Saturday in Leura

We were so excited to see Mr Whippy arrive

I chose this wine because i loved the label,luckily it was yummy as well

We sat down for some coffee and tea at Cafe Bon Ton

On Saturday a friend organised a trip up to the mountains and we had a lovely picnic at the cascades just behind the main strip of Leura.The sun was shining and it was still warm but you could feel the crisp fresh air,such a big difference from the city.Cannot wait to go back again in autumn.

This is...Me taking a picture of myself in the mirror with my favourite accessory.

I've had to cheat with this week's challenge.I've just returned from a trip to the mountains and it's dark so no good light to take a photo.
But my camera is my favourite non fashion accessory,I've learnt my lesson and now take it with me wherever I go,so many times in the past I was caught out without it.
The photo was taken a few months ago after a trip to the hairdresser,in the changer ooms of my local DJ store.

You can see all the participants listed at Three Buttons

Learning and practising

I mentioned in yesterday's post about deciding to learn or probably relearning embroidery.I'm sure I was taught when i was younger,or was that needlepoint?

I sat down last Sunday afternoon and started going through Sublime Stitching and learning the different stitches, some were so easy that you just had to look at the diagram,some were just too hard and I'll need to go through those again or see if I can find some other instructions which are easier to follow.

I started with all 6 threads in the one strand but that seemed too thick for most stitches so I just split it in half and 3 seems looks much better.

The first transfer in the book is made to help you practice different types of stitches so I will complete that on a piece of scrap material before I start on the tea towels.

First project-still in progress

All sewn up and just waiting to be finished

Simple Sewing by Lotta Jansdotter

A had bought Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing late last year and this year I finally have a sewing machine so it was time to start making something.I decided on the tea towels,probably the most simple project.I helped a friend make napkins last year for her wedding and I wasn't very good,lines were not very straight but it was promising to see I had improved,and thanks to the seam ripper,I could go over something again when it didn't look right.
I decided on a clean organic look and found some lovely 100% linen fabric,then I came up with an idea,I should learn embroidery,at first I thought maybe a tea cup,but have decided on a knife and fork.
Since then I have bought Sublime Stitching,it looked more like my style,much more modern,bought some supplies and have spent the last weekend learning the different types of stitches,stay tunes,more to come.

When Jack Met Karen!!

This is...What makes me laugh

With the rise of reality tv,there aren't too many great comedies on tv anymore.I absolutely love Will and Grace,but my favourite on the show are Jack and Karen,there are just too many funny moments between these two.I've recently bought the first 2 seasons on dvd and hope to add to the collection.
Above I've posted a videa from when the first 2 meet in season 1.

To find out who else is participating,check out Three Buttons.

I found some great things on my trip to Newtown last week.Most of them on the southern end past the train station and high school.When I walked into Pentimento Papeterie it looked like they just sold paper goods but it's also filled with great gifts,books,jewellry,and they also sell a large range of Mud Australia products which i love.I picked up this gorgeous black vase which i plan to use in my room when it gets colder and I change to a darker colour palette.



There are so many antique stores along the strip and I found these funky salt and pepper shakers,I'm obsessed with things in that mustard colour at the moment.

Beehouse Gallery is a space where artists and crafters can sell their goods,I found this beautiful japanese fabric,I'm thinking of displaying some fabric in emroidery hoops,just like this idea from The Purl Bee.And I just had to have the little pouch,zipper bag with Florence Broadhurst fabric

Happy Valentines Day

I don't even celebrate this or know any couples who go to great efforts but it's all just a bit of fun.And I was given a heart shaped lamington from a sweet work friend.

What is everyone else up to?I'm just going to go straight home and relax with some wine or champagne and have a little mini spa treatment with a scrub and mask.

And without noticing the upcoming holiday,I bought some new pajama pants on the weekend,I just thought they were cute,I can't wait for the colder weather when I can start wearing them.

We have a winner!

