Dawn Mellowship: Toxic Beauty: The Hidden Chemicals in Cosmetics and How They Can Harm Us
Very tech minded, but if you really want to know what is in the stuff you put on your face, then read this..... (*****)
Matilda Lee: Eco Chic
This is a BRILLIANT book, it will change your perspective on EVERYTHING you purchase fashionwise. I haven't finished it yet, but it is TOTALLY incredible.... (*****)
Jennifer Stafford: Domiknitrix
I've just started the most fab sweater from this book, it may look a little superficial on first glance with a trendy pattern vibe but the technical tutes in this book will be well worth the investment. (*****)
Hello wonderful people XX
Yaaaaahhhyyy me!!!! last day of a FULL month of blogging and UBER proud of myself so please accept apologies for this late night speedy post (I have a 5.30am start with Physio at 7.00am, got home late, few homely tasks to do) and now I'm a little trashed, what can I say??!!
Let's do this all again in February and I will TRY to make my life more interesting.
Blessings, KB
Even one of the heaviest days of rain and an injury couldn't keep me away from Paris to Provence - with a pair of Wellington boots you can stomp around in any puddles, muddy sloshes & messes then add an Umbrella you are completely indestructible.
During one of the biggest downpours one of these tricky twosome grabbed my new IPhone 4s, blew up a balloon, pushed my IPhone inside it and then popped it so I had a completely waterproof phone cover. BRILLIANT but scary to hand over the IPhone when a puddle was below and the rain was pouring inbetween the umbrella's.....
Lady Antoinette attended the proceedings....
The wonderful venue was Como Historic House in South Yarra, an AMAZING venue and a SUPER fun event for ANY Francophile (...or ANYONE who LOVES good food & wine and drinking it).
What speaks more of France than a FABULOUS bottle of wine.
But this last picture was my absolute fave - all taken on my little old IPhone. Just HOW adorable is this little sweetheart?!!
Before I'd even eaten Breakfast I had downed various glasses of wine, gateau, crepes, macaron, more cake, more wine and a french violette liquor - and it wasn't even Midday. There are also heaps of seminars to attend so I saw a Macaron demonstration by Pierrick Boyer of Le Petit Gateau, a seminar on free-trade chocolate and another Pierrick demo for Croquembouche (sidebar: LPG is DEFINITELY the BEST Patisserie in Melbourne so make sure you visit when next in the CBD and find any reason to buy cake for the office).
Even though it was raining A LOT I had an absolute blast, indulged my inner Francophile and made myself TOTALLY homesick for Europe. I am SERIOUSLY in need of visiting my family in the U.K. and taking a mini jaunt to both France & Italy but, in the meantime, Paris to Provence will do fine - make sure you look out for it next year and prepare to eat, wine, dine and shop to your heart's content.
Blessings, KittyB
I'm not afraid to say I've had a lot of unfinished projects around the house and while this 4 day weekend I didn't get to solve all of them - mostly due tothe 35+ temperature - I did a few things that have uplifted my spirit.
I've had a cheap pin board 1/2 undercoated in the studio for a few months that I never seemed to get around to fixing up, it just wasn't good enough, I had to have a 'real' vision board for it to be effective, not a cheapie $12 one I gave a lick of paint to. Well, this weekend for no reason I came home from a shopping trip, started painting and this is the result (I still have to finish painting the tabletop so be kind....):
It IS a work in progress but I now have a mini space at this rental that looks like it has some life (note, I am NOT showing you the rest of the room....). My Design Files calendar has a home and there is even a postcard of one of my paintings on there to inspire me.
Then, today, before catching up with friends, I made these pins since it IS the FABULOUS Adam Lambert's Birthday today). The resin was still drying when I took these photos hence they're a little fuzzy:
So, just a LITTLE creativity in my weekend - this creative soul starves herself of this so often and I REALLY need to reconnect -. Back to work tomorrow....gggaaaahhhhhh.....
Blessings, KittyB
As you can see, it's been a REALLY busy day.......
A day off, a four day weekend SHOULD be mandatory - today was SUBLIME!
