Favourite things - DIY if you dare

I'll be honest, I'm not a very crafty person. I know I come across all hands-on creative, because I LOVE clever handmade things. However, reality is I tend to be more of an admirer than a doer. Maybe this time... 1. Love is in the air Send a Valentine's Day paper aeroplane to that cutie across the office. Or... wear your heart on your sleeve, make a card out of paint strips, customise a jewellery box, and more. Take a look at these ideas in Country Living's Valentine's Day crafts, and do let me know if you make anything.

2. Shrinky dink necklace When I was little we used to find "shrinky dinks" in packets of chips. You'd put them in the oven and they shrank down. I don't know what was so great about that but, trust me, when we were eight it was great. Now personalising a necklace using shrinky dink technology? That's actually great in the present tense! Thank you oh thank you, Papersnitch.

3. Night houses These are so beautiful I may just have to give making them a try, despite my aforementioned lack of craft related talent and motivation. Lamps made from pictures of old houses: by Fellow Fellow, found on Poppytalk.

4. More old books Yep, it's more craft from old books. I still haven't made any of the ideas I keep bringing you. I still intend to do so. One day. I like that this particular post, from Just Something I Made, stipulates the use of Reader's Digest condensed books. These are anathema to literature, I think, so I wouldn't feel quite so guilty cutting them up for my crafty purposes.

5. Vintage camera nightlights I'm cheating, these aren't part of a DIY project. But if you had skill, I'm sure they could be. After all, they were DIY for Jason Hull who made them, right? And they are so amazing I just had to share (photo is from Flickr, while the lights were found on Happiness Is). Having covetous thoughts.

Nights at the circus

I feel as though I have been miniaturised. Deposited into a spinning top and whirled around in sickening, ever-building rainbow chaos until at last I have been spewed in glorious technicolor out with a thud. In other words, have just finished reading Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter. Like the book's main narrator, journalist Jack Walser, I am undone. Walser literally runs away with the circus, seduced by its surreal and sensual world and, in particular, by the circus' star, aerialiste Sophie Fevvers (who may or may not be part woman, part swan). Walser experiences a devastating but also liberating loss of memory and indeed self while stranded in Siberia. As memories of his former life come back to him in increasing flashes, pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, he does not recognise them as such. To Walser they are not memories, but visions.

In a way, that was how I felt while I was reading Nights at the Circus. While inside its world, the world outside - my world of work and moving house and friends and love and summer - was like viewing somebody else's dream. Then I'd be called out of the story. I would fold the page (yes, I am one of those readers) and put the book down. But it would take me a little while to truly re-enter this space, so lost was I in the circus.

Do you know the sensation I'm trying to describe? Do books ever do this to you? As a child reader, such full immersion into a story and its characters was a common experience for me. I think that was why I loved reading quite so much. Today, again like Walser, I am more of a skeptic. We are both journalists, I guess. It is not so easy for me to suspend my reality. Perhaps after making a profession of writing for 15 years, I can't switch off the editor in me. Or the student in me, seated at the feet of better writers and studying their techniques. Either way, I don't nearly as often lose myself inside a narrative these days. So this was a prodigious treat.

Let me take you there. While the circus travelled by train through the wilds of Russia, there came a "thunderous boom."

And, as if at the command of the biggest drum-roll in the entire history of the circus, the dining car rose up in the air.

For a split second, everything levitated -- lamps, tables, tablecloths. The waiters rose, and the plates rose from their arms. Sybil was lifted up, as was the chunk of canned pineapple on which her jaws were just about to close. The feet of the dark girl and the fair girl in the doorway were propelled upwards from the rising floor. Then, before shock or consternation could cross their faces, the whole lot fell down again and, with a rending crash, flew apart in a multitude of fragments.

The train immediately ceased to be a train and turned into so many splinters of wood, so much twisted metal, so many screams and cries, while the forest on either side of the devastated track burst aflame, ignited by the burning logs cast far and wide from the fire-box of the now demolished engine...

Then, amongst the ruins of the 'wagon salon', I beheld a great wonder. For the tigers were all gone into the mirrors… as if Nature disapproved of them for their unnatural dancing, they had frozen into their own reflections and been shattered, too, when the mirrors broke. As if that burning energy you glimpsed between the bars of their pelts had convulsed in a great response to the energy released in fire around us and, in exploding, they scattered their appearances upon the glass in which they had been breeding sterile reduplications. On one broken fragment of mirror, a paw with the claws out; on another, a snarl. When I picked up a section of flank, the glass burned my fingers and I dropped it.

