NB : Our Fitzroy shop closed on January 9th 2012!
2.28.2009
2.27.2009
Crochet a Pouffe! Or a Pot Even?!
Yes truly.
You can get one here.
Via the very excellent The Style Files.
Add those guys to your FeedReader - they are GOOD.
xx Pip
Thank You! For Zooey Deschanel! For M Ward!
Lexi and Sarah.
Thank you for the She.
Thank you for the Him.
Thank you for the Papers too.
Thank you!
xx Pip
Will Bryant - Again!
Because I like him.
Yes I do.
You do to... don't you?
Well???!
xx Pip
PS - click image to visit Mr Fancy Pants Bryant's photos on flickr
It's a Beat Up, For Sure
- Wife Beater Cross-Stitch from Burly Bunny's Etsy
- Vintage Yellow Kenwood Mixer at H is for Home's Flickr
- Vintage Rug Beater collection via Country Living
- Jennifer Moore for Monaluna Beater Fabric via Monaluna
Thrashing Through The Fluffy Bits
Cam said he had this book when he was little. It's one of the ones where you flip the pages to create different animals and different wordings too. I'm not sure when it was published, there is no date on it - but there is a price 5S 0D inside the cover... in case that gives you a hint! There is no 'Liger' in this book. But there are heaps of other entertaining animals. My kids really like it. And this book got me thinking.
I've been thinking about tricky books like this. You know the type I mean, pop-up books, flip books, books with interchangeable flap-type pages, lift the flap books, scratch and sniff books. Those books were my very favourite ones when I was growing up.
I liked the ones with felty pages. I liked the ones with the fluffy pages. I liked mirrored pages. I liked stained-glass plasticky pages. I even liked bath books. Truly. I liked the idea of reading (even dipping it) in the bath, although the stories were always light on or badly translated. I liked the way when you squeezed bath book pages they sucked in air and squeaked like a toy. I liked the way they never got sucked down the plug hole too.
Cloth baby books were also excellent (in my book). You know, the stitched-together ones with the faded, floppy pages and zig-zag edges? Yes. I liked those a lot. I also liked tiny little miniature books in tiny little boxes. I liked the books where you had to thread things through the pages. I liked books with holes in them - like The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The Jolly Postman was just my cup of tea, in fact, the more bells and (postman's) whistles the better.
Now, with my own kids - especially Ari, I see the same kind of gimmicky-book-love. He loves those books that come in their own boxes - with a pen shaped like a vampire bat or a cloak of invisibility or a spy camera or treasure maps. The bigger the book - the fatter the box, the thicker the pages, the more he wants it. And if it has a button and makes a noise - well, that's book-Nirvana, as far as he's concerned. If it's wrapped in plastic - it's perfect.
And if you asked me, secretly, out of Ari's earshot, about gimmicky books, I would now tell you that I don't like these sorts of books any more. I've changed. I've turned my back on the fluff and glitter and scratch and sniff. I'm a gimmick-book-snob. Totally up myself in fact. I laugh in the face of flaps and fold-outs. I scoff at flashing lights and buttons and velcro closures.
I want a nice simple book, you know, a spine, pages, that kind of thing. No fancy fonts. No colourful cover. No 'trendy' illustration. Keep it simple is my book-osophy now. It's all about the reading - not the ra-ra. For me, anyway.
I totally GET Ari's gimmick-love, I really do. It's just that I've moved on from all that. I'm all about the content... and if I'm honest, there were only a couple of gimmick books amongst the hundreds that actually followed through with a lovely, well written story.
I think that's what life is about too - thrashing through the gimmicks, fluff and flappy bits - to enjoy the genuinely great stuff. Sometimes I still want a bit of glitter or bedazzling. I'm only human. That's when I buy one of those tween magazines with the nail polish shrink wrapped to the cover. But most of the time, I'm all about the good stuff.
Were you/are you a gimmick book lover? Do tell....
xx Pip
2.26.2009
We Are Prepared To Be Radical!
I love this 'sliding house' - do watch this right through to see the amazing, seemingly animated, life-of-it's own home! It seems perfect for the location - but I think we might need some GIANT flyscreens if we transported this structure to Australia!
xx Pip
Just Wanted To Say...
I have been VERY busy today... hence the lack of posting!
But I will be back tomorrow, I swear, with heaps of good stuff.
After I unfry my brain and do the breakfast dishes (note it is 5.30pm)
In the mean time, a bit of commenty dialogue?
Your Nanna? Crocheter, baker, knitter, sewer?
Your Mum?
And you?
Similar? Different? I wonder....!
Do tell!
xx Pip
ps -
MY nanna (on my Mum's side) - knitter, crocheter, sewer and baker.
My Mum - knitter, sewer, crocheter, baker.
ME - sewer, crocheter, baker!
pps - not to show off, but I made 90 bangles and 6 wallets today, just so that you know there's crafting going on in these here parts...!
But I will be back tomorrow, I swear, with heaps of good stuff.
