Thailand......

I'm still buzzing and on a high from our trip to Thailand. Such an amazing culture, such beautiful arts and crafts, and lovely people.In Chiang Mai we visited many Temples, which come in all shapes and sizes. Admittedly my favourite was Wat Chedi Luang, which is the oldest Temple, about 700+ years old. I love the elephants that guard it. On the day we were there, the monks were doing a bit of gardening. Thought it was too funny to see one of the monks brandishing a whipper snipper!

Amazing Thailand

Hi there! Just a quick "saw wee dee ka'" after quite awhile away from posting! Last night we returned from an AMAZING trip to Thailand!We have only just returned, and I'm still getting my bearings, but here's a taste.....

Spring is here!!!

Spring is here in full bloom! Wish I was a better photographer to share with you how truly beautiful our garden is!!

beading in progress....

I am currently working on this tiny beaded purse. I am using teeny-tiny Japanese beads and a flat weave to construct it. It reminds me of the collection of antique purses that my Mother has, and that I have always admired.

Vintage kimono fabric skirt

A few months ago I made a skirt out of indigo kimono scraps. I wasn't entirely happy with that skirt. So I have made this simple wrap skirt. the main part is made up of indigo linen and the trim is vintage indigo kimono fabric pieces.. The simplicity of the skirt pattern seems to suit the fabric much better!

Bali sarong dress#2

Finished this dress a few days ago. It is also made from sarong fabric from a Bali shop.

Twig-handle tote

Just finished making this little tote bag to carry my French books in. Loved this linen! I found it in the Spotlight furnishing department, which to me, seemed to have a bit of a French feel to it. The twigs for the handles are from my garden! (This pattern can be found in Last Minute Fabric Gifts by Cynthia Treen)

Bali Sarong Fabric

It's taken me awhile to get around to it, but I'm finally using some of my Sarong Fabric we bought in Bali. They are hand printed fabrics, so they have the beautiful variations that you would expect! The dress design is rather simple, and as there was a limited amount of fabric, the trim around the neck, waist and back ties is a quilting fabric bought at a local shop. I'm very pleased with the finished dress!

Embarrassing situation drives woman to create!!

Okay, well I'm not a prude, but nor am I a woman who wears too short skirts for my age or low revealing decollete's, I'm just not comfortable with that kind of clothing. (If I had the figure to carry it off, perhaps I would test this to the limits, but I don't.) So, I was absolutely horrified when a few months ago, while waiting for an appointment a man approched me and said he could see up my dress!!! he well maybe could have been right, or he could have been a pervert, I'm not sure. But the idea left me feeling a bit wierd. Then, in my email came the Craft newsletter I had just subscribed to, and the answer was before me!! Lovely Haly Pierson-Cox had run into embarrassing skirt dilemmas while living in New York, and posted an easy "How to Make a Custom Pair of Tap Pants" pattern on blog.craftzine.com. Thank you Haly, problem solved and I've had a lot of fun making them! (Oh,and thanks to Darn Cheap Fabrics having fun checked silk on sale for $5 a metre, I sort of expanded on the tap pants idea...)

Vintage style cardigan

I have been saving this wool for eons. It is a lovely varigated handspun wool, in shades of red, raspberry and oranges. (And, unfortunately no longer available.) Wanting to let the wool speak for itself, I chose a classic Vintage Paton's pattern. Although the weather is warming up, I've had a chance to give her a test run, and I must say it's light,warm,roomy and very comfortable!!!

OPUS - 6th Annual Artist Book Exhibition!

Artisan Books
159 Gertrude St.
Fitzroy, VIC 3065
ph: (03) 9416 4805
www.artisan.com.au

13 August - 3 September
Mon-Fri: 10am - 5:30pm
Saturday: 11am - 4:30pm

Just a thought......

It is not what we do, but what also we do not do, for which we are accountable.
Moliere

Bumper crop!

This year Russell's orange tree has been ever so bountiful!!! With such an excess of oranges, I decided to make some marmalade. Very fruitful indeed!

Artisan 11th Annual Beanie Exhibition!!!

Red felt, metallic crochet, embroidery. Bird cage: brass wire, wood and heart shaped bead

Yesterday, with much excitement I delivered my beanie to Artisan Bookshop for the 11th Annual Beanie Exhibition! I have never before participated in this event and though it might be fun to have a go. With over 300 entries, there's surely something for everyone's taste!

