'stralia Day

Graeme got soul

Graeme got funk

Graeme gots the moves!!

Joining in with Our Creative Spaces today. Bought to you by craft stalkers anonymous.

Happy 'stralia day everyone!!

My favorite holiday - mid summer - Triple J's Hottest One Hundred

Why 'o' Why do i have to work tomorrow???

Mxoxoxo

New Year Revolution

Ok I think I am ready, The dreaded conclusion to my Dead Wood Post of last year. Still, I am not a fan of New Year Resolutions but this seems the right time of year to make changes.

I just had a read through the last dead wood post and it seems I have done pretty well. I have kept to most of the things that I wanted to change in my head space but it seems the negativity has still been creeping in. Its sooooo{!!!!} hard to be bloody positive all the time, any of the time.

I have continued on my house cleansing and regularly take a Ute load of stuff back to vinnies or the tip. Of course I am bringing things home from my thrifting adventures but they do not stay closed up in my heart and the attachment to objects has been waning. I have even cleared out a lot of things I have been hoarding from my youth. Things that I have been keeping because at the time it was the "best" thing I owned or meant something silly and sentimental to me. I don't need these things to remind me of moments or times in my life...that's what photos and my brain is for.

Another aim was forgiveness....forgiveness of myself and forgivenss of others. With both it seems I FAIL massive, a grudge is one thing I'm actually quite good at. I struggle to let go of the hurt from others and for things that I have done to others. I think that because there has been no resolution to most of these problems I am unable to move past them. Forgiveness is something that I need to work on. I don't know how to get there either.

I want to continue to try to live simply, to stick to the ideals of a Permaculture Self Revolution with out all the new age hippy rubbish. You will not find me in a circle, holding hands and singing to mother earth. I do believe we all  need to focus on being self sustaining, all small things make a difference. The Revolution starts at home and with YOU!! I liked this picture and words below. I do not know the original source.

I do have faith that somewhere in the future I will find the happy Michelle and I don't think she is close. There is a lot of work to do here still.

Mary - Mary

This has become the staple of our weekly lunches. Zucchini Slice, or the vegetable by which is know know in our house as "that bloody zuchinni". We also have heaps of eggs so it make sence to make a big batch each Sunday to use for work lunches. 

Every year I plant zuchinnis this happens, every bloody year!! I am harvesting five to six massive ones every four days. Will I ever learn??

The rest of the garden is going great guns too... my cabbages are MASSIVE!

The potatoes are smothering the pumpkins. I am about to finish laying out Bill Mollison's book on potatoes. He will be so proud of these pictures when I show him...it seems I did learn a thing or two from that book.

I found a new way to support my beans, this old lattice. I have spent years with strings and poles trying to support them...what a fool! I just weaved it between some droppers and TA-DA!!! Never will I have to lose time to that consuming task...it takes a woman to think of these things.

Lastly I am really happy with how my tomatoes have done this year..sure beats all the bad tomato moments of last year. 

Hows your garden growing??

Mxo

Another Life

Does anybody remember these?

They were from Tupperware and I swear they had not entered my thoughts until I stumbled across them in an oppie this week. They have pull apart parts and as far as I can tell there were no other "characters" made. I totally had one of those revelation moments as my childhood flooded back just for a little second. I have never seen these in an oppie before and each had all its parts...amazing.

I grabbed them off the shelf and saw they were only $1 each. I nearly squealed. I may have been a little bit excited as I saw the lady behind the counter give me "that" look. The look that they should have had more on them if I was showing that much excitement over my find...hee hee sucks to be them.

Joining in with Flea Market Finds again today.

Mxo

First Love

made with love market, january 2012 from Naomi Fenton on Vimeo.

Would you like to have a walk through of our market?? Have a little look at this video that Naomi put together for us.

Video by Naomi 

And also don't forget to check out her lovely as always photo set for this month. 

A week ago I also announced that my Art Centre has been short listed to receive a grant BUT we need your support...If your on facebook then please click on this link and give us your vote. The art centre is where we host our market and we would love to see it grow and grow. The centre is a community run initiative and it is amazing on what the committee has achieved with no budget. Its time for us to move forward and hopefully get some support we deserve.

Naomi wrote some lovely stuff about us HERE.

So please VOTE!!!

(Pretty Please xo)

Mxo

Moves Like Jagger

Meet the newest family member of the Graeme family - Disco Dave.

He is a regular at Studio 54, experiments with some questionable drugs and can pull off some hip moves on the dance floor.

He likes his shirts with big collars and always wears his skinny black tie.

As one of my friends (in real life and on Instagram) said - he moves like Jagger.

 

On a side note that has nothing to do with Dave - a big announcement that may effect my blogging. Last week I accepted my letter of offer into teaching. It has been something I have wanted to do for a while and I am pretty excited to be finally doing something that may use my other degrees, I mean what the point in having a Masters in Contemporary Art if I cant use it in my local region.

