Tagged...

I've been tagged for the six random things by the very friendly Curly Pops.

The rules are:

1. Link to the person who “tagged” you.

2. Post the rules on your blog.

3. Write six random things about yourself.

4. Tag six people at the end of your post.

5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

6. Let the tagger know your entry is up.

But seeing as though I am only one half of the McCranky! duo I though that I would only list 3 things and if Claire liked she could list 3 of her own. So here goes;

1. When we were growing up, Claire and I used to have to share a room, I was always the clean one, while she was always a little messy. I could never go to sleep unitl the room was tidy, but Claire would always come in later and mess it up a llittle, so i would have to tidy it again.


2. I hate excerising, but would happily walk from Carlton to St.Kilda, if I knew there was someting lovely at the end.


3. I am a real sweet tooth, sometimes (not very often, but definately sometimes) I just eat pudding or cake for dinner.

Well, there you go, not as hard as i thought it would be, even a little fun. I think anyone who likes the sound of this should join in, especially frances baker, i would love to see what she comes up with.

From Meaghan

Back to School...

Today, after what has been almost a seven week winter break, I finally returned to Uni. I'm usually pretty anxious around this time of year as it normally involves trying desperately to finalise a timetable which fits together, waiting in long ques to buy new books and awkward first tutorial moments when we are expected to introduce people we have never meet. But this semester was made a little more pleasant, thanks to Claire, who last night very kindly covered all my notebooks in lovely fabrics, hopefully the rest of the week will be just as nice.

One Very Special Project...

Recently one of my very good friends returned from a five week study trip to New York. While she was over there she turned 21, so I decided to take the opportunity to make her a quilt, which would hopefully be ready for her when she returned. I've never attempted to make a quilt solo before, usually i just help Mum or Claire with one, but this time it was all me, and I'm a little proud. I made the Quilt out of the same squares Claire uses to make the aprons and bags, all of them are vintage sheets or pillow cases, and I purchased the boarders and binding from spotlight. I didn't follow a pattern, rather deciding to choose my favourite patterns and fabrics and sew them all together and prey that they looked good. I gave it to my friend on Friday, she was so happy with it, and rather surprised as well, which was nice. I definitely think more quilting is on the horizon, and with the help of this blog maybe the layout will get a little more intricate.

From Meaghan.

This is... My favorite craft book

This is my favorite craft book I found it at my local op-shop a few months ago and I think I look at it once a week. Its full of inspiring pictures and great ideas. It was published in 1973 and is full of 70's greatness. Every time I open it I want to make everything including the macrame skirt and snow flake mobile. I have lots of craft books I think they are great resource for craftspariton (thats a new word I just made up, do you think it works?). Maybe I'll share a few more over the next few weeks.

Thank you Three Buttons for a tricky first This Is but i think its good that the first is a bit difficult the rest should be less intimidating.   

Claire...

This is...My Favourite Chair.

Today is our very first 'This is' post, I've been looking forward to it all week. Thanks to Three Buttons for hosting such a lovely meme.

This really is my favourite chair for many reasons. Firstly it is the only chair I own, so it becomes my favourite because it is used so much. It is also my Favourite because it was a gift from my Nana when i first moved out of home, Nana had the whole set when we were growing up, she still has the couch at home but Claire and I own the Chairs, I really love the roses it is covered with. I also like this chair because I do a lot of my favourite things in it. As you can see in the photo my knitting is close at hand, I can see out of the window onto the street, which is nice, I can watch television and read books, all from the same chair. It's a very Handy chair. I also really like this chair for the people it reminds me of, sitting on the chair is a McCranky! tie cushion that Claire gave to me. Hanging on the back of the Chair is a really lovely crocheted blanket that my Aunty Crocheted for my Mum for her 21st birthday. Its also a great chair because it is so comfy, I really love it!

I can't wait to look at what other 'This is...' people came up with, and posting more 'This is...' in the future.

From Meaghan.

What a Lovely Day...

I really can't believe how lovely Melbourne's weather has been of late. Its been so sunny and bright, not at all grey and wet as is per usual for this time of year. My favourite thing to do on days like this is take a nice walk into town, past the museum and visit all of my favourite places, then I grab a coffee (and a cupcake today too) and walk home again. I hope it stays like this right through the weekend.

From Meaghan.

P.S. That Cubby House really was special, I remember inviting all our friends over and playing inside for hours, we had a miniature tea set and everything. I really hope Dad doesn't pull it down either.

