16
NOV
rocky road
I had some leftover marshmallow from the toadstool cake I made Erika for her birthday (piccies on Insty), so thought I would make some rocky road. Easily the most addictive and moreish treat — even hubby, who doesn't like overly sweet things, gobbled it up. So here's the recipe:
11
NOV
making macarons…again
03
AUG
hang in there
I know I've been horribly neglectful of this blog lately, and I'm so very grateful for your sticking around. So many things are taking a back seat at the moment, and I can't promise when I'll be back in the full swing of things. My poor sewing machine has been packed away for months! I am pretty active on Instagram though, mainly because it's so darn quick and easy, and because of the lovely sense of community. If you don't have Instagram, you can still view my feed online. Visit my profile on Webstagram — it would be lovely if you said hello. xx
23
JUL
teacup ballet
OH! Hi. Yes, I'm feeling a little sheepish. I haven't forgotten you, how could I? It's just, you know, life and stuff getting in the way of my sitting down here and having a good natter. But life is good, very good. My little munchkin Erika is filling my days with love and laughter and chubby-bubby cuddles. And at night I've been doing a little bit of freelance work, which I have been REALLY enjoying. It's a little exercise for my brain, working that creative muscle...
09
MAY
happy half birthday…
...to my beautiful and oh-so-happy baby girl, who is six months old today (can you believe it??!). Love you to the moon and back, honey.
30
APR
what an amazing baby!
I couldn't help but share this vid with you — my beautiful sister and her gorgeous little Lucy are the stars! (well, I think so anyway)...
28
APR
spoiled rotten
Oooh, I am so very excited — check out the spoils from my recent shopping adventure! Can't wait to play!
21
APR
macaron mania
Yes, I have succumbed. And before you say 'puh! She's spelt macaroons wrong!', as I did the first time I saw it spelt this way, I should tell you that 'macaron' is French (although apparently derived from an Italian word). The English word 'macaroon' can also refer to a coconut macaroon (one of my mum's favourite biscuits from the Women's Weekly 'Beautiful Biscuits' cookbook!)...
19
APR
first taste
Is it wrong that I found Erika's obvious distate for baby rice cereal so damn amusing?! Can't be a fussy eater in this household, my dear! Maybe we'll have better luck with pumpkin...
18
APR
fig clafoutis
Success! Fig Clafoutis was delicious! Reminded me a little of mum's Lemon Delicious – a cross between a pudding and sponge. I got my recipe from Taste.com.au (click link to view), but I would make one change for next time...
12
APR
fig love
Over Easter, hubby, bubby and I, plus my extended family, holidayed in Blairgowrie. We had such an amazing long weekend — full of great food, walks on the beach, table tennis, tennis, card games and laughs. We also visited my sister-in-law's family on their gorgeous property in Red Hill. We have a wonderful tradition of drinking...
01
APR
fudgy brownies
I had a hankering for baking. So I made brownies. Oh so delicious, and oh so simple! We were feasting on slabs of this little beauty in no time. fudgy brownies 200g chocolate, chopped (milk or dark, whichever you prefer. I only had milk chocolate in my pantry at the time the craving sprouted, so that's what I used) 150g butter ½ cup caster sugar...
21
MAR
what i made
Snapper with fennel, capers and lemon Delicious November 2011 (issue 110) p. 170 I honestly wouldn't change a thing about this recipe. The fish was awesome and ready in a flash (great for a quick mid-week meal)...
14
MAR
mars bar bites
I made these delicious little bites for Lucy's first birthday and they were a hit! And so easy to make... this recipe makes about 28 bites. mars bar bites 3 x 60g Cadbury Whip or Mars bars, chopped 75g butter 1 tbsp golden syrup 3 cups Rice Bubbles 150g milk or dark chocolate (cut up into chunks, or chocolate buds) Handful hazelnut kernels...
10
MAR
what i made
Those long time readers may remember 'menu monday'? Well, seeing as things are a little more chaotic around here these days, I didn't want to commit to doing that every Monday (we won't starve, I promise), so ta-da! Here I present 'what I made'... just a little food diary so that I can keep track of the recipes I've cooked...
09
MAR
happy one-third birthday!
This striped little monkey is four months old today... can't put into words how much I love my baby girl. I hope you're all having a lovely day. {pics from my Instagram feed, taken by Nana with her new DSLR — well done Nana!}...
08
MAR
lucy’s first birthday
My lovely niece, little Lucy-Lu, is turning one tomorrow! She's such a gorgeous munchkin. I may not have mentioned it before, but little Lucy was born with a small left hand. It was spotted during my sister's week 12 pregnancy scan, and confirmed at another scan at 15 weeks. All existing bones are perfectly formed...
04
MAR
society6 love
Hey y'all, have you heard of Society6? One of the lovely gals I follow on Instagram has gotten me on to it, and it's brilliant! Independent designers / artists / illustrators / photographers can upload their artwork to the site (whilst maintaining copyright) and others browse and can purchase as canvases, prints, t-shirts and even iPhone cases!...
02
MAR
casetagram
Just in case you were thinking the Instagram obsession couldn't get any worse, along comes 'Casetagram' — a clever webpage can turn your fave Instagram pics into an iPhone case for just US$34.95 (they ship worldwide!). Brilliant! The only hard part is choosing a design and selecting which pics to include...
20
FEB
thank you, thank you
I just realised that I never got around to showing you the little thank you I made to send to family and friends upon Erika's arrival. I had neither the brain capacity nor the time to come up with a new concept, so used the same elements I designed for my niece Lucy's
13
FEB
pikelets! pancakes?
Well, my mum always used to call these pikelets. Not sure what the diff is between pikelets and pancakes, but this is a fool-proof recipe to golden brown deliciousness. I cook them so often that I no longer need to check my scribbled notes. It's so easy peasy: Put the following ingredients...
06
FEB
crochet softie
My beautiful long-time mate Ali made this crochet softie for Erika. Isn't she a star? I have not been brave enough to try — to crochet a softie looks so hard! Aren't home-made gifts just tops? Love, love and more love. Peace out. xo
24
JAN
strike a pose for boondie baby
Check out Boondie Baby's burp cloths latest model! Erika is a natural! To find out more about Boondie Baby's beautiful handmade wares, visit the Boondie Baby website. And here's the link to their burp cloths. Or you can buy online at Made It...
