:: My Place & Yours :: Blog HQ

This week the Theme Queen is Ninon! Have you seen Ninon's gorgeous blog? Golly gee, if you haven't you SHOULD! She makes such lovely things and has an amazing eye for gorgeous images and good stuff. Yay for Ninon!

So, Ms Ninon has chosen the theme 'Blog Headquarters'. In other words, the place where you blog from - or read blogs! Do you feel like showing your Blog HQ off?! Maybe you are a bit of a gypsy and have a few HQs? Or maybe just one spot you go to for inspiration and communication. Here's your chance to give us a peek into your world! You can see Tania's take on Blog HQ here. Isn't it cool to see her place?!

You can join in anytime this week, if you'd like to! Sign up here to play along, so we can all come and check out your HQ :

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Next Week :: The Theme Queen for next week's My Place and Yours is My Bricole! Hurrah! Check back next Saturday for a new theme via My Bricole. The Theme Queen is chosen from the previous week's players! Yay! So join in if you want to be The Queen!

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Last week's theme :: Bedside
The week before we did :: On The Shelf



Above :: On The Shelf Via
Below :: Bedside Via

:: There She Goes...

The new girl!, originally uploaded by ~ Jo ~.

Did you see my Blythe in the new Frankie? Well. She's not here anymore. Nope. She's gone to a better place. She's gone to Jo's Spa for Unkempt Blythes. Rather like Ladette to Lady, Jo takes unruly Blythe dolls and whips them into shape.

My Blythe was extremely well mannered, despite a penchant for running about in her knickers. Shouldn't be too tricky to tame her, I hope. Her hair was like a frizz factory. I hope her hair turns out all Beyonce-cute. I do.

If you click the image you can see more of Jo and her amazing Blythe collection.

xx Pip

:: Wednesday Wondering : First Blog Crush?

image source

Well. I must admit it's probably not quite as memorable as your first kiss, first love or other firsts. But today I was trawling through the very distant archives of some of my very favourite FIRST blog crushes and I wondered about what you guys first stumbled on, way back then when you first dipped your toe in the Eau de Blog.

What a freaky weird world it seemed back then. Even the word was undignified. Blog. Shudder. It all seemed like some sort of strange, geeky world full of people with KFC buckets propping up their monitors. How wrong could I be?! Totally wrong. I've met some really ace people and done some really ace stuff because of the blogging world. None of that aceness involved KFC. Some of it did involve geeks. But I like geeks. So that's okay. But back to the first Blog Crushes. (Blush.) Here we go...

My very first fave of course was Loobylu. And my very first fave international blog was Posie Gets Cozy. Here's why ::

I loved/love Loobylu because she lived/lives in Melbourne and she wrote/writes in such a natural way and she does cute stuff and her photos are so real and lovely. I loved/love the nice stuff she writes about and hearing about her family and seeing the things she makes and the things that are going great and the things that aren't, too. And her recipes.

Once she commented on my quite new blog and I went to sleep smiling from ear to ear like a starstruck noonan. Because I am a noonan. Who knew that I would get to meet Claire and have fun times with her like totally normal people?! Yay.

Today I still read Claire's blog all the time and I love it. Have you seen it today. Sheesh. Such a cute photo. Sparkle arkle.

I loved/love Alicia because she had a shop way back then, just like me, and I had a sense that she shared the highs and lows of having a shop too. I loved/love her crochet. I loved/love her cute pets. I loved/love the things she makes. I loved/love her sense of family and her house too. And her recipes.

Once she was mentioned in an article about craft in the newspaper. This was quite a long time ago. It featured Nikkishell too. I sent Alicia the paper and she put me on her blog roll. I nearly died. I was so chuffed! I just thought she would like the paper! Yay!

Today I spent half the day trawling back through Alicia's recipes and thinking how gorgeous and colourful her photos are and noticing how generously she links to other people. I still love her blog as much as the first day I read it.


