Threadbared

Ta-daaaaa!

The girls (Mary and Kimberly) over at Threadbared post vintage photos of craft madness with some halerious commenting to boot! They also have a book 'Threadbared: Decades of Don'ts from The Sewing and Crafting World.' Well worth a look. He he!

Online Craft Mag

This morning I'm trawling through a newly discovered delight. It's the 'We Love Crafts Magazine', an online Spanish publication dedicated to Craft! It's choc full of beautiful pictures, tutorials, a section dedicated to Zakka (you know how we love all things Zakka here at Miss Woolly) and so much more. There's over 80 pages of pure joy. You'll be inspired, there's no doubt about it.

If you're into the idea of online publications, like me, here's a little list to keep you busy!
What you make it: arts and craft zine with plenty of crafty interviews.
Blanket Magazine : a Brisbane based mag dedicated to uncovering new, emerging and established designers/artists/photographers, showcase their talent and give them a vehicle for self promotion.
NEET : indie fashion.
AMOUR : fashion magazine.

We'll see you in a couple of days...once you resurface from your explorations. Enjoy xox

P.S. Genki now have our Needlpoint Kits in store. Don't forget to pop in and check them out (there's a full list of stockists in our sidebar).... start stitching your way to work.

Songbird Chandelier

I was wondering around the Anthropologie site just snooping at all the great things that would cost heaps to ship to Australia and plotting my shopping must haves when I came across this great chandelier. Now, it's US$798 but I figure surely you could fashion something at home similar for next to nothing. How lovely would it look in a childs bedroom. I really need Anthropologie to open a store in Melbourne. Best I get off their site right now and stop sighing at the loveliness..

Louise Weaver

Melbourne based artsist, Louise Weaver, has been crocheting animals since 1994. She won The Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award in 2003 and now Louise is featured on the current cover of Art & Australia (Autumn 2007) and ..... is also part of the new Artist Editions program, celebrating the work of Australian artists and making it more accessible to a broader market. How much joy would one of these bright birds bring you!

Eley Kishimoto

There are so many outfits and bits and pieces I could go on about for ages on the Eley Kishimoto site so I chose some knitwear because it's hard to find interesting colourful knitwear. Myself, I'm a bit of a bright knitwear type. How about you? What's your favourite piece of Kishimoto?

I want to ride my bicycle.

These lovely pieces are made by Nancy & Andy of Circa Ceramics. They have an etsy store here and you can take a detailed view their processes here. Their motto is "fear no colour - fear no design" - for a reason: They're not shy about how they use either!
I stumbled across them thanks to Bloesem Blog, a beautiful place to hide out on a rainy day.

Corolla Cream Online

Corolla Cream is run by sisters Sue and Jane from Kent in the UK. It's all vintage bits and bobs to dress yourself and the home and you can even shop by colour. They'll also send your jewellery purchases out in a cute little felt pouch.

Ohio Knitting Mills

I couldn't resist posting on the Ohio Knitting Mills. Take a look at those fantastic knits!
"Two years ago, on a hunt for scrap metal and an I-beam, sculptor Steven Tatar walked around the corner from his studio to the recently closed Ohio Knitting Mills factory in Cleveland's industrial corridor.
What happened next...This chance meating led the owner of the Mill to give Steven a viewing of their sealed vault which held thousands and thousands of samples and... the opening of Boerum Hill's Ohio Knitting Mills store.

Take me to Ohio, I want some of these digs for the coming winter.

You can read the full story here or go to Ohio Knitting Mills website.

It makes me want to sit and listen all day to the melancholy tones of Magnolia Electric Co.'s, Songs Ohio...

I love these..

If I wasn't so into needlepoint I'd be a potter. I'd have a potting wheel and a little shed and I'd make everything for the house and all my presents for friends. Maybe I could combine the two - needlepoint and ceramics! Too much to think about!

Anyway this is the work of ceramist Shannon Garson who is from Queensland - like all the fun people who arn't from Melbourne. I just love that these are like little nests. Imagine them with Easter eggs in them. Cute.

You can see more of her work on her blog Strange Fragments.

Carry On

I came across this poster today thanks to Hop Skip Jump's Flickr photos. I love it. It's a reproduction of a British government issue WW2 poster. Priceless.
You can order your very own copy delivered to your door for around $15 from here. It comes in various colours including green, pink and blue.

I, very calmly, made this placemat and coaster set today.....carry on.

Bento Bento Bento

We here at Miss Woolly love ourselves some Bento. One of our favorite sites ever is Bento TV hosted by the lovely Sarah who updates daily with helpful hints and tips and some of the most amazing ways to present food that it never ceases to amaze us.

Continuing this fine tradition some crafty type made this.



Her name is Lilly Bean and she's such a smarty beacuse she made this too.



You can buy these and other tasty delights from Mahar Drygoods. Love it!

Fantatsic finds and old treasures.

I found these booties at the Lorne Op Shop last weekend for only $2.00. They've been lovingly hand knitted and look like something my Grandmother would make.
The jar of Pickled People to the right were made for me by my grandmother, Dot, ....at least 26 years ago.

Craft Corner Death Match

Too funny... and only available on the Lifestyle Channel on Foxtel at the moment. I am yet to see my first episode (6pm Saturday) but from what I gather it's a bit Mad Max but with craft. There is even some woman called the 'Craft Lady of Steel' of all things!

'Martha Stewart Living meets Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome when amateur crafters compete against each other, against the clock -- and against the imposing Craft Lady of Steel. Armed with nothing more than hot-glue guns and a few basic materials, the contestants must swiftly assemble projects that are judged on beauty, creativity and utility. Host Jason Jones is the devious ringmaster, throwing twists into each challenge and riling up the bloodthirsty studio audience.'

