In the end...

last...

bike ride home from work;

meal at the wharf;

night hugging the crick-star in Darwin;

face-to-face contact with my clients at work;

watching of $1 Tuesday videos from the local store;

Wednesday before we move to Melbs.

And the last chance to shriek when seeing a crocodile. Boy, I will miss freaking out every time I go near water!

Where I lay my hat... My place and yours...

Wow, what a perfect MEME theme this week (thanks MMAM and Myrlte & Eunice)! Perfect as I'm about to pack up all my belongings and transport from one side of Aus to the other! Perfect as I will be living out of a suitcase for a month. Perfect as moving is an ideal time to re-think what treasures belong with you. Perfect as this upheaval is putting life in general in perspective. What do I want from a new place to live? What is important for a work-life balance? What is important for my relationships? What gives me peace? What looks after my mental health? What helps me love and serve others?

Is it stuff? Is it belonging? Is it spirituality? Is it security?

I'm not sure of answers, and thinking about things is making me listless. But I do know some things that are essential. Where I lay my hat has to do with the following things:

1. Where the fella is.

2. Where the Crick-star is.

3. Where I feel loved and can give lots of love.

What is important for keeping your hat hanging - with bells and ribbons on?

This is Mr Cricket, my little cat. He is not so little any more. But he still likes to hide in safe places.

My place's best feature, so nyoice!

(a tropical lightning storm around 2 a.m. - so powerful, so beautiful, so Darwin)

What is unusual about my place? This is the question asked by Tony from Little Suitcase in the MMAM meme.

Lots of things really. But nothing that makes me cringe too much. And nothing that is really out of the ordinary. We live in a pretty standard apartment. Three bedrooms, an open plan living area, a decent sized balcony. Nothing strange there. We don't live up that high, just on the fifth floor. We get decent reception on the telly, can spy on the neighbours if needed but have sufficient privacy too. What is unusual is maybe where the house is, who else lives around, and that it is in a tropical climate.

We live in the middle of three apartment blocks, all of which have the same street number. This is unusual. You give directions to people and say "come to the middle tower". Lost tradies will approach you down stairs and say things like "where do I find unit 78?", as it could be in any of the three buildings. Our building is named after a war person, some guy who did something heroic. There is a picture of him next to the lift, with a spiel about his accomplishments. This is strange, maybe a little embarrassing also. And everyone who lives in these apartments works for the company the fella does. I really cringe about this, and certainly wouldn't say this is nyoice. If I'd known before we had moved here, I would have found alternative accommodation. But it hasn't worked out too badly.

But what is unusual, and the feature that I love is the view! We overlook the water, seeing the sun rise and set over the sea daily. There is a fishing boat marina just outside, and when a good haul comes in fireworks are set off on the boats. One such catch reached shore last night. It was spectacular to have fireworks exploding right outside our bedroom window. Oh, I will miss this. I've not lived so near to the ocean before and truly love sitting on my balcony and contemplating life. With a good book, a glass of red and the breeze lightly rustling through my pot plants. Please enjoy this unusual feature of my place, particularly as we are leaving it in only two weeks!

What's going on with me

Making: a picnic backgammon set
Writing: job applications
Eating: healthy stuff
Drinking: good red wine
Thinking: about living in St Kilda
Planning: for the big move
Wishing: for some serenity
Loving: lightning, parties for two year old girls
Reading: not much - I need something new
Watching: Capitalism, a Love Story
Wanting: to go to bed now

But before I go, a picture of this funny looking dolly. She was at the Tip Shop when we went exploring there on Saturday. I think she is too scary for words. I could just imagine the horrors she gets up to at night. Surely there is a film about a discarded doll who goes on rampages after twilight sets in...

My collection, better late than never

Life (well time anyway) seems to be slipping away from me. There is too much to do. In just over two weeks I will be moving from one side of Aus to the other. And I have to finish work, communicate with the removalists, plan where we will be staying along the way after we devise a route to take, buy Christmas goodies as we will be arriving on Christmas eve, orientate a new worker to my job, clean the mess we live in, encourage the cat that he will be okay on an aeroplane, apply for any job in Melbs that seams okay, etc!

So much to do, not enough time.

So the Meet Me At Mikes meme just got away before I knew it. I've not posted for the past couple of weeks, I've not trawled through the creative posts others have put up. Oh, so sad.

