Snoop My Stuff

I've had a lazy arvo on the Esplanade. Earlier I popped over to Kirsty's wonderful blog Kootoyoo and found a fun little post called 'Snoop My Stuff'. I love posts like this, that give readers a glimpse into their homes, their lifes, their belongings. Of course it's a wee bit nosy, but isn't it a great way to get to know fellow bloggers a little?  It's a natural reaction to want to see what we're each made up of, what inspires us and such.

So here's a wee peek into a little corner of my life. It's the board I have in my sewing room. I took the picture late one night, during one of those 'late sessions'.

My board changes as I take things off and add things, mainly pictures I've pulled out of mags, cards I've been given, notes to myself and little things I've made 'just cos' and have nowhere else to put them. Like the Kareina Day inspired peg doll. Made after a trip with my little buddy Imogen to the 'Dolly Makes a Dash' 1950s inspired peg doll exhibition. We went peg doll crazy there for a while!

My favourite Belle and Boo card. I first feel in love with the gorgeous illustrations by Mandy Sutcliffe in a shop in Clifton Village, Bristol, England. So not only does the picture on this card completely delight me, but it also reminds me of a gorgeous day spent with my mum. I also love the card you can just see at the bottom by Tiny Eyes or Dee Construction given to me by Allana from High Maintenance Hippy .

The picture of the little girl sitting looking at a book is the cover of a Little Golden Book, called The Little Book. I think she looks just like Maggie. And the picture of the jam jar with the twine is just to remind me how sweet things look in jam jars.

 The lamp is one of those 'I'll make one of those one day' pictures. The flower power fabric snippet is from Tessuti Fabrics. And the business card is from a Tasmanian company called Cameo Garden Art (03 6267 4553) who make the most gorgeous bird boxes from recycled materials, always a great gift.

Just a little peek-a-boo for you.
Oh one last thing, anyone wanna see pics from the big boys weekend I went on?

An Isabel Green Wardrobe

I'm not yet sure this will make it to the 'publish post' button and actually to 'my creative space' but it's something I've been thinking about for a while and I  just want to kind of officially 'log' it as an idea in the hope that it might actually inspire me to see it through. I find that sometimes, if I blog about an idea I feel like I have committed myself to it.

Have you seen any of the Nanny McPhee films? As well as being great stories, hilariously funny with awesome casts, they have THE BEST wardrobe and set design ever.

Check out those quilts, the brass beds and the floor rugs.

The miss-matched fine english china, the chicken on the dresser! the rear stable door to the kitchen.

Don't you just love that couch......oh so cute! And the blue painted wooden shelves for the special occasion blue willow china. Here lives Isabel Green. Mum to three 'free range' children, part-time assistant at the local shop and upkeeper of the most beautiful farm. Not only does she have the most adorable children and the most perfect farm house I've ever dreamed of living in, she also has a very impressive wardrobe. And this is where my idea is.

I have set myself a challenge to make myself an Isabel Green wardrobe!!! I love this beautiful blue tea dress, with the blue/purple lace cardi.

Dresses like these are just so easy and comfortable to wear. Feminine and flattering, cool on warm days, great with slips underneath on early autumn days and with jeans/tights and boots in the winter.

I already have a dress similiar to this one sitting at the back of my wardrobe which with the aid of a couple of doilies (although not splattered - private joke), I'm sure I can refashion successfully to resemble this.

But this coat is my absolute favourite. I just love the bright green colour. And when she first wears it in the film, in amongst all the choas she accidentally puts it on inside out and you see the beautiful floral lining. It'll be a very special project this one, one that needs super special attention.

There's nothing like setting yourself a little challenge hey? I'm fearful I may be biting off more than I can chew here though, the costume designer was also responsible for atonement and pride and prejudice.

See more creative spaces at Kootoyoo.

My Imaginary Life

I've been looking for new sources of inspiration, exploring what excites my creativity. I've visited my 'imaginary life' mind and dreamt of being a gypsy.



It's a wonderful, wonderful place. Sweet dreams everyone.

How are your piles?

A personal question I know seen as we haven’t known each other that long but I just seem to have so many piles on the go at the moment.

This big pile on the floor, we’ll call this pile number one, is things that I can’t wait to get to. A dress for Maggie from two tea towels I picked up when we were away. An Angelina Ballerina style toy for Maggie, with twirly whirly ribbon. The latest Mixtape magazine. The results of a glue experiment. Candlewick bedspreads for more jammies and bags. And right on the top, yes on the top, a crochet hook.......I’ve only gone and got myself a hook! I so badly want to be able to crochet but on a previous attempt I took about 45 minutes studying one illustration on how to hold the stupid hooky dude! A hook is definately a dude you know, not like lady knitting needles......so much attitude!

