It's Link Love time again

With spring only a day away here's a little link love to farewell Autumn.
Loving:

Photography by Wayne Bremser, Andrea Fazzari and Beautifully, suddenly.

Rohan Anderson's practicality, good sense & absolutely delightful blog whole larder love. (I also love the fact that his spelling is a little on the rusty side ...like mine... and he encourages those who find it frustrating to just look at the pictures. A perfect solution too, the photos are mesmorising :)

These stylish knits.

Spending crazy amounts of time on Pinterest! It's so addictive.

The Toy Society. I have a chick waiting to be stuffed ready for drop off. I'll post details soon.

This raffle by Mosey to aid children in East Africa. What a fantastic idea. A definite win win. It closes today!

The gorgeous work by Paper Donut.

Every interior featured on The Beautiful Soup.

The stylish blog Vintage for Kids. This makes me laugh....imagine hanging your child out of the car window these days. It's priceless.

The idea of spending at least an hour less each day in September online (computer & the sneaky iphone..oh I'll just quickly check my mail... while at the park, cooking dinner, standing in line...) and instead, using the time to create real, tactile things of love.

Bring on Spring xoxo

Here's the end result of my Month of Dates project (the 31st can be found here).

I've been wracking my brain to come up with a new project for September...possibly something along the lines of 'Slow down, September'. Maybe photographing something handwritten along my day. Be it a handwritten sign, note, or some graffiti....

We're hit with so much visual stimulus these days it's kind of nice to see the written word in all it's simplicity. I have another day to decide. I could do a complete back flip yet....any other suggestions?

the weekend

My Saturday morning pedicure was a cross between pleasure and pain. Aspects of it really grossed me out... all that dead skin, for starters. Boy!
I love looking down on manicured, painted toes when I step out of the shower... But am I completely sold?
I'll do it again, for sure...maybe just not regularly.

We spent a gorgeous day yesterday in the country visiting friends. Z was in heaven. There was no shortage of entertainment for a wee man. Toy tip trucks, cars, dirt, dams, broken down cars and cracked tree stumps were amongst the favourites....oh, not to mention the compost toilet. A definite favourite of Z's he managed 3 toilet trips within the first hour!

For me, I'm not sure if it was the eclectic style of Vic & Jason's beautiful country house, Jason's bright, spacious & highly organised studio, the company or incredible food... Norweigan chocolate fudge cake & Vic's flourless orange cake did rate pretty high. Of course, I had to try both and...uh hum, my jeans do feel a little tighter today for the indulgence.

There's nothing like fresh country air to tucker you out. We were all exhausted last night. One hugely successful trip to the country restored out faith in country life and started us dreaming of a quaint little property....all over again.

Here's thanks to new pleasures & places. May your week bring both. xox

{these moments}

Sweet moments from the week just gone.

When I go out into the countryside and see the sun and the green and everything flowering, I say to myself Yes indeed, all that belongs to me!
~Henri Rousseau

I'm off for my first ever pedicure tomorrow morning. It's such a girly thing to do & not being much of a girly girl I've shied away from such activities. The thought of someone at my feet, primping and preening (or whatever the dixie it is they do), has never been up there on my list of to-do's.
I have, however, been assured I'll be well and truly hooked after my first pedicure. So, I'm ready to be pleasantly surprised.

Whatever it is you do this weekend.... I hope you enjoy!

xx

Doin' the chickummyjig

We seem to be having a baby boom amongst our friends lately. Is it just me or do babies always seem to come in rushes...?
Z and I have been making a few toys. This chick, sunning itself in out back yard, was the culmination of this mornings joint crafting effort. The pattern is by Myrtle and Eunice. It's free and can be found here. This clucky chick is headed for baby Luke. Welcome wee man.

Thank you Myrtle and Eunice. xox

Sun lovin'

What Stefan Sagmeister has learnt in his life so far.

ARTIST SERIES: Stefan Sagmeister 08 from Hillman Curtis on Vimeo.

A man after my own heart. Stefan Sagmeister loves lists. I really enjoyed this clip by Hillman Curtis. The gentleness of Stefan, his raw honesty .... and the huge body of work he produces from this sacred space are truly admirable qualities.

A little inspiration for this crafty Monday. I'm off to work on my list now.
I hope Monday is a gentle start to the week for you. xx

PS. Thanks Kath for sharing this link which got me to here.

{this moment}

The photo was not taken this week...but in the midst of winter and what feels like a chaotic week... iphone found in the bottom of the bathtub, lost keys, mixed messages and sloppy communication (oh, the phone was possibly a metaphor for my sinking communication....funny) I'm recalling long, slow paced, peaceful days.
This is a simple, special moment. One I am truly grateful for.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
-John Fitzgerald Kennedy

....mmmmm, now there's the tricky bit....especially in times of chaos. May your weekend be full of love & peaceful moments. xox

Mrs Eliot Books...& her etsy adventure

The very clever Fran, from Mrs Eliot Books, is the featured etsian over on the etsy homepage today. I'm so terribly proud and excited for her. It's been lovely watching Fran develop her blog and etsy site into such a wonderful world...not only for us to enjoy but also for Fran.
Congratulations lovely lady. I love the fact that you write your blog to make you sister, Ladle, laugh too. That makes me so happy.

We look forward to seeing even more of you and your wonderful work around. xox

things just happen

Here's an update on my Month of Dates project. It's developed into quite a fun experiment... I was laughing with a couple of friends about how the more you look for the numbers the harder they are to find. Once you've given up...they miraculously appear. It's like when you're single and there are no decent blokes to be found...anywhere. Then... once you've met someone, eligible, intelligent, entertaining men seem to be everywhere!!

