I got this Japanese magazine last week. It was instant infatuation. I NEEDED it, somehow my life would be better with it. It is a little. I am now scouring the secondhand shops for linen anything.

Is this not Wabi Sabi. I think it is.

I don’t know if I could ever wear a combination of socks and sandals again, as one did when one was was little but this tempts me… greatly.

Claire tagged me quite a while ago about 5 things that make you happy. In no particular order -

Listening to Burt Bacharach. The man is a genius. I Say a Little Prayer would have to be in my top 5 fave songs of all time.
Watching Project Runway with my son and daughter. We all get into it and have a laugh. The Australian version was the best I reckon. The contestants were real characters and not at all bitchy bitchy like the US version.
Playing punch buggy with the kids. You know when you see Volkswagen you scream punch buggy yellow or whatever colour and punch the person closest to you. When I am in the car alone and realise there’s no one there I go ooohhh and get all sad (about being happy).
Fabric buying and salvaging fabric. My latest are the two below.One was found in Adelaide just sitting there, the other 3 panels of curtain love.
Being by myself. I like my own company and enjoy going out with myself like to art galleries and the sort. Sounds a bit strange (I am a bit) but it makes me happy.

Adelaide find -Woodville OS

Edit - it was 6 things that make you happy - doh. I’ll leave that one for another day

Tuesday morning made some lavender squares out of doilies. Filled them Wednesday night.

Didn’t make anything on Wednesday, Thursday but on Friday went to see the Yinka Shonibare MBE exhibition at the MCA. In the spiel it says “Shonibare explores ideas about contemporary African identity, the legacy of colonialism, class structures and social justice”. Well I don’t know about that but the fabrics were deelish.

Today I made a bag for Stephanie from a Japanese book. I started at about 9.30 this morning and finished at 2pm. It was a protoptype for one I intend to make for myself …oneday.

Some left over d’olie edging fron Tuesdays efforts adds a touch of whimsy to this otherwise plain pocket.

Here is the mess I now have to clean up.

Ironing my new old skirt the other morning, I noticed for the first time the blocking of the pattern and the unique handmadeness quality to it. A diamond in the rough.

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I took Stephanie my babe garage saleing and treasure hunting today. I don’t usually take her as she starts to get fidgety by the second shop or stop but she is good company. She ended up with an impressive haul of goodies for her dollhouse and I came away with a deer and an old quilt (pictures to come soon). This is actually for my sister. We were in Adelaide a few weeks back and she noticed one of these in a chi chi Modern Danish shop priced as only Modern Danish chi chi shops can. In the right atmosphere, it looks outstanding , in my house this holds no ground, which despairs me a little as I would like a chi chi home. Just a tiny pinch of despair.

Have been doing a little bit of stitching which does not despair me. Quite satisfying and non stressful.

We, meaning the family, are going out for Lebanese food tonight. I don’t cook on Saturdays nights. It used to be that we had takeaway ( but I would have to go and get it to eat at home, still like cooking to me) but now we actually go out to eat which feels very civilised.

Today in hot and sunny downtown Gladesville was the inaugural Sydney Brown Owls meet at Material Obsession. It was nice to sit around and chat and all be familiar with what everyone was talking about. Cass did a wonderful job at organising it all. I’m happy to have found some more blogs to add to Google reader and come away with a few little treats, thanks Jess.

Pincushion

With little cat and dog pins made from shrinky plastic and applique pins. Cute. They serve no use for anything but sometimes things have to be done without purpose, in my world. Plus I seem to have to have only ten minutes at a time before I am called for something so things have to be quick and little. A point in case - just as I typing this enthralling piece about wee pins ..” mum, can we get the ball off the roof ?” I have just blasphemed (to myself in my head), breathed out and ’spose I best get the ladder.

Between putting the rolled roast  and the potatoes in the oven yesterday , I made (term used loosely) this sunny’s case.  I found a pair on ray ban sunglasses in the os last week , near new….. except they are twenty years old.  I wore  an almost exact same pair in the eighties. I am in conflict weather this is a good or bad thing. They are very serviceable and good quality but I question my style sense. Surely they are due for a comeback. Surely.
Shan’t talk much about the making of the case, it was a horror from go to whoa. Who can make dinner, make binding and sew binding at the time? Not me. The machine got a tongue lashing.

At least the dinner worked out well.

dont look too close at the wonky stitching

Well that was while between hello’s. Life has been pretty hectic for me of late and winter does not fare me well I must say, but hopefully things will settle down.
An urge that came upon me last week was to have more needles. Who has urges for needles, chocolate yes , but little bits of metal? I seem to be always scratching around for one and never being satisfied that one is at hand, now problem solved. I was going to break into the Sewing Susan pack but could not bring myself to do it. A nal! Good score from St.Vinnies.

I will be on hold for a while longer.