Cute vintage children’s playing cards which will become pictures, tags, a hanging thingy, notepads or somethign along those lines. All in good time, well only two weeks until the MadewithLOVEBazaar.....I’m so excited I could pee my pants!

Fabrics chosen by friend for a quilt.

Children’s books. I sell those that I already have.

Aprons for the market.

Doily pockets for the market.

These Christmas tags are taking a wee bit longer than I hoped to make, but still fun. Maybe tonight they’ll be a trashy film on the telly and I could do some on the couch.

Hh ha sister, a fan-dabi-doosie knitting machine. My gorgeous mother-in-law Shirley has very kindly given this to me. Many a gorgeous creation would have been whipped up on this as she is one incredibly talented crafter of prize winning bears, porcelain dolls, miniatures, clothes etc etc.

What's in your piles lovely readers? I'd love to see. Have a great weekend whatever you do.

Sorry For My Absence

They say "absence makes the heart grow fonder".  So I stayed absent and waited and waited but still there was no fondness for my blog and my words seem to fail me. Bum I thought, I've lost my blog mojo already. What kind of blogger am I lasting only eight months...........not a very good one that's what! But hey, I think my blog mojo may be back at last. Today (day 5 of our road trip) we arrived in Leura and I feel very very inspired to tell you all about it! After all it would be such a shame to miss this opportunity to share my road trip stories and discoveries with you. This was taken on day 1 in Trentham where we stopped for lunch.

We had been driving through central Victoria and NSW for 3 days whilst the rain continued to pour and a few bad experiences in towns less than welcoming made us move on. But this morning we woke up to a beautiful crisp sunny winters day and decided to head East towards Sydney, crossing the Great Dividing Range and into the Blue Mountains. Leura came upon us quite by surprise this afternoon just in time for our 'tea and pee' stop. Upon noticing a CWA market in a cute cottage, I shouted STOP, then added a little more softly "maybe we could have a really quick little lookie here pretty please you wonderful wonderful person you".

This kind of pleasant mannered begging has become an essential skill when pursuading a husband driving a campervan towing a trailer caravan in small narrow winding roads and towns to do a U'ey just for me to look in a shop! Anyway, he agreed it would make a good "tea and pee" stop so we clambered our stiff bodies out of the miniscule front seats of our campervan with Maggie chirping in support "walk, walk" and headed up the high street of Leura for a little lookie. My oh my, what a divine little vilage. Characterful heritage cottages, beautiful gardens and a small high street with wibbly wobbly pavements lined with blossom trees and speciality boutique shops.

I managed to get a glimpse in Leura's Toy Shop, buy dinner for the evening in Leura's Gourmet Deli and jostled alongside some students in a Leura's Vintage before closing time and pursuading 'the driver' that we should stay the night so that we could continue our little lookie in the morning.

Now, just before I go, I need to mention a few things. Firstly I need to apologise in advance for the rubbish quality of the photos I'll be posting whilst we're on our road trip, I've just realised that I don't have the same editing programme on our little old laptop.

Secondly, I can't wait to share some pictures of our little caravan with you now that we've finished the refurb once we're all set up in a caravan park in Sydney, so please pop by again soon.

At lastly, but most importantly, I want to say a massive thank you to Justine Telfour at Mixtape for featuring Baby Boudoir in the latest issue - All Around the World. Stoked I was to be included in such a fantastic publication, made my heart proper flutter. And if you've found your way to my blog after seeing the mention and wish to make a purchase from Baby Boudoir, just email me and mention "Mixtape rocks" to get 10% OFF your purchase. My bunting, softies, bags and quilts can be seen over there on the right so scroll back up to the top to see all.

One for the Soul

By the way, when I was going through the 'very old unfinished projects' pile I had stored in my grandma's sewing basket last Saturday night, I also pulled out this oldie piece of patchwork I've been pondering over for years. Just for an affectionate look and a little fondle.

It's a hand stitched traditional hexagon patchwork I remember starting when I was about sixteen whilst working on my mums tapestry stall at the Knitting and Stitching Show at the Alexandra Palace in London. I'm not really sure I like it anymore, just one to keep for the soul. It reminds me of those days at the expo. I'm not sure I really appreciated the amazing exhibits at the show at the time, but I was interested enough to explore the zillions of textile stalls and admire the works of Rowan and Kaffe Fasset. And I guess something must have inspired me enough to spend hours working on the millions of teeny tiny little stitches.