After I unfry my brain and do the breakfast dishes (note it is 5.30pm)
In the mean time, a bit of commenty dialogue?
Your Nanna? Crocheter, baker, knitter, sewer?
Your Mum?
And you?
Similar? Different? I wonder....!
Do tell!
xx Pip
ps -
MY nanna (on my Mum's side) - knitter, crocheter, sewer and baker.
My Mum - knitter, sewer, crocheter, baker.
ME - sewer, crocheter, baker!
pps - not to show off, but I made 90 bangles and 6 wallets today, just so that you know there's crafting going on in these here parts...!
2.25.2009
Status de Mike...!
Reading Pile:
My diary
4f for Freaks - Leigh Hobbs - for Ari
Tashi and the Stolen Bus - also Ari's
Butterfly by Sonya Hartnett
BBC Australian Good Food Magazine - January/February 2009
Elle Decoration - January 2009
Meet Me at Mike's - just getting used to it
Making:
Membership packs (still!) - Perth today!
Wallets for a lovely Sydney store
Vegetable Soup with Sage
Baked Risotto with sausage and fresh tomatoes
Listening to:
774
Using:
Skype
Browsing:
eBay
Fishpond
Getting:
More donations in for HH
A new Bat for Lashes album in the mail
Sorting Out:
Drop Offs and Pick Ups for Handmade Help
Going to:
School to get Ari later
The post office
Outre tonight
Needing to:
Make 72 bangles
Order some Eden Seeds
Write up the Brown Owls attendance list
Make the garden grow faster
Bunker down on Friday against the heat
Plan the party
How about you - post your status, why don't you?! - I'd love to read it!
Oh Joyful!
Part of Mike's Felt-a-long February! Look at that lovely felty orange cursive! Yikes, yes!
It's not too late to join in! See more entries over here... The entry with the most comments wins a lovely prize! More details here!
xx Pip
Handmade Help - Dress Ups Drive
Make a cape!
Make a crown!
Make a tail!
Make a twirly skirt!
Find out more over here - thanks to Cath!
xx Pip
2.23.2009
Felt-A-Long! Maya's Felty Hearts!
Click to go over to Flickr and see more of Maya!
And more of the Mike's Craft-a-Long Gang!
Be sure to comment on your favourites!
xx Pip
ps Brown Owls is tomorrow! Yippee!
'Everything You See I Owe To Spaghetti'
Simply Delicious Tomato and Herb Spaghetti
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 cup of olive oil
2 tins of tomatoes in juice
3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
3 tbsp chopped fresh basil
1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
1 cup of fresh nice quality breadcrumbs
1 cup of mild olive oil
500g spaghetti
salt and pepper
chilli if you like!
Process the herbs and then add them to the breadcrumbs. Heat the cup of mild olive oil and fry the herby crumbs until crunchy and a bit golden - drain on kitchen towel.
Put on a large pot of salted water to boil - for cooking the pasta a bit later.
Make the sauce: In a large lidded saucepan, fry half the garlic in a tablespoon of olive oil until fragrant. Add the tomatoes and simmer for 20 minutes with the lid on. Ten minutes into this cooking time, start to cook the pasta in the other pot. (Yes, throw it in the pot of boiling water!)
Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and in ANOTHER large pan, heat the remaining oil and add a clove of chopped garlic. When it's fragrant, throw in the pasta and toss thoroughly. Tip the pasta into a serving dish. Top with nicely simmered tomato sauce, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Sprinkle herby crumbs over the top and eat it up!
Based on Ben's Tomato and Herb Spaghetti - 'The Best' BBC Cookbook
You Don't Know Me, Mr Cole
click to enlarge
Did you have this book? My brother and I had a couple of editions of 'Coles Funny Picture Book' - which was written and compiled by EW Cole and published in 1974. We used to pore over the pages for hours, curled up in the big worn out armchairs at our beach shack that overlooked a little cove called Tinderbox in Tasmania. Usually the weather was pretty dodgy in those parts - so holidays were all about playing cards, comics, board games and reading.
I really liked these pages with the long list of names and their meanings. I think it helped me to realise early on that what was written was not always set in stone or accurate . These pages taught me to ask questions. For instance, my name, Philippa, means 'Lover of Horses' according to Mr Cole. I am a lover, for sure, but not of horses. I don't even like unicorns.
For this reason, I always skimmed over my name crossly - and headed onto others, which for some reason I decided were MUCH more accurate. You know how earnest you can be about believing in things when you are a wee girl? Well that was me with the Cole's book. Even though it said 'Every Girls Name and It's Meaning' at the top of the page. And my sister's name wasn't there. Even though that made TWO inaccuracies de Cole - I still knew that this list was right in every other way. Because I really wanted it to be.
I also really wanted to be called Sophia (meaning wisdom). Or Miranda (meaning to be admired) or Violet (meaning... violet). Or Minnie (meaning little). I looked forward to changing my name by 'Deed Poll' - whatever that was - to something prettier some day (like Natalie, my cousin's name - also NOT on the list - so that's THREE black marks, Mr Cole).
