Little house on the range

(Belated) Goals for 2012

2012-02-03T18:14:00.000+10:00

My old pastor commented on Facebook recently, that January feels like "holding inhaled breath and waiting to expel it and start breathing again". It is something a can relate to, perhaps this year more than others. Moving to a new town in December and all the traveling for Christmas and New Year celebrations (our first with an extra little person), has left me desiring a life pause button. However, as January has waned and February is new, I am ready to start breathing again and get stuck into living with gusto! So without further ado, my goals for the rest of 2012.

Housekeeping

Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. - William Morris

1. Declutter. As much as I love making and collecting things, there can be too much of a good thing.

2. Make a daily/cleaning routine and stick to it.

Craft

I have managed to accumulate quite a few unfinished projects over the years and would like to see some to completion.

1. Grandmothers Flower Garden Quilt

I started this quilt at the end of 2006 and then promptly commenced a nursing degree in 2007 which I found consumed much of my time but now I would like to have it finished for Evie's big girl bed. My husband pointed out to me that I had been "over-engineering" it by hand-stitching each stitch on top of the other. A completely unnecessary and time-consuming task. Now I am leaving at one to two millimeters between each stitch and also using some of the flowers my mother has done which I had previously considered not good enough in my perfectionism. A quilt with slightly less than perfect stitches (which won't be noticeable) is infinitely better than no quilt at all.

2. Marriage Sampler from Cross-stitch and Embroidery in Red, White and Blue.

Another hand stitched project I would be delighted to finish.

3. Linen scrap quilt

A blue and natural colored quilt using linen salvaged from thrift shop clothing and incorporating the embroidered table numbers from our wedding.

4. Purchase a decent sewing machine

I have been struggling with a cheap and nasty Brother for a number of years and dread machine sewing because of it. This probably less of a goal than a desire but I am including anyway. I have my eye on a Bernina 380.

5. Regency style dresses for Evie and I from this material

6. Some aprons.

I find housework a lot more tolerable (and easier) when wearing a pretty apron. I like the empire style of Butterick B5509 and the largest style of Simplicity 3544.

I daren't make any more sewing goals lest I don't complete the ones I already have.

I am keeping these goals modest so as not to spook me self and not do any at all.

Evangeline's First Birthday Garden Party

2012-02-02T10:26:00.001+10:00

TO BABY.

Oh, what shall my blue eyes go see?
Shall it be pretty Quack-Quack to-day?
Or the Peacock upon the Yew Tree?
Or the dear little white Lambs at play?
Say Baby.
For Baby is such a young Petsy,
And Baby is such a sweet Dear.
And Baby is growing quite old now—
She's just getting on for a year.
~Kate Greenaway

Evie is just getting on for a year so my thoughts have turned to organizing her first birthday party. At first it was to be an Edwardian garden party, so that we could wear 1914 dresses by Sensibility, which led to the question of invitations. This is when it occurred to me to have Beatrix Potter invitations which is quite sensible due to the popularity of Peter Rabbit merchandise. However, this in turn led me to consider Kate Greenaway invitations, which has now turned the theme of the party to be Regency via the Victorian Gilded Age. Due in no small part to the dearest depictions of childhood, maidenhood and motherhood as illustrated by the said Miss Greenaway.

There will be badminton of which we fortuitously received a set of for Christmas, perhaps a maypole and other Regency outdoor amusements (of which I am yet to research).

Evie and I will wear dresses made of swiss dot in a soft blue with mustard accents of which I have six metres on account of it being on sale for five dollars a metre. I am thinking of making mine about knee length so that I can wear it in day to day life, maybe slightly longer at the back. If I were to wear it as a Regency costume (not that there is much scope for that where I live) I would just layer a mustard coloured underdress. As a beginner, I will use Mrs Chancey's Regency Gown Pattern and the matching dress, apron and pantloons for Evie.

Signing off in order to take care of the little lady.

Michelle xoxo

Visit to Glengallan Homestead.

2012-01-27T10:41:00.001+10:00

In celebration of Australia Day and Michael having the day off work, we decided to take a trip to lovely, historic Glengallan Homestead.

Building of this lovely old homestead commenced in 1867 but was never completed (being only one room deep) and eventually became practically derelict. Even after having two million dollars spent on it received from a government grant, it is still not completely repaired (which I rather think adds to its charm).

One of the fireplaces

The flushing toilet

The toilet originally had a beautiful blue and white delft bowl.

Cot and Graffiti :(

There are areas of the house that have been restored but I didn't take pictures of them for some reason. I am a little bit disappointed in the pictures I did take, I am still not used to using a digital SLR as opposed to my good old film. Maybe a belated goal for this year could be to improve my knowledge and skills.

Another interesting thing about the homestead was the mummified cat found in the chamber in the foundations, believed to be due to an old builders superstition. Poor kitty.

In the guide book, it mentioned that occasionally volunteers as required for archaeological digs, which I have acquired a recent interest in. However, being a listed building no digs are allowed unless they are certain there is something there to dig, but they cannot be certain there is something there without digging (It doesn't sound like they have the resources for thermal imaging).

Michael and Evangeline on the upper verandah.