After a failed effort of tidying a super messy table & studio I randomly ended up painting a frame on an old pinboard that's been sitting around the place (a deep Turquoise, a liquitex acrylic) and I only did this as I realised I hadn't hung my DesignFiles calendar and wanted to put up some postcards etc... for creative inspiration. So much for my grand weekend of massive change but wait, there are two days left.....PHEW!
What do you do when it's hot and you are taking no direction? - go to an air conditioned movie. Hugo in 3D was incredible, highly recommend. It won't be what you are thnking from any of the promo's but it's a sublime love letter to the art of film, the power of purpose & your imagination. That living out ones purpose and dreaming will keep you from being broken and help you find your way home. The 3D was purposeful, unique, breathtaking & magical. LOVE <3
Then I come home to read more about the mandatory Facebook timeline and how you have seven days left before it becomes so - magical Hugo vanishes and real world enters.
Blessings, KB XX
Was lucky enough to get to The Design Files Open House a few weeks ago - REALLY wanted to hide under the bed, squat and never leave - SOOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!! Many design luminaries came to the party to create this 'real life' experience as close to the kinda joy, happiness & uplift that IS The Design Files blog The house was full of wonderful WONDERFUL design fabulosity and the best of all was you could buy it ALL except that I had zero cashola - so that was kinda the sucky bit - but I took away a mountain of inspiration from lots of creative people I admire, here are just a few things I liked:
1) Stationery heaven - Thank GOODNESS I owned or know of most of the things on this table or I would have been SUPER jealous. NB: Jealous of the vintage typewriter though, *really* want an Orange one of these.
2) The chilidren's space - little hard to photograph without the yellow cast (and my super sony mini handheld) but just LOOK at the adorable-ness.
2) The upstairs - Kitchen Table, FULL to the brim with pretty.
4) The main living space upstairs - I just can't EVEN - SOOOOOOOOO much beauty and natural light and openness and the couch was the most STUNNING & inviting (I had to lie on it a few times just to get the right photo angles ;-D).
5) The shelving units in the same space, just OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH.....
6) The things on things..the artwork......
Unique one off Kat Macleod's.... (Design Files Interview with Kat HERE and buy some artwork HERE)
Can you SEE why you wouldn't want to leave???? At the time I had an injury - same one I still have now - but I am SO glad I took the time to visit - INCREDIBLE!!! Thank you Miss Lucy Feagins for all this pretty, I wish you a WONDERFUL 2012 and look forward to more of the inspiration you are sure to find.
Now, WHY does my creative pace look like it does...mmmmm.....time to tidy, Ebay and fundraise for those ikea doors to my shelving units, would be a start.
To Beauty, Design and Inspiration,
KittyB XX
Small pockets of joy in my day:
Do you get paid to do something you love? Would you do that which you do at work for no money, with the people you are currently working with and feel this was a great use of your life?
I'm ALWAYS looking for the WHY...that's my problem. If I really wanted to chase the dollar, I guess I could, go work for a legal firm or some corporate tycoon, have no purpose in my work, no love, no joy, no passion but LOTS of money to shop. Instead, I seek purpose - 'What IS my purpose?', 'Why am I doing what I am doing?', 'Is this the best use of my time on this planet?' All GREAT questions, but not unless you TAKE ACTION to answer them and - as some of you who know me will know - ACTION in regard to pursuing my dreams is sadly lacking and has been mired in fear and of what I know not.
People tell me it's unrealistic to do something you love, that I might need to just settle with where I am in my life, that there are people in far worst situations than I am and that I should be happy with my lot.....well.....I'm not. WHAT! This is supposed to be my 'Happy Craft' blog but I can't help needs to find it's way out today, my spirit has a voice and is finding a way to be heard.
2 years ago I bought a goals program, worked my way through to establish a list of dreams, a life purpose statement, 4 pillars/values and just as I got to the point of actually DOING something stopped. I picked it up again this year, stopped again. I guess I'm working through what is this 'fear' and 'self sabotage' that I keep putting up in front of myself actually is and where it comes from. IS it just my Gemini nature having too much to choose in options and a fear of leaving that behind or am I caught in the fear of failure/success. Plus, I work in a job involving much multi-tasking which only serves to compound this jump-around tendency, it's not helping.
