Holi Goddess

loving life

2011-04-24T12:42:00.000+10:00

passing time........wow have i passed some, my goodness its been 4 months since i last posted. how unkind of me to not even let you know that my beautiful no'2 was a happy healthy bouncing baby girl.

Isabella Star was born on 11.1.11 at 9.18 am after many hours of labour and yet another emergency ceasarian. She is now 3 1/2 months old and an adititue to boot. what an absolute joy she is and her big sister Nina still cant stop kissing her.

(minutes old)

she feeds well (as i sit here typing with a babe attatched to my boob) she cat naps through out the day which leaves me with not alot of me time but at least she is sleeping through the night and i feel like i have control of my life as i get a good 7 hrs sleep. if i dont get enough sleep our entire household falls apart.

we are moving house this weekend and i cant wait! since Issy came along our house has folded in half & there just isnt a lot of room, our new home is wonderful and i am busting at the seams to create my new home. i love a blank canvas........furniture placement, picture hanging, tea cup displaying

til then i leave post open ended to be back as soon as i am able, with pics and posts about babies, kids, decorating & just being a mum.............

note to self: buy a new camera before i miss out some important mile stones

passing time.......

2011-01-03T16:49:00.000+11:00

today i sat and just watched the clouds pass me by.

day 5 of braxton hicks & false labour starts...............

holiday DIY with the kids

2010-12-27T17:02:00.000+11:00

cement planter made from recycled packaging

1. Collect recycled food packaging for molds. Pay attention to unusual shapes. Wash them and spread out to find proportional molds. For instance, a cottage cheese container in an ice cream container works well.

2. Combine the dry cement mixture in a plastic bucket using one part cement, and 4 parts vermiculite. Use gloves when mixing. 3. Slowly add water as if you were making dough, being sure to add the last part of water slowly. Humidity can affect how much water you need. It should be the consistancy of peanut butter. (It looked too dry to me but you will be suprised.) The mixture should clump in your fist and hold its shape. We used a drill to mix the materials but a shovel will work if you don’t have one. Be sure to wash it immediately after mixing. 4. Transfer mixture to one of your recycled containers. 5. Tap the container on your work space to make sure it settles in until the top is flat and even.

6. Push a smaller container into the larger one. Remove the displaced cement mixture and put it back in your bucket. I like to put it in off center to give it that cool modern look.

7. Place the sheet metal on top and flip it over. Move the container back and forth to get the top nice and flat. Leave to dry for at least 24 hours

8. To remove the molds, tear off the outside mold if it is paper or use a knife to cut off plastic molds. Pull out the inside mold with pliers.

9. Sand the edges smooth 10. To create drainage, drill holes in bottom. Let dry for at least two days before drilling.

11. Plant a succulent! Enjoy!

to see a pictorial version pop on over to ready made . there are loads of other fabulous projects to try, the site is CHOKA block of inside, outside, craft etc..DIY projects, some are a little daggy but its kind of nice to wander through a site that is not awsum in its styling and just to find that sometimes SIMPLE is all it takes to get your kids / your creative minds working :)

happy holidays everyone xoxo

xmas spirit

2010-12-20T11:20:00.000+11:00

(unknown source)

from here

i am not really feeling the xmas spirit right now. i am hoping today will be a day of no braxton hicks, the last 3 days have seen me hanging on to benches and door openings to brace myself only to have false labour starts after a few hours. there are things to be done before baby no'2 arrives and i am truly hoping i can get through to the new year without dropping this load.

i have done most of my xmas shopping, there are still plenty of things to do. my xmas decorations are a half hearted attempt (but nina still thinks they are wonderful) i managed to make some xmas bunting from my nanas doilys, tea towels & aprons, nina made a wreath out of ? stuff but i would love the one pictured.

so hopefully today i can finish my shopping and xmas decorations without any interuptions from no'2.

nurturing my soul

2010-12-11T13:21:00.002+11:00

from here

nurturing my soul.....online that is

it's been quite a while my dear blog since i last posted!

the count down is on with 27 days to go to my due date. my dearest lil bambino will soon arrive and i have soooo much to do! my studio/nursery room is in an absolute shambles......i started the transformation about 2 weeks ago and i have left it in a bigger mess than what it started out.

i have been busy with custom orders the last few months but i am sorry to say that i have now packed away my fabrics and machines and will not be sewing for a little wee while.

i have been distracted by my new online obsession PINTEREST it's like creating your own magazine. for years i have cut and pasted my lil lovey lust pictures and inspirations into journels NOW it's all in one place. here are a few of my fave pics, go and have a look at my pins if you dare......i guarantee if you have an insatiable lust for pretty photos, craft, interior design etc you too will become addicted (all photo links will take you to my curated boards, from there you will be able to view the source) click on the BOARDS to see each collection of my favorite pics.

from here

much love xo j

a creative painting space

2010-10-21T10:40:00.001+11:00

an unfinished canvas & a big mess of metho, brushes, oil paints.

i love that there is no straight lines, no hems to iron or zips to place. a creative mess in progress - i spend a little bit of time every other day playing around with the metho & washing back the previous colour, messy but fun :)

for more creative peeps pop on over to here

the handmade show - market day

2010-10-20T17:00:00.000+11:00

i forgot to take my camera last saturday so i grabbed these pics from the THS facebook page. it was a great day, although very exhausting. this will be my last market at THS this year as i now take some time to clean up my lil house and get organised for baby no'2, because as soon as it is xmas i will have a baby the following week so i really must get my big pregnant butt into gear before the weeks pass me by.

will i pack away the machines? we'll see.

Vital Temptation

2010-10-18T10:49:00.000+11:00

i love a scarf.....on these wintery again days i think these are a vital must have.

amazing wearable fiber artworks.......they make me feel warm & cosy just looking at them :)

Vital Temptation on etsy.

freedom with wings

2010-10-14T18:18:00.000+11:00

'free as a bird'

from sweet william

today i purchased this print from the lovely sweet william. i was doing some blog catching up this morning after some sad news (more in a moment) and i just had to have this picture. i have always loved paula mills' art works & now i can say that i am a proud owner of one.

free as a bird

on a sad day or is it a day of freedom? i was given news that my father has passed away. i did not know him very well, although i had visited him in germany & he to australia over the last 10 years. we shared many letters with never much in common as our languages were always a boundry and living in different countries our lives were completly different. for years he had suffered illness but always managed to stay on top of it. testicular cancer & brain tumors finally got the better of him as he slipped into a coma and died peacfully in his sleep a few days later. one strange thing was that i was going to be on a plane to visit him just last week, the day that i was to arrive & didnt, he fell into the coma..... when there is no more hope & nothing to wait or live for, do we let go?

so this art print- free as a bird- is ever so fitting as he now has wings and is free from the hell that held him for so many years.

my dearest leo, you are now free.......so fly xo

garage sale?

2010-10-05T16:54:00.004+11:00

pic from here

do these still exist? i am thinking of doing one. with baby no'2 getting closer i have realised how much crap i have collected over the years. as a renter for the last 7 years (currently living in rented house no' 4)my worst habit would definatley be buying or thrifting new furniture to fit into its new space - i now have a garage FULL of the stuff. and clothes- mountains, shoes-tonnes, craft & habby - bin loads, kids stuff -truck loads the list goes on. i sold my unwanted 'label' clothes on ebay, but the time spent on photos, questions, posting & packing, ebay fees, just didnt seem to add up.

S P A C E

i need more of it in my little white weather board cottage to make daily living seem a lot less caotic. the worst thing about my sordid hoarding habit is that i have noticed nina now has a similar problem. she finds value in everything -egg cartons, toilets rolls -they make good tress, fabric scaps - make good dolls blankets etc i do admire her crafty arty little soul, but enough is enough.

