Soft Maps

Loving these gorgeous Soft-Maps, quilts of cities and neighbourhoods made by Emily Fisher.
I wonder if I would have the patience, but I want one. (You can get a DIY kit here) Or a patchwork with my favourite neighbourhoods. Like a geography memory quilt.

Found via Emily's studio neighbour, the ever-lovely swissmiss.

vroom vroom

I don't know about you, but I tend to ignore my body and assume that it will keep going, like a beat up car. Yes I know it's a cliche, but I guess the analogy works or it wouldn't be a cliche, would it? Most of the time I don't pay much attention to my body and generally just take the whole lot for granted.
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I made my own book with a blue Volkswagen stitched on the front. 'Cause if my body IS a car, I would like it to be a quirky, cute, independent, striking and comfortable love-bug. (but not inspired at request of a murderous dictator. not that part.)

and yes, that is a embroidery hoop crease you see, not ironed out. Damn impatience.

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I'll use this book for open letters to body parts ( for example my knees. under-appreciated.) a journal of what i actually eat (yes, other people's Easter eggs count) and how I move. The idea being that by paying attention I'll take better care of myself, eat better (harder to eat junk if I find myself apologising to myself continually), and be more aware of how I move; also to foster some love for those little heralded bits (knee example works here too); before the whole thing breaks down on me.

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It's very pretty, and much easier than I thought. The inside is lined with brown paper, and I just stitched around all the edges using my sewing machine (popped in a ribbon for a bookmark first), then stitched in some paper.

And just to show you the back. I really liked it, seemed a shame to cover it up.

And something else I stitched this weekend. Cheese, I know.

reclaim your brain pattern

A pattern I drew for stitching. Ironically I was watching TV at the time. Then I realised and switched on music instead.

I feel very vague today. Hmmmm. vague. See? Having trouble writing a sentence. Feel the need for chocolate and hugs. Maybe a hug MADE of chocolate. Mmm. Keep truckin' on. (Ooh that gives me an idea for another pattern...)

mix tape stitchin'

I stitched a mix tape. I like it.

First I drew it, then I taped it to the window to trace onto calicao. Then I watched back-to-back scrubs and stitched it.

Juniper helped. Bit tricky to stitch with a pair of green eyes watching every tremble of the thread.

I was thinking of adding some tape spooling from the bottom and into a love heart- too cheesy? Or just right?

Now thinking of all the things with lines, cords, ropes etc. to spool into words. More to come.

But what shall I do with this one now? Turn it into- a card? a just-for-show piece on the wall? a tiny eeny cushion? I'm open to a vote..

this is how I roll

I know I haven't posted anything crafty for ages and ages, but I have been doin' a few things quietly.

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Workin' on the scarf I started a while ago. 'Cept I misjudged the width, and it is now more akin to a small blanket. It shall be my airplane snuggle shawl scarf. Just gonna take longer, is all. This picture doesn't do the colour justice.

I was inspired to do some stitching after reading a post by my sister (hers was also the first blog I ever read, and it is beautiful.) I really like embroidering. Only done a few so far, and I tried out a few new stitches in this one.

again, this pic doesn't quite do it justice! Maybe I should turn them into polaroids...

Embroidered deer

I am in complete awe. You might remember my first attempts at embroidery.

it was stitched by Merry Calliope, but I found it on Feeling Stitchy, one of my fav blogs.

not-so-cranky anymore

I had a cranky day on Friday. Little Miss Cranky Pants.

(picture credit: yeah, it's fine)
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I left work early and walked home with my heels in my hand and my stockings ripping under my feet. On the way I finally went into a little knitters shop I had always passed on the way to work. Out the back I found a wall of embroidery threads, beautiful colours and ooh just lovely. I bought some cushions on special with a thick loose weave fabric to embroider, with techniques from my awesome new embroidery book.

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I also followed a whim and bought some green wool, actually 100% wool wool, and wooden knitting needles. Gonna make me a scarf. Yee Haa

Then, several blocks and the purchase of a beer-for-the-road later I found, and bought, a Ukelule. Yep, a ukulele. (took me a while to remember the spelling too). You may remember me being enamoured with this chick. She just makes it sound so goood. I may have a little girl-crush. I googled 'how to play ukulele' and know strumming techniques and three chords so far. Note my new extra-short nails to assist in string playing. I love my ukelule.

So my day dramatically improved and I was not-so-cranky-anymore.

embroidered owl

my owl is coming along, I grab minutes here and there to add a few more stitches. He still needs a little more detail though, and some words 'if i were wiser'...





