Wood

Logfont Collingwood flag made by Penelope Durston and me. Part of a series available in Cottage Industry, featuring lettering by Rebecca Hayes, Dell Stewart and Adam Cruickshank. So many lovely ones, but this one fits in around here.

Chutney Club totes

We have amazing new Penelope Durston black denim Chutney Club totes to carry all the hamper goodies. With a logo designed by Thought and Deed you'll be toting your picnic to the park in style. It's sure to be both the envy and the confusion of your friends. Chutney Club? What?

There is a spare one too, which I think may become the ticket seller prize if chutney club members need a reason to sell more tickets. I am thinking of holding the draw on wednesday night next week, so only a few more days to buy tickets.

Hottie

So, the new house, what else? Well, the new house has a heater, which is interesting, great even. Apparently it needs it too, as it is colder, being made of wood and not sandwiched between other houses. Our bedroom is freezing right now. So when Pene turned up last week with this amazing pile of hot water bottles covered in the now legendary quilted blanket fabric, I looked at each one and chose this one, to take home with me. I LOVE it.




Handsome next to my woody blanket huh?

Now, a few more days later, Pen has been busy and there are apron bags made of the same fabric, and no matter how hard I try, and how much I love this fabric (a little bit Granddad Alf association, a Scottish appreciation of all things woolen and a lifetime of textile love) I can't seem to justify buying one, and I have chosen one – you know – if I were to buy one. I have so many bags, I even made another one this weekend just gone, between dancing and eating.

So, here's hoping someone buys it today, so I can stop looking at it.

Doily

Yes, we had a famous yarnbomber at our picnic. A tree to mark the festivities! It was great having it happen before our very eyes whilst picnicking. Pene and Stella, Arkie and Sapphire. All contributing in about that order. Thanks Pene, another landmark. Let's meet by the spider tree.

Hello possums

Pene gave me this special possum scarf the other day. I'm not sure what I did to deserve it. It is handspun wool knitted up by Doris of the Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Victoria. It's lovely, warm and nubbly. So good!

Dr Pene

I have been afflicted with a weird ailment whereby my left side is partly numb, for over a week now. I have been getting tests done to see what it is, but in the mean time Dr Pene recommended chocolate cake. I think it helped, I feel fine. Still numb though.

Want to win some gloves?

Pene is having a birthday giveaway - Cottage Industry is two. All you have to do to win a pair of delightfully soft fingerless gloves is leave a comment with your pick of colour here and you just might be picked by the paws of power. Choose between lovely colours like sherbie and lolly and silver and ocean. I think you have til wednesday to win. If you aren't the lucky one, gloves can now be bought online. Hoorah.

Happy Birthday to the Cottage. Hooray for the Cottage.

Rumble in the Jumble

Rumble and jumble are pretty high up on my favourite words list, so I was very happy when Pene sent through the flyer for this years studio sale.

It's a SALE!

So come RUMBLE IN THE JUMBLE in the amazing studio of the clever and industrious Penelope Durston. The sale also features the amazing Iggy and Lou Lou, Milly Sleeping, the talented ladies of handmadelife, Ramona and Beck, the crafty Miss Pen and plain ol' me.

This is a picture I took of Pene's studio in 2007. It will look different on saturday. Though I'm certain there will still be piles of good stuff to wade through.



Come prepared, it's CASH ONLY. It's this Saturday the 12th of December from 10am until 4pm at Studio 9 95 Victoria St in Fitzroy. The Victoria st just before Johnson st, not Victoria Parade.

Now I have to rustle through this mess to find some things to sell. There will be updates and more info here...

I say so...

I've always been a sucker for African fabrics. My aunt was based in South African when I was little and her postcards and presents were always such treasures. It was actually one of my favourite things about Paris, come to think of it. The stunning African women at the Belleville market, and everywhere, wrapped head to toe in a riot of colour and pattern. Talk about glamour!
So, I fell in love with this fabric when I spotted it in Pene's studio ages ago. When she appeared last week with new zippy purses made from it I couldn't resist. How could I resist? It has a phone texting someone 'I SAY SO'.



That's the trouble with working in a shop full of beautiful things. I have to try not to want it all. I have to promise with steely resolve not to come home with any new things this week. Wish me luck!

Oh. Edit. Presents don't count do they?

denim on denim

Andrea and I have been working here in the studio each monday. We have an exhibition at craft victoria next year so we are making things. I was quite hungover monday morning and struggled to get out of bed and dressed before she came round. She informed me that I was wearing an American tuxedo. She's from Canada. She doesn't know that the rest of the world knows it as a Canadian tuxedo. SO. I like to think it was slightly closer to this than this...



But it wasn't, though maybe it was some kind of happy mix of the two, without the balloons and easy glamour. Just a hangover.
SO, on the topic of denim on denim, and much prettier, let's segue to ogling my new quilt.




Made with the help and generosity of clever Penelope and her quilter, from bits of leftover denim I had and the formidable creature that is Pen's binding machine, otherwise known as The Beast.
I am loving this quilt (and the other one I have thrown over the couch) even if they are still quite stiff and remind me of sleeping under cardboard. I won't hark back to the lonely two nights I slept on and under cardboard.
Instead I'll just rabbit on abit more with my current obsession for all things blue. Each time I've seen Miss Trotter lately I've been wearing ten types of blue, and she's been wearing ten types of brown. I can only shake it if I make a concerted effort in dressing other colours, and most often I end up wearing shades of grey. Perhaps it's just what I need to inspire me to make or find a dress for tomorrow. Something old or something blue.

bright lights

The Gertrude Street Projection Festival opens tonight, which means there will be all sorts of pretty lights out there to brighten our cold dark nights.


It also means that I have to make these damn animations I've been working on play on the screens they are to play on. I am having technology nightmares, and I swear I have converted and exported every type of .mp4 and .mov file known to man. Fingers crossed I find the one I need.

It's a collaboration with the clever Penelope Durston, and she has been stitching away making a doily wonderland for the critters to play in. If the worst comes to the worst we will lock Jethro in the box and shine lights on him. He doesn't mind, really. He loves the spotlight. It was his idea.

Find it for free on Gertrude street, 6-12pm nightly until July 10. Our work, (and probably Jethro) will be in the window of Cottage Industry, no. 61.

chilly

I did make that bed. From the pallet. In time for Meg to stay. Now it just needs height. I'll have to find something. I'm keeping an eye out for bed sides. Preferably free ones.

I have been meaning to post a picture of my favourite cushion for ages. A gift from Pene at Christmas time. I'm so spoilt!
Which also reminds me, The beautiful shop is one year old. Happy Birthday Miss Pen! It's about time we all stocked up on soft fluffy socks to keep our toes warm. I have been in angora socks all week, so warm, so lovely. Our house is cold. Already. Must find a way to make it warm. Must get Ugg boots. Must make a huge curtain. Must get a heater.

cottage industry

Penelope MADSKILLZ Durston is opening her store 'cottage industry' this saturday 22nd, easter saturday from 11am 'til 6pm.

I just gave her the madskillz moniker, because the lady can make everything, from clutch purses to cushions, top to toe, leather, angora, tapestry, goodness & treasures aplenty. If I were in Melbourne, I'd be there to covet things too. Drop in and say hello.

cottage industry, 67 gertrude street, fitzroy.
Visit her blog for sneak peeks and more...