23
JAN
crochet monkey rattle
How gorgeous is this crochet monkey rattle? I just had to purchase when I spied it at Mathilda's Market in Malvern last year. From memory I was either very close to my due date, or overdue — hubby spotted quite a few stares and the odd person pointing at me and my enormous belly. Ah, those were the days...
20
JAN
instagram filter photoshop action
So you know about my Instagram obsession, yes? And how the app has some groovy filters to apply to your photos, yes? Well, a warm vintage filter is really trendy these days, and I was hoping to apply something similar to my high resolution images in Photoshop. I found some actions online,...
18
JAN
Lucy Lu
My beautiful 10-month-old niece, Lucy. She is such an independent and spirited little cherub. Always grinning from ear-to-ear, she is super chuffed when standing or exploring. She has a habit of blowing raspberries when you do something she doesn't like — such as feed her when she's full...
16
JAN
9.5 weeks
Miss Moo is changing so much, a million teeny-tiny changes each day. I'm changing too. I've always been a heavy sleeper, even as a kid. I can distinctly remember my mum and sister sitting around the breakfast table, discussing a violent storm that passed through the night. 'Storm?', I'd ask, and they'd roll their eyes...
11
JAN
8.5 weeks
Blowing bubbles for Mama!
04
JAN
happy 2012
Wow. What a whirlwind eight weeks. I can't tell you how many times I've thought about popping by to say hello! But where to find the time? The days pass with the blink of an eye — I almost miss meals the clock races by so fast! My gorgeous girl Erika is growing so quickly...
04
DEC
meeting the puppies
Arriving home from the hospital on day 5... The boys have received Erika into their home very graciously. Darcy, who has always been Mama's baby boy, was a little sulky at first but has recovered well. They both greet me with waggy tails in the middle of the night when...
23
NOV
first car trip
...on our way home from hospital, five days old. Kiss those chubby cheeks! Mwah!
18
NOV
lovely gifts
Little Erika received such wonderful gifts from friends and family on her arrival. Check out this amazing bunch of flowers from the lovely ladies at work. Does anyone know what this flower is called? It's stunning!
17
NOV
after first bath
Erika's head of dark hair really fluffed up after that first bath! Here she is, sleeping peacefully on day 2 in hospital...
15
NOV
birth of erika joy
No words. Just photos of the most ah-mazing experience, meeting our beautiful one for the very first time. It was love at first sight... gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. More images to come.
11
NOV
welcome, our baby girl
It's a girl! 'George' has finally graced us - Erika Joy, born 4.19am on 9th November. Weighing a scrumptious 7lb 14oz and sporting a full head of dark hair, she is so beautiful it's hard to not cuddle her as she sleeps. We are looking forward to having her home and introducing her furry brothers,...
08
NOV
one week over…
...and nothing. Nada. Zip. Doesn't this bub know how much I value punctuality? Unfortunately I've been experiencing some severe upper abdominal pain for the past three days, which is making the once exciting journey a slow one. My obs thinks I've somehow pulled a muscle/s...
03
NOV
sunday magazine + mossimo
Did you happen to catch the October 16 issue of Sunday Magazine in The Sunday Herald Sun? If so, you may have seen some of my handiwork! And now for a little horn tootin'! We provided Lauren and the Sunday Magazine team with a very open creative brief for a Mossimo’s 25th Birthday campaign 5 page feature...
01
NOV
ready when you are
It's official: we made it. Baby G is due today. Sometimes I still find it hard to believe that, with all the stress and worry that we've endured, this little twosome is about to become a threesome. In the super stillness of early morning (I couldn't sleep), the excitement I feel is mixed with the sadness of lost loved ones who will not be sharing...
31
OCT
fab frogs
Have I mentioned my clever mate Linda before? If not, how remiss of me! Linda was a fellow designer at work until she retired nine(ish) months ago. I really miss her knitting advice and cookie baking! But, she's gone on to bigger and better things — producing a range of awesome little resin chocolate frog brooches, among other things!...
28
OCT
baby blankie in progress
The little cot blanket I started is coming along nicely — finished the first two bands of colour (of four), just started on the third. It's lovely to have a little project to work on that doesn't involve much brain power. I'd really like to have the quilt finished first, given that winter is more than 6 months away and I probably won't need this little wooly blanket...
25
OCT
39 weeks
39 weeks today, can you believe it? I am amazed at how quickly these nine months have flown. I am so acutely aware that in no time flat (any day now, really), my whole life will revolve around a new little being. This week, I'm seriously slowing down — taking advantage of the opportunity for rest and relaxation. Yesterday arvo I had a two hour...
20
OCT
the (wo)man with the (quilt) plan
Hey y'all! So here 'tis — my cot quilt design for George's room. The centre panel and 80% of the linen panels will be visible on the top, with the rest visible between the cot bars. I was going for a random collection of squares and rectangles in the main panel — I'm already thinking about my next quilt, which I think will be more structured...
14
OCT
anniversary of travels – venice
You can view the original post 'Venice, one of a kind' here.
12
OCT
anniversary of travels – florence
You can view the original post 'Aah, Florence' here.
10
OCT
anniversary of travels – positano
View the original posts 'Perfect Positano' and 'Exploring Pompeii'.
07
OCT
anniversary of travels – rome
Anniversary of travels series continues... Ta-da! Rome. You can view the original post 'Five Days In Rome' here.
05
OCT
anniversary of travels – london
Can you believe it's been a whole year since hubby and I toured Italy (and a wee bit of London)? And what a year! I think about our trip all the time. It was so magical, for a whole host of reasons. I would love to go back again some day. To celebrate the anniversary, I decided to frame some of our photos and display them on our study wall....
03
OCT
a quick project
...or so I hope. I know what you're thinking: why o' why am I starting a new project when I haven't finished the last? Because I am impatient! It's been so long since I'd picked up a pair of knitting needles, I was afraid I wouldn't remember how to knit. But, as they say, it's just like riding a bicycle. My hands remembered even if my brain didn't...
