cute hey?

I made these badges for the lovely My Poppet, such a lovely range of fabrics!

It's out!

My husband's awesome publishing company aduki independent press has produced the The Australian Veg Food Guide 2010, a national guide of over 200 vegetarian, vegan and veg friendly restaurants around Australia. It's a great resource for those who are looking for animal free meals and is not only a book! As you can imagine, it was really hard to get all the restaurants around Australia reviewed (quite a lot of reviewers dropped out at last minute, strnagely). But rest assured, the food guide also has its very own website where you can contribute restaurant reviews, and add new eateries. An iphone app is coming soon! You can also buy it as an ebook for a mere $5. Cool hey? I'll be buying some (yes, I have to buy copies hehe) for gifts for friends!

ps-In case you're wondering, the photo on the front cover is of the delish Vegan Parma, available at Brunswick's very own East Brunswick Club

pps-We went to Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery cafe for lunch today. I've not been there before, but Chris was very disappointed, apparently the menu has changed substantially with only a few 'snacky' kind of dishes (not cheap), noodles, and a lot of different teas and desserts. I had a bowl of noodles with faux-pork and vegetables. Tasty for $9.90 but it would have been nice if it came with tea as some of the other dishes. I'm not big on faux meats, as I have to limit my tofu and gluten intake, but once in a while is ok.

Good people make good things happen

Have you heard of the rather awesome Mirabel foundation?

Mirabel assists children who have been orphaned or abandoned due to parental illicit drug use and are now in the care of extended family (kinship care). Mirabel believes that every child deserves a childhood and its mission is to break the destructive cycle of addiction.

Mirabel supports children aged 0-17 years and works at restoring a child’s sense of self-worth, belonging and hope for the future in order for them to reach their full potential as young adults.

Pretty awesome hey? Equally awesome is the Softies for Mirabel campaign organised by the lovely Pip of Meet me at Mikes. You can make a cute softie of your own and it will be donated to a child from Mirabel. I met a couple of women from the Mirabel Foundation last night, amazing work they do! You can find out more info from Pip's website here. I'm thinking I'll make some more duck softies and maybe some dinosaurs!


I went along to the launch of Pip's new book Sew Tea La Do! It was held at the lovely Captains of Industry and was great fun! I think you should buy a copy of this book, it will impress you no end, it's really well made with the most beautiful photographs and projects for everyone. I like people who make things happen. It's very easy to complain rather than do, and I think Pip is a great example of someone who works hard and makes things happen. We should all be inspired by that really.

Have you made something good happen lately? Email me at cate@polkadotrabbit.com so I can share the goodness! xx

Meme about me...

pic from here
Chunkychooky has a little meme to play along with which looked like fun:

4 things that I always* carry:

1. Money-necessary evil
   
2. Ventolin-asthma
   
3. Hankerchief-rotten hayfever this time of year, well all year round really.
   
4. Keys

*assuming I haven't left them at home, I am quite forgetful really!

4 things that are in my bedroom:

1. A portrait of myself and my husband painted by a good friend as an engagement present.
   
2. Piles of books and cds, we lack space and have been trying to sell them off for ages! We've had lots of garage sales.
   
3. A biscuit tin decorated with yellow stained glass looking daffodils which I bought a few years ago in the UK.
   
4. Perfume. I don't wear make up very often but I love perfume. Even if I can't smell it (see above)
   

4 things that I would like to do, but haven't done yet:

1. Visit eastern Europe
2. Have a craft residency in a gallery/museum overseas
3. Publish a book
4. Have a second wedding. (the first was fun but not entirely what we wanted)
   

4 things that you don't know about me:

1. I'm reasonably good at Scrabble
2. I have a degree in Criminology which is of no actual use
   
3. I'm addicted to salty foods
4. I'm a terrible sleeper
   

4 things I often wonder:

1. Where is my brother? (existentially)
2. Will I ever be thin again?
3. What shall we have for dinner?
4. Why do people always stand at pedestrian traffic lights but fail to push the button?
   

Everyday is like sunday....

pic from here

This morning I woke up feeling reasonably ok considering I drank a bottle and a half of wine yesterday at a backyard barbecue. After a cup of tea and some vegemite toast Chris and I went along to a school fete at a park around the cormer from our house. I bought some bearded irises and native daisies, anzac biscuits and an amazing chocolate cupcake.

The plants are now in the front garden with a heap of compost dug in from the worm farm!

In case you're now in the mood for Anzac Biscuits, here's a recipe"
INGREDIENTS
1 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup desiccated coconut
1 cup plain flour
1 cup sugar
125g (4oz) butter
2 tablespoons golden syrup
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 tablespoon water

Preheat oven to 300F (150C)

Mix oats, flour, sugar and coconut together.
Melt syrup and butter together.
Mix soda with boiling water and add to melted butter and syrup.
Add to dry ingredients.
Place 1 tablespoonfuls of mixture on greased tray (allow room for spreading).
Bake for 20 minutes.
Loosen while warm, cool on trays.
(makes about 35)
recipe from here

Things I like today

I added another Smiths embroidery to my online shop

so cool to see Holly's felted terraniums on Mr X Stitch!