ITS TIME TO GET RID OF THE CRAP!

or is it called clutter?

i am also thinking of packing up my sewing room (until i feel a little more organised)this would also mean that instead of baby no'2 (due on 8th jan) sleeping in the hallway it could actually have a room to itself, now wouldnt that be nice?

more inky art love

2010-10-03T12:23:00.000+11:00

shiver by yellena james

candy by Yellena James

maybe by yellena james

some more whimsical inky art love from esty.

i am really getting itchy paint fingers, maybe it is time to pack up the machines, fabric & habby to explore other creative outlets.

Yellena James' work is a must see, go and have a flick through her links.

shop blog web

inspiration

2010-10-02T11:29:00.000+10:00

Floating Matilda by Jessica Doyle

Urchin by Jessica Doyle

Hope by Jessica Doyle

some saturday morning art love.

i have had Jessica Dolyes etsy site stored in the back of mind for ages. i think i first came across her from another blog or maybe i was just trawlling etsy. anyhow...i love the first pic especially now that i am pregnant, it now reminds me of mother & child living and growing together. i love the inky, floatyness of all her works, its very underwater like (hence, the sea urchin) but i think it is the caos of the ink that gets my fingers in a knot and want to start drawing or painting again(my sewing machine & i are at odds with each other lately)

go and have a looksy around her store or her web for some whimsical, inky, inspiration.

the joys of pregnancy

2010-09-21T12:29:00.000+10:00

picture from sindyshops.com

i love this picture! how glamorous is Sindy? if only i felt this way today. some women love to be pregnant, i think i am definately NOT one of these, well i am some days......

Congratulations you are pregnant!!!

here are some things you (me) may not like about it:

1. every morning begins with a quick dash to the loo to bring up breakfast

2. your wardrobe no longer fits

3. oh aching breasts

4.oh even more aching nipples

5. itching skin as it starts to S T R E T C H

6. no brain, cannot hold a decent conversation

7. sciatic pain in butt

8. can't sleep due to large bump in the way

9. kankles appear around 5pm

10. indigestion from water!

11. waddle like a duck

12. always hungry but nothing ever tastes good

13. no champagne or sushi

14. constipation

15. fork lift needed to get off the couch

16. ok so i could keep going..............

the count down for me is now at 16 weeks to go & yes i know its a very long way a way and all my non- joys are only going to get worse. i'm crossing my fingers for a

" i love pregnancy" list soon.

*

2010-09-20T17:52:00.001+10:00

oooh how lovely it was to check out this weeks "monday new finds" from madeit. to my surprise i found one of my vintage styled market bags. there are lots of other lovelies to see, especially this one .
you can see all the 'monday new finds" here.

i have quite a few more market bags ready to pop in my shop along with some lovely lovely lovely journel/diary covers, ahhh but my camera has blown a fuse so i must get this sorted out asap

feeling pretty?

2010-09-17T12:02:00.001+10:00

kimono style robe: Plum Pretty Sugar

cami dress: Plum Pretty Sugar

this makes me feel pretty, how about you? this etsy shoppe is amazing!

do go & have a wander through the amazing clothing & homewares. the blog is just as fabulous & inspiring, i have been on it ALL morning .....

Plum Pretty Sugar on etsy

Plum Pretty Sugar blog

made it store re-openend

2010-09-16T12:36:00.000+10:00

my madeit shop has re-opened with some new lovelies in-store.

made from an eclectic mix of new & vintage fabrics, laces & doilies, these market bags are perfect for your weekend market shopping days & have a little pocket inside to hold your keys and phone. they are fully lined or reversible. pop into my store and have a looksy, tell me which is your favorite xo

a market bag or 2, 3....

2010-09-15T16:52:00.002+10:00

busy busy busy, my new market bags will be in my madeit shop tomorrow.

made from new & vintage fabrics.

calico bag love

2010-09-14T10:49:00.000+10:00

i do love a good calico bag. i have put in my vote over at udessi. entries close today at 2pm to win one of the many fabulous designs to be screen printed especially for udessi customers. i think i may just have to add one to my collection even if i dont win

my fave is definately Gretchen Mist's in sea green

a lazy sunday

2010-09-12T11:38:00.002+10:00

yesterday i was woken from my dreary sleep with a msg from mum who was at this market. PACKED she said. it took ages to get a coffee and to wander through the amazing stall holders was at a slow shuffle. So it sounds like this new makers market, about an hrs drive from Daylsford is definately one to keep an eye on. Mum lives only 5mins away, so it would make a great girly w/e away.

if you havnt had a looksy at their info page, do, its got some fabulous creatives on it. my fave so far, this lazy sunday morning, has been Blue Day Designs very interested in her stencil pics - might put this one in the vault for later when my new baby arrives. (not long now, only 17 weeks to go!!!)

Blue Day Designs

Blue Ginger Designs

(cos maybe one day pauly might actually wear a tie)

purses to blush

2010-09-09T11:52:00.000+10:00

the last week or so has also seen me being super busy making more doily purses for the lovely Jo from Blush in Corrimal NSW. Jo found me via MadeIt and bought out my store in one swoop! It's always such a good feeling when your creations are loved so dearly. She let me know that over the w/e the most popular purse was the big green sari one . So with that being said, more were ordered and are on their way.

(ok now i'll go enjoy my quiet time)

a week of creatives

2010-09-09T10:39:00.000+10:00

ahhh the serentity!

nina has finally gone off to day care after having the dreadful cold for 1.5 weeks, finally she has gotton rid of it & they say the only way to get rid of a cold is to give it to someone else - ME! so i am now in week 3 of cabin fever, although i have managed inbetween nina's cold & mine to get some crafty swaps done and make a stunning cake! i promised nina on one of our rainy inside days that we would make a cake - pink with lollies was the request! it was yum!

the calico & co crafty swap was sent off during the week and loved much by its recipient- a doily purse from previous post (the white one) and Here Comes The Sun sunny day swap over at Punky&Me. The criteria was to make something that screamed SUNSHINE- i think i covered this pretty well! my swappee is an uber cool chick who sneaks the streets of perth and crotchets onto street placements, so i thought maybe a crotchet bag that could be slung over the shouder would in order. check out Captainplaknit 's stuff here

i've also got some new purses to show you, but i think i might go and sit in the sun while its out & enjoy my few hours off life xo

Buninyong Makers Market

2010-09-06T20:54:00.000+10:00

i was hoping to go to mums this weekend to just chillax......and also 'cos there is a new makers market happening in mums home town. i did get a heads about this one to join in and i think i just might a lil later down the track .

Its about 15mins out of Ballarat, if anyone doesnt know about it. They have a blog

go have a looksy & find out a little bit more about it.

short ' n' sweet i'll be back in the next few days with pics of my crafty swaps & swappees, more on my madeit store sell out & some news of a new stockist xo

purses, purses, purses

2010-08-28T15:53:00.001+10:00

some newbies in my madeit store

i have been busy stitching up a frenzy! in total i made 12 zippered purses today. made from recycled denim, vintage doilies, laces & silks. they are all different sizes as i was not too concerned about them all matching in size, more of a "lets just go with the flow & see what happens" kind of thing. And its nice to see something a little bit different in my store aswell, although i must update my hand-dyed scarves. They are still available i just have not yet taken new pics to show the new laces i am using. maybe tomorrow whilst pauly & nina are at the footy.

(yay! day off family duties)

creative space

2010-08-26T10:17:00.000+10:00

a while ago i purchased this gorgous print "the rabbit & the duck" from Penny @ Pocket Carnival, for a friend who was expecting a baby boy. I thought this print was (still is) just perfect for a little boys room. For months i searched for the right frame and couldnt find one that would fit it nicely......baby Miles was born and I was under pressure to get this thing framed! i ending up buying a white box frame and machine stitched the print onto some art canvas, then framed it. I love the texture that the art canvas has and with the stitching it makes it look more of a collage. i am very happy with it!

then a card.....the giraffe was scanned from a piece of vintage wrapping paper (you may remember i made gift tags using this wrapping paper quite some time ago) then printed onto my fave paper (art canvas) & machine stitched it a ll together.

