou Kylie for the correct name of these little beauties. My bird watching days are over before they even began hehe!

whatcha doin?

Whatcha been doin' this past week? My week has included...
Learning how to create what you see in the above pic. You may recognise him...? The pattern is in this book and it's by this wonderful lady.
Reading my horoscopes...does that count?
Making lots of mistakes to create what you see in the above pic. I think I restarting about 5 times and watched a few how-to's on YouTube. I'm really not good at reading patterns but I get there eventually.
Watching The Slap
Listening Joan As a Policewoman, Foster the People, Lana del Ray
Eating homemade chicken and veggie pasties
Drinking White Rabbit Dark Ale
Wishing the rosella's come back and visit our balcony again tomorrow morning!

Heres' to a wonderful weekend for all x

herman marie

Herman Marie is a sparkling new Etsy store by the same person behind the odd and adorable I Love Grey Skies!

hidden tools

A souvenir from our weekend away. I purchased up this cleverly disguised, little sewing kit from a local CWA (Country Women's Association) stall. We also couldn't resist some of their homemade jam, marmalade and jam drops. Yum!

over the hills

Images from our weekend away near Mansfield, Victoria. Such beautiful country side.

one year ago today...

...I married the love of my life. Happy one year anniversary husband! Thank you for all of your support over the past year. Your patience and your constant ability to believe in me even when I didn't. Not a day has passed when you haven't bought a smile to my face and laughter too. I can't wait to see how our adventure together continues.

x

whatcha doin?

A thought for all of who have sacrificed for their country.
image from here

 
This past week I have been...

Learning about the man that was Sérgio Vieira de Mello — a UN employee of 34 years
Reading about 'The How to Make Mistakes on Purpose Workshop', I like the notion that 'play' stimulates creativeness
Making Softies for Mirabel
Watching thunderstorms roll in over Melbourne
Listening to the women from Harvest talk about their business
Eating couscous salad
Drinking freshly squeezed orange juice
Wishing for this afternoon — we are heading away for the weekend!

I hope you have had a wonderful week too!

hand embroidery

It's all in the detail for these scarves. Amazingly neat, hand embroidery in beautifully selected colour combinations and abstract forms by Karin Wolters. I found Karin via Design for Mankind and this wonderful 'tank + marker' post.

...

What started off with good intent turned in to a moment of experimentation which then ended up turning out a bit wrong! 

This was supposed to be my submission for the 'Morran Book' which you can read about here. I really wanted to do a version of Super Morran, the adventurer. Sometimes however when criteria for a submission is as open as this was I get excited and decide to try something new. In this case, the newness for me was making a pattern with gussets to create a 3D softie sculpture. I didn't really know how wide or long to do the gussets and without leaving myself time before the deadline to try a second time this experiment turned out looking more like a... um... cow perhaps? Poor little Morran she really is such a sweet thing — nothing at all like a cow! Don't get me wrong, I am not all about perfection. I love a bit of wonk and visible signs of the creator behind a handmade object but this cow-dog just wasn't doing the real Morran any justice.

She may have ended up unfinished but she is not unloved and this experimental fail has me wanting to try again. Perhaps I'll be less ambitious next time and try making something similar from an existing pattern to understand how it works first! 

What about you — have you been experimenting with anything new (to you) lately?

etsy seven

Its time again for an Etsy 7 and looking through the items I have been adding to my favourites list lately there appears to be a shade or two of GREEN appearing rather commonly. While it is my favouorite colour these selections had not been made consciously.

1. 1950's vintage dress, from Stutterin Mama

2. Mid Century Danish lamp, from a store full of treasures, 1001 Vintage

3. Suede flats, from Extraseed

4. Ernie the elephant soft sculpture from my favourite Jess Quinn

5. Plant Pod, from Sea & Asters

6. Hand dyed silk top by Accra Accra

7. A box of blue tip matches, from The Cupcake Kid

Do you have a favourite colour?

whatcha doin?

image from here

The past week has been a short work week here in Victoria with the Melbourne Cup public holiday on Tuesday. For those of you not familiar with the Melbourne Cup, its' "The race that stops the nation". Horse race, that it. It also seems to mark the start of Christmas kicking into full swing around the shops. And with only 7 weeks left until said event here is my next 'Whatcha Doing?' list.

Learning I am not as good at sticking to deadlines as I thought I was (this could have something with the time vortex I feel like I'm in)  
Reading about the origins of some nursery rhymes in the latest issue of Frankie.
Making a pattern for my contribution to Softies for Mirabel
Watching Welcome to the Dollhouse
Listening to new CDs' Vows, Metals and A Creature I Don't Know
Eating fresh oranges!
Drinking delicious coffee from Pillar of Salt
Wishing my little brother a happy birthday and our cat Millie a quick recovery from her cold. I have never had a cat with a cold before so I was a little concerned but we have been to the vets and she is on antibiotics and seems to be getting better each day. Yay!

I would love to hear about something from your week. What have you been doing? Are you preparing for Christmas?

handicrafts

Last week I thrifted this wonderful hardcover book — Woman's Day, A Complete Book of Handicrafts — from 1973. Filled wonderful 70's graphics, models and lots of detailed patterns and instructions for crafts including smoking, basket weaving, hat making, tatting, macramé and rug making. I look forward to putting it to use!

puppets part VII

You may recognise bits and pieces, like the eyes and ears in the bottom pics from my last puppet in progress post. Just thought I'd do a little recap including the new addition of a hairy nose and tongue in place.

After much experimentation.  

Ta-da!

 

A test run to see how he's looking in action. As mentioned previously this isn't exactly what I had in mind for my puppet. But. Well. Sometimes you just have to go with what is being created before you. It does appear however that I may have an attraction for kooky ugly. Hell. I'm ok with that. This guy makes me laugh so it can't be a bad thing.

Top-hat and bow-tie to be completed plus he still needs a pupil adjustment. Almost there!