I wondered at the parents who would call their child Brenda (meaning sword) or Pernel (meaning stone) or Una (meaning famine). It was amazing, as a seven year old, to note that Ann, Anna, Annabel, Annabella, Annaple, Anne, Annette, Annica, Annor and Annie could all mean 'grace'. Why not just call the poor girl Grace, I wondered? Oh that Cole's Funny Picture Book. It was full of mystery and information, I tell you.
So I give you the lists - so you can see if you are on them - or if you are another oversight by Mr Cole. And if you ARE up there in Funny-Book-Lights, you can see what you are all about, in case you don't know yet. Comment below if you are on there - and tell us what you mean!
xx Pip
BTW - If you look at the BOY list, you'll see Fingal (meaning white stranger) - we scoured the list when a stray, deaf, half blind white cat turned up on our doorstep when we lived in WA - he was named accordingly.
(Just as an aside, you'll be pleased to know that Googling 'Map of Tasmania does not reveal anything too... ummm... daring!)
I really liked these pages with the long list of names and their meanings. I think it helped me to realise early on that what was written was not always set in stone or accurate . These pages taught me to ask questions. For instance, my name, Philippa, means 'Lover of Horses' according to Mr Cole. I am a lover, for sure, but not of horses. I don't even like unicorns.
For this reason, I always skimmed over my name crossly - and headed onto others, which for some reason I decided were MUCH more accurate. You know how earnest you can be about believing in things when you are a wee girl? Well that was me with the Cole's book. Even though it said 'Every Girls Name and It's Meaning' at the top of the page. And my sister's name wasn't there. Even though that made TWO inaccuracies de Cole - I still knew that this list was right in every other way. Because I really wanted it to be.
I also really wanted to be called Sophia (meaning wisdom). Or Miranda (meaning to be admired) or Violet (meaning... violet). Or Minnie (meaning little). I looked forward to changing my name by 'Deed Poll' - whatever that was - to something prettier some day (like Natalie, my cousin's name - also NOT on the list - so that's THREE black marks, Mr Cole).
I wondered at the parents who would call their child Brenda (meaning sword) or Pernel (meaning stone) or Una (meaning famine). It was amazing, as a seven year old, to note that Ann, Anna, Annabel, Annabella, Annaple, Anne, Annette, Annica, Annor and Annie could all mean 'grace'. Why not just call the poor girl Grace, I wondered? Oh that Cole's Funny Picture Book. It was full of mystery and information, I tell you.
So I give you the lists - so you can see if you are on them - or if you are another oversight by Mr Cole. And if you ARE up there in Funny-Book-Lights, you can see what you are all about, in case you don't know yet. Comment below if you are on there - and tell us what you mean!
xx Pip
BTW - If you look at the BOY list, you'll see Fingal (meaning white stranger) - we scoured the list when a stray, deaf, half blind white cat turned up on our doorstep when we lived in WA - he was named accordingly.
(Just as an aside, you'll be pleased to know that Googling 'Map of Tasmania does not reveal anything too... ummm... daring!)
Mosaic Monday - Green Today
photo credits: 1. Vintage Anchor Hocking FIRE KING D-handle Green Apple Gingham stacking mug, 2. Tiny Vintage Green Mint Leaf Earrings, 3. Lime Green Chain Vintage Fabric, 4. Vintage Green Buttons, 5. pink panning green vintage porsche, 6. green vintage dress, 7. vintage green crochet dress (detail), 8. Vintage green scales, by Hanson, 9. vintage green flower mug, 10. Forest green vintage fabric recycled belt, 11. Amelia Earhart Vintage Train Case in Forest Green, 12. vintage green elf dress, 13. Vintage Slag Glass and Books, 14. Untitled, 15. Cute on the Outside, 16. 73' Schwinn Typhoon
I've never done this before. But I like it. Here I go with Mosaic Monday - via Poppalina - thank you Shula and hello Mym!
xx Pip
2.22.2009
I like Aliki!
'This Is The House Where Jack Lives'
By Joan Heilbroner
Illustrated by Aliki
A World's Work Children's Book &
An I Can Read Book
Other Aliki books in this series:
'Keep Your Mouth Closed Dear'
'The Story of Johnny Appleseed'
----------------
Listening to: Friendly Fires - Strobe
via FoxyTunes
You know the Cookie from Star Wars???
You thought I meant WOOKIE? Nope. As you can see, I meant Cookie. Don't you just want to bite the head off Darth Vader? Don't you want to dunk him in your Milo and watch bits of his helmet sink crumbily to the bottom of your mug? Don't you? I think you do. I think your mouth might just be watering. Yes I do.
(Also in Peanut Butter and Vanilla, apparently.)
xx Pip
via the EXCELLENT photo stream of Kevindooley - go look - there are some fantastic vintage LPs over there too!
Felt a Long!
Felt a Long!, originally uploaded by meetmeatmikes.