I am scared SHITLESS of all the time consuming activities that go along with study but know it must be done. I fear my blogging, my sewing and my art may again have to take a back seat as most of my "free time" will now be overtaken by the books.

I'm not prepared mentally to go through study again yet but perhaps once i get my readers in my sweaty hands I might just take back to it like a duck to water fingers crossed.

Mxo

Summer Sound Track

This summer I have found the perfect music to become the sound track to 2011/2012.

I "invested" in Triple J's - Like a Version Vol 7 album and The
Black Keys - El Camino. Do yourself a favour and "invest" in these two. You wont regret it.

Angus and Julia Stone - Say it Right



Gosling - Dance the Way I Feel



The Black Keys - Lonely Boy

Graeme, Greg and a Wild Thing

One thing I have been busy doing in my holidays is making dolls...lots and lots...I have ideas bursting in my head for future characters. I can't wait to just make them all.

The accessories that were recently sold with my first Graeme doll will become optional extras in the future as they take me a long time to make and I just cant justify the price and time.

Now I would like to introduce Farmer Greg along with my first doll Hiker Graeme. Farmer Greg likes to tend to his chickens, drive his tractor and grow lush veggies.

I would also like to show you my new doll based on the character Max from the book "Where the Wild Things Are"...one of my favourite books. Little Max is all dressed in his wolf suit ready to cause a rumpus. He has a removable crown so that he may become King of the Wild Things.

I don't really like using the term "Dolls" or "Softies" for these little guys but I am yet to find a better term for them. Any suggestions??

All dolls are now in my Madeit shop.
Mxo

Finders Keepers

There is this awful habit developing where people are getting married on week days. I think they do it because it costs them less money to have the wedding, not being prime Saturday time in the summer. Unfortunately for the rest of us working people it costs us more. Taking days off work , especially casual work like mine loses loads of cash and  for permanent workers effecting their holidays at best...but oh well that's the wedding parties call I guess.

One of the benefits of a weekly wedding is that shops are open. That awful time between the ceremony and the reception can be filled in with a spot of thrifting. As soon as it was social acceptable I urged my immediate company to go for a rummaging through secondhand shops in lovely dresses, suits and high heel shoes, this does make for a little bit of scene and generates lots of looks apparently.

In one shop I found this beautiful fire place cover, hand embroidered and in immaculate condition for its age. How much you ask??? 30 bucks I say, BARGAIN!! Even though we don't hardly use the open fire at all least in now looks pretty. The white tree in the picture "glows", it was really hard to capture, maybe just take my word for it.

I also scored some old tourist teaspoons for .50c each and put them above the kettle with my re-purposed cake stands. Fruits better for you than cake i'm guessing...

I'm linking this post back to lovely Sophie and Flea Market Finds. I hope you all had as much luck this week as i did.

Mxo

Please Vote!! xoxoxo

On the spur of the moment I entered a contest to be come a Garnier Ambassador that is aimed at suppoting grass roots projects. My project, my baby, is the Wynyards Artscape, our local community arts centre. I was picked down to the final 20 and now must get to the final 10 to win. Good odds!

More than ever we are in need to prove ourselfs to the community and local council. We need to gain support to ensure the projects becomes sustaining and long term. We currently have been running for 7 plus years and we are growing and getting better at our arts practices every year. This is a grass roots project, it runs on community power alone with no funding. This is why support from a company such as this will be vital for our future sustainment.

Please click on this link to vote for us and then please share, share, share(!!!) with everybody you know and even those you don't.

I would be forever grateful. This art center is also the home to our Made with Love Market Bazaar (on tomorrow by the way) and has be come a very important home to the arts in our regional community. I would love to for everyone to get on board and throw their weight behind this project...even if its is just by clicking and linking. I feel all our hard work will be worth it then.

I must appoligise to all my facey friend in advance...i will bullying them into voting everyday till we win (its only open for a month guys , so no fear)

Mxoxoxoxo

Wedding Season Dress

This summer I have a couple of weddings to go to. I don't have time to shop and wanted one of my new designs to have in my wardrobe..so I made me a dress. Yes it is Hawaiian shirt material (thrifted of course, brand new and maybe four metres worth)...I feel this is more my style, more "rock" than the thrifted florals I usually use. You should see how swishy it is...it's fab, tailored to fit and super comfortable.

Now to just find the perfect heels...I'm thinking ridiculously tall, black and shiny material...I'll let you know how the hunt goes...man I love shoes...and clothes...and sewing...

Mxoxoxo

Craftervaning and Beach Bums

                                                   

  Make a doll a day while on holiday. Meet my new softie inspired by "Where the wild things are"

Buying Homemade in Beaconsfield. Crochet beach bum top and leather wallet

 "Beach Huts" and Greens Beach

For the first time this year we are away in the van. I am still on a blogging "break" but its back to work on Tuesday so I think my blogging will fall back into some sort of routine (hopefully).

