This Is Where It Is At

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano.

   
 Today I feel a bit of momentum returning:

• After a few days of languid blahs I finally began designing a new doll.

• I gave up on a crochet pizza project, which was warping on me even though I was following the instructions. Oh well! So I have decided to sew felty pizza slices instead.

• I just finished reading My Life is a Toilet, written by Gretel Killeen. Funny as!

• I have Module 5 of my photography course to read and work through.
• And yeah!

Where I Am At

    I am having a quiet moment so thought I'd share where things are at. Things have been on the quiet side and yet I am just a little bit busy. Though it doesn't feel like it for some strange reason. Maybe it is because I am taking small bites here and there from my individual projects. So this is where it is at...

1. Reading Out of Africa, by Karen Blixen.
2. Listening to audio recording of Twilight on those late warm nights when I cannot sleep.
3. Discovered this wonderful website filled with creative kids activities - www.learning4kids.net.
4. Mixed rice and food dye as a sensory play item for my eldest. She loves it, and is playing with the rice as I type.
5. I am about to embark on a crochet project - making pizza slices.
6. Writing a story, just small bits at a time.
7. Drawing doll concepts.
8. Helping my eldest make paper badges.
9. Doing a photography course [but taking a few days break from the annoying gray card stuff].

Layout by Melissa Gaggiano.

Sensory play using rice and food dye. I cam across this at www.learning4kids.net.

Doll concept sketching by Melissa Gaggiano.

Knackered

Illustrations by Melissa Gaggiano.
Inspiration Jem, flowers, dolls.

    End of the week arrives and not a moment too soon. But perhaps a couple of days late for those who are feeling burnt out already. There have been early mornings and evenings with very little rest. Busy doing a little bit of this and not so much of that. My sewing machine bit the dust just as I was on the verge of trying new creative ideas combining drawing and sewing [swear, swear, profanity]. I knuckled down and read module 3 of my photography course at 5 in the morning [and it actually made sense]. I practiced taking photos and discovered that with enough light ISO 1600 can look good in monochrome, but this setting must be used discriminantly. I read about a Melbournian photographer - Athol Shmith. I tried reading Out of Africa, but have only gotten as far as page one. Did I mention my sewing machine is out of action - yeah! that really sucks.
On the upside I've got saturday night pizza to look forward to. Yum-yum!

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano.



Raison D'etre

    I have that Billy Joel song stuck in my head - For the Longest Time. All because I haven't written here in a very long time. Now I haven't been any more busy than usual. But I am having one of my eternal inner battles of 'how best to use my time'. You see, I have a lot of interests. I am interested in many aspects of life. I am always trying something new. Over the past several years I have tried violin, knitting, crochet, water colour painting, composing music, writing, drawing, cooking fatteh blahmeh, making and baking love heart badges, experimental photography, doll making, zine production. Just to name a few.
    I love trying new things, but even I have to admit I need to focus my attention on just one or two things. And that is where I struggle because if I make a decision I still find myself looking over my figurative shoulder and thinking 'Oh, but I might still want to do that other thing'. So that's where I am at - attempting to find order in the chaos of my creativity.
    On a far less whiney note, today I made a Snakes & Ladders board game for the family. It was so easy and all I needed was a bit of cardboard, pens, pencils, ruler and a couple of buttons.

    I've had such wonderful luck lately with the books I find in op-shops. In my latest collection a Marian Keyes, Candace Bushnell and Mao's Last Dancer. I have some good reading ahead of me.

    I picked up a Donna Hay and an issue of Elle and am loving the photography. Kristen Stewart's photoshoot was quite classy. And I found an apple pie recipe that I am quite keen to try. I like apples. I like pies. It's a match made in dessert heaven.



Well, that was certainly a mouthful. Toodles!

Just Reading

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano

I've been doing lots of thinking lately and not a lot of writing here. I did a fair amount of blogging last month and that just blogged me out. So this month I’m taking a little blogging sabbatical. Perhaps.

There are a few things on my plate at the moment. My granny square blanket project continues. I have high hopes that this project will be complete in three weeks. Pinkies crossed, yeah?

I am also reading. Surprise! Surprise!

I found a great deal on a Marian Keyes book in an op-shop. $3 for This Charming Man. Very, very happy about this. Kept announcing to everyone I met that I bought a good book for $3. When I read aloud excerpts from her books cannot help but put on what I imagine to be Marian’s Irish accent. As I type this I am even typing with an Irish accent.

