Packing is not fun....

That is all.

Tracey is Awesome!

I just got back from visiting my friend Tracey and I just had to share these photos with you. Tracey made me a lovely bracelet which she gave me today. It is chain maille (I think there was a specific name for the pattern, but of course I cannot remember it!) and it has some cool beads/charms attached to it. I absolutely love it!

Tracey is one of the nicest and most giving people I have ever met, and I am going to miss her when I leave Bathurst next week (yes, next week, time is going too fast!!!!). We met when I signed up for some classes at the local bead store, where Tracey takes classes. She is so creative and I am pretty sure I have stolen many cool jewellery ideas from her. She is also very talented in other crafty pursuits (including crochet, I am so jealous) and I can only wish I was as innovative as her.

Anyway, I plan to catch up with Tracey once more before I leave, but I am pretty sure that will not be the last we see of eachother. I will continue to bug you Tracey, and I will force you to come down to Sydney to come to the craft show with me :)

Thanks for my wonderful bracelet Tracey!!!!!

It's Done!

The tablecloth is done. I went ahead and added those extra bits. I am sure I could probably try and iron this better, and the photos aren't brilliant, but hopefully it looks good enough. I think I will get some more shots on Thursday when I give it to work at my farewell morning tea.

Kinda looks like a rainbow that fell out of the sky

The finished product, displayed on the only flat surface in the house (my tables are full of crap because of packing)

The centre is definitely my fave part

Tablecloth Progress

I am progressing well with the tablecloth. I have spent a few late nights stitching away, and thanks to Mum's help I am further along with things than I would have been (unfortunately I do not have enough hands to do everything at once). Whilst I was stitching Mum helped with appliquing the design onto the middle of the tablecloth and putting the ric rac on.
At the moment I am doing some french knots on the ric rac, then I am stitching on the corner embroideries. Despite Mum's protests that this will be enough, I am pondering putting another lot of stitching between the centre skull embroidery and the corners....just to spice it up a little. I think the design lends itself to being gaudy, so it can't hurt to add some more stitching to the piece. What do you think?

Early stitches

Quite liking the satin stitching

The centre piece

The next lot to stitch on

The best thing about this photo is my monkey toes....

As for the tablecloth, still looks bare I think

Close up of flower

Close up of skull

Doing the french knots

I can't wait til I am finished so I can show you the final thing. It has to be done by Thursday morning, so stay tuned for the results.

Music Lovin'

I want this.....NOW

Image from CD Leaks

Mr E (aka Mark Oliver Everett) is an absolute genius. I would probably marry him if I could. He seems like someone who likes his alone time, just like me, so I think that could work out well for us <3

Image from BBC

If you have not read E's bio, Things the Grandchildren Should Know, get yourself a copy right this second! It has to be one of my favourite books. The book is witty, honest and downright beautiful. I had to physically slow my reading down so I didn't finish the whole thing in one night.

Image from Bookgeeks

The book has the same title as one of the Eels' songs, and you can listen to a live version of the song here

Grand plans

I have been thinking a lot about what I can make for people at work with my leaving. I am not sure if it is customary for the person leaving to share gifts, but I dunno, it makes sense to me in some strange way. Anyway, time is running short to make individual gifts for people, so in case I don't get those done, I came up with a marvellous plan. I am going to make a tablecloth! Yep, an embroidered tablecloth. The idea came to me last night when I jumped on etsy and got over excited and purchased a lot of embroidery patterns. At work we have a lot of morning teas (don't think I will get any of those at the new place!) and as part of the official and fancy morning teas (e.g. the ones where we have new staff, or staff leaving, that sort of thing) tablecloths are often put out as a sign that the morning tea is special. So I decided what better way to say goodbye and thank you to everyone than to make a tablecloth that they can use!

I had a few pattern ideas, but the one I settled with was this one from Polka and Bloom

Image from Polka and Bloom

Isn't is lovely?!? I have already gone and got some fabric and DMC thread to make it. Too bad all my craft stuff is at my parents place in Sydney!! Bummer. Having spoken to Michelle at The Home Patch, she recommended that I applique the embroidery onto the cloth, so I got myself some red ric rac which I am going to put behind it to make it all pretty. Here are the supplied so far...

The pattern

All the pretty colours. The fabric is at the back too, a bit hard to see but it's a linen

Hopefully I can get started on this on Friday when I am in Sydney for the weekend. The plan is to finish it by next week, as I have my farewell morning tea at work on Thursday, so what better time to give back. The earlier I get it done the better too, as I actually should probably do that thing called packing. I have stalled a little, and I just can't bring myself to close up the boxes with my books and dvds in them. I may not see them for months again, and it doesn't feel right to lock them away like that!

Books and pics

Whilst my sewing takes a backseat because of my impending move, I thought I would entertain you with some recent photos I have taken, and some musings about books read. I am going through a real book phase. I think it is an escapism thing, stops me thinking about other stuff. I know I have a list of my recent reads elsewhere on the blog (which reminds me, I must update those!), but I must say that of the books I have read this year, I definitely recommend The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

I couldn't put it down and it prompted me to buy Zusak's other book, The Messenger. I don't think it is as good as The Book Thief, but I enjoyed it as well.

My next challenge is to work out which books to take to Hawaii with me. Anyone got any recommendations??

Now onto some pics. These are some random things I have photographed in the past couple of weeks.

View from the wedding venue on Saturday

Ladybeetle

Reading in bed on a hot night

Another Quiet One From Me

My bro got married on the weekend, so I was off doing bridesmaidly type duties (which means I did very little).

Congrats to Chris and Raquel.

I Ain't Been Doin' Much Craft...

But I have been getting a bit of reading done

I Want One of These...or ALL of these

I just spotted this on a random blog I came across. Can I have one please?!

YUMMYYYYYY!!!!

all pics via we are all seeking something (who got them via you are my fave)

Can Cats be Trained

My mum certainly thinks so. I just think Millie is smart, and she will do ANYTHING to get fed.

Nope, don't look at me, I don't have any food for you

At least she is cute

What I Like About Xmas

One of my favourite parts of Christmas is Christmas Eve. Every year we spend it with some family friends, who are actually more like family. The two families take turns in hosting Christmas Eve festivities. This year it was the turn of Aunty Diane and Uncle Phil. Their house always looks amazing at Christmas, it feels like I have stepped into some sort of fairytale when I look at all the decorations in the place. This year I decided to take some photos of some of the decorations. I am sure they won't mind me sharing.

Scrooge

The tree and my dad and sister looking like they are having a great time! Haha

And some of my favourite ornaments! Alice in Wonderland!!!

And more decorations...and cakes

Whilst I was taking photos I had some visitors

Kimmy...

And Kath...(yes they were named after the show!)