Excursions

Leo found a scooter in hard rubbish. We got some new grips for it and he's off, learning how to balance. We go for walks with Hazel in the sling, she has a snooze and we take in all the sights. It's good to live slow sometimes, checking out gardens, houses, clouds and the 'fresh country air' as Leo says.

Lovely autumn colour in Clifton Hill. Luminous.

Hazel sucking her fists, at Williamstown beach. We always go to this beach in summer, but had a day there last week, the whole place was deserted and it really recharged my batteries. Love that interface of land, sky and sea.

Listening to: A Tribe Called Quest - Excursions

On my bedside table

Scuse the tiny photo, but in real life this book is a chunky hardback bible of goodness. Here's the blurb:

'Shoes for the Moscow Circus is an atmospheric, lyrical look behind the scenes of a number of Australian trades and industries, many of which are fast disappearing in the modern world.

Arts writer Leta Keens, with photographer Oliver Strewe, visited more than 25 factories and workshops -- including an umbrella maker and cricket ball factory, a taxidermist and a bicycle maker, a tannery and a dolls' hospital -- and discovered far more than simply the history and processes involved in these trades. With an engagingly readable style, she also tells the stories of the characters who inhabit these intriguing and often little known worlds.'

I've been slowly making my way through this Mother's Day pressie as I feed Hazel, in fact I am getting a lot of reading done during this time, it's rather lovely. If you're interested in traditional crafts and professions, get this book, it is a divine look at some amazing trades, some of which are on their way out, and some who have luckily found their niche.

Listening to: Lisa Mitchell - Clean White Love

Slow Craft

Things are happening, albeit very slowly.

It feels like such an achievement to just do the dishes, so getting belts made is a bonus!
My studio is in our backyard, uninsulated, ie too cold for Hazel, so I've been crafting at the kitchen table in crappy incandescent light, but with the heater on.

I really miss the studio, did manage to get out there for 10 mins today, but I'm mostly doing other things for now. At the moment Hazel is fairly portable, and will sleep anywhere, with any noise, but she prefers to sleep on me, so crafting is difficult to accomplish, being a mostly two handed pursuit.

My baby sling has proven to be invaluable, it's the only time I get to crochet, I am actually having crochet withdrawal; twitchy fingers, longing glances at my crochet bag, thoughts of things to make banking up in my head, it's trés frustrating. Doesn't help that I have been visiting Attic24, she's all about the colourful crochet, in abundance, and with two kids and a young baby I don't know how she pulls it off.

I'm also having a blog crisis, I started this blog with the idea that it was all about shoemaking and related crafting, but here I am not able to really make progress in that department. I have held out for so long against being a mummy blogger (not that there's anything wrong with that), and am reluctant to make this space all about teething and sleep routines, but it just happens to be my world right now, so there will be a bit of that creeping in. Sorry!

Cairns Regional Gallery

Came across an old high school friend who now runs the Cairns Regional Gallery. Lo and behold, Postage Belts are now stocked in far north Queensland!

Large - Patent grey leather, sea creatures theme.


Medium - Navy leather, bird, insect and flower theme.


Small - Black leather, Aussie flowers theme.

Colour

All pinched from The Selby.

This is the Brooklyn apartment of Malene Barnett, a carpet designer. She has great taste in colour!

Makes me feel cheerful, which is really something as I feel like shite today.

Listening to: Sharon Jones - Inspiration Information

Five Faves

Hot water bottle.
I have to admit that as the sun goes down I get a little touch of melancholia, thinking of my no-doubt sleepless nights ahead with Hazel. Being up during the night with a baby feels so darn lonely, but one of the things that makes it better is my trusty hot water bottle, encased in an old and much loved chinese silk cover. Aaah, thank you hot water bottle.


Knee high socks.
I have posted before about my love of socks, especially knee highs. Jo recently sent me a pair from Japan which are fabulously resplendent with red and blue hounds-tooth pattern. Am in denial that they need washing....


David Sedaris.
Oh boy, what's not to love about Mr Sedaris? I was lucky enough to see him at Hamer Hall a few months ago, how great it is to share a laugh with a packed theatre of happy folk. As it turns out I am laughing so much reading 'When You Are Engulfed In Flames' that I interrupt Hazel while she's feeding. She gives me a look of disdain each time my chortles distract her from her task. Sorry babe.


Mandarines.
Small, portable, easy to peel, nutritious, sweet and sour - let's face it, mandarines are the most cheerful fruit.



Cardigans.
Breastfeeding and cardigans are the perfect combination. I can no longer wear dresses, but my cardis are coming in very handy right now. The red woolly op-shopped one is my fave, am also in denial that it needs washing.....

image from here

BLAM!

I adore Colourlovers.
Here's a pic from a recent post, this image is from Rio de Janeiro.

This is the official blurb.

'Four cities across the world recently got a lotta color lovin' from a new worldwide community initiative that is set on coloring in the world, the Let's Colour Project. Created to "inspire people to reclaim their surroundings and regenerate them with a splash of colour," the Let's Colour Project began in Rio De Janeiro and traveled to Paris, London then to Jodhpur, India.'

Visit this post and see other fabulous images here.

Listening to: Flight of the Conchords - Business Time
Love the business socks line!