Cathy Cullis

I am completely in love with this piece. This is a unique piece of jewelry made by the mixed media artist and poet Cathy Cullis. She has created an ingenious way of combining both writing and visual craft into a wearable form of artwork. Effortlessly clever, achingly beautiful..but instead of tiring you with my adverb abuse, I'll just let you have a look at it.

For more beauties like this, have a little stroll in her etsy shop and blog.

Did I mention my fascination for painting boxes?

Over the summer, I discovered a fantastic arts and craft shop where they sold plain wooden boxes in lots of enticing shapes and sizes. I bought this one with the intention of painting it. I subsequently stared at it most mornings as it collected dust, conjuring up intricate designs that I would have to sit down and do, WITHOUT distractions (youtube...you evil thing you..) So today was the day! No distractions. I painted the floral design using acrylics and I still need to decide what I'm going to do for the sides. The design was inspired by a greetings card from the fantastic blog Print and Pattern.

I finished something!

In case you were wondering, those are her wings so that she can fly off to wherever she pleases! I took the shot at a time of the day when my studio gets alot of sunlight. Thats why there are all those floating orbs in front of the picture. I must get curtains because it does start getting hot and I always have to take my laptop away from dreaded sunny spots.

Current distraction from blogging: myself and this rather dashing looking bloke

The man I am well and truly married to of course! Well, ever heard of a saying that goes 'we are our own enemies'?. I've been at it again you see: starting too many projects and not completing them, and I haven't stopped there either. I like to make things that little bit more complicated in true Khairun style, by hoarding on ideas from the dreaded weekend blogging splurge. I go from crochet to applique, applique to watercolours, writing poetry to crochet again. Was that applique I just mentioned? Yes my friends, applique so I'm also looking longingly at things that I have no clue in doing whatsoever. Creative overload.
In addition to all this madness thats currently residing within the deep recesses of my brain, Mr T is also on edge as he has a huge concert coming up; The Count Basie Orchestra no less. They're performing alongside some of the best Portuguese singers for an unforgettable show next week. With the two of us like this, we're just no good to each other. I'm at it like a madwoman with my crocheting and he's got two phones plastered to his ears and a laptop that may as well be a third arm. No relaxing weekend for him the poor thing.
I just thank the heavens above that he has limitless amounts of patience. That's just what a crazy woman like me needs.

a little black number

Heres another one in black, with a little pink rose. I'm starting to get the hang of it now. Mr T took this rather thoughtful shot of us hand in hand as we went for our Sunday walk downtown. We're the sort of couple that indulges too much in comforting things. This morning for instance,we watched four episodes of The Sopranoes back to back. We really need to go out abit more.

Hope you like it. I'm going to do a couple more for the friends who fully support my old fashioned tendencies.

 

 

The city of lace and tiles

 

This took me HOURS....

but it was after all, my first stab at crochet. Not only was it time consuming (I was following an instructional video on youtube) but with so much concentration going on I practically turned into a mute.Now all I keep hearing in my head is 'chainstitch 5, yarn over, double crochet....'
This dainty little prom style corsage did not fit the equally dainty wrist of my 5 year old neice! I have to find a 2 year old or even younger to see if it fits them instead. But if I don't want to scare little girls with my crochet induced mute madness, I could just make it longer and give it back to my neice.

 

and the winner is...

Monica! I am thrilled that my piece will start its new life in Alentejo, and with a crochet extraodinaire too. Just send me an email with your contact details at khairunsmoon@gmail.com and it will be heading your way!
With all the inspiration and positive energy that the last two weeks have given me, here's a sneak picture of what I'm working on at the moment.
I've also made a crochet bracelet! It turned out a little shorter than I expected so it's going to be for Mr Ts darling 5 year old neice. I just have to snatch her away from her busy schedule(ballet,swimming,cello!) to be my very first 'hand model'. I just hope it fits her! It took me ages! And I hope she doesn't expect me to pay her either!

 

A big thanks for all those who participated in my giveaway.
Knowing me, I'm sure it won't be the last!

Baguette anyone?

