Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Things I like today



Love the shoes! Love the tights! via We Heart It



Lovely embroidery tutorial by Chez Beeper Bebe via Craft zine. I'm adding this to the long list of things I want to do!


Cathy by the seaside pendant by Linogirl



These would make sweeping more fun! From here

A recent purchase...







Gocco Machine! No idea how to use it, but I'm looking forward to having a go once I have time...

I found some great advice and tips here

Red work embroidery....




I participated in Kirsty's Red work quilt challenge. Each of us were sent a square and the instruction to decorate how we wished (gocco, knitting, embroidery etc) but only in red.

Here's mine, far from perfect and ridiculously late and waiting for the tea tree oil to dry, but done at least!

Invite

The convent is located at 1 St Helliers Street Abbotsford in Melbourne.

More information about how to get there here.

What better venue to have our quilt stitched by (mainly)women displayed than at the convent?

If you've been following the project & you're available on the 23rd we'd love to see you.

Just RSVP to Kirsty.

The Quilt Project site will be launched on this evening also & will be live on the 24th of October.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Belated Crafting...

Cassette Wallets




Custom order coasters




Asterix Badges




My new logo! I've also been tidying up my website in anticipation of it's second birthday....

Things I like today



Very cute E Card from DaWanda. And very apt considering it's been raining all weekend here!

kevin7

Great example of balcony gardening! From Design Sponge

Cute pet portraits (soft toy style) by Sian on Etsy

Friday, September 25, 2009

Big business steals art yet again!

I featured this dress from ASOS yesterday in my 'Things I like Today" post. I didn't realise that the design on the dress is a direct rip off of the art work of Ali J .

Killahdress

Knitted dress made by Killah.

Ali states in her blog:

this is what I think was the original image that was 'tweaked'. This artwork was from all the way back in November 2007 (crap photography skills at the time!)

Clowngirl

Fortunately -ASOS takes copyright infringement seriously and within a few short hours of being contacted has removed the dress for sale. They've also contacted the clothing line Killah to advise them of the issue and are in discussions with them of their right to use the dress.


This stuff makes me so angry! It's such a lack of integrity!
Thanks to Anna! from
Able and Game for letting me know

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Things I like today



UK shops do alot more online/catalogue business than shops in Australia. I adore this apple noticeboard and matching mugs by Next



Maps look wonderful on display! via Design Sponge



Skipping Girl Postcard by Chiaki Mori

Monday, September 21, 2009

Things I like today



These socks by sockdreams make me laugh!


Adorable sachet succulent by Lupin which includes an easy tutorial.


Via We heart it


gp


Gorgeous work by Ghost Patrol on The Design Files which includes oodles of pics and a fab interview by Lucy.

Friday, September 18, 2009

30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know


1. The illness I live with is: bipolar1, bulimia nervosa, COE


2. I was diagnosed with it in the year:1998


3. But I had symptoms since:1992-4 from memory


4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: learning to manage my moods in a way that i am able to do things that i want to, determining what normal functional eating is.


5. Most people assume: that people with bipolar spend alot of time in hospital, are non-compliant, are unable to work full time or study. Most people assume people with bulimia are under psychiatric care when it is actually extremely difficult to access, regardless of insurance. I've pretty much tried all treatment that is available...clinics, group therapy, meds, OA etc etc. Stats on the success of treatments are generally pretty woeful actually.


6. The hardest part about mornings are: Getting up as I often sleep poorly due to early waking syndrome.


7. My favorite medical TV show is: Doc Martin


8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: ventolin inhaler actually


9. The hardest part about nights are: restless leg syndrome, early waking insomnia


10. Each day I take 6 pills & vitamins.

11. Regarding alternative treatments I'm a big fan yet i get aliented by those who are anti-psychiatry and at people who assume bipolar can be treated without medication. I currently see a hypnotherapist for help with my eating (which is no where near as severe as it was in its hey day I hasten to add). I also find exercise helpful.


12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: not sure really, maybe something more visible would make me feel less guilty. Bulimia is very much an invisible illness, until I visit the dentist that is :).


13. Regarding working and career: both are extremely important to my wellness.


14. People would be surprised to know: I still am unable to predict the onset of depression despite my best efforts! Lots of fat people have eating disorders, it's not simply a case of eating the wrong foods all the time. I've met many women in their 60's who still have eating disorders, sadly.


15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: Letting people down when I am unable to commit to plans I have made in the past. Letting myself down.


16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: work as a volunteer feminist phone counsellor, it was a huge part of my recovery.


17. The commercials about my illness: I haven't seen any actually.


18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: I miss having a reliable sex drive actually.


19. It was really hard to have to give up: the rush of manic highs, being thin....I have an underactive thyroid due to medication side effects.


20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: crafting! Now I have my own small business Polka Dot Rabbit


21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: I think I feel relatively normal, whatever that us.


22. My illness has taught me: we can choose to live our lives the best way we can, despite mental illness. My twin committed suicide due to mental illness and it's taught me that all we can do is find the joy or purpose we can with each day. Focusing on helping others, volunteering etc are always great recovery tools.


