All Aboard!

So I have packed up my little studio and I am off to Brisbane for ten days for a little working holiday. I can't wait to spend some time with working on some new pieces and stocking up on supplies and of course seeing my wonderful family.

Packing up my little studio, buttons and all and a beautiful book about Shakespeare and Co.

I will be blogging my adventures from Brisbane and my little Etsy shop will be open and will be updated with some lovely new bits and pieces. I'm very much looking forward to visiting some lovely fabric stores and meandering through Paddington to the Antiques Centre. If you know of any fabulous places in Brisbane I should go to please leave a comment and let me know. I would love to hear from you.

I must go catch my flight. Hope you having a wonderful Monday and I will be back tomorrow with tales from (hopefully) sunny Queensland.

Much love and adventures

xxx

Read More

Shopping List Saturday..

My constant fascination with interesting and unusual characters in the world connects me to a beautiful and strange variety of places. From pirate ships, gypsy caravans, Victorian mansions and French castles to tree houses, mushroom rings and today's theme.. the circus. There is just something wonderfully inspiring and about history and tales behind the world of the circus. With wonderful and bizarre people around every corner and its rich colours, sights and sounds.. today I want to be under the big top.

1. The Midway Tote. by Beesnetta
2. Under the Big Top by charmedbeginnings
3. Around and Around 8x8 Metallic Photo by bomobob
4. Sideshow Earrings by PoleStar
5. Print - The Trapeze Twins by Roadside
6. Deux Acrobates by lizart

Take a moment to brew a fresh pot of tea and pop over to the fabulous Fancy Picnic to check out the other amazing Shopping Lists. The perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

I hope you are having a wonderful Saturday, doing something your absolutely love. The skies are grey and it is beautifully misty and overcast here, a part of me wants stay in and curl up with a book but instead I'm off to a writer's workshop, to mingle, giggle and write my heart out. We have an evening of readings coming up in July for the Mildura Writers' Festival so I will be busily working on a piece to read. I will be back later to share my adventures and some bit and pieces from my lovely new journal.

Much love and Circus fun!
xxx

Read More

My Creative Space..

And so it is Thursday again and I'm very happy because tomorrow is the last day of term which can only mean one thing... much needed holidays! So it has been with much joy and a little bounce in every step that I pottered around my creative space this afternoon and tidied up a little so I could take a few snaps.

My little space this week is full of inspiration, correspondence, creations and everything in between.

A little cascade of brooches in the making.. There are little circles of felt and fabric all over the house. I just love sitting with a beautiful stash of fabric and finding wonderful images and patterns to cut out.

A little mixed media piece I've just finished called 'Henry's Tea Party' created using vintage fabric and pages from some beautiful old books.

My mailbox has also been dancing this week with the arrival of the fabulous book 'How to be an Explorer of the World' by the fabulous Keri Smith. Also in the mail this week was this beautiful vintage card from the lovely Sue from my favourite antique shop Rose Harvest.

Make sure you head over to the wonderful Kristy at Kootoyoo to join in the fun and show off your Creative Space.

Again the sun has set before I have finished my post so I'm off to get the fire going and settle in for the evening to sew brooch backs and buttons and finish the very last of my exam marking before work tomorrow. I hope everyone has had a lovely Thursday.

Much love and creative moments.
xxx

Read More

I really really heart Frankie..

Every second month, during the last week on a Wednesday, I rush out of work early so that I can make it to the newsagent to buy my copy of Frankie Magazine. I have every copy in chronological order in my studio and it has been a constant source of inspiration through my creative process, I'm totally smitten. But today, the last Wednesday of the month was even more exciting than usual and I raced very fast in the middle of work down to the newsagent to buy my copy.. because this month my little brooches are in Frankie!

Click image to enlarge

There is my little 'I heart Mr. Darcy' brooch right next to one of my very favourite artists Catherine Campbell.. I'm just so delighted!!

I've also been asked to make some 'I heart Frankie' brooches for the Frankie girls so that everyone can share in the love. Because really... who doesn't just totally heart Frankie!

