open studio

The inquisitive side of me couldn't pass the opportunity to visit Ghostpatrol's open studio last Saturday and I was fortunate enough to take some happy snaps of their inspiring creative space to share with you : )

visual diary

The latest collection of cards found on my desk.

pattern & print

i like

**A fine little day**

saturday's flickr favourites

1. Untitled, 2. Blue Butterfly

diana f+

Finally, my photos from last weeks Diana F photo shoot were ready for collection. Unfortunately, there was only one photo from sixteen that worked in the Diana sense. I think I need to read the manual...

latest flickr favourites

1. Bedroom, 2. *, 3. *, 4. N.E.E.T. Magazine, 5. happy, 6. 123. easy, 7. Midsummer, 8. Dalecarlian sweater2, 9. acarelesslife

sunday lunch date

fontaine anderson

I recently purchased a poketo wallet illustrated by Australian illustrator Fontaine Anderson. Poketo is a network of international artists making limited edition, artist designed pieces. You can view more here.

genki turns 10

Happy Birthday Genki!

diana

Today I bought a Diana F+ camera, some 120 medium format film and now I'm patiently waiting until Sunday for my first photo shoot.

Diana photo credits: 1. Untitled, 2. Untitled
Diana & Diana F+ flickr group.

matryoshka

I love Kristen Doran's matryoshka handprinted fabric. I've been thinking all week what I'm going to make with it! A coin purse sounds good.

operation nice

Have you heard of operation NICE? I hadn't until I received a comment from Melissa on my something-nice-project post. It's a big operation she has got going on! Support niceness, print some nice notes today!

Thank you for all the 'This Is' comments, they made me smile : )

this is... my favourite thing from nature

I just can't decide on a favourite when it comes to this one!! I love too many things that nature has to offer, from the smallest birds, to the bluest skies, to autumn leaves, white beaches and rainforests too!

It may come as no surprise that I have been finding it difficult to keep up with hosting 'This Is' and after much thought I have made the decision that it is time to wrap it up. I'm open to anyone wanting to take it over too. I want to say a BIG thank you to all the 'This Is' players for playing along and sharing a part of you. It has been fun! : )

Photo credits: 1. Old Tree with Castle, 2. Lonely Tree with Cloud and Dandelions

spot appearance

Miss B made a celebrity spot appearance in the December issue of Home Beautiful magazine, she's part of a news story showcasing the online fabric emporium Kelani Fabrics.


Also showcasing in the December issue are these 'i-want-one' made in Sweden, Cykla Bikes.


They kind of remind me of the Bobbin Bikes.

this is... my favourite quote

I must admit I don't really have a 'favourite' quote, I'm actually quite hopeless with remembering quotes but I guess one I do like is "Whatever you think, think the opposite" - Paul Arden.

For this weeks theme I would like to ask Cloth and Fodder for her suggestion?

happy

happy that I found this heart shaped leaf on my walk today.
happy that I found this wicker bag for $4 at the op shop today.

something nice project

After I discovered a 'something nice' poster here, I couldn't resist but to print them out and tape them up around my local neighbourhood : )

this is... a favourite recipe i would like to share

Baked Cheesecake
2 cups plain sweet biscuits crumbed - i use chocolate teddy bear biscuits
1/4 cup melted butter
3 cups soft cream cheese
2 eggs
1 cup caster sugar
1 cup fresh cream
2 tsp custard powder
dash vanilla - i love that smell!

Base
Combine biscuit crumbs and melted butter, press into a 22cm pie dish and chill. Preheat oven at 150°C.

Method
Put cream cheese, eggs, caster sugar, fresh cream and custard powder into a big bowl. Beat like mad and add the vanilla. The mixture should be creamy and smooth. Spoon into the crumb base and sprinkle a few biscuit crumbs on top. Bake at 150°C. When the cake starts splitting on top it's done. It should be pale gold on top. Use this as a basic cheesecake recipe. You can add fruit but it is simply lovely made in the traditional way. Serve thick slices with good strong coffee!

I would love to ask Strawberry Kisses for her suggestion for our 'This Is...' theme for next week!

