World of Rag Grrl

To see all posts you need to friend me :)

I've moved my poetry blog to wordpress - http://showyourworkings.wordpress.com/
It has morphed into a general creative blog. I've been posting there more often than here mostly because it is more user friendly and I'm a luddite ;)
Come and visit and leave a comment so I feel loved lol.

What do you think? I've been spending too much time browsing craft blogs lately and neglecting my own house and craft/writing while I drool over imagined lives. Is that weird? Are these stunningly gorgeous sites about amazing women who do it all while looking stylie strangely anti-woman? Is it reality? We don't see the bad days, the ugly & dorky bits.
I guess they are mostly eye-candy and I should remember that and not try to measure up to the Marthas.

I've finally updated my poetry blog @ http://hhblog.juicy.co.nz/

Three of my favourite organisations: Oxfam; Greenpeace; and Forest & Bird have created this website - http://www.bethechange.org.nz/
Have a look and make some pledges to change things in your life!

Oh yeah, here are me and my craft buddies. I think I need to borrow Shelly's camera cause my digi pics suck and I don't want to post there until I get better images!
http://littlegemsession.blogspot.com/

Some works in progress for "Knack" craft fair @ Berhampore School on Saturday. I made one a while ago for Miss S and we called it "Meemo". They are 'armless and don't have a leg to stand on hur hur.. Must finish them off... *wanders back to sewing machine*

This is one I made in Melbourne for bff Billie. It's an adapted pattern mutated from an Amy Butler design. The fabric is from Patchwork on Central the button is from Button Mania. It's hard to tell but it's really big - a right sack!

Just got back from a week away visiting my bff Billie in Melbourne. It was sad to say goodbye but good to get back to my little family and our quiet little village. I always forget how noisy and dirty city life is but Oh! the shops n food and Oh, oh, oh! the crafting joy with my dearest friend! They spoilt me rotten. I will post pics of craft goodness once I figure out where the techno stuff is hiding. The best shops had to be http://www.patchworkoncentralpark.com.au/ and Button Mania http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/pushing-buttons/2006/06/15/1149964672292.html Also very cool was a brilliant Japanese junk warehouse.
While I was away the garden has been busy. The asparagus is starting to sprout, the broccoli and bok choi is going to seed well so I can save the seed. The potatoes are needing a 3rd layer of tyres, the quince is in blossom and the apple is starting to get leaves. The carrots and sping onions are sprouting. Life is good!
Before I left I started a craft n tea party group with some friends called "Little Gem Session" We'll be starting a craft blog shortly to show off our exploits. Speaking of which, I got a fair bit done while I was away. I finally finished the dreaded first sock, now for the dreaded 2nd of the pair, ahem. I crocheted Billie a dish cloth and sewed her up an Amy Butler bag.
Meanwhile Billie made the most amazing little cloth book for me to take home and she had already made a gorgeous quilt with Japanese fabric. I'm so lucky!! Add to that bags of paper craft ephemera, vintage fabrics, vintage and bespoke buttons and japanese junk and you have a very happy rag_grrl *happy sigh*
Oh and it was my birthday last week (hence the trip - thanks Dad) I got given a bike from my little family! Yay! no more driving around the village, all I need now is a granny basket on the front, tee hee.

From custard_kisses You're on my friends list. I'd like to know 27 things about you. Just copy and hit reply and paste in the comments section with answers. Thanks! You'll be surprised how much you didn't know about your friends after this! Then copy the meme and see if anyone answers you. (I love things to let me get to know people on my FList, especially new people I haven't gotten to know yet)



1. Do you have a tattoo?

2. How old are you?

3. Are you single or taken?

4. Fish?

5. Do you dream in color?

6. Ever seen a corpse?

7. Hipsters or Hillbillies?

8. How did we meet?

9. What's your philosophy on life and death?

10. If you could do anything with me, and have no one know, what would it be?

11. Do you trust the police?

12. Do you like musicals?

13. What is your fondest memory of me?

14. If you could change anything about yourself what would it be?

15. Would you cheat ?

16. What are you wearing?

17. Have you ever peed in a pool?

18. Would you hide evidence for me if I asked you to?

19. If I only had one day to live, what would we do together?

20. Which do you prefer - short or long hair?

21. What's your favorite day of the week?

22. What's your favorite color?

23. If you could bring back anyone that has passed, who would it be?

24. Tell me one interesting/odd fact about you?

25. What was your first impression of me?

26. Have you ever done drugs?

27. Will you post this so I can fill it out for you?

You can see behind the cut( my replies here )