It was always the 'big one' for my mums little business and there was lots of pocket money earning opportunities for me beforehand counting wool, taping canvas and packing kits. Then mum would stuff her old Mazda 323 estate full with tapestry kits, drive up to London and set up the stall. I would catch the coach up on Saturday morning and help her out on the stall in return for a day to myself in London - that was a big deal treat at sixteen, I loved it. I would always go to the same places; Kensington Market, Carnaby Street and Camden Market in search of cool clothes, shoes and nik-naks.

I also remember the walk from the bed and breakfast we would stay at in Muswell Hill to the Alexandra Palace was just beautiful with some great views of the city. Imagine if I could go to the expo now, what a big deal treat that would be, how much more I'd appreciate it!!!!

Well Again

At last, again, I have a spring in my step. I'm enjoying the winters sunshine, breathing fresh air and feeling alive and well and it feels so good.  I've ruffled my tail feathers, shaked and washed the bugs out of the beds and there's cake back on the table.

There is fresh fruit in the bowl, fresh veggies in the pantry, yummy left-overs for snacks and supper in the fridge and freshly made biscuits in the jar. The house is sparkly, the cushions are straight, the yucky flu-ridden jammies are well and truly banished and the pearls and pinks are back on.

And I've even ventured into the sewing room for some quality time with a cute little project before I tackle the metres and metres of caravan curtains.

My oh my it feels good to be well again!!

Road Trip

I'm so excited I just can't hide it! Yesturday we bought a 1973 (yep same age as me) Jayco pop-top camper trailer for our road trip. This year instead of our annual pilgrimage to Europe, we're heading over to 'the big island' for a six week road trip. We have absoluetly nothing planned and that's where you lovely peeps come in to my master plan. I need your help!!!!

Whenever I travel, I can't bear the thought that I may have missed something hugely spectacular. I always like to do heaps of reading about a place and jot down the places that shouldn't be missed; beaches, shops, markets, cafes etc etc. That way you get to sample the best. You need a coffee - you go to the best coffee shop where the beans are roasted then and there (not just a dodgy highway road house). You wanna shop - you go to the best vintage clothes shop reccomended by Carrie Bradshaw. You wanna eat - you go to the cafe that has the best spaghetti in Venice. Whatever it is, why go to some rubbish place when with a little investigation, you can have a truly memorable experience. Don't get me wrong, this has nothing to do with price - just purely reccomendation. It's often the dingiest cheapest places that are the best!

Usually I'm ok hunting down these places, but when it comes to Australia, I really struggle. I need help here, please help me out. Which little treasured towns should I visit? Where are the best markets, curiosity shops, charity shops, vintage shops, fabric shops, cafes, restaurants, bars etc etc? What is not to be missed? Kim knows the coast and the best beaches so that's covered I just need to find some places to go inbetween surf breaks or whilst he's surfing.

So, we're travelling between Melbourne and Byron between mid August - end September. Do you have somewhere you can reccomend? Please, please, please share and I'll try to share my stories along the way. It would be much appreciated. More sneaky caravan photos to follow as I start to 'play house' inside.

Resist the Plastic!

With little Maggie-May's birthday recently upon us, conversation turned once again to present buying for kiddiwinks. I always procrastinate way too much on what to do for birthday and christmas presents for our little girl.

I want Maggie to grow up realising that toys and belongings are special, are to be valued and do not just get given willy-nilly to be then thrown away a month later when they become broken or get bored of it. I also want her to experience the joy that is had in making and creating toys, games and amusement ideas.

Check out this blog the homemade dolls house. A mother pledges to "engage in one-on-one playing for an entire year" and they create the most wonderful little 'dolls house' world. When I read this I thought it was just so special, a real character building project. I think it's so important to feed our children's imaginations, let them experiment with their abilities and express their feelings in ways other than the obvious.

I hate all those horrible plastic toys, particulalry those that have mass consumerism 'branding' plastered across them. I just don't think they're neccessary - like mosquitos! I'm also very concerned about the social and environmental issues in mass consumerism but that's a whole other soapbox:) But then I feel torn with guilt. Is she missing out? Is it unfair to put all this on her when she is still so ickle? But I guess she'll still get given all the 'plastic toys' that other kiddiwinks have.

I always like to make Maggie a present and when the gift she receives from us is as cute as this upcycled rocking horse, I don't feel so guilty.

Next time you head to your local charity shop, check out the toy section too and see the potential of those toys. It's such a good feeling to recycle and recreate.