I have three new books on order. One of the books is Twilight translated into French. Being an on again/off again Francophile it made a cosmic sense to blend it with my appreciation for Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight. What better incentive to learn a language than to use one of your favourite stories.

Projects and Books

    Where am I at? I finished one major project this weekend. I completed a curtain for my bedroom. 
    Now that is over I can return to my crochet project, which is just so close to completion. You know when you are almost finished making something you find yourself slowing down, or being distracted by something else. That project could be done in another few weeks but suddenly drags out a few extra months. That has happened with my granny square project. Granted though, I did initially give myself an entire year to get the thing made, so really my progress has been faster than anticipated. Still, that final stage is a slow mover.
    On another note I am developing my mind. I have begun reading A Room of One's Own by Virgina Woolf. What are you reading at the moment?

It's Not Easy

Illustration by Melissa Gaggiano

    It's not easy. Trying to write something good.
    When I read other people's books, I wish to myself, that maybe I could write something like that. It would be nice to express myself - to be clear and concise, to be heard and understood. To share something wonderful and be remembered for that.
    I am re-reading The Carrie Diaries. I like this version of Carrie Bradshaw and Candace Bushnell is one of my new favourite authors.
    The way Carrie was written, she is someone I can understand. I feel like I know her well. Like she could have been me, if I was a different person. An ambiguous statement - yes! But it is logical to me.
    Carrie listens to the people around her, she explores the city and lives life up. She may not like all that she sees. Yet the obstacles in her life help define her writing. I think Candace is telling up a lot about herself through Carrie.
    One of Carrie's struggles is getting started with writing her ideas. This frustrates her because she thinks she has to work a whole lot harder to be a spectacular writer. Initial laziness appears to be her hallmark, but once she knows what she wants there is no stopping Carrie.
    On another slightly similar subject - reading [as it is just the flipside to writing]! I am doing a lot of reading at the moment. In fact I have four different books that I am currently in the middle of. I enjoy re-reading my old books but my mind needs new fuel. I want to read Ernest Hemmingway. And there was another one. What was it? Virginia Woolf. And Tender is the Night by Fitzgerald.

I Like Flowers

     I like flowers. Indeed I do. There are roses in my garden, as well as zinnias, marigolds, sweetpeas and gardenias.
    This week I have been busy with the usual things that need doing around the house, as well as trying to recover from a head cold, playing with the girls, reading the Trueblood Omnibus [for the third time], and crocheting granny squares. Never a dull moment.

Weekend Reading

    After a couple of wacky weeks it's good to reach the end of a week and sit down with some good reads. Tonight, and tomorrow I plan to tuck into Under the Duvet [by Marian Keyes - one of my favourite authors] and two magazines - Donna Hay and Frankie. While I am at it I might even tuck into eating potato gems - yum.
    Lately I have taken to using weird things to bookmark the books I am reading. I find that with a toddler running about my regular bookmarks tend to disappear into some void and I end up losing the page I was on. So right now I have Under the Duvet bookmarked with a small piece of yarn.
    The odd thing about reading a Marian Keyes book is it makes me yearn for the Emerald Isle, my inner voice takes on what it believes to be an Irish accent and I find myself saying 'feck' a lot.

I Dig Books

I dig books! I dig books! And books dig me.

I enjoy reading books. I could easily disappear into a good book for a day. The better the story the less time it takes to read. I recently read The Help and between taking care of my little girls I had devoured the book in about three days.

I am on a book high at the moment. I have been re-reading Sense and Sensibility [written by Jane Austen]. The other day I borrowed Murder 101 [written by Maggie Barbieri] and re-borrowed Chocolat [written by Joanne Harris] from the library. I am waiting for Twilight graphic novel Vol 2 to arrive in the mail. And I have a million and one books on my wish list I am craving to get my hands on.

Is it a vice to love reading so many books?