30
SEP
cot quilt for george
Here 'tis: the fabrics for George's cot quilt. I'm aiming to keep it quite neutral with natural and grey linen's, with a splash of greens. I've got a design in my head, just need to find the time to get it down on paper (or computer, anyway). I can't wait to get my sewing machine out of hiding! It's been too long, eh Nina?...
28
SEP
baby shower
Last Sunday my gorgeous mum and sister hosted a beautiful baby shower for George and I, surrounded by all the lovely ladies in my life (with a few notable exceptions). There were delicious finger sandwiches, sausage rolls, mini quiches and sweet treats as far as the eye could see. I put in my two bob and made the Lamington...
24
SEP
baby’s room
Welcome to George's room! Still a work in progress (let's face it, I'll be adding and subtracting for years), but most of the bare bones are there. I am really keen to make a quilt for the cot and a felt cushion for the chair — but where to find the time?! I am finishing up work at the end of next week, so perhaps then (along with the other items on...
22
SEP
beautiful lass
This clip of Kimbra was filmed in an alleyway in Melbourne, and I think she is simply gorgeous.
16
SEP
old man river
I hope you're enjoying the sunshine today, m'sweet readers.
15
SEP
vogue living shoot
In June I had the good fortune of tagging along with Melbourne Vogue Living editor, Annemarie Kiely, to a photo shoot in Melbourne's east. Keen to learn some more tricks of the interior photography trade, I pestered Annemarie until a suitable job came up. The house was amazing, the host oh-so-gracious, and the end result...
12
SEP
most nights look like this…
Me in my snuggly PJ's and/or trackies, with Darcy using Georgie as a cosy head-rest — and not seeming to mind the odd bump or kick. xo
05
SEP
back on track…
After a frustratingly time-consuming set-back, 'Project Sunspot' is back on track. I had crocheted together about 25 rounds — 19 in the first strip, then rounded the corner to come back the other way — when I discovered the vague 'pattern' (read: trying to decipher stitches via pictures) I had been following didn't quite work as I had anticipated...
31
AUG
sugar flowers from the source
I went on a mission today to purchase some more sugar flowers to decorate the cupcakes I'll be making for my (fast-approaching) baby shower. And I found a doozy! Hot tip for my baking buddies: West's Cake Decorations in Burwood make all their sugar flowers on site, so they're cheap as chips. Great range too, and since they make...
25
AUG
gotye’s got me…
There is something delightfully geeky about Gotye's music, so I'm sure he'd forgive me for the cheesiest of cheesy post titles. I love to bop along to this track in the car on a (almost!) spring day — it's just so full of sunshine!
17
AUG
baby shower invitation
With an ever-growing belly (and my sister's persistent nagging), I thought it was about time I designed my baby shower invitations. I can't believe how quickly time is flying — George is almost 30 weeks! No mistaking my baby bump for an overly indulgent lunch now. As much as I love it, I really do wish I could get some SLEEP....
10
AUG
burch & purchese
This new-ish addition to the South Yarra end of Chapel Street makes me as happy as a kid in a candy store... because well, I am a big kid and this is a very schmancy candy store. If you haven't heard the Burch & Purchese buzz around town, then let me enlighten you! Well-known around foodie circles, the general public may recognise...
20
JUL
felt-y goodness
Ever since I got my hot little hands on my wool felt freckle ottoman (you can see it in this post here), I've been a wee bit obsessed with felt. I'd been pondering what little cushion I could use on the feeding chair in the baby's room, when I had a bright spark — I know, I'll make one from felt fabric! Yes, that is what I shall do! I was disappointed with...
18
JUL
hobart in a flash
Hubby and I traveled down to Hobart this past weekend for his sister's husband's 40th. Originally from Tassie, our brother-in-law gathered together a great group of family and friends for a beautiful birthday bash. We made the most of our leap across Bass Strait, scooting all over the country-side, sampling a little of what gorgeous Hobart...
11
JUL
sunspot crochet is a-go!
NOW I can take a deep breath and savour the moment — I'm almost there! The rounds are complete (with new Zara colours done and dusted; it did put me behind schedule, but I'm glad I bothered because they've added more blues and greens to the mix and made the overall size of the rug larger), now it's time to put them all together. It's lovely...
01
JUL
nursery decoration
I took this photo a while ago, it doesn't look exactly like this now. Apart from the removal of the plush rug (it was a temporary parking space, our carpet is a lovely grey), these days you're likely to see an ironing board erected in the middle of the room, plus a fluffy nougat puppy (aka Bailey) perched upon a pile of clean sheets...
29
JUN
uh-oh, new colours
I was walking past Clegs on Elizabeth Street last week when I noticed they were having a big yarn sale. Lo and behold, they were stocking new colours from the Filatura Di Crosa Zara range. Just when I thought my sunspots were finished, time to whip out the crochet hook and make a few more rounds — 71 extra rounds...
20
JUN
little tootsies
We had our 20-week scan last week. Oh how amazing it was to see our beautiful, healthy bubba, happily bobbing around on screen. The frame in the above pic contains a card I made years ago. Inside it, the technician wrote down the sex of our George. I should label 'break glass in emergency'! I am pretty sure both...
08
JUN
i know i’m biased, but…
...everyone else I've spoken to agrees with me: this little munchkin is as cute as a button. Above is the thank-you card I made for my sister to send to her lovely friends and extended family. Lucy was about 8-9 weeks old at the time this photo was taken — I can't believe she's already almost three months old. When I see her I want to kiss...
06
JUN
yarra valley treat
Hubby and I picked up our new family-friendly wagon during the week, so we thought it would be fun to test it out on a good ol' day trip. We hadn't gotten up early enough to make the trek to Daylesford, so were content to enjoy the spoils of the (much closer) Yarra Valley. Have you ever been to the Bella Vedere restaurant at Badger's Brook...
03
JUN
george
I know I've been a wee bit slow on the posts lately, but I'm hoping you'll forgive me — I think I've got a pretty good reason... I've been busy being pregnant! Yup, that's right, I'm up the duff, have a bun in the oven, eating for two. I'm 18 weeks along now, and starting to get a bit more pep in my step (the couch and I became really well acquainted...
31
MAY
dreamy…
Discovered this track on Triple J the other day... there is an element of Craig David about it, but I think it's dreamy nonetheless. You still got me.
