love fridays...

Very very tired today. But as the tinniegirl says... there is always something to love about friday.
The love today came from this purchase made at the Buttonmania sale in the nicholas building. I scooted in there before work this morning.
More love happened during work too. I was telling a table about the specials of the day, at the same time I was looking out the window across flinders st. Whilst discussing the mussel special, I exclaimed out loud that that was my bike & there was my man. The customers proceeded to look at me strangely & I'm sure they queried my rather loud outburst. But however, madness aside... it indeed was my man & my bike. He had come in to have some lunch & surprise me. It sure was a lovely surprise & it certainly helped me get through the rest of the day.
More love for the weekend too. Tomorrow is my ladies day, (I don't like being called a hen, so let's stick with ladies day) & I have no idea what is in store for me. I did tell my dear bridesmaids that there were to be no embarassing moments. I'm actually more worried what the boys will do to my dear Samuel. Oh well, fingers crossed.
Oh & I just forgot. Another reason for friday love... mixtape arrived in the mail & I just purchased the march country style too. So I look forward to some relaxing, couch lying, tea drinking moments with the two of them.

my creative space...

Took another trip to Amitie today. These three delightful fabrics will turn themselves into something wonderful for someone special. I also picked up some wadding & perle thread for the quilt I'm working on. I thought it to be quite serendipitous to discover the wadding is called matilda & the quilt itself is for a Matilda. The lovely Jane helped me again with rifling through the shelves for the ideal match. Thanks again Jane, this is thrice now you've helped me.

the littlest garden...

Oh my! Isn't it delightful. A feature on resurrection fern. Found here.

pottering about...

I've just spent today pottering about. The boy & I went to south melbourne market this morning. Yesterday's market jaunt didn't happen, due to a shoot at the workshop for a motorcyle magazine. Somehow I was roped in... a shot of me & my bike will also feature in the article.
Anyway, back to the market this morning. I bumped into three of my friends, then another two. It's so nice when that happens, it makes melbourne feel like more of a community.
So after that, we came home & I've been listening to music & pottering ever since. I've managed to clean the whole house (well, except for the sewing room of course), made ggod use of the vacuum, washed clothes & dishes & still found time to bake. Here are some shots of my day.

Spotty washing in my yard, I've done four loads! I think I've been a bit slack the past week.

One of our three tomatoes has begun to turn, it is really very small.

Our lettuce is shooting for the sky.

Yum! I bought six figs today.

They really are very delicious.

Oats & friends into a bowl.

An apple & rhubarb crumble they soon became.

progress...

I sewed up the quilt top this afternoon. Much concentration was needed to figure out what I was doing... as I have absolutely no idea! I guess common sense & a bit of logic goes a far way, because it looks pretty darn good if I don't say so myself. I'm bias; I know. Next step, wadding & quilting & then I'll have to figure out how on earth they get the edging on. I might ask the lovely ladies at amitie about that one.

love fridays...

Lovin friday today because my silly computer has decided to work again.
Also lovin today, for tomorrow is saturday & saturday means going to gleadall st market for my fruit & veg. Followed by pottering about the house cleaning & tidying & perhaps some baking.
I've been quite crafty this week. Remember my last jaunt to amitie where I purchased a wonderful bundle of fabrics to make a quilt for a delightful little girl... well late last night I cut all the pieces & laid them out. Sorry 'bout the crappy photo, but it was very late. This is roughly what it will look like I dearly hope. The centre piece is still being stitched up with her name, so it's on at my bedside for further work tonight. I can't wait to start sewing it up.

Below is something else that I have been working on. It's just a sneak peek, so it can remain a suprise. How's the fabric, pretty cool huh? It too is from Amitie.

sneak peek...

This is the reception venue for our wedding. Of course it will be all cleared out on the day, except for a few tables & will be full with food, drinks & guests.

And there is a perfectly set up kitchen & bar area, ready to go. So good.

intense...

What a week for everybody! Saturday I participated in Nikki's sewing bee for rainbow comfort packs. Such an inspiring day. We sewed up 80 bags to be filled with toys & books for children affected by the bushfires. It was so good to see everyone working away, cutting, embellishing & sewing up a storm.

I started the morning cutting out fabric & told myself that I could finish 8 totes. So in 7 hours, with snacks, tea & plenty of chatting in between... 8 bags were completed. Here they are below, I really do hope they will be warmly received.

On sunday, the boy & I attended a wedding in Kangaroo Ground in the Yarra Valley.
The drive out was heart wrenching. We didn't pass through any fire affected areas, but the smoke haze was thick & the reality that fires weren't too far away just struck a chord & I did get a bit teary. The wedding was a beautiful union between a serbian groom & a scottish bride, so lots of crazy dancing & music. Just a warning, serbian plum brandy is very strong. They will tell you it won't give you a hangover... but I wouldn't believe them.
In just 6 weeks that will be Samuel & I, it was good to go to the wedding also to remind ourselves of little things we hadn't thought of. So there are now a few more jobs on the big list. We're both so excited, but are wondering how we'll get through our vows without becoming a blubbering mess.

crafting for a cause...

