Last post for 2010!

Well, it's about that time. Only a few hours left until we start a New Year. What are you doing to celebrate? J and I thought we would keep it quiet this year, and are cooking a fancy degustation dinner at home. I have been preparing food since yesterday, and I am excited to sit down to dine tonight! Here is the menu:



Doesn't it sound delicious! I can't wait to eat it. The first post of next year will have some pictures and recipes.

Have a lovely New Year everyone, and a joyful 2011.

Cake Stands

As you might know, I am getting married in December next year. I have been tracking down some old cake stands to use for my desserts at the reception. Aren't they so pretty? If you want to know more about my inspiration (and other wedding stuff), head over to AnotherRingComing to read all about my cake ideas!

An new calendar for a New Year

2011 is almost upon us. One of the things I always enjoy doing this time of year is searching for the perfect calendar to accompany me throughout the coming year! This year, it's this little lovely from Cabin + Cub. Sweet, huh?

Giving in to Temptation

I have been wanting to buy these measuring spoons from Beehive Kitchenware for SOOOOO long. Years, even. So I finally did. Merry Christmas to me!

So it's been a REALLY long time.

Remember me?! The one in the tissue paper dress? It feels like I have been gone for yonks, and, well, I have! 2 months! Ridiculous. I have been away with work and spending a bit of time with my family. You know when you just need to switch off for a while? Yeah.

So anyway, here we are at Christmas time. J and I put the tree up last Friday. Gifts are not yet wrapped, and not all are bought yet. It is warm and sunny and I want to go to the beach, but today I am working on getting my store back up and running. It's been too long!

I thought I would share some pictures of my life in the last few weeks - fresh berries (note mulberry stained hands!) from my aunt's orchard; cute new puppies; and our Christmas tree.


Did you notice my red shoes? They're nice aren't they? I bought them in Melbourne. Love!

Pinata

You guessed right!

DIY costume

Jon is turning 30. We are having a fun party to celebrate, and it is fancy dress - the theme is "something from Mexico". Of course, this is the perfect opportunity to make something fun to wear. So what do you think that I am coming as?

...Three guesses!

Little piles of goodness

Ready to add to my quilt project. I am aiming for a double bed sized quilt - but we'll see.

Rediscovering a 22 year old project.

This little piece of patchwork has been sitting at my parent's house - in their "abandoned crafts" cupboard - since I was 10. I remember Mum teaching me how to cut the paper hexagons out of her old magazines, and cutting the fabrics from old dresses, shirts, baby blankets, and other scraps of fabric. I started when I was 6 - meaning that this patchwork is now 22 years old. About time it was completed, I think! I have a large pile of perfect hexagon-sized bits of fabric - and intend to make a quilt for our spare room bed.

Hopefully it doesn't take me another 22 years to finish it.

I miss Japan and want to go back.

All pictures of Kanazawa, March 2010.

Gearing up for warm weather

Today, I bought my very first ever Maxi Dress.

It is this one from Lilya. It has a lovely cross-straps back.


And that got me thinking about summer coming up sooner than I thought! I am so ready for warmth and being able to wear sandals!

Yum.

I am about to head off on tour again with work, for a few months.

This is what I will miss most: special dinners with The Betrothed.




This particular dinner was Fish Tacos, a specialty of the Mexican state of Baja California (where he is from). Delicious.

New designs

I don't normally post about my wares for sale at NeverEver, but I am just so in love with my newest design, I couldn't help posting a picture. I seriously considered keeping them for myself, but then remembered that I don't have a baby to wear them!

They are a one-off - the gorgeous red and white stripe trim is one of my purchases from Japan, and I used it all up!

Just the thing for a grey day

My favourite thing about August:

Sweetpeas.

More goodies from Japan

I have been sorting out my bags of fabric, trims, and assorted other fun bits to go into my new sewing room. And I have been inspired by some lovely trims that I bought in Japan and had forgotten about.

I think some new designs are in the works...

Baby Gocco Steps

A little while ago you may remember that I purchased a Print Gocco machine to make our engagement party invites. It didn't arrive in time, so I used other methods... and then I found myself with a lovely package of Gocco goodness with nothing to print. Until now!

With the party over, I took off to Brisbane with work, and then we decided to move house. So it was only yesterday that we took the plunge and set up the Gocco for his first trial run.
...Am I pleased? Yes - to get the initial testing out of the way. Did I have problems? Yes, with photocopies sticking to the master, and ink bleeding. But overall, I like our little design - even though it may look a bit "rustic" - and I think that there is vast room for improvement. I have read so many inspirational blog posts of savvy ladies tackling the Gocco for their wedding invites, and I really want to be one of them!

Getting on a (fabric) roll

One of the best things about my new house is that it has a second bedroom. Great for when we have people to stay over...

Who am I trying to fool?! It is the best because I now have a SEWING ROOM!! Yippeeee!

So, I thought I would share some photos of my organisational bender I have had over the past few days.
Firstly, I started with some new drawers from IKEA. I posted about them yonks ago here... well, I finally got them. In this state!

The room pre-sorting

A little selection of the lovely prints I bought in Japan, folded and ready for drawers

In the end, I decided to put my plain colours in the new drawers, so they are easy to access.

Now I need to put up some pictures, and find a nice chair for my sewing desk... and we'll be in action!

Trying out new toys

Hello everyone!

Between engagement parties, travelling to Brisbane with work, and moving house, I have been a bit absent. My apologies! We are now somewhat settled in our new home, with internet connected, bookshelves stacked, and towels folded in the linen cupboard.

So it is a good time to share with you a meal created in one of our engagement presents, a lovely Le Creuset casserole.

Before: vegetables and herbs ready to saute before adding meat, wine, and tomatoes. It was a Jamie Oliver recipe for a beef shin stew.

After three hours of simmering away in the oven, imagine the smell in the house! ... and when I lifted the lid:Delicious!

A bit of crafty goodness

A few weeks ago, I purchased a Print Gocco. A dying breed, yes, but I found it just too tempting when I started thinking of engagement invitations and wedding stationery.

So, I pulled out my Ebay hat and took the plunge. Jon and I designed a little invite to print based on the Mexican tradition of papel picado, or cut paper flags. Very sweet and quite detailed, these flags are used for many celebrations in Mexico, hung as bunting across the space.

However, it soon dawned on me that my precious Gocco parcel wasn't going to make it in time to learn the basics, test, print and send engagement invites. After some pacing up and down the living room and considering several mad alternatives (potato stamps, anyone?) I decided, last weekend, to pull out all the paper-crafty stops I could think of and make the papel picado the traditional way - but in miniature. Madness, but I am soooo pleased with the result.

Tools ready to go - notice the awesome paper punch to do the scalloped edging!

Testing out the detail with a pattern and scalpel

Piles and piles of papel picado!

Stuck on the cards and ready to trim

...and here's the finished product. Lovely! What do you think?