my creative space . . . 'creative perspective'

Greetings all,

Creativity is all about perspective.  I've been creative, mainly in a sewing capacity, forever, yet haven't sewn for ages.  I've fed my creativity in different ways, with . . . 

baking . . .

 gardening . . .

 fencing . . . 

 & playing around with photography.  When you can't create something with your hands, you can always find something to photograph!!  

My photography is all about angles, composition, filters.  What is the most popular subject matter at Posie Shoots??  Eggs!!  You can tell from the colour & size of the eggs, we have an interesting variety of hens . . . i haven't created the eggs, yet how i photograph them is well received.  The eggs are laid on hay, collected in a wire basket, popped into cartons (i shoot from all of these different backdrop props) or like yesterday's haul - muddy eggs plonked on the kitchen counter - rolling to a resting position.  

I have no idea how this "instagram image" below occurred, it just turned up in my bulk iPhone download, it was the only one like it, so thought i'd use it & pretend i am clever.    

 The filter on this lavender adds vibrance, sorry Mother Nature but the lighting wasn't great.  I could have taken this shot arial, front on, grassy background . . . i went low with the fence backdrop, to allow more light & avoid capturing the dead shrub next to it.  The rest was computer software creativity.

 If you're putting images up on social media & you want to get noticed, you have to be creative!!  Quality photography equipment does most of the work, like this image below - egg shells in a cream bowl on a white counter - monotones to the maximum.  Organic shapes are great as they don't have to line up & provide their own interesting angle. 

 I love framing things centrally too, i use the grid on my iPhone or SLR.   

What is creativity??  Something you make, or how you see something??  Many people look at my sewing & confess they are not creative, yet they cook up a storm, landscape a garden, sing beautifully or write poetry.  Perspective.  For more Creative Spaces, check out Village Voices.  Love Posie

my creative space 'keeping up with social-media-play-alongs'

Greetings all,

Are you joiner inner??  I love a good party, group & social-media-play-along, however, i pace myself as i actually find them a little bit of pressure.  Is that weird, that social media i choose to play along with, is pressure to perform??  Sometimes a prompt on what to post keeps things fresh & lively, especially on the downward spiral to Christmas chaos, so i'm joining in two this month . . . wait a moment, it's November already??

My Creative Space '#amonthof' with this variety of crafty things to post about (on Instagram & their face book page, once my request to join has been accepted.)

 1. a creative space . . . last year i picked up a buffet from the tip, sanded, painted, replaced knobs & backed it with Laura Ashley wall paper, to create the dream craft storage cupboard.  Of course i've barely sewn in the past 12 months due to carpal tunnel syndrome & then successful surgery (but life got busy with my husband in Afghanistan & raising children properly) so i'm slowly getting back into my studio now . . . as i need to make some Christmas presents!!  It's an inviting cupboard & showcases my favourite finds!! 

 As i get more confident with Instagram, i have decided to play along with FatMumSlim's #fmsphotoaday for November too.   

 1. something beginning with 'C' . . . could i resist 'chickens?'  Of course not.  Here are some roosters from the Farmer's Market, in all their glory!!

I was raised that "Halloween is an American thing" so we never tricked or treated, outside an organised party in Sydney, but it was clear on Australian social media last night, that PLENTY of families were tricking & treating up a storm in their neighbourhood.  I do giggle when devout religious people get involved, Pagan festival anyone??  Actually, my English Mummy always referred to it as "All Hallow's Eve" as it is the eve of the Western Christian Feast.  I prefer the pagan stories, Stone Henge style.  

Do you join in??  Do you find it exhausting or exhilarating??  I love the connections & Kidspot have this great flicking window of images which updates the #amonthof #mycreativespaces images off Instagram, it's quite brilliant.  Amazing technology.  Love Posie

my creative space . . . 'road-side-find to roof-top-garden'

 Greetings all,

Last week i drove past this cabinet on the side of the road (for extra degree of difficulty it was  dumped at a round about) & on closer inspection it had a broken up marble top . . . i wonder if it was a homemade basin??  Thrilled to discover it's made from packing crates, incredibly sturdy, painted in the perfect 1950's vintage green one side, yellow the other & the chickens love their new day house.  

 My end goal was to take advantage of the height & create a full sun roof top garden.  

 Our chickens & ducks LOVE lettuce, so i planted a couple of dozen butter, iceberg & rocket lettuce varieties, to give them whole lettuces every day.  

This small gauge chicken wire was perfect to protect the lettuce as they grow.  

 We've found the odd chicken up there having a look around, their weight lowers them down for a little peck & we can easily prop it up if they start to destroy the garden.

I used some old pumpkin fencing, stakes, plastic from my sewing stock & discarded MDF, purchased extra soil which we need for a new wine barrel Spring herb garden too.  Another inexpensive project for the chickens & ducks to benefit from.  Total cost, under $20.

None of our chickens have tried to fly away (we inherited the hens, they might have tried to leave or hop over the fence away from our German Shepherd, even though chickens are useless at flying they can panic flee.)  The ducks have their adult feathers yet i'm uncomfortable clipping their wing feathers & they're staying too . . . for the lettuce??  