One of my new fave songs


Love the milk glass!

Things I like today

Loving these tights and of course the teapot!

Quite liking this DIY tutorial to pretty up a canvas bag...
Loving this poster exhibition by EveryGuyed Framework, a series of posters highlighting the most iconic men’s eyewear of the last 100 years.


Have you seen much of the Melbourne International Arts festival? Last night we went to see An Anthology of Optimism. It was wonderful!

Things I like today

I really like the idea of combining different mediums such as this piece which combines painting with stitching.
I really like this idea of using a Gourd as a pot plant. Obviously it wouldn't last forever and I'll never actually eaten a Gourd, but cool idea!


One of the advantages of warmer weather is coming is that we will soon be able to walk around in barefeet instead of socks and slippers! Working from home, i wear slippers, very unfashionable I'm sure. Pic from here

Loving this article. Say no to poncy food hehe. Some of my favourite comfortable food are (veg) sausages and mash; roast veggies; tomato soup; vegemite on turkish bread; avocado on toast with black pepper; spaghetti on toast and the like! Do you have favourites that you return to time and time again? Foods that aren't cool but you love them?

Things I like today

So excited, my sweetpeas have started flowering! I love sweetpeas.

This chocolate mousse looks amazing! You can get the recipe over at Miss Organics. Shall give it a go this weekend...


I'd love one of these if not for the prohibitive price tag!

Yes, I am a terrible blogtoberfest correspondent but will try to catch up, I've been flat chat helping with the online version of the Veg Food Guide, lots of staring at spread sheets, not good for bad eyesight!

Things I like today

Loving this Very Hungry Caterpillar mobile! So cool!

Love this carry case and matching purse.


Loving this photograph of ball gowns by Federick Lezmi...

I also adore Federick's photograph of this homemade car cover! Great idea..

By the way, I'm also selling a few bits and pieces on ebay with more to come. Do have a look.

The wonder of creative Melbourne

Went to the Positive Poster exhibition at the No Vacancy Gallery at QV here in Melbourne last night. These two were my favourites....




Then we went for rather awesome mushroom and spinach dumplings at David and Camy's Dumpling House. Excellent.

Then we went to see Bill Viola's Firewoman and Tristan ascending in St Carthages in Parkville. Eerie but glorious.And free. We are incredibly luckily in Melbourne to have access to such wonderful creative sensibilities. I always feel grateful.

What I've been up too: my creative space

Badge making! October 31st is World Vegan Day and I'm making badges for Aduki Press, my husband's rather awesome publishing company. I also do custom badges! Contact me if you're interested.

You can see more creative spaces over here

Self Portrait-Day 13 of Blogtoberfest

Created as part of 2008 Fringe Festival's Totem exhibition, held at Federation Square, this self portrait represents my love of bunnies, struggle with body image and depression: (the black dog) and my open heart.... I enjoyed making it, and I've had a few requests by people for their own portraits but nothing definite. I think a personalised totem doll would be an awesome gift for someone special!

Things I like today

I love this handbag


Gorgeous embroidery by Sarah Wilson, as featured on Feeling Stitchy.

Cute retro Swedish teacup and saucer from Polka Dot Rabbit vintage.


I can't remember where I found these vintage book illustrations, but they are cute. (if you know the source, let me know).

Things I like today

I just adore this octopus. Spread across three canvases, it really shows the expansiveness of these beautiful creatures.

Daschunds! I do love sausage dogs, I even embroider sausage dog gloves !
Another awesome threadless t shirt design

Disapproving rabbits is one of my favourite websites, but this one is more cute than disapproving!

I must confess I'm a bad blogtoberfest participant! I spend the weekend completely away from the computer and didn't blog at all! Rest assured I'll make a few extra posts to make up the difference :)

It's that time of year...

Hayfever! Pop one of these in your bag, much more forgiving to your nose and the planet than a wad of tissues. Reduce your carbon nose print, use a hanky!

Things I like today

Now my tax return arrived I can replace my old clogs. Maybe not this pair, but I do love the colour!


Another gorgeous design by Anthropologie...


Loving these stools, just amazing work!


I think if you have children you should take them to see Terrible Comfort's Owl In Spotlight at La Mama Theatre from October 20th . Included in the show is an exhibition of hand crafted owls from artists around Australia, who form the opening overture to the show.

Review of the exhibition in The Age

As quite a few people have asked for this, here it is!

Things I like today

I do like these cups, I do.
Paper planes never looked so good.

no, not really but it's so poignant! Charming really.

I love this print...


Did you know I'm trying to blog daily as part of Blogtoberfest? There's a whole heap of us involved and you might like to pop over here and get involved with the fun! Do you have new things that you've made that I might like to tell people about on my blog? Let me know!