This one's for all you Santas out there...

Think The Cramps said it best...you got gooooood taste!

Thank you Santa (aka best hobo ever) for my awesome new laptop that I neverrrrr dreamed I'd have, and thank you Secret Santa (aka Mumma Sue, aka Suzie Wong) for making me smell like a mental problem ... Obsession!

I'm a hair-trigger sneezer of the highest order, but since the latest gifts of some really gorgeous bottles of smell, denial isn't just a river in Egypt. Obsession has always made me think of my best peep Cass, and now when I wear it, it's like she's right with me! Hypnôse does the same for my sis. And even though my mum has preferred sandalwood for at least 5 years, whenever I get a hint of Youth Dew, she springs to mind. The human brain is a funny thing.

Speaking of obsession and smelly things, have you read 'Perfume' by Patrick Süskind? This novel delves deeply into the powerful sway of the olfactory sense over one freakishly sensitive blood-hound of a man who goes to spectacular lengths to create the perfect scent. It's a spiral of desperation and murder with an incredible ending, and I highly recommend it.

Sooo, what did Santa bring you?

Happy non-denominational day of gift-giving and eating, y'all!

Artwork by Prynn



You've guessed by now I have not a breath of religion in my body. I also have no need to debate it, throw food scraps on door-to-door bible bashers or make a pilgrimage to Nietzsche's grave.

I'm just not a subscriber. 

But I do love a public holiday, and a chance to get all the family together.

I've made some tasty chocolates, most of which have been devoured by a husband with absolutely no remorse.

The muffin-mould worked a treat for the cranberry, almond and crunchie choc trees.

But the peppermint icing trees were a sad, floppy and totally irresistable failure.

We also discovered Krampus! The Alpine region anti-Santa, who made naughty children rue their wickedness with taste-testers of hell! Brrr, he's a looker alright. The Krampus Christmas cards of the past are a far cry from the snow-flakes and rosy-cheeked Santas of now.
I'd love to know if terrorising children in this manner actually made them behave?

Verbs are doing words

Eating - Miso for lunch, which made me think of this crimp in the Mighty Boosh (one of my all time favourite shows. Thanks Beebs!)

Dreaming - entertaining some lovely Christmas wrapping fantasies... aided by this - gorgeous video of a surprise ball being unwrapped, from Gina Namkung on Vimeo.

Making - A crochet blankie for another very special little bub, due next year, and greatly anticipated!

How to make a straight-jacket, and so on.

Lolly badges... coming up in my shop

Thanks to Threadbanger for this tempting DIY on how to make a straight-jacket. Go crazy? Don't mind if I dooooo!

Did anyone see Johnny Depp on the Graham Norton Show? Could he be any more likeable? I love the stories of his friendship with Hunter S Thompson, especially the crazy stuff at Thompson's Colorado ranch. Even his funeral, ashes shot into the stratosphere by a cannon, was financed by Johnny Depp. Now I wonder if any of my friends love me enough to shoot me out of a cannon...

I'm looking forward to seeing if the film version of 'The Rum Diary' lives up to the hype. I loved the book, as I've loved all of Thompson's books.

Happy Gonzo Friday!

Viola does Cindy, and so on.

Just lately...

This amazing photo series Response to Cindy Sherman, by Viola Renate. Exhibiting now in Amsterdam... sigh.

The Dainty Squid, fellow op-shop obsessive, who has the best hair, and makes me unwisely want to dye mine pink or something...

This is never not funny....

I don't do windows

Instead, a liquid chalk pen to make designs on the glass. This draws the eye away from the dirt! Right?

Verbs are doing words

Snapping - My surroundings at 11.11am on the 11th of November, 2011. 11:11 11/11/11!

Playing - with watercolours

Hearing - New action from Icarus Line. Awesome.

Seeing spots... and cherries?

This loveable bit of fluff was a Halloween commission from a talented photographer who lives in Melbourne (and just happens to be my lil brother's girlfriend!). It's the first double-layered apron I've made, and it worked so well! Considering my usual results making my own patterns... it's a WIN!

Verbs are doing words

Growing - an avocado from a seed. Pit? Whatever. From a smooth egg-like seed to cracking open like Monkey's stone egg to reveal a determined little tendril that just keeps on growing. 

Gifting - a crochet baby blanket to my gorgeous cousin who will soon have a little Christmas baby!

Hearing - C.W. Stoneking, just about the coolest olde style feller I ever did hear. Get onto his music, it's audible timetravel. And his personal story is kinda interesting too.

We're all (g)in this together

Maluna via happy things

Ok, so it's been quiet around here lately.

I've missed contacting artists and coming up with new photos to share, but things have been a little cuckoo all up in here.

Did I mention I have two kids?

Apart from that reliable madness, my job is kinda (not really) crazy, and I work pretty long days. Don't we all, I hear you ask? Yeaaaaahhhhhhh.

