LFT

I've got the sh*ts today. For no particular reason. The day started off wonderfully with yoga in the morning but then for no apparent reason, everything started frustrating me. People at work, the random guy on the street who wouldn't let me pass, everything. So I took a step back, took a deep breath and looked for some stuff on the internet to make me smile.

Citron Rouge

I am self diagnosed with LFT (low frustration tolerance) so I have to just keep things in check from time to time.

Now? All better.

Bye for now.
xx

Sunlight

At yoga this morning the sun was making its way up and the warm golden light was pouring through the studio windows.

So I was inspired to find a few golden yellow things:

Simply Gold Stitch Markers from Etsy seller dragonladydesigns

Birds Eco Wallpaper by Bunny Maxwell via Design is Mine blog

"Didn't need to settle" card from Etsy seller pinwheeldesigns

Banner

I was considering changing my banner but I'm not so sure about this one...

Possible new banner

Clutch 2

Second leather clutch attempt

Errr I'm a little late (ok about 4 months late) posting about this. Better late than never I guess so above is a pic of the second leather clutch I made!

I love it for many reasons but especially because of the cute decorative button from Buttons by Lou Lou. I'm annoyed because on a recent outing when I got a tad drunk, I rested it very close to a candle and it burnt a little. The burn mark is on the front no less so I can only hide it by holding my hand over the little burnt patch. *sob* ...

Are there any more clutches to come? Well, maybe. I'm negotiating with my domestic machine to handle the thickness of the leather and the glue. He protests a lot and comes to a grinding halt and stamps his feet (well needle) over and over the one spot and leaves behind a bunch of knotted thread. Nice. I can't unpick the thread and start again either because of the holes it leaves behind in the leather.

The above clutch was made using an industrial long arm machine with heaps of guidance from my teacher.

A good husband will eat whatever you make

This story is an example of how much I love my husband.

On most days I like to make my husband a sandwich to take to work (awwww ! well whatever helps him leave the house faster in the mornings!) Most of time these sandwiches consist of ham, tomato and lettuce. Today however, we had n o ham so I made him a plain tomato and lettuce sandwich with the intention that he take a can of tuna with him to add into the sandwich later so it won't get soggy. In our usual morning rush, we ran out of the house and I didn't notice that he stuffed the sandwich in his bag sans tuna can.

He later rings me at work and says "thanks for the lettuce sandwich babe"

Me: "What lettuce sandwich? you were supposed to add tuna"

Hubs: "Oh, I didn't bring any tuna with me"

Me: "It was on top of the sandwich!"

Hubs: "Oh, I thought that was for you"

Me: "So what did you have for lunch?"

Hubs: "The lettuce sandwich"

Movember

Heard of Movember? The month long moustache celebration to raise funds for research and support towards prostate cancer and mental health?

The Faux Mo Badge by Marika

Well, Maz has been busy making cute badges for those of us who can't grow a mo but would also like to help out. Cool huh? I think she'll have more info on her blog soon...

Spoilt

Swappy goodness package from Edan Rose

How lucky am I to get two items from a swap? Trinkets from Georgie Love

What better way to celebrate my return from the Twilight saga coma (obsessed I tell you, I was am) than to share with everyone some items I was lucky enough to receive as part of the latest Georgie Love Swapabalooza.

I received two gifts for the price of one because my parcel was a little delayed coming to me so Sally of Georgie Love made sure I didn't miss out by sending me more stuff.

Megan of Edan Rose just opened a new shop and even though it was a little delayed, I received lots of trinkets from her - bird softies, bracelet and a ring.

From Sally, loads of interesting items including a craft music CD, fabric swatches, buttons, antique keys and tags recycled from old cereal boxes. Very environmental. :)

I love stuff but it's slowly dawning on me that I'm a bit of a hoarder.