1. Felted woolly hat egg cozy, 2. Felt Crayon Roll, 3. Felt Cloud, 4. felt : make-a-long
Go over to the Flickr Pool for Mike's Felt-a-Long February! We want you to comment on your favourites - and the felty with the most comments wins this month's prize! It's a great idea to add your creation to a few other Flickr Photo Pools - it will increase your chances of winning - and show other crafty types how clever you are!
There are some super good entries from all over the place (and also - we're drawing near to the end of the month - so time is running out! Just SEVEN more sleeps until we announce the winner! Keep 'em coming - and get commenting too! Don't you want your favourite to win?!
xx Pip
Blog Roll Bingo - Jilly P Graphics
Over here, at the home of Miss Jilly P... you will find lots of things that you will like. You will find snippets of Japanese Craft books, you will find beautiful stationery designed by Miss Jilly herself, you will find pretty fabric swatches, you will find cuttings from Frankie Magazine, you will find trips to Tokyo and Dolly Drops. It's really good over at this relatively fresh and new pattern and illustration blog! Of course, as is the tradition, we have stolen the Blogroll whilst we were there. Linky kleptomania is our specialty, don't you know?! Have fun exploring Jill's favourites!
xx Pip
2.21.2009
I was wondering....
I love Baci. They are my favourite chocolate. I was introduced to them by an old boyfriend (one from long ago, not long in the tooth) - we bought them in South Melbourne, I think at The Old Post Office Cafe - in about 1987. I don't even like dark chocolate, but somehow these work. The butteriness of the hazelnut filling kind of buffs the sharp edges off the bitterness - and makes for a moreish treat.
I swear I hadn't eaten one of these for over a year - so after a long week, I bought a packet when we were picking up Ari's Star Wars Keyrings from Coles.
Last night I was doing some stuff on the computer. Important things like adding things to my LastFm playlist, Twittering, filing emails... that kind of stuff. I cracked open the packet of Baci, peeled the foil off , took a bite and idly read the little 'fortune cookie' style message inside. If you are familiar with Baci, you will know that it's as much about the message as the chocolate. The Message comes on a piece of clear cellophaney stuff - and is printed in five languages. Totally useful. In many different countries. Usually, the sweet (!) messages are about love - hence the Baci (kisses) moniker.
Here is what the first one said:
The night is silent, and it its silence, dreams are hidden.
- Okay. Um. It's kind of dark and mysterious and hopeful. Not really sweet though. Kind of black and Alice Cooper-ish (minus the chook be-heading).
Here is what the second one said:
You can judge a man by his friends.
- Not sweet. Quite annoying. Sexist. Quite untrue, too, i think. I know some nice guys with complete dicks for friends. So no. That one was no good.
I am forced to crack a third Baci (is that their plan?!)
Here is what the third one said:
A sponge to wipe away the past, a rose to sweeten the present, a kiss to greet the future.
- Okay. I can live with that. It's definitely sweet. It even has the word sweet in it. It ends on a high note. It's smells a bit like the powder room at David Jones, but hey, it makes me happy.
The thing is that there are eleven more Baci in the packet. I am scared to open them. I don't know what they will say. What if it's more crappy, dark stuff. I will never be able to look at a Baci again without thinking of Sylvia Plath or other morose people. And morose is not my thing. Sigh.
Have you eaten Baci lately? Did you get snippy, streetwise sayings or dark, broody quotations? What should I do? Should I turf them? Perhaps I could write new sayings in happy colours and slip them inside, pulling the old ones out with my eyes closed and chucking them in the bin? (That kind of reminds me of the time I opened all my Christmas presents while my parents slept and then sealed them all up again, only to reopen them a few hours later when they finally rolled out of bed! But that's another story.)
I was wondering.... Do you want my Emo-Baci?
xx Pip
2.20.2009
Here's the A-List!
Okay. I know this is kind of a weird question... but how do you deal with your weekly meals, shopping, the whole feeding shebang? Does it get on top of you, or are you a well-oiled dinner making, lunch cutting machine? Or do you just eat out a lot because you are way too busy for this cooking stuff? I'll tell you about us first.
We are a very busy household. Two boys at two different schools. Our shop and Brown Owls and making things for our wholesale customers keep us just millimetres short of insanity most of the time. But we like that. We USED to shop daily - thinking we'd eat better and it was more spontaneous and fun. Then I realised that we were spending heaps of money on crap supermarket food and the day would be clouded with the dreaded question 'What will we make for dinner' forever looming over the mid-afternoon horizon. It was not fun. I like fun. Something had to give.
We made some changes. We now shop weekly - with daily trips to our little Milk bar if we need milk or other sundry items. We go the market at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning. We sip coffee with our bed hair and munch melty, cheesy, stringy pizza slices and make a list and off we go. Shoppity shop. Sippity sip. In the beginning we just had a regular list - lines and lines of unrelated elements bumped up together - avocados were next to chicken breasts, garlic loaf schmoozed with tinned tuna... it was chaos. But somehow we managed. Sometimes we even saw Shannon (okay. only once. but it was really totally memorable.)
