colour blocking...

I'm so jazzed with the completion of my latest design project - Tiliqua Studios in St Peters.

Essentially this was an interior fitout, with a complete "gutting" of the warren-like internal spaces, and new joinery and workstations using Tiliqua Studio's identity colours as a palette.

I really like the way the colours read against the white and timber of the space. Note the absence of the word "pop"...

Word over-use people...

just sayin'.

The builders, joiners and clients have all been great - ensuring this project's success.

Excuse my shameless self-promotion, but hell, what are blogs for??

so close I can taste it...

The sunshine today was theraputic. I didn't want to stay inside! There was a warmth in the air, rising up from the earth that was SO wonderful after days of rain and cold.

I really enjoyed watching the sun shine on my plants, and seeing them against my beautiful black walls made me smile.

Mr Fixit repaired the drainage in the back yard... in the midst of the rain... with a cold... Truly the best. I heart you Mr Fixit.

More painting has been done, but it still feels like there's so much yet to do...

This is the "patio", so called coz I imagine it filled with a bamboo bar, ping pong table and stereo...

Everyone's been getting in on the painting action.

In the midst of this was a quick week in Hervey Bay. No whales but LOTS of moving stuff!

And I've finally finished the scarf and beret I made from this amazing twine from Popcraft in Melbs. I'll be giving it to my lovely friend on Friday, so will post the end results then!

And my lovely girls are enjoying the sunshine too... and I have the eggs to prove it!

knitting - street style

Sorry about the lack of updates, but - well - sickness is not a blogger's best friend...

I know that's no excuse, but it's all I got.

So enjoy this tricked out yarn bombed bike, with love from Fitzroy. Ahh Melbourne, how I love thee...

PS thank you to the divine Mr Fixit for fixing my Pinterest gadget...
PPS so go on, Follow Me!! You know you want to!!

Melbs... day 3

Day three was kind of full on... Mr Fixit had his electronics seminar to give, so the small person and I wandered around town, looking for playgrounds or food...

We tried to get to the ArtPlay kids' workshop, but only made it for the last few minutes! They very kindly let us peek inside for a look, and would have let us stay, but above mentioned small one had already spied the playground outside...

Cue hand pulling and whining about leaving while I try to make nice to the lovely Jeff, Paula and Ben.

Dinner was a delightful tapas style affair at the Alchemist... yum...

Melbs... day 2

Day two was an exhausting blast... Does Melbourne ever stop being marvelous?

After brekky at Degraves (I can't visit Melbs without a pitstop here) we headed up to Craft Vic, to see their gallery. They'd been workshopping all sorts of different materials for the State of Design Festival.

Amazing what you can do with woolly jumpers, or biros, or even bread...







I think this guy was my favourite!

Wandering back down Flinders Lane and into Swanston Street was such a pleasure, especially on such a fabulous winter's day...

After a truly wonderful shopping experience at Alistair Trung (maestro of flexible clothing) we wandered down to the Nicholas Building, for the Open Studios.

Places like this epitomise what Melbourne is to me. A whole city building, in a prime CBD location, full of artists' studios... It speaks highly of Mebournians, and their support of local designers, makers and creative types, that a space like this can be given to these industries, rather than rented out to high paying commercial entites...

Having said that though, these artists are commercial entities - they all make their livings from their creative pursuits, and it is awesome to see the respect paid them.

Our day was superbly capped off with dinner at Cookie (photo courtesy of my three year old son - not bad, eh?)... In yet another fantastic city building (Curtin House) choc full of great local creative stuff! Next time, I'll drag Mr Fixit to a movie on the rooftop...

YUM! I think he captured the vibe of the place perfectly!

Melbs (still) day 1 - Popcraft!!

Arrrgggghhhh... So. Much. Great. WORK!!!

After the lovely lift from the airport, and delicious comensables, we wandered into Popcraft.

This was a place I nearly missed!! God help me!! Scouring the Harvest Workroom blog before leaving home, I came across mention of this little piece of paradise. I read "Luxurious fibres for classy people" and nearly spat out my tea! Not that I'm particularly classy, but where I live, Spotters is the main source of yarn... and it's definitely NOT classy.

From the critters in the front window, past the beautiful hanging flowers by the door, I wandered into a real life blog...

You know how wonderful this blogosphere is, well imagine a little shop, with helpful, kind and interesting people, amazing work to look at, and truly awesome fibres to inspire. And wouldja check out that "Open" sign? I mean... really... too sweet.

It was like being in your Aunty's lounge room, the really really cool Aunty that was the black sheep of the family, and ran away to the circus at 16, returning young at heart and ready to show you the real world... Which is of course a laser cut mirror...


A selection of lovely and like-nothing-you've-seen-before jewellery...


I found myself elbowing and shoving to get in front of Mr Fixit, who had spied the TWO knitting machines and made a beeline... He's just discovered the joys of this art, having picked one up at Helensburgh Salvos for $25.

Good friends will know the passionate and slightly obsessive way in which he adopts new skills... Needless to say I have a LOT of new scarves. And they are all beautiful my love. xo


Colour and creativity overload in here people... And yes, that is my son's golden head lying on the floor next to the basket of yarn chucking a hissy fit... I can't think why he was bored...

Thanks to the ever patient Pauline, for welcoming us and making us feel part of the craft clan. And not freaking out over the small person's behaviour.

Melbs... day 1

*sigh*

Melbourne is a great town... and by that I mean supportive, creative, friendly... and you can ride a bike easily! But why oh why is it so damn cold??

Is that why it's so creative? People have to snuggle up by a cosy fire and make stuff?

Our visit started with a chauffeur driven ride to East Brunswick (thanks Kate!). Craft mecca...

Brekky beverages and home-made sausage rolls at a lovely cafe (where we saw the cute pendant above), followed by a wander through Popcraft (that's getting a whole post of its own tomorrow!).

This was right next to Harvest Workroom, where Nikki Gabriel was setting up for her Construction workshop. That crew really know how to share creative skills!

And these were just across the road from the new Lost and Found Market... oh joy, oh wondrous rapture... etc etc. Yes it really was that good!

More wonderful chauffering (spotted this white horse on the way - gleaming in the winter sunshine) to yet another amazing cafe - Three Bags Full in Abbotsford. Great suburb, great food, great coffee, really great chai, great space... just - great.

How good are those tables made from recycled road signs? Extremely!

More Melbourne yumminess to come - too many photos for one post...