Today before school, a little boy threw a stick at Ari. Well at Ari's eye, actually. It scratched his cornea and we spent the day at the hospital. Not much fun, but Ari was very brave and endured the examinations and ointments and dyes and things. Poor Ari. He's fine now. Apparently eyes can just heal at super hero speed. So that's great, huh? Nice to know we all have super hero eyes, isn't it?
NB : Our Fitzroy shop closed on January 9th 2012!
4.30.2009
Thirteen
Not eleven... like in this cute photo.
Max turned thirteen yesterday.
I offered to take McDonalds to his school at lunchtime. He said 'GREAT'. Then he came downstairs and said 'Do you think it could be pizza, because then I can share it.' Oh Max. You are ace.
Romance Was Born - Grannying Along
via Vogue - more of today's very clever Romance Was Born show over there - with heaps of gorgeous crocheted details! (And thanks to everyone who emailed me about this!!!)
xx Pip
PS - Sorry for the lack of posts today - my internet is totally on the blink at the moment. And Ari got hurt at school today and we spent most of the day at the Children's Hospital. He's fine now, though, so don't you worry about that. x
4.29.2009
Same As It Ever Was
Kermit the Frog does David Byrne
via http://www.pressedinabook.com/
and twitter too!
xx Pip
More Granny Squares!
One went a bit wonky in the middle because I made the first chain too long. You live and learn. There are worse things in life then a wonky chain, right?!
xx Pip
4.28.2009
Ilona Glastonbury
Found via Twitter
Gorgeous acrylic on vintage pressed tin by the very clever Ilona Glastonbury. Click the image to head to Flickr and see more.
I think you will like these lovely paintings, yes I do. They're kind of Famous Five meets Girls Own Annual with a bit of Hardy Boys thrown in for good measure. Go look!
xx Pip
Gocco Notebooks...
Oh look at these super cute Gocco printed moleskines! They come to you via the very excellent Treatzone on Etsy! Tipped off by the very excellent MadeByGirl.
Random Fact : That's my very favourite green Gocco ink there... although I think orange would be equally good. I don't have orange though. I have green. Which is fine. I like green. Go green, I say. Green's my fave.
xx Pip
Words And Pictures - Rainy Day
This week - it's all about Rainy Days for Words and Pictures. I wonder what that means to you and the people at your place. Join in - or click around and read some other 'Rainy Day' stories.
Be sure to add yourself in the list below if you write/post something on your site.
xx Pip
Words and Pictures - Catching Up
2007
2009
I'm a bit worried about all the catching up that's happening around here. Of course there is catching up with friends. Catching up with work. Catching up with house related stuff. But it's these guys (see above) that are a bit of a sore point. Its the whole time catching up thing that's making me tetchy.
See, Ari seems to have caught up to where Max used to be - mostly over the toys and things - more interested in chatting and charming people ("My favourite word is Wodonga, Mum"). So that's Ari, steaming ahead, grown up bound, team mascot and all 'round excellent dinner party guest.
Then there is Max. He's caught up in height, weight and has, in fact, surpassed us all in the 'ability to sleep department'. He's measuring himself (heightwise) against Cam daily, waiting for the triumphant moment when not only has he caught up - he's pulled away from the family pack to become the 'Tallest Man In The Household' (say that with meaning through a megaphone, if you please). Well. As man as one can be when aged a day away from thirteen.
Ari's pretty miffed that Max is steaming ahead, and things are not what they used to be. I'm miffed because I'm not sure how to keep up. Cam... well... probably none of this is bothering him, perhaps you'll have to ask him about that.
The catching up means that all of a sudden Max is nudging into grown up land.... (a place where even the grown ups are not that grown up). And he seems to be destined to do a way better job then we are at the whole grown up thing. He's frank and mature and kind and sweet. He's not only catching up, he's the NEW IMPROVED almost caught up version.
Catching up. It's not all it's cracked up to be. Sigh.
xx Pip
and more:
4.27.2009
4.26.2009
Awesome People On Flickr
1. paper pet, 2. Artur wrecked my journal, 3. imagine wall, 4. on a rainy day
Click These Links To Visit The Photographer in Question!
xx
4.25.2009
Tell Me Three Things?
