Dream Weaver:: Natalie Miller

This weekend I was lucky enough to spend six beautiful hours sitting, chatting and weaving with eight other women.

What a rare treat!

I was so fortunate to be able to attend Natalie Miller's weaving workshop. 

Honestly, this was such a gift - to spend a day doing something I wanted to do. I felt so, so lucky. 

I left the kids at home with Matt for the day, and drove the green and beautiful drive to Robertson. All lush hills, rainbows, cows and  me busy daydreaming - wondering how I could move down this part of the world. Dreamy McDreamerson.

Although I am not what I would term an adept crafter (in fact I may be called the dunce), I had such a great day. It was the perfect therapy: making, chatting, drinking tea, eating incredible cake, and learning from Natalie. 

There's something about making something with your own hands that is positively life-affirming and good for the soul. 

We learnt about yarn, dyeing wool, weaving, and all from the beautiful, generous and talented Natalie. She's pretty darn ace. 

I'm now trying to finish it off at home, with Tiny very keen to help with the bobbin, and Happy Cat available to swipe the yarn at every opportunity. 0_o

Fruity and Fabulous:: By Jodie Nicholson

Pineapples are hot property right now. I'm not talking your topless variety from your local fruit and veg, or even the tinned rings from the supermarket. I'm talking pineapple motifs. If you haven't noticed, I don't know how you missed it, unless you've been hiding in a compost bin - and then I completely understand. Or do I?!

I was delighted, spellbound and instantly in love when I spied Jodie Nicholson's pineapple in progress (PIP) on Instagram. Here was a woman, with her bare hands, a needle and floss, creating a pineapple in all its spiky, yellow glory. 

Isn't it awesome? I want to show the world what Jodie's been making because I LOVE IT SO MUCH! 

And now she's turned her attention to melons. Dirty mind. Watermelons people. 

You must click over to Instagram and have a look at her beautiful handiwork as she documented the fruit salady goodness being created. 

And if you're in the market for this unique handmade pineapple piece of art - it's a steal for less than a pineapple - get it, get it?! (ie less than $50) - you could hang it on your wall. Look at all those teeny tiny stitches - so much work - who couldn't fall madly in love with these? They'd look so great hung together on the wall (plus that tassel talks to that watermelon, and it's lurve people, it's lurve).

Jodie has generously offered PMM readers 15% off until September 30 - just enter PMM15 at the register. 

Crafty? Calico + Ivy On SALE!

Pssst! If you're a crafty cat, you'd better listen up.

Calico + Ivy are holding a short and sweet sale from tomorrow for 3 days only!

Friday 7th September
Saturday 8th September
Monday 10th September

20-50% off fabric
20% off yarn

You had better hot foot it in store to make the most of the merriment!

image via here

Feeling Crafty (And Quiet)

Excuse my absence, but I'm under the weather, bored silly by myself, at home, literally bored with myself. Folding origami cranes, folding origami dogs. Folding washing. Folding my brain into a cube and waiting until this illness decides I am no longer good company.

For the record: I AM NO LONGER GOOD COMPANY.

This is a great book for smalls. Papercraft: Kathreen Ricketson. Thanks Lisa for the introduction to such a great resource.

The Worst Day Ever

Raining and cold, we woke this morning bummed about the weather.

Never fear. Matt was off to work and the smalls and I settled into some crafting, with the Doctor taking the lead and creating gardens for each of us. We were then to customise them as we pleased.

We pasted. We coloured. We cut. We stuck. We marvelled at one another's handiwork. We used straws as power lines, as flower stems, as pipes.

Then we watched a movie together, and the smalls started to get restless - so I suggested getting out of the house and go for some afternoon tea. Tiny was Pumped with a capital P. The Doctor, however, was not as excited. He was boycotting our outing.

We finally muddled our way out of the house and drove off to enjoy a cupcake and a coffee. By this stage I almost required toothpicks to keep my eyes opened. That rain was conducive to sleep, baby.

Tiny chose her cupcake, I ordered a coffee, and the Doctor's boycott continued. And continued. And continued. Until he was finally wooed by the fact that his sister was so into the cupcake it had disappeared - icing AND cake (unheard of!) in mere minutes. He finally succumbed to the cupcake.

We sat in the cafe for a little while, and then went for a quickbeforeitrainsagain walk, and returned to the car. Where the Doctor got a foul temper and declared today "the worst day of his life".

