Retro dollhouse

Rather liked this modest residence amond the display of work/s at the Sydney Miniatures Fair:

Very sweet.

I had the fun of toddling around the show with one pal (who enjoyed her first visit to this event very much) and then chauffeuring an old hand at the show, the shopping sherpa herself, to Ikea (less than ten minutes away by car).  Because it's there, and it was lunchtime, and you only have to say IKEA to TSS and she sparkles.  Lovely to be able to share the fun of the fair with friends.

A few items from the show came home with me.  Will blog them later!

Dollhouse bathroom in a cupboard

1104 miniature bath cupboard
Originally uploaded by rooruu

It's not only a suave double-level bathroom, but I love the reuse/reimagining of a cupboard.

One of the enjoyable discoveries of a day at the Sydney Miniatures and Doll House Fair today.

The last ones

1104 the last ones
Originally uploaded by rooruu

The last Easter eggs of 2011

127 Hours

1104 127 Hours film
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Been meaning to see this for ages. Finally did. Harrowing in parts, but also very good.

Royal wedding cross-stitch: QR code (quirky!)

Inspired by a QR code cross stitch sampler by Omega Chicken on Craftster - I found it on Mr X stitch here - I got to thinking about QR codes, and how their grid lends itself to cross stitch. (I'd been thinking about them in relation to their possibilities for work, and this took me sideways into stitching options).

OK, why not stitch a QR code royal wedding cross stitch?  Very 2011!  Bamboozle 'em proper in fifty years' time!

There is a recommended wording for royal wedding souvenirs.  Read all about it here.  The wording is:
To Commemorate the Marriage of Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton, 29th April 2011



And that wording is represented by this QR code.  Really and truly.  I generated it using the free online QR code generator here.  Try this online QR code decoder if you wish to check my veracity: http://zxing.org/w/decode.jspx.  If you have a smartphone, you can get free QR reader apps - just point your smartphone's camera at a QR code using the app, and bingo, up comes the information in the QR code.

If, at this point, you are wondering what the heck a QR code is, it's like a barcode but it can do more, convey more information than a number.  Read the Wikipedia entry here.  You'll see them around - the SMH sometimes uses them to link readers to further contents, and advertisers are jumping on the bandwagon.

The size of the QR code is influenced by the amount of content.  So just : Will + Kate looks like this:

(Generated that with the same QR code generator as above).

Will I get stitching myself?  Dunno.  But if you'd like to borrow the idea for your own personal use, you are welcome.  If you do, or you link to this entry, do leave a comment so I can follow your progress!

Cheers

Ruth

Will & Kate: Royal wedding samplers

I am intrigued to see how crafters are choosing to document the royal wedding - most particularly with cross stitch/embroidery.  There's a commitment of time involved, and the fact that people feel engaged enough (um, bad pun) to spend that time.  The social history of it interests me.

Having had a couple of other vintage royal samplers find their way to me (although I'm not exactly a rabid royalist - or republican, either: but social history, yes, I'm interested!), I went looking to see what's about in the royal wedding sampler/craft stakes - stuff to stitch and sew, rather than commemorative souvenirs to buy.  Some of these are free/downloadable patterns, some are commercial patterns and kits.  A snapshot of designers' responses to the challenge of this event.

If you plan to download/print/buy/sew any of these, I'd suggest getting in sooner rather than later, as after 29 April 2011 the interest in William and Kate's nuptials will likely wane; links may disappear, kits run out and not be replaced.

My utter favourite is this one:

Designed by Julie Jackson of Subversive Cross Stitch, it is a free pattern.  Find out more here, including the link to the free PDF.  I gather it was designed in response to a challenge from the Independent newspaper to young designers for something a bit quirky by way of royal wedding souvenirs.  See the entire collection of ideas by clicking here.  With Keep Calm and its many cousins and variants being so popular at present, this is a fun nod to a current trend.  The tag line at the bottom is about the royal wedding being brought to you in association with the coalition government - perhaps an allusion most clear to those in the UK/familiar with current UK politics (I know there is currently a coalition govt in the UK, but the finer nuances of this tag line escape me).

