70's burda - frocks and spots

I am just loving the fabric on these little frocks. The top one is so cute with the little pleated skirt, and how about the big flower placed strategically over the crotch area! The orange patterned one below has an adorable asymetrical top, and skirt, can't figure out if it is a wrap or not.





How about these two outfits, so stylish. The one above is a little prim, but I quite the little gloves, not sure about the length of sleeves on the jacket though. I love the green spots fabric on the shirt below, it is quite the hip outfit. (Oh, hang on - just noticed the white shoes mmmm... not sure about them.)



This is the burda pattern sheet that you have to deal with. All the lines are coded and you have to find the right one and trace it, it is a design miracle. It is simple once you get the hang of it, but sometimes it is difficult to follow the correct line and get all the darts and extra bits that you need.

A few of my favourite things. Or time savers and time wasters.

I thought I would start this post with some pics of my most favourite things of all. These two also come under the time wasters category.



Time savers (how I manage to keep the family fed and spend time on my projects).
I do most of my clothes shopping online from this NZ store Ezibuy, they have some great stuff and are reliable and reasonably priced. I quite like this outfit, this beautiful felted wool jacket, oh and these cute pyjamas.

Chai spiced tea syrup (this is for everyone who loves chai tea, but can't be bothered boiling it up and waiting for it to seep etc). Made by Alchemy cordial company, it is delicious on icecream in milk or added to tea. They also have all kinds of other mouth watering delights like coffee flavouring syrups (such as cinnamon and hazelnut or coconut and walnut for eg.), they also have classic cordial syrups to add a kick to spirits, icecream or mineral water, mmmm check them out - honeydew, rosepetal etc

I hardly ever clean the house - I do a 20min a day essentials, and a couple of hours once a week and that is that, if it gets messy in the meantime (and it sure does), I can live with it.

My overlocker (serger in amercan), how I sewed with sanity before I had this I will never know.

Playschool, the wiggles, bear in the big blue house, and other educational and addictive kids shows. The kids sit comatose watching these shows and I can zoom around and do a milion things uninterupted.

Time wasters (the things on which I spend more time than I have, but which bring joy to my life)
The neverending garden, house, renovations and various projects that I sort of enjoy and seem to spend alot of time on.

The internet (oh procastination how I love you)

The television - the amazing race, Survivor, Black books and little britain (funny irreverant british humour), Iron chef (Japanese cooking show), Lost, desperate houswives. I know I could be spending my evening more diligently but once the kids are in bed, I just plonk on the couch with my whisky and a show and cannot move.

The kids. I never realised how precious my time was before kids, It seems that every waking moment is spent on them, if its not feeding them and fighting over bath time and getting dressed, then its cleaning up after them, and thinking of things to keep their little minds busy, craft and games and other activities and of course reading to them, patting them in the middle of the night to sooth a sore throat or a nightmare, or just spending time on the couch in a cuddle or tickle session. All this time I had before having children was wasted, the things I could have achieved, if only I knew.

Self portrait tuesday - Interrupted #2

Last week I posted some pics from a self portrait interrupted series I did a couple of years ago. Here are some more pics from that series.

A bit of a play on the meaning of motherhood, using dolls to stand in for babies and babies as objects etc.

I was really interested in this idea of babies as real people, or just crying, eating, and being cute to tug at your heart strings machines. At times, as a mother, it feels like you are just attending to the needs of others all the time. With new babies, before they can properly verbalise their personality, they become just another object to look after.

The vantage point and focal point used are all a deliberate attempt to objectify the subjects, and perhaps make the viewer stop for a minute to think about the image.

Links to other self portrait tuesday bloggers here. (Send me your link if I have forgotten you.)

tie one on "home on the range" or ode to 3 chooks

I decided I did really need a good apron and so made this with an applique inspired by our three chooks. Here is my apron for 'tie one on', I admit it is a little dodgy on design compared to others: One good bumblebee has made a cute little gingham number :: grace street studio has a western themed fabric for her apron :: two rabbits has a cute little rooster fabric apron :: scrapalicious made a bandana apron so did knitting zen :: booga j has posted some great vintage apron designs - I should have seen these before! :: friend bunny has a cute apron for a fella :: liquid paper has a gorgeous apron made out of a vintage pillow case :: my own little space has made hers out of guitar fabric :: Caliope has a gorgous cow on her apron ::

My faves are these five - reversable and very feminine apron from hey lucy better pic here :: woof nanny has the cutest wagon wheel apron :: little birds kids apron is fantastic :: smockery made a beautiful hand appliqued farm yard apron, with a great sturdy design :: wee wonderfuls beautiful apron ::



Sticky is the white one, Mary is red and Rose is the black one. Otilija named them all, Sticky is short for sticky tape (not sure the reason), Mary is from the nursery rhyme "mary had a little lamb" and Rose is just because.







