My heart goes out to all those affected by the devasting bushfires in Victoria. It pains me to think of the loss, I can barely imagine. Please make a donation if you can to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal 2009, and Pip at Meet Me at Mike's has heaps of ideas for crafty types to contribute as well. (The sidebar has an amazing list for craft and not-so-crafty people to do) You can buy gorgeous items here with all proceeds going to the appeal, auction your own, or donate goods for affected families.
We have a responsibility to live our lives to the full, when so many have theirs unfairly cut short. I find myself pausing every time it is mentioned, trying to give the scope of the tradegy the respect it deserves, but it is almost too big for me to handle.

Handmade Help

Phobias I do not have
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Ants- Myrmecophobia.
Beards- Pogonophobia.
Bolsheviks- Bolshephobia.
Color purple- Porphyrophobia.
Dust- Amathophobia.
Erect penis- Medorthophobia.
Flowers- Anthrophobia or Anthophobia.
Kissing- Philemaphobia or Philematophobia.Knees- Genuphobia.
Laughter- Geliophobia.
Music- Melophobia.
Old people- Gerontophobia.
Peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth- Arachibutyrophobia.
Plants- Botanophobia.
Rain- Ombrophobia or Pluviophobia.
Stairs or climbing stairs- Climacophobia.
String- Linonophobia.
Tickled by feathers or feathers- Pteronophobia.
Time or clocks- Chronophobia.
White, the color- Leukophobia.
Writing- Graphophobia.
Pointed objects- Aichmophobia

Phobias I can completely understand
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Making decisions- Decidophobia
Eyes, opening one's- Optophobia
People in general or society- Sociophobia
Crowded public places like markets- Agoraphobia.
Dancing- Chorophobia
Dental surgery- Odontophobia
Love, falling or being in- Philophobia
Men- Androphobia or Arrhenphobia or Hominophobia
Undressing in front of someone- Dishabillophobia
Marriage- Gamophobia
Staying single- Anuptaphobia
Insects that cause itching- Acarophobia
Materialism- Hylephobia
Old, growing- Gerascophobia or Gerontophobia
Mirrors or seeing oneself in a mirror- Eisoptrophobia
Relatives- Syngenesophobia.
Responsibility- Hypengyophobia or Hypegiaphobia

Make your own, see this Phobia List. Kinda makes you feel better; I mean, there's enough people out there afraid of string to have a name for it. Makes my aversion to buses look totally normal.

'Oh, I'm scared all the time! I just act as if I'm not'
Katherine Hepburne

cosy poles and caterpillars

I took this pic a while back, some guerrilla knitting in newtown. I've seen a few poles all snuggly like this, it makes me smile. Makes me think of children's stories and talking inanimate objects and randomness that nudges into the un-ordinary. Oh the whimsy!


My Creative Space today. I've seen some other creative spaces in blogs around and thought I'd share mine today.
I was little hungover (I'm never drinking again.. again.) Spent most of the day on that lovely blue couch continuing the 'Great Monster Sew' while watching entire season 5 of Scrubs. Love that little basket I picked up at op-shop (with horse head bookends) makes all that little fiddly sewing stuff portable and looks darn cute. Note the cup of tea. I've started a tally. Do you think 8 cups a day is too much?


Thinking of joining the Black Heart Anti-Valentines Day Contest, thinking my skeleton is going well and might fit the bill. Or something maybe dripping with felt blood.. I ought to be getting some office work done, but imagining twisted little heartbroken creatures, designs, patterns and details much more satisfying. Will get back to you on this one.

In between episodes I battled the Caterpillar Invasion. All week we have found dozens of these hariy critters wriggling across our floors with freakishly long spiny hairs. Why??.... why???

some stuff I've made

seeing as I can't make anything for a while...(darn work. stronger expletives are going though my mind, but that will do. This is a G rated site. Well, so far.) Here's some other stuff to look at until I get back tooo it.

watcha wearin' and darn work

The park on the way home..

I went to bed cranky last night. I felt like a little girl in a temper, 'cause I DIDN'T WANT to go to bed! So many things I want to do; finish a monster, read that great book, call my sister, sew my skeleton, cut out squares, listen to music, read my favourite blogs, stare at the ceiling and think. *sigh* darn work. I went to bed. (It's just gotten so crazy busy that I worked 9am to 8pm today. Secretly I want to quit and SEW. Not-so-secret.)

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My transfers arrived! yay! Now what to make first.. hrmm. I'm thinking a patchwork cushion with forest friend squares and the deer in the centre, or a pirate tea towel. Just not sure when I'll get to start (see 'darn work', above).

My picture for 'whatcha wearin' wednesday' group, I wore my pink plaid shirt to the office yesterday. Kinda makes me feel like a cowgirl, what with the snap buttons and little pockets. I did break out into a small line-dance, but that was un-shirt related.

