greenolive

731 days

two years and one day old

Yesterday my blog had it's second birthday. (Am I bad for not posting on it's actual birthday? I hope not!)

Two years. Wow, that went fast. While I may not be posting as frequently as I did when I was a wide-eyed beginner, I am still posting. That's a good thing isn't it? It shows I am dedicated, reliable and very conscientious.

Birthdays are significant. They offer an opportunity to stop, reflect and mark the passage of time. To remember what's happened, how you've grown, and all the wonderful things that came into your life.

When I think back to when I started to blog, I was unsure of myself. I didn't know where I was going, or what I wanted to do. 

I had been retrenched from a high-paying web/IT job in the university sector. A job where I had worked my way up the corporate ladder, but one where I had totally disconnected with my creativity. One month I was a professional graphic designer, the next I had moved interstate with my husband and become a full-time manager at a Melbourne University. It's taken me some time to realise that wasn't the best decision to make.

Finally, after challenges, health issues, and the universe sending me a many signals as it possibly could, I have opened my eyes and am sitting up and taking notice. I think blogging was an integral part of that process. Reflecting, writing and connecting with you via these posts has allowed me to make conscious the stuff that had previously been unconscious. And to believe in myself and my creativity, and even dare to dream that I could making a living doing what I enjoy. So thank you!

To celebrate the birthday, and to thank you for being part of the last 12 months, three lucky people will win a fabric bits-and-pieces pack. (That's a fancy name for remnants!)

Just leave a comment or send an email and you'll go into the draw. You've got a week, but don't delay!!

PS: if you aren't one of the lucky three, don't despair – I'll have bits-and-pieces packs up in the etsy shop in a jiffy!

tribal homewares

update your decor

The sewing mojo is back. 

When I'm in bed or lolling around on the couch I'm knitting, but when I'm not in bed or lolling I'm sewing. Currently that amounts to equal parts of sewing and knitting.

When we were designing and printing our Tribal range of fabrics, I had an idea in my mind of how they might look when made up into something. And now I've made up these coasters with the Zanzibar designin black and white on sand linen-cotton, they look even better than I imagined. 

I'm finding that the fabrics look so different sewn up than they do as pieces of fabric. It could just be that I spent so much time looking at them while they were printed, heat set, trimmed, folded, and packed that I'm just over them.

The inspiration for the coasters was found via Tiel's post about her coaster design and an etsy how-to feature on patchwork that just happened to include a photo of the Tribal weave design.

Making them is a bit like making a collage, but with fabric. Sorting through the scraps of fabrics, playing with colours and textures, sewing them up and backing them with felt – a very pleasant way to while away the hours.

I've also made some placemats, sticking to one fabric per placemat for the moment. I'm itching to make some patchwork ones.

So, if you like the look of these you can get some for yourself at the Flemington market this Sunday. Either made up lovingly by my, or you can by the fabric and make them yourself. Your choice.

I'll be adding them to the etsy shop soon. Along with some bits and pieces packs, perfect for making your own coasters.

PS: thanks to those who emailed and left comments on the post about my spirits. It meant a lot to me. My mum reads my blog now and she thought all your comments were lovely. So did I.

lifting one's spirits

yarn as comfort food

 

It wasn't my fault. Mr greenolive encouraged me. He insisted even. It's not often I find myself in a yarn shop  with my husband, but that's the situation I found myself in a few weeks back. 

I've been having an uphill struggle lately. Life has stepped in and taken over, as it seems I wasn't doing such a great job of it! I'm having to deal with things I've tried not to deal with, change habits that haven't served me well, redefine what my life is about, and stop and take stock. 

I've been presented with a chance to completely change my life, but its a big, scary change that requires a big leap of faith and a huge slice of trust. It requires me to let go and give up control, to let things happen and evolve, trusting that what does happen is good for me, no matter how hard and difficult things seem.

A co-worker used to have a quote pinned to her cubical, something along the lines of: when at the edge of a cliff, leap, and wings will appear. Well, I'm at the cliff. But I want to make sure those wings are there before I leap.