How about you? Got anything to share?! Who were you first favourite blogs?

xx Pip

:: Flickr Faves

1. Feeding Station 1954, 2. Charley Harper Tile Mural, 3. Katherine Bell reads from Quilting for Peace on September 15, 2009, 4. Pronta para tomar o seu lugar na casa nova!Ready to take it´s place in the new home, 5. Untitled, 6. Jo, editor of Frankie Magazine, 7. the golden lampshade, 8. Flowerbed, 9. ikea family live :: spring 2009, 10. ikea family live :: spring 2009, 11. ikea family live :: spring 2009, 12. ikea family live :: spring 2009, 13. ikea family live :: spring 2009, 14. Yellow Laundry, 15. ADORABLE Kitsch Yellow Bunny Made In Japan, 16. good together, 17. Blue Door In Izu Japan with Bicycle, 18. Jenn Ski designed Alphabet Corner, 19. My roses, 20. vintage maps for new decoration, 21. Bar at Villa Augustus, 22. waiting again......, 23. happyhalfbirthdaytome, 24. it all ready is better!

:: Sampson For Mirabel

sampson, originally uploaded by handmade romance.

Here is Sampson.
He was made by Evie. He is Evie's wonderful contribution for Softies for Mirabel.
You've got until early December to be like Evie and make a softie, if you would like to. You SHOULD be like Evie because she's a great girl. And clever too.
More details about Softies for Mirabel here.

xx Pip

:: 35 Delicious Things To Make and Give This Christmas

Another list! I can't help it! Hope you enjoy! It's nice to start planning right?!


:: The Pioneer Woman's Christmas Cookies - here - they are cute!
:: 3 different spice mixes to shake up and plonk in a jar - here - or make up your own mix
:: Walnut and whisky Christmas cake - here - totes boozy and nice, methinks
:: Nigella's Christmas cookies and pinwheels too - here - I have never made pinwheels, but they look good!
:: How about Alicia's version of Nigella's Banana Bread? You could ice it and wrap it in wax paper and candy-striped string. It would be a nice thing to take round to someone's festive house.
:: Amy has some ideas about fudge over here - yum!
:: Kinda in a similar vein, Hazelnut Truffles would be gifty too, right? Here
:: Home made cranberry sauce could be good. Here
:: One of my very favourites, Food In Jars, has a great Blood Orange Marmalade recipe here
:: What about Brownies? Kitchen Diaries Challenge does Nigel Slater's (amongst other things) here
:: Ginger beer, perhaps? Here
:: Chocolate hedgehog slice is nice. Here
:: These gingerbread townhouses are gorgeous. Ack.
:: Bloody Mary mixer? Yes thank you Martha
:: Old Fashioned cakey gingerbread is super delicious. Recipe here
:: Australian-style tomato sauce? Here
:: French style Chocolate Macaron - oh they sound great - here
:: And some more pretty coloured Macarons here
:: I like the idea of jars of spiced nuts. Recipe here. Maybe could go with the Bloody Mary mix?
:: Almond toffee. Yes. Please. Here. Pass the toothbrush.
:: Personally, I am a huge fan of coconut ice. I love the colours and the weird way you have to slice through it with your teeth. Pretty and festive.
:: Raspberry lemonade would be delicious and refreshing. Maybe some vodka in there too?
:: I love these a lot. Very retro and delicious. Chocolate dipped apricots. Mmm.
:: Roasted red pepper mayonnaise. Fantastic with golden roasted potatoes or on a sandwich.
:: Marshmallows! Here
:: Make some bottles of herb vinegar for extra good salads. Here.
:: Or homemade horseradish would be great too.
:: Toffee Apples wrapped in cellophane and tied with a ribbon?
:: A huge jar of marinated mushrooms would be welcome at my house!
:: Or make some lovely grain mustard here.
:: Shortbread is always a winner
:: Or these peppers would be a great gift and delicious on an antipasto plate or pizza
:: Cordial is very Enid Blyton and wonderful
:: Chocolate orange reminds me of my childhood
:: The kids will love these Chocolate Christmas Trees!

:: My Favourite Moustache...

Please do vote for your favourite moustache too.
Links welcome!

xx Pip

:: Quilting For Community....

Wowee! I Have A Project In This Ace Book! Yep. And it's not my book. It's Katherine Bell's book. It's called 'Quilting For Peace' and it's a book chock full of stories about people that use craft to do ace things for their community and those in need. There are 15 projects in there too. One of which is Mirabel the Owl. But there are other even lovelier things to make too! All sorts of ace things, in fact.