Rose is the youngest and the naughtiest, she is always jumping the fence (she hasn't had her wings clipped and she is not as tame as the others), she began life with little Mary as her mother along with 3 siblings, who unfortunately for them turned out to be boys and so ended their life in a pot of soup. Since then Rose has been very wary of Rob and will only let the kids pick her up, which they do often. Mary is the smallest and cannot jump fences or run so fast, so she gets cuddled the most, she is a skinny loving little thing and gives lots of good eggs. Sticky is the oldest, but still manages to run pretty fast, on the weekends we let them out of the chook house and give them a run in the garden, and then in the evening, she comes knocking at the back door to tell us she is ready to go to bed. She loves Rob, he picks her up and takes her to her bed and tucks her in.

Muddy - ness

... and chooks and kids everywhere.







We spent yesterday in the garden. The first non rainy morning for a while. Perfect for outdoors. I did some gardening, planting plants that have been in pots waiting. Chooks have been (chook) house bound all week in the rain, so they were pretty happy with a day out, and surprisingly patient enough to be picked up. And Rob covered the first layer of mud oven with an insulating Cob layer. More adding the cob layer to the mud oven at our projects.

month of softies - 'June Bug' Lady beetle

My June bug, Ladybeetle, is inspired by my daughter's kindy class "the ladybeetles". I thought we needed a class mascott at home to inspire homework and writing practice and general good classroom behaviour (the use of inside voices and sensible behaviour) at home as apposed to standard at home behaviour (yelling and general silliness). Below is my lady beetle sitting next to Otilija's lady beetle.



A bit of a bloggy round up for the week - the posts and blogs I have been enjoying - just a couple I promise.
Karin's style blog is just lovely :: Ana Ventura - I am really loving her work :: monster crochet is fantastic :: post of the week I thought was Yarnstorm's 'Muriel Fay' :: I also love Angry Chicken's recent 'talking fibre' post :: I love Moopy and Me's new swap shop (great idea) and her june bug is gorgeous :: loobylu's prints are gorgeous :: soule mama finished her back tack project and I loved her self portrait tuesday :: check out etsy (i found it via buzzville) an ebay like site for crafters :: I am in love with amy alice :: wee wonderfuls has been posting some great vintage inspiration recently :: and best of all - great food blog I am currently in love with the photography, recipes and writing of delicious days ::

studio inspiration on friday

This is not strictly speaking my studio, it is however the view from my computer, where I spend a fair bit of my time. My actual studio (aka the cramped and untidy spare room) is not fit for a photo just at this time, it is way too ugly. I have organised it recently, but I have not had time to create an inspirational space.

But these objects count. I love the bowl filled with banana leaves, japanese tea cups, and collection of river stones. On the top shelf is a tea pot from china and the last pic are a set of 3 tea bowls I made at art school in first year using raku firing. All of these objects and the clean space they occupy calm me with their symetry and simplicity, its an oasis in an otherwise cluttered and chaotic life.





Go to Port2Port (it was their idea), but this has been done before see naive knitting's studio confidante and tinesparkes studio friday and tania's international desk day.

more clothes

These are the skirts I have been making and selling at our local craft market. I have some in corduroy and some in wool. They are a kinda swing style skirt with adjustable elastic waist, so they fit about 2-3 sizes. for more pics of these being modelled see here. I havn't really got proper online shopping organised yet, but if anyone is interested they can shoot me an email - all my contact details are available at kroo I will be able to accept credit card from next week - but not via online shopping. I will accept orders for these skirts and pants - just specify size, fabric and general colour and I will confirm availability by return email. Oh and I do have cotton pants available too, for those going into summer now, and of course the cute cotton flannel day/night pants with adjustable elastic waist.

