Aurora Australis in my yarn stash

Mr. Kelp and I were watching an old Warren Miller ski movie called Journey the other night while I was rummaging in my yarn stash. If you haven't had a look at his films, and you like the whole intake of breath when someone does something either amazing or downright crazy - go have a little look on youtube.

I wanted to knit a scarf for someones birthday (Can't say who - their birthday isn't for a little while yet!) and the movie started talking about the Aurora Borealis... that was the moment that I came out of my yarn stash with two different balls of yarn going "Aha! I could knit an 'Aurora Australis' inspired scarf!"

Mr Kelp's guide to posting pictures

Step 1

Find camera
An obvious step, but often easier said than done.  Possibly in the last place I was taking photos, or where I was showing Mr Kelp the photos, or my bag, or on the charger or where it is supposed to live.  And that is just the list if Jellyfish has not been involved.
For example, for demonstrating this process, said camera could not be located, so Mr Kelp had to improvise with a USB stick.

Step 2

Find cable to connect the camera to the computer.  It should be located in the pile of cables surrounding the computer or the pile on the floor next to the computer or on the shelf above above the computer.*  Connect camera to computer.
*Refer to step 1 RE: Jellyfish

Step 3
Open the camera folder and select the photos I want to use, copy them and paste them into a new folder in my blog files.

Step 4
Open photo with irfanview
Censor if needed (select area and "cut")
Apply any other processing or efects.
Select the bit of the photo you want to use and then select Edit|Crop Selection

Step 5
Resize photo to web resolution.(less than 640x480 is reasonable). This means it wont take ages to upload it.

Step 6
Save the picture.
Select the options to not keep EXIF and IPCT data.  This means that nobody will know that you snapped the pic yesterday from a replica at your grandmas using your phone and not your super expensive camera at the art gallery last month like the post is about.

Step 7
Create new post :)

Retro Old Bus depot Markets Finds

Oh wow. I never thought it would take THIS long to post some of the fun things I found at the Retro OBD Markets in Canberra on my birthday weekend. There were lots of pretties - and if I had actually had the sized waist of half the amazing clothes that were there, I would have come home with a whole new wardrobe too - well, maybe a few things, anyway!

I was really hoping to find a cool lamp, but alas. I rue the day I left my anodized aluminum desk lamp that belonged to my grandmother with my mum when I moved out. It was one of the things that got culled when she moved!

The first thing that made my heart go pitter patter was this side board at Ritzy Bits. The lovely Irena let me take photos of her displays. All I can say, is that my wonderful husband can be quite relieved that his money was safe (There was no way I was going to be able to haul a piece of furniture that size home without some previous planning).

See that pretty pink bit of froth? Cute. And those clocks! I honestly don't know which on I prefer. Of course, I wouldn't want to fill my entire house with retro pieces. That would be OTT. But some choice pieces enhance and give some drama to any room.

I could have sat down on this chair if I thought I would have gotten away with it. It looked so comfy, with plenty of cool cred. (Note to self - next time organised a trailer or some such to carry home gorgeous loot!)

Eeny meenie miny moh...

Oh and then there was the typewriter. Honestly, I'm still not sure why it didn't make it into a bag. Hind sight is 20/20. Oh yeah... maybe because my thrifty nature has yet to be reconciled to bigger price tags!

The next "store" to catch my eye was Apple Green books. There were loads of second hand books there, but I think it could be safely said that a person could browse the tables and shelves for hours. Instead, I came home with these two sticker books.

 and my sister-in-law picked up the 1920's one for my niece.

The bigger boys and I have been talking a little about both WW1 and WW2 - both of which their great grandfather served in. The 1950's fashion book is mine, all mine. I love some of the fashions from this era. My mum had some in a wardrobe in the back room that she used to let me play dress-ups with. I even got her to take one in once to wear when I was in the school drama "The Wizard of Oz".

When we wandered upstairs we discovered there weren't a lot of stores that had a vintage theme going, but there were two stores that are worthy of attention. I would love to introduce you to this lovely lady (who was nothing but delightful to chat to), but alas, I have lost her business card (which I'm really annoyed about - since I wanted to pick up one of her cool pencil cups! If you know who she is - please let me know - 'kay?). She owns Recycled Originals where she hand makes paper mache cups and bowls from vintage sheet music, patterns, and magazines (and when I say vintage, I don't mean something that is eight years old that was found at the op-shop. I mean bonafide old stuff from the 50's, 60's and such).