The theme of the past week was around collections, with this lady asking the question "What do you collect?". I collect junk, shoes, recipe books, board games, metal cigarette cases, dust. But most consistently I collect birds in the form of Christmas decorations. My ultimate plan is to one day have a tree just full of birds. And to tell you the truth, I sometimes put them up when it is the middle of the year. They are too lovely really to have hidden away. The bird thing started after the demise of my real bird, Hairy the Canary. He was a lovely little fellow, who died after dehydrating in the typically unseasonably hot Melbourne weather that sometimes hits. The gold papermache bird was purchased in memory of him. And the collecting took off from there.

Want to make me happy? Buy me a bird ornament thanks. What do you collect?

Welcome in...

I saw the topic of Pip's meme just after it was posted on Saturday. But the week is getting away with me and I've not put anything up. Ops!

So here is my place, but only for the next four weeks as we are moving down south again. Hurrah! People keep telling me I will love the cold weather, wearing coats, drinking good and reasonably priced coffee, being able to buy shoes galore... Are they right? Probably. What I'm looking forward to is living near a beach that you can swim in without risking your life from three different kinds of dangerous animals. I'm looking forward to having a few bookstores! I'm looking forward to re-discovering some lane ways. I'm looking forward to having op shops that have things that are more than 30 years old in them.

But as for now, welcome to my place. I live on the fifth floor of an apartment building. The thing that I detest most about apartments is the area between the lift/stairs and your front door. They are so sterile and devoid of character. They are communal spaces, I know, but that doesn't mean they have to be ugly. Ours sure is though.

When you walk in the front door, you hit a wall. But then the kitchen opens up, and the open living area. As usual when I took these photos we were in a mess. There is panadol in the fruit bowl after all! But there are mangoes there too. This painting was done by me when I was in year 12. It was one of my major pieces and an image I love. I took some photos of a class mate, then painted her outline in a luscious salmon. Strangely this girl is now living in Darwin (we went to a ritzy-ditzy private girls school in Melbs) and selling hats made out of trucking canvases. I would have never have imagined this happening, ever.

When I come home, I generally kick of my shoes, turn up the fans and just be. I am a home body and love being with the fella, amongst our stuff and our cat. I like that home is messy but familiar. I love that it has character from our things and not only contains necessities but things I love too. I love that it is not just utilitarian (like my workplace), but comfortable and pleasurable. How I love coming home at the end of the day!

So thanks for looking through my place, or coming in the front door at least. Above is a sneak peak back through the door, perfect for seeing if the neighbours are around or if it is all clear to do an undie run to the rubbish chute!

Beautiful things to drool over...

All images from NoteMaker, all products from the O-Check brand.

A while ago I discovered NoteMaker, a stationary supplied based in Melbs. They have an online shop, and also sell wholesale to stationers. They sell quality and quirk. They source well known European brands as well as those coming along in Asia. For some reason, Korea seems to be a good source of note paper, printed sticky tape, interesting cards and bits and bobs. This seems strange to me somehow...

One particular brand I've enjoyed is O-Check. NoteMaker have a great selection of their stuff, as do MagNation (how I love that store!). I tried to find a website, so check this out. But you need to be a wholesaler and purchase in bulk. Plus they are in Korea. So I will stick with ordering through NoteMaker, who have free postage if you spend a bit (great for Chrisie), deliver in only a few days, and my most recent purchase from them came in a sweetly printed calico drawstring bag.

NoteMaker also has a blog, for all things paper related. I was interested to learn more about the 100% recycled notebook options, and am looking into a diary for 2010 with a similar production philosophy. And then I'm thinking of making my diary a grey wool cover, with a little pocket for some business cards, a slip for a pen, and a red elastic fastener. Sounds cosy!

Introducing Archie

Can I introduce you to my new friend? His name is Archibald. He doesn't mind if you call him Archie. He likes meeting people who are friendly, just like you!

He started life as a cardie, given away to the local Red Cross op shop.

He came home with me, flat packed you could say...

Before being transformed with the help of this book.

I like my new friend, despite his zombie eyes. Archie likes me too. He has made his new home on my bed, giving the fella some shivers as he peaks over the top cover of the fella's spine-tingling thriller. Maybe he needs a friend?

My place and yours - secret weapon revealed!

My secret weapon is not crafty. It is kitcheny. Yep, I love to bake. I love the rewards that come from baking. I love passing recipes on to colleagues. I love being on morning tea and needing to come up with the goods. My secret weapon is now around a year old. She was a birthday giftie from the fella. And I love her with a passion. In the event of a cyclone, I would rescue her along with the cat. She mixes so smoothly. She takes the muscle out of bread making. She whips up the lightest icing. Oh Ruby Red, I love you!

