{image credit: “First Light” by Cruadinx}

Ever since I started getting up at around 5am-ish, I have learnt to appreciate first light – that slight hint of light that permeates the morning darkness in patches and then ever so slowly and evenly spreads across the sky, letting you know that sunrise is only a few minutes away.

Now that we have reached the last day of winter in the Southern hemisphere, I have noticed how first light appears much earlier than a few months ago. I appreciate this most when I am on my early morning runs. I will admit that I always feel a little bit of tension when I run in the dark. I love the fact that I have the streets to myself and I can run down the centre of the street without any fear of being run over, but there is still something slightly unnerving about it being so dark. So when first light appears, it is usually towards the end of my run and it is such a welcome, wonderful, and comforting sight. And so very soothing.

On days I am up early and at home, I do love watching first light appear through our dining room window as I sip some tea and enjoy a very quiet and still house. It’s very soothing and helps to put my mind in the right place to start the day.

I wish I could take my camera with me out on my runs but it’s too clunky but I’ve found a lovely pic from Cruadinx from Flickr and look! It even has a deer in it! Highly unlikely I would ever find a deer on my runs though . . .

Thank you Aussie Waffler for this great theme! More soothing to enjoy over at Cindy’s :-)

I can’t believe it’s September tomorrow. I feel like I am SOOOO behind on my To-Do list and I hate that feeling!

So September will be my “Just Do It and Get It Done” month. I will have to give up some TV, some book-reading, some internet time-wasting but by George, at least I will actually finish stuff (I hope!). I have softie samples to make for Pattern Press that they will be taking to the Houston Quilt Market in October so these absolutely need to be done this month. And then I need to start sewing like crazy for my next solo exhibition in November (details soon!). So September may be filled with progress shots and very little words on this blog but at least it will keep me motivated to just keep moving and doing.

I do have a really cool giveaway to do this week so I’ll be back soon with details!

P.S. Winner of the free accommodation in Gippsland competition will be announced this week too.

She has arrived!!!!

Seriously, how CUTE is she?! And how adorable is the label on the envelope?

I’m so happy to have snapped up one of Claire’s delightful Kokeshis. This little one is now sitting on my sewing desk so she can keep me company and she’ll soon make her way up to my special little shelf to join the rest of my collection :-)

More creative spaces to see here.

I finished the book the other night and it feels really strange not to be reaching out to read it at every spare moment :-) Wow. What a fantastic story. So many emotions. It didn’t end as I thought it would and I’m still trying to figure out how I actually feel about the ending itself. But I won’t say anymore unless some of you are still reading the book :-) I did go over to You Tube after the I finished the book to have a look at the trailer to the movie – definitely one to watch!

ONE DAY left until the chance to win free accommodation in Gipplsand ends!! Now open to ALL AUSSIE RESIDENTS! Please go over HERE for all the details.

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◘ Don’t forget to enter the Destination Gippsland/Nuffnang/One Red Robin competition for your chance to win free accommodation in Gippsland! Entries close 28th August. Click here for details on how to enter.

◘ AND the offer for 50% off Black Dog titles “Making Stuff: An Alternative Craft Book” and “Making Stuff for Kids” is still open to One Red Robin readers. End 31st August. Click here for details on the offer.

Made a simple, huggable, owl pillow for my newest nephew:

Owl pillows/cushions seem to be a favourite theme of mine starting way back here - one of my first softies – and then a flock of owlies, and more recently one for Handmade Magazine. Owls are so versatile – you can make them up in many different ways and maintain their essential owlie features.

I picked up the sweet Japanese fabric on his body from Tessuti. I had been hunting for wool flannel for a few weeks and finally had the chance to take the short walk down from my work place to Tessuti here in Melbourne last week. What a beautiful shop! And the staff were very helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. I found the wool flannel I had been searching for and a few cute fabrics as well. I’ll definitely be visiting again.

Did you know there are only TWO DAYS left until the chance to win free accommodation in Gipplsand ends?! The good news is that it is now open to ALL AUSSIE RESIDENTS – not just Victorians!

There are only a handful of entries at the moment so if you’d like to enter, please go over HERE for all the details.

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◘ Don’t forget to enter the Destination Gippsland/Nuffnang/One Red Robin competition for your chance to win free accommodation in Gippsland! Entries close 28th August. Click here for details on how to enter.