Nearly 2 years ago I was asked to be part of this book. Of course I jumped at the chance! I could not believe they even knew what we were doing, with Softies for Mirabel, but they did. And they wanted other people to know about it too. Good on them, I say.

Author Miss Katherine Bell is a bit of a crafty sleuth and she has managed to sniff out 25 ways to help others while you craft along. It's all in the book. Or you can visit her blog to see more of her work and what Quilting For Peace is all about.

I am very lucky that I got to be part of such a wonderful book. And I know how hard it is to make a book. Sheesh. Thanks so much to Katherine and STC Craft/Abrams Books for letting me contribute. I am very proud.

xx Pip

PS - Have you made a softie yet?! Go on!

:: Book Club - New Books

Okay! We've chosen 3 books - and we're giving ourselves 2 months to read one, or two, or all of them! I think perhaps you might be able to manage ONE book in 2 months, even if you are a totally busy slow-coach reader like me! We've chosen books that are readily available worldwide - at your local bookstore, library or online. We've also chosen books with generally glowing reviews, so you know that you're reading something that you will probably like. And they span a few genres, so hopefully there is something there for everyone! Without further ado, here are the books!

1. My Life In France by Julia Child
2. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by John Safran Foer
3. My Sister's Keeper by Jodie Picoult

The Book Club blog is over here : let me know if you would like to write a review and I'll send you an invitation to author on it! I've changed the settings so everyone can read it now. Don't go over there if you don't want SPOILERS though! We don't want to ruin your reading experience!

So, if you're booking along, then sign up below - and if you have a blog let us know which book you are reading over there and why you chose it (and how you are going along the way too!) Okey doke!

Also, if you finish a book and want to swap it for one of the other books, comment here and we'll see if we can hook you up to swap with someone else who has finished one of the other books! Frugal, no?!

I'm starting off with John Safran Foer - a book that has been recommended to me by many people that I like. So that's my choice. I wonder what you will choose.

:: Book Club Update - Jane and Judy

image via

Hey you guys! Did you join up here and seek to read Jane Eyre or Judy Blume with us?! I sought to read both - but oops... I only read Jane Eyre. I absolutely immersed myself in that book, like I have no other. I read it slowly and relished every word. I watched the movie(s) and the mini series. I love Jane Eyre. I do. I didn't get to Judy. Lotsa stuff happening in the Land of Mike and I just didn't get around to it. I have it in my bag though and I will read it soon. (To be honest, someone wonderful in our close family is extremely ill and it is taking all our time and thoughts to deal with how awful that is. So if you've noticed that we've been a bit less us, that is why. It's not you. It's us.)

Now. If you read Judy or Jane - you can sign up for the Book Club blog and write a bit of a blurb about it over there. If you didn't and you want to, you can still go sign up here and have a go at one or both. BUT I'm announcing three new books tomorrow. So you might want to wait and see what you'd really really like to read!

Can I just say.... that if you feel you don't have time to read... even 5 minutes a day will change your life. It will help you to think more creatively, abstractly, imaginatively, dreamily. It will help you to focus less on the hum drum stuff and more on the possibilities life has to offer. It will help you to know that you are ace and important and deserve a teeny bit of time to transport yourself to somewhere else... It will help you to be inspired, and to know that people went before you and took the time to write down their thoughts and one day you might too.

So what the heck is stopping you?! Tomorrow there will be 3 books to choose from. All contemporary. Some short, some longer. So maybe you might like to join up?! See you then.

xx Pip

PS : Audio books and MP3s are not cheating!

:: My Place & Yours :: Bedside

Here it is! Thanks Lexi for choosing this week's theme : Bedside.

One side of our bed has a little day bed that I pile up with various stuff. I like to keep it adorned with crocheted things to make it super cheery and comforting. There's usually more books and things on the day bed, but today just my jewellery where I left it last night and one book. There is a ring from my Mum, a ring from Victoria and earrings shaped like scissors (also from Victoria). The book is the patchwork gift one by the lady from Purl. Those are Ari's videos.

I love the Ikea bed linen. I love it. I do. The yellow sheets are from Spotlight.

