tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75757827954131248532024-02-21T02:32:46.505-08:00lucid intervalLucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-72373326074371701632012-01-23T00:01:00.000-08:002012-01-23T01:09:54.004-08:00I'm back, and I made jam!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauGfjGuw5aBIIOILITmckFAUeHk4JcPHsUXWpGKh7kesjobZjpzKPJ4mH6N_iyYKaviqjGkJmaNYxcNsutjuUHAdg1G9D6OKYuKBZoGEnZm7NqPoFA0fzUz3plAslZ3D82QO7wuNcln-a/s1600/jam.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauGfjGuw5aBIIOILITmckFAUeHk4JcPHsUXWpGKh7kesjobZjpzKPJ4mH6N_iyYKaviqjGkJmaNYxcNsutjuUHAdg1G9D6OKYuKBZoGEnZm7NqPoFA0fzUz3plAslZ3D82QO7wuNcln-a/s400/jam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700741327229539346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Life's been pretty hard in Christchurch in recent times. Turbulent doesn't really begin to describe it. So I've spent a few weeks off remembering to enjoy the simple things. I've baked bread, made pasta, picked raspberries and bottled my first ever jam. I played my first game of golf (nine holes), had a picnic in Peel Forest and walked to a waterfall with Carina, and went on a day trip with friends to Quail Island for <a href="http://freedomcreative.blogspot.com/2012/01/30-before-30-25-go-to-quail-island.html">Emma's 30 Before 30</a>.<br /><br />I don't do New Year's resolutions, but I am resolved this year to do more things just for fun. I plan to spend more hours reading or playing guitar in the comfy chair in our backyard sunshine, to try new recipes and to get better at golf.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxtDaihe73NsEnjogXOBIgsqRmBJPxU7J_Z0JZ4dhBoy9nI2WIKmUTnzS_MuXrKKJBI9IE0B-bbFho-O_NkDI9BVv1Oswf21_97MO2XRg1PFPAjB-ewkC5IDNqQluterQNnTnV3f0fFDB/s1600/zopf2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxtDaihe73NsEnjogXOBIgsqRmBJPxU7J_Z0JZ4dhBoy9nI2WIKmUTnzS_MuXrKKJBI9IE0B-bbFho-O_NkDI9BVv1Oswf21_97MO2XRg1PFPAjB-ewkC5IDNqQluterQNnTnV3f0fFDB/s400/zopf2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700749801801197010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93ylXFKGnJ-p_o8oyfUX72DPz8xyQX3uMK-iEzRnPr1f4IxnM9hno1SZOkqbLSbNBAUbJJLN7wKEXsw_GXWpSxdTh4jwVdPTbkGmRPDtja9tXVGcoV91-FWJENAD_Bm7mSAC_vEaGLUgh/s1600/quail.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93ylXFKGnJ-p_o8oyfUX72DPz8xyQX3uMK-iEzRnPr1f4IxnM9hno1SZOkqbLSbNBAUbJJLN7wKEXsw_GXWpSxdTh4jwVdPTbkGmRPDtja9tXVGcoV91-FWJENAD_Bm7mSAC_vEaGLUgh/s400/quail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700751236023351442" border="0" /></a>Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-91670530959292057012009-12-04T04:19:00.000-08:002012-01-23T03:02:51.799-08:00Lucy loves...I've spent many hours in the last couple of months creating and updating gift guides on Felt, which basically amounts to extreme online window shopping (I love that the term "window shopping" works for browsers as well as shops in real life) for demographics, rather than specific people. There have been phases of discovery and delight, moments of merchandising madness, and bouts of serious shopping fatigue and brain failure.<br /><br />I can now honestly say that I know Felt inside out - I have browsed nearly 10000 listings and I know most of 600 sellers by their username, if not their real name. I know whose listings have fabulous photos and who offers free shipping. If you're not sure where to go or what you're looking for, I'm your girl (my services as a personal shopper for handmade Christmas gifts are available for just $110 per hour).<br /><br />Now, I could show you a selection of the lovely things I've picked out for my family and friends, but there are two good reasons not to do this. Firstly, I'm a Christmas traditionalist and I like my gifts to be a surprise - I have no idea whether anybody will even read this, but there's no point in taking unnecessary risks. Secondly, I'm also a Christmas procrastinator and I haven't picked out the lovely things for my family and friends yet. My gifts frequently remain a surprise even to me right up till the last possible moment to source or make them. If you're really interested, come back after Christmas and I'll write it up then.<br /><br />However, in my armchair travels (or, more accurately, picnic table in the garden travels) around the handmade world of Felt, I have picked out a few things for my very own personal Christmas wishlist, so here they are. Aren't they pretty?<br /><br /><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt 10px 13px 0pt; float: left; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; width: 132px;"><div style="width: 100%;"><a style="color: rgb(92, 85, 89); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/10977/Ceramic-Brooch---Flower">Ceramic Brooch - Flo...</a></div><div style="height: 108px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 132px;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/10977/Ceramic-Brooch---Flower"><img class="" style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;" src="http://www.felt.co.nz/media/itemuploads/3414-1254215157/3414-t-18922-emboss.JPG" alt="Ceramic Brooch - Flower " border="0" /></a></div><div style="float: left;"><a style="color: rgb(191, 189, 191); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/user/craftmeup">craftmeup</a></div><div style="color: rgb(92, 85, 89); float: right; font-weight: bold;">$12.00</div></div><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt 10px 13px 0pt; float: left; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; width: 132px;"><a style="color: rgb(92, 85, 89); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/11243/Little-Blossom-Cup">Little Blossom Cup</a><br /><div style="height: 108px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 132px;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/11243/Little-Blossom-Cup"><img class="" style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;" src="http://www.felt.co.nz/media/itemuploads/2018-1254864886/2018-t-64886-IMG1290.JPG" alt="Little Blossom Cup" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="float: left;"><a style="color: rgb(191, 189, 191); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/user/thebusyfinch">thebusyfinch</a></div><div style="color: rgb(92, 85, 89); float: right; font-weight: bold;">$15.00</div></div><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt 10px 13px 0pt; float: left; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; width: 132px;"><div style="width: 100%;"><a style="color: rgb(92, 85, 89); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/9260/Tea-towel---Bears-Afternoon-Tea">Tea Towel - Bears' A...</a></div><div style="height: 108px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 132px;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/9260/Tea-towel---Bears-Afternoon-Tea"><img class="" style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;" src="http://www.felt.co.nz/media/itemuploads/2324-1249083372/2324-t-83372-teattowelbears.jpg" alt="Tea towel - Bears' Afternoon Tea" border="0" /></a></div><div style="float: left;"><a style="color: rgb(191, 189, 191); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/user/misselliemay">misselliemay</a></div><div style="color: rgb(92, 85, 89); float: right; font-weight: bold;">$16.00</div><br /></div><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt 10px 13px 0pt; float: left; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; width: 132px;"><div style="width: 100%;"><a style="color: rgb(92, 85, 89); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/12258/Mermaids-Tears-Collection---Genuine-Beach-Glass-Bracelet">Mermaids Tears Colle...