Thanks Pip for the ongoing My Place and Yours Meme. Thanks My Bricole for this week's theme. I'm enjoying taking part.

Sick days and skirts

A few weeks ago I called in sick to work, and immediately felt better. I must have needed a mental health day! I worked and cleaned all morning, baked a few goodies such as a chocolate-vodka fruit cake, and then sat in front of the sewing machine. I stitched a few cows... I really should put those picies up... and then needed a change.

Some fabric I've previously contemplated caught my eye. Should I risk it and make a skirt? My garment sewing adventures usually result in disappointment. I'm not careful enough. I don't follow instructions. My instincts kick in, and they are not honed when it comes to clothes. So I copied a simple skirt bought from Cotton On, and got cutting.

Inspiration skirt
Originally uploaded by the_bashful_owl

I am happy with the result, although I made it for a slightly more chubby me. The waste band needs taking in by around five centimetres. Otherwise I'm really pleased with myself for making something that I actually wear and enjoy. Usually I feel too embarrassed to give my hand-made clothes to the op shop.

Hand made skirt
Originally uploaded by the_bashful_owl

And when wearing this skirt, I've found these hand created earings work a treat. They are sweet, dangily and very tactile. The resin pink beads are so smooth to touch...

Earings to wear with a green skirt
Originally uploaded by the_bashful_owl

Raceday get up

I'm not one for the horses. I don't like getting to much sun. I am somehow too sensible to gamble. I don't enjoy drinking too much champagne. But I do like hats. And head wear in general. I also like dresses. And boys looking dapper. And nice high heals. And a filly. And the luciousness of racing silks. Maybe I should like the races. What about you?

Facinator
Originally uploaded by the_bashful_owl

Since leaving Melbs two years ago, I have found that I've done more on Melbourne Cup Day than when I lived there. People take the afternoon off work to have lunch and watch the race. Sweaps abound. Hats are sold out. And I made a facinator. My facinator is simple, in that I just sewed stuff on that I bought from Spotlight. But it is fussy, with feathers, velvetine leaves, lacy trims, bits and bobs. The green is very me, and the brown adds depth and anchors it into my hair well making the green bits glow. Will I ever wear it in Melbourne? Probably not.

Facinator details 2
Originally uploaded by the_bashful_owl

Facinator details 1
Originally uploaded by the_bashful_owl

Blog HQ contemplated...

Bit behind with the blogging this week. My bestie Ris and her fella Dave came up for a tropical adventure. So I powered through five days without spending time in front of the computer. It was wonderful.

By the by, isn't the Territory spectacular! Who wouldn't want to swim in this waterhole?

Who wouldn't sip bubbly while lounging next to this shore line and fading sky?

Who wouldn't giggle when confronted with such a silly croc?

But back to the blogging. MMAM's meme this week is the theme of Blogging HQ thanks to a creative type called Ninon. If I can get my hands on it, I prefer to use the lappie for my blogging. I love sitting on this arm chair with the retro snail cushion protecting my knees from the comp's radiation.

But if needed, I will work in the study. Hurrah for the corkboard, and for all those who drank wine to donate to the corkboard making cause. Corks are hard to find nowdays, and this was made around 6 years ago before stelvin tops were made mainstream.

Just before blogging this, I completed an inventory of the items we want moved down south in less that 45 days. So my blog-constructing space will change... and a change is meant to be as good as a holiday. But a move is one of the most stressful things one can do in life. So my solution is to get into the crafting with a passion. Posts about creativity will follow, I promise. I'm also wanting to do things to spoil myself and relieve the tension that is building up in my thoughts. Like get my hair cut this weekend, spend some time shoe shopping, riding my pushie to work, reading my newest cook books (thanks so much Miss Maudry!).

Red around the house

I've been inspired to create lately. But I'm struggling with the time. Where does it go? When I get home from work, it seems to be 10 p.m. before I realise. There is so much I want to do but don't have time for.

One simple creative exploit I've gotten up to was inspired by a meme I've been part of. The meme is in my last post, and shares bits of your home with others. So I checked out my home and took some happy snaps. The photos are a mix of made, found and bought items. Some I love and treasure. Some I stumbled upon while taking the pictures. But all are red. Ah, red... Such an inspirational colour for me. It is somewhat gender neutral. It goes with brown and green (the fella's preferences), and is okay with pink too at a pinch. It wears well, is classic and classy.