Kell Smurthwaite of Kincavel Crosses has designed a couple of free royal wedding sampler patterns.  She blogged about this one here; find a larger image of the graph here.

From the same designer, another free pattern for a smaller sampler.  Read about it here.

From the same designer (has she been busy or what??) this one, called Kind Hearts and Coronets:

It's also a freebie pattern.  Read about it and find the chart by clicking here.

I note, in passing, (is that a bad pun?) that a lot of samplers I've seen have been carefully avoiding the happy couple's formal initials: WC having Other Associations......

Another quick and simple vintage style initial sampler is this freebie from Sarah Lindfield of Craftymoo:

Read her blog entry about the design here.  See a finished version as an ornie (ornament) here.  She went with WK.....


Taking a moment out for knitting, which I don't do...Selling gangbusters, and a hoot to boot is Fiona Goble's Knit Your Own Royal Wedding book

Love the corgis! Available all sorts of places: if you're in Australia and can't find it easily, Book Depository (either http://www.bookdepository.com/ or http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/ offer free shipping; or check at http://www.booko.com.au/ for other prices/sources).



Among the commercially available samplers is this tapestry in two colourways from Beth Russell of Designers Forum:

Find out more on her website by clicking here.

US-based The Sampler Girl has this design, referencing the charming randomness of vintage samplers:

Read her blog entry about it here.  Buy the e-pattern or a mailed version of the pattern, and read details of size etc by clicking here.  The ribbon at the bottom is a printed one she sourced from Etsy (she provides the link).


The UK cross stitch magazines have jumped on the bandwagon: one that seems to be turning up all over (and which cleverly includes the current Cool Britannia decor enthusiasm for Union Jacks and bunting) is this one in Cross Stitcher magazine issue 238 (not yet out in Australia, but you can find it on http://www.ebay.co.uk/ if you just can't wait).

Read about it here and here.  It was designed by Jacqui Pearce of Granny Knits.  You can buy the pattern from her here, or a kit (canvas, wool, chart etc) from her here.

If you like that pretty look but want something even simpler, Laura Howard of Bugs and Fishes designed this:

Click here for her free pattern and instructions.

Referencing the charming illustrations from children's books, Bustle and Sew has this royal wedding embroidery pattern:

It's available from this Etsy shop: listing link; shop link.  As an e-pattern, I'm sure if that listing is sold you can convo (converse with/contact) the seller to enquire about another one.  Found this via the Feeling Stitchy blog here.

Taking another slight detour, Makower in the UK have updated their Charles and Diana wedding fabric design into a William and Kate design, which they have produced as a limited edition in two colourways:

They sold 40,000 metres of the Charles and Diana fabric, so 'limited edition' means time rather than quantity, I would guess... Read more on the Makower site by clicking here.  It's for sale from quilt/fabric shops (esp. in the UK, I would guess; less likely to make it abroad) and from sellers on http://www.ebay.co.uk/ and likely http://www.etsy.com/ .  There are etsy sellers using this to make bags/tea cosies etc.


Majesty magazine's shop offers this sampler from One Off designs - they got in early with an engagement version:

Click here for the shop page (the pattern offers engagement/wedding lettering).

 
You can see (and also buy) the wedding version from Sew Inspiring here.

Coats Crafts has a free downloadable pdf pattern for their wedding sampler:

Click here for more information and the PDF link.

The Royal School of Needlework has a whitework kit in their shop.

Sorry it's so blurry, but the pic's just tiny on their website.  Read all about it (and buy if you wish) here.

Florashell offer this coat of arms royal wedding sampler:

They sell through their website (click here) and also have this listed on http://www.ebay.co.uk/.  Chart only, or complete kits.


This design is from Mary Hickmott:

On her website you can order the chart, or kits with Belfast/aida.  Click here for the link.

On http://www.ebay.co.uk/, seller cathduff52 is selling this blackwork design:

The item number is 170628849170 and she is selling multiple copies (of the same chart) at this item number.  Blackwork Royal Wedding Embroidery Chart is the item's title.

