Poppalina

Mosaic Monday

1. Everything I have is yours, 2. Looking through the Web, 3. Quilts on sale, 4. 59, 5. spot the globe, 6. lit-up headboard., 7. Whit's Knits: Tulip Socks, 8. mirror mirror on the wall - valentine's edition necklace 1.1, 9. Do you have a treat for me?, 10. Vegan Icecream Sammies, 11. tattooed man, b&w, 12. Untitled, 13. puppet show, 14. Thoughts., 15. Storks..., 16. Diagonal decay, 17. Untitled, 18. Centre of the universe., 19. Desert dreaming by Diane Groenewegen, 20. Clapotis - Fin, 21. Bat, 22. birds nest brooch, 23. lakshmiwithcorn, 24. gatherer, 25. Forgotten words

It's Raining Babies

What is it with babies?

You'll have none in your life for years and years and then the next thing you know, they're practically falling from the sky. Not me, personally, you understand, I am Much Too Old for such nonsense. But at various times in my life, they do seem to have arrived en masse.

It must be something in the water.

Ask and ye shall receive

Nothing like pitching a thinly-veiled request for help out into the Universe.

Within 12 hours, the lovely Miss Pen was showing me how to put together an invisible zip, complete with a take-home, step-by-step, instruction kit and a fistful of spare zips, not to mention wool gloves for Mym and a big box of embroidery threads. It was like Christmas, and I hereby declare that Pen now has a lifetime supply of free yoga lessons, should she ever decide to collect, and should I ever graduate.

And if any confusion remains (I must confess it does, because I am a Sewing Moron), that's okay, because Kapinny, my aforementioned Sewing Guru, hits town tomorrow with her customary Exquisite Timing in times of Ultimate Crisis, to make sure I don't screw up the Real Thing.

Times like this I look Heavenward, and grudgingly acknowledge that I am Indeed Blessed.

Tattoo Love

Designed by Mym. Executed by Shula.

As handy as I may be with an embroidery hoop, let me assure you, a seamstress I am not. I was up all night trying to negotiate an invisible pocket into the lining of a scarf. ALL. NIGHT. This is no exaggeration. All attempts at sleep were met with visions of blue wool - folding, unfolding, refolding - until eventually my head went all zippy and I had to get up and keep going.

But still it is not done.

I fear the solution may require a trip to Sydney, where my Sewing Guru, to my eternal inconvenience, now resides in a state of matrimonial ecstasy. But for now I've put it aside with Great Reluctance and an overwhelming sense of Abject Failure.

The tattoo applique, however, I'm very happy with.

And my floors have been desaturated and shampooed to within an inch of their lives.

Mosaic Sunday

Better post this now, while I can, as I'm going to be very busy tomorrow.

The best part of the upstairs of our house nearly drowned today, the reasons for which I will refrain from reporting out of loyalty to those members of my immediate family who are somewhat brain cell-challenged. Tomorrow will consist of vaccuuming for hours on end with a steam cleaner. Again.

So much fun, I could just spit.

1. Australian wattle 2, 2. P'tit bout de chat..., 3. Untitled, 4. Matryoshka Gift, 5. - short & sweet -, 6. Untitled, 7. Teedy bears, 8. The Townend Gems, 9. House Revealed, 10. Ribs from my father, Filippus., 11. Dawn service., 12. Good morning, 13. Untitled, 14. Quiet Mornings, 15. Day 17: pieces, 16. One of the fruits of the season..., 17. ollie surveys his territory, 18. ESPELHO, 19. quilting and getting back to the garden, 20. betty muriel's cardigan, 21. IMG_0431, 22. on the wall, 23. Untitled, 24. Tiny & perfect, 25. Garden Project Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Purple Bush Tucker

Yes, yes, more purple scarves.

Weren't you just waiting with bated breath for that one?

This is a Bulurru print, from North Queensland, designed by Julie Nabangardi Shedden, and titled Bushtucker, which is fairly self-explanatory. I found it buried deep in the stash, and had completely forgotten its existence, until it flew past my line of vision as I pulled everything off the shelves and tossed it over my shoulder in the hunt for something else that rhymes with lavender.

This scarf is wonkier than the other one. I don't know why that is. But that's okay, I have a feeling it's prospective owner is going to forgive me.

Is it June again already?

Please be advised that Chez Poppalina will not be accepting any more friendships with people born under the sun sign of Cancer, or Gemini, but especially Cancer,

No matter how irresistably lovely we find them to be.

There is, quite simply, just not enough purple to go round. And June is becoming the Month of Dread, as we rack our brains to think of birthday presents for almost everyone we know.

We thank you in advance for your consideration, and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

ps. recycled patchwork silk and corduroy scarf, for those of you who are wondering.

Mosaic Monday

1. ninha, 2. glaze face, 3. Flamenco Footsteps, 4. cupcake hat_back, 5. Molly's room, 6. s t i l l - specks, 7. balloonsinherface, 8. Day 112/366, 9. parkin, 10. morning gymnastics..., 11. Quilt - work in progress, 12. paws, 13. green!, 14. Untitled, 15. old sketchbooks, 16. VPL B Tank in White, 17. Untitled, 18. Bunnito the Pirate-ito, 19. Untitled, 20. A New Fascination, 21. allium, 22. ヤサシイクウキ, 23. Mt Lofty, 24. a treat, 25. ceramic cupcake

The Magnolia Project

Mid-Winter is a most interesting time to be in Melbourne.

 

People do things like stand outside, in the freezing cold, dressing magnolia trees in doilies.

And proud I am to number myself among them.

I'd do a whole lot more, too, than lower my body temperature for the privilege of attending one of Miss Pen's afternoon teas. Man, I haven't seen a spread like that since my Nan was alive. Lemon tart, raspberry friands, home-made crumpets, to name but a few, washed down with lashings of real hot chocolate.

I thought I'd died and gone to Enid Blyton Heaven.

Thanks to hml for the afternoon tea photo. I was beside myself with excitement and forgot to take one.

More photos here.

Breakfast Saturday

Rice Porridge, how do I love thee?

Well...

With tinned apricots and coffee, for one.