Our Cubby House

Dad built this cubby for us, it was so exciting. I remember visiting play grounds with him when he was looking for ideas. This cubby is very special to us, it was just like having our own house. We could do what ever we liked in their, paint the walls, make mud cakes and have very grown up tea parties. Its still their but I don't know for how much longer, it will be sad to see it go but at least we have the memories. 

Claire...

Tea Time!

Tea Time has always been an essential time in our families day, there wasn't anything a cup of tea couldn't fix; a sad mood, a bit of a cold or a headache, "a good cup of tea will fix you up", our Dad would always say. Our Dad is probably the fussiest tea drinker. I remember when I was younger (and probably still now) making the family a cup of tea but trying extra hard to get Dad's just right, not to strong but not to milky either, it was tricky. Tea Time has gotten a little more exciting in my new house. We just brought a new kettle, one that sits in top of your stove and makes a really nice whistle sound when it has finished boiling and ready to be poured. I really like it.

From Meaghan.

I Love Country Towns...

...and Bendigo is probably one of my Favourites. I first visited Bendigo about a year ago and instantly felt happy. I always said I was going to go back and yesterday I finally did. The drive up there (or the train in my case) is so lovely, the countryside looks really wonderful, very green and fresh, and i saw at least three families of Kangaroos looking back at us along the way. Bendigo is quite a large town giving you lost of things to fill your day. There are art galleries everywhere, a ton of op-shops (8 at last count), and some really great bakeries, essential components of a great country town i think. Yesterday I visited as many op-shops as i could before my train left back to Melbourne and manged to find some really great things. I got lots of books, a few dresses, lots of fabric to pass on to Claire and some great handbags. Really Bendigo is fabulous, everyone should visit.

Thats our girl!

 I thought it was time to introduce our little friend Penelope. Our friend from Chicken Salad   drew her for us (he is very clever).  We named her after a girl I met when I was about 4. Our Grandma took me to this big old house in the country and I meet Penelope she was English and very naughty. But I was fascinated by her, so I followed her around this strange house looking through all the rooms and jumping out windows, things I would never have done without her encouragement. So when I saw our little Penelope I knew I had to name her after the girl from my child hood memories, they seem to have similar personalities.

Claire...  

Our Favourite Kind of Op-Shop!

Last Friday Claire and I made our way out into the country to visit our Nana. This is definately one of our favourite things to do. When we were young our Nana used to work in her local op-shop, which was in a lovely old barn, a little removed from the main strip of shops (similar to the one photographed). Each time someone came in and donated clothes Nana would always bring them home and give them a good wash before returning them to be sold. When we would go up and stay she would take us up there and let us have a good look around to see if there was anything we liked, meanwhile she would have a good rummage around too. Her house was always full of amazing things she had found in op-shops over the years, sometimes we would just sit and look at all the things, she had tea pots that looked like houses and the biggest collection of salt and pepper shakers I had ever seen. Now whenever we visit Nana a trip to the op-shops is definately in order. The photographs above are pictures of a new op-shop we just discovered, not to far from her home. It took us a while to find but once we did it was amazing. Walking in we didn't know where to start, and just kind of rushed everwhere. Eventually we calmed down and managed to find some really great things. The best thing about these kind of op-shops is the pricing i think. All dresses $3 and all jumpers $4, not like the individually priced items in some big city op-shops. I also like how the floor creeks and the ladies who work there are always doing something crafty, this particular op-shop had a lovely selection of hand knitted bed socks.

After Op-shopping we head of to Nana's for some lunch. For some reason lunch always tastes better sitting around Nana's round table, no matter how simple it is. Last week we had cheese and pickle rolls, lamingtons and jam tarts and a few cups of tea too. Yumm.

Markets...

This morning i travelled down to Federation Square and visited the Melbourne Design Market. I didn't really know what to expect as i had never visited this particular market before and was a little surprised to see it so busy. I made my way through the crowds and got the chance to see some lovely stalls. There were some really great wrapping paper people lots of people selling magazines and lots of lovely jewellery and clothes. I got the chance to visit pip at the Victoria Mason stall, which looked really nice. While I was there I picked up some old editions of the lovely magazine, Dumb feather, pass it on which was great and a really nice rabbit brooch, from the Ambiguous Horse stall. It reminds me of the ceramic rabbit i brought at Camberwell Market last Sunday. After the market I headed up stairs to the NGV and had a quick look at the Black in Fashion exhibit, then it was a brisk stroll home for a cup of tea. Quite a lovely Sunday I think.

From Meg..

Art Deco!