Also, we also used to be trolley-less. We would, instead, lurch hunchbacked about the peach-strewn aisles like some sort of eco-bagged-sherpas. Not a pretty site. We stopped shopping when we couldn't carry anymore - as opposed to when we'd got everything we needed. It was stupid. We always seemed to be missing the most important things - leading to furtive late night supermarket trips. Stupid.
But things have changed (again) in these here parts. After some terse words over whether to buy the $59 trolley (cam) or the $99 trolley (pip) - we now roll our double-decker ($99) trolley about the market with our ALPHA-list. Yes. We have an Alpha-list. We got it for Christmas.
You see, Kirsty and I had some long discussions (okay, not that long - but I like to embellish and she might tell me off)... so Kirsty and I had some incredibly long discussions about lists and stuff. How they should be organised, columns, rows, that kind of thing. You know, Kirst. She likes to be organised. She's a good influence on me.
Anyhoo, lo and behold, for Christmas Kirsty gave me the Big Book of Alpha-Lists. It's fabric covered, it's bound and it's SO useful (click image below to enlarge). I carry it proudly at the market - face out so people can see how good it is and how messy and creative my writing is. I WANT them to want a list like mine. I want them to know how clever me and Kirst are. I want them to have list envy. It's not mean, it's just that I know their life would be heaps easier if they had a sensible list like mine! I'm helping them, you see. Admitting they have a problem is really important for them, isn't that right?
As you can see from our list, it features not only messy, early morning writing, but also heaps of kid friendly meal options - recipe notes and categorised sections for produce and meat and other things. It's totally helpful and conscientious. It sets the culinary week in stone for everyone and keeps us calm and un-hungry. (Admittedly we sometimes swap the meals around to different nights - but that's because we're flighty.)
This list is the best list you will ever meet. It's totally the A to Z of all you can eat. Well... all you can eat at our house anyway. Or else you get nothing else til Breakfast time. Those are the rules.
xx Pip
PS - Don't ask me to ask Kirsty to make you one. Because I said I wouldn't. But you could ask her yourself. Then I'm off scot-free - and you can be an A-lister too.
We are a very busy household. Two boys at two different schools. Our shop and Brown Owls and making things for our wholesale customers keep us just millimetres short of insanity most of the time. But we like that. We USED to shop daily - thinking we'd eat better and it was more spontaneous and fun. Then I realised that we were spending heaps of money on crap supermarket food and the day would be clouded with the dreaded question 'What will we make for dinner' forever looming over the mid-afternoon horizon. It was not fun. I like fun. Something had to give.
We made some changes. We now shop weekly - with daily trips to our little Milk bar if we need milk or other sundry items. We go the market at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning. We sip coffee with our bed hair and munch melty, cheesy, stringy pizza slices and make a list and off we go. Shoppity shop. Sippity sip. In the beginning we just had a regular list - lines and lines of unrelated elements bumped up together - avocados were next to chicken breasts, garlic loaf schmoozed with tinned tuna... it was chaos. But somehow we managed. Sometimes we even saw Shannon (okay. only once. but it was really totally memorable.)
Also, we also used to be trolley-less. We would, instead, lurch hunchbacked about the peach-strewn aisles like some sort of eco-bagged-sherpas. Not a pretty site. We stopped shopping when we couldn't carry anymore - as opposed to when we'd got everything we needed. It was stupid. We always seemed to be missing the most important things - leading to furtive late night supermarket trips. Stupid.
But things have changed (again) in these here parts. After some terse words over whether to buy the $59 trolley (cam) or the $99 trolley (pip) - we now roll our double-decker ($99) trolley about the market with our ALPHA-list. Yes. We have an Alpha-list. We got it for Christmas.
You see, Kirsty and I had some long discussions (okay, not that long - but I like to embellish and she might tell me off)... so Kirsty and I had some incredibly long discussions about lists and stuff. How they should be organised, columns, rows, that kind of thing. You know, Kirst. She likes to be organised. She's a good influence on me.
Anyhoo, lo and behold, for Christmas Kirsty gave me the Big Book of Alpha-Lists. It's fabric covered, it's bound and it's SO useful (click image below to enlarge). I carry it proudly at the market - face out so people can see how good it is and how messy and creative my writing is. I WANT them to want a list like mine. I want them to know how clever me and Kirst are. I want them to have list envy. It's not mean, it's just that I know their life would be heaps easier if they had a sensible list like mine! I'm helping them, you see. Admitting they have a problem is really important for them, isn't that right?
As you can see from our list, it features not only messy, early morning writing, but also heaps of kid friendly meal options - recipe notes and categorised sections for produce and meat and other things. It's totally helpful and conscientious. It sets the culinary week in stone for everyone and keeps us calm and un-hungry. (Admittedly we sometimes swap the meals around to different nights - but that's because we're flighty.)