◘ AND the offer for 50% off Black Dog titles “Making Stuff: An Alternative Craft Book” and “Making Stuff for Kids” is still open to One Red Robin readers. End 31st August. Click here for details on the offer.

I have so many things bookmarked – thought I’d share more with you!

:: Stunning paper-cut by Elsa Mora called El Bosque de la Mente for her upcoming show (click the link to view the amazing detail):

:: Yasmine has recently launched Parasol Craft. Find a sneak peek of the contents by clicking on the link – so lovely! The focus is on crafters, artists, photographers and tutorials. You can download the magazine for US$2.50.

:: Wish I had the good thrifting fortune that Doe-C-Doe has had – check out all of the gorgeous photos that she took of her thrift finds:

:: Pip shares an excellent list of pouches, wallets and cardholders that you can make yourself (hint: Christmas is only a few months away!):

:: BEAUTIFUL handmade dolls by Bamboletta:

:: I adore these dresses made by JC Handmade, who has triumphantly succeeded in working with gorgeous prints and elastic thread (I hope she publishes a pattern!):

:: This sweet couple by Matilde Beldroega simply ROCK!

:: Would love to sew up this skirt that Jade made – delicious chocolate linen too!

:: Also adore the swedish-inspired patterns on homewares by Isak (found via Paisely St Claire):

:: And finally, this photo by Ye Rin Mok makes my heart flitter-flutter just a little bit :-) So other-wordly, ethereal and romantic  (found via My Love For You Is Like a Stampede of Horses):

I’ve been sewing, and despite the lovely sun we enjoyed over the weekend, I never seem to have the time to take decent photos. I’ve also been caught up in this book and oh my goodness, I’m down to the last 100 pages and I feel like a train barrelling down uncontrollably to a horrible and unexpected end. Too dramatic? Really, I am stuck between that feeling of wanting to consume the rest of the book in one sitting because I really WANT to know how it ends, and at the same time not wanting to turn another page because I just know it will end badly and I really DON’T WANT to know how it ends. Yes, this book has sucked me in big time!

By the way, don’t forget that the Gippsland competition ends this Friday! Up for grabs is free accomodation at a beautiful and picturesque cottage in Neerim. Details are here.

*All photos above are the property of the people/blogs to which they are attributed.

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◘ Don’t forget to enter the Destination Gippsland/Nuffnang/One Red Robin competition for your chance to win free accommodation in Gippsland! Entries close 28th August. Click here for details on how to enter.

◘ AND the offer for 50% off Black Dog titles “Making Stuff: An Alternative Craft Book” and “Making Stuff for Kids” is still open to One Red Robin readers. End 31st August. Click here for details on the offer.

I wanted to share a few lovely things I’ve come across lately . . . perhaps something to look through on the weekend :-)

:: Smitten with Renata Liwska’s blog – Pandas and Such:

:: Jenny Hart shares a step-by-step tutorial on floss blending via Chronicle Books blog:

:: Also enjoyed this post by Chronicle Books about the Summer National Senior Games in the USA:

:: Living vicariously through Delicious Coma on her ice-cream scooter crawl (YUMMMO!):

:: Colourful (and funny!) little bookplates, free for you to download by Happy Doodle Land:

:: Fiona has released the pattern for her beautiful Poppy Doll!

:: I would really, really, really, REALLY, love to make dresses like these for my girls for Summer. I love the palette of colours Larissa has chosen!

AND some online shops to help you make your wallet a little lighter :-)

:: Love the rings with vintage findings and yo-yo necklaces by Cookoorikoo:

:: And more sweet jewellry with a certain elegant and understated old-world charm by Two Cheeky Monkeys:

:: Gorgeous, textured flower brooches by Curlypops:

:: Super cute thrifted, vintage finds by Ismoyo:

:: An online store of Japanese goodies (with really good prices too!) called Uguisu Shoten (found via Dawn, whose illustrations and gorgeous photography will brighten any day):

:: And Claire has just released a batch of handpainted Kokeshi dolls (eeek!) and Marshmallow Bunnies (double eeeek!):

*All photos above are the property of the people/blogs to which they are attributed.

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◘ Don’t forget to enter the Destination Gippsland/Nuffnang/One Red Robin competition for your chance to win free accommodation in Gippsland! Entries close 28th August. Click here for details on how to enter.

◘ AND the offer for 50% off Black Dog titles “Making Stuff: An Alternative Craft Book” and “Making Stuff for Kids” is still open to One Red Robin readers. End 31st August. Click here for details on the offer.

