The Golden Boot

Will you make do?

I like to make do (and make stuff), do you?

 

Lupin is having a sale.

 

 

Lupin makes do and mends.

 

xo

Friday Favourites #16 . . . a squidy whale . . .

It's that time again (isn't it amazing how quick the weeks go by?) 

 

This weeks ff is a representation of "textile design of mythical proportions." This is a quote from the makers of these textiles of mythical proportions and their name . . . Squidwhale Design. They really are masters of design, just check out some of their stuff!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

xo

A rumbling of thought . . .

In my usual stumbling around blogland I came across this rather intriguing blog - The Happiness Project. The blog is an extension of the book by the same name by author Gretchen Rubin. Now, I have never read the book (though I may have to check it out), and I have only just started exploring the blog, but I am already impressed by Gretchen's ideas and thought process on progressing towards a sense of true happiness (I guess the meaning of true happiness would vary from person to person, but for me in means simple things, like love, family, friendship, alone-time, contemplation, tidiness, and self accomplishment).

 

What struck me first on the blog was a blog post on Tidy Habit as a boost to happiness. I do find that the state of my surroundings can have a huge impact on the state of my mood. When my surroundings are tidy and organised I feel tidy and organised, I feel as though I could take on the world - because I have the physical and mental space to think clearly and act promptly. (When the kitchen is a mess, or the bathroom desperately needs a clean I just feel so tired and put out; that doesn't account though for the sense of accomplishment I feel when I do actually tidy up and clean and walk away from a room that is ready to be occupied and used). For me tidiness equates with creativeness, when there is endless space to experiment and play, as opposed to a fighting for table space to draw or sew. After reading about similar feelings on the The Happiness Project I feel validation in my approach to living.

 

(The Happiness Project)

 

 

Anyone else have any happiness tips? is there a simple ritual that you apply to your everyday living that settles your mind and opens you up to creativity and joy?

 

xo

Friday Favourites #15 (I skipped a week, why yes I did)

I am not well. I have not been sick for ages and then a sore throat and fever just smacked me down yesterday and I have been holed up on my couch (and bed) ever since, with no energy to do anything other than occasionally peruse etsy and change the channel on tv. But, after taking to Panadols and having a nap I am feeling up to a rather quick friday favourites. Enjoy! ;)

 

(maechevrette)

 

 

(diabolus)

 

 

(pouch)

 

 

(tisSewcute)

 

 

(sherrifairy)

 

 

(jarosdesigns)

 

Now off to sleep again, and hopefully be well enough tomorrow to actually do some design work!

 

xo

Friends and food.

I had some visitors this week. Steph and Isa are two people who are special to me in a way that will last a lifetime. About 4 years ago I came to Leeds Uni (in England) on exchange and house shared with an amazing group of girls and Steph and Isa are two of them. Steph is from Canada and Isa is from Germany and as a thank you for letting them spend the night they gave me some food. But not just any food, sweet sweet good food - Maple Sugar Candies from Canada and a variety of German chocolates. 

 

Now, the Maple Sugar candies did no last long enough for me to get a photograph. To eat Maple Sugar candy is like opening up a packet of brown sugar and just pouring it down your throat (once you start you cannot stop). The German chocolates, however, have lasted a little longer, but are no less yummy than the candies. Here's the proof -

 

(see those yogurette chocolates, oh my, I am addicted, lol).

 

It was so amazing to see these girls again, I think I'll have to make a trip to Germany and Canada in the very near future!!

 

p.s. the other week I had this bowl

 

of amazingly delicious berries, yum yum yum (as yummy as the chocolates above).

 

xo

Stitching Scandinavian Style!

 . . . or my own interpretation, lol. Two new stitcheries are up in my shop - dementedsnowflake. Here they are -

 

 and my favourite (below) . . .

 

I went and saw Slash last night (of Gun's and Roses fame). He is an amazing guitarist, watching him play is truly seeing man become one with the instrument. I want to go and see him again, and again, and again! Who's your favourite musician? What concert is the best you've ever been too?

 

xo

Fascinating earth.

Something perhaps a little more life and a little more learning. Last night my flatmate and I watched a very interesting doco about the way that the earth works. The doco is called Journey to the Centre of the earth and the first episode last night was amazing. What I loved the most was the part about the sea turtles - did you know that they have magnetic workings like a compass in their head and this is how they navigate the world!! (I am no scientist, so consider this a laymans interpretation of the information, lol). 

 

I would recommend watching it (even if your not a fan of Richard Hammond, lol); I can't wait until the next ep! Really, the earth is a fascinating place!

 

 

(Jessica Illustration)

 

xo

Oh My Gosh or OMG

It is a rainy day here today in the north of England. But I do like the rain. People give me funny looks when I say this, especially here in England, but maybe I love the rain because in Australia it always seems rare (although apparently they have been getting a lot of rain lately). So what else is there to do on a rainy day (other than work of course)? Look through your extensive blog list and discover treasures like this . . .

 

Just wow, just OMG, just Oh my Gosh, just WOW!!

 

 

I had to share cause these Warrior Rabbits are just amazing!!!!!

 

xo

Friday Favs #14 (late I know . . . again) and a belated shop update . . .

Hello hello hello (or g'day g'day g'day, if I go Aussie on you, lol). FF is late again, but I refuse to apologise. I refuse because I have had a strange, weird, busy week, which involved lots of computer time and headaches caused by excessive computer time, and being interviewed by my uni for their youtube interview thingy! (Of which I'll post a link when its up). In the interview I talked about my work with the UK charity CBM - the overseas disability charity, and also my academic work and sporting achievements.

 

However, onto the FF, of which is going to be an ode to old tins (old tins?!?). Yes, old tins (I blame my mama for this interest in old tins, for she collects tins and has some gorgeous ones in her collection.).

 

My Vintage Studio

 

Vintage Eye

 

Mary Beth Hale

 

Aren't they old and vintagey and pretty?!? There is something quite moving (emotionally) about old tins as well - there is a history to them, a story that could and would be interesting. Who has owned the tin before, what was it like when it was new, what journey's has it been on, and how did it end up on etsy????

 

 

On etsy, I also have a shop update to share . . .

 

Botanic/Diagram stitchery #1 here

 

 

and

 

 

Botanic Diagram stitchery #2 here.

 

 

I had a lot of fun making these. They are inspired by Christopher Dresser (of whom I have written about before), they reflect a simplification of the design process to allow the essence of a shape, a colour, a stitch to remain.

 

I also think there is a certain Scandinavian influence to them, that simple, light, handmade aesthetic, that enriches and inspires the mind. Let me know what you think!

 

xo

A forget-ory.

Yes, it is firmly established in my family that we have forget-ories as opposed to memories. It's quite a horrific affliction really, it gets in the way of everyday life, it makes you miss important dates, be late for things, send things late, etc. It is something I try and overcome by making lists, but then I forget about the lists, does anyone have memory problems? How do you overcome it?

 

So what prompted this musing on forget-ories? The fact that I have placed two new listings in my etsy shop and have forgotten to tell you about it! So here they are -

 

A Squirrelly Squirrel here and . . .

 

pretty leaves here.

 

xo

 

p.s. My indie gogo campaign is still going, I would love your support! Check it out here! Ta.