A truly beautiful Minxy mix of charm, inspiration, practical advice, and pretty projects to simplify and beautify your life and home. - Jane Brocket, The Gentle Art of Domesticity
Wild & wonderful tea cosies
My felt tea cosy
I just had a workshop at No Chintz this morning making tea cosies, which was a hoot. I told the lovely ladies who attended that my inspiration is none other than Tea Cosy Queen Loani Pryor, author of Wild Tea Cosies and Really Wild Tea Cosies, which came out just last week.
These books really are fabulous – what an imagination she has. Would you look at this ‘Coral Punk’ tea cosy by Loani below? Love it. Next week I’m headed to her event at Shearer’s Bookshop on Norton St – Wednesday April 7, 7:30pm. Be sure to book.
Really Wild Tea Cosies by Loani Pryor, out now
Tea cosy by Loani Pryor, from her new book
Penny's tea cosy, from today's No Chintz class
Another fabulous tea cosy, from today's class
Cate & Miriam's tea cosies at No Chintz
A couple of simple ideas
Sort-of Union Jack cushion
It’s a bit rainy and miserable outside today, which puts me in mind of ‘ol blighty. I pulled a bunch of linen scraps out from the crafts cabinet earlier and created this cushion – they’re sewn to the front of an old velvet cushion I’d grown tired of. I don’t mind the fraying edges at all, which should only improve in the wash.
And above, a pleasant oil painting found in a charity store and pulled out of its ugly frame sits behind Olive’s heirloom; a porcelain ballerina music box passed down from her doting grandmama. It’s a day for soft, smudged blues.
Weekend craftiness
Easter egg cosies
Last weekend we headed off to visit some friends who live in a dreamy little town on the NSW south coast. I made these Easter egg cosies for the kids – Lucca, Helena & Gianni – popping them atop three chocolate eggs and simple ceramic egg cups.
60s beaded top and silk sari
But not before an early morning dash to the markets – see this gorgeous beaded top and bright pink silk sari? Both are becoming harder to find these days so I was thrilled to snap them up for a song. The sari I’ve earmarked for some fancy dress fun, and the beaded top perches on a picture rail while I’m deciding what to do with it.
Sneak peek at our home on Design Sponge
It was a thrill to have our home featured on one of my favourite sites recently – click here to see the sneak peek on Design Sponge.
MillaMia knitting patterns
'Alex' poncho
How cute is this site? I love these modern knits for children and delicious-looking yarns, which are from the UK but have a chic, Scandinavian feel. If anything can convince me to learn more complex knitting skills, it’s this. I’m particularly fond of the ‘Bright Young Things’ collection… they deliver to Australia, too.
Scarlet yarn
A new space for the wee one
I’m a geek at heart, so I don’t mind admitting that re-organising the home constitutes one of my greatest pleasures in life.
With the new built-ins installed, we’ve finally been able to shift all our clothes from Olive’s room so it’s entirely a room of her own. I’ve also been able to pull out a number of items which feature in The Crafty Kid, such as the miniature bean bag above.
Note how neat the interior of our milk-painted robe is these days? Happiness is a successful trip to Howard’s Storage World. And I love these trugs – so useful for toys and shoes and various other accoutrement.
Pre-loved jumpers & shoes to grow into from Rozelle markets
Hand-me downs and a few new bits & bobs
Hand-knitted clown suit from dear Marian
Vintage book, gifts from friends and a couple of upcoming CK projects
All Buttons Great & Small
Shiny red gnomes in the window display
This has to be my favourite button shop in the universe, although I’m itching to visit Paris’ La Droguerie later in the year to see if they can top my local for brilliant button finds. All Buttons Great & Small in Newtown’s King St always seems to stock just the button I’m looking for, and service is knowledgable and friendly. They also stock a wide range of vintage buttons, and do mail orders for non-Sydney-siders.
Here’s some pics from our Tuesday visit, foraging for glossy numbers in a shade of raspberry to adorn a vintage Burberry trench.
Perusing the blues
All manner of beautiful buttons
Olive the whirling dervish raids the buckles
Mellow yellows
Meals in heels
Meals in Heels by Jennifer Joyce
I approach cooking as I do craft: it has to be simple and, above all, satisfying. That’s why this is my kind of cookbook.
We have a tiny kitchen (far too small for more than four to eat in comfortably), so I often cook in advance when we entertain. So last night, for example, when our dear friends Sonia & Michael came over, I made soup and roast. Sonia brought a delicious banana pudding and some icecream for dessert. The only thing left to do was serve up upon arrival, leaving me free to sit down and enjoy some wine and a chat. And that’s the point, isn’t it?
On my list for the next occasion from this gem of a book? Lemon gnocchi Sorrentina, Five-hour fall-apart leg of lamb and Chocolate nut tart. Yum.
Revival of the friendship bracelet
Remember braided friendship bands from high school? I’ve been noticing a lot of playful new jewellery lately, which reminds me of times before I sought more precious pieces in silver and gold.
I’ve had this crescent moon charm hanging about in my jewellery box for years now, but never wore it. Here I’ve braided it into some bright red tapestry thread and created a strap which adjusts – I’m happy it’s found a new home, where it can finally see the light of day.
If Magritte did collage
The woman who mistook her plate for a hat
… it would look something like this. Love these surreal cut-ups of fine art auction catalogues from Lowest Bidder, first spotted on Design Sponge.
‘My painting is visible images which conceal nothing; they evoke mystery and, indeed, when one sees one of my pictures, one asks oneself this simple question ‘What does that mean’? It does not mean anything, because mystery means nothing either, it is unknowable.’ – René Magritte
Peel of thought
Blooming
I see you
A many-wing'd thing