The secret is out

Foray into printed media

So according to my family, I'm famous. A few weeks ago I was interviewed for a story on blogging and whether social networking tools such as Facebook and Twitter have killed blogging. I didn't say so but apparently they have . The article was featured in the Green Guide section in The Age. If you're really keen, go check out the full article.

I am a little tickled when my friends say after reading the article and with a hint of sympathy in their tone, "Oh at least it's a good picture". Come on guys, my quote wasn't that bad! Independent designers have used blogging as a successful marketing tool. Look at Lara, Aunty Cookie, Cheeky Beaks...!

In other "news", stay tuned for pics of my new clutch which features one of Louise's pretty buttons.

Clutch

Navy Leather Clutch painstakingly handmade by me

I've disappeared for a while due to work commitments, a bit of interstate travel and catching a cold! Boo for me for catching a cold and having work commitments. But it was lovely to see my cousins in Sydney. I also gave them the nappy cake I talked about previously and they loved it!

I have managed to do some crafting while I've been away from the blog however. I completed my first leather clutch as seen in the photo above. I am really loving working with leather. It's not the easiest medium to work with but I'm really getting there. Slowly.

My friend asked me what I would sell it for, and I didn't really know how to respond. I mean, it took me aaages so how do I factor in the 10 hours I spent on it? I really need to speed things up before I can make a sustainable business out of my crafts.

Excuse me, do you have any talent to spare?

Berlin Bar - Interior Design by Yelena Beylin Perry

Every day I am blown away by so many amazing creative people out there, following their dreams and making it a reality. I am so inspired by their passion and dedication to their chosen field. Yelena, a friend I met while we were both working as slaves at the not so local cinema, is one of these super creative people.

She has been an Interior Designer for the last 5 years and has produced some amazing work - like her design for Berlin Bar, pictured above. She has recently launched her website too which I am so pleased to be sharing with you - Arium Design.

Check out some of her stuff - you may have been to a bar she's designed!

There's a chair in there

Finally something crafty to show!

The chair before

The chair after the restoration project

A few weeks ago, we found an abandoned chair pretty much on our front doorstep. I was initially quite annoyed that an idiot left their rubbish in our common property to be someone else's problem but after some further inspection, we realised the chair was in quite good shape despite the insides falling apart and not wanting to sit on it for fear of falling through.

So aside from the fact that neither Nathan or I had ever restored a chair before, we thought we would give it a go. After working on it on and off for a few weeks and after a fair share of expletives expended from our mouths, we turned this piece of trash into treasure. Nathan stripped back the wood and gave a few coats of satin varnish while I worked on finding new foam inserts and making new covers.

For more pics, check out my new flickr page.

And, does Lara really need any more publicity for her fabric? ;)

If you want to see even better restoration projects, check out Heather's blog.

Yes but, can it take calls?

Feeling a little attached

I used to be proud of my phone with no features other than to make and receive calls. No camera, no applications, no blue tooth connectivity, no music player and no 3G connectivity. I never stressed when I left it at home or in the car. Nor did I feel any pain when I dropped it on the floor (several times).

This was until recently I was laughed at by someone I least expected while saying my phone was "sooo old". In that moment I went from feeling no emotion toward my phone to feeling ashamed and wanted to bury my little dinosaur to the bottom of my handbag and ignore it when it rang.

So I have sold out. I am now expecting my new iphone to arrive in the mail. This should be a proud moment but it's not. I feel confused! Do I really need a phone which can play air hockey with me?

P.s. This little pic is a Karin Q original. Knocked up using my very basic Adobe Illustrator skills. :)

I love printing

Sometimes I feel like I'm going backwards

I have lived in my area for 18 months and never knew the Melbourne Museum of Printing was just around the corner from my place. Lucky for me I found out just in time for the open day through this post.

So I had a look at their prints (a cool $200 each) and then used what would have been $6 for the entry fee to have a coffee at the Happy River Cafe which is part of the Footscray Community Arts Centre. Then road my bike home along the river. Ok, that's a lie but I would have ridden if I wasn't coming from my friend's place!