Evie and I downstairs.

More farmhouse charm.

And the most miniscule bird I have ever seen. More like a butterfly in size really.

All in all, such a lovely day. Looking forward to going back with better camera skills and perhaps an Edwardian tea dress. I love this 1914 afternoon dress by Sense and Sensibility Pattens. Not quite Edwardian but a very lovely thing.

Forgiveness

2011-09-09T14:21:00.000+10:00

Since the the week before my wedding I have been struggling with hatred of my three sisters-in-law and mother-in-law and I don't like the person I have become because of it - bitter, untrusting, cynical. So recently I have been searching for ways to forgive them and be at peace with them. Something I have been finding increasingly difficult as their offensive behaviour is ongoing and traumatic, however I don't want their penchant for conflict to affect my marriage or the life of this precious little girl.

A tip I found here is to journal about the positives or benefits that have come from the situation so here they are;

Positive number 1 - it has confirmed for me that the vows my husband and I took on our wedding day are for real and made me see what a good man my husband is. Despite his (somewhat misplaced) loyalty towards his family of origin, he is with me for better or for worse.

Positive number 2 - I treasure and appreciate my own family in such a deeper, richer way.

Positive number 3 - I am more discerning of people and their motives. Not all people are nice, it's a good thing to know.

Positive number 4 - empathy, especially for my mother who struggled with forgiveness of her family. I was under the false impression that forgiveness was easy - HA.

That is all I can think of for now and I am not entirely convinced I believe what I have written. It's a work in progress.

Hot and Not

2009-12-09T10:28:00.000+10:00

Playing along with Claire's Wednesday Hot or Not. Loobylu was one of the first blogs (probably the first!) I discovered back in the early 2000's and introduced me (and many others, no doubt) to the wonderful world of craft and design blogging.

Hot

Nirvana Himalayan crystal salt

Such beautiful colours and maybe its my imagination but so much tastier than regular salt.

Artwork from my beautiful sponspor child. I am thinking of embroidering this design to send her as a gift. She is such a sweet little girl and we get letters from her about once a month. So blessed.

The Martha Stewart Show finally being on Australian free to air television. Jennifer Murphy was on yesterday showing how to make little pumpkin people for Halloween (its a bit behind over here).

Advent Calendars! In particular the one over at happydoll featuring the sweetest illustrations and my own from the Metropolitan Museum of Art which I cannot photograph right now because I am housesitting.

Not

Adjusting to my husband's family culture - Tricky.

Housesitting - I always say "never again" yet it always seems to happen again. I love my own little space. Especially now that I have one to call my own. Also there is no Digital television here, hence no Martha!!

That is all for not, life is good right now.

Three Years

2009-12-09T09:36:00.001+10:00

For the past three years, nursing studies and adventures have been the focus of my time and energy and at their culmination I feel my old creative yearnings being breathed back to life from a hibernation of necessity. I have still been working slowly on the grandmothers garden quilt and have reduced my ambition for it as a single bed size quilt and am thinking of making two cot size quilts from it. Becoming engaged and married within nine months this year also awakened my crafty.

I embroidered table numbers using designs from Made in France: Cross Stitch and Embroidery in Red, White and Blue and started embroidering a monogram to place in the centre of a signature quilt like this one at Martha Stewart weddings. Our family and friends signed some heartwarming and creative messages and this was one of my favorite things from the wedding. However, a huge mistake I made was not somehow letting guests know to allow for seam allowance - something which is so obvious to me, as the maker, but of course not obvious to everyone else.

Reading over posts of three years past, in some ways I seem so different and in others very much the same. I still want to make the same quilts. I have been collecting plaid fabrics to make a lap quilt for the couch (how I am enjoying finally having my own little home). I had forgotten about plain spoken and was going to make it from 4 inch squares, so re-reading my old self was a timely reminder. My blue and white wedding quilt replaces the blue and white Irish chain and its so funny, the fan quilt I talked of is the featured quilt for December in a calendar I bought at the Metropolitan Museum of Art during my visit last year. Freaky!

Other ways I have changed in the last three years, rededicating my life to Christ. I grew in a Christian home and always called myself that but wasn't living it. I can't describe how positively my relationship with God has changed my life. I escaped an emotionally abusive relationship and married the sweetest, most patient (I could go on and on) man. I completed a Bachelor of Nursing which has been so important to my self esteem. I am still a little affected in my writing, still introverted (although a little less so). Less obsessed with L.M. Montgomery and novel reading in general (three years of text books and journals seems to have cured that for now), although I still love Canada and want to visit P.E.I.

I have visited America and Canada, forfeited a honeymoon trip to Fiji due to a perforated eardrum and explored a lot more of Queensland.

So an era ends and a lifetime begins.

2009-11-24T08:40:00.002+10:00

The youthful laughter of my husband of seven weeks.
The ocean wind blowing ripples across the sand, making it feel and sound like a desert.
The chilled, crystal aqua salt water which is such a refreshing change from the hot, heavy heat.
The playful, white, foamy waves.
The dreamlike sleepy feeling that comes from the spray of salt and fighting of waves and suddenly being finished with university and the feeling that there is work to be done that was always with me.
Life is sweet.