I want to write so much more, but my posts may have to wait until weekend time, like sleeping in and wearing thongs. darn work. I know of people who blog and sew. Sew and blog, all day, and live happily with a shop that sells cute things. They also bake. *sigh*. (see fav blogs on the sidebar)

If you're one of them, please tell me what it's like.

Also SOMEONE WHO KNITS MAKE ME THIS!!

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(Aawww) Called a 'smitten', you can found pattern & instructions here at coco knits page.

Aso like this super cute mitten & scarf combo

and their 'rebag' made from plastic bags

Good time to start now for winter.. hint hint..

Wisdom and Bikes

WIZZZ-DOMMMM yep I gots some more WIZZZ-DOMMM *sings* I’ve got some wise, I’ve got some wise, I’ve got some wise hey,hey,hey, HEY! Traalaada (I wrote ‘bout ‘wisdom growing unevenly’ a few wks ago.. I feel like I’ve caught up a little-)

My steadfastness in the face of temptation and adversity made me a little proudofmyself and I found myself cheerful as I rode down the lanes on the way to work this morning (over an hour late, but hey.)

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Then I thought, if I’ve got the seed, what the hey let’s just make it grow and smiled broadly at complete strangers. As I passed the university, a tall man with glasses and a beard, wearing a colourful two piece pants and vest covered in flowers and a frill trim passed on rollerskates, being towed by a portly young man in runners with sweat staining the middle of his grey t-shirt. The world is weird. Correction, PEOPLE are weird. Wish I got a photo of them to show you.

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When I got to work I sneakily looked at a few blog posts and found the ‘slow bike movement’ and joined- see link on the sidebar. I’m a fan of meandering, rolling, cruising around yep yep.

Don't have elaborate scraves like these ladies though...

Sunday and monsters

On Sunday I went to Dub Club in the park. Love the little dude hangin out in the tree.

My friends sunnies broke. The arm broke off. So my other friend immediately scouted for a loose bit of thread from someone's shirt, grabbed a needle, and set to sewing it back on. So DIY. Love.it.

On the way I found this mystery masked man in an alleyway. He looks like he's savin the world from something. Even if it's just from another boring alleyway wall. (was on the phone to you mim, when spotted it)

Also started THE GREAT MONSTER SEW. Months ago I made a little monster. My friend R immediately claimed him, named him Weeoo and he's lived on her bed ever since.

Stage 1- Here he is amongst the fabrics of his soon-to-be friends.

(and here's his little stitched bum)

Stage 2- the feetses and ears are sewed up, awaiting stuffing and the next step.

I will keep you posted..

Dreams

My housemate has a theory, I think it may be from a book or books she read and her own thoughts.. what if dreams are connected in another space. I have vivid and strange dreams. My last three in no particular order involved
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1. Escaping an attic by parachuting off a cliff into the ocean with a man whose beanie was full of diamonds. They diamonds kept falling out and I would pick them up and slip them in my shoe. I was also pregnant (with twins) and part of a group of people hiding and turning off light switches.

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2. I lived in a big house but it was falling down, and as I ran around propping up the walls with bricks, the neighbour kept poking his head through holes in the walls and lighting them on fire with giant matchsticks. I think it also featured a large crocodile. (Freud would have fun with that one)

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3. I was a middle aged man escaping from soldiers and trying to get back to my 9 yr old daughter. Being continually found was exasperating, so i decided to fly, and could turn myself invisible except for my feet.

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So say that last one, while I was dreaming of being a father that night, somewhere else someone was dreaming of being a nine year old girl. Our dreams interweave like another dimension, and play off each other. weird thought.

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I met my husband in a dream. I don’t know how I knew it but I saw him, across from me as I sat in a group around a campfire, and knew he was the one for me. I wonder now if he had the same dream. I remember vaguely what he looked like, and I wonder if I'll know when I meet him.

"Our truest responsibility to the irrationality of the world is to paint or sing or write, for only in such response do we find the truth." Madeleine L'Engle

Up totally too late, again, entranced by this chick all over youtube singin funny songs with a beautiful voice and ace ukele skills, wit her friend who rocks a cure song. First linked from blogs (sorry, I've looked at so many today I cannot remember who started it!) then meandered through a musical journey all my own, until I look up bleary eyes and realise its almost 1am. Go on your own journey. may the ukelele be with you.



Meant to blog about other stuff, well meant to do a lot more stuff tonight, but such is the way of the web *sigh*. Youtube is up there with horoscopes, google earth and of course crafty blogs as my biggest time sucking vortexes in front of a computer. Outside of that it'd have to be staring at shelves in supermarkets being indecisive, walking into rooms but forgetting why I'm there, and staring into the distance.

Let me introduce you to my cats.