The chicken day house is a huge hit, just ask raised-from-egg-chicks Viola, Flute, Piccolo & Cello.  I knocked the top shelf out & put in a perch.  For some reason, our chickens don't have a pecking order, they all hang out together or in gangs of different breeds, sizes, ages & mingle all day & night.  One hen has gone broody (a Silky Star cross) she rolls everyone's eggs under her & is quite the proud Mama.  For more Creative Spaces visit Village Voices.  Love Posie

my creative space . . . 'craft retreat'

Greetings all,

I strongly believe the nicest community in blogland is we crafty folks.  Sure there are those protective of their images, patterns, products, & others who complain about people stealing their ideas . . . yet for most of us, we blog to share.  Even better, lots of us attend all manner of blog based events focused on craft, like Sew It Together.  It's positively the most pleasant way to meet fellow crafty bloggers, sitting at classes & around tables with our needles & fabrics, crochet & knitting, chattering away.  Shock horror, the average age is below 40!!

When SIT was in Canberra a weekend ago, i sat next to Julie from Relish, a fellow Canberra girl whom i'd met briefly at handmade markets - too busy to chat - so this was my chance to talk her ear off.  I couldn't help but covet this pretty hexagon pencil case which she received in a swap (craft swaps are amazing, they even involve a dance!!) 

 At the bigger craft retreats/ events, there are sponsored goodie bags & lucky door prizes.  Last year at SIT i was one of the last pulled out of the hat, yet thrilled to pick up a prize from pin-up-girl Gillian of Silly Gilly - vintage sewing goodies - this year i hit the jackpot & scored a 'Wendy' Polly Pratt dress ($176) which basically voided the cost of the craft weekend, as i was going to purchase a dress anyway.  

If you love a beautifully made dress in stunning fabrics, check out Anna's Polly Pratt blog & sale, with dresses at $100, starts Friday night: ends Sunday 8p.m.!!  Thank you Anna, love you & the generous pretty fabric donation to Aussie Hero Quilts for our girlie soldiers serving overseas.    

The Saturday night of SIT included more pop up shopping stalls (including a $2FQ clearance sale from me, that was like Boxing Day sales, thank you ladies!!) & i picked up fabrics from other stalls, sharing the love, along with more of Claire's Craft Schmaft patterns.  FYI Claire is looking for pattern testers right now!!

 The Sunday of the SIT weekend was a paint & stencil class.  I was so impressed with what Sheridan of Sew It Together had learned from Lotta Jansdotter herself, i quickly ordered the same Lotta hard plastic stencils on line & they have already arrived!! 

 I had a little stitching planned for today, however, i just did a big slip over at the shops this morning (while holding my husband's hand, i slid down his side, he let me go) in new ankle boots from the Trenery sale, damn new leather soles & jarred my tennis elbow.  He just stood there looking at me on the floor, trying to work out what happened . . . especially confused as i was laughing.  So it's an icepack, Mollie & Frankie for me instead.  

 So do consider joining in a blog event that suits your interests, you're guaranteed to meet lovely like minded folks & enjoy.  For more creative spaces, check out Village Voices My Creative Space today, love Posie

my creative space . . . 'fancy frock fixes'

Greetings all,

I learned to sew via osmosis from my mother, specialising in alterations & how to fix things.  I've always been able to snatch a bargain dress with a tiny flaw i can repair, so when i found this Alannah Hill frock (i'm wearing to a wedding in a few days) on a rack marked down from $569 to "$80 broken zip" i was thrilled.  

 Look at the detail, so so pretty.  It's knee length with matching sequins around the bottom, soft & floaty.  I had an invisible zip in my stock so fixed it, carefully.  I did get new shoes, on sale, which will go with a gazillion frocks too.

 I've also decided to carry my silver sequin heart clutch/ handbag (it has a strap) as it will go perfectly with this headband, also an Alannah Hill 'broken' bargain, for $19.  It's not even a missing bead or snapped sequin issue, simple fabric stitching undo at the bottom of the headband, glee!!  Took a minute to fix & of course, loving the 80% discount??!!

You don't even have to be an experienced seamstress to fix many fancy frock flaws, i hand stitched these, for tiny detail accuracy.  Don't by shy . . . or find someone who can sew - cook them a lasagne or bring a bunch of flowers, swap skills.  Must admit i did feel like a couture designer working with such delicate fabric, invisible thread & fine stitching.  For more creative spaces, check out village voices, love Posie

my creative space 'hot under the covers'

Greetings all,

Embracing Winter is the trick to enjoying it.  I thought i'd dig up ye olde hot water bottle cover recipe (which consists of laying a hot water bottle onto fabric & cutting around it) & mix it up with different fabrics, organic batting, quilting stitches, bias binding, fabric buttons . . .

 I took half a dozen into Shop Handmade today, they're already featured on FB (thanks Tania).

 I have many more cut out, in screen printed fabrics & boy's themes too.  The quilting takes ages, but it's fun.  I also like the smaller hot water bottles (no idea where to get them but we have some which came with covers from Peter Alexander) so if i find the mini bottles, i'll make some covers!!

