Thank you for MY blog award Lou Lou!

The delightful ButtonsbyLouLou has posted about Proximidade, a lovely blog award, and has included my blog in her post... So THANK YOU Lou Lou, as YOUR craft is excellent and so is your blog! If you like fabric and accessories, ButtonsByLouLou is on etsy, and makes some great stuff!



Proximidade is described as follows: 'This blog invests and believes in PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes for self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!' This blog award should be sent to your favorite eight bloggers and they, in turn should forward to eight of their favorites. You should include the text for Proximidade (above) in your announcement blog.

So in turn, I award the following eight blog pages for their Proximidade attributes:

A Mingled Yarn
Anna Laura Art
Aux Petits Oiseaux
Honi Design
Moo I Made It
Nikkishell
Sketch & Jones
Sophism Press

This weekend my friend from Melbs is hanging out, so no time for sewing, but I have started on some trousers for my Husbie. New material from the lovely Remnants Warehouse for I don't have stash material that Husbie likes. Hmpf. I haven't bought new material for AGES!

WWW - Watcha Wearing Wednesday

As I check in to Nikkishell's blog quite often, I spotted WWW - Watcha Wearing Wednesday, from her last week's post . . . and thought I'd sign up for it, cause it's a good mid-week way to get blogging.





I went to work, but as I work really early I have to make split decisions about what to wear (or lay my clothes out the night before)... this was a split decision. It's fairly glam for work, but no one noticed. Some people thought I looked like someone getting an Oscar, and others thought I was a beauty queen... well more like a child beauty queen like JonBenet Ramsey. Sad I know.

But my work is costume-y at times anyways.

Wardrobe Refashioning for a summertime picnic!

This afternoon I finished off this funny refashion. I have to post the 'BEFORE' picture because it is way too daggy:



It's a great 1980s mummy dress, it would have been very light for summer as it's really great cotton. But that style (and size) was just dying for a refashion, and like I mentioned in a previous post I really wanted to keep the weird embroidered birds. They make me laugh so much!

So I gave it a slight 1960s bodice and kept the skirt as is.




What do you reckon? I made it a size 10 (for the Wardrobe Refashion's fashion parade) so it's a little big in the bodice for me... but after it comes back after the fash parade, I think I can alter it to fit. Husbie just loves it... so might be hard to give away!

Not bad!

50 Book Challenge - Revolutionary Road & Naked!

I've got two books to update to 'My Library' over at Library Thing, where I'm completing a 50 Book Challenge! I work in a very oral/aural place (ie I talk A LOT and listen a LOT too) and I find that when my mind tries to rest on more than 6 paragraphs, I get BORED! Reading takes TOO MUCH TIME! I'm always flittering around.

So, in my 'off' time I like to sew (as you know) and I've been trying to amp up my brain so I can get back into READING NOVELS again. Before full time work, I used to read ALL the time (I majored in Literature at Uni), and now that it's been over 5 years of work work work, I'm worried I'll never get back into it again... and how will I ever enjoy my life properly if I'm not a reader!!!???!!!

Naked by David Sedaris

Fabulous! Please go and do yourself a favour and read all his books NOW! I love him and got to meet him last year! He said to me 'My! You look like a happy witch', as I was wearing all black, but quite energetic (as usual!).

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

This was AMAZING! I've heard this will be on ABC 1's First Tuesday Bookclub too, and my friend recommended it last year. As I've been watching a lot of Madmen, I can see where it got it's character development and some relationship inspiration from... it's such a great read! I can't believe so many things are different in society now, and it's 50 - 60 years ago. I LOVED this book, and really got into the characters. The writing is just enough detail, and a lot of thought provoking attitudes and issues from that time.

Anyways, now I've read 4 books since starting the 50 book challenge, but I reckon I should get cracking on that!

Hope you're week has started ok! I'm getting a lot of locals saying they've seen my knitting pole! And also a lot of friends wanting one in their street! Woo!

Knitting the Street Signs of Newtown #1

#1 Project Complete!









My two fave things, crafting and planes!