My sister's been sick too. Anybody who knows me knows how much I freaking love my sis, and the recent flare-up of her MS symptoms gave the whole family cause for worry. But you know what? She's being treated with some wickedly strong medicine, and handling it like a pro. I couldn't be more proud of her valour. On the list of women I want to be like when I grow up... Kirsty's number 1.

Under this glowering storm of concern and weariness, when I'm in a foul mood and I feel the urge to take it out on others, I seek to remind myself of this:

We are all made of the same stuff and WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!

And then I have a gin and tonic.

Good-bye...hello

Samford Valley, 6am

Farewell cool, misty morning drives...hello scorching Queensland spring/summer.
Phew, I'm just not a warm-weather gal, and I have a feeling it's going to be a hot one.

Verbs are doing words

Making - "Best Blueberry Muffins" and a little coffee. This really is the best blueberry muffin recipe ever, and I tell you, getting one of these straight out of the oven is bliss.

  Walking - Out on the beach. A bit chilly.

Playing - Through the viewfinder with an old kaleidoscope. Had to check the spelling on that one!

It feels like it's going to be a big weekend... the Brisstylers will be out in full force tonight for the Twilight market, (I'm recovering from a big old coff-coff-snot-snot, so I'll stay home this time, but I'll be there in spirit), work tomorrow (which doesn't really feel like work because I work with the best people ever!), and I'm running a little crafty workshop at the Woodford Gaia Gardens for the kids on Sunday.  

I am addicted...

I've mentioned this before.
My attraction to shopping trolleys. What is this all about? I'll do anything to avoid doing the grocery shopping, so why my fixation with abandoned carts?

My nearest and dearest are well aware of my long-term obsession, but it's something I don't really share around, because it can be a little hard to explain.

I love shopping trolleys. Abandoned shopping trolleys.

I will stop the car and pull over to take a photo if I see a broke-down trolley on the side of the road, and I'm used to the kids rolling their eyes while they stand around waiting for me to get the right angle.
I see them very often in my neighbourhood - the trolleys range freely, used as transportation and occasionally entertainment, sometimes many kilometres from their homes. I guess they appear as a symbol of consumerism, stripped of glamour, demoted to a pack-horse, shining so gaudily in alien environments.

Honest, do I need a reason? Look at them. Cast away, drowned, robbed of their coinboxes, draped in river-drifting weeds and bogged in mud... what's not to love?

Beanie FAIL and some un-natural cupcakes

Oh well, I guess I had to be wrong at some point.
The beanie ended up felting beautifully, but it's just too big and slightly fluted. I'm thinking it will make a fairly decent cloche-style hat for moi! Way to turn a FAIL into a WIN!
Photos to follow...

In other news, it's been birthday season, again. Vanilla cupcakes, a princess cake, a pavlova, all as requested by the children. There've been a few misty eyed moments and a battle for ownership of the remote control helicopter. Some of the best perks of being a parent are playing with the toys (it's called 'making sure it works'!) and watching all the latest Pixar movies without looking like a weirdo at the cinema.

Oh, and the love! 

Splendour in the grass

Image from Picture Library

So this is what I'm missing this weekend. My folks live a few clicks from 'Woodfordia' (I can't take that name seriously...) and I've considered dropping the kids off with Yumma and Yumpa so I can attempt to tunnel my way in.

COLDPLAY KANYE WEST JANE’S ADDICTION THE HIVES PULP THE LIVING END THE MARS VOLTA REGINA SPEKTOR BLISS N ESO PNAU MOGWAI DJ SHADOW GLASVEGAS THE GRATES DEVENDRA BANHARDT MODEST MOUSE THE MIDDLE EAST KAISER CHIEFS JAMES BLAKE KELE THE VINES ELBOW ESKIMO JOE NOAH AND THE WHALE CHILDREN COLLIDE THIEVERY CORPORATION CUT COPY ISOBEL CAMPBELL AND MARK LANEGAN BLUEJUICE THE KILLS BLACK JOE LEWIS & THE HONEYBEARS (featuring THE RELATIVES) ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI FOSTER THE PEOPLE THE PANICS FRIENDLY FIRES JEBEDIAH THE VACCINES GOMEZ BOY AND BEAR GOTYE DOES IT OFFEND YOU YEAH? CLOUD CONTROL MONA SPARKADIA WARPAINT MUSCLES (Live) FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS THE JEZEBELS DRAPHT BRITISH SEA POWER TIM & JEAN LEADER CHEETAH GROUPLOVE SEEKER LOVER KEEPER YELLE KIMBRA PHRASE OH MERCY DANANANANAYKROYD THE BLACK SEEDS MARQUES TOLIVER THE HOLIDAYS GHOUL LIAM FINN THE HERD YOUNG THE GIANT GUINEAFOWL HUNGRY KIDS OF HUNGARY JINJA SAFARI WILD BEASTS ILLY CUT OFF YOUR HANDS GARETH LIDDIARD ALPINE WORLD’S END PRESS MOSMAN ALDER LANIE LANE

I'll just have to console myself with a Splendour-inspired Genius mix at home, a warm shower and my own bed. Just as good, right? ... Hmmmmm.

