Remember how I showed you some pictures of my uni studio nook a few months back? Well, it has changed slightly...




It now has an armchair, one of my bright orange dining chairs, two lamps, shelves and storage, a printer, a rug (which for some reason I didn't flatten out prior to these photos!), a typewriter, lots of mess - and one of the ladies I share the studio with brought in a kettle and there's Milo, tea and coffee and biscuits (when I haven't eaten them all in a burst of hungry at 5pm). The gallery director even installed some lighting for me which helps a little now that the sun goes down around 5pm.



Above are some things I've been working on lately. At the end of the semester I might tell you a bit about them.



After a discussion with my friend Nicole in which she told me she thought Theo looked like a Kewpie doll, I arrived at uni the following day to find this drawing on my desk. Nicole is an incredibly talented artist. I think I'll have to frame this little picture for Theo's room.



The other girls who I share the studio with and I are forever distracting each other and chatting endlessly. People come and sit in my big armchair from time to time too - a lovely friend even feeds her baby in it occasionally (Hi Brenda!). I like that it's a space that invites people in and I enjoy the company. That being said, I do have to become pretty focused when I want to get work done in here because my studio is visible from the 'street' part of the uni, so people are always popping in to say hello. I get a lot of work done when I stick around here after just about everyone has gone home. I like to listen to Spotify and lay my collage materials out on the rug and sit and cut and paste. After dark the lighting is not great, but I'm managing to make do. I'll be in this space until the end of the year and I'm feeling kind of sad I'll have to pack it up after that. It would be nice to do honours after this (then I get a studio too), but I don't know if I'll have the time to. One day! Otherwise, maybe I'll turn our boat shed into my own personal studio.

PS. I did a little guest post over at Mary's blog if you'd like to check it out - I answered some of her fun questions.

In my usual fashion, this post is almost two months late. I actually completed a reasonable amount of last year's goals - just about everything got a look-in and some of them I've carried through to my new list. I don't hold myself to these lists too strictly, but it is nice to put down on paper some achievable aspirations from time to time. It is easy to become wrapped up in day to day life and to lose focus of goals, big or small.




1. Develop my 'brand'
This little aspiration will likely not come about until the end of the year, but I'd love to work more on making stationery, zines, textiles, jewellery and the like. And maybe go to markets or makeover my Etsy shop. I have a lot of ideas scribbled in notebooks but little time for these things, so I'm making this a priority this year.

2. Learn to sew clothes for Theo
I've started a Pinterest board for inspiration for childrens clothes making and I've been looking for vintage childrens clothes patterns. My mum promised to buy me a sewing machine for my birthday (and I'm yet to cash in on that promise) and I'd love to improve my sewing skills by making clothes for Theo because it would use little fabric and things don't have to be 'flattering', so there's less pressure. I always look at items in Theo's wardrobe and think "that looks so simple, surely I could make that!".

3. Graduate uni and organise beginning my Masters next year
I have two more subjects to complete after this semester and I'm on track to don that rented cap and gown in December and parade down my city's streets in a swarm of other graduates (a cute thing that UTAS does). I'll start the process of enrolling in my Masters of Teaching next semester to begin in 2015 and get ready for a busy two years! It is run by distance in Launceston, so hopefully I'll be able to manage my time well and still get to spend lots of quality time at home.

4. Make a Tasmanian themed blog.
My friend Holly and I have often talked about the fact that there aren't (m)any websites promoting 'cool' things to do in Tasmania - cafes, shops, events, culture, etc. I love Siobhan Curran's The Novocastrian Files and it has been of inspiration to me in wanting to start up a blog promoting Tasmania in a similar fashion.

5. Make a photo album for Theo's first year.
I started a Project Life journal for photos of Theo when he was 6 months old but I really need to print some photos and play catch up. It's something I've really been looking forward to doing, but time hasn't allowed for. I keep a little monthly diary where I write about what he's been up to, but it's just words mostly. I think it's really important to print out photos. I worry so much that my hard drive or back up drive with fail or get stolen and I'll lose everything.

6. Have a little first birthday party for Theo
This boy of mine turns one early next month (!!!). I don't think a big celebration is really necessary for a 1st birthday but I'd like to do something nice and maybe let him have his first taste of cake (something healthy). And maybe a party hat.