I have 3, accidentally.
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Six, (daughter of my friends cat Seven, who was later tragically killed and buried under the lemon tree next to the chicken coop) is tabby and has 'big bones'.
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Six likes:
- to be aloof and nonchalant. She follows me around but pretends not to. As in 'Oh, you're in the shower? I didn't notice. Really, I balance on the edge of the bath and stare into the distance all the time.'
- to find my lap. sleep under my armpit.
-to shed copious amounts of thick coarse fur.
-to avoid Juniper (see below)
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Juniper, kitten of mayhem, looks like her fur coat was caught in a blender and then randomly sticky-taped back together. Word to the wise, 'Oooh let’s get that playful one' should not be precursor to inviting said cat into home and hearth. That said, she really is lovely. When she's sleeping. Juniper joined us to keep Six company. This plan was deeply flawed.
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Juniper likes:
- to play play play. This often involves bringing twigs and small seed pods inside to roll around on the floor. We also have a substantial collection of mummified small lizards, crickets and various insects found under the couch.
- to torture Six (see above), particularly by; watching, stalking, pouncing, latching on to her throat, taking her favourite sleeping spots and generally not giving her a moments peace.
- sleep in her favourite spot, in the frangipani pot. Tropical kitteh.



Gigersquee is the cat.that.started.it.all. A birthday gift from a bestie, he came from a shelter and was named Gigersquee after a discussion about names resulting in word match between Giger (after H.R. Giger, artist, favours charcoals and colours reflected in coat of baby Gigersquee) and Squee (homicidal cartoon character. Just cute.)
Gigersquee went missing from my old apartment in April 2008. 3 months later, having accepted the likelihood that he was a goner, saw kitten in a window and said ‘ooooh, let’s get that playful one’ (see above). In November 2008, receive a phone call from RSPCA informing me that they have my cat, would I like to come and get him? Holy LONG LOST CAT! 7 MONTHS! (LLC for short)
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Giger likes:
- to sit next to my head so that on awakening the first thing I see are large green eyes peering at me and inquiring quietly. Or a cold nose pressed on mine.
- be languorous. on the windowsill, or on the roof in the sun, or on the paving stones.
- rip the weekend paper into shreds and eat it. Usually when I’m trying to read it.
- hack hairballs up in the hallway. Nice.
He also has various allergies which result in charts and measuring and mixing and nice people in white coats taking what seems like an awful lot of my money.

Soooo happy Gigersquee was found despite sudden realisation that, oops, I have three cats, dangerously close to crazy cat lady territory. Particularly as I am single and like to wear slippers. Hrmm... I keep trying to give one away (I have spare, after all) but no takers as yet. I think they think I’m joking. I met a nice boy with three cats too, but it could never work out. If we ever moved in together we’d have Brady Bunch Family of six cats. Holy Toledo.

The Happiest Fairy Tale


Once upon a time, a guy asked a girl "Will you marry me?"
The girl said, "NO!"
And the girl lived happily ever after and went shopping, dancing, drank whole bottles of wine, chatted for hours on the phone with friends, always had a clean house, watched chick flicks without feeling guilty, never had to cook, did whatever the hell she wanted, never argued, didn't get fat, didn't have to pay for dual view TV, travelled more, had a career, had many lovers, and had all the hot water to herself. She went to the theatre, never watched sports, owned every remote control in the house, never wore frigging lacy lingerie that went up her arse, had high self esteem, never cried or yelled, and felt and looked fabulous all the time.

...

I am up late, with a glass of wine. but that's ok, tomorow I will laze in bed until I feel like getting up. and I can always change my mind and go back to bed. i will soak that up, because I'm sure I can't spend every saturday like that stretching into my life.

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Tonight we had some friends over for dinner, 8 girls in all, eating and drinking and talking and laughing. Happy days.

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Every day this week, as I pass the front gate, i've stopped and chomped on sweet little cherry tomatoes that warm in the sun and burst on your tongue like little goodnessess.

I am sleepy. And feeling kind of melancholy. The weekend lies ahead, I think we have an understanding. Many thoughts bubbling in my mind, yet blank. Many things to do, but don't feel like anything. Many loves in my life, yet none. Yep, did I say I was feeling melancholy? Time for bed and snuggles with John Steinbeck me thinks.

How to cheer yourself up


Wait until your drifting around the house aimlessly, sighing every now and then.

Get a pen and paper, and a cup of tea, and write in no particular your top 10 favourites. Favourite tastes, favourite smells, favourite sounds, favourite sights, favourite touches. This may be hard. Particulary if some of what you write is no longer available to you. In fact this may get a lot harder before it gets better. Sorry.

When you’re done, have another cup of tea and a bit of a weep.
Takea deep breath and pick one thing from each list you can do or experience right away.

Do them.


