One shed to another

I went on a road trip this week to my hometown in the country.  I love a road trip.  And my home in the country is where my Dad's shed is.  And I love my Dad's shed!  The treasures!  Not a nut, screw, timber off cut, washer, key, mysterious metal thingamejig has left the shed in over 40 years.  Neatly sorted and stored in tins that once contained ice-cream and jam.  I see so much of my own work/studio habits in this shed.  I do like things neatly sorted and stored.

And I got to build something.  A display stand for my Crayon Chick earrings (if you missed their inaugural market debut at Finders Keepers you will find them, newly displayed, at Magnolia Square next week).  Being in the shed is like being on hallowed turf, we were never allowed to touch anything when we were kids.  This time I had free reign, even over the power tools!

In my Dad's words "now we're seeing things toe to toe" .... such a Dad thing!

Inspiring me this week - a cold snap ... and a bikkie

1. Red steps with cat, 2. Red Winter Berries, 3. Vintage Book, 4. Red Post Box in Monochrome Wall, 5. Women rights to shoes..., 6. a modest collection, 7. Red Room Bokeh, 8. December (29.1), 9. Living Room Fire, 10. Warm cosy evening, 11. Warm Inside, 12. Warm lighting

Let's just get the record straight, I'm not a fan of the cold, a cold snap or being cold.  In fact, I find it very restrictive creatively.  But today's sudden cold snap has inspired a collection of images to warm.  And there's nothing like a touch of red to warm me, visually at least.  Three guesses which colours will feature in my Making Things today ...

Meanwhile, I'll be digging out my snuggly warm red and orange scarf for a dawn service tomorrow and there will be lots of standing by the orange glow of the oven as the Anzac bikkies bake.  I will be grabbing that tray the moment they are golden but still bendy.

How do you like your Anzac bikkies - bendy and chewy or crispy and crunchy?

I'm a bendy and chewy and warm from the oven kinda gal.

Burning the midnight oil - again

Get ready Melbourne, at 6pm this Friday the wonderful Finders Keepers will be open. And talk about back in style, it's at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton. WOW! How fabulous! I love an exciting new venue and it doesn't get any more fabulous than that.

So let's see, opens on Friday. Tomorrow is Thursday. That means it's only 2 more sleeps! For a normal person. Not a mad-maker-of-fine-and-lovely-crafts like myself with a chronic tendency to burn the midnight oil at the best of times, let alone in the lead up to a fabulous event such as this.

I've been working on some new pieces and I can't wait to show them for the first time at Finders Keepers. Madly, it's more crochet, but instead of the big industrial size hook and stiff unyielding jute that I usually play with, this time I've gone to the opposite end of the extreme with a teeny tiny pixie size hook with the finest cotton and floss. Eeeee, I can't wait to show them! Do you like this little teaser from Instagram? I see linen yarn and teeny crochet rings. I wonder what they could be??

So for now the big question is, do I stay up for another hour and try to finish these jobs I've started, or is it pens down for the night and hope for an early start and a super productive day tomorrow?

I think the siren call of the doona might win this one. Burning the midnight oil would be more fun if I didn't have to keep so quiet!

Inspiring me this week - cathrineholm

Heavenly poster found here

It's time I declared a little obsession. Are you ready ... it involves enamel cookware - random, I know. But when I tell you it's fabulous Scandinavian mid-century design classics then you'll understand. The colours! The modernist design! The patterns! So happy! Meet Cathrineholm enamel, designed by one of the leading artists of the scandinavian design movement of the 1950s, Grete Kornmo Prytz-Kittelesen.

If this sounds a little familiar then it's exactly why I love Orla Kiely designs so much (so much so that I have Orla Kiely pieces available in The Crayon Chick Shop).

Flickr image by Joao Brandao

I've been slowly collecting images on Flickr and Pinterest. I just know I will be out of control if I actually started to collect the pieces. So for now I'll just covet these lovely lotus patterns on my online pinboards.

That's what's inspiring me these days.

How about you?

1. Cathrineholm - Lotus , 2. Cathrineholm Bowl, 3. cathrineholm love, 4. cathrineholm colani, 5. Cathrineholm Olive Fondue Pot, 6. Cathrineholm Bowl, 7. Cathrineholm Bowl, 8. Temporama_Seibel, 9. Cathrineholm - morning coffee print, 10. Cathrineholm 'Lotus' salt & pepper pots, 11. Cathrine Holm Pots - Blue Three pot set, 12. Cathrineholm 1

STILL: a breathtaking break ... and the Easter Chook

I couldn't help myself, the minute I discovered this beautiful blog via Pia Jane Bijkerk's equally beautiful blog I let out a deep long breath and have been still ever since.

Mary Jo Hoffman is a gatherer after my own heart, and STILL is her gorgeous new blog, it's a daily post of the most breathtaking moments of stillness of things gathered, arranged, sorted and documented.

It's breathtaking and I know what I'm going to do everyday, I'll be checking in on a little window of stillness.

You simply must put this blog on your daily read. It's beautiful.

I've chosen some Easter related images from STILL to share with you, some chocolate-free sweetness! What have feathers and nests got to do with Easter, you ask? This is a nod to my Dad (hello Dad!) and his chocolate chick eggs and Easter Chook. I know, it's a Dad Thing and I love it!

Planning to make plans

I've taken a break from my crochet to make some plans. Well, to be honest, to make a plan to make plans for Easter.

This marvellous autumn weather is inspiring me to get out and see some marvellous Melbourne over the Easter break. Of course having the luxury of time to take a break after only just returning from our holiday to Vietnam is a bit indulgent, but if I stay focussed and work really really hard in the next couple of days I think I could talk my conscience into giving me a break.

There will be hot cross buns. Toasted. With puddles of melted butter.

There will be chocolate (put it this way, there had BETTER be chocolate, ahem Mr Easter Bunny .... )

There will be a movie to watch. I've got my eye on The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, I love Dame Judi and travel so what's not to love about this one.

I seem to keep bumping into Fred Williams images so there may be a trip to the NGV to see the Fred Williams Infinite Horizons exhibition.

I pondered what plans to make over my elevenses today, and I'm wondering if Easter is the best time to day trip it to Bendigo to see the Grace Kelly Style Icon exhibition at the marvellous Bendigo Art Gallery. This may be a trip best made without my man and without the Easter road traffic. It's on until 17 June, so I have plenty of time.

Famous last words! Do you ever say that, and find that the last week has snuck up on you and there's no way you're going to be able to see what it was you wanted to see? I'm a master at that little trick.

I do love a road trip though. And all those country town bakeries will be open .....

Now, what did I say at the very beginning of this post ... something about working really really hard to get all the work on my list checked before the weekend? Better get onto it if that plan is going to stick!

Hillock, Fred Williams, 1965-66, image from this lovely site

Sturts Desert Pea, Fred Williams, 1974, image from NGV

If I get to the NGV it will be a fabulous chance to check out this NGV's 150th anniversary limited edition tote featuring another favourite Australian artist, Margaret Preston.