off they go!

all bundled up and sent off to the U.S of A for this exhibition.
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A small group, but I sewed my fingers off on saturday and almost totally.lost.the.sewing.mojo. And that would be a terrible thing, so I stopped before my eyes rolled backwards in my head and while I could still go outside to feel the sun on my toes.
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There's a few new additions to the gang, but not all of them; I made some more including the 'monster imposter' but wasn't really satisfied with them and thought it better to send off the ones I was happy with. Otherwise I've ended up with one in the book and every time I looked at it I'd be thinking, 'Oh I should have just... and that bit there...'. You'll see the other dudes soon enough! (what's with me today? Dudes? Gang? have I woken up in the 'hood?)
. Mixed Tape

and 'think you're crazy' bunny, Hannibal Lector style.

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It was a bit sad to let them go..

But I'm sure they'll be ok.

Oh Knitta Please!

Thank you B.. for finding and sharing an AWESOME WEBSITE made by a group of guerilla knitters doing their thang in a sweet way (didn't mean to sound so bling there, but that's how it rolls, brothas. woah. should stop now.)

If you enjoy random knitting installations in unexpected suburbian places all over the world, go roll your eyes over knittaplease.

(While your wandering, go check out B's lovely blog Just Passing By, it's sweet like an icecream in the park.)

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Hope your weekend is going just ace. I'm almost *gasp* sick of sewing as I race to finish the pieces for the exhibition. Thank you for all the lovely comments, emails and support! You rock!

she doesn't like the cold..

One of the keyrings I picked up at the Craft Show, stitched for a good friend. Let's just say she's more of a 'summer' person.

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(Apologies if I have offended anyone, I swear!)

I used a tiny part of a vintage map for the backing.
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More soon, and I will post the pattern on the sidebar if you would like to make one too.

Do you like it? Do you have any ideas for kitchy/bit rude cross stitch?

Holy Toledo Batman!

I'm in! an actual exhibition, and a book! Remember way back when I thought this was a cool idea?
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I spent last night drawing up creatures to join Melancholy Monster & The Three Bears across the sea. There's a monster impostor, a bunny in a straitjacket, and a sad bird creature with a tail.

The challenge is now:

- in order to get my work to the States by Friday the 3rd July, I need to post on Monday.That leaves 2 days to create a collection worthy of my first exhibition (oh and in between completing a weeks worth of Uni work)

- Oh and MY SEWING MACHINE JUST DIED last night. It just.won't.go.

Which brings me to the part where I say Holy Toledo Batman! How will I get this done?
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(You can see more about the exhibition here, and here, and here! You can also see some of the entries and works in this Flickr Pool. All the work looks really great!
Also some blog friends are on the exhibitors list, like Melissa from art=love=life who makes amazing creatures)

week in pictures

I am sorry I have been away, I have missed you.

I have had one.of.those.weeks. One of those ones when you’re not.quite.sure. what you’re doing here. When you walk into rooms and then frown and walk out again. When you just.can’t.be.bothered. Hmm..

I think everyone has days like this, even a week like me. I know it will pass. Here is my week in pictures, like this lovely lass does every Friday.

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Abandoned whitegoods look lonely

.Toy phones are cute even if they are a bit wonky

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Someone in this house plays cello. I walk under the blue shutters and hope one day I can make mistakes that good.

. Yum cha is yummy

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I like finding love hearts, so do these people, and these guys too.

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Wandering my downtown at night

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I hope your week has been just swell, and I'm looking forward to catching up on your blogs and seeing what you've been up to!

Knitting in the Library

1 July 2009 – 31 July 2009
Free event, During opening hours at Customs House, Newtown, Glebe, Ultimo, Haymarket, Surry Hills Libraries

The Library will provide you with wool and a comfy place to knit during Library opening hours. Bring your friends and your own knitting needles or crochet hook and you may even meet some new like-minded people.

You will need to knit squares 25cm x 25cm using 8 ply yarn and size 8 (4mm) needles (approximately 50-55 stitches).
Squares made at home to these specifications can also be donated.

All welcome.

Information about Wrap with Love can be found online at:
www.artsandcraftsnsw.com.au/Wrap

drumroll please

I wrote all the names on paper from an old book and popped them in this teapot to draw the winners of the monster giveaway.

My housemate did the honours and...

drumroll please... the monsters are off to their new homes with

Jayne from The Little Passenger

and Bek from RedChocolate

Please email your address to me at pepperstitches(at)yahoo(dot)com and I'll get the monsters to you pronto!

craft show

I went to the Sydney craft show yesterday, I wandered around for hours as happy as a pig in mud. I browsed, and admired, and dreamed, and spent a wee bit more money than I meant to. But look at the sweet things I bought.

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Gorgeous japanese prints on linen

You can't have too many buttons

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Look how lovely and organized my thread is now with my new wire holder!

I also have some assorted ribbon, fabric samples, more thread (not shown, oops!) and other bits and pieces.