The gift was perfect for them! The Pocket Carnival print is now hanging up on

miles' wall and the card is possibly going to be framed aswell. :)

its a good feeling when you put something together for someone special and they love it!

pop on over to kootoyoo to more creatives!

quick! quick! by midnight tonight!

2010-08-13T21:55:00.000+10:00

oh silly me!

this is a fabulous little swapsie going on in blogland that i thought i would join as the swap date is for the week of my birthday and it is a birthday swap! so i thought it quite fitting that if i give a gift - i will receive a gift. the only problem is that i made the swap number an uneven one, which means someone will miss out! (thanks to my eagerness and stupidity)

my plee....QUICK! someone join this swap by midnight to night so that one lovely person doesnt get left out!

JOIN HERE NOW!

otherwise i pledge now- that i will send 2 x handmade gifts to make up for my eager stupidity!

new brooches

2010-08-12T16:38:00.000+10:00

i have just added some new brooches in my madeit shop.

these little lovlies are made from an old pair of sass & bide jeans(far too gone to keep or sell), a vintage silk sari skirt and of course my nana's lovely collection of chopped up doilies & lace table cloths. they are pinned to my favorite paper (art canvas) with the blurb "brooch" from the dictionary printed on & they come delivered to you in rescued pattern paper & lace making them a true re-cycled, up-cycled, re-purposed fabric addition to your wardrobe.

our creative space

2010-08-12T14:31:00.000+10:00

this morning we sat in the morning sun and did some colouring in. i finally had a creative space! its been a while and i am happy to say that even though i am not hugely excited about the way my teapot turned out, it may just be the first of many. i did a sketch of a teapot onto some canvas paper whilst nina drew some flowers, i then had the urge to stitch it up with my machine as i dont fancy myself as a drawing person, then i came back to sitting with nina and shared her pencils. she wasn't too impressed that i only used green "have you ever seen a green teapot mama?"

the tulips are just because - mum gave them to me on the weekend, tulips are my absolute favorite and this morning they had opened up!

pop on over to kootoyoo for more creative spaces. there are lots to see, so i am going to grab a cuppa and sit down and imerse myself in some lovely creative spaces this afternoon

creative brain verses....

2010-08-08T12:32:00.001+10:00

image via the cafe mom

creative brain verses pregnant brain...

and the winner is PREGNANT BRAIN!

i am struggling to find my creativeness! i cant even go op shopping and find a scrap of fabric that makes me get excitied (times are really bad!) i look at my machines and my boxes of thread and they just look so ho hum sitting there waiting to be used. i sit and read my endless supply of design & fashion mags..and i dont get excited about the thought of new shoes! (oh dear) i read everyones blog posts about their creativeness and fun exciting ventures and just think "how nice"

where oh where has my little brain gone?

oh i do hope my creativness returns.....i feel quite useless without it. maybe i need a change of outlet? i have thought about digging my easle out of the garage. for a while i was collecting masses of used canvas' from the opshops so there is no shortage there......or i could work a little harder at work and start jewellery designing again. the bonus with this one is that all stones and findings are supplied, i can work from home & just make stuff and put it in the shop, there is no photography, no tweets, no blog posts just good old fashioned face to face retail.

mmm......so will my sewing studio become a painting or a jewellery studio?

i leave my thoughts with the wind....and i shall let them float about for a few more weeks....and then i shall get my shit together and stop feeling so sorry for myself.

(i hope!)

circus fun

2010-08-07T13:18:00.001+10:00

last night we went to the circus! it was cold, muddy, dark and soooo much FUN! the circus its self was a little old (i think they had been performing the same old routines for 20 yrs) but the popcorn was fabulous as were the hot jam donuts & fairy floss.

we had lots of giggles!!! nina thought is was just the absolute best! (even though the only animal was a shetland pony about 70yrs old)

xo

give - away!

2010-07-26T12:30:00.001+10:00

oooh how divine! i see myself sitting propped up with cushions to support my growing belly whilst i dream of a new makeover for my home if i were to win this lovely give away! maybe today i will do it anyway and grab a mag, make a cuppa and just relax.

My Little Birdie 's book give away is on her blog - how could you not enter this one?

market day

2010-07-18T15:20:00.001+10:00

i always love going to the market, it is such a fun day and i always manage to end up spending as much as i have made. my favorite stall holders of the day were Lori from Found n Bound who was next to me and we chatted most of the day and Sammy from Sammy Nuttall Art & Design who paints the happiest of bangles and paintings.

(scuse the blury photos)

The day was fairly quiet compared to the past market days, but all in all i think everyone had a good time and got to have a good chat with customers & talk crafty stuff between ourselves. Oh and of course the devonshires teas are always my fave! Samone from Red Letter Studio popped in to say hi which was lovely to meet her in person & we chatted about a new marketing design for the The Handmade Show.

an exhausting market day but definately a good one!

and its been a happy sunday:- breakfast in bed, an email from Gretchen Mist with a lovely note about my doily purse on her blog (totally chuffed), mum popped down with a quiche & neenish tarts for lunch & now its time to rest up on the couch and read some mags. xo

studio clean out

2010-07-16T19:13:00.001+10:00

i have had a busy busy week getting organised for tomorrows market. i have had a big studio and clean out and came across (well tripped over) a massive box of old fabrics i have had sitting in a box for a year or 2. So i have packaged it all up into little parcels ready for the taking, free taking that is. mostly it is from the days of when i was costume designing, so there is a lot of satin, panne velvets, indian silks & saris and a few odds and ends.

tomorrows market is The Handmade Show @ 95-97 Drummond street Oakleigh at the Oakleigh / Carnegie Rsl 11am - 3.30pm . pop on over to the blog to see who's there tomorrow and to find out a little bit more about this great new artisan / crafter's market

see you tomorrow!

Ooo....just found out that Sammy Nutall Art & Found & Bound will be there

madeit finds in Green

2010-07-13T11:04:00.000+10:00

1. baby elf pixie hat by baboom 2.honey pot soy candle by WickedEarth

3.botany quilt by Eden Rose 4.green fox by Pepper Stitches

5.lavender birdy by Oopsidaisi 6.forest nymph hat by Art & Wool

madeit's monthly email was delivered this morning with a bit of a challenge......to blog about finds we love. So i thought that seeing as i woke feeling a little green (up all night with surging baby making hormones) these lovely baby related finds suit quite well to how i am feeling today. i have had my eye on Eden Roses baby quilts for the last couple of weeks and marked this one down as a favorite to purchase in the upcoming months (i love green)

Blossom n Bird love

2010-07-12T12:37:00.002+10:00

how sweet a find this morning on Madeit.........Blossom n bird madeit shop & blog

these prints & softie dolls remind me of my childhood & it is such a beautiful day today that these little ladies just make me want to go outside and play hopscotch or skip a rope.
Maybe I just might xo

there's a new lady in town

2010-07-11T14:10:00.000+10:00

my cobber dolls seem to have taken a bit of a back seat lately i noticed whilst having a bit of a studio tidy up. i felt a lil bad for neglecting these lil men - so i decided to give cobber a bit of a make-over & also introduce him to a lady friend named Bridgette.

she should be ready for the The Handmade Show on Saturday.

there is a story behind these people (as you know cobber was my grandpa) - i will share the rest of the story soon.

(mum - bridgette & cobber xo)

blog love

2010-07-08T16:56:00.005+10:00

i came across this fabulous blog today (between sleeping & bathroom dashes)

the shed - I MUST one day have it!

