The new and improved Studio/Study!

Happy February everyone! 

I know the communications from SEW Useful Designs has been quiet of late… and I wouldn’t be at all  surprised if you had imagined tumble-weed rolling across my studio floor (or bunches of tangled threads!)  But in fact - I have been a busy little beaver - and the SEW Useful Studio has been a hive of activity!

Just before Christmas, Mr SUDs and I took the plunge and re-decorated our shared office/studio space.  I’ve never been brave enough to show photos of the “teenage boys’ den” area (aka the office) before because it honestly wasn’t a pretty sight.  A mish-mash of op-shop desks, shelves that didn’t quite fit on the wall properly and were held up with wood off-cuts… cables, sticky notes, pieces of computer hardware discarded by others and finding their sanctuary under Mr SUDs’ desk (to befriend the dust bunnies)!   You get the picture?  Yep!  Not pretty!

I had a wee make-over just more than a year ago and it has worked well for me in every aspect except for one – storage.  And I really was over the yellow walls!  Our entire house was painted yellow (both the walls and interior doors) when we moved in eight years ago, and we are still in the process of painting it neutral, room by room.  So the new Studio/Study was born!  After lots of measuring, planning, and visits to IKEA, we are delighted with the results.  Let me give you a tour!

Here is my studio space, currently neat and tidy (but don’t let that fool you!!!)  The Expedit bookshelf system from IKEA fitted perfectly in to my storage nook and holds so much more ‘stuff’ than the reclaimed pine sideboard I used to have there.  It’s so much easier to keep organised now that everything has its own place. I even have a box labelled “new fabric” so that I know where to head when I want to fondle my recently acquired goodies.  (I’m sure there is a word for this kind of behaviour… but its maybe a bit rude for the blogosphere?!!!)

Being able to see the floor space makes me feel calm and serene. I guess if you could sum up my style it would be ‘organised clutter’. I like to be able to view lots of things, but they have to look like they should belong where they are.

The lighting over my desk is wonderfully warm and bright.

The door opens out in to our garage, so this room is a through-route which is another good incentive to keep my fabrics from spilling on to the floor!

The ‘printing station’ (I just made that up – doesn’t it sound posh?!) sits in front of the window, and holds our family files and magazines.  And of course - no room would be complete without an indoor plant!

Mr SUDs added legs to this Expedit unit so that the heating vent wouldn’t be obstructed, and as they keep telling me on Better Homes & Gardens, having raised furniture gives the illusion of more floor space.  I think I agree with them!

The office area accommodates Mr SUDs and young Miss Rosie.  But in case you’re wonderin’… yes I did tidy the desks profusely for this photo shoot!!

I have allowed one shelf of my desk to be just for displaying sweet things… so that I can change it periodically to keep my mojo happy.

But this is my favourite place to be…

… sat at my desk, in front of my sewing machine (smile).   There’s been a lot of action here this past few weeks!  I’ve just completed a quilt top, and have been designing for some magazine commissions, and my mojo has returned with all tails blazing!  I have planned to blog twice a week because I really have missed you guys – so  I  look forward to chatting with you again on Friday with some more show and tell!  In the meantime I’d love to find out what you would consider to be your dream studio?!  What is it like?!!!

Till then!  Vikki x

(ps.  If you are interested in seeing my last studio makeover, check out this post xx)

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Holiday part 2… and meeting friends!

Life has been a whirlwind of unwell children and tissues these past two weeks!!  But at last I’ve found a niche of time to sit down with an afternoon brew so that I can share some more of my holiday memories with you, my lovely blogging buddies!  Okay… I promise not to sneeze, I could still be contagious!

Well, some very special memories were made during a day trip to Brisbane.  It had been a long time coming… but at last I got to meet up with two of my most favourite people! 

From left to right, Let me introduce you to the gob-smackingly-gawjus Joy of Joypatch, and the equally-as-splendiferously gawjus Cheryl of Willowberry Designs!  We met virtually, in 2009, when we were designing and collaborating together as part of a larger group of lovely women known as Among the Gum Trees.  Do you remember those days?!!  We formed special bonds during that time and our friendships have continued to blossom.

