Bicycle pj's... My Creative space.

 

I managed to squeeze in a quick shop to spotlight this week, and whilst looking for something else entirely found this bicycle fabric. It's a really soft cotton. The boy has been wearing the most hideous daggy trousers to bed and I've been whinging about it.. Here, is the perfect solution! Now to pluck up the courage to not only wrestle the sewing machine into submission but also a paper patern!

More Creative Spaces over at Kootoyoo...

The Eathouse

So this week the boy and I are on a spree. A date spree. I have three evenings in a row off from the theatre while we change over shows. So Monday night we saw The Ballad of Backbone Joe, by The Suitcase Royale. Funniest and possibly best show I've seen all year - and I see a lot of theatre. One hour (perfect) of hilarity, storytelling, corpsing, freakishly talented musicians, spoofing and beauty made from not much but your mum's bed sheets and the box the fridge came in. It's on till Saturday, and it's cheap, go see it.

Last night's date was to a diner Tim read about on twothousand called The Eathouse in Redfern. By the way I blinked and Redfern suddenly got super trendy. It kinda looks like Surry... true story. Anyway The Eathouse is done up to perfection like a 50's diner. Beautifully and elaborately decorated, right down to the waitress' vintage floral aprons. Big, red shiny bar with stools, tea green walls, trinkets of the most random kind everywhere. We had lovely iced tea lemon drink (we're abstaining from booze on weeknights at present - yeah, we'll see how long that lasts...) complete with swizzle sticks and olives to nibble at. The food was amazing, we were expecting diner food to go with the diner atmosphere but it was rather fancy - and the prices matched. The food was so beautiful and totally worth it though. I had polenta (it being the only vego option on the menu) and Tim had snapper. Both were mouth watering and generously proportioned. I only wish I had space for a banana split by the end of it. The downer for me was that when the manager/owner (not sure), who had been very chirpy and friendly with us, discovered I was vego he became rather judgemental and wasn't nearly as polite to us again! "I just don't understand it" he said shaking his head. Oh, that, and the fact that they don't sell milkshakes.

Hey doll...

 

I used to love paper dolls. I used to dress them up and go off into imagination lala land. I didn't even really move them around much... Just dress them and then imagine them doing things in my head. Then change them for their next activity... that would take place in my head.
I especially loved the ones with Victorian outfits. I was really into olde worldy clothes as a little girl. Had pretty much no interest in current fashion. But to wear a huge pouffy skirt and corset and puffed sleeves! Heaven!
Anyway's I keep on spotting them around and about the place at the moment and they make me a tiny bit nostalgic...

here, here, here, here...

Ok Go... Woof!

I have a soft spot for dogs. Okay it's more of a soft 'all of me' for dogs not just a meagre spot. 'Ok Go' have done it again. Another awesome video with a catchy song. I love how they kinda look nervous all the way through - god knows how many times they had to run it to get it right!!!! This made me smile a lot. Hope it does the same for you! Happy Monday my lovelies!

Things to be thankful for.

* The crazy beautiful wisteris blooms cascading over our roof right now.
* Last show today! Always a good feeling.
* Family gatherings coming up on the long weekend.
* Hubby acheiving a huge landmark in his thesis writing! Go my boy!
* Being taken out for fancy dinner.
* Coming home to an impromptu icecream fest... well the tail end of it anyway! There was still icecream left for me though! Yay!
* The two chances this week to be a lighting designer. I'm happiest in the theatre when I'm painting with light.
* Candles. They make any space look pretty.
* My first blog birthday of course!
* I have the luxary of choosing to have dessert for dinner. Okay well not very often but I did this week!
* Eating apple stickers doesn't kill you. I'd be dead by now if they did.
* Several newcreative projects to tinker with.
* I'm feeling okay about being the boss lady at work for a few weeks (while the actual boss goes off to get married!)
* All the beautiful and encouraging comments on yesterdays post. Thank you so much.
* The feeling of my skin getting really warm under my jeans from sitting out in the sun for 10 minutes - it seeps right to the bones that kind of warmth - glorious!

{Things to be thankful for is a list I started when I began blogging. It helps me reflect on my week and remember all the good things in my life. I would love it if you played along too, leave a link in the comments and link to me on your post. *s*} 

ps. Leave a comment on my birthday post to be in the running for a mix cd!

A whole year!

Today is my blogs first birthday. Who would of thought I could keep something up for so long?! Not I! But I'm so glad I have. I feel quite connected to the blogging community now, it has become not only something I enjoy but something I really care about. After a year I still don't really know how to catagorize my blog, and I think I've given up trying to be something in particular. I just do it because I enjoy it. Because I feel kinda compelled. Because I need the creative outlet. Because it's like talking to someone when I'm alone for big chunks of my time. Because it makes me get excited when I see a comment (even though it's not about that it still makes me smile every time). Because now I have a permanent place to keep all those lists I make. because...*shouts over orchestra as it begins to play "get off" music* I love you guys ...*voice begins to crack*.. and and you're the loveliest *dignified sniff*.
I read more blogs than I could poke a large stick at and it really is quite marvelous. I've found heaps of inspiring women, crafty people, hilarious mum bloggers, people with amazing eye's for design and people that just make me smile.
In an inspired fasion, I would love to send 5 of you a mix cd. So leave a comment and I'll draw a winner (I promise I'm not into industrial screamo...). Consistent readers without a blog may also apply - that includes you Mumma! (though you should Like me on facebook!)

