This is why I adore Twitter so much.  One of my Tweeps sent me this message:

Click on the image link and I was greeted with this:

This is all kinds of wonderful!  Thanks @elimaschio you made my day!

Yet another Tweet Up today.  This time it involved Alivicwil (of course), Schlep_star (understandably), Spence_84, Crankye, Joolery and Cryingpenguin.  The purpose of today’s gathering? To finally put a body to the voice that is Crankye.  Oh and get a lesson in crochet!

The place of our gathering, Edgar’s Inn.  Normally Edgar’s is a pretty safe bet.  Good location, great food and usually pretty interesting characters.  Today however the weather let us down and so did Edgar’s food.  But never fear the company more than made up for the little disappointments.

Apart from having a terrible hair day I was chuffed to be able to take my Thai Coke shirt on it’s first outing since purchasing it on holiday in 2006.  (It’s the little things in my world!)  I also took along my psychedelic wool and crochet needles.  I showed Crankye what I had learned from studiously studying Meet Me At Mikes tutorials on crocheting.

The previous day I couldn’t get anything to look right to save myself, but the power of Crankye soon had me sorted.  I managed to work out how to start my granny square and continue without it looking like something George had been alone with.  I was really proud.  (Again, it’s the little things!)

It was a wonderful afternoon.  It was awesome to meet some new people, catch up with some old ones and learn a new skill.  I haven’t had a lovely afternoon of lazying about socially in a long time and it’s made me long for more.  It also left me with a hell of a sugar headache.  (Much skittle and smartie action was consumed afterward when we wrapped up the afternoon with some Mario.)

I did manage to start on a less full on wool this afternoon to try and pay more attention to my stitching and get something a little more cohesive going.  I’ve managed to do this so far…

I’m happy with it and I’m planning on making it into a big lap blankie instead of granny squares as I’m all about the practicing at the moment.  Multiple granny squares will definitely be in my future though!

I’m suffering with a bit of joint pain, cramping and back pain at the moment.  It’s the first time I’ve really had the problem, so I’m a little behind on what works and what doesn’t.  A Twitter friend of mine, Icy from Individual Chic, suggested a heat bag.  I’ve seen them around, especially at craft markets, and I’ve always wondered if they would be any good.

I laid in bed contemplating getting up and heading into Target or somewhere to see if I could buy one.  Too much trouble and not especially bright when I probably shouldn’t be driving.  (Let-a-lone in public with a weeks worth of bedhead!)  So I jumped online to see what the wonderful people out there in internet land could share with me.

I found this site: Tipnut.  They have a great how-to on making a  microwave heating pad.  Sounded simple enough, so I decided I’d give it a try.

I’m only new to the world of sewing so I don’t have much of a material stash, but I’m lucky that nearly all of it is 100% cotton.  As I contemplated which material I would sacrafice for the greater good it struck me that I have a crapload of old flannel pajamas just waiting to be turned into rags.  [I don't know about you, but I rarely (if ever) wear the flannel pajama tops.  I tend to do a lot of tossing and turning in my sleep and I usually wake up when wearing them with the buttons torn off and it back-to-front.]  Flannel would be perfect for this task so I hunted down one of the pajama tops.  It’s worked out wonderfully!  Took me about ten minutes to make.  No measurements – nothing.  Here’s how I did it.

The equipment:

• Flannel pajama top – must be 100% cotton.
• Fabric scissors
• Quilting pins
• Brown rice (uncooked and unwashed)
• Fabric Marker
• Ruler
• Unpick
• Sewing Machine
• Thread scissors
• Thread – must be 100% cotton.
• Lovely Assistant (optional)

The process:

1. Cut a large rectangle of cloth out of the back of your flannel pajama top.
2. Fold it in over on itself and find the desired width of your heat bag.
3. Cut along the raw edge to make a small rectangle.  (Remember to leave enough room for seam allowance!)
4. Fold the material so that the good side (patterned in most cases) is facing itself.
5. Sew up two edges of the material.  (Not along the fold)  Make sure there are no gaps and that you’ve reinforced your start and end points by reverse stitching.
6. Turn inside out.
7. Fill half or three-quarters of the bag with brown rice.  Do not fill the bag to bursting, you want to leave enough room in the bag that it will mold to your shape and provide you with enough heat coverage.
8. Push all the rice to the end of the bag that is already sealed.
9. Sew closed the opening.
10. Microwave for 1 – 3 minutes.  Be careful not to burn yourself when you take it out of the microwave. (I put mine on a dinner plate to make it easier to remove when done.) Also do not leave it unattended while in the microwave.
11. Enjoy!

If these instructions aren’t clear enough – try How to Make a Microwave Heating Pad on Tipnut.

