Monday, April 26, 2010

Molly Hanna.

Gorgeous handcrafted jewellry from Molly Hanna in new York. Don't you wish you owned one? Or could make it yourself? Think of all the estate auctions she went to and all the old ladies who may have once owned and worn the costume jewellry gone into these. I think that's what makes them so special (besides how beautiful they look) - all the history that might be contained in just one piece.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

More Yellow (Is there ever enough?).



My Elk beads.

Easter biccies from my neighbor.

The weather in Canberra has been heavenly these last few weeks. Clear blue skies and crisp autumn air - perfect for hanging around the tennis courts with a book as my six year old enjoys the pee-wee holiday camp. I watch on at adjacent courts as fit retirees play mixed doubles and then adjourn to the gardened areas for thermos tea and home baked treats. What could be more ideal than that???

Friday, April 16, 2010

Frenzied and Feverish at the Lifeline Bookfair.

It can only speak to my love of both a bargain and books and magazines that I managed to get up early yesterday and brave the Lifeline Book fair queue despite being in the midst of a really evil flu. This is a date that has been marked on the calendar for months and eagerly anticipated by Ruby and myself all week - not going was not an option. But boy was it worth it. I can't tell you what we spent (really I can't - it's been pushed to the darkest recess of my brain unaccessable by anyone but the most skilled hypnotist) and anyway I like to think of it as an investment. After all when I am done with the many lifestyle and fashion mags I can sell them on ebay can't I? Or else cut them up into a fetching collage. Even stack them into a clever room divider when relatives come to visit.
It's a funny atmosphere at the fair though. Bookish sorts queueing for hours as though tickets for some world class rock band are on the verge of selling out. They set themselves up on little chairs. They have their thermos of tea. I say they becuase Ruby and I are far more relaxed about it. All we had was a snack and a book to keep our mind off the wait. And our little granny shopper to quickly wheel our stash out when we finnish. But everyone had those and you've gotta level out the playing field haven't you?
Once the doors opened and the crowd got moving you could feel the effort this well read crowd was exerting not to be pushy - no hurry, enough books in there for everyone! - seemed to be the outward message but meanwhile a competitive undercurrent was barely being suppressed. It was as if they were thinking "What if I get in the door and just as I suss out the magazine section someone is walking away with Italian Vogues???" Okay, maybe that was just me. 
In the end you know there are not going to be any Italian Vogues but you hope all the same because that's what is so exciting about the book fair - walking in is like an Aladdin's cave and amazing bargains are to be had. Ultimately I did end up with a few UK Vogues - though they were old and had lots of cut outs (who would do such a thing??) - but was thrilled to find some Frankie mags in mint condition plus some copies of Inside Out  to add to my collection. Once the little Granny shopper was full I went to the kids section where Ruby had elatedly bagged lots of cool titles she had been wanting to read. The whole exercise hadn't taken long but by that point I was feverish with flu and the strange magazine frenzy which had taken me over only minutes before (leading, I imagine, to the dud British Vogues finding their way into the granny shopper). I was sweating uncomfortably and for a moment thought I might faint. "Let's go" I said to Ruby, totally over it, grabbing a couple of mint condition Notebook magazines from a nearby box as I passed (they often have a great craft article....). We paid up and lugged our loot back to the car. It was a gorgeous Canberra Autumn day, crisp aired and blue skied. Instead of going home we stopped in civic. The city was all athrong on this sunshiney week day  and so, picking a few of our bookfair finds out of the boot, we chose the cafe with the comfiest cushions and the most flavoursome coffee and made ourselves at home. Heaven!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Mummy's Muffins Made With Love.

Archie has always loved the muffins I make. That's because I make them with love I told him as I packed them in his lunch box. Now all of a sudden they have "too much flour" in them and come home unfinnished. I adjust the recipe - less flour, more oil, more love. Better eat them, I tell him, cos they're made with extra love. They come home uneaten. Still too much flour he tells me. Archie, I say, I am running out of things to put in your lunch box, dont be so fussy, eat the muffins and anyway they are made with love. Archie's teacher calls me over at pick up time. She is concerned. It seems everytime Archie goes to eat his muffin he begins to gag and retch and has to run the toilet. Too much flour I tell her. I think it's best, she says, if you stop sending them to school. I agree, sad of course as I love to make the muffins, making them with love as I do. But maybe we will try some pikelets. And lucky for us the school holidays - which will give me time to find just the right pikelet recipe. One that can handle the amount of love I'm going to be smothering in...

photo source

Friday, April 9, 2010

Hooray For Holidays (and Elizabeth Peyton).




Hooray, holidays are here and I have a huge (unrealistic) list of things I want to achieve. Ruby and I had a lucky find at the salvos last weekend - the wardrobe we have been searching for to replace the baby one she grew out of ages ago. Of course it was a little more than we wanted to pay  - I know! Even the Salvos get what vintage is worth now :(   - and is going to take a lot of sanding and repainting  -ugh! - but I know it will be worth it when it's all shiny white and bright...I just know it will make her want to hang her clothes up rather than toss them on the floor, I do, I just..er.. .know it....
Other things on the list are getting back to some sewing projects (the ones that have been sitting around sadly waiting for some attention while I got on with the study) and finally do a huge declutter and subsequent ebay blitz. Am totally motivated to do this because there are some great art books Iwould just love to buy with the proceeds. That's right folks I am totally motivated...once I get rid of the post assessment evil virus that just had to pop up it's ugly head the minute I got through...wouldn't you know it? Anyway will post some beautiful pictures from the beautiful book I want to buy with projected ebay earnings. It's called Forever Young from an exhibition of  luminous paintings by Elizabeth Peyton. Can you recognise any of her famous subjects?

Monday, April 5, 2010

Assessment time.


A great Easter weekend - weather gorgeous, food yummy - though somewhat marred by thoughts of assessment looming on Wednesday and the work not getting done for it. However just had a successful two hours and hopefully have broken the back of what needs to be provided at the 'interview' style assessment (gulp!) session. Keep picturing my favourite little corner of the house and my retro coffee table with a lovely cup of tea waiting for me when it's all over....