Artisan Beanie Exhibition

9th - 30th July 2011

159 Gertrude Street

Fitzroy, VIC 3065

Ph. (03) 9416 4805

Mon-Fri 10am - 5:30pm

Saturday 11am - 4:30pm

love that Lopi!!!

Still unwell, but now I'm suffering from sciatica and a ruptured disc.....not fun, and limits my mobility terribly. So in the foreground I'm working on some art projects for exhibits in the following months (photos to be published once the exhibits have commenced,) and in my recovery mode I'm still knitting! I bought this Lopi wool just a year or two after landing on the shores of this great land and have finally dove into using it! The previous cardigan for my husband, and now a smaller version, minus pockets and in a lighter shade for myself. The humble rustic-ness of this yarn reminds me of why I began knitting in the first place, the love of a simpler life.

New Cardigan for Hubby

Still under the weather and now Hubby is sick as well. But I've managed to finish knitting him a lovely warm cardigan out of Icelandic Lopi wool. Sabbath the cat has taken a liking to it as well!

Autumn

Yes, Autumn is officially here! I love the cooler weather, the crisp air and wearing woolly sweaters. Unfortunately, I've been quite sick of the past few weeks and have been unable to post. Slowly improving and hope to be fighting fit soon and show you some of the things I'm working on!

Karma.....

Karma is amazing......Sometimes too beautiful for words......

Love is in the air....

We have this amazing sasanqua camellia in the back garden that is dropping light pink heart shaped petals. On the grass underneath is a sea of delicate hearts!

beautiful Autumn daze....

It is SUCH an amazing Autumn day today, bright sunny and a beautiful temperature! So nice in fact, I decided to ride down to the local market on my bicycle and buy some flowers for the garden! I brought home some vibrant Easter Cyclamens and violas. Days like this leave me in a daze of wonder about good ol' Mother nature!

pastel drawing.....

Jenny, a lovely model. (pastel 70 x90cm)

Origami Skirt

Peppermint magazine pattern - Autmun 2011

Just finished this origami skirt!!! (I didn't press it very well as I was in a hurry to photograph it before the rains came!)

Dylan, the legend.

Just 10 days and 9 sleeps til the Dylan concert! And to make it even more awesome, the opening band is Paul Kelly, my all time favourite Australian group!!! Thank you Russell for making this year the birthday of all birthdays! xoxo

Check these out!!!!!

What a wonderful surprise! My dear friend Carol sent me these beautiful Daler-Rowney pastel pencils for my birthday! Oh she knows me so well. Looking forward to savouring these Austrian babies and putting them to good use! Thank you so much Carol!

Authentic indigo....

I have been sourcing this vintage and antique indigo from a Japanese warehouse in the city for years. Scrounging through containers of discarded kimono fabric scraps, carefully collecting washing and saving them until I had enough, and the courage to actually use them! So I have finally made a skirt from the pieces. Each scrap has been carefully perserved in the shape that it came and pieced with minimal seams. (Some of the pieces are no bigger than 1cm x 2cm.) The actual colour is quite a bit more vibrant than the photo. I'm very happy with the outcome , and I plan on making another longer skirt soon!

Thank you so very much!

Amazing fuschia plant from my amazing daughter!

Thank you to all of my friends and family for the wonderful Birthday wishes! I had an amazing day with lunch and champagne with my great friends at Cafe Vue, and dinner with my family at Cafe La Vie! And the festivities continue with another lunch and dinner next week! I feel very fortunate. xoxox

my childhood friend - GUMBY!!!!!

Today on my home from my drawing session, I FINALLY had my camera with me to take a photo of this, in a Collingwood alleyway.

more city of Melbourne grafitti......

Just finished today...a new tea dress!

After seeing some local designers making some very fun tea dresses out of vintage fabrics, I needed to have a try. Scouring my local op shops was dismal and disappointing. But one mention of this to my WONDERFUL Mother-in-law June, she produced the goods, in the form of late1960's/early 1970's pure cotton!! I LOVE the lime -acid green combo, despite the fact that time has softened it's vividness a bit. So, here's what I made. Thank you SO much June! xoxox

jewellry

Just working in a little bit of brass, trying to work out some ideas. Some handmade bevels with maps of my favourite places, sealed with resin and hand crafted chains. Not sure where it's all going, but I'm enjoying making the different elements.

more of Melbourne....

I am constantly amazed by the graffit in the alleyways of the Arts district in Melbourne. Ever changing.....