mister furry hug bum monster?

These two little guys are about to head to my shop. But what on earth shall I call them??

create without waste

Craft Leftovers site and blog is all about using what you have in your stash to create, about creating but not creating waste and is full of ideas and projects and pretty pictures. They've got a zine/mag that looks so sweet and I bet is oh-so-handy.

March Craft Leftovers Monthly: Volume 2: Issue 3
This month Craft Leftovers Monthly is taking a nice long look into the world of plush! Recycled stuffing, knitting, crochet, stitching, and a little corned beef and cabbage for good measure! Craft Leftovers Monthly is printed on 100% recycled paper. It is 36 pages of crafty goodness.

Ps. you can win one of these cute Craft Leftovers mags by visiting the needle.org and leaving a comment! On second thoughts, don't go and enter the giveaway. I wants it.

labels uh-huh

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I have been scouting for some nice labels for my plushies and quilts, you know the ones, cute simple little ones sewn into the seam, that make your plush look awfully professional and your name memorable.

from this shop

These seem to be the go so far, but there are so many darn OPTIONS! satin, twill, cotton, printed, embroidered etc. Do you have any tips /advice /recommendations? Where do you get your labels from?

hello autumn

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I'm a soft serve

A friend of mine (okay.. a boy.) was hurt on the weekend, bashed actually. In his place of work. By people he knew who thought he had stolen something. (he hadn’t). My immediate response to news like this is a shocked horror, and an overwhelming desire to turn into a big ol’ softie. Like a really big softie. We’re talking marshmallow grade. A soft serve. (also I couldn't find a nice picture of a marshmallow. tricky.)

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When friends are going out I’m the kind of gal who might remind them to bring a cardie ‘cause it’s a bit chilly outside. I ask ‘have you eaten?’ and ‘you need some rest’ and wring my hands a wee bit. In the case of an injury or the circumstance being described, I wince and it almost hurts me to hear it. It hurts to be this empathetic. I never watch those jackass boys for that reason. Painful.

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I’ve done my share of first aid, in a calm-ish and proficient kind of way, it’s afterwards I turn into the doughboy. When people have been hurt, in the case of boys (not all of them. ones I like) I want to hold their head in my lap and stroke their forehead, and kiss it better. When friends hurt, I want to hold their hand, make a casserole, tuck them up with a big quilt and a cup of tea. And kids, well you have to hug them and comfort and give them a band-aid (those magical things) and wipe their tears away (without being too soft of course.)

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I refrained from doing any of these things because I'd rather he gets to know me a little and knows I'm not mothering him at all. I'd do it to everyone.

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So be warned. If you have been injured, when you tell me about it, I will wince, wring my hands together, and make you a casserole. That’s the kinda gal I am.

flea market finds

this week I'm playing along with ' Flea Market Finds' hosted by the lovely Sophie at Her Library Adventures. I'm a day late, but any-hoo. This is what I found..

A gold fawn money box. Isn't it kitschy? Going to paint it green I thinks. Or shall I leave it as is?

Also some more vintage suitcases (because gee-whiz I don't have enough of those), a bird ornament, some old fabric, some lunch and a sore arm from carrying it all home. Go have a squiz at Sophie's lovely blog, and see some other lucky peep's great finds too.

my week in pictures

Trying to think of reasons I may need this many of my favourite colour pencil.


Lunch at the markets with my Mum

Running into old friends. Oh Murphy you are the best. dog. ever.

Organs in unexpected places.

Cooked lunch for 10 work collegues. Delish.

Sewing a baby quilt for the little one my sister is expecting. She's up the duff. Bun in her oven. I am excited.

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Trying to crochet. Emphasis on trying. Good lord. Note the obvious lack of any evidence of successful crochet to show you.
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Still struggling for space in my studio/bedroom. Fighting paperwork at my 9 to 5, reading frankie with cups of tea, finding muscles I forgot I had at the gym, drawing new cushions, finding new short haircut means that girls check me out. Craving strawberry jam, swapping poetry books, laughing with cute boy with moustache.

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Hope your week was lovely x

"frames"

A short film for Oxfams 3things project by Tropfest New York 2008 winners Jason van Genderen and Shane Emmett. Filmed in downtown Sydney.
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Lovely.
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(edit) just had to share their winning 2008 short film too. Shot entirely by mobile phone in Sydney & New York. Made me take a deep breath.

Compulsive Knitting

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Compulsive Knitting by Daniela Edburg.

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For me it began to be a form of occupational therapy, even without knowing what I was doing. I started knitting long strips of fluffy pink material, and after a while I realized it was perfect to put together a brain, and a nice new fluffy brain was exactly what I needed at the moment..

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Whenever I see a person knitting I can’t help being drawn to them—it’s hypnotic. I silently analyze the texture of the yarn, the choice of colors, I imagine the sweater or the scarf already finished, how it feels to the touch, how it will look when its been worn for years. It makes me nostalgic even, reminds me of the passing of time.