Red inspiration
Originally uploaded by the_bashful_owl

1. Red cake tins, 2. Red sewing bits, 3. Red toes and the cat, 4. Red softie legs, 5. Red twinkle toes, 6. Red sewing scissors, 7. Red sewing threads, 8. Red quick-unpick, 9. Red rebound book back, 10. Red cushions, 11. Red Swedish Mustard, 12. Red tropical flowers

By the bed "My place and yours"

By the bed "My place and yours"
Originally uploaded by the_bashful_owl

Week 2 of the "My Place and Yours" meme from Meet Me at Mikes. This week I was taken aback to realise how much extra stuff I deposit next to my bed. And how I don't remove it once it is there. For example, I've got some panadine forte there, from a knee operation that I have over two months ago. And I didn't need the pain killers after it anyway. Plus there are some hair bands there, and I now have short hair... I think I need to clean up a little.

What I love about my bedside is more clear in the picie at the top. I just love my lamp, with it's "glass" base. I love the earring holder that is on the wall. My fella originally made it for me, constructing a standing frame taunt with mesh. But in time it's little legs got wobbly. So I was given a frame from Ris, added some pink silk behind the mesh and embellished it with a patch and fancy stitching. Now days I don't tend to wear dangling earrings, but love the tactile nature of such a precious creation.

Back to the mess, it contains some necessities. Such as the alarm clock, red nail polish (living in the tropics means year-round nice toes if you please), pearl studs, papaya all-purpose balm and a chunky bangle. And all within arm's reach.

By the bed details.
Originally uploaded by the_bashful_owl

By the by, the book I'm reading is intense and amazing. Please check it out if you are feeling strong in your spirit and wanting a haunting, moving, enticing read. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami.

Penelope's weaving...

I've been pondering my lack of knowledge around history and myths lately. After all, the education system is just not what it used to be! Children are not taught Latin as due course, nor was I learned in the history of ancient civilisations. And my awareness of Greek mythology is sorely lacking. So I've been visiting the library and uncovering sleeping gems.

.

Recently I've been reading a modern tale of Odysseus and Penelope. Odysseus leaves his wife to fight in a battle to return Helen to her husband. But he does not return. As Penelope is an intelligent woman, she becomes prosperous in his absence. And that is when the suitors come knocking. All 120 or so of them want her hand (but mainly her riches and kingdom) in marriage. In order to dissuade them and remain faithful to her husband, she weaves a shroud and promises to marry the most valiant suitor when the shroud is completed. But each night it is unwoven, and thus never grows...

.

Dear Penelope was not beautiful, she did not insight wars or have hundreds of men die in her honour as her cousin Helen of Troy did. Rather she was known for her wits and her persistent faithfulness to her husband. And for her craft skills. Here is her take on the matter..

.

The teaching of crafts to girls has fallen out of fashion now, I understand, but luckily it had not in my day. It's always an advantage to have something to do with your hands. That way, if someone makes an inappropriate remark, you can pretend you haven't heard it. Then you don't have to answer. The Penelopiad, Margaret Atwood.

Blogging games, I'm joining in...

Hurrah, discovered blog-link funtimes care of Meet Me At Mikes.

I've not played these sorts of games before, and those involved seem like the nice sharing kind. But alas, we still don't have a great functioning camera. One has been interstate for about 6 weeks now being repaired. The other went in yesterday to a fantastically bespoke little store. We climbed up a flight of stairs in an undusted narrow passage. A carved red door was on the right, and behind it was a camera repair lady! She had shelf after shelf of SLR lenses. She had little buckets with caps and bolts and bits and pieces. She said she will tell us in a week if the camera can be repaired.

Back to the theme, my shelves are not as fun as the camera lady's. But here is a camera phone photo of my treasured things that are grouped together on a shelf.

My clever mum cross-stitched the eggplants for me. My darling sisters bought me the pink tea-pot (on the left) and cups. They discovered it in the Oxfam shop in Camberwell. So nice of them, and it was a great birthday gifty five (five!) years ago. The pink thermos gathers preposterous amounts of mould on it's cloth-covered cork stopper, but is perfect for transporting warm honeyed chai tea in. The little tea cup and saucer tucked behind is a treasured op shop find, one that made me wonder why someone felt the need to give it away. Lots of lovely things. Lots of pink, lots of love and lots of little details. Loveliness, on a shelf.


