Back in Business

I've been away for a while - life has been a bit hectic - thats for sure.
I've spent most of the year traveling around the place and doing strange things.

Now i'm back in Sydney and very happy about it. No more London for me. Ever again. Thats a promise..

So, i'm going to get all crafty with it again.. just watch this space.

back in action

so, we're home from our holidays. france was lovely. I was planning on doing loads of crocheting while chilling in our mountain cabin but for some reason I didn't get around to doing much. i'll get back into it all now i'm home, and looking for work.

I think I want...

I think I want to subscribe to Interweave Crochet magazine. Some of the designs look really great and surprisingly modern. I like the look of the Ridge Swing cardi, looks exactly like the kind of thing I want to make, now that I've set goals to make more "serious" things. This jumper looks cute as well. There are loads of other projects as well. mmmm, I might consider this purchase - sounds like a useful thing.

Making secrets

It's kind so annoying really that its Christmas. It's not just about my usual dislike for the festive season - this year it's more than that. Since getting all crafty with it lately I decided to make some presents for people. However, I can't put pictures of the finished items or my Work In Progress up here on my blog in case the people I'm making for see them and then where would the surprise be? And so far I'm pretty happy with what I'm making!

Some people, like A Steno Pad For My Thoughts has so many great ideas for what she's making for her friends and family and posts about them as well. My fav things she's made is this recipe book that she's pulled together from her Grandma's old hand-written cook book to give to all her family. Its such a great idea (and since I'm still in the experimental stage with my recipe filing system) I'm jealous - only problem is, she has really neat and lovely hand writing, while everyone knows I write like a 14 year old teenage boy.

So the main thing is - I am making stuff, you all just can't see it yet! ok!

Rainy Saturday Afternoon

No surprise there, but it was raining and horrible on Saturday. That's London for you. I was meant to be having some people around for dinner, and planning on making pizza dough so we could make our own pizzas, but I guess because of the rain and horribleness of the day people just wanted to stay inside. I know that I did. However, after spending most of the week inside (probably going a little stir crazy) I knew it would be good for me to get out.

D called, and we arranged to meet in Islington - have lunch at the Afghan Kitchen (which was so yummy) and then look at Camden Passage antique markets then hit Loop.

I was good - didn't see anything I wanted at the antique market (which is amazing), then we heading to Loop. Which is an incredible yarn store on Cross St. I was nervous, obviously, about walking into a wool shop. What if I had to buy something? D wanted to get some wool and circular needles. Don't worry, I gave her a hard time about buying more stuff so soon after Ally Pally (we did go over board on that adventure, I have confirmed that now), but she was convinced - she must buy more wool.

We were in there for a while, touching things, as you do. D looked at me after about 5 mins and said "Han, have you breathed since we've been in here, you look shocked?". I laughed but inside I was dying as I was ogling over all the beautiful yarns - and I wanted them! Actually I was telling myself I needed them. But I held my breath and resisted the temptation.

I did however pick up some hooks - which I'm happy about (these handy padded hooks should help with the impeding RIS I'm sure is approaching). I've wanted some like these for a while! Yay - I got to buy something in the end.

We needed some cake and coffee after that, I can tell you. Which led to lovely conversations about our directions and in life - the eternal question of what the fuck am I doing with it all and so on. With some rather lovely outcomes. And some inspiration as well.

So, all in all - a lovely Saturday afternoon. a lovely day indeed.

Crumbs & Doilies - a cupcake challenge

I like cupcakes. I have for a long time. The remind me of when I was a kid and went to birthday parties, but more recently they take me back to when I was still an editor and I'd need a break from my edit suite and head down to the farmers market at Fox Studios for some sunshine and a cup cake. A good excuse for getting outside. 

You seem to get cupcakes everywhere these days.. but I know the best ones. My mate Jemma is making these amazingly tasty and wonderfully decorated cup cakes at Crumbs & Doilies - she's selling them all over the place. Anyway, she's set me a challenge. She wants me to crochet a cupcake for her. But what kind? Her blog highlights so many different types of decorated ones.... its gonna be hard to pick one design to do... 

I guess I'll just have to add it to the To Do List of things I need to make (it's getting rather long now that xmas is approaching)

Here are some of her designs - she makes each one my hand!

Hello - Buffy the Vampire Cup cake! I want to eat you!!

Pretty little cakes.. 

Punk cupcakes - who would of thought?

All these images come from Jemma's websites and are of her own creations.