It was a nice end to a nice weekend. I have been crafting this weekend too...but my latest project is not finished yet. I hope to have something to show soon! Everything takes longer than planned. This crafty stuff is hard work!

Oh I forgot to mention - this photo was taken by Marika on her iphone. Thanks Maz!

Oh my, I'm honoured...

The lovely Sandra of Pepperberry & co. fame has given me an award called "The Awe-summm blog award". This is ace, my first blog award!

I have to list 7 things that make me awe-summm and pass it along to another 7 "awe-summm" blogging people...

Ok here goes my list:

1. I'll give anything a go at least once

I have jumped from the top of a rickety old boat into the water somewhere off the coast of Thailand once before even though I have a morbid fear of deep water.

2. I'm a bit of a crazy scientist/craftist

I guess the "crazy" part is because most of the time my craft experiments fail. However, I know that one day I'll get on top of it all and hit on a winner!

3. I like making up games

I get bored easily and I try to make up silly games to play all the time. Like who can do the best Alison Duboir "waking up" impression (you know the show, Medium?). It helps when you have an obliging husband.

4. I'll buy whatever you're selling

I was talked into trying out for the Australian Army reserves when I was 18 by a friend. Lucky for me I didn't get in. Well, lucky for Australia too really.

I also signed up to a couple of things from door to door salespeople. Lucky I'm rarely at home during the day.

5. I can cook

At least I think I can.

6. I'm hard on the outside, soft on the inside

My sister often tells me I have a scathing wit but I also cry during Oprah too. I've also closed the door on some door to door salespeople when they wouldn't shut up...

7. I'm persistent

See point 2.

I have decided to tag these 7 awesome people:

1. Munaluna cos I love her work
2. Leah cos she makes nice skirts and knits cool stuff
3. Cath cos she makes nice softies
4. Sally cos she organised the first swap I ever participated in and it was so much fun
5. Lara Brehm cos I love the colours she uses in her textiles. Not to be confused with Lara Cameron whom you are all familiar with, I have no doubt.
6. Abigail cos she makes beautiful jewellery
7. Sarasophia cos her blog makes me smile

Remember

Narrie and Me somewhere in Hong Kong - 1980

In response to Meet Me at Mike's latest words and pictures theme this week - "Remember"...

My sister would probably remember the day this photo was taken; Mum and Dad would definitely recall it. However, I don't remember a thing. Perhaps the stress of moving to Autralia blanked out my memory? Or it could be because I was less than 1 at the time...

Unpolished Gem

Little bronze bird

This little guy in the picture has taken me hours to make and it is still unfinished! I took a jewellery casting course recently and I now have a new found appreciation for jewellery designers who use the lost wax casting method. Any jewellery that looks sculpted and not beaded or laser cut, would have undertaken a lengthy process involving:

- creating wax models
- plastering
- burning and firing in a kiln
- Pouring and releasing metal involving even higher temperatures
- cut, clean, file and polish

My little bird took me about 5 hours all up and I still need to file it down more and polish it off. Phew. The tutor did compliment me on my filing techniques though. I guess all the effort in maintaining nice nails didn't go to waste after all.

If you think my little birdy is an eyesore (poor unpolished gem), then check out some real examples from my tutor, David Parker.

Keeping warm

A surprise gift from my mother in law over the weekend - a scarf knitted with love from 100% baby Alpaca wool. She's quite the talented knitter, she is. She helped me get started with this other scarf last year (err, still not yet complete though! Actually it could have even been the year before last when I started that scarf).

Oh and if you're on the hunt for some scarves, check out these screen printed beauties.

Wordle me

I love little bits of useless but pretty things.

Marika who has just started to blog about her crafty adventures sent me a link to "Wordle" where it generates a scramble of frequently used words on your blog and mine came out with this: It's nice to know that there aren't too many negative words generated. :D I think it must only look at the first page of your blog though. I guess I have been talking about leather a fair bit!