The next store Marja Leena wasn't vintage, but we picked up several cards from this artist, mine were of the Christmas variety to send to friends overseas.

Back down to the ground level, I wandered right into a setting with seats and foot stools that are hand made with traditional vintage methods. Bliss. Thanks Kate, I'll have the one in yellow and grey please (in my dreams, anyway!). 

If flowers are more your style, then try the upholstery on this set.

I also found the most exquisite layered resin bracelet (dinosaur designs equivalent of the 60's I suspect) - but the lady on that stall was more inclined to hide behind her booth eating oysters, than giving me permission to photograph it. So I moved on to another couple of stalls - one that had this pretty piece of bone china - a "Lady Katherine" by Royal Albert. It was well within budget, so having felt the disappointment of the previous stall, it came home with me.

The last stall that we went to before heading over to the glass works next door, was one that sold home made cookies, cupcakes, and some cute little lolly bugs, not dissimilar to the ones I made for little S's second birthday (yes, yes, I must blog that one soon!!!). I didn't photograph the bugs as they were quickly devoured by all four kids.

And that, as they say, is a wrap. Did it whet your taste buds for 2015's Retro Depot?

Stockists: Ritzy Bitz - http://www.ritzybits.com.au/
              Apple Green Books - www.applegreenbooks.com
               Marja Leena - MarjaLeena.com
               Rapt - www.raptupholstery.bigcartel.com

Retro Depot

I'm blowing the dust and cobwebs off my keyboard, and breaking through the ice that seems to have formed on my blog! Poor, neglected space. I do love this little patch of mine, but actually MAKING the time to write anything worth hitting the "publish" button on is another matter, sometimes.

I have something to share though, that quite literally makes me bubble with excitement at the thought of it...
RETRO. Ahh yes. The sweet of enticement of something that came from a time when things were simpler. When people had a back yard to put a dog in. when children played under sprinklers with joyful abandon. When men up and down the street could be seen out mowing their lawns on a weekend morning, smiling and waving to one another. A time when you had to pick up your phone and actually dial in each number to talk to a friend - or even better - when you sat out on your front verandah and sipped cool drinks with your friends/neighbours. Rather like in one of my fave songs, Mayberry (Country music isn't usually my thing - but this one just strikes a chord with me).

Image Via

This coming weekend, The Old Bus Depot Markets in Canberra are hosting Retro Depot. I don't want to sound like a cracked record, but it's time to get your groove back, if you forgot where you left it! ;)

Here's the Buzz: Busy Bee & Friends Invite

You may have noticed that the past few posts have had a general theme running through them. Bees. My little boy has had a thing for bees ever since clapping eyes on The Hive - particularly Buzzbee. So it was only natch that I themed his second birthday around bees. Yes. Sigh. My baby is a baby no longer (Not sure how long it will really take to get that concept gelled in my head).

I designed the invites, and then when his cousin also had a bee themed party, decided that I had better change the design at short notice, since quite a few of the design elements were the same. (I don't know what is going on with my camera, but every now and then it makes the corner of the photographs shadowed.)

 

And this is what I did with my happy little friends from yesterday's post. I don't have a scanner of my own (sad, I know), so my hubby was wonderful enough to go and do it for me. :)

The envelopes were simple: I just grabbed white envelopes (note to self - find envelopes to fit BEFORE you make the invites - I had trouble finding ones the right size, and ended up having to use regular business envelopes), and then embellished them with some honeycomb paper that hubby designed for me. It pays to have an IT guru in the house! ;) I cut it out in random patterns and glued it on with a glue stick. Yes, I realise that I could have probably printed it on the envelope, but I kinda liked it better this way.

 Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! I'm hoping to be back next week with some more party goodies (and an down loadable page of the honeycomb!)

Flying away now! 

Watercolour Paint

Just before the last school holidays, I put in an order for some very cool things from an online store that is based just a suburb over from where I live. In that order was some pretty new watercolour paints. I was itching to break them out and have a play, so while doing a little design work for the latest of birthday parties to come our way, I found the perfect way to utilise them.

Just two little bee  pencil sketches that I filled in with my new Seedling watercolours, and then traced the outline of with a black felt tip pen. I love them.

Happy, friendly little fellas, they are.

