Doodly Noodle

Rewind

I have been a bit buggered lately, so I haven't had a lot to say or do here.
I am still quite a bit tired, so I'll just share something old with you.


The above photo was taken at school by one of the teachers. Each student had to write a little something about themselves, and include an illustration to go with the summary. These little pieces were the result.
I am fairly close to certain that this is from Grade 2, which makes it 1986.


What were some of the hits of ‘86?

• Broken Wings (Mr Mister)
• How Will I Know (Whitney Houston)
• Addicted to Love (Robert Palmer)
• Papa Don't Preach (Madonna)
• Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel)
• Small Town (John Cougar Mellencamp)
• Walk This Way (Run DMC)
• Invisible Touch (Genesis)

Oh and the list could go one forever.


Sometimes I miss the 80s. It was an idyllic time for me and when it became ‘89, I felt a sadness that it was an end of an era.


Following is a clip from a loved 80s film — Electric Dreams.

Animation Friday — Rose

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Over a couple of days I followed the opening of a single orange-peach rose, from my garden.
I love flowers, especially tulips, roses, wisteria, jasmine,frangipani and other tropical varieties.
Flowers can freshen a room with their scent, or even greatly improve an ordinary property.


What is your favorite flower?


While you are at it, check out other creative animations over at My Poppet.

Tuck Into That

I just finished preparing fried rice. Granted a certain ingredient was missing. But I essentially got it to smell and taste pretty close to the real thing.
Righto! I'm starving. Time to eat that fried rice, with a lovely side dish of spring rolls.

Fried Rice, Anyone?

Tonight's meal plan will consist of fried rice. And the above recipe is what I'll be following, with a modification here and there. I'll use chicken instead of pork.
Hmmm, maybe I could pick up some spring rolls as a side dish. Haven't had that in a long while.
I'll share the meal with you tomorrow. That is to say I'll share a visual snapshot with you.
What are you having for dinner tonight?

Ollie Ollie Ollie

Hats Off to Teri

Teri Redrup, a fresh face on the Australian fashion scene sits down to answer my annoying questions about her studies, work and dreams of fashion. 

Which fashion course have you been doing?
Currently I am studying costume at Ultimo TAFE in Sydney. I’m in my last year so we are just starting to research our final integrated project. I am pretty excited as this is the light at the end of the tunnel! and it is nice to pick a project that you are passionate about and that showcases all your strong points. It’s been a real pleasure to do the course, it has a good variety of subjects to work through and some amazing teachers.


Where did this love affair with clothing design begin?
:) I remember having a muppets toy when i was really young which you scribble over the top of to make an impression of different muppet character in different costumes... I also remember watching an episode of Oprah once where she had a fashion parade, also when I was very young, and I was totally blown away by this oversized orange jumper over purple leggings! so amazing haha. I’ve always been interested with clothing I guess, particularly the theatrical side of things.


Which work tools do you like working with best?
I have a tendancy to veer towards the more old-fashioned skills. I have studied millinery for a few years and really enjoy blocking a beautiful felt and the meditative quality of hand stitching. I’ve collected a few hat blocks and brims now and they are lovely even just as something sitting on the shelf.


Last year you worked with Romance Was Born making some hats. How did this come about? Describe the experience.
I was lucky enough to know Anna and Luke from RwB. Together we worked on a costume for a gorgous burlesque dancer  a few years ago. That worked out really well and then for the last 3 summer/spring shows I’ve been doing a bit of millinery and accessories for them. It’s always fun going in to their studio, they are inspiring and encouraging and I hope to be able to do more with them in the future.


Are there any fashion styles and eras that you have a particular fancy for?
The the first 50 years of last century are so elegant. I especially love the 30’s and 40’s. The sweater girl look is a fave of mine,I usually have a knitting project tucked into my handbag.


Are there any craft projects you haven’t already done, that you’d like to tackle one day?
A friend bought a knitting machine recently, and after having a little lesson on hers, I’m going to buy myself one for my birthday!


What do you plan to achieve for the future?
I change my mind frequently about what to do when I grow up! I love the idea of working as a milliner but I also enjoy working in fashion and bridal. I’ve met some great people in this industry that are very creative and enjoy what they do and have also managed to conquer the business side of things. Maybe one day I could do the same.

Photo © Six Photography

Dance to the Disco

When I was a kid I loved to skate. It was a real treat going to the Saturday morning roller discos way back in 87. I used to go with three other kids — and their mum would take us.
There would be a morning class, for which I graduated through 3 levels.

