This is New Zealand is a Garden by Joyce Blake. I was sent a copy by Deb earlier this month, who found it second-hand and thought I might like it. The book was published in 1982 (I've since discovered that the author is Sir Peter Blake's mother) and features sketches and paintings of plants around New…

I've had this Liberty lawn sitting on the shelf for ages, but never got the courage to snip into it until last night. After all, what good does it do sitting on a shelf? I made this very simple summer top using half of it. I was sent the retro stripy bias binding from a…

Everyone was complaining about the heat today, which I must admit is not a common problem here in Wellington. I started making some lemonade but came across some blueberries in the freezer, which suddenly seemed like a match made in heaven to me. Blueberries, lemons, ice, picnic blanket under the lemon tree… you get the…

Grey and rainy here, but these pinks are cheering, don't you think? The geranium plant was painted from one that lives in a terracotta pot on a balcony. And some silky fabric with bright pink arrows. I'm thinking a summer dress or top, what do you think? Anticipating this gig downtown tonight… Dirty Projectors, all…

We went out of town for a day with my brother and sister-in-law, the sun shone brightly and there was ice-cream, bread and wine to try. Also a lake to stand on the edge of, cider to drink, tiny craft and second-hand shops to peer into. When I got home, I did some painting (the…

I sewed a new strap onto my camera- something that I'd been meaning to do for a while. The original strap was plasticy and scratchy, you know the type. I came across some wide bird-printed twill tape in a drawer, sent by a kind reader. I'm quite pleased that I can carry these birds around…

A golden evening, even though the rain won't stop falling. I quite like summer rain, though. It gives me an excuse to light candles (little paua shells are just right for tea lights, don't you think?) and dig out another painting from the summer holiday. This was kind of a shrubby daisy plant with pale…

The first picture above was taken in the garden of Tom's family home. That lavender row, in full sunlight, was quite something to behold. It was swarming with bees and smelled divine. While we stayed there, Clare let me use a wooden watercolour paint box that had belonged to her parents who were both artists.…

I was pretty thrilled to find this little corner about my shop in the latest issue of Frankie. It's my favourite magazine, with its blend of craft and design, art and words. Hooray and thank you! How has the beginning of January been going for you? I've started on a work placement at a newspaper…

Seals and whales, fruit cake and horses, rockpools and sand dunes, hydrangeas and shorts, limes and lemons, tents and birds' nests. Summer holidays drawing to a close around these parts. Hope you are well, I'll be back a little more regularly from tomorrow. x