My humble apologies for the dodgy photographs - it was quite dark when I took the photos.

Have you played with watercolours lately? It really was fun. I'm so sold on it that I'm going to have to break out other paint forms soon I believe!

Don't fly away now, I'll be back tomorrow to show you what I used them for! :)

Juggling

A bit of this and that lately...

My Mum, post-op after she had surgery for a hole torn in her macular (the back of her eye).

 This was her first outing post-op. We took her to Bobbin Head to get her out of the house so she didn't get cabin fever and start climbing the walls. It was a challenge - she had to keep her head down pretty much all the time for the first 2-3 weeks post-op so the gas they had put in her eye would put pressure on the tear. Not fun for her. Or her neck and shoulders (which were really sore the first week). She did get to watch some sail boats going by though, and we took a short walk (which was all she was allowed to do) down one of the tracks - and she commented that it was nice to get into the bush where it was quiet.

My baby boy, who decided to tangle with the sprocket and chain on the pedal go cart while his biggest brother was on it (and whom thankfully was back pedaling - not pedaling forward - or it would have taken the end of his finger right off!!!).

Two trips to emergency - one at our local hospital on the day of the aforementioned accident, and the other the following day to Westmead Children's Hospital, where the plastics team cleaned, checked for damage to tendons, removed the destroyed fingernail, and stitched it all back together again. I have to say, I am now a fan of general anesthetics. Holding my baby while he quietly went to sleep for the surgery (while he was watching the surgeon and his assistant blowing bubbles no less - it was pretty funny - looking back on it), not having him yell and cry from the pain, and not having to hold him still are a big plus in my books. To those who worked personally with him, I send you a huge thank you.

Here  is his sock-clad (to keep it clean...ish) fist. If anyone knows of a way to keep a 2 year old still while they take a photo of their hand... let me know! LOL

Today would have been my parents 54th wedding anniversary. Makes me both smile, and just a bit wistful.

And the final one... nursing the rest of the family, as one after they other they fall plagued with some nasty flu bug. One that delivers high temperatures, listlessness while sleeping and vomiting. Yes, there is washing banking up... and it's the "clean" stuff - the general wear clothing that isn't decorated with former meals.

To those wonderful people who signed up to be pattern testers - you really made me smile! And I thank you. I WILL get the pattern to you, right after I pick up things off the floor, do the dishes, put on another load of washing, dole out copious quantities of panadol/neurofen/antibiotics, fall exhausted into bed.

I'll be back soon with some more buzz...

Flying away now!

Bee a Pattern Tester

These little guys would like a few pattern testers to make sure they are fine for general crocheting happiness.
Drop me an email or leave a comment letting me know if you are interested.

Crochet Bees + Pattern Coming Soon!

Well it's been a little while since I've posted anything substantial around these parts. Things have been rather quiet on the blog front in fact... even if at home things have been anywhere from the usual busy slog of household things, having my mum here on several occasions for medical reasons, and the school slog.

BUT. In all of that my hook has been playing, I've been drawing a little, painting a little, cooking tasty treats, and attempting to source interesting things with a certain theme in mind.

Remember these little balls of yellow sunshine that I posted about back in May?

Well here is what they turned into!

After lots of looking around for a pattern that I liked, I decided to stop wasting time and just make one myself. I'm looking forward to making it available, but it hasn't had any pattern testing yet, so if you are interested in testing it out, please send me an email. I'd hate to get you making something that has bugs! (Bees are fine! ;) Oh boy. The humour is a bit wonky at this hour.)

These little fellas have given me endless smiles. I made the wings from ovals of lining fabric scraps left over from my wedding dress... ehem... some 12 1/2 years ago. Yes. I hoard things.

What kinds of things do you hoard? Tell me I'm not the only hoarder out there! (Please? Pretty please?)

Hope your day is full of buzz-i-ness. :)

Check out my link party page to see some of the great places I'm sharing this project. :)

Orange and Raspberry Smoothie - Cheers!

I don't care that we are just over one week from winter (one week!!!), the weather has been so gloriously warm that I couldn't resist something fruity and cool with lunch today.

I give you...

The orange and raspberry smoothie!

Pretty sure this isn't an original idea, but it was so basic to make and so incredibly delicious that I thought I'd share it anyway.

Ingredients:
2 oranges - cut in wedges and peeled
Approximately 1/2 a cup of frozen raspberries

Put ingredients in food processor (I used the jug that came with my Bamix) and process till it's basically smooth.

