remembering the snail

Whoops I nearly forgot to enter the Mochimochi contest.
I was fibbing when I said I had a genius idea, but do you get the photos?
Snail-trail, snail- mail and... snail with a leaf.

what you can learn about fish

Today I learnt that scientists can age (some?) fish by counting the lines/rings on sectioned parts of their otoliths (ear bones). Similar to using growth rings on trees.
That is pretty fascinating to me.

I received three point one in the mail today. It is filled with some great artwork. I have enjoyed comparing and contrasting Craig Atkinson's and Camilla Engman's layered paper work. I must say though I am blown away by seeing 1911's art on paper, tremendous.

old school softies

I found this gem of a book at the second hand book exchange on the weekend. With patterns and all!

If you are in the market for a softie, go here. Your money will be put to good use.

a place to stable your horse

Today we went to a nearby village for a special lunch and a poke around.

I didn't manage to get a photo of the whole sign as we drove past, but the building in the bottom pic was the Commercial Hotel Stables. Your horse would be looked after there when you stayed at the hotel.

this is what i sometimes forget

To appreciate that there is open space and air outside of my own head.

A choose your own 'this is', thanks three buttons.

mind your spacing, don't forget the suckers

Eb thought he was working cellar door this weekend and I was tagging along. When we arrived someone else was already doing it. Nicely it has left our weekend unexpectedly free. We went to lunch and wandered. Tonight we have a date with Cadel Evans, homemade prawn-wonton soup and some profiteroles, (after all it is the Tour De France).

The clouds at the vineyard were being their spectacular looming selves this morning. They were truly beautiful against the brown, dormant vines.
I think it is cute the vineyard crew write their names on the end posts so everyone knows where they are.

you know it is Friday afternoon ...

...when someone has left berries and leaves in your letterbox.
Have a great weekend everybody.

on the computer screen

The girl with a most beautiful name from Intimate Vignettes awarded my blog the brilliant weblog award. Thank you! The rules are:
When you receive this reward, showcase it on your blog and link to the person who awarded you with it. Hereafter, give the award to 7 other blogs and comment on their blog to let them know.

To pick only 7 is tricky, I have tried to avoid the usual suspects. However I must say that I find it so stimulating and calming at the same time to visit so many wonderful blogs, you all probably know if I visit you, so thanks for making my weekdays a better place.

7 of the many brilliant bloggies, in no particular order:

• kiddet - Swedish art student. i adore her work and she is just refreshing.
• aaA - multi-faceted artist from Japan, living in Paris. She illustrates and is honest.
  
• paper schmaper - this lady loves paper, she is a designer and extremely magnetic. You will get hooked.
  
• my funny eye - she says she likes taking pictures. a lot. (and she is very good at it).
• kootoyoo - this lady epitomises the australian crafters in a very down to earth way.
• 1911 - immensely talented artist in Italy, the good machinery. the blog has a grittiness that comforts me.
• debi van zyl - knitted softie maker, need i say more? she has a great aesthetic sensibility.
  

Check them out.

a snail is the ticket

I am entering the Mochimochi photo contest with this knitted snail from their free patterns. That photo isn't my entry, i have a genius idea, just need some sunlight to take the photograph. There are some fun Japanese prizes, and I love a prize and Japanese stuff. It was meant to be.

Thank you everyone for the gorgeous comments on my last post. Encouraging ideas.

haven't I see that somewhere before before

Often when I draw something, (and I am not a drawer, but quite enjoy doing it), I find myself thinking ' haven't I seen that somewhere before'. I look at so much inspiring stuff that I get paranoid that what ends up on the paper in front of me is just a copy. Does anyone else have this problem? You guys can always tell me if something I have made is way too derivative of someone else's work.

Someone who can actually draw here or here.

smudge-head

So I made a new blog header with my smudged printing. I don't really like it but thought I should put it up for a little while seeing I made the effort to sew my name to it.

blue water

Who said cleaning was a chore? Washing paint off things is enjoyable. (Sorry Mr water restrictions).

Cooking is not a chore either, check out this fun animation by PES. (Found via Maureen).

this is what makes me happy

Occasional melodic profanities.
Sing me a sweet song with the odd swear word thrown in and i will be a happy camper.

Beware of the tape, there may be some cursing.