So this is my first Guerrilla Knitting Project, and I chose the Wilford Lane street sign cause I walk past here a LOT and so do some of my friends! I was going to sew it together yesterday but it rained for most of the day, I couldn't bare it getting soggy on its first day in the world!

So this morning I sewed it together with the help of Husbie, who got some great shots for me too!

What do I make next? Another refashion?

Things are looking much brighter this week. Kisses to you all.

I was SO pleased with my fashion parade dress, I'm not sure of what to do next! Thank you so much for all your kind words and comments, also over at Wardrobe Refashion! Va-va-voom! I feel great, and I hope it goes well for the fashion parade. (I sent it express today Nikkishell). xoxo

So, perhaps I'll try another refashion:




A gigantic 80s frock. What a terrible 'BEFORE' photo. No matter WHAT I make now it's going to look better than this photo. I pulled it to the side so you can see the WEIRD birds embroidered on the front, and then the whole thing went dodgy. Hilarious.

I'm thinking I could still use the bottom bit, keeping in the weird birds for post modern fantastic-ness, and sew that skirt (majorly gathered) to a bodice (perhaps a 50s - 60s style scoop neck bodice) with a zipper up the back of it all. Maybe something like this dress (except not orange or shiny, and no bow) but that kinda shape.

So I went to the hair salon TWO days in a row, one time for the colour touch up (they call it REGROWTH in the biz) and today for a HAIRCUT:



And then I spent the arvo playing with my new friend:



I'm doggie sitting her over the week, and she's just delightful. Now I can understand why a lot of craft blogs turn into "dog watch" blogs and "kid watch" blogs. They are just both so cute! I have neither dog nor child, so I wonder if/when I get these I'll slip them into the blog? Sometimes I feel REALLY aware of how much I post online, and if this is a worry. And then other times I just don't care. Having a 'stage name' helps I guess! Do you guys worry about privacy and posting stuff at all? Or is this a total 90s World Worry? LOL!

Fashion Parade Au Go Go for Outfit Number 49

A little sneak peak of my FASHION PARADE dress, I'm dropping it in the post ASAP. I might actually have to ask Husbie (aka MR VERONICA DARLING) to do it, as I've got to make the hair salon in 20 minutes!





I'm so proud of it! I also worked out that when I next make it (for myself) I'll take up the hem, alter the shoulders (shorten the space between shoulder & bust) and finish the sleeves of a little shorter. I'm *pretty* sure I'm skilled enough to do that little itty bitty bit of tailoring. There's some great material, denim like with a bit of a stretch, that I got from my mother-in-law, it's on the washing line back in this post, but you can't really see it that well! Blue and Green Massive Flowers!

Ok, better rush off! Getting my darling bob trimmed and new blonder whiter look! Oh, and as I'm not happy with a few outfits I started for Outfit Number 49, this gorgeous darling dress is now OUTFIT NUMBER 49

Fabulous house in Austinmer

I do have things to blog about I guess, I just forget!

So we went away on the weekend and dreamed and frolicked and likened ourselves to winter rain. (and of course tried to take the week that was and stick it away somewhere)

And we came upon a little gorgeous house in the middle of Austinmer near our fabulous B&B. I WANNA BUY THIS HOUSE!



I suppose watching Madmen has tipped me over the retro edge, but I've oft been fond of a little vintage in our lovely modern world! It is salmon. SALMON!

My attire is sailor dress (made by me) and red boots that totally clash with SALMON house, but if I owned the house, I'd wear pastels all the way.

xoxo

A totally vintage & refashioned Fashion Show

So using the pattern from my last post, I've been sewing a storm for the Wardrobe Refashion's first ever fashion show, at this Stitches thing. I love the Wardrobe Refashion blog, and I like fashion! I'm not so much a crafty type person, but I REALLY wanted to get a garment in to the fashion show, and it's going to be my first 'real life' thing... apart from selling my clothes at work and bit by bit on my etsy store... it's (hopefully) going to be worn in the real world by a real person. The craft show looks really good though, and I've heard things are often well priced! So you might have to check it out if you like that type of thing! Woo!

So onto details about my dress for the FASHION SHOW!