Pour into a pretty glass and enjoy!

I will say that this makes enough for a large glass - or 1 1/2 smaller glasses. And I did have to fight the boys off to get ANY. Little Clam would have drunk all of it if I let him (he got the half glass), and Baby Starfish (who's not really a baby anymore) tried to scarf all of my glass full.

So go on, get off your computer and go make one! You can come back and thank me later! ;)

A Little Splash of Sunshine on a Cool and Windy Day

For the past little while I've been quietly working with a ball of yellow yarn. Secretly squirreling away a moment here and a moment there to add another row to each of these little curvey sphere-like shapes.

One by one they join the other's on the plate - a happy little spot of bright warmth in the steadily cooling weather. Just looking at them over this past weekend has been a moment of visual snuggly-ness. Saturday was a chilly 16 degrees C (OK, so for those of you who live in snowy areas, I don't like the cold. And houses in Sydney are not built for the cold. I did grow up in an area where there would be frost on the ground every day in winter {parts of autumn and spring too}, but it's just not my cup of tea. Ohhhhh. Just thinking of tea has me wanting to reach for a cup of T2's Turkish Apple tea - or my fave Symington's Dandilion Tea.
Right. That's it. I'm off for a cup of the latter!

Enjoy your day - and may your cup be full of something good!

Where the Rubber Meets the Road - or in this case - Where the Shoe meets the Track

Years ago I met this guy while on an expedition (3 day hike) who I thought at the time was part crazy, part talented, and definitely liked to "aim for the sky". Turns out I was probably right on all accounts. Darren has recently started training for what I would term a Marathon hike - the Bibbulmun Track. The record for the shortest time that it has been done (unsupported) in was 17 days, 15 hours, and 10 minutes (for those who are counting!). How many Kilometers, I hear you ask? 1000!!! (Refer to the 3 previous criteria that I thought he fitted in to).

The thing is, he is motivated to do it in part by the fact that he is aiming to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) because his wife and other special people in his family have Type 1 Diabetes. Talk about ways of saying "I love you" to the person who matters most in your life! He's new to the blog scene too, so if you have a minute, pop over and give him some encouragement!

Hope your weekend has been brilliant!

P. S. I'll be back tomorrow with a little splash of colour...

Weekend Wanderings - Brooklyn on the Hawksbury

Wow. It feels like forever since I have done one of these posts. I'm sure we must have taken trips out and about, but I obviously never paid them much mind.

Our destination this time was Brooklyn, on the Hawksbury river. It's a gorgeous little spot, and one that has always made me sigh with pleasure when I drive by.

We did a section of the Great North Walk. It's the first time baby Starfish has gone under his own power, rather than using the pram or the child carrier (We still had to carry him part of the way back, but it was way past his nap time, so I think that can be excused, ;) don't you? ). Some of the walk was really steep, but all the boys did splendidly. I am so proud of them!

We walked along until we hit the dam that supplies Brooklyn's water. The reflections were Monet-esq at that time of the day - I can only imagine how good they would have been earlier in the morning. We found animal trails in the sand, and there were ants galore. On the track. Beside the track. And lets not forget to mention termite nests in trees. Hubby showed the boys how to collect nectar from the bottle brush flowers and eat it... which they loved so much it took an age to move up the track. At least until they spotted the next plant anyway - then they ran up the track till they arrived at "honey destination". There also was this little cave off to the side of the track about half way along that opened from both sides, which we had to stop and have our photo taken in. You should have seen the masterful way hubby manhandled some fallen branches and twigs to set up an impromptu camera holder (that was about as high as he was) so we could all be in the photos.

We capped off the day at Pie in the Sky for lunch (near Cowan). If you are in the area, and you've never been before, the pies are yummy, and well worth stopping for. I had a Lamb, Honey, Chili and garlic pie. You might think that it sounds a quirky mix, but trust me, it works! They also do a couple of different salads, and wedges/chips/mashed potato etc. If you are a motoring enthusiast, it's also a bonus. We didn't see any noteworthy cars while we were there, (much to my Top Gear UK loving sons disappointment), but there were plenty of incredible looking bikes parked in the car park, which got their attention.

Chalk it all up to a fun-filled, memory-making day - one I hope we repeat again soon!

How did you spend your long weekend?

   Sheree xxx