</a></div><div style="height: 108px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 132px;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/12258/Mermaids-Tears-Collection---Genuine-Beach-Glass-Bracelet"><img class="" style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;" src="http://www.felt.co.nz/media/itemuploads/327-1257640259/327-t-40522-Felt-1.JPG" alt="Mermaids Tears Collection - Genuine Beach Glass Bracelet " border="0" /></a></div><div style="float: left;"><a style="color: rgb(191, 189, 191); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/user/islandstyle">islandstyle</a></div><div style="color: rgb(92, 85, 89); float: right; font-weight: bold;">$79.00</div><br /></div><!--- Eco girl tote ---><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt 10px 13px 0pt; float: left; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; width: 132px;"><div style="width: 100%;"><a style="color: rgb(92, 85, 89); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/12368/Eco-girl-tote">Eco Girl Tote</a></div><div style="height: 108px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 132px;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/12368/Eco-girl-tote"><img class="" style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;" src="http://www.felt.co.nz/media/itemuploads/2623-1257889967/2623-t-89967-bag1.jpg" alt="Eco girl tote" border="0" /></a></div><div style="float: left;"><a style="color: rgb(191, 189, 191); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/user/rosa-mayde">rosa-mayde</a></div><div style="color: rgb(92, 85, 89); float: right; font-weight: bold;">$24.00</div><br /></div><br /><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt 10px 13px 0pt; float: left; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; width: 132px;"><a style="color: rgb(92, 85, 89); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/4165/Freddie-the-Lytteldog">Freddie The Lytteldog</a><div style="height: 108px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 132px;"><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/4165/Freddie-the-Lytteldog"><img class="" style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;" src="http://www.felt.co.nz/media/itemuploads/973-1228991143/973-t-91143-frankie2-F.jpg" alt="Freddie The Lytteldog" border="0" /></a></div><div style="float: left;"><a style="color: rgb(191, 189, 191); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/user/lyttelthings">lyttelthings</a></div><div style="color: rgb(92, 85, 89); float: right; font-weight: bold;">$30.00</div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />One of these things was even made with me in mind, to tempt me every time I look at Felt (now <span style="font-style: italic;">that's</span> what I call crafty). If you can guess which one, ...you win! There's no prize, but you can revel in the knowledge that you are smarter and cooler than everyone else.<br /><br />Bloggers might also be interested to know that this list was created using a new feature on Felt - you can <a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=104"><span style="font-weight: bold;">read all about it on the Felt forum</span></a>.Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-92204788648008420622009-08-05T19:22:00.000-07:002009-08-05T19:23:11.232-07:00Alain de Botton: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success<object width="446" height="326"><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/embed/AlaindeBotton_2009G-embed_high.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/AlaindeBotton-2009G.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=605" /><embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgColor="#ffffff" width="446" height="326" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/embed/AlaindeBotton_2009G-embed_high.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/AlaindeBotton-2009G.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=605"></embed></object>Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-73123650215423879202009-07-19T04:45:00.000-07:002009-07-19T04:59:56.598-07:00Hot chocolate with attitudeThis made me smile today at the Coffee House...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9wp0019z7eQccJVmcqydTfCnYP9-J7xyJMd8lOMx5oV_hJjQLgamwYjs2Fzfnj1JVbkrRLg3caOxi2JDjecctTp0xfeiKDC3CtY3VpcfC7hMUPu3fiNy3KsMzyfx6_wJCs_-wgxQGQJr/s1600-h/hotchoc.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9wp0019z7eQccJVmcqydTfCnYP9-J7xyJMd8lOMx5oV_hJjQLgamwYjs2Fzfnj1JVbkrRLg3caOxi2JDjecctTp0xfeiKDC3CtY3VpcfC7hMUPu3fiNy3KsMzyfx6_wJCs_-wgxQGQJr/s400/hotchoc.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360139676410755682" /></a>Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-68194266303202228232009-03-19T17:50:00.000-07:002009-03-25T04:17:32.511-07:00Everything is amazing right now, and nobody's happyLike many people, I've been thinking a lot lately about the state of the world and where things are going.<br /><br />Last month I was lucky enough to be invited to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiwi_Foo_Camp">Kiwi Foo Camp</a>, a technology-based "unconference" attended by diverse group of interesting people. The highlight of the weekend was a hugely entertaining debate on the proposition that "New Zealand is fucked". After an impressive showing by the two teams and much spirited audience participation and gleefully gratuitous use of the word "fuck" in its many and varied meanings and applications, the outcome was that New Zealand is <span style="font-weight: bold;">not</span> fucked. Whether this was a fact-based conclusion, bloody-minded optimism, testament to the amount of alcohol consumed by the participants or all of the above, it was food for thought.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrLrfRaP2Ww9GCwCYuI0nM2sDXtZdhBg6a83K4JHnbON20tnrSUIMFy362XsFTGYIqSnB3lONwwZo69tmv-tqgbZbvhyjVj1iJp4YB5Sq60xBC6C93w47u69PKIXj7RVRtjLMnGftuiht/s1600-h/debating.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrLrfRaP2Ww9GCwCYuI0nM2sDXtZdhBg6a83K4JHnbON20tnrSUIMFy362XsFTGYIqSnB3lONwwZo69tmv-tqgbZbvhyjVj1iJp4YB5Sq60xBC6C93w47u69PKIXj7RVRtjLMnGftuiht/s400/debating.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315104510167274786" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.publicaddress.net/hardnews">Russell Brown</a> chairs the debate</span><br /><br />The conclusion I reached several years ago, when the impending crisis du jour was peak oil, is this: it's about time people started taking responsibility for themselves and their actions. Fair enough, we pay taxes and it's reasonable to expect our government to provide infrastructure, but it seems like people are a little too comfortable with having everything done for them. Not only that, but there's a sense of entitlement that seems unfounded and arrogant to me. Basically, I think Western society needs taking down a peg or two, and whatever global crisis it takes to do that, bring it on.<br /><br />So my stance during the debate was that we're not fucked, because what we really need is a good kick in the pants – something to get us thinking proactively and responsibly and acting accordingly – and economic crisis might be just the thing. Think "spare the rod and spoil the child" on a grand scale – perhaps it's time we endured a few hardships and really earned the lifestyle we've come to see as our right. Take away a few of the luxuries that seem to have become necessities and we might make space for some of the casualties of modern society to make a comeback: community, personal and social responsibility, quality time, self-fulfilment, work ethic and meaningful, considered communication (yes I do see the irony of blogging that into the ether).<br /><br /><span class="text"><span class="text"></span></span>What we seem to lose with every innovative new technology and luxury is just a little bit more perspective. We want everything and more now, whether it's necessary or not, and if we can't afford it, there's always credit. Someone will always bail us out - that's what banks are there for, right?