So the spirits are in dire straits. In great need of lifting. Hence the yarn. Much healthier than chocolate, lamington fingers, or a bag of chips. 

The vital statistics:

> Noro Kochoran

> 2 skeins = 320 metres

> 50% wool, 30% angora, 20% silk

> it was on SALE!

Its so soft and lovely, just looking at it makes me smile. Maybe that's why he insisted we buy it.

mixtape issue nine

out now!!

 

The cover artwork is by Lisa Solomon

Issue 9 of the mixtape zine is out now. If you haven't already got your copy, you'd better get one now – they only print a limited number and issue 8 sold out!

This is the second, full-colour printed issue and it looks soooooo professional. And I just love the design too. Even mr greenolive, who started his design education when he hooked up with me, was in awe of the design and layout.

Here's some favourite pages...

> p3: Meagan's article on waiting to inhale – the line she quoted from Howard Thurman about asking what makes you come alive and then going do it gave me goose bumps – it is so relevant for where I am right now

> p6: finding out more about Jodie, who is more obsessed about selvedges than I am

> p24: the very cute illustrations on the fabulously colourful pull-out calendar

> p36: the graphic artwork of papercut artist Tina Tarnoff

Oh, and why not check out p20 while you are at it!

And to make sure you never miss an issue of mixtape, why not subscribe? 

typophiles

is that a real word?

Well if it isn't it should be! It seems that lately our Urban Type fabric design has been the object of desire for several typophiles out there. And their particular focus has been the design printed in grey on white linen.

First it was featured in an etsy treasury (pic above) curated by Lucie from summersville, who was recently etsy's featured seller. Thanks Lucie for including me.

Then I got an email from Adele from modernemotive letting me know that the same design was featured in an etsy hunt on her blog a few days ago. This fabulous selection of greys from etsy sellers was inspired by an overcast day in Toronto. I just peaked at her etsy profile and discovered she is a graphic design too – that explains the good taste and great eye!!

Then, just this weekend, the same design was yet again featured in this treasury by Brenda from bstudio. Thanks Brenda.

Now I know we have grey skies down under at the moment, but don't the rest of you in the other half of the world have sunshine and blue skies?

Anyway, thanks for the love. It makes our day.

changing seasons

These have been popping up all over the place the last few weeks.

I'm sure I used to be a bear in a former life, the sort that hibernates during winter. Because for the last month or so that's all I want to do. Take a break from life, sleep, and wake up when it's warmer and the sun is shining.

Living in the Dandenongs, we experience the seasons in a way we never did in Brisbane. We get a real Autumn – even though now it's almost over. Most of the trees are bare, leaves having turned red, orange, cigar brown or yellow and fluttered down to the ground forming a thick carpet. While this might all sound very beautiful, and it is, the downside is we have lots of leaves to rake up and compost. I shouldn't really say we, cause we don't rake. Drew does.

It's now almost Winter. Officially tomorrow. And we've been having fires almost every night the past few weeks. The sort of fires that you sit in front of and knit. We've been scrounging for firewood – limbs of trees that have fallen off in the storms we have had recently. Having a wood shed half-full of wood makes one feel very self-sufficient. I even baked biscuits (cookies to you in the USA) the other day.

Yesterday we awoke to fog. The house was shrouded in a pale grey fog that made you want to stay inside, curled up on the couch. Today we have blue skies and sunshine, I might even venture out today. Maybe rake up some of those leaves...

double the celebration

mothers day & my birthday!

Entangled scarves all hung up at our market stand. People can't resist touching them.

You all know that Sunday is Mothers Day – but did you also know its my birthday? Time for double celebrations in my family.

Mum has already got her present – it arrived on Friday – and she's opened it too! She was very pleased with yet another three organic cotton knitted washcloths, and two new books to read. In her parcel were four cushions covers made from various fabrics from the Tribal range of fabrics by greenolive textiles (that's us don't ya know). Mum wants one cushion from each design so that's eight cushions in total. Her house will look like a greenolive showroom. So if you're in Brisbane, you can pop round to New Farm and check them out.

As for my birthday, well, once one reaches a certain age one doesn't get as excited about birthdays as one used to. I'll be 42. 