If blackwork's your thing, this is (yet another) free chart from Lady Kell of Kincavel, aka Kell Smurthwaite:

Click here for the blog entry and chart.  Unlike some of the others, this is a wedding sampler that could be adapted to other people.


DMC has a range of royal wedding samplers in kit form.

Read about the DMC kits here.

John Clayton Royal Collection has a pictorial cross stitch kit, rather than a sampler.

Find out more by clicking here.

Monica Solorio-Snow of the blog, Happy Zombie (unsupervised and armed with scissors!) has this colour-in style modern embroidery as a free pattern on her site:

Read more about here "Kiss Me Kate" design here.  PDF link is here.

Crafter News had this collage of royal wedding crafts:

Click here for the links to each of the crafts/designers/designs illustrated.

There are a few designs where I can only find images, not links to buy.  Some may be findable on eBay etc, or by you doing more creative googling than I have managed.  I'm putting them here to record the range/variety of items available.

Cross Stitch Collection magazine issue 195 includes a huge royal wedding souvenir cross stitch, another pictorial one:

An unknown magazine had this cushion design:

I think this one is also from a magazine pattern:

One keen stitcher blogging about her royal wedding sampler stitching is Linens and Royals.  Her projects include the One Off sampler and the John Clifton design.  Playing with Needles has an entry on royal wedding blogs here: and her needlework based on the Queen's coronation gown - together with extensive information in photos and text - is definitely worth reading.

If you know of any other Will and Kate/William and Catherine/ WC/WK/Royal Wedding samplers or stitcheries etc that I've missed, please leave a comment with linkydinks so folks reading this can follow and find more!

Is this the most comprehensive roundup of royal wedding samplers and patterns on the internet right now?

Dunno.

But it's fun to have recorded them.  For me, a number have really cliched fonts/lettering, and I wonder how they will wear over time.  There are classic design elements that don't date - coat of arms as a f''r'instance: but the silhouettes on the DMC design look cliched to me, as do their curlicues.  Given that I prefer vintage-style samplers, the hugely pictorial ones (like the John Clifton, or or the Cross Stitch Collection one) are less to my taste.  Partly, it's because when I've done cross-stitch, I avoid the patterns/designs that occupy every inch of the linen with a stitch: I like the white space (and it's faster to stitch up, too!).  To each their own: a friend of mine does astonishing, prize-winning cross stitches of the pictorial kind, which are beautiful.  I just know I wouldn't choose to sew them myself.

Cheers

Ruth

PS if you would like to boggle at the range of royal wedding souvenirs available, http://royalweddingtat.tumblr.com/ will enable you to boggle comprehensively.



Hot air balloon

1104 hot air balloon
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Perhaps hard to tell from this picture, but it was floating lower than I've ever seen one over a suburban area without a large park nearby. Maybe the passengers wanted to see their house from above.

Not something I've ever hankered to do, hot air ballooning.

Annie Leibovitz

1101 exhibition ticket
Originally uploaded by rooruu

This exhibition, at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, is definitely worth seeing. Then toddle on up to the State Library for the Jeff Carter photographs on exhibit there. Brilliant.

Queensland Flood Relief Auctions

Click on the button to find out about wonderful work being auctioned by craftspeople to aid those affected by the floods in Queensland.

 

Summer's shoes

1101 summer's shoes
Originally uploaded by rooruu

They aren't elegant, or smart, or really anything but functional. But oh, they are that. Easy. Simple. Accommodating. Not hot on your feet (?cool!) Comfortable. Washable, adaptable - yup, simple for pottering around in summer. Crocs, fakes, whatever. Summer's shoes.

Washing up

1101 washing up
Originally uploaded by rooruu

The quiche tin, the plates, the baking trays used for soda bread...the dish rack reminds me of an enjoyable lunch with a friend.

Waiting

1101 face 01
Originally uploaded by rooruu

In the middle of a vintage shop glass cabinet, she looks like she is waiting with such sweet anticipation.

And I'm having fun with Hipstamatic.

