:: Meet Me At Mikes

:: Because We Love The Beatles

2009-11-09T10:40:00.001+11:00

:: My Place & Yours :: A View of your Secret Weapon

2009-11-07T08:36:00.001+11:00

Linzie Hunter Spam One-liner via the very excellent Thumbtack Press

Hello you!

It's Saturday, so we're playing a new game of 'My Place and Yours'. You can play any day this week, and everyone is welcome! This week's Theme Queen is My Bricole. She is seeking a peek at Your Secret Weapon. Here's what she says ::

This week I was lucky enough to be chosen theme queen for Pip’s meme, My Place & Yours. I’m asking everyone to share her/his “secret weapon”. No deep dark secrets here, just something you keep close to your creative heart. It could be your fav crochet hook, or maybe your go to fabric shop, or even the perfect shade of red lipstick that makes your day. Whatever it is, it should something that you know you can go to in a pinch and it will never let you down. Have fun, and I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

So why don't you sign up below, if you'd like to play! Give us a shot of your secret weapon in it's natural environment, at your place or wherever it's place is!

Last week's ace theme was Blog Headquarters - hosted by Ninon! Thanks Ninon! Have you seen the lovely bunting she made?! Ace! And the lovely acrobat too?! Golly! Below are some favourite HQs for you to peek at!

From top to bottom ::
::Ninon's
::The Good Life's
::Handmade Romance's

And.... (drumroll!) The Theme Queen for NEXT week is :: Femme De Montmartre! Hurrah! She has a lovely blog too, go there! The Theme Queen gets to choose a place or perspective for us to theme our blog post around :: so it might be 'down the laneway', 'in my shed', 'under the bed', 'around the corner' - that sort of thing! If you'd like to be in the running to be Theme Queen, just play along this week!

**************************

:: How To Make A Where The Wild Things Are Christmas Stocking : Free Pattern and Tutorial

2009-11-06T11:34:00.024+11:00

Here it is! The complete extremely photo-ridden tutorial - so you can make a Max too!

Please note that I took these photos yesterday when I made my first ever Max stocking! If you are a really good crafty person - you'll probably want to do these steps your own way and make some changes... Cool! Sometimes when you make something for the first time, the process can be a little illogical and imperfect! If you are a beginner - this worked for me and it will work for you too! You can make this! You can!

I didn't really want him to be a stocking shape - because I didn't want to detract from his legs dangling down. But you might want to change things around and sew him onto a stocking shape. That's okay too!

Important Note :: Please do not make these to sell. Mr Sendak would be scandalized. Just for gifts please! It's a celebration of the book - not a SELL-A-BRATION! Got it?! Yay!

Things you need :
Plain Calico (or other neutral fabric) - 6ocm x 80cm
White Felt - 50cm x 50cm
Beige/Skin Tone Felt - 20cm x 20cm
Gingham - 70cm x 20cm
Black embroidery floss (thread!)
Hand sewing needle
Sewing Machine and white thread
Pins
Scissors
Fading Embroidery Marker
Iron

Pattern Links : Print These Out on A4 ::
Click the above link.
Click on the first pattern page.
Click 'All Sizes' above the image
Then click 'Original' and download to your computer, then print!
To double check your scale on each page - so you know it printed the correct size : Max's body is around 13cm shoulder to shoulder: Max's leg is around 16.5cm: and the Hood piece is 8cm from top corner to top corner.

Cut out your pieces according to our pattern ::
Cut :: one white felt body piece, one beige felt face piece, two white felt arm pieces, four white felt leg pieces, one white felt hood edge piece to sew on top of the face, CUT TWO 20cm X 36cm calico panels for the bag/stocking, one 70cm x 20cm strip of gingham for the strap.

Let's Get Started!

Embroider the Face :: Using our diagram as a guide, draw the face onto the beige FACE piece with the fading marker. Don't be scared! You can do it. Practice with a regular pen on regular paper first! Stitch the features onto the face piece using only 2 strands of the embroidery floss. (So you need to separate the six strands of floss down to only two - for a cute sketchy feel!) Add some hair if you like! It's quick and easy to do and looks cute peeking out from under Max's hood! I used backstitch!