. . . late night piecing together of some Baby Chibi Doll samples.

My Creative Space is hosted by the uber-resourceful and crafty, Kootoyoo. Check out what is in her creative space today – I totally love it!

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◘ Don’t forget to enter the Destination Gippsland/Nuffnang/One Red Robin competition for your chance to win free accommodation in Gippsland! Entries close 28th August. Click here for details on how to enter.

◘ AND the offer for 50% off Black Dog titles “Making Stuff: An Alternative Craft Book” and “Making Stuff for Kids” is still open to One Red Robin readers. End 31st August. Click here for details on the offer.

{image: “Let’s Wonder” by Microabi}

[Thanks to Pip for starting this little meme off.]

Making . . . a schedule for the next few weeks, because I have been so, so disorganised (or lazy) lately!
Cooking . . . sweet and spicy Filipino pork sausages called “Longanisa“.
Drinking . . . a caramel-flavoured coffee. Sweet.
Reading . . . “The Time Traveller’s Wife” (mid-way through) and “I Run, Therefore I Am Nuts” by Bob Schwartz for little breaks of comic relief :-)
Wanting . . . Anthropologie to get their act together and open a store in Melbourne!
Looking . . . for dresses for me and the girls for my cousin’s wedding next month.
Playing . . . my iPod on shuffle.
Wasting . . . bits of time on Facebook :-)
Sewing . . . baby chibi doll samples for an upcoming trade show overseas (sadly, I can’t go!)
Wishing . . . I had the luxury of putting everything aside and whipping up this quilt by Wise Craft.
Enjoying . . . running!
Waiting . . . for the weekend to roll around.
Liking . . . this sunny Melbourne morning.
Wondering . . . when will I ever get the chance to go to another Brown Owls meet up again?! I miss it.
Loving . . . the funny/serious/crazy/ridiculous/sad/exciting conversations I have been having with my girls (ages 3 and 5).
Hoping . . . more people enter this competition – it’s a really good prize!
Marvelling . . . at how God works things out for the best.
Needing . . . what I always seem to be needing – more hours in the day to get stuff done!
Smelling . . . somebody else’s breakfast (hmm, is that bacon?)
Wearing . . . a watch that keeps giving up on me.
Following . . . my training plan – I’m in week 4 and haven’t yet missed a run or sustained an injury (yay!)
Noticing . . . that there is more light in the sky during my early morning runs.
Knowing . . . that “it’s never too late to be what you might have been” (by George Eliot) is very comforting.
Thinking . . . about what I should have for lunch today – it’s currently 10am.
Bookmarking . . . lots of stuff to be added to the “I Would Really Like to Make This Before I Die” list thanks to Whip Up.
Opening . . . emails.
Giggling . . . at the girls’ rendition of our national anthem, which the girls start off singing “Australians all let us rejoice; for we are yum and free . . .” :-)
Feeling . . . a little sore and achy, but happy, relieved and hopeful.

Want to join in too? You can cut and paste the list in to your own blog from Pip’s here.

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◘ Don’t forget to enter the Destination Gippsland/Nuffnang/One Red Robin competition for your chance to win free accommodation in Gippsland! Entries close 28th August. Click here for details on how to enter.

◘ AND the offer for 50% off Black Dog titles “Making Stuff: An Alternative Craft Book” and “Making Stuff for Kids” is still open to One Red Robin readers. End 31st August. Click here for details on the offer.

Thank you to Elliboo for the fun Eye Spy theme this week!

A few red things in our home this past week – miniature accordions for the girls!

My youngest mentioned last week that she wanted an accordion and lo and behold, a few days later my in-laws gift them both with these. I think they are actually pretty cool :-) The girls love them and get a real kick out of playing them and making up songs. The sound is not as annoying as I though it would be :-) It’s a nice change.

Also, hubby surprised me with some beautiful flowers, red and pink.

And this is not red but I had to share this with you:

I’ve been enjoying a few of these over the last week. The ones above are strawberry, dark chocolate, and passion fruit macaroons. I’ve also had the blueberry, the rose, and the milk chocolate ones. I keep missing out on the hazelnut one though. I have to say that I like the passion fruit one the best! So if you’re in Melbourne, you might want to pop into the Lindt Cafe on Collins Street in the city for these little goodies :-)

Hope you have a fun week ahead. I’m looking forward to getting behind the sewing machine tomorrow – it’s been too long!