On the other side is a dinky Ikea bookcase filled with books belonging to everyone in our family, as well as some videos, DVDs and magazines. It's a bit of a communal bed, this one, with everyone using it as various times during the day for a quiet read or some telly. I like that. I do.

Maybe you would like to see more bedsides or join in?
Or even visit the Theme Queen?!

xx Pip

:: My Place And Yours : Bedside

image source


It's time for 'My Place And Yours'. It goes like this. The Theme Queen chooses a theme and we all post an image to suit (maybe even some words, if we feel so inclined!) Feel like playing along? Go on! To see what it's all about, you can find last week's episode here.

This week's Theme Queen is the ace Pottymouthmama.
This week's theme is 'Bedside'. Well chosen PMM!

Perhaps you might like to post a photo that fits the Bedside theme? I'll be posting mine over the weekend. If you'd like to play along, sign up below (or comment if you prefer!) : so we can come and see your favourite Bedside!



xx Pip

PS : Next week's Theme Queen is Ninon! She gets to decide the perspective/view that we all share in My Place and Yours!

PPS : To be a Theme Queen, you just need to join in!

:: Russinnet...

All via Russinnet
Lovely, huh?

xx Pip

:: The Wonder Years : Growing Up Crafty....

You know, growing up in the seventies, tucking into home baked snacks in front of the telly I liked watching shows about smart, savvy, funny girls who could do good stuff. I preferred Leela to Sarah Jane on Dr Who, because she did not hurt herself all the time and she was good at solving problems. Laverne was my favourite, way more than Shirley because she was so funny and never took herself seriously. And she worked at a brewery. I liked a bit of brunette glamour, hence my Marlo Thomas fixation and my conviction that Jaclyn Smith was the better Charlie's Angels role model. But you know, it was not all about laughs or glamour or saving the world. My crafty foundations were firmly laid too! Here's where ::

The Useful Box on Playschool.
I loved the Useful Box. It was a magical place full of paper plates and balloons and egg cartons and masking tape of the exact right thickness and stickyness to make any project. The things in The Useful Box always behaved in the way that they should. Things stapled together nicely. Anything could be glued with a dob of Clag. The textas squeaked happily. The paperclips, well, they clipped. Oh. Yes. I loved The Useful Box. I think, in fact, that I have based my home decor on The Useful Box. If you came over, you would see. It's full of useful things.

Olsen's Store on Little House on the Prairie
Gee. The bolts of fabric in Olsen's store were stacked in cheery piles of aceness. Laura Ingalls always got the daggy beige stuff for her dresses. Mary got lovely blue to match her lovely blue eyes. I secretly preferred the frocks of nasty Nellie Olsen. They made her look like a miniature saloon girl, all gaudy and bright and shiny with peeking petticoats and pantaloons. Bright and shiny are very good things when you are a little girl. I fancied having a bit of a snip at the Olsen's bolts, I can tell you.

Most things on Swiss Family Robinson
On Swiss Family Robinson, the Mum and Dad and big brother could make most things out of most things. A teepee out of some frangipane petals. A sofa from an unlucky crocodile. A dress from some pirate's underpants. They were the DIY family of my dreams. I wanted to live in their tree-house and sleep in a hammock that my Mum had fashioned from some reeds and sea-shells. Probably a panther would be trying to gobble me up unsuccessfully. I would foil it with a poison dart made from a hummingbird feather and pebbles. Oh that would be the life for me.

Alice on The Brady Bunch
Personally, I can see nothing more fabulous than standing on the retro-chic table in the Brady Kitchen, smelling the devilling meatloaf and getting my hem pinned crazily short by Alice. I wanted one of those A-Line frocks with the matching bloomers and cute pocket in the front. Hopefully it would have cute little heart shaped buttons adorning each shoulder. I would also be hoping that Alice would talk about Sam while she had pins in her mouth and a kookily set brow. That would be bliss.

How about you? Have you any crafty screen moments that make you all weak with nostalgia and make-ing-ness?! Do share!

xx Pip

:: Family Living :: One...

Images via Swedish Family Living Magazine : hope you enjoy!

xx Pip

:: What's Hot and Not....

Hot and Not time again :: thanks to Loobylu!

