Sunday snippets, vegetarian delights and Wollongong dusk.

Biking riding - another beautiful winter's day.

Despite the dire forecasts of the weather it turned out to be a great day for a bike ride.

Around the Bay Run.

Across the new Ironcove bridge.

Past a crumbling ruin (and some very nice places which I managed not to get photos of)

 

 With views across Cockatoo Island to the city.

To Cabarita Park.
This is a place I have never ever been to before and neither has Mr planet (who grew up in this city)

Not a bad lunch spot and it was well-underused.

This edifice at Concord piqued our interest - what could the "B" stand for? *

Along the Millenium pathway...

And back home.

*Bushells. (Used to be tea but now processes coffee).

Five fabulous Friday finds from my faves.

Hello! And happy Friday!

Here are a few bits and bobs from my faves.

I love cowls! Have I said that before?
They are so practical! So warm and snuggly and they don't get tangled in stuff or droop into your dinner!

I reckon this one would go with all your outfits.

denim blue grey cowl by smittenkittenorig

I think I'm loving this on as much for the photo as anything.
And what a fabulous idea - hand-torn fabric on a bobbin-with-character.
You could use it - to wrap a special gift perhaps or you could just keep it in a special place.
What would you do?

fabric ribbon on vintage bobbin by OliviaManna

You could combine this ribbon with these super-sweet note cards - they feature handcut fabrics and handdrawn details - aren't they just the darlingest?

finchlings note cards by LilaRubyKingShop

Yeah, I'm a pottery fan!
I would love love one of these handthrown citrus juicers - how much fun would it be to use this to make your lemon meringue pie or orange cake?
I'd want to juice juice juice all day long!

Pottery citrus juicer by FringeandFettle

Am I attracted to this by the adorable kitty?
Or the quirky design?
Or is it the juxtaposition of the smooth pine with the rough found bush timber?
Hey! don't overthink it!
It would look great in my new home!

timber bench and hat stand by hellotomato

And what a fabulous shop name too!

Have a great rootin'-tootin' weekend!

My creative space - triangles and circles, running out and haning options.

A couple of weeks ago I showed you my circle beaded earrings.
I had started these red ones and they are a bit bigger than the original version.
I finished them with a larger size seed bead on the edge - so there are 3 sizes of beads - 15's, 11's, and 8's.
I'm pleased with the result - it's a nice size and has a good firm feel.

So off I set to make it's mate - but, Oh No!
I ran out of beads!
Gah! This is probably a common beaders mistake.
And now I'm trying to track down some more...otherwise I will have created a pendant instead!

Sooooo I need another project? Yes?

This time I wanted to create some puffy triangles to make into dangly earrings.

This idea must have been smushing around in my head because I rummaged through my beading magazines and voila! the perfect pattern was in Beadwork magazine.
It was actually a bracelet project, but perfectly adaptable to earrings.

I know how to make triangles but it was the double-sided puffiness that I needed to learn.

I like them!

So I made them in a few different colours and some different beads .

Now I can't decide how to string them.

This was my original vision - on a curved earwire.
Just simple.
But it doesn't really work as the bead doesn't hang straight and there is no "swing".

Is "swing" important for earrings?

If it is them I could attach a little head pin and then the hanging is more pleasing as well.

Or I could use these gunmetal kidney earwires.

What do you think?
Which style do you prefer?

Meet Marcue - maker of handmade shoes.

I first saw the glorious handmade leather shoes of Marcue at the Finders Keepers market in Sydney on the last day of May.

Wow! I thought!

And my husband obviously thought pretty much the same thing when we went together the next day.
Because he offered to buy me a pair!

And last week I went to pick them up from the Sydney workshop.
It was kinda hard for find -

photo courtesy of Marcue

It was like going down into the bowels of the earth!
Could such divine shoes be made down here?

But then I saw the smiling Marina waving to me - and yes, indeed, this is it!

Marina Roorda is the creator of this new Australian label producing a collection of handmade shoes and accessories.

I learned that Marina originally hailed from Uruguay and started off her working life as a graphic designer (funny, I know a lot of ex-graphic designers!).
After a while she realised that she didn't really feel fulfilled in this role and wanted to do something more "hands on".

After taking a workshop with a bespoke shoe maker she was hooked and has spent the last few years refining her designs and buffing up her techniques as well as setting up her workshop in this awesome space.
This ex-garage space is a shared with other artisans - there are amazing piles of recycled wood waiting to be put into use by the restaurant outfitters next door.

As you would expect there is lots of gorgeous leather -

And shoe lasts -

As Marina told me when she develops a new design it has to be drawn up in all sizes - what a mammoth task.

Marcue has shoes for men and women and they are made using traditional shoemaking techniques - but the end result has a freshness and a sense of daring - as well as being incredibly comfortable.

Here are mine - I went for red boots with a navy blue trim - I'll see if I can click my heels.....

Have a look at Marcue's website for other styles and colours.
Or check out her shop on etsy.