I guess the other thing is that I am an Artist and maybe really that's it, that my journey is a winding path learning as I go rather than something way predictable and linear. But I can't help feeling the time is NOW and finding my inner Rock Star is the key....... Answers on a postcard please. And that's probably why I bought my boots the other day...
I know what you are thinking: The IPhone met it's ugly nemesis water, but, NOT the case, more just a tale of weekend woe searching for the perfect protector and a swimsuit for some rehab therapy for this UFO injury I've had for 5 months that I *really* am not enthusiastic about (as I got thrown into water to learn to swim which I really haven't done ever since and now even walking into a pool or the mere SMELL of chlorine makes me totally freak).
CHADSTONE = NEMESIS! I've only been there 3 times in 15+ years and the third time was yesterday.
Operation IPhone Case - I did A) Apple - Optus - Telstra - Vodafone - Crazy John's - Platinum Comms then back to point A again ad infinitum along with a selection of mini stalls in walkways and found NOTHING I was in love with that also offered protection.
Operation Swimsuit - I tried a selection on in the Speedo store, TigerLily and SeaFolly but all were either not chrlorine resistant, butt ugly or lastly too expensive (for something I hate anyways....).
So, now I'm in pain walking & sitting (cuz that's what this injury does if I walk for 3 hours) and I've had yet another weekend of being lost wandering & achieving nothing but, on the plus side, I only have a 3 day week of work so I'll have 4 days next weekend and more opportunities to do it all over again. I'm honestly am more disillusioned than I was about Chadstone before I went, just full of people buying stuff they don't need, but then again maybe just lots of people wandering like me with no sense of 'why' so they walk to be unconscious.
THIS is my life but luckily for me there are occasionally pavements are sprinkled with Glitter so I get through.
.....is not like the other - but I do think they're all pretty spectacular beyond awesomeness.
It's kinda hump day here! Can anyone tell me if you are doing a 'BlogEveryDayForAMonth' challenge when hump day is? Would you say just prior to or just after the 1/2 way mark?
It seems by the time I get here to write that I google and doodle and it ends up being uber late then I crash in the morning as I'm so tired, then its the weekend and I spend all the time sitting and resting from the flat out week I've had, and especially with this injury, no walking or play for me....
Sorry guy's, seems like it's a Brit Whinge day...well, I did warn you at the beginning there might be a few. Will take a breath on the weekend, get my head back and remember:
They came, they saw, they ate, they laughed, they conquered, they crafted, they chatted, they drank, they left.
A synopsis of Brown Owls today at Madame Brussel's - find YOUR Brown Owls *HERE*
What I wouldn't do to own some McQueen!!!! But, hey, I can make an uber cool Coffee Bean Shakira....all is not lost.
Headache. Hot.
I saw these boots at TopShop and it was as if the heavens had opened. Waited 24hrs but realised there was NO way round it and I just HAD to buy (luckily, coincided with payday...):
A few months ago I was lucky enough to set aside some time to go to the Melbourne Open House. It's a weekend where some buildings, companies & other venues are open to the public for guided tours that normally aren't. You race around the city like a crazy person and try an squash in as much as you can in a very short space of time. You pray that there are no queues so that youhave more chance of fitting in the weird and wonderful and you HOPE you have made the right choice.
First day, I spent by myself, just seeing one or two places, the next day I took my partner and we followed a carefully planned program - first up was Geyer Studio :
and the views of Collins St were AMAZING:
Some buildings were SO dull, but the views were much more spectacular:
The roof is the ONLY place to be at CH 2. If I don't hit 'POST' now I will miss today...here goes....
Normal service will be resumed tomorrow but for now THIS is me Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
There's a faint rumbling in the distance: The Adam Storm is coming - pre-order 'Trespassing' on Amazon out March 20th.
Can't even........gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!!
