Going to the dentist

This morning I'm going back to the dentist to get another old-style filling removed (you know, the chunky dark mercury kind) and in it's place, one of these new fangled WHITE fillings.

I've already had one done a couple of weeks ago and really need about 2-3 fixed up a.s.a.p. As I'm getting bigger and more pregnant, it's hard to lay flat on my back for an hour straight, so I'm going to see how this one goes today then decide if one more can be squeezed in this year.

It's such a horrible and expensive thing to do. We all let it slide yet teeth are so important. I don't enjoy it one bit and have always had horrible teeth that require something done to them at every visit. The dentist I go to now even makes me wear a dental dam - if you have never experienced this, it's a sort of Hannibal Lector meets prostitute style moment! (Aren't they the only ones using dams in mouths???).

I was given some sort of bad 1970's medicine as a child (I think for German Measles??) so a few of my teeth went brown and I remember a few kids having this. Fortunately, most were baby teeth but my 2 front teeth were affected and have veneers covering the yuckiness.

I just want the morning to be over...

Newcastle weekend

Uncle Steven and my nephew Eli

We had a lovely weekend up at Newcastle visiting my sister and her family. Their little miners cottage is looking great with renovations happening. Steven and I babysat on Saturday night which went pretty smoothly and I think he's going to be a terrific dad!

Steven even said that Newcastle was pretty cool after we spent some time at Darby Street... mainly cos he found a great secondhand bookstore.

We visited the lovely Suzi at Three Little Birds in Darby Street. She has some wonderful gifts there. I got an Apple & Bee environmentally friendly organic cotton make-up bag (the one at the front - above) for my hospital stay and I picked up some great Peapods nappies - I am trying a variety of styles of these newer washable eco-friendly nappies to see what works best for us, but will still use some compostable disposables too.

Ingrid (who is also pregnant!) and Kara (almost 30 weeks pregnant!)

I really felt the heat up there, being pregnant and not so used to it, since the weather is milder in the Mountains. I got some great 60's geometric fabric as well as some vintage bits for the baby's room. Steven scored a fab 60's Qantas travel bag which he wanted as 'his' baby bag - but I think it will do for both of us!

Last night I started to get really clucky and the nesting instinct really came out. I scrubbed down the great change table I scored (off the street up here!) and started sorting the baby clothes we have so far into 000's and 00's. I have a separate crate filled with hand-me-downs from friends that go up to size 2! My book says to start getting ready at week 30 - and I am starting to feel anxious that it's ALL I want to do these days...

This weekend

Tomorrow we are heading off for a weekend at my sisters place in Newcastle. Yay, I get to see my favourite little nephew, Eli! My cold is slowly easing off so I hope I'm in good form for the weekend. I am having a lovely massage to relieve my lower back pain in the morning, then getting in the car with my sidekick Nelly the wonder dog and heading off.

I will try to get in to see Suzi at Three Little Birds on Darby Street. And if I remember to take my camera, I'll get some photos of her fab shop and post them on my blog.

It's gotten really cold up here in the Mountains again - what is going on with the weather? We apparently had snow here yesterday though it looked more like hail to us where we live.

Have a great weekend!

Music for the moment

My music changes all the time. I get stuck on old favourites then find something new and out it all goes... I guess a lot of the older stuff I love is what Dad used to play when we were little.

Favourite old tunes at the moment:

Maggie May - Rod Stewart with the Small Faces here 

(he was such a spunk when he was young!)

Are you old enough? - Dragon

Avalon - Brian Ferry (he was soooo lovely!)

Going Underground - The Jam. Paul Weller is so cute and young in this clip!

Lullaby - The Cure. I was never a really big fan of The Cure when younger for some reason...

Good thing - Fine Young Cannibals. My sister and I LOVED Roland Gift!

Pretty things

I have a full-blown cold and sore throat now which started Sunday. I have cancelled everything for the week in the hope that just some bed rest will make me feel better. It's hard not to work though!

Yesterday, Freedom turned up with these lovely flowers as a congratulations! I took a photo this morning of them with my two Awards (which could make great bookends...). Then later in the afternoon Zoe & Linda turned up to fix my Apple Airport thingy and to give me a piece of delicious homemade chocolate cake that was devoured pretty quickly!

This is the 'score' I picked up on Saturday at the Vintage Fashion & Textiles Fair in Sydney. I gas-bagged so long with Simone and Karie that I had to race around last minute to grab what I liked!!! (Probably a good thing as there was lots more I could have bought). The hat box is just so lovely and the fabric interior is perfect. The two large pieces of vintage barkcloth will be bags soon...

2008 Blue Mountains Business Awards photos

Here are the photos from last Friday night at the Blue Mountains Business Awards. Some people tell me I look like I am carrying 'small' but for god sake, I felt HUGE!