Hot ::
Emma Greenwood : her show opens tomorrow and me and my little family will be there because she is hot. And she sent me a two page handwritten invitation. And I love her.
Handwriting (see previous Hot)
Book recommendations. I have gleaned quite a few very great book recommendations from my favourite internet creatives. I find that hot.

Dudecraft made me want to read this : halfway through : fantastic
Sosser made me want to read this : love it a lot
Claire made me want to buy this : haven't made anything yet but such a lovely book. But I handwrote my name in it. (See previous Hot)

Hot baths are hot. Did I say that last week?! In those fragile girly times, it's Dettol and bubbles all the way at my house. And a book. (See previous Hot)
Halloween is hot. Ari is having a party and we are making bat cookies with black icing. Yick/Yum! There will be wheelbarrow races, tug of war, egg and spoon races and more cool stuff followed by a good scrub (See previous Hot)
Old fashioned fun is Hot (See previous Hot)
Crochet is Hot. Did I say that last week?! Just sewing in the ends on another blanket for Cam's dad. (See previous Hot)



Not Hot::
My hair. It's not hot. It will not behave. It does what it likes. It is delinquent hair. I thought I was past the age of delinquency. Apparently not.
Smelly things. I can smell every bad smell in the universe at the moment. It must be hormonal, but it's kind of like the bit in Where The Wild Things are where Max can smell good things to eat, only in reverse. And not good. And not edible. That is not hot. Begone World of Smells.
Dishwasher sand. Well, that's what Ari calls it. You know, that sandy stuff that gets on the inside of your glasses after the dishwasher has been on. What the heck is that grit? Does the rinse cycle water originate from some beachside resort? No. It's just from the regular old pipes and the regular old reservoir. It is not from the beach. It is not sand. It is just annoying grit. Not hot. Begone grit.


Join in with Hot and Not at Loobylu!

xx Pip

:: Owl City...

:: Remember The Good Ol' Days..?....

Cut & Paste: Nostalgia, originally uploaded by Chris Piascik.

Click the image to see more of Good Ol' Chris Piascik!

xx Pip

:: How To Tame Lions...

:: Clementine....

:: Little Folk Houses....

folk house, originally uploaded by ness donnelly.

Courtesy of the wonderful Ness Donnelly.
Click the image to see more about Ness!
Cute. Cute. Cutie Patootie.

xx Pip

:: Softies For Mirabel :: Crafting For Kids In Need...:

One of the good things about having a busy blog is that you can use it as a bit of a springboard for important community projects. 'Softies For Mirabel' is a yearly event that started on this very blog, but has spread all across the globe. Fantastic people like YOU make (or rope their friends into making) lovely soft toys for some really fantastic kids, those supported by The Mirabel Foundation.

We live in Fitzroy. It's a lovely, diverse suburb, full of art and life and great food and people from all walks of life. Every single day we see evidence of drug use in our 'hood. Maybe your inner city digs are like mine. Or maybe you live a bit further out and this kind of thing is a bit more 'behind closed doors'. The fact remains that drugs are a huge issue in suburbs all over the world, inner or not. And drugs touch the lives of all sorts of people. Some of those people are kind of people-in-waiting. They are lovely kids who have been born into a difficult life, with parents that are doing their best to juggle their responsibilities and their addictions. The Mirabel Foundation is committed to helping kids who are living this sort of confusing life. We try to help them in our own crafty way each year. Instead of burying our heads in the sand. We try and rally the troops and actually do something.

Some of the Mirabel kids have been abandoned, removed from parental care or even orphaned. All of these kids have witnessed a parent's struggle with some sort of illicit substance. Sometimes it is both parents who have addictions. That's a really tricky path for a child to navigate. I think that the least we can do is try to supply a co-pilot. A handmade kind of co-pilot who can always be trusted to lend an ear and provide a cuddle. Please help us do that. There are 800+ kids being supported by Mirabel. Let's see what we can do. Maybe we could get a softie friend to each one?! That would be AMAZING.

Please take some time to visit Mirabel and see the amazing work they do. The kids they support need a handmade friend to tuck in beside them and chat to. They really do. Maybe you, or someone you know, might be able to help make such a friend?! Go on!

Check out what's being made, what has arrived, what you can make and all the details on how to take part!

