r a c h e l h i n e, salvaged textile treasure

yarraville festival...yarraville market!

2012-02-09T17:40:00.000+11:00

So, I've made loads of clips, not really what I thought I'd be doing. But, it seems that's what the peoples want, so I's giving it to 'em. With this in mind, I have made the most interesting and pretty clips I can, because there is no way I'm getting on the " buy a whole lot of tiny plastic chrysanthemums and stick them on a clip base'...NO WAY . So here is my take on it. They range in price from $6 to a set up to $18, which I think is reasonable, because I make up most of the components from scratch, obviously the frosted lucite flowers are bought in, but hey.
Well, I'm going to be at Yarraville Festival on the weekend ( Saturday), come down and have a look! I'll be at the Market outside the Masonic hall, in a marquee with A Piece of Cloth. So you can pick up some clips from me and some gorgeous fabric from Jen.

New bracelets

2012-01-26T18:53:00.000+11:00

All for sale on my Etsy...and at the Yarraville Market 11th Feb...festival day.

2012-01-22T22:48:00.002+11:00

This is so pretty, not too sure from where it came from....I got it from Pinterest...Oh you can see, Pia Lambechts Diseno...I like it.

2012-01-21T15:31:00.002+11:00

I am having a yarn sale out of my Etsy shop...blue today, if I get around to it, maybe some green too. More colours to come.

Tip of the day

2012-01-13T21:01:00.000+11:00

When you are accosted at shopping centres, or outside the supermarket by folk wanting to sign you up for endless deductions from your credit card, to fund worthy charities...that you can't afford, no matter how worthy, here is my suggestion...."Oh, I'm already signed up". Yes, it is a lie. But, if you are like me, and really do want to help people, but "they" don't seem realise that you really don't have any extra money, it is the best tactic I have ever used.
Just as a back story, so you don't think I'm a mean spirited liar.
Once, when I had just had little E, I was at Port Fairy Folk Festival, and I was completely hijacked by the World wildlife Fund, now they were talking to me about the Bears in China...I don't know if you know, but they have been known to do some pretty diabolical things to bears...and a lot of other animals too. So, I'm under slept and weak with the whole humanity thing, and this girl did not let up on me about signing up to donate some endless amount of money for ever. Now I DO care that the animals get a hard time, but, if you think I'm going to believe that "they're" going to stop doing what they are doing to bears in China just because of the Olympics, you're dreaming...well, this girl drove me to tears...real tears! that was how I got out of that one, so, I think a little white lie is simply self preservation.

2012-01-09T09:38:00.002+11:00

Thank you to all the lovely folk who came to see me yesterday at Moriac Makers Market. I think it was a really nice day, and a market worth going to. There was lots of yummy produce and food to eat, and an excellent spot. I was inside next to the lovely Bec, from Radish and Ruth. It was great to have chats with someone who also likes to bake their own bread!
Will get around to taking more photos of work and listing them in the shop, and updating my big cartel shop too, stay tuned.

david and bing

2011-12-24T12:43:00.002+11:00

watch this...sort of spooky, but good aswell.

Then watch this ba ha ha ha!!

Happy joy joy to all!

2011-12-24T12:31:00.002+11:00

Well, here we go again.
Presents bought and wrapped...check
stood in queues for a long time...check
bought food...check
avoided road rage type incidents...check
trying to keep all Christmas man type secrets, secret...check
made a good plan to keep kiddies out of the house while dad makes a tramp!...check
"Arthur Christmas' here we come.
Everyone remember to have fun and love one another!
Cheers
Rachel.

new work, linen, 18crt gold thread, opalite, amber, coral, handmade textile flowers and leaves...very pretty.

Tangled up in blue

2011-12-07T16:10:00.001+11:00

I just thought I should let you all know of a shop that is stocking some of my wares...It's called Tangled up in Blue and it's just new. It is located on Charles St in Seddon, Victoria. It is a very interesting combination of original art works (david Bromley, David Larwill and Whitely and others), some beautiful home furnishings, and my jewelry. There is not much of an online presence at the moment...but if you go there, and you blog, please put in a good word. Cheers

2011-12-05T16:56:00.001+11:00


bracelet, Liberty fabric, coral and swarovski crystal

liberty stripe with coral beading

flurodite gem stones

simple Flurodite necklace

Vintage fabric necklace with mad oversized green turquoise stones

Liberty lariat necklace with beautiful milagro, and very special vintage red crystal stones.

Textile and chain necklace

Here is an example of some of the new pieces I have been working on leading up to the Christmas markets.

hello facebook page....

