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Discovered at Gazebo this afternoon.The Saucy Basil Mule - "muddled strawberries, torn basil and shaved ginger, served long with vodka, schnapps and ginger beer".Refreshingly fizzy, absolutely delicious with the perfect balance of sweet and tart, smells so happy and in such a cheery sunshine colour.I think I might have finally found my all-time favourite Summer drink.
The boyfriend found Mr Candy Cane in the letterbox late last night when he took the trash down.He came all the way from Singapore! A lovingly hand-drawn surprise from my talented bloggy-pal Miss Nah-nah of Paperocket.Look at the details on the acorns...
and the long strand of fairy lights! Must have taken her ages to draw.Funny how I sent her something woodland-themed too. Tee hee hee. We love pixies and little forest critters!
Evil Red is hungry and wants to eat the family of sweet matryoshka dolls! Because G, who gave them to me for Christmas, forgot to buy him a bag of nuts.Evil Red cracks nuts - lift his tail to open his mouth, put a nut in and press his tail down. Can't wait to get cracking!The dolls are a set of 6 dry-measure cups! From one cup (the mama doll's top half) right down to 1/4 cup (the baby doll's bottom half). How very clever and cute!
We ate loads of prawns over Christmas but still craving for more today. The weather, back to being all Summery again, called for something cold and salad-y for dinner.A must-have at any 70s party, the Prawn Cocktail. In a bowl instead of glasses with non-traditonal bits added - mango (now in season and very good with prawns) and hardboiled eggs because I felt like eating them.I tried taking the piss with the plating, you know, arranging the avocado, prawns and mango retro-style-e into "fans" but failed. Haha. Kind of succeeded with my chive "teepee", though. And my "cheat's cocktail sauce":~ 2 parts mayo (I only use Kewpie) ~ 1 part tomato sauce~ Wasabi (to taste)~ Finely-chopped sweet pickled gherkins~ Finely-chopped baby capers~ Salt and pepper (to taste)
Paper Crown - from the boyfriend's Christmas cracker, Vintage Fur Vest - RetroSheilaBoy, am I chatty today! Four posts in a row!We finally saw Spike Jonze' latest this evening. Had to use up some free tickets that we got given last Christmas before they expire on the 31st.
This was what I wanted to wear to the cinema. I like having a little dressing-up fun sometimes when I go to the movies but the boyfriend, who usually thinks it's kind of cute, said I was mad, that it's Summer, too warm for fur.It wasn't! We've had wet and grey days since Christmas Eve! And it's only a fur vest. Not a full fur coat!But I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable walking next to what strangers might think is one of our mad neighbourhood bag ladies so I put my fur and crown away.The aircon in the cinema was on at full blast and the walk home was windy and chilly. I whinged all the way home, "See, it was weather-appropriate! You've spoilt my dressing-up fun! Hrrmmphh!".PS. Wilds Things was beautiful. Made me smile and my eyes well. And Max Records is a baby James Spader! Is it pervy to say "I can't wait for him to grow up"?
Highlight of the day: Finding a new piece of cement pavement sculpture by Will Coles! Not that meeting our visiting pal Mr Gordon from Singapore and his new missus for catch-up yum cha lunch wasn't a highlight. We wouldn't have left the flat if not for them! Would have continued with our TV-addict ways. Haha.Went to the shops for a bit after lunch because our addiction made us missed the first day of the Boxing Day Sale. The crowd was bad and our hearts were back home with the TV so all we got were some new sheets with a huge thread count for cheap. Boring.
It feels so good to have days-off to do fuck-all!We've been watching quite a bit of internet TV over the last few months because the state of TV programming in Australia has recently gone to the dogs.We waited and waited and our darling House never came back! We invested in one of those 'puter-to-TV cables and have never looked back since. (Gigi, if you are reading this, the new season is very very good!)On Boxing Day, we spent the whole day in our pyjamas watching all Judd Apatow's Jew Tang Clan in Freaks And Geeks.Caught up with the American audience with 30 Rock.And Entourage.And had a super junky dinner of home-delivered ribs (for the boyfriend) and barbeque chicken (me).I can get used to days like these.
The Analogue Projection Clock that we got our pal Mr R for Christmas. He had fun pointing it everywhere after our annual Christmas dinner at his place.His son asked if his father has really gone that blind to need a clock so huge. Haha.