04
MAY
disassembled typewriter
I love this poster by artist Todd McLellan, partly because I think he's a little bit obsessive compulsive crazy... which I can relate to. And I love his description too: "In my series Disassembly, I photographed old items that are no longer used by the masses and often found on the street curbs heading for disposal. All of the pieces...
29
APR
Cheeky Cha-Cha
I can't tell you how chuffed I was to discover my step-sister-in-law had started a blog! This very talented lass is one of the key people who inspired me to learn to sew — the quilts and tote bags (and, as you'll discover when you read her blog, so much more) she has made for her little ones are truly gorgeous. I can't wait to...
27
APR
boondie baby
A very clever friend of mine has recently opened up an online store, filled with her handmade goodies for mum and bubs. There are waterproof change mats, burp cloths, cot quilts, and a whole lot more on offer, all in bright kiddy-friendly fabrics. You can view her current range on offer at the Boondie Baby stores on Etsy...
07
APR
delizioso!
Tucked away just off Collins Street, this little restaurant is a real find. The new venture of Tobie Puttock, The Kitchen Cat delivers fresh and traditional Italian fare. My partner-in-crime and I shared several dishes, each of which was incredibly delicious. This is what we had: • One of the pasta specials of the day, lamb ragu tagliatelle...
05
APR
to my audience of one…
Love. love. love. Enjoy.
01
APR
welcome, lucy nina
Say hello to beautiful Lucy Nina. My sister and her husband welcomed Lucy into the world on March 9, weighing 7lbs 3oz. She is the sweetest little bub, I wish I could see her every day! I could take a million photos in five minutes (and post every one of them!), she changes expression all the time, even when she's sleeping...
31
MAR
visit victoria — march 2011
Okay, so I promised to share this with you in a timely manner... well, March kind of got away from me. But here 'tis — you can still enjoy perusing the events of April and May! My favourite jaunt in autumn? Daylesford. Hubby and I will definitely be doing a little weekend away sometime soon, when the leaves start to turn and...
30
MAR
the sounds of summer…
Ok, so I think we've established that I'm not much chop in the music review stakes... so I'm not going to say much about my summer music fun: Cee-Lo Green's "Lady Killer". I wish I could share all tracks with you, because each one had me bopping along more than the last. I hope you enjoy...
28
MAR
the kings: on call
I am well behind the times — well, behind in my posting, anyway. I had been listening to the Kings (not so) new album 'Come Around Sundown' religiously (no pun intended) a couple of months back, and it's got some cracking tunes. It seems I'm a sucker for raspy-voiced crooners...
25
MAR
internet rant
Ooh, I love a passionate internet rant (and a flow-chart, for that matter). Unfortunately, because of the face-less nature of the 'net, it can so easily go off the rails. I was perusing a forum the other day, whereby a mediator had to step in and scald the name-callers like children. He all but said 'kids, if you have nothing nice to say...".
24
MAR
plus quilt in progress
Hello y'all! I wanted to show you how I'm going with Lucy's quilt I told you about in the Princess Champion EJ post here. I'd seen the 'plus' quilt design on the Internet and loved it, so decided to give it a go. It seems complex, but is really very simple — sewn together in rows of 'dot, dot, dash' (that will make sense when you see the pattern)...
23
MAR
song bird
I've been wanting to tell you about the lovely new Adele album '21' for so long. I'm happy I was delayed however, because there are now You Tube vids to help me share. This album follows on from a past favourite, '19', on which there was much to sing along to. '21' didn't disappoint — this lovely lass is very talented at cranking out a...
22
MAR
preggi belly
hurriedly shot these photos of my sister a couple weeks back (hurriedly because the light changes so quickly!) — she would have been about 33 weeks preggo at the time, I'm guessing. She's due in early March, and we're all so very excited. I thought her belly looked huge then, it's hard to believe it's gotten bigger, and will keep getting bigger...
08
MAR
princess champion ej
My sister is just four weeks from the due date of her first bubba — how time flies! (sorry Deesy, I know it's probably dragging for you now!) While inutero, the bubba has been called 'Princess Champion EJ' — as they opted to not know the sex, my sister figures this covers all bases. When selecting fabrics for the quilt (from Amitie, of course...
19
JAN
wristworms
Love. Love. Love! I just had to share ‘wristworms’ with y’all. They are the work of Sandra Juto in Sweden and an absolute delight. I am particularly besotted with her ‘Buttcrack’ characters (Mr. Sunburn had me in stitches, no pun intended). Both the little wristwarmers and softies would make brilliant gifts — and of course you can buy online!...
17
JAN
menu monday 9
Review of last week’s recipes: Hmm, the highlight last week is a toss up between the salmon with the preserved lemon mayo, and the schezuan pepper beef. I didn’t have the chervil required for the preserved lemon mayo, so I substituted with some fresh mint from my garden, which was just delish. Mint and asparagus (which I grilled...
12
JAN
summer tracks
Santa gave me Urthboy’s 2009 album Spitshine for Chrissy! (Santa is a little bit behind the times). I wanted to share with you the track Don’t Sideline Me (featuring the awesomely talented Lior) but I can’t find it on the Tube of You. But I am sure you will love the above Shruggin’ featuring Jane Tyrrell anyhoo. Also be sure to check out...
11
JAN
halfway there
Time to pat me on the back, folks! I finished my goal number of crochet rounds on Sunday — 208 — with no days to spare before returning to work! (I’ll admit that, yes, there was at least one day during my break that I wore my PJ’s all day). And yes, I am just a bit daunted by the thought of sewing all those ends in (but don’t they look pretty!)...
10
JAN
menu monday 8
This week I’m giving Donna Hay’s No Time To Cook book another bash. I haven’t used it as much as I have her other books, but I imagine that’s just because I am now so spoiled for choice with the foodie magazines I work for. I like to get a good balance of meats when planning our meals — this week I’ve included chicken, beef, pork...
08
JAN
slice of healesville heaven
‘Twas such lovely weather on Thursday, I was so pleased to get an impromptu Healesville Sanctuary invite from my mate Ali. It has been many years since we visited, but it was a first for Ali’s little one, Piper. The bright little bubble is 18 months old, and her vocabulary has grown so much since I saw her last. It was so cute hearing her pronounce...