My completed heating pad is shown under the ruler in the first image.  It’s just the right shape for my lower back.  I’m loving it.  Not only is it providing me with much needed relief I also get to claim it against number 86 on my 101 Tasks in 1001 Days List.  Yay!

Part of my 101 Tasks in 1001 Days List is to do with my little website here.  I’d really love to get this site up and running and get more visitors, etc.  You know the goal of every person that starts their own blogsite.  This is my little corner of the internet world where I get to share the things that amuse me, soothe my soul and cause me lustful thoughts.

One of the things that I was keen to do was purchase some advertising space on blogs that I really love.  So imagine my unbridled joy at hearing, via Twitter, that Kind Over Matter were having an advertising sale.  It was kismet, and enough to make me launch myself off my death bed to take part of.

So I did it.  I took out three months worth of advertising.  Not only do I hopefully get some more readers, but I get to support a most amazing and wonderful blog in the process.  It’s a win-win and there’s so few of those in life so you have to seize them when they come by!

Let me start this with a couple of apologizes.  One, I’m sorry for the quality of the images.  When we attended the event we were unable to take our own photos, which is understandable given that they didn’t want anything to leak.  However Arena haven’t made available any of the shots that were taken on the night, despite requests, so I’ve had to resort to screen captures from the video on their website. Two, this is an image heavy post so I hope you don’t have a slow internet connection.  And lastly, I’m about to be very opinionated.

I wrote back in August about Alivicwil and I traveling to be a part of Project Runway Australia.  On the night five designers showcased their final runway creations; Ivana, Mark, Lauren, William and Anthony.  It’s a shame that they didn’t show all collections as they provided a great context for how outstanding the final three were, and it also show cased Mark in a way that the series didn’t show him.

I managed to take notes throughout the event, and so I thought I would share them in the format that got me there in the first place – Twitter

My thoughts on Ivana’s collection in Twitter format:

• Who the hell cut her hair?  Did she go to Anthony’s barber?
• Rocker Chic
• Who knew cape’s were back… Has she not seen The Incredibles?

• It looks like a giant oil slick…
• That dress is very Lady Ga-Ga meets Kylie.  Image this as a short dress in black…

• Mixture of textures.  Inclusion of plaid is great.
• This is Victorian Steam Punk Noir
• These looks like they came from Doctor Who!

My thoughts on Mark’s collection in Twitter format:

• Mark in person is like a little wizard in person. Just want to gobble him up!
• Finally some colour!
• The blue colour is amazing! I love it.
• The second dress is DIVINE!
• A catsuit! Meow!
• His clothes are so flattering.

Now on to the final three.  I’d also like to go on record here as saying I picked the final three based on the catwalk shows.  I’m the only one that’s going to care about that… but I just wanted to point it out… my brilliance… just saying… *grin*

My thoughts on Lauren’s collection in Twitter format:

• Lauren is stunning.  The show didn’t do her justice.  Stunning, and small.
• She needs colour in this collection.
• Those hats look like florist ribbon.
• Dress #6 is lovely.
• Oh Max Factor what have you done?!?!  Black lips are never attractive!
• Unless you’re a clown, tightrope walker or juggler stripe pants are not attractive!
• Some items give the appearance of poor tailoring.
• Chain mail is from Mitre 10 challenge.
• None of these models can walk in a straight line.
• I love the jacket.
• Black is such an easy choice. Colour is brave.
• Music is a good choice.
• Last dress is a nice concept dress – shame the model couldn’t walk in it.

My thoughts on William’s collection in Twitter format:

• He’s so wonderful.  Can I take him home with me?
• Fashion = fun! Yes it does!
• South American influence.  This should be awesome!
• That skirt is OMG wonderful.  I love the print.
• Mustard and red *swoon*
• The jacket reminds me a little of Chanel…
• PRINT AND COLOUR – he’s my hero!
• Eiffel Tower detail from Peter Alexander Challenge.
• Cate Blanchett from Aviator
• The hair is whimsical.
• Jewelery is STUNNING! I want!
• Pink dress is very 1920s
• Another catsuit. I see the beginnings of a trend.
• Where’s Miss J when you need him? These models are crap!
• His last model looks like she’s been smacked with the dumb stick!
• It’s like Monastery Chic crossed with Madonna’s Like a Virgin.

My thoughts on Anthony’s collection in Twitter format:

• What the hell is that on his head?
• It’s stunned shocked silence.

• I wanna run my hands through that fringe!
• Two men – nice change.
• What is she wearing on her head? Why is she being silenced by a rose?
• The detail on the back of that jacket… it looks like a present bow.
• The midnight blue is wonderful.
• Nice knickers!
• I love the shoes… I don’t know why, but I do.
• The construction is outstanding.
• The clippers are cutting edge! (Pun very much intended!)
• Is she wearing a chux on her head?
• The music combined with colour is more like a funeral.
• Scored on the shock value, failed on the fashion value.