Photo credits: 1. cheesecake for Lianna!, 2. Vegan Cloudberry Cheesecake, 3. new york style cheese cake

magazine inspiration

happy saturday

Photo credits: 1. swananddahlias, 2. frompaulette

my friday

coffee & lunch - gills diner
studio visit - victoria mason
fabric & trim addiction - patchwork on central park
scarlet jones - auburn rd, hawthorn, melbourne

this is... something i'm surprised i like

Heading up to the local fruit & veg shop today to buy tonight's dinner ingredients I had a flashback to earlier this year when I tried Leek for the first time. I remembered thinking "Leek, where have you been all my life"! It was an expected nice tasty savoury surprise.

On the dinner table tonight was

Chicken, Leek & Risoni Soup
1 teaspoon oil
1 leek, sliced
1 chicken breast fillet, thinly sliced
4 cups chicken stock
1/3 cup risoni or other small pasta
1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley, chopped
sea salt and cracked black pepper

Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the leek and chicken. Cook for 2 minutes Add the stock and pasta. Cook for 8 minutes or until the pasta is al dente. Stir through the parsley, salt and pepper. Serves 2.

I think for 'This Is' next week I would like to suggest a theme - "This is... a favourite recipe I would like to share".

Photo credits: 1. Leek, blue cheese and zebra tomato quiches, 2. Potato and Leek Soup, 3. Project 2/366 Porree-leek

polaroid

Click here to access a free online polaroid image maker. It creates polaroid-like images from your digital photos. It's kind of addictive!

I've been thinking all day about my 'this is' post but I'm still stuck, I think I might need another day of thinking...

Current temp: 27° - Nice!

this is... with earl and cookie

This Sunday's 'This Is' theme has been suggested by Victoria from Earl and Cookie. She makes great jewellery too! You should pop over and see her latest necklace design, it's too cute.

Thank you Victoria for suggesting our theme this week on such short notice.

six things

Today I was tagged with the 'six things' meme by sweet Jane from Strawberry Season. So I had a good think about some random facts and it goes something like this.

1. I like to eat almonds.

2. I don't walk down every aisle in the supermarket.

3. Once sitting at a bus stop with a friend I told her I had a very strong feeling that a car was going to lose control and come into the bus stop. Five minutes later it happened. Luckily no one was hurt!

4. When I was seven I won a colouring in competition and won the opportunity to meet Santa at the city town hall.

5. When I was nineteen I met Kate Ceberano in the ladies room of a club. She had invited me to come and join her at her table for a drink and a chat. I had fun that night and forgot to go and join her at her table. Oops!

6. When I was twenty three I chatted to Wendell Sailor at a bar. After a bit he asked me "Do you know who I am(!)" I said "Yes, you play basketball with my friend Andrew". He wasn't impressed. The conversation ended abruptly. Oops!

2009 diary

Found at Fredflare.

rainbow

Photo Credits: 1. afternoon, 2. take a seat, 3. Untitled, 4. Outside-In, 5. Hair, 6. vintage "violet purple rose" dress (detail)

this is... my favourite film-s

Amelie, for it's beautiful cinematography and quirky tale of love.


The Truman Show, for it's underlying suggestions of the human condition.

Thank you Hokey for your theme this week and for your great list of movies!

breakfast out

If you are already planning on eating out in Melbourne tomorrow morning, may suggest taking a look at this new site that offers reviews and recommendations on the best cafes in town. I've personally been recommended to go give this place a visit.

Photo credit: Simply Breakfast

this is...my current reading material

I'm cheating again and a little late for This is (bad host I am)! To be honest I haven't had much time to indulge in a reading list of late. But soon to be on such a list is this knitting book I spotted in Sweden. The styling is amazing!




Thank you Champagne Dreams for your theme, I would like to ask Hokey for her suggestion next week.

on my desk

On my desk today

Rosehip Notebook.
Make yourself a sausage dog kit.
Le cahier note pad.
Hand printed sausage dog card by Lisa Jones.
More cards by Isak.
Je t'aime prints by The Black Apple.
And there is a keyboard somewhere under there...