{reading} on the bedside table...

the romantics - galt niederhoffer
brilliant. brilliant. it's a contempory great gatsby. i had to read this book after seeing the trailer for the feature movie that's on it's way- thanks sarah!

chez moi - agnes desarthe
fiction about france & food... i couldn't resist!

the elegance of the hedgehog - muriel barbery
after my 50 things post, i'm finally getting around to reading this book... in a word? heavy.

notwithstanding - louis de bernieres
mr de bernieres had my heart ever since the war of don emmanuel's nether parts. i've loved every single book since, and this is his latest.

frederica - georgette heyer
my mother and i have read every single book ever written by this very glamorous woman. this, i think is my favourite...
 
planning a baby? - dr sarah brewer
just quietly, between you & i, ok?!


what's on your bedside table??

{making} patchwork dreams

i love it when what's old is new again. that's quilting for me, right now. it's (thankfully) not all about the Saw-Tooth star anymore, but rather contemporary design and modern colour choices. it's also very therapeutic!

purl soho is a new york based fabric/pattern store  mecca (online and bricks-and-mortar). they have totally been fuelling my patchwork inspiration. just have a look. A-maz-ing.

and then... well isn't it funny how this book arrived in the post just a week or so later?

last minute patchwork + quilted gifts is by joelle hoverson, and the owner of purl. oh my this book is a beauty. ranging from less-than-2-hours, to more-than-12-hours, there is some kind of patchwork to make for everyone. i've already made a handful of the flannel baby blankets... so easy yet so so beautiful! (and they turn out just like the picture - that never happens!!)

this book (thankfully) also has detailed instructions. so the amatuer quilter in me can fumble through without having to call my mum!

quilting is a pretty special thing, isn't it? i still remember going to a grade one sleepover at school... all the kids had sleeping bags. i had a quilt my mum had made for me. and i still have it.

{making} zakka

ok, so i've said it before. but i'll say it again: i love tea cosies. i just think they're... well... kitsch & comforting. there's something very homely about a tea cosy, don't you think? so when a good friend of mine gave me this book for christmas i was very excited. this book takes the humble tea cosy to a whole. new. level.

it's called Zakka Sewing, zakka being a japanese term for something handmade that is for around the home. think the squirrel tea-cosy, slippers, fabric book jackets, pencil cases, aprons... all done in a tasteful, quirky and beautiful japanese-inspired way. lots of luscious linen fabrics, wool felt, and hand sewn embroidery. the book gives you detailed instructions for 25 gorgeous projects... take a peek at some of the beautiful photos of what you can make.

 images :: STC Craft

if you like your home crafts, this is definetly a book for you! something a little different, and a little special. all of the projects would make great gifts if you can bear to part with them.

but first, i'm off to make one amazing squirrel tea cosy...i wonder what my grandmother would have thought of it?