I am not at the markets this weekend - having a day off, for anyone planning to visit, but I will be there for the next 3 weekends after that.

The first two skirts are corduroy and the next two are wool.

70's burda gets hotter

... with these suggestive poses for sewing patterns.







I just love the advertising in these old burdas. No prudishness here thats for sure. This adorable toilet paper add for example.



And I love this before and after shampoo add - before shampoo = unhappy, after shampoo with gorgeous hair and she snags a boyfriend = happy.



And this, a couple who grooms together ...

self portrait tuesday - interrupted

I took these a while ago as part of a self portrait interrupted series. And well, nothing much has changed. Still tripping hazards everywhere and dirty dishes left out.

While these images do not contain my physical presence they certainly are a reflection of my current life.

As usual you can see links to others participating. If you know of anymore please shoot me a comment.

Also I have updated my links page

Back Tack project ready to send

Finally finished - I finished the roll ages ago but wanted to make a bag to go with - handy carry bag for stashing that crochet project to take on trips - lined with a sturdy corduroy.

Package contains - knitting/crochet/craft bag for carrying small projects around - inside is the crochet/knitting roll, small pouch for sewing needs and a gratuitous pincushion.



I have been lurking to see what others are making and am pretty impressed with the turn out.
5 and a beagle has finished her project making a great notions pouch :: behind the curtain made a fantastic tool belt with notions holders attached and a needle/notions booket - very cool ideas here :: bella dia - have I mentioned her fantastic basket before, craftapalooza and wee wonderfuls and six and a half stitches too - all finished theirs ages ago :: mamie makes sent her back tack parcel to huffmania - lucky lucky you - what a great back tack kit it was :: lived backwards - great job on her needle roll :: misocrafty - beautiful pouch and needle roll :: rock paper scissors has made a cute bird pin cushion as part of her back tack package :: wol and zo has made one of her beautiful felted pin cushions :: wollgas, riarug and sauvage blue are both making a knitting roll :: shades of pink and purple - lovely drawstring pouch :: yarnstorm is on the way with her great package ::

Also while I had my stall at the markets yesterday I met 2 fellow canberra bloggers, they both recogized my Kroo dolls and stopped for a chat. Hilary - puppet maker - from Spirits dancing and Fran from a growing delight - a lovely Canberra Garden blog and also the mother of shelly from Shells and beans. It was lovely to meet you both, hope you both stop by again.

sewing - photos - ideas - LINKS

Jodi's weblog - knitting fiend as well as having a keen sense of humour :: aimee's blog - she is featured on self portrait day :: shells and beans is off to switzerland on holiday :: woof nanny has a great apron for 'tie one one' - home on the range theme :: kitty cafe - is planning a mud oven :: poppy talk - some great design inspiration :: beading - has just finished a cute kids crochet pear hat :: mamie makes - gorgeous sewing/knitting rolls, beautiful back tack projects :: nurse ratchett's alter ego - makes for interesting reading :: scrapalicious - great 'tie one on' project as well good design ideas - and scrapbooking stuff :: nikki is on self portrait day too as well as doing a great self portrait tuesday photo, with some great Bill Henson links :: yarnstorm - working on some great back tack project stuff :: buzzville - always great crafty stuff :: scarfomatic - knitting sewing :: live life live love - aussie girl :: pea soup - aussie girl and check out self portrait tuesday post :: ilbloggo - art, craft and great journals :: mecozy - has a save the whales sign up - must do that too :: mama cate - some delicious wool photos :: absinthe knits - dying indigo :: little munki - birthday cake fantastic :: rollerskates and an apron :: the k bear :: dona chita ::

Burda 1970's - Turban anyone?

... come on you know you want it. How can you possible resist this gorgeous Turban to keep the hair out of your face while zipping round doing the housework and shopping.



And this gorgeous yellow Shower cap inspired hat with a really lovely bag.



I love this cute crochet cap with matching top. Check out the little hands on the side of the cap.



This adorable dress with crab applique is very cute, I am sure you could adapt this design feature for kids clothes or bags.



