Extraordinary Mondays - Our industrial past

If you told me ten years ago that I would love the look of rust and the aesthetics of machinery of the bygone years, I would have laughed and said that you really didn't know me at all. Well, how I have changed. I must say that the work I currently do has given me an appreciation for just that. An appreciation of a kind of industrial Australiana.

I thought I'd share with you a little of it.

The Blacksmith Shop at the Midland Railway Workshops.

The tools left hanging in the Blacksmith Shop.

Aqua and yellow machinery at Midland Railway Workshops.

More colourful machinery at Midland Railway Workshops.

Rusty farm equipment with the homestead in the background, Sutton's Farm, Mandurah.

Close up of old rusty farm equipment at Sutton's Farm, Mandurah.

There must be something about peacocks

I didn't think I liked peacocks very much but I guess I do judging from this and the previous post. SallyWag has this most beautiful decal of a peacock. Go check out her etsy shop.

Colour my world...

Image sourced from Geninne's Art Blog

If you have not been introduced to Geninne's Art Blog yet, you have been missing out! I really love this new painting of hers and the best news of all it is available at her etsy shop. Geninne Zlatkis lives in amongst such colour in Mexico and to top it all of, she lives in a beautiful house designed by her architect husband. See photos of her home over at her lovely photostream at flickr. Check it out here!

Amelia's monogram

Copyright 2009 Adelyn Siew

Now, I need to digitise the image above and this image so I can make Zach's and Amelia's t-shirts! Can't wait!

Extraordinary mondays - Desire to Inspire

If you are looking for a place to be inspired. Desire to Inspire is to the place to go. Kim over there collects such wonderful photos they are sure to inspire you. There's loads of links to bring in to all different directions. Go there now to check out her current sofa project.

I'm running to just keep up to work at the moment so I do apologise for not keeping it up here.

Extraordinary mondays - things that make me ache

The past week has been an incredible whirlwind of decisions. The biggest of all was my decision to go public about my dream to start selling my craft. Going public meant that there was no backing down. I am in the midst of designing my trademark and registering a business name. This really makes me ache...the fact that my dream of making and selling is finally coming true. It has taken me YEARS but the urge has always been there since I was little. (Well, not the selling part but the making part.) Stay tuned for more updates.

That aching feeling inside me got me thinking about other things that make me feel the same way. Here's a little insight, in no particular order:

Gustav Klimt's the kiss

(Image sourced from www.ibiblio.org

Erik Satie's Gymnopedie no. 1

Bernini's The Ecstasy of St Teresa
(Image sourced from Gazza H's photostream)


Beautiful stairs. This one in Sagrada Familia by Antonio Gaudi
(Image sourced from (Erik)'s photostream)

Hagia Sophia
(Image sourced from Timothy Neesam's photostream)

One day, I will see, experience and feel it run through my veins in real time and real life. One day...

Extraordinary mondays - and the all sewn up winner is...

For the All Sewn Up giveaway, the winner is...Deb. Congratulations!

Deb, you win the uno numero kit for Sleek the Spider! He is the leader of Psych Critters, a bunch of crazy bugs that will steal their way into your hearts with their beaming gaze. You'll also like to meet Dive the Dragonfly, Luxe the Ladybird and Bolt the Bee.

The kit includes all the things you will need to make him (pictured below).


Thanks for all who commented and joined in the fun! For those missed out, the Psych Critters will be available at my soon-to-be opened Etsy shop. More info closer to the date.

Perth Upmarket - see you there

Can't wait for Sunday to come. Perth Upmarket is on again. Check out all the cool retailers here.

Here's your chance to get FREE stuff - Everybody get SEWN up!

If you haven't heard, Sarah Fielke, formerly of Material Obsession in Sydney, is starting up a new website resource for all things sewn called SEWN. The website sounds like it will be jammed packed with useful tips, tutorials and such.

Best of all, she is having a BIG blog launch party. I've decided to join in and will be giving away a secret kit complete with fabric and instructions for something extra special I have been working on lately. If you like surprises and like the look of my crazy critters, leave a comment and I promise you, you won't be disappointed. Random draw date is set for June 8 (Monday).

To join in the fun, follow the simple instructions here. Check out all the other participants here. There is still time! So hurry up and join in! If you want to read the website itself, go here.

Personalise me.

I do love the whole personalised movement and my most favourite at the moment is this:

Image taken from Notemaker.com.au

I'd love to have my own personlised Moleskin or Clairefontaine. Oh, and while you are there at Notemaker, check out the Behance Action range. I've been eyeing these for AGES but can't seem to think up the right excuse to buy them. Maybe you can buy some and let me google over them.

Extraordinary Mondays - How to have your very own fabric line

Have you heard that you can have your very own fabric line EASILY?

Well, if you don't know. Let me tell you about Fabric on Demand and Spoonflower.

These two websites allow you to upload your designs and they will print it on fabric with no minimum order! Having your very own designs would set you back USD18-25 per yard (which is about AUD22-30 per meter). Now, that is not bad at all.

But if you wish to minimise your carbon footprint, why not print your own on organic cotton?

I've been thinking of printing an animal series beginning with an elephant print which I've been doodling away on the BambooFun.

Copyright 2009 Adelyn Siew