Simple pleasures
Riot of roses
Post-holiday malaise has kicked in, and it’s making me want to hunker down and sew, sew, sew – by hand. Take up a painstaking beading project that keeps me busy for months, parked next to the fireplace. Totally change the house around. Fill it with flowers. And I’ve cooked more hearty meals in the past two weeks than I have in ages. But there’s nothing wrong with a little winter hibernation. Without it, who could appreciate the spring half as much?
I found this lovely vintage print for next-to-nix at the Rozelle Markets this morning, along with several bunches of flowers. A perfect start to the weekend, and some things to admire as I prick my finger for the umpteenth time.
Lovely lute girl
Stem of orchids for the mantel
Mexican oilcloth from Me Too Please
If you’ve seen the new book or indeed read the posts here, here and here, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of oilcloth, and particularly the Frida Kahlo-esque brights used for projects such as this kite here in The Crafty Kid. Children love the bright prints and I can’t stress enough how easy oilcloth is to wipe down when used as a tablecloth, apron or purse of any sort. It’s also pretty simple to sew, and I don’t bother changing the presser foot on my machine to an upholstery one (although you do have to take it a bit slower when stitching oilcloth if you don’t want to bust too many needles).
Ben Elke, the wholesale importer for Mexican oilcloth in Australia got in touch recently to show me some of the new range they’ll be bringing in, which is just gorgeous and very retro. Order direct here from Me Too Please, or from any of their stockists throughout Australia. My locals are Balmain’s Prue Trollope and Beezaar in Rozelle.
Prêt-á-Papier
Model Nicole Linkletter poses at the MAC Cosmetics launch
On a recent visit to Bath (UK), I spent a leisurely hour or so inside its wonderful Fashion Museum, perusing the permanent collection and current exhibition of Lady Diana’s lavish frocks. My mother-in-law pointed out the 60s paper dresses, informing me she’d had a few of her own once in eye-popping prints. I asked if they were comfortable? ‘Not very,’ apparently.
But why not construct a paper frock simply as an art piece? Check out these Mac Cosmetics frocks made almost entirely from craft paper. The Prêt-á-Papier collection was inspired by the ubiquitous material and hit the stores last summer. I’m giving paper frocks a go myself on my trusty steed (my 70s-era Janome). Just don’t expect to see me strutting out in one anytime soon – a spot of rain while wearing one could be a fashion faux pas too far.
MAC models in paper-inspired warpaint and matching accessories
Charmingly naïve
A couple of hotties
I made these the other night while watching one of my favourite films, The Royal Tenenbaums (because, just like the cobbler with holey shoes, I didn’t have one when the temperature dropped, having given all mine away).
But back to the film – it’s one I love so much, it warms my heart every time I see it. And I thought the same thing last time I watched it: I must dedicate a wall to family pictures, just like Etheline did (the Tenenbaum matriarch, played by Angelica Huston). Naive prints in texta, pencil and paint, in different-sized frames.
I’ll start with a painting of Olive, on a postcard-sized canvas, and maybe one of our home with its shiny red front door, open in welcome. No need to be precious – they’ll be simple, just whatever I can manage. And we’ll add to our collection over the years with all her artwork and ours. Yep, that’s what I’m going to do.
The Tenenbaums' picture gallery
Margot's room
Do it in Paris
Flowery dresses and pretty accessories for a successful garden party
Are you all addicted to this site after my last mention? How I love the look today!
Accessorize clutch
To bring a little Sacré Cœur sunset to your evening, how about adorning a favourite item with silk flowers, as per this Accessorize clutch suggested by Do it in Paris?
Life is sweet, non?
Dress the walls
Yellow dress makes a bold statement - from Selina Lake's book, Bazaar Style
We have picture rails in our home, so it’s easy to chop and change the art about on a whim – and you know what they say about change being (almost) as good as a holiday.
Occasionally I pop an inspiring frock or kimono up for a burst of colour on a grey day as well. See these lovely images here for inspiration.
Jackets on hooks
A vintage frock to match the wallpaper
Bonus page for Crafty Minx readers
Tequila! Pic by Natasha Milne
A little while ago, my editor at Murdoch Books, Sophia Oravecz got in touch to ask if I could re-jig a few of the projects in The Crafty Minx to suit overseas markets. Because my publishers were heading off to London Book Fair, where the rights to books are sold in to other countries.
The Crafty Minx is now available in the UK as is, but we’ve created a few extra pages to better suit a Northern-hemisphere climate… I thought it a shame for the people who bought the original version to miss out, so here’s the page which replaces the ‘Tree Decorations’ project in the Summer section – enjoy!:
SENSATIONAL SHINDIGS
There are so many ways to throw a fabulous party on the cheap. The very best ideas often come from a lack of cash and some inventive thinking, anyway. I’ve been to such a range of parties in my time – from all-out, spare-no-expense end-of-year bashes and black tie balls to homey festivities in friends’ backyards and picnics in the park. These days I have to say the latter’s more my thing, but there’s a time and a place for everything.
Some crafty ideas for excellent party decorations:
* Throw an Andy Warhol’s Factory party. Clear the furniture, cover the walls in aluminium foil and colour-photocopied pop art of your friends, serve champagne and huge bowls of popcorn, and ask guests to look to Warhol’s muse Edie Sedgewick, the man himself and a whole host of other fabulous nobodies for sartorial inspiration. Play some psychedelic 60s tunes on the stereo, and let the good times roll. You might even want to film it for posterity – Andy would have.
* Have a Surf’s Up! birthday party on the beach, like my five-year-old friend Enzo. Pop the event information (occasion, date, time, location and any further instructions) on a label you’ve whipped up on the computer, then peel off the back and stick to a beachside postcard. Make a surfboard-style piñata filled with lollies to hang from a tree, and ask all your guests to wear Hawaiian shirts or leis to the festivities. Erect umbrellas and serve mocktails in the shade, with a cake in the shape of a beaten-up VW Combi van to complete the look.
* Go south of the border for inspiration, with a Mexican-themed barbecue. Serve Margaritas with miniature drinks umbrellas, buy a stack of straw sombreros, and all the ingredients for Nachos and Tex-Mex (ribs, corn chips, guacamole, grated cheese, sour cream, refried beans, mince, tomato salsa and fresh lettuce). Festoon the walls with Day of the Dead-style imagery (such as this fun skulls-and-hearts fabric I screen-printed myself), re-purpose a broom handle as a limbo stick, award the winner a bottle of Tequila, and slap a fake moustache on everyone who walks through the door.
* Throw a hats, wigs or masquerade party, where everyone has to wear at least one of these items. This has to be one of the cheapest and easiest fancy dress options, as guests only need to buy one thing to be in theme. Hang streamers and party lanterns from the ceiling, and give out those paper whistles which everyone loves… particularly the neighbours, at three o’clock in the morning!
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.
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.
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