Must have been the chocolate cupcake.

High Tea? Crafty Minxes?

My sister, Sarah, over at Calico & Ivy has whipped up a delightful ladies afternoon.. Oh me, oh my! If you've not already seen it, Kelly Doust of The Crafty Minx fame will be hosting a decadent high tea and Easter crafting extravaganza (or eggs-travaganza if you want me to be cornball to the max). Aye carumba! How lovely does that sound...? It sounds delectable to this little pottymouthmama!

There are limited places so you'd better get in quick!

Date: Sunday 10th April, 2011
Time: 2-5pm
Address: Calico & Ivy, 10 Birchgrove Road, Balmain

Phone: 02 9555 9909 to make your booking!

Go Forth And Craft

I had another great afternoon at Stitches and Craft. This time with both the Doctor and Tiny in tow, so I didn't take any pictures, wrangling two smalls was enough for this lady. I also met my sister and niece and we went forth and conquered. An ice-cream at the end was the clincher for the smalls (though Tiny couldn't give a toss about icy treats, she just wants to walk everywhere).

We spent quite a bit of time in the Incubator section. Full to the brim with talent on the verge, it's a hive of activity and a veritable Aladdin's Cave with absolutely something to suit everyone. I could have spent longer there but the smalls had me on a strict clock.

But for what it's worth, I think it's important to support shows such as Living Creatively's Stitches and Craft. Where else do you get to find such a wealth of stores in one space, get some tips, and also support Australia's burgeoning crafty crew?

I've worked in the fashion industry, and I can see parallels even if it was years ago, it's still just as current. I worked with young designers to help launch them onto the international market - a couple of names that you'd recognise in high-end magazines. I did it because I believed in them. Because I wanted them to succeed.

But because the young designers were just starting out, it was the big guys who allowed them to share some of the limelight. It's an important cycle, and one that, without patrons, without vision, would fizzle and flop. It was always exciting to see the young designers mix it up with the doyennes of fashion. How else would the greats of the fashion world such as Yves Saint Laurent, Phoebe Philo and Donna Karan ever get a crack into the industry?

And if you think fashion isn't an important industry, then just think about the world-wide industry it creates (from designers, to seamstresses, to cleaners, to magazines, to textile designers, the publicists - the list can go on and on) - and includes people from all walks of life. Then apply that to crafting, and think about all the local (and by local I mean Australian traders) who are no doubt aching because sourcing from overseas has suddenly become de rigueur and so much more accessible. They're suffering. They're closing down. And in my eyes if we don't support local, we won't be able to stay local and that's a pretty sad place to be.

So while some of the stalls weren't up my alley, they might be exactly what someone else is looking for. If everyone was the same, well, there wouldn't be any need for a Stitches and Craft, would there?

After all, life would be pretty naff to the max without arty, crafty stuff. Support your fellow crafters!

Image via

Bright Lights: Fresh Talent

Today I did something wild. Spontaneous. Crazy. I threw caution to the wind and drove Tiny and myself to the Stitches and Craft show to meet one of my all-time favourite bloggers. I've not met very many real-life bloggers as I usually feel a little shy. But I couldn't wait to meet Nan.

Of course she did not disappoint. She's got a beautiful, abundant stall there and I urge you to shake your tail feather and get out there to show support for the exhibitors at Stitches and Craft. There is absolutely something to suit everyone. And loads of free activities to keep you busy.

I had a wonderful afternoon meeting awesome crafty, cool, inspiring bloggers/crafters. Kind of like Young Blood, but I didn't get turned away at the door. Oh and I got to see my sister too (she was working here).

In fact, I loved it so much, I'm going for another dip into the Stitches and Craft show tomorrow. Shall I see you there?

PS - The above are just a sweet sample of Nan's beautiful craftiness. She's a genius I tell you.

From the Adventures of Thrifty the Wonder Mama

I found some other cuties the other day on my thrifting adventures. It's funny. Well not laugh out loud funny, maybe not even funny, perhaps just peculiar. I do the rounds of the shop, then go for a second round. Usually on the first round I come up empty handed. The second round is when I yield the goodies. I get bamboozled on the first round, second round I'm calm, I know the field I am playing and I can relax and really look.

I found these beauties for just 2 clams.

