Winter Watching&Reading

I suppose it's the gloriously gloomy weather, the short dark days, the snap frozen nights that's provoked me into finding new ways to hunker down. My current favorite is going to bed early with my Mac and watching a movie over a number of nights...right now it's Jane Campion's Portrait of a Lady. It's appropriate in a way because most of the performances (what a cast!) seem to be clipped, restrained and cool. Em doesn't watch - but enjoys the sensation of falling asleep at the movies...

Stacked beside my bed is an odd mix: Atonement by Ian McEwan (because I meant to read it three years ago), 5000 Spells (because it's the sort book that would have turned up in a Buffy episode), Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver about eating ethically (loving it so far) and dipping into Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard - it's so good I refuse to ever finish it - I just nibble at it.

So glad it's Friday! Looking forward to a quiet weekend of winter crafting, friends and soup. Last night Em and I saw the remarkable Circus Oz - they never fail to dazzle, lift the spirits and make you feel like your 8 years old again.

Reflection

Emma took this snap - it's a fence just next to our...but that tree cast such a beautiful reflection on the corrugated tin; all silvery and bright. It's one of the many qualities I love about Em - she's always noticing the beautiful little things. It's our 14th anniversary on Saturday. Wow.

I get a lot of inspiration from sticking things on a board...something about the way colours clash, little notes, swatches of fabric, post-cards, old tickets, photos or trinkets - never fails to get my mind buzzing. This is where I pin my things up - I like to change it around now and then.

If I see a pin board in the background of a photo...I always want to take a closer look...what's on yours?

inspiration SAY: inspuh'rayshuhn noun 1. an inspiring or animating action or influence - I cannot write without inspiration. 2. something inspired, as a thought. 3. a result of inspired activity. 4. a thing or person that inspires. 5. Theology a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul. the divine quality of the writings or words of people so influenced. 6. the drawing of air into the lungs; inhalation. 7. the act of inspiring. 8. the state of being inspired.

A Tiny Bit of Sewing

I'm rusty! This little duck took me about an hour to make. Fumbled with the needle, thread, fought with the machine ... but good to get back to a bit of making.

Can't wait to make more creatures from my latest Japanese craftbook. Got my eye on that piggy.

Long Shadows and Winter Sun

On Saturday Em and I took Toby to the Williamstown Botanical Gardens. It's a pretty small area but beautiful and often we're the only one's there, which is even better. The sun was glorious and the colours - everything looked internally lit up.

My weekend is starting a little early - hope you enjoy yours.

A Long Walk

On Sunday Em and I took Toby for a looong walk from Yarraville to Williamstown, which is about a 10k return trip. It was perfect strolling weather; weak winter sun and a slight breeze. We live around the corner from the West Gate Bridge, so tens minutes after closing the back door we were under the shadow of the mighty spans. Every girl and her dog was out yesterday, lots of kids on bikes and people jogging, pushing prams or fishing. It's so lovely to live near the water again. I especially like the industrial landscape of our neighbourhood (though I don't like what it does to the environment). There's lots of abandoned factories and warehouses, smoke stacks and tankers. Here's some wonderful photos Em took on the way and back. Seeing the beautiful cloud was a bonus.