Embroider the Buttons :: Same deal as above - draw on the button outlines and stitch away! I used backstitch - you use whatever stitch you like!

Finish the Top Edge of the Stocking :: Iron the top edge of each of the two bag/stocking panels down 1cm to form a neat folded edge (as above). Press and stitch this edge down on EACH bag/stocking panels. Now fold the same edge down again - so the folded edge covers the raw edge of the stitched down fabric. Press neatly into place with the iron. (We don't want to see that raw edge - and it might fray!) Pin into place and stitch once more for a super neat finish.

Sew on the Face :: Position the embroidered FACE piece on the BODY piece - use our photo (above) as a guide or consult the pattern piece. Pop a couple of pins in to Max's cheeks to secure and stitch into place half a cm from the edge of the FACE piece. Excellent. Trim your threads and remove the pins - or remove the pins and trim your threads!

Sew on the Hood Edge (above) :: Max wears a cute wolf suit with a hood - the HOOD EDGE PIECE is meant to finish the face neatly and add a bit of dimension to our Max. Position the HOOD EDGE PIECE right over the top of the FACE piece - just plonk it on top making sure that it covers the edges of the FACE beneath. Pin into place with a couple of pins. Now stitch half a cm in, all the way around on the inside edge of the HOOD EDGE piece. Then stitch half a cm in, all the way around, on the outside edge of the HOOD EDGE piece. Your HOOD EDGE piece will now be sewn into place by two lines of stitching. See our photo to double check what we mean! Except I did the outside first. Not the end of the world, but better to work from the inside out! So start at the inside edge!

Pin and Sew the Body on to the Front of The Stocking :: Pin the white felt BODY piece into place on the RIGHT SIDE of the FRONT STOCKING PANEL (See above). You need to make sure the bottom of the body piece lines up with the bottom of the FRONT STOCKING PANEL. Pin into place - smoothing it out so there are no lumps and bumps. Sew all around the edge of the pattern piece - just a half cm in from the edge - leaving the top (between Max's ears) open to form a pocket. See the dashed lines on the BODY pattern piece? That's where you sew! Take it slowly - we used a zipper foot so we could see what we were doing more easily, but your usual foot is fine. Keep a watch out that you don't drive off the edge of the BODY piece. Take it slowly. Trim your loose threads as you go.

Note that as both pieces are the same, it doesn't matter which panel you choose to be the front piece. We will sew the back of the stocking on later.

Make the Arms :: Take an arm piece and fold it so that the straight (not the clawed!) edge meets the line shown on the pattern (like I did above). Pin it into place and then stitch along the wrist - then up the arm - across the top of the arm - and back down the side of the arm to meet the wrist again. See dashed lines on the pattern piece - it shows you where to stitch. Next stitch a line down from the wrist to the tip of each claw. Take some scissors and trim up your claws so they look good and scary. Sometimes as we stitch they become misaligned - no matter - you can fix that up now! Repeat for the other arm! Ace work! You have two finished Max arms!

Make the Legs and Sticking Out Feet (above) :: Take a pair of leg pieces (you have two pairs, right?!) and stitch from the top of the leg down the length of the leg STOPPING at the ankle line - then stitch across the ankle and back up the other side of the leg. Stitch several line from the ankle line down to the tip of each toe claw (see above close up) - pretty much like we did with the arms! Now bend Max's foot up and fold it back across the ankle stitching line. (See above) Stitch into place close to the folded edge (around half a cm) to create a more three dimensional, sticking out kind of foot! Repeat with the other leg. Yay! If it still looks a bit funky-weird, just get out your scissors and trim it up!

Pin on the Legs :: Pin the legs into place with their straight edges lined up with the bottom edge of the BODY. (Like we did in the photo above) In other words, they need to be pinned with their toe claws reaching up to Max's chin.

Sew on the Legs :: Now stitch them on with a line of stitching very close to the edge. We'll re-sew them into the stocking seam later!