I mailed Nikkishell and she told me it had to be a size 10 garment... so firstly, I chose my material:



A barkcloth (feels like it) material, that was a tablecloth, and perhaps before that a piece of material! There were no tags on it, and it was a little wonky at the hem bits... sorry to you if you sewed this 50 years ago! I sew wonky hems too!

Using tablecloths are usually great, there's heaps of material (or a challenge to make the dress pattern fit if there's not enough material!) and you're totally guaranteed a unique dress! The thing to watch out for though, are little food stains or markings (cause of its previous life) and the challenge then is to make sure none of those bits end up on your dress!

So then I grabbed out my pattern and a vintage TARGET zipper to match! Yay for thriftiness!



And so far so good! I'm finishing the zipper and collar lining now, so I'll have pics up soon. It is a little big for me, and differently shaped, so it'll be fine for the FASHION SHOW, and once I make the red dress (as I'd previously planned to make) I'll alter it a bit.

Hope your week is going well! I'm not blogging as much as I'd like to this year. A bit sad, and a bit too long in the sewing room. Perhaps I should sign up for one of those 'Tuesday is...' or 'Desky Day'... those blog-a-longs that make you post a lot... have you got any ideas of what I can do?

AWESOME! Take care of you and your loved ones!

Making vintage for my friend

Phew! Friday's here.

My thoughts (right this second): koalas, children in bath tubs, generators, holding on number two's til the toilet works again, singing for your lost children, tv crews galore, dogs and cats, darling comedians, healesville sanctuary and flames heat flames and heat.

Yesterday I managed a little more sewing room time, but may have to revisit cause these weird sleeves were totally lopsided on Outfit #49... so I got a bit fed up, and pulled together:



All my bits and pieces for a new outfit! Which will be Outfit #50! My friend and I are gushing over the clothes in the tv show Mad Men, and this will be my first project in replicating the Joan Wiggle Dress! Yikes! Yayayayay.

We're going away for the weekend, down the south coast of Sydney, but will be back to attempt the sexy red wiggle dress on Sunday night! Woo!

Once again, thanks everyone for keeping the bushfire peeps in your thoughts. Like I rambled above, I think of a million things every minute all fire related in some way. And I haven't even watched hardly any television! Wishing you all the best, and take care of each other xoxo

Peering out from the gloomy week

Darlings, it's been a big week, and an extremely sad week. One of the worst. I can't believe it's only Wednesday.

You will surely have heard of the bushfires. I'm pretty sure everyone I know is fine, after the weekend. However, there are still fires around the place, and people working really hard to make sure everyone and everything is ok.

My heart goes out to you all. You can find out How You Can Help in a lot more detail, or try the Red Cross Donation page to give money to the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Appeal, as money is the best way to help these lives get back in order.

Yesterday, we got some other sad news at work, plus some friends shared with me some other sad news and I've not shaken my headache or heartache since. I'm just so sad for everyone.

(little pause...)


We worked all afternoon on shaping up our house, my husbie and I, to keep busy and to keep our minds focused on other things. And here is a glance of my sweatshop set up... some things have moved around, so I've got a bigger madder fabric shelf... not even topped up yet. I'm doing some more folding and sorting now... and may even sit down to the machine.




(another little pause)... or maybe I'll sit down and watch West Wing instead...

Please give your loved ones a cuddle and smile at some strangers for me xoxo

Thinking of you!

A bit of a little post from my unpowered home to say I'm thinking of Gippslanders, Victorians and everyone with smokey eyes and who are short of breath.

My parents are packed, ready to go, but last I heard things are ok for them. But not so ok for others who have lost family members to the fires that took a hold of Victoria over the weekend.

Having worked several fire seasons in Victoria, I feel very far away at the moment. Very helpless and hoping the best for everyone involved. I'm typing from my home with ANOTHER power outage in our suburb, the reason still unknown... it's 8pm now, and we haven't had power since 12noon. I am terribly annoyed without power, but I cannot begin to imagine what it feels like to have lost your home in a bushfire.

