Reading and Listening

Sometimes I feel the gap left by my identical twin's move to Canberra more keenly than other times. I miss her dearly, for she is not only my sister, but my best friend. She is also my creative partner in crime, and together we visit galleries, museums, poetry readings, markets, fairs and book shops. Neither of us has been able to find a suitable replacement since her interstate shift. Despite talking daily, face timing and letter writing, there is still a Fiona sized gap. As a result, I often feel a need to inject a little extra creative conversation and company in to my days, particularly as I work from home in the company of my little ones.

One way I have been filling the void is with books, magazines and podcasts. I picked up the Frankie and womankind magazines while in Yamba, and have become quite enamored by womankind - an ad free women's magazine with a focus on arts and culture. While the lovely Pippa recommended the podcast The New Normal - in which Emma and Tess chat with creative mothers about their life, work and family - and the website Creative Women's Circle; from which I brought 'Conversations with Creative Women' Volume one and two. I find reading about successful women who have followed their creative dreams so very interesting and inspiring, particularly when they are Australian and it seems they were once not so removed from my current situation.

I have been listening to audio book again lately, having newly discovered the joys of Borrow Box, which allows me to borrow audio books from my local library and download them on my phone, without even leaving home. I listen to a lot of podcasts and books while I work at the bench or knit. Even while I do the dishes or sweep the floor! Recently I fell in love with How to Paint a Dead Man. A wonderfully woven tale with four protagonists in different eras who are dealing with similar themes of love, loss and art in their lives, which are entwined. (Not one to listen to around children, due to the inclusion of sex scenes.) But a thoughtful, moving and beautifully written novel nonetheless. I have also been listening to a book I have long loved, The Consolations of Philosophy by Alain deBotton. Listening to a book one has previously read brings with it a new level of appreciation. Read or spoken, this is the kind of book you can revisit many times, for it covers the work of several great minds from history and applies their philosophies to our modern lives and every day dilemmas; such as a lack of money, anxiety and the pain of love.

There is another pile of books next to my bed currently, which I hope to find time for soon.
But tell me, what have you been reading and listening to?

Around Here

Spring has brought with it the magic of the season, as fruit and flowers flourish in my garden.

The Mulberry tree is covered in berries. While I wait for them to ripen I am dreaming about filling baskets with goodness to eat, freeze and cook with. Jam. Pie. Cakes. Overnight oats...

Our strawberry harvest will be less than anticipated this year, thanks to a certain blue eyed, blonde haired two year old, who keeps picking and discarding the green fruit. No amount of logic will dissuade her.

A blue tongue lizard has taken up residence behind our shed, and can occasionally be glimpsed basking in the sun. He rather surprised me the first time I stumbled upon him. But I am quite pleased that he has found a home between the shed and the fence.

The BrisStyle Indie market I attended was lovely. Crafters sure know how to rock a market, and make new comers feel welcomed and supported. I had such positive feed back about my stall, my designs and my skill. I chatted with many sweet folks and enjoyed packing up each piece that went home with it's new owner.

I really admire Lisa Congdon for her art and skill, as well as her honesty about her issues with anxiety. I also love listening to podcasts while I work. Thus my excitement when I discovered double the Lisa Congdon goodness with two recent podcasts - Design Sponge and Raise Your Hand. Say Yes. Well worth checking out!

Sometimes you have to say no to something in order to say yes to something else. This was particularly true last week when I was offered a market table in the second round for the November Brisbane Finders Keepers. I thought hard about it, but turned it down, something I can't even have imagined doing twelve months ago. However, my darling husband surprised me by booking a weekend away for my twin sister and my children at a farm stay the same weekend, as a birthday gift. Fiona is flying up from Canberra, and while she would be only too happy to help me at the market, I was reminded about the importance of finding work - life balance. Instead we shall be drinking tea, collecting eggs, exploring and watching as the cows are milked.

So much has been happening in the workshop, which you may have seen over on Instagram. There's a whole lot more on the go, between custom jobs and new stock. Sign up to my newsletter, or follow me on Instagram, for more behind the scenes peeks and information.

Here's to a creative week!

Right Now

1. Oh, the beauty of a napping child. 2. A peek at Jennie's inspiring studio.
3. Modelling clay for the win - sort of. 4. More orders and stock for my shop.
5. The bliss of tea and knitting. 6.Designing new pieces.

Knitting: Working on my scarf and the newly cast on baby blanket, which I will share on Wednesday.

Pleased: To have my lovely husband home after four days of solo parenting. While he explored Sydney with his father and took in the baseball, I discovered that easy meals, long bath times with lots of toys, and simple crafts, were the best way for a pregnant Mama to manage a five and two year old on her own.

30 Weeks Pregnant: After a thyroid and tertiary scan, I can tell you that all is well. This little one seems especially strong! If you see me double over in surprise, you can bet it's from a swift internal kick or punch from my little boxer. After 9 pound 4, and 8 pound 11 babies, the sonographer confirmed that this will be another big baby. Though my bump already feels huge, I know that the next ten weeks is going to make an even bigger difference!

Learning: That while modelling clay will entertain and amuse a five year old for longer than expected, despite several warnings a two year old is still likely to taste a little/ a lot, as soon as your back is turned. Said modelling clay will not digest in the two year olds tummy, and will instead come out again, along with the rest of the contents of their tummy. 

Listening: Still enjoying picking my way through the back catalogue of the 'Stuff You Missed in History Class' podcast. Frida Kahlo! Sei Shonnagon! The Fitzgeralds!

Awed: To have held a $750,000, award winning, pink diamond ring at the JAA Jewellery Fair. It was absolutely stunning. The design. The workmanship. The rare stones. Still, the mind boggles.

Excited: By my lesser priced, but so beautiful purchase from the Fair, a 12 mm Baroque black Tahitian Pearl.

Inspired: By the pearl and the Fair to pull out my collection of gemstones and pearls and spend a quite evening sketching designs and writing up job packets for future pieces of jewellery. 

Happy: To have found a nice balance at the moment, between work, family, and little moments to myself to knit and blog.

Grateful: Every day for my beautiful, healthy, happy children, family and friends. One can't be reminded often enough to be grateful for such things.

Wishing: I could magically weed and turn the soil in my veggie patch, so I could plant out a Winter crop. But this dear bump of mine will not allow the physical labor necessary to achieve such a thing, and I am yet to convince my husband...

Wondering: If you caught my week of guest blog posts over on the Bespoke zine blog.

Doubly excited: To introduce a new series of 'Meet the Maker' interviews I've been working on, on my blog soon. Stay tuned for a lovely selection of Australian makers, from textile designers to fine artists, ceramicists to print makers, doll makers to knitters.