Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Tinkypoo


This is Tinkypoo (and friends)...hello

(oh and that lovely pink unicorn is by wonderful artist/animator Julia Pott)

now you see this is really a diversion to show you something nice, because I have been neglecting or avoiding my camera
...well my life has been a little unpicturesque lately...I have been on a huge reorganising, culling and cleaning binge...not pretty!

I guess you could call it nesting...(but that term always makes me feel a little like a chicken)...with only 3 months-ish to go before the babies arrive...I am on a huge mission to streamline and declutter my work and my life. Yes no more sitting amidst piles of fabric and paper daydreaming for me! Not for a few years anyway...My work space is going need to be very organised and minimal if I intend to get any work done at all...

I am working up the courage to show some photos of the crazy clutter I have been living and working amongst. I am thinking I will wait til' I have created some calm and loveliness amongst my space so that I can show you both at once, before and after style, so as not to scare you, and at least leave you feeling some hope...

After a trip to the tip and having filled the back seat of my car to the roof with bags twice! to take to the donation bins, I am still sorting. (lucky I have a ute!)
You see I figure all this fabric I have been coveting will not see any light once the babies arrive...not for some years anyway. Of course I am keeping those most favourite and loveliest of all pieces and carefully reorganising them into pretty stacks. But all those pieces I have been coveting for years in giant bags and boxes "just in case" or for when "I get around to that project"...I am releasing back into the recycling roundabout...

Do you know I have discovered a spare room in my house! Yes true...it was buried...and by reorganising and rearranging and letting go of some (well lots really) things I have uncovered a spare room in my home..."and I am NOT going to buy more stuff from the thrift store to fill up it with!" (She says in her best and most assertive Aunt Edith voice.)

My daughter Ruby (10) now has a new bedroom...most fitting for a pre-teen...it is bigger and airier than her previous bedroom...it's long and rectangular so that she has two zones...one for sleeping and one for playing and hanging out with her friends...she is most pleased...even about the fact that it is a very 'tropical', "Queenslander" style room (ie a verandah/balcony) ... previously it was a dumping area/store zone/play area...it is only partially enclosed with a little lattice and some bamboo blinds...and quite open to the elements, I suggested her dad enclose it with some recycled corrugated iron and build some shutters...but she assured me that she loves it open...and likes it just the way it is!
Rubys' dad and I slept out there for a year and I agree with Ruby; it is lovely being able to see the stars at night and the full moon rise and even to have the sun wake you up in the morning and to go to sleep to the ocean breezes and the sound of waves crashing gently on the beach....don't worry I am not a neglectful mother so she does sleep under a big mozzie net... she is very happy...Lovely!!

Now I also have a new bedroom for the babies....And I am still culling and sorting so If I am 'good' and choose not to keep things that I will not soon use or do not love...I believe I will have yet another spare room available which is going to become an open garden room (ie a room with just partial external wall which leads directly to the garden...sort of a balcony room but with no rails, just posts...(japanese-esque) ....Aaaah one of my favourite things to do...knock out walls! heheh...

So you see I have been a busy chicken, despite the crazy tropical summer humidity and my giant, 6-months-and growing-with-twins belly; which combined cause me to move at the pace of a snail...

Maybe it is a good thing: this frustration I have felt due to our lovely tropical rains causing my internet connection to become soggy and dysfunctional...you see I have not been able to sit for hours with two fans blasting over me, browsing the internet reading blogs and shopping for baby boys ...

Ramblings about shopping for boys (with some lovely finds) and in progress home pictures to come :)

Enjoy!

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Saturday, January 9, 2010

Nanas drawings




 

I found these in my stash of unfiled digital images. My grandmothers drawings from some of her sketchbooks. Some are from the thirties when she worked as a textile designer for Semco designing embroideries and such. I love how some of the drawings are so delicate and lovely but they are drawn just on lined writing paper.Thought you might enjoy seeing them too.
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Friday, December 18, 2009

Oh Gosh is it that time already!