Speaking of kids clothes - this matching mum/daughter set is so cute, pity my little girl is just a tad too old for it. Lots of great ideas here for your own sewing projects. Hope I have inspired you.

sewing for girls and fabric for boys

This is a new design skirt I am working on for my market stall. I have been making great unisex pants, but it seems there is a need for groovy simple skirts out there. So this 70's inspired skirt - slightly flared, knee length, with adjustable elastic waist and groovy pocket in a contrasting fabric is my answer. I have these corduroy ones in different colours as well as woollen ones I am trying out too. What do you think? Available through Kroo.





I am always on the lookout for groovy fabrics for boys. There are always girly ones available everywhere - but nice boys ones are actually really hard to find. So when I came across these I couldn't not - despite not having a project in mind. The spots are from Party Parade by P&B Textiles. The robots is a Micheal Miller fabric, and the jungle animals are wildside woodcut from Makower UK. Not sure what the stripes are - it was cut at the crucial point.

Back tack - ing and other stuff

My Back tack package is almost ready to go - just need to make one more thing. Maybe a pouch or a pin cushion - this sewing roll also has room for knitting needles and crochet hooks - a hint - my back tack buddy is into crochet!





Other stuff:
kate over at katesknitting sent me some adorable knitting beads (I think they are to keep your place when knitting - not sure of technical details) for sending in a recipe related to natural body scrubs. Here some that others sent in too.

treehugger and kitchen contraptions have picked up our post on mud ovens - very exciting. And our latest slow cooked curry and mud oven bread is up for viewing - with a recipe.

Blog roundup:
One of my favourite blogs real e fun, has changed direction recently - a more novel approach - I really recommend it :: Angry chicken's tie one on is up and running, looks to be interesting and a lot of fun - wee wonderfuls has already finished hers it is absolutely adorable and has a huge response :: you have to go and see naive knitting's chinese millionaire project that she has collaborated on with her husband :: mama unraveled2 has changed her name and is now little birds :: craftapalooza put the back tack gallery up last week - if you havn't seen the first installment - go and look now - all the senders are revealed :: soule mama's self portrait tuesday is fantastic and check the one over at mecozy too :: yarnstorm - always so colourful has made the most amazing quilt :: if you havn't discovered port2port yet then now is the time :: talented queenthings has a beautiful painting up - so talented :: camilla's work in a tiny showcase gallery was fabulous :: lots more back tack projects getting finished - bella dia - fantastic sewing basket, if you havn't started yet did you catch some sewing inspiration i posted a while back? :: thimble has a skirt tutorial :: planeta hilda has some amazing art and craft :: threadbared always good for a laugh :: momster - and coffee girl - a must read for mothers and would be mothers and anyone who knows a mother ::

oh and music baton:
i've been tagged byJan at Poppy talk - a cool design blog.
total number of musical files on my computer: none
the last cd i bought was: playschool - songs for kids
song playing right now: CD - 'the gift' sent to me from Portugal by caliope - and I love it
five songs i listen to alot or mean alot to me: Jeff Buckley - hallelujah :: KD Lang - constant craving :: Morcheeba - summertime (gershwin remix) :: beautiful south - let love speak up itself :: music for pleasure - what do you want from me
passing the baton to (only if you want to): Momster :: Caliope :: coffee girl :: craftapalooza :: shells and beans

Self portrait tuesday - generations

These two self portraits (blue and pink) were part of a series I did a few years back exploring my matrilineal line. They were made by layering images of my great grandmother, grandmother, mother and myelf and adjusting the transparency slightly each time to adjust each persons dominence in the mix. blue - is mostly me and my mother, pink is mostly my grandmother and me.





The photo above is my grandmother with my mother as a child, and below is my mother as a young woman.



Of course this is my daughter - I would love to do this again including her in the mix.



interesting links
Mary Kelly - Primapara 1974 - Maternal Metaphors depicting physical contact between mother and child - exploring the complexity of the mother child relationship - unity, intensity, intimacy of this relationship.
Mary Kelly - postpartum document 1974 - controversal and radical exploration of relationship of mother and son. Analysis of fecal stains and feeding charts.

Tina Barney - theater of manners - insight into her environment and relationships with people.