We've all had the flu over the last week or two and I'm still feeling a bit crap but yesterday I just had to get stuck into the garden. I finally found some asparagus crowns in the weekend and an apple tree with 3 grafts so we can have apples from early to mid to late in the season, yay. I'm putting it in on a north facing slope along with a quince, yum!
While we were stuck inside being sickies I read a huge pile of NZ Growing Today magazines and got heaps of great little tips for the garden.
I've been pulling out leggy old Protea bushes to make space for the new raspberry canes, they took up a huge amount of space I think there will be room for a Tamarillo as well as some strawberries along the front and a rosemary at the other end. I don't know what it is about me and Rosemary plants but I've killed about four of them. I've got a cutting I'm going to try in the new spot.
I've also decided to put in some blueberries next year. I'm going to start by planting lupins in the spot then I'll mulch them in and put some seaweed on top so they have a good bed of mulch to start off.
I noticed that the garden shop I was at on Sunday (Pukehoe in Levin) had Almond trees as well. I think I've talked my neighbour into getting one to so they can pollinate each other. Not sure where I'll put it, perhaps if I take out the crappy oak for firewood. Finally there was also a multi graft nectarine/peach/somethingelseplum? which I think might fit down by the blueberries.
If I could only figure out where to plant a tea hedge I'd be a happy woman!

Took the kids to Te Manawa in Palmerston North on Sunday to the Da Vinci exhibition, which was great. The artisans who made the working models did a fine job. The kids had a ball and Cosmos even remembered some facts we had read about him in the library the other week. He explained to his buddy about how Da Vinci was left handed and wrote in mirror writing. My budding pet geek, so cute!

Top Careers generated from on-line poll:
1. Writer - Done/doing
2. Critic - Done a bit
3. Translator - Not good enough with my other languages
4. Public Relations Specialist - Done it
5. Print Journalist - Done some
6. Market Research Analyst - Nah
7. Political Aide - Bit late now I think
8. Activist - Yup
9. Communications Specialist - Kinda
10. Public Policy Analyst - Bit late now I think
11. Anthropologist - Studied it
12. Curator - Sounds interesting

The problem is I never want to work in an office again, hahahahaha! I like the idea of working in a museum... just not dealing with all the people! I'd rather hide in a back room cataloging strange objects. :)

broken link to Flight of the Concords :(

I think so!
Subject: Ownership and control of water: Forum

20 July 2007

Below are the details of a forum this coming Sunday in Auckland. If you are interested in this topic, and don't live in Auckland or can't get to the forum, there is a web page with related information, including resources and comment on the government's Sustainable Water Programme of Action, at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/water.htm


Sunday, 22 July 2007 - Public forum: 'Ownership and control of water: looking at local and global, health and ethical issues'.

How should water be managed? should water be a tradeable commodity? is access to water a human right? what about indigenous rights? A panel of notable speakers will discuss these issues, including Dr Maria Bargh (Te Arawa and Ngati Awa), Lecturer in Maori Studies at Victoria University; Dr Nikki Turner, GP and Senior Lecturer in Population Health at the University of Auckland; Alison Greenaway from Christian World Service, and Penny Bright from the Water Pressure Group; the forum will be chaired by John Minto.

From 3pm to 5pm, at the St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Ponsonby, Auckland [St Columba Centre is close to Ponsonby Road, with a large car park at the rear of the building]; afternoon tea will be provided, a gold coin koha would be appreciated.

Organised by the Auckland Human Rights Network, for more information contact email joanmac@pl.net The work of the Human Rights Network is supported by the Human Rights Commission.

This is one of the other bags I made from Melissa's pattern for my dear friend Billie-Joye :)

Okay, I didn't see Jesus in a pancake but look what I grew on my lemon tree! Awwwwwww!!

I made a new Wheatie bag for a friend. The fabrics are recycled candlewick and retro flannel :)