Outstanding vintage fabric cushions...

The idea of making cushions using vintage fabrics is not new, as you know - there is a plethora of cushions on offer worldwide and, I have to admit, I haven't been a fan of a lot of them. The new 'thing' of combining multiple fabrics in larger panels on the front (usually with mixed patterns) is great, but I have never been over the moon with anything I have seen. But Jane Foster's eye for fabulous vintage fabric and using the fabric a la solo is one of my loves, definitely. I think it's because they are just so simple - so crisp. They are not busy. They simply allow the textile design to sing!

Jane Foster's cushion shop is here and her blog is here.

Retro Print Revival - me wantee!

Argh - these images are small, but I think you get the idea! These fab lamps are from Retro Print Revival and they are vintage bases with vintage fabric - uber cool, methinks!

Inspiring...I think it's possible for you to...

… love your work (almost) every moment of every day
… be the best at something
… contribute and give back to society on your terms
… be at complete peace
… create and foster an amazing community for yourself
… be financially content
… have enough
… love and be loved at work (yes possible), home, and community
… appreciate and respect all people
… feel connected to the earth
… let go
… trust yourself

Found via the inspirational Ben Coe blog...

One - yes, just you is enough

The Power of the World in One

I write to the individual because all world change starts within each of us. You are the only entity that matters for change.

I want to see a world with no war, so I try to show you peace inside.

I want to see a world where we live in harmony with nature, so I seek to remind you of the simple joy you have while outside on a sunny spring day.

I want to see a world where people value experience more than material things, so I strive to show you that love, joy, excitement, and laughter come from experience, not the objects around you.

I want to see cities designed around pedestrians, so I encourage you feel the beauty of walking.

I want to be a part of this world, so I write to create this world and to connect with others that feel it too.

Thank you for reading and for being.

------

This was written today by The Artist Farm Ideas - aren't the thoughts beautiful?

The path is not always clear

You have probably heard the saying “life is a journey.” The definition of journey is “the act of traveling from one place to another.” We often consider this a metaphor since our normal use of the word “journey” implies covering a distance. But it’s not a metaphor at all. Life really is a journey, a journey that we travel in time, not distance. In life the paths aren’t on the ground but instead exist only in our minds.

In life, we don’t have road signs and often times the paths aren’t clearly marked.

In hiking (and in life) you know the feeling of finding a long flat, clear, grassy stretch where you can see the path unfold in front of you. The sun is high overhead and it is so obvious where the path is headed that you can pick up some momentum. But no matter how great you are at navigating the trails you will inevitably come to places where the path splits off into 10 different directions or the path seems to disappear all together. In life there aren’t usually obvious road signs to guide you. You need to use your intuition to find the way. These moments can seem scary. They can seem daunting. You can feel lost. I’d propose that instead of freaking out at these junctures, just sit down and enjoy where you are. Take in the sunshine, take in your surroundings… maybe enjoy some lunch. Let go of everything and just be in this place. If you wait patiently and enjoy the moment your path will eventually show itself.

This blog post is from one of my favourite blogs - The Artist Farm Ideas. I think this is so apt at some stage in everyone's lives - it is for me at this moment...

One Green Generation and lifestyle changes...

As you know I have many goals for 2010. Lots. Probably far too many. But I am determined to see them through and be the person I want to be, in a place I want to be and in a space I want to be.

One of our goals is to start afresh with a new herb garden and vegie patch. We want to be as self-sufficient as possible. That means also learning how to use basic household supplies like they did in decades past. Bicard for toothpaste. Vinegar for itchies. That type of thing.

One of my fave blogs is One Green Generation. Melinda's enthusiasm is so infectious and I greatly admire her drive to make this world a better place, one important step at a time. I am doing her '2010 dream challenge' (I am going to start writing each Friday) and I am finding her site an encyclopaedia of information for making a lifestyle change. Her latest website addition is Lifestyle Changes. There's lots of information there for us all to learn from!

Inspiration...

This lovely lady is always an inspiration. I love reading her blog - she inspires me to be a better person and live life in the now. This week Nichola did the No Impact Week and she has had something wonderful to say about the project every day. You can't help but ponder how to improve your life after you read her daily posts...



She even made her own bread! I am currently hunting down things to 'replace' in the every day - like making your own shampoo, washing soap etc...and I am determined to try this bread recipe. Have a look at her photo - don't you just want to jump into your computer and eat that bread??



I had such a productive day today it's a little scary! I have always fallen off the 'plan for a month' bandwagon but this time it feels so real it's almost not me! Lots more organised around the house, we're ready for our eldest to start grade 1 and I am continuing to upload lots of yummy fabric onto the website. The one above is a divine 5th Avenue imported linen and the sweet pink carnations is a lovely light cotton blend. More to come tomorrow!