TALES OF A JUNKAHOLIC - check it out

Handmade Show

2010-07-08T12:24:00.002+10:00

WOW! there are only 10 more days until the next market day! Pop on over to the blog to have a looksy to see what it is all about. or join our FACEBOOK page to get the weekly grit on whats happening.

i will see you all on Saturday 17th July

(blog is not a whole lota fun when i cant load pics, is anyone else having this problem since blogger changed thier ways?)

pregnant brain

2010-07-06T16:32:00.002+10:00

my brain is mush and i have no idea what i have done to my blog.......and today i really cant be bothered sorting it out. What i should be doing is sorting out my shrinking wardrobe. Everything is getting far too tight.....i could ebay my wardrobe away or i am thinking of doing one of those ladies markets, i have mountains of handbags, shoes, jewellery, clothing i could get rid of. Has anyone ever done one of these markets, i would love to know if they are worth doing?

So for now, i live happily in my yoga pants (not that i feel like doing yoga at the moment) and my daggy compfy jumpers, i am such a pretty sight right now, my skin is ever so dry, pimple break outs, no make up, although my hair & nails are growing at an amazing rate.

So please do excuse the mess whilst i try to recover my brain, accept my body changes and the state of my blog (still cant load photos?)

My made it shop is up to scratch and running smoothly with some new items added, so please feel free to continue to shop, (this is one thing i am doing well & happy with) oh and i just reminded myself.....i must get some scarves to little shop of, i promised them weeks ago.

i like to sleep

2010-07-04T12:42:00.004+10:00

the last few months (incase you noticed i havn't been around much) i have been spending my days sleeping & trying not to vomit - i can now say all is good and i am happily in my second trimester (13 wks) of pregnancy!

I have been keeping up with my sales, all my favorite blogs although havnt managed to comment nor post about my creative spaces or vintage finds as all i can think about is - will this piece of toast stay down or "my goodness did i really just sleep 15 hours straight!"

and it seems in my absence of blogging i have missed a few new blogging add ons and for some reason i cannot load images.............i was saving this post for a while and was going to show you all my first happy snaps of our new baby in utero but the pics will not load (nor any other images) so i shall go and have a snack and have a nana nap

xoxo

Rassberry Love

2010-05-26T16:18:00.004+10:00

NEW rassberry cotton loop scarves in my madeit store

i lurrrrve this new colour! it is like rassberry coolee on vanilla ice-icream

Curious Oyster Shoppe

2010-05-19T19:50:00.007+10:00

WOW what a bust week of sewing & sending my hand-dyed scarves!

i have a new batch of BERRY almost ready to go - its such a nice colour, almost like a rassberry coolee.

my madeit shop has now completely sold out of grape & salmon this week

and i have just sent a little lot of my hand-dyed scarves to this super shoppe.

Y Curious Oyster Shoppe is at 776 High St, Thornbury VIC Y

web, blog , madeit & etsy store

will have to go back there and meet the lovely

Annaliese in person xo

an old thrifted treasure

2010-05-16T15:37:00.004+10:00

i thought i would share the life of Audrey, my dress makers manniquin. i found her many moons ago in one of those trashy warehouse style bric-a-brac sheds on the way to the Mornington Pennisula. She cost me a fabulous $12 and needed a little love. Originally she was covered in a purple & white cotton fabric, that was stained and torn, so I removed it all and painted her white. Her insides are completely rusted, which actually makes her not very good for dress making. Her standing pole is lop-sided and spins everytime i try to stand her up. She now sits happily on her base with all her nuts & bolts firmly tightened so as not to tip over. She has served me incredibly well over the years and i think i will keep her forever. She is a permanent fixture in my sewing studio and lovingly displays all my creations for me.

Y Bless your rickety-ness and your off beat hips my dearest friend Audrey Y

pop on over to the lovely Sophies for more thrifty love

cooking green singlets & scarves

2010-05-14T13:27:00.004+10:00

during the week i boiled up a nice pot of teal green singlets & cotton scarves. i love hand dying fabrics, you just never know how the colour will end up. the colour i used for this lot was called teal, but it has ended up being more of a sage-y kind of green. the fabrics sometimes (even when cotton) dont always take to the dye which is why it is always a bit of surprise as to what you end up with. i am super happy with this colour, very earthy and not too bold (just like me)

i have made a few scarves and will pop them into my store today, and as for the singlets - i am thinking i might save them for the market, not sure yet. i wanted to get a really nice double sided velvet to thread thruogh the thermal singlet details, i think it will give them a bit more of an edge, soo you'll just have to wait and see what i come up with - doily inspired of course

made by joel - kids crafty heaven by a dad

2010-05-11T22:43:00.004+10:00

'the paper city'

this blog is just far too cool for my childs creative mind. pop on over have a looksy there are sooooooo many fun things to make & do. i love the link list on the side made by you - you'll find even more great kiddi crafts.

i am going to make the pillow dolls tomorrow with nina, you know because every girl needs another doll.

new cotton loop scarves & market update

2010-05-10T15:04:00.004+10:00

i trialled a new design at the market on saturday & they were a hit! so today i have spent it making more loopy scarves and have put some up in my madeit store and i have another batch in the dye pot at the moment.

The market was FABULOUS!!!! such a great turn out, it looks like it is going to be a really good thing, everyone had great sales and lots of fun, i have posted up heaps of photos on the blog. my favorite stall holders were BLOCKAGE & My Little Birdie (who will be opening a madeit store soon) I am very much looking forward to the next one in July. we are able to take another 6 stall holdrers for the july show and possibly another 20 for september as we take over the outside area & dining rooms aswell.

mothers day was fabulous also! i spent it tralling High St in Northcote with just my mum, it was so much fun. my favorite shop was definatley ....ahhh the highway one...oh dear i cant remember what its called now, but any how it was great, mum bought an awsum skirt and i ummed and arghed for too long and then it was closing time. my to-do list is to now go back there armed with a purse full of cash and go nuts!!!!

market madness

2010-05-05T09:46:00.003+10:00

................................................

okay..firstly does anyone know much about copyright laws? i have been playing around with a new poster & buttons for our craft market and i really like the blogger template we use for our blog - CAN WE USE THESE IMAGES AS ADVERTISING MATERIAL?

WOW! this market is like a steam train - we have 12 stall holders now so it looks like it is really taking off. i have posted some great interviews about some of our stall holders, good to see such a mix of crafty goodness. And there are still more applications to be approved, but i think we have run out of time - the next one will be absolutely packed if this months apps are anything to go by. And i'm pretty sure we found a musician to play aswell.

PLEASE stop by the blog & our facebook fan page and join in this ride with us:

we need as much recognition as possible.

Y Thanks Jessi aka: MAD STITCHES for posting about the market to your facebook fans you're an absolute sweetie

So.....now the rest of my free days i spend making and creating for this saturday xo

flea market find

2010-05-03T15:23:00.005+10:00

it's not vintage but it does the job! today we found this bright happy ikea clock at our favorite oppy. it matches the colours perfectly with the one i bought in spain many moons ago - i think i now need to do a bit of wall re-arranging and make a bit of a clock montage.

pop on over to sophies for more fabulous finds

out they go

2010-05-03T12:28:00.001+10:00

another little lot of wholesale doily brooches on their way to sunny qld. this lot i made with vintage silk sari's, recycled denim & of course dolies!

new craft market - dramas

2010-05-02T11:51:00.008+10:00

how frustrating it is setting up a new craft market!!!!!! the time involved makes me wonder if it is all worth it?
such such such a great idea - to start a new makers / artisan / crafters market in the south east side of melbourne.

anyhow.......my winge is just me being frustrated at the work involved. the hardest part is definately trying to work in harmony with the other makers as we all do our own share of marketing etc.... dont get me wrong i love this new venture, i think i just want it to be great RIGHT NOW! not in 6 months time. i get frustrated that i am not totally in controll - but do i really want to be? i would love to see this thing creating a storm, where people come to the market, have a cuppa, listen to live music etc.... the venue is totally perfect for it. it just needs a bit of GROOOOVE baby!!! at the moment i feel like it is a little more on the nana daggy side. i want to see amazing artists happily tending to their stalls with a buzz of total awe at their craft.