Watching the show on television it provided a much more detailed view on some items.  It also gave insight into the selection process of the items shown.  Ultimately all the designers put together amazing shows.  I wish William had won, but I understand the decision to give it to Anthony.  Do I think people spend too much time making fashion an intellectual study when it’s really about eye pleasing, yes.  But that’s their want.  I like looking at pretty things, and this certainly gave me the experience I craved.  I’m going to miss my Wednesday night tweet and critique.  Thank you Project Runway!

You can see the final episode here -> click!

On September 8 @GuilianaRancic, host of E! News, put out a call from Twitter asking for questions you’d like to ask Oprah.  It was an amazing opportunity to talk to the Queen of Television, so I put forward some questions.

I like to think that @GuilianaRancic and I have some history.

You could say we’re practically BFF’s, so it really should have come as no surprise that @GuilianaRancic would choose one of my questions to ask Miss O.

I’d kind of forgotten all about it until this morning I got this tweet from @ TashaAllenMVMT:

@gnomeangel hey i saw you on tv!

I had no idea what they meant.  I still really didn’t understand until @SimonProietto tweeted:

@GnomeAngel I just saw your tweet to oprah on e!

Well I’ll be… so I rang home and got HUBBY to tape E! News.  Low and behold there was my Twitter page on the big screen.

Oprah answered, and I’m paraphrasing, that there’s nothing her fame stops her from doing.  No surprise there really given that she’s the Queen of Self Empowerment and not handing control over to anyone else.

It amuses me greatly that this was the lead tweet on the screenshot of my Twitter account; guess my Protestant faith has gone global.  It’s also funny that my “Not happy Jan!” icon was still in place.  I’m just grateful that I wasn’t having a four way conversation with @AngryEliza, @Carly_B and @Alivicwil – who knows what kind of profanities could have turned up on the screen!

This is just another reason why I adore Twitter – it makes anything possible.

Did you ever wish you could trade talents with someone?  You know, you trade your ability to tie a cherry stem into a knot using just your tongue with their ability to make great art.  Well if there was one person I could trade with at the moment it would be Suzanne Woolcott.

I know art is personal and individual, but one of things that I think no one can argue with when it comes to Suzanne Woolcott is how supportive of her fans she is.  It’s so rare that you find an artist so willing to share of themselves and their work.  On Little Gorjuss Things, a blog which showcases Suzanne’s life and art, she offers weekly awards for those that use her art to make more art.  It’s wonderful. So refreshing.

In May I purchased two prints from the Gorjuss Etsy store.   One for me and one for my Mum.  They arrived and they were swoon worthy.  So much better in person, the detail and colour sublime.  I think I’m going to have to put an extension on, or possibly build another house, just so I can have a room filled with all these wonderful prints.  Here’s my current wish list…

This weeks Friday Fancies are inspired by my love of Twitter.

1. Twitterati Love T-Shirt – I love this design, the font and graphic are so cute and unusual.  What a great way to announce to the world just how very cool and fashion forward you are at the same time!

2. Scrabble Tile Twitter Bracelet – I’m kind of shocked the Twitter is only worth 10 points.  Thank goodness for the W! This is so cute, and it combines my love of scrabble with my love of Twitter.  Win, win!

3. Twitterati Necklace – I’m so ordering some of these for my Twitter posse!  I love that you can get them in different colors and that it’s the same font and bird from Twitter.   It’s bling for the geek!

4. Celebrity Twitter – I am both huge in the meaning popular and obese so I love that this would have a double meaning for me.  Well in my head anyways.  I wanted this on the Threadless Twitter Tee’s that are on offer, but I think for this particular declaration less might be more… so this would be perfect!

5. Sweet Tweets Twitter Blue Bird Stud Earrings – too cute for words!  I love these little birdies.  A nice twist on the blue bird jewelry I got as a youngster too.

6. You Heart Us – Michael Ian Black and Alyssa Milano these are just fabulous because it could be done to anyones tweets.  You could end up with a family heirloom of something profound that you once said on Twitter handed down through the ages…. Imagine the joy that “Ok, I’m going to bed. Nigh Nigh.” will bring to the next generations!

7. Maxitees – “I tweet to be complete” and “Anonymous Twitter” are funny because they’re true.  I love the anonymous shirt because it even took me, a seasoned Twitterphile, a few minutes to pick up on it’s meaning.  Also, when Alivicwil and I do a boob off in it our boobs are going to look like they have halo’s.

8. Tweet – I love the handmade charm of this piece.  It’s nice because it’s not immediately linked to Twitter.  It’s subtle, and occasionally I like to be subtle.

I’m addicted to Twitter.  It’s the first thing I check in the morning, even before my email, and it’s the last thing I look at before I head to bed at night.  There’s a few reasons why I love it, but at it’s core it’s the people that make it.  The people are the reason I keep coming back for more, and over the past few weeks it’s been a core group of people.