Try it out!

A cool quote

I heard a great quote on the radio this morning which I will try not to bastardise too much as I didn't have time while driving to write it down:

'Nothing is earned without hard work
You cannot work hard without passion
Do what you love'

...or words to that effect by Nathan Buckley - former Australian football player.

Because Nathan Buckley told me to, today I am:

1) working hard to enjoy every moment of this day off I am lucky to have

Treats from one of my many favourite local cafes

...with a tomato, feta and basil bruschetta and a soy chai latte with a little trickle of honey at Le Chien.

2) passionate about these gorgeous scrap fabrics I purchased today

for the love of fabric!

I am still thinking about what I will do with all the material but for now, I will just run my hands over them and purr.

3) loving this craft experimental phase I am in and working on more leather sewing

Belt attempt # 2 with Cheeky Beeks fabric

I have one order to fulfill - a belt for my (sometimes) lovely sister. In return, she shall knit me a scarf for winter (because we are sisters and we don't ask, we just expect ;) )

Sandra, Danielle and Michvanetta are all looking like they have been very busy living the Nathan Buckley way recently too!

P.s. please do not think I am a football fan because I quote a footballer. Not that there is anything wrong with being one, I am definitely not a fan. My husband has enough passion for the both of us and then some. :)

The process to pick the winner

The Contenders

The Witnesses

The Hat


Grumpy little helper

The winner!

Congratulations sarasophia! What a lovely comment you left and an enchanting blog you have!

Thanks to everyone who visited and said hello and I hope you stay in touch. A little precious birdie keeps telling me I must open a shop, so I guess for those who missed out, watch this space!

My Goodness Me

"Welcoming cats" by convexstyle.

I wake up and find so many wonderful comments from people about the pouch! THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Of course thank you to Lara who pointed many of her wonderful readers here too. Welcome! If you popped by another way, Welcome!

I mentioned in the previous post I am drawing the winner "over the weekend" but I think I need to be a bit more specific. Errrmmm...let's say I'll draw it tomorrow morning Western suburbs of Melbourne time at 10am?

See you then! Have a great Friday or Thursday as the case may be...

A gift for you!

My first attempt at working with leather was in my early high school years. I loved it and was amazed that, unlike my attempts at pottery and sculpting, what I envisaged in my head actually translated into my work! Alas, science and maths got in the way so I had to give up art and craft pretty early in school.

So anyway, now to celebrate the rebirth of my leather work (and crafting in general really), I am giving away a leather business card pouch to one of my readers. I know there aren't many of you so you'll have a pretty fair chance of winning!

Just leave me a comment and I'll draw a name from a hat over the weekend. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

Leather pouch with Japanese fabric cover

Leather pouch with Japanese fabric lining

P.s. the vase and the box you see in the pictures with the pouch are not included with the giveaway. Nor are the business cards I picked up from the Stitches and Craft show. :D

Street Art

The best art is free, unexpected and anonymous.

Street art on Johnston street

Edit: I guess not so anonymous after all - http://www.flickr.com/photos/stensoul/. Thanks for letting me know LoungeKat!

Mmmm looks delicious

The cake for my wedding (way back in 2007) was made by my very talented and beautiful cousin, Natanya. It looked amazing and was really delicious too!

Our wedding cake

Nat recently had a baby boy and I thought it would be quite fitting to give them a "nappy cake". If you have not heard of a nappy cake, it's basically a whole bunch of nappies bundled together to form a shape resembling a cake - such a clever idea.

Alas, since she lives in Sydney, I couldn't use my usual supplier who only delivers to areas within Melbourne. So, I tried to make one myself instead. I don't think Nat reads my blog so I think it's safe to post about it!

