is unhappiness your muse?

(credit)

I have been nesting again, but in a different kind of way. I’ve been making things. As many as I can, which is not that many in the time leftover after working, studying, chores and living, but a few all the same. I think there’s something about creating things, something about having an idea, drawing a design, choosing fabric, stitching, stuffing, seeing it take shape under your hands. Or taking paper and drawing lines that turn into a story, or taking wool and making it solid. No matter what is going on in the world outside or all the things you cannot control, you can sit down and create. It is methodical, focusing, consoling, rewarding.

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Which got me to thinking; I create more when things aren’t easy. That’s when I retreat and focus inward. I’ve been talking to some friends who are creative in different ways and that seems to be the case for them too. My friend who is a singer/songwriter finds it harder to write when she’s happy, there’s less material and impetuous to do so. Likewise painters can be best depressed, poets in unrequited love write with fervor; is the muse for creativity unhappiness? Is happiness a too mellow state to be passionate about creating something? Or is it any strong emotion that lends itself to expression?

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What do you think? And do you create more when you are happy, or when you are sad?

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Outstanding lives, Quique the Head

what I'm up to

Watching :: 'love my way' series with my friend Zana
Reading :: slightly in denial about just finishing Jane Eyre. I didn't want it to end
Making :: having a go at little felt antlers with wire insides, for a tiny monster
Eating :: fried eggplant with dill and cheese
Feeling :: tired, cold, and a bit sickly; but also relaxed, inspired, hopeful, and happy to see my housemate back from France
Thinking :: about all the things I want to do this week; work, essay, assignment, stitching, photography submission, posting, writing.
Wondering :: how much I will actually get done
Hoping :: that this stomach ache goes away quick sticks, so I can go see my friends band rock out tonight
Hearing :: the wind in the trees, david attenboroughs voice and a purring cat
Liking :: finding lots of lovely plushie makers blogs through needle.org collaboration
Wanting :: to never think or worry about money and be able to do whatever I like most
Playing :: newton faulkners album (undecided) and with new cushion designs
Wishing :: I had a pecan caramel pie with cream right now. and that weekends were a bit longer please
Enjoying :: endless cups of tea
Coveting :: a pretty thermos to take tea to the library, and a pair of brown leather boots

a handy list for updates from MeetMeAtMikes. What are you up to?

yarn bombs away!

Woot! this morning I found the perfect spot for my first guerrilla knitting, and while a freezing wind whipped around I sewed a little sweater on a branch. I had to sew it quite high, where the branch was thinner so it could fit around, and ended up climbing the tree to reach, which made me feel very guerrilla-like indeed (if guerrillas perch in trees with sewing needles trying not to flash their undies).

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A woman came by and asked to take a photo of me for her mum, who she said loves it. I didn't think to ask her to take a photo for me too, because I was concentrating on not falling out. It was a bit thrilling, and I'm looking forward to riding past it every now and then, and starting my next one! Only thing is, I sat in chewing gum in the tree and its stuck on my skirt. Who puts chewing gum in a tree? I mean really?

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(If you're around, it's at the end of the tiny Georgina St, just off South King St Newtown)

i like you

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another mix tape finished, and I've put it up in my shop as a custom order too,

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along with the other toothy bears.

Happy Saturday!

how are you going with

a drawing a day? It's very nearly over.
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I have discovered some things:

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I like to draw things in front of me, like spaghetti sauce jars

I like to look at clouds and draw what they make me think of.

I am not very good at doing things every day.

Sometimes I can't think of anything to draw, and I get annoyed.

I like fresh textured paper

but the back of envelopes are good too.

I'd like to keep drawing.

and I really love Gemma Correll's daily diary drawing set, drawn journal entries . I might try it like this.

the red haze

Overnight the wind raged and twisted in the trees. This morning a red haze hung across the rooftops, and the light through my window glowed like a warning light and made the phrase' red sky at night, shepherd delight' worm it's way into my dreams and sit next to library books and turtles (don't ask. weird dream.).
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It covered the seat of my bike with a fine layer and got into my eyes and nose on my ride to work. It was a little surreal, and made me feel like I was in the beginning of a book. The day the red dust blew into town, and settled on every surface. The day the red dust blew into town and brought with it.... That was it exactly, it felt like a harbinger of, well something.
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By this afternoon it has cleared and pools of rust in potholes remain. The sky is clear and blue, and tonight the wind resumes, swaying and twisting in the trees.

(and this photo made the rounds today, and made me laugh!)


Have you ever had days that felt like the beginning of something, although it doesn't seem it?

80’s dating video montage

by smithy00101

A collection of creepy, strange, nerdish, lonely sweater enthusiasts vying for your love (I can't help but think that these are the kind of guys who join this club).

Somehow the Viking is the most interesting here, if only because he thought it a reasonable idea to wear a horned helmet and fur cloak on a dating video. I find myself hoping he found someone to plunder with.

things I like this week that also happen to be orange

on my way to the markets

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my favourite mug, full of tea

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everything growing so quickly as the weather warms up

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reading Jane Eyre
. my goldfish.
I don't remember his name.
It's ok, I don't think he does either.
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my pencil cup and the view from my desk
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the first mangos as the weather warms up

winner for you, winner for me

and the winner of my vintage pattern giveaway, to celebrate my 300th post (drawn lucky-dip from the teapot) is...