i love that we support the venue & i love the venue and the fact that it is fee free. this market operates a little differently to most, because we (the artists & crafters) run the market ourselves. Instead of paying stall fees, we donate a percentage of our sales to the RSL for hosting us. We are a non-profit group that all share the responsibilities of running this new & exciting venture. but with out profit we are at our own expense to pay for marketing on webs, print etc so WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!!

so if you havnt heard of it, stop by the blog become a fan of our new facebook fan page aswell. come to the market, be a follower, jump on board this totally new ride with us and enjoy what it is that keeps us all crafting.

or if you have some inspiration for me i'd luurvvvve to hear from you. or if you a marketing guru who just loves to do free branding let me know.

these words are sooo random - my sunday morning dribble i need a coffee! xo

doily days

2010-04-30T08:33:00.002+10:00

oooOOO.....tis a nice surprise to pop on the MadeIt blog.

i'm loving these little doily creations they just seem to sew themselves. i made a couple of tiny coin purses this week using recycled denim jeans, doily pieces and some indian silk wedding sari Y

vintage cotton reels

2010-04-26T20:08:00.002+10:00

today i was playing around with some of my nanas cotton reels. i am thinking of doing a bit of a mini moo buscard montage-y thing with them, i can't decide which is my favorite yet.

its a doily brooch loving kinda day

2010-04-23T10:37:00.005+10:00

I must thank Bec from MadeIt who posted my brooches in this weeks MadeIt Shopping Guide

The last 2 days, my inbox has been flooded with sales and custom orders for these fab lil brooches & now hair clips. It's such a lovely feeling when people love what you make. So today and the next few sees me sitting excitedly at my janome stitching up a storm to get these orders out. I am also desperatley hoping that my mini moo cards are in my post box so that i can label these little beauties with their own tags.

a little note on the Holly Hobbie Puzzle - yep all the pieces were there!

a Holly Hobbie delight

2010-04-21T15:46:00.003+10:00

today i went to an op-shop i havnt been to before! and what a great old fashioned oppy it is! run by the local church this little beauty has an amazing assortment of clothing, kitchenware, kids stuff, pretty much everything in the good old fashioned price of cents. what a find this Holly Hobbie puzzle was! i think the affection we (girls my age) have for her goes back to our own childhoods. i remember having a doona cover. i took it home to nina and explained to her that this is MY puzzle but you can play with it if you are very careful. she is still sitting quietly putting it all to gether for me. oh...and it cost 60 Cents! the box is a little moth eaten, but there are no rips or tears, the pieces are clean and un-bent. i love the saying at the top -

START EACH DAY IN A HAPPY WAY.

i will let you know if all the pieces are there, i hope so - thought it would look great framed and hung in ninas room.

the op-shop is on Mcleod rd in carrum if you are interested, just next door to aldi 10am - 3.30pm

Vintage Garden Party Garland

2010-04-19T15:41:00.002+10:00

i have just had a bit of a tidy up in my studio and i found this! My nana's vintage sheeting i made into garden party garlands!!! any how..i have listed it on madeit - go have a looksy :) while i keep cleaning, i may even find another one.

winter dress - a thrifty find

2010-04-18T16:30:00.008+10:00

a fabulous find indeed! i stumbled across this fabulous tunic style dress at one of my local thrift stores the other day. i looked at it hanging on the rack and thought...geez that looks rather large & interesting, my curiosity did get the better of me and i had a looksy at the label, size 10 (wow big 10) made in Australia (YAY- how often do you ever come across a garment made in oz) made from italian linen (WOWEEE) and made by Veronika Maine. it is like new so i am wondering how old it is. I loved the fabric straight away, very wintery but the cut got me thinking......so i tried it on. and it fits like a glove!!!!! with the most interesting pin-tucks & folds in the front panels, back & sleeves. i think it just needs a good 6inches of hem removed and i will have a divine winter staple dress i can wear with boots & stockings, belted & perhaps a skivvy underneath.

Y pop on over to sophie's for lots more thrifted lovliness Y

moose & bird delight

2010-04-16T10:45:00.003+10:00

moose & bird

i have been admiring Melindas handi work for a while now, and i desperatley needed a pin cushion - as i missed the pin cushion swap with foxes lane (my own laziness)

so i purchased this adorable one from moose & bird on Madeit. the fabrics are just divine and the packaing was just as special - i didnt want to open it in the attempt to not ruin the fabulous old paper pattern & sweet lil handmade paper flower. Thanks Melinda it is so lovely, i am very happy with my purchase and i willl be back again one day soon for one of those amazing pear cushions!

paper love

2010-04-14T10:23:00.003+10:00

One Craftee Mumma

the other week i purchased some gift cards on MadeIt in my efforts to support as many fellow madeit sellers as i can - sharing the love of hand-made is such a good thing. i came across some lil gift cards by One Craftee Mumma, and purchased 2 sets which arrived safely & are just divine. Tamara, the ever so precise paper crafter, then popped me in her give-away -

and I WON!!!

i have never won a give away EVER, give me credit i do enter a few and this one just because i had purchased, so maybe it was my karma. in my parcel of give-away love, Tamara sent me a set of the most adorable mushroom gift cards, 2 packets of paper punched birds & a cute mix of buttons!!!! so excitied. She has an etsy store, madeit store & blog.

go and say hi, she is such a kind hearted soul. Thanks Tamara, you made my week x

cobber love

2010-04-11T09:48:00.004+10:00

i have woken up this morning feeling rather blah.....i still cant shake this cold.

but this has made me smile! :) one happy lil baby loving his new cobber doll. thanks anika for sending the pic, Rhys is just farrrr too cute. xxx

mad stitches

2010-04-10T14:08:00.004+10:00

tomorrow we are heading off to the childrens market in mordialloc to visit Jessi from mad stitches. she makes great kids stuff and has some new jewellery designs i cant wait to see. and the lil singlet dresses look like they might just be my ninas size. if you're around, pop on down to the market. she has a lovely blog aslo.

paying it forward

2010-04-08T18:20:00.002+10:00

the lovely Amy from no'15 was the 1st of my pay it forwards. she has a great blog about fashion. photography, decor & art. go have a looksy.
so that's 1 down & 2 more to go......and yep they should be on their way soon, so if you joined in with my pay it forward, keep an eye on your letter box. Y

doily love brooches

2010-04-05T16:44:00.005+10:00

last night i decided i needed a brooch to wear for today, and i didnt have one that took my fancy, so i whipped one up! and another one and another one and then there were 10!

you can find them in my madeit store here for $12.50 each

just because

2010-04-03T19:41:00.004+11:00

(laughing as stella licks her toes)

today i made nina a new dress for a birthday party on monday. i think it's going to need a wash before then, she just had to wear it & play outside. i also made another cushion, the letter k. this one we will give to kai for his 1st birthday on monday. NONA - remember this fabric? i think you wanted me to make a quilt?!?

oh and a little bit of picniking around with a cammomile t, some strepsils & a box of tissues.

my creative space

2010-04-03T14:53:00.005+11:00

a late creative space.........i have been in bed for the last 2 days with the flu (ok, a really bad cold) hence the late post. so on thursday my creative space was at work (mystic turtle) where i spent the day playing around with gaspiete beads, and made a beautiful necklace. i love this crystal, it is an australian stone used by the aboriginals to connect back with their ancestors & the land. the colour is just amazing dont you think? i ummed and ahhed for a while about owning it, but i thought maybe it would be better in the jewellery case to be admired (hopefully) for a while.

i hope everyone is having a restful easter break, its a good time to catch up on all the creatives over here @ kootoyoo

okay, so now looking at my pic, obviously my cold had already set in. can you see what ive done? silly me ! oh well will fix it on tuesday.

