art | Grated Expectations

Etsy Shop Update

April 12, 2017 by Katrina·1 Comment

Grated Expectations Cross Stitch is coming along! I sold two patterns last week! I still have a big checklist of things to improve, and many more new pattern ideas to actually design/stitch/list, but I’m pleased with how it’s going so far.

Here’s what is in my shop at the moment.

What’s your favourite Aussie biccie? Australia has so many types of cookies! I decided to document them. My favourites? Kingston, mint slice, and choc ripples.

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/500979754/aussie-biccies-cross-stitch-digital-pdf

Continuing on in the Aussie food theme… Australian ice creams. L-R: Golden Gaytime (actual slogan: “It’s hard to have a Gaytime on your own!”), Cornetto, Bubble O Bill (he has a gumball nose!), and Magnum.

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/501130482/aussie-ice-cream-cross-stitch-digital

How fancy? For the fancy person in your life (maybe it’s you!).

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/523213927/fancy-af-cross-stitch-digital-pdf

Hang this up on the door when you need some recharge time. Extroverts just don’t get it.

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/509403860/introvert-recharging-cross-stitch

Something different. All your favourite Neko Atsume cats and cat toys on one very cute pair of shoes. Meow.

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/508515464/neko-atsume-hand-drawn-shoes

Low Poly Paper Elephant

April 10, 2017 by Katrina·4 Comments

Dad mailed me a really cool 3D paper project a few months ago and I finally put it together. It came with about 80 pieces of card that had numbered tabs and scored lines on them. I had to fold the pieces and then glue them together in sequence.

It was very confusing at first.

But then it started to come together and got very addictive. Just one more piece, then I’ll go to bed!! *does 12 more pieces*

It turned out HUGE!! I thought it was going to be about 1/4 the size!! It took me about 4 nights to put it together.

How cool does it look up on the wall! I love it!

Thanks dad! ♥

Natasha Repays Her $5 Loan

April 7, 2017 by Katrina·2 Comments

Natasha takes loans seriously. She came all the way to Australia to pay back the $5 we loaned her on the last day in Mexico. Good thing the interest rate was favourable.

We did A LOT of fun things together. It was great.

We went for a swim and a photo session at Brighton Beach.

Baby’s first snot block. (And by “baby” I mean Natasha! Cripes people ;))

Melbourne has the best alleys. We did a lot of walking.

Top notch Melbs graffiti.

Our favourite work at the National Gallery of Victoria (which is free, by the way).

I tried a macaron from Maccas. It was a confusing experience.

We went to an AFL game at the MCG. The crowd was lively and Collingwood lost so it was a good night.

The view from Arthur’s Seat, on the Mornington Peninsula. You can see the tiny gap in the otherwise enclosed Port Phillip Bay, and the actual ocean in the very back.

Playing on the rocks at Cape Schanck.

At Yering Station in the Yarra Valley. That was a very cheese, chocolate, wine and cider filled day. Thank you Scott for driving us around.

All that was in the first week! The second week I kinda had to get back to my normal routines, and Natasha explored on her own. And then she found a ride to Adelaide and continued on her lap around Australia. I hope she comes back to visit again, or we are able to meet up with her somewhere!

Routine

March 12, 2017 by Katrina·1 Comment

It’s been a while since I’ve done a life update. I guess because we’ve settled into a bit of a routine now.

WORK: Mine is going well. It’s been a bit challenging trying to learn everything when I’m only there a couple days a week, and with everyone sharing the work, but it’s coming together. Scott’s is… going. :/

HOUSE: We moved! We upgraded to a two bedroom apartment a bit more central to work and family. The apartment is small, but nice, and I love the neighbourhood.

EXERCISE: I joined a new gym near our new house and it’s GREAT. They have an epic gym area, swimming pool, and lots of classes, so I’ve been able to add yoga and swimming back into my exercise plan (in addition to weights). Scott started biking to work (10km each way!), and still plays basketball and the occasional extra game of soccer or more basketball.

CRAFTS: My latest project is creating cross stitch patterns that I am trying to sell on Etsy. It’s hard though!! I have to make the patterns, test stitch it, photograph it, list it, and then advertise it. I’ve got two patterns in my shop but I still have SO much more work to do.

I also taught Scott how to crochet, so we’ve been making granny squares to eventually turn into a blanket. The biggest challenge is getting our tension to match each other.

FRIENDS: I’ve still been going to trivia most weeks with my internet friends. They are great. I also get together with a sub-group of them to Stitch n Bitch every month, which is fun. We usually eat lunch, and then crochet/cross stitch.

We used to go to a different trivia night with some of Scott’s friends but the pub changed the night so that is off until we find a good replacement.

We had Jemma and Damien over for a games night the other weekend. We played Wasabi and Carcassonne. I think we are getting close to teaching them Agricola!!!

VISITORS: Cassia and Pablo came to visit Melbourne with two of their Spanish friends. We went to Chin Chin for dinner the first night (1.5 hour wait!!! but really tasty), and then did a mega tourist day the next day at Brighton Beach, Fitzroy, and the CBD. I hope Silvi tags me in her pictures because I didn’t take any. :/

Natasha has arrived in Australia as well. She’s in Sydney at the moment, but we expect to see her in the next couple weeks. I can’t wait! We’ve got the guest bedroom all set up ready to go. :D

SUMMER: One really hot day we drove out to Sorrento back beach to play in the tidepools. It was lovely but Scott severely sunburned his feet which was SO GROSS. It wasn’t that hot of a summer, but it is lingering a bit. It’s still been above 30°C most days, but thankfully it gets cool overnight, so it’s been okay.

SKELETON: My FOMO about not sliding this season hasn’t actually been that bad because 1. I still get timesheets from Whistler to analyze, 2. the World Cup races are on at very convenient times here so I’ve been able to watch most of them live. 3. Instagram stories make me feel like I’m right there, and 4. My old coach Rob has been keeping a daily vlog. So yeah, that’s cool. The final race of the season is next weekend, in Korea on the future Olympic track! Should be interesting.

OK I can’t think of anything else at the moment, so… hasta luego.