The super nice Kylie from 3 Sheets and Scissors & Paper Rock! Email me your address and I'll have these posted to you in a jiffy!

Sorry it's a bit late, it's been a bit hectic over here, but here we go! There's still lost of vintage patterns up in my etsy store if you missed out, for children, maternity, evening wear, well; almost everything.

In the last week I have had several lovely surprises in the mailbox (I tend to forget things, so packages are always a bit of a mystery to me, but the best kind)

I was given the gorgeous clutch and green rose earrings from Pass It On from Bec at Red Chocolate (check out that clutch! She made it herself, from the MeetMeAtMike's Craft Book!)

and I won the scrabble nerd brooch from the ace Julianne from Chasing Snails & Unique Scrapbooking. Also a prize arrived from Amelie and Atticus for my photos! (not pictured)

Thanks everyone, I love them!

made me smile

(Day 149 you're alive, via kindovermatter)

hello antennae

Loving the ukulele and papercut art and the sweet song too. Hurrahs all round.

via dudecraft

Tyler Durden's guide to personal finance

Need some help with money matters? Check out Tyler Durden’s guide to personal finance.

In case you've been under a rock (it's ok, sometimes I like rocks too), Tyler Durden is from the movie Fight Club. This is surprisingly sound advice, linked from some of the best quotes and themes from the movie. Go check it out.

"You are not your job. You're not how much money you have in the bank. You're not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You're not your ... khakis."

(and we could always use an excuse to see this photo, no? How does he make beat-up look so appealing?)

my creative space

One day late, and in a different font due to various issues with blogger. I know not why. It irks me, this disparity in fonts. Yes, I am thatkindofperson.

(edit) Aha! fixed it!

This is my creative space at the moment, an old drawer on the coffee table with
1. knitting for some of this graffiti
2. a custom order from this exhibition
And also some more drawing and sketching for drawing a day

The drawer is handy to shift around the house, depending what I'm doing and if I'd rather be watching a movie, curled up in bed or sitting on the porch in the sun. Do you have portable craft stations too?

part of what club now?

(credit)

Today is the inaugural Singles Day, run by a group called Yes I am Single. (when you're single, isn't every day kind of singles day?) Yep, a day to celebrate being single and join a club in the hope of meeting someone so you can get the hell out of that club. Makes sense to me.

You can even buy a badge. Why you ask? so you can be seen by other people who wish to declare their singlehood and strike up conversation on public transport/ on the street/ at the supermarket; but more importantly your friends, coworkers and elderly relatives can all ask why you're wearing a ridiculous badge, and force you to explain this status repeatedly until you want to smash your own face in, or make up a fictitious partner who is travelling in the Caribbean right now thank.you.very.much. And please don't ask what is wrong with me. I will hurt you.
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Oops this post just turned from a community notice into about me. I've just been getting close to throwing a tantrum about the whole thing. On the edge of cynicism, this blog made me feel better. Then I read this post, which totally turned me to mush and goo and left me smiling for hours. Not only because she is a dear friend but because it gives me hope. Because it does happen, every day.

Until then, I enjoy sleeping diagonally, not shaving my legs if.I.don't.feel.like.it. and doing what the hell I want.
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You can keep your club.

Oh. My. Goodness

(credit)

A whole blog about beards.

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Go check it out. You know you want to.

(thanks Hannah!)

weird vintage ads

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these kinda freak me out.

most inoffensive graffitti ever

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Some more guerilla knitting appeared in my neighbourhood last week, geez I love it. So when someone on freecycle* was giving away a bag of mixed wool, well I jumped and picked it up after work today.
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Look at what I scored! Perfect for random knit-bombing. I already have a few places in mind, a light pole here, a park bench there.. Or shall I try something like this?

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You can read about the history of guerilla knitting here, and see pics in this flickr pool.

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Just curious, do you say 'wool' or 'yarn'? I've always called it 'wool', but it gets tricky when you've got 100% wool wool. And when do you find time to knit?

*Freecycle is a community group that aims to reduce landfill by finding homes for things that would usually be thrown away. You can join a group in your area, and recieve emails of offers and ask for things too. I've seen lots of baby things, bikes, some appliance, tools and heaps if books be offered and accepted, and so far I've scored boardgames, books, wool and given away some cat furniture and strawberry plants. Recycling, saving money and helping people out. Ace.

Feed Your Soul: the free art project

free art to download here

I posted about this great project earlier on the year, and they're still at it, adding gorgeous and cute.as.a.button artwork by amazing artists, to print and grace your walls for freeeeee.

Explorer's Advice

(from jrjorgens via kindovermatter)

seven things about me you may not know

1) I don't usually eat breakfast. (Wow this is going to be a goldmine of fascinating information for you, reader!) with the exception of sunday breakfasts, which should be big, eaten around noon and with multiple cups of tea and the paper.

2) My first job was at a butcher. I have also worked in a school, clothes store, bowling alley, hairdressing studio, childcare centre, community garden, music store, selling encyclopedias door to door and as a mime artist.