 Oh look at this one merchandised with Sheep's Clothing & Soft&Lush at Shop.

 All this heat inducing goodness - just in time - those are snow clouds above school this afternoon.  My darling husband is coming home this weekend, leaving sunny warm Brisbane for a Canberra forecast of -6C on Sunday night.  He's already researched that woollen underlays & doonas are 30% off at David Jones.  Mega investment pieces for the next 15 years of marriage.  He might be a soldier used to roughing it, but when he's home, it's all about comfort.

My oil cloth bunting is in Shop Handmade too, super cute cubby house mini style & a larger version for outdoors.  Happy Creative Space folks, i'm sewing up more hot water bottle covers.  Love Posie

PS i could start every new post with a 'thank you for the comments on the previous one', you're all so awesome out there in blogland, THANK YOU!!  Seems i'm not on the only one who didn't shine on Mother's Day, sigh.  The IKEA giveaway was huge & stay tuned (follow this blog) as next up it's a mega LEGO giveaway!!
EDIT: did anyone else lose all their comments for today's post?? 25+ comments just up & disappeared??

my creative space 'cubby house bunting'

Greetings all,

Another Thursday, another Kootoyoo creative space to kick me into action.  Tomorrow i have 250+ gifts to prepare for the school's Mother's Day stall, so making some outdoor/ cubby/ doll's house bunting has been a welcome project.  Armed with scissors, pinking shears, ruler, blunt pencil (why can i never find a pencil & when i do they are blunt & the sharpener is missing??) & about 18 of the prettiest Mexican printed oil cloths a girl could hope for.  I picked up another 15 prints while on holiday in Brisbane, at Beach Vintage (thanks Simone!!)

 I had visions of ric rac edges & lined flags, but that can just add to the variety of the range in the future, for now, keep it simple!!

 Working with material that doesn't have threads is so dreamy.

 I zig zag stitched them onto pretty ribbons.

 Et voila!!  Fit for an outdoor cubby house.

 This is the mini version, these flags made up from remnants from cutting out the larger flags (that's the nothing-is-wasted-patchwork-quilte in me).

 Added a bit of nostaglia with some post it note clouds, perhaps a distraction from the poor lighting effort, i just wanted a quick post.

 I think these would be cute in a doll's house, non??

I'll be making a long version with the larger flags for our BBQ area, just for fun, something for my husband to shake his head at while he cooks.  Love Posie
PS i'll be back to link Kootoyoo in, i'm stuck & can't access her blog right now
EDIT: link seems to be working, poor Kirsty, living on the edge with her blog connectivity.
This bunting is not for the mother's day stall, i'm just doing up wholesale & inexpensive organic soaps, chocolates, soy candles etc & making them look a million dollars for profit to the P&C.  Amazing what a bit of stylish packaging (cello, raffia, washi tape, tissue paper) can do.
Finally, don't forget the lovely IKEA giveaway i have live, next post down, enjoy & good luck!!

my creative space 'screen printing holiday' & OPEN DAY this Saturday

Greetings all,

Well HOW lucky am i??  Last week I spent a whole day of giggles, laughter, lessons, business & fun with the wonderful Thea Samios of Thea & Sami screen printing magic, in Queensland.  Thank you Thea, i had a ball with you, i've certainly caught the screen printing bug!!

 Now this is one full on professional set up with mega printing tables, assistant Dan, wall fans, sky lights plus a custom design cleaning trough, it was screen printing bliss.

 Honestly, it was like watching magic happen, with this back & forth flowing rhythm of paint, screens, accuracy & perfection.  Oh, on the best quality linens too!!

 Sweet Thea doesn't like her photo being taken . . . what is more gorgeous than taking a bunch of images of someone as they work, to find they're laughing in every photo you download!!??

 This was jaw dropping beauty, honest & for true.

 Thea & Dan had both the 10m & 7m tables printing up a storm.

 Thea & i both love our maths & numbers so the accuracy & measurement is our thing.  Precision is key, especially with her detailed designs.

 Even watching the different runs dry at intervals was magical.

 Watching paint dry is fascinating, i can assure you.

 Then i got to play with some shapes i brought along to cut out & make into screens.

 So i made each of my children a new pyjama top.

 Look at these beautiful designs on the large screens.

 Want a piece of the action too??  Thea is holding a GRAND OPENING of this new studio & shop on Saturday 30th April, from 10a.m. to 4p.m. at Unit 1, 6 Jones Road, Capalaba Queensland.  Find out how fabrics are screen printed & pick up some beautiful original hand screen printed delights, including remnants.  There will be screen printing demonstrations at 11a.m. & 1p.m.  You will be made to feel very welcome!!  Please RSVP here. 
EDIT: new blog post about preparations here with news of a $100 Thea&Sami gift voucher to be won by one lucky attendee.

The remnants are AMAZING, quality, value & perfect for those smaller sewing projects.  I promise i left some!!

So i'm very ready to be back in my own studio after some fun & relaxation in Queensland (so much more on that later) & will be sewing my heart out to wrap up the school holidays & make good use of the huge array of new fabrics in my new cool vintage suitcase.  Happy Creative Space this week, i've been having a ball.  Love Posie