The shop is closed for a mini-break today and tomorrow. (It's ANZAC day here in Australia - a day to remember the too many people who have died in too many Wars over the last century.)
I'm really pleased to have a day to just do non-Mike's things! So here's what I want to do today:
- Read some more of The River Cottage Family Cookbook - which is Loobylu's favourite, I bought it because she loves it so much - and it is probably one of my top 5 faves too! Amazon have it SUPER SUPER DOOPER cheap. I got mine for $60 at Borders (reduced because it was shop soiled) and it's over at Amazon for $21.45US!
- Make my own raindrop lullaby via Keri Smith
- Roast the pork I bought yesterday with some boiled-then-baked potatoes - Ari and I will eat the vegies and Max and Cam will eat the meat! I love spuds. In fact I love carbs full stop.
- Watch Kat Macleod (Did you know that Kat worked alongside Head Girl Simone Elder -my superfave designer - on our book? She did indeed.) via Hello Sandwich - click there!
- Marvel at Claire's papercutting - wow.
- Drink coffee - we buy our beans at the Vic Market and grind them at home. We make our coffee in the stove top espresso pot. I do have an Atomica one too - but the screw-on bit is jammed closed and we have to break it open and get a new part for it. (Which seems a bit complex, not to mention violent)
- Crochet Granny Squares - maybe 2 today from '200 Crochet Blocks' by the prolific Jan Eaton - yikes she's written the whole gamut of craft books - I have the UK edition.
- Looking at more pictures of Attic24's Dorset Holiday. Sigh.
- Drink tea - I'm liking the Twinings Afternoon Tea one in the blue packet
- Plant some more things - some shade-liking flowers is what I need for under our light-dappling tree - suggestions?!
- Read all about Melbourne Girl Miss Woolly's new cross-stitch Book! Yay! Go Eliza!
- Hope Cam will make me some breakfast for a treat - cheese on toast would be nice
- Take Rin to get sewing supplies from Spotlight
- Watch telly with the kids - maybe some cooking shows and some kid shows too
- Watch some River Cottage online - how cool that you can watch eps online!
- Hope it's not raining tomorrow when we are meeting at the Market! Rug up girls!
It's been such a hugely busy year for us already. The Book. Brown Owls. The Kids. The Shop. And even more stuff happening and we're only April. I'm wondering how much busier we can get!? A bit, I think, because we're hatching some new plans as we speak!
But all that's okay. I am really totally hopeless when I have nothing to do. Busy is really the wind in my sails that keeps me going. That's not to say that I don't like the quiet times too, but it's the 'stuff' that keeps me energised. As long as I can go upstairs with my crochet and some books and a pot of chai and the family at the end of the day, I'm totally okay with the busy.
(I'm ESPECIALLY energised by the emails I keep getting from people who have learnt to crochet from our book (or from Brown Owls or from the guidelines on this blog). It's so great, I can't even believe it! Do you want to learn to crochet? Do you think you can't? You can. Please try. I know you can. Check out the Brown Owls Members blog for the crochet posts and links over there too.)
I wonder what you are doing this weekend?
Tell me 3 things.
Go on. I totally want to know!
xx Pip
4.24.2009
Wednesday's Granny!
The light was fading by the time I finished Thursday's Granny! I'll put that up today... with Friday's Granny too... is this making sense?!!
It's not too late to Granny along with us! DO join in! No rules - just make some Granny Squares (daily if you like) and show us your work!
xx Pip
4.23.2009
Brown Owls News
Hi!
Brown Owls is now running nicely in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra and Mongolia! Huge props to our interstate prefects and members, as well as our enthusiastic Melbourne girls and helpers like Angela and Lara and Kirsty. Fantastic. Due to popular demand we are opening up memberships for a short period in some areas :
New rural, interstate and international membership options are now up in the Brown Owls Store. Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane Metro memberships are sold out, but there has been lots of interest in other States and Cities!