This list is the best list you will ever meet. It's totally the A to Z of all you can eat. Well... all you can eat at our house anyway. Or else you get nothing else til Breakfast time. Those are the rules.
xx Pip
PS - Don't ask me to ask Kirsty to make you one. Because I said I wouldn't. But you could ask her yourself. Then I'm off scot-free - and you can be an A-lister too.
2.19.2009
My Creative Space
Fabrics. They are waiting for something to do.
Sewing Machines. Tired from making secret projects today.
Dressmakers Mannequin. Wearing lovely hoop and christmas light necklace.
Pippi Poster. Still unframed but I love it so. From this special person.
Cute clock. From Brooke.
Op shop art.
Suitcases full of fabric and craft supplies.
And underneath all this is my storage for all sorts of crafty and papery things
Oh! And a light switch too. Wow.
More creativeness here.
xx Peeep.
If you don't see this show - then you are totally not my friend.
WHILE YOU SLEEP : BY GHOSTPATROL & CAT RABBIT
19 FEBRUARY - 8 MARCH
The extremely excellent ghostpatrol and the uber-stitchy cat rabbit have been hanging out together for years. Four years. Or so I hear. It would take me four years to tell you how good this show is. It is really good. I'm serious. You must go and look.
There are many many softies. Softies like you have NEVER seen before. They will make your eyes roll back in your head with extreme amazement. You will want one. Yes you will.
You MUST look at the very great FOX pieces - I'll say no more - except I swear there were slices of beetroot. There are Owls so lovely you might just cry.
There are beautiful, sweet, scary, lovely drawings and cool 'yarn art' and books and bunnies. Oh go. Just go. Your life will change forever, I totally promise.
Here's their info. EFF WHY EYE. Ha!
xx Pip
-------------------------------------------
www.catrabbit.com.au
www.ghostpatrol.net
Opening Night Thursday 19 February, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Show runs until Sunday 8 March
Ghostpatrol & Cat Rabbit will curate an artist talk on Saturday 21 February from 1:00pm
Gorker Gallery opening hours:
3pm - 7:00pm Wednesday - Friday
11am - 7:00pm Saturday & Sunday
Wine Tasting Wednesday 4 March 6:00pm - 7:00pm
(Brought to you by Austins wine)
2.18.2009
Buy This. Get that!
If you buy the new issue of Frankie (out now!) it's totally chocked full of heaps of great stuff, including Loobylu-Claire's project! Look at it! It's a little wheat bag guy! Love it? Yes! You do! Go buy it!!! Then go make it! Yay!
If you buy the current issue of Australian Women's Weekly (out now!) - you get the full project that Carly-Moopy-Nest Studios designed for the book! No longer will you be ashamed of that nude notebook you are toting! You can make Carly's project and walk tall with your frocked up journal! Go buy it today and see how clever she is! (and look at their extremely beautiful version of the notebook cover sporting foxy Umbrella Prints fabric!)
Flight of the Conchords - Carol Brown
Early morning Conchords.
Just for you.
Because I like you.
xx Pip
2.17.2009
Rice. It's Fancy.
bento box (for rice and things) via here
Rice. It's totally great stuff, right? I mean it feeds some crazy proportion of the world's population whilst still tasting pretty ace. Go rice. Anyhoo, there's been a ricey theme in these here parts, so I thought I would share. Rice... the grain that links the little scribbley bits of my existence together. Rice facts you should know.
- Lexi gave me her risotto recipe. It's baked, you know. How fancy. And it's rice!!!
- Yesterday I made meatballs in tomato sauce. Instead of adding breadcrumbs to the kilo of mince, I added 1/2 a cup of parmesan, 1/2 cup of cooked rice and an egg. Plus some seasonings, plonked them in the tomato sauce and those were the best meatballs we had ever had. Rice. Fancy up your meatballs.
- Both Madhur Jaffrey and my ex-step-mother-in-law say 1 1/4 cups of rice to 1 cup of water - MJ frys the rice in oil before adding the water. ESMIL uses the rice cooker. Fancy up your oil. Try rice.
- Ari has sushi for lunch most days. With tuna. Rice. Fancy up your tuna.
- I told Gemma about putting arborio rice in the rice cooker - just like normal rice - and she did. And it worked out just fine! Fancy up those long-grain days... with rice!
- We bought a bag of basmati at the grocery wholesaler - it has a zip on the top of the bag - and it wasn't the cheapest bag, but hey... I liked the zip. Do you know what? It's the best rice I've ever tasted. Rice. It might come with a zip.
Awright. I'm shutting up. I have had too many lollies and have been sniffing fabric glue. See you tomorrow with an update on the Felt-a-Long! (see link in the side-bar because i am too lazy to link here!)
xx Pip
Edit - last night someone threw rice over their back fence into the laneway. The dogs totally appreciated it this morning. Rice. Fancy up your right of way.
2.16.2009
Today a Poppy Grew...
That is Max. He bites his nails.