Sew on the Arms :: Pin the arms into place (see above). They need to be in position at the BODY shoulders - and they need to be stretching outwards for this bit. Sew two lines of stitching to secure. Trim all your loose threads and remove your pins.

Let's Divert and Make the Strap (above) :: Take your measured strip of gingham and fold it in half. Press a firm crease down this halfway line. Now unfold it and fold one LONG raw edge into this central crease line. Press into place. Fold the other LONG raw edge into the central crease and press. Phew. Lots of folding and pressing. Finally fold the strap in half, pin and stitch the full length at each folded edge. So two lines of stitching - one at each LONG folded and pressed edge!

Attach the Strap :: Pin the STRAP into place as shown with about 2cm of extra STRAP to spare at each pin, making sure it's not twisted, and stitch with one line of stitching close to the top of the stocking/bag edge. Now tuck up the excess STRAP (the raw edge) and stitch that into place with another neat line of stitching so we can't see the raw edge (see image directly above).

NB :: You can shorten the strap so that it's a more traditional 'hanger' length if you like - in that case just attach it to the mid-point of the BACK panel in a little 'v' shape and stitch to secure. You can also sew the strap on at the VERY END and straddle it across the side seams so it's more centred - but I didn't do it that way!

More Pins! :: Now we need to pin the arms inwards for safe keeping - away from the soon-to-be-stitched side seams of the stocking. Fold Max's HANDS and ARMS inward as though he's hugging himself. Make sure his HANDS/CLAWS are tucked well away from the raw edges of the FRONT STOCKING PANEL. Otherwise you might unwittingly stitch them into the seams in a minute! Oh no! Don't! Make sure the strap is well away too! And note that his legs are folded up too. V important.

Sew The Two Bag Panels Together :: With the FRONT PANEL Max side up (facing you,) take the other BACK PANEL of the BAG/STOCKING and put it RIGHT SIDE FACING IN on top of Max. So the WRONG SIDE of the BACK PANEL is now facing you. And Max is hiding sandwiched and pinned neatly inside. Take a tiny peek to make sure his arms are pinned away from the edges. Then sew all the way from the top edge of the bag, down to the bottom, along the bottom (it's a bit bumpy there because you are sewing the legs in too!) and then back up the other side. (Leave the top open!). You should sew around 1cm in from the edges.

Trim off all your loose threads. If you have pinking shears (zigzag ones!) - the trim the edges with those to neaten. Now you need to turn it the right way out! All done!

I hope you work it out! Make sure to upload an image to our Flickr pool if you DO make one! Or even make a variation on this one and show that off! Imagine lots of WILD THINGS hanging around on Christmas morning!! Awesome

xx Pip

:: Where The Wild Stockings Are...

2009-11-05T14:58:00.003+11:00

Look!

I made this! I like him! He is a Christmas stocking! Imagine that! I'll post the how to in the next day or so! So you can make one too! Hurrah!

xx Pip

:: Le Space Creative :: Meme

2009-11-05T08:18:00.003+11:00

In my space de make at the moment ::

1. I'm making finger puppets - the goal is one each day!
2. I'm making granny squares - the goal is one each day!
3. There is a secret project - for the next issue of Papier Mache Magazine
4. There is a Christmassy cute thing I am making and can't show you yet!
5. There are many cute things for my new book that I can't show you yet!
6. There are project notes for next two Frankie magazine's craft pages!
7. There are some project notes for something I'm working on with Notebook magazine!

What's in your space? Pop over here and tell Kirsty!

xx Pip

:: Collections on Flickr - Plastic Sports Figures

2009-11-05T08:03:00.001+11:00

plastic sports figures, originally uploaded by bricolagelife.

Lovely, Sosser!

xx Pip

:: Collections on Flickr - Leaves

2009-11-04T10:07:00.003+11:00

, originally uploaded by somethings hiding in here.

Via the ace peeps at Something's Hiding In Here : who I am always crushing on!
Taken at Lost River Modern

xx

:: Pip's Tips :: 9

2009-11-04T09:58:00.001+11:00

4 November ::

Lea's Greenish photos are ace
Marek Mosinski wowee
Mini wallets over here : I likey!
This book looks cute
I like quiche
Do you like these ring/pendants? Cute!
Elsita has some photography tips!
Lobsters and Lemons - decadent still lives...
and more cool stuff here
Awesome lunch!

