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.

New Corners

Always love a bit a green. When I get organised, I'm really going to try to keep some herbs alive in the garden...

Another corner - more tins. I think I need help!

A flock of tin birdies.

Martha, Martha, Martha.

Travelling South

This picture doesn't really capture much of what's been going on for the last two weeks. Emma and I moved from the country to the city. Goodbye grazing cows and vegie patch, hello cafes, trucks and city lights. Picking up the keys from the real estate agent's was so exciting. We've never owned our own home before and suddenly, everything took on a whole new sheen....''our'' door, ''our sloping lounge-room floor'', our ''rusted spouting''...

We've spent the last 2 weeks rushing from one room to another and back again, which is much more fun than it sounds. I can't wait to explore the area more...we can walk to our local cinema, heaps of shops - even a bookshop...we can see the bridge from our bedroom window and on Saturday, we went to the local organic market in the park.

The craft-room is up and running but I haven't made much - too busy being thrilled that almost everything little thing has its own spot. A real novelty.

It's nice to be back.

Em and I and a friend spent the day in Daylesford on Sunday - lovely and wintry day, dark clouds, autumn leaves, chocolate and bric-a-brac, old books and hot soup. I was standing in a bookshop...looking out the window when this flock flew past.

This is a photo from a magazine. It makes me feel relaxed just looking at it...but I'm not sure why. I love cool minty greens and the pinks with the honey colours and the exposed beams. Sigh. When we move to the new house (in less than 2 weeks) I'm going to make sure I bring a bit of green inside - doesn't have to be fancy flowers, just something to in a pretty vase.

The Peggy's

From left to right; Peggy-Sue (she likes a drink), Peggy-Jane, Peggy-Ann and Peggy. Most of my craft supplies are packed for the big move, so this is pretty much all I had to play with; bit of fabric, glue, trim and textas. Can't wait to unpack everything at the other end...

Thanks for all the lovely comments about Theodore! I love Theresa's spin on his wonky leg...yes, I agree...Theodore is "waving"!
My town had a big second-hand market on Sunday & I found a large box of buttons for $5...some of them below. I made heaps of button pins for my pin board, which gave me the idea to use some of these wooden number discs I found about a year ago at the Camberwell Market. I'm not sure what sort of game Housie is - like Bingo perhaps? Anyway, I really like the look of them.

Introducing Theodore.

I saw the pattern for this dog in a Japanese craftbook about a year ago. I remember looking at it with awe, never imagining I would ever get to the stage where I would actually make my own. Well. On Saturday I had a go and looky what happened? I always thought that sewing fur would be hell but it was actually quite forgiving; hiding my messy/crooked stitching. I have no idea why, but my dog is much, much bigger that the dog pictured in the book. No doubt this will be just one more unsolved mystery. He took about four hours to make and I jabbed myself with my extra long needle about four times...but it was worth it. And yes, poor Theo has one front leg shorter than the other. Ahem.

Cooler weather means hotter food. I got the latest Donna Hay which had a recipe for Strawberry and Rhubarb pie. It was crazy easy to make, baked in no time and made the house smell of warm oranges and cinnamon. Hmmmmm

I know it's a bit late but I hope everyone had a good Easter. Made some last minute bunnies, thanks to Bez White's great pattern.

Hmmm. Note to self...iron tablecloth next time!

Party dresses and cupcakes.

Emma and I had some friends up for lunch last weekend...they have three beautful little girls, so what else could we do but make these little gems...when I took the cover off the cake stand ... they was an audible...''ahhhhhh''. Very cute.

The late rain bought a late rose...and

I haven't been doing too much crafting lately but making these Easter cards was a good way to ease back into it. There's something really satisfying about sewing paper on the machine. Vintage illustrations from Happy Kitty Bunny Pony.