My obsession

2007-03-04T12:31:00.000+10:00

I have just finished reading The Selected Journals of L.M.M. Montgomery Vol II. This period of her life (1910 - 1921) was very turbulent for her personally and also for Canada and the world. At times I felt like I was invading on her privacy and shouldn't really be reading her journal at all - it was so private. However, I couldn't help myself - I really felt like I was transported back to Ontario in the early 21st century. Another thing that allayed my guilt was the fact that she was quite famous by this stage and intended for her journals to be published once sufficient time had passed. I still don't think it is quite healthy to love a person who I have never met and passed away long before I was born - but I do.

I am also re-reading Anne of Green Gables again as part of Sarah's Avonlea Book Club. I 'discovered' Anne quite late in life. I read some of L.M.M.'s books when I was a vacuous youngster but didn't really become obsessed until I bought a copy of Anne of Green Gables at my old primary school fete about three years ago. Since that fateful day I have been addicted. I get into fierce ebay bidding wars, spend ridiculous amounts on shipping for books from Canada and keep my precious books in brown paper bags to protect them from dust and sunlight. Yes, I am tragic, but I don't care - these books really bring me so much joy. Whatever mood I am in they never fail to cheer me and fill me with a sense of wonder.

A new beginning

2007-02-28T15:42:00.000+10:00

What a whirlwind of a week!

It began last Wednesday with orientation. This was a great introduction to University (as I have never been before) and made me feel a lot more at ease with this big transition. The teachers seem really lovely, down to earth and helpful, although with a class of two hundred they have a big job ahead of them. Uni seems to be a much more organised organisation than Tafe, I think this is out of necessity. Web based learning seems to be a big part of the course, I hope not too much (I am dreading this first months internet bill)!

On my return to work, I was training the new old girl (she used to work in the head office of the company) and I don't think I have worked so hard in the whole two years I was there. I feel confident I am leaving my job in good hands, but with all the exitement I am feeling, to be honest it doesn't really concern me.

Monday starting with an 8am lecture! (I thought I was supposed to be scaling back my early mornings). Fortunately it seems to be a relatively easy subject and not too taxing on the brain for that time of morning. The rest of the week is at more reasonable hours, with nearly a whole day of lectures on Fridays and nothing on Wednesdays. I feel at a bit of a loss at the moment with all this free time, but I am sure it will soon be filled with much studying (I plan to ace all my courses) and part time work. For now I am just enjoying having a bit of a break and enjoying my daylight hours!

And so begins a brand new phase in my life and I couldn't be happier.

Catch up

2007-02-19T10:05:00.000+10:00

I spent the weekend very quietly. Catching up on correspondence, sleep, solitary time, reading and doing nothing.

I love to make my own stationery and will avoid sending mail, Christmas cards or thank you notes if I haven't made anything myself. This is terribly rude and even though something bought would be preferable to nothing (and most people probably don't even care) it is a quirk I cannot shrug.

I found this thank you note I made a couple of years ago during my cutesy phase (I don't know if I will ever grow out of this phase - but it was definently more pronounced during this period) to send to my Auntie Janny. She sent me some lovely fabric for my quilt.

I also found a tiny Puss-in-boots I was making from this period which I would like to finish (although I think I have enough projects on the go at the moment).

Here is a new letterhead (for lack of a better word) that I made yesterday to send to my cousin. Those are her initials in the corner. It is done in a very poor imitation of the Art Nouveau style (my current phase) and it looks kind garish and childish in its scanned form and with those colours. I would like to make some monogrammed stationery for myself but some kind of printing method (lino or lithograph?) would be a better option than pen and watercolours for such repetitive work. Anyway, enough thinking out loud.

Have a lovely week!

Six more days!

2007-02-14T12:18:00.001+10:00

I am progressing nicely on my ski trip jumper, this is some quick knitting. I think (and hope) this is the first thing I have knitted that I will actually be able to wear in public.

I may not have as much time to work on it when I start uni, but I'm sure I will need a break sometimes.

Speaking of uni, I have spent the last two weekends doing a short introduction to photography course at the University of Queensland, which was fantastic! I really learnt a lot about the basics of photography in such a short period of time.

Here is a photo I took on our field trip to the Roma Street Parklands. It is over exposed, but at least I realise that now and understand why it happened. I did take some better pictures but being the Scrooge that I am decided to scan them myself rather than having the processors put them on disk and most of my scans became contaminated with dust - I will have to try again - and pay the processors do it next time.

Only seven working days to go...

2007-02-13T16:29:00.000+10:00

Until I no longer have to be disrespected and demeaned (at least not by the same people every day). Although if everyone was nice and tolerable I probably would not have felt so motivated to leave, which I needed to do anyway- so in the end it was a good thing, maybe even the best thing.

This contradicts my last post in which I remarked on the kindness of everyone - what I should have said was the majority of the office are being lovely, and the unfortunate minority are just being their usual selves. Fortunately, their moods and demands are no longer my problem. Hoorah!