2011-11-30T16:18:00.001+11:00

So, now if you really want, you can "like" me on FB and I won't feel like such a scot ( has got no mates). Thanks.

chain, bead and cloth

2011-11-30T10:58:00.001+11:00

This is a selection of necklaces that will be available at the next three markets I will be attending. See my "where I'll be" list.

2011-11-16T21:10:00.001+11:00

Very excited about tickets I just had delivered to my house today! C and L's Best bestest play...Arts Centre, New years day.
For my more sophisticated reader, or should I say sophistama-cated reader, this may seem a bit ridiculous for a grown woman to be excited about going to see a children's production of an ever so slightly annoying cartoon show...But I am!!
My mum took me to see Philippe Genty when I was a wee little girl in the 1970's, and it blew my mind! It was like crazy European muppets..now of course Philippe Genty is very grown up and esoteric, still full of whimsy and humour, but different to the whacked out 70's version that I saw.

Zigmund follies

So, what I'm getting at is, I hope that the experience of going to the theatre has some kind of impact on my kids, so when they're all grown up, they remember that whacked out show they saw with the crazy cardboard cut-outs... who knows...I'm just excited.
It's no wonder I like French things.
Il n'est pas étonnant que j'aime ce qui est français!
Please let me know if this is a ridiculous translation.

I love the Jealous curator!

2011-11-10T22:19:00.002+11:00

Here are some beautiful collages by Hollie Chastain

leaves, folk and mexicana

2011-10-31T14:15:00.000+11:00

Here are some new pieces, and a bit of work in progress....

Ballet and holidays

2011-10-31T12:15:00.000+11:00

Well, the holidays have come to an end, and now I don't feel so busy? That doesn't make sense, but anyways, here is a snap of my little E getting ready for her first concert.

and here, my best bun ever.

Sleepy brother, after he watched his big sister, he fell fast asleep.

After the excitement, and fun of the ballet concert, we packed up for a little break at the Otways.

at the Redwoods

Picnic-ing

Mariners Lookout

Now I have to get back to making things...there are Markets coming up...check my "where you'll find me".

Get ready, I'm on a rant. It's been a long day....

2011-10-11T16:58:00.000+11:00

So, I've been thinking about the whole 'craftster blogger thing and how I hardly ever read anything on anyone's' blog that ever criticizes anything, or even themselves! We are visual people here in the making lands. Not everything is good, nice, or even a good idea.
And as for re-hashing fairly recent aesthetics from the 70's and passing them off for your own...

So what is with all this happy, happy, nicey nice chit chat? It has completely put me off actually reading a lot of blogs these days.Where is the self reflection? I can write as much non threatening blah blah as the next person, but that's absolutely not what I'm like. I do so much self censorship as to not upset anyone,( once bitten twice shy), but why have we not taken the opportunity to speak our minds? Or does it come down to, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all...
I have had a dog of a day...I could write about my domestic trials...but instead I chose crafty bloggers.
Comment! Criticize! bring it on, I'm up for it! All comments will be published, no censoring from me.

(Just so you know....I just self censored myself...so I don't upset any one.....)

Funny

2011-10-03T19:05:00.002+11:00

I'll tell what I think is pretty funny, I'm getting loads of hits on this here blog for the ridiculous picture of my beloved with a silly beard and drawn on glasses. If you type in silly beard, or drawn on glasses (google), there he is on the first page...who could of guessed.

Pretty nice day

2011-10-02T17:53:00.000+11:00

Well the trip to the Gardens proved to be very fun,but there were loads of mozzies. Me and the wee girls hung out with the old Ginko tree. And here are the results.

So, pictured here are the three sets of 5
There is the orangey set, a pinky set and a red and creamy set.

christmas is coming

2011-10-02T10:33:00.002+11:00

Here is a little preview of of my new girls, I think they will come in packs of five and I will try and retail them for about $45...they're gonna be sooo pretty hanging about your house!!

I'm off to the gardens today with the kids to take some photos of these lovelies...please mozzies, stay away.
Yesterday I went to Tafta, over at Geelong Grammer...interesting. You know, not every plain white piece of silk needs to be dyed or felted, I'm just saying. Also, ladies of the 3d crochet room, steady on with the patchouli oil. It's like citronella to a mozzie as far as I'm concerned. BUT, what a great place to find unique materials and contacts, very nice to see that lovely boy from the Artisan bookshop too.

what I'm listening to ...

2011-09-29T22:36:00.000+10:00

I sometimes think there is a big difference in what I make and what I listen to....Like This

and this.

And then there is the soundtrack to Napoleon Dynamite, which is perhaps a bit more like what you might expect.....What do you listen to while you work?

