Abandoned

Whenever I have to write something about myself, I usually mention the fact that I am really inspired by abandoned houses. So I thought I'd show you some photos of an abandoned house we found up at Port Albert, on the Kaipara Harbour back in summer. I love the way the plants are growing through the roof and taking over. Mr Millicent Crow & I are heading off on a whirlwind road trip to Wellington tomorrow; hopefully we'll find some abandoned buildings to photograph on the way.

New business cards

I had a day off work sick the other day so I made myself some business cards on the gocco. Now I feel oh so official and businesslike!

What a mess

Today my house is a complete tip. It looks like this:

But it's a colourful and creative mess; I'm working on making this. I think I'll omit the neck ruffle, though. It might make me look like a bit like a clown.

And here are some pictures from the tidier corners of my house:


Phrenology and colourful shoes.
Happy weekend to you.

Sometimes when it's cold outside I'm glad I've got an obsession with knitting and crocheting myself green things. And a cat to help me do my work of course. I might have to do an update on all the green things I have knitted and crocheted when my trusty photographer returns from places that are colder than here!

Scenes from the weekend...

Printing, walking, visiting, sewing, swimming...and putting my feet up. Hope you had a good weekend.

Auckland photo day out takes

So I took 87 photos to get 3 to send in for Auckland photo day. And I wonder why we've got 11,000 photos on our hard drive! Here are some that didn't make the cut.

Auckland photo day

Yesterday was Auckland photo day. If you have a photo (or 3) you took in Auckland on the 12th of June you can submit it here to participate in the day, and competition. The theme is "your day in Auckland." These are the images I submitted...

McCall's 3341

A while ago I spilt paint all over my favourite black denim skirt and last night I stayed up until 3am making a replacement. It's a pretty simple pattern, but it didn't have any pockets, so I cut out pockets from another pattern and added them in. And it goes ok with my gumboots, which is lucky, seeing as it never seems to stop raining...

The Crystal Palace

I have a real soft spot for suburban movie theatres. I highly recommend the Hollywood in Avondale if you're in Auckland. One thing I really like about them is their lovely old-fashioned names and I reckon the (abandoned?) Crystal Palace in Mt Eden has one of the best names. I took some photos of it the other day, and wondered what goes on in there now. I think the last thing I saw there was Muriel's Wedding in oh, about 1995. They played a medley of Elvis songs before the main feature, had great velvet curtains and an intermission. These days I fear it's not as grand as its name suggests.

Seedpods

Whew, busy week! Lots of projects on the go here but they're all sitting round in varying stages of incompleteness, so I thought I'd show you some pretty seedpods outside my house instead. I like the way that last one has a little heart at the bottom of it.

Interview

Just a quick note to say there's an interview with me up at the Auckland Art & Craft fair blog; this link will take you there...

Gingko

There are lots of these gingko leaves on the ground at the moment, and I've been pressing some of them in my sketchbook. So I thought I'd make sure they stayed in there permanently...

Regretsy

I made this dress this week. Well...I made most of this dress. And I thought I was being really thrifty and clever, making it out of an old sheet that was the most lovely shade of green...
Then I put it on. And Mr Millicent Crow said "Hey, that looks like the Pak n'Save uniform! Or like you're a doctor, and you made your own scrubs!" And he was right. It hung terribly, was all wrinkly, was too big and clung in a weird way at the bottom of the pockets. You could tell it was made out of an old sheet, and not in a good way. It brought back memories of working in a supermarket and having to sign a form to get your belt to go over your uniform issued to you...as if you'd steal the hideous thing. So, Burda 8706, I won't be making you again. At least I put the zip in relatively straight...the second time!