Gorgeousness

Just because!

A Little Reading

Today has been a bit of a lazy day, but there have been some lovely highlights. The very kind Liss of Daydream Lily wrote a lovely post mentioning me, and talking about why we blog and how great it can be when you find people you really relate to and with situations similar to your own. Something I really strongly agree with and find it so wonderful to be included in a post about.

Then I discovered that they have made this book into a film, Atonement is a moving and emotive story, which I have read several times now and is a book that stays in my mind. I am so pleased about the actors chosen to play the characters, somtimes with books I love that are then made into films I just can't watch because of the actors chosen, but this time it's perfect to me. So now it's a long wait till Boxing Day!

I have read quite a few Ian McEwan books now and I really like his writing style, and they have all had quite different and unusual plots. These days it is hard to find time to sit and read a book, especially because I become so absorbed by it and just have to be left alone till it's finished. Then come out at the end feeling a little disjointed with reality (a good feeling). I really should make a more concerted effort to read because it really is one of the best things in the world to be taken to a different place.

Photo is of some work in progress.

Afternoon Delights

I feel like my holiday time is going by so fast, it's wednesday all ready. Slow down! I got my new copy of Frankie today and it's really good, lots to read and I love the free poster by Catherine Campbell, whose fantastic work I have only just discovered, her blog is great also. I think that is one of the best things about blogging coming across all these super talented and lovely people.
On the cover of the magazine it states "Creativity. Everyone has it" I think that's so true you don't have to be brilliant but there can be creativity in every little thing you do in life. I settled down for afternoon tea with a kiss biscuit I made yesterday and read my magazine, a very pleasant afternoon.

Spring is Springing

All the beautiful blossom is out all over the place right now, pretty great because it means spring is on it's way and I can't wait. Bring on daylight savings, and warm days, and lots of sun!
I am having such a great time off, lots of sleeping in and staying in my jammies till the middle of the afternoon 'cause I don't have to be anywhere. I have been working on my swaps, wow I never knew making a mix cd would be so hard but it has taken a lot of time and thought, but they should be ready to post sometime this week, along with my back2 school swap for Clara. I love sending out all these packages, I have enjoyed it so much.

Ghostpatrol

Love this shop pocketspace in Hobart (and not just the outside), there are some great books on graphics and lots of cute monster softies and all kinds of postcards etc but most of all I love the prints by artist ghostpatrol particularly this one below which is currently hanging in the window. If you have a look on his website there is some fantastic street art, some of which I recognise from around the place.



Images from www.ghostpatrol.net

Indulgences

While going through my cook books last night looking for some new dishes to learn I came across this really simple recipe that I just had to make for my breakfast this morning.

BLUEBERRY AND BANANA FRENCH TOAST:

So simple, start with some fresh medium thickness white bread and cut off the crusts. Then beat an egg (one egg per two slices of bread) add a little caster sugar and stir in. Mash some banana and add some blueberries and either some sugar or honey.
Melt some butter in a pan, and soak bread in egg mix, place one piece in pan then spread banana and blueberry mix on top and place the second peice of bread on the fruit. Squish down a little and cook on both sides till golden brown.
You can serve with more fruit, little icing sugar, honey, maple syrup, or even yoghurt would be really nice. mmmmm....


Recipe taken from Jamie's Dinners by Jamie Oliver.

MOZI

Some great new designs from MOZI, I love their products! This laptop sleeve is great, and the mugs so pretty. I also love the new olive oil decanter.

Photos from MOZI.

Asleep on the Job

My assistant today, after chewing on my pencil and card and plonking his little furry behind right in the way he crashed. Purring but not much help. Very lovely though.

Finishing Up and Moving On

Big day today, finished the job I have been in for the last three years. It is the strangest feeling, walking out at the end of the day knowing you don't have to go back there. I had a nice farewell afternoon tea and was given some beautiful flowers and a book voucher, which I can treat myself with, I have this in mind.
So now I have 11 days (yes I have counted them!) all to myself before I start my new job. It is going to be so great, I have a list of things I want to do and it includes:

- lots of walking and swimming at the Y.M.C.A. pool (trying to be very good and healthy at the moment)
- reading a few books and magazines I have piled up
- cooking
- making some more note books
- printing some gocco cards and prints and hopefully opening a store on etsy
- getting my swap goodies together to post
- and of course lots of blogging

I have finished four note books now, here is the finished result. I think the next batch will have some different coloured covers but overall they're not so bad.

From little things

Hi there,
Thought it was about time I shared a few of my ideas with you, some early drawings. I spent sunday morning sitting in my window with the sun on my back drawing away and it was the best feeling, I haven't felt so relaxed for ages. They are only a start, and I am not quite sure where I am going to go with them, I was thinking a gocco print and it would work well with the design but perhaps not the blocked clolour background as they don't seem to print so well. I really like the blue ink on the brown paper but it has been really difficult to photograph so I hope you can get some idea. It's a start and I am pleased about that. As the song goes, from little things big things grow...



