Paumes I Love You

I came across these books on my first trip to Tokyo a few years ago. Unassuming, their brightly coloured spines and small shape caught my eye...then I opened one.

Despite the fact that each book is entirely in Japanese, these books have provided enormous inspiration. Each title focuses on a different form of interior designs: children's room, gardens, shops in France or UK, artists studios, small living spaces, kitchens on and on. The images are like a jumble of snapshot, each one revealing a charming detail or flash of colour.

I've noticed I'm not alone in my admiration; Loobylu (http://loobylu.com/), The Lark - you can buy some there (http://the-lark.blogspot.com/) and Yarnstorm (http://www.yarnstorm.blogs.com/jane_brocket/) are all fans.

Ahh Paumes.

Blurrrr - the weekend.

It happened. I know there were like - two whole days called Saturday and Sunday jammed in there but they whizzed by so fast - here's why.

Friday night - home but watched Wil Ferrel in Step Brothers. Bad movie but some funny spots. Okay. I was tired. I laughed a lot.

Saturday we went to Readings (for good books The Big Sleep and Jane Eyre coffee mug) and Borders (for good magazines) and went to the Florence Broadhurst (http://www.signatureprints.com.au/aboutus/aboutus_flobro.html) Pop-Up store down at Docklands. Now I do like a bit of Flo but I'm not super mad about her but lots of shoppers had a glint in their eye.

Saturday night we had a lovely dinner with Em's folks and saw the breathtaking Tokyo String Quartet (http://www.tokyoquartet.com/) at the new(ish) Melbourne Recital Centre. I'm not a classical music groupie but these guys were amazing. I'm so used to using my eyes to "see" an experience, it was kind of lovely to rely on another sense - it sounds obvious but it was an entirely different experience. A good one.

Sunday we were up early to see a sneak preview (very lucky, we are) of A Day in Pompeii exhibition at the Melbourne Museum. It was so fascinating and moving, especially the casts of the bodies that were discovered meters under the ash. You can also watch a seven minute 3D movie that gives an hour by hour account as the catastrophe unfolded. Pretty amazing. You can't help but focus on the human toll that day and how terrifying the experience must have been. There's also quite a few original pieces on display, including a gold bracelet engraved "To a slave from her master...". It opens on the 26 June.

Sunday afternoon we went to see Angels and Demons. The Sun Theatre is right near us, so we went for convenience rather than a burning desire (pardon the pun) to see Tom Hanks run around Rome! Ahhh. Sunday night. Roased pumpkin soup and Season Two of Big Love. Yes it was a good one. Hope yours was too.

Check out them apples.

Take a moment, would you? Just look at this beauty made by Craftapalooza (http://craftapalooza.typepad.com/crafted/). It's one half of a swap. This apple might look good here but let me tell you, up close, it's even better.
Not To Self:finish your half of swap this weekend.

She Sells Sea Shells

Weekend spent near the sea. Lovely house, good friends, big fire, wine, cheese, stories. Perfect. Lucky, lucky, lucky.

Work In Progress

After what feels like ages, I'm back in the craft-room and working on a little project. Most evenings I've been crocheting squares, so it was great to do something different.

This is a wrist-let for a friend. We've organised a wee swap, so I'm very excited. I've even done a bit of planning (most unlike me). See my lovely Derwents? I've had them for years and years; bit of sketching is required and some sewing and some swearing as I try and "write" using my Janome. I'll take snap when I'm done.

Which one doesn't belong?

Well, I'm still making squares. I got so impatient that I decided to start putting the blanket together - one square at a time! What was I thinking? I'm about 4o squares short and counting.

What?
Oh. The fish. His name is Fred (I think). He lives in Yarraville in a bottle shop window. According to his owners he's 45 years old. That's right. That fish is older than me - but I fear he never got the chance to see much of the world...