cupboard love

Some beautifully worked old linen tablecloths found at the back of a cupboard at my mother's while helping her move house. They are all handmade right down to the crochet edgings.

nature baby

 

Here's a wee baby gift I made on Sunday morning. I personalised a lovely organic cotton t-shirt with a little embroidery. I was trying for something cute but gender-neutral. I really enjoyed this freer style of embroidery especially after the few cross stitch things I've done recently.
The t-shirt is from Nature Baby. I can hardly ever walk past the store without popping in.

his and hers ...

 
little cross stitched tags for the lockers in our bathroom - one for him, one for me. Crimson thread on pale grey linen. The font is my own but inspired by many especially Marjorie Massey and her wonderful book, Made in France : Cross-stitch samplers.

You too can celebrate togetherness with these fabulous pillowcases from Curious Doodles.

Listening Stop making sense by Talking Heads + Reading Sharp by David Fitzpatrick + Watching Ruby Sparks + Homeland on DVD + The wire (season 3) + Eating gluten-free goodness at Kokako

oi oi oi

I've been on a wee holiday in Sydney where I visited one of my favourite bookshops, Kinokuniya in George Street. Kinokuniya first opened in Japan in 1927 and has over 80 stores worldwide. The Sydney store opened in 1996. I'm going to 'like' it on FaceBook - because I do! It's a wonderful bookstore with a huge selection, a great atmosphere and helpful, knowledgeable, friendly staff. But, even better, there is a large Japanese section with the biggest range of Japanese craft books you will ever see. I limited myself to just one purchase - an embroidery book called Heart warming life series #375. It's also available here from Stitchbird and online from Kinokuniya.

The photos are from the book and I especially like the first two designed by Mika Hirasa. It's like she's taken her needle and thread and simply drawn on the cloth. But everything in the book is cute and, even though it's written in Japanese, it's well illustrated so it's fairly easy to follow along and work out. 

Stars

Here's a cot sheet I made and embroidered for a friend's first baby. I slightly modified a design from Isabelle Leloup's book, Cross-stitch and embroidery for babies, toddlers and children and I'm pleased with how it's turned out. The book has some lovely designs, mostly, but not all, cross stitch. I made the sheet a generous size for lots of tucking in potential. I'll also give Blue Rabbit as he's in need of a good home.

We found the frangipani flowers while out walking down by the harbour. The recent high winds had blown the flowers off the tree and scattered them on the path with surprisingly little damage to the petals. We gathered some up, carefully carried them home and floated them in a bowl. Of course, if you're familiar with frangipani, you'll know how fantastically heady they smell.

Watching The Wire on DVD + Harvesting figs + Missing Tootie

Blue stitches, black stitches

In my workroom clean-up I found a stack of old handkerchiefs that I'd collected thinking I could extend their usefulness with a bit of embroidery. Once the builders start I won't be able to do much crafting unless it's something small and portable - like embroidery or knitting - as most of our furniture will be stored in my workroom. So the hankies could be the perfect project to keep me sane through the renovations. I've been preparing with some random cross stitch. I like the strawberry but I'm not sure about cross stitch in general. All that thread counting ...

I also found this piece of blackwork that I started years ago. I don't know how I did it. My older self is impressed with my younger self.



Reading back issues of frankie + Watching Australian tennis open

The simple life

I'm struggling with simplicity. It's an elusive state. My life has been full - with a house guest and visitors. And now our kitchen and bathroom renovations are about to start early - in two weeks time. So... mad rush to find, choose, and buy a bathtub, basins, wall tiles etc. This should be fun, of course, but I often need a long time to make up my mind. I'm finding this a little stressful. But today there was an afternoon of calm so I sat and listened to the radio and, inspired by Diana Rupp's book Embroider everything workshop, practiced some stitches. With a little help from Eric.

Eating beans from the garden + Reading It chooses you by Miranda July + Watching The adventures of Tintin + Listening Bad as me by Tom Waits.

A full-time job is a full-time job

I'm still adjusting to full-time employment and the lack of time to make anything. Or blog. But I'm getting there.

I whipped up this simple snowflake button on the badge maker using some wool flannel from my stash. I'm thinking of doing a spring one. Maybe some blossoms?

The sunrise was taken from my back door. I went to put some washing on the line and there it was - this amazing pink sky.

And the magnolias - a harbinger of spring, hoorah! - are in flower everywhere and are just gorgeous. I especially love the fuzzy buds.