Just a Minute... in August

How can it be the end of August already!! Not that I'm complaining too much because I'm excited that winter will soon be over. But it feels like I'm on fast forward and I want to pause and reflect but I don't have time!

If you want to play along, J.a.M. is brought to us by Jenaveve @ August Street

Watching... Dexter Season 3. Oh how I love this show to bits.

Reading... 'Under the Paw: Confessions of a Cat Man' by Tom Cox. I couldn't resist picking this book up. It has some cute stories in it. I always imagine the main character, in 'Under the Paw', as the main guy from 'About A Boy'.

Finding... out how windy Melbourne is! I need to get a more wind proof hair cut I think. By the time I get into the office I look like I've had a fight with a tornado.

Exploring... my new surroundings. I love driving around finding all the hidden shops and cafes around my area.

Recovering... from going out with new friends. I love that people in Melbourne are very welcoming and friendly.

Listening... to rain on the tin roof and old skool Nine Inch Nails.

Bell

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Gettin' my Geek on ...

I got an iPhone last week. I am surprised at how much I adore it, but it was love at first byte. (groan) I took took some pictures with it today - just random shots. I am pretty impressed with the quality. In 'tech years' my digital camera is pretty old and has less megapixels than the iPhone.


Shot#1 (above) is Pixie trying to work out what I'm pointing at her. How cute is her red nose? Well its cute until its being rubbed on your face at 4am!


Shot #2: My thread holder - somewhat organised by colour.


Shot #3 - A cute old cocktail cup. It sounds kinda morbid but the very top of its head comes off so you can pour the drink in. There is also a straw hole in the back of its head. I just like the cheeky side-smile.


Shot #4 - Pixie had to bear the brunt of my photo shoot. She was very accommodating though and made some pretty cute faces.

I'm off to Melbourne this week to visit my best bud. I have the Friday and Monday off - w00t! We're going to check out the 'Persuasion: Fashion in the Age of Jane Austen' exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria and I'm sure there will be coffee, cake and some shopping involved too.
Bell xxx

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My First ... Amigurumi!

I was awed by Amy's amigurumi's and inspired to try it out myself. I really didn't think I would be able to do it but after some google'ing I found a great video on making the adjustable 'magic ring' and also great tips, tricks and instructions for Amigurumi at PlanetJune. I came across this pattern for an owl and thought I would make it for an owly friend who has just graduated. Please meet Professor Hooter ....

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Just a minute in May...

I've been meaning to join Jenaveve's 'Just a minute' roundup for a while now. I've been lurking around reading everyone else's and thought it was time I made a contribution.

Dreading... Winter. It is only two days away and it is so cold already! I hate getting out of bed when it is freezing. It is already starting to get dark at 5pm. Which is pure trickery when you are at work thinking it must be home time and then realise its not. :( The upside is that I finally get to wear my gorgeous leather boots I got in Rome.

Laughing... at the way my blog name displays in FireFox tabs. I reckon if I could sew gspots I'd make a fortune on Etsy!

Cooking... Yes, you read right. Me, cooking! It has been a while but I made Apricot chicken on Coconut rice, Tuna pasta bake and Vegetable Soup this week. I got the Vege soup recipe from Jenaveve and it was awesome. It was even better the next day.

Watching... a bag of Haigh's Coffee Chocolate Buttons disappear as I write this post. Yummers!

Reading... 'When in Rome' by Penolope Green. I really love the honesty of the author and the aussie slang.

Listening... to the rain that seems to have settled in and also to the usual suspects on my iPod - Seether, Tool and Nickelback. Yah, I'm old skool grunge era.

Learning... how to give my cat a tablet. Milly had to go on antibiotics after an abcess burst on her leg. (I know - soooo gross!) I gave her a tablet without any problems the first night. But the next morning she knew what was coming. I tried stealth moves, coersion, treats, force, begging and traps but she kept managing to escape. I ended up taking her back to the vet and they gave her the tablet and then helped me while I practiced on Milly. Ha! After my vet session I was able to get that tablet down her throat before she even knew what was going. Hurrah!!

Wishing... that I was in Melbourne hanging with my bestie so that we could have crafting sessions.

Meeting... up with the Sydney Brown Owls each month. There is a great mix of people and crafts. There's always something interesting going on. I haven't done much crafting in the meetings because I'm usually chatting. The next meeting is June 4th and Amy (badskirt) is going to teach us how to piece hexagons. A few of us are also going to meet up at the Sydney Craft & Quilt Fair on June 12th. Good Times!

til next time,
Bell

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Handmade Help Kits

I put together a stack of knitting kits for Handmade Helps Out. They contain knitting needles, yarn needles, row markers, scissors, a knitting gauge, crochet hooks and a pattern book.

Pixie was trying to "help" and got caught in a bag.

*sigh* - she wasn't impressed ... especially since I was taking pictures and not helping.

At our last Brown Owls meeting we made up a bunch of fabric and embellishment packs.

My work very generously couriered them to Meet Me at Mike's so hopefully they have arrived safely and will help some crafters build up their supplies.

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Sunny Day Owl

Last year I joined a crafting club called "Brown Owls". I was given my very own member name - Sunny Day Owl. I was very excited to be chosen as a Brown Owls Prefect for the NSW chapter. There are four of us BOPs in Sydney and we'll work together to organise monthly meetings and events. We met up last month to plan the first meeting and everything is all organised for the 5th March. The first meeting is going to be an Owl theme (of course). We're each going to make up some craft kits if members want to try something different. Here's a prototype of my "Sunny Day Owl" badge. I got the inspiration from an owl design on a pair of trackie pants I got from Target.

I'll blanket stitch all the pieces in place, stitch the back on and stuff it a little bit. I might get rid of the tummy piece I think.

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Tea Cosy

I made this tea cosy for a friend's birthday. I was really happy with how it turned out. I love the colours.

I don't actually have a tea pot so I made a card board cut out so I could see how it looked. :D

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Re-stash a Crafter

Don't get me wrong, donating money is most important, but I still feel like there's more I can do. Then I started reading 'Handmade Help' and realised that there is a lot I can do. Last year I got bags of knitting and crochet supplies from Spotlight. I'm going to package them up into kits and donate them to 'Re-stash a Crafter'. I think it is a great idea. It is so inspiring to read all the blogs and community groups who are getting together to make bags, quilts, toys, appliqued clothes and lots more crafty goods for people affected by the bushfires. I started thinking that buying sewing or crafting supplies is going to be waaaay down the shopping list for people who are struggling to get their lives back in order. They will have lost all of their supplies that they have probably spent years collecting. If I can donate some knitting, crochet and sewing kits then hopefully it will give someone a starting point for their new stash and the opportunity to keep doing what they love.

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