:: Tipsy Clusters...

Hi!  Watchabeendoing?  I have been marvelling at how great the internet community is.  And how great people are. And just how great things can turn out! Yes! Yay!

I have been making an iPad cozy today.  And talking on ABC Qld Radio.  And visiting Lost and Found market.  And doing some more preparation for the upcoming Finders Keepers market in Melbourne. And doing some admin.  Hanging with my kidlets.  Talking on Twitter.  That kind of thing.

What have you been doing?  Are you having a nice time?!

xx Pip

(This crochet pattern is called Tipsy Clusters and is from this book)
(Woody Brooch is by Sniffle Co : stocked at Mike's or buy online here)

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:: Project Yellow Box :: Requests?!

Hello!

Did you know that I have been cooking my way through the 1970s issue Australian Women's Weekly Recipe Cards?  They sit in a yellowing plastic box with a clear lid : in sets of 24 and in various categories.  I know that a lot of people grew up with this recipe box (like me!) and will have a favourite recipe from it.  There are hundreds of recipes in the box, you know.  And did you know that Bridgette emailed me to ask about the Cherry Cake recipe in the box... it was her birthday favourite.  Maybe you are like Bridgette and have a recipe you would like us to have a go at?!  Why don't you have a think about that and let me know if you do!
I will dig it out and add it to the pile we are making!

Here are the ones we have done so far....

Recipe 1 :: Toffees
Recipe 2 :: Easy Mix Butter Cake
Recipe 3 :: Chicken Pie
Recipe 4 :: Fish and Chips
Recipe 5 :: Emmenthaler Schnitzel
Recipe 6 :: Family Chocolate Cake
Recipe 7 :: Meatloaf With Barbecue Sauce
Recipe 8 :: Tuna Casserole
Recipe 9 :: Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding
Recipe 10 :: Chicken In Nectar
Recipe 11 :: Baked Rigatoni
Recipe 12 :: Chicken Pot Roast
Recipe 13 :: Orange Cake
Recipe 14 :: Beef In Black Bean Sauce
Recipe 15 :: Hamburgers
Recipe 16 :: Health Potato Salad
Recipe 17 :: Coconut Ice

What were your favourites?! Have you cooked any of the recipes above?  Do you love coconut ice?!

xx Pip

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:: Alessi's Ark...

:: Eraser-Head...

Wow! How great! These erasers are really wonderful. You can view the entire collection at the lovely Iron Lace's Flickr. There are some really super great ones over there. Go peek!  Did you used to collect erasers?  I did.  I really liked the smelly ones. I also liked to collect stickers, especially Scratch 'n' Sniff stickers, swap cards, Barbie clothes and stationery.  I don't really collect any of those things now.  Now I collect mugs with other people's names on them, Bradley dolls, vintage kid's books and all sorts of mid-century ceramics.  Do you like these erasers?!  Who could NOT like them?!  

xx Pip

:: And A New Blanket, Too....

:: What Is A Successful Blog?

I got my hair cut off!

I have been blogging for quite a while. When I started blogging there were not a HUGE amount of Craft and Mummy bloggers in Australia. Things were a bit quieter and a bit less polished back then. It was pretty nice. I started my blog in late 2006. I was so happy to be able to self publish, I just kind of diddled along and posted cute stuff and people started to read my blog and my readership began to grow. Just like that. Pretty simple. Mission accomplished.

Since then, things have changed a lot. There are a lot more fantastic blogs out there. A lot more. There is also a lot more dialogue about social media platforms (like blogs, Twitter and Facebook) and their power to market people and product. In the fairly olden days of blogging, there was a lot less talk about authority, audience and success. Perhaps it was going on, but it was not as widespread, in my opinion. Now, in 2010, some people are blogging as a marketing tool, some people are blogging as a creative outlet, some people are combining both, and I am sure there are other reasons too. Whatever a blogger's motivation, there is certainly more focus now on attaining and measuring blog success.

There are a lot of blogging experts out there in Internet Land ready to lead you down the path to Blog-Cess (that is Blogging Success). You will find a bounty of articles suggesting you try things like aligning yourself with high profile bloggers, writing as though you are an authority to gain authority, linking prolifically to other bloggers and yourself, sending people presents, washing their dog for them, that kinda stuff. Okay. Good.

