What I'm Reading, Eating, Listening to and Loving...

Reading

I've just finished reading Lisa Congdon's latest book, Art Inc., an artists guide to building their career. I found it instructive and I think it would be useful for any creative business person.

For my neighbourhood book club, I recently finished Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None - the best selling mystery novel ever and one of the best selling books of all time. I love that book club challenges me to read novels that fall outside of my usual well worn genres. And honestly, this book did not disappoint. It also made for excellent book club discussion. (I am so lucky to have such awesome neighbours, who started a book club years before I moved here, and invited my to join before our house contract had settled, three years ago!)

Next in line is Tim Winton's Eyrie for the final book club of the year, and Meg Stewart's Margaret Olley: Far From A Still Life, chosen as a result of falling in love with Olley's work after our trip to the Margaret Olley Art Center. And finally as a book that was recommended to me, The Happiness Trap.


Eating

As the fabulous flush of Mulberries on our tree diminishes, we are eating fresh handfuls of berries picked daily, and baking with our frozen berries.

Mulberry Muffins

Mulberry and Strawberry Crumble Recipe

Listening to

You know I love to listen to pod casts while I'm working at the jewellery bench, and when I have run out of episodes of After The Jump, or Stuff You Missed In History Class, I have been trying out some newer pod casts, like the long form news style Serial, from Ira Glass and team, and the creative and inspirational Raise Your Hand. Say Yes. by Tiffany Han.


Loving

Afternoon sunlight peeking in our rooms.
The imagination that comes to life in my children with the addition of a cape and mask.
My Belinda Marshall 2015 Wall Calender has been pre-ordered. Swoon!
A Little Bit Crafty - with some of my most loved makers inside, this is on my wish list.
Jacaranda trees blooming in purple all over town.
Two passionate people with a start up worth supporting, The Nursery Project.

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Please share a few of your own reads, eats and favourites in the comments!

10 Things I Love

1. Cardigan weather

2. Mismatched plates

3. Fresh sheets

4. Hydrangeas

5. Handmade soap

6. Vintage sewing baskets

7. Old orange spined Penguin classics

8. Thrifted hand knits

9. Beach glass

10. Unexpected mail

Love love lady tagged me on Instagram to share ten things I love. 

Now it's your turn!

Join in, write a list and let me know.

Right Now

Recovering: After a week of illness, I'm beginning to feel normal again. The Dr suspected Glandular Fever, which I had as a child. It was a stressful wait for the blood test results, and a great relief when they returned negative.
Reading: Great Expectations for book club. I'm half way through with a week to go...not loving my chances of finishing it in time, though I am determined to finish it.
Loving: This season of strawberries and mulberries. Homegrown fruit on our breakfast each morning is such a treat.
Realising: I just can not watch scary movies - just glimpsing part of a movie Dave was watching gave me nightmares for two nights!
Cooking: Smoked salmon, sliced black olive and caper pizza - sooooo good!
Knitting: A small jumper from a thrifted Patons knitting booklet, using the lovely Quince & Co. Tern I have had sitting in my basket for some time. A quick, satisfying knit intended to take my mind off being unwell.
Anticipating: The arrival of this book - about knitting, need I say more
Hoping: For a lazy, rainy weekend

Housekeeping + Links

I put my computing skills to the test this morning. I have managed to update the Tutorials page and make some cute little mosaics with text thanks to picmonkey. There is no before shot of the tutorial page, as the whole lot was rather lack luster I'm afraid! I have also worked out how to use the 'pages' links below the blog header more effectively. Now they take you straight to the page, for instance straight to my Shop, rather than to a separate page on the blog that you need to click on once more to get you to the shop. This is probably not nearly as interesting or as exciting for anyone else as it is for me. But it has been something that has been bugging me. (If you are interested, you use the html of the linked word as your page header.) Now, if only I could work out why the spacing between the page text has gone awry...

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Also, have you seen Pip's blog school? The inspiration for this little bit of blog fixing.
I think these woven labels would be the perfect addition to a hand knit sweater as well as embroidery.

These watercolour portraits are a wonderful and clever idea.

If you are in Brisbane make haste! There are only two days left until the Portrait of Spain: Masterpieces from the Prado closes.

This Tomato Jam from Food in Jars is on my to do list.
And, thank you all so much for the kind words about the ornament tutorial! You are all so sweet and make me feel special indeed.

Here's to a wonderful weekend.

Loving Brooches

L-R: Typewritter brooch, Polaroid Wood Brooch, Cute Red Fox Brooch,
Geometric Deer Brooch, Sleeping Cat Brooch, Geometric Bear Brooch,
Lady with a bird, Mini Book Pin,White Summer Cloud Ceramic Brooch.

In my head the way I dress is a reflection of my self and my tastes. Ideally, my clothes would be a selection of vintage dresses, hand knitted cardigans, funky tights, beautiful hand bags and glamorous heels. A little like this lovely lady. (Oh, how I would love to raid her wardrobe.) And while this is true to a lesser degree, the majority of the time I can be found wearing dark jeans, an assortment of coloured flats (perfect for chasing a toddler), vintage inspired tops (that I can breastfeed in) and a collection of new and thrifted cardigans (occasionally handknit) with a simple black nappy bag (that was sporting a brooch, from the Gallery of Modern Art referencing Margritte that read, "This is not a Badge." Until it fell off and was lost.) 

My budget rarely accommodates the labels I once loved. So, in order to add a little more 'me' to an outfit I rely on my collection of handmade shawls and scarves in Winter, and year round, my collection of brooches. I love brooches. I have many. Antique, vintage, handmade, simple, complex, heirloom brooches. The brooches above are my latest favourites on Etsy. 

