365 questions - number one

I'm a believer that we need to keep asking questions, it's the only way to learn (as well as observing and listening). And I like learning. And searching. I like challenging myself and exposing myself and finding a moment to see the possibilities.

I have 365 thought provoking questions to ask myself this year, and I'll endeavour to answer one a day. Some will be lengthy in response, some will be minimal. Let's get started.

1. When was the last time I tried something new?
I craft. I enjoy crafting, and I find the more you do it, the more you want to learn and challenge yourself in new techniques. I scour the internet for beautiful and inspiring patterns and tutorials, and it was by this method that I found instructions for a lovely Larksfoot Blanket, provided in turn by the lovely Pip Lincolne, on her blog, Meet Me at Mikes.

I've done a lot of crocheting; I prefer it to knitting as the results are somewhat more immediate. Lately I've been wanting to expand upon my craft repertoire, so I've decided 2012 is the year of the embroider. I've turned through pages and pages of Etsy wares, finding patterns such as the ones below. I guess if i was to respond to the above question in about a week, I would have answered 'I am learning to embroider'.

Buy here

Buy here

I have also been trying my hand at running at the gym. Although I am not new to running (having learnt the art almost 28 years ago), I assure you I found it repulsive as my gangly awkwardness clustered my ambition to be gracious. Nevertheless, in the vain hope to carve out some sort of Summer physique, I jumped on the treadmill on a quiet Saturday morning not so long ago, and decided to try my hand (or feet, as it were). I lasted 13 minutes.

Since that day, I have increased my speed and length; now I run for about 30 minutes, my last efforts tracking 8.3kms. I was a proud girl. And the best thing, I felt like I could come home and eat anything I wanted. I conquered that fear, because it definitely was a fear.

It's come up roses

Just finished my lovely petal cushion, magnificently excited! It's a medium sized pillow, that was crocheted in Debbie Bliss cashmerino and wool. It's such a bit of a knockout piece, if I don't say so myself.

Not the best picture given it's from my iPhone, though it's Friday night and I'm beat.

It'll be on The Owl Space very soon, along with some other lovely crocheted ditties.

Watching last season of Friday Night Lights makes me very happy on a very sad day. It's a year tomorrow that I left London and I'm a bit teary.

The Owl Space

I've mentioned the impending ETSY store for a little bit now, and finally it's breathing!

Called The Owl Space, come and visit us!

It's not complete yet as we need an aesthetic, though the core of the products are on there. this includes baby afghan blankets, crochet cushion covers, which have been crocheted (obviously), sewn and hand stitched, plus crocheted rose and petal brooches. We'll be adding more products as and when we produce them, as we're constantly challenging ourselves with new and exciting projects.

Here is a work-in-progress sneak peak of my latest work, the petal cushion. This is the front, with the rear being flat treble crochet (not a petal design). The finished product will be a round cushion, though perhaps not something you'd lay your head on. This piece is decorative; comfortable as it will be, it'll stand out on your couch/bed/chair.

We also have fascinators, which are super flattering and exciting. They're not your typical spring-racing tat, they're an100% wool, hexagon-shaped headpiece. Priced at $20, they're a bit of a bar-gain.

We're able to make bespoke pieces as well, with all the colours listed on the product descriptions.

So jump on board and take a look. They make a pretty swell Christmas pressie; we can even deliver in time if you order up to one week in advance.

Hoot, Hoot!

Balmain markets - this Saturday!

Here's a little teaser for what's literally in store this Saturday at Balmain Markets!

Pop down and say hello; we'll be under the gazebo, selling crocheted cushions, baby blankets and brooches. We can do bespoke pieces in a variety of colour choices as well - just ask us! Makes a great christmas present...

Prices start at $10 for a rose brooch, $40 for a cushion, and go to $70 for a baby blanket. They are one-of-a-kind pieces, with a lot of time and energy (and love) put into each creation. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

If you're not in Sydney, we'll have all our wares on our Etsy store this week. Another post shall follow with URL and details.

Good Stuff Holiday Guide

One of my favourite stores to visit in Melbourne was Meet me at Mikes. Now no longer, the owner Pip Lincolne is concentrating on her writing career (check out her books here) which to my benefit, is fruitful and oh so helpful.

I really do want to be Pip's best friend, though because we live in different cities and aside from the minor detail that we don't know any of the same people to meet to become besties, best that I just follow her online activities.