(Sorry for being such a downer, I just wanted to get it out - like my hero L.M.M. - "Temperaments such as mine must have some outlet, else they become morbid and poisoned by consuming their own smoke".)

Although I am not as good as expressing myself as L.M.M., I do become morbid and poisonous when I don't have an outlet, although I don't always have to have a write or talk about my problems, just making things works as an outlet for me (obviously not today).

Wondermail

2007-02-12T11:18:00.000+10:00

I received the most wonderful package from the lovely and generous Kathleen of Liquid Sky Arts on Friday. My photo does not do justice to the deliciousness of of this little parcel (and I forgot to take a picture of it wrapped up I was so excited!)

It is a pendant from Kathleen's beautiful Par Avion series that she made for me in return of some Rock Star stamps that I mailed her. I didn't expect anything in return and certainly not something this lovely. I am touched.

In a strange coincedence I also received The Selected Journals of L.M. Montgomery Vol. I - V from Amazon.ca nearly four months after I ordered them (they came by sea). Hooray!

I put in notice at my work today and everyone is being lovely, maybe they are just happy to be rid of me - just kidding. Not long to go now! (only two weeks in fact - eek).

Quote of the day: Three years goes in three years no matter what you do with it. - K.M. my workmate on my next three years of full time study. So insightful and so true!

Michelle Conley - Student Nurse

2007-02-02T12:11:00.000+10:00

I've been accepted into Nursing School at Griffith University! I'm beginning a new life in a big hospital. It was kind of a last minute decision, I only put my application in a couple of weeks ago.

I am looking forward to helping people (especially children) and having more daylight hours to myself. I will also be no longer working for The Man - yay.

In even more exciting news, I am planning a ski trip to New Zealand in July. In preparation I have started knitting this in bright cornflower blue Jet (pattern by Patons);

I might make mine a little shorter; my poor, stumpy, little legs don't need any more cutting off. I'm thinking about changing the collar as well - the current garter stitch collar doesn't seem (to me) to go with the detail of the rest of the jacket.

I like this collar (in fact I like the whole thing - but that is a whole other project).

Underwater Wonderland

2007-01-30T10:53:00.000+10:00

Just a quick little update;

I've been making the most the most of the warm weather and the Gold Coast lately and have been snorkelling the past two weekends. It is my new favorite thing. The first weekend was lovely, blue and clear but we went out too late and the boats and jetskis started to push us into the rocks.

Last weekend, we went prepared. We packed up the boat with pizza and chocolate biscuits, I bought a disposable water/shockproof camera and we headed out for Wavebreak and South Stradbroke Islands. Unfortunately, it had rained the night before so the water was a little murky. We fed the fish (they are very tame) but one bit me on the belly button - ouch! Then we went for a little trek to try and find the Wavebreak Island deer (without success) and were home by 10am. I haven't developed the photos yet because I would like to go out again and get some nice clear ones.

Just for fun, (and also like Shell, I don't like posting without a picure, here is a photo of a lovely little heart padlock I bought myself.

Happy Puppiversary

2007-01-23T15:18:00.000+10:00

I brought my little puppy home from the farm a year ago today! Happy puppiversary little one.

Op Shop Adventures

2007-01-22T14:29:00.000+10:00

The best thing about my job is its location. One hundred metres from the broadwater and walking distance to seven op shops and four second hand book shops (as well as a shopping centre but that is pretty boring in comparison). I have a look around these op shops a couple of times a week, sometimes I can go weeks without finding anything and then go crazy in one day. Its the luck of the draw.

January has been a good month for thrifting. I found a beautifully handcrafted dress which was dated 1973 by the seamstress. Only eight dollars, what a bargain!

I also found this teacup and saucer made by Australian Potters, Sovereign for one dollar and this very photogenic little poodle for free! (with $5 Polaroid camera).

The last item of note is a nautical Yves Saint Laurent scarf which I intended to make into a dress after seeing a dress made out of scarves on a girl in line at Bunnings. Although, I don't know if I will be able to bring myself to cut it up - maybe it will live out its life with me as a scarf.

Note to self: Drama is very important in life: You have to come on with a bang. You never want to go out with a whimper. Everything can have drama if it's done right. Even a pancake. - Julia Child.

More patches

2007-01-16T10:22:00.000+10:00

Here are the second and third patches for my Grandmother's flower garden quilt. They are getting to be rather tedious to blog about, but they take so long to do (about a week - I'm all about instant gratification) I feel like I should post them. Also I do love them so, I can't wait until it is finished.

Feeling a little bit frustrated with the direction my life is travelling in at the moment - I think it is just a New Year thing. I also seem more dissatisfied in the beginning of the year. Also I think I am feeling a bit unfulfilled after going from Tafe two nights a week to nothing. I have been trying to completely ban television from my life but unfortunately it goes so well with hand quilting. I need to do things that require me to be away from the television. Although I have been consciously trying to reduce television for a couple of years, reading Keri's ad-free blog really brought home for me how much garbage I have been filling my head with my whole life and how much of my memory I am wasting on stupid television shows and advertisements! Then I started to think, it is just a coincidence that as a whole the people of the world seem smarter than they were before television? It's hard to tell. Anyway, I think no television is the way to go for me.

