my creative space

Who knew renovating could be so stressfull? OK. Everyone does! But honestly, I didn't excpect myself to be having anxiety attacks over light fittings.

Turns out I have very expensive taste and I guess that is what my anxiety attacks are really about. I'm not good at making decisions that are reasonably permanent and cost lots. I'm good at the easily changeable, cheap, op shop kind.

Of course it doesn't' help that I have two very distinct sides to my taste palette. There is the more eclectic, just a bit messy and chaotic side, which likes loud clashing colours, crazy mosaics and granny rugs. This is in competition with the super clean lined, minimalistic, neutral coloured designer in me.

So how then do I make the two huge enamelled green industrial shades I have work with the sleek brushed silver wall lights I have just ordered. I'm just going to throw it all in the pot and stir, so stay tuned! 

All in all it's all going well, perhaps a little slower than expected. It is extremely exciting to see it all taking shape.




For more creative spaces visit kootoyoo

my creative space

It's been a while since I've been here. During the craziness of trying to renovate in the wettest winter in years, children, writing a novel and life in general, the blog has slipped down the list of proirities. Actually, I need to write that list out soon and reorganise it. I suspect these are a few other things that could be bumped to the bottom, or removed altogether, like perhaps house work or picking up after other people.

My little girl turned three in August, and after much deliberation about what to giver her, with one week to go, and in a completely delusional state, I decided to make her a Steiner style doll. And I did it too!

I decided to make it with the kids, instead of keeping it a surprise, and I was amazed at how much they enjoyed the process. Eloise has an extra little bit of love for this doll, knowing that she had taken part in her conception. 

We are pretty proud of how Dolly turned out. She is made out of my old white nightie, dyed in tea - with some spices to give her a lovely aroma. The wool stuffing I had lurking in a box in a dark corner, under some other 'stuff', and the hair I had left over from a crochet project. We made up the pattern as we went along with thanks to many websites on the subject. I'll list them soon, for those who might be interested. The lovely dress was found in the local op shop, knitted by someone with love.

This was another project that I started a while ago. The green apple pants by 'mer-made-it' had been grown out of and I couldn't bear to let them go. So, out came the scissors and the needle. The waist was let out and then I crocheted some extra length on the bottom. 


The hilarious thing is that it got put aside for a little while. I did a few stitches here and there, and then it waited for me to sew the ends in. In the meantime Eloise grew, and she grew and she grew, and the pants only just come half way down her shins. She wil still get another spring out of them though. 

What are you up to this week? Play along at kootoyoo.