Pip's done us all a wee favour this Chrissie. Good Stuff Holiday Guide is just what it says on the tin - pretty awesome shit to get for your loved ones this present season. It's got 127 pages of things for your table, things for your feet, things for your mouth (corn fritters, yuuuummmmm), things to make, things to do, and things to visit. C'arn, get it in ya.

Updated: I realise that this is a flash file so doesn't come up on your smart phone. Here's the direct link, go forth.

Open publication - Free publishing - More craft

Balmain craft stall, 19 Nov

Feeling so ridiculously happy of late, I think due to being purposeful.

I have a new job starting very soon in my dream company.
I have a new bicycle that is so beautiful to ride.
I have a spanking new MacBook Pro transferring info from my 'cough' PC 'cough', as I type.
I have a couple of new projects, one of which I'll happily discuss...

Housemate and I will be holding a market stall at Balmain Markets on the 19th Nov. We're been busily crocheting and sewing cushions, necklaces, brooches and table runners to sell in a variety of beautiful colours. Off the back of this project, we'll be selling bespoke pieces though our Etsy store (details to follow).

So if you're free, come down and check out our little stall. We're also raiding our wardrobes and being RUTHLESS. I'll be selling things from Zimmerman, Sisley, Topshop, H&M, Reiss (the posh UK store, not the cheap Aussie one), Uniqlo, plus loads of vintage.

Christmas is coming up too, and that means summer, which means margaritas and BBQ's by the kiddy pool in the backyard with 2CH providing the tunes.

What is not to love about this time of year?

Tessuti Fabrics sewing lesson

A while ago my housie told me about an amazing urban sewing legend place, whose waiting list extended beyond the new year. Apparently there was a waiting list to be on the waiting list, or some shiz like that.

Unperturbed, I logged on to said urban sewing place's website and yep, she was right - Sydney = SOLD OUT. Seems we all want to sew our way into our granny's good books.

A couple of months later, I browsed the website again. Like the shining sun coming through a grey cloud, there it was - an opening for a beginner sewing class the following Saturday. BOOKED!

Tessuti Fabrics sits aptly amidst the hipster-scum-cum-crafty-bum suburb of Surry Hills. My first introduction to the shop was only to be told to wait outside as they weren't open yet (I was seven mins early). Then, the owner and his baby son came along and asked if I was waiting for the lesson? Yep, well come on in then!

Customer service pays dude. If he hadn't of overwritten what the old bat had said, this little post could have been different. Be nice to your paying customers.

Onto the lesson. There were seven of us around our oldish Bernina and Janome machines. They were perfectly fine and in good working order, though they had already been threaded. I am a BEG-INN-ER. Let me thread my own damn machine after you TEACH me how. My thoughts at this was 'Here we go, I'm going to be way out of my depth again, and get frustrated and wield that roll of dusty pink duchess satin around in unfulfilled crafting angst'.

Except, it didn't quite go all She-Ra in Tessuti. The lesson progressed nicely and at a pace where we could all grasp the basics. I'll admit, my quizzical eyebrows were getting a workout though like the dag student I am, I promptly raised my hand and asked questions. I have no patience for teachers who assume knowledge cause once again, I am a BEG-INN-ER. Sound it out, cause that's what I am.

So we learnt this stitch and that hem, and how to sew waistbands into skirts. I came out of it thinking yeah good start, now i'll just have to book continuous classes. For $75, it's more expensive then your tech/college courses (that are a couple hundred bucks over several weeks), though it's a taster plate if you will. If you want to do cushions, napkins, table clothes, you're covered. If you want to sew a summer dress, best book a longer course.

Overall, the teacher Georgia was exceptionally lovely and positive. She mentioned the adjective 'perfect' a few times about my work. I was glowing like the girl geek I am, and then overextended my abilities to the point where I ruined what I was working on. I patiently unpicked, re-pinned, re-sewed and still managed an ok job though. Star.

Negatives about the class was that it didn't start from the beginning (how to thread the bobbin, names of the machine parts) and it perhaps didn't quite give adequate notes to take (I would have liked explanations for what the parts do, because I don't remember). There was also only one iron, and that chomped into a lot of time.

Positives about the class was that it was an overall experience and was fun to dive straight in and challenge my abilities. I may have been messy, or cause the bobbin to spaz a few time, though Georgia was always there to help.

Tessuti Fabrics
110 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills
Also in Melbourne and Chatswood (NSW)

Look what I can do!

