Bret McKenzie and his Casio DG20 December 2009
Gus, my soon-to-be-four-year-old, had a big crush on Bret from Flight of the Conchords in 2009. He was obsessed with the Boom song in particular, and asked me to play it over again on the stereo and on YouTube. 'Make me a Casio DG20' was his favourite command, and he corralled his kindy mates into a band of Casio DG20 players, thanks to construction card, hot glue guns, and obliging kindy teachers. I made him Bret for Christmas -- I now have to make a matching Jermaine. Only it seems that Gus is now obsessed with Daphne from Scooby Doo instead. Eating thistles December 2009
When I haven't been mopping up baby spew and trying to squeeze in a few minutes of work, I have been tending my garden. It's been a long dry summer, but spring was very forthcoming, and we had a crazy artichoke plant that has provided us with around 40 artichokes. I grew potatoes for the first time, which were beautiful to dig up -- like panning for gold -- and I am also particularly pleased with my borlotti fire beans, which look jurassic in their markings. Other successful items: garlic, red cabbage, cherry tomatoes, rocket, kale, cavolo nero, NZ spinach, silver beet, fennel, oregano, purple beans, yellow beans and carrots. New dolls for new babies December 2009
I wanted to make a doll for Violet, but my prototype was a doll I made for a friend's new baby, Agnes. I think I was influenced by having just seen 'Where the Wild Things Are' -- this doll has a plaid Micky hood. I have plans for an entire outfit for Violet's doll, Little Cat, but I don't want to peak too soon. Sarcophagus December 2009
Otto's obsession of the month has been pyramids and sarcophaguses. We have been doing lots of research on how bodies were preserved. I made a mummy to go inside, but the same day that I made it, Otto stripped it of all its bandages - wanted to see the corpse inside, I suppose.
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Sourdough
Old-school blankets Violet's pinafore Fancy cans Bret McKenzie Vegetable garden Baby dolls Sarcophagus Babuschka dolls Oscar icon Cards Violet Vampire Dead People's Music Origami cards Robots Let's go shopping Bird girl Book covers 09 Origami duvet Macaroni Moon Food diary Derek+Joe Cinderella 60s lampshade Graphic novel Veggie garden Melissa's show Book covers Otto as bear March books New famous scientist Patron saint of cheekbones Book covers Moth lampshade Vampires + bats Lampshade Cushions The book arrives Demented dolls Coming up roses Gus the firefly Too many bags Suffragette Tui hoodie Hat box Peg doll boxes Peg debutantes Bumble bee suit Japanese Handbag Nick Cave Icon Archives
Magpie Hall by Rachael King
Great novel with ghosts and Victorian tattoos, and I got to design the cover! Relief by Anna Taylor Lovely stories, beautifully observed The Angel's Cut by Elizabeth Knox I love the warped worlds that Knox opens up for us. Chronic CIty by Jonathan Lethem Another twisted alternate reality world for me to lose myself in The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver This filled me with a sadness and yearning to go to Mexico. Beautiful but a slow read for me.
St Vincent
Freaky gothic Snow White. Reminds me a little of Goldfrapp. Rufus Wainwright I have been getting into the Wainwrights, only 10 years after everyone else The XX Dreamy, atmospheric
The New York Times
My home page. Melissa Laing My sister, the artist. This American Life Such a different take on the US Beattie's book blog This guy is prolific. Stripy Sock Studio A dear friend and partner-in-crime. New Yorker fiction I love listening to the stories and critique. Tiny Happy Wholesomeness incarnate! Rachael King It's great to have an insight into other writers' processes. |
