In the town in Western Australia where I lived for two years, there was a barber shop called Your Hairy Friend. I kid you not. This little guy reminded me of that today. As it happens, however, I'm not going to call this painting Your Hairless Friend (or, alternatively, Your Bald Friend). I think I'll call it, instead, Cool Guys Wear Cardigans.
danielle.xox
The thing about having nine days between blog posts is that when we do tear ourselves away from guests and socialising, there's so much to say!
Wednesday Work-in-Progress :: Today's Wednesday w-i-p is really two finished works. This weekend it's our wee niece's first birthday and the fingers have been flying to make gifts for the adorable (world's most adorable, in case you were wondering) girlie.
Lauren stitched a teeny brown corduroy pinafore, just in time for a New South Wales winter. Doting Grammy bought little pink shoes for the firstborn grandchild (Danielle avows firstborns are perfect in every way), while Danielle made a creature (with matching corduroy appendages and a body from a thrifted seventies towel) to hug and squish and maul:
It is debatable whether this creature is a male or female. Regardless, its name shall be MillieKat.
Other thing number one :: Last week, we were thrilled when our very own Moo Cards arrived all the way from Great Britain. We love them! From now on all orders will include one of these little business cards (It's just like WeetBix cards: "Twelve to choose from! Collect the entire series!") and we'll carry them around in our purses and pull them out flashily like genuine professionals. Indeed.
Other thing number two :: Love, JanieLou is at myspace! Add us to your friends list to receive our bulletins and updates and join the fun!
Other thing number three :: Our wallets and purses are up and at 'em at Georgie Love -- so exciting! We grinned like schoolgirls when we read what Sally said about our purses:
Lordy, these are so gorgeous! Even writing this, I know these charmers are NOT GOING TO BE HERE FOR LONG. Which makes me sad because I like to look at them and work out which one I want to buy for myself, because like nearly everything on this site, I CANNOT RESIST.
Anyway, back on to the sheer, unbridled delight that is Love, Janie Lou's WALLETS AND PURSES. Made from a mix of new and vintage fabrics, buttons and zips, they are firstly PRACTICAL, secondly beautifully and sturdily MADE, but most importantly JOYFUL to look at (and presumably, use).
Thanks, Sally. JanieLou loves you, too!
Final other thing to end this giant post :: We are zipping southward for an extended front-and-back weekend, so you likely won't hear from us until next Wednesday. May your May days be full of sun!
danielle&lauren xox
A very quick drawing inspired by this week's Illustration Friday prompt.
When we were both smaller, my younger sister plagued my life out by copying everything I did. When, on a special occasion when we'd be having such a treat, we stood in line in the ice-cream parlour, waiting to choose our flavours, she would always feign uncertainty until I'd made my choice. I put it off as long as I could, humming and hawing for a while. Finally I would cave, and ask for chocolate. Incredibly, she'd suddenly be able to decide, too. Chocolate, of course.
It bothered me then. Immensely. Now we're both grown-ups (well that's what we tell each other, anyway), I see what a privilege-in-disguise this irritating imitation was. It's an honour to be copied by a smaller one.
d.
Everybody, meet Malone. Malone, meet everybody.
I've been thinking about Malone for a while now and drawing little pictures of him here and there. I originally envisioned him made from some brown corduroy that my grandmother salvaged from Vinnies, but when I saw this purple chenille at my newest favourite quilt store (called Thread & Ginger, which gets points just for cuteness), I knew Malone had found his skin.
I sewed him up on Monday, and it was one of those "when I just get this bit done" kind of days--the times when you don't want to stop even to eat lunch. And he was soon done and perched on my bed. He was originally going to be for the shop but I've decided I won't part with him and will have to make some cousins to sell instead.
Speaking of the shop reminds me that tomorrow is a special day for Lauren and I. I'm not referring to Ferris Wheel Day or Read to Your Child Day (it's a good idea) or Singles Awareness Day. I'm not even talking about Valentine's Day (even though my parents met that day and that makes it even more special). No, I'm talking about our little shop's first opening day! ::wriggle:: Tomorrow morning, all going well and our assuming our lack of experience doesn't backfire on us, our little etsy store will be up and running for the first time. Whee!
d.
This--along with some chocolatey yumness and Chicken Run on DVD--is what my little brother will be finding under the tree from me on Christmas morning. He is nine and obsessed with all things cowboy, frequently introducing himself to others as either John Wayne or Ben, Adam, Hoss, or Little Joe Cartwright. So I was thrilled when I found this adorable vintage cowboy colouring book (in mint condition) for one dollar! Then I found this very cute and clever tutorial for a crayon roll and knew I had something to make from this nifty old-school cowboy print I've had for pretty much ever. I love how the ribbon shows up the "laughter" so clearly when the bow is tied. (That was basically a fluke.)
Oh, and I've stitched a crayon roll for both of my goddaughters, too. Now to find crayons to fill them. Do you know how impossible it is finding multiple packs of crayons six days before Christmas?
You can see more pictures of the Cowboy Crayon Roll over at Flickr.
It's a long and corny story, but my brother Nick calls me McNuggets and I call him McChicken. Don't ask how it started because it's not that exciting. However, the names have stuck. So this year--his first Christmas away from the family--I decided to immortalise his very corny nickname and embellished a black Bonds tee with a quirky McChicken applique. The little Aussie flag up in the right corner is just because. I hope he likes it and wears it (I would) but even if he can't summon the courage, I know it'll make him grin.
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