Goodness me!

Browsing through my Google reader this morning and finding a few interesting things but nothing to send me off on a 'net adventure' I checked my stats for this blog and my subscriptions have gone up! I haven't even been blogging! Oops!

So, welcome to new readers and hello to old. I'm here with a post and because I don't really have anything particular to say, I'll just do a bit of a round up.

First, I think it is actually going to rain today. This is exciting because it hasn't rained here (Perth) since way, way last year. Some kind of record was broken. I was watching a movie on the weekend where in every melancholy scene it was raining and I really ached for some rain. But it needs to be a bit cooler too, so snuggling under the doona with a book is possible. At the moment, while it might rain, it is still going to be 30degC. I guess you can't have everything. And I am glad not to be in the cold in Victoria anymore.

I'm a tad excited about perhaps finding a bit of a research goldmine, historically speaking. I don't want to say too much and I may be getting a bit ahead of myself - I have to make a few calls today - but it is an exciting prospect. In other history/study news, I have an assignment due on Friday which I haven't started in any meaningful way. Must get onto that today.

I finished my Certificate in Small Business Management (yay!) and am all set to officially start my consultancy business on April 1 (no jokes, thanks!). It is a very arbitrary selection of a date, but I have to start somewhere. So, if you need any historical research or writing done, I'm your gal!

In slightly less happy news, and I don't really want to announce this in a formal way because these things are always in a state of flux, but I've decided that Eight Crows is going to go on the back burner. There are a number of reasons, mostly to do with my existing time and energy and my passion. While I love making things, working creatively is very hard for me, so while I'll still make things I will mostly be making for myself. I'll still take commissions, with conditions, and am still going to Upmarket this coming Sunday (at which most of my stock will be on sale!). I think one of the biggest reasons I've taken this decision is that I can't run this business properly - there is so much I could do to increase sales and the presence of Eight Crows, but I don't have the time or, frankly, the passion to do that in a way that it deserves to be done. Does that make sense? I'm excited that I'll get to make some things for me - up until now it has kind of been difficult to justify not making to sell - and maybe that was one of the problems I was having. Anyway, there you go. If any of you have seen things here that you want to buy but aren't in Perth for the market just let me know.

So, with that in mind, my first project will be a quilt (nope, I don't really do things by half, why do you ask?). I'm very excited about this, but I really have to do my assignment first!

All the photos are ones I took at the Sculpture by the Sea exhibition...

Have a lovely week everyone, hopefully I'll be back later on with something more....

I'm finding it very difficult to get motivated this week. Some semi-big things have happened that should be exciting and energising but instead have left me without energy or motivation. I have no idea what to do next, even though it is very clearly written out in a to-do list as long as my arm.

It really is ridiculous to be so de-motivated because I've done some lovely things in the past few days too. Last night Katrina and I saw Beneath Hill 60 at a free screening for teachers (officially I'm still a teacher until my financial membership runs out at the end of the month). The film was excellent - a new Gallipoili. I would recommend it if you are interested in Australian or war history. Have a look at the trailer at the link above.

My brother and I also got up early yesterday morning to see the Sculpture by the Sea at Cottesloe. This is the first time I've seen it and I really enjoyed it. I liked almost all the sculptures and it was lovely being on the beach early in the morning with the old people shuffling along their morning run in the sand before a dip in the water. I didn't get a swim, although I wanted one, which was the only pity.

And now, somehow, I need to snap myself out of this funk and get on with things. I really do have so much to do.

At least I've managed to blog, I suppose.

Oh!

No fabric for me from here (that's okay :) but oh, the colours and the sheer amount of material. They know all about presentation in northern Africa. This so reminds me of all the wonderful markets in Egypt.

Still working....getting there slowly.

Shower Power

So busy with non-crafty stuff, but hopefully after tomorrow I'll be back in the swing of it in a serious way and with news too!

In the meantime, I want this bathroom!

From one of my fave blogs - The Selby - because it is just like walking along and looking at the outside of houses and wondering what happens inside (which I do everyday) except you get to see inside the houses and wonder what happens (way more exciting). Plus, they are always smarty pants artists and designers and clever creatives. Bonus!

Other Brilliant Brother

My other brother has just returned to London (where he is living) from Morocco. Jealous, much. Anyway, he posted this awesome pic of himself on his blog and I just love it, so had to steal it and put it here.

I love the cheeky look in his eyes and the colour of the...scarf (I'm sure it has another name). Fantastic!

Also, trying not to hyperventilate at the thought of all the fabric he *could* (but probably didn't) buy for me.

Oh, and I miss him being around.

Oh be still my camping heart!

The utter fabulousness of this - I hate to call it a caravan because it is so much more than that - is so beyond gorgeous that I spent the morning leaping about in my chair with happiness at it.

Oh the style, the design, the *white*, the elegance, the shapes. I would sit gazing at it until it got dark and forget to look at the scenery of where I'd travelled to.

It is clever and stylish inside too! Oh, I LOVE it so!

Plus, it is only available in Europe so I'll just have to go a-camping to spiffy places in France and Italy, how utterly perfect!

And then get it shipped home because I couldn't bare to part with it.

This goes firmly at the top of my all-time wish list. If you too are in love (and seriously, why not!?) then you can see more at the Opera website (did I mention the awesome name!) and see a little video of it opening out like a flower. *sigh*

Lovely Sunday

Today, Mum and I went to Ellis House. It is an old house in Bayswater (just near home) that is now an art gallery/community.

Their art markets were on today where their member artists were painting and selling their wares on the lovely shady verandahs of the house.

They also had tea and cakes available for $5 (bargain!) to eat under the shade of the huge old mulberry and jacaranda trees in the backyard.

While we tea-ed we watched a woman painting

And enjoyed the lovely things found in nature. The Bougainvillea around here is glorious at the moment and I need to get some more shots of it. And a Kookaburra feather lying on the grass. It was such a peaceful way to spend the morning.

But best of all - I spent a bit of time nurturing my creative spirit and hopefully this will allow me to get into the groove this week as I need to get serious in the lead up to market day. 

What a Week!

At least I'm here to bookend the week that was. So busy and exhausting and totally devoid of creative energy, which is the real reason why I haven't made it here.

And now it is Friday night, so I'm going to crawl into bed with a book and cuddle up to my dog. Tomorrow is a new day.

Autumn? What?

The first of March has arrived and with it, technically, autumn. I should be mourning the last of summer, the end of balmy nights and ocean swimming and looking forward to changing leaves, a renewed vege garden and the AFL.  And of taking photos like these...

I took the above photos in Victoria, where autumn actually exists, But here, in the city of endless summer, it is 36degC and really very warm (last night I don't think it got below 25 until the early hours of the morning). And photos like the one below are still very appropriate!

So, I suppose it isn't all bad!

Edited to add: it has just hit 39degC now, 4pm. It really doesn't have to be this hot, does it!?