We then spent the rest of the morning skating to the sounds of Michael Jackson, Billy Ocean, Kylie Minogue, Cheap Trick, Queen, you name it.
When a romantic song played the main lights would go out, and the effect lights kicked in, and the centrally located disco ball illuminated the room — it was pure magic.
There would also be a dance competition (with or without skates) to “Walk the Dinosaur”, “The Birdie Song”, and “Time Warp”. I once won a bag of Fantails.
Eventually though those days ended. I jumped on the inline skate bandwagon. But was sorely disappointed, as my old roller skating skills and tricks could not be applied to the inlines.
After a few years I wanted to return to the roller skates, but by then I was in my teen years and it felt like my 80s dream was finally over.
That was a fair while ago, and I have long heard that disco is dead. Yet today, a quick glance at google images I type in ‘disco’ or even ‘roller disco’, and discover that it hasn’t entirely bitten the dust. I suspect, for some of the people who lived it, there is still something that lives on in their hearts.
With a bit more research, I came across sites selling skates — brand new. There are dance clubs around the globe that still offer roller disco nights. And there are [gasp] roller derbies again on the rise.
For your pleasure I have created a list of music and movies that fit the roller disco theme. You can have a disco themed party — celebrate the 70s or 80s at your discretion. Or if you are like me you’ll just combine and enjoy it all.

Disco (& Roller Disco) Film Marathon 

• Roller Boogie (1979) 
• Thank God It’s Friday (1978) 
• Saturday Night Fever (1977) 
• The Last Days of Disco (1998) 
• Studio 54 (1998) 

70s Disco Music Mix

• Don’t Leave Me This Way (Thelma Houston) 
• I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor) 
• You Make Me Feel Mighty Real (Sylvester) 
• Dance Dance Dance (Chic) 
• Stayin Alive (Bee Gees) 
• Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood (Santa Esmeralda) 
• You Sexy Thing (Hot Chocolate) 
• Hot Stuff (Donna Summer) 
• Disco Duck (Rick Dees) 
• I Love the Nightlife (Alicia Bridges) 

80s Roller Disco Music Mix 

• Don’t Be Cruel (Cheap Trick) 
• Thriller (Michael Jackson) 
• Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Queen) 
• Nutbush City Limits (Tina Turner) 
• The Time of My Life (Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes) 
• The Birdie Song (The Tweets) 
• Time Warp (Rocky Horror cast) 
• Walk the Dinosaur (Was, Not Was) 
• When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going (Billy Ocean) 
• Rockin Robin (Michael Jackson) 
• The Loco-Motion (Kylie Minogue) 
• Hungry Eyes (Eric Carmen) 
• Ghostbusters (Ray Parker Jr) 

The Cat's Hour

The following story is an extract from my cat's journal (to be taken with a grain of salt).

Meow! My name is Piper and I am a housecat. So they tell me. I don’t want to be a housecat. I never did. I try to tell the tall creatures but they never pay attention. So I bide my time and I wait for opportunity to strike.
One day the see-through wall swings open, and it stays that way. This is new. The tall creatures have not noticed. No one to block me this is my chance.
I run. I run for all it’s worth. Down the stairs, round the smooth path. At last I am out. I am free, and I can go anywhere. Meow! This is too exciting. There is so much to choose from. Where to first?
I see an unnatural patch of grass. I wonder over there. Chewing on the grass. I don’t do this often. I notice big yellow smelly things amongst the grass. I do like. 

I move on further up the path and notice the largest scratching post I have ever seen in my life. There are birds at the top. I am going to make this post mine.
I leap into the air, claws out, ready to grab the bark. Meow! I’m on… Oh meow! I’m off. I hit the ground. The scratching post has torn away. I brought some of it with me. Dodgy scratching post! How am I supposed to play with the birds?
The birds are laughing. Laughing at me? I’ll show them. I’ll make them see. I look around. Meow! I see a wall. I can take it. One push off is all it takes. I’m up. The birds are closer to me, and they know it. They squawk and storm from above.
‘Yes, my lovelies, come into my mouth’, I sing to the birds. The noise continues, and I am being pelted with leaves.
I consider my next move. How to get closer to the birds?
I am surprised. Meow! Something warm and hard clamps down on me. I am falling. But I am not falling. It is more of a pull. I am off the wall. I am dangling. It is the tall she creature. She has a grip on me. She looks relieved, but she sounds upset.
She’s upset? What about me? I might not have this opportunity again.
I am carried up a familiar path, up the stairs and back into the indoor obstacle course.
One week later: The bloody tall creatures have put a collar on me. Meow!!!

Animation Friday - Swing

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This little animation is a response to My Poppet's “Animation Friday”.

Giveaway Alert!

I just found out about this lovely giveaway, hosted by Kirsten Grove of Simply Grove (funnily when I first saw her blog I thought it said Simply Groove).


So what does the giveaway include? You might ask. Well look here…

What do I need to do to enter this giveaway? You might also ask. Simply click here, to find out all about it.

My Creative Space...

The past couple of weeks I have been working on a piece of embroidery. I am usually working on this in the evening or during the day when Gwen is having a nap. So it has been slow progress. It is getting there.

Embroidery WIP — So Cal Noir

The first few flowers in my garden have begun to emerge. Here are some photos I just took. The colours simply pop off the screen.

Check out other wonderful creative spaces and corners over at Kootoyoo's Meme — My Creative Space.

Animation Friday - Oh Brother

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This little piece is a response to My Poppet's Meme: Animation Friday.


In case it isn't obvious the two people in this animation are a sister and brother. Enjoy!