Note to self: Growth demands a temporary surrender of security - Gail Sheehy

Rhubarb (and Apple) Delicious

2007-01-15T09:54:00.000+10:00

Yesterday I turned this;

into this;

The rhubarb is home grown, I bought it from a little stall on the side of the road at Mount Tambourine.

Speaking of home grown, I've been growing some produce of my own.

I have been making this salad from it for about a week - mmm healthy. Why does food you grow yourself taste so good? I also have some basil, cherry tomatoes, mint, fennel, rocket and chillies in pots. It's a lot of fun watching them grow and then heartlessly ripping them out of the ground and eating them - ha ha.

I checked out the 2006 Conrad Jupiters Art Prize and Surfing the 60s: A journey of discovery exhibitions at the Gold Coast Art Gallery yesterday. It was wonderful to see all the diverse works of art by artists from all over the country. I cast my vote for the People's Choice award, which was really quite difficult - I do not envy the judges!

I also read The Secret History by Donna Tartt on the weekend. I heard a lot of good things about this book when The Little Friend came out a few years ago and while I enjoyed The Little Friend it didn't blow me away. The Secret History did. I found myself drawn into the story from the prologue. The characters are fascinating and different, the setting for the story is unique and the story itself explores character, remorse and lack thereof. Although the

characters did a terrible thing, I somehow sympathised with them.

I also read Magic for Marigold by L.M. Montgomery early this year . I enjoyed this book but didn't fall in love with it like I have some other books by L.M.M.

Phew, all in all, it was quite a productive (for me) and photo heavy weekend.

Life is sweet

2007-01-04T14:21:00.000+10:00

I received my set of three Cahier Moleskines today (I only ordered them yesterday), and I am already hooked! The Cahier notebooks are the bottom of the range Moleskines, but they are a perfect introduction for me. Not too flash or expensive so I am not intimidated to use them, the perfect size and page number and having three means I can segregate my thoughts, ideas, sketches and souvenirs. I bought them from Remo and if I must be consumerist (and yes, sometimes I must) I can't think of a better place to do it.

Apart from being back at work already, I have had a lovely start to the year. On new year's day I went for a drive to Mount Tamborine. It is only half an hour away, but everything is so much more vivid and fresh up there. Some of my favorite things were; the way the red clay dyes the concrete footpaths and driveways, the agapanthas - we have them down here as well but the colour of them is so intense up there, sweet little butterflies enjoying the mass of plant life and the rolling hills and valleys stretching for miles and barely inhabited by humans.

In the evening Graeme and I took Dane to the beach for a run. The water was lukewarm despite this extremely temperate (for Queensland) summer. As lovely as this summer is, the change in climate is concerns me. It makes me feel a little helpless sometimes. The earth is such a beautiful place it makes me sad to think of the damage we are doing to it, even when we try not to.

Two nights ago I had a moonlight dance in the rain. The droplets were fat and happy, the clouds were purple and the moon was full. I would say the moon made me crazy, but it is too late for that. My soul was refreshed and my heart full of joy.

I hope I can have many more lovely times with nature this year.

I am kind of glad not many (if any) people read this because a lot of the things I write here are a little queer and don't come out quite right - maybe I could keep some things in my Moleskines only.

Farewell 2006, Hello 2007

2007-01-02T10:07:00.000+10:00

Sometime in late 2004, I got it into my head that 2006 was going to be "my year". I don't know what made this occur to me and I didn't expect to have to work for this change, I just expected things to magically go right for me. Now that 2006 has come and gone I no longer think that this past year was predestined to be a wonderful year for me - I think the positive changes that occurred had more to do with my thinking that it was going to be a great year.

While 2006 hasn't turned out exactly as I imagined (when does that ever happen) it has been a good year and I have learnt some important lessons.

I have learnt to find joy within myself rather than allowing my feelings to be dependant on other people or external circumstances.

I have learnt to be a little more wary of who I trust. My life has been fairly untouched by devious people until this year (lucky me) and I have learnt that some people are very good at hiding their true selves. However, I am not going to let this make me bitter or close my heart - I am just going to take a little more care.

I have also learnt that I can do just about anything I am put my mind to it. Completing my part time diploma with such good marks has been a much needed confidence booster. Even though I do not really want to pursue a career in my area of study, doing the course has motivated and prepared me for continual learning and self improvement.

Come on 2007!

This year I am going to be true to myself, stand up straight, keep learning and go to Canada. I am hoping that putting these hopes in writing will solidify them in my heart and allow me to enable them.

Quilt update

2006-12-31T14:45:00.000+10:00

Like a lot of people in blogland, I am enjoying doing not much at all this week. I have finished my second grandmother's flower garden flower and started crocheting a hat from this pattern. I have been staying up late and sleeping in, enjoying summer, practicing pin curling my hair, reading and reflecting on 2006.

There is so much to love about this time of year, lychees, mangoes, time with family, the Christmas spirit that seems to infect even the most cynical and all this time off from life.

Also my favorite Christmas present;

This lovely lady.