Perhaps now is the time to start a Brown Owls group in YOUR area!? Brown Owls is a crafty club, where you can meet other great people and work on crafty projects, together or independently. We learn from each other, chat, eat biscuits and just have nice times. It's designed to create connections, share skills and provide a nice social time for it's members. Does this sound like something you'd like to do in your neighbourhood? Yes?! Okay, you need a venue, a few members and some crafty enthusiasm! You can follow the lead of the other Brown Owls meets - or you can Brown Owl in your own way!
Some things you should know:
New rural, interstate and international membership options are now up in the Brown Owls Store. Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane Metro memberships are sold out, but there has been lots of interest in other States and Cities!
Perhaps now is the time to start a Brown Owls group in YOUR area!? Brown Owls is a crafty club, where you can meet other great people and work on crafty projects, together or independently. We learn from each other, chat, eat biscuits and just have nice times. It's designed to create connections, share skills and provide a nice social time for it's members. Does this sound like something you'd like to do in your neighbourhood? Yes?! Okay, you need a venue, a few members and some crafty enthusiasm! You can follow the lead of the other Brown Owls meets - or you can Brown Owl in your own way!
Some things you should know:
- Please allow a few weeks for me to print up and post your memberships, people.
- Brown Owls meets at LEAST every 2 weeks in Melbourne, but MONTHLY in other areas - meeting frequency is up to you.
- Brown Owls is a 'learn from one-another' environment - it's not a craft 'class' (although sometimes someone nice will come and teach the whole group something!)
- Brown Owls relies on member enthusiasm and participation - so try and get involved if you are not too shy. But we like shy people too.
- Interstate memberships are $10 per annum (to cover admin, membership tags and postage) - and $15 for NZ and International.
- All other costs (such as tea and coffee, snacks and room hire) are covered by members (hence the importance of low-cost or no-cost venues!)
- I've prepared a 'Meeting and Venue Charter' for the 'prefects' in new Brown Owls packs.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Sydney : There's been some interest in starting a second Brown Owls pack in Sydney. Please email me with SYDNEY WAITING LIST in the subject line if you'd like to be part of this second group. We would need to appoint some prefects to run these meets - and find a low cost venue (such as a library meeting room or community centre) too.
Brisbane : With regard to BRISBANE - same thing - we could start a second pack if there is enough interest. Please email me with BRISBANE WAITING LIST in the subject line and we'll see what sort of numbers we can come up with.
Canberra : Sold Out at this stage.
Perth : Sold Out at this stage.
Melbourne : Sold out. No further memberships available this year. Sorry.
Pip's Brown Owls Blog
Brown Owls Member Blog
Brown Owls Membership Store
xx Pip
PS - If you are a member you can now get your 2009 Brown Owls Blog Badge designed by threebuttons over here
PPS - I'll post this over at the Brown Owls Blog too.
4.22.2009
Ari's Hanky Panky with Frankie
Hey!
The new issue of everyone's super-fave mag, Frankie, is on sale today! And look. That's our Ari up there! He's one of several great kids interviewed for 'In With The Kids' - a really cute, interesting look at what it's really like growing up now.
There's heaps of other cool stuff in this issue too, including a sweet craft project (by me!) Check out the Frankie website for the rundown on all this and even more - and subscribe if you like to be an early bird!! International subscriptions are available too - so you can be Frank like us.
xx Pip
Heads Will Roll
Gee, it's always so refreshing when bands can actually perform live. This is a killer rendition of my fave track from 'It's Blitz' - Yeah Yeah Yeah's new album. I love Karen O. She always looks like she got dressed in the dark, and it works for her. And she's got a great band.
4.21.2009
Words and Pictures - Catching Up
This week's theme is 'Catching Up' - click the archived posts below to see other week's Words and Pictures (and details of how to play too!) I really want to thank everyone who's been part of this so far - looking forward to reading everyone's blogs this week!
- Week 1 - all about School Lunches
- Week 2 - all about Cosy Times
- Week 3 - all about Little Things
- Week 4 - all about Long Drives
- Week 5 - all about Cold Feet
- Week 6 - all about Collecting
Joining in?! Add yourself to the list so we can visit you and read about how you 'Catch Up'!
A Granny A Day :: Yesterday's Granny - Day 5
Today's is coming up later! Hey. I forgot to tell you I made Tomato Sauce yesterday too. It's vinegary and spicey and delicious. Now I need a sausage roll! Hope your day is going great. I'm updating a few things in the next few hours... so stay tuned!
xx Pip
PS - check out last night's Brown Owls over here!
