whale of a time

Its been awhile since I have had a chance to blog...it almost feels new to me! And maybe thats because I freshened up my layout and have added some new tabs up top there too. This was because of some *helpful* feedback about people not being able to find my dashrobin things...

I hope this makes it a bit easier?

Anyway, I am back because I am excited to share my new dash robin whale design drink bottle carry bags...I designed these to reflect the beauty of this big gorgeous bay I live in, blue and green and added some whales for fun. It's hard to imagine looking at the bay from the shore that far out at sea they travel past, on migration each year. When I have been lucky enough to see them they are a spectacular, majestic sight.

The water tote bags are made out of recycled blankets and knitwear. Usually I find some items or are given items which may have been accidentally shrunken partially in the washing machine or perhaps have been damaged by moths. I wash them-really thoroughly- at least twice. Not because they are dirty(they never are-people are pretty good about giving me only fresh things) but as part of the felting process. Then I air dry them in the sun and then...here's where the fun starts....I start to chop and sew!

These have been such fun to work on, my kids love them and I hope others big and small will too! The first 'batch' of them are in stock at Reverse garbage, which is having its re-opening celebration this Saturday...find all the details here.

Reverse garbage in Woollongabba is one of my favourite places in all of Brisbane-for years now it has been such a brilliant resource for my dash robin goodies. My favourite 'must buy' purchase is probably their large cardboard storage barrels. They are excellent for storing fabric stashes(but none of us would have a problem storing our crafts supplies would we? ;o) but are also good for toys, clothes, magazines, tools, anything! The brown cardboard surface is perfect for customising with painting, drawing or applying decoupaged fabric or paper...

I will be heading in to the celebration around lunchtime so say hello if you are there!

Or you can catch me on Sunday at Village Life-I will be finally setting up a stall again-it feels like its been so long since I have set up there too, but it's been wonderful to spend more time behind the scenes with new and existing stall holders, I am excited to see many of the producers setting up stunning websites-here's one of my favourites luvyabubba!

Anyway, if you come along on Sunday you can meet Michaela and see her sweet dolls and also get a bit crafty yourself. I am offering *free* crochet lessons-I will be providing a hook for your use and cotton yarn, and I will be showing you how easy it is to make yourself your very own wash cloth!

seeyou round,

xo Kate

favourites

Hello, whats your fave stuff? I have very wide ranging tastes but generally lean towards things which are old and worn, books that have soft corners and slightly yellowed pages, old printed rusty tins, driftwood...

I love green and blue colours, anodised kitchen ware, also grey-the kind you'd see on plated metals which have worn thin...

I love tiny little details and expanses of blank space...

my latest creations feature lots of my favourites- tiny stitches, green thread, blue felt, space(!)...and I am very pleased with them!

These new favourites are available in one of my fave places, Reverse garbage which is having a grand opening, Saturday Feb 26th at thier new location 20 Burke street,

Woolloongabba, 9 a.m -5.

And no, not telling what my new favourites are, you'll have to head in to see!

xKate

cushion making

Hello! These are my newest cushions. I sewed them this morning from op shopped/thrifted crochet lap blankets, large old holey wool blankets and large cushion inserts.

(The inserts were even new in packets, found in an op shop for $2 each- just days after I had decided I wanted to make some-serendipity!)

They will be great for lounging about on...I totally love the green and blue one-my favourite colour combo is blue and green...what colours do you love together?

xKate

creative spaces here

Bribie island day trip

Hello! Went to Bribie Island, just north of Brisbane today, for a bit of beach and a bit of forest.

My favourite painter , Ian Fairweather, lived on Bribie island, and the local museum has a small feature wall about him as he lived out there. He chose to live very simply, in a small cottage/shack in the forest. This image comes from the Ian Fairweather project site, and shows him in his house/studio painting.

The forest on Bribie is pretty special, I can see why he was so inspired and felt so attached to the place.

'I came like water and like the wind I go' Omar Khayyam.

The beaches, especially Red Beach, are pretty special too. I have a confession to make though-despite living in the so-called sunshine state- I am no summer person. I am sure this is frustrating to people enduring those bleak European winters...I am sure because I have been told off by many over the years for my lack of 'Aussie beach life appreciation'

By the time I have gathered all the togs, towels, hats, sun cream, etc and gotten us to the beach I am generally irritable-sweaty, hot and bothered, then it is so glare-y and the sand sticks to my suncream, which washes off my skin in about .5 seconds in the water ensuring sunburn will occur, then my (by this stage) totally annoying kids jump all over me and splash water in my eyes and; oh, I could go on but I am sure you get the picture! I'd rather take photos, read a book but there's never much shade...winter, please come now!

Anyway, whiney-ness aside-I loved the shapes of these deeply embedded driftwood tree trunks-just looking at them conjures so many different ideas and forms...

The Casuarina trees which sprawl all over the sand are lovely trees too...apparently the name comes from the Malay word for the cassowary bird, Kasuari, because of the similarities between the trees slender drooping foliage and Cassowary feathers. I wouldn't know, I haven't been north past Townsville and I think they only live much further up into Queensland, maybe the Daintree? In any case I think I'd tend to give a bird like that a wide berth so I will take their word for it!

And I better go and get dinner into my not so annoying anymore kids,

xKate

February is the new January.

Hello, I am currently enjoying one of those exciting periods when I am feeling very, very inspired! I have some delicious new fauve fibres yarn to play with so I have begun making some completely made up as I go along shawls. My sewing machine is seeing some action too, my works been aided by the lovely books I am borrowing from my local libraries. One I particularly like is 'sew green' Its a fantastic resource for crafters who love using Vintage and recycled materials in their work. It's helping me see lots of things in a whole new/old light. My worn out flowery bed sheets are now my new pyjamas.

They are cotton and so soft and I couldn't part with the funky 60's flower power pattern!

And here's my puss cat Tripitaka getting very cozy with my new op shop scores-two cute crocheted lap blankets, half felted together from years of use.

These two blankets are going to become large floor cushions. Once I get them made I plan to use them both at home and to bring along for the story time sessions in the children's garden at Village life market at Northey street. I reckon they will bring a touch of nanna style comfort to the proceedings!

However much crafting fun I am having I can't ignore what's going on around me...is February trying to compete with January in the dramatic weather stakes? 'Floods? Pfft, I can do better than that, howza about a cyclone...or 2' says Feb.

Fortunately there is quite a bit of advance warning and information and hopefully all the people making safe their friends, pets, families and neighbours are feeling like they are preparing and not panicking.

Queensland is big, actually scratch that, Australia is big, and Brisbane is a loooong way from this area, so down here we are safe as can be.

But I do wish people the world over very well and hope we all keep doing all we can to help...however please don't forget to cover yourselves properly, if I see one more person wading through contaminated water and mud wearing thongs I am going to scream!

Besides who wouldn't want to wear this seasons must have fashion shoe...

Wishing you calm, deep joy and lots more, from here,

to where ever you are,

xKate