My mother found her for me in Roma. Part of me would like to know who she was and how she ended up in an op shop but another part of me is happy for her to remain a romantic mystery. Can you see me reflected in the glass - spooky.

Happy new year whoever you are, I hope you have a lovely night and 2007 brings you closer to your dreams.

Last books of 2006

2006-12-30T16:51:00.000+10:00

Lemony Snicket: The Reptile Room and The Wide Window

While I still find these charming and delightful childrens books, they really are meant to be read by children (funnily enough). I love the detail of these books and really admire the efforts of the author to inspire an interest in correct use of the English language, however I think reading one book in the series would generally be enough for an adult. I will continue reading the books in this series when I have an hour or two to spare because I would like to finish what I have started and also my use of the English language could do with a little brush up (and to discover the fate of the Baudelaire orphans).

L.M. Montgomery: Pat of Silver Bush and Mistress Pat

These two "childrens books" on the other hand, are not, I believe suitable only for children and quite a few people agree (ebay bidding for her books is fie-rce). Just when I think I cannot possibly love another one of L.M.'s heroines any more than the previous my heart is stolen all over again. I must admit it did take me a while to get into Pat but once I did I couldn't put her down, even though I didn't want her to end. Pat differs from Anne and Emily in her large loving family and lack of career ambition. Her ambition is to serve the people and home she loves. Pat's Jingle has the talent and romance of Emily's Teddy without the moods and pride and the fun and companionship of Anne's Gilbert without the teasing. Jingle is also the most loyal of any of the beaux and doesn't display any distrust despite suffering a great hurt from his absent mother. David Kirk lacks the bitterness and possesiveness of Dean Priest and Bets is a sweet chum all of her own (as all the chums are). Judy is a wonderfully developed character (are characters of L.M.'s not) and adds a wonderful element to the story.

While Dumbo feather, pass it on is not technically a book (it has been described as a mook, half magazine, half book), it is just as fulfilling and imformative as a book and I wasn't finished with it in fifteen minutes as I am with conventional magazines. Dumbo feather describe it best;

In each issue of Dumbo feather five remarkable individuals tell you their stories. Their backgrounds and dreams are as unique as they are but what unites them is their creativity, passion and integrity, and somewhere they found the courage to fly. In their own words they tell you how they discovered their passion, what inspires them, the lows as well as the highs on the journey and ultimately why they do what they do.

I initally bought this mook in an effort to be interesting but I think Dumbo feather will be making a regular appearance on my coffee table. Each story takes me a good half hour to read and I can only read story per sitting (I need some time to absorb and reflect before moving on). Every page could be framed (even the text only pages) and it is printed on 100% recycled paper using soy inks. The advertisements are few and minimalist and all in all it is just a wonderful publication. I am not in any way affiliated with Dumbo feather, I am just that impressed.

Christmas List

2006-12-13T10:21:00.000+10:00

I am very, very boring this week so in the absence of anything better to post I am scraping the bottom of the barrel and listing what I want for Christmas (or sooner!).

I am dying to have a yellow pear necklace watch from Marc by Marc Jacobs. Dyyyyying.

I would also like a Holga and some film.

I want a large wide brimmed straw hat to protect my pasty face this summer.

A Clover pincushion ring would be nice.

Ohh, and some of those cute patterned flats all the kids are wearing these days.

My graduation ceremony is tomorrow so I have taken the rest of the week off work - yay! Hopefully next time I will have a more exciting post although I am not counting on it.

Broken Camera

2006-12-08T15:23:00.000+10:00

I took my wee little Canon Ixus 40 to be repaired today. The optical zoom hasn't been working for quite some time and even though I am thinking about getting a larger digital camera, I would still like the convenience of a handbag camera. It should be repaired before Christmas, so in the mean time I am planning on reacquainting myself with slow photography.

Even though I love the convenience of digital photography, I also love the "thingness" and traditionalism of film photography (and no chance of deleting photos). It also goes with my recent philosophy of slow living. I have starting forgetting to take my mobile phone with me and am trying to reduce my television viewing. Even though recently I have found myself bored with television, I will keep it on anyway - for background noise. A habit of twenty or so years is hard to break!

In this noisy world I am starting to savour silence and stillness and long for simpler place or time (place might be the more realistic option). Maybe I should Marry a Farmer.

However, this is all a bit fanciful and hypocritical as I love the the inspiration and knowledge that comes from the internet and quite enjoy the many conveniences that modern technology affords.

Ode to Ono

2006-12-05T16:32:00.000+10:00

This is a very silly little ditty I wrote for my dog. It is not a true ode (I have adopted this looser definition) nor does it follow the basic rules of the English language, but I had fun writing it and it used up half an hour of quiet time at work.

Before you came along
I was a person for cats
With their little pink paws
Chasing little toy rats

Now you have gone
And stolen my heart
I love you like a child
I hate when we part

Your face is full of expression
Happy, sad, excited, dismayed
And even though you cannot speak
I often know what you are trying to say

You are a constant joy
Even when sleeping
You whimper and run
I wonder what you're dreaming

Sometimes you eat my favourite shoes
Which makes me very sad
But only for a little while
At you, I can never stay mad

I love from your silky ears
To your curly little tail
You are such a handsome boy
To me, all other dogs pale

I am covered in bruises
Because you are a giant
But so sweet and timid
And rarely defiant

Your name is really Dane
But I call you Ono
Mama's a little crazy
But she loves you, you know

On a completely different note, I saw Borat last night - I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my entire life and certainly not at a movie. I thought I was going to be sick I was laughing so hard.