7. Finish my supermarket zine.
I made a draft copy of my zine and had a few printed but decided I wanted to make more illustrations for it, so it's still a work in progress. I think I'll work on this over Summer break. Being back at work has given me new fodder for this zine!

8. Buy a new car
We sold our little car at the start of the year and haven't gotten around to buying a new one yet because we've been driving C's parents spare car which they're going to sell. I kind of don't mind not having a car (our first three years in Tasmania were without a car), but it is good for some things.

9. Listen to more new music
I miss finding good new music and I feel very out of the loop - some of my favourite bands have released albums in the past year and I didn't even know.

10. Buy a piano
I've priced and tried out a few lovely electric pianos and I'm hoping after tax time I might have some pocket money to buy one (although I just read the Australian government's new budget and now I want to sell everything I own and move to Scandinavia).

11. Start a favourite recipe journal
I meant to do this last year, but it hasn't eventuated. I might make/buy some fancy recipe cards to keep in a box instead.

12. Read 5 good books
I love reading but I rarely get the chance. Throw your recommendations at me now!

13. Make my own 100 ideas list
I have started this one (I'm about 20) in, but don't want to share it until I'm finished, then I'll start attempting them and posting about them and hopefully other people might like to try some of them too.

14. Plan for another baby
Yep, you heard right. We're talking about trying for Baby Jagoe Vol. 2 sometime in the next 6 months. Doing my masters by distance will mean that I get to be at home a lot more and that would be really great with two little people.

15. Make a proper veggie patch
Our garden is full of gorgeous flowers and trees but not much room for growing edible things. I have some great window boxes for herbs, but I'd like to build something with nice big beds that I can move around depending on where the sun is. I really want to buy some tools and try my hand at making more things, so I think this will be my first project.

16. Fix up the boat shed as a spare room
There is boat shed in our backyard that the previous owners built to house their kayaks. It is quite lovely, though the inside has only been part renovated to be a (tiny) room and I'd like to finish it off and seal it so that creepy crawlies stop calling it home, and then when we have guests they can have their own private little room. Long term, I'd like to extend it slightly and add a little kitchenette and toilet and shower but for the time being, making it bug free and warm are my main priorities.

17. Make a set of alphabet flash cards for Theo
I started this a year ago, but didn't prioritise it. I recently made a set of memory cards based on my childhood memories and I'd like to do a similar set with letters. I'll probably offer them as a free download printable when they're done. I'm looking forward to this.

18. Go to a Jets game with Cam and Theo
C and I loved going to see our home soccer team when we lived in Newcastle and still follow them despite being 1000km away and I'd love to take C to see a game. The atmosphere is so fun.

19. Use our film society tickets more often
We have yearly tickets to our local film society which shows art house and foreign films four sessions per week and we pay $100 per year. We love going but it's not easy for us to both go, having Theo and we can never be bothered going by ourselves. I'd like to have someone mind Theo for us once a month so that we can go to see a film from time to time - fingers crossed for this one.

20. Have another record party
I loved having a housewarming party recently and a couple of our friends left their records here on purpose so that they'll come over again soon and listen to them. I'm looking at buying C a new record player for his birthday and then I think we should have another little party.

21. Learn to use Illustrator and InDesign
A few years ago I was certain I wanted to be a graphic designer. I still love graphic design, but I don't think it's something I could do full time, but I'd love to know how to use the Adobe Creative Suite. I have both of these programs and would love to know how to use them. I wish there was a crash course I could take!

22. Help C to start making podcasts
C is hoping to start making some podcasts and wants my help to work out the logistical side. He is forever encouraging and helping me with my dreams, so I'd love to make one of his happen.

23. Do some home improvements
Just little things like painting our lounge room ceiling, patching cracks and fixing our back door so that I can actually open and shut it! Maybe also painting a wall in Theo's room a fun colour if I'm lucky?

24. Sing
I love to sing and I'd love to sing more often.



Do you have a similar list? What's on yours? Anything you've crossed off?

In an effort to take more photos of every day life, I thought I'd bring my camera along on our Saturday morning ritual of walking into town and going to the markets. Here are some pictures from our walk.




Above is Albert Hall which is one of my favourite Launceston buildings. Once a friend of mine, who worked in the building, took me up on top of the roof and the view was awesome.