And Sunday is also market day, so instead of a sleep in and opening cards and gifts in bed with a cup of tea and followed by breakfast in bed, I'll be awake by five, in the car by six and setting up the market stand with mr greenolive by seven. Then by two in the afternoon we'll dismantle the stand, pack the car and drive home. Not quite my ideal birthday but I'm sure it will be fun.

I hope the weather is nice. Why not go for a drive on Mothers Day, come to the Mornington market and say hi?

grow your own

the good life

Some potato plants that had grown in the compost bins. We'll replant them in the vegie patch and dream of creamy mash and crispy roast potatoes.

We've been meaning to do it for ages, the last few years in fact, but we just haven't. Not exactly sure why, but we've finally decided its now or never. We are going to plant out the vegie patches that come with our rental property. Our spring into action is driven by a desire to eat better, save money and get back to nature. 

We've got the vegie patches – four big raised beds, each almost four metres long.

We've got plenty of sun – the beds get the northern sun all day.

We've got excellent soil, rich and dark.

We've got lots of organic matter – an unlimited supply of horse poo, courtesy of the two horses who live in a paddock just a few metres from the vegie patch; and two huge compost bins full of decomposed grass clippings and chestnut leaves.

We just need to weed the beds, prepare the soil with horse poo, decided what to plant when, and get the seeds and seedlings.

I want to plant rhurbarb, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes and pumpkins. Oh, and leeks too. Mr greenolive wants to plant beans and peas.

If we get cracking soon we'll have lots of lovely fresh vegies by Spring. 

wanted: one business manager

The Zanzibar design from the Tribal Range by greenolive textiles.

I've realised over the past month or so, that what I really need, sorry, we really need, is a business manager.

Someone who will spread the word about our new venture. Someone who will promote, plug and drum up business for the new textiles. Someone who is connected. Someone who has the time and personality to get out there (virtually) and get the textiles under the noses of magazine editors and super stylists. Someone who is on our side. Someone who will make things happen.

I know what to do. I have lists of places to email and send things to. I even have a half-drafted press release and product info sheets. But. I haven't done it. Yet.

It is a question of time. I work-full time and its a bit hard emailing and calling people during office hours. 

And it is a question of confidence. How do you sell yourself without sounding like a wanker? That mix of humilty and ego that is so difficult to pull off. And it really is about confidence. What happens if they don't reply? Or feature us? Does that mean our stuff is crap? Or that perhaps they are just busy dealing with 1001 other emails just like ours. Don't they know we just need one break?  One mention, link or photo in an influential blog or hip magazine for us to be "discovered"?

I'm thinking the answer might be a business manager. But one who doesn't need to be paid. Unless its in silk scarves and hand printed fabric!

Or maybe the answer is for me to get over it, get off my butt and start sending emails out into the ether. One day I might get lucky. 

red hill market

pop in and say hello on Saturday

Sample cushions made from fabrics from the new textile ranges.

Not a very imaginative title I agree, but how does one dress up a "please come to the market" post? 

We'll be at Red Hill this Saturday, hoping for a big market. Maybe lots of kids and Dads looking for a Mothers Day present? I think a silk scarf would be perfect. Or for the crafty Mum, how 'bout some original handprinted fabric?

And then on Sunday we'll be at the Mt Dandenong Chestnut Festival. As its just down the road we thought we'd attend. Why not come for a drive in the Hills, breathe that fresh country air, see the colours of Autumn, buy something from a local crafter, and have lunch in one of the charming local pubs in front of a roaring fire?

Its been a weird week. I haven't been at work which means I've had the time to "experience" life – something that's hard to do stuck in an office for 8 hours each day. On Wednesday we went to Mt Donna Buang and were surprised to see a fairly thick blanket of snow on the ground, a lyrebird scratching around for grubs in the leaf litter, and a wombat in the middle of a grass clearing by the side of the road.

And then on Thursday we were shopping at our local Safeway when they conducted an emergency fire drill. Everyone had to leave their shopping behind and evacuate the building. Luckily it was a nice sunny day outside.

I wonder what other things I miss out on when I'm at work?