Friday, April 23, 2010

Pin Cushion Love!

Hurrah! Hurrah! It has arrived! A lovely Apple Pin Cushion from my super sweet swap partner Pam. THANK YOU! See them all here.

It was so fun to unwrap! One layer came off to reveal this...


Then THIS!!! An apple box, wahoo!


And look inside! There are buttons, a thimble and a seam ripper. PERFECT. The little apple is so soft and comes with pins AND its own tag for the swap. How good is that. I love it.






I honestly couldn't have wished for a nicer pin cushion! Pam did such a great job choosing what to make :) She has a super blog too so be sure to head over there and check it out. A big thank you to Kate at Fox's Lane for organising this pin cushion swap, I've loved giving and receiving (Ruth did a nice little write up on my pin cushion here. So glad it went to a good home!)

On a side note, I also got a new book in the mail! It is Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts and it ROCKS. There are a bunch of projects to do but the best thing about it is that it has easy to understand instructions for EVERY basic thing you might need to know when sewing. There's info on quilting, putting a zipper on, embroidery, breakdowns of fabrics, threads, etc. All the things you might be a bit embarrassed to ask someone how to do, they're all there!


Yay for Martha (even if she did spend time in jail)!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Stitchy Stitchin'

In the factory are...


Little pieces of hand embroidered fabrics


and just plain cool fabrics


waiting to be turned into these (lavender pillows).


Pin cushion tops. Pink Dinosaur and Skull King.


Dinosaur felt badges.


Zombie Cupcake felt mascot (front). See the sticker version here.


Zombie Cupcake felt mascot (back).

My aim over these next few weeks is to make lots of stuff to take to Spring markets. We'll be in Melbourne while a lot of the Winter markets are going on so I thought I'd use the extra time to build up a really good selection of stuff for September. I haven't had a huge array of stuff at markets yet so I want to have a full table next time. Overflowing. Yes.


Happy weekend! Isn't Autumn lovely?

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Little Sparrow, Little Sparrow


Now that I've changed jobs (yep, I'm now super duper shop girl at a picture framing place), I'm getting to know a whole new range of customers. Strangely enough, I've bumped into a bunch of old high school friends in the process. While it's been good to catch up, I've been struck by how much we define ourselves by work. For example, the other day I asked a girl who I had known in Grade 6 (waaaay too many years ago!!) what she was up to these days. Her first response was that she was a business manager for so and so company. Then when she asked me what I was doing, she looked around the shop and said, "Well, obviously you are HERE". This was a perfectly nice exchange but it got me to thinking that, yeah, I AM here in a framing shop but it's not the first thing that comes to mind when I think of who I am (or where I'm at). I'm definitely not trying to say that achieving great things through your job is a bad thing. In fact, it's ace. If you enjoy what you do and it means something to you, go for it. My issue is with the idea that work is the ONLY thing that matters. The only currency worth taking notice of. It's a dangerous thing, to simply define yourself (and your worth as a person) by your work and/or how much money you make. I admit, I have been very guilty of it in the past. I have spent too much of my life thinking that I should have a big house, a fancy car, two fancy kids and money to burn. Because that's what is easy to understand as success. Having those things means that you've made it, that you're SOMEBODY. Right?


Wrong. What happens when all those material things are taken away? Who are you if you lose your job? Your fancy car? And your fancy money? What are you left with, if the very thing that defined you and your place in the world is gone? I don't want to fall into this trap. Even though I have two uni degrees I've spent the last four years working retail - a job that most people would think is pretty low on the food chain. But, for me, that job is a JOB. That's all. A way to help me live my life the way I want. Which is to be happy, have time to bake and sew, hang out with my husband, travel, enjoy sunny days. I am happy to rent my amazing little apartment. I am happy to have an old but extremely GOOD car. I am happy to have a job that allows me to have food on the table and a warm heater in winter. Most of all, I am happy to have meaning in my life. So, old friends, when we chat, let's speak of the things that we truly are. The things that have made us. Not just our jobs and our worldly possessions.


Some of you may know that I'm getting another tattoo (hopefully at this place) and some of my reasoning behind it relates to these ideas of who we truly are. I've chosen to get a sparrow with the word "izturiba" under it. The sparrow is kinda like my totem animal. Ever since I was a kid I've always liked these little birds. Sparrows are small, hard working, unassuming, always there in the background. They remind me that it is okay to be small, to live life simply, to take pride in what you do. We spend so much time and energy trying to show others how big we are, how successful, how beautiful, that we lose track of the things that really matter. I want to be reminded of this every day. To pull back my focus and hone in on life. The word "izturiba" is Latvian (a special nod to my lovely grandparents) for durability and/or stamina. This is to remind me to keep going, even when times are tough. Stick with it cos life is good!


While I was blog surfing this morning I finally found out who is responsible for these lovely knitted bike rack cozies. They are awesome!! See them just outside Parliament Lawns in Salamanca.

Today also marks the last day of Kate's fab pin cushion swap. So glad Ruth liked my little package of goodies :D


xox

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Finished!

Hurray! My pin cushion for Kate's Swap is DONE and SENT! Fingers crossed my swap partner likes it (and indeed actually gets it in the mail too).




Check out more ace pin cushions here.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Easter Wishes and a Sneak Peek

Happy Easter from us and the kitty cat!


All the bunnies in the house come out to celebrate Nigella's Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing.


Mmmmm...yummy.


Pin Cushion progress for this swap!


Have to keep the name of the recipient SECRET for now :D

Have a lovely Easter break!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Fabric Love

How good are these fabrics? I just picked some up at Mineymo's Etsy store. The housewife print is THE BEST! It's destined to be a cushion front and the kittens are going to be some super sweet lavender pillows. Design by Michael Miller.

Dysfunctional Family


Smitten Kittens


Girls Play