Like everyone else, I'm still coming to terms with the bushfire tragedy.
We're slowly learning about friends who have lost their homes & some their families.
I simply cannot fathom the pain so many people are experiencing.
So far my Red Cross donation is standing at $203 with help from my mum & I still have fridays shift to go, with several others pledging as well. I've suprised myself this week, as I'm not usually the one to start anything & now I find myself rallying people to donate & support.
This Saturday I'll be at this sewing bee, if anyone has the time on Saturday & can get to Brunswick, please come. Instead of the CWA being the Country Womens Association, we can be the City Womens Association. Email Nicole for details.
I'm also looking forward to making for the handmade help softie rally to give special kids a handmade cuddle.

And, I've just purchased this gorgeous little lambie from the Lark, knowing that the proceeds will go the the appeal. I just couldn't resist him & I know my little nephew Luka, will adore him for years to come.
I wish there was still more that I could do & when the towns have been rebuilt, I promise to go there as Samuel & I have done in the past & support these communities by eating at the cafes & buying their wares.
It really is very wonderful to know that so many are doing their bit & as much nastiness there is out there, there is just so much good. I'm so proud to be a part of the melbourne crafty community.

birthday flowers...

These flowers are bringing some cheer to a very somber time.
Let's all help & support the ones in need, who have lost everything.
Find out how to donate to the bushfire appeal on this Red Cross page.
I'm pledging all my tips I make this week & I'll be encouraging my workmates to do the same.

girl on a motorcycle...

Well, here you have it ladies & gentlemen. I present to you... Big Block, the littlest motorcycle who could.
I went for a quick ride yesterday & he is just awesome.
I had such a wonderful day despite that it was the hottest melbourne day on record.


My heart goes out to all the victorians caught up in the fire zones.

27...

See the little fatty below? Well that's me, circa 1982.

I thought I'd share with you the 27 things I'd like to do while I'm 27. Some things are little, some are big...
but I'm going to try my darndest to complete them all. Right then here we go...

1. Get married
2. Go to Vanuatu
   
3. Learn Illustrator
4. Recane my Thonet chairs
5. Get my full car license
6. Get my full motorbike license
7. Visit my family in New Zealand for Christmas
8. Take sewing classes
9. Finish granny blanket
10. Start a quilt
    
11. Go to an antique auction
12. Take a screenprinting class
13. Keep a visual diary
14. Make a piece of clothing
15. Spend more time in the country
16. Have friends round for dinner more often
17. Take more photos
18. Do something creative everyday
19. Read a book a month ( I read alot, not necessarily fiction though)
    
20. Get art & photos framed
21. Buy flowers regularly (now I just pick them from my garden)
    
22. Take Samuel for dinner at Yu-u
23. Take a pilates class
24. Catch up with girlfriends more often
25. Moisturise
26. Sing daily (maybe not daily but very often)
    
27. Go camping

I don't think that's too much to conquer... Do you? I do have a whole year afterall.

love fridays...

To tell you the truth... when I arose this morning, I was not ready for the day.
I didn't really like today all that much, nothing bad happened I just felt out of sorts.
When I remembered this cute mirror I found at the oppy on tuesday, I cheered up.
I had hidden it under the couch, so it would be out of the way
& had forgotten about it til just now.

Also making me happy this evening is this tank. The boy is finishing my motorbike in time for my birthday & just now we pinstriped it & put the stickers on. He's just doing the final clear coats as we speak. I'm very excited about it, I can't wait to ride it into work next week & show off to all the boys. Ha Ha Ha.

busy bee...

Goodness me! I feel like I haven't stopped moving since last week.

Saturday afternoon was spent with some lovely ladies for a mixtogether at Amitie.

I received a lovely bundle of fabrics from leslie of onegirl.

I purchased the above fat quarters.

& 8 of their little fabric pieces.

& some delightful fabrics to make a quilt for a little girl named matilda.
This will be my first quilt, I hope it all goes well.

As for the rest of my week...
Monday - worked
Tuesday - scoured all the op shops from Rosebud to Frankston in search of
vintage plates for the wedding. My very wonderful friend & I found 53 side
plates, 5 platters & several other useful bits & bobs. All up it took 9 hours
including drive time, a sunburnt arm & a headache. But it was well worth it.
Wednesday - Met the boy in town & organised our wedding rings, purchased
the shoes I'll wear & had a dress fitting.
I do hope the days to come are less eventful, but something tells me they won't be.
I'm another year older on Saturday & birthdays never pass quietly.