Ta da....

So - not nearly as classy as some of the examples I looked at, but I'm pretty happy with my new terrariums - all four of 'em!
We went for a meal at the Bridgewater Inn and wandered around the creek at the back to find, not only a wealth* of moss, but also someone's deserted bonfire!! So we filled our zip-lock bags then poked the fire for a bit before heading home to get all creative!


I also removed the super-daggy curtains in the new sewing room and replaced them with something a bit craftier... call it a work in progress!

* I'm not entirely certain that a 'wealth' of moss is the proper collective noun... Any other suggestions?

World within a world...

English Creek Gardens

I need a terrarium. When I was small, my grandparents had a terrarium in their home... I could sit and look into it for hours - it really was a teeny little self-contained world to develop your imagination and get lost in. I think our home would be a better place with one, too.

Smith and Hawken

This was to be my holiday project, but with a day left it's not looking hopeful! Inspiration abounds, but where to begin? I love moss-based terrariums, and regret not bringing home the collection my nephew gathered while we were in Halls Gap!

Katie Goldman Macdonald and Evan Kolker

There is something delightful about Design*Sponges 'found terrariums'...


little samples of life from the surrounding streets, right down to the weedy bits!

Paula Hayes

Stay tuned, and I'll show you where the obsession leads!

FOKal

A little disappointment but a lot of love!

What a truly fabulous time we had this Easter! I get very little time each year with my two brothers, so getting a super-long long weekend together this year was terrific!

For a moment there we weren't sure if everyone would make it - the top was torn off of L's camper van only a short distance from his home, and their carefully packed load was strewn up the highway... Very luckily, no cars were behind them and only property was damaged. After a quick re-pack, with tents this time, L and co made the Grampian Gardens Tourist Park in time for dinner and plenty of marshmallows on the fire!!


As we headed for the Grampians, we were aware of some parts being closed as a result of flood damage earlier in the year. However, finding 80% of the park closed was a huge shock. Sadly, places we remembered visiting as kids and hoped to return to are not accessible at the moment. The amount of work done along the Silverband Falls walk that we took was enormous - new paths were laid all along the creek, and unsafe areas had been cordoned off, but everywhere we went, there were massive piles of broken trees and debris.

This is the bridge that had been swept along the creek.

Despite all the mess, the landscape was still a beautiful thing!

I think the very best part about camping has to be the stars... I forget how soul-repairing they can be. Having lived in the city now for 11 years, I am always surprised by how amazing a clear country sky can be.

Wishing my life away

Did you know that teachers spend more time wishing their days away than people in any other profession??
"Just six more weeks until the next holidays, only a week until the next assessment, just four days left and we go back to school, just 2 hours of sunlight and the weekend is over, just another term and we're done for the year..." What a truly negative way to live... or is that just me!?

Thinking about this has made me want to make much better use of my time, as it occurs, rather than as I anticipate it!
So, we have a new office (and I have a new sewing room!!!!). The little guy needed more space and I needed a big reorganisation, so we swapped rooms. Everyone is pleased with the outcome... I just need to stop calling it "MY sewing room" - Peter suggested he might be able to have the bathroom, as everyone else has their own room but him!

The day bed, or 'Princess and Pea' bed, is waiting for hard rubbish collection to return to it's normal height, however it makes a superb cutting table at present!

And in true holidays form, a bit of family cooking has occurred - cherry cookies for our Easter camping trip.


I have also been collecting reading matter for the break:

• Captain Freedom - G. Xavier Robillard
• The Running Man - Micheal Gerard Bauer
• Why do I need a teacher when I've got Google? - Ian Gilbert
• The Einstein Factor Quiz Book (for long car trips!)
• Yummi 'Gurumi - C Haden and M Sala
• World of Geekcraft - Susan Beal
• Handmade Nation - the rise of DIY, Art, Craft and Design - Faythe Levine & Cortney Heimerl

I shouldn't be bored, anyway!!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Easter... We are heading to Halls Gap to spend time with my two lovely brothers and their families. I can't wait!!!

The Sound of Music

After a beautiful, music-filled long weekend with a houseful of my favourite people, I just wanted to share me latest acquisition... a sweet little uke! My ukulele is the one that matches my guitar - a Shrinky version of it, in fact!! Wish I'd started with one, as it is sooo much easier than a guitar to learn! Mum plays almost any instrument she can get her hands on - that's her mandolin, and dad's tenor uke is the other one. Such a fun weekend!

A Little Revelation

Who knew that hessian was a useful material? As an art teacher, I have only ever seen value in covering dirty old pinboards with it... Never to actually sew with. All those hairy fibres dropping off everywhere, and the SMELL...

But I needed some neutral coloured, textured fabric to make some small fabric baskets for the bathroom and it was perfect!

Before.

After!

Nice, huh?

Also wanted to show off this top I made before Christmas... I ripped off the pattern of a Portmans top I have, but changed the neckline.


And last night's dinner...




Pesto, prawn,tomato, fetta and basil on the left, and roast pumpkin, salami and jalapenos on the right- I love pre-made pizza dough!

A New Project

I have decided, although my wardrobe is bursting at the seams, that this year I shall sew a dress or skirt for every month... They are what I love to wear the most, but I've been getting out of the habit lately!

SO... I found this free download for Simplicity 4116 on the Sewing Patterns website, and liked the look of it. After all, who can go past a peter pan collar?

I decided to try it in a heavy knit, just for something new, and so I could get away with no zipper. In the end, I chose navy and cream Ponti de Roma from Spotlight. At $8 a metre I was persuaded, although I've always thought of ponti as nana fabric...

I cut out the front on the fold, rather than include the goofy centre front seam - it worked well! The entire dress came together very quickly, but when I tried it on with skirt attached it was HIDEOUS!!!

Note to self: stay away from the dropped waist!

I was pretty disappointed after it was going so smoothly to begin with... After a bit of pinning, I came to the conclusion that 1) the bodice was miles too big, and 2) it would look heaps better with an actual waist seam. And pockets.

So I cut off and lifted the waist, trimmed the whole dress back THREE sizes and got this:


And I quite like it! It is a bit 60s, with the contrasting collar and pockets, and goes with all my red belts and shoes... and it turns out - I quite like sewing ponti!