I was thinking of making them into something (because let's face it, when it comes to making things I am *ahem* the bomb with my exemplary track record), given whoever made them put so much work into them, I wanted to continue their journey, but then my sister gave me the super idea to frame them. Enjoy them as they are. They're pretty spectacular no matter which way you look at them.

When One Pom Pom Is Not Enough

I love pom poms. They're so cute. Who couldn't love a pom pom? I dare you!

You'll be big stylie pleased to know that I have finally FINALLY finished the Doctor's scarf. This is an achievement for me because I have never finished knitting something. I have many scarves in the process, and they're all still around my house somewhere, but incomplete. Maybe it has helped having a child asking and asking when it's finished...? Yes. I didn't want to let him down.

Special thanks to Sheeps Clothing and Uli Shoes @ Beyond My Control for giving me the confidence to cast off - so I wouldn't keep on knitting and knitting the world's longest scarf.

Knit-Wit

I'm about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. I'm going to learn to knit. While I do know how to knit, I don't know how to cast on (my Mum and sister have always got me started). I am a very talented knitter - I can go from starting with 30 stitches, and wind up with 61. Takes a talent, kind of like making something out of nothing, right?

So this weekend, I'm going to learn to knit. Well start to learn how to knit. Good and proper. So I can make more than a scarf (that gets thicker as the knitting continues).

And how good is this? I won a super good giveaway on Knot Sew Crafty (that Alexis sure knows how to put together a kicking fun-pack - will you marry me?) - and what should arrive as part of the goodies? Two balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. Delicious!

And speaking of winners, three winners have been drawn for the Georgie Love Bouncin' Birthday giveaway by the random number generator. I can't do screen grabs, but here are the lucky punters:

- JessicaNeale

- Hoppo Bumpo

- Pepper

Please email me with your addresses and I will post your prizes out ASAP! I will have the Doctor randomly draw the prizes out lucky dip stylie.

An Eggy Update

Have you ever had eggnog? I've not, I used to think it sounded terribly romantic, until I read a recipe and realised that it truly involves eggs. Ik! Eggs are not so romantic in my book. However, the Doctor and I have been getting into our Easter crafts with great aplomb, there goes my house cleaning for the morning. Oh well. We've got results peeps, and they're quite cute.

First up for this morning: foam eggs. We painted two of these babies with a mix of acrylic paint and PVA glue. This seals the foam and allows for an optimum work surface. We also stuck a wooden skewer in them to minimise paint/PVA mess, and fingerprints on the egg. This is just the first step on this egg craft journey. Stay tuned.

Second egg craft activity: foam eggs with fabric scraps. PVA glue is required again, wooden skewer is optional (I went without, the Doctor went with), I chopped up small scraps to make them even smaller, then we went to work sticking them randomly onto the foam egg. I wonder if you can guess which is mine and which is the Doctor's?

Third egg craft for today: as blogged about earlier, this one's straight from Amber's idea factory. It's easy and quick to realise your Easter egg dreams. All you need is some cardboard, an egg shape (I used a cookie cutter and drew freehand because my middle name is Matisse - ok ok, it's not, but it could be if I changed it by deed poll), some foil, some paint and some cotton tips, or the end of your paint brush. Here's where my key learning comes in for today. Don't put out more than 2 paints, unless you dig on the colour brown.
You know brown is great if it's chocolate, dirt, cake or a little cat or shaggy dog, but I am not a big brown fan. I saw a woman on the weekend dressed head to toe in brown. I'm talking, dark brown hair, brown sunglasses, brown top, brown skirt, brown tights, brown shoes, brown handbag, everything BROWN. Hey lady, you're not a gigantic walking, talking poo, stop with the brown.

Back to the crafting at hand. A good time was had by all.

Oh we did manage to do one other crafty eggy thing. I picked up this neat little pack of dyes from the local IGA (for international readers, that's a small, independent, local supermarket) for next to nix. We popped some boiled eggs in the dye mix and look at those colours. Loving them.

And now friends, it is time for the small fry to sleep and for me to make hay.

Average April

There's nothing wrong with being average. Most people are average on first glimpse, though once you take a closer, longer look, they are supersonic. Charge your glasses, because FINALLY Magical March is at a close. Phew. There were days when I didn't think I would make it all because of the pressure of my own sodding project, but I've made it out the other side. Thanks to everyone who participated.