T is for terrific

2010-03-31T12:29:00.002+11:00

the letter t, i made from a vintage table cloth for a friends birthday, i hope he likes it! if not i think i am quite happy to keep it for myself.

i heart vintage scrap journel cover, i made from new & used fabrics. i quite like this piece too

i heart tote bag, this started it's life as a pillow case, then i saw it had more use as as a tote bag in the same style as the journel cover.

as a creative person - i dont always like what i make, or i find it hard to photograph, or it just goes into the too hard pile, but the last 2 days of making & creating i seem to have been on a good thing. i really like what i have made this week. i feel like i have now found a style that suits me. (mum what do you think?)

N is for nice

2010-03-29T08:22:00.004+11:00

yesterday was a very productive day. the sewing angels gave me wings. i sewed ALL day. i have been wanting to make letter cushions for ages now & finally yesterday i found the patience. i love the way this letter n turned out. made from beautiful "paisley power" by ro gregg (a great bargain on ebay a while ago) & some vintage sheeting. And in case you were wondering what ever happened to my poster print - well here it framed up in my $2 oppy frame and sits with my vintage suitcases. i also did a letter t for a friends bday, but i have to get some more hobby fill (these pillows use heaps).

i also came a cross a beautiful blog dottie angel

which then inspired me to do some random fabric art bags & journel covers. photos to come, as i was sewing until midnight I JUST COULDNT STOP i love days like that.

EASTER recipe sharing...choc self-saucing pudding

2010-03-28T09:57:00.009+11:00

this is one of my fave chocolate recipes in the world. I thought being easter it would be nice to share a heavenly self saucing chocolate pudding with you. My mum has been making this for us for as long as i can remember, it's always a request when she makes us a family dinner. How perfect it is now that the nights are getting darker & colder, this pudding just fills your belly with hot chololate love.

does anybody else have a favorite chocolate recipe to share for easter?

chocolate self-saucing pudding

you will need:

2tbls butter

1/2 cup milk

1 cup self raising flour

3/4 cup white sugar

2 1/2 tbls cocoa

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 cup hot water

1tsp vanilla

directions:

melt butter & add to milk mix in s/r flour, white sugar, 2tbls cocoa & vanilla. mix really well to form a thick mixture.

grease a large dish & pour in the mixture, sprinkle with rest of cocoa & brown sugar. pour hot water over the back of spoon. bake in high oven (180') for about 40 mins. you can smell it when its ready or stick a knife in the center. serve with cream & or ice-cream

you could even pop them into lil individual ramikins or sreve with a rasberry sauce.

Y so so yummy & easy Y

my creative space

2010-03-25T20:04:00.005+11:00

today i worked at the Mystic Turtle but this week i have been busy cutting wrap skirts. I love this pattern, as it was probably my best selling item when i had my shop. (go back about 100 posts to find out more about Holi Goddess or just google it and see what pops up)

ANYhow ..the best part about my wrap pattern is that they are a free size, can be adapted to winter or summer fabrics & look pretty damn good on just about everyone. So i have pooled my fabric stash together, mostly wools & vintage sheeting, to get a great lil story happening. I am also thinking about hand dying some cheesecloth scarves to match. So...time permitting, hopefully these babies will be up on madeit in a couple of weeks, or if i stretch my time a lil bit more maybe even open my etsy store. xxjade

pop on over to kirsty's for heaps more creativness

my new addition

2010-03-24T09:37:00.002+11:00

this is my new baby! her name is Stella, she is 8 1/2 weeks old and driving me crazy!!!!! no really she is adorable, she's just a pup finding her place in our home. after my Ruby died a few months ago, paul & i decided to get a new puppy for nina's birthday. we searched long and hard to find the right new family member & this lil love popped up just as we needed her. she is a 3 part staffy & 1 part rotty, so our fingers are crosssed that only a tid of the rotti comes through.

i forgot how hard pups are - they cry, howl, chew........as long as we keep all the main doors closed she is pretty good and understands the words no & get out! nina is obsessed by her- she is the mum and i am THE GRANDMA she told me (still coming to terms with that) i'll let her have it , if it makes her feel important.

Marley & Lockyer

2010-03-21T10:52:00.002+11:00

GIVE-AWAY

i almost dont want to share this give-away to ensure i have a better chance of winning, but how could i not tell you about how wonderful Marley & Lockyer is, to do not one but 3 items from her etsy store. i have asked for -if i win- 2 x fraser seed co cushion covers and the sweetest lil mini tree clay tags.

market day

2010-03-20T18:53:00.004+11:00

was great to see everyone again at the the handmade show. i am looking forward to the next one in may as there will be lots of other new crafters to meet aswell. i had a great day -experimenting with new stock. but still my timber necklaces seem to be a winner. and i even sold some stuff from my studio clean out basket. there is still LOTS if kinks that need to be ironed out for the next market (show)mmm..) but all in good time, we have a lot of really keen ladies to get this thing up & running smoothly. now to unpack that car........or a glass of wine?(please do excuse my camera pics)

Market Tomorrow

2010-03-19T10:23:00.005+11:00

how did this come around sooooooooo quick? i have a zillion things to organise & i was hoping to get lots of it done today whilst nina was at kinder this afternoon........but i am on kinder duty to day (i could wag it)

i must get more necklaces made, finish notebook covers, make denim & lace cuffs, buy zippers & pillow inserts, make the pillows! & remember to go to bed.

I thought it would be a good time to off load a heap of fabric & habby, so i will also have at my table fabric & habby from $1.

x jade

2010-03-14T15:43:00.003+11:00

pop on over to the handmade shows blog to read a lil interview about me & my crafts. (must admit it was a bit weird posting an interview about myself) THS will be posting on all our stall holders so make sure you are a follower of the blog. there is also a couple of stalls left for march 20th market, you can apply thorugh the blog.

just a quikie today, i have sooooooo much to do this week, next time i will introduce you all to my new baby, Stella. xxx

necklaces, brooches & vintage pins OH MY...

2010-03-07T11:53:00.006+11:00

you can find all these little lovlies in my madeit shop now

my creative space

2010-02-18T20:52:00.006+11:00

and this is just one of 4 corners. and i sometimes wonder why my creativeness just isnt there! but hey, like my profile says, if i cant see the floor -i'm happy that way i know i have been productive. On an upside i am very blessed to have my own sewing room & its all mine so who cares how messy it is. It is full of all my treasures, like my painting of Frida Kahlo (yet to be mounted), my nanas cookie jar, buttons etc, 2 of my machines, baskets of cotton spools, oppy finds, made things, and not so finished made things, boxes & baskets, vintage saris...etc so........maybe next week i'll show you all another corner, or if i can be bothered i might even tidy it up. x

make sure you have a look at some real creatives here

the hand made show

2010-02-17T10:44:00.005+11:00

ok peoples it is time to get rolling on the THE HANDMADE SHOW

have a look over at the blog for more info and if you have something crafty/arty you would like to share with the s/e side of Melbourne you can submit your application here, maybe the March one is too soon for you? i suggest applying now as spaces are sure to fill up quickly.

strawberries & valentines

2010-02-14T17:12:00.003+11:00

we spent the day picking strawberries! soooooooooo much fun! they are the tastiest little buggers i have ever had! nina was a little bit worried about the plastic bags we had to put on our feet, but they kept our soles clean as the ground was very muddy. the store was great, they sell straberries in all thier glory. the best would have to be the mega strawbs, they are the size of kiwi friuts! amazing. we had strawberry icecream THE BEST! great day out, it was $8 per person (nina was free) you get given an empty mega punnet and then go down to the fields to fill it. So now..............we will gorge ourselves on strawberries for the next few days. i dont know how to make jam but i thought mabe a puree for milkshakes & ontop of icecream might be nice.

what else can be done with them?

worth knowing about

2010-02-13T12:16:00.004+11:00

this is a haven worth sharing!

i visit this warehouse when i dont have a good thrifting week, i know i can go to Carmels & get some super cheap sewing bargains. this is a wharehouse full of amazing stuff at super cheap prices. Last week i bought a zillion zips for 10cents each, 2 x 200 mts of lace for $5 a roll, very nice, overlocking thread cones for $1 & i drooled over the belt buckles 20cents, purse frames, leather straps, trillions of $1.99 mt fabric, free stuff! YEP FREE STUFF,

they also stock a large range of Lace, Habby, Beads, Craft & Quilting supplies - all priced to clear. You will not be disappointed. Carmels Fabric Clearance Warehouse is located just 1o minutes drive from Mentone. You can find them at:
6 Mason Drive Braeside Vic 3195.
Phone 03 9587 7275
Melway Ref: 88 A11
Monday – Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm
Saturday Closed
(Closed Public Holidays)

hooray!!!