Oh, by the way, click on the photo to see a pretty great list of movies from moose regiment

recipe of the week, yep, I'm resurrecting it.

2011-09-28T13:35:00.000+10:00

well, here's one to whet your appetite.

Not too sure about this, but I would be curious if any one would actually cook it. If I was a blogger who truly was committed to the craft of blogging, I would make every gosh darn, disgusting recipe in this book.

woah!

2011-09-27T20:30:00.001+10:00

Has any one read the post from meet me at mike's Pip L? Woah! here, read this.
Now, if you can get past all the supers and really, reallys...wow, who is having a moment here?
I don't know whether it is entirely necessary to give credit to PL for a granny square, or a template of a triangle. But I guess it's worth a try?

New stockist! Ballyhoo

2011-09-17T15:11:00.000+10:00

I just had the nicest time talking to Sandra of Ballyhoo, and she has decided to have quite a lot of my products in her shop...I'm happy about that.
So, if you need a Christmas angel, hair pins, brooches or a necklace, made by me, you can easily buy it from Ballyhoo Art, 90 Ryrie st Geelong.

facebook for ballyhoo art

I believe their web site is under renovation.
Also, they have got a very cool collection of wares featuring Milagros! Very nice.
ooh, and also they're featured in this month's Frankie Mag

little break...nearly over

2011-09-16T09:49:00.003+10:00

I was supposed to be having a break from making things...but I started making these little ladies, and couldn't stop...so these will be my contribution to Christmas cheer.

I also just added this to the Etsy shop

Artefact market

2011-09-06T16:18:00.000+10:00


my stall

more of my stall

The day started quite well, and I was very pleased to have sold 3 scarves before the market even opened. Then progressively the day slowed down, too much sunshine to be bothered to come inside to a market. But, an interesting experience, people wise...Plus, very nice to meet some folk that I have only chatted to via email. I am inspired to keep going with this market thing though, and I'll keep you posted as events come up.

practise stall

2011-08-24T14:28:00.002+10:00

I just thought I should see what all my stuff looks like set up...in the kitchen

Alexander Henry fabrics....glad to know them!

2011-08-21T19:27:00.002+10:00

I just found out a very dear customer of mine, is part of a very delightful fabric design team, look here at true up's blog for a beautifully photographed spread of fabrics taken to a quilt fair last year. I think it was at this fair that Nicole wore a necklace I made for her, I'm so chuffed!

This is just a small selection of the fabric you can see, and buy from their web site.

mmm making it handmade?

2011-08-16T21:33:00.005+10:00

Not too sure how I feel about the recently shown documentary Making it Handmade. At first I was excited and looking forward to seeing this, as I had heard of it about a year ago, when it originally screened. But, then I just felt let down by the discussion, and confused about what on earth these women were even talking about. If you really loved the doco, please don't read this and then get all mad and write all fighty things in my comment box, this is my personal opinion. If you don't like what I write, put it in your own blog/facebook/tweet, or what ever....

This is my take on it.

It's fun to make things in a group.
It's ok to make money from running an open studio situation and/or a shop , but not ok to make money out of making. (what?)
Doing "craft actions" is political, and therefore important.
Writing swear words (especially in cross stitch), and saying them makes you more 'credible'. See Tracey Emin for confronting feminist embroidery, and her authentic first attempts of craft...
Referring to your Nana, mother and other women from generations past makes what you make seem more special...
Also, I think Craft Activism does not sit well along side the 'cute nostalgic' aesthetic of some of the other women featured. Put the craft activism over with the feminist art of the 1970s and 80s see Judy Chicago and her Dinner Party installation, and Magelena Abakanowicz huge scale weavings of giant Vaginas.
I do think that the two models of "craft" discussed in this documentary are firstly, misrepresenting a lot of quality handmade product, secondly- obliterating the actual necessity for skill ( something the grandmothers' held in high esteem!) and really, when you get right down to it, there wasn't much to inspire.
...yawn... Make of this what you will.

A whole bunch of necklaces

2011-08-12T15:56:00.000+10:00

White details on mainly red and blue

All made from one big patch work square

Antique French fabric...Tres Chic

Kitchen sink style

Red and white

American quilt pieces and snippings of British embroidery

detail of a gorgeous Milago, of a baby

red and blue...a bit nautical

American scraps...and an embroidered piece of doily

Vintage Japanese

a custom order

Beautiful French fabric

flowers on Etsy

2011-08-04T09:55:00.000+10:00

2011-08-04T08:55:00.001+10:00

a little collage from me

2011-07-30T10:06:00.000+10:00

I was just looking around and found the cutest on line shop, Made in the Shade. It's in the Scotland, and I think all the bits and pieces are so cute. You can read all about how these gals from Glasgow make and market all their wares, good on 'em.