Have a great week out there, I am off to watch this

Sunday Road Trip

Today felt very much like spring is on it's way. A gorgeous day, blue skies and warm sun. We went to the beach for a long walk this afternoon, we are so fortunate here to have some very beautiful beaches not for from the city. Listening to some suitable spring tunes we hit the road with windows down (ok one down a little) and sunnies on, via the nursery for strawberry plants and a meeting with a very friendly cockatoo who said hello and then wanted a rub on the back of the head. We obliged and he seemed very pleased.
The beach was just stunning, the light was beautiful and golden, and felt special, I think more so beacause it is still too cold for lots of visitors. Lots of shells to collect, and big crashing waves to run away from.
I am a little tired and sleepy now, but in that great way when you've had plenty of fresh air.
I hope everyone else out there had a good one too.
Catherine

Late Breakfast, Early Lunch

Yes a quiet day today.
Made myself some scrambled eggs and tea.
Very peaceful. My mind is much calmer now after my anxieties earlier this week, and things are falling into place.
The weekend is upon us and I have ideas.
Crafty ideas. Show and tell to come soon.
In the meanwhile I am excited about a few things:

this, early but looking promising
love my own one of these
Finally who could resist them they are so cool! My currrent ones are pretty dead and these would do perfectly!

Happy friday everyone!
Catherine

Tuesdays Thoughts

Hi there,

I am feeling a little frustrated right now. You know sometimes when you are waiting for things to happen and they seem to just move at snail pace. I'm in a funny little lull right now, waiting to finish my current job and hopefully getting some time off before my new job. Feeling excited about the changes that are going to happen but also a little anxious at the same time. I'm finding it hard to just be still and let my mind rest and relax.
I have been spending a little time on flickr of late, just letting it take me where it will. I love that one photo often leads to another, it's like a little maze.
Here are some of my favourites, click here for the details:


Time to start some new crafty efforts I think, I have some ideas brewing.
Catherine xx

Bye Bye Weekend

Oh bye bye weekend, I enjoyed you so much, especially:

- A bike ride with rd along the river in Hobart and then out through the old industrial part of town, it's so amazing living in the same place your whole life and then seeing it in a completely new way. Bike riding is definitely in for spring and summer!
- Watching The Illusionist, which was fantastic and some Northern Exposure. I love all the little things that go on in each episode, we watched one about the Aurora Borealis and everyone having dreams belonging to someone else, and another about learning to be quiet and listening to the world and what it has to tell you. This while eating m&m's and later cooking a yum-oh prawn and fish thai green curry, paste made from scratch of course.
- Sleeping in : ) always a good thing
- Sitting outside in the fresh air with the little grey purry thing, with the beautiful Mount Wellington in the background
- Visiting my favourite shop and feeling so tempted by an old milk glass compote, mmm might have to go back and get it...

Now I am off to a warm bed and some Rove.
I hope you had a lovely weekend.
Catherine xx

Lovely Rain

It's been raining now for two days and it's fantastic! So great to listen to it in bed at night, wake up and it's all pea soup out there but you are warm and cosy inside with three days off and not a great deal to do. I am happy.
I plan on doing some cooking, watching movies with rd or perhaps some of this, finishing my note books, and just generally relaxing. Bliss!
Hope you have a lovely weekend!

Lisa Congdon at Etsy

Lisa Congdon now has an etsy shop.
I love this painting, (sigh) if only I could afford it!

Two Swaps in One Week

Hi there,

I am doubly excited, I have never been in a swap and this week two great swap ideas have come up, the first being the back2school swap organised by Marta. I think this is a great idea, I used to love back to school time (always in February here) and all the new supplies and pens and paper and pencils and then getting to cover my books and folders. I am already thinking of all the posibilities to send to my future swap partner!
The second swap is the Little Faux Cd Swap organised by Shelly. A mix cd swap this is great. New music is always brilliant especially picked by someone else because it can be so different to your own taste and so you discover something you might not normally come across. I can share some of our great Australian musicians with the world (or where ever these cd's end up going!) This picture is from the White Stripes when they were here last year by this great photographer, love the music section, a lot are shows I went to. Even better!

Inside Out

This months Inside Out magazine comes with these simple free postcards. Handy for the fridge or noticeboard. I quite like.

A Book-ish Weekend

Hey there,
hope you all had a great weekend. I had a nice quiet one and spent all day yesterday working away on my note books, which are finally starting to take shape. I am really pleased with how they are looking. I have gone for neutral colours for the covers and am working a small design for the front, inside bright coloured paper and the colour theme was not hard to come by! I noticed all my bits and pieces were greens, pales blues and a little yellow, I might skip the yellow but I love the blue and green combination with the neutral covers.


I hope everyone has a great week out there!
Catherine xx

Flowers Everywhere

Thank you all so much for your wonderful kind comments. I am still on cloud nine! This is something that was desperately needed and is going to relieve so much worry in other areas. I got these beautiful roses from rd, they have a wonderful scent.They then sent me off on tangent drawing all different kinds of flowers as ideas for a gocco print, they are a work in progress, and they need a lot of fine tuning but I am getting closer to that illusive idea in my mind.Have a great friday everyone xx

Hello August

August is a good month! In fact August is a great month! Not only is this fantastic print available from Ashleyg which I love love love! But yesterday I got a new job, a really great-exactly-what-I-wanted kinda job! I am so thrilled! I have been a little depressed about my whole work situation and now feel so much lighter and happier, it's amazing!
So I had to share my good news and a fantastic print, to celebrate an exciting August ahead. I hope everyone else out there has a wonderful month!
Catherine xx