As part of April I am going to be blogging daily about what's average in my life. Just jokes. BUT - exciting things happening here right now-skis...:

- received my copy of Meet me at Mike's - so exciting, can't stop looking at it. But where to start? 26 projects to choose from... Where are you starting? At the start?

- my Mum brought down my grandmother's sewing machine. The one that was missing the pedal. Yes. Now thanks to my Mum it has a pedal and is ready to roar into the evenings. I've been practising sewing making a bath mat and towel for the Doctor's doll house

- we're getting ready for the Super Dooper Mail Swap organised by Christie at Pigeon Pair. The Doctor's excited big stylie to get some mail, and we're super excited to be getting crafty with some postcards. Just don't expect too much from us, alright?

- my Dad thinks I seriously think alright is spelt awright. Nope - Dad I really know how to spell it, I was just being a geezer

- it's raining and I love the rain. Perfect for snoozing

- I played a really great April Fool's joke on my sister - yeeehaaaaw!

- Easter is JUST AROUND THE CORNER - giddy up, Easter craft here we come.

Magical March: I Dream of Genie (Day 25)

I really do. Well I wish I did. I wish I lived in her little pot, all pink and purple cushioned goodness, a few over the top gold highlights, swathes of chiffon, ah I can feel it. Fake eyelashes that go for miles, are you feeling it?

Matt has a severe case of man-flu, Tiny is vomiting and the Doctor has a rash across his chest and it's creep-creep-creeping.

Feeling it yet?

I need distraction peeps! Anyway. Let's talk harem pants. I bought 'em. I'm wearing 'em. But am I wearing 'em correctly? You see, I'd like to be rockin' 'em, but I'm just a little scared. Can't touch this.

While trawling the internet for how to instructions I found this little cutie.

Sorry for the tangent, but cute, style savvy little zeitgeist - we adore you.

And here's my go-to for how-to. Got any tips on how to rock the kasbah in my harems?

For something magical, if you're not feeling the magic of the harem pants, well here's a shot of our crazily dishevelled craft drawer courtesy of the Doctor and his spur of the moment craft activities. Today - hotting up his cardboard box car with dinosaur stickers.

My piece of magic that I take from this. More doilies. Can't. Get. Enough.

Hook, Line & Sinker

I can't crochet. I won't even pretend. Heck. You know me, I've been learning to embroider and learning to sew clothes. I certainly can't get with the hook - not yet anyway.

But for all you hookers out there, I thought you might be interested in this awesome project I came upon whilst on Facebook (yes, yes already told you it was a slow Saturday night).

As a contribution to the world-wide phenomenon initiated by The Institute for Figuring, In Stitches Collective is facilitating the creation of the ‘Sydney Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef’ to be exhibited publicly in August 2009. They're inviting people to become involved in this wooly celebration of the intersection of higher geometry and craft, a testimony to the disappearing wonders of the marine world. An inclusive collaboration that builds environmental awareness and links communities through science, mathematics, art and craft. It's a collective project that already involves thousands of people worldwide and continues to grow exponentially.

By hook or by crook you should get involved. BOOM! BOOM! Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

You can learn more here.. Or visit the blog here. Or read about it on SMH here.

Latex Is A Tricky Thing To Sew (the post also known as: Luckily Christmas Happiness Was Not Dependent On My Sewing Prowess)

Remember these? Remember how I was going to whip up some customised washing up gloves for my husband? I was to be the creator, Santa was to be the courier. Couture gloves. He would have been the fashionista up to his elbows in washing up bubbles. The Sartorialist may have snuck some photos of his hot dishpan hands.

Who needs instructions I say? I've got eight sewing lessons under my belt. Who needs to ask for help? No, not I said the little Red Hen.

Apparently latex is difficult to work with. I now know this.

Apparently this project wasn't as simple as I was thinking it might be. But Cath made it look so darn simple. Hmph and a belated bah humbug! I was going to whip these up for every kitchen-lovin' person I knew. They would have been the talk of the kitchen.

Apparently we've now got one heck of a messy glove with black and white gingham trim, and the other lies next to it, dormant.

And apparently I should have looked to see if there were instructions before I embarked on this festive (festy?) project. There are instructions, simple, effective instructions.

Thank goodness the weight of Christmas joy was not resting on my creative shoulders. Otherwise, there would have been a whole lotta tears. Enough to fill the sink.