So for a quick update we are beaching, sitting and crafting (well not the husband but ME!).

I am thinking and nearly ready to do a wrap on on the Dead Wood post. ...nearly.

Talk soon

Mxo

Genuine Retro

So I have been busy sewing my butt off on my holidays. Like a woman possesed I tells ya..well not really I actually have been holidaying as well as squeezing in the odd bit of sewing.

I found some more Home Journals this time WITH the patterns {Hooray!!} and stumbled upon the most perfect dress to make next. It has a scooped back with a bow tie feature. It is very much like what I had been making previously with  the neck line changed and no capped sleeves. I love it. I made one of these for myself as I have a few weddings to attend in January. Unfortunatly I didn't like the finished material on myself so it went into the shop along with a the other new ones.

Never fear though, I have found even better material to make my very own scooped back dress - more me that is. While I am making that one I will be doing up some more lightning bolt dresses as I have none left in stock.

So if one of these lovelies catch your eye make sure you pop over to my Madeit shop to check it out. Lots of sizes!!

I hope you guys had a great Christmas and new year. Thankyou to all my followers and readers from 2011 and cheers to another good year in 2012. I love reading your comments and I love our interactions online...so a HUGE thankyou to you all. You inspire me...

Mxo

Taking a Break

Its not very often the small person and I hang out at home together for long periods, if we are on holidays it usually means we are camping away from home. Sure there are the weekends but its nothing like three weeks together 24\7. Now she is older I am really enjoying it. We have built her a brand new playground {lucky thing!!} and have been spending many - many hours there.

I have also been taking a break from blogland - not on purpose - but I have been avoiding anything that I have made into "work"...and sometimes blogging is like that. Heading towards the end of the year I also feel I have to wrap up my "Year of Dead Wood" post - there are some important evaluations to make - therefore lots of thinking time. Perhaps soon I will pluck up the courage to write it - but not yet, someone is calling to me from the playground.

Mxo

Four Leaf Dress

I really love this style, I personally have four of five dresses and tunic tops in this pattern. It has puffy sleeves, over sized pockets, a scoop neck line and a free flowing dress. The other advantage of this design is it can stretch out or shrink in just by the tie feature. It would fit a Size 12 - 16. It makes you feel all girly and stuff and great for when you eat too much at Christmas dinner.

I have had this fabric in my stash for quite a while. It was a full double quilt cover in pristine condition. I felt slightly bad about cutting it up. On the bright side I now have two of these dresses. I think everyone will love the fabric and floaty dress..hopefully... I have no idea what sells these days ha ha..oh well that's the joy of creating. Available in my Madeit shop or at the next market.

It's getting close to the big day!!! Merry Christmas Everyone.

Mxo

Graeme Pillows

 I just realised  I never shared with you my Graeme pillows.

Every pillow is completely original as i am not going to use a template. Every Graeme will have a personality of his own and no two will be alike.

They are backed with a grey military blanket.

Available in my made it shop or perhaps one might pop up in your Christmas stocking (look out family!!).
Now I'm off to sew, hooray for holidays!! My store is looking a bit empty after a few dress sales and I also sold all my Graeme dolls so better make some more of those too. I have a few more doll ideas to experiment with...woooo! I am a bit intrigued with all this doll making and can't wait to make some more lighting bolt dresses, should be some constructive holidays, fingers crossed.

Mxo

Last Love

My first ever Santa picture

On Saturday was our last Made with Love Market for the year, and after the initial joy at being finished everything for the year I am was slightly sad that it was over. We had a great day, great sales and a great crowd.

Everyone was in a happy mood - stall holders, the clients and "most" of the kids....not so much the kids visiting Santa (see the video ha ha). Santa was an amazingly generous and patient person and was so great with the kids. Thankyou Santa for looking after us so well.

I sold ALL my Graeme dolls so now I must make some more...I'm also running low on dresses after a few sales so I think I will be hitting the sewing machine hard over my holidays.

I am ever so grateful to everyone that has supported us over this year and to the girls who dig in and help out market after market. We are so proud to be bringing this kind of event to such a small community and that they embrace it so well.

Look towards next years plan I think I will be looking at some shops to stock in this year as well as the market and online... it would be nice to spread my stuff a bit wider.

Naomi Fenton yet again did some amazing shots for us and put together this little video for the kids having their pictures taken..its a wee bit funny so make sure you check it out.

Mxo

Ho Ho Ho from Naomi Fenton on Vimeo.

Hiker Graeme

make gif

Phew

He's finished.

Hiker Greame likes camping, chopping wood and the odd spot of fishing. He loves nothing more than to snuggle up in his swag, with the fire blazing, while watching the stars.

Now available in my madeit shop.

Miss G is getting one for Christmas...i hope she likes it.