06
JAN
may the force (of typography) be with you
Ok, confession: I am a Star Wars nerd. I grew up in the 1980s with an older brother whom I worshipped, it was a little hard not to be. Combine that with my love of typography, and what's on the top of my wish-list? These friggin’ awesome posters, that’s what! Check out Abduzeedo for more info. PS. Don’t get me started on the changes George Lucas...
05
JAN
tourism victoria — spring 2010
I probably should have shared this with you during spring, when the event information was still relevant... but I was in Italy! (Was that a little too smug? Sorry...) Anyhoooo, I put the above booklet together just before going on holidays, and the final client tweaks were performed by my trusty side-kick. Though the events have passed,...
04
JAN
mixed martial arts + crafts
Of course you know by now: I love martial arts. I love crafts. Well, some jolly clever fellow combined the two to create the world’s most awesome t-shirt (damn, I wish it was me — why didn’t I think of that?). A very thoughtful friend, who clearly knows me very well, bought me this great tee last Chrissy, and I love it. You can get yours here...
03
JAN
get kickstarted
This is such a brilliant concept — well actually, two brilliant concepts. Firstly, the website Kickstarter: I’ll let their little spiel give you all the info you need (or better yet, visit their site to see how it all works). Kickstarter is the largest funding platform for creative projects in the world. Every month, tens of thousands of amazing people pledge...
02
JAN
take a walk to lala land
On a beautiful day this week, hubby and I took the boys (our furry children) for a walk to the Lala Falls in Warburton (about 80km’s east of Melbourne). A 3.2km trek from the car park to the waterfall, the winding track was bathed in dappled sunlight. The sound of rushing water and bird calls was so uplifting, and the walk challenging enough...
30
DEC
i’ve been busy
I have added to my collection of rounds (whilst watching just about every soppy girly movie I own), from the 31 I had when I first posted, to 94! (And just in case you’re Rainman, no — there isn’t 94 in this photo, I have done even more since I took this pic!). Thank you to Sharon who gave me extra encouragement by commenting on my first ‘sunspot’...
27
DEC
just a wee bit excited!
omg. OMG. The Espy is hosting an Urthboy gig in February! Need I say more? Probably the best darn Chrissy present of the year! Now, just need to wait 48 days... damnit! Get your tickets here, folks.
26
DEC
a day of food and fun
Whew! What a whirlwind of a day! I hope you all had a magical time with family and loved ones. To those of you whom I didn’t have the opportunity to give a big bear hug — I was thinking of you! Hubby and I started early by hosting breakfast for his mum, her husband and husband’s brother, plus hubby’s sister and husband. There was lots...
09
DEC
i would crochet for you…
Anybody who mentions crochet in song is alright by me. But Erykah Badu, my lady, you are a simply awesome...
06
DEC
pizza n’ pinot
Last Saturday hubby and I awoke at dawn (ok, not quite, but it felt like it) for a trek to the Red Hill market on Victoria’s coast with the fam. Oh, what a food & craft wonderland! Farm produce, breakfast delights and sugary treats as far as the eye can see! Sweet little bubba outfits, clever crafts and beautiful funky knits! It was all too easy to part...
25
NOV
in the round
This is a little project that I kind of made by accident. You see, I wanted to make a scarf in the round (kind of like a big cowl-neck warmer) but had never done it before. Linda (co-worker and knitter extraordinaire) said it was easy, but frankly, I didn’t believe her. She also says knitting socks is easy and they look like an absolute mo-fo...
24
NOV
more than a mere trifle
Heeelllo peeps! I have missed writing to you all, I have! Ok, I know what you’re thinking. I missed Menu Monday. Again. Oh I know!! But seriously, my weekend was madness — I didn’t even have time to clean the house, let alone write a meal plan (friends and fam, had you popped by unannounced, I would have drawn the blinds...
17
NOV
a little bit of sunshine
This wee little project (ok, you’re right, it’s not little — it’s gargantuan), entitled ‘sun-spots’, has been put on the back-burner for... oh I don’t know, six months? (Oh, I know exactly when I started — I blogged about the wool I bought for the project here). Pathetic, I know. I think I’m daunted by the sheer size... plus, now that I’m out of practice...
15
NOV
menu monday 7
Well, I’m finally eating normal foods again after a nasty bout of food poisoning (which lasted two weeks — didn’t know that was possible!). Last night I cooked a t-bone steak with thyme butter and mushrooms, and if I say so myself, it was friggin’ awesome. I had been craving flavoursome foods after dining on mashed potatoes and bread...
06
NOV
saturday treat
It was such a beautiful day today, we couldn’t resist taking a drive to the Yarra Valley for lunch. If you’ve never been to Giant Steps Innocent Bystander in Healesville, you really ought to give it a go. Not only does the cafe/bistro serve wood-fired pizzas and bakery goodies, but they do wine and cheese tastings and sell all manner of jams,...
02
NOV
some new, some old
I splurged at JB recently (‘tis a shame hubby sold our JB stocks) and picked up some new albums, as well as some golden oldies. One of the newbies in the bunch is a pearler from Cloud Control, Bliss Release. I can confidently say it is just beaut having on repeat for several hours, whilst reclining in the sun with two dogs on lap,...
01
NOV
menu monday 6
Review of last week’s recipes: The highlight this week is a toss-up between the polenta-crusted veal and the middle-eastern chicken. I was particularly impressed with the juicy tenderness of the chicken, I think I’ll be cooking breast in this way every time: Pan-fry on each side for about 5 minutes or until golden, then transfer to a pre-heated...
26
OCT
milan, let’s go shopping!
Train travel really is the best way to get around Italy. You can see glimpses of small towns and amazing terrain that you mightn’t otherwise. While on the train between Venice and Milan, I saw chickens pecking around beside the tracks. I theorised that the reason why we’ve seen so little ‘pollo’ on ristorante menu’s is, because the...
25
OCT
menu monday 5
Review of last week’s recipes: The family faves last week proved to be just what I needed. So comforting and delicious. Mum and Dad ended up popping round for dinner on Teriyaki Chicken night, bringing with them another family favourite — Dad’s special fried rice. Yummo. Oh and a quick tip, if you’ve got left over polenta...