Good Reads

    Today I picked up a copy of Frankie. I was pleased to see it so choc-a-block packed with inspiring and laugh out loud reads.
    I am also re-reading Sense and Sensibility, written by Jane Austen.
    You know, by saying this some people will probably want to throw books at me, but I think Marianne Dashwood is a bit of a twit. Her melodramatics are beyond ridiculous sometimes. In her warped sense of the world she will easily insult good people, and speak cruelly of her acquantances. But then shows an acute sensitivity to anyone making light of her romantic sensibilities. There are many times when she hurts Elinor's feelings by accusing her of no feeling simply because her sister prefers to take the cautious path in life. Elinor understands well enough that much damage can result in character iftoo exposed to the public. Marianne feels a life is half lived without absolute drama. Inevitably this sick pleasure for gratifying her absolute joy and heartache does lead to ill health, and near death, as she chose to not take good care of her own well being.
    And there you have it. That's what I think of young Marianne Dashwood. I cannot help but wonder. When Jane created this character, did she despise her? Was she based on someone she knew? A sister, perhaps?

Reading This Week

I recently finished reading a selection of Sookie Stackhouse stories, titled A Touch of Dead. Later this week I look forward to reading the next book in the Sookie collection, which is Dead Reckoning.

I have just begun reading The Alice Behind Wonderland. Which is about an infamous photo of Alice Liddell as taken by an amateur photographer — Charles Dodgson [otherwise known as Lewis Carroll].

What are you reading this week?

Reading This Week

    At the moment I am reading three books — something old something new, something borrowed… just missing something blue.
    I have been heavily into the Sookie Stackhouse series, by Charlaine Harris, and am currently onto Dead in the Family.

    I am also rereading David Mamet's A Whore's Profession, which is a series of essays about his life and work.

    Thirdly I borrowed from the library [for the second time] a graphic novel called Ethel and Ernest, by Raymond Briggs. This story is a touching account of Raymond's parents.

What are you reading at the moment?

Books in Blume

I first read Freckle Juice, a book written by Judy Blume when I was in grade 3. This was such a fun read, but it was in grade 4 when the teacher read Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing that Judy Blume truly rocked my world.

Over the following years I would read as many of her books as I could find in the library. She has written so many wonderful stories for children and young adults. So, admittedly I still have a long way to go before having read them all.

Judy wrote quite openly and honestly, her narratives from the perspective of children and teenagers. Her books connected to kids and made them feel that there was an adult that understood their schoolyard troubles and worries about growing up.

From another perspective it was this independent honesty that scared a discriminating group of adults, who demanded that her books be banned [amongst many other celebrated authors both modern and classic] in America during a rather discriminating book censorship regime of the 80s. However as someone who had read some of the so-called banned books I can say there was never anything inappropriate about Judy’s writing. But people being what they are sometimes fear discussion of certain subject matter, whether it is racism, bullying, puberty or [quick, cover your eyes] menstruation.

Judy aspires to be a ballerina.

And now, from the perspective of a parent I look forward to sharing Judy’s stories with my children as they grow up.

To find out more about Judy Blume you can visit her website, which by the way, is an invaluable literary resource in itself — www.judyblume.com

Judy's early years as a mum and author.

Books or Door Stops

Listen, people, those rectangular slabs you're using as doorstops… they're books. Careful, the first time you open them, they'll crack a bit. Don't be alarmed.

Professor Edward Alcott [Greg Kinnear], film Loser

My brain is fried! It has been quite an active week for me, both physically and mentally.

I think I’ll just stop now, eat a biscuit, drink tea and read the latest issue of Frankie and some Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. No doubt husband will come home from work and find me passed out with book open. This happens on occasion, when I am extra tired.

Have a great weekend everyone, with whatever it is you do.

By the Window

Wouldn’t it be nice to spend a quiet Sunday afternoon in front of a large open window, with a pot of tea, a delightful slice of cake and an engrossing book or letter at hand?

A gentle breeze floats the curtains and pervades the room. There is business going on in the world outside, but you are just inside your window. Disconnected from the busy movement beyond the walls of your home. You have your reading. You have your garden

[Sigh] Wouldn’t it be nice?

Girl Reading a Letter by a Window - Johannes Vermeer

Reading by the Window - Charles James Lewis

Young Girl Reading by the Window - Walter MacEwen

I Finally Got There

Hoorah-hoorah! Friday has finally touched down. And I am in a wonderful state of mind.

This morning I managed to finish knitting my scarf a week ahead of my own deadline. I think it helped playing Pride & Prejudice (the BBC series) in the background while I worked that wool and knitting needles.