 I was absolutely elated to meet these girls and to give them a real hug – like in REAL life!  Our meeting was exactly how I’d imagined it would be… we teased each other like only close friends dare to do, we lunched together, we stroked fabric together, we shared anecdotes of family life, and we laughed together.  We certainly did plenty of the latter!  Thank you darling girls for both taking the time out of your week, and for travelling to meet me.  I was even blessed to meet one of Cheryl’s daughter’s who is a real sweetheart with a cheeky little glint in her eye just like her lovely mum!  And next time Joy has promised to bring her Grandbaby so I can have some cuddles… haven’t you Joy?  {hint hint}!

Later that night we went to support our soccer team, Melbourne Victory, at Suncorp Stadium.

It was great to go to a different stadium… and although our boys didn’t play at their best that night, it was still a great experience.

After seven glorious days we left the Gold Coast behind us and headed south. 

Goodbye Queensland…

And hello country roads!

 I love this pic, Aaron gets the thumbs up from Mr SUDs while waiting to cross the road after I stopped to get coffee!

Catching up with close friends is absolutely wonderful… and especially so when you don’t get to do it as often as you’d like.  Our friends moved interstate a year ago, and now reside in a sweet country town in NSW known as Bellingen.  We were fortunate enough to go to the infamous Bellingen market when we visited.  After being advised by Caz that: “we never get really hot days” (famous last words, Caz!!), Mother Nature put the thermostat up to 43 degrees for us!!!  Phew!  Rosie still got a pony ride… but instead of a trip around the paddock, it was just up and down a short track so that the wee pony could soon rest up in the shade!

Fruit is plentiful in this part of the world… and the market was abundant with local produce!  On such a hot day, the freshly squeezed lemonade was lapped up!

Even this big fella was enjoying the live music and chilling out in the shade of a tree…  we didn’t make conversation though… he was a bit tied up!

Dad and babe have a cuddle (after Dad catches babe running across the Oval!)… do you remember this sweet little dot?! (See this post)  She has grown so very much, and she is so very cute!

Peekaboo, gorgeous girl!!

There were too many precious memories to recall here (it would be a very long post!), but two of favourites are captured beautifully in these next photos.  Caroline’s (Caz) parents live on a farm way up in the hills.  I’ve met her beautiful mum in the past and was absolutely delighted to meet her dad as well and to visit their farm.  Gosh, I just can’t tell you how beautiful it is!  The scenery was spectacular… and their property reminded me of a film set, it was just so picture perfect… and so utterly quaint!  I was away with the fairies for a while as I took it all in… I mean, Imagine growing up and living here?

Wowsers!!!  Isn’t it just the cutest place ever? 

Caroline’s parents are so warm and welcoming, and we shared a lovely afternoon together.  I loved listening to stories about Caz growing up here!  I had to giggle because Caz and I share many of the same traits, and being sleepy heads in the morning is top of the list!  Her mum was telling me that the school bus driver would always park up at the top of the drive and wait… because her daughter was notoriously late!  I remembered back to when I was a teenager, on the other side of the globe, still frantically brushing my teeth, putting on the blue eye-liner and spraying my fringe until it resembled the texture of candy floss (it was the Eighties!!!)… while my ever-punctual best friend would be waiting in the hall for me so that we could ride to school together.  We always made it to school on time, but bless her heart, I sure cut it fine for her!

Here is the lovely family I speak of!   We put the camera on timer and stood in the front yard while the hills just kept on rolling behind us!

Another of my favourite memories was of our last night spent with together.  We took a late drive down to Sawtell beach.  It had been a hot day so we didn’t get to the surf until tea time.  Completely unprepared, our mad mate Ash stripped down to his shorts and went running in to the sea!  It didn’t take long before Aaron joined him and they caught the waves for a good hour!  Never mind that we didn’t have any towels – who needs to dry off anyway?!!!!!  He he… they had a Ball!  

It was about 7pm when these photos was taken!  It had been such a hazy day and the beach was spectacular…

Me and Caz, the sleepy-head twins!

A rare photo of hubby and I…

Our trip to Sawtell, followed by the best fish and chips meal I’ve ever eaten, was the perfect end to the best holiday!

I’ll leave you with two of my favourite photos… and next time we chat I’ll show you some of what I’ve been up to lately!