<br /><br />I'm a big fan of <a href="http://idler.co.uk/">Tom Hodgkinson</a>, who paints a very appealing picture of returning to the simplicity of pre-Industrial Revolution life in his books <a href="http://idler.co.uk/books/how-to-be-idle/"><span style="font-style: italic;">How to be Idle</span></a> and <a href="http://idler.co.uk/books/how-to-be-free-2/"><span style="font-style: italic;">How to be Free</span></a>, and <a href="http://www.alaindebotton.com/cv.asp">Alain de Botton</a>, who observes in his book <a href="http://www.alaindebotton.com/pages/content/index.asp?PageID=71"><span style="font-style: italic;">Status Anxiety</span></a> the increasing sense of deprivation we feel even <span class="text"><span class="text"><span>"blessed with riches and possibilities far outstripping those imaginable by [our] ancestors tilling the unpredictable soil of medieval Europe</span></span></span>".<br /><blockquote><span class="text"><span class="text">"Our sense of an appropriate limit to anything – for example, to wealth and esteem – is never decided independently. It is decided by comparing our condition with that of a reference group, with that of people we consider to be our equals. We cannot appreciate what we have in isolation, nor judged against the lives of our medieval forbearers. We cannot be impressed by how prosperous we are in historical terms. We will only take ourselves to be fortunate when we have as much as, or more than, the people we grow up with, work alongside, have as friends and identify with in the public realm."</span></span></blockquote>In other words, our self-esteem is based on our perception of how we compare to the next guy. We've designed a world for ourselves in which we can never reach the top rung of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Maslow">Maslow's ladder</a>, because we're stuck in a perpetual cycle of keeping up with the Joneses. So perhaps it's time to re-assess, to simplify and learn to live with less stuff and more appreciation for what we do have, to slow down and make space for the important things in life.<br /><br />Having been subjected to my verbose opinions on these matters, my friend Nic sent me a link to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGYx35ypus">this rant by Louis CK</a>, to which I owe the title of this post. He hits the nail on the head, I feel. I've been trying to work out whether it's funny to listen to, or just a relief to hear.<br /></span>Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-27935578049372579762009-03-05T21:31:00.000-08:002009-03-03T21:55:07.965-08:00Folding flowersMel and I spent last weekend coming up with a window display for the <a href="http://antiquemaps.co.nz"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Antique Print Gallery's</span></a> entry into the <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/promotions/1997448/The-Ellerslie-International-Flower-Show-Window-Display-People-s-Choice-Competition"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ellerslie International Flower Show window display competition</span></a> (part of the Festival of Flowers). It was a great opportunity to combine design skills with our crafty tendencies – inspired by a growing collection of antique print offcuts, it didn't take long for an idea to present itself, and the scraps were transformed into the origami flowers pictured below.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEROwPskVi-Zri-3RO9t144HD9x309dcK6MMW5OKIRywORsVBCUe62wxO9O6rR-bj6Vwh4TCRpsRd6OPJc9b6rikb-OFUCcD54CvxHf9O853l9wp1XX2pGrt8HIT29fUwaD2g4G3rHuezR/s400/APGwindow1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEROwPskVi-Zri-3RO9t144HD9x309dcK6MMW5OKIRywORsVBCUe62wxO9O6rR-bj6Vwh4TCRpsRd6OPJc9b6rikb-OFUCcD54CvxHf9O853l9wp1XX2pGrt8HIT29fUwaD2g4G3rHuezR/s400/APGwindow1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We're quite proud of our effort, having learnt origami especially. The Press is running a People's Choice competition for the best window – you can vote for ours by texting "PRINT" to 3444 (be quick, voting closes on Friday), and you go into the draw to win two tickets to the Premiere Garden Party at Ellerslie on Tuesday.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DaSzISelRA76SwYZpRg8hbXOd1L-3h5cf0yKCGGuw566C_SzUOjzAyPhKrsQkG3Mi9PFc4no3GfSDnhLfCgGZkfO-PBVFgCk-ObhUIVzL7a_ecM5XqOcqYRl-3-8j8trVJfYDaDkBrlb/s400/APGwindow5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DaSzISelRA76SwYZpRg8hbXOd1L-3h5cf0yKCGGuw566C_SzUOjzAyPhKrsQkG3Mi9PFc4no3GfSDnhLfCgGZkfO-PBVFgCk-ObhUIVzL7a_ecM5XqOcqYRl-3-8j8trVJfYDaDkBrlb/s400/APGwindow5.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Special thanks to the lovely people at Acquisitions in Cashel Mall, who loaned us the gorgeous vase and supporting foliage which really made the display come to life.<br /><br />The Antique Print Gallery (owned by my mum and dad) is also holding an exhibition of <a href="http://boardofdesign.blogspot.com/2009/02/fabulous-flowers.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sarah Featon's Flowers</span></a> from 7th till 18th March, so if you're down New Regent Street way, stop by and check it out.Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-85956509905445653372009-03-04T00:27:00.000-08:002009-03-03T03:35:26.313-08:0029 things to do before I'm 30I started this list in December, but it has proven to be a challenge and I'm now down to just 6 months to complete my 29 things. Maths is not a strength of mine, but I think that's over one a week till the end of August. I'm slightly daunted.<br /><br />1. finish this list<br /><br />2. return to life drawing<br /><br />3. make myself some clothes, at the very least two pairs of lounge pants, but preferably something I can wear in public also<br /><br />4. send a parcel of goodies to my favourite cousin, cousin-in-law and baby cousins<br /><br />5. start making fresh pasta again (find a clamp for my pasta machine that fits the kitchen bench!) and perfect three new recipes<br /><br />6. go blueberry picking and make blueberry muffins <br /><br />7. learn a language...well start learning a language. or at the very least, polish up one I've already started on<br /><br />8. restring my guitar and play it. I'd like to say once a week, but I'm trying to be realistic so I have half a chance of ticking this one off the list<br /><br />9. go to a movie all by myself<br /><br />10. watch "Chocolat"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfnq_tchj61X1e0GmvDEWCoPmMPogGdn0uWy5NbyhIPRPSb615l5L1QrUN1BSgsg887wnOkA1JPy3RD71noqju3NXWlAo3M8t2AUgKoj_IGcAuCrX9L99beol4wwsDb83LFStc-xAWPzu/s1600-h/IMG_5117.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfnq_tchj61X1e0GmvDEWCoPmMPogGdn0uWy5NbyhIPRPSb615l5L1QrUN1BSgsg887wnOkA1JPy3RD71noqju3NXWlAo3M8t2AUgKoj_IGcAuCrX9L99beol4wwsDb83LFStc-xAWPzu/s400/IMG_5117.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308898248150045586" /></a><br /><br />11. plant out all my terracotta pots, the inhabitants of which perished during my last move, and give away or recycle the ones I don't want anymore<br /><br />12. play a banjo, mandolin or ukelele<br /><br />13. re-read Atlas Shrugged<br /><br />14. start making this year's Christmas presents (enough of the sewing till the wee small hours of Christmas morning!)<br /><br />15. (this is a big one which has been on my mind for a while) purge my belongings to conform to the words of William Morris: "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."<br /><br />16. is related to 15, but big enough to have its own number – edit my wardrobe and give away, sell or donate all these clothes that I never wear to someone who might appreciate them more<br /><br />17. start spinning<br /><br />18. finish restoring the two styley dining chairs I got from the Supershed 3 years ago for 25 cents each<br /><br />19. attempt to draw Punky <br /><br />20. try yoga, and really give it a fair chance before deciding whether I like it<br /><br />21. send Ava's finished cardy (my first real crocheted garment!) to Dilia<br /><br />22. win a Scrabble game!