20
OCT
venice, one of a kind
Before leaving for our trip, I’d heard a couple of people remark that two days is all you need in Venice. There aren’t a huge number of ‘must-see’ touristy items to cross off your check-list. Love it, hate it or indifferent to it, I’m sure everyone must agree that there isn’t anywhere else in the world quite like it. I’ve been meaning to do a little reading,...
18
OCT
menu monday 4
Welcome back to Menu Monday! I’ve been a bit slack since returning from Italy, mainly feasting on whatever I can scrounge together (the other night I whipped up a tuna salad with lettuce, corn, beetroot, tomato and a red wine vinegar dressing — well done, pantry!). I haven’t yet finished the travel journal, I’ll get back to that soon...
09
OCT
three days in the cinque terre…
...is not enough. Famous for the walking trails that connect these five tiny villages on the coast, the Cinque Terre is simply stunning. I probably should have done a little reading before departing on our first trek, however. Passing a number of German tourists wearing hiking boots and sporting walking sticks, I began to doubt my choice...
06
OCT
aah, florence
Yes, you are right. I know. I have procrastinated over writing this post. Why? Well, I’ve gushed over every other destination thus far, it’s difficult to articulate just how much I loved Florence. I. Bloody. Loved. Florence. How’s that? I seriously loved this little city. It has such an abundance of art and culture and history and lush green gardens...
29
SEP
quick stop in pescara
Following on from my last post on Pompeii: Our driver then drove us from Pompeii to Salerno train station where we were to catch a train back to Rome. I have discovered that I can sleep just about anywhere — including on the steps of the main train station entrance, with my head resting on my folded arms across my bag. Not quite as...
25
SEP
exploring pompeii
Pompeii, like much of Italy thus far in our trip, was a mind-blowing experience. So much of the original city has been spectacularly preserved, and the area it covers is immense. We had just two hours to explore this ancient wonder, and so had a very knowledgeable and lovely guide, Maria, walk us through. I was so impressed by how...
24
SEP
perfect positano
Getting to Positano was to be our first major train journey, and it could have been a bit of a juggle. As it was, we cheated a little — we caught a train from Roma Termini to Salerno, then jumped into a taxi for the remaining distance. Hefty price, yes, but we avoided connection complications, and was able to see some amazing scenery...
23
SEP
five days in rome
Aaah, Rome. What a phenomenal city. I was somewhat intimidated upon our first meeting. I feared the language barrier would lead us up numerous dead-ends, not to mention all the thieving gypsies and pick-pocketers we'd been warned about. Whilst I am confident in reading an Italian menu (seen plenty of them before),...
21
SEP
london calling
My goodness, we managed to pack a lot into our day and a half in good ol’ London-town. We had uncharacteristically good weather for at least half of it, too! You would suppose that after a 24 hour journey we would have been just shy of a coma, but we were running on adrenaline and determined not to miss a thing...
20
SEP
buongiorno!
Aaah, alas we are home from our whirlwind Italian tour. What an amazing time we had, and what spectacular things we’ve seen! Not to mention all the delicious food we’ve eaten... but oh, where to start? I kept a little diary whilst there, so that I could recall where we visited and what we saw...
23
AUG
menu monday 3
Review of last week’s recipes: Roast salmon with tarragon and caper pangrattato, served with green beans and scalloped potatoes: I purchased the recommended four fillets of salmon — they were huge! So, we invited hubby's mother and partner over for dinner, and it went down a treat. The pangrattato (essentially a flavour-infused toasted...
22
AUG
the gruen transfer
Hubby and I have a PVR (records telly onto a hard-disk) and so we don't often watch live TV — and consequently don't see many advertisements. I did, however, spy this Kia ad the other day, and I hang my head in shame as I share it with you. I whole-heatedly apologise to those culturally sophisticated readers who enjoy...
20
AUG
font design
Back when I was in uni — a decade ago (urgh!) — I created my own usable font using Illustrator and font creation software. It was tops. Not that I can compete with the masters, of course, those absolute legends that designed the timeless fonts that are so common today. I feel the urge to do it all over again. I'd like to toy with handwritten fonts...
18
AUG
bake sale
The ‘Creative Pod’ (as we like to call ourselves) and Vogue Jo, with the help of super-organisers Bec and Tam, put on an old-fashioned bake sale at work to raise money for the RSPCA. It was an unbelievable success — much more so than we were expecting! We had morning and afternoon sessions; we sold out 16 minutes into the...
16
AUG
menu monday 2
Review of last week’s recipes: Highlight was definitely the sage-roasted pork belly. It is so deliciously rich and decadent, perfectly offset by the fresh fennel salad. Regarding the recipe, it says to roast in the oven at 160 degrees celsius for 3 hours, then increase the heat to 180 for the remaining 30 minutes. The increased heat is required to crisp...
11
AUG
toot toot!
I made this little quilt six months ago, as a first birthday present for Miss Elle. There is a huge love of trains in this household — a beautiful sepia, large-scale photograph of an old (London?) train station adorns the dining room wall, and you will spot little prints and wooden toys here and there. Clever mum, Amber, even made a lovely locomotive...
09
AUG
menu monday
Welcome to Menu Monday! Every Monday from today, I intend to share with you our menu for the week. I'm hoping this will motivate me to plan our meals every week (honestly, the planning can be more time-consuming than the cooking) and it will be a great documentation of the recipes I've cooked. So many times I have wanted...
07
AUG
guilty, as charged
Cooking delicious food. Planning, booking and researching our Italy trip (countdown is on, friends!). Blogging. Working. Lounging about. Unfortunately, craft has taken a bit of a back seat in the last few weeks. After rushing to complete both Tahlia and Piper’s quilts before their birthdays, and then photographing them, I’ve been a little...
06
AUG
oh so inspired
I changed my route to work a couple months back. I substituted the Eastern Fwy for the Monash — further in distance, but freer moving traffic (most of the time!). The one thing I miss about my old route is waiting in the right turning lane from Punt Road on to Swan St, under the bridge. I would nearly miss the light change checking out...
03
AUG
hip hop hooray!
I dropped my car off at the mechanics for a service last week. As I was walking to Auburn station, searching for my train ticket with my head buried in my bag, the top of my left foot struck a traffic sign post that had been sawn off 20cm from the concrete in which it was set. (Luckily, I didn't hit it with my toe, otherwise I would have...