More Tips here

:: Collections on Flickr - Vintage Wallpaper

2009-11-04T07:32:00.001+11:00

Vintage Wallpaper Collection, originally uploaded by Donna Layton.

Wowee. It would be so hard to actually USE any of this though! It's all just too gorgeous, methinks.

xx Pip

:: Timber Timbre...

2009-11-03T10:59:00.001+11:00

:: Richard Hawley is My Homeboy....

2009-11-03T10:51:00.001+11:00

:: Ten Ace Things....

2009-11-03T09:58:00.011+11:00

1. Evie's Clay Faces

2. La Casita De Wendy shirt dress

3. Fagelflickan Sausage Dog

4. Ceramic Battle-Cry by Katie Arms

5. Ceramics inspiring tattoos!

6. Ballons by Nico Phot'oeil

7. One Side Zero Rainbow Bridge

8. George Mitchell Illustration

9. Grocery Tote by Jesse Hora

10. Paper Shoes by David Brownings

Happy Melbourne Cup Day... wherever you may be!

xx Pip

:: My Place and Yours : Blog HQ

2009-11-01T10:16:00.004+11:00

There are notes for this picture over on Flickr - just click the image to see!

Hello!

Here is where I mostly write my blog from! It's in our workroom/dining room/dumping everything kind of room! This room makes my head hurt at the moment. It's a bit chaotic as I'm trying to design some projects for the new book here, plus keep all my crafty things here, and my books are here, and the kids get fed here, and they dump their stuff here too. It's not my favourite place in the house, I must admit. Too busy. Too multi-purpose. I would LOVE a room just for the making and the writing, some day. But for now we are making do. So here's where I make do! And make I do!

More My Place and Yours here - you can join in with us any time this week if you like! : thanks to Ninon for here ace theme!

xx Pip

PS :: We had a Halloween party yesterday! Check it out! xx

:: My Place & Yours :: Blog HQ

2009-10-31T08:12:00.000+11:00

This week the Theme Queen is Ninon! Have you seen Ninon's gorgeous blog? Golly gee, if you haven't you SHOULD! She makes such lovely things and has an amazing eye for gorgeous images and good stuff. Yay for Ninon!

So, Ms Ninon has chosen the theme 'Blog Headquarters'. In other words, the place where you blog from - or read blogs! Do you feel like showing your Blog HQ off?! Maybe you are a bit of a gypsy and have a few HQs? Or maybe just one spot you go to for inspiration and communication. Here's your chance to give us a peek into your world! You can see Tania's take on Blog HQ here. Isn't it cool to see her place?!

You can join in anytime this week, if you'd like to! Sign up here to play along, so we can all come and check out your HQ :

**********

Next Week :: The Theme Queen for next week's My Place and Yours is My Bricole! Hurrah! Check back next Saturday for a new theme via My Bricole. The Theme Queen is chosen from the previous week's players! Yay! So join in if you want to be The Queen!

**********

Last week's theme :: Bedside
The week before we did :: On The Shelf

Above :: On The Shelf Via
Below :: Bedside Via

:: There She Goes...

2009-10-29T07:38:00.001+11:00

The new girl!, originally uploaded by ~ Jo ~.

Did you see my Blythe in the new Frankie? Well. She's not here anymore. Nope. She's gone to a better place. She's gone to Jo's Spa for Unkempt Blythes. Rather like Ladette to Lady, Jo takes unruly Blythe dolls and whips them into shape.

My Blythe was extremely well mannered, despite a penchant for running about in her knickers. Shouldn't be too tricky to tame her, I hope. Her hair was like a frizz factory. I hope her hair turns out all Beyonce-cute. I do.

If you click the image you can see more of Jo and her amazing Blythe collection.

xx Pip

:: Wednesday Wondering : First Blog Crush?