<br /><br />23. go to a play, a music gig, an exhibition and a Pecha Kucha night<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GIPsKD1nEPFT3X52JpZHmqm14q-rw1E8Y6lSs1TJoFSxRRpj53hyEvMKHdErhOiZ0nHgMWWEYwr45nD2pY7VVSA-ZT0dwz5xtDRJ0JqIXJcxuMwKGj7nyXGN_Uau54t3h0CYMqSiCN7L/s1600-h/IMG_4960.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GIPsKD1nEPFT3X52JpZHmqm14q-rw1E8Y6lSs1TJoFSxRRpj53hyEvMKHdErhOiZ0nHgMWWEYwr45nD2pY7VVSA-ZT0dwz5xtDRJ0JqIXJcxuMwKGj7nyXGN_Uau54t3h0CYMqSiCN7L/s400/IMG_4960.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308897536439811394" /></a><br /><br />24. make a cool cardboard box fort for the bunny (he likes boxes)<br /><br />25. <br /><br />26.<br /><br />27.<br /><br />28.<br /><br />29. organise something really cool to celebrate my 30th birthday (suggestions welcome)<br /><br /><br />I'm clearly getting too old, because I got stuck at 25 things and I need some ideas for my last four, to be able to put a tick against number 1... So what are some exciting things I can do??Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-44781850444631072592009-02-17T02:05:00.000-08:002009-02-17T02:53:14.041-08:00Everything is illuminatedThe annual Chinese Lantern Festival makes Christchurch feel quite exotic. Sunday night in Victoria Park was beautiful. This is Mel and a flamingo, on the banks of the Avon:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmQ2nJErRGOXRsjtBCk0Ar0Eax2yoGtR2q3fQJs3TCdYYEL6rEGtE9inR2IVxUQ3FURnUdGd8-3gEoCQKVXjtrfOxd6BVQtsOC2hm8X9yizD-B0O5IWfMAlwL-qVGVszcBbbhLACBi0n2/s1600-h/mel&theflamingo.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmQ2nJErRGOXRsjtBCk0Ar0Eax2yoGtR2q3fQJs3TCdYYEL6rEGtE9inR2IVxUQ3FURnUdGd8-3gEoCQKVXjtrfOxd6BVQtsOC2hm8X9yizD-B0O5IWfMAlwL-qVGVszcBbbhLACBi0n2/s400/mel&theflamingo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303706320049565042" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYburP-wltXEm8bEai13q8eHxucWVNOiL7EG_lQqtDAnkMorWvkHHXPD8kyBF60GJws39G6gElATsHQo38jZxDN6UCqJnQi8dmxjf0ivj8lKL2WaB9qTROz2B7fGfi4B9S2ogIO3SG-KG3/s1600-h/hippos.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYburP-wltXEm8bEai13q8eHxucWVNOiL7EG_lQqtDAnkMorWvkHHXPD8kyBF60GJws39G6gElATsHQo38jZxDN6UCqJnQi8dmxjf0ivj8lKL2WaB9qTROz2B7fGfi4B9S2ogIO3SG-KG3/s400/hippos.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303706320048773106" /></a><br /><br />It's not often you catch a glimpse of the urban Christchurch hippopotami, especially not at full illumination. I have <a href="http://blackswandesigns.blogspot.com"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Mel</span></a> to thank for her expert advice which resulted in all of these photos turning out, especially this one of my favourite lanterns:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNmnTZMbysGq43q0bBqfQnLmYAwN9JXWgJqVMysrIz_W0N_xkKpTthYTLwNqsj0qfcGeEFwdf-ehY9PZKZLnbReHZ2pUNITgsEy5q8yK8BflOS5L8sytbOmFtRMBoWxZp8dbuG2HwDm_n/s1600-h/ming.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNmnTZMbysGq43q0bBqfQnLmYAwN9JXWgJqVMysrIz_W0N_xkKpTthYTLwNqsj0qfcGeEFwdf-ehY9PZKZLnbReHZ2pUNITgsEy5q8yK8BflOS5L8sytbOmFtRMBoWxZp8dbuG2HwDm_n/s400/ming.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303706316978976146" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJN_TjpjjIPEeWnyDINqgN8OEcK8yQmv58HnNme9qUOoUYa_N0VF6TLnTXdh0hyphenhyphen0ml2ic8YF94wmDQ7MvbhmyxX0ntMl1-YTDWBrEvavLkawXPb3wJmEvlnqDwvjhPQd8EcreyVlHECggG/s1600-h/lanterns.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJN_TjpjjIPEeWnyDINqgN8OEcK8yQmv58HnNme9qUOoUYa_N0VF6TLnTXdh0hyphenhyphen0ml2ic8YF94wmDQ7MvbhmyxX0ntMl1-YTDWBrEvavLkawXPb3wJmEvlnqDwvjhPQd8EcreyVlHECggG/s400/lanterns.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303706317652030754" /></a><br /><br />For all its flaws, there are moments that I love this city to bits.Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-72163330603848584492009-02-16T01:19:00.000-08:002009-02-24T01:25:57.593-08:00If I had an office door, I would like this sign on it<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iFVCSLt7kCY5s6lBg5_kzBnbdtJ0nJ_ieId2vx-u87RoV0BYXGLaBP04CgbwfFnaEOZ9IFLUh-zq9QTgarOWfiJLP76__m9JufrLe4WSHwq7F82ScIgEP5p7R_29EWkvJCSO53q0xyON/s1600-h/thankyouforunderstanding.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iFVCSLt7kCY5s6lBg5_kzBnbdtJ0nJ_ieId2vx-u87RoV0BYXGLaBP04CgbwfFnaEOZ9IFLUh-zq9QTgarOWfiJLP76__m9JufrLe4WSHwq7F82ScIgEP5p7R_29EWkvJCSO53q0xyON/s400/thankyouforunderstanding.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303695829955291250" /></a><br /><br />And Punky would like this one for his:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5BkuPVjuoMcKJj6ALNw21oKiURevYyffND7P4KwcNb4i0khchhBs49tJahkObzIVt7vjqQe5vpwZkS2eKGvFafUltgQTXhulBetj6SoTLEVvdy4Y3m7LGSFI0pCtsh7kcrFTDyjdltMZ/s1600-h/pleasedonottorment.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5BkuPVjuoMcKJj6ALNw21oKiURevYyffND7P4KwcNb4i0khchhBs49tJahkObzIVt7vjqQe5vpwZkS2eKGvFafUltgQTXhulBetj6SoTLEVvdy4Y3m7LGSFI0pCtsh7kcrFTDyjdltMZ/s400/pleasedonottorment.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303695827998631074" /></a><br /><br />With the postscript "He will <a href="http://www.birdchick.com/adventures/rabbit/"><span style="font-weight:bold;">disapprove</span></a>".Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-49594055881599878062009-02-15T23:50:00.000-08:002009-02-17T01:52:57.803-08:00Section 92 of the Copyright Amendment Act assumes Guilt Upon AccusationI've just become aware of some major proposed changes in NZ law that will have a huge impact on artists, businesses and general members of the public: basically anyone that uses the internet.<br /><br />Section 92 of the Copyright Amendment Act assumes Guilt Upon Accusation and forces the termination of internet connections and websites without evidence, without a fair trial and without punishment for any false accusations of copyright infringement. We should speak out against injustices like Guilt Upon Accusation being done in the name of artists and protecting creativity.<br /><br />The countdown is on: we have until 28 February 2009 to influence government.<br /><br />An organisation called the Creative Freedom Foundation has been set up to specifically represent artists' voices on these issues. Check out their website, <span style="font-weight:bold;">creativefreedom.org.nz<a href="http://www.creativefreedom.org.nz"></a></span>, sign up and help our MPs make an informed decision about S92!Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-46103795447136702842009-02-12T02:06:00.000-08:002009-02-12T03:03:22.007-08:00Peas and the rogue nasturtiumAs part of my <span style="font-style:italic;">29 things to do before I'm 30</span> list (as yet unfinished and unpublished... watch this space) during my summer break I finally got around to planting out my pots. <br /><br />I'm quite attached to one pot in particular. In a square terracotta pot I sowed peas – a mixture of edible peas and sweet peas – and made them a nice bamboo tripod to climb up (I know, a tripod in a square pot, it makes no sense!), watered them and waited. Just over a week later little shoots popped up, and after a couple of days they looked like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6Ixkam3N7vNIwaBxkRjo1AOdZAtluFQVNfGqpv7VJsvZY67fg2KhN-dbo2K0gHdJycgNpbx3ugaiCr_tFgum7tHTekN_gfHKFoJaRp4-9euuGPWnlkKbqB4KAzDpssN6FSoahJI2i9pR/s1600-h/IMG_5108.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6Ixkam3N7vNIwaBxkRjo1AOdZAtluFQVNfGqpv7VJsvZY67fg2KhN-dbo2K0gHdJycgNpbx3ugaiCr_tFgum7tHTekN_gfHKFoJaRp4-9euuGPWnlkKbqB4KAzDpssN6FSoahJI2i9pR/s400/IMG_5108.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301850498771423938" /></a><br /><br />Aren't they cute? <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUza9kBi4ndmmXu-CjeFVExImPl31WrIl8khtWQv8WjCiLUqtv28EquTwZ7gb5mZWvTtpuIy40YbOiKZ6d-n3MnvzfY62y4IRzbNPiku6xT4xRi05Q3w0ZgtPhtb6Z0ekUMgRcAYddgZrx/s1600-h/IMG_5109.