Marianne Muller - a part of my life - photo diary of everyday life - intimate and revealing

For more self portrait tuesday links and to see who else has participated go to my links page

kids art

Our art gallery currently holds a balloon man (centre), monster (on right) rocket and people (left). Hectic but good day, more baking, fixing, socialising, cleaning and tons and tons of washing. Monday being washing day. I have tried doing a load of washing each day to keep control over it, but I find I end up washing more, and then I still have a pile to get through on the weekend. So I now I try to save it up for one day a week. But what should happen this week on washing day - it rains for the first time in months. I am definitely not complaining about the rain - our garden is fresh again. And fireworks this long weekend of course in every backyard - we even had a few ourselves.

new kroo's

these are my new cotton flannel soft kroo's, perfect for bedtime - with matching pyjamas.



Lots of bright colours and soothing baby colours too.





new kroo - groovy for you.



this is what I have been up to all day with kids screaming around me, Rob at Tai Chi, kids on computer games and a whole pumpkin in the mud oven slow cooking (with the seeds scooped out and stuffed with butter, cumin seeds and cinnamon stick).

Kids computer games that we love:
Orlando - age 2 can do these without help: colouring in, dinosour bones jigsaw, help mixy the rabbit find the boxes, and mixy dress ups. Otilija - age 5 can do pretty much everything but her current faves are maze games, colouring in, making music, stories, puzzles and memory game.

Anybody know of any brilliant fun and easy educational kids websites out there,

frenetic apron madness

... or housedress - does this count?



I think these housedresses are very very cute and practical too - you can do your housework and then nip out to the shops, then pop to the pub for a quick one - all without changing your outfit. You can't do that in an apron!



These housedresses are adorable (above), what beautiful fabric and edging, and even better is the pretty practical smock top (below) with great big pockets for holding all your tools.



I am sure everyone has seen the frenzy of apron posts going around (browse the crafty chicks links on my links page) and Amy over at angry chicken has started a marvelous apron appreciation page called 'tie one on' with monthly theme, as well as her great apron archives.

Other exciting craft news:
Back Tack - first installment is up at Flickr to view, and it seems everyone has begun to create - some amazing things getting made check them out - six and a half stitches, craftapalooza, wee wonderfuls.

every woman needs a good wife

... if you can't have that then next best is a handy father and a nerdy husband.



My dad is a handy man whizz. Doing anything he sets his mind to, teaching himself and being meticulous in his methods. It may take him 2 years to pave the driveway and pathways but in the end he has done a beautiful job. Here he is with his little helper (above).



My nerdy husband does other things other than building mud ovens and baking fabulous bread and scones and fussing over the perfect coffee. He may not clean, and he ignores mess, doesn't understand time constraints, and forgets to use deodorant. But he can fix anything - when the microwave broke - he fixed it, when the computer breaks down - he fixes it, the heater - yep he can fix that too, bikes, lawn mowers and cars - he can fix them all (he balks at sewing machines though). So when I swoon over men who clean up after themselves, and am jealous of other women whose husbands always smell nice and are perfectly groomed, I just remember that those women have to pay someone to fix the computer.

burda 1970's crochet patterns

When I saw these crochet bikinis I was reminded of the very talented Planeta Hilda who has some fantastic bikinis. Probably just as practical and eye catching as these.



This gorgeous little girls dress I though was so adorable I couldn't let the pattern go to waste on me so I have posted the pattern (click on it for a larger version - at the bottom)




These girls look like they are having so much fun in these cute crochet tops - I thought I would give some other crochet mad people a chance of the same. I have posted the pattern on the singlet top with straps and the halter neck top (click on pattern for a larger image) have fun girls, would love to see how they turn out if anyone tries the patterns.



Free pattern - Burda
Knitted cotton summer top with shoulder straps to fit bust size 34inch.



Free pattern - Burda
Crochet halter neck top, to fit bust size 32/33 inch.



Free pattern - Burda
Two coloured crocheted cotton dress for tiny tots 1-2 years.

self portrait day

Self portrait with new born baby.

This is a still from the video of my first born. My husband took the footage (with me directing - "NO NOT LIKE THAT" "OVER THERE" "WHAT ARE YOU DOING") in-between holding my hand, massaging my back and fumbling inadequately under my directives.