3) Growing up I read more than I spoke, so I read words much more than I heard them, leading to the notion that 'island' was pronounced 'is-land'. Don't get me started on 'drought'.

4) I don't like cauliflower (and the intriguing revelations continue..) I think it is humiliated broccolli.

5) My favourite flower is the flannel flower, it's an Australian native and grows wild in the mountains. It looks a bit like a daisy, but its petals feel like flannelette sheets!

6) I am sometimes frightened of buses, lifts, waiting rooms and planes. This is not.helpful.

7) I have never seen snow, been on a rollarcoaster or eaten lobster

So why am i sharing this fascinating information? Well the lovely Jayne, of the Little Passenger has nominated me for a Kreativ Blogger award, oh yay! Thanks Jayne! Her blog is swell and you really ought to go and have a peek if you haven't already. Actually even if you have, go. there. now.

According to the rules, I must:
1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might not know,
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.

So I nominate:

Banana smoothies for strawberry sundays

Shayla shut your eyes

M*

Through lemongrass eyes

(sshh, I know it's only 4, but some of my favs already got the award, m-kay?)

but sometimes,

you want to know something funny?

I still miss you.

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Not every day

Not even every week

But sometimes, sometimes

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it takes my breath away.

Giveaway!

This here, right here, is my 300th post. Who knew I would come this far? Thanks so much for all of you have been reading my thoughts and whimsys and encouraging me so far! You guys rock! I also just put a whole lot of gorgeous vintage sewing patterns on etsy, so to celebrate the milestone and spread the word about the patterns, I'm having another giveaway!
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Vintage Little Black Dress, Size 12- never goes out of style!

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Girls Jumper or Vest, Top or Dress & Pants - so darn cute

These lovely Vintage Sewing Patterns are up for grabs, to enter just leave a comment, and for another entry, mention this giveaway and/or the vintage patterns at my etsy store on your blog.

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If you buy any pattern, I'll pop in another entry for you too. There's a bunch of swell patterns, including boys pajamas, 1950's dresses, childrens jumpsuits, maternity dresses, mens clothes, lots of lovely vintage dresses and jackets and ball gowns too.

If you see a pattern you prefer and it hasn't sold when you win, (or if you have no little girls around and would prefer a boy pattern) you can have that one instead! I'll draw a winner next Tuesday. Even if you don't sew, I think these bad boys are cute enough to covet anyway.

Yay for 300 posts! Yay for giveaways! Good luck!

(via don't forget to fly)

holy dooley I won

the monthly photography competition over at Amelie & Atticus, remember when I mentioned it here? and I get a prize!! Woot!

I'm stoked. When you think you're pretty mediocre at something but someone says your pretty good, actually; it's very darn encouraging!

Thanks to everyone who voted, and if you want to play along, the first theme of this month is 'eyes shut..'

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(edit) I'm all encouraged now and I do love to take photos, so I've just registered for EOS Photo5, an annual creative photography competition which all begins with a brown box. Inside there are 5 items that are separate photographic briefs to be incorporated or inspire your photos. Last year there were; umbrella, bubbles, crayon, tealight and ribbon (click to see last years finalists).

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It sounds like heaps of fun, I'll let you know when it arrives! Can't wait to see what's in it!

one year walk beard

The Longest Way 1.0 - one year walk/beard grow time lapse from Christoph Rehage on Vimeo.

Christopher spent a year walking 4646 km through China. Here you can watch the scenery change and his beard grow.

I think I'm developing a bit of a thing for beards. I really do.

Plus its one of those words that if you say it again and agin, it makes absolutely no sense. Beard. Beard. Beard. Beard. Beard. Beard.

See?

(via Swissmiss)

I go back to being me

(credit: AV photography, via: naturally nina)

cheezel tea

Some things I've drawn as part of 'a drawing a day'. I really like watercolours, but keep forgetting to do that stretch paper thing to get it ready, and so it buckles a bit. Why cheezels and peppermint tea? I was inspired to draw everyday things by this girl, they were in the pantry and they have pretty boxes. And I ate them both while painting. I'm enjoying drawing every day, a bit of a pain if I don't feel like it, but then I do a quick sketch and even that gets my fingers working and opens up possibilities.

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Would you like to join 'a drawing a day'? Just start sketching, every day in September. You can put the button on your blog, leave a note on the original post and I'll add you to the list on the sidebar there with those lovely people.

dear spring,

image

hello, it's nice to see you.

You're early this year, not that I'm complaining. I like Winter too, but it's always nice to see you arrive and brighten up the place a bit. Thanks for the lovely colours, green and flowers are so cheerful after it's been chilly, and is sure nice to not wear a scarf every day. I look forward to putting my ugg boots away and hanging out in the park with you. We can play on the swings if you like, and eat apricots and rhubarb pie. If you don't mind keeping magpies away from me, I think we'll have a lovely time.

Love,

me

fuzzy faces

There are a lot of moustaches floating around blogs these days. And today I came across their daddy's, some big, extravagant lovely beards, part of project BeardCastle.


via i heart strangers