June 2007

June 21st, 2007

The week that was, or; Do I have a shopping obsession?

After the mad frenzy of the week before last – the past week has been one of consolidation, rest, and er, shopping. I love how writing this blog shows me things about myself. Sometimes coming as a huge surprise. Like, er, do I have a shopping obsession?

I always thought I didn’t buy much. But I am now constantly buying things, filling the house with stuff and then writing about it. Books from the op-shop. Books from the fleamarket. Books from YesAsia. China from the op-shop. China from the fleamarket. Fabrics from eBay. Fabrics from Salvage. Fabrics from Global Fabrics. Fabrics from Frosts. Cameras from eBay. Cameras from TradeMe.

Oh well. Maybe because I am such a creature of habit and I know the shopkeepers so well now I don’t consider it shopping, but simply a form of socialising.

Or could this be what they call nesting? So… to add to my china, fabric and camera collections I have now decided to start collecting records because we’re having bit of an oldâ€“technology revival in our house and we’re getting a record player.

Which will go nicely with our new 8mm film camera from the’60s which came in the post today. Complete with original leather case and instruction manual. Oooh just look at it!

Last Saturday Kevin looked after Astrid and I headed out to, you guessed it, the op-shop, Salvage and Global Fabrics. With nobody telling me to hurry up, and both my hands free to rummage.

A gravy boat for $1. It’s Irish. Just loving that pattern. I haven’t even included books I picked up. There’s another post waiting in the wings for my ’80s book collection.

I did a little hop, skip and a jump when I found this – it’s tie fabric!!! Kay at Salvage had two separate people come in last week with tie fabric – something she’d never had in before. There were about eight pieces in all so if you’re in Auckland do go and have a look. The textures are stunning. There were also some bamboo handles for $6 (and there are more) so these little friends shall become a beautiful bag.

And on to Global Fabrics where my new favourite hangout is their offcuts bin. I went to get some wool in pink to make a jacket for Astrid. Instead I got it, reduced, in green. Plus some yummy black linen and corduroy. The pale fabric is just divine – hard to describe but it will make amazing lining for bags. She gave me four metres for $8 – which was half price of half price.

Did I mention they sell Marc Jacobs jersey knit? And the most divine Donna Karan linen in lilac *swoon*.

This is the jacket I’m going to make. Looks a little tricky though. It’s in Girly Style Wardrobe and the instructions aren’t quite step-by-step. So I may just end up making a dress from the easy book again.

Sunday I unloaded my entire fabric collection onto my sewing table and cut out, ironed and packaged up some lovely bits to share with Jen, with whom I’m doing a fabric ‘n’ bits swap. Yay! Here’s the little sneak preview of what went out. All will be revealed when it arrives in Florida.

My word; how the week has flown in a flurry of code and design. I love css so at least I’m having fun. How different it is from a few weeks ago where life was just a leisurely flow of photography, sewing and writing with the odd spot of work…

Have a wÃ¼nderbar weekend everyone :)

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June 21st, 2007

Scandinavian Style – Petit Pattern Book

I ordered this book a while back when I was putting in an order at YesAsia for another book I saw over at Sugarloop.

My order was about five dollars below the free delivery amount. I did think twice before merrily adding it to my basket, as it was expensive. Like $39 expensive. Eep. But it came with a CD and my curiosity was piqued. And why buy an $18 book just to make up numbers. May as well get something good, right? Yes.

It’s a royalty-free pattern book. You can use the patterns for personal and work use – ie for brochures, web layouts, business cards, but you can’t use it to make stuff that you are going to sell – like a range of greeting cards or fabrics for example.

But also – and this is a big but also – it is an amazing design reference book and fabulous for inspiration. It’s got some cute ideas for making stuff too:

The CD contains .eps and .jpg files and a template for a pincushion you can make if you get some inkjet fabric.

There is a total of 140 patterns and it comes with instructions in English on how to use the patterns in Photoshop and Illustrator. Plus instructions on making a wall canvas, shopping bag and aforementioned pincushion.

Oh, and just so you are prepared – it is petite – around a5 in size.

ISBN: 4-86100-386-5
Buy it here

9 Comments »

June 14th, 2007

And some rest…

Hey – thanks everyone for your wonderful comments on my last post. I am feeling refreshed after a day off and then a bit of a lazy day yesterday with just some nice easy, repetitive coding work.

And a nice photo for Vessel Wednesday in a different style from the usual.

Yesterday I bought a Lomo Lubitel 166 from eBay uk. One just sold for over double the price on our local auction site trademe. It’s just nuts what things sell for here sometimes. It’s funny because people here think it’s expensive to buy from eBay when in reality it’s often much cheaper even including the postage. Anyway – can’t wait to get it!!

In other news Astrid { from Norway – not my daugher } has just entered blogland – so do go and say hello!