I'm off back to the sewing machine, so excited and full of ideas. I will be stocking my Etsy shop again in a few days and Georgie Love will be getting a whole new collection of my brooches next week, so keep an eye out. Back tomorrow with a very busy creative space. Happy Wednesday!

Much love
xxx

Read More

Shop Update - New Brooches...

I have spent the weekend amongst yards of fabric and thread, in a little world all of my own, busily cutting and sewing creating a two new ongoing collections which I'm very excited about. Tonight is a little preview of many more to come over the next week.

My first collection of brooches is a little project I have been working for the past month, something that I truly heart... The Tea Bag Collection.

Inspired by my great grandmother's tea cup collection and created especially for those who heart tea these little brooches are hand embroided and the perfect tea loving accessory.

There are four little tea bag brooches in my Etsy shop at the moment with more joining the little collection later in the week.

Also in my little Etsy shop are some new I heart brooches, inspired by all the beautiful things I'm adoring this week.

This is the beginning of a new colourful collection that will include literary and travel inspiration as well as some very cute and quirky suggestions from a very dear friend. Keep an eye out through the week for more I heart brooches and some little petite brooches too.

After a busy little day I'm off to spend a relaxing evening with my hubby by the fire. I hope you have enjoyed a lovely weekend, I very much looking forward to my two weeks of holidays coming up on Friday. Plenty of time to catch up on all my favourite things!

Much love and brooches!
xxx

Read More

Shopping List Saturday..

My ongoing love for typography and etymology has created the theme for this week's shopping list. Words and I were always meant to be, I think. We met one day perhaps through Beatrix Potter or was it Banjo Patterson and for that day on, we have never been apart. The Ampersand is my very favourite typographic character, its history rich with adventures and tales. The little character that means so very much.

1. And Per Se And - Colophons (typography) zine by artloaf

2. FLOCKED Ampersand Cushion by AuntyCookie
3. Ampersand Mini Tags by MaximumMess
4. Epershand Necklace by Isette
5. Petit Coterie Ampersand Burlap Pillow by PetitCoterie

I just adore all these Etsy delights and find myself very much needing each one of these beautiful creations to fill my world with tiny ampersands. Well I have just spent the morning hunting my little town for some lovely new fabrics, so now I'm off to begin creating. I will be back soon with some sneak peaks and a shop update tomorrow.

Take a moment to brew a fresh pot of tea and pop over to the fabulous Fancy Picnic to check out the other amazing Shopping Lists. The perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Much love and typography
xxx

Read More

My Creative Space..

It feels like forever since I blogged last, I have missed it so much I raced home after work today to catch the last of the fading winter sun to catch my creative space. This time of year in a school is always chaotic and I always forget just how crazy it really is. My reports are finished and we are in the final stages of proof reading so by tomorrow after I will officially have my life back. Yay!

I'm so excited I have been madly scribbling down ideas and creating inspiration collages, I've got so much stored up inside, I just can't wait for the weekend buy some new fabric let loose on the sewing machine! My creative space this week is a little corner of my studio where some inspirational lovelies have found themselves together.

In my little corner many lovely things, including my favourite new book 'Jane Austen's Sewing Box' by Jennifer Forest, a page of my inspiration journal, a very cute notebook from The Black Apple and some new brooches which will be in the shop very soon.

I'm being inspired by, Venetian glass and piles of buttons, Victorian sewing and illustration and my great grandmothers beads..

Make sure you head over to the wonderful Kristy at Kootoyoo to join in the fun and show off your Creative Space.

It is so lovely to finally have a free moment to enjoy everyones beautiful blogs. I will be back tomorrow a sneak peak at some bits and pieces for my shop update. I will be stocking new brooches, artworks and a surprises over the weekend, so keep an eye out. Well, the sun has set and I am a little chilly so I'm off to my cozy lounge room to enjoy the new Real Living and Inside Out magazines, I feel another collage emerging.

Much love and happy creating
xxx

Read More

My kind of garden..

One day I would love to create a beautiful and fascinating garden that looks like this...