Just about every Saturday we walk into town (about 2kms) and go to the Harvest Farmers Markets.
Harvest sells some incredible Tasmanian produce - my personal favourite stalls are Garden of Vegan and Wanderlust.



Wanderlust sell the most incredible gluten free pies.



Theodore likes people watching.




There's always a line up for Manu Bread.


I entered a drawing I did into a drawing competition they were hosting and I came second and won this Keep Cup and granola bars. I'll show you my entry in another post.


I also bought a big punnet of raspberries.



We often buy our fresh produce from the market.


These guys looked happy.




This week one of my uni lecturers had organised a group show at Sawtooth Artist Run Initiative / Gallery, so we popped in to see some of the works.





Then we took a walk through town.





When in Brisbane Street I have to remember to look up a the beautiful facades.

After we go to Harvest we often go by Mojo, which is a record store, cafe and hairdressers in one. We're more interested in the record store part. We like to buy some albums on vinyl - it is nice to listen to our favourite albums that way - I like the ritual of it and the way they sound.






Later on in the evening, we went to Holly's house for her 1970s themed party. I made a cob filled with homemade dip and chocolate fondue. Theo was extremely well behaved and slept in his pram for most of the night while we chatted and laughed loudly nearby until 11pm!



Holly is so cute!


Isis looked fabulous.






We finished off the night by playing back to back games of something called Skip-Bo and decorating rocks with pom poms and googly eyes.



Today I'm supposed to be doing lots of uni work but procrastinating just comes too naturally to me!
How was your weekend?

...late again!


We bought a new door mat this month! (from the Oxfam Shop). C and I keep arguing about which way around it should go though. I think it's feet should run along the doorway, but C thinks that it should be facing out for our visitors. Hmpf!


I bought these stray playing cards when I was in Deloraine with Isis and Holly. Holly bought me the cute umbrella one.


New bike in a box!


We got home from a walk and saw these two on our bed through the window.


This little boy was/is the apple of my eye.


Holly gave me this deck of Tasmanian themed playing cards. They're gorgeous.


I have started riding my bike to and from work again and this was the sun setting over the North Esk river as I rode across Black Bridge to work. It is pretty damn cold at midnight when I ride home twice a week (and sometimes I ride past some unsavoury looking people and it makes me uncomfortable) but for the most part I'm really enjoying it.


I added a page to Theo's book.


The story behind this sign is that I share my studio space with some lovely people and a lady from our class left Easter eggs on our desks the day before we all went on break. I came into uni several times during the break and, having long since devoured my egg, I saw the egg of one of my studio-mates still on her desk. Despite wanting to eat it a couple of times when I was at uni late and hungry, it sat there until the evening of the last day of the break. The next morning, when we all got into uni, the egg was gone! And it wasn't me! And the girl who sits at that desk had no idea where it had gone. So, there is a thief in our midst! So, I put up a sign outside our studio to make that thief feel guilty. I know it's a bit silly, but it is pretty shifty of someone to come into our space and steal something! Baddies.


Do you see what I see?! HAIR! It is so fair, he basically still looks totally bald, but I see it! It would be nice if he grew a bit more because it would keep his little head warm (he refuses to keep hats on).


I sat at my kitchen table and watched the rain.


Sometimes when I get home after midnight this little boy wakes up and wants to play.


I painted a little picture for my nephew Xavier's jungle themed nursery (who should be born next week!).


I listened to Kimbra's album on vinyl. Does anyone out there have any recommendations for good quality, new record players? Ours is old and plays terribly.


Theo and I went on some walks together (all rugged up). That hat stayed on for 5 seconds flat. AND while I'm mentioning this hat, it was left on my doorstep not long after Theo was born, by a blog reader, but I don't know who. Put your hand up if it was you! I love it!