Check out the bloody excellent patterns and kits at sublime stitching. If you haven't seen their stuff already, take a look- this ain't your gramma's embroidery! I've ordered a few patterns- coming from the US and I'm wondering how long it might take? Plans for some teatowels, a bag or two, maybe the back of a dress or a singlet. The possibilities. I may even get a head start on christmas presents this year and stitch a bunch... Yuh, 'cause we're talking about possibilites..



Saw this pic submitted by a stitcher- LOVE it. I like the simplicity and black lines.. I'm going to keep my eye out for pictures and photos I can sketch over and stitch from. I'll need a bigger embroidery hoop, but that's all (I like that my new favourite thing doesn't need much. I have calico and a heap of thread- I'm good). I have gorgeous neices and a nephew, perhaps I will have a go at one just like this..

Oh they grow up so fast! Time to plant out these babies.. My new system seems to be working- as fast as our house can eat eggs, that's how often I have empty egg cartons to plant seeds into. Otherwise I tend to plant heaps and then nothing..

New Years Resoluton #12: That point when you're out at the pub with mates and you go 'yep, good night, should probably go home now'- actually go home.

bunch o' stuff

New favourite thing: http://www.last.fm/..
play the radio, put in any band/artist and last.fm plays songs from that artist and a bunch others like them. Great for me, when I kinda know the kind of music I feel like but can't make up my mind. Superdooper for finding new artists to love..

Last weekend I sat in the park and watched a dad watch his little boy on his trike for ages. Nearby friends were having a picnic but the guy just watched and walked as for ages and ages the boy rolled down the path, then pushed up again. then rolled down again. When the boy got off for the zillionith time the dad jumped on and for a minute the roles were reversed. So cute!

seen on the way home today. ain't that the truth...

so goes a quote a friend gave me-

"The future remains uncertain and so it should, for it is the canvas upon which we paint our desires. Thus always the human condition faces a beautifully empty canvas. We possess only this moment in which to dedicate ourselves continuously to the sacred presence which we share and create."

something i'm sewing... a skeleton. so far as you can see i've only made the spine, shoulderblades and one bone (and a red heart).. each bone has a wire core and I think i'll find some little white beads to be the elbow and knee joints... not sure about the skull though.. hrrmmm....

also started an owl... maybe- "if i were wiser".. going to fill it up with stitches and bits.

Went for a walk tonight as the thunder rolled and big drops fell to the road around me. Feeling strange these days.. doing the usual, work home, read. Listen to records, plant some seeds... somehow the world is different. Or is it just me?

Loving my home, the company of friends, sleeping diagonally in the bed and kicking off the covers. Doing what I like, even if it is only lying on the floor and staring upside down out the window. (not liking.. deadlines, running out of milk, stubbed toes and people ripping the garfield cartoon out of the paper at my cafe)

Bought these beautiful lilies on my way home from work on thursday, they've filled half the house with flowery smells, and are amazing shade of pink. and I don't usually like pink.
Also kudos to the florist dude, who lets me pull up on my bike and pick up flowers like a drive-thru..


another go at stitch sketching, I think my favourite so far.. thinking of doing a whole zoo animal series? and framing in a row? I thought about using colour or 'colouring in' with stitches like the green bird, but I kinda like the simplicity.


Yesterday riding through the park I stopped to take shots of this..


'seed plants not war'... a close up of the little soldiers

I love that I live in a place with random creativity and notions.. (I watered the little tomato plant too, see the tiny green tomato?)

my to-read book pile next to my bed. I cleaned out my bookshelves recently and have 2 big boxes of books I've either read or if I-haven't-by-now-probably-never-will.. I've kept my favourites and made this pile. Now.must.not.go.to.library.or.bookstore...

It's a beautiful saturday. I think I will go to the park and read the paper, watch clouds and not think about boys at all.. at all...

bird cage stitchin'

well here it is, I had another go at freehand stitching and had a play with colours too. My birdcage is a bit wonky (but so's life, so - meh). It would be cute to do tiny sketches for buttons and badges..

sketch stitchin'

last night I tried out some sketching with stitches, this is how it turned out. I quite like it, though his neck is a little too long! I love the feel of the stitches on the taut fabric when I run my fingertips across the top. I'll have another go today, I'm excited about the possibilities - different stitches, coloured threads, backgrounds, the thicknessess of threads. I'll let you know how it goes!

On an excursion to the garden shed, I came across this little birdy I stitched last year. He's been hanging out outside and has a weathered look that suits him.

Also found my baby frangipani has it's first flower- it was rescued from the bin at the Horticultural College, and has lived (barely) in various pots on balconies, until now when he has his very own spot in the sun- so he' finally flowered. (Not sure why my frangipani is a he, but it fits!)

straight on my birthday wishlist is a better camera, never noticed until I use these shots and go hrrrmmm....