Speeding Into Christmas: Making Paper

I did try and post this yesterday but my connection went haywire.

Take two.

I'm into making my own paper. Well not entirely. I bought a roll of brown paper at the newsagent. I painted it with speed stripes in aqua. They're wonky in a wholesome John Olsen sort of way. Rothko might even be proud.

So now I'm wrapping like a maniac to get everything posted to Perth on time.

However, on the subject of (w)rapping. Did anyone catch 'Aussie Battlers' last night on ABC? It was great. Modern day poets. I've been practising my own:

'Some days your breath smells so bad

They can smell it all the way over in Baghdad'

What do you think? For reals. My MC name could be PottyMouthMama. Battling in an amphitheatre near you.

Christmas Charm

I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping - thank goodness for that - we've sent our presents off to family in Vietnam, to Victoria, and so now I'm just fine tuning the remainder.

Thanks to everyone for the pointers for the bulldozer for the Doctor. I think we've settled on one now, it ticks all the boxes the Doctor requested, so that's big ups to you dear readers!

Tiny's first birthday is sneaking up on us too - but I've already done all her Christmas and birthday shopping - the little girls are so easy to shop for!

So the Doctor and I have been indulging in a wee bit more Christmas craft. This time, from a bulk pack of Christmas stuff I grabbed at Riot Craft the other day in my sick-o haze. This is the end result. I was cooking dinner, the Doctor was madly crafting. Like the 3D nature of the foam stickers? That's layers and layers of reindeers. WOW! Nothing in moderation, we go by the Marie Antoinette mantra.

Currently we're wrestling with the notion of Christmas gifts. If I say we're heading out to do a spot of Christmas shopping, the Doctor instantly thinks there's something in it for him. Needless to say, when he discovers the truth, there's a small present in store for Mama in the shape of a tantie. Ahhh love it.

Oh - one last thing - yesterday when I posted my response tag - in particular point 1 - well the police arrested that dude (who was going by the name of Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater) - and lo and behold - he was back out the front of our house the very next morning. Ain't life grand? I never stayed another night in that unit - particularly after the weird stories my flatmate decided to share with me (ie she'd leave for work and her window would be closed, return home and her window would be open; the people upstairs had come home to dirty footprints through their house - nothing taken, nothing touched, just filthy dusty footprints, oh and not to mention the face pressed up against the bathroom window when her sister was in the shower - thanks for sharing this before I moved in). Creepy.

Look At Me Go!

I've been stitching up a storm - I'm loving this new rhythm. Maybe it's the sick me that allows me to stitch. Most of the time I'm running around like a blue-bottomed fly, but the sick me lies on the couch stitching and falling in love all over again with Gilbert Blythe. You try and tell me you're not a sucker for this classic.

See my colouring in? Well I was only going to do a few petals, however, once I started, that gentle rhythm took over and now that I look at it... Well I think it would look like I'd just been a little lax with my stitching and couldn't be bothered. And my friends - that would never do. Onward stitching soldier.

Matt tells me it's starting to take shape like a stained glass window. I love this. I love stained glass windows (there's nothing like that perfect hue of blue bright and bold with sunshine bursting through - take a look when next you're inside a church).

Anyway - I know I've piqued your memory - go on, here you go.

PS - If you haven't already - enter my Kimya Dawson giveaway. You don't have to have a blog - just a way for me to contact you. Don't be shy!

Kiddie Craft:: It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

We've been doing a little 'therapeutic' crafting around here. A little Christmas kiddie craft. I grabbed a few things at the craft store, in a blaze of popping ears and a toddler talking a million miles an hour, even though I couldn't hear a thing.

A few things. A few sparkly things. I felt a little bamboozled. I always do when I'm faced with so many options. I was a bit unsure that the Doctor had the fine motor skills for this one. But to my pleasant surprise, it was a good crafting activity for concentration and to sit side-by-side and craft and chat. Nice.

Sparkly disco Christmas trees.

The Doctor's tree is the one with the large sequins. You can cover a lot of ground with those sequins, which I think for a three and a half year old is very attractive. Plus, it was a lot less fiddly than the small stars. He did start with stars, then went with the sequins.

But fear not. I don't decorate 'til December. So while we're in the throes of making decorations, they're not out yet. I'm not living in a department store.