(The waltzing tiger is by arts student Merle Hunt, from a series inspired by Nights at the Circus on her blog The Blackbird and the Lemon Curd. Quite lovely, huh?)

Storytelling: the camera

Hello from my new home in Melbourne! I am still drowning amid boxes, fingers black with newspaper ink, wearing bizarre outfit combinations until I can find and unpack suitable clothes. We have no Internet connected yet so my online visits may be sporadic, but we are getting there. And I have some funny stories to tell when I get a moment to tell them. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this story as much as I did.

A solitary girl finds a mysterious Polariod camera in an abandoned farmhouse. She raises the camera to her eye, clicks. But as the photograph slowly emerges in her hand, it reveals a great mystery.

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/32655795 w=525&h=295]

The Camera (short film / original score) from Peter Lewis on Vimeo.

Let's play

In a matter of hours, we will lock the doors behind us, take to the road, and drive for eight or nine hours until we arrive at our new home in Melbourne, Victoria. We'll sleep on a blow-up bed in an empty house for two days until our furniture arrives. It'll be just like camping! Ahem. If you don't know anything about Melbourne, watch this little video. Isn't it sweet? For me, Melbourne is a city I've visited many times and always loved. For Mr B, it is a homecoming. Do come and see us soon, won't you? [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-01Tgqy5OJM] ps. Want to see more of my lovely new city? Tourism Victoria does good ad. Here's an older one that I also thought was whimsical and endearing. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaZbnWpm5aU]

Favourite things - double take

I called this blog post "double take" because that's what I did when I saw each of these clever ideas. They are all out of context. Like tents hanging from trees; travel photos... of feet; and typewriters that replace letters with colours. I think each is worth a second look, and I hope you do too. 1. Tents in trees I saw these tree tents (from Bavaria) on one of my favourite blogs, Happiness Is. They are originally from this website and I did scrawl through it to seek more photos, but my inability to read anything more than "achtung" in German defeated me.

2. Feet first Photographer Tom Robinson has documented more than 90 travel photos with his girlfriend Verity and, since 2011, with their daughter Matilda. The twist? All the photographs feature their feet. Take a look at the collection on his website. It's quite surprisingly lovely.

3. A picture types a thousand words While browsing Making it Lovely this week, I was alerted to this gorgeous piece of conceptual art. Artist Tyree Callahan modified a 1937 Underwood typewriter by replacing its keys with colour pads. It doesn't paint, but Tyree says he may at least use it to retype his artist statement.

4. Vintage suitcase boomboxes Isn't this iPod/iPhone dock amazing? It's actually a portable stereo system made from a vintage record player. Check out The BoomCase Store for this and other wonderful, evocative items. When you're done, pop on over to Poppytalk, who alerted me to these beauties in the first place. Oh and also, my birthday is in October. I'm just saying.

5. Food faces Here is your mission, should you choose to accept it:

1. Write out a list of emotions on slips of paper and put them in a small bag. Keep them with you when you go out. 2. After you eat, choose one of the emotions from the bag. 3. Using only leftover food and other items on the table, create a face that shows the randomly selected emotion. 4. Take a photo so you can share the results of your food-art, since this will only be a temporary creation.

Isn't this all kinds of bizarre fun? I especially like the idea of doing this when eating out. Imagine your waiter's surprise when he or she comes to clear things away! (Although I'd make an effort to clean up as much as I could, and leave a big tip.) One day I will convince a group of my friends to all "pick an emotion" and leave a food face when we eat out.

This funny project was on the Etsy blog this week, part of a bigger post about things to do to get and keep your creativity flowing, by Noah Scalin of Another Limited Rebellion.

Get on your bike

This little movie has been doing the blog rounds for a couple of weeks now, and I've finally caved. I simply have to share it too. What a wonderful, free-spirited way to roll into 2012. Do what you love. Love what you do. Live your passion. Share your passion. Do all this with the people you love. Hooray! [vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/34414313 w=525&h=295]

The Holstee Manifesto Lifecycle Video from Holstee on Vimeo.

Aside from making me feel all noble and hand-on-heart full of ambition, this manifesto also inspires me to get back on my pushbike. The timing is perfect, since I'll have a whole new city to explore as of next week.