2009-10-28T19:03:00.005+11:00

image source

Well. I must admit it's probably not quite as memorable as your first kiss, first love or other firsts. But today I was trawling through the very distant archives of some of my very favourite FIRST blog crushes and I wondered about what you guys first stumbled on, way back then when you first dipped your toe in the Eau de Blog.

What a freaky weird world it seemed back then. Even the word was undignified. Blog. Shudder. It all seemed like some sort of strange, geeky world full of people with KFC buckets propping up their monitors. How wrong could I be?! Totally wrong. I've met some really ace people and done some really ace stuff because of the blogging world. None of that aceness involved KFC. Some of it did involve geeks. But I like geeks. So that's okay. But back to the first Blog Crushes. (Blush.) Here we go...

My very first fave of course was Loobylu. And my very first fave international blog was Posie Gets Cozy. Here's why ::

I loved/love Loobylu because she lived/lives in Melbourne and she wrote/writes in such a natural way and she does cute stuff and her photos are so real and lovely. I loved/love the nice stuff she writes about and hearing about her family and seeing the things she makes and the things that are going great and the things that aren't, too. And her recipes.

Once she commented on my quite new blog and I went to sleep smiling from ear to ear like a starstruck noonan. Because I am a noonan. Who knew that I would get to meet Claire and have fun times with her like totally normal people?! Yay.

Today I still read Claire's blog all the time and I love it. Have you seen it today. Sheesh. Such a cute photo. Sparkle arkle.

I loved/love Alicia because she had a shop way back then, just like me, and I had a sense that she shared the highs and lows of having a shop too. I loved/love her crochet. I loved/love her cute pets. I loved/love the things she makes. I loved/love her sense of family and her house too. And her recipes.

Once she was mentioned in an article about craft in the newspaper. This was quite a long time ago. It featured Nikkishell too. I sent Alicia the paper and she put me on her blog roll. I nearly died. I was so chuffed! I just thought she would like the paper! Yay!

Today I spent half the day trawling back through Alicia's recipes and thinking how gorgeous and colourful her photos are and noticing how generously she links to other people. I still love her blog as much as the first day I read it.

How about you? Got anything to share?! Who were you first favourite blogs?

xx Pip

:: Flickr Faves

2009-10-28T14:34:00.001+11:00

1. Feeding Station 1954, 2. Charley Harper Tile Mural, 3. Katherine Bell reads from Quilting for Peace on September 15, 2009, 4. Pronta para tomar o seu lugar na casa nova!Ready to take it´s place in the new home, 5. Untitled, 6. Jo, editor of Frankie Magazine, 7. the golden lampshade, 8. Flowerbed, 9. ikea family live :: spring 2009, 10. ikea family live :: spring 2009, 11. ikea family live :: spring 2009, 12. ikea family live :: spring 2009, 13. ikea family live :: spring 2009, 14. Yellow Laundry, 15. ADORABLE Kitsch Yellow Bunny Made In Japan, 16. good together, 17. Blue Door In Izu Japan with Bicycle, 18. Jenn Ski designed Alphabet Corner, 19. My roses, 20. vintage maps for new decoration, 21. Bar at Villa Augustus, 22. waiting again......, 23. happyhalfbirthdaytome, 24. it all ready is better!

:: Sampson For Mirabel

2009-10-28T13:08:00.002+11:00

sampson, originally uploaded by handmade romance.

Here is Sampson.
He was made by Evie. He is Evie's wonderful contribution for Softies for Mirabel.
You've got until early December to be like Evie and make a softie, if you would like to. You SHOULD be like Evie because she's a great girl. And clever too.
More details about Softies for Mirabel here.

xx Pip

:: 35 Delicious Things To Make and Give This Christmas

2009-10-28T11:08:00.005+11:00

Another list! I can't help it! Hope you enjoy! It's nice to start planning right?!