I know its not crafts but I'm rambling

Train of thought as watching BBC News today:
Today's the day when America votes for their new president. I'm sitting here on the other side of the pond with baited breath. I hope that there are many Americans out there who feel as passionately about voting, having a voice, as I do. I come from Australia where it is compulsory to vote. Some think that's a good idea, others a bad one. I reckon that it makes you interested in politics younger - makes you want to have your say. That's what voting is - helping to shape the future of your country.

The American elections and politics in general in the past have left me cold and confused. The voting process is ridiculous at best - but that shouldn't stop people, it should encourage them to vote for change - to want to be heard!

When I hear about 6 hour long lines of people waiting to vote I wanta throw my fists up in anger and yell at the stupidity! How can a country have too many people voting? It seems they want to make it difficult for people to vote! Its absurd for a country who has put themselves on a global pedestal as "the ultimate democracy" to make voting such a bitch for so many people.

It's often a case in federal elections these days anywhere in the western world of choosing between the lesser of two evils... but somewhere you gotta hope that some people out there really do want change. I hope Obama is that man.

I wonder if Americans realised how important their vote is to the rest of the world?
I kinda wish I could vote.. every vote counts!

Mexican Food Festival

Luke and I headed out to the Mexican Food Festival the other weekend which was being held at the Brunswick centre. It wasn't very big - but we did have some yummy food. Also some very interesting food, Luke had Ox tongue (which I could not bring myself to eat).

We did get some extra mexican spices to bring home and use in my Excellent Mexican Black Beans, and some yummy taco kinda things. Also some Horchata and this really strange, but rather nice Beetroot cake.

Off to Allly Pally

Finally, after so much waiting the day has arrived - we're off to Ally Pally for the Knitting and Stitching Show! We had a great knit nite last night with new members and everything (photos to come), it was to prep for the show today.

Dinusha and I are very excited (understatement of the year). I have a few ideas of things I "need" to get yarn for. But who knows what else I will stumble across. I hope because it's the last day of the Show I won't miss out on much. 

But I'll update later.. I'm sure to have loads of pics.

A weekend without a camera

Well, I'm without a camera this weekend as Luke's gone to Copenhagen to visit a friend so he's taken it with him.

The weather has been horrible, raining and windy, and grey - exactly the kind of weather where you want to stay inside and stay warm, especially if you feel like you have a cold coming on again.

So, here's a few things i did this weekend:

• The biggest thing I did was finally begin to rearrange my recipe folder. I've been meaning to do this for so long, and have been umming and ahhhing about the best way to organise them. It's mainly recipes I've cut out of magazines and newspapers. Before yesterday they were all in a total mess - just piled into a folder making it difficult to find anything.  I was considering cutting them all out, sticking them on index cards and putting them in a box, but I knew I'd loose all the pictures - which is kind of what I like best about recipes anyway. In the end i organised them in sections (chicken, lamb, beef, herbs, vege, tomatoes, asian, french, italian and so on) it was a mission and there were recipes spread all over the living room floor as I sorted them out. I wish I could of taken a photo of it - it was a MESS. I've basically finished.. a few more odds and sods to sort out. But it's a good feeling.
• Made roast pumpkin soup with garlic. I got the main idea from Soup Kitchen, but kinda changed it a bit. I wasn't super happy with it, but it worked out ok.
• Worked on my scarf - I really need to finish it soon as winter is well and truly here. Will post some photos of it soon - I'm making it from the yarn I purchased at La Droguerie in Paris. I keep meaning to post pictures of all the things I bought there, but keep using them before i get a chance. It's a cute stitch I'm using - Maybe I'll post the pattern up here. It's not very complicated.
• I hang out on Raverly a bit. I signed up ages ago and haven't really done much on there and kind of want to. So I posted on a few forums, tried to find some new groups. I also wanted to find out about the buzz for this weekend's Knitting and Stitching show at Ally Pally. I'm going with D and we are pretty excited. I have a feeling its going to be great. So I've been thinking about that a fair bit to (should I have a shopping list, how much money should I take, is one day enough). We're thinking of having a Knit Nite on Saturday to get all excited about heading out there the next day. It will be good if Maaike comes as well.  I'm sure I'll be posting with joy and excitement next week.
• I also thought about my job loads. I keep meaning to post about this.. as its relevant and kinda exciting ... I will one day soon.

So, all in all a pretty eventful weekend.

Time Out

I realised I haven't posted on here for a while - but I've been a bit busy.

But you can expect some lovely updates soon, including great adventures from Paris ( a quick weekend away), some cooking and FINALLY some excellent tomatoes from the garden.