Watercolour

2006-12-05T14:17:00.000+10:00

I tried (and failed dismally) to capture the way the purple Jacaranda flowers seemed to be on fire from the light of the translucent creamy yellow sunset on my drive home from work. That is why I am going to art school! It is so lovely to see natural beauty in this urbanised, polluted world.

This painting was my first foray in gouache. The background is painted in traditional watercolours and the Jacaranda tree is painted in diluted gouache. I was inspired to use these mediums by the watercolourists of the late 1800s to the early twentieth century. In particular, Ellis Rowan, Sydney Long and John R. Neill(Royal Illustrator of the Wizard of Oz books).

Yester Gallery has a good collection of Australian and English Watercolours and Paul Giambarba's 100 Years of Illustration is a beautiful and informative blog on 100 years of illustration (funnily enough).

I am constantly amazed by the detail and life in these watercolours and won't be able to emulate these artists in one hundred years, but hopefully by learning some techniques at art school I will improve and be better able to represent the beauty I see.

Welcome to the world small Eliana Ruth

2006-11-30T15:16:00.000+10:00

My second niece, Eliana Ruth was born this morning! Welcome to the world little girl, may your life be full of fun and love.

Small things

2006-11-29T15:42:00.000+10:00

Following on from my previous post on thanks, here is a list of simple, inexpensive ideas to make myself happy;

Create: knit, sew, paint, draw, cut, paste, a garden

Donate: time, money, clothes, a shoulder

Explore: the neighbourhood, the city, the hinterland, parks, zoos, museums, art galleries, on a bike, on foot

Learn: about an acquaintance, how to draw, basic French, silversmithing

Relax: read in the bath, watch the sky, laugh

Share: a meal, a favourite thing, knowledge

Plan: a tea party, an adventure, a surprise

Play: with kids, in the water, the violin, backyard cricket

Thankful

2006-11-28T11:21:00.000+10:00

Although we don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Australia, Keri's post inspired me to examine what I am thankful for as I am feeling a little frustrated by my career (of lack thereof) today.

I am thankful that I live in a free country and have more than enough money to meets my needs.

I am thankful that I have no serious health problems and that my all of my family is in good health.

I am thankful that I can see (with the aid of my contacts) and hear and taste and smell and feel. The world is truly glorious and it makes me so glad to see a sunset or smell the warm salty breeze and listen to the crashing waves or feel a hug.

Finally, I am thankful that I have found a way to manage my depression and be able to see the wonder of these things rather than focusing all my attention on trivialities.

I could go on but I think that is more than enough for which to be grateful.

I did it!

2006-11-24T09:38:00.000+10:00

Last night I completed my last exam for Tafe! I feel a little bit giddy. Now I can go shopping for fabric and piece my grandmother's flower garden without feeling guilty that I am not studying.

The quilt is coming along slowly. I am tacking more hexagons from the new fabric I have obtained since I began.

Even though I have only just started a quilt that is likely to take a very, very long time to complete - I am already formulating ideas and buying fabric (second hand, of course) for my future quilts.

Quilt number one;

Plain Spoken made with mens plaid shirts. I know this is kind of goes against the principle of a true Plain Spoken but the idea is embedded in my head now. At first I was going to do it in retro browns, oranges, creams and yellows - but I am finding those colours are far less common than blues, which happen to be very nice. I have been conflicted over which colour to go with until I decided to make it double sided! A bit ambitious maybe, but why not.

Quilt number two;

A Victorian fan quilt to satisfy my obsession with L.M. Montgomery who made a crazy quilt in her youth (even though she grew to dislike it). I will place my fans in this fashion;

This quilt is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art which also holds other intricate American quilts and coverlets including a hexagon quilt from the 1830s! I will use traditional Victorian colours and fabrics but the style will be less "crazy".

Quilt number three;

Will be a simple Single Irish Chain quilt in white and blue. This is sadly another L.M. Montgomery reference as this quilt is mentioned in Emily Climbs, Jane of Lantern Hill and maybe Further Chronicles of Avonlea (the blue and white patchwork in Her Father's Daughter).

I am also in love with Joyce's Double Wedding Ring quilt (and the history of it) however I think that is a bit out of my reach especially considering my previous commitments.

Quilting Love

2006-11-16T09:38:00.000+10:00

After reading this post by the enchanting Alicia I absolutely had to make a grandmother's flower garden quilt for the guest room in my future house o' dreams.

Here is my first flower!

And the angle shot;

I purchased the fabric at the beginning of the year to make a patchwork quilt (also inspired by a rosy little quilt) but then I started studying part time and haven't had time to make anything all year. Which is really rather fortunate as I love these colours for this quilt much more.