These are some of my favourite post's of this past year:
* My first things to be thankful for.
* Remember that time I got engaged...
* Changing & Growing up...

Link love for Friday...

 * The muppet man himself teaches muppet making to you!

* Most awesome/graphic scooter helmets ever!

* Amazing photo's of the atomic bomb.

* Sexiest wrist watches ever, what colour would you pick? {via Yikes}

* Great article by an atheist about evangelical athesists.

* This guy is creating something new everyday! {Via Pepper}

* Pretty flipping amazing wedding invites.

* 'Miles of Light' takes beautiful photographs.

* The reluctant father. A beautiful photographic story. (click on the page to read down)

* Mmmm stationery. So. much. pretty.

* A collection a day.

{Images are from the listed pages.}

My creative space...

Two wonderfully creative things happened this week.
1) I did the lighting for a show in the Fringe. It's called Cuckoo and is extrordinarily sweet (just look at that deer would you?!). I loved putting my lighting designer cap back on, it's good being in the dark painting with light, it makes me so happy. If you're in Sydney you should try see this show, I'm pretty picky about what theatre I reccomend. So you know it's good.

& 2) Catching up with two awe inspiringly creative ladies and making PLANS.
p.l.a.n.s. Yes.
More about the plans some other time... but as a sneak preview to them... Shortbread bicycle wheels. The recipe still needs some tweaking.. so I won't put it up yet, but they turned out pretty cute. Inspired by these buttons...

On a Mission

Friends of ours have moved to South Asia. It's a predominantly Muslim country and whilst they are there through a Christian organisation I wouldn't call them missionaries as such.
Missionaries are something I really struggle with the concept of. I don't really think its cool to go off to another country tell them they've got it all wrong, have had it wrong for thousands of years, and that this other religion is how it really is*. But my friends aren't doing that. They are going to work. They (unlike me) have useful degrees that are helpful to people. She is a pharmacist and will be assisting a pharmacy in a very poor area and he is an engineer and will be assiting with building infrastructure in the city.
Going to live somewhere different to anything you ever experienced before is an amazing way for you to find what it's like to be different, be a minority. It's a scary thing to be in the minority, especially when it is as conspicuous as the colour of your skin.

(Generally its assumed that if you are white in "non -white" country you're American. Interestingly when we were in Uganda people often asked me if I was Muslim because I had a Muslim name... Sofia. Even though I introduced myself as Sophie and Tim introduced himself as Tim we both got translated to Sofia and Timoty straight away. I digress. )

(Sore thumb much?)

While we were in Uganda I got completely fed up of being stared at and having things assumed about me because of how I look. It's devastating to think people live like that every day in our country of muddled up races too. It's devastating to think that the people who were here first are the minority and may feel that way. I admire our friends, and some other people I know too, for choosing to live in a country where they are different because they want to make a difference..


*On the flip side, may be what my friends are doing is what being a missionary is all about. We tend to only here the crap stuff about religion in the media. You don't hear that a dramatically higher percentage of religious people (equally across all religions I may add) give to charity than non religious etc.

{source}

Things I want to learn some day...

Include (but not limited to):
* Proper photography
* How to use Excel properly
* Carpentry
* Phsycology
* How to have nice nails...(err maybe stop biting them!)
* Ariel acrobatics
* The science of gardening (already know how to potter!)
* Floristry
* How to make my own cleaning and beauty products
* Basic car mechanics
* Pottery
* Knitting
* Hang gliding
* Macaron making

And you?

The birthday adventure

So here's a wee story for you... I've been planning this for weeks...

"
The boy was working over night on his birthday eve, so when he arrived home he found the girl had made himh a pretty laid table and a big pile of pikelets and blueberrys (his favourite)..

After opening a couple of little presents, he had to dash  off to work again. She got busy in the kitchen... As he was finishing work and heading home, she snuck out the door and onto a bus to Observatory hill. The birthday boy came home to find a map and a balloon on his bed. He followed the map to the Agar steps where he found little greetings written for him in chalk...

...and at the top of the hill a girl in a pretty dress being buffeted by a small gale. She was holding a green balloon on a red ribbon and trying to scare off the looming storm clouds by scowling. The girl is a very good scowler... but not enough for those huge clouds, which, upon the couples first embrace on the hill, burst open and thundered down cold rain.

So they sheltered in the gazebo for a while... she was pretty pissed off with the weather gods... "We are meant to be watching a glorious sun set right now gosh darn it" she said.