Picture me wearing oversized sunglasses, heels and a black shift dress Hepburn style, with Mr T sporting a tortured artist beard (abit like Goerge Clooney but with a major career change) and a tattered book of Baudelaires poems in one hand, walking down the streets of Paris. That's where I am right now as I listen to this divine duet between Juliette Greco and Feist. I'm going through some major Parisian mind control so a song like this makes sense to me whilst Mr T has to shake my shoulders crying "Khairun don't listen to the voices! You are not French, do you hear me??"
Putting my insanity aside for a moment, Mr T does his best to bring musicians like these to Portugal. For the past four years he has introduced me to a whole gamut of sounds as lovely as these. Juliette Greco will be playing on October 14th at Casa de Musica OPorto and October 16th at CCB in Belêm. I wish Mr T the best of luck with this French catch (don't get any french ideas Mr T!)

Have a lovely weekend

but don't forget to stop by. You never know, it could be your lucky day! I think I have never had this much fun giving something away just for the hell of it. The comments have been a real boost to my confidence, and I'm sure this won't be the last of them!
Tomorrows the last day to post comments. Good luck!

 

On My Way

I discovered this on Sofia Barãos blog
Its such a comforting song. And it comes just in time for my seasonal depression (in other words not wanting to drag myself out of bed because my feet are cold) a loving balm for the soul. I like their cute french accents too.




Embarassing note: Did I say Monday the 12th for the final day of the giveaway?? I meant Sunday people. SUNDAY. And I will announce the winner on Monday.
Sorry about that. My mind works in mysterious ways.

Pink and Purple

Heres a little sketch I made this morning. I think Im going to give it to a friend of mine. A playful and pretty picture which I enjoyed doing. I got to make use of my felt tip pens too, something that takes me back to my school days.

Oh and my camera and I have made up. Woohooh!

 

Still no luck with my camera...

Mondays are my days off work. Its an odd day really, but given that I work on Saturdays, it gives me that chance to have full weekends. Mr T has to work though, as do the majority of the world which is why Mondays are synonymous with doom and gloom but for me it feels heaven sent. I have the absurd pleasure of getting up at ooh let's say nine or even tennish, cup of tea in one hand, I glance out my window to watch the bus get stuck around the corner for the umpteenth time because of some rather adventurous student parking manoeuvre, and the almost ritualistic honking of cars behind it. As the daily grind goes on around me, I get to read a whole array of blogs online most of whom are on my linklists, and treat myself to a film adaptation of Wuthering Heights courtesy of Youtube. The final scene was dubbed in Turkish which was a random shock to say the least. But nevertheless I got through it (living in a country where I can't speak the language has made me a very patient person as you can tell) Instead of the frustration of not understanding I just imagine what they could be saying. In other words I just imagined Heathcliff declaring his undying love for me in Turkish. For all I care Ralph Fiennes could have been saying 'pants' over and over. But it's Ralph Fiennes

Giveaway reminder: Thanks for all your comments so far. For any blogger newbies, just make sure you are going to comments and not the little envelope symbol. I have already had one friend of mine getting herself a little confused there (hello Sandra!)
Shelley: Thankyou for dedicating a post to me! It means alot to me that you would go out of your way to help out. Lets hope I get a better turn out now, but even if I don't, It was still well worth the experience.

Better be heading off to work now

Have a lovely Tuesday!

October

I would have liked to have posted more photos but for some mysterious reason that my poor little brain cannot seem to unravel, my camera is not on speaking terms with me. What did I do to you Mr Camera? Perhaps your memory is too full. I might have to wait for Mr T later today to have a chat with him. I know cameras don't talk(realllly I hear you say) but when you have a blog, cameras are your friend. And when they're not, it feels like they're saying 'I don't want to be your friend anymore..neh neh neneh neh!
Let's hope tonights intervention will swiftly restore things to my version of normality.In the meantime here are some photos I happen to already have in my files, ones that perfectly sum up Autumn.

Painting giveaway update: 6 lovely people so far (not including my husband, but thankyou for the moral support darling!) One more week left!

 

 

I love London

and I miss being there. Yesterday it was the last day of Ramadan and all my family were together including my gorgeous neice and nephew. I wish I had been there! I miss being around them, especially at times like these. As much as I love being here in Lisbon, having my wonderful husband by my side, I nevertheless wish I could see my family more often. Hopefully next year I'll go out to visit them.

 

Don't forget to comment if you want to be the proud owner of a Khairun original! You have until Oct 12th!