:: The Pioneer Woman's Christmas Cookies - here - they are cute!
:: 3 different spice mixes to shake up and plonk in a jar - here - or make up your own mix
:: Walnut and whisky Christmas cake - here - totes boozy and nice, methinks
:: Nigella's Christmas cookies and pinwheels too - here - I have never made pinwheels, but they look good!
:: How about Alicia's version of Nigella's Banana Bread? You could ice it and wrap it in wax paper and candy-striped string. It would be a nice thing to take round to someone's festive house.
:: Amy has some ideas about fudge over here - yum!
:: Kinda in a similar vein, Hazelnut Truffles would be gifty too, right? Here
:: Home made cranberry sauce could be good. Here
:: One of my very favourites, Food In Jars, has a great Blood Orange Marmalade recipe here
:: What about Brownies? Kitchen Diaries Challenge does Nigel Slater's (amongst other things) here
:: Ginger beer, perhaps? Here
:: Chocolate hedgehog slice is nice. Here
:: These gingerbread townhouses are gorgeous. Ack.
:: Bloody Mary mixer? Yes thank you Martha
:: Old Fashioned cakey gingerbread is super delicious. Recipe here
:: Australian-style tomato sauce? Here
:: French style Chocolate Macaron - oh they sound great - here
:: And some more pretty coloured Macarons here
:: I like the idea of jars of spiced nuts. Recipe here. Maybe could go with the Bloody Mary mix?
:: Almond toffee. Yes. Please. Here. Pass the toothbrush.
:: Personally, I am a huge fan of coconut ice. I love the colours and the weird way you have to slice through it with your teeth. Pretty and festive.
:: Raspberry lemonade would be delicious and refreshing. Maybe some vodka in there too?
:: I love these a lot. Very retro and delicious. Chocolate dipped apricots. Mmm.
:: Roasted red pepper mayonnaise. Fantastic with golden roasted potatoes or on a sandwich.
:: Marshmallows! Here
:: Make some bottles of herb vinegar for extra good salads. Here.
:: Or homemade horseradish would be great too.
:: Toffee Apples wrapped in cellophane and tied with a ribbon?
:: A huge jar of marinated mushrooms would be welcome at my house!
:: Or make some lovely grain mustard here.
:: Shortbread is always a winner
:: Or these peppers would be a great gift and delicious on an antipasto plate or pizza
:: Cordial is very Enid Blyton and wonderful
:: Chocolate orange reminds me of my childhood
:: The kids will love these Chocolate Christmas Trees!

:: My Favourite Moustache...

2009-10-28T09:56:00.001+11:00

Please do vote for your favourite moustache too.
Links welcome!

xx Pip

:: Quilting For Community....

2009-10-27T14:49:00.004+11:00

Wowee! I Have A Project In This Ace Book! Yep. And it's not my book. It's Katherine Bell's book. It's called 'Quilting For Peace' and it's a book chock full of stories about people that use craft to do ace things for their community and those in need. There are 15 projects in there too. One of which is Mirabel the Owl. But there are other even lovelier things to make too! All sorts of ace things, in fact.

Nearly 2 years ago I was asked to be part of this book. Of course I jumped at the chance! I could not believe they even knew what we were doing, with Softies for Mirabel, but they did. And they wanted other people to know about it too. Good on them, I say.

Author Miss Katherine Bell is a bit of a crafty sleuth and she has managed to sniff out 25 ways to help others while you craft along. It's all in the book. Or you can visit her blog to see more of her work and what Quilting For Peace is all about.

I am very lucky that I got to be part of such a wonderful book. And I know how hard it is to make a book. Sheesh. Thanks so much to Katherine and STC Craft/Abrams Books for letting me contribute. I am very proud.

xx Pip

PS - Have you made a softie yet?! Go on!

:: Book Club - New Books

2009-10-27T10:01:00.002+11:00

Okay! We've chosen 3 books - and we're giving ourselves 2 months to read one, or two, or all of them! I think perhaps you might be able to manage ONE book in 2 months, even if you are a totally busy slow-coach reader like me! We've chosen books that are readily available worldwide - at your local bookstore, library or online. We've also chosen books with generally glowing reviews, so you know that you're reading something that you will probably like. And they span a few genres, so hopefully there is something there for everyone! Without further ado, here are the books!