I hope I remember to participate next week...

Monday doings...

I'm hoping to get a lot done today. So far, a few loads of washing have gone into the machine and the first pot of coffee has been brewed. Although it was wonderful to have friends visiting, none of the usual house jobs got done. So today is the day. As much as a abhor cleaning, ironing, washing dishes, putting things away, vacuuming floors, removing cobwebs, etc, these tasks are necessities. And I've not yet employed that maid.

But in the midst of jobs, I'm hoping to do a number of more enjoyable tasks. Watching the end of Amelie perhaps before returning it to the library. Completing an inventory of items for removal for when we are moving down south soon. Working on the quilting of an ugly-but-perhaps-loved quilt. Finishing off a toy cow for my bestie's sister's baby. Wrapping some Christmas gifties and packing them into a "do not pack into the truck" box (we arrive in our new home on Christmas eve). Thinking about how to jazz up a filing cabinet... Sounds fun!

Some inspiration to get me though the morning's chores... and you through whatever is going on. Happy days...

Image from designspongeonline.com . This is an old before and after created by Abha. Not so sure about the flowers, but love the colour and the ideas...

Martha Stewart has a photo gallery of just about everything. This image is the first in her series of Christmas gift wrapping ideas. From this, they flow thick and fast. Oh for some pinking shiers.

Friends and fun-times

We took yesterday off to spend time with friends from down South. It was a wonderful day, full of laughts, fun and silliness. We went and saw the spectacular jumping crocs on the Adelaide River, we swam at Florence Falls and dipped in the Buley Rockholes. Laksa for tea and a game of Risk topped it off. Hurrah! We really do live in an amazing part of Australia!

This morning coffee, conversation around copyright law relating to internet technology and some good video hits have hit things off. A taste the morning if you please....

Pst... I've finally figured out how to post YouTube vids. So stoked! Thanks to this blog post for making it happen, and to the Blog Doc for some tips too. In light of my success, any good YouTube vids that you recommend I peruse?

Strange things to embroider...

Given that my last post was about feeling flat and uninspired, I can understand if people will worry with this one. But fear not, my mental health is good and I have been encouraged (thanks Maudry!). Rather, while trawling some blog or another I found these images. They were created by an army wife in the U.S. Given that it is Mental Health Week, I'm all for promoting destigmatisation of mental health issues. I'm also all for promoting craftiness. Will I be embroidering my favourite psychotropic drug onto some cutesie linnen? I think not. I will will smile and giggle when looking at these.

I just don't know what to do with myself...

How does one find inspiration?

I'm going through a dry patch, and there does not appear to be much rain in sight. I can't be bothered reading, I can't complete any crafting, my healthy eating may be slipping, where has my solid night's sleep gone too?

So, I'm in a rut. Perhaps it was resigning from my job due to our move in a few months. Perhaps is not helping that I don't know where we will be in three months. Perhaps it is that my fella keeping coming home and then going away again unexpectedly. Perhaps it is that someone I worked with died suddenly in the context of tragedy. Ahhhhhhh! I need to get going, really I do.

What will work? Perhaps it could be the lovely letter my bestie Ris wrote to me that arrived today! Perhaps it will be finally finishing off this baby jumper for little Sam. Perhaps it will be dreaming of future renovations while perusing Design Sponge's blog. Perhaps going to a debriefing session around the death tomorrow will help. perhaps I just need to take some time out, read a good book and have some time talking with God. Perhaps we need a fixed and functional digital camera (will it ever be fixed?). Maybe gifts of love like Maudry's heart will help.

Any ideas...

Fantastic rediculousness craft-tastic

Seriously silly. Seriously craft-tastic.
Hurrah for Frankie and nifty links.

Some things to chew over

1. Why there was rain last night - it is the dry season after all;
2. Why I have no interest in reading poetry - thanks for that one Guy;
3. Whether I should get my hair cut like Lily Allen in the 22 video clip;
4. Why there is no water in the small pool at my house;
5. Where the recycling bins have gone;
6. Whether I'll wear this shirt after making some changes to it (was stained when washed with a blue dress, but too lovely to give away just yet);
7. Why French films are better;
8. Why red wine is better drunk from a big glass;
9. Why I felt so gumpshie about going out for drinks with a male work colleague;
10. Why Sundays are so lovely but always so short.

Aussie lovin

Just some beautiful pictures of Australia. Oh it is lovely here. And you can never have enough sunsets....