Today, the first poppy flowered in my little slightly sun-burned garden. Last night there was not a poppy in sight. Today it stretched up about 20cm from it's leafy foundation. It kind of freaked me out really.
Poppies are the international emblem of Remembrance Day, worn close to the heart to remind us of these we have lost, symbolising eternal, peaceful sleep.
This wobbly little poppy has a lot on it's shoulders, I think.
I've always been one of those people that bought the pricey $5 Poppy pin from the cute old RSL guy outside Coles. Like most people, I have relatives who never returned from war. That poppy was an important reminder to celebrate the lives of those important people.
But now, in my neck of the woods, things have amped up a bit, in terms of floral tributes. I'm sharing my Poppy with those we lost that firey weekend. I want to be sure I have a symbol of remembrance that's as enduring as it is pretty. And each time a little poppy flowers in my garden, I am going to think not only about relatives lost to the wars, I'm going to think about the hard times people have been through, and are going through after the fires.
Not only am I going to think about it and talk about it, I'm going to try my hardest to be doing stuff to help too. Today. Next month. Next year. Because we must remember to keep helping these people, in ways that are meaningful to us. Yes we must.
xx Pip
You could plant some poppies too? If they can bloom in the trenches of World War 1, they might just survive in your garden, right?
Edit - Real life requests for help can be found here - updating constantly
Poppies are the international emblem of Remembrance Day, worn close to the heart to remind us of these we have lost, symbolising eternal, peaceful sleep.
This wobbly little poppy has a lot on it's shoulders, I think.
I've always been one of those people that bought the pricey $5 Poppy pin from the cute old RSL guy outside Coles. Like most people, I have relatives who never returned from war. That poppy was an important reminder to celebrate the lives of those important people.
But now, in my neck of the woods, things have amped up a bit, in terms of floral tributes. I'm sharing my Poppy with those we lost that firey weekend. I want to be sure I have a symbol of remembrance that's as enduring as it is pretty. And each time a little poppy flowers in my garden, I am going to think not only about relatives lost to the wars, I'm going to think about the hard times people have been through, and are going through after the fires.
Not only am I going to think about it and talk about it, I'm going to try my hardest to be doing stuff to help too. Today. Next month. Next year. Because we must remember to keep helping these people, in ways that are meaningful to us. Yes we must.
xx Pip
You could plant some poppies too? If they can bloom in the trenches of World War 1, they might just survive in your garden, right?
Edit - Real life requests for help can be found here - updating constantly
2.15.2009
Granny Square Cushions!
I love the cosy-ness.
I love the nanna-ness.
I love the random-ness.
I love the nice-ness...
Of these Granny Square Cushions!
xx Pip
Good Eggs
image via Beci Orpin and Kaotic Kraft Kuties
Wow! Look at all the contributors and supporters of/for Art Fights Fire! Gemma's linked to them all below (oops, i stole her links!) - so go have a look and see who will be there and what you might win! And to thank them. You should thank them too. And visit Gemma - because she's a good egg. And because you can see all the details for the Art Fights Fire show next week!
- Ali J (Western Australia)
- Angelique Houtkamp (Amsterdam)
- APAK (USA)
- Audrey Kawasaki (courtesy of Outré Gallery)
- Beci Orpin (Melbourne)
- Ed Janssen, This Charming Man
- FRANKIE MAGAZINE
- Gemma Jones (ahem, that's me)
- Ghostpatrol (Melbourne)
- Gina Garan, This is Blythe (NYC)
- Hybryd
- Iggy and Loulou
- Jenny Hart, Sublime Stitching (USA)
- Konstant Kaos (Melbourne)
- kozyndan (Los Angeles)
- Lab Partners (San Francisco)
- Magic Jelly (South Australia)
- Metropolis Books (Melbourne)
- Natalie Jeffcott, Arthur's Circus (Melbourne)
- Neryl Walker (Melbourne)
- Radical Cross Stitch
- Rebecca Murphy
- Shag (Los Angeles)
xx Pip
Homemade - The Handmade Help Recipe Book
my lemon tart
Do you love to cook, like I do? How about if you had not one single recipe to access. I'm sure you could whip up a few nice things - but it might be a bit tricky to remember how many eggs go into that special cake, or whether that dish had ginger in it or not. Spare a thought for those that lost a myriad of important and precious things last weekend - including all their recipes. I'm sure it's the last thing they are thinking of now - but someday it will matter - and maybe we can make it a teeeeensy bit less crappy for those people down the track.
We are compiling a recipe book to print and distribute to those affected by the weekend's tragedy. We REALLY need you to send us your recipes! Any recipes would be just perfect, but we ESPECIALLY need the following:
Main Meals - for Lunch and Dinner
Breakfast Recipes
Snacks and Appetisers
Breads and Yeast Cookery
Salads
Preserves and Jams
International Recipes
BBQ Fare
Kid Friendly Dishes
Drinks (alcoholic and not!)
Vegetarian and Vegan Recipes
We would really love any OLD FAMILY RECIPES that you might have - because these lovely people have probably lost theirs. PLEASE share those too. Send as many as you like. We can handle it! The full details of how to submit are over here.
