My Weblog: Taking a step back (not backwards)

Last time I posted I was pretty sick and run-down ,so I've been trying to take a step back from the frenetic madness that has been the past few months. I've taken a break from markets for a few weeks so that I can have rest from weekly production deadlines and have been using that time to create at a more sane pace and to be reflective on the creative process itself. What a relief! Something which has helped to make the process more enjoyable by leaps and bound is my new/old sewing machine. Fed up with my plastic-electronic Brother machine that had kiniptions whenever I tried to sew more than two layers of fabric, I found myself a lovely, sturdy, metal, mechanical 1970s Bernina on Ebay. I just LOVE it! It's super-heavy so it doesn't jump around when I pick up speed, the stich quaility is beautifully consistent and it even has a hands-free knee lever to lift the presser foot (and a cute red case to boot!) Here are some pics of my new pride and joy!

My place has also been recently populated by a brood of minature owls courtesy of my mum

I have also, (unsuprisingly) been on a few op-shop jaunts around the Western burbs. These are my more recent finds - a gorgeous patterned bowl and square, red buttons.

Out in the garden, thanks to much needed rain and my parters green thumb, the broccoli and snow peas are coming along nicely

Whilst our scavenged electrical reels add a welcome slash of colour on dreary winter days. This lot were spotted next to a dumpster at Highpont shopping centre when Ed and I mistakenly headed out there on Good Friday forgetting that it was one of THOSE public holiday. We spotted the electrial coils but there was a security guy cruising aroung the carpark, so I pretended to be teaching Ed to park (he had recently got his L plates) nearby the dumpster til the security guy past us on one of his circuits, then we went for it!

But the funnest thing I've done of late was take part in one of Mim's feltmaking workshops. Mim is a fellow member of the Olive Grove collective and makes a variety of unique items including felted pieces. When I heard she was teaching workshops I was pretty keen to take part - and I loved it! Felt-making is so wonderfully tactile and physical - from handling the raw wool to scrubbing to rolling to beating! So much fun , and Mim was such a calm, patient teacher (even when I cut chunks from pieces of tuel and cutaining intented for use in the felting process NOT as decorative features - WOOPS! - sorry MIm:()Here is my first scarf attempt. This could be a new obsession -dear me!