Picked Up The Cabinet... Trial Run For The Diorama

I’ve just temporarily arranged the vintage millinery flowers from l’ucello in Melbourne. The darling kid I’ve shown you before. I know some of you feel a bit weird about it but the poor things (twins) were stillborn and not murdered, and I think it honors their beauty. The lovely fellow who made the case is Ben at Wunderkammer’s dad (sorry, I can’t remember his name). It’s so beautifully made. 

Hubby wants to do diorama’s and immediately spotted the old op shop tapestry, so we’ll adjust it to sit behind. Very happy and it’s exactly the size of our bookcase so will have a special place. In my heart.

 These two shops are a must see for touring Melbourne. Or for locals. 

Introducing, the Fabulous... the Ferocious... Kitteeeey... Cat!

Gotta put the Bobble Fringe around the bottom yet.

Firstly I glued extra foam on the top and around the edges, then a couple of layers of cotton wadding on the top, then this double layer to hold it all in place...

Over that I put some old sheeting, so the wadding didn't fluff up through kitty cat...

Kitty in the  winter garden.

The hessian backing is folded under to stop it pulling. I should be able to prize it free if some mishap occurs or if it needs repairing one day. I wrote my name and the year too!

Miaow!

The Cushion Comfort Zone

Made using an outfit my Grandma wore to my Uncle Ted and Aunty Grace's wedding when I was 7 years old. Don't ask me how I remember this, not from the day (although I remember the day and my aqua dress and hair bun), but Grandma did tell me. Or was it Mum?
Gorgeous colour!
The ribbon was a snippet I've had for years and years. European, silk and now only a few centremetres left. The embroidery ground is vintage kimono silk.

The Wedding. I'm the little girl on the left, to the right is my brother Glenn, then a little girl named Judith whom I never knew. My Dah (left and behind me) died not so long after. Then is Grandma (not such a great shot) in my cushion dress.

All stem stitch using perle 5.

The new (old) lounge suite required new colours. It looks washed out here but isn't. Note the old rag rug on the floor. I bought 4 at a market for $20 each. I would have bought more but had no money. An older lady had made heaps and heaps and I'm sure her husband (she wasn't there) didn't appreciate why anyone would want one, let alone four or more.

Corded piping.

Hopefully you can print this out and it will be the same size as mine. Not that that matters.
Just in case you want it.

In situ. Soft and filled with feathers.

The inspiration.
From HERE. It's an old butter stamp.

 

Yesterday I went to Berwick market (in Victoria, Australia) and discovered the most gorgeous jewellery stall there! It's all made using vintage hewellery and bits and bobs, by a lovely lady who's name I did not get. Sorry! But I did go back and get her card. You can find her here at madeit. The pictures don't do justice to the reality.
It's really just the mood I want at the moment. Old fashioned, Daggy in a funky kind of a way... Colourful without being bright... and looks lovely with my lovely new jacket, which, by the way, is so comfortable and sturdy and solid. I love wearing it, even if when I get a geek at myself in a shop window (something I try to avoid) my bum is so huge as to be demoralising. Not the jackets fault and hopefully I'll be starting gym soon. But, I will henceforth always reinforce the panels of a jacket with interfacing and I will employ pad-stitching.
I read yesterday that the style has been referred to as Librarian Chic.

Foxy La

I bought this actually I had it made for my Fella for Christmas. He added the goggles and the flowers seemed right too. Less frightening for the little ones.

Happy Birthday Lamp

I made this over a long time, just for my darling heart. I could only glue a few shells at a time, then would rotate the whole thing to do more. In secret. The bark is from Silver Birch trees. You can peel it off, if you're gentle, during the spring. It's so beautiful (the barrk). I've glued it to rice paper, then crocheted the edges. It's very delicate and warm and pretty.

I was concerned about the thin pieces, but as it happens, they look the best when the light is on. In fact it's a gorgeous thing. We all love shells huh? So pretty and shiny!

I'll add more pics later when I recharge the camera.

Happy Birthday (Or Valentine's Day Really) For 2 and a Half Years Ago

That's how long I've been gathering shells and when I started this lovely present for my One True Love. He was impressed by the lovliness of the shells and the length of time I've been planning it. He deserves it anyway. Oh, incase you don't get it... we have the same initials, and with the ideas and the sharing, I thought it's more like a multiplication than an addition, so I wrote rm2 in a love letter 12 1/2 years ago and it stuck.

What he doesn't know is that there's more coming. I'm on a roll. Don't tell, if you have an opportunity to, that is.

Home Today!!

I'm so happy. I made soup for luch and my bloke came home to eat. I've been putting together my daughter's Wagga back. I've had daylight hours to take photo's. I rang up because my new speaker headset doesn't work with Skype and got it sorted (had to ring in business hours). I went to the op-shop and bought a really nice linen skirt. AND I don't have skin cancer. I have a possible pimple that is nocturnally scratched.

Corners Of My Home

I look at this corner a lot. You can see the curtains through the hole in the wall. You can also see how the house needs re-blocking... and it will happen.

The Ute, Or, Braveheart.

Which replaces The Van of old. A saga which continues, which grows in importance and dedication. For which nothing, nothing is too good. The obsessive focus, I am told, once finished here, will be transferred to renovating our home.

It's good to have a hobby. It's good to have a reason not to go away for the weekend... like... how could we possible go camping when the curtains for The Ute are not finished? Nor the cushions for The Ute not covered? It's inconcievable that this LONG WEEKEND should be enjoyed away without decorative completion.

So what have we done? You might wonder. We've procrastinated and watched a dozen or more episodes of Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm. But.. now... just as soon as I've finished here, I'm getting into the cushions.

P.S. I know what to give my love for a special pressie. A papier mache elks head (bust) for above the shelf. Ala Rachel Denny.

Oooh! Baby Things! And Owls For My Mum

A must do. Mum had a large collection of owls and we're all taking them to heart now.

I bought a size OOOOO jumpsuit yesterday and even the One True squealed with incredulity at it's little, tiny, eensie boopiness. Are they ever that small! he exclaimed. Though if the baby is the size it's (his...? her?) father was, it will fit perfectly at the 35 week gestation point. He weighed 9lb 8oz, which isn't as big as others I know, but was plenty big enough. Now he's 6ft 5 inches. I'm proud of that, illogical though it is.

Anyway... I found this lovely place this morning and hope to take advantage. Then I got distracted by the many washcloth sites (come on guys... it's Facewasher). But I haven't brought the right sized needles. Ouch! So here I am blethering aimlessly to youse lot.

Pedophile Doll's Heads

They look like pedophile's anyway. You can tell by the shiny skin.
I found them on Smith Street at a junk shop (expensive retro junk) for $5 each. Not too bad eh? They have at least a hundred if you're interested.

I Bought This Today!!

It makes a beautiful, pretty, twinkly sound when you move it and if you bump it, it bowls over and then rights itself. Such a darling!

I Am In Love With Green

It really can't be beaten. This is playing with my stash very late last night. None of the buttons were right for the project but I had a happy half an hour (in between the other happy half hours playing in my sewing room).

Op Shop Find

Just had to put new straps on!

New Kids In The Kitchen

Getting so there's no room to pin up the bills.

Looks like the new kids are worried about something?