Check out my new skill! It was my aim to learn to crochet this year, and true to my word, here are the spoils.

I took a class on Thursday in central London, which taught me the basics of how to make a 'granny square'. I can now follow a pattern and understand the basic stitches, which in turn will make it easier to understand the extended stitches such as triple crochet.

I am not one of those terribly co-ordinated people I have to say, though I wasn't going to go into this experience thinking that I couldn't do it. After almost dropping the f bomb a couple of times in class, my teacher patiently guided me through the loops and hooks that makes a stitch, reaffirmed that I could do it, and told me not to worry. By the third 'round', I was understanding that crochet is basically a formula, and by following that formula (i.e. the pattern), you'll get the desired design. So dense I no longer felt; instead, pats on the back all round.

With no wool on Friday, I was on edge. This morning, almost timing it to perfection, the God's of retail had blessed today be the start of the summer sales, therefore I bought 20 reams of wool for 50% off.  Nice one.

So here I am on a beautiful London Summer's day, enjoying the breeze, whilst watching Nadal at Wimbledon, and crocheting my granny squares.

Today is bliss.

DIYcouture

Perusing The Big Issue online this afternoon, I have been led to a wonderful discovery.

Rosie Martin's idea goes like this: Don't buy it, make it.

DIYcouture are a collection of online books on how to make sweet ladies clothing such as a wrap, a pleated skirt, a cloak (current favourite), or a even a kaftan et al. Apparently suitable for the nimble fingered, as well as the simple sewers among us, DIYcouture is a sensational idea.

Download DIYcouture books here.

Join the craft movement

Attention crafters living in London!

On my quest to find crochet classes, I came across The Make Lounge, Islington's answer to Meet Me at Mikes'.

Located off Upper St, The Make Lounge runs small crafty classes that are conveniently priced and should suitably fit into most schedules. Classes include Cupcake Decorating, Candle Making, you can even make your own knickers!

Frustrated with the lack of choices that were available, former magazine journalist Jennifer Pirtle started up The Make Lounge and hoorah that she did- the competition is slim for what she's offering. Capitalising on the 'craft is cool' movement, was also another good idea!

Check out the website and get your craft on. Plus, Christmas is coming and I bet your grandmother would love a pair of knockout knickers.

Get your craft on- thanks mum.

Feeling crafty and creative, I've become slightly obsessed with the idea of learning to crochet. Now I know 3 weeks ago I was obsessed with learning knitting, but i've turned slightly to the left and am now going down the path of Afghan spreads* in pastel colours, thrown across my bed.

So today I've been reading craft sites and researching my plan of making a monopoly of the crochet spread biz. I have to say, it doesn't look easy for someone with my craft inabilities (my mind thinks it, my hands sabotage it), though I have an inspiration-my dear mama.

Last year, my mother completed a throw that we didn't know she was still working on...

Because she started it 17 years ago!

I remember her toiling away at it, hooking those squares with patience, thinking as a ten year old she's going to throw the whole thing in the bin any minute. My mama doesn't have much patience, as dear as she is, I guess she knows what she wants and just doesn't like to wait so I guess when this blanket was revealed out of no-where, it shocked me to say the least.

Taking after Maria in the patient stakes, I now know that if she can do it, I can do it. And I know I'm crafty, I know I can do it, I want to do it, I'd love to do it.

OK, I'll stop with the psych-up and just say, yep I'm going to learn to crochet. YAY!

* Having come across a Cath Kidston throw retailing at 260 quid and deciding 'What a load of toads, I can do that!'

Get crafty

In my search for resin jewellery tutorials I came across Craftster, a lovely site filled to the brim with crafty ideas, articles and inspirations!

Perhaps it's about time I stop thinking I'm bad at craft, and actually try my hand at making something.

I want to start with this Wonder Woman jumper. Kitschy cool.

Made it

I know London is full of wonderful markets, though one thing I will surely miss is wandering around Bondi or Glebe markets on a sunny day and running into the cutest handmade bargain around. Luckily for me, MADE IT has come to the rescue and delivered a website wholly for Australian vendors. I can search by category or shop, pay minimal postage (within Australian, check for OS postage) and be in possession of a delightful little handmade item.

Although similar to Etsy, when you're on MADE IT, you can be sure all goods are Australian therefore you'll be supporting local talent. And that is something to smile about.

Here are some things I have my eye on..

Frenchy the Hamster- $15

A Storm is Coming brooch- $11

Cherry Blossoms print- $25