Something spring-y

2011-07-29T12:07:00.000+10:00

I was recently asked if I had ever thought of making fabric flowers, "well, no," I said, "I hadn't". But, that got me to thinking of when I worked as a milliner, and all those pretty flowers I used to see a Cyril Preston's back in the day when you would have to go upstairs...to what is, perhaps apartments, the Majorca Building in Degraves st? Anyway, after much research and careful cutting, and thinking...here is some new work

Thank you the lovely Heather of the Oliver Shop for suggesting this...this is a sneek peek.

A new place to spend way too long fiddling about

2011-07-23T01:12:00.001+10:00

PINTEREST
So many pictures!!!

We have had very bad sickness in our house over the last couple of weeks, that's why it has been so quiet here on the blog.
Sometimes you've just got to not get on the computer.
I was very lucky not to get this THING that made us have to WASH everything! Sick-ups is what I'm getting at.
Oh how I wish I was somewhere else when all of that was going down. Or coming up.
But you can't, because your the Mum, and not sick.
I did go to see the Vienna exhibition at the NGV, and I loved it...that was my day off the nursing duties. But, when I got home everything was worse...much worse. My co leader had come down with the bug, as well as my girl!! Eeeek.
Anyway, that's in the past, and things are looking brighter.

My absolute favorite portrait of Egon

Just testing something out....

2011-07-13T21:34:00.002+10:00

does this go out every where?...We'll see

Bruises and bread making

2011-06-28T10:05:00.000+10:00

Have been busy.
Designed some business cards and tags for my jewelry bits and pieces.
Been baking lots of bread...I am quite suspicious of the soy flour that's added into just about all the bread products, I believe it's not a good ingredient, especially for boys.

Also, our girl hit the deck for the second time in two weekends...This time I took a photo. It's a hell of a bruise.

Oh, and also a wee collage. Just an experiment of what you can do with one page from a fashion magazine. I'm a bit stuck ..."art-wise", so doing these collages is really just an exercise, not some statement about my current art practise.

Is there such a thing as hipster mum chic?

2011-06-21T13:46:00.000+10:00

I'm not suggesting this (collage) is hipster mum chic...I'm just wondering if my new found love for putting my hair in rollers to achieve that bouf and kick out to the sides look might start to qualify?
I have a wee cold at the moment, so I'm not digging being out where my computer lives...it's cold.

My new scarves!

2011-06-17T12:41:00.001+10:00

This fabric design is based on patchwork squares I have collected recently, I made the watercolor painting, and have had material made. I have rapidly taught my self how to do a rolled hem on my sewing machine...it's hard! But , I have mastered it.

the material is a cotton lawn..or voile

Depending which way you fold it, it comes out different

Scarves will be $22 in my Etsy

me holding my wrinkles away...wearing my new scarf!

Sick day : (

2011-06-15T20:24:00.002+10:00

So, no kinder today, little E had croup last night and a pretty horrendous cough today. So what to do?
I know she loves play doh, and we've made our own loads of times, but today I thought....we'll do salt dough, and bake it...make decorations...she can pretty much do it all herself. No kinder, but still doing learning activities.
So here's the recipe, if you'd like to try....your 4 year old can do it.

Get a big bowl
2 cups of plain flour
1 cup of salt
1 cup of water

also you can add, but not necessary for it to work.
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, makes kneading easier- we added this
1 tablespoon of lemon juice, makes it harder when it dries
1 tablespoon of wallpaper paste, makes it more elastic while shaping...not kid friendly

NEXT
Put the flour, salt and any of the optional ingredients into the bowl, and slowly add the water while stirring. ( E just put all the water in at once, and it didn't make any difference)...
Knead the dough for about 10 minutes, to make it smooth, if it's too dry, add a little water. Too sticky, knead in a bit more flour.
It was here that we divided up the dough and made different colours. Did a bit more kneading.

THEN
Make your shapes, we used cutters and laid the pieces onto baking paper. If your making complicated forms, I suggest you work directly onto the baking paper on a baking dish...so you don't wreck your work having to move it. If you want to hang decorations, don't forget to put a hole in the top, to thread a string through.

DRY
We dried our pieces in the oven on the lowest temp our oven would go for quite a long time...maybe about 1-2 hours or so. I could smell the toasty-ness and took them out.
Or if you're in warm climates you could just put your work in a warm dry place for at least 48 hours.