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUza9kBi4ndmmXu-CjeFVExImPl31WrIl8khtWQv8WjCiLUqtv28EquTwZ7gb5mZWvTtpuIy40YbOiKZ6d-n3MnvzfY62y4IRzbNPiku6xT4xRi05Q3w0ZgtPhtb6Z0ekUMgRcAYddgZrx/s400/IMG_5109.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301851842374772626" /></a><br /><br />Several days later, I got my camera out to record their progress and discovered a rogue nasturtium lurking in the background, trying to pass itself off as a pea!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyc42kHhrrpd2QW-4vyz3oeJyIvizmQCfe2BVCK6B1LPZ6PSppOrZkkNz7bd-drSG559eeIL8wiQ6fUGukhK5H10PThzU0T7gp69a4U9wT25mheF5i4MFtVucug609vfWEsU4Sbb8eWMD/s1600-h/IMG_5110.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyc42kHhrrpd2QW-4vyz3oeJyIvizmQCfe2BVCK6B1LPZ6PSppOrZkkNz7bd-drSG559eeIL8wiQ6fUGukhK5H10PThzU0T7gp69a4U9wT25mheF5i4MFtVucug609vfWEsU4Sbb8eWMD/s400/IMG_5110.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301851843741838770" /></a><br /><br />I didn't have the heart to remove the wee thing, despite my pea pot now feeling more like a cuckoo's nest. <br /><br />Three weeks later, the peas are flourishing and starting to flower, the nasturtium is holding its own, and every time I walk past, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZIvgQ9ik48"><span style="font-style:italic;">One of These Things</span></a> starts playing in my head.Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-11321728752162778932009-02-07T11:01:00.000-08:002009-02-06T13:02:33.911-08:00Making pasta makes me happyA few weeks back I was inspired to dig out my pasta machine and make some modifications so it would clamp adequately onto the bench in my parents' kitchen. It's been ages since I made fresh pasta, and it's a lovely way to pass the time. Like most crafts, it's hell frustrating when you're starting out and still getting a feel for it, but very rewarding when you finally learn how to get the right dough consistency and how not to get it all bunched up and stuck in the rollers.<br /><br />The dough is just flour and eggs, and a little goes a long way. I made this batch for three people and used two eggs and a couple of cups of flour.<br /><br />So this is my fettucini, which I made by rolling out long sheets of dough, a little thicker than you'd use for stuffed pasta, letting them dry for about ten minutes, and then rolling them through the cutter attachment. Letting the sheets dry a bit first helps prevent the strands from sticking together once they're cut.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pzZb3oLqCt6WJxHH7muOyFSECmAJY2joAK5lcJn0nnAL3Zmsu9ADhFzXwuebJMN9Rz8qR8Wj3NfjGpRRjdylH9LfWmqnHz6zcmEWcmic1AeWfJBNKg1Hzte4lDqU1TkMVij-gRvHnrw3/s1600-h/IMG_5090.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pzZb3oLqCt6WJxHH7muOyFSECmAJY2joAK5lcJn0nnAL3Zmsu9ADhFzXwuebJMN9Rz8qR8Wj3NfjGpRRjdylH9LfWmqnHz6zcmEWcmic1AeWfJBNKg1Hzte4lDqU1TkMVij-gRvHnrw3/s400/IMG_5090.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291257919657465810" /></a><br /><br />My fabulous pasta drying rack was a birthday present from my flatmates at Selwyn Street, after Helen and I rigged up an inventive but slightly inefficient wooden spoon contraption to hang the pasta on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGV58xj4HcQAufuj88soyRivRGe9aavhcXvjaNP_wAH2y8EkZAdhROvHYoh5CTQI1DRJDOJJs0fE4g3akIMi0vkCSs-SaLvdst3pSxou8_FE6INrXXNp7JnWITWmiMY582P_nWipNva_D/s1600-h/IMG_5088.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGV58xj4HcQAufuj88soyRivRGe9aavhcXvjaNP_wAH2y8EkZAdhROvHYoh5CTQI1DRJDOJJs0fE4g3akIMi0vkCSs-SaLvdst3pSxou8_FE6INrXXNp7JnWITWmiMY582P_nWipNva_D/s400/IMG_5088.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291258695705507682" /></a><br /><br />It's very satisfying cooking fresh spaghetti or fettucini in the biggest pot you have. It also stops it sticking together, but as far as I'm concerned that's the secondary reason.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWlUn_E9D0G77Jic0a5QX9NTXxIjdFCbdfzzDFkaqkUf0038fb7dgCA0nre8WxNHhGYqt1RZoBpVn0zoxYUIgQEf0M4zSFRN_ky0LvERWd2g14Qyeb4yJs4FNyofbI9HYaAO1cMJ1Ybdx/s1600-h/IMG_5092.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWlUn_E9D0G77Jic0a5QX9NTXxIjdFCbdfzzDFkaqkUf0038fb7dgCA0nre8WxNHhGYqt1RZoBpVn0zoxYUIgQEf0M4zSFRN_ky0LvERWd2g14Qyeb4yJs4FNyofbI9HYaAO1cMJ1Ybdx/s400/IMG_5092.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291257929302388674" /></a><br /><br />The sauce for this batch was very simple to make, but quite decadent in these days of expensive cheese and 99% fat free. For three people, it was made by heating 50g of butter in a pan over a low heat, then adding around 150mls of cream and three quarters of a cup of grated Parmesan. Once it's brought to the boil and seasoned with salt and pepper and a few tablespoons of chopped parsley, you add it to the pasta. It's very tasty.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_DDPB8FjRxmK4FXM9_KcSJuVTGyjrlGuKFUkjObT1ju7KnhkTlw6RkRkNg06iWR5guf-Rykf-cc1nuth_3Ohkui7dSmoPkgWZe1GLzx1p3KUDTYIPnCBy-9z231lKOH2PDpPB85MhjPD/s1600-h/IMG_5093.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_DDPB8FjRxmK4FXM9_KcSJuVTGyjrlGuKFUkjObT1ju7KnhkTlw6RkRkNg06iWR5guf-Rykf-cc1nuth_3Ohkui7dSmoPkgWZe1GLzx1p3KUDTYIPnCBy-9z231lKOH2PDpPB85MhjPD/s400/IMG_5093.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291257940379484722" /></a><br /><br />Handmade fresh pasta is quite different to dried pasta – it's softer and has a smooth, silky texture and I think it holds the sauce more evenly. It's also surprisingly quick to make, once you get the hang of it – like bread, it's one of those things you make in phases and go off and do something else in between steps.<br /><br />My next challenge is drying spaghetti in nests for future use. Done properly and stored in an air-tight container, it can apparently be kept indefinitely. Perhaps in a simple glass jar it would make a nice gift – what do you think?Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-24678049368095328292009-01-31T17:45:00.000-08:002009-01-31T17:57:11.596-08:00Making crafty connections<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs43-Eh40mitOX0_hjGt9Y3GhHx2P9D6h40sz3KWBQpHZt7QykWQIJFpmn_oS1Uuzh24dg_fbcytICoj2L535ow0S1mDqLhcBpDNbKRGoAk-hI4QdxR1rQ4CCTWAvZf0YMWdjhaYb9Gnpw/s1600-h/craftybusiness_logo_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs43-Eh40mitOX0_hjGt9Y3GhHx2P9D6h40sz3KWBQpHZt7QykWQIJFpmn_oS1Uuzh24dg_fbcytICoj2L535ow0S1mDqLhcBpDNbKRGoAk-hI4QdxR1rQ4CCTWAvZf0YMWdjhaYb9Gnpw/s400/craftybusiness_logo_1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297641245258165202" /></a><br /><br />The first ever session of Crafty Business kicks off at Churchills tomorrow evening at 7. <a href="http://pinkpaperpinafore.com">Millie</a>, <a href="http://loopknittery.co.nz">Amy</a> and I have been mulling this idea over for while. Following the success of Craft2.0 in Christchurch, we thought there might be a niche for a group for Christchurch crafters to get together and exchange ideas, make new contacts, collaborate and socialise with like-minded people.<br /><br />It should be a lot of fun and hopefully a productive endeavour as well. If you're based in Christchurch and have crafty inclinations, come along. It's at 7pm, Monday 2 February, at Churchills Public House, 441 Colombo Street in Sydenham.Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-64885259336130214122009-01-31T02:49:00.000-08:002009-01-31T02:51:32.754-08:0025 Random Things1. I've seen my blood under a microscope.<br />2. I'd like to illustrate children's books.<br />3. I speak rabbit.<br />4. I'm hanging out for an occasion to wear my fascinator.<br />5. I once stayed in a convent in Venice.<br />6. My great grandfather was a professor of architecture at Cairo University.<br />7. I'm learning how to spin and I just got my very own spinning wheel.