I have these two resourses absolutely invaluble and Australian too! I have also made my life easier by printing hexagons from MS Word onto wasted A4 paper (I work in an sinfully wasteful office). This makes for much more accurate hexagons (which is so vital to this quilt) and also saves so much time - beauty! To make these hexagons in Word just draw a hexagon of any size and then edit to the dimensions 3.9cm high and 4.5cm wide or any size you like.

I enlisted the help of my mum because it is going to be such a big job but I didn't realise how much we would bond in the process. We send each other little packages with fabrics and threads and tiny gold plated quilting needles and are just having a jolly time.

Here is a pin cushion my mum made for me to hang on the arm of my chair;

And just for fun, here is my favorite illustration from Jane Austen: In Style;

It is hard to see how truly gorgeous this little regency house cross-section is from my dodgy scan, but you can get a small inkling. Apart from the precious colors, I love checked wallpaper of the upper levels and the spacious be-arched basement (I like to make up my own words). I highly recommend this book for the pictures alone but there also seems to be a wealth of written information as well.

Reading: Persuasion, A Bad Beginning, The Blue Castle

2006-11-14T10:08:00.000+10:00

Title: Persuasion
Author: Jane Austen

This is a lovely subltle story of an twenty seven year old girl, classed an old maid by her family and acquaintances. She feel in love deeply at nineteen, however she was persuaded to break of this engagement by her good friend/mother figure Lady Russell. She has since lost her bloom and been living a monotonous life with her superficial father and sister. Circumstances bring her back in contact with her true love and after some awkwardness they finally discover that their love never died. Anne Elliot is a completely loveable character without being trite and the other characters fully developed and showing an insight into the seemier side of human character.

Title: A Series of Unfortunate Events: A Bad Beginning
Author: Lemony Snickett

I love this little book and read it in an evening. I was first drawn to this series by the Beatrice letters as I have always loved "books with bits" and since examining the books have found even more to be enchanted by. Discounting the actual writing, these books are wonderfully presented from the hard cover (I am yet to see a soft cover) to the fact that each book in the series gets progressively larger to the illustrations and the ex libris plate in the front cover. The writing is equally as wonderful with more difficult words being explained with being patronising. The additional "character" of Lemony Snickett adds to the magic of this series.

Title: The Blue Castle
Author: L.M. Montgomery

Another story about an 'old maid' at twenty-nine. Valancy (how I love that dear girl) has been hen pecked by her cold mother and interferring extended family all her life. When she believes she is dying she finally rebels with fantastic results. This book along with Persuasion show that a good character can not be compromised and love will eventually conquer. Will this may not happen in real life (actually it is probably very rare), these books gave me a wonderful sense of happiness and hope.

Books finds;

Yesterday I found some lovely hard cover copies of Henry Fielding's Tom Jones: A Foundling, Anthony Trollope's The Claverlings and Louisa May Alcott's Little Men but the coup of the day was Jane Austen: In Style by Susan Watkins which is a comprehensive book on the fashions in clothing, architecture, interior design and even food of the era of Jane Austen and her novels. I love to get into the lives and times of authors I love from the past and this book gives an absolutely wonderful insight of the times.

Books Read 2006

2006-11-10T15:07:00.000+10:00

Wilderness Tales, Margaret Atwood

The Selected Journals of L.M. Montgomery Vol. 1, ed. Mary Rubio and Elizabeth Waterston

Anne's House of Dreams, L.M. Montgomery

Chronicles of Avonlea, L.M. Montgomery

Anne of Ingleside, L.M. Montgomery

Great Expectations, Charles Dickens

Teacher Man, Frank McCourt

Emily of New Moon, L.M. Montgomery

Kindred Spirit, Catherine M. Andronik

Emily Climbs, L.M. Montgomery

Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon

Emily's Quest, L.M. Montgomery

Bleak House, Charles Dickens

A Tangled Web, L.M. Montgomery

March, Geraldine Brooks

Hopes and expectations

2006-11-08T09:55:00.000+10:00

The reason for this blog is to keep a record of things I am thinking and doing and also to put in writing my goals and dreams. I have heard that once something is put in writing it becomes more real and attainable.

So, here it goes.

My overall goal is to start "living" more. For the last couple of months or so I have been trying to figure out what that means for me. I have come to the conclusion that at this stage in my life I need to be experiencing more of the world and enjoying life instead of just regretting the fact that I am wasting it. I realise that this won't happen over night and I will have to shift a lot a bad and lazy habits. I am only twenty-five but I have been behaving like somebody much, much older for as long as I can remember and it hasn't got me anywhere. That doesn't mean that I am going to lose all responsibility and dignity, it just means that I will try to lose my acorn of bitterness and weariness with life and start it enjoying it for the wonder that it is.

To this end, my first goal is to move to Melbourne early 2007 (i.e. January to March). Once I get there I plan on taking an art course, a photography course and any other courses that take my fancy. I plan on going out for dinner, going to concerts and shows and the football. I plan to open my mind and not have a television. I plan to excercise and be more proactive in my work.

That is a pretty big start and I am quite excited about - however I have a large hurdle to overcome, but with God's help, my own strength and the support of my family and friends I hope to overcome it and start being happy!