"Nappy cake"

A new find

I discovered a new online mag today via Abigail's blog called "Antler". It is a free mag featuring fashion, art and design . This month's issue has an interview with Abigail, a jewellery designer based in Glasgow who makes some of the most exquisite pieces I have seen but alas, cannot afford just yet [Edit: Previously I wrote that the magazine featured an interview with Abigail's beautiful jewellery which would be interesting if her jewellery could speak...so note to self: do not write a post in a rush!] . Check it out!

Tonight my family and I are going to watch Cirque Du Soleil. I am very excited - I have seen them twice before and loved every minute. I hope everyone has a fun filled weekend!

Is that a lotus root you're wearing?

There are many things I find challenging at my work but one saving grace is the building's foyer which is used as an art gallery. The most recent exhibition was of art and craft created by friends and family of the company.

The work by Misako Sakai was my favourite:

Collection of jewellery by Misako Sakai

Lotus Necklace by Misako Sakai

Lotus Root earrings and ring by Misako Sakai

In her words:

"Renkon, or Lotus Roots are delicious to eat and so attractive on a plate. When slices of root dry, they shrivel up into interesting shapes, which I used as inspiration for this jewellery".

I think it is amazing what people use as inspiration!

My To Do List

I finished one thing on my To Do list for this weekend, a pencil case which showcases my newly acquired zipper skills. I bought the cute fabric used for the project from the Stitches and Craft show but I'm sure it would have preferred a better home, if the fabric could think and feel that is. Alas, it would have to make do with me and my basic sewing skills.

Showing off my new zipper skills

On a different note, you might be able to make out from the scrawling on my To Do list that there is an item to remind myself to shop on Etsy. You know, in case I forgot.

I cannot decide on anything from this gorgeous Mu-Yin jewellery store as a going away present for my sister:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5200824

I am thinking perhaps the two peas in a pod necklace. Just gorgeous.

Experimenting

I love holidays where I have the mental space to just work on some craft projects. Stay tuned for more installments during the Easter break!

Experiment 1: Iron on transfers

Bird Tank prototype

The good - it's super easy and cheap and great for prototyping.
The bad - the transfer material is actually quite thick and opaque. So not so good on white.
The ugly - none. Well maybe one - it does look kinda cheap.

Experiment 2: Leather obi belt

Leather Obi belt - Sheep's leather with Japanese patterned fabric

The good - I'm getting there with sewing leather, it's definitely wearable and I've got plenty of ideas of how to improve for my next attempt.
The bad - The sewing isn't really consistent and the leather didn't really glide over the machine
The ugly - Luckily the inside of it can't be seen when wearing it. ;)

Leather belt close up, but not too close ;)

If you want to have a go at sewing leather, it can be done with your normal machine if the leather is soft enough. I also found this guide helpful. If you have any tips on sewing leather, I would love to hear it!

Just what I wanted...

Buttons and knick knacks

Fabric buttons close up

I received an awesome package in the mail from Louise yesterday morning and I was completely stoked. It was more than what I expected (I actually wasn't quite sure what to expect from my first swap and all). I received gorgeous fabric buttons, material and other bits and bobs for craft projects. Thanks Louise!

My First Swap

It's my first craft swap so I'm nervous and excited. What if my recipient doesn't like what I have made them and feels ripped off?? Or WORSE, what if I don't like what I receive? (note sarcasm in preceding sentence).

I'm sending my items today in time for Easter, as instructed.

No Junk Mail

We just finished hosting an international student for 3 weeks from Kobe, Japan. A sweet girl, a little quiet, but gave us lots of stuff. I love stuff.

I also love receiving mail too. Maybe it's the small pleasure of busting open an envelope and seeing what's inside - e.g. finding out after 3 months I am totally on track with my target daily water usage. Yes, these are small pleasures.

I don't generally like junk mail though but I deal with it. I am definitely not so good at tolerating other people's junk. The Japanese kid stays for 3 weeks, becomes a member at Crown Casino and although she knew she would leave the country shortly after, uses our address to receive mail. What the...?