<br />8. If I could time travel I'd hang out at parties in the 1920s.<br />9. My brother was born on my 5th birthday.<br />10. I've made more than 300 pairs of armwarmers.<br />11. I took my sewing machine apart and when I put it back together I had two bits left over.<br />12. I like writing on whiteboards.<br />13. Nearly everything I own has been licked or nibbled by a rabbit.<br />14. I found consolation in Alain De Botton's Consolations of Philosophy.<br />15. I like green and everything it stands for.<br />16. Making pasta makes me happy.<br />17. I can make a passable flat white with a heart on the top.<br />18. Douglas Adams and Ayn Rand are my heroes.<br />19. I come up with a new business idea just about every other day.<br />20. A Rodin exhibition made me cry.<br />21. I take pride in a well written email.<br />22. I can't pronounce "patent" or "origins" without concentrating.<br />23. I was a Gap student at Chris Martin's old school.<br />24. Cocktails starting with "m" are my favourites: Mojitos, Moscow Mules and margueritas.<br />25. When I'm hanging out washing, I match the pegs because that's how my mum taught me my colours.Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-33144009746021260842008-12-19T03:25:00.000-08:002008-12-19T05:05:55.635-08:00Fantails are cuteThis week I took part in my first ever craft swap, participating in the In Stitches Christmas tree ornament secret Santa swap. <br /><br />Now that the secret is out, I can reveal that my recipient was <a href="http://iknitthatsit.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Emily</span></a>. Here are the results of my extensive initial research:<br /><br />1. Emily is from ...I want to say Colorado, but now that it comes to committing it to the page, I'm worried I might have just made that up. Emily is from one of the United States. <br />2. She likes tramping and gardening.<br />3. Perhaps most importantly, her favourite colours are brown and tan. <br /><br />So upon beginning my project, my first question was: what's cute, brown, quintessentially New Zealandy and looks good in a tree? <br /><br />I did come up with <a href="http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/660287"><span style="font-weight:bold;">more than one answer</span></a> but really, it had to be a fantail. <br /><br />Somewhat naively, I decided to make it 3D. I figured there would be small 3D bird making instructions all over the internet, but this proved to be slightly optimistic. And so I embarked on a mission to create my own pattern. It wasn't easy. There may have been small pieces of felt thrown down in frustration and there may have been name-calling. But after all that, I think he turned out quite well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7TtxQ7QIUI854zUxYDsOUk5504zldfhCFvppvUe1a1CDhDb-ovbA90aEshEJpsyn6Jtj42VLX7YPyHanL7Q68ypujEdVU3fCogeqwoSWn2bOY93shUW9-fDrAhn8vXrBAgBPEhj2iM6v/s1600-h/felt_fantail.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7TtxQ7QIUI854zUxYDsOUk5504zldfhCFvppvUe1a1CDhDb-ovbA90aEshEJpsyn6Jtj42VLX7YPyHanL7Q68ypujEdVU3fCogeqwoSWn2bOY93shUW9-fDrAhn8vXrBAgBPEhj2iM6v/s400/felt_fantail.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281481782436893106" /></a><br /><br />Motivated by the outcome, I am currently working on a small flock of fantails, so I will take more photos this time around and publish a "Making of...". If you leave a comment on this post, I may even be persuaded to publish a tutorial.<br /><br />So tied up was I in the production of my ornament, that I forgot that I would get one too! I had the good fortune to receive an ornament from the lovely and supremely talented <a href="http://pinkpaperpinafore.typepad.com/"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Millie</span></a>, who gave me a gorgeous and as yet unphotographed tiki. I will add a photo of it installed on the tree this weekend.Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-21540592831731060332008-11-15T23:01:00.000-08:002008-11-15T23:46:56.617-08:00A cuddle with Damien<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHMviWinGPzOqBc58qMRslYHuTfngFi05dUYSPsBPh057XBu4nXgqDyEB2sydIr8S8OwR4quU3Eg8AI6ezcskY9wqCTmSjNBZ-q4YkP_nN6PrbCzvgKJpEIG_pZmkoS1XV9FCbI60pTWS/s1600-h/SL380920.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHMviWinGPzOqBc58qMRslYHuTfngFi05dUYSPsBPh057XBu4nXgqDyEB2sydIr8S8OwR4quU3Eg8AI6ezcskY9wqCTmSjNBZ-q4YkP_nN6PrbCzvgKJpEIG_pZmkoS1XV9FCbI60pTWS/s400/SL380920.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269147209660401810" /></a>Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-34201609862661030002008-11-13T03:39:00.001-08:002008-11-15T23:00:38.434-08:00Sticky toesHelen and I went for a wander on Tuesday and discovered Roma Street Parkland, which is a lovely garden in central Brisbane. We met many lizards, which we have since identified as Eastern Water Dragons – they look like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdPU5ntBfSbl-L65YRtYHFgbZ1U1VrzmOklKoo_M3OHvI5O5uKwCQaaOONhnI356s0E-iEtYjKLMVdmqFj3NZBHL74xoUJm5uvzSxdynnHsr9ApBxAYD0In4cXc4tED2Cmdl51Ic-PXnr/s1600-h/IMG_4753.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdPU5ntBfSbl-L65YRtYHFgbZ1U1VrzmOklKoo_M3OHvI5O5uKwCQaaOONhnI356s0E-iEtYjKLMVdmqFj3NZBHL74xoUJm5uvzSxdynnHsr9ApBxAYD0In4cXc4tED2Cmdl51Ic-PXnr/s400/IMG_4753.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268106886980049186" /></a><br /><br />It was like walking through Jurassic Park, seriously.<br /><br />Back at Dilia's place, the lizards are of a smaller variety. They run about on the outside of the house and occasionally the inside (Teflon is the only known surface to which a gecko cannot stick) and they make a noise you wouldn't expect a gecko to make. Well I didn't. It sounds like across between a chirp and a knock on the door.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzjcoU6UySj23mCpUZbRPlXu7hJwi-u3txzBI72DbvFiyf5iL_jJclDBbrNXCNmwEz1LRK51OiX7OhJD32h9tjxwDGae-qKsziU4jXxJJFCOACzB4_mw0sN8EdjWNVHoVSYyv9yeT19qE/s1600-h/IMG_4764.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzjcoU6UySj23mCpUZbRPlXu7hJwi-u3txzBI72DbvFiyf5iL_jJclDBbrNXCNmwEz1LRK51OiX7OhJD32h9tjxwDGae-qKsziU4jXxJJFCOACzB4_mw0sN8EdjWNVHoVSYyv9yeT19qE/s400/IMG_4764.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269145380381965570" /></a>Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-24145536515633034092008-11-09T19:10:00.000-08:002008-11-09T19:43:01.856-08:00One small amphibianBrisbane, day one. Dilia's house.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGslBR5gGo2IYWZq1uj9BS48YnxR598Dm_A8kRBrq0qPANF1wyMErFtb7Xdm4Niwrn1xq-Apj1Sh6Re6eWfHpP0UwEAot3nud7Zbg-gsV1kF2CqgWVTIprMtNHW5YgBCpxRCBunuujUdkW/s1600-h/IMG_4741.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGslBR5gGo2IYWZq1uj9BS48YnxR598Dm_A8kRBrq0qPANF1wyMErFtb7Xdm4Niwrn1xq-Apj1Sh6Re6eWfHpP0UwEAot3nud7Zbg-gsV1kF2CqgWVTIprMtNHW5YgBCpxRCBunuujUdkW/s400/IMG_4741.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266863049000250434" /></a><br /><br />After a period of indecision as to whether this was a cute little frog or an ugly toad, the final verdict is juvenile cane toad. Not cutie cutie.<br /><br />The antidote to ugly cane toads is young Ava, who, without wishing to get too mushy, is adorable. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1kMH29eDHFPDpQsDOnqaqlxWKNjn94ms_W58kC45Ztm4q5XA_e4SUtFpqws5LS6pCCkLEV2YmToKKpTAE6yevMkv3QewN_dRIKvk_t-d-i5B4ZHuerMtZGWAMPGmx6aaLoaI4MQKkpag/s1600-h/IMG_4745.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1kMH29eDHFPDpQsDOnqaqlxWKNjn94ms_W58kC45Ztm4q5XA_e4SUtFpqws5LS6pCCkLEV2YmToKKpTAE6yevMkv3QewN_dRIKvk_t-d-i5B4ZHuerMtZGWAMPGmx6aaLoaI4MQKkpag/s400/IMG_4745.