The end of 2010

The end of 2010
Originally uploaded by rooruu

Ah, the fun of playing with the Hipstamatic app! Happy new year.

weekend

Had a lovely weekend in Canberra.  Saturday was the quilt show (big NO PHOTOGRAPHY signs up, so no photos to show you) and the charming company of friends.  One of whom always has inspiring new creative books to show me, and had some Cath Kidston treasures for me.  One of my favourite quilts was a New York Beauty by a first-time exhibitor - wonderful colours, and I especially liked how if you looked at it closely, while a number of the fabrics might have qualified as 'fuglies', it all worked together really well to make a vibrant and beautiful quilt. (Brenda has provided a winners' gallery link in her comment, but this quilt isn't there.  Trust me, it was a corker!)

There was white, white frost on Saturday morning, and ice on the car (doesn't get as cold and frosty at home).  I forgot to take a photo, but enjoyed it with my eyes...

On Sunday morning at Jamison trash and treasure markets there were things I recognised and was so very glad I'd never bought, way back when, because I'd be trying to sell them now too.. (if I hadn't already tossed 'em).

And there was some treasure.  The Shopping Sherpa found some, and I came home with a vintage leather suitcase ($20), a painted/worn wooden lidded box ($10 - perfect for using for the week's recyclables in the kitchen) and a rather too gynaecological (in a sinister way) vintage Singer buttonholing attachment in a box ($2).  Not a painting, because the chap wanted too much; nor the interesting tin box, ditto.  There were people selling less usual (okra) and more usual vegetables and fruits, flats of brightly coloured pansies and polyanthus and a cheerful crowd of people of all sorts and kinds browsing the wares (after all, my trash could be their treasure...).  Many nice friendly stallholders, too.

No snow on the way home (as happened a few years ago), just clear blue winter skies.  There was some water in Lake George, which hasn't been the case the last few times I've driven past (um, that's about the only thing I photographed... photo here soon).  Those wind farm turbines must be eNORmous, if they look as big as they do from the lookout on the main road side of the lake.

I'll have to get the camera out next time...

Irish Soda Bread

I've blogged about this before - one of my absolutely favourite foods.  Took me a while to find the recipe I liked best, but I have.  Went looking for it this evening and GADS!! couldn't at first find the recipe notebook into which I'd written it.  And while I've said I'll put it on this blog more than once, turns out I don't seem to have done so.  So here it is, enshrined here for you to enjoy and me to find when that notebook grows legs again...

My handwritten recipe attributes this version to (Australian) Better Homes and Gardens, June 1991 - so it's been My Recipe for soda bread for almost twenty years; and never superseded in that time.  I'm giving you gold...



IRISH OATMEAL SODA BREAD

Measurements use Australian standard cups and spoons.  I'm sure you can find a website to translate if you need to...

Ingredients:

• 250g (2 cups) plain flour
• 200g (1 1/2 cups) wholemeal flour
• 3 tablespoons quick rolled oats
• 1 tsp salt (don't leave this out)
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp bicarb soda
• 60g cold butter, cut into chunks
• 450ml buttermilk
• 1 small egg

Method:

• Oven to 200degC
• Combine flours and oats in a food processor, mix until finely ground. 
• Add salt, baking powder and bicarb, process to mix.
• Add butter and process until butter is thoroughly blended
• Transfer mixture to a bowl, make a well in the centre.
• Beat buttermilk and egg together, pour into well, mix until dry and spongy; if too slack, bread will be heavy.
• Tip onto a floured board and knead for a few minutes until smooth.  Just lightly, just enough - don't overhandle it.  I probably do no more than a minute.  Shape into two rounds (or one large round) about 5cm thick.
• Place on baking trays that are either covered in baking paper or lightly floured.
• Cut a cross in the bread that goes down the to base - four quarters if two small rounds, two crosses/eighths if one large round.  This allows the bread to rise evenly and gives it its characteristic look.
• If you want to glaze it, beat an egg yolk with 2 tsp water, glaze and scatter 1 1/2 tablespoons of quick rolled oats on top.  Me, I just don't bother.
• Bake 35-40 min or until bread is golden and sounds hollow when tapped on the base.  Cool on rack, but serve warm with butter.  It's good with home made jam or marmalade, or with a nice bitey cheddar; I'm happy as anything to have simple soda bread with butter.  It can be microwaved to reheat, but you might lose a little of its crustiness.  It's a great accompaniment for soup -eg pumpkin soup.
• If you don't have a food processor, rub in the butter by hand and use oatmeal.
• It only keeps a day or two, so eat it fresh or freeze it.  When I was a child and bakers didn't bake seven days a week, or on public holidays, this is what my mother would make to tide us over.