Verbs are doing words

Making - a deep olive green merino and cashmere beanie for the husband. I know, it looks enormous, and it is! I'm going to felt it, as I have to keep reminding the mister when he puts it on his head with a doubtful look. Oh, ye of little faith!

Hearing - Plastic Bag by X-Ray Spex - I don't know much about this 70's punk band, but everytime this song plays at work, we all sing along. 'My mind is like a plastic bag...' Yeah, I can relate.

Reading - Quantum by Manjit Kumar (I've been at it for a while...) Any quantum physics fans out there?

Psst, technology, you're making me look bad

I'm still figuring out why I can't respond to comments!
I love it when you comment - please don't think me rude!
(Kirsty Pow, Shelley and Ms Suburbansider, I'm looking at you... <3)

I love you too, but I'm gonna mace you in the face

'Darjeeling brothers' by supMon

Life is not like the movies.
Generally, I would say this is for the best. Otherwise we'd be up to our necks in cliches, silly misunderstandings and sickly sweet happy endings.
Give me, instead, the bittersweet, melancholy, awkward and sometimes surreal films of Wes Anderson. 'The Darjeeling Limited' and 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou' have to be my favourites. So when I found Jordi from SupMon on Etsy, I just knew I had to share.
Are there any Wes Anderson fans out there?

This is my 100th post - fancy that! I'll put my mind to something special for 101...

Verbs are doing words

Making... a crochet rug made of circles

Hearing...Blood Pressures by The Kills

Reading... Cider House Rules by John Irving

Wild animals, Love and some science

We were visited by a pod of dolphins at the beach on Monday. There was not another soul around, and the dolphins came within 6 feet of the shoreline, right in front of us! For a moment we worried they were beaching themselves, but I guess they were just saying hi. I followed along the beach as they leapt and belly-flopped in the chilly water, and felt quite lucky for the rest of the day.
I saw the 'Love' graffiti later that day, written in a footpath in Red Hill, and had to get a quick snap.

The kids and I were reading about bioluminescence the other day, which is the natural occurence of visible light created in the cells of animals and plants. I knew deep-sea creatures and some fungus could do this cool trick, but I didn't imagine there were scientific forays into things like glowing trees to line highways! Or how about novelty pets that glow in the dark? Creepy! The concept that really got me was bio-identifiers for escaped convicts! Wow. How would Richard Kimble get away if he was lit up like a Christmas tree?

Picnic by the river

We mosied down to the river, not far from home, and took advantage of the happily (for us) under-used park. This park has no swings, just lots of trees for climbing, and calm river for gazing.
The home-made salami, tomato and cheese scrolls were gobbled up before I could even take a photo, which reminded me that sometimes it's nice to keep things basic. (Although I am inspired to put on a grand picnic now...)
Cam and I shared a beer and watched the kids run around like nuts, then he read Little Red Riding Hood to them while I watched the clouds sail overhead.
These truly are the days!
Are you enjoying the school holidays and making the most of this gorgeous winter weather?

Verabel + Fox and a cool A to Z

As with most things, I’m a little late jumping on the geometric design bandwagon. Apparently it’s big? Well, if there was such a thing as an actual geometric bandwagon, it would be fun, you could ride it, and it would be prettied up by Alyson Fox. How gorgeous is this colour study, called ‘Pattern 6’?

I first found Alyson’s work in the Etsy shop Verabel + Fox, where the colour studies and patterns can be seen as embellishment on vintage-style lockets. Alyson works with textile design too, as you can see in A Small Collection. Definitely worth a look!

It may be too late to enter the giveaway, but you can still read this cool A to Z from ReRead. The author is a fellow BrisStyler, but I do not know her name!



What a mother!

Kirsty and I, around 1980

My filthy little darlings

My mum, Susan, climbing in Nepal

It's that time of year... all the soft lens images of adoring, clean-faced children bringing Mum exactly what she wanted for Mother's Day...Hmmm.
I took my kids out for breakfast this morning, then to run a few errands. Mister Minit had my resoled shoes all ready, and chatted with a big smile on his face, and it was only when I felt something fall into my cleavage that I realised that somehow my pendant had been covered in mocha cheesecake and I was wearing it all down my front. Tres embarrassing.
As for my Mum, she has worn her share of cake, vegemite and texta. But she's a free spirit who wears it with a smile!
A real mum is crazy, imperfect and will totally wear those floral slippers/macaroni necklaces. A real mum thinks your artwork should hang in the Louvre. A real mum agrees you could win 'So You Think You Can Dance'. A real mum will eat those cupcakes, even if they are a little heavy on the salt.

All the awesome mothers out there, and mothers-to-be, keep it real!