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266866971070175346" /></a><br /><br />I tried my luck at taking a crochet hook in my cabin luggage, but alas it was deemed a potential weapon of mass destruction. As Dilia pointed out, anyone who could kill using a size 3.5 bamboo crochet hook is likely to be quite capable of doing so <span style="font-style:italic;">without</span> a bamboo crochet hook, but this line of reasoning would seem to be a little too rational when it comes to airline security.<br /><br />Consequently, instead of a productive three and a half hours of baby cardigan crochet, I was forced to watch The X-Files: I Wanted To Believe – "The truth is out there. And so is the plot" was the accurate summing up in the in-flight magazine.Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-38370764327424409812008-10-28T04:01:00.001-07:002008-10-29T01:54:17.975-07:00Cranes and geraniumsFollowing my acquisition of Japanese treasures, I was inspired to try making origami cranes. My plan is to hang these from string across my ceiling. Here's my flock so far:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfcCO3DQo4PqGWMAWq9O3PtPhxDR38J2MIxEDkrqmJdDQ_RhIlZdgif8nJN6dD9cUe6tSFk-Z2Oo_68Xn04bMA8LMC6PPPThxnIX5rsikPDL0N-nWsHW_unIu09mOBP2djysZVyyLy2OA/s1600-h/IMG_4713.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfcCO3DQo4PqGWMAWq9O3PtPhxDR38J2MIxEDkrqmJdDQ_RhIlZdgif8nJN6dD9cUe6tSFk-Z2Oo_68Xn04bMA8LMC6PPPThxnIX5rsikPDL0N-nWsHW_unIu09mOBP2djysZVyyLy2OA/s400/IMG_4713.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262174528598083026" /></a><br /><br />With no idea of my current crane compulsion, yesterday my friend Jan surprised me with a birthday gift (not my birthday, hence the surprise) of a pair of tiniest origami crane earrings. They are tiny and beautiful, dark green with a light green and gold pattern. This photo doesn't come close to doing them justice, but at least shows how small and cute they are:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0z9vP98g4LY76PGL0-6Gy3hIUN0R_j2PYXmJb2J-jM3TLJ9Tn4HBq7QnizS6gaFog4sZFaFGlyJrwV1gakbsgLHgF-2EbsmwnVPvGfiuGAtnNH_u5vJKk9sAdsAVvK8Bw0qdAuHNlHgMT/s1600-h/IMG_4724.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0z9vP98g4LY76PGL0-6Gy3hIUN0R_j2PYXmJb2J-jM3TLJ9Tn4HBq7QnizS6gaFog4sZFaFGlyJrwV1gakbsgLHgF-2EbsmwnVPvGfiuGAtnNH_u5vJKk9sAdsAVvK8Bw0qdAuHNlHgMT/s400/IMG_4724.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262174681256008882" /></a><br /><br />This week sees the establishment of pink and white geraniums in Board of Design's window box, as part of a New Regent Street beautification initiative. What has this got to do with cranes? <span style="font-style:italic;">Well</span>, geraniums are also known as cranesbills, so called for the appearance of the seed-heads, which have the same shape as the bill of a crane. The genus name is derived from the Greek γέρανος, géranos, or γερανός, geranós, crane. <br /><br />Quite interestingly, according to Stephen Fry, ozone smells of geraniums.<br /> <br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dXY43ot1W20&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dXY43ot1W20&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-3886884701009305422008-10-26T01:34:00.000-07:002008-10-28T03:49:36.660-07:00Japanese treasuresIn Napier last week Amy and I discovered a lovely Japanese shop called <a href="http://raku.co.nz/"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Raku</span></a>. I'm not usually a big leisure shopper, but I was seriously tempted by all the pretty things. I finally managed to narrow my purchases down to four cotton bandanas (three of which were nice colours and the fourth of which had bunnies on, enough said), a packet of little rabbit shaped fabric stickers (okay, so I may have a bunny problem), a packet of gorgeous origami paper and half a metre of beautiful printed cotton, which I intend to line a bag with. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEise9xNCQRWuXmSCBgL7Wvu5lUY5PduLo3BxCusARDCyr-HDF5phn6X0zbCVmy1AL2uiKuzKLga4-WJFTqUBCnmcEzwmjTJdEGD7-whcv-SwNk84Y04wxrLCbAMvehmE6SLUe9QWBLzzXJ0/s1600-h/IMG_4732.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEise9xNCQRWuXmSCBgL7Wvu5lUY5PduLo3BxCusARDCyr-HDF5phn6X0zbCVmy1AL2uiKuzKLga4-WJFTqUBCnmcEzwmjTJdEGD7-whcv-SwNk84Y04wxrLCbAMvehmE6SLUe9QWBLzzXJ0/s400/IMG_4732.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262136747314374658" /></a><br /><br />The man who served me was absolutely meticulous and used a <span style="font-style:italic;">ruler</span> as his cutting edge - none of your Fabric Vision chop and rip here. Then he folded everything into a little bundle, placed it in a cute printed paper bag, and added an origami crane. It was all in all a very pleasant shopping experience and if you ever visit Napier, you should definitely visit Raku.Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-50201842054937816562008-10-20T18:43:00.000-07:002008-10-20T18:44:01.551-07:00VOLUME Contemporary Craft/Object Symposium<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFw1KSSYaiI4faLzK4s9PFYMszbiSrv8YxKnkxfrMoFN5b2bORqodd4zUsNJFjlfom2eAHEGpJ7TfIcxNc0cWuMvk0MY86HGoNTHtbx3az68uRRuDgIIxxxXj2hI9PcMFyt4tgpNNQx_V/s1600-h/volume.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFw1KSSYaiI4faLzK4s9PFYMszbiSrv8YxKnkxfrMoFN5b2bORqodd4zUsNJFjlfom2eAHEGpJ7TfIcxNc0cWuMvk0MY86HGoNTHtbx3az68uRRuDgIIxxxXj2hI9PcMFyt4tgpNNQx_V/s400/volume.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259400732203060482" /></a><br /><br />I spent this past weekend in Hawke's Bay attending the Volume Contemporary Craft/Object Symposium in Napier. Hosted by <a href="http://www.hbmag.co.nz/">Hawke's Bay Museum & Art Gallery</a>, this was an exploration into the state of contemporary craft and the function, position and future of the crafted object in New Zealand.<br /><br />The key note speaker was Justin Patton, director of Christchurch Art Gallery. In discussing his thoughts on the place of craft and its function, he made a key point which I felt was beautifully simple: that objects speak - to us, for us or about us. Instead of focussing on the obvious connection between maker and object, he spoke about the connection between object and the person experiencing it.<br /><br />Quickfire presentations by Genevieve Packer, Anna Marie White, Renee Bevan, Paul Rayner, Esther Lamb, Caroline Billing, Matt Blomely and Karl Chitham yielded a wide variety of work by new and established New Zealand craft artists, among them <a href="http://www.milfordgalleries.co.nz/artist.asp?gid={B008D98F-21AA-41F8-990E-6824E7A1FED5}&artid={F1FEA938-A3AD-46DB-B02B-170C170856DD}#">Tim Main</a>, who has a sculpture exhibition opening at Milford Galleries Auckland in November, and Karen Denis, whose vandalised vintage under the pseudonym <a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/user/trixiedelicious">Trixie Delicious</a> is frequently featured in home magazines worldwide.<br /><a href="http://www.milfordgalleries.co.nz/artist.asp?gid={B008D98F-21AA-41F8-990E-6824E7A1FED5}&artid={F1FEA938-A3AD-46DB-B02B-170C170856DD}#"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3D_JIkuKq9DuLAPEBbyLcMWIbwAyBvf-MxGz_BgST0I47UzL5oEdAYHKMKeLD-rEtgh8rghBMdNflL8_RibY_0gQuCbrA5t1pF1USOJoyVrXtppLgoyHhZ1TKlNV8Ky2IT4_SrxMG5q7U/s1600-h/%7BE51C4496-AC0E-472A-B3BE-5FFA758E4FE1%7D.jpeg.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3D_JIkuKq9DuLAPEBbyLcMWIbwAyBvf-MxGz_BgST0I47UzL5oEdAYHKMKeLD-rEtgh8rghBMdNflL8_RibY_0gQuCbrA5t1pF1USOJoyVrXtppLgoyHhZ1TKlNV8Ky2IT4_SrxMG5q7U/s400/%7BE51C4496-AC0E-472A-B3BE-5FFA758E4FE1%7D.jpeg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259409534499830578" /></a></a>Tim Main, <span style="font-style:italic;">Rangiora II (2007) DETAIL</span><br /><a href="http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/630/Saint-and-Sinner"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcC878r1LNvyjlLd490QfScuWkhDeXejYJ5ZW_SfvlMHCC5_V0_p9k-KuwxhYwdG6YvU6bW20g_BPwFn_OTExEdjcfgr7IoxsJoKsKzfbAj6xJN6ruskTlmhABBf-1j8cqCZ8zhzWpxHuI/s1600-h/54-d-00181-saint+sinner+001.