Whaaachooo!

SNIFF,

SNEEZE,
BLOW!
My first cold for the year, see you next week....
Kathryn. XX (only cyber kisses)

In another life.....

Well, it seems like another life!

Many years ago I used to do Calligraphy and paint a lot. It was something I really enjoyed when I had the time to do it. Since having the boys and needing the space for their bedroom and sharing the only "spare" space I have, for my sewing, with hubs, all of my paints and calligraphy stuff have been packed away....hopefully to be seen again when we move - Yeah!

Anyway, whilst packing a few things up this morning I took this picture down to dust and clean the walls, and I thought you may like to see another side of me. (not just the sewing!)

I learnt the basics of Calligraphy in Grade 6 from Mrs. Wells. She was a real DRAGON and everyone didn't like her, but when she began to teach us "The Art of Calligraphy" I fell in love!

Since then, I continued to teach myself and develop my hand.

I love Celtic Calligraphy and have many books with patterns in them.

The verse that is written on this work is called "The Scribe" from "A little book of Celtic Verses" by WA Ross, which was written in medieval times by a monk.

I love the way the bits of gold leaf shine.

I designed the scrolling pattern of writing in the middle starting on the outside to end in the middle. It took quite a few goes to get it right on a template before doing it for "real".

This was my second attempt at this particular pattern. When I went to have the first one framed, the framers ruined it by putting a crease in it! Can you imagine how furious I was?
"The Scribe"
For weariness my hand writes ill,
My small sharp quill runs rough and slow;
Its slender beak with failing craft
Gives forth its draught of dark-blue flow.


And yet God's blessed wisdom gleams
And streams beneath my fair brown palm,
As the quick jets of holly ink
The letters link of prayer or psalm.


So still my dripping pen I take
And make my mark on parchment white,
Unceasing, at some rich man's call,
Till wearied all am I tonight.



What did you do in another life?
Kathryn. XX

All work and no play makes "Shabby" a very dull girl.....

This is what hours of "isulation istallation" looks like.....yep, pretty dull isn't it? And that little bit is only about a 10th of what we have done over the last few days. I am very pleased to say that the bottom of the house is complete and the upstairs two rooms about 40% done. But I have done all I can now, so it's up to Hubs to finish off - Yeah!!!

So it's time to play.....back to the sewing room for me.......

(let's just ignore the 4 loads of washing strewn all over the lounge room floor, the dusting, the bathrooms and the toilets, blah, blah, blah...)

More Matryoshka's in the making.....

And some pretty bags! I need to find the time to list them on the website....who knows when that will be.

Kathryn. XX

Kokeshi....

Dad makes little wooden Kokeshi Dolls and when he said he was making a fresh batch I was excited. He must have realised I was hinting, so on Saturday when Mum and Dad visited to help on the house he presented me with a little package. What could be inside? Not one, but 4 beautiful little Kokeshi dolls in pretty colours just for me! He usually makes them in reds, bottle greens etc.. but I guess he thought I would like the "girly" ones. He was right! Aren't the gorgeous?
It was a happy coincidence that I had started making my own on Friday! I hadn't made any for AGES so I thought I had better get cracking and restock the miserable "Doll" section of the shop! (more Matryoshka's coming too)

They still have to have their "bottoms" sewn shut and hair accessories added.

But not today, I will be back at the house trying to finish off the insulation!

Kathryn. XX

My hand hurts....

....from all of the staple gunning I did on the weekend. I have blisters and I ache...all over. Reaching up, reaching down and stappling until we'd all had enough! Needless to say I have slept extremely well for the past two nights!! Mum and Dad came down Saturday to help us install some of the concertina batts we are using to insulate the walls in the new house. Everone had something to do.
Mum did the cutting to fit in between the studs.
Dad finished off some of the door jams...
Hubs started building the hearth for the fireplace....

Master 6 constructed a concertina Wall-E!!!

And master 8 took the blurry photos! (I picked the best ones!)

And, of course we had smoko!

I am sewing today Yeah! But I will be back at the house tomorrow trying to get the insulation finished before the plasterers are in next week (I think).

How did you spend your weekend?

Kathryn. XX

A quickie.....

Hi everyone, just thought I'd do a quick post to let you know that I am still here and that I have been busy! Things with the house are starting to get crazy and we will be working all weekend putting insulation in. I have been doing lots of "lurking" this past week so I apologise and I promise I'll get around to visiting you all properly next week.

I have managed to get some sewing done. These cushions were made yesterday with an assortment of gorgeous Shabby Chic fabrics from Rachel Ashwell (all disontinued now that Shabby Chic has gone out of business, sniff) and Cath Kidston as well as some Barkcloth Roses. (they will be added to the website soon) Anyway, here they are.....

Promise, I'll "talk" to you all soon, Kathryn. XX

The cutest little purse EVER!!!

Yesterday I completed testing Nikki's new pattern for the "Barrel Purse" and I have to say it is the cutest little purse I have ever seen! Nikki has a real talent for design and this little purse is no exception. If you haven't seen Nikki's talents pop over to her blog for more information on her patterns and supplies.