I'm a little concerned, but intrigued just the same.

Craft Corner Death Match - 6pm Saturdays - Lifestyle Channel (ch.106) - Foxtel.

Paint Sample Stitchin

My friend Jo sent this link to the beholder, a space dedicated to visual artists. All the work there is available to purchase, including this great piece by Lisa Soloman.
The other thing I'm really in love with, is the delicately crafted Blouse by Kaori Tatebayashi Ceramics, you'll find it in the Sculpture section (oh, and what about those spools!). Thanks Jo! I wish I had a pair of shoes. xox

Anna Laura

Being a bit of a mad brooch fan I found it so hard to walk past these little cuties from Anna Laura. She's a Melbourne girl too and all the lovely ladies she makes have names. That's Ebony second row centre from the base. You can purchase Anna's brooches online at her Etsy store or around the traps at places like Meet me at Mikes in Richmond where nice things are.

"Nice" people

Today we'd like make a little Miss Woolly tribute to "nice" people.

Top of the pops for niceness is the lovely man at Universal Sewing Machines, in South Melbourne. What a delight it was for us to meet John on Friday. He come complete with lab coat, the sweet smell of sewing machine oil and a room stacked to the ceiling with sewing machines all waiting on his restorative touch. Even though my sewing machine is quite old he did make mention that 'she does a nice stitch.'
If ever you need a repair job on your sewing machine, John is your man. You'll find him in the back lane of Emerald Hill Place. Look for the sign above.

# 2 on the Miss Woolly tribute to "nice" people...is Pip at Meet Me at Mikes. Pop on in and say hello.....they now also stock the full range of Miss Woolly Needlepoint Kits and Button Sets. You can find them at 106 Bridge Road, Richmond.

Something else I did spy on may way down Little Collins Street today was a very "nice" window display in e.g.etal showcasing the amazing work of Fiona Roberts. Her delicate pieces are only in the window for one more week...so be quick. When I called this afternoon to enquire about them, they'd already sold one of the peices.
aaaaaaaarrrrrrrghhhhhhh, why was I in such a hurry?

Quilted Jacket

My Aunty is showing the quilters of the world how patchwork quilted jackets should be done! Makes me think I should put in an order for the coming winter... x

My favorite Word......

Francobollo!

I came across the carta inc. angela liguori sight this morning (thanks to the ladle!). They make these sweet calendars along with many other beautiful things.

Maybe my love of this word is due to some drunken wedding celebrations in Italy last year where the only word the LF & I could manage to say to the Italian contigency by the end of the night was 'Francobollo'. The word never ceases to make me laugh...it also made the Italians laugh but not nearly as much as "Scusa, mi scappa la pi pi."



The francobolli above are from Mamluke's flickr photoset. If you're a fan of the francobollo, like me, you can flick through Mamluke's entire set of postage stamps here.

300th Post!!

Wacko! I knew we were heading up to 300, how exciting!

Well, it's been a very big week for us Woolly's with our little appearence on Michi Girl on Wednesday. So we hit the road Friday and made new friends with Pip at Meet Me at Mikes and Sally at Lulu.

We also discovered the lovely Kitty Fisher's jewellery.
Reminds me of Barbie's teaset - but better cos they're earrings!

I'll always be ready for a cuppa now.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr

How unbelievably cute are these snow suits from WeeWonderfuls! You can buy the pattern here too. It's a shame the pattern is not made to fit me. I'd quite fancy one this winter.

Take a look at this amazing Racetrack quilt...and very timely. What a great weekend to escape Melbourne.

Port 2 Port

Today I am in love with these beautiful letter press prints from port2port press. Take a look at The Card Society over at port2port. The idea of receiving letter press cards in the post makes me want to squeal with excitement. Is that normal?

In the Store!

Yipee!
You can now buy Miss Woolly Needlepoints at Douglas and Hope - 181 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy & Shop 14 The Block Arcade 282 Collins Street, Melbourne. As well as Wilkins and Kent - 250 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy.
Hooray!

Swatch this.

The Purl Bee have come up with a way to display your most prized fabric swatches. There is a simple tutorial for these Swatch Portraits here. These fabric samples are from Liberty of London and mmm, they are darn lovely indeed.

Time is ticking away and I must get on with things but before I do here are a few things too good not to share....
Ma boy's Illustration Blog.
this 'Love' dishcloth pattern (although my favorite is stil the Moose!)
and for those still yet to check it out, Gracia & Louise's current exhibition.
Here's to a productive and inspiring week. xox

Fete du Citron

This is a photo from the 73rd Fete du Citron, a 15 day fesival held in the South of France on the Cote d'Azur. The sleepy town of Menton grow the most lemons in the entire nation and to celebrate the fuit, every February, they hold a festival. The Fête also celebrates carnivals of the world, Brazil being the guest of honour this year, joined by participants from carnivals from New Orleans, Notting Hill, India, the Caribbean and Spain. They hold a lemon parade to rival our very own Moomba. For more photos take a look at pika-peeks flickr set.

Lotta Jansdotter Remsor Tissue Box Cover

Now this is a good idea. You can smarten up your tissue box yourself with some cute fabric or felt or buy one of these from Greener Grass Design in Texas. To me this looks quite easy to construct and it should keep yourself occupied over the weekend too.

What to make a 3 yr old?

I just finished this Utility Belt for little Felix's 3rd birthday. It's his party this Saturday. I have no idea what 3 year old boys are big on, so I'm hoping he doesn't think its' totally daggy. The fabrics come from Patchwork House, in Hawthorn & the utilities are from Jasper Kids, in Brunswick St... I also made a little note book to go in the far pocket with 'Top Secret Notes' written on it. You can see more photos here.