Please cut and paste the link for this post and email it to all your email contacts - or post it to facebook or whatever social networking sites you use. This is VERY IMPORTANT!!!! We need the recipes of cooks, crafters, nannas, bloggers, truck drivers, shop keepers, policemen, celebrities... everyone!!!!
The recipe book will also be available to everyone to download online - for a small fee. All funds raised will go to The Red Cross.
xx Pip
2.14.2009
2.13.2009
Anna Laura - You're Our Hero
Check out the fantastic photo-stream of Ms Anna Laura Blandford!
Did you know that Anna contributed to the book we made?!
Yes she did! You should see her cute project! Eeep. You will love it.
And you will love her. But not as much as I do.
xx Pip
TGIF
Oh what a week. I've worked all week on Handmade Help with a bunch of other girls, amidst making membership packs for Brown Owls and trying to ignore the growing mess in my house. I'll be posting all the Handmade Help and other important information over there from now on. It needs to be in one centralised location for everyone to access. There are HEAPS of ways you can get involved. Go look.
I do want to let you know the following final points over here, though.
It is extremely important that we donate handmade, lovely things to those affected by the fires, once they are rehoused - we need to be making those over the next couple of months. Handmade things are imbibed with good intentions and care, and we need to show we were caring for these people during their most difficult times.
You should send your Handmade Help to us at Mikes. Or drop it at one of the drop-off points listed on the Handmade Help blog.
We need to be putting a few dollars a week away. More funds WILL be needed in the long term to build valuable community facilities that might not be prioritised in the short term. Things such as skate parks, arts facilities and playgrounds will be needed then. So start saving up! It won't hurt your hip pocket at all - and it will make a huge difference to these communities. We're aiming to start a Donation Drive commencing June 1st. We'll be donating to the Red Cross again.
2.12.2009
Stuff To Do At Your Place - Plant Something.
I am planting seeds this week. Despite the fact that everything seems kind of lame and shallow at the moment. The thing is that the new garden was super-sunburnt on the worse-then-dreadful-weekend. I keep looking at it and feeling a bit defeated. I need to do something.
Planting seems like an okay thing to do. Seeds are all about hope and creation and warmth and goodness and bounty. So I'm all for that. Plant seeds, I say. Or seedlings. Mulch them. Water them. Feed them. Watch good things happen (unless snails eat them), nurture them and it might help (me) a wee bit.
xx pip
www.handmadehelp.blogspot.com
2.11.2009
Register With The Red Cross As A Fundraiser!
Click this link! You can then create your own web-page and add any donations you collect as they come in. PLUS, we can all see how awesome you are!
xx pip
xx pip
Art Fights Fire - International Bushfire Support Fundraiser
image via Magic Jelly
Our mate Gemma is joining force with Outré Gallery for this HUGE and beautiful art fundraiser to benefit those affected by the Victorian bushfires! These details are lifted from Gemma's blog...
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Big shout outs to the amazing art and craft people who have donated so far:
Arthur's Circus (thank you Nat and Nick)
Gina Garan (of This is Blythe fame in NYC)
Magic Jelly (in South Australia)
Lab Partners (San Francisco)
Angelique Houtkamp (Amsterdam)
Shag (Los Angeles)
Audrey Kawasaki (big thanks to Outré Gallery for the generous donation)
Beci Orpin (Melbourne)
We will be selling raffle tickets and then doing a live draw at Outré in Melbourne on Wednesday 25 February 2009, 249 Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tickets will be available in advance from me, from the blog (watch this space for paypal purchase), at the first Brown Owls Meeting (24 February) and from Meet Me at Mikes. If you would like to sell tickets - please let me know: gemjones(at)alphalink.com.au
International people are welcome to buy tickets - but we are asking that if you win something, that you pay for postage (average AU$25).
I'm also looking for someone who might like to cater this event with simple finger food.
Thanks again - things are really grim in the fire affected zones - we all need to do whatever we can do. I can't literally fight a fire, but I know I can do this.
THANKS x x x x x gemma
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2.10.2009
Car, Cat and Canary.
The guy with the kitty is one of Cam's childhood friends. We just found out he is safe! We knew his house was destroyed (he lived in Narbethong) - but didn't know where he was. But there he is. With car, cat and canary.
How good is the internet for gathering vital information? Sheeh. We found this picture of Wayne here.
The couple who work at our local newsagent luckily didn't lose their house to the fires - but the rest of their property was destroyed. Luckily their horse, and some of their livestock survived. But all their chooks were killed and their beautiful garden destroyed. The heroes of the CFA saved their house by bombing it with water. And they escaped with their lives. Fantastic.
Red Cross Donations
Handmade Help - Community Crafting Appeal
NB - Please see the middle column on our blog for heaps of links to ways that you can help - including donating your old mobile phone chargers, donating accommodation and other practical things too. Now is the time to get off your (lovely) bottom and do something.
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