nomnom

via Slow Noodle

How gorgeous are these baby blankets!!! Available as kits at Purl Soho. I want them all. 

I wanted to post about these yesterday, but I forgot. It's a recurring theme, forgetting things.

Just in case you thought I was slacking off, I have nearly finished my bobble cowl. Just ran out of Debbie Bliss so need to run to the shop today. Which I will probably also forget to do. 

Things are looking up - I am no longer nauseous 24/7, but the medications I'm on have messed with my system so I'm seeing a lot more of my doctor than I'd like! I am suffering from bad pregnancy brain - yesterday I went to see Michelle and managed to forget her address in the 7 minutes it took to drive to her house. Then I stopped to get some flowers, and forgot my pin number. I did not realise that I would lose control of my cognitive skills! 

Michelle donated an entire bag of maternity clothes to me. That's just about the nicest thing I've ever heard of! We had a lovely chat and some tea in her backyard and I marvelled at the results of her digital printing work. I seriously just love bloggy world. Now that I know a little bit about Michelle's style I will set to craft her a present - I should probably write that down so I don't forget. I know I have somewhere to go today but I can't remember where. 

Happy Weekend

Enjoying the view of the sea and of my feet - I can still seem them, just!
Hope you had a lovely weekend and lots of fun at Finders Keepers. xx

Pho.

via 16 house

See this is why I am looking forward to having kids so much. I can't wait to find notes like these in my house.

When we were little my sister and I used to go to this shop that a friend of my mum's owned called La Maison, and we used to leave a note saying "we have gone to lar moesjoe". That's how we spelled it. The note is still on my mum's mirror. I also once drew her a picture that said "heppi boerste" which was my way of spelling happy birthday.

This week has been hard - writing cards and condolence letters and funeral speeches. But on the upside, I spoke and emailed with very close friends, and as always when there's a tragedy happening, it feels like we're all huddling together and waiting out the storm. I got a text message from my best friend back home just as I was in Myer looking for some very urgently needed maternity tights. So I texted her back, saying that going to a department store asking for maternity tights in extra large seemed a bit mundane in the circumstances, but nevertheless it was quite humiliating.

I am fairly broke so I can't afford to shop for maternity clothes much, plus I refuse to go into stores called Pea in a Pod and Egg. I think I will survive in my Just Jeans maternity jeans and the couple of Tshirts I got on Ebay.

Today I had a lovely lunch with my friend at Mekong on Swanston and managed to eat a Pho soup. Wow!

I am so pleased that the cortisone seems to be working and I am getting a bit of an appetite back. Last night I ate an entire pack of sour gummy bears.

The craft posts are far and few between here now that I'm temporarily couched. I did do some knitting and I am looking forward to presenting the finished cowl soon!

And I have been working on a strip quilt for my niece (who rocks her baby English and can say epple and elefent) and been checking out helpful hints on Film in the Fridge. I adore how this lady is not afraid of colour.

And finally, thanks for your thoughtful comments on my last post.

x

I forgot my camera...

... so I stole a picture from Craft Victoria. The edge of my stall. It was fairly shambolic!
The market was quiet which suited me well as I was exhausted and nauseated. My favourite thing about markets is getting positive feedback on my stuff. It really means the world. And catching up with other makers is great. It was so nice to meet Jess from TeddyBearsWednesday and we may have bought the first ever present for baby from her!

I am still on steroids to deal with the evils of hyperemesis and it appears this week is dealing out more blows to the world. I have lost my oldest childhood friend to suicide just a few days ago and the shock won't leave my body. It was a reminder that if you ever even get the slightest inkling that something isn't right in someone's world, you need to act on it immediately. This is another experience that won't ever leave me and that has already changed the way I view the world. It is odd being so far away, keeping the phone line free and waiting for 6pm so I can ring people back home. Distance is a hard.

But life goes on, I have 3 market boxes to unpack, and take shots of my new prints, and finish a quilt.
And on Thursday night I will attempt to drag myself to the Brown Owls meeting at the Windsor Deli.
Who else is coming?

Bobbled Cowl

Image and pattern on Ravelry

 I started this last year before my dad got sick and then attempted to finish it while I was in Europe, in the sveltering heat, mostly on the sticky train travelling between Zurich and Munich. Needless to say I did not manage to finish it, but unraveled it when we got back home because it reminded me too much of some very unhappy hours and made me quite furious. I still have the crunched up ball of yarn somewhere but I can't even bring myself to look at it. But since my husband recently said 'I don't like quitters' (he said it to the TV, not to me, he gets a bit too much involved in reality TV programmes but the upside is he will watch Project Runway with me!) I am willing to try it again. Also since my dad would have found the idea of knitting a bobbled cowl more than a bit odd, and who am I not to continue to amuse my father.
As far as I remember it wasn't too hard to knit, once I figured out how to make the bobbles. I think I will even treat myself to some yummy golden Peartree Yarn for it. If you want to bobble along let me know - I am an expert bobbler and can get you bobbling in no time!

I hope your weekend will be full of sunshine!

PS: My belly is so itchy. I really don't care about stretchmarks, but I'd love to trade the itchiness in for something a bit less embarrassing in public...

My Creative Space

I finished my other bag project! I get asked about these so much I think I started in the wrong trade.
I do love making bags.