I totally understand that blogging can make you rich and famous and very powerful. In fact I have heard you can drive a speedy red car with flames down the side all the way to financial freedom, a cloud of smoke settling behind said car to reveal the license plate BLOGG. Cool. Ace. Rad. Do a donut for me and good luck to you, BLOGG.

Me? Well. I do not really like fast cars. I have my own idea of what a great blog is. Personally, I like to follow a more Pip-powered route to blog success. I don't really do the flames and the smoke. I don't even know how to do a donut. I like to keep it simple. If my blog is the way I want it to be, then I feel successful.

Here are some of my loose rules ::

• I try and make my blog look cute.
• I only blog about things that are meaningful to me.
• I don't take things too seriously.
• I blog regularly, even if it is just blogging something ace from Flickr.
• I talk to my readers a lot and learn stuff about them and from them.
• I only link to people I am totally exited about.
• I try and use a lot of my own images, without letting my blog be only about me.
• I change my blog around often.
• I blog about a wide variety of topics.
• I try not to over-commercialize my posts.
• I write in my own voice.
• I try and describe events and excitement from my own real life.
• I blog about myself but always blog about the work of others often too.
• I blog this way because this is my blogging style.
• I blog this way because it is fun and because I like it.

If I manage to keep some of those things covered most of the time, I feel like a successful blogger, I guess because I am staying true to myself and keeping my blog as my own.

I was wondering what blogging success means to you? Is it about the number of readers you have? Is it about how lovely your blog looks? Is it about calm you feel after you've expressed yourself and hit the publish button? Is it about your Mum commenting on your blog? Is it about traffic that you send to your other websites via your blog? Is it about the number of hits you get or the number of people who link back to you? When do you feel like the best blogger?! Do you want the flames? Or the smoke? Do you like fast cars?

xx Pip

One more thing :: Look at this video! It is me on Saturday... when I got to see my book for the first time... and before I cut my hair off, too!! Look how BIG my book turned out... that is mostly because there are so many full sized patterns in the front pocket. I am EXCITED! It is released in Australia on October 25th. Eep! UK will follow later and not sure when for elsewhere, but I will keep you posted!

:: Nice Baubles...

Do you like these baubles? I have been crocheting them to be sure that my Christmas tree is totally weighed down with Nanna-rific-ness! They are really very easy to do : I will post a tutorial next week so that you can make some too. The glass baubles are from Lincraft (I bought mine last year - not sure if they have them in stock yet) : but perhaps you can get them at other crafty suppliers too? I am sure you can!

Sorry to be scary Christmas lady. But you know, it's kind of good to think about this stuff early and then be one of those smug people who are lolling about drinking gin and tonics while the rest of us are caught up in the Yule-Rush.

Anyhoo. I give you my nice Christmas balls. They are not quite done : I have to hide my endy bits, but they are still pretty cute I think!  I hope you like them! Do you think a tutorial would be good?

xx Pip

:: Softies For Mirabel :: Sign-Ups Open!

Hello!

Okay! Now that you might have digested today's earlier post about Softies For Mirabel sign-ups are OPEN! Will you help us to help The Mirabel Foundation? State your best intentions by popping your name and link in below! I think this year will be the BEST YET!

This project really relies on the support of the Global Craft Community... so if you can make something, or if someone in your family or circle of friends can, then pop your link in below! (Of course we will understand if life gets the better of you and you don't make the deadline : we certainly won't hold that against you!) There is a little Softies For Mirabel image below, if you would like to add it to your blog, but you certainly don't need to do that, or indeed have a blog, to take part!

Do you think you will make something?! It would be so great if you did! More about what we are doing and why here. You can donate to Mirabel here.

xx Pip

:: The Fourth Annual Softies For Mirabel

Hello!

Have you heard of Softies For Mirabel? It's a project we all work on together and it is REALLY great and important.

The Mirabel Foundation is based in Melbourne. Mirabel was set up by the amazing Jane Rowe. They do really important work providing help to kids who have been orphaned or abandoned due to their Mum or Dad's drug addiction. A lot of these kids end up in the care of grandparents (who may be elderly) or other extended family, and it is obviously a really sad and challenging time for everyone. Mirabel steps in and provides assistance and counselling in all sorts of practical, respectful and positive ways to help these families. They do VERY IMPORTANT work and we try to support them in a handmade way : as well as encouraging you to donate to Mirabel. It's really vital that we open our eyes to the experiences of these families. We must not turn away. I guess this project is one way to make a small difference and let these great kids know that they are not forgotten, and they are ace.