23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: But you do so much!


24. But I love it when people: encourage me to socialise.


25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: not sure but I find Kay Jamieson Redfield inspiring.


26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: You can learn so much to make things easier.


27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: Just the ways the illness have changed over time. I am now much less manic but still susceptible to severe depression. I still struggle with bulimia/ED despite many treatment programs. I'm also surprised at the lack of materials for partners of those with eating disorders, it all targets parentals.


28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: my husband makes me laugh which is lovely.


29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: we exist and live meaningful lives


30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: incredibly vulnerable as though I will be constantly seen through an ED/psychiatric lens.

Find out more about National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week and the 5-day free virtual conference with 20 speakers Sept 14-18, 2009 at www.invisibleillness.com

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Things I like today

Apologies for my absence in blog land, I've been unwell with a bad cold, spending most of my time in bed! Here's some suitably themed things I like today as I sit here and listen to the rain...


Love these tea cosy patterns, I've been drinking lots of tea!
Pic via Retro Knitting Company




Gorgeous origami tea via Jen Says


via ffffound.com

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Things I like today



Love this dress! Yay Lily Allen


I really want this necklace.

Vintage handkerchiefs from Sunblossom. Lots of warm strong winds today, hell for hayfever!


Pirates vs Ninjas chess? Via Handmade

Friday, September 11, 2009

Things I like today


Awesome printable dolls from Parasol craft magazine



Awesome Morrisey art by Russian artist Evgeny Parvinov



My mate Clem makes the most delicious jams and cakes. I'm so excited that she's entering the Royal Melbourne show competition again!

cavallinipapers-TOPPIC.jpg

Stunning posters by Cavallini via Ohdeedoh. If we weren't anticipating moving house, I'd be buying a heap!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Things I like today



My love of bunnies is hardly a secret so this card by enyaj charms the socks off me. It can be purchased on the fabulous Leeloo website


awesome street art from Wooster Collective


pic from Flickr

I always like the idea of words on walls. In English the Goethe quote translates as:

Enjoy moderately fill and benediction
, reason is everywhere admit,
where life is pleased the life.
Then past is steadily,
the future ahead alive,
the instant is Eternity."

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

I forgot to mention...



I have an article on green renting in the latest Mixtape!

Mixtape is a wonderful zine with loads of interesting articles like:
  • Aunty Cookie Book Plates
  • Cool Cross Stitch Pattern
  • Everyday Heirlooms
  • Livin' Large
  • Ethically Challenged Corporations
  • Crafty Lady: Katy Jones
  • and another WICKED pull out poster designed by :
  • Tina Tarnof

You can buy your own copy here.

What I've been up to....


pic via ffffound.com

I feel I've been rather neglecting this blog as I've been quite busy and also quite tired. I have been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid and some related sleep disorders so I'm often very weary and don't always have enough energy to do everything I would like...

Things I am making:

-Red stitch embroidery/applique for Kootoyoo's red stitch quilt
-Embroidered gloves for a new stockist in London
-special order map coasters
-more comic wallets and bits and pieces for old and new stockists
-upcrafted ceramic crockery (stay tuned for pics!)


Things I have been doing:

-decluttering the house ( a massive task! We are holding a stall at CERES market in a couple of weeks and will be selling loads of books, cd's (our whole collecting is being digitised), fabric, vintage homewares and other bits and pieces. Whatever we don't sell will be donated to charity.

-organising our one year wedding anniversary celebration. We'll be staying overnight at the Melbourne Zoo as part of Roar N Snore! So excited.

-pet sitting a rather cheeky persian cat called Bella

-buying art (must remember pics!)

-organising an interview with Frankie Magazine about our Green Renters site

-learning German

-hypnotherapy

-exercising when I can and eating healthy

-working of course!

I found this on the internet and I really like it:


Friday, September 4, 2009

I love this clip!

I'm a huge Sonic Youth fan

Travel diaries: Montreal




Montreal was an interesting place. When we arrived things didn't look particularly encouraging. It was pouring rain and cold and most of the Montreal Jazz Festival's acts for the day had to be cancelled. Given that the festival was incongruosly based in the Business district, it did not bode well for entertainment... Luckily the weather picked up though and there was much drinking and dancing and awesome music.

Here's a pic of Guy Nadon, the amazing 75 year old jazz drummer who described himself as the 'world's oldest teenager' and commented "Women come and go, but music remains." Amazing stuff!


We were also fortunate to view the doco Rocksteady: the Roots of Reggae. It was really interesting as I didn't have much knowledge about the ska/rocksteady/reggae divide. It also gave me a very different impression of Jamaica than i held previously.



We also enjoyed lots of lovely drinks in Montreal!


Street art from around the festival:






Art installation that I found rather sinister:

We also went to the Montreal Biodome, an amazing enclosure which encompasses 6 different ecospheres including a tropical forest, antartic, marine, and forest areas. Just amazing!

Aren't the macaws amazingly coloured! Just beautiful!:



I've never seen a Capybara before:


Penguins!