Hugs! Vikki xo

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Sharing my holiday snaps!

Hello lovely people… wow it’s been two weeks since my family and I have returned from our holiday on the Gold Coast and I don’t know where the time has gone!  We had an absolutely amazing time and I’d love to share some of my memories with you…

… care to join me???

Having lived in Australia for the best part of nine years, I’ve only ever left the state of Victoria for a drive to Canberra for the sole purpose of collecting a passport, so I was exceptionally excited to be going to stay in Surfers Paradise for the first week of our trip!  Our plane journey was the smoothest ever, and as soon as we arrived at our destination – The Morrocan – we changed straight in to our swimmers and headed down to the pool!!  It was cool and refreshing… but an hour later we were seeking out the beach.  All I can say is WOW! 

The sand was so soft and clean and it squeaks between your toes!

It was fantastic seeing my kids enjoy themselves.. with the eight year age gap they still get on so well, and it felt sacred to be sharing this special family time together.

Aaron loves nothing more than to catch the waves…

Have you ever seen sand captured in mid-air?!!!  YOINK!  This photo really tickles me!!!!!

I love this one too, capturing the energy of Aaron running down the beach!

We visited three theme parks – Movieworld, Wet n Wild and SeaWorld.  The latter was our favourite and we especially enjoyed the dolphin show.  Ambient music played while the dolphins displayed their incredible strength and agility.  I fell in love with their grace and beauty.

And isn’t this guy the cutest?  This is Claude.  The Sea lion show is a must!  It’s so funny, and to see the relationship between the handlers (and fantastic actors) and Claude is precious!!

Of course – Spongebob Squarepants was a big hit too!!!  Here he is cuddling up to young Rosie while her big brother stands guard!!

Mr SUDs and Aaron loved all the rollercoasters… but they didn’t stop to say ‘cheese’ when riding the last car on The Sea Viper… how rude!!!!

One evening we took a ride on the Ferris Wheel overlooking Surfers Paradise… that was fun.  Although, being scared of heights I didn’t care to move around too much in my seat, just in case it rocked too much!!!

Honestly, I’m such a scraredy-cat!  All four of us went on the Looney Tunes rollercoaster at Movieworld.  Aaron had to talk me in to going on it because I was so reluctant; but then Rosie jumped up and down with excitement when she realised that she was tall enough to take her first rollercoaster ride so I really couldn’t duck out… I mean, surely it can’t be that bad if a seven year old can do it?!!!  Rose was an absolute star but I can’t say the same for myself.  I lost my voice after screaming all the way around!!  We all rode on it a second time  because my family sought great entertainment in seeing my face still-framed on the ‘snapshot’ screen (you know – the pics that are taken of you, ahem,,, screaming… while you’re on the ride?)  My face wasn’t a pretty sight… a bulldog chewing a wasp… you get the picture?  Ah well, A family who laughs at their mum together, stays together!!!! 

We were so very blessed to be put in to a room that had the most amazing views of both the buildings and the beach.  A friend of my husband’s set up a travel agency business with his wife and they organised the holiday for us just a matter of weeks after dad passed away.  So we had no idea where we’d be staying.  We weren’t expecting such wonderful views and the apartment was amazing.  I felt like I was living a life of the rich and famous!!  I couldn’t sleep because at night I wanted to see all the lights and listen to the waves crashing on the shore.  Then I’d be there for sunrise as well, sipping tea outside on the balcony while watching the red rays bounce off the ocean.  Some early-birds would be surfing in the waves while others jogged down the promenade.  The beach was combed, the pools were cleaned and even the sound of the garbage trucks was sweet music to my ears.  In this kind of environment – everything is glorious!!   It’s a wonder I had any energy left for the day-time.  I just couldn’t sleep through and miss all that beauty.

Here’s the first sunrise I shared a cup of tea with…

The view from our balcony… and here’s a panoramic that Mr SUDs sewed together using images from his IPhone… imagine it convex instead of concave!

I’ll be back soon with some more photos from our holiday – whereby I met two of my most favourite blogging buddies and then stayed with precious friends living in a sweet country town in NSW!

Till then – have a wonderful weekend!

Vikki xo

If you were wondering… and would welcome the ease of having a holiday organised for you… I highly recommend Brand Travel!

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