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Here is what to do ::

We want you to make SOFTIES! YES! We are putting the call out once more to YOU and your friends and your relatives to spend some time making a toy (or many toys) for the Mirabel kids. Spend some time making something lovely for a great kid : because these kids might like a trusty buddy to snuggle down with. And because softies are very good listeners, right?

You might want to do this solo... or have a crafternoon... or do it as a school or community group. Upload your softie making pictures here so we can see what you are up to! The toys we all make will be displayed in the window of our store for ONE WEEK only! :

From Wednesday 1st December until Wednesday 7th December

So this is the week when lucky Melbourne people can come and take a real life peek at them all en masse. If you are not in Melbourne you can view the toys as they arrive here. We upload images regularly there, so you won't miss out on seeing any! THEN, the toys will all be sent on (carefully!) to The Mirabel Foundation to gift to the kids they support. Each toy will be cleverly matched to it's new owner with the utmost care. It's great that we all make these toys, because it saves Mirabel buying things to gift to their kids... and hand made is always MUCH better, isn't it?! Yes.

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What to Make?

Toys can be knitted, crocheted or sewn. Keep in mind that some toys will go to cute lil babies, so we need some without buttons and other choking hazards. But we also need some for older kids too :: so make the kind of toy YOU would love to receive. You can see some of the toys from previous years here (there are some great toys :: go look!!) There are some links to free toy patterns over here and also here and here :: if you have any links or toy ideas to share, you can do it here. Go wild, I say! You should upload an image of your toy to the Flickr group before you send it : Flickr accounts are FREE!

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You can send your toy to ::

Softies for Mirabel

Meet Me at Mike's

63 Brunswick Street

Fitzroy Victoria 3065

Australia

Toys need to reach us by Wednesday 7th December at the latest : so if you are mailing from overseas be sure to get a healthy head start on your making and post early.

You can sign up here!!

NB :: A softie is a handmade soft toy. You might call it a plushie or a stuffie or just a toy!

ALSO :: The lamb at the top of this post was made by Jess!

xx Pip

Other ways to help Mirabel here

Stories from Mirabel families here

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:: 8 Tracks :: September 23

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:: Project Yellow Box :: Recipe Seventeen :: Coconut Ice

Homemade Confectionery
Card 1
Coconut Ice


THIS was one of my superfaves when I was a kid! Did you love coconut ice?!  Did you?!  I love it still.  I do!  Yes!

 I made the second recipe :: Creamy Coconut Ice :: and yes it does have COPHA in it!  Maybe that will freak you out?  Oh well.  It is delicious.  We have all been eating it all afternoon, although Emma was not at all into the COPHA idea and she just had her garish fruit cake instead.  She does NOT know what she is missing out on!

You probably know that there is a different coconut ice recipe which has condensed milk in it.  I like that one too, because I get to eat the leftover condensed milk from the can.  I love condensed milk.  I once made condensed milk ice cream and it was totally delicious and even a bit chewy!  YUM!  That's how much I like condensed milk.  I must never have it in the house, I tell you, or else I will eat WAY too MUCH and Ari will give me a disapproving glance.

So, glances aside... I give you... Yellow Box Coconut Ice. Maybe you would like to make some too?!  Who could resist, really... it is CREAMY and super sweet, just as it should be!

xx Pip

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:: Project Yellow Box :: Recipe Sixteen :: Health Potato Salad

Super Salads
Card 1
Health Potato Salad


Hello!

I must admit I have a total adoration for potato salad.  I love it. In a sandwich ideally with some chilli and lots of salt and black pepper.  Or white pepper even. I love white pepper.  I know it's considered a bit daggy, but it is a really lovely addition to something needing a bit of a boost. Don't underestimate white pepper, my friends.  Sometimes I make a really simple potato salad with some boiled potatoes, a gloop of mayonnaise, a diced avocado and some spring onions and lemon juice. Yum.  If you like potato salad, you should try that, it's super good.  You can even mash the avocado with the mayo first, if dicing seems to green and messy.  That works really well too.

This recipe is called Health Potato Salad.  Yep.  Cam made this one night last week.  We had it with chicken made the Nigella way, which involves cutting the chicken down the backbone and squishing it flat, marinating it with nice things and then popping it in a medium oven until it is nice and golden and delicious.