Do you want to try a self portrait - post one on your blog on Tuesdays and send me the link, or check out the self portrait day website - (I am there this week) - why don't you sign up? Or you can submit a photo to the mirror project.

blogs with self portraits this week (are there any more out there?)
superhero journal :: naugle vision (has some self portraits but mainly just cool pics) :: bird in the hand (last week she showed off her tattoos) :: port2port (no self portrait yet! just amazing pics - wait this just in added wed 2.10pm yay Arc and Mav have self portraits up) :: queenthings (was on selfportraitday last week) :: mama unraveled2 had a cool bathroom self portrait last week :: scrapalicious did a great black and white pic last week :: nikki shell has a lovely bathroom pic, as well as some great links to John Coplans - amazing self portrait body artist :: Added Wed 7.51am Flutterby - intense self portrait :: seldomever - orange flourescent lights self portrait :: Dani - self portrait with husband ::

night time at the park

We went on a little excursion at dusk to the playground. The light was nearly gone, but the kids looked so adorable I had to take the camera with me. Otilija in her strange but beautiful do-it-yourself gypsy outfit, with tea-towel on head to make up for her lost hair. I love these urchin photos.





I took these photos just with the digital camera, using nighttime flash, it is a slightly longer exposure with a smaller flash at the end, it catches movement and the night time perfectly. I experimented quite a bit and these are my favourites. Warning - horrible red eye outcome if faces are involved.





I have been asked a couple of times how I get such great colour into my pics. I usually (but not always) fix up the colours in photoshop, I rarely post images that are dull or dark. My basics for posting pics on the web are: in photoshop I fix levels - lightening and tightening the colour range. Then I adjust curves - just barely but enough to enhance brights and darken shadows - thus adding depth to the picture. I occasionally adjust colour balance if they are really off.

weekend playdough and collage

Playdough mummy. See my projects for how to make playdough, its very simple and fun and takes only minutes, as usual, lots of links and variations.





Orlando made a boat with cardboard and glue, then floated it in the bathroom sink.





Otilija made a person, she carefully coloured it in and cut it out, she also made a whole town to go with it, cardboard lake and bridge and tree and mountains and sun.

Portugal swap

Gorgeous Caliope from Portugal sent me this softie and lovely fabrics, books and CD. My swap to her is on the way.
This is a tea-towel, which I am planning on hanging on the wall. And Orlando has already claimed the softie monster. There was also some cut out paper butterflies which Otilija made into bracelets and necklaces. Thank you Caliope.

burda kids patterns 1970 - 1974

Some more pics from my mums burda collection. I love these cute kids clothes, the little dress is adorable with the pocket detail and the coat has a lovely unusual button styling. How short are they though!



This is a teenager pattern, cute wrap top with amazing bell sleeves. Don't you just adore that fabric?



These outfits (above and below) are so adorable, and practical too. I love the short pullover/dress (above) and the pant suit (below) that patterned jersey fabric is pretty cool too.



These knitted his/hers jumpers are so reminiscent of star wars outfits, they would be perfect for the new batch of fans.

to make your mouth water

You probably have seen some of these bread pics I have posted before on my projects and daily image blogs. But I am so in love with the wonderfulness of the dough - not to mention the finished product I thought I would go bread crazy.

First I give you a wonderful book with recipes, tutorials and great photos by Dan Lepard.
Dan Lepard is a Melbourne boy, turned fashion photographer, turned baker, now living in London. His site has some great links on bread and bakeries, as well as articles and mouth watering photos.









Of course with all this bread making around, there are some wierdos who just like to eat the raw flour and dough. Enjoy



A great tutorial I have posted about before on Egullet has all the how-tos with a fab sourdough tutorial, also a great site the science of cooking has a good starter recipe, and baking insights.

some fab bakers on flickr to make your mouth water
minato - beautiful food photos - she has a blog (in japanese - which can be translated sort of with the help of google) called clover which has more mouth watering food images.
loosetooth has a great bread photography set
podchef has some great bread and baking photos - as well as a wood fired oven - he has a website too.
baking bread the swedish way in a 100 year old oven - by studio zoe - her food and drink set is delicious - so is the photo blog
robobby - has some food photos- love her china town bakery set - her food blog here

ps. I am on selfportraitday this week

elastic and stuff

Can't type much. Burnt hand on stove. Bloody hurts, being a bit of a sooky drama queen about it too. Not much sewing going on - over it for a bit, have sewers back ache. - sorry having a bit of a whine.

in more exciting news - been updating kroo web site again.
and enjoying looking at port2port - some talented chickadees
i love karin's style blog - where she posts wonderful links like tamar mogendorff