Watching | Girls, Orphan Black, Game of Thrones & Call The Midwife. We're about to start watching Girls Season 3 and I'm so glad we've been pacing ourselves. I usually race through shows when I don't have to wait each week for episodes, but this one I've let myself mull over.
Listening | 'I'll Try Anything Once' - The Strokes and 'Joyful Girl' - Ani Difranco. Two great songs that get stuck in my head a lot.
Reading | The Secret History - Donna Tartt (really enjoying it, but finding no time for reading lately. It is kind of nice to pace myself through a book I'm really enjoying. So many books I've devoured in a couple of days and I wish I'd let myself mull things over more and given the characters more time to develop in my head). I also read Claire's very sweet little zine Around Town.
Making | At the moment at uni I am making a set of memory game cards with images from my childhood on them. I've also been drawing from photographs I took when I was in Stockton early in April and turning them into postcards (part of a series I tentatively call 'Souvenirs from places you wouldn't want souvenirs from'). Other than that, I've been writing little notes to my niece and nephew, painting a picture for a little competition and making myself a proper planner book because I don't have one and really need one and the ones from the shops are never quite right for me.
Visiting | I returned from my quick trip to NSW early in the month, we went to Evandale Markets (and a cat show!), visited The Great Western Tiers with Theo, C and C's dad on a little day trip and took Holly and Isis on a day trip to Deloraine to go to the markets, I hope to do that again soon!
Consuming | Coffee and bagels. Lots of bagels. I learned how to make them this past month because C is obsessed with them and the one cafe in town that sold them took them off their menu recently and he was devastated. My first batch was amazing, my second was great and my third, I tried to make a couple of batches as once with half wholemeal flour, and they were total duds. I tried making them with gluten free flour as well (gluten and me have a difficult relationship) and they were inedible. Anyway, back to the awesome bagels I made - I used this recipe and I added sesame seeds to the top of mine. Boiling the dough is my favourite part. Next time I might add in some blueberries!
Purchasing | Fancy new pots and pans (everything tastes better cooked in them!), purple shoes, a nice second hand hallway stand, Kimbra's album on vinyl and a new bike! I'll share pictures of it soon! I've also been going on some great opshopping trips. I've started trying to go to every opshop in Launceston in one day and I try to do that once a fortnight, or at least twice a month. Today was one of those days!
Coveting | A new wedding ring! I was at work and my beautiful wedding ring fell off, presumably into someone's shopping bag as I was packing because I looked everywhere and could not find it. Misery. I have bookmarked a couple of lovely rings since, but it might be quite some time before we can afford to replace it. I'm also coveting an old chest for a coffee table, keeping my eyes peeled!
Looking forward to | More mild Autumnal weather, Saturday mornings at Harvest Market eating Wanderlust pies, going to Holly's 70s themed party on the weekend, printing out photos and attempting to catch up on my Project Life photo album for Theo and possibly maybe starting another little side project blog!

This month I've spent a lot of time at uni, but my productivity has been a bit low. I love being there but I get distracted easily. The director of the gallery at uni installed some lights above my desk so now I can stay a little later (the sun starts setting so early in Winter in Tasmania, it's ridiculous). In May I need to manage my time better and spend more quality time with my boys.

This month I also removed anything from my sidebar that shows how many followers this blog has. I just wanted to, I don't know why. I guess it just became another thing to measure my self worth by. Not that it was really low, the number itself wasn't the issue and I am so grateful to have so many people stop by this space (thank you!). I think I just didn't need to have it there any more.

I have felt a bit discouraged from blogging lately, because of another blogger. It's hard for me to word I guess, but I suppose it comes down to that some people take inspiration from other people a bit too literally, to the point of imitation. I feel uncomfortable saying much more detail than that about it really, but it has been a really significant factor in my not blogging with any consistency lately. It's a shame and I've just been trying not to think about it because it makes me feel bad and uncomfortable. I think that all bloggers are guilty in some small part of collecting bits and pieces of ideas from other blogs, myself included - and that's something I think I often like about blogs really - that everyone bounces off one another and relates to each other and shares ideas. Obviously, this blog has many inspirations and influences and there are bloggers whose endless creative ideas and originality put me to shame! I make no claims on being a trend setter or having boundless original ideas. I just like to be creative and share and promote being creative. And if someone takes inspiration from something I do, that is a total delight, but visiting another person's blog and having it feel uncomfortably familiar, down to the wording of phrases and minute aesthetic details made me feel sad, like someone had thieved tiny bits of my identity and sold them to other people as their own. I would be so ashamed if I were to use someone's ideas, claim them as my own and not credit my inspiration. I don't even like re-pinning things on Pinterest if they don't have sources attached. It is important to me to be authentic and genuine online (and offline too), otherwise, I just don't see the point in blogging. I don't think I could have gone on blogging without sharing the above paragraph, I'm sorry for ranting! I feel a little better now! Onwards!