Pssst can you spare a few bucks? (You were warned)

I am maintaining some decorum as I start this post but please read right to the very end!

A little while ago, through one of the crafty avenues that seem to appear every now and again, I joined a loose group of local crafters. In that group I met Kim and then her husband Rohan.

Kim and Ro produce the most amazing zine here in Ballarat - full of local goodness, fashion, craft and all sorts of stuff. Kim and Ro have real day jobs and mothering jobs of course (like most of us) and two sweet baby girls and a vegie patch and a dog and a Kombi to keep them busy .....

BUT they are passionate about their zine and they work their collective butts off to get it out four times a year. ( and they do not batter an eyelid when you arrive at their house for chat in your P.J's and dressing gown - they just offer you a drink and pat of their dog like it happens everyday )

(all photos coutesy of Rohan)

This issue of THAW is full of lots of people you might know.....Kate and Brendon from Fox's lane and daylesford organics, The doily talking about her new roller derby passion, the gorgeous Beck of dandelion, Howl (winners of TripleJ Unearthed high), and yes there is an interview in there with me banging on (as usual) about craft and community and working in my Pyjamas.

So, I am going to flat out ask you guys to go and buy a copy from Kim and Ro's big cartel site.

Or locally from L'espresso, Upholstery gallery, Coco Pink, Art Gallery,Stride and more....)

Buy it because Kim and Ro work hard to keep this zine humming along (and sometimes giving up seems much easier)

Buy it to support handmade

Buy it to read about me if you want , or Beck, or Kate, or Steph or the Darling Howl boys.

Buy it because this support thing is actually one of the things we bloggers do really well

Buy it because it is priced ridiculously low. - $3 yep, only $3

Buy it because if you buy it and then email me and attach a receipt or some such proof along with your snail mail address, I'll be popping a free pattern in the post to the first twenty of you !

So, you are all fabulous and I know you want to support others , not just get free stuff so although all the patterns are now gone, if you buy or subscribe, send me a copy of the receipt you will go in the draw to win a softie....he is very soft and grey. His name is Rocket and he is just waiting for a new home. You have until I leave for craft tomorrow night to enter.

BUT

and my voice has taken on that slightly higher pitched - little bit hysterical tone

Buy it because this is my daughter ! yep. Everybody look !!! That's right .

If I could insert flashing lights and sirens here you can bet I would.

This is Miss Ric-Rac, my post VCE, 18, slightly sulky, singer, empty loo-paper roll ignorer, taunter of brother, eater of Milo, lover of HOWL, hopeless at craft, Bestie of Jazz, wearer of vintage, COVER GIRL ...daughter.

and yes I may have promised NOT to embarrass her about this .......but she's 18, how many more chances am I going to get?

This is where you need to go to get fresh with my daughter

(eeeeeewwwwwwwww)