2010-02-12T10:46:00.003+11:00

hooray hooray hooray :)

i just got a convo from Gina @ Sunandmoon from etsy telling me that she had no idea i had even placed an order, it was lost in cyber space somewhere. so my lovely lil tins for jewellery are now on their way and should arrive just in time for The HandMade Show market on 20th March

happy happy

nina's creative space

2010-02-11T17:49:00.004+11:00

i can feel cabin fever setting in!!!

so our day went like this:

we walked & rode our oh so pink, spoky doky, tassly, girly bike to the milk bar for an icypole
i did a load of washing only to have it dumped on by a huge thunder/rain storm
did the dishes
cheese n bickys for lunch
had a great cup of coffee x2
made 8 necklaces
made nina a shirred flower dress with collecting pockets (you know for feathers, pebbles, sand etc)

so while i was doing all this i kind of lost track of what nina was upto, she would wander in and out of my sewing room to collect cotton & buttons and stickers etc.......... she was decorating the tv! how fabulous! so the tv is wrapped in cotton & shirring thread, stickers & my favorite has to be the lavender pies she made out cupcake patties. but the best bit of all is that she pulled those glary tassel things off her bike, yes they have made a mess but at the least the bike isnt so princessy anymore.

and so now the car.............there is no car til next week GOD HELP ME!!!!!

my creative space...today i will..

2010-02-11T10:13:00.007+11:00

today i will start / finish my necklaces. i am actually supposed to be working today, but the moon goddess has decided i need a day of rest. i am hoping it will be a productive day as the weeks start was a bit blah, with my printer ceasing up halfway through printing mysticturtle's brochures, (must get some work done on mt's blog & re-do the web & facebook pages also...) so now i must buy a new one ANYONE HAVE A FAVE MODEL TO RECOMMEND? and then my car decided not to start and is now at the mechanics, then half of my tooth fell out. so that's my 3.

this week just seems so caotic..........i have maybe taken on board the job of looking after the handmade shows blog, i have a studio full of unfinished projects, (so much for getting my etsy shop up by the end of jan), and a friend has asked me to help market her belly dance classes, which i think will be great, as i can just trade my time for her class tuition. i do miss the dance.

onward & forward.............................might go for a walk to ease the cramping & get some fresh air before i start again on my jewellery, or i might just relax all day catching up on some fave blogs or reading mags.

oh and so much for one of my esty purchases (lil round tins for jewellery) it has been a month and the supplier has no record of my order grrrrrr.....

busy bee

2010-02-01T22:10:00.004+11:00

i've been busy.........................thanks vic (punky&me) for your picnik tips (god it is addictive, i am still playing around with it.) In the meantime i have listed some newbies on my madeit shop & having a bit a cleanout sale. i am also in the process of new mini moo cards but i am having a grrrrr of a time getting my logo to fit in with their dimensions grrrrrrrr.....

keep calm & carry on

2010-01-29T21:18:00.007+11:00

i have had my eye on these posters for a while. (i think i first saw it in allison from larks house? photos) anyway.......i am now patiently waiting for the postman. this one fits perfectly in an old timber frame i picked up last week at my favorite oppy for $2. There are alot of different colour prints in this ww11 queenie quote, it was very hard to choose, so after a weeks fluffy around on etsy i decided to go for lemongass, hoping that it is more a green than a yellow. i have a whole new studio planned and this is going to be one of the many wall pieces. so it may arrive on monday or in some etsy cases not for another 3 months. x

20 mins later: i was just blog lovin and hopped onto decor8 to find a enrty on madebygirl who has these prints in her collection. i am so in love with her love poster Y now to find more frames

sneaky peak

2010-01-23T15:43:00.002+11:00

here is a lil sneak at what i have been upto. i am having lotsa fun working with vintage doily's & lace, linen, stamping, vintage buttons, thrifted fabrics. my plan is to get my etsy shop up & running by the end of jan which is where you will be able to find these fun pieces. oh and also at my madeit store and the oakleigh market. so in the meantime i think i might have a bit of sale on madeit to clear out and make way for the new.

There is also 1 more space left in my pay it forward.........who wants it?

thrifted happiness & loss of a friend

2010-01-22T12:37:00.004+11:00

villeroy & boch fine china cake stand

i am a complete opshop fanatic, i have 3-4 favorite haunts i like to visit on a rotating basis & they never stop giving. This was a fabulous find (although i would have liked it in geen) made from china with sterling silver flower column & comes apart for easy clean. i love the little posies, maybe i can use it at my next market (in march)

the mice are away today (paul & nina) so today i might keep at my new projects (i will share soon i promise) and then go and collect some goodies from my po box, do an opy run & get something yummi from my fave bakery WHICH has stopped making my favorite donuts by the way. NOT HAPPY!!!! i have survived off these little choci circles of love for almost 25yrs & one day they just decide to stop making them! For my 21st bday i ordered 250 and piled them into a pyramid, they got me through my pregnancy, nurtured every pmt i have ever had, made road trips with me, breakfasts on the run.........you name it they have been there with me. So you see... i am quite upset as i must now find a new vice, yes i am (was) a donut snob! but nothing has ever compared & i dont think ever will. farewell old friends :((

handmade show success!

2010-01-17T18:21:00.004+11:00

our first market SUCCESS!!! my sweet bird garden necklaces sold out in the first hour!

and what a great venue, i did go hmmm about oakleigh, maybe because i've never really had much to do with it, but the RSL was just divine. in its original state, no pokies, just a great old school feeling. it had nana toilets (when you see them you will understand) aircon, beer garden, rsl bar next door (yay for the boys) a kitchen that served great food and most important great coffee.

we sat down at the end of the day to discuss our options and what we would all like to get out of it, being part of a newly formed market there are many things to take into account. but the fact that we have control over how it is to be run is just great (yes! i am a control freak) so we all agreed to opening up 5 more stall sites and take on board our own little tasks. the next market is to in march, i will keep you posted about it and tell you more as we create more. oh and tell the boys its a great day out to be had, ladies go to the market and enjoy handmade loveliness, boys go to the other side of the 2way bar and watch the cricket next door in the beer garden, while the kids play in the playground. VENUE SORTED! IT IS SUPURB!!! caters for the whole family!

i will post more about my fellow new market makers soon. i am a little bit full of sunday love right now. i spent the day at somers, drinking champagne and eating gorgous foods (homemade beetroot & peeled tomato salad, orange & white choc cheesecake) mmmmmmmm.......snooze time x

pay it forward

2010-01-15T14:30:00.009+11:00

Here is a fun little blog game to play & share the handmade love - this is how it all works:

Y I will make a handmade gift for the first 3 people who comment on this post.

Y I have 365 days to do it in…

Y What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise!

