macro 30 of 30: cement duckie

cement duckie
Originally uploaded by djbebe

Only one day late, my last macro. Hasn't it been fun?

This little cement duckie (not rubber, no squeak) was a housewarming present - one of those that you get when you say you don't need any presents. Totally useless, but kinda cute. He lives in a potplant just outside. He does not float.

blue shoe
Originally uploaded by djbebe

And because I started this thing with a shoe, I will end with a shoe.

macro 28 of 30: scarf detail

scarf detail
Originally uploaded by djbebe

I know, I'm a couple of days behind. Forgive me?

This scarf now belongs to my mother - early Mothers' Day present. It's jersey, satin and velvety faux fur. Fur is hard to photograph - satin is easier.

macro 27 of 30: wine velvet cuff detail

wine velvet cuff detail
Originally uploaded by djbebe

Well I'm still undecided about the pinstripe scarf - I have already cut out some more grey ones to distract myself from the decision... In the meantime, this cuff is available on etsy. And while you're there, check out this bracelet made from yo-yos. Normally I don't condone yo-yos (I think I was scarred as a child by a particularly hideous yo-yo clown) but for some reason this appeals to me. Maybe it's the green. I'm going through a green phase.

macro 26 of 30: grey pinstripe scarf

grey pinstripe scarf
Originally uploaded by djbebe

Three scarves finished this morning, all along a red/black/grey theme. Side A fabrics all came from the magic box of fabric samples, and the Side B fabrics are knits from the stash. I really like this pinstripe scarf (more pics on flickr) - it's so soft and grey grey grey. Charcoal grey. I'm torn between listing it on etsy (poor shop is a bit bare though I am slowly stocking it with bits and pieces), my next market stall - or just keeping it! I will gladly take your suggestions...?

We bought a painting at the art show! Our first "real" art purchase - it's an ink piece called "The feather boa" but no pics yet - we have to wait until the exhibition is finished before we can get our hands on it...

macro 25 of 30: fabric samples

fabric samples
Originally uploaded by djbebe

More from the magic box of fabric samples.

macro 24 of 30: green cuff detail

green cuff detail
Originally uploaded by djbebe

Tomorrow night we're going to a friend's first solo art show, somewhere in the country, so I decided I needed something new and fabulous to wear. This is the result - green and brown cuff, featuring velvet ribbons and some sort of smocked knit fabric that came in the latest big box of fabric sample discards from Lyssy May. I finally had time and courage enough to open it. Them, actually, there were two. I think the side you can see here is meant to be the inside of the fabric, but I liked the more structural look of this side. More on flickr if you care to see the finished product. Inspired, I think, by Ms brown sparrow who I just discovered this week.

macro 23 of 30: golden gate rose

golden gate rose
Originally uploaded by djbebe

It's raining again today so this pic is from the other day when it was sunny. Not that I'm complaining, since we are in dire need of decent rain. A Golden Gate rosebud.

21 of 30: puffer fish

puffer fish
Originally uploaded by djbebe

Afternoon storm today so once again not photo-taking weather. I dug this one out of the archives - part of a mobile made for Kim's baby which I never got around to posting because it was a secret project. I don't think it's even a macro. Let's just pretend. This puffer was inspired by this one and I used the lip-techniques from this book. If you've got nothing to do, browse the stupid sock creatures gallery. Endlessly amusing.

macro 21 of 30: thistle

thistle
Originally uploaded by djbebe

I like how this thistle looks like a russian winter hat. Something Anna Karenina might have worn. Only in black. Or white.

macro 20 of 30: lovely spool

lovely spool
Originally uploaded by djbebe

Well my first ever market stall went pretty well. It was very cold setting up, and very windy all day - but at least it didn't rain! We had lots of lookers, a few sales, and good company - so we're coming back next month! With reinforcements and sandbags for all the bits that kept getting blown over...

So, after a very long day, I am now unwinding like this spool of thread. With a glass of wine and a bit more of The Constant Gardener.