WHEN
your work is dry, you can vanish it with PVA, or paint it, then varnish it....or pop a bit of PVA on it and roll it in glitter...whatever takes your fancy.....

recipe credit to Ancient Nile's ancient Nile Article Salt Dough: a quick introduction
www.ancientnile.co.uk/saltdough

cooking in the oven

2011-06-14T09:33:00.000+10:00

special treat

2011-06-12T23:40:00.000+10:00

Good Morning, today I offer you, loyal reader, a special treat.
If you have had your eye on anything in my Etsy shop, if you quote the word * treat* in the coupon code part of the checkout, you will receive 10% discount on your purchase.
Pretty nice....
Cheers

indigo necklace

2011-06-12T17:26:00.001+10:00


gorgeous vintage american indigo prints...with quirky solid shiny silver tone milagro.

tied with a grosgrain ribbon

detail showing embroidery

milagro-miracle

new necklaces for sale in my shop

2011-06-12T17:25:00.001+10:00

antique french fabric necklace, tied with natural linen yarn.

for sale in my shop

beautiful floral tea roses

here are my new necklaces.

Not all bad.

2011-06-10T09:28:00.001+10:00

Finding great little spots around Geelong, makes me feel like it's ok to live in here.
One little treasure is James St Bakery. I first knew this cafe, when it was Wholefoods. It's where I had my first solo exhibition, so I do have a soft spot for this location.
Yesterday I took the kids there for a 'good' lunch, and it was so nice. Lovely big wooden tables, great home cooked food. The kids shared a yummy club sandwich, I had a good ceasar salad, great coffee and treated all of us to beautiful macarons! Else had green tea and mint, and liked it. Charlie had a jaffa. I had a salty butterscotch one. Thank you James street Bakery for providing a nice little spot in the middle of our town.

these are my attempts of making macarons...the ones at James street Bakery are 1000 times better.

learning to talk

2011-06-09T09:11:00.000+10:00

The other day my little girl said she saw a skunk...Now in my part of the world it is not possible to see a skunk. My little boy heard this new word, and tried to say it.
And, well...if you don't have Ss...and K sound, and maybe replace K with a T sound...you see where I'm going.

And with all new words, was repeated for quite a long time...luckily this was all happening in our drive way...and not in the supermarket.

Yummy and easy to make

2011-06-08T10:39:00.031+10:00

I must tell about the easiest, and most yummy bread product I made on Monday.

This is perfect for kiddies (to eat, and help make), and to accompany soups and casserole-y type stuff.

You, could start this at about 4pm and they would be on the table for an early Winters' tea.

We shall call this....mmm

spiral scroll rolls

You will need :
1 teasp dry yeast
pinch sugar
2/3 cup of lukewarm water
2 cups of good bread flour ( '00') is good
1/2 of salt
1/4 cup of olive oil

Then what ever you want inside....
We used:
Tomato paste
sliced ham
grated cheese

To make

get a big mixing bowl

Turn on the oven to about 200 degrees C or 400 F

*tip in the flour, yeast, sugar and salt, making sure the salt is on the other side from the yeast, pour in the lukewarm water and oil. Combine with a spoon, to begin with. Then abandon the spoon, take off your rings and get amongst it.

Knead...I use my hands, never the dough hook of a mixer, or a bread machine. If you know how to do this, go for it. Knead for as long as you can, no less than 5mins, the longer the better. You know when it's done by the amount of spring back there is when you press your thumb in it.

Make it into a tidy ball, spray/grease a bowl, place the dough in it, cover with a clean, damp tea towel. And find a warm, draft free place to put it for about 1/2 hour. I put mine on top of the stove while the oven is
warming up.

When the dough has risen a bit...don't be alarmed if it doesn't look very impressive. It will be delicious.

Knead the dough a bit more on a lightly floured surface.

get a rolling pin out, roll out the dough until it's about 1/2 to 1 cm thick

get your ingredients that you want. In our instance - spread the tomato paste, pizza style, lay the ham out, cover with cheese

Now, I think this is the fun part. Roll up the ingredients, do this so there is no looseness in the roll.
You should have a dough sausage shape now.

Cut with a sharp knife, slices about 2cms thick, and place onto a lightly floured tray/dish. It looks great if you place them next to each other, like a flower.

Whack them in the oven for about 40mins, check then every 5ish minutes after that to get them just the right amount of golden for you.

When they're ready, place the rolls (still all joined) on to a wire rack to cool for a few minutes, then serve while still warm with whatever warming goodies you have...or just by themselves cut through with a big blob of butter.

Yum.

Please try this, it's so easy, don't be afraid of the yeast!

Enjoy.

Collage Tuesday

2011-06-07T14:35:00.001+10:00

When in doubt...do a collage.

I have been doing major renovations here on this blog.

