Monday, January 30, 2012

Monthly Veggie Cook Up


A few friends of mine have decided to get together once a month for a veggie cook up!  Here's how it works.

Every month, from Jan 2012 we are going to meet at a different friends house. The host is able to decide the theme if they wish. For example, next month the cook up will be at our place and the theme is appetisers.

The recipe must be an original creation...adaptions are also okay.

The dish is for a single adult serve only since there are many dishes to try on the night. (we were all full!).

The recipe must be forwarded to the 'book designer' with a background about the dish who will make it look pretty for printing purposes.

The night is then blogged about. (I haven't made the blog for this yet.)

Finally, at the end of the year we will get together and bind all the pages into a book so each member will have their own take home copy!




YUM!!!!




Maybe you should make a monthly cook up club too?

Crafty!



I've had a pair of pillows for over six months now that have been waiting to have covers made for them. So over the weekend I went through my 'small' fabric stash from Japan and chose some fabric for them. Now, these pillows are not for my home, they are to sell in upcoming craft markets that I'll be doing.

This year, I'm going to have a bash at making a living from what I love doing best. Making things to sell and selling vintage clothes and vintage furniture.

I've been selling vintage clothes for a while now at markets and selling Japanese objects at Smith Street Bazaar, so now it's time to focus on it a bit more.

The main reason is because my job as an ESL teacher is insecure. The whole industry is highly casualised and it's not going to change. I love my job as a ESL teacher and am not interested in teaching in primary and high schools, but I'd like some decent income for a change.

Last year, I did some volunteer work in another industry but didn't find it satisfying. So I'm turning to what I love doing in the hope it will blossom into something. I'll still be teaching when I can as I will never give that up, but I'll be trying to turn my hobbies and interests into a small business.

So here is where you come in! I need your constructive criticism. Tell me what you like, what you'd buy or what you'd like to see. With your help, my business will be sure to work.

If you'd like to see my new blog for the business, please go to www.bleeckerstreet-vintage.com. So far there are only two posts and the writing style is a little different too, but tell me what you think.


Monday, January 23, 2012

Vintage Spools

Just in at my space at Smith Street Bazaar are beautiful vintage spools.

Use them for a hat stand or to place a tiny kokeshi on top.

Also available is a super fine gladstone bag and vintage briefcase.

Street Art: Smith Street

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Fryerstown Antique Fair


Shabby Vintage Junk

If you are free on the weekend and want to do a country drive, then head up to Fryerstown (just before Castlemaine and Chewton) to the Fryerstown Annual Antique Festival.

I was lucky to be there on traders day, so I missed the big crowds.  Even so, I  missed purchasing a vintage maniquiene with a wooden stand!  I have fallen in love with these maniqiens. So far, I have two at home, but would like another.

Two of my favourite traders were Vintage etc (website coming soon), who source vintage and industrial furniture and homewares and Shabby Vintage Junk, who collect cool and cute knick knacks for the home, plus dam fine furnishings to give your pad that shabby look.


The only thing I ended up taking home were a few snaps from my camera!

Vintage etc









Monday, January 16, 2012

Sketches on Illustrator


I love using the bush tool when drawing on illustrator. I find it better than the pencil tool as I don't need to deselect when I want to move to a different position on the board. As a result, my sketches remain organic; just like when sketching on paper. Which is your favourite drawing tool on illustrator?

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Ceres: Photography Club





Ceres: Photography Club, a set on Flickr.

In 2012, once a month, my friends and myself have committed to meet up for a photography club.

The purpose is to learn from critiques, have fun with photography and most of all to take more photos.

Today was our first official photography club meeting at Ceres, in Brunswick.

Please feel free to make constructive feedback on any of my photos.