I use my favourite Cath Kidston Faded Flowers cotton duck fabric.
Now, these little delights were a gift from Sue from The Vintage Garden/Bear Hugs. She very kindly purchased some cushions from me and when I delivered them to her she presented me with a beautiful selection of cupcakes from the Vintage Gardens' cafe "Cupcake Cafe".
Thank you Sue, they were delicious!!! An argument errupted over the puppy dog one at the back!

When we were up at the house last weekend, the boys did their usual hunt around for interesting objects left behind by the builders. This particular day was decidedly fruitful. In amongst the rubbish pile, Master 6 spotted something purple in colour with a 5 on it.
Yes, it was a $5 note! He thought all his dreams had come true at once! He did me proud by wanting to share it with his brother too.
So on the way home we stopped in at "Chocolato" in Buninyong (the best place for all things chocolate and a great cup of coffee) so that the boys could spend their fortune!
I think they chose very well indeed - a huge bag of cherry ripe off cuts for exactly $5.
The house is quite now they are back at school. I am glad, but the early mornings are a shock to the system again!
Kathryn. XX

Windy...

We had horrendous winds here on Friday night and all of Saturday. I didn't sleep much Friday night worrying about the gum trees behind our current house falling on to us and the new house....would the roof still be on? Would the shingles have stood the test? Would all of the rubbish the workers have left still be in one spot or would it be strewn all over the place?

It was still standing tall and proud! Not so, the portable loo up the back of the block!! The boys thought this was hilarious and told me I must take a photo...yep, it was right up their ally...toilet humour and all that!

My Dad came down to help Hubs do the "door jams" ready for the plasterers. Dad is a carpenter by trade (was a woodwork teacher for years) and built the house I grew up in. So, he is a very handy fellow to have around!
The "big" boys spent all of Saturday at the house and we joined them on Sunday to do a big clean up. The electricians had been so there was mess everywhere! A full days work and many bags of wood carvings/chips later it was tidy.

And today, I am testing out Nikki's new pattern for the Barrel Purse!

Right, time to get cracking!

Kathryn. XX

Wordless Wednesday......

\

I must, I must, I must increase.....

.....my productivity!!!

Sorry to disappoint, I know it doesn't rhyme.

I, like so many others I know, have an ever increasing stash of fabrics, laces, trims, buttons, ribbons, pom poms, zips etc.. etc...

It is time to try and start getting rid of some of it.....Why? So I can buy more, of course, without feeling too guilty!!

Anyway, I thought I'd round out "the week that was" with another mosaic (are you getting tired of them yet? Picassa makes it so easy.)

Here are some little snippets of what I have been making this week, plus a few little UFO's.

The floral fabric on the bottom right is some that I bought last year from Susan at Urbangardens. I bought enough to make some Roman Blinds for the new kitchen....still deciding on that one.

I have so many schemes running through my mind for the new house. Usually, I am so good at making decisions, once I make up my mind I stick to it....So, I must make up my mind.

Oh, the pressure!!!

Have a lovely weekend everyone, Kathryn. XX

Fun Holiday Art....

As you may have guessed, I am having a lot of fun at the moment creating mosaics!

This one is inspired by my creative offspring....

They have been drawing, cutting, sticking, pasting, painting.....and all on their own! How nice it is to be left alone, not being told "I'm bored" every two minutes of the day!!!

Here is a snippet of what they have been doing.

(Take note of the self portrait Master 8 did, in the centre, complete with brush in one hand and portrait in the other!!)

And what have I been up to? More on that next post.
How are your kids entertaining themselves these holidays?
Kathryn. XX

Cupcake surprise!

Last week I purchased a new lamp from the very talented Mandii from "Shabby Dreaming". She sells revamped vintage lamps (on ebay) with a beautiful shabby cottage theme using beautiful shabby and chic fabrics from around the world, as well as perfect trims to compliment them. I received mine on Monday and was thrilled to bits! But not only did she send me the lamp but a cute little cupcake surprise as well! Thank you Mandii!

(It is the one on the top right in the mosaic)

It is sitting pretty with my other faux treats which were a gift, also, from my bloggy pal Kylie from "A Bite of Country Cupcakes". Kylie has finally set up her pretty blogshop "Bites of Country Cupcakes Home Shop" so pop over and have a look around at her beautifully handcrafted cuppies and other goodies.

I love the Lamington - it's one of my favourites!

funny little story....

I was doing the grocery shopping at ALDI yesterday with the boys in tow. We had finished packing and sorting and were ready to head to the car when we were struck with the most freakish wind and rain. The boys barely even MADE it to the car it was that windy. By the end of my loading of the car I was totally soaked. I had NEVER seen or experienced rain like it. I looked like a drowned rat! My hair was dripping, my clothes were dripping - I looked like i had been thrown into a swimming pool fully clothed!!

Needless to say, when we arrived home the groceries stayed in the car (it was cold) and I had my first hot bath in over 12 months...
Anything freakish happen to you lately?

Kathryn. XX