I will be trying to eventually to combine my other blog, Kitchen table studios, with this one...It's going to take quite a bit of fiddle.

All the links have disappeared, this is true. Thank goodness I checked them...some of them were terrible! Please keep checking in to see the...hopefully...improvements.

Cancelled market : (

2011-06-02T14:55:00.000+10:00

Well, the market isn't on...so it looks like there will be heaps of stock for sale online and maybe in some of our local shops. Today I've been doing gluing on some hair clips...these are photos of them drying in our sunny back veranda.
Coming soon to etsy...

The sun always shines on tv

2011-05-31T10:22:00.001+10:00

I have already mentioned this on the other blog, but a necklace of mine was on the TV the other night. Very exciting for me. And then that led me to have a look at this.

On the telly!

2011-05-31T10:13:00.000+10:00

I was very excited to see my friend Amy on the TV on Sunday night. You can see it here. She was talking about the Australian Tapestry Workshop...while wearing a necklace I made. An excellent way to end a pretty fantastic night.

getting ready for the market

2011-05-27T11:15:00.000+10:00

All currently listed on my Etsy shop

good news

2011-05-23T22:35:00.000+10:00

Firstly, I'm very happy that the pieces at the Geelong Gallery have almost sold out for the second time...what a relief!
Also, I'm confirmed for the Winter artist Market in Newtown Geelong on the 24th of June, so please come and have a look. Very conveinentlly, the market is on a Friday and starts at Midday and finishes at 9pm...yes, it is a long time, but how cool if you can only get there after work! More details to come...

24th June 2011
All Saints' Hall
113 Noble Street Newtown
Between 12noon - 9pm

necklaces in progress

2011-05-05T14:33:00.000+10:00

Milagros...straight from San Antonio, this one I think is a woman?

I am enjoying the slightly spooky nature of these gorgeous folksy charms.

Antique French chintz in rosey tea colours...It took a bit of strength to finally snip into these.

I must just tell myself that they were probably going to end up in a bin, so this is a bit better than that.

And this is quite a success story, my first custom made piece on Etsy

New things in my Etsy shop

2011-05-02T15:44:00.000+10:00

You can see more at my making blog Kitchen table studios, or in my Etsy shop

textile brooches...plus drawings

2011-05-02T14:50:00.000+10:00

SOLD

This is how my etsy page looks at the moment, I thought this might look a bit good. I've enjoyed myself, it's been ages since I had a draw.

Have a look at these things here

Ice cream maker!

2011-04-19T16:16:00.000+10:00

I have just found the yummyest ice cream recipe here It comes from a Ben and Gerry recipe book, I'm in the process of letting the mixture cool down so I can get it into the fridge. Ours is going to apple crumble.
We have a glut of apples at the moment, and quickly running out of icecream. I sort of forgot about the icecream maker over summer, I guess that's because we didn't really have one this year. And thought, apple crumble ice cream...I can't wait.

most silly beard

2011-04-02T16:59:00.000+11:00

this photo always makes me laugh...drawn on glasses, to protect the identity. He looks like a muppet.

Some new pictures

2011-03-31T20:49:00.000+11:00

vintage fabric patchwork brooches

2011-03-30T14:59:00.000+11:00

just deciding where to sell them...mmm Etsy, my shop...or save 'em for a market..

more french material

2011-03-23T11:13:00.000+11:00

Bonjour

2011-03-22T23:39:00.000+11:00

www.pennydreadfulvintage.blogspot

painting, movies and crochet

2011-03-22T23:22:00.000+11:00

odilon Redon

nanny mc phee and the big bang

sophie digard

bright star...sophie digard

I like amazons and swallows...it must be the red hats

2011-03-22T23:01:00.000+11:00

I can't stop thinking about turquoise and red

2011-03-13T16:05:00.000+11:00

for more joy look here

Can someone take me to bewilderwood?

2011-03-08T08:55:00.000+11:00

It's a children's adventure play place in Norfolk...

Another gorgeous photo from Le Divan Fumoir Bohemien

2011-03-07T14:58:00.000+11:00

See more beautiful insights into French style here

Les Kossatz

2011-03-05T16:11:00.000+11:00

Very sad to hear of Les Kossatz passing away this week. When I went to my interview to get into Monash, he was very complimentary about my folio, which was such a surprise to me. It seemed incongruous that he would like my very girly soft sculpture, but there you go.

Black and white stripey lovelies

2011-03-04T16:54:00.000+11:00

2011-02-24T17:51:00.000+11:00

Beautiful box of ballet bits and pieces

Boulder holders, sheesh!