1. My Life In France by Julia Child
2. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by John Safran Foer
3. My Sister's Keeper by Jodie Picoult

The Book Club blog is over here : let me know if you would like to write a review and I'll send you an invitation to author on it! I've changed the settings so everyone can read it now. Don't go over there if you don't want SPOILERS though! We don't want to ruin your reading experience!

So, if you're booking along, then sign up below - and if you have a blog let us know which book you are reading over there and why you chose it (and how you are going along the way too!) Okey doke!

Also, if you finish a book and want to swap it for one of the other books, comment here and we'll see if we can hook you up to swap with someone else who has finished one of the other books! Frugal, no?!

I'm starting off with John Safran Foer - a book that has been recommended to me by many people that I like. So that's my choice. I wonder what you will choose.

:: Book Club Update - Jane and Judy

2009-10-26T18:58:00.005+11:00

image via

Hey you guys! Did you join up here and seek to read Jane Eyre or Judy Blume with us?! I sought to read both - but oops... I only read Jane Eyre. I absolutely immersed myself in that book, like I have no other. I read it slowly and relished every word. I watched the movie(s) and the mini series. I love Jane Eyre. I do. I didn't get to Judy. Lotsa stuff happening in the Land of Mike and I just didn't get around to it. I have it in my bag though and I will read it soon. (To be honest, someone wonderful in our close family is extremely ill and it is taking all our time and thoughts to deal with how awful that is. So if you've noticed that we've been a bit less us, that is why. It's not you. It's us.)

Now. If you read Judy or Jane - you can sign up for the Book Club blog and write a bit of a blurb about it over there. If you didn't and you want to, you can still go sign up here and have a go at one or both. BUT I'm announcing three new books tomorrow. So you might want to wait and see what you'd really really like to read!

Can I just say.... that if you feel you don't have time to read... even 5 minutes a day will change your life. It will help you to think more creatively, abstractly, imaginatively, dreamily. It will help you to focus less on the hum drum stuff and more on the possibilities life has to offer. It will help you to know that you are ace and important and deserve a teeny bit of time to transport yourself to somewhere else... It will help you to be inspired, and to know that people went before you and took the time to write down their thoughts and one day you might too.

So what the heck is stopping you?! Tomorrow there will be 3 books to choose from. All contemporary. Some short, some longer. So maybe you might like to join up?! See you then.

xx Pip

PS : Audio books and MP3s are not cheating!

:: My Place & Yours :: Bedside

2009-10-25T10:43:00.004+11:00

Here it is! Thanks Lexi for choosing this week's theme : Bedside.

One side of our bed has a little day bed that I pile up with various stuff. I like to keep it adorned with crocheted things to make it super cheery and comforting. There's usually more books and things on the day bed, but today just my jewellery where I left it last night and one book. There is a ring from my Mum, a ring from Victoria and earrings shaped like scissors (also from Victoria). The book is the patchwork gift one by the lady from Purl. Those are Ari's videos.

I love the Ikea bed linen. I love it. I do. The yellow sheets are from Spotlight.

On the other side is a dinky Ikea bookcase filled with books belonging to everyone in our family, as well as some videos, DVDs and magazines. It's a bit of a communal bed, this one, with everyone using it as various times during the day for a quiet read or some telly. I like that. I do.

Maybe you would like to see more bedsides or join in?
Or even visit the Theme Queen?!

xx Pip

:: My Place And Yours : Bedside

2009-10-23T21:41:00.004+11:00

image source

It's time for 'My Place And Yours'. It goes like this. The Theme Queen chooses a theme and we all post an image to suit (maybe even some words, if we feel so inclined!) Feel like playing along? Go on! To see what it's all about, you can find last week's episode here.

This week's Theme Queen is the ace Pottymouthmama.
This week's theme is 'Bedside'. Well chosen PMM!

Perhaps you might like to post a photo that fits the Bedside theme? I'll be posting mine over the weekend. If you'd like to play along, sign up below (or comment if you prefer!) : so we can come and see your favourite Bedside!

xx Pip

PS : Next week's Theme Queen is Ninon! She gets to decide the perspective/view that we all share in My Place and Yours!

PPS : To be a Theme Queen, you just need to join in!