We're leaving .... on a jet plane...

Em and I leave for Japan on Friday afternoon. Crazy excited. Going to Junie Moon, Tokyo Fish Market, this place to stock up on craft-books , the bar in Lost In Translation, Harujuku Girls and that's just the first two days. After that we're going to Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka. Can hardly wait...stay tuned for a million photos.

A new dress for Blythe...

Not made by me - but a good friend. Thanks Lindy. Isn't it cute?

I'm a Square

This is a long term project....a big blanket for next winter but I'm on a roll and can't seem to stop. These haven't been blocked yet...hence the wonky curl...

Once Upon A Time...

I spotted this cute Lori Mitchell reproduction figurine and couldn't help myself. I love the way she's clutching the little wolf and I'm a sucker for fairytale anything - especially Brothers Grimm ... and striped red and and white socks, too.

A walk in the woods...

Em and I went to the Grampians a few weeks ago. So beautiful. Most of this area was burnt out early this year when fierce fires raged for weeks and weeks. But the bush is coming back, soft greens and still lots of black but so lovley. Some crafting got done - more crochet squares!

I used to love these little toy machines; I remember jamming 20c pieces down the slot, hoping for a diamond ring or something sparkly - cranking the dial and listening to the toy drop down. These rubber balls were always fun, too. Bounce a mile high.

I've seen this book everywhere; on the web, in bookstores and I finally succumbed and bought it.
There's nothing flea market about the price - but it's one of those books the fire off heaps of ideas, for me, anyway.

It made me want to tear off to Camberwell market or white-wash all our walls or get hold of some distressed wooden cabinets. It also reminded me of a few buys I've missed over the years. Why oh why didn't I buy that huge, rusty wire circle with about 80 old fashioned keys hanging off it....for $15?

As expected, the photographs are pretty stunning, full of detail and colour. I know I'll return to this one again and again.

I don't usually take photos of people but the chain-link fence and the animal print made me feel as if I was taking a snap of wild beasty. Grrr.

If you've been dropping by you'll notice I've been experimenting with banners...only taken me over two years to work them out...Lime Green...that picture was of Emma, last year in New Zealand on Orepuki Gemstone beach where you can find: ''hydro grossular garnet, orbicular jasper, garnet sands, rodinguite quartz, simi nephrite, fossil worm casts, oil shale and elusive sapphire'' washed up on the sand. The rocks were amazing - perfectly round and speckled.

This weekend was so much fun. Friday night we saw Gwen Stefani - great concert. Half way through she ran off the stage - right down the middle of the crowd and sat up on one of the guard rails...way, way, way up the back and sang a song. She was surrounded by about four security guys but the crowd was so amazed to find her...right there, that everyone kind of gave her space. She was amazing. How often to performers get off the stage and mingle with the cheap seats?


Saturday we saw Irina Palm at the Melb International Film Festival starring Marianne Faithfull....loved it...moving, funny, brave. It's about a middle aged woman who gets a part time job so she can save money to help her dying grandson.

Yesterday we went back into town to see Spooks: Haunted Melbourne exhib...lots of fun and the perfect, wintry, Melbourne day to do it. Fabric, chocolate from KoKo Black, pumpkin soup in the laneway, and mooching around bookshops...perfect Sunday.

Also took some snaps. A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to go to the opening of the Pixar: 20th Anniversary Exhib at ACMI but I didn't get a chance to take a photo of the wonderful statues out front; ball and Luxo Jr lamp...very cute.

Going to do my best to get a little crafting down this week; something - anything - we'll see.

Chicken Normandy

Chicken Normandy, recipe from Luscious Affair Cooking School.


Free range chicken divided into 12 pieces or
as many pieces as you like.

2 finely chopped onions

100g butter

30ml olive oil

250g mushrooms

five sprigs of thyme

100ml of calvados (apple brandy)

5 granny smith apples, cored, peeled and cut into bit size pieces

300 mls cream

METHOD
CHICKEN:
Pre heat oven to 180 C

Cut chicken or have pieces pre cut and ready

Place in a large fying pan - on a medium heat - add butter, oil. When it begins to foam, add chicken but do not crowd the pan - you may have to do two lots. Sear chicken pieces on both sides (skin down first) until golden brown.

Place apple on the bottom of a large oven proof dish (like a glass lasagna dish - with quite high sides).

Once chicken is sealed well, remove and places pieces on top of the apple in the baking dish. Put in oven.

Return to you pan - keep on a low heat and add onion, mushrooms - cook gently, stir and add thyme and *calvados and reduce by half. Add cream and allow to come to the boil.

Then pour contents of pan all over chicken and put back into the oven for another 15 to 20 minutes.

Smell that thyme! Brilliant.

Serve with crusty bread (a piece on each plate to soak up the sauce) and crispy green beans and a we had a bottle of dry white, too!

* I didn't have calvados - so just skipped that bit. One day I'll make this recipe with the calvados because it really does add extra flavour to the dish.

Enjoy!

Super Craft

I think I might be a super-craft hero and not know it. I think maybe some evil, craft oriented mastermind has hidden the crafty equivalent of kryptonite somewhere in my craft-room and that's why, not matter how many times I march in there and decide to make something, I end up backing out because it's too cold, too messy, the planets are'nt aligned - I don't know. I see sparks of inspiration fly around the room...then fizzle softly on the floor and suddenly my great idea feels limp.

I think I need to start with something small. I've dragged out my sewing machine, I even bought a lamp so I could sew at night - but what to do? I saw some lovely pear-pincushions on craftster - they look like fun. I'm loving Theresa's new bears - just so sweet. Makes me want to get some mohair and have a go at making a tiny, scruffy bear. I'm often inspired by what I see over at Sweet Nellie - her little creations have such dignity - they all look so well read!

Tonight I (might) go to the first of four classes to learn how to crochet - so maybe that will help my malaise? Something small, warm and fuzzy to begin with. I like the look of this daffodil.

Chicken Normandy coming tomorrow.

I really enjoy cooking on the weekend - not as hectic as week day meals. Saturday I made Chicken Normandy for Em's folks, Uncle and Aunty - perfect for a wintry lunch - especially with a good drop. I was lucky enough to do a one night French Cookery class a few weeks ago and I really loved it. The chef made it, so this was my chance to replicate it. I didn't add the calvados (apple brandy) only because I knew I'd buy a bottle, use it twice a year and chuck it out. As the chicken cooked, the kitchen smelt devine. If anyone wants the recipe... just let me know. It tasted great and I was so pleased. Made me feel terribly sophisticated, cooking French cuisine and all!

These little birds? They sit in the spout of our pink tea-pot.

It was a rainy day but this tiny Geisha looked like apple tea and fans. Only problem is...she is one of 20 little dolls for sale! I think one will do but I spotted a sister over at Craftapalooz's flickr site. Have a lovely weeked.

Doing My Block

I've been collecting tatty, torn, scribbled on vintage kid's books for awhile now and then I came across some old wooden building blocks and DING! I've started recovering blocks with images that take my fancy. These are from the first batch...the second lot sort of tell a story about all sorts of things: Polar exploration, grand houses, maps, bodies of water, the Brontes, botanicals, fairytales, birds, clouds are coming soon. Thanks for looking.

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.