Steven and I at the start of the night. I was so nervous!

Receiving the 2008 Home-Based Business Award from Duncan Armstrong, Gold Medallist!

Receiving 2008 New Business Award from Phil Koperberg, MP,
State Member for the Blue Mountains.

C - Photos by Jessica Lindsay.

Jess has been lovely enough to send them to me this weekend, though I am sure she has plenty more to do with her time. Thank you Jess!

Quick update...

I have hardly slept so feel like I'm walking around in a dream. Last night I took out 2 awards at the Blue Mountains Business Awards: New Business and Home-Based business. The New Business category was tough - 8 amazing businesses who have all been trading 36 months or less. When they read the list out I sighed and sat back thinking, "wow, tough competition. Oh well" then heard my name read out. I completely spun out and could hardly walk through all the tables (30+ of them) to receive the award. I received one award from Gold Medallist Duncan Armstrong so will have to post some photos when I receive them.

Luckily I didn't have to say a speech or anything. I could hardly wobble around - I was shaking so madly!

Anyway, today I'm racing off to the Vintage Fashion & Textiles Fair at Canterbury Racecourse. Meeting up with two lovely friends, Karie and Simone. See ya!

Blue Mountains Business Awards

Ok, getting nervous now... Tonight is the announcement of winners for the 2008 Blue Mountains Business Awards. I am fluttering around trying to work out what to wear, get Steven organised (its black tie but we don't have all that) and work out how to calm my nerves when alcohol cannot be involved any more than 1/2 glass with some mineral water!


I don't think you have to say a speech if you do win but gosh, what do you say? I mean you hardly think you are going to actually win (and I'm a finalist in 4 categories) and don't want to do an awful Gwneyth Paltrow sob job (Oscars) if I do win as I'm particularly hormonal these days. You'd be amazed at what 'moves' me!

The event is at the Fairmont Resort at Leura, which is cool as I have never been there, with everything laid on. Even dancing and gold medallists speaking and so forth. Wonder if I will take any of it in? Hee hee.

Wish me luck!

Google

I have been googled by someone - a blast from my past!

It must be 18 years ago that we went out together for a while. I would have been about 17... but my memory is hazy.

We had originally met at the Coogee Beach New Years Eve carnival when I was about 15. I remember being with all my girlfriends from my old school Randwick Girls High and I think we'd shared a hip flask of rum between 10 of us making us 'pissed'. All wearing our best skin tight straight pencil skirt style dotti dresses that had come out around then ($29.95) and feeling very grown up! After listening to 'New Years Day' by U2 played by the carny folk, a pash on the beach, I had decided he was way too old as I think he was working in his 1st year as a plumber and I was in Year 9. Somehow we got together a couple of years later, at 17, when I was 'grown up'!

Makes it sound like a very Mondo Rock moment... (make sure your sound is up - but not too high if you are at work and your boss isn't into Aussie Rock c 1984).



Don't you just love the speedos and belted high waist cozzie?

Googling... it's something we all do but not always admit. The web has opened up communication that you can find out practically anything about anyone. Have you been googled and met someone again from your past?

Facebook is a big one for that. I have a lot of 'friends' but how many do you really keep up with?

Lost at E Minor - got blogged!

You must check out this cool site - Lost at E Minor. It's beautiful! Michelle Wilding has written a really nice piece on me (thanks Michelle!):

'Pioneering Australian designer Kara Smith can definitely give Urban Originals a run for their money. She creates the most innovative handbags for those that truly want to stand out...'

Off to the dentist AND doctor this morning - yuck. I figure I better do all the nasty dentist work now before baby cakes arrives in January.

New handbags and clutches to be uploaded today. It's so damn misty here in the Mountains again that it always makes photography difficult!

Early Monday morning

I always feel a little run over after a big market and Leura was no exception! We had a really big weekend, yet it was the closest market I have done to home. 

Thank you to everyone that came and said hi and to people that bought my handmade handbags. I have now only got one scarf left so deciding if that's something I should be doing in time for the Lindesay xmas market next month or wait til winter gets closer. Totes seemed to be the popular bag sold - I can just never tell what it will be each market!

Saturday saw us pack up just in time before the storm hit - but unluckily, the gals around us got hit (and Steven, since he was helping everyone pack up). Sunday was perfect weather and made for a really enjoyable day out.

A special 'thank you' to Lauren who came to visit Saturday and pick up her 2 new clutches. She is a pastry chef and brought me homemade CHOCOLATE BROWNIES! Oh my god, they were divine! Lauren, I ate two then graciously shared the other two with Steven and Giotta.

Something for everyone

I have just loaded up the last six new clutches on to my website, ready in time for Leura Village Fair this weekend. Some of the vintage irish linen that I had have come up so wonderfully as one-off clutches. These are definately for the girl that appreciates good vintage fabrics!