2011-02-24T17:18:00.000+11:00

Bra Shopping!!!
You are on my list, Milana's of west Geelong!!
Since when do you stock a majority of bras being 129 dollars plus?
And all the "cheaper" ones being $50 ?
Plus they were those enormous moulded boob ones that I can't stand. What happened to your

range of nice smallish bras starting from about $35 to about $60?
So, I can deal with the stupid price, but shop ladies!!! Stop telling me that's just the

price they are, I understand why they're are expensive, I know where France is, I just don't

understand why Milana's has stopped stocking all the other bras that were not expensive.
Plus don't tell me in a condescending tone of voice about Target's new range, can you not see

me with my two kids, as if I'm going to blow $129 on a dumb bra when I've got 2 kids to

feed????
So there, dumb bra shop

Morning tea police

2011-02-24T09:25:00.000+11:00

Zucchini bread, zucchini bread, have ye any nuts?
My zucchini bread has no nuts!
I am very cross that our homemade zucchini and carrot bread was sent home with two mouthfuls
taken out of it. I guess that the 2 table spoons of cocoa must have outwayed the two CUPS of
zucchini and carrot that were in there.
Kinder snoops keep your nose out of my girls' morning tea!
There was nothing to put any other kid at risk in the cake, I'm not an idiot.!
Plus, I am pretty sure E explained there was vege in the cake and I don't think They
listened...I'm getting the feeling that E might not be listened to a bit...I know she has
been trying to explain that she knows a bit of French for a few weeks now...But the teacher
keeps telling her to not to talk.
E does talk a lot, so I guess the teacher might not know the difference of chit chat and
when she really has something to say.

Anyway....here is the recipe

Turn the oven on to about 180 degrees (350 degrees if you live north)
You'll need 2 loaf tins, or 1 loaf tin and a muffin tray
And a big mixing bowl

3 eggs
2 cups of sugar, or less it works just as well with 1 cup, or even honey.
1 cup of oil, I use rice bran oil, it works with any oil.
3 teas vanilla
2 cups of grated fruit or vege, carrot, zucchini,apple, beetroot, banana, blueberries...
3 cups of plain flour. You can substitute 1 cup for self raising,whole meal,almond meal,oats or muesli.
1/4 teas baking powder
2 teas baking soda
1 teas salt
3 teas cinnamon
(2 tablespoons of cocoa)

Beat eggs until fluffy.
Add sugar, oil, and vanilla.
Blend well. Sift all the dry ingredients and combine well with a spoon.
Pour the mix into the loaf tin, about 2/3 of the tin is about right, and the rest into a
muffin tray. ( that's what I do)

Put in the oven for about 1 hour, check the muffins after 20 mins.
It's ready when you pop in a skewer and it comes out clean.
Leave in the tin for a few minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.
If you can't wait slice, spread with butter and stuff your face.

playgrounding...........

2011-02-24T09:02:00.000+11:00

Playgrounds....
So at the end of my tether I go to a playground with the kids.
I do not play at playgrounds...I take the kids there to play.
So, I stand and watch and make sure all is well. Then sit down and watch every one else...Mums mainly, clambering around in the play equipment, following kids down slides...not kids, tiny toddlers. Standing around holding lattes yapping, yapping about kids, house extenstions, kids clothes sales....blah
First, if your kid can hardly walk, don't let them be all over the play equipment...they will bump their head. Put them in the sandpit.
While you and your friend are woven into the play equipment, it is pretty funny to hear you say.." gee, it's getting really crowded in this playground", well, perhaps if all the adults got the hell out of there and watched at a distance the kids would have more room to play!
The end.

More necklaces

2011-02-23T09:34:00.000+11:00

more made goodies available at Geelong Gallery

2011-02-23T09:30:00.000+11:00

SOLD

this is a little experiment, using metal findings. I like it.

Vintage material from the U.S

Ancient quilt material tranformed

more french fabric

2011-02-23T09:13:00.000+11:00

Avi Buffalo - What's In It For?

2011-02-18T00:04:00.000+11:00

Can you believe it's a real shop!?

2011-02-17T23:18:00.000+11:00

I didn't know J Peterman was real, I thought it was some quaint thing Jerry thought up...

Well, it's not. And if I had the cash, I'd be wearing this to Knippy's funeral. R I P little.

I have been busy

2011-02-17T13:40:00.000+11:00

Please come and have a look over at my "making " blog, where all the make-y ness happens...

Here at Kitchen Table Studios It's where I show what I've been doing in the wee hours, and when I should be doing educational activities with the kiddies.

more ancient french fabric scraps

2011-02-17T13:34:00.000+11:00


I really love the way this has been printed...all watercoloury

Geelong gallery

2011-02-17T13:27:00.000+11:00

I just thought I should show what my work looks like at the Gallery

Here's what part of the shop looks like, it really is a great place to get cool bits and pieces

And here it is in the cabinet.

