Craftapalooza

local shop resources

I'm always on the lookout for interesting retailers here in Perth. I'm not a fan of large shopping malls that sell generic stuff. I'll list my favourite go-to's for local gift buying, for myself and others, I'm sure there are more, if you have any please do list them in the comments I'm always on the lookout for new and interesting.

Aspects of Kings Park - for all things Western Australian/Australian, but no block of wood clocks here, or thongs in the shape of Australia, thank goodness!

Black Plastic - all sorts of kitschy goodness and lots of great stocking stuffers this time of year.

The Butcher Shop - I haven't been here, but online they're looking like my sort of thing.

Distracted - even if you go just to visit, Natalie keeps a lovely shop and has wonderful window displays.

EDITED: Little Design Horse - I don't know how I could have forgotten these guys. They ROCK.

Lotus - there's the gift and home shop and the next block up, the accessories shop.

Mr Sparrow - this is probably my current favourite, it's small but full of indie and designer yummy.

Remedy - This is another current favourite.

Ruck Rover General Store - yummy indie goodness.

Ware - no website, but a ripper shop.

I've created a google map, feel free to add any indie/designer retailers in Perth, Western Australia. Can be in the country, doesn't have to be metro only.

View Small Interesting Retailers Perth, Australia in a larger map

Blog Action Day - Reduce your emissions at home

I'm no crusader for climate change it sort of scares the crap out of me, especially when I start reading this article about the top 100 effects of Global Warming.

There is a bucket load of things you can do around your home, all with varying degrees of cost and effort. Some are simple, like checking with your power supplier to see if they have a green emissions scheme, changing your shower head (this one we need to do) and one we're all forced to do now is use energy-efficient light globes. Others are more involved like installing solar panels. Further things you can do are listed at the World Wildlife Foundation.

The Australian Government also offers some incentives for installing solar hot water systems and roof insulation. So get crackin'!

A pretty distraction

Well day 7 of blogtoberfest and I'm hanging in there. I'll do the draw for the birthday giveaway tomorrow so you still have time to enter. There are also lots of others giving the lurve as well, link and Badskirt has a list of ideas to blog. Thanks for the lovely comments and wishes.

Sondra sent me beautiful flowers to work and spoiled me.

 

Happy barfday

Yep today I woke with a toilet bug. Luckily Ted and Spud were here to keep me company. Why am I posting this? It's BLogtoberfest and this stubborn lady doesn't want to miss a day.

Ok universe, you win

Over the past 6 weeks you've given me the nastiest flu which hung around for oh 3 weeks or so. Then you gave me a little respite but decided this week you'd give me one hell of a dose of gastro. Which Sondra had to witness and required me bearing my sizeable ass to my GP for an injection to stop vomiting.

So you think that would be it. Noooo I get up out of bed last night at 6pm, you know after 2 days of my own personal gastro party and I get an excrutiating pain in my upper left arm. Not any old pain, a knock you down, take your breath away sorta pain. You bored of this? Yep, me too. Short ending. Manage to get to a physio who let's me know I have a pinched nerve in my neck. No work for the rest of the week. So now I'm in bed typing this one handed on my phone with my right hand, I'm left handed, trying to stay as still as possible.

Score, universe 1, nicole 0.

Just a quick post

Have you found your inner Manga? I have. Get yours here. Of course there's a flickr pool. Link.

Quick hello

Hi everyone! Sorry for the silence again, seems life's interrupting blog. Not that I'd ever call Son an interruption! What's been happening? Well I signed up for my first craft fair, eek! I went through a mushroom crocheting phase following my crush. The smallest mushroom is about 1.5cm tall, the cap is half of a felt bead.

Have you seen Superbuzzy's redesign by Meomi? It rocks!! Super cute and zakka like. There's also a blog that I'll be adding to my reader and quick go buy something, they're having an awesome competition. Congrats Kelly.

AND did you see the summer 2008 Knitty is out? I'm going to scream here, SEA TANGLES! Just wish Habu was a lot easier to find and buy.

Tomorrow is my four year blog birthday and the start of the 52 week giveaway! Holy monsters. Thanks to those of you that drop by, read and comment and to all you lurkers!

a whole buncha* stuff

Well hello there. Only one week between posts, slowly getting back to a blog rhythm. I've recently decided that I'd like to ramp the blog up a little, get more interaction happening, get you lurkers to comment. I know you're there, you're in my stats, you're just not commenting. I know also that I post not asking for feedback and that I've also not been as interesting lately! As next month is my 4 year blog anniversary I'll be running a competition and also have a 52 week giveaway. Yup, 52 weeks. Nothing huge, just a little something. So, keep your eyes peeled.

Also, Lovely Leslie (that's what I say in my head when I read her blog or buy from her shop) is having a blogiversary giveaway. You need to let her know your crafty goals for the next year.

Do any of you do this? Whenever I read Angry Chicken, the first thought that goes though my head is WHY is the chicken angry? Or am I missing something?

The picture? That's just to distract you. I have lots of WIP's, ideas, an invite to submit a pattern to a craft book (yay!), just no new pics.

I'm working on blog renovations too, so you'll notice things happening if you come out of your RSS reader and visit the site.

Don't you reckon this is what Rapunzel's plaits would look like?

* Buncha - Aussie (I think) slang for bunch of.

the game

A perfect Friday afternoon treat. Come on you flickr heads, play...

happy h**ker...

Yep, I've turned into a h**ker. Crochet h**ker that is. It started with the ripple and then this scarf and then progressed to softies. There are heaps of awesome patterns out there. Next up I want to teach myself to read Japanese crochet patterns. The dinosaur I made for a friend's birthday, pattern from Owlishly, did it matter that he was a 40 odd year old man? No, I didn't think so either.

Lovely Fran tagged me, just for you Miss F six random things about me:

1. I like to poke my tongue at small people just to see their reactions. They're mixed and generally hilarious for those of you that are interested, anything from dobbing you in to mum or dad to poking their own tongue back at you.

2. I'm left handed though I play any "bat" sports right handed.

3. I make a lot of noise at the cinema, not intentionally. Apparently I agree, clap my hands, gasp and laugh very loudly.

4. I'm freckly.

5. I never finished high school, left at year 11 and went to technical college and did a certificate in office studies. I've been working full time since I was 17.

6. Aaah, I have a thing for country music. In particular Lyle Lovett and recently....Reba McIntyre.

Tag, ok for once I'm gonna, here goes. You guys are it: Auntie Cookie, How About Orange, Molly Chicken, Buzzville, Red Felt Flower and Sodeste.

Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.


I couldn't leave you without a picture of at least ONE of my furkids. Here's the Spud for those of you that have missed him. He's doing very well, aside from some mysterious fur loss on his belly and legs and tolerating his older brother's boisterous love.