Are you a brooch wearer? How do you express yourself with what you wear? What is your style? 

Are you like me, where the ideal and the reality are not quite the same?

Joachim Froese

I rediscovered the work of Joachim Froese recently and I was touched by the beauty and layered meaning behind this collection of works, 'Portrait of my Mother,' which is at once subtle and profound. 

"In August 2006 my mother in Germany was diagnosed with terminal cancer. As soon as I could I flew over to be with her. From the day of my arrival in Germany she had six more weeks to live which we spent together. She always had been an avid reader and literature played an important part in both of our lives. I had previously often thought about a project involving her library and I soon embarked on the idea to photograph all her books, one after the other in one long row. It quickly became our joint project. At first it made us talk about individual authors and about literature in general but towards her end she could only recognize the objects and family photos I placed amongst the books. While her life was coming to an end the row of books grew and grew. I photographed at night and during the day assembled the pictures on the computer at her bedside as she wanted me to continue with 'our' project until her last moment. After her death I finished the series until all her books were photographed in 'her' order. The resulting work shows an eclectic cross section of literature. But more than that it has become a manifestation of the woman she was, a metaphor for life and a diary of the time I spent with her - a portrait of my mother."

By documenting these images he has sketched a portrait of his mother so lovingly with her books and objects. They reflect the personality of their owner. They are what is left in the after math.

Our books and collections identify us too. We surround ourselves with mementos and books that at once remind us of ourselves, while showing others how we wish to be perceived. I can't help but look at my own belongings with new eyes.

Like like

Inspiration, tutorials, podcasts and sweet things that find themselves in my bookmarks (and an unrelated photo of my puss cat.)

The perfect knot hair style tutorial

Five quick fixes to make your blog instantly more readable

This American Life podcast 

33 ways to stay creative
Turn your instagrams into magnets (and use this code to get $2 off your order: FRIEND616P)
Giant crochet doily rug 
tweek studios, found via Pocket Carnival, love the chess piece wine stoppers
Vincent Van Gogh colouring book 
Rohan's post on the downfalls of owning stuff




Any bookmarks you would care to share? 
Where do your spend time online?

Things I love about Winter

The warmth of the oven spreading throughout the house

Biscuits straight out of that oven

Dressing the furniture with blankets

And even more blankets for movie watching

Camellias, always camellias

Baby bonnets and rosy cheeks

Staying in bed with the two little ones as long as possible each morning

The scent of the neighbours fire carried on the breeze each night

Going to bed early to read a book and falling asleep with the light on

The comforting grey of rainy cold days that reminds you to slow down, reconsider what must be done and what can wait, and gives you permission to read or knit or day dream

What do you love about Winter?

Lately

Knitting: After some issues in the gauge swatching department, of which we shall never speak of again, I have cast on for the Larch cardigan. 235 stitches. (Note to self - if the swatch has fewer stitches per inch than the pattern gauge, your stitches are larger than the pattern gauge, so try smaller sized needles...)


Finding: Children's books that belonged to my Father as a child


Finishing: The second Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief

Unpacking: The woolen blankets, as the sun sets earlier and the nights get colder

Loving: Babies in Mama made knits and Cohen's drawings of an "apple tree"

Gardening: Taming the weeds, vines and basil that grew up through the watermelon vine, turning over the garden and planting out the strawberry runners

Dreaming: About all our plans for the back yard, but making do with the existing garden beds (and fencing) in the meantime

Noticing: Tiny seedlings

Loving...

Bird inspired ceramics...

Bird and Cloud Salt and Pepper Shakers by Daniel Jo

Egg Bird House by J Schatz


Bird Cake Stand by Whitney Smith 


Bird Vase by Pretty Random Objects

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Loving...

 Free Frankie Wallpaper to decorate your desktop.

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Loving blue...

Also loving... 

Show & Tell at Flower Press.

Kate's Flora Bunny Crochet Tutorial.

My Valentine's present from Dave, a Flamingo Lily.

This pretty heart mobile.

Jo's beautiful hexagon quilt.

This wonderful giveaway at Gretchenmist.

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And a jewellery giveaway coming to the blog soon too...

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Loving...

'The Travelling Circus', created by Handmade Romance and on display at Craft Victoria.

Are't these one of a kind dolls just fantastic? The details, the fabric, the buttons! I'm in love. If your in Victoria I envy you the chance to go and see them!

Loving...

These cards, that came in the post yesterday...

I love you more than...

Hello Birdies...

I must admit to being a lover of cards. Perhaps part and parcel of my stationary addiction? I love receiving cards on special occasions, with a heartfelt, handwritten message. The most special of which find their way into my journal. I also love giving cards. Half the fun is choosing the perfect card for a loved one I think. My Mother still has cards that I made her as a child.

I happily stumbled upon Amanda's Madeit store, Lemon Tree Lane, before Fathers Day. I brought two of her lovely cards at that time. Those sweet cards, her great service and lovely packaging tempted me back when thoughts of a Valentine's Day card crossed my mind. (Feeling incredibly organised too I am.) On top of that, the fact that the cards are made from recycled 100% post consumer waste, and cost less than cards from the grocery store, made me feel much better about my card addiction. 

And because I love handmade, and because I love to support fellow crafters, I thought that I should definitely share my card finding goodness with you. Sweet, are they not?

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Thrifted linen finds, from my local op-shop this week. I'm quite sure my heart skipped a beat when I laid eyes on this lovely green table cloth.
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Also loving this advent calender by Kirsten Doran designs, found via One Flew Over.

And these paper globes and instructions found at tiny happy.
And the lovely round up of whimsical ornaments over at Design*Sponge.