I do however wonder if the constant nausea combined with feeling seasick from the vigorous shaking of the overlocker and the industrial-type noises will make our unborn think it's going to grow up on an old pirate ship.

Thank you for all your sweet comments on my last post. I've had so many helpful tips from lovely mums who've been through extreme morning sickness, or suckness as I call it, and I really appreciate it. It's a nice change from people telling me to just "distract myself" or saying things like "but you don't look that bad".
Ho. Hum. KAPOW. I think by now I am so iron deficient I've got something like cold sores on my mouth. Extra-revolting!

For more creative, but less retchy spaces click here

It's been quite quiet around these parts because I have been poorly for the last three months.
Baby number 1 is on the way! Needless to say we are super thrilled.

The last months have been quite hellish - I've had to battle hyperemesis which is basically when you are sick as a dog all day long. It's been a real struggle. It's hard to convey just how debilitating full-on all day long nausea can be. I have barely left the house. It's been very boring.

I am taking my hat off to all my fellow ladies who've been through this successfully! Congrats for making it!

I have had lovely help from lovely people. So I am not going to complain too much. I am looking forward to being all glowy and radiant and showing my bump off to the world. Until then sadly me and my bump have to stay indoors and retch a bit more!

My Creative Space

Something new and exciting I've been working on! It's mentally challenging to cut into the glorious Ink and Spindle Rooftops fabric and even harder to iron interfacing onto it but it's worth it in the end. Of all things sewing related I like making bags most so that's what I've been doing, when I've not been on the couch snoozing. There has also been some dude crafting going on in my house - it was so much fun teaching my husband how to use the sewing machine. He is making manbags. I make ladybags.

Sustainable Clothing Article in Choice Magazine

Image via 

There is a great article in this month's Choice about sustainable clothing. Some really interesting points I thought were

- The greatest consumption of energy and water in a garment's life actually occurs in product-care, not production: use cold water and biodegradable detergent and line-dry your clothing
- Eco-fibres and apparel can be beneficial to the environment in some part of their life cycle, but not across their entire life cycle
- Manufacturers need to provide clear and credible information so consumers can make informed choices.

Choice highlighted a lack of immediate and credible information available on labelling to assist consumers in their search for environmentally preferable products. This is an interesting point because even terms such as "certified" does not mean a product has been certified by government, industry or mandatory standards, it can mean that it has been certified against voluntary standards, too. Plus there is the ever-confusing and growing number of labels to certify products as green, and a growing number of brands who write "eco" and "green" on their labels without any proof that their product is in any way environmentally friendly.

Some reliable labels to go by are:

Eco-Textile Standards:
- Oeko-Tex
- MADE-BY

Ethical Textile Standards:
- Ethical Clothing Australia
- Fairtrade Labelling Association

Organic Textile Standards:
- Global Organic Textile Standard

I ironically find it easier to run my own business "green", because I can choose suppliers according to their credentials. It's somewhat harder as a consumer when you are bombarded with confusing labels and green claims. I would really love it if all brands had to clearly state where they produce their items and who produces them in what conditions. I think we're a long way away from that though!

These are two of my favourite things!

Converse + Marimekko Collection! Via DesignBoom.

So Tired

But I love my Blanca Gomez Print...

and I managed to sew up some pants...

and went for a walk and found this by the side of the road, but it was too heavy to carry back home.

So sleepy. 

My Birthday

... and then I watched Antiques Roadshow while my husband made fish and chips for tea.

Yum!

I love these natural quilt on Hi + Low. Aren't they deliiiicious!

time out

reporting from phillip island stop to hot to craft stop

Things and Thoughts on Siblings

Me: "Melbourne's weather is bewildering to the average immigrant - hence the seasonally confused outfit!"
My husband: "I am just going to stand here and look cute and these baby pants will sell like hot cakes"

The lovely ladies at Harvest have blogged a profile and interview featuring me and my nose in profile today. I think they are lovely to feature ex-students! I am kind of slowly wilting away on the inside because I can't do the Harvest workshop with Dylan Martorell  - I love him! But if you can, you should!!! Book at the link above!

And how cool is Dylan's name anyway. His surname reminds me of dark chocolate. 

For various reasons I've been thinking about siblings lately. I have an older sister and the older I get, the more grateful I am for our relationship. We have evolved from two kids who were at each other's throats 24/7 (I nearly bit her boob off once - that's the kind of fighting we're talking here) to the best of friends we are now. We talk almost every day and seek each other's guidance in all our life choices. It's such a gift to have such a great relationship with a sister or a brother. I think having a sibling is so important. It sets you up with a healthy base for forming relationships I think, and having a healthy attitude to competition (and learning when and where competitiveness is inappropriate too). I also have my cousin who is like a bonus older sister as well. I have friends who are disappointed in their siblings or can't seem to find access to them. I wonder how and why this happens. I think being an older sibling comes with responsibilities - my sister was very good at meeting them and used to very patiently let me sleep in her bed for years when I was little. She did really look after me. I like being the young one. I used to think it was the worst thing in the world, but I've grown to like it. How bout choo?

PS: I hope your Australia Day was nice. I like having a day off. I am watching too much Tennis. Glad I'm not the only one.

Edit: The Dylan Martorell class was already held - it just goes to show that I am clearly out of it and should go back to hibernate!