This week I ate my way through a whole country’s worth of Easter chocolate. At one point my husband had to wonder “Didn’t we have four chocolate bunnies?” I nodded and pointed at my stomach. Honestly, I have such a sweet tooth for chocolate that the only way to keep me from eating it is — if it’s hidden from me, or if I actually forget that it’s in the house. I prefer the second option, because it is so exciting when you discover a massive chocolate supply weeks after you bought it. Whereas, if it’s hidden, my chocolate seeking nose will somehow, still find it out.

Lately I have been trying to do a bit more reading. The past week or so I have gotten through Jane Eyre, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Through the Looking Glass. The next book I intend to read on my Nintendo DS is Pilgrim’s Progress, written by John Bunyan. I think I recall this story being referenced in Little Women.

I wonder what next week has in store for me.

Monday Musings

Monday! Monday! Here we are again.

Well now. What is going on with this weather, I ask you. Sure the evenings drop to a decently freezing level, but then what about today. It has been like a perfect spring day.

So, what have I been up to? Let me see…

Gwen and I made a trip to Landcox Park. I hadn’t been there in a very long while. It was Gwen’s first time there, and she thoroughly enjoyed herself. It is such a lovely spot. Michael and I affectionately call it the duck park for one very obvious reason — ducks live there. Years ago Michael and I used to ride our bikes to Landcox Park and have picnics. We even got married at this park.

Old Memories in Landcox Park

The past few days I have been knitting a black ‘n’ pink scarf for myself. I love, love, love it, and can hardly wait till it is finished. It is to be a narrow scarf, and reaaaaaallllllly long.

My Knitting

Last night I finished reading Anne Brontës’ The Tenant of Wildfell Hall on my Nintendo DS. Now I am on to Jane Eyre written by Charlotte Brontë. I love reading these classics on my Nintendo DS, especially late at night, when there is nothing left to do. It’s like a book and night-light all rolled into one.

There are other things I want to do. Perhaps later this week I will make a list. I haven’t made a list in such a long while. I like a list. It provides me with a bit of order in a world full of chaos.

Monday Musings and Books

Yeee-esss! Many dried cuticles and one callus later I finished knitting my red beanie. Thank goodness for that. The temperature this weekend was finally turning toward a colder climate. This, after weeks of the Autumn season having an identity crisis — still believing itself to be Summer.

So, where am I at this week? I’ll give my hands a break from my knitting, giving them a chance to recoup natural oils. Although after last night, I am quite tempted to knit myself a Gryffindor inspired scarf, after having watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

I think knitting is becoming an addiction for me. I am rather relieved when I finish a knitting project and look forward to taking a break from it. But then 24 hours later I am inspired by something else and my fingers are itching to begin knitting something new. Does this happen to you? I wonder what the odds are of me starting a new knitting project before the week is out.

What books have I been reading lately? Let’s see…

Last week a friend loaned me Sex in the City by Candace Bushnell. I read it in about two days. It was a funny and light read. I was warned that it would be a bit racy. But honestly after reading a pile of Sookie Stackhouse stories there wasn’t anything in Sex in the City that could shock me.

I had also borrowed from the library Miss Masala by Mallika Basu, a practically edible book on Indian cuisine for people just a tad short on time. I’ll have to borrow this one again sometime.

Another library book was Like I Give a Frock by Michi Girl. This was a delicious read and is such a cute coffee table/hand bag book. Hmmm, ‘edible’ and ‘delicious’ — with words like that I must be hungry.

Now I am rereading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Going back through the Harry Potter stories has me having quite a few ah-hah moments. All the mysterious parts of the story that came together at the end, JK Rowling was already hinting to in the earlier books. So there you go, the woman really did have the whole saga properly planned from the beginning. Considering how complex the story is that must have taken a lot of effort.

Plus, I still have a pile of ‘classic’ books in my Nintendo DS that I have yet to get through, so I’ll no doubt get to that next.

My Life In Point

So, where am I at this week?

• I am still reading Mansfield Park.
• Picked up an issue of Vogue.
• Have restarted knitting a beanie, after my toddler unravelled my original work. Turned a bad thing into a good thing and used the opportunity to alter my design and notes.
• I have been doodling some fashion sketches.
• Discovered that Mongolian flavoured sauce doesn't really do it for me.
• Started listening to Joan Jett and The Divinyls.
• Am wondering why I cannot see the extra chocolate on the Double Coat Tim Tams biscuit.
• Thinking of ways to decorate my daughter's hair clips.
• Watching Enterprise while I knit.

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