Lovely books

That flu is almost gone. Gosh we were all sick at home last week, but are on the mend now.

No baby yet, I've got the feeling she'll just wait until I'm all energetic and healthy again (uh fingers crossed...). Gabe has put up shelves so I can have her little clothes and nappies (I'm doing cloth again, respect for mama Earth!) within reach in our bedroom, where she'll sleep once she's here. It is quite exceptional, Gabe putting up shelves, ha. So yeah yeah we're getting ready ready. Looking so forward. I'm a bit anxious too eeh.

What's left to do but browse my newly arrived lovely Japanese sewing books. The legendary Homspun ones, not new releases, one is from 2005, the other from 2006, but these books are still so fresh and inspirational. Yup, I love them to bits. Just the right combination of edgy construction, colorful use of fabrics and fragile photography.

This here is a sequence from one of my most loved Japanese films 'Dolls'. It portraits along the Banruki theatre style the drama of human relationships throughout different stages of life. Apart from the breathtaking stylised visuals and the poignant telling of pain and love, the costume in the film is stunning, by Johji Yamamoto, of course. If you have a chance to rent this dvd, do and watch, it is a beautiful experience.

Have a nice week friends
-Lies

strong man says, "keep your best work"

Last Saturday I created my very own strong man. Well actually I was meant to be making him as a present for somebody else so he would that someone else's very own strong man, but ehhhm, after her was 'born' I just couldn't bare to give him up. I mean, he's got nipples, a beard, tattoos, skinny jeans, and a smug little grin!

Sometimes as crafters, we make and make and make but after a year or so we've given away or sold all of our best projects and we really have nothing to show. Our studios are bare, save for aftermath of scraps and w.i.p messes. Or maybe that is just me. Now at least a have a lone strong man in my studio and I must be sure to make him some friends. snake lady? acrobat? lobster boy? hmm the possibilities are endless. Also I really should make some wabbits to keep, I honestly haven't kept a single one.

By the way if you like plush toys and haven't seen the PLUSH YOU flickr group yet, run don't walk here.

I will leave you with some random fun.
psychotic housewife commercial:

we say baby, you say shower!

Indeed it is party central around here. Last week we had a baby shower for Lies and the little one, who is will be arriving very soon! Emily very graciously had it at her little cottage in Ponsonby. I found it very photographical. There are four people living in this quaint 80sq meter house, I am always impressed with people who make the most of small spaces, and live creatively inside tight quarters.



Lies had never been to a baby shower before, and neither had most of the other guests. Emily and I, both north americans, had no idea that they weren't as popular here and we were both glad to share the tradition. Though it was much more low key than many of the showers I have suffered through in the past. We pretty much just laid out plates of food, provided a variety of drinks, and then just let people sit back and chat. no games.



Usual baby shower games: Guess the width in cm of the pregnant belly, how many buttons in the jar, name that celebrity baby, memorize baby items on the tray, and I am sure there are many more. Any memorable ones you can think of?



no photos of the gifts, I forgot to take them.

And I mustn't forget the little competition from my past post here.
Since nobody guessed correctly (my boss made the dolls!), I just picked a random number.
and the winner is.......
victoria of dear megan!
please just email me your address and I will send that bag off right snappy!

and I leave you with a bit of ironic humour: check out FAIL blog if you need a good laugh at the expense of others :)

xkimberlee

There was a party...

With lots of little HAPPY friends. Traditional balloons in the tamarillo-tree. A cake (copyright auntie Helen) called 'ballerina-volcano'. Most of all, a very satisfied REALLY (and not nearly any more) three year old -checking her balloons today, we'll leave them for a while.

Thanks all for your input and enthusiasm with the give-aways, they are slowly slowly on their way. We've all got some post party blues now (it's called flu yuk), please bear with us a wee bit...


-Lies

A winner and a carrot

So she will be three soon.
That's quite overwhelming for a very pregnant mum like say- myself.
I sometimes write down little thoughts in my Moleskine...
This is what I wrote about her :

Things just like you.
rivers
an incredibly loud cackle
hey there in the mirror
gold and silver
lace
red as red can be
music
and very light light.

I read it out loud to her. She listened and nodded. Kindly added : oh yes mum AND A CARROT. A carrot dear? Uh-huh I do like a carrot. Ok my Sweet :

and a carrot.





Ah yeah, hello pinafore-winner : Skymring (gorgeous blog you have) send me your details via email!
-X Lies

last week's market and another give away!

well it is giveaway time on this blog! Lies is doing some this week, which I am sure you have all seen. Very generous, thanks Lies.

Just so you all have something to look at while you are holding your breath and waiting to win, here is another mosaic I made from photos I took at the Oxfam charity market. Loads of good stuff was sold.

Guessing game from last mosaic:
I asked who could guess the only interior space that was put together by a man (my brother) and NOBODY got it right! the unmade bed in fact belonged to melissa (her flickr here). And by the way I LOVE the unmade bed photo! Joel's room was the red living room, see it on his flickr here.

And just to let the good times roll, here we are back in the early 90s. That is me in the white and navy sailor dress, brotown joel is looking dapper in the blue collared shirt, and little miss Carling is the wee sailor in the red and blue number. Thanks mother for coordinating so perfectly that we have something to look back on and laugh at.


Okay now next mosaic question!
Of the oxfam charity market photos, which one pictures something/s made by my boss? For a little incentive; if anybody get this right there is a prize! You can win one of my fully lined tote bags (with pocket! oo la la). Pictured in the market mosaic.

and just in case there are masses of right guesses, I will award the first 2 who are correct.

Cheers!
-kimberlee
ps. I am loving mosaics right now, can you tell?

To give (2)

First, because I've never done it before and I'll have my second kid in three weeks (yes three ooh!), I figure if I don't do it now, I never will. And things will be fairly quiet from my side I think after B-day... So, I'd like to give you my simple sewing pattern for a tiny baby dress - if you're into it, scroll down or click here.
I had greatest fun developing/sewing/drawing this pattern for our blog - but I'm sure I've forgotten heaps and not everything will make sense to you... Let me know what you think! This is what the dress looks like :



Second, here are the lucky winners of the bamboo baby beanies, Lievie (who had a wee bit of trouble restraining herself from trying to fit the tiny hats) drew two names out of both beanies :
- turquoise bbb : 'auntie' Jen in Melbourne!
- black bbb : mama Rhiannon!
So girls - send me a small Email with your address please X


And last (but not least?) and third : my second give-away, a 'happy land' baby pinafore. It fits a baby from 6 months to approx 18 months (depends on the babe really), closes with cross-over kimono-style snaps, is made of 100% cotton fabrics and is reversible (happy land and flower diagonals on the one side, yellow-white gingham on the other). Please leave a little comment if you'd like to 'win' this little pinnie ( I'm sure there's a baby girl you know that would look super cute in it!). Next week Wednesday Lieveke will draw names again.


Hey, many thanks for all your enthusiasm in the draw and also for your lovely comments on Lieveke's nearly three...
-Lies X