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcC878r1LNvyjlLd490QfScuWkhDeXejYJ5ZW_SfvlMHCC5_V0_p9k-KuwxhYwdG6YvU6bW20g_BPwFn_OTExEdjcfgr7IoxsJoKsKzfbAj6xJN6ruskTlmhABBf-1j8cqCZ8zhzWpxHuI/s400/54-d-00181-saint+sinner+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259412544111066034" /></a></a>Trixie Delicious, <span style="font-style:italic;">Vandalised Vintage</span><br /><br />I was also engaged by Douglas Lloyd Jenkins' talk and the ensuing discussion on the declining quality of craft and design education. Essential skills and knowledge in these areas are falling victim to "credentialing" culture, as Polytechnics shift their focus away from practical training and toward providing qualifications. There was speculation on how early craft skills should be introduced into the curriculum and how we instill value for these skills in future generations.<br /><br />All in all it was a stimulating conference and a welcome reminder of the passion that drives artists, designers and craftspeople to create.Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-47681112640758508042008-10-01T23:22:00.000-07:002008-10-03T16:34:09.027-07:00On PunctuationAs a frequent Skyper and big fan of online chat generally, I've always enjoyed the creative potential of having a conversation written down. The challenge is to express yourself eloquently without any form of vocalisation and an extremely limited palette of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-verbal_communication"><span style="font-weight:bold;">non-verbal cues</span></a>. As a result, there's a certain kind of humour or wit that's particular to chat, and as with spoken conversation, everyone has their own style. <br /><br />Recently I was forced to examine my style of communication by a friend who is philosophically opposed to smilies. Her feeling is that smilies or emoticons are used too much as compensation for tact or an inability to communicate clearly. And to an extent, I agree (hence the self-evaluation). David McRaney points out the irony of this in his <a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com/2007/05/08/a-special-in-depth-analysis-by-david-mcraney-l337-katz0rz/"><span style="font-weight:bold;">in-depth analysis of Lolcats</span></a>:<br /><blockquote>"Strangely enough, though American culture is far less literate than in previous decades, we read all day long and communicate through written language possibly more than ever so in history. Words are the currency of text messaging, emails, blogs and websites. This may or may not be a good thing, considering how our communications within these arenas are so economical and utilitarian. The long-form, eloquent email is a rare bird in the cyberjungle."</blockquote><br />In terms of email, which is after all the digital equivalent of a letter, I think it's fair to say that smilies shouldn't be necessary and certainly in a work context, it would cut out a lot of wasted time and frustration if a little more time, thought and relevant punctuation was put into email communications.<br /><br />However, in the context of chat, I am still hopelessly hooked on emoticons. There's much that can be expressed with a well-placed emoticon, not to mention the entertainment value. As my friend David says:<br /><blockquote>"Really when you think about it... you are going to need a lot of words to describe Microsoft Powerpoint when it can be done more succinctly with a little yellow guy puking"</blockquote><br />Interestingly (and only very tenuously related), in the entry for non-verbal cues on Wikipedia, the section on clinical studies mentions that "women with premenstrual syndrome were found to possess diminished abilities to read these cues". Curious. I wonder if it helps to know that.Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-19354211760690341792008-09-25T16:35:00.000-07:002008-09-25T17:31:48.622-07:00America surrenders her right to bare armsThis week the orders started coming in on <a href="http://overcast.etsy.co.nz">Etsy</a> as the Northern Hemisphere moves into winter, and for my third year running I'll spend most of my spare time between now and Christmas making armwarmers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKN2GrkJSHR1s3M0AlpirbvlFRla5TEC-zNluhOelmu4bMFxjinSOcAzxUhSqVznsSRn-IYRDLUd4kxzxx3bYk1JMbUBy3tG5CnhfM9dGfocXN8LX1bB1byjpToNnaJt4f2RsmgUJQya55/s1600-h/darkchoc1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKN2GrkJSHR1s3M0AlpirbvlFRla5TEC-zNluhOelmu4bMFxjinSOcAzxUhSqVznsSRn-IYRDLUd4kxzxx3bYk1JMbUBy3tG5CnhfM9dGfocXN8LX1bB1byjpToNnaJt4f2RsmgUJQya55/s400/darkchoc1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250107031874164978" /></a><br /><br />Last year's record was 13 pairs sold in a week, and although I'd be quite happy not to exceed that, I do have a few more colours available this year, so it's anyone's guess how many all-night sewing sessions I'll be pulling. <br /><br />So that I don't go crazy making the same thing over and over again, I'm working on some new variations. The first is a simple short sleeve to layer over the top of the existing armwarmers, which has the added bonus of using up all my short ends. So far I've done these in green (modeled by Mel) - the next pair will be dark brown, to layer over mid-brown armwarmers (double chocolate, yum!).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikCFsq6_KErH_YlnZORIlB1ZcH2NfLAdv_KzoqhjXHwamaFdi3nrriI6QOCQANZvTFt4hquXmQis_IjOiNuoKGtSIMUJrZYr8MuOKDPreL0bvBScAYS2d-tg3MWsu86whCcc63OSsmwk7/s1600-h/IMG_5280.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikCFsq6_KErH_YlnZORIlB1ZcH2NfLAdv_KzoqhjXHwamaFdi3nrriI6QOCQANZvTFt4hquXmQis_IjOiNuoKGtSIMUJrZYr8MuOKDPreL0bvBScAYS2d-tg3MWsu86whCcc63OSsmwk7/s400/IMG_5280.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250119735230690098" /></a><br /><br />The other idea I have is to make double layer armwarmers with shapes cut out of the top layer. This is a bit more experimental - I'm not really sure how well it will work with the merino fabric - but if it does work I think it'll look cool. If it doesn't work then perhaps applique is worth a try. I'm open to suggestions - if you're inspired, leave me a comment...Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-26473758690937375232008-09-14T16:31:00.000-07:002008-09-14T16:56:53.844-07:00Unnatural Selection<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZzRoFCn4h-Nj39AX0AaLrR8-qoYUD7fFyL-9ZyQgaHKpdM7KQHRJOjTRx07JSRysD76K0eIM9RjmZ1Ai4y-JPNlupxUKqkzTUa1PxdJK9NNH8r0ze0D5cce6Ek7Mm0f6SNwgDw3Ngivz/s1600-h/UnnaturalSelection.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZzRoFCn4h-Nj39AX0AaLrR8-qoYUD7fFyL-9ZyQgaHKpdM7KQHRJOjTRx07JSRysD76K0eIM9RjmZ1Ai4y-JPNlupxUKqkzTUa1PxdJK9NNH8r0ze0D5cce6Ek7Mm0f6SNwgDw3Ngivz/s400/UnnaturalSelection.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246030288867107890" /></a><br /><br />Tomorrow night is the opening of Mel's exhibition, Unnatural Selection, which promises to be intriguing and quirky. Mel is an awesome photographer and creates curious narratives in her panoramas using odd characters and Photoshop trickery.<br /><br />Opening night is from 6pm till 8pm tomorrow (Tuesday 16th September) at L'Estrange Gallery in Sumner. The show runs until 12th October, so if you don't make it to the opening, there's still heaps of time to make a trip out to Sumner and check it out.Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575782795413124853.post-92135465545293850112008-09-10T17:40:00.000-07:002008-09-10T18:01:38.990-07:00Mixed Martial Arts and Crafts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.snorgtees.com/images/MMAC_F_Fullpic_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://www.snorgtees.com/images/MMAC_F_Fullpic_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Needless to say, I want <a href="http://www.snorgtees.com/mixedmartialartsandcrafts-p-542.html">one of these</a>.Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837954092448336013noreply@blogger.com1