Plus belle bouts de tissus français

2011-02-16T14:46:00.000+11:00

I can feel a new range coming on...

belles chutes de tissu français

2011-02-16T14:23:00.000+11:00

This is part of quite a big lot of fabric I've just received.

It's all very ancient....

and quite special,

I can't imagine exactly what I'm going to do with it...

But, I'm pretty sure I'll think of something.

I've been waiting for these for quite a long time, here are just a few pieces. I'll post more when I have time.

The american vintage quilt...Pre washed and quite gross

2011-02-11T19:07:00.000+11:00

this is pretty much the whole piece, very grubby indeed

the top left are the feedsack materials, and you can see where I removed the quilting threads

a more detailed look at this purdy piece of material

ewww, .....but it cleaned up really well.

Amazing what a gentle soak in Nappysan, and a bit of Sard wonder soap can do...plus a bit of good old fashioned sunshine. I'm sure if there are any restoration experts out there they may raise their collective eyebrow at that one. But, as I see it, this cloth has managed to exist quite nicely for...mmm about 80 years. And I intend to turn it into something that will maybe give it another 5 or 10 years life, I think it will be ok.

At the Geelong Gallery

2011-02-11T15:31:00.000+11:00

This is a new range I'm working on, all the materials in this piece are from a reclaimed American quilt, probably from Depression times. I'm really into this at the moment. All faded and used and gorgeous.

The flower in the front is feedsack.

Cameron Peterson your house is mine!!

2011-01-27T13:33:00.000+11:00

patchwork

2011-01-26T21:08:00.001+11:00

patchwork
Originally uploaded by rachel jk

I've revived this block pattern that I started ages ago, I've made two...we'll see if I can keep up enough momentum to do enough to actually make something out of them....

Some new material

2011-01-26T21:05:00.001+11:00

30s material4
Originally uploaded by rachel jk

This is part of the delicious purchase from Ebay. Very excited about incorporating this into the new work.

new material

2011-01-26T21:05:00.000+11:00

30s material5
Originally uploaded by rachel jk

This is part of a very generous haul of lovely scraps from the US.

start of necklace...more textile jewelry

2011-01-26T21:02:00.000+11:00

start of necklace
Originally uploaded by rachel jk

This is part of my new neckware, I've scored some very nice vintage fabric, and I'm mixing it up with the other Japanese stuff.
They are pretty special.

remember me saying clouds are the new birds on twigs?

2011-01-25T20:41:00.001+11:00

New bijoux from cloudsland!
Originally uploaded by Memi The Rainbow

New clips I have made

2011-01-11T16:01:00.000+11:00

Hair slides

2011-01-11T15:28:00.000+11:00

These are new, and will be available very soon.

I will be selling them for $9.00 a pair

oh geelong of old where did you go?

2010-12-28T14:34:00.000+11:00

Getting 4 year olds to eat their vegies

2010-12-12T21:13:00.003+11:00

Here is the current four year old

and here is how you have to present vegies, if you want them to eat them

Tempura Vegetables,
you may notice a bit of a scene.., a lady under a palm tree, with a love heart, by a broccoli bush, under a zuccini sun

And then this is what they can do

and also I just listed this in my little shop to your right

http://kitchentablestudios.bigcartel.com/

christmas whimsy...family and friends...don't look!

2010-12-12T20:55:00.000+11:00

These are my Christmas ladies, photographed like this they look a bit fashionista

Another story

2010-12-11T09:59:00.000+11:00

"Well, the last thing I want is to stuck in the suburbs, with a wife and baby....I want to travel and do things" he said looking away.
"Well, so do I, don't you think we can still do stuff? Who said we have to do things like everybody else? We don't you know".
This walk was getting longer and longer, how many times were we going to debate this ever growing problem? Then out of nowhere he said "when this is all fixed up, we will travel, it'll be great, it will be, I promise", throwing me one of his smiles, with a squeeze of my shoulder. "Ok" I said...not entirely convinced.

Pinch and a punch

2010-12-01T09:28:00.000+11:00

Christmas is coming

Marshmallow ice creams

2010-11-22T21:16:00.000+11:00

I just finished making gorgeous marshmallow icecreams for elsie's birthday....what a crazy experiment marshmallow is! for anyone who might make it, may I advise, work fast!

Red and other Summer-y colours

2010-11-22T13:19:00.000+11:00

Some more necklaces...soon to be for sale

this one is sold


In my big cartel

I'm keeping this one

And this is how the big red one looks on