Images from here

Until then, I will just admire this incredible creation 'The Fenland Alchemist Garden' a gold medal winner at the recent Chelsea Flower Show. This garden takes a look at the life of a traditional Fen Tiger who practices the ancient art of alchemy. It feeds off the myths and mystery which surround The Fens. What I find so magical about this little nook is that it looks like it has been standing for hundreds of years, but was in fact created in just a few short days and was made using only reclaimed, recycled and discarded materials. This is definitely my kind of garden.

Well I must stop procrastinating and daydreaming about lovely gardens and get back to report writing. The end is slowly getting closer.

Much love and delightful gardens
xxx

Read More

Shopping List Saturday..

On this overcast and wintery morning I am already very busy indeed. To honor all of the busy bees in the world, madly working to make the most of every minute, this week's Shopping list is dedicated to the most industrious and beautifully coloured little insect in town.. the bumble bee.

1. Bumblina Bee Girl print by thepoppytree
2. Albino Bee Felt Pillow with Hand Stitched Applique by lovecalifornia
3. Amelia Bumble Print by theblackapple
4. Bumble Bee Enamel Flower Ring by SpiderellaStudio
5. Bee Girl PRINT by acageybee

Take a moment to brew a fresh pot of tea and pop over to the fabulous Fancy Picnic to check out the other amazing Shopping Lists. The perfect way to spend a Saturday morning.

The kettle has boiled and I'm off to begin my very busy weekend. Report writing and custom orders here I come. The end is in sight and I look forward to a big shop update next weekend which will include some of my new tea bag brooches. I hope you have a fabulous weekend whatever you are up to.

Much love and bumble bees
xxx

Read More

My Creative Space..

My these Thursdays really come around fast, I've had very little time to create this week but I'm very busily jotting down ideas and dreaming of the coming weeks when I can finally get back into the swing of things. At the moment it is all marking and report writing but I always have a pen and paper handy for moments of inspiration. My creative space is a stash of my favourite new bits and pieces and the random contents of my desk that provides endless hours of fun and inspiration when procrastinating.

Sources of Inspiration - Alexandria by Nick Bantock, my Holga and Polaroid cameras, my 'wreck this journal' and some lovely bits and pieces I found in Tasmania.

Reliquaire is perhaps the most incredible and outrageous shops I have ever visited, if you are ever in Latrobe you must go there. I never leave empty handed and this time was no exception. I found some gorgeous Belle and Boo badges of my favourite series of season illustrations and a very sweet little scribble journal by okt-ober dee.

How gorgeous is my new tea cup! An early birthday present from my family, who always manage to find the most perfect apple gifts for everyone. It is just the right size for a perfect cup of tea. I'm also adoring the gorgeous novel 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' which I finally bought at the airport after many months of procrasting. So glad I finally picked it up.

My 'wreck this journal' page this week was an interesting one which required some creative moments indeed. Still in progress I had to take a break from the ink licking when people began to stare at me..

Make sure you head over to the wonderful Kristy at Kootoyoo to join in the fun and show off your Creative Space.

Well my hands are numb and the sun has set so quickly that I am now sitting in the dark so I'm off to pop the kettle on, turn on the lights and settle in to some more marking with a nice hot pot of tea. A very busy weekend ahead working on reports so my posts for the next few days will indeed be short and sweet. I just can't wait to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Much love and pots of tea
xxx

Read More

Home again as Winter sets in...

I will dance wherever the wind takes me, in search for an adventure.

This weekend the cool winter breeze blew me south to Tasmania for a weekend of family, laughter and a need for warm coats. We had a beautiful celebration for Aunty Linny's 90th birthday high in the mountains of Beulah, meandered along the breath taking Table Cape and danced through the last of the Autumn leaves in Lauceston's City Park. All together a very delightful long weekend.

City park - Lauceston

Table Cape Lighthouse

My sisters and I very excited to find a road named after our family!

More tales and photos to come over the next few days. With the last few weeks of term two just around the corner my world is going into overdrive. A few crazy weeks ahead and then I'm looking forward to a nice relaxing two weeks holiday. I must be off to find a nice spot by the fire and get settled in for the night to mark a huge pile of English essays. If I haven't stopped by your blog today, I will be around soon I promise. So many lovely posts to catch up on.