More Eye Spy players over here.

P.S. Totally loving this book!

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◘ Don’t forget to enter the Destination Gippsland/Nuffnang/One Red Robin competition for your chance to win free accommodation in Gippsland! Entries close 28th August. Click here for details on how to enter.

◘ AND the offer for 50% off Black Dog titles “Making Stuff: An Alternative Craft Book” and “Making Stuff for Kids” is still open to One Red Robin readers. End 31st August. Click here for details on the offer.

So I know I’ve mentioned Nuffnang a lot lately :-) And you might be wondering what it actually is.

Well, basically Nuffnang helps Aussie bloggers to earn some pocket money through their blog by finding businesses/brands who would like to advertise on their blog. You tell Nuffnang about your blog (what it’s about, etc) and they do their best to pair your blog up with a like-minded/related business. If that business agrees, your blog can start earning you some pocket money.

I know some readers may be anti-ads on blogs and if you are, I completely respect that. For those of you who would be interested in exploring the possibility of your blog providing you with a little income, please read on.

Joining up is free and you aren’t locked into some crazy contract or anything like that (in fact, if you don’t think it is working for you, you can leave at any time). You will need to install a little bit of code on your blog (they explain how to do this) so that they can track traffic and get an understanding of your readership. Using this info and other info you provide in a quick questionnaire, they can then start finding a suitable advertiser.

Currently, the Nuffnang community has about 800 bloggers. They are keen to grow this to 1000 bloggers and have kicked off the Challenge 1000 project today, hoping to reach the target of 1000 bloggers by mid September.

In fact, they are so keen that every new blogger that signs up during the challenge will receive a sweet little Nuffnang Welcome pack – something like this box of goodies, which I received from Nuffnang a few days ago:

Thank you to Coles Group & Myer Gift Cards, Redken, John West, Leggo’s, and Spring Valley!

(Who doesn’t love freebies?!)

So, are you keen to sign-up? Sure you are! :-)

Just click on over here to get started (and if you could note down in your registration that my website (http://www.oneredrobin.com) referred you, that would be much, much appreciated too! :-)).

Hoping to post up some crafty stuff in the next few days!

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◘ Don’t forget to enter the Destination Gippsland/Nuffnang/One Red Robin competition for your chance to win free accommodation in Gippsland! Entries close 28th August. Click here for details on how to enter.

◘ AND the offer for 50% off Black Dog titles “Making Stuff: An Alternative Craft Book” and “Making Stuff for Kids” is still open to One Red Robin readers. End 31st August. Click here for details on the offer.

Where has time gone?! I just realised that we are near half-way through August!

I have been making and sewing but I can’t post up photos just yet as they are meant for the book I mentioned a few posts ago. And – as usual – I am hurriedly finishing them up as I need to ship them off this week. Next week I start on a few more batches of samples of my softie patterns. I have been meaning to update my shop for what feels like forever but the way things are going lately, it will have to wait a few months more :-(

Did you hear that Pip has started an online book club? I’ve joined up. I really (REALLY) need to get into some good fiction again – my head has been stuck in a whole heap of magazines and non-fiction books (e.g. running books) these past few months and I desperately need to be transported to another place and time for a few hours a day :-)

The first book is “The Time Traveller’s Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger. I just bought my copy today and read the first chapter over lunch. It was very hard to put down . . . but it wouldn’t be a good look reading a novel at my desk at work for the remainder of the afternoon!

Want to join the Book Club too?? Clickety-click over here.

In book-related news, the kind folks over at Black Dog Publishing have a special offer for readers of this blog on two of their titles:

“Making Stuff: Alternative Craft Book“

“Making Stuff for Kids“

These would be fantastic additions to your craft library or as gifts for crafty friends/family, as they take a more refashion/upcycle view on craft and provide an eclectic mix of projects – and their list of contributors is super impressive!

Black Dog are generously offering these titles to you for 50% off the retail price! They are keeping this offer open until the 31st of August.

If you are interested, please leave a comment (make sure you leave your email address in the section where it asks for your email – not in the actual comment itself) and I will email you back with details on what to do in order to take advantage of this offer.

Thanks again to Black Dog Publishing for providing this wonderful discount to One Red Robin readers!

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◘ Don’t forget to enter the Destination Gippsland/Nuffnang/One Red Robin competition for your chance to win free accommodation in Gippsland! Entries close 28th August. Click here for details on how to enter.