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June 12th, 2007

All work and some play

Well, rather unexpectedly I wound up working full time as of last week. Phew is all I can say. My eyelids are tired as I write this and it’s only 7.30pm. And to coincide with this Astrid has started waking up at 5.30am when she used to sleep through till 8.30am.

So please accept my apologies if I haven’t visited your blog of late. My usually clear bloglines is now telling me I’ve have 296 posts to read.

The good news is I made a dress for Astrid.

And I’m about to make her some trousers. Both are from this book. I have three and I keep choosing things from this one. I think it must be the easy book.

I’ve also made a play mat which is 145cm square – so big enough for now – and when Astrid’s finished with it it will be a picnic blanket. It’s Cath on top. Natural calico on the botton and wadding in the middle.

I didn’t take any decent photos of it – so here is Astrid on it in her new hoodie that Joolsie bought in New York. She didn’t know why she bought it and when she got home from her trip she had an email from me telling her about Astrid’s arrival. She then knew why she’d bought it! It’s super snuggly and cute – and even has Astrid embroidered on the back.

I also painted a painting. It’s very detailed and I think just bits of it look best.

I’ve designed a range of cards which I’m getting printed up. And done my gardening photography portfolio for a local magazine. I haven’t sent it out yet.

I’ve also launched a client website, moved all my hosting from the UK to NZ (which was a major undertaking and isn’t totally sorted yet), designed an exhibition stand and designed and printed a load of business cards. I’ve been out to client meetings, won some new business and… and… and…

No wonder I’m tired.

And one final thing. I have got this book back out from the library. It’s so good. I just love the idea of repurposing old feather pillows into new ones. I do so love feather pillows and can’t wait to make everything in this book that calls for feathers!

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June 10th, 2007

Tamarillo toast

Inspired for the Breakfast Sunday group. Can you imagine how boring it would be if I just posted the same breakfast every Sunday? Muesli, oat milk, tea. That would actually be quite funny come to think of it !!

Anyway, I decided to invent a pretty breakfast this Sunday. Tamarillo on toast. It was actually very very yummy. The banana one was nicer though but not as cute.

Drizzle olive oil over a slice of freshly baked white loaf or brioche from the bakery.
Slice fruit and arrange on the bread.
Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon and add a squeeze of lemon juice.
Grill for about six minutes or until golden.

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June 3rd, 2007

Sunday Breakfast

Shula’s set up a new group on flickr called Breakfast Sunday which I think is a lovely idea as it provides one with a good assignment every week. In my mind similar to Vessel Wednesday. Yay! So here’s what I had – as usual – nut free muesli from Harvest with oat milk and sliced banana, and a cup of spicy chai tea (by default all organic, so I just won’t mention that anymore, ok). The soundtrack to this photo is Astrid crying. Loudly.

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June 2nd, 2007

Saturday dinner

Following KarenP‘s request to see some finished items – here we go.

Butternut squash and sausage casserole

In your lovely new Habitat pan, brown an onion and some par-boiled butternut squash. Add in sliced sausage (we used good frankfurters), cumin and a dash of chilli flakes. In the last couple of minutes add in sliced spinach and sliced spring onion (from the garden!). Serve on brown rice with a dash of lemon juice and a sprinkling of black sesame seeds.

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June 1st, 2007

Swap love

When I came back in from the garden this morning just look what was waiting for me on the doorstep. Super special and wonderful swap gifts from Laura in North Carolina. Look at all the yummy goodies inside:

A beautiful card of a Chihuly window – he’s one of my favourite glass designers – embroidery transfers – animal and garden – so cute !! Two copies of Blueprint – woohoo !! The latest issue of Adorn – super YAY !!! May Domino – wow I love it !! Knitsimple magazine – oooh great ideas !!! A lovely Burt’s Bees Baby soap for Astrid from Laura’s daughters Chloe and Maya – thank you – it’s so sweet and smells yum !! AND of course – the piece de resistance – Lotta Jansdotter’s Simple Sewing – the book that started it all.

I can not begin to say thank you Laura. And Chloe and Maya – that’s lovely you sent something for Astrid. Thank you sooo much – thank you thank you thank you !!

A quick glimpse inside these magazines makes me want to visit the States even more. Laura – I saw what the fleamarkets are like on Eren’s flickr. Oh my word !!! Just check out these aprons she got there.

Have a fun weekend everybody. Especially to you Laura and your family – big smiles and ‘yays’ from all of us in Auckland.

Here is what I sent (except I forgot to photograph the card I sewed with Japanese paper).

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June 1st, 2007

Fairies in the garden

This morning the garden turned into a magical enchanted forest with fairies, sparkly webs and frosty beams of milky light. Every day our garden and its inhabitants delight and amaze me.