Sew La Tea Do

Got my crafty little hands on a copy of Pip Lincoln's new book Sew La Tea Do. And yes, one look and it's made me want to do,do,do!
So many great projects from a simple bib for a babe to a pair of lazy day pants.
Looking forward to picking a project to start. It's not only full of clever patterns but crowded with lovely photographs, too. And you know what's especially nice? Pip is made in Melbourne!

I've been stumbling across this book for years but have never actually read it. Now's my chance.

Jane-Emily by Patricia Clapp is said to be genuinely frightening and not for the faint-hearted. Excellent news.

Here's the first paragraph:

There are times when the midsummer sun strikes cold, and when the leaping flames of a hearthfire give no heat. Times when the chill within us comes not from fears we know, but from fears unknown - and forever unknowable...

The recent wild weather, rain, wind, hail has got me in the mood for some seasonal reading and what better book to read than a ghost story?
Susan Hill's latest (she also wrote The Woman in Black) The Small Hand has all the makings of a spine tingling read: a crumbling mansion, the ghostly figure of a small child, the bleak English countryside. I started it on the train this morning...


It was little before nine o'clock, the sun was setting into a bank of smoky-violet clouod and I had lost my way. I reversed the car in the gateway and drove back half a mile to the fingerpost. I had spent the past twenty-four hours with a client near the coast and was returning to London, but it had clearly been foolish to leave the main route and head across country.

It's a slim book (166 pages) so plan to knock it off quickly and get back to Franzen's Freedom.

Tommorrow: Jane-Emily by Patricia Clapp.

New Dress for Wanda

Why?
Why not.

Finding at Finders and Keepers

Dropped into Finders Keepers market on Saturday. Wow. What a fantastic gathering of great hand-made things - gorgeous, well-made and original, things. We had a jammed packed day so we could only spend one, tiny hour but I think I managed to see every stall. There was so many delightful things, a couple of hours more would have been ideal.
Here's a few snaps of the haul. Only downside was lack of caffeine. The poor bloke had set up but didn't have any power - no coffee. Melbourne. Shopping. No coffee? Not good. We got there at 10am and it was comfortably busy...I imagine things got a whole lot more crowded later on. Hope it did.

Love love love: this painted plate by Storybook Rabbit


& this very cute and functional make-up purse.


& this wee pot holder made by Pip from Meet Me At Mkes:


I picked up a lot of lovely business cards from loads of makers: here's just a few from my favourites:


frankie mag had a groovy little lounge all set up with a dj playing chilled out tunes. Really hope it was a success for all.

So glad I got there. If you live in Melbourne, hope you did, too.

Friday Round-Up

Weekend's almost here but this is what's been catching my eye today:


Anna Walker's blog - illustrator of All Through the Year and Little Cat and the Big Red Bus. If you haven't read her books (with Jane Godwin), you're missing something really lovely.

Sweet Paul's visually delicious online cooking magazine. Great styling. I can't wait to try the apple muffins.

Really looking forward to Finders Keepers Market on this Saturday and Sunday. Meet Me At Mikes will be there and Lark, too.

Tomorrow after the market:

*lunch by the sea with the out-laws
*a movie at The Sun
*dog walk
*reading
*making apple muffins
*crochet

It's going to be a good one. I hope yours is too.

Rockaway Taco - The Selby

A really lovely short film about bees, surfing, veggies and community.