What started out as a few tweets on the premier of a new television series has turned into a regular Wednesday night tweet & critique.  What show has brought as all together?  Project Runway Australia.

The premise of the show is a simple one: 12 designers are given a design brief each week and only a limited budget, their ideas and their abilities to survive each round by making a runway standard outfit.  The end goal: make it to the final runway and be crowned Project Runway’s Top Designer.

Seems simple enough, right? Wrong! It’s brutal.  It’s hard enough to come up with an idea sometimes let-a-lone make that vision a reality under the spotlight of a film crew and four tough judges.

The judges aren’t to be taken lightly.  The core judging panel is comprised of host (and supermodel) Kristy Hinze (Go Queenslander!), Jayson Brunsdon (of Morrisey fame) and Sarah Gale (fashion buyer).  The fourth position is rotated through a bevvy of guests from the fashion and entertainment industry.  While I love listening to their critiques I do sometimes find myself longing for the bitch factor of Alex Perry and Charlotte Dawson from Australia’s Next Top Model.

It’s not all stacked against the Designers they have help in the form of the fabulous Henry Roth.  He provides support, encouragement, constructive criticism and mother-hen’ing.   Some of the best moments this season have been from Designers struggling to take on his advice when it comes to their creations.

But I digress, the real winner this season (for me anyways) has been the interactive aspect of the show.  The ability to tweet with Project Runway (@ProjectRunwayOz), a main sponsor (@TRESemmeAU) and the many dedicated fashion forward in Australia.  Some nights the commentary from Twitter has had me in stitches (no pun intended), some of my favourites have been:

@TRESemmeAU: hungry for a stickfigure highlight? here’s one for @gnomeangel and the rest of you #prorunoz zers http://cli.gs/z1a7N2

@Troyzee: What the hell is a vortox?! It’s vortex you douche! And stop eyeing the Spanish guys sandwich! You don’t need it! #prorunoz #kellianneisout

@Troyzee: Oh eww. Fabio’s man lump! #prorunoz

@ProjectRunwayOz has also offered some Twitterers the ability to tweet from the @ProjectRunwayOz account.  So far two lovely people, @whattowearcomau and @houseofturtle, have risen to the challenge and given some great commentary to the show.  Tonight will see @stylemelbourne step up to the plate.  I can’t wait.

I think the other thing that’s worked really well about incorporating Twitter into the show has been the give aways run by @ProjectRunwayOz.  It’s given people the opportunity to feel even more like part of the show.  It’s also made for some great laughs as people vie for prizes.  I have been lucky enough to win Season One of Project Runway Australia.  While I’m very grateful and thankful for winning my eyes are still on the grand prize – tickets to the runway!

So how awesome is it that @ProjectRunwayOz has teamed up with @whattowearcomau and is offering one lucky reader (and their even luckier friend) a chance to attend a Project Runway Australia event!  All you have to do is head over to What To Wear and follow the very simple (and humourous) instructions!  And the most important thing, if you win remember who sent you!  My bags are packed… so what are you waiting for?

I can’t get into Facebook and I’ve never tried MySpace, but Twitter – Twitter I love.  It’s like having one big conversation with the rest of the world!  Imagine having a conversation with random people around the world about things like televsion, movies, music and fashion all in 140 characters or less.

In the lead up to the latest season of Project Runway Australia starting, Arena had been using Twitter to drum up excitement.  Their Twitter presence is called @ProjectRunwayOz. They were giving away fashion vouchers and clothing prior to the first episode via Twitter.  It was brilliant.  A Twitter Treasure Hunt!

While I wasn’t able to hit the streets and find the @ProjectRunwayOz people, I could tweet responses to the Twitter Trivia contest and win some vouchers.  I was lucky enough to get some vouchers to Coco Lee. Brilliant!

So when the season started I tweet‘d my way through the first episode and it was a hoot!  Not only was I able to share my thoughts with my Twitter mates, I was also able to meet some new people through our love of fashion, drama and great television.

The main sponsor of Project Runway Australia is TRESemmé Australia.  TRESemmé also have a Twitter prescene under @TRESemmeAU.   So imagine my surprise when I tweet‘d my love of  the TRESemmé Australia commercial that was being aired during the show and got a response from @TRESemmeAU that they were going to send me some of their products to thank me for my tweet.  Totally unexpected and totally awesome!

My surprise parcel arrived and I’m so stoked.  It contained Heat Tamer Protective Spray, Smoothing Creme, Straightening Balm and a Deep Smoothing Masque.  It’s everything I need! I can’t wait to use them when I get ready in the mornings.  They smell divine!  There’s nothing better than having great smelling hair.   So thank you @TRESemmeAU – I’ll think of you every day!  For once I can’t wait for a Monday morning!