Much love and chilly winter evenings (where is my hot water bottle?)
xxx

Read More

My Creative Space..

A little creative space is never complete without some clutter and this week my space has plenty of that! The week has just flown by again and I'm trying to make the most of every minute in the day so my creative space is serving many purposes at the moment. Sewing, writing, cutting, gluing, scribbling, drawing, marking, reading and just making a mess!

My desk - vintage telephone, interior design journal, my 'wreck this journal', new Country Style magazine and letter writing supplies.

This is my ever evolving favourite page of my journal. I now have students and colleagues bringing their fruit stickers to me at lunch. Will be full in no time!

New little 'teabag' brooch idea I've been working on.. for all the mad tea lovers in the world.

Thank you to all the lovely people that replied to my postcard poetry. I'm so delighted to get so many responses. You will find a postcard in your mailbox very soon. Also you may find a little comment on your blog asking for your details so the your postcard can find you.

I'm off tomorrow afternoon for to Tasmania again for the long weekend. I feel like I'm never at home anymore! This time to catch up with the other side of my family, many of whom I have never met and celebrate the 90th birthday of my lovely Aunty Linny. It's so amazing and inspiring to be able to attend two 90th birthdays in one year. I'm packing tonight so any advice on what to take would be lovely. It's cold here in Mildura so I can only imagine what it will be like in Ulverstone! Can't wait to visit some lovely little antiques shop and go exploring.

Make sure you head over to the wonderful Kristy at Kootoyoo to join in the fun and show off your Creative Space. I'm playing along in the great heart hunt too! Can you spot the hearts?

Much love and hearts!
xxx

Read More

Journals and Big Ideas..

I'm constantly fascinated by the evolution of ideas and dreamings. They are little moments in your subconscious and sometimes like tiny butterflies they manage to break free of their shell and take flight. I have often considered investing in a sturdy butterfly net in order to catch some of my crazier daydreams. If we are really lucky some days we might just catch one of those lovely little ideas upon a page and snap the book shut, hoping it will not escape. This is when you needs a very trusty journal by your side at all times.

I was so excited to return home to a lovely package waiting for me. The fabulous Megan from The Byron Life create totally gorgeous recycled notebook for beautiful preloved golden books. When I saw the perfect one for me in her Etsy shop Mellimoomoo I just had to have it. Now it has taken pride of place on my desk ready to be filled with wonderful fluttering ideas.

My gorgeous new Alice in Wonderland journal..

I've had an idea fluttering around just out of my reach for a long time now, something that has been right in front of me and I have never realised. Finally during a writing workshop last month I was able to catch it on paper just by chance and ever since I have been spellbound with this little exploding day dream, finally a concept for a strange little novel, not quite for children, perhaps for those wishing they still were.

I have always written for adults and never thought of searching through all my inspiration to find that everything I adore to write about is really aimed children and the 'always young at heart'. So I've spent the the weekend getting all my ideas roughly down on paper and for the first time I've begun to collaborate these with all my favourite inspirational characters, settings and narratives.

Setting inspiration - Count Olaf's house

Character and Setting inspiration - my favourite heroines..

I've realised through this process just how much my childhood reading has influenced my own story telling, the places, people and adventures. I would love my protagonist to be a little bit of Alice, Dorothy, Mary Lennox and Sara Crew and I've only just begun to consider all the books and films I love.

So now I am beginning the planning and writing process, much to my absolute delight. All the possibilities begin to collide and my page becomes a melting pot of the strange, the wonderful and the crazy.

Planning in process - a strange little time line and scribbled pages.

As my tale grows and I make sense of all my scribble I will let you in on the secrets and adventures that find their way onto my page. Right now all I know is, it's about a girl, a very big house, an even bigger imagination and one tiny key.

Now that the kettle is boiled I'm off to brew a pot of tea and get a few hours creating in before I settle down to mark English essays. Wishing you an inspiring Tuesday.

Much love and wild imaginings
xxx

Read More