I love shows, so much information, so many things, so many like-minded people going 'ooh' and 'aaah' in the same space. I like that you can turn to the person next to you and strike up a conversation about a technique or idea. I like seeing amazing work and learning new things and being inspired so much that I've made a hundred projects in my head. (Thinking of it, they're all things that a good shop can do too. I'd like my craft store to feel like that.) I'm looking forward to next year already.

hurrah!

for melancholy monster!

He's finished. And huge. I'm going to send the photos off now, wish me luck! (If you're just reading now, he's inspired by this project).

His tattoos turned out simple, but okay for my first go I think. I liked embroidering on felt and the heart with wings I found to be much more textured and interesting on the wrong side, so that's the way I sewed it. Yep. I was thinking of adding a nose, or eyebrows, but decided I liked his blank look. Kinda fits with the melancholiness. (I knitted that scarf so quick I got weird pains in my thumb. Has anyone else had random crafting injuries?)

Plus I used old pants for his bottom, so now he has a cute bum, look..

And hey! Don't forget these guys! If you haven't already entered, leave a comment on the original post and I'll be drawing two peeps out of a hat this weekend.

They can't wait to meet you!

are you going

to the craft fair?
oooh I'll be there..

yay for

delicious homemade pizza. It was so delicious that I ate half of it before I noticed. Yes, half of that giant pizza is.in.my.belly.

new old jeans, given to me by a friend, right when I needed them too. They're ace.

public holiday tomorow! I'm going to bed early to read and

I still get to sleep in too!

move.it. maybe.

(image credit)

In the interests of being a Little More Svelte ( I just love that word. Svelte. Try it.) I was inspired by this awesome gal to join this wondrous lass and start movin'. Uh-huh. Bring on the sneakers, the cold morning air, aching thighs, the.. urgh.. Well check out the cute-as-a-button button on the side bar there, move it with mike's. If you're not sure now, just do it for the button! I'll dig out my sneakers tonight and walk to work tomorow. Unless it's raining. Or I sleep in. No, I will. Maybe.

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Meanwhile, I sure am doing a spectacular job at procrastinating. My first week with uni and I haven't.done.a.single.thing. Somehow reading blogs is much more important. I DID order a textbook. Phew.

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All this talk of exercising and studying. I might go have a beer. Seriously. Maybe my motivation is hiding at the pub. I'll let you know if I find it.

in the post today

A Million Little Pictures is a project run by the art-house co-op, they're looking for people from around the world to take photos of an aspect of their everyday lives.

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In September there'll be an exhibition with over 24,000 photographs of the lives of a thousand artists.

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How fun. You can join here and you'll be sent a camera too!

I'm wondering what I'll take my photos of.. any ideas?

Hey! It's a Giveaway!

This is my 200th post! Yep, 200!

To honour this, um, milestone? wonderous achievement? To thank you all for listening as I ramble on? I am having my very first giveaway! How exciting!

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These little monsters are looking for a home. (You may recognise them from the great monster sew, look there for better pics, this one's a bit dodgy as my zoom has gone bananas and refuses to budge.a.bit.)

To enter, leave a comment (if you have a monster preference, include which one you'd prefer in your comment.) I'll draw the winners next Friday (First one drawn gets first pick!)

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Oh how exciting! Do join!

souvenirs

The sound of bells that carry across the rooftops and into my bowl of soup
When I press my eyes and see stars just like when you said
The dampness in the wind that makes the hairs at my neck curl against my skin
Crumbs in the carpet, treasures in the sky, blue socks under the bed
Cereal boxes lined up in all of the colours of my love
The sticky stones of apricots rolling across the sun beams on the floor
Peanut butter, mixed tape full of silent drums and im just a girl you knew
your name makes an empty space in my mouth
I don’t know why, souvenirs of you.

Today I am...

I am feeling a bit flu-y today, perhaps an outlet from such stress buildup from the coming of not one, but two audits coming up at work that yours truly has had to do an awful lot of preparation, checking and stressing about. Never mind the actual audits themselves. Good Lord.

Anyway I got up to go to work but it was such a struggle, my body aches, my throat is sore. so I stopped. and emailed. and made some tea. I'm now wearing half office wear (tights, skirt, nice top) and half home wear (Ugg boots, cardigan).

I am;

watching ABC kids (just me. yep, alone.) downloading my first unit (Learning, Teaching and Assessment) of brand-spanking-new bachelor starting today.

still dreaming about this shop

writing in my journal

worried about this baby. I noticed a few days ago that she is making an awful whimper leading up to a yowl when I touch her tail. Now she is holding it funny. It kinda bends near the tip. That can't be good. She's also more needy and follows me though the house, trying to sit in my lap (as she is right now), but that was hard to tell as she's such a princess normally anyway. I am worried about her and fear it may be time to give lots of money to men in white coats again.

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drinking lots and lots of tea. I'll try to make every 3rd one honey and lemon..

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I love how the pictures in this post seem to be green. (Yes, that was accidentally. I'm not so tricky to actually colour coordinate my posts. Maybe I ought to.)

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What are you doing today?