Plan B. They hunkered down on a pleasant and sheltered patch of concrete instead and had a superb picnic. Beetroot salad and love heart shaped quiche and cheese and bread... and cake... and jelly (his other favourite). They had fizzy apple juice and she told him that, actually, she wasn't going to work tonight... she'd arranged to have it off and she had plans for him... he jumped around in an excited fashion.

The rain stopped and the sun came out.

 She took him to find his actual birthday present. Which you can see here... And they peddled to the pub for a glass of cider... Then back up to the Observatory to watch the stars, and the moon, and Venus and Jupiter through an amazing telescope.

 Stunned and awed by how small they are they cycled home, to have wine and dessert at their favourite bar and tumbled into bed and fell happily and fast asleep.

The end.
"

Things to be thankful for.

Confession: Today I found this list hard, so it's a bit shorter than usual. I feel bad about it because I am so lucky and blessed, but sometimes I find it tricky to see the positives when I'm working 12 hour days in the air conditioned dark and it's glorious outside and the people I love are doing fun things together. It's selfish of me, but there it is.

* Gunns have announced they won't be logging any of Tasmania's old growth forest! Hooray!
* Dinner & theatre (well work for me) date with my mumma. Mmm pizza.
* One week of this show left! It's a good one, but 6 weeks is a long time...
* Deep & meaningful's with my boy about the future.
* Being able to cycle and not need a coat.
* The little blue bells that have magically bloomed in our front garden. (spring is here!)
* The sound of doggy claws trotting along on concrete. Such a happy sound.
* A new album to obsess over. I'm a music glutton.


{Things to be thankful for is a list I started when I began blogging. It helps me reflect on my week and remember all the good things in my life. I would love it if you played along too, leave a link in the comments and link to me on your post. *s*}

Link love for Friday...

Ohhh I've been quite the hoarder this week.. so much good stuff to share!

* And I thought I made good jelly... how about an entire city made from it?

* Are you happy with this? - Stamps of dissaproval.

 * For the child that wants a pony... but lives in a town house perhaps?

* A scrummy list of comfort reads.

* A bomb squad blow up a toy horse... only in the US.

* The prettiest light bulbs I ever did see.

* Incredible photographs that will make you feel small... be sure to check out his other work too.

* Mmmm lists... *drool*

* Ahhhhmazing bike sculptures.

* Naughty language warning, but very funny for designers out there... {via}

* Two cute outdoorsy weddings,and here...

* DIY potholder! Check it out here...

My creative space...

 Well in celebration of my *50th* follower *the crowd goes wild*, I decided to go into combat with the sewing machine again. I'd left off on this little project because a) the pink fabric was all slippery and annoying and b) my sewing skills aren't as whizz bang as I think they are. I know what I need to do it's just my big clumsy fingers (more on that another time) don't control the fabric very well, and my need for speed is not condusive to straight lines.. le sigh... However I'm hoping my *50th* follower will be obliging in that she is my third cousin twice removed or something random like that and they have turned out to be rather happy little flags.
The fabric is second hand in a dusty pink satin and a light blue cotton drill. The sewing is in yellow and blue threads, along green ribbon.


* More creative spaces here...


* More of my projects...

The suburbs...

Speaking of Tim's birthday presents... he also just received the latest Arcade Fire album. It is really. really. really. good. really.

Ginger & white chocolate.... cupcakes

Well if it works for cookies, it can work for cupcakes right? I made these for my boys birthday on Friday.
As per usual this is based off Nigella's cupcake recipe.

 

 You need:
125g Castor Sugar
125gs soft butter
2 eggs, beaten
125gs self raising flour
3 tblspns of milk
2 tspns of ground ginger

200gs white choc buttons
5 tablespoons of milk
200gs (approx) of icing sugar
Crystalised ginger for decoration

Then:
Preheat oven to 200degrees, put cupcake cases in a tin.
Either chuck it all in a blender. Or:
Cream your butter and sugar together, then alternate mixing in egg, flour (sifting it is important!) and when you're all out of egg alternate flour with the milk. Pop your ginger in with the flour to sift in. It should be a fairly runny mixture. eg. It needs to drop off the spoon easily.
Bake on the top shelf for 15-20 mins until they are glorious golden!

When they are cool make the icing (don't make icing in advance it sets quickly!) Put choc buttons and milk in a heat proof dish over a pan of hot water, stir until it is melted. Let it melt slowly as otherwise you risk burning the chocolate. Once it's all runny start sifting in your icing sugar until it is the right thickness for you. With hindsight I recomend keeping the icing over the hot water, though with the heat from the stove turned off, as before I had finished icing my cupcakes it had started to go hard! The first few ended up with a beautiful hard frosting and the last few looked like hedgehogs as I dabbed it on! Pop that chunk of Crystalised ginger on the top before it sets. Yum!

These cute cupcake cases are from 'Cake with Love' on Etsy. I bought a stack of them and they just look so good! Because they are a bit bigger than my usual cupcake cases though this batter only made nine.