I was reminded via cable TV this morning of my passion for pattern, the Englishness of my gene with it's inherently European eye far more familiar with the curves, flora, fauna and abundant nature of a chintz print (which, did you know was called chintz as they thought it orginally came from China but it was actually Indian), Rococo or early Italian Florentine and with an innate ability to pick out something from my hometown amidst sea from across the globe.
I'm not sure where this natural 'eye' comes from or what makes it tune into vibration the way it does but I am SO thankful it is there as without it my life would be a sea of Black, Camel or whatever the horrid trend of the moment was. As well as the many blessings this brings though it can also be a curse if you go looking for Violet with bright Green accents - that is when sewing comes in. I'm still learning how to tailor, otherwise, I'd be making all kinda crazy stuff, I mean, I can make basic things, but I need stuff to fit well and be suitable for a corporate environment and that's a different story. I *really* think I need a tailors dummy and a super duper sewing class/mentor/tailor.
For a person like me - excited by line and colour - the world can be heaven on earth and the tiniest crack or imperfection in a building can make you take a sharp intake of breath in wonder at the same time it can make you a dictatorial monster as you heave in horror at the 'seemingly' hideous combination someone is wearing down the street, the off balance composition in an artwork or even a line on a Powerpoint Org Chart that is slightly wonky (guess what I was tetchy about today...). It's ALL about the beauty in the line and PERFECTION - I really can't help this, it's the Artist in me.
Pinterest is THE place to be and explosion of colour - you can see my stuff HERE. Sign up for the time of your life so you can share your LOVE of beauty.
Enough ramblng take a relaxing stroll through a field by Amy Butler sharing her LARK collection with Rowan.......
and fall in love too with some things I think are super cute in a quirky way:
A Domain!
KittyB X
Aaaahhhhh Brunswick, how I DO love to stroll and stroll by your beautiful windows and hidden gems of artwork that hide around each corner. I'm a Southsider, but I freely admit that there are mountains & oodles of things across the river that I neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed to see/do/play in and pretend I'm hanging out with the cool peeps - even for a little while.....
On even the shortest walk you can find a million treasures, the below are just a small sample of.
THE BESTEST crafty vintage haven on Brunswick closed it's doors just a couple of days ago after inspiring, nurturing and creating marvels for all lucky enough to pass through the neighbourhood over many years - and I have no doubt MeetMeAtMikes Craft Goddess & BlogRoyalty Ms Pip Lincolne will continue to inspire online and in every bookstore & occasionally newsjournals & TV for many more - see JustB for her latest collaborative project - along with Nikki Parkinson and look out for a MeetMeAtMikes online). It's only a mini taster - and I TOTES especially LOVE the ever changing door but some MeetMeAtMikes inspiration below (maybe some more Ghostpatrol?........
And further along on my walk - Gertrude St - Little Salon:
Further along on Gertrude....
I'm pretty sure I have a mountain of other window photos somewhere, I just LOVE finding inspiration while I walk. Mmmmm.....maybe that's what I'll do this weekend, after all, window shopping is FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! (and maybe I can spring for a coffee too...only just....).
Blessings, KB
What to do when your brain is frazzled and you're in NaBloPoMo? Photoblog!
1st three taken Chapel St Bazaar - what an AMAZING cash register, right? - the remainder were taken somewhere in Melb CBD and I'm pretty certain that last piece is the PHENOMENAL Ghostpatrol . That's it, I'm holding my hands up as a lazy blogger.....gaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!
Some things you just HAVE to have and Kim Hargreaves patterns ARE kinda my thing, it's NEVER been the same since she left Rowan but if she hadn't we might not have had this FABULOUS beret - 'Robin' from 'Thrown Together' made in RYC Cashsoft 4ply.
The original & the cover shot of 'Thrown Together' (out of print):
And here is my version:
TOTAL change of pace today - just HOW cool is my new earphone holder? :-D - PERFECT for us crafty peeps.
Blessings & TGI almost F,
KittB
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Better Than I Know Myself
Adam Lambert: Trespassing
New release, off the album 'Trespassing' released 20th March 2012. (*****)