Righto!  Now this recipe is on the internet I'll never lose it (!)   And you can enjoy it too.

I think one of the secrets of this recipe is the egg - it does add to the flavour.  And, as noted, don't leave out the salt.  I don't madly salt food, but the salt in this is necessary (left it out once and the taste wasn't right).

It's been a while since I blogged here - golly gee work has been busy this year!

Back soon!

Kiva: meet Shirley Macedo Garcia

Meet Shirely Macedo Garcia, who will receive my sixteenth Kiva loan.

Located in San Martín, Peru, she is an upholsterer and will use this loan to buy rolls of fabric, and different colors of thread to make the upholstery.

Ms. Shirley belongs to the Communal Bank “Las Decididas II” in the Tarapoto District, San Martín Region and the San Martín Department. She is married and she is 57 years old. She is the mother of 2 children, 1 child is still studying and is attending university.

With the first loan of de S/. 300.00 Nuevos Soles, based on a friend’s idea, she now works on upholstery in her home with the help of her sewing machine. She works with her husband.

Currently they work in the same business and the clients’ requests come to the home daily. With this loan of S/2,000.00 Nuevos Soles, she will expand her business by buying rolls of fabric, thread for sewing the upholstery for the furniture, a moto-taxi and motorized vehicles. She is proud of her work.

She feels like an accomplished woman therefore she is grateful for the opportunity offered by the Manuela Ramos Movement, so she can develop as a woman and businesswoman.

There's a Kiva button over on the right of this blog.  Kiva is microfinance - you usually get your loan back, and then you can reloan it.  The recipients are the working poor, entrepreneurs; it's hugely rewarding to know a little from here can mean so much there.

I've been undertaking Kiva loans for over two years, and it's a great charitable enterprise.  The borrowers' stories are a fascinating window on other parts of the world and other lives.  I often, but not always, choose people engaged with textiles in some way, reflecting my own interests.  As it happens, I've just had some chairs reupholstered, so this loan seemed apt.

Minimum loan is $25US, so not a large amount.  Worth doing. Click here to see people needing loans.

I know we had February...

I know we had February.  Always the hardest month to endure, weatherwise - the heat of summer and the humidity.  Slogging and sweating through the start of the school year and thinking, longingly, of March, and autumn.

It's March, and the weather seems to know.  Humidity not a problem, the days a little cooler, and overnight too, so you can sleep.

I went back to work after Australia Day and it's been so very busy.  Which is the cliche, but also the truth.  Productive at work and not much happening on the home front.

It's hard for ME to believe, but I haven't sewn anything for nearly two months.  Nothing, not a quilt, not even a button or a hem.  I haven't gone that long without sewing for years and years.  Maybe that gives you an idea of how all-consuming work has been.  Perhaps what I'll do for Easter is schedule a quilt project I'd like to play with, clear the decks and give it air and time and see what happens.  No deadlines, no commissions or anything, just let it happen and go from there.

Mind you, my hardworking Bernina sewing machine is probably very happy to be getting a service.  And I've been invited to give a 'quilt talk' to a patchworking group later this month.

There's a bit of public speaking going on in the next while, on the work front - three presenter gigs coming up.  I did a couple towards the end of last year, and not only did I enjoy them, so did the audiences (and they found them useful).  They're fun, and a good way for me to reflect on my own working practices and challenges as well as share ideas with others.

I've kept reading blogs (yay for bloglines), and found a couple of new ones to read too.

Must do some autumnal clearing up and replanting in the (rather neglected) garden.  There are tight green buds on the pink camellia...