4.19.2009
Blogroll Update - Who Do You Love?!
Have you seen our big and great list of excellent blogs over here?
I'm going to update that in the few weeks.
If you are not on this page, I'd love to put you there!
Please email us at meetmeatmikes (at) gmail (dot) com with BLOGROLL in the subject line and we'll add you to the list. We'll be updating the whole page and trying to put links into genres, as well as creating an Autumn Links list and a Prettiest Blogs list!
There are lots of great links over there - but I'm only one person - if I missed you or someone you read daily, please let me know. I want to put your/that blog on that list! We're aiming for a really comprehensive list of the best Australian (and International) craft, design, media, foodie and other interesting reads! It will be a great resource for people looking for great stuff to browse!
Or you can comment here with your link too!
Or you can suggest someone else's hard working, fabulous blog!
xx Pip
PS - See you on Tuesday! I'm swamped tomorrow!
I'm going to update that in the few weeks.
If you are not on this page, I'd love to put you there!
Please email us at meetmeatmikes (at) gmail (dot) com with BLOGROLL in the subject line and we'll add you to the list. We'll be updating the whole page and trying to put links into genres, as well as creating an Autumn Links list and a Prettiest Blogs list!
There are lots of great links over there - but I'm only one person - if I missed you or someone you read daily, please let me know. I want to put your/that blog on that list! We're aiming for a really comprehensive list of the best Australian (and International) craft, design, media, foodie and other interesting reads! It will be a great resource for people looking for great stuff to browse!
Or you can comment here with your link too!
Or you can suggest someone else's hard working, fabulous blog!
xx Pip
PS - See you on Tuesday! I'm swamped tomorrow!
This Is The Tip Of The Iceberg...
Beautiful 'collection' shots and even more beautiful portrait shots by Beirut based blog Chasing Lola. Really amazing. You Must Look.
A Granny A Day :: Day 4
And a little appliqued tea cloth that featured in our book...
And a llittle 'g' for granny, of course!
xx Pip
4.18.2009
A Granny A Day :: Day 3
Nearly finished - wanted to take the photo in natural light, though! Brownie's honour I'll finish this one off this afternoon! Thanks so much to everyone for their lovely comments and crochet links! If you have any helpful links, pop them in the comments and I'll collate them all into one post at the end of the week!
xx Pip
PS - Happy Weekend to you!
4.17.2009
A Granny A Day - Square 2
Hello!
This square is from the very excellent book 200 Crochet Blocks by Jan Eaton. It really does have 200 crocheted squares in it - and they are pretty nice squares too! This one is called Arcadia. It uses chain stitch, treble crochet and double crochet. It's not that tricky, although I did have 3 goes at it, and then make it one round smaller then it's meant to be. It's just that it would have been HUGE and I want my squares to be fairly similar in size. The pattern was easy to follow and look how cheery the colours are. I really love cheery. Yes I do. So that all worked out really great. Not perfect, but a pretty good go at great, I think! There are two trebles missing in the top left corner, just so that you don't think I'm annoyingly super clever. I'm sure there are other mistakes too... but I think it looks cute regardless! Hurrah for nearly right!
Another bonus today :: I went to check out the meeting room at the Carlton Library (which was great) and they happened to have the River Cottage Cookbook in too! I love The River Cottage. Can't wait to start cooking some things from it! PLUS they had Jan Eaton's Ripple Crochet Book there too! Land sakes and lucky days!
AND if that wasn't enough :: The second hand bookstore had not only a vintage book about making Kites, but also a stack of really cute Brownie magazines from the seventies. Heavens to Betsy!
Incidentally:: My internet is half working today! Which is way better then yesterday!
So the thing is :: I am having a great day, despite having a very sore neck! (But let's not talk about the boring sore neck!)
xx Pip
PS - Haven't you noticed a lot of people using '::' lately?! I think it makes you look smart and arty. Why don't you see if it works for you!?!
PPS - A Granny A Day - I'll upload this lil guy when my internet speeds up a bit later on!