I was allowed to open my first gift after dinner last evening!Continuing with the tradition of giving me things wrapped in "vulgar" paper (see last one), the boyfriend's pressie to me came with this crazed Robot Santa from Futurama.
Within was this book, Important Artifacts And Personal Property From The Collection of Lenore Doolan And Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion And Jewelry, by Leanne Shapton!
It's a love story told in the format of an auction catalogue with loads of photos of things (and short item descriptions) owned by the couple. Things that they are trying to get rid of via "Strachan & Quinn Auctioneers" following their break-up.
I think it's such a novel (pun not intended) and clever story-telling vehicle! In an age where, in many cases, the things that people own, get given or receive kind of define them and give a voyeuristic peek into their personalities and lives. Very much like the blogs that we all love to read and write.And it was on a blog where I first discovered this book, India Knight's Posterous (What does her blog and its content tell me about her?...She's a humourous lady with very very good taste for the finer things in life).Go read her post and watch the video at the end in which Leanne Shapton talks about her book with the very lengthy name. A book which I think will "go viral" on the blogging circuit soon, if it hasn't already. You just wait and see.No, the boyfriend doesn't read India. When he told me that the present that he ordered for me wasn't going to arrive on time, I subtly helped him out. Tee hee hee. But I didn't think he was going to take the hint so it's still a surprise. Now, I have to go bug him to tell me what the late real-surprise pressie is. The suspense is killing me! I've been hassling him since last night but he's not caving. Grrrr!MERRY CHRISTMAS! Hope Santa (not the crazy one!) brought you loads of pwetty things!PS. Was just thinking, if the boyfriend and I should break up one day and decide to auction off our belongings, wouldn't it be funny to have Important Artifacts And Personal Property From The Collection of Lenore Doolan And Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion And Jewelry included in our catalogue?
What's Christmas shopping without coming home with cheeky gifts-to-self?I went to the Remo store yesterday to pick up a few things (not for me!) and added this little harmonica (for myself) at check-out.When I say "little", I really mean "little".
This "Little Lady" by Hohner, the maker of some of the best harmonicas in the world, is less than 4cm in length! How could I resist her cuteness? Add a bow and I was sold!She can be worn as a brooch or on a necklace. And she works! Only a full octave but it's enough for me. I've already played quite a few tunes on it! The first was Do Re Me from Sound Of Music - a good test for the eight notes. Another "noisy" neck thing from Remo. Tee hee hee.Interesting "Little Lady" Trivia:It was the first musical instrument to be played in outer space in 1965 on the Gemini VI by astronaut Wally Schirra. Wow.
From Fratelli Fresh. Made by Noosa Natural Chocolate Company.I love strawberries (all the time) and chocolate (sometimes) but have never really been into those fresh strawberries-dipped-in-chocolate confectioneries. The moisture in the fruit wrecks the texture of the chocolate for me somehow. Even those from the best places.So you can imagine my squeals of delight (not internal this time because I had company - I only keep them in when I'm alone and not want to appear like some loopy person) when I saw these on the shelves. In sealed bags!The sealed bags meant that they have somehow figured out how to dry the strawberries whole = no sogginess in the chocolate = made me very curious = had to buy a bag!They have indeed removed every bit of juice from the berries! So much so that when you bite in, it's crunchy like the honeycomb centre of a Violet Crumble bar! And when fruits are put through the dehydration process, their flavour intensifies so what I got was the concentrated fragrant sweetness of the strawberry laced with a little tartness. Phwoar! Pow! Wow! Power!Wishing now (just ate the last one) that we got two bags of them instead of the one. We bought their choc-coated blueberries too but the berries were dried like regular dried fruit, not taken to the crumbly state like the strawberries, rendering them chewy. Blah.My new favourite "Power Strawberries" are available at Fratelli Fresh and these stockists all around Australia. A great addition to Christmas hampers!