I went to the park under big trees, watched some clouds while listening to music on my ipod and feeling the grass between my toes. Then I ate mangoes in the sun, called my sister and heard her laugh and went home to hug a friend and sew a monster.



If it works out, you'll have a bittersweet feeling that although you've lost some things, there's still things in the world that make you smile. Smile.

my week

the rain sounds lovely on the leaves and the roof. It is late and I ought to be in bed.
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excerpt from email sent this week: "work, meh. its fantastic and challenging and boring and stressful and exciting. i'll tell you all about it during the week (and you can try not to alternate between wetting your pants and falling asleep. as i do.)"
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things I bought on the weekend
An embroidered budgie picture. Wooden horse head bookends. (My housemates think both of these are exceptionally ugly. I do not. but then, I am 'unique'. I love them.) A goldfish named Roberto. (Also some mulch that smells like raw sugar and a spaghetti canister.)
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Wisdom pains (or lack of wisdom causing pains..) I think my wisdom is growing unevenly, I'm wiser in some parts and not in others, and I’m experiencing growing pains while it all catches up. I hope it catches up. I know what is stupid, and then sometimes do it anyway. Aaargh.
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New Year’s Resolution # 12: do not accept less than amazing. I suspect I deserve something more than this.

once there was a girl in the world

Once there was a girl young in the world.
She knew nothing of the ways of boys, and
when one sweet gentle-boy held her hand
and offered her his lovely heart
she trampled it in her ignorance, showered in
his tears, and went away to get lost in the world.
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Once there was a girl lost in the world.
She fell in love with a boy who wandered
and when he fed her with his quiet ways but
did not need her, she wondered at his ways

and her stomach rumbled

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Once there was a girl who was hungry.
A boy said to her 'run away with me'
and eat things starting with 'c'.
When he shipwrecked in
another bed she cried, and sighed
and she sailed on without him
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Once there was a girl sailing across the sea...

virtual art gallery

Sweet as virtual art gallery here at Freshly Baked Gallery. I think the artist 'ears' lives near me, he's papered up some pics around.

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.

cinematic orchestra

Last night I enjoyed the cinematic orchestra. They played in Angel Place, a small venue with balconies stacked high on the walls and incredible acoustics bouncing and vibrating all around the place. We were right on the balcony to the left of the stage, a spit away from the pianist.

As I fell asleep I was thinking three things..

1. I love music solos. Any kind; guitar solo, drum solo, sax solo, piano solo. They all rock. when the other instruments fade away and the spotlight is on one player puring their energy into one instrument frantically, it's a beautiful thing!

2. I love the 'last song'. When I hear the announcement, and know it's the last one, I lean forward and soak it up through my pores as much as I can, knowing that it is about to end. (I won't go into the joy of encores!)

3. I remember why I seem to always date musicians. They're freaakin hot! Anyone that can hold me in such a trance, and create such beauty..

In the mood for a good book. Turn down the lights, pull up the doona, have a cat or two (or three... oops). I need to find another one to start now, after the last one looked promising but unexpectedly turned to CHEESE with a lame plot involving seperated-at-birth twins.. Puhleeese.

When I was at school I would spend hours, days, entire weekends reading. Hundreds of books a year. But then kids books are often excellent, adults books can be tiresome, or a bore, or full of self-importance. Best to avoid those ones.

My usual method is reading the first sentence. Or the first page. If I don't feel compelled to turn the page, it will probably never work between us. A friend of mine tests by reading the last page; I've heard some people just read the blurb, but it's like believing a resume.. better off meeting the person.



(which reminds me of the culmination of many conversations with a bestie of mine. Three questions you should ask yourself of any guy- 'would I employ him?', 'does he have a good hip to shoulder ratio?' (trust us on this one) and 'does he spend more time on his hair than I do on mine?'. The answers should let you know how to continue. With caution or wild abandon!)

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)

tomato bum

I often wonder at the human capacity for complicating things. I like the simple life, but lately, I am sure good at making things hard for myself. I am resolved to lock myself in with my sewing machine all weekend, lest I make it worse. And maybe I'll go into the garden.



Today was part 2 of the great tomato harvest

From such a little space I got so many tomatoes I need to cut 'em up and freeze them for future pasta sauces. The bugs/birds/various insects claimed many, but I'm very pleased at the result of my sporadic vege garden!

...but the best thing was definitely.. the TOMATO BUM!

(it says something about my day that the best thing that's happened is some misshapen fruit, but isn't it good?)

some baby seedlings have also come up, yawning...

I love the inherent promise. I don't like it when I forget to water them and they die.
New Years Resolution #27- don't kill plants from negligence, forgetfulness or laziness...

Also the little soldiers and plant from my earlier post- gone! all cleaned off, scrubbed away like it never was. Just some little patches of tenacious glue..