The catch is that you must participate as well:
Y you must have a blog and before you leave your comment here, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going.

Just cut and paste this one from my page if you like, which I did! Can't wait to see what my lil handmade gift will be and when it will arrive from

Kylie @ a little red dress

cant believe i missed this one!

2010-01-13T17:07:00.007+11:00

there was a market at one of my local halls!!!!

and i had NO IDEA, so their web says lots of advertising......................i didnt see or hear a peep about it until Penny from Pocket Carnival mentioned it on her blog. Although i was at her site to see what she was upto and scrolled down to find that there was a vintage / makers market in Mordialloc MY STOMPING GROUND !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! eeeek The next one at the same venue is as above. I wonder how the Ladies Market went?

survival instincts

2010-01-11T19:28:00.005+11:00

wow what a stinking hot day! our little weather board home does not have the delightful luxury of air con, although we are but 100 steps to the most beautiful beach, paul nina and i decided we would spend the day shopping. so a long awaited trip to ikea was planned. i quickly grabbed my catalogue and started tabbing down pages of all the wish list things i have wanted to buy for ages. i am very proud of my pauly for even allowing the thought to pass through his sporting head. A day out shopping with his girls! who would have thought? lucky me!

nina drove us crazy whilst we wandered through the arrowed maze of sweedish design so paul eventually said he would take her to the play house and leave me alone to fill up my big yellow ikea bag with non essentials. he came back not long after (to see what it was going to cost him no doubt :) he he) and said he had traded her in for a beeper! very cool! the buzzer soon went off and it was time to pick up our delightful, rassberry lemonade filled 3yr old. by this time (20mins)we had managed to grab a chopping board, roasting rack, tea towels, knife & storage containers!

homeward bound to a nice cold beer and a quick squirt of the hose (i know...... but its fun & the vegi garden needed a drink) now to organise left overs for dinner & a quick dip at the beach. Anyway the thought just occured as a drip of sweat rolls down my neck as to why i am even sitting in this little hot box writting about my day.......................i had a good one that's why xxxx

wishing all those families who are spending their day preparing & acting on extreme weather conditions lots of blessings & love. xx

addictive!

2010-01-10T10:12:00.003+11:00

photo from www.eatdrinkchic.com

this is a fab site, i have been perusing the magificent pics & inspitation for about 3 days now.......i first saw it in the latest insideout mag (one of my fave reads) i've tried to get off this site BUT I JUST CANT!

100% thrifted

2010-01-08T17:33:00.008+11:00

the recipe:

2 pair thrifted jeans, 1 thrifted jacuard table cloth, 1 vintage lace table cloth, 1 vintage sheet and a bunch of thrifted zippers. there are a couple on madeit, this lot can now be found at a sweet lil boutique named EVE in Pambula.

new dress for nina. this weeks sewing will be making a few more dresses from this gorgous vintage sheeting. hopefully i will have enough made for the get together next saturday.

wana go travellin' ?

2010-01-07T20:51:00.003+11:00

just like our MadeIt but in nz

very cool stuff

Go Brown Owls of S.E burbs

2010-01-06T10:24:00.007+11:00

The HandMade Show

and here it is! the first ever of what we are hoping will become a South Eastern Hub of lovely craftiness.

Come and join in...... buy, browse or just chat with other crafties.

loved it - bought it

2010-01-03T22:49:00.004+11:00

i am one of those dis -organised people who will scribble a note or doodle on anything! i have a collection of papers beside my laptop about 30cm high, containing ? important stuff most likely. i did a bit of a madeit perusing this arvo and came across this fabulous wordly notebook holder. i do have a diary (moondiary.com.au check them out they are awsum, i have not missed a year since they began printing) all my important dates are pretty organised but it's the inspiration i seem to keep losing track of. So.............Marita from Loopy Designs in Tassie! i am sending you thanks for what will be an organised year of doodles, notes & inspiartions.

sew much to do

2010-01-02T21:41:00.004+11:00

lots of sewing to do this week. i had an order come in from libby (destination unknown, i'll post it when i know the shop name)

plus i just remembered that Celeste from little waltz has organised a new crafty market in Oakleigh to be held 16th Jan WHOOOOOAAAAA i better get a move on, i havnt been sewing much lately just lots of fun times enjoying the festive season. i feel and look like i have eaten santa. detox in need of i think. this is a bit of a rant, i am going cross eyed from sewing and i am in desperate need of a hot cuppa (and a cookie) x

joy

2009-12-31T16:25:00.004+11:00

just a quickie before i go and make my roast vegi salad for the festivities tonight. today nina and i spent most of our day making jewellery instead of cleaning the house after a week away and xmas.

nina found a bag of buttons i had been given for xmas and she came up with this FABULOUS necklace. all i had to do was tie the knot!!!

we've had a great day.

Poppy Is.....NEW SHOP

2009-12-19T09:58:00.010+11:00

Jenny has opened a gorgous new store @ Marina Quay Village Markets at Hope Island QLD. Poppy Is stocks all kinds of hand-made crafty loviness from all over Oz. How beautiful does the shop look? I'm in love with the dresser! Opening Day went really well for her and she passed on a funny story about a sweet lil boy taking a fancy to my Cobber Softies, he took them all off the chair and then popped them on his lap to mind whilst mum did some shopping. VERY CUTE!!! Oooh....and I also got a web mention!

flower power

2009-12-15T09:20:00.006+11:00

i have had this bolt of printed 80's calico sitting in my cupboard for ages! Mum once covered a siting chair with it, for some reason she bought heaps, maybe she was going to cover a lounge suite. Anyway she gave it to me knowing i would chop it up and do something with it one day. Well the day came and i have made 2 whopping big shopper totes! i think i can make 100 more or maybe some zip purses & clutches. If you know me, you know that i have an obsession with big bags, so this one will suit just perfectly for all my xmas market shopping or a day at the beach. The other i have listed on madeit. If you have an idea of wha telse i can make let me know.

it's a vegi feast

2009-12-13T20:08:00.002+11:00

this week we have eaten masses of beans, baby zuccini & baby carrots all home grown from our vegi garden. The first week of spring nina & i planted our vegi garden & we have watched it grow, loved it & cared for all those lil seeds for what seems to be ages. Finally we can enjoy the fruits of our seed planting labour. Our carrots are very small, they are super sweet & best eaten straight from the garden. As for zuccini, well.... nina and i dont like it much but paul does & its been fun to watch it grow.

The beans have been awsum - our favorite recipe for beans is: blanch them quickly then cook them with roughly chopped tomatoes, onion, basil S+P. YUM!!!

Soon our mixed seed salad leaves will be ready, which i cant wait for as our baby spinach got devoured & has now gone to seed. There is also a cucumber plant -we think? Our tomatoes are still growing tall with no flowers, although we do get cherry tomatoes (bean recipe) and tonnes of parsley, basil, thyme, chives, corriander & oregano.

I am hoping we can use lots of our home grown goodness on xmas day but we need to do some snail stomping if we want our xmas lunch to be plentiful.

recycled timber toys - yes please!

2009-12-12T14:40:00.003+11:00

very cool indeed!

Handmade from recycled timbers, this is next on my MadeIt shopping list.

Made by Marcus Kay he uses old timber that was destined for the wood fire pile.

shop by colour

2009-12-10T20:27:00.007+11:00

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esty's shop by colour! WOW i love it, what a great fun way to shop. And then if you dont like the pic that comes up- you just throw it away. SOoooo very cool!

As a jewellery merchandiser (1 day a week) i get to work with all sorts of amazing coloured crystals , but the most fun i have is setting up the cabinets so that the jewellery colours flow through to the next one. Today i re-displayed the turquoise, gaspeite (bright green), malachite (dak green) emeralds & herkimer diamonds.

so....

TODAY I JUST LOVE COLOUR LOTS!