Photo by Zoe BrandThe festive feasting table at Feast, an exhibition of jewellery and objects. My contribution to the "potluck" is at the far end of the table.We were there yesterday for the opening and was highly entertained by the humour and wit that most of the participating artists have injected into their pieces. In Zoe the curator's words, "Ha-larious!".The show runs from now until Christmas Eve from 11am to 6pm daily. Zoe worked really hard putting the show together so do go enjoy the Feast-ivities. The "food" on the table, by the way, are all available for take-away.Feast - a celebration of the predetermined as well as the gloriously spontaneous moments that happen around the Christmas feasting table
Depot Gallery I
2 Dank Street
Waterloo
NSW 2017
Phone: (02) 9698 7999
Going to attempt doing a fashion blogger-type post. You know, go on about what I wore yesterday and not much else.Bunny EarsI made them. My second pair in the same fabric because a sweet old gentleman persuaded me to sell him the first pair at the last market. He wanted to give them to his daughter for Christmas. I offered to make him a pair from the same fabric but he insisted on having my pair.Chambray DressFrom Zara in Singapore when we were home last year for a holiday. I love anything chambray! NecklaceHomemade again. I insist on wearing matchy-matchy New Ears and New Jewels.BagA leather and suede tool pouch that I modified. It's such a good little market bag - the pockets are perfect for storing change and to keep essentials within easy reach. Quite a few people have asked to buy them and I will sell them soon, once I find more of the tool pouches to modify - bought all they had at my regular hardware shop and haven't seen any suitable ones in other shops.ClogsI'm really getting value for my money with these Swedish Hasbeens. I've been wearing them nearly everyday since I got them. They are the best shoes ever! Thinking of getting another pair soon.Oh, and need to book in for a haircut soon! The longer side has grown much faster than the short side. Too heavy for my liking.
Not going to get much from Santa this year, I think, because I've been so naughty. Instead of diligently sewing away:(1) I keep putting up rubbish "What's New" posts. Blogging gives my eyes and head a break from the stitching. It helps me relax. Yes, it's sad. I know.(2) I sneak in little shopping trips on the pretext of buying Christmas things for others but come home with things for myself.
This Perks And Mini (PAM) dress is one of those things. From the Little Hero Sale on Sunday.I scored BIG at the last one for myself and the boyfriend and thought it would happen again. No such luck.Came away with only one dress. It's a great dress, equivalent to finding three mediocre dresses. And it was going for half the price.I love the poufy 3D "diamonds" on the sleeves...
and all around the hem. They are looking all flat and sad here because I can't be arsed ironing them to perfection just for a pack shot. Will do so when I wear it. It's going to be one massive job getting them right.
I'll be taking the New Jewels to another market this Saturday. The last one for me this year.Have been frantically trying to make up new pieces right after Finders Keepers. Can't wait to take a proper break from all the sewing! And strike some names off my Christmas shopping list! Will there be anything left in the shops in the right size/colour/style come Monday?If you've got a few more names to cross off yourself, do come down to A Little Bazaar (stop to say "hello" if you do). There will be 30 stalls cramped full of blingsome goodness.A Little BazaarWhen: Saturday 19 December 2009 from 10.00am to 5.00pmWhere:The Fringe Bar106 Oxford StreetPaddington
Also spent nearly the whole of last week finishing up my pieces for Feast, a group jewellery show that curator Zoe Brand at Studio 20/17 has so kindly asked me to take part in when we met at the first A Little Bazaar.My first proper show in a real art gallery-type environment! Still can't comprehend how an untrained person/dabbler like me lucked out to have my work placed next to those of way more accomplished makers of real jewellery who have been doing it for years!Maybe I really am a great swindler with my Empress Dowager's New Jewels. Like those charlatans in Hans Christian Andersen's The Emperor's New Clothes. Come spot the difference between my naive work and those by professionals (it won't be hard). Zoe said there would be wearable Pigs in a Blanket! Feast (a celebration of the predetermined as well as the gloriously spontaneous moments that happen around the Christmas feasting table)
When:
Opening (and Christmas drinks): Sunday 20 December 2009 from 3.00pm to 6.00pm
The show runs from 20 to 24 December 2009 from 11.00am to 6.00pm daily
Where:
Depot Gallery I
2 Dank Street
Waterloo
NSW 2017
Phone: (02) 9698 7999
Discovered at Gazebo this afternoon.
The boyfriend found Mr Candy Cane in the letterbox late last night when he took the trash down.
and the long strand of fairy lights! Must have taken her ages to draw.