 



Gosh I have been stitching up dollies, and pasting up cards like crazy over the last month...so much so that I have not really gone near my computer, other than to check my emails.
Oh how I have missed you!

Here is what i have been doing...

Making lots of little dolls and cards and hair pins...all orders for christmas...I have not been able to catch up and have work premade yet..so all of my work is made as ordered...which means I have been head down tail up trying to get things into shops well in time for christmas...this has been a challenge...I always under estimate how long things will take. ...It has been my first really busy christmas season...so I have learnt from this one!
Next year I plan to have simpler designs for wholesale(as far as steps in production go)...and have heaps of stock premade.

Growing fat...Yes I have a great big belly!...not because of too much turkey or christmas cheer...but the two little puddins' growing in there. We are now 19 weeks into the pregnancy and doing well. Two of them! Two boys to boot! I still can't imagine myself with two sons...but I am delighted, Ruby is not so sure yet :)...she will come around!! I guess designs for little boys will be coming up soon to go along with my usually very girly-girl work...discovering the world of little boys is going to be fun!

Making gifts...my sweet 12 year old niece requested one of my dolls for her birthday...I dedided to make her a special one...a large cushion sized doll for her to sit on her bed...she was a hit.

Making christmas angels...took a little time from work to get together with some friends and our children to make some christmas decorations and christmas wrap, we all brought along (mostly) recycled materials to share and afternoon tea, so much fun...I adore crafting with children as they are so oo0 inspiring :) I made an angel from a softdrink bottle, dried flower for hair, and some gaudy sequins cut from an old 'bollywood' style dress.


But now I rejoice as it is time to stop work for the christmas season...Yay!

Some things I have been dreaming about doing over the next few holiday season weeks...

Shop for christmas...hmm I have done very little so far...leaving it to the last minute...not such a good idea!

Float for hours on inflatable toys at the beach...

Tidy and decorate my home which has been taken over by me as a workshop...

Make christmas garlands with Ruby...

Enjoy long lazy breakfasts in the garden with plates full of pastries and summmer fruits...

Grow an even bigger belly...

Laze in a hammock underneath the fig tree with my laptop, wandering around blogland, catching up on what everyone is up to...

Hope you are all having a wonderful time getting ready for the big day :)


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Sunday, November 15, 2009

 

Been making lots of pretty dolls like these two little girls. Most have already found homes...but I do hope to have some in my etsy shop soon, along with some other new little treats I am finishing up.
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Monday, November 9, 2009

Oh Excuse Me, But...!

 


Oh My Bloomin' Gosh!!!

It's twins!

Eeeek!

14 weeks pregnant with twins!...who me?...yes me...

I'm still in shock!!!

...and feeling tired tired tired and sickie sickie sickie, blaah!

I guess it is still early days yet so we will see what happens but so far all is good...

as you can imagine i am so excited and was busting to tell everyone...

so there you go :D
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Proud

 

I also wanted to show you this...I am so honored to be included in a collaborative colouring book "We are Proud" as part of the "We Are" series created by the super talented artist Yeal Fran.
This is my drawing.
The colouring book features lots of amazing etsy artists...so I feel really special to be included too! :)
Artists in this edition are:
Juliabe
Blancucha
Corid
Michaelchsiung
Itsawhimsicallife
Baboucherouge
Irisschwarz
Amberalexander
Blossomnbird(that's me!:)
Bluedogrose
Dilkabear
Holli
Lizacorbett
Lizadams
Matty8080
Woolandwater

You can see the book here
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Bunchy & Tinka

 

How sweet is this. An illustration from one of my Mothers books from when she was little. "Bunchy and Tinka" written in the late 40s/early 50s.
Well I've still been super busy finalising wholesale orders. Longing for some free time to wander around blogland and see what you have all been up to.
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