Old Top Gear: Morris Minor

This documentary reminds me that my Morry needs a bit of loving. It has been far too long between sunday drives.

BMC Grand Day Out 2013

It has been far too long between car shows for me (and blog posts). So when a friend told me about the "Grand Day Out", my Dad and I decided to go. 

Oh the bliss! Just me and my camera for a few hours (no kids). The weather was great, not too hot and slightly overcast and of course the cars were wonderful. It was just a shame that neither Dad or myself were in a position to take our Morris Minors with us. But there were plenty of Morries there to swoon over!

Here is my Top 5 pics of the day.

This Austin stood grand and proud and not too many badges on the front. Paint work was lovely and the touch of yellow badge and lights nicely set off the chrome work.

Little did I know that my Dad had a thing for the Morris 8 motorcar. The things that you learn!

Took loads of pics of this Mini engine bay. The owner had lovingly chromed everything that they could and it was lovely and shiny!

I could just imagine Bond arriving in this immaculate Austin Healy ..

The original 1964 Mini Countryman. A bit different to the monstrosity that was my 2012 Mini Countryman (someone else's words not mine) . The owner had one of those suitcases with speakers in them on the back seat, not sure if it was a Jukecase, but looked like it.

150 photo's later and lots of interesting shots of the inside of cars, badges and shiny rocker covers. A good day overall.

Thank-you Victorian Mini Club for running the event and allowing me to park my "Maxi" JCW Countryman in amongst the other shiny mini's ....

My love of old cars

There hasn't been much action on the blog lately. It isn't that I don't still love blogging, it is that I have been so busy over at Instagram posting interesting pictures of old cars.

So here is my Dad's beautiful Morris Minor. He takes great pride in washing and taking care of her.

And in the Morris Garages in Moorabbin there was this Alvis sitting there getting repaired. I had never heard of an Alvis. Thorpe mentioned that it was the "poor mans" Bentley and that he rarely saw them now.

And the old Ford Falcon outside my work. Looking at it closely, it looked abandoned. Tires slightly flat, junk inside the car.

And the gorgeous, souped up Peugeot that I saw in Sydney, West End.

So come and join me over at Instagram.

Society 6

If you like the Morris Minor Pop Art pillow ... I have uploaded it to the Konstant Kaos Society 6 store.

Isn't she cute?

I have ordered some digitally printed fat quarters so that I can have a play with my sewing machine as well.

My creative space: Morris Minor

I have three quilts waiting to be finished and when I finished my last uni essay two days ago ... all I wanted to do was play with illustrator!

I figured I didn't have enough UFO's hanging about, I'd best create some more. I grabbed the hold of an image of my Morris Minor 1000 and thought I would "poppify" it ..

I might get this printed up onto fabric to make some cushions ...Actually there is method in the madness .. I am putting together some pillows for our school library calm reading space. We obtained a lichtenstein inspired rug and picture, and so I wanted to do some pillows with quirky library phrases on them like " Happiness is a cup of tea and a good book".

 

I have taken a picture of one of the hold Headmistresses and have "popified her". I am still not happy with "Dot", the pink and orange doens't seem to work ... what do you think she might be saying?

How are you being creative this week? Join in and see what everyone else is doinghttp://blogs.kidspot.com.au/villagevoices/my-creative-space-the-make-do-studio/!

My hubby the model ...

I didn't take this, but I had to share ..



Two of my favourite things in the whole wide world ...

Have you met my Morris?

Dad reminded me last night that we are approaching Day of the Morris Minor next Month, 21st of November at Carribean Gardens. If you haven't been to Carribean Gardens on a Sunday then it is certainly an experience! For details of the day keep an eye on the Morris Minor Car Club of Victoria Homepage.

I bought her back in the early 1990s and she gets used in cycles. When I had my Corolla, she mainly gathered dust, but then after Victoria was born we made an effort to bring her back to her former glory. My Dad has a red convertable and for a while there I was very involved in the car club, at one stage Editor of their magazine and the club secretary. Then life got busy and I stopped going :(

She isn't original. Her original engine has been replaced with a Datsun 1200 engine and four speed gear box. Her wheels are larger and rims have been trimmed and flared to accommodate the larger wheels. She has a mini-moke speedo in her as well (in kilometres). We mainly use her to trundle around town in, long drives are kept for the more reliable and comfortable car.

We have also put different seats in her with head rests, from a Subaru (I think). And in the back seat there is a child seat for a very excited Victoria who loves to ride in the Morris. There is no radio, no air conditioning but she does have a great heater for winter.

So write the 21st November into your diaries, and come along to Carribean Gardens in Melbourne to see lots of lovely Morris Minors on display. Take a wander through the trash and treasure market afterwards.

The club is trying to get 100 Morris' together all on display in memory of the Club's Patron and founder who passed away this year, Dr. Dave Warren. It won't be the same not having him at Day of the Morris Minor, but hopefully we will put on a fitting tribute.

For more Blogtoberfest posts, go to Tinniegirl's blog to see the list of over 200 people participating in this Blogwonderful extravganza!

Adventures in Daylesford

We headed off for Daylesford quite early this morning, on a mission to check out the Overwrought security doors for the front of our house in Northcote. We had been meaning to order a security door for ages, but neither of us liked the idea of a door that made us feel like we were in a prison.

I stumbled across Overwrought when looking at a makers market homepage a while back. I liked the idea of the wren door and the shadows that it would cast down the hall way in the afternoons when the sun went down.

We headed off early, had the most yummy lunch at the Farmers Arms Hotel. I ordered their Beef Curry and Jasmine Rice. Absolutely delicious ....

Then drove up and checked out and ordered our gorgeous door (to be delivered in 4 - 6 weeks). We followed this with a stroll through 6 degree freezing Daylesford to check out the quirky antique and bric brac shops. Parked near one of the shops was this decrepid Morris Minor Series II sedan.

Complete with moss, spiders webs and weathered crap. But she was still running with new rego plates.

Makes me want to trundle around in my Morris some time this week.

Hoping that our next visit to Daylesford will coincide with their next Makers Market.

Cut and Polish

I have probably been spending far too much time trying to "polish" my blog presence. Re-arranging gadgets, combining text boxes, trying to get banners to fit properly into templates.

Here are some interesting links for etsy people:

• Craft Cult has this cool little feature that allows you to see who "heart's" your etsy shop!
• One Pretty Thing has such a comprehensive list of crafty Business Resources, you must check out.

My husband's family are from Germany, so it would be good to have that one touch translation gadget working! As for my family, they are from Scotland (hence the Morris Minor pic!).