We ate loads of prawns over Christmas but still craving for more today. The weather, back to being all Summery again, called for something cold and salad-y for dinner.
Paper Crown - from the boyfriend's Christmas cracker, Vintage Fur Vest - RetroSheila
This was what I wanted to wear to the cinema. I like having a little dressing-up fun sometimes when I go to the movies but the boyfriend, who usually thinks it's kind of cute, said I was mad, that it's Summer, too warm for fur.
Highlight of the day: Finding a new piece of cement pavement sculpture by Will Coles! 
It feels so good to have days-off to do fuck-all!
I had chicken satay. Only six sticks of them. Six very good sticks.
And the boyfriend had roti prata telur - crispy crepes with egg within.
nasi lemak for me...
and nasi briyani for him like the last time we were there.
No photos of what we ate for dinner. Just this of my favourite painting in Mr R's home. I love the contrast between the naughtiness of the Bong Rat and the sweetness of the sideboard display.
The Analogue Projection Clock that we got our pal Mr R for Christmas. He had fun pointing it everywhere after our annual Christmas dinner at his place.
I was allowed to open my first gift after dinner last evening!
Within was this book, Important Artifacts And Personal Property From The Collection of Lenore Doolan And Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion And Jewelry, by Leanne Shapton!
It's a love story told in the format of an auction catalogue with loads of photos of things (and short item descriptions) owned by the couple. Things that they are trying to get rid of via "Strachan & Quinn Auctioneers" following their break-up.
I think it's such a novel (pun not intended) and clever story-telling vehicle! In an age where, in many cases, the things that people own, get given or receive kind of define them and give a voyeuristic peek into their personalities and lives. Very much like the blogs that we all love to read and write.
#2 has been gift-wrapped and ready to go while #3 has left and is travelling to its new home.
Loads of Kewpie dolls in action...
Click here to play
Click here to play
Click here to play
Click here to play 
Click here to play
Click here to view
Click here to view
These are the girls who sang it. I so want their headpieces and dresses with the asymmetrical Peter Pan collars!
What's Christmas shopping without coming home with cheeky gifts-to-self?
This "Little Lady" by Hohner, the maker of some of the best harmonicas in the world, is less than 4cm in length! How could I resist her cuteness? Add a bow and I was sold!
"One of these things don't belong here..." - didn't bother re-wrapping the thing in the yellow bag which came with the purchase. Just added holes, ribbon and tag. 
Things that couldn't fit into the gnome bags get the usual plain paper treatment.
Decided to "stitch" the bags shut this year with green string instead of wasting double-sided tape (I'm anal. I hate exposed Scotchtape on gift-wrapping and only use the double-sided ones).
Fragile things that are going in the mail to faraway places in bubble wrap get real stitches with needle and thread.
From Fratelli Fresh. Made by Noosa Natural Chocolate Company.
Photo by Zoe Brand
Going to attempt doing a fashion blogger-type post. You know, go on about what I wore yesterday and not much else.
This Perks And Mini (PAM) dress is one of those things. From the Little Hero Sale on Sunday.
and all around the hem. They are looking all flat and sad here because I can't be arsed ironing them to perfection just for a pack shot. Will do so when I wear it. It's going to be one massive job getting them right.
Finally got my filthy puppy paws on the white linen Nancy Rose smock dress by Phoebe's aunt that I wrote about a few posts ago!
And the two huge pockets on the sides! They are my favourite features. More pleats! Making them look like saddlebags. Some might think that it's not very flattering but I like! Pouf! Yay!
...her stall is right inside. And she has put up very clear directions on her blog.
I'll be taking the New Jewels to another market this Saturday. The last one for me this year.
Also spent nearly the whole of last week finishing up my pieces for Feast, a group jewellery show that curator Zoe Brand at Studio 20/17 has so kindly asked me to take part in when we met at the first A Little Bazaar.
My latest obsession. Taking photographs of these holes-in-walls.
I like repeated pattern on things. Explains another fixation.
"eeeeeee" or "Chinese coins"?
Not a grill but pretty anyway.
A "polka-dotted" modern one.
Another new-ish one in "argyle".
This...this mad-looking thing is not the end of a vent! But a proper window with some crazy metal sculpture put in. Aids ventilation too so I'm including it.