This square is from the very excellent book 200 Crochet Blocks by Jan Eaton. It really does have 200 crocheted squares in it - and they are pretty nice squares too! This one is called Arcadia. It uses chain stitch, treble crochet and double crochet. It's not that tricky, although I did have 3 goes at it, and then make it one round smaller then it's meant to be. It's just that it would have been HUGE and I want my squares to be fairly similar in size. The pattern was easy to follow and look how cheery the colours are. I really love cheery. Yes I do. So that all worked out really great. Not perfect, but a pretty good go at great, I think! There are two trebles missing in the top left corner, just so that you don't think I'm annoyingly super clever. I'm sure there are other mistakes too... but I think it looks cute regardless! Hurrah for nearly right!
Another bonus today :: I went to check out the meeting room at the Carlton Library (which was great) and they happened to have the River Cottage Cookbook in too! I love The River Cottage. Can't wait to start cooking some things from it! PLUS they had Jan Eaton's Ripple Crochet Book there too! Land sakes and lucky days!
AND if that wasn't enough :: The second hand bookstore had not only a vintage book about making Kites, but also a stack of really cute Brownie magazines from the seventies. Heavens to Betsy!
Incidentally:: My internet is half working today! Which is way better then yesterday!
So the thing is :: I am having a great day, despite having a very sore neck! (But let's not talk about the boring sore neck!)
xx Pip
PS - Haven't you noticed a lot of people using '::' lately?! I think it makes you look smart and arty. Why don't you see if it works for you!?!
PPS - A Granny A Day - I'll upload this lil guy when my internet speeds up a bit later on!
Budget Books for Bookaholics Like Me
via
Hello!
Did you know that you can order our book on Fishpond for only $39.97 (the usual RRP $45)? And if you order another book to push the total cost over $50 you get free shipping. The good thing about Fishpond is that they often sell significantly below the recommended retail price. I've plucked some examples from below - but you should go look for yourself! They have a huge range of all sorts of books, music and movies too. Just so that you know.
Alabama Stitch Book - RRP $69.99 :: Fishpond Price $46.42
Jan Eaton's 200 Crochet Blocks - RRP $45.00 :: Fishpond Price $30.63
Jenny Hart's Sublime Stitching - RRP $40.99 :: Fishpond Price $32.48
Kaffe Fassett's Glorious Patchwork - RRP $49.99 :: Fishpond Price $36.98
Heather Ross's Weekend Sewing - RRP $54.99 :: Fishpond Price $39.48
I'm a bookaholic. I admit it. Perhaps you're just like me?! It doesn't feel QUITE so naughty if you're buying at a cut price, now does it?!
xx Pip
Neville Trickett's Excellent Flickr
:: From the wonderful Flickr of Neville Trickett - go over there for a whole lot more loveliness.
1. 45, 2. 46, 3. 52, 4. 53, 5. 55, 6. 54
Library Books I Want To Steal - Episode 3
Of course, I already know how to cook a LOT of things (not to be boastful... well that was a bit, wasn't it?!) But my friend Yvonne was talking about this book last week, and how it's totally enriched her dinner times, and then I went to the library and 'Oila' as they say, there it was! So I popped it in my library bag and took it home.
I have made the Tomato Soup and the Lasagna so far (and I dripped a tiny bit of washing up suds on the Lasagna page... but that's not as bad as Loobylu who dripped fish sauce on her library book.) The verdict is in. The recipes in this book are great. Simply written with lots of friendly encouragement, lovely photos to guide you through the tricky bits, and just good basic recipes which lean heavily on good quality ingredients. It's really my kind of cookbook, believe it or not. No toss, no fuss and just lots of enthusiasm and good recipes that work out. And I know about this stuff (not to be boastful) - I have a library of over 200 cookbooks - and I used to be a caterer and cafe owner in a former life. This big, glossy, celebrity chef type cookbook is a corker.
I'll be taking this back to the Fitzroy library in the next few days, in case you want to reserve it. Just so you know.
xx Pip
xx Pip
4.16.2009
A Granny A Day - Day 1
Hello!
I'm on borrowed internet - so this'll be quick! It's my number one granny! More tomorrow - including some great books to help you granny along!
xx pip
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