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Interesting interview here.

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Thanks Joe!

antlers

I just came across Antler, a digital magizine promoting creativity and beauty in all aspects of life. It's pretty.

I have a thing with antlers at the moment. As you know. Here are some other pretty things with antlers.

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Deer Rubber Stamp ...... Oh Deer Brooch

Stag in the Bushes print ......Jackalope printable card

Antler Damask Pillow Cover ...... Eames Chair with Antlers Print
Antlers Eco-friendly card ...... My Deer Lady illustration

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You can read the magazine here.

this ship of gnomes

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my week in pictures

My first fresh raspberries. Like having lollies for breakfast.

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My friends boyfriends red shoes at her gig in the city.

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Blowing bubbles from the garden wall.

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My favourite bento lunchbox was nicked from my bicycle basket. Basteerds.

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Firemen at 4am, wrapping duct tape over the house alarm that wouldn't.turn.off.

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Oops I've done it again. Been too busy all week to post, and now I have several things to say-at-once.. I'll try to space it out!

Hope your week was awesome x

ballerina monster

Remember when I was pondering a ballerina monster? Well here she is. I think she's a bit cute, really.

She's hanging out in my shop, along with

some lovely gift certificates I made. The text on them reads;
Oh my you lucky thing, you have in your lovely hand a gift certificate for the Pepper Stitches store. Go have a look, at what you can get, go on! and don’t forget you can use this to purchase custom orders too.

I like. I hope you like too.

Pancakes are Delicious Part II

when will it end?

news with nipples

My favourite blog of the moment, news with nipples is an interesting, biting and often hilarious blog that looks at how women are portrayed in current media (particularly newspapers and online news) by a journalist who's not afraid to swear a bit. A fair bit.

It makes me sit up and notice the blatant bias and quite un-feministic (is that a word? as in un-equal) view in articles that I would have otherwise passed by as a matter of course. I don't take as a given everything she says, but her opinions sure are a bit of fresh air, and sure do make me consider mine.

I do recommend. Try not to snort tea out of your nose when laughing though. That hurts.

fence love

On my way to the shops to buy chocolate the other day, down by the railway tracks, I saw this work on a fence. I did stare at it for a moment and think 'You'? but realised that from the train side, it reads 'Joy'. It made me wonder at the reactions of people sitting on the train when the word 'Joy' flashed by their window.

I do like random fence art. Almost as much as I like guerrilla knitting. Then I found outdoorknits flickr set called 'Beautifying Fences'. How lovely. I especially like this one.

And this one too.

Show us the fence love.

Lovel-ly day

Did you know that I have not blogged for a whole WEEK! Oh my. And now I have so many things I'd like to tell you, and lovely photos too, but if I tell it all at once your lovely reading list will be clogged.up.

But you know what? I may have to do it anyway. Sorry.

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I almost forgot today was the great V-day. I have been in two minds, one said ignore it and carry on your merry way. One said Oh! but what a wondrous occasion to watch Johnny Depp movies and eat an awful lot of ice cream! In the end I am pottering around the house, listening to my favourite tunes and thinking of all the people I love. And all the people who love me. Also clearing out my drawers and hoping it doesn't rain on my laundry. That too.

Oh V-day. What a love/hate relationship we have. I love love, but you take it from sweet holding hands to a full-on pash with garlic breath, beard rash and too much saliva. I like being alone, but I hate to be lonely, and you have a way of cramming red roses and various plastic crap down our throats. Cardboard cut outs of hearts and cheesy songs. Overkill, yes? That said, everyone secretly wishes for something horrifically romantic to happen. Or moderately romantic. Or at least original and heart-felt slightly romantic.

Whatever you're doing today, I hope you have a love-ly day, with sincere sentiments and holding hands. And I hope it doesn't rain on your laundry either.

x Pepper

in the studio

big mix tape cushion

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piles of fabric. Not-so-neat.

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Grrantlers

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Eskimo's with embroidered faces
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Ideas

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Old pillowcases in squares to be made into a picnic blanket quilt

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Custom order 'say it' cushion

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Sleepy cats

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It's raining and the perfect weather for stitching and listening to music and drinking tea. Not-so-good for taking photos, but I did anyway.

(I'm going to call the half of my bedroom stuffed with sewing supplies and workspaces my studio, m-kay? It sounds more grown-up, and frankly more exciting than 'in the little space at the end of my bed'.)

Forecast for tomorrow- thunderstorms. Excellent.

have you seen

this huge kitting installation? Holy Dooley look at those knitting needles.

A project for The Nature Conservency made with wool from an organic flock of Panama sheep from Lava lake Ranch, Idaho, it was created by Christien Meindertsma. See more, and her other work, here.