When you stop trying so hard....things just happen. I love it. Happy hump day. xx

Cooking makes us more human

Had Something to Say - Cooking from michael ruhlman on Vimeo.

I came across this great website White On Rice Couple yesterday while searching for a Salmon Corn Cakes recipe (it's a goodie, although I did substitute the parsley for celery top leaves,the breadcrumbs for almond meal and my salmon... was tinned).
The website is a collection of stories on food, life and travel told through photography. It offers up a visual smorgasbord....recipes, ideas, inspiring people, stunning photography. Todd Porter & Diane Cu have discovered the art of recording their passion for life & food and making it accessible.
They produced a couple of clips which came under the title of 'The Courage of Ideas' and this one above my Michael Ruhlman got me thinking...and made me smile. The idea of having at least one person in your tribe who likes to cook is a simple and beautiful way of looking at food and nourishing our place as humans in society. I hope you enjoy it too.
Food tastes so much better when made with love. xox

Ink & Spindle Open Studio

The gorgeous girls at Ink & Spindle, Tegan & Lara, opened their studio on Saturday. So I went along, with a couple of friends, for a squiz.
Their studio space, pitched high up on a Kensington hill looking out over North Melbourne, was light filled and cosy. We were greeted at the door by Tegan's doe eyed American staffy, who was clearly lapping up the extra love, then treated to a screen printing demo. The process of printing was beautiful. I just loved watching these two girls passing the paint over the screen, chatting as they went. Each step required to print the 10 meter length of fabric brought a greater appreciation and respect of this process and made the end result even more spectacular.
The morning filled me with inspiration. To see two girls doing what they love, creating these incredible hand printed textiles, in an unpretentious and inspired space...and the fact that they graciously opened their door to share this was a real treat. Thank you.

Now to choose which fabric for my next chair...... which is your favourite?

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special moment. A moment I'm so very grateful for.

Thanks to the {this moment} originator Soule Mama.

Have a great weekend & don't forget to.......Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel.
~Author Unknown

xox

P.S. and a happy, happy birthday to the lovely Ladle. It seems like only yesterday we turned 30...

Nicholas Jones & the Nicholas Building

craft tv: Nicholas Jones from Craft Victoria on Vimeo.

I enjoyed this little doco on Nicholas Jones made for craft tv on Vimeo. If you love the Nicholas Building you'll also enjoy this. Beautifully shot, it makes me even fonder of this great city. Yay for craft tv.

It's Link Love time again

(photos taken looking towards St Kilda from Williamstown yesterday)

Here's some link love to a few things that have brought colour to my Melbourne winter:

making this super easy bread from Heidi Swanson's 101 Cookbooks blog.

this book, Shibori for Textile Artists, which I borrowed from the library last week.

Hege Greenall-Scholtz's interiors blog.

the idea of our Met system following Stockholm’s lead and turning the citiloop into an exhibition space to feature local artists.

the La maison d'Anna G. blog, found via Ladle's Pinterest Board.

these gorgeous quilts by Alexia Abegg at Craftopia.

the August photos on habit.

and lastly.... everything about Darling Clementine. xox

Turn the world upside down

Today I'm sharing a movie we've been enjoying at our house recently. We love Curious George and this song makes me so happy. Thanks Jack Johnson...I've never been much of a fan before now...but you've just turned my world 'Upside down.'
ps. I had no idea he was so good looking until I added this link either... what a smile!

Here's to seeing the world with new eyes.... every single day. xo

the weekend

Here are a few photos from our weekend.
...a random chair I came across while out walking, alone, in St Kilda. It's so rare I find myself walking alone these days. I usually have a little chatterbox in tow. So, this chair seemed to jump out of the silence... to let me know it's waiting there for me, quietly, patiently....
...the beautiful red ute. How perfect would this be for chair pick ups and deliveries? I have my eye on you little car.
...a photo from Noah & Jason's exhibition, Mind and Matter. I'm still dreaming of Noah's Paper Lantern.
...farewell Poppa Baz.

Here's to a new week & new possibilities.
I dwell in possibility.
- Emily Dickinson

xx

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special moment. A moment I'm so very grateful for.

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. ~Cynthia Ozick
Thanks to the {this moment} originator Soule Mama.

Enjoy your weekend peoples. If you're in St Kilda.... be sure to check out this exhibition Matter and Mind by two incredible (and very lovely) lads, Jason & Noah Hartcup .
xox

Praise the bold & beautiful

I'm in awe of these gorgeous Flickr favs today. Follow the links below to view more by these crafty fellows.

1. YIP 365.344::Improv string , 2. Floating away balloons, 3. lightning bolt quilt, 4. Mini Quilt of the Month - January: Courthouse Steps

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” - Oprah Winfrey

A Month of Dates

Here's the progress on my Month of Dates project....
If you feel like joining in please leave a link to your photos in the comments. The only real criteria is that the photos be taken on the actual date displayed. It looks simple enough but some days it quite challenging to discover the numbers (and quite tempting to cheat and stockpile when you come across brilliant 'future' numbers). I've almost given up a couple of times...and miraculously that's exactly when the number has appeared.

it's a crochet world

NBC News at 5 from olek on Vimeo.

I found this video via the Slow Cloth Facebook page and had to share. It definitely brightened my day and provides great food for thought on this Crafty Monday. Possibilities really are only as limited as our own imagination!

Enjoy x

PS. Check out Slow Cloths page too. It harks back to my previous post on 'Slow Textiles'.