Vintage socks - wherefore art thou?

Vinnlands made by Lisa, originally uploaded by hyena-in-petticoats.

I have long admired Hyena-in-Petticoats...she has a fabulous crafty eye, a great love of colour and she's downright (swearingly) earthy! Love it.

I love, love, love this photo. Not only does that sock have a crackin' colour but that design just oooooooozzzzzzzzzzzessss comfy Winter hotness, don't you think? Makes me want to slap on a pair right this minute.

It made me wonder - we can find vintage underwear, vintage lingerie and vintage stockings - but where are all those hand-knitted socks from decades past? Is there a museum keeping our sock history preserved?...(or should that be preserving our sock history??)...

Hot and not...

I have been a fan of Loobylu's blog for a loooonggg time - can't remember when I first came across it, but I did the break thing with her and then rejoiced when she came back...now all I need to do is win one of Claire's stuffed toys on ebay and I'll be a very happy reader :)

Claire does 'what's hot and not' of a Wednesday...as I didn't have any blog plans this evening I thought I'd join in...

HOT
My creative juices are flowing and I am getting a lot of ideas - hot, I say!
I have rearranged my area of the workspace to make it more homely - very hot!
We have almost finished painting one bedroom - thank goodness hot!
We have had a wonderful year and we have a lot of be grateful for - hot, hot, hot!
The Dalai Lama in Australia - hot!
I have been baking a storm and everything is turning our perfectly - hot stuff!
I have finished our Christmas shopping - yee har hot!

NOT
I am on new medication for my stomach and it is making me very tired. So not hot.
We have a leaking sky light that is hopefully being fixed by a very expensive roof dude. Very not hot.
We can't keep up with the renovations. Uncomfortably not hot.
My front yard is bare and my backyard is overgrown. Messy not hot.
Premier Brumby not meeting Dalai Lama - lame not hot.

There's much more to write but that first NOT is getting in the way - to rest, I go...

Ten days and ten ways of slowing down...& Peta Pledger

Picture from http://umatji.blogspot.com/

One of the blogs I regularly read is too many thangs in my head - written by Umatji.

She has been writing a some wonderful posts in the last couple of days - well, she always does, but she is doing a 'ten days and ten ways of slowing down' series that I am loving. As I always seem to live life too fast to (truly) enjoy it I have been reading avidly...and her advice is spot on and beautifully conveyed!



Another happy moment today was winning the Sorted book offered on Peta Pledger's blog - woot! I couldn't believe I won - I really need this book! I don't like clutter but clutter seems to love me. Have you seen Peta's amazing creations? She has a great Etsy store and bigcartel one as well. I love the era she loves - her designs are lovely and her sewing skills are second to none! Oh...and did I mention I went to school with her and we worked at Safeway Carlton together way back in the 80s (we were check out chicks - even though I can't remember her on a register!!)...- bar ha ha, Peta, had to get it in :)

IDesign - Seven Ways of Design Thinking

I was told about this program today and have been reading about it this arvo. It's called IDesign - Seven Ways of Design Thinking and it's by Dr Charles Burnette. It's quite interesting on so many levels - from a business perspective to teaching kiddies how to find and use concepts. It works like this...

Intend - prioritise, declare and pursue
Define - itemise, describe and refer
Explore - relate, organise and analyse
Suggest - formulate, present and explain
Innovate - produce, process and improve
Goalgetting - monitor, measure and evaluate
Know - remember, reflect and apply

I am really impressed - it's such a linear program it almost seems too simple. But I think simplicity is best with strategy and planning, don't you?

I am totally addicted to the Down-to-Earth site once again - you have to see her biscuits - we're going to make them as a family in the next day or so as they seem totally kiddie proof! And don't forget to join the forum, too - it's a wonderful source of green information and how to live life simply!

Another blog addiction - mel bombardiere

I can't remember when I came across the world of mel bomba. I am totally addicted to her blog, mel bombardiere. For a number of reasons. She has divine design style so her blog always had divine photos. She has a divine renovation on the go and we've been following her every step of the way - I can't wait to see what styles she chooses and what hues here and there. And now she's got a divine bump growing so that's even more anticipation...!!



On top of that she designs divine fabrics! I absolutely love her design style - I see flickering of nouveau and deco in her designs and an intricacy I don't often come across in modern boutique textile design. I adore them - they have such heart.



If you're after a fabulous blog to follow then I would highly recommend mel bombadiere - it's like a bloody good thriller novel without all of the horror and CIA stuff :) I took all of these images from her blog but you can see some other fabulous shots on her Flickr...trust me, you'll never want to leave....