01
AUG
jam and cream, oh my!
I love a good scone. It makes me think of Aussie country wives of my grandmother’s generation, who would have morning tea ready and waiting for their hard-working husbands. I’m sure I have a very romantic notion of what it was like to live in that period, far from reality! And besides, a scone is a jolly good vehicle for jam and cream!...
31
JUL
ta da!
Ok, I know what you’re thinking. This site looks remarkably similar to my old one. That’s, um, because it is. Alright, before you think me so lame that WordPress has defeated me, let me tell you my side of the story. WordPress has faults. Oh yes, that’s right. And they are: 1. If you use WordPress to host your site, you get all sorts of goodies...
18
JUL
aah, the alpine air
Biting cold, soft white powder snow, extra-thick socks and ten cosy layers, slow-cooked lamb stew with cous cous, amazing views, lots of colourful wool and a crochet needle, and bloody gorgeous mates and hilarious conversation make for a very enjoyable weekend. Love you lots, me sweets xo...
15
JUL
a little dose of melancholy
... and then back to reality. I was on my way to the ‘Bloggers Breakfast’ at the State of Design festival this morning — running a little later than I would like — when these three tracks floated out of my stereo. All urgency was lost. It’s funny how music has the power to pick you up by your ankles, jiggle you about and pop you...
13
JUL
pampering piper
My mate Ali and I have been friends for 18 years. So you can imagine how chuffed I was when she welcomed her beautiful baby girl Piper into the world... seems like just yesterday. Well, it wasn’t yesterday — a couple weeks ago Piper celebrated her first birthday. And in fine style — mum baked an angel cake and everything!...
11
JUL
for the soul
I officially started my four-day week this week. Work has been busy and stressful of late, so on Friday I resolved to treat myself. It was such a beautiful day, clear blue skies and bright sunshine, though incredibly cold. Thus, I decided to drive to the Yarra Valley — to soak in some rays, treasure hunt in an antique store...
08
JUL
aww, feelin’ the love
Guess what, peeps? Because The Roots are such awesome and considerate lads, they released an album on my birthday! (Sorry it took me two weeks to discover this, guys). Album has been purchased, listening to commence immediately... as Molly would say: Do yourself a favour. They must’ve read my post yesterday...
07
JUL
sweeter than a plate of yams…
...with extra syrup. I doubt there is anything more comical than seeing (and hearing, for that matter) a skinny little middle-class white Aussie gal belting out the lyrics to a hip-hop song from the ghettoes of US of A. Well, I am happy to entertain the peak-hour Monash Freeway travellers, for some crackin’ songs demand such a performance...
06
JUL
collaboration
“When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece” -- ‘tis one of my favourite quotes (not sure who said it though!). Early to bed tonight, goodnight...
02
JUL
welcome, little tahlia
On the 14th of last month, my family welcomed a new addition — my beautiful little niece, Tahlia Mae. From the first, we have all been absolutely besotted with this miniature human. I can’t help but marvel at the miracle of life when I cradle her in my arms. To celebrate her arrival, I have made a little cot quilt, complete with soft...
01
JUL
the inner sanctum
Following on from my last post, in which I uploaded an article featuring Shannon Bennett and Guy Grossi... Last year I had the unbelievably good fortune to oversee a photo-shoot in the Grossi Florentino kitchen of Guy Grossi. The shoot was to promote Leggo’s tomato paste, and I was so excited to see the inner workings...
30
JUN
gastronome menu
Oh my goodness. Dining at Vue de Monde last night was a once in a lifetime experience: and it ought to be, because we can’t afford to go again! Whilst the final bill was what any ordinary Aussie would call ridiculously exorbitant, I couldn’t help but feel we were getting value for money. The luxurious surroundings alone warrant high...
27
JUN
desperately seeking sia
Ah, Sia. Need I say more? Well, probably not, but I shall. Sia’s latest album is a gem. The lighter, more upbeat tracks are quirky and so much fun, the melancholy tunes are beautiful and heart-felt. Is there anything this clever lass cannot do? Apparently not -- the album also features a cover of Madonna’s ‘Oh Father’ -- who’d have thunk it?...
20
JUN
blinked, and i missed it…
Where did the weekend go? Two days is not enough time to get anything done! I had so many (important!) things on my list ‘to-do’, and crossed off but a few. Unfortunately, ‘do the food shopping’ wasn’t one of them, so we may go hungry this week. I bought a few Sia albums today — her latest, plus a couple oldies that I’ve got a few tracks...
14
JUN
happy birthday
I love a long weekend. After a busy week socialising with friends and family, it really is so very lovely to cosy up at home and get stuck into the project of the moment. Hubby is snuggled on the couch, I make him some fruit and cinnamon toast and a cup of tea, and turn on the sewing machine...
09
JUN
karate n’ stuff
As a kid, I had the insane good fortune to live around the corner from the Honbu dojo (headquarters) of world-wide karate instructor Sensei Paul Mitchell. My brother took up karate training when I just ten years old, and since I hadn’t inherited my sister’s brilliant athletic abilities (when I was about seven, I won a big trophy for being...
07
JUN
x times 2
Kiss her. It might be your last chance... I spied this print on my blog-trawling today, and thought it was just ace. Apparently the designer’s husband spotted this phrase graffiti’d somewhere, and it inspired her to make these posters. It makes me ponder the tragic little tale of the individual that scrawled it on a wall,...
01
JUN
uppercase #1
I stumbled across a new magazine in Mag Nation this week. It’s a lovely little publication produced in Canada, called Uppercase, about all things creative and curious. There were a number of articles that got me a-thinkin’, possibly too many for the one blog entry. Hence this entry is called ‘uppercase #1'...
31
MAY
comfort food
I cooked a favourite comfort food last night — chicken, pancetta and cannellini bean stew, topped with crispy fried sage, and served with baby chat potatoes and green beans (from Delicious magazine, issue 93, page 132). For all winter’s down-falls, I love winter food. I love cooking it and I love eating it...
29
MAY
spreading the crafty joy
I have a great job (mostly — ask me again when I’m stressed and under deadline!). I work in Melbourne for News Magazines, designing across the women’s titles (Country Style, Delicious, Donna Hay, Vogue Australia and Vogue Living, etc.). This week, News Magazines was invited into the offices of Mindshare,...