Thinking of you. Hoping you're safe and your family is safe.

xoxo

A little post to collect my thoughts

1. I'd like to make a few baby things to have 'up my sleeve'. Babies are born all the time, and I know people who are pregs all the time and I should just have some ready to go! One boy was born last week (a lovely friend of a friend!) and one baby is due at the end of March. That would be great to have baby goods on hand. (Jeepers you can see where my life is at, at the moment, 5 outta 6 couples who got married around the same time as me, ie 2 years ago, are pregs or have had babies already. Can you tell which 1 outta 6 couples *hasn't* had a baby yet?*)

Some googling time has revealed:

Make and Takes Baby Stuff - bibs, shoes, cloths, burp cloth

The Domestic Diva - absolutely everything, heaps of girl ideas too.

2. I must try and get to the beach more while the weather holds up! We went to Coogee today for the first time! Even though I got dumped (only a little bit) I really loved it! See, finishing work at 12noon is good for the beach! I've really got to make the most of it!

3. As a LOVELY wedding is approaching, I've got to plan a 'garden attire' type dress. I've been watching Mad Men like CRAZY, so I think it'll have to be a wiggle type dress like Joan's.

That's all for now! Just a few thoughts! Still updating the shop etc, reading David Sedaris' 'Naked', and working out Outfit Number 49. (And working an insanely busy fulltime job too - but who cares about that!)


* Me! And perhaps isn't ready to have babies yet? And dare I say (to keep inlaws at bay) IF AT ALL?

I can't WAIT for the bloody weekend

I don't like going into too much personal stuff on my blog, but my rant/whinge/sigh starts here and will end here in this post!

We live in a lovely street in a lovely and vibrant suburb of Sydders, and last night our street lost hope in our council as now we'll have 4 stories of apartments towering over our backyards. Sob sob sob. The best thing is that our street is filled of amazing people, and we all came together through this thing, and we all love our street. ANYWAYS, we bitched about it all last night, drowned our sorrows etc etc, and today I started thinking about how to re-landscape our yard to block out the view.

But work was so busy this morning, with meetings popping up all over the place when I had to coordinate all these other things and people and silly-billy deadlines for things. So obvs I was running around a lot, and (sob sob sob) my last pair of shoes from Japan busted:



I've never really had this happen before, but they make a good sound when they flip around and there were important people around and I was flopping and flipping everywhere! Pretty funny! But totally made me grumpy! I loved these shoes! I bet I could get them glued, but they're honestly on the way out as they're also pretty chipped. Now I HAVE to go back to Japan. I got these in a department store in Yokohama, my friend said "You'll love this shop" and I said "Ok, let's go..." And then I stopped because it was an entire FLOOR of shoes. Not a floor of 'ladieswear, children's wear, beauty products' etc like they do Myer/DJs... it was a massive massive floor of shoes. I didn't even have time to go to the next level cause I spent 2 hours just on the shoe level!

And so I flipped home off the bus after work and cooked Anzac Biscuits:



They are vegan for my vegan colleagues! It's a REALLY simple recipe, you just use Nuttelex instead of butter, cause it's dairy free. Oh and I think I used brown rice flour cause someone might be allergic to gluten or wheat or something. Can't remember!



But once I finished baking,I remembered the washing, a lot of new (old) fabrics from the Op Shop! A tablecloth on the right, and some weird (but good) denim ones from my Mother in Law. NICE! She's an opshopper too!

I hope you are having a good mid week, bring on the weekend I say!!!

A little guerilla post

Since I posted the Guerilla Knitting Post, I'm really really really curious about the spelling of guerrilla!!!

A google reveals both are correct! WEIRD!

This word, meaning 'fighter', is easy to misspell. Remember the u and the double r and double l. Guerilla is an alternative spelling.

a person who engages in irregular warfare especially as a member of an independent unit carrying out harassment and sabotage

And when I google both spellings, the same pages come up! WEIRD AGAIN!

Anyways, as I'm updating my store again today, here's where I'm at with my streetart piece. STRIPES:



It's just over a metre long, and I shall totally keep doing a little bit more tonight. Unfortunately I finished the first season of West Wing, and waiting for my friend to drop off the second season. But it was a major cliffhanger! Think I'll watch Neighbours instead.