I really like this herb filled salad, it's real Summery picnicky happy day food.  I confess I did not even eat any chicken, I just had the salad in one of those yummy Vietnamese rolls with chilli sauce.  It was tres yum.  Do you think that is yum? Do you like potato salad?  Will you make this? Or is this always on the table at your family bbq, already?

xx Pip

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:: All About The Show (And Our Show Tips...)

Hello.

Yikes. So tired and happy.  We went to The Royal Melbourne Show today.  We go every year and it is a big, long, fun, exhausting, ace, noisy kind of day out.  And expensive. It's very pricey to go to The Show. But off we went and we had a lovely time.  We saw Emma and Sam and Paula and their kids.  We went to the CWA for curried egg sandwiches and scones and tea in Pyrex mugs.  We saw some of the dog judging and some of the horse judging.  Ari and Cam had a couple of rides whilst Max and I hung around and tried to win a giant and unnecessary toy from the Blackjack stand. (We did not win!)  We watched people dive from a tall tower into a small swimming pool.  We saw a man set himself on fire. We visited the Cookery and Craft Pavilion.   We wondered about getting another puppy.  We wished there were a nice restaurant to eat lunch at.  We did a lot, really.  We came home with lots of showbags and some honey and tired limbs.  Nice.

Now Mr Cam is cooking Thai Basil and Chilli Chicken for dinner and I am pretending to work.  The kids are upstairs sorting out their showbag loot and Rin has gone home for the day.

Have you been to The Show?  Do you have an agricultural show in your area?  (A nice lady in the Craft Pavilion gave us a list of all the shows in Victoria.  You can find it here.)

Here is our advice on spending the day at The Show ::

1. Buy your tickets BEFORE YOU GET THERE : the ticket lines at the event are long (and pre-purchased tickets are cheaper)
2. Have a big breakfast at home!  Arrive at around 10.30am : get your showbags straight away : then stow them in a HIRE LOCKER : it is a good idea to work out which showbags you want (via the Show website) ahead of time so you can fight the masses quickly
3. TAKE YOUR LUNCH : the food is awful (except the CWA) take your lunch in disposable recyclable packaging and sit in the Public Stand or the Arena whilst you eat it.  You can see what is on in the various areas by visiting the Show Website. It's pretty nice to sit and snack and watch.
4. Wear warm clothes and comfy shoes : take a water bottle too : check the forecast and wear hoods if it might drizzle.  It's a good idea to pack some bandaids, wipes and painkillers for any emergencies... the show is VERY LOUD and MESSY!
5. Take a camera or a video camera : there is lots of fun stuff to record!  The overcast weather is usually ideal for great photos.  I always forget to video the rides... so maybe you want to be smarter than that and film your friends or family screaming and being turned inside out.
6. Rest often and be sure to visit the CWA for a snack of scones and tea : we went after 3.30 and it was nice and quiet!  You can also buy a tea cosy or a cookbook at the CWA.
7. Take public transport : it's quick and easier than dealing with the crazy traffic at Flemington and you end up right on the doorstep of The Show.
8. Try and see Oliver's Swiss Diving Extravaganza!
9. Make time to look at the animals : they may be stinky.. but they are stinkin' cute too!
10. See the wood chopping.  It is rad!  Dudes in white with axes and big muscles. Pretty tough.
11. Check out the cakes and preserves (and the crafty things too!) : very nostalgic and lovely : lots of school entries to cluck over as well as beautiful work from skilled and novice crafters and cooks.
12. Avoid the weird home-shopping type product pavilion : why is that there?!
13. Make sure you watch the rides before you go on them : some look harmless, but are really VERY SCARY!  So watch out for that if you are the timid kind!  Do not walk UNDER the very scary rides.  People sometimes lose their lunch in that direction.
14. Take a kid.  If you don't have one, borrow one.  Kids LOVE the show.  It's so nice to see how excited they get... it will make you even MORE excited about your day at The Show!

Do add your Show tips and faves in the comments, if you like!

xx Pip


When we went to The Show in 2008
When we went to The Show in 2009

NB : We are not affiliated with The Show in any way.  We paid for our visit, our lunch and our show bags from our own pocket.  This is not a sponsored post nor linked to any PR or Marketing Agency.  We just like The Show a lot!

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:: M.I.K.E...

Great vintage typography over at Agence Eureka....

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