Last night I visited the new Art Deco exhibition currently on at the NGV, on St Kilda rd. It was so lovely, we went at about 5.30 just as it was getting dark but still not to busy, by the time we left though it was packed with people coming in after work I guess. We spent hours walking around looking at all the amazing frocks, jewellery, furniture, paintings, appliances, posters, fabrics and ceramics. They have the most amazing bound books on display along with some of the most impressive intricate dresses I have ever seen. All I could think about the whole time was who owned all these pieces originally, and what were their lives like, glamorous I bet. I can't wait to visit again, as I'm sure I missed something really special.

From Meaghan.

Possum Magic!

When we were little possum's always held this magical quality for us. I think this is partly due to the reading of one very special book and also the fact that we didn't see Possums everyday. Living in the Suburbs possums just didn't exist. It was only when we went on camping trips out into the country that we got our possum fix. I remember waiting up until it was dark and then following Mum and Dad around the camp site with torches and apple wedges hoping to catch one at the bottom of a tree, or even better a baby possum looking for food with its mum. Sometimes we wouldn't find any but would leave some fruit out anyway, then we would wake up extra early to see if they had taken it. When I moved into the city last year i was amazed to discover possums living in our courtyard, I would catch them leaving their trees at night and see them as I was walking home, my housemates couldn't believe how fascinated i was with them (where they grew up possums were everywhere). The possum above I caught having a snack while i was on my way home from work one night, I think he is lovely.

From Meaghan...

Aprons!

I spent most of last week making aprons. I think making aprons is my favorite thing to do, at least for this month. 

So hear are a few pictures. You can also see them at Meet me at Mikes 

Claire...

Early Mornings

Very early this morning, Claire and I took our selves off to the Camberwell Rotary Market. It was freezing cold, but luckily there was no rain. The above image is a snapshot of the things we brought. I can still remember the first time i visited the market, i was completely overwhelmed, and probably made too many purchases. Today was a little less excessive, but just as fun. We purchased some great wool from the lovely folk over at the yarn barn, a ceramic rabbit that I just couldn't pass up, a beaded cardi and some jewellery. We also brought a nice plant for our mum. On the way home we stopped at Spotlight and Savers, and collected some really pretty fabrics, that Claire crafted into some aprons this afternoon. It was a very successful sunday. 

Meg..

Why?

Why is it that I have lots of lovely fabrics but today I'm looking at them and I feel like I have nothing? Whenever I get new fabric I clean it then iron it and cut it into squarers, so that its ready to use as soon as I want to. But today I have nothing. May be I need some inspiration. I think I shall have to spend the day reading some crafty blogs and hopefully I'll be cured. 

Claire

Collecting!

For as long as I can remember, I have been collecting things. It started when I was little with things like Polly Pockets and Teddy Bears. Now I collect almost everything. My largest collection would probably be of tea cups and cake stands, most of which I have found in op shops or were given to me. I also collect wollen jumpers and clothing from op-shops which are from the clothing label Katies, and various other things. All of these collections I see as very functional , as most serve a purpose. I mean I can wear the jumpers and Katies clothes, I can drink from the tea cups and I can serve my cakes on the cake stands, but some of my collections are not so functional or exciting perhaps. This is primarily my collection of Tic Tac containers. Since about year 11 (4 years ago) I started eating tic tacs, as they were the only mints sold at our school canteen. After buying a few packets I realised how amazing they were, I just really liked the taste I guess. After I discovered a few empty packets in my school bag, and putting them in a draw I just kept adding to them until the draw was full. I really couldn't bring my self to throw the empty packets away, I still can't. At this stage I have a few boxes full with empty packets, and a couple of bags. The ones in the photo above are quite special and remain on my book shelf, they were given to me by a freind who has just returned from a trip around America, they are great because unlike Australian Tic Tacs the actual mint is coloured not just the outside packaging. I'm still not sure what i will do with all these packets, but like with most collections i just can't bring myself to throw them away.

I should probably add that i don't collect all flavours of Tic Tacs, just the pepermint and spearmint ones, as these are my favourite flavours.

From Meg...

Adelaide!

Tonight, our Mum and Nana came home from a weekend away in Adelaide visiting our Aunty. It sounds like they had a really lovely time, staying in a place called Geranium Cottage, and visiting some garage sales they found on their walks. This is what they brought back for us, some lovely tea cups and vases. 

Harry also sneaked her way into this photo...

Lovely gifts.

We received these lovely key-rings from some friends who just returned from Russia.