Sorry for the delay in announcing a winner in the little giveaway i organised the other week.I was planning to draw the winner when I met up with a fellow blogging friend but we couldn't get together due to this crappy weather we've had recently.
So I added everyone who didn't say they didnt want to be entered,into a bowl,scrunched up bits of paper and randomly selected from the bowl.
And the lucky recipient is Ali
Can you please contact me at skokoris {at} hotmail {.} com and I can arrange to send of your goodies.

Some light reading

I made a trip to the local library last week looking for something easy to read.I really want to learn how to knit this year so I borrowed the top book to get me in the mood for learning.

I received Camilla Morton's first book How To Walk in High Heels,a few years ago as a gift and decided to borrow the latest,I'm just skimming through it.I don't normally buy fashion magazines but Harpers Bazaar had a very large issue this month for a new season that's approaching,and I bought Vogue for the free Karl Lagerfeld dvd that came with it,the man fascinates me and I think he's a legend.
Saturday afternoon got quite cold and I had a sore throat,felt like a cold was coming on so I curled up in bed and read for the rest of the day.
Sunday i decided to go to Newtown,I hadn't been in years,there are so many great antique stores along the southern end of King Street,I preferred this area to the main section of King Street,there was even a store called All Buttons which of course just sold buttons,unfortunately they were closed,but I will definitely be back.

This is...Sunday Lunch

Sunday lunch is always a casual affair at our house,most weekends when it's warm we usually have a barbecue,today it was home made burgers .
For me I like to lighltly toast the bread,add some cheese,a squirt of tomato sauce,beef patties,tomato,caramelised onions and lettice(didn't have any today).

I'm not always home for Sunday lunch so when I'm out it's either yum cha,or something casual at a cafe.

You can see more participants of This Is at Three Buttons.

What else is there to do while waiting for the bus,take a photo.

The icing didn't quite work out.

Thanks to everyone who has left a comment on my previous post with the giveaway,I will select the winner some time this week.

This weekend was pretty quiet and quite boring,so boring that I slept for a few hours on Sunday afternoon because I wasn't in the mood for anything else.I now know that no matter what my intentions,i need to be out on the weekend in summer.

saturday morning I paid a visit to the library and discovered I had to pay some fines,it would have been nice to be told and not just sprung on me while in the queue.The book I got didn't end up being for me and I lost interest in it by Saturday evening.

Sunday I decided to bake a lemon pund cake with lemon frosting from a Bill Granger book,the icing looked great once I was done whipping and was nice and stiff but as you can see from the pic(please excuse the darkness,it was very overcast on Sunday) it collapsed 5 minutes later,I think I had put in too much butter,now know to leave it to rest for at least 5 minutes before spreading it on the cake.Such a shame since it tasted quite good.

This is...My collection

I didn't know about this meme organised by Three Buttons when it first began and last week I was interstate so I have finally joined this week.The theme this week selected by
Hyena in Petticoats is This Is My Collection.

My fascination with spoons started last year,I jut love their shape,and I have started collecting spoons made from wood or ceramic.The two wooden ones in the picture I found at The Bay Tree,a store here in Sydney and the white ceramic ones with a diamond,heart and clubs I found last week at Husk,in Melbourne.Unfortunately they sold out of the clubs so I couldn't have the whole set.

It's only a small collection right now however it will certainly grow,as well as my wish to start a collection of vintage coloured glassware and teapots and teacups and saucers.

This is a test

I've noticed recently there have been more visitors to this blog,some have a quick look,some stay for a bit longer,so this I suppose is a test for myself to see if anyone actually reads my entries.If I get no responses then fine,i know nobody reads it,we shall see.

So I have a gift to giveaway,it's the latest edition of Delicious magazine,a gorgeous teatowel that came with the magazine plus some letteropress cards and gift tags.

Please leave a comment and I will pick a name out of a box or container or whatever i can find and pick the lucky recipient.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend,I'm looking forward to the cooler weather this weekend after a week of high temps here.