This morning I work up around 3:45am with a really sore throat. I couldn't sleep so got up and made gallons of fresh orange juice. It seemed to work for a while but it's not fun when you can't down cough & flu drugs when you are pregnant. Every virus seems to stick to you! Dropped Steven to the train station and fell back into bed and slept for another 2 hours. I'm worn out, I tell you. Just hope I'm not going to be sick for the Leura Fair this weekend...

Clutches a go-go!

Print Garden clutch

I have been uploading new clutch purses this morning after sewing buttons on the front of them til late last night. Phew! Today was supposed to be a day off but I am going off to lunch now with Angela at Common Ground, so I reckon I might call it a day.

Maggie clutch

Of course, I am starting to redesign sections of the website - why can't I just stop?!!! Arghhh!

There will be around another 10 clutches up before the weekend - ready for Leura Village Fair here in the Blue Mountains.

Our trip to Canberra

Back to the grind... sigh!

Our trip to Canberra was so much fun: shopping, food, bookstores, food, galleries, cake and coffee/food.

We stopped at a few 2nd hand haunts along the way and I managed to pick up some great stuff. Fabric, of course, but I also scored the most amazing 60's red wool coat. We saw this funny feté on our way to Canberra and quickly pulled over. Had a lot of junk, moth-eaten spider plants (why are they everywhere for sale?), and of course the sausage sizzle.

At the back, someone had a stall with clothes and shoes. It looked pretty bad but I decided to have a look. I saw a big red 60's wool jacket hanging up and amazingly, it fitted me, even with baby belly. It is 60% wool/40% mohair with gorgeous buttons and collar. I asked how much it was and the old girl replied with a sigh, "A dollar - I'm glad you like it. Its so bulky and in the way of all my other clothes. I'll be glad to get rid of it." WHAT?! Then I picked up a 60's bottle green suede coat and again, it was $1. I kinda gulped and quickly stashed the items under my arm and kept looking. Most other things were pretty bad but I will definately be going back to see what else turns up. The prices were ridiculous!


Then we continued down the highway and I saw a massive 2nd hand outlet. They were having a manchester sale so my eyes were getting blurry and I was gasping to pull over quickly. I got 2 lots of fantastic original fabric - you just don't see a lot of really great stuff anymore and this shop had certainly been picked over - but check out this divine 60's fabric in pinks, oranges and reds. I got about 4 metres of it!!!


And finally, here is some photos of me in Canberra (above at Parliament House). I have been asked about my short hair cut - you can see I got about 25cm chopped from the ends! I am 26.5 weeks pregnant now and sort of waddle about.


At the sculpture garden gallery at the National Gallery in Canberra.

The long weekend

Heidi tote (SOLD) : made of cute recycled dutch print and red & black weave upholstery.

Nina tote : $159.95 : beautiful original 1950's screenprinted fabric with huge vintage coat button to close the flap.

IKO tote : $159.95 : isn't this fabric great?!

Tomorrow we take off for 3 days to Canberra. I haven't been there in a long time and Steven not since school! We want to get to the National Gallery to see the Utopia exhibition : the genius of Emily Kame Kngwarreye. She is one of Australia's greatest contemporary artists and this is such an exciting opportunity to see her work all under one roof!

Another thing you must see if you go to Canberra is the National Gallery's sculpture garden. A lot of people miss it when they get to the gallery. My aunt Barbara Buchanan designed it with the late Harry Howard (landscape architect) over 20 years ago (1978) and it really is a magic place to visit.

Eucalypts and stringy barks, wattles and fallen leaves frame the great sculptures of Auguste Rodin and Henry Moore. Its lovely to walk through with the smells of the bush with spectacular art works.

It comes with the territory

Yesterday I made the effort (finally) to have a go at aqua aerobics. I have never been able to work out how I get in the water and move around and still be able to see... but you just wear your glasses in the water. Ahhh, I get it! 

I felt great afterwards and I think my little baby was having a fun time swishing around to crazy dance music in the pool. I was the youngest there (by a mile) and the only one pregnant but I think I was the slowest. Those old girls really go for it!

I've had a lot of lower back pain, I know, I know, it comes with the territory but by night I'm sometimes hobbling around and taking really small steps. Sewing is almost impossible as it really brings the pain on - a little inconvenient in my line of business. So I am relying on the outside help of a sewing whizz for now. This means its getting really slow to upload new products, but I better get used to it come January with my baby due then.

I have four plaques here for becoming a finalist in the Blue Mountains Business Awards on Tuesday night. Where do I put them? I currently have them stashed in a cupboard! The winners will be announced October 17th so it would be wonderful to have those plaques up instead!