The photo at the top of this post is of my ancient yellow Speedwell. I'm thinking of giving her a name. Have you read any of the Flavia de Luce books? Flavia's bike is called Gladys. Any suggestions as to what I should call mine?

And in the meantime...

What is your passion? What do you love? What new experience will you embrace this year? Who will you invite along for the ride?

Moonrise Kingdom

This movie looks to be all kinds of amazing. Has anyone heard anything about it? [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N8wkVA4_8s]

Favourite things - oh baby!

Amid the excitement and anticipation of my little stowaway's arrival, I have been indulging my long-term love of all things childlike and whimsical. Truth is, I would love all of these ideas and projects for my very own self sans Baby Bulger, but now I have an iron-clad excuse. 1. An enchanted forest mural Have you seen these wonderful wallpapers and wallpaper-murals from Anthropologie? I think my little one will dream beautiful dreams in this enchanted forest. And if he or she doesn't share my taste? Hello Naomi's study wall! (I also love the children's wallpaper at Hibou Home).

2. A hot air balloon lantern I think I will make several hot air balloon lanterns for Baby Bulger's room. I am thinking red and yellow circus stripes, and of filling the balloon baskets with fun characters and toys. Tutorial on Momtastic.

3. A crocheted playground Once I tried to knit a cardigan. I got about three rows in when my flatmate took over because I had already dropped more stitches than I made. That was more than 10 years ago. As such, I suspect this brilliant crocheted playground may be slightly out of my skill-range. Nanna? Aunty? Instead of a blankey of crocheted squares, could you make one of these for my baby?

4. A birthday piñata I don't know at what age Baby Bulger will be wanting to smash hanging things open to reveal assorted lollies, but I can tell you I have not grown out of that age yet! So I am going to save this tutorial from Oh Happy Day for a birthday party in the (hopefully) not so distant future.

5. Dotty children If all my decorating ideas come to nought (or if it transpires that I lack the talent to realise my own vision), I will resort to Plan B. To whit: paint everything (walls, ceiling, floors, furniture) white, then let Baby Bulger and a host of his or her friends loose with a million coloured stickers, just like in this "obliteration room" at the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane, Australia.

Favourite things - pretty parties

Blah thought: I am packing boxes again. Happy thought: when I unpack them, it will be in a city I love and in the company of people I actually know! One of the many things I am really looking forward to is having friends over. I'm even planning a party or two, which has inspired this post. 1. Party popper invitations Imagine receiving one of these invitations in the mail. Bemused, you pull the string. A loud bang, you are showered with confetti, and the invitation flies out. Magical! I have so many ways I am thinking of using these.

2. The meringue bar I love meringues. I love them so much. And I love all things meringue-related, like pavlovas, lemon meringue pies, and macaroons. Oh, Lordy, what happiness this meringue dessert bar therefore brings! I will try to make something like this for my party. This was in Issue 59 of Donna Hay magazine, highlighted by Jane Flanagan of Ill Seen Ill Said.

3. Sparkler photography At my party, I will set up my new camera on a tripod and take long-exposure photographs of pretty sparkler patters we make to break open the night. Photo by R-evolution Photography, from here.

4. Free organiser How sweet is this little "Making the most of today" organiser from In Honor of Design? And free! A perfect last-minute planner as the party approaches.

5. Serenity When the party is over and I am all worn out, I will refresh my soul by drinking in the lovely, dreamy images to be found on Wild Keiki.

On noticing butterflies

"It is astounding how little the ordinary person notices butterflies."Vladimir Nabokov

I think you would have to be pretty extraordinary not to notice these Monarch butterflies, just arrived in Mexico after migrating from Canada for the winter. The butterflies don't live long enough to repeat the journey, yet they arrive each year in the same places that their ancestors left the previous season, finding their way to 'familiar' homes they've never seen.

I found these photographs via model Denni Elias on her blog thechicmuse, and she kindly gave me permission to use them here. Denni sat in silence among the butterflies of the forest in Michoacan, Mexico. "The only sound I could hear was the beating of wings," she said. Can you imagine?

I don't think I could even write in such a moment. Just dream. Lately I've been feeling a little like a migratory insect myself, drifting my way across thousands of kilometres in the company of my family, pets and way too many accumulated possessions.

Like these butterflies, I have more than once alighted in a home I had never before seen. I am about to do it again, in Melbourne. Perhaps now is the time to trust my instincts and simply embrace the journey.