Me Mum & Me

I used to carry this around so I could get my head around the fact that Mum was Mum. It seems so odd... you know what I mean?

I've Always Loved These

My Grandma and Dah courting. Must be in the 20's or very early 30's. They didn't stop this behaviour until he died at 59 years of age.

Cute Stuff

Did this one.

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What Do YOU Think Is Going On Here?

"Spare Me Not"...

Shula, are you watching? Isn't this just what the doctor ordered? Sort of thing? This kind of intimacy doesn't snore or breed smelly socks in the corner and it certainly won't take an un-natural interest in your teenage daughter.

Today I'm cleaning my sewing room. There's been a carpet of fabric (for the curtain) and I'm cleaning it up and organising my new stuff (I've been collecting old transfers)... I just sent the boy off to buy me some plastic sleeves so I can categorise my newest neatly... and I looked PROPERLY at this set, obviously for the first time.

Surely it's not a dildo? I don't think they had kinky sex in the old days. I'm not sure that nice people even had normal sex so it must be something else.

I'm about to do the borders on the Grandma Curtains and before I hang them I'll take some good pics to show you all. There's a bit in it so it won't neccessarily be today. Been a crazy week at work and my procrasatinating (ie pattern organising) comes from a strong desire to have a sleep...

Bit More Scribbling

Bit nicer I think... the big one anyway. I hope you can see it in stained, slightly burnt old blankets, as I can. I'm not sure if I like the curved eyelashes or the straight ones...? Straight I think.

The sly sideways glancing small (unedited/refined) picture is inspired by Nicky from Big Love. By the way I did the quiz and I'm a Barbara. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not?

Oh, did I mention that I started a group on Flickr called Funky Potholders? Well I did, and not a moment too soon.

Don't Laugh

A scribbled Pot Holder idea. Think old woollen fabric, think felt, think heavy handed stitching.

I'm So Tired

It's wrong to start a working week like this. ZZZzzzz...
But you know that fantastic feeling when you finish with something and can put away all of the paraphenalia and associated MESS and get the lounge-room floor back? I cleaned and vacuumed and re-arranged the lounge-room and washed the kitchen floor and put away ALL of the washing and did most everything except fold the excess fabric in the sewing room and get it clear for the next step (tonight). I washed the curtains (as much as they are before I put the borders on) and ironed them... My back aches and I did something that felt nasty to my neck trying to vacuum under the stove. I know, ridiculous, vacuuming under the stove is not sensible. It seems ok this morning (my neck)... I didn't let go until nearly midnight. Then fell desperately exhausted into bed and had lovely, lovely dreams about family and the seaside and a new, lovely home with lots of happiness potential.

P.S. I don't know where these pics come from, they were in my pics at work.

My Almost First Ever Cross Stitch

I thought it was so beautiful. SO beautiful. I remember where we were going in the car while I stitched. Can't think of the name of the place (sorry).

Anyway my friends, I've finished the inner cloth of the curtains and have only the blue, scalloped borders and the backing to do!!!!!!!!! I'm so exhausted. I pushed it for at least three hours more than my body wanted me to. When I met my daughter to deliver the little boy, she said, "What's up? Are you ok?" We had coffee.

I tried to have a little kip before I cleaned up the Utter Pigsty that is scraps-of-fabric-readily-available-to-make-the-curtains. But I couldn't sleep. Now I'm stoically pushing through, with a nice distraction here with you.

I Know I've Made You Look Before...

But really, I insist. Jadey spent yet another weekend cutting out these things and they look fantastic!

Go and see at pillpat (agence eureka)'s Flickr photostream. Then go to her papercraft set. Alright? Are you going now?

Second Last Bit

I noticed just now that I haven't finished the broom.... Great old pattern. It's an oldie but a goldie. I'll scan the rest over the weekend.

Second Last, No, Third Last Embroidery For The Curtains

From the reproduction iron-on transfers from Spotters.

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...and a hanky I bought from Patchwork On Central Park in Malvern East. Too big for the scanner and too late for the camera. I'm so close to finished, it's very exciting!! Mind you, I'm speaking relatively... it might be another fortnight or so. Work and babies and parents and so on.

Degrave Underpass, Melbourne

Gorgeous exhibition of balaclava's. Nice one's, not robbery ones.

Walk To Work. Degrave Underpass, Melbourne

It's getting more and more manic... day by day. What can I say? Go see.

The Last Bit Of Embroidery...

...At least for one of the curtains. This is from a repro set of iron-on transfers from Spotlight. The silver thread doesn't show up so well in the photo, and I might have cleaned the fluff off before I snapped the shot, but there it is.

Today is free from obligation! Saturday, and nothing to do but stay indoors... it's raining! YAY!!! If I venture out, it is to pick up a parcel (I have no idea what it could be, which is exciting) and get some DVD's. Luvverly!

The Grandma Curtains Are Nearly Finished

This is a card from my Grandmother's collection... as in, it's from my Dah or someone close (can't remember).

I managed to find some copies of old transfer patterns and used a couple of the birds. They're all so cute. I must check out what day Grandma and Mum were born on and add them to it all. Mum doesn't know that the curtains are about her too, yet.

I just finished reading 'The Joy Luck Club.' It's so lovely. I love my Mum and am aware of how we are alike and not alike. I'm proud to be her daughter. She deserves to be in the curtains.

Took A Day Off

And I deserve it. It's so different when you do that... it's not like weekend days off. I've pottered around, finishing unpacking awful boxes of crap and I reluctantly went out shopping, but saw a groovy shop where I found this brooch! I should say, necklace. It's an old picture glued onto old lino. And it wasn't $20 as it said (and I was willing to pay just because I was feeling festive), it was $10!

Yellow stuff I own and love.

Finished This Bit Of The Curtains

I scanned the image. There'll be a better shot later, when it's in situ. The 'lace' edge is just a couple of rows of Buttonhole and a Bullion... Hmmm... did I tell you that already???

Stuff

My dear friend Damian Meehan made this amazing monkey. He's such a good ceramicist. Have a look.

The green vase was one my Grandma bought in the 50's. She said she lay-byed it because it was a bit costly. New baby lamb doesn't show up well, but he's happy enough with other (ceramic) Lamb.

Little Squeaky Lamby La

I can't believe how gorgeous my new little Lamb is. It's actually much lighter than this Ebay photo... and yes, I did buy it somewhere that's not an Op-Shop. That's what happens when you even have an innocent search in a favourite topic. But, other lamb was lonely.

I think that what this means is... I am now a Lamb Collector.

Bunny In Progress

Another from 'The Stitchery'. I traced it onto a bit of pink damask... and Yes, you guessed it... it's for the curtains. I was gonna do a Detached Buttonhole lacey edge but it looked wrong and I had the brainwave to use Buttonhole into the fabric and edge it with Detached and a Bullion picot thingy. These are so quick to make up! Fun! Choosing the colour for the nose was difficult. I tried a couple before I realised it needed to blend more than anything.