Thanks again for all your market tips - they were most helpful!

macro 19 of 30: rocket flower

rocket flower
Originally uploaded by djbebe

Markets tomorrow! Must go get my beauty sleep...

macro 18 of 30: fig

the insides of a fig
Originally uploaded by djbebe

I clearly remember the first time I saw the insides of a fresh fig. Fascinating, fleshy and wonderfully detailed. So much more interesting than peeling a banana or an orange.

macro 17 of 30: alphabet cards

alphabet cards
Originally uploaded by djbebe

I picked up this little box of cards for free, a local electronics store closed down and left a table of stuff "free to good home". They're helping me get organised for the market. I haven't found a use for them yet but just their stern orderliness is helping me focus. I did my stocktake last night. I have 93 brooches. Seems like a lot. But what if I sell out? Oh I have other things too - 35 cards and 54 cuffs and 22 scarves... I should be ok.

Oh and Fi alerted me to this which sounds very fun - deadline for Bris is tomorrow though so will have to get cracking on the submission! Anyone else doing this?

macro 16 of 30: pincushion present

pincushion present
Originally uploaded by djbebe

A most lovely and excellent package arrived today from Ali. Tea cosy, pincushion, bag, beads, mixed tape (well, cd) - all totally awesome! I will have to wait until I get to work tomorrow for the tea cosy fitting. It felt a little invasive to take all the prescribed measurements of my little teapot: height, girth etc. Although you are a bit rotund, little teapot, I love you all the same. Thanks Miss A!.

And speaking of statistics , I've been secretly and somewhat obsessively keeping tabs on my blog stats, and the most popular search terms to get you here seem to be "pink elephant quilt" and "dandelion kimono". Fascinating.

macro 15 of 30: chive seeds

chive seeds
Originally uploaded by djbebe

The gardening books say not to let your chives go to seed because they'll come up everywhere. I am, however, somewhat of a lazy gardener. Plus I am experimenting with seed saving.

Thanks for all your market tips - I'll sleep better tonight!

macro 14 of 30: hammer

cuff + hammer
Originally uploaded by djbebe

Once again I have left the photography until too late for decent light. This is what I did before work this morning. (Hmmm, I could have taken the photo then - too busy wrestling with press studs - I have the broken fingernails to prove it.) I hammered the press studs onto 10 more cuffs. Cuffs with lace, cuffs with frills and cuffs with embroidered tulle. Cuffs galore!

If you're in or near Toowoomba this weekend, I'll be at the Queens Park Craft Bazaar (my first market!) so drop by and say hello.


Anyone got any market-stall tips?

macro 13 of 30: seedlings

seedlings
Originally uploaded by djbebe

Sprouts! The ones in the foreground are Red Dutch cabbage; the ones (or one?) in the background are snow peas. Seeds ordered online from Eden seeds. I'm still waiting for the Bulls Blood beetroot and Coles Dwarf broad beans to come up.

macro 12 of 30: pond plants

pond plants
Originally uploaded by djbebe

Today was family and gardening - the only crafting I did was make a polo shirt for HandyMan (I still don't have the neck right) and make a basket liner for my nan's wheelie walker (one very happy customer). So not no crafting exactly, but no cutting edge crafting. Now we're watching Storm Boy on the telly.

Speaking of gardening, if you have a coriander plant that is out of control, this is a delicious (and easy) dip/pesto recipe:

1/2 cup macadamia nuts (raw or roasted, if they're salted omit the salt later)
1 small hot red chilli, seeded and chopped (optional)
1/4 - 1/2 cup packed fresh coriander leaves (depends how much you ike coriander)
1/4 cup cold water
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Pulse nuts in food processor/blender until finely chopped.
Add the remaining ingredients and process until smooth.
Serve at room temp; keeps in fridge up to 4 days.
Note it will thicken over time so you may need to add more water later on.

macro 11 of 30: lace

lace
Originally uploaded by djbebe

To make up for lack of post yesterday... This guipure lace is a lovely buttery cream colour which is completely not captured in my photo. I think I might work it into a cuff or something - there's only about 4 inches of it. It's sitting beside my sewing machine, I dare not put it back into the black hole that is my lace/ribbon/trim/string bag which is completely out of control - it may never be found again.

macro 10 of 30: autumn leaves

autumn leaves
Originally uploaded by djbebe

Autumn leaves gathered on this morning's walk; the fabric is raw silk suiting salvaged from Reverse Garbage in Brisvegas yesterday. It was a hectic, running-around day - but we did get all our jobs done - and we didn't get home until late last night - hence no post yesterday. One up my sleeve. Want to see our self-portrait ala Andy Warhol? I really liked the exhibition, I learned a lot.