22
MAY
a good day for a panda
I’ve been thinking about experimenting with a four-colour silkscreen — it will certainly test my registration skills, but I’m keen to give it a go. I’ve got the screens prepped, ready to go — now I just need to decide on a design. Meet my panda. Just thinking about pandas gives me the warm and fuzzies...
19
MAY
silkscreen printing
My old high school has kindly accepted me as their ‘artist in residence’ — I use their facilities to process my silkscreens (I’m using the photo-emulsion method which requires a darkroom) and in exchange I chat to the Year 11 & 12 graphic students about their current projects. They’ve all been so welcoming, it has really been a lovely experience...
18
MAY
it’s been a long day
At the risk of sounding repetitive, Ray LaMontagne rocks. Okay now, before you get whingey, let me explain. It’s been a long day, and things ain’t been going my way, baby. So, what better remedy than belting out the lyrics to this boppy number on my way home from work? Mmm, that’s what I thought...
15
MAY
knit knit
About a year ago, my lovely Nan taught me to knit. Slow and oh-so-awkward at first, with each project my skill and speed improve. It will, however, take me until I reach Nan’s age to match her — she’s a machine! My first project was a scarf (of course) — I played with knit and purl to create...
14
MAY
inside out photo shoot
I have organised and art directed a number of shoots in the three years I’ve been with News Magazines. A couple months ago, on a stiflingly hot summer’s day, I was lucky enough to see the inner workings of an Inside Out shoot. The brilliant Bev Douglas (Creative Services Art Director) had directed shoots of a number...
13
MAY
spring racing carnival
Last year (or was it 2008? I’m losing track of time) I organised and directed a shoot, and produced the artwork, for Myer’s Spring Racing Carnival campaign. Spring Racing is huge in Melbourne — and I’m sure retailers make a mint selling beautiful dresses to the gals, and smart suits to the fellas!...
13
MAY
shooting for myer
In 2008, Myer had a full schedule of advertising with Sunday Magazine. Some of the photography they supplied themselves, but much of it was organised by me and shot here in Melbourne by photographer Robin Lowe. Robin, and his lovely stylist Madeleine, are a dream to work with. In amongst all the serious photo-taking,...
09
MAY
a hen’s kitchen tea
My beautiful, vivacious sister was married in March of this year. To farewell her single-dom, her closest friends, mum and I staged a “Bridal High Tea”. It was a beautiful summer’s day in February, all the girls wore floral frocks, we supped on delicate finger-food and fruity punch, and played very civilised croquet...
08
MAY
spring: high time for high tea
Each month my immediate family members take it in turns to host a get-together. We are all such massive foodies — and I’m chuffed that each child has either married a foodie or converted their partner into one! To keep things interesting, we will often adopt a theme — spanish tapas one month, and a modern...
04
MAY
somewhere over the rainbow
I have crochet fever. Since the lovely Carly taught me the basics, I have been thinking about little else. She spotted a beautiful granny square rug on a blog, which has been the inspiration for my purchasing wool in every colour in the rainbow. The idea is to put together rounds of three different colours,...
02
MAY
splurge
Well, Amitie have done it again. I was determined to never buy a quilt kit again, but their display at the Australasian Quilt Convention had me swooning. It’s a miracle that I came home with just the one kit, really. Ok, so the level of dag at the AQC is extreme. But that’s ok — I understand they’ve got a very loyal...
01
MAY
the green quilt
Ooh, the days and nights are getting mighty chilly (I realise there are plenty of people in the world who live in areas where it snows and would guffaw at my perception of ‘chilly’). The leaves are starting to turn beautiful shades of gold and red and brown, and my breath makes puffy clouds as I walk to the train station in the mornings...
29
APR
stocking up
My chicken stock stocks had run low, so this past weekend I hunted and gathered — and came home with a bountiful supply of bones and vegies to cook up a storm. Store-bought stock cannot compare with home-made. It provides the base to so many delicious recipes: from slow-cooked stews, to soups and risotto’s...
28
APR
real love for regina
I’m going to see Regina Spektor live with Melzy and Middle on Friday — yippeee! I can’t wait! She’s so odd and quirky, I love her!... Real love?... I hope so. Time will tell. For more info on the genius of Regina, visit Wikipedia...
27
APR
what i’m listening to
I originally posted this entry over a week ago, but felt the need to update. To be honest, I hadn’t actually watched the above video all the way through, just listened to the beautiful song. Now that I have, I want to distance myself from it — it’s a bit disturbing in parts! So, my advice to you, is to play the song and either scroll down...
26
APR
tourism victoria — spring 2009
Since mid-last year, I have had the pleasure of working with Tourism Victoria to produce several 24-page advertising inserts. This first insert appeared in The Adelaide Magazine and QWeekend Magazine in October 2009. My contact at Tourism Victoria, the lovely Emily, has been wonderful to work with...
25
APR
my first quilt…
...and so began my passion for quilting. This beautiful quilt was bought as a kit from a stall at the Australasian Quilt Convention, which is happening again here in Melbourne next week. I will definitely need to pop along to ogle all the beautiful designs and fabrics. I certainly won’t be coveting one of the gorgeous Bernina’s this year...
24
APR
granny squares
Ok, I was going to share my crafty journey with you in chronological order, but I’m going to skip a few chapters, just this once (‘cos I’m so excited). On Friday, my mate Carlz (crazy monkey, you can read her blog here) taught me how to crochet granny squares! She was such a brilliant little teacher,...
22
APR
mama bear!
oftie trial no.2 — Mama bear, from the book Softies (see previous entry, Polly). I was quite happy with the result of this cuddly ol’ gal — ears are a little wonky (adds to the charm!?), but I found the wool fabric quite difficult to get a smooth round edge. More practice required! And no, this is not the sewing machine used to complete the task!...
21
APR
polly, the pocket rocket
Meet Polly: my first soiree into the land of sewing. Polly enjoys cool autumn days with warm sunshine and lots of cuddles, but is afraid of residing on a shelf so low that the boys (read: puppies) will befriend her. Ideally suited to a little bubba (no sharp bits or buttons to chew off), I haven’t yet had the heart to part with her — one day!...