Thank you SO much if you have helped this year, or indeed in previous years! The Mirabel Foundation and the kids they support love receiving the toys you make. It's an important part of the work they do, distributing these cute guys. There is plenty of time to make a toy :: more than 6 weeks to go, in fact. So perhaps you might like to get involved. All the details on what to make and what to do with it are here.

Some heart-wrenching, important stories here. If a child can live these stories, we can be brave enough to read about what they witnessed, I think.



xx Pip

PS :: If you really can't craft to save yourself, then you can donate to Mirabel here and help to make a big difference to a great kid.

:: My Place And Yours : On The Shelf....

On The Shelf ::

These are some of my kitchen shelves. A lot goes on in my kitchen. And I have a lot of things that I like to keep on open shelves because they are so cheery. When we moved in, there was no kitchen, so we kind of threw one together on the cheap. Cam built it and I chose the colours. And then Cam painted it. But that was because I was back at the OLD shop packing and keeping shop. Not because I hate painting.... although I DO hate painting!!!

I like bright colours. Can you tell? I am not the kind of person to start with the old blank white canvas and then add bursts of colour. I am the kind of person to start with colour and add EVEN more colour. Good grief. I know. It's just the way I am. I like it bright!

Now. There's the Shelf of Sauce up there. We like condiments. They add mucho flavour.

Then. There's the Shelf of Sustenance. That's where we keep the tea and coffee and cocoa and lovely bracing, restorative beverages.

Also. There's a shelf with some pretty glasses that Cam found in a box by the side of the road. And then a few of my favourite Figgjo, Arabia and Hornsea bits and bobs, as well as lots of other stuff. Thrifted or from eBay in the dead of night.

So. Those are some of my shelves! Thanks so much to everyone that has already signed up to play this week. It has been SO cool to see everyone's places and shelves. Have you had a sneak about?! Do you want to play too? You can sign up right up until Saturday for this week's My Place and Yours theme. Then we'll announce a new one! You can post any day of the week.

Thanks for reading!

xx Pip

:: My Place And Yours...

I haven't really got a meme. But I think I want one. All the other cool girls have one. I feel left out. It's kind of quiet. My readers are like beautiful, ghostly ships passing silently through the night.... which I like. Totes I do. I like beautiful people. Like you. I do. But it's ace to see who you are sometimes. So I can give you a cheeky smile, ya know? So here we go.

My meme is called 'My Place & Yours'. D'ya want to play along? Here is what to do.

• This meme starts each Saturday. But join in any time you like during the week!
  
  
• Each week we'll have a new theme. The theme will be a place/perspective : out the window, in the top drawer, down the lane, at the post office, in the kitchen, at work, your cafe, under this, behind that, inside the other... whatever. Just a kind of common place or perspective we all will have. I don't want to take the fun out of it by suggesting too many - think about the things we do each day and the places we go, or utilise and go from there!
  
  The theme will be suggested by a different meme participant each week. So if you play this week, you'll be in the running to choose next week's theme. And so on. Get the picture? The person that suggests the theme is called the Theme Queen. Theme Queens will be announced each Saturday. Theme Queens might be boys too, if any boys are reading. I'm okay with that. I like boys. (Your link will go in the blogroll over there on the right if you are the Theme Queen.)
  
  
• To play along :: Post an image of the place/perspective suggested by the Theme Queen. You might just post a little vignette of the theme. Or a photo you took way too quickly with your phone camera. Or you might post a few styled up shots of the place/perspective if you're totally into it. Interpret it the way you want to! Simple. Plenty of room for movement. A little explanation would be nice too. If you can be fagged. And sign up below. If you please.
  

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I am this week's Theme Queen. Hurrah for me! This week's theme is :: On The Shelf :: Show us something that's On The Shelf. No spinsters or mother-in-laws allowed.


Next week's Theme Queen :: I'm nominating my friend Lexi aka Pottymouthmama to choose next week's theme! So check in on her. She's a smart cookie. And she's cute. And she's funny. Hurrah for her! All bow! We'll post next week's theme NEXT Saturday courtesy of Lexi.

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You can sign up below if you would like to play! (or if your browser can't see the Linky-List just add your link in the comments so we can click over and see your 'My Place & Yours') : I'll post my 'On The Shelf' image tomorrow. After I dust a bit.