February 11, 2013

Busy Week - Yes Again

Another busy week at the Notjustnat household, but what news right? A busy life means you are really living a life and I think lately I have over done it. Trying to fit everything into the weekend is getting harder and harder. Luckily we women can multitask so well. I can watch TV (listen), reading, iPading and stitching all at the same time. You would believe it when you see my chair! The most comfy spot in our house! 

Anyway, what have I been doing since my last post? Jacky and I went to Ballarat to the opening of Maria's exhibition. On our way we stopped at Mill Street antique mall. Actually we stopped there on our way back as well (mistake!). I have a weakness for all things vintage and recyclable so it was a good stop. It was my lucky day. I found a vintage tin with red roses on it. I love retro tins and my favorite are ones with red roses. There were other treasures there as well, too many treasures! 

It's the Chinese New Year weekend - the year of the black snakeHappy Chinese New Year...


I have a big selection of tins, some are retro and some are not, but all my tins are usable. I use them for my stitching projects. My first tin with single red rose I found in the UK. I use it for all applique supplies. The new tin with red roses was the one I found at the Mill Street Mall, but the problem was, it came with bundles of retro fabric, not the reproduction retro, but the original ones. The man was very sweet and let it go for almost next to nothing! With me not buying new fabric it fitted perfectly because the fabric wasn't new!


Also found at the Mill Street Mall is this cast iron pot. I have been looking for one for ages. It's deep and large enough for the bundles to sit comfortably inside. It also came with a fitting lid. I used it for the first time yesterday. I'm going to leave the bundles for a couple of weeks before I open them. Let's hope I can wait that long!


And on Saturday I went to Ziguzagu for some silk. The trouble is when I go there I end up coming home with more than just silk. I got a whole roll of cotton that is perfect for indigo dye. An antique white cotton yukata and some vintage indigo pieces. I had a fun few hours rummaging through the bins. I was very restrained and did not overspend this time. 


The indigo vat is still alive and well so I dyed a piece of linen I got from Ikea. I was experimenting with the dyeing technique. It turned out really well. I will have to use the whole piece for either a wall hanging or table runner.


Still on indigo. I dyed this bag a few weeks ago. The bag was a promotional bag with printing all over it. I covered the printings with three pieces of color catchers that I had shiboried. It was very enjoyable stitching on the soft textures of color catchers and cotton bag.


The Creative iPhoneography workshop I'm taking online is going well. I take a lot of photos anyway, but this workshop is specifically for iPhone photography. I'm learning a lot about lights, reflection and at the moment the assignment is about textures. I'm looking forward to some textures to photograph in the next few days.

Until next time
Nat




14 comments:

Tracy said...

Sooo such fun finds you found at the weekend, Nat! And LOVE that whole cloth dye...I like the gradations of color. Wonderful idea to recycle a tote bag with your beautiful indigo work. GORGEOUS photo at the end there...such light! One of the things I've been loving with the iPhone is playing with different apps to enhance photos. :o) Wishing you a happy, super-creative week ((HUGS))

Kim said...

Oh all that beautiful indigo blue...I'd love to throw some blouses in there! How lovely!
I love being busy too but every once in a while just sitting quietly and doing some handwork is so meditative.

Happy Sewing, more ice and snow for us today, we've got over a foot of the new white stuff!

Needled Mom said...

It sounds like a fun, but busy week. I have a friend who also collects old tins and there are some really gorgeous ones out there.

That cast iron pot is fabulous. How nice to also have a lid for it.

Your indigo is wonderful. I love the bag. Have fun with textures.

deanna7trees said...

those tins look like they're chock full of goodies. beautiful blues and happy to see the color catcher sheets are working so well for you. i'm going to play with some this week. have a great week of play.

ria vogelzang said...

Wow! You are so talented, Nat!!
I love those indigo-fabrics and that beautiful bag!!!
And I also have a thing about tins..... preferably the old ones... with flowers or animals on it...
;))
Enjoy your weekend! Although it's so full....
Love, Ria.

Queen Of The Armchair aka Dzintra Stitcheries said...

Wow Nat you fit soooo much into your life and what you do....Love that indigo bag...Good find too for that cast iron pot! Have a great week xoxo

Jacky said...

Great to see all your treasures from the Mill Street Market again...that old cast iron pot looks perfect for your dyeing experiments. Looking forward to the results.
Loved the retro fabrics, we got some great deals from that stall holder didnt we!!!
Loved your lates indigo piece. I must bring along a couple of dresses that have been dyed with indigo to show you next time. One I know you will love (and we already know the technique).
Great post.

Jacky xox

Nedra said...

I really like your idea of placing stitching projects in cute little tins. I am going to do that! and yes, you HAVE been very busy! So many fun things going on at your house.

judib said...

Fabulous reading, Nat. You certainly don't let the grass grow under your feet.

Jeannie said...

What a wonderful weekend and beautiful purchases! My storage of choice are tins, baskets, and small suitcases, so I loved your rose tins. Of course, I swooned over the indigo. Summer is coming, but can I wait that long? :) Have a wonderful week, Nat.

MulticoloredPieces said...

Hi, Nat. Your posts are always so packed with interesting "stuff". Beautiful rose tins--I have a small collection but they're very old and a bit rusted so they sit as a collection, not useful. Cute bag and of course the dyed fabrics are just so pleasing. Very sneaky, buying old fabric so as not to buy new fabric!
best, nadia

rivergardenstudio said...

Dear Nat, just look at your beautiful blues. I especially love the bag you dyed. Wow!
roxanne

Kate England | Marmalade Moon said...

Oh, yes, it sounds like you've been very busy lately! :) I love your indigo creations, in the image where the linen is drying it looks like a landscape! With a white sky, blue rolling hills, and bands of water... Lovely...

Thanks for this peek into your wonderfully creative life! :)

Els said...

As far as I know Nat, you don't have anything bĂșt busy weeks ha, ha !
Some goodies you got there !!!!!
Love the tote bag with the clever indogo cover-up !

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