my week in pictures

- Trip to the beach with wet dog, pebble collecting, slight sunburn and picnic of tuna sandwiches.
- Blueberry Pear Pie. You know I love pie.

- Homemade weight set up. To counteract effects of above pie. (and yes, that is how much I lift. If I was buff, I wouldn't need to lift them, now would I?)

- Library Books. Vintage Horse Salt and Pepper Shakers.

- New Garden Bed. I made that, I did.

- The lamb named Ruthie (named after this amazing gal), born over Christmas and getting bigger every day.
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Hope your week was awesome!

sleepy cats

In the heat of the day, I took some photos of the cats in their (current) favourite sleeping places. Six on the ironing board, Giger on the wall ledge (he is wearing a cone so he can't lick himself), Juniper on the desk- looking alert of course. Impossible to sneak up on that cat.
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Right now they're circling me, hoping for a lick of yoghurt from my breakfast while I'm not looking.

finding my words

via

January scares me a little bit. Like the first page in a journal, or a blank page before your paintbrush touches it. It’s halfway over already and I wonder if I have done it justice. So far I have been writing in my journal more, and less in my posts, while I find my words for the year.

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning. ”

~T.S. Eliot, “Little Gidding”

(edit) I love how this lady has a quote for each year, she is deciding her 2011 one now.

Mabel's Monster

A custom order tattooed girl monster I just finished. I never use a pattern for these guys, so they all emerge unique. I was a bit worried about this girl's long body, but I think her arms balance her out. I used a bit of lace for the skirt, and this time machine-embroidered the tattoos instead of hand stitching them. I think she looks a bit shy and mischievous at the same time. Now she's on her way to Sydney for a little girl named Mabel, from this lovely lady.

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Goodbye monster girl.

my creative space- studio

Some photos from my new studio set up, on the unfinished second floor of the house in the country. Hence the exposed beams, uncovered floor and tin roof; which makes it a bit hot, but just a bit more homemade, I think.

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I only got about half of the studio, the other half has not-much-light for photos. You'll have to use your imagination (stacked tubs full of fabric, a bookshelf full of fabric, and more suitcases. Full of.. fabric. Ironing board, shelves of threads, baskets of felt and patterns.)

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I work until about 1pm, when the oven effect gets a bit too much, and I go downstairs to read blogs or outside to plant seeds or read under a tree.

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I'm going to have a giveaway soon. It is in the photo. Can you guess what it is? I'll tell you on Sunday!

blog love- forgotten fancies

In Forgotten Fancies, a lass named Carmen is documenting everything she owns (drawn with information about where she got it and it's significance in her life) one by one, in an attempt to learn about excess and what is important in her life. Plus a bit of everyday adventures, nice things and sewing projects, makes a very nice blog indeed.

Go Carmen!

artist- Andy Goldsworthy

Have you seen the work of Andy Goldsworthy? I hadn't. Then I saw this video. Isn't it divine?

music love- city and colour

thanks Jess

etsy love- reading

3D letter S from repurposed book, Book Bundles, Simply Tote Bag, book necklace, Recycled Book Pages Garland, Secret Whisper Earrings, BEAUSOLEIL Black Frame Reading Eyeglasses imported from France, Cozy Wingback Chair, Pale Cream Whimsical Victorian Romance Dress, Patterns and Pages 8 x 8 Print.

We all know how much it's been raining, and rain inspires me to curl up in an armchair with a cat and a cup of tea and a book. Not very productive but very satisfying. (Considering what the rain has been doing to other folk, very very lucky too).

I'm averaging 3 books a week, but am all out until we go into town next week and visit the library. I shall have to do some work. Or re-read Pride and Prejudice. Either way.

new cards

After I had a go at making Christmas cards, I tried a few more. The top one has a print of bunting and says 'hooray!', the middle one says 'happy housewarming' with a watercolour print of cute houses. And the last one is for someone you really like. It says 'you are the jam to my peanut butter'.

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They are $3.50, with envelope, and in my blue caravan shop now.

To the sodden, wet and flooded folk

My mum took these photos yesterday from the caravan park she is staying at.

(In a CARAVAN. Luckily it is on high ground. I don't want to find out later if it floats.)

To the sodden, wet and flooded folk around Australia,

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You poor things, it just keeps coming, doesn't it? This rain was welcome at first, then a bit annoying, and now down-right unwelcome. Now there is water everywhere. I hope you don't get drunk and play in it. That would be silly. I hope you find a nice dry place with a cup of tea and a dry bed and a hug.

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I hope your car is okay, your house is insured, your business safe and your loved ones accounted for. I hope it has been more exciting than terrifying, and the sun comes out really soon.

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We're all thinking of you. If I could make you a casserole, I would.

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Hugs,

Pepper x

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ps. if you are one of those brave folk and volunteers looking for missing people and rescuing them in helicopters, and working tirelessly to help in whatever way you can, an extra cheer for you. If I could bake you a cake, I would.

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pps. If you want to help (and like me, can't post a casserole) you can donate to the flood relief fund here.

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if I'm nice to you, will you give me one?

of course you ought to turn vintage suitcases into couches.

And cupboards. And while you're at it, a typewriter lamp. They're all the work of Katherine Thompson, who takes old things and makes them even more lovely.

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See more or buy some (you lucky duck) at recreate, or browse their blog.

via dudecraft

my week in pictures

Not so long ago I was taking pictures of walls and graffiti, and now it's all farm animals and green (and those cute kidlets).

The rain, though I love rain, is relentless. But the ducks are happy.

Hope your week was awesome!

blog love- brunette bombshell

This is a blog I found recently, on one of those random link-clicking trips in blog land that happen when something looks interesting, then something else look captivating, which leads to something extraordinary.

It is a very nice blog, about a brunette (bet you saw that coming) and her vespa dreams, and journey to become a healthier and stronger lass, with a nice dollop of gorgeous writing in between. My favourite ones are the love letters. Read them from the early ones. Sigh.

She has a way of articulating heartbreak that makes you feel both completely understood and almost grateful for it, as if it were a poetic necessity to reach the dreams and hope lying just beyond the-part-where-you-can't-breathe. And feeling understood makes it easier to step back and grab a hurt with two hands; to examine it and make sense of it so you can put it down and walk away.

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Go Meg, you rock my blog world.

today, with you

The Universe and Forever

via Swiss Miss

it's a new dawn, it's a new day

Happy New Year everyone

x Pepper