Thanks one little acorn for this weeks theme.

perfection is for those who kid themselves

So it was good to pull out the screen to see the day away with cutting and printing. In the end I have to do it all again, but the experimentation was worthwhile. My impatience ruined the second round of printing, as the screen was still wet and resulted in wobbly paint. However all wasn't lost as I enjoyed smudging it with my hands, and because I'm partial to mess I saw some potential in the mistakes.
(There is always tomorrow anyhows).

making mood

Today I was in a making mood and it felt good because it has been a long time. I decided to do some screen printing and was testing out my textas on some smooth transparencies. You know the ones that are rough on one side for printing or drawing are impossible to find. I guess the days of overhead projectors are numbered. Hope you are enjoying the weekend.

if red wine stains

Eb is conducting some experiments on corian samples for their new lab table at work.
When he is done, I hope I get to nab the samples, what fun could be had.

does this doll have soul?

Trying to sketch out ideas for an entry in a dolls with souls exhibition. Everyone is invited to submit something.

evening walk

Why don't I go for a walk by myself in the late afternoon/early evening more often?

Want to hear something I find comical about those traffic lights? They are on the main thoroughfare in and out of our town. They serve only one purpose, which is to stop traffic so pedestrians can cross the street. They only turn red if a pedestrian presses the button and I think I am the only person in town who ever presses the button to cross. I can feel the glares I get when I stop the traffic, and I think it is amusing.I always cross there.

Found two new spiffy blogs. Dank En and Living on the Move.

this is what makes my skin crawl

Wasp Nests? On MY Porch?
Originally uploaded by D14BL0

No not the wasp. It is wasp nests that I have an irrational aversion to. Those chambers, disgusting.

Not my photo (are you kidding, I would not look at that thing so closely), so click on the link to check out the photographer.

Thanks Juddie for this weeks theme.

go-go gadget tastebuds

The Inspector knew we were at the farmer's markets today and is looking forward to the resultant venison stew.

Hope you are all having a special weekend.

bookshop haul

Out in the sticks live gigs are hard to come by, so Eb and I are trying to make a conscious effort to support any half decent musician that comes to town. (Then maybe more will play for us). So we dropped by the bookshop today to purchase tickets to Lior at the conservatorium. Hooray. Whilst there we picked up a few books too. A couple of classics and a contemporary Russian novel. I hate to generalise but every Russian author I have read is outstanding.

Call me consumerist but lately I have been having trouble getting through novels I borrow from the library. Maybe the time pressure is the issue, or maybe the fact that a book is mine and gets to sit on my shelf for the rest of eternity makes it more compelling. Anyone else have this issue?

You may recognise the fabric that I covered that floor cushion with.

don't put a hairdryer in the bath

snow that settles

It was worth being woken up before the alarm this morning. He told me there was snow everywhere. I know in the northern hemisphere this is not so special, but I am sure my fellow Australians can appreciate that it barley ever snows at your home. And today, it did.

seven songs of winter

Young Mind tagged me with this fun little one. I thought I would even make a mixtape of it in case anyone wished to listen. So;
The Rules: List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now, shaping your summer or winter. Post these instructions in your blog along with your 7 songs. Then tag 7 other people to see what they’re listening to.

1. Killing for Love - Jose Gonzalez
2. School - Nirvana
3. That's Not My Name - The Ting Tings
4. Gouge Away- the Pixies
5. Low Happening - Howling Bells
6. This Year - Mountain Goats
7. Private Lawns- Angus and Julia Stone

If anyone wants to play, tip you are it.

this was sunday

Was nice to have a slow weekend to ourselves. Today was tea,time to notice moldy windows and taking computers and sewing machines (scary) apart.

I also spent a bit of time becoming a seller on ebay to get rid of some of my and my brother's stuff. Anyone dig Voltron?

Not sure if I read this in Frankie or on someones blog, (let me know if it was you) but if you have any work clothing you want to donate, these people are doing a good thing.

this is my most treasured childhood possession

So no, it isn't a couple of dolls or those cankles I have always had. The time I spent with my Mum, Dad, Grandparents, that is precious, the fact my big daggy brother would ride me around in the back seat of his tricycle no matter what, that is precious. Not all kids get that, I was bloody lucky.

Thanks for this weeks theme.

black sesame jelly

delicious.