it's about time

animal print scarf

vintage patchwork scarf

vintage rose garden scarf

Yes it is about time that I added some things to our etsy. Its been ages which is why I am so lucky that my fantastic crafting partner is so on top of things (thank you Lies for keeping the shop going!).

It is indeed summer here and I am trying to embrace the fact that summer and Christmas go together in this part of the world. The last couple of years I have stuck to my motto of "its not reeeeallly Christmas." Well guess what, it is. And it's about time I got used to it. Sunny days, bright colours, breezy scarves, and Christmas!

-k

Just practising, silly

Above some more dresses for here.

Quickly huddled on the door : some skirts for here (a new vending point).

A peek through a rather fun curtainblind I sewed from a fabric gift from the lovely Bronwyn. Quite refreshing to look at a perforated world at times. I recommend. This weekend I'll be doing this again, sadly Kimberlee has to work during the fair, but Bronwyn will be her interim.

A tiny garden with a daughter, sunlit, on a sunny day.

Daughter on a rainy day, what else to do but curl up in your cosy leopard-cat hut and nibble some banana-chips... The occasional 'mum, more' was mumbled. So I am mum now. No longer mama. Just mum. Like furniture. Food. Mum. Pretty handy, a mum. Makes me feel like I've been around for centuries, the shiny newness of being mama has worn off. But then again it gives me deep, ample yet simple satisfaction, I am now part of the indispensable parts and particles that make her day her day. Yesterday while we were walking to Lieveke's day care centre, all of a sudden she announced dramatically 'mum, I'm gonna miss you sooooho'. Taken aback by this sudden and unusual display of reluctance to go to creche I replied 'oh sweet it's not that bad and we're not even there yet...' Lieveke halted her little trot and clarified tsjirpily: 'I know mum, I was just practising, silly.'

Thanks all for your sweet responses to the new dresses/the jumping model, you're part of the day too X
-Lies

on the wall: the gentle arts

I've been stitching and pretending I know how to embroider and it's kind of worked out. I'm no tiny happy yet, but I'm okay with that.

It was a really fun experiment, especially since I have been so busy with other things that my crafting/creative time has been compromised. Also this is the first successful project I have done in a while. Do you ever have one of those runs where you try a couple new things and nothing turns out? Just a whole bunch of failed ideas, or executions of ideas. Half finished projects quickly hidden in the cabinet and filed under "yeah, I don't think so." It can start getting to you!

What do you do with the failed attempts? or the works in progress that you know are NEVER going to make it? Lies says it feels quite liberating to throw them out. I would agree but something holds me back. I think,

"My babies, my brain children, I love even though you are wonky, and ugly, and unflattering. It's not your fault."

Perhaps Dr. Frankenstein could relate.

This is my tangled mess of embroidery floss which I usually store in a zip lock bag. I have a whole bunch of those little white cards that you can wind such things around but do I have the patience and presence of mind for this task? We'll see.

An inspiring book for embroidery ideas, this one has great pictures of vintage wall paper. Off the Wall by Lencek and Gideon Bosker. Imagine being a couple who jointly write books about vintage wall paper!?!? that TOTALLY reminds me of this other husband and wife team who answer the question, "What happens when two models who love fitness and each other write a book together?"

BAM! This happens!

You might be saying to yourself, "Kimberlee, get over it! We've seen this before, it's time to move on." Well folks, I CANNOT! it is too grand. I think God put this book on the earth to make me laugh.

Okay getting back on topic, a collage of some wallpaper samples from the book. Imagine if you had a whole room done up in some of these prints. It would be like living in an optical illusion, which might be a lovely life. I'm not sure.

let's stop here, shall we?

-k

Photo jump

We were having a photojump for the Etsy stuff. It means that the model jumps a lot, and the mother photographer goes with the flow. It could be her life-motto (the mother's).
It was fun.
-Lies

Halfway

We're having bright sunlit days, altered with rainy ones... Good enough for me...
They are happy days. (ehm and the occasional pregnant emotional day).
Halfway is : 20 weeks, the all day sickness as good as gone, the new baby as big as an avocado with little limbs. Lieveke likes the avocado concept. She likes avocado ha. I feel like making things, some of them here.

I like to go to :
AAA
Jeana Sohn
my other room




-X Lies

why I have been quiet recently

I have been busy with various things, including choreographing a version of this dance for a group of 16 girls ages 5-10. If you have never seen this before, its the official music video directed by Spike Jones to "praise you" by fatboy slim.

If my sense of humour could be summed up in just one music video, this would be pretty darn close. Ironic, armature antics, and a heavy dose of jazz hands.

Find out more about the video here if you want


and ps: the dance is for a children's Christmas production, sort of a newer take on the angels chorus.

First loves

Lieveke is using a few first loves of Gabriel's : his high-chair (very old), his cart (with a teddy from Lieveke's cousins), his 'office'-chair, his buzzy bee (iconic Kiwi toy, 37 years old!) and his toy high-chair (one of his favorite things was to put his cuddlies in and take them out again, in, out, in, out... Lieveke does the same, endlessly)
We are so lucky to be able to 'recycle' these...

Have a sweet new week
-Lies

things to do with paper

paper paper paper, I love you so. Never overlook the beauty of scraps.

it's really getting good when paper starts to take over the house.

some envelopes at the pre folded stage

i heart making cards again. for a while it became a chore so i stopped, but i'm back in the saddle again.

Utilizing illustrator Mel Stringer's work that appeared in Frankie, and some retro wall paper samples. blithe doll top right.

ANOTHER THING TO DO WITH PAPER: extreme version
BOX WARS

First create a whole world of cardboard. Does this remind you Michelle Gondry's science of sleep? (watch trailer here if you have know idea what I am talking about and want to know.)

wall features are always the the right answer.

so is having the ribbon play

Secondly, launch chaotic fight of people wearing cardboard costumes.

the only rule of box wars: try and keep cardboard on your person while ripping it off someone else's person.

Box Wars was held at cross street studios on october 31st. This is an international movement that you can find out more about here.

-k

Knitting a bit different

I like adult knits a wee bit different and radical, and my new Japanese book 'instant knitting' answers the call stunningly...



The book has a few 'scenery-photo's', perhaps the designer's studio? Anyway, look at the wonderful hanging sculpture. Actually I find the set up of the two spaces (in/out) so awesome (although there is 'little room' it seems so spacious).

The sculpture reminds me firmly of the 1960's 'Abakans', formidably fierce structures in brightly colored monochrome fibres by Magdalena Abakanowicz. I like them, so very powerful and sensuously appealing.

I got the knitting book from Leslie's A little goodness shop. Leslie now has her own, very fun blog, which allows you to look into her exciting life in Japan. I also really like Japan Craft Journal, a blog to which Leslie contributes, with projects and reviews on several Japanese craft books/publications- check it out for REALLY useful tips on reading certain terms or patterns, or just for VERY lovely inspiration.

-enjoy! Lies