My Place & Yours..Blog HQ

Another delightful Sunday morning here in Mildura, although I'm not sure how long it is going to last. With a top of 40 degrees expected today it seems Summer has certainly arrived. I think I'll make the most of the sunshine this morning and find somewhere cool to retreat this afternoon. I'm thinking a film or two perhaps. On this long weekend, I'm just loving this week's 'My Place and Yours' meme and what a fab theme, chosen by the delightful Ninon, 'Blog Headquarters'.

So here is my Blog HQ... It is a little nook in my studio, inspired by an article in Real Living magazine a few months back. This wee bookshelf is the perfect spot for storing all my bits and pieces and also doubles as a great desk space.

The shelf stores my favourite books and images, also my new little 'Box Brownie' I found last week at Rose Harvest as well as a little collection of envelopes that I love to keep from far away places.

The middle shelf is a constantly changing art gallery of lovely cards, collages and photographs. A recent addition was the little inspiration board which is currently adorned with the sweet colours of Spring.

So that's my little Blog HQ, I can't wait to see yours! Pop over the Pip's to play along.

I'm off to spend the rest of the morning creating, I think a little crochet to begin with and then onto some new pieces for my Etsy shop. Hopefully I can get a little bit done before the heat kicks in this afternoon. Wishing you a wonderful Sunday.

Much love
xxx

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My Creative Space..

How quickly has Thursday come around again? With only six weeks left of the school year, my week has been bursting with marking, preparing students for exams, meeting and everything in between. It's certainly a exciting and busy time of the year. In my creative space this week, I'm getting ready for this week's fabulous extra long weekend. I am so looking forward to four wonderful creative days, thank you Melbourne Cup!

My desk ready for a weekend of creating.. full of lovely new fabric, magazines and an amazing 1920's typewriter...

On my lovely trip to Rose Harvest last weekend my fabulous hubby found this amazing 1926 Royal Typewriter in the back shed. It has seen better days but has such charm and character, it is a lovely addition to my ever growing collection..

I also stumbled upon this lovely vintage cutlery drawer, which I've transformed into an organiser for my desk. Perfect for tags, envelopes and postcards.

A creative weekend would not be complete without some lovely reading material.. I love this time of month when all the gorgeous new magazines are on sale. I've been madly filling my new moleskine with collages and words.

I'm so excited that my Funky Fabrix order has arrived just in time for the weekend. I just love the lovely bright colours, spots and stripes and can't wait to get sewing. If you are looking for amazing fabric, you can't go past Funky Fabrix.

Join the creative space fun with the Queen of creativity Kirsty!

Wishing you a fabulous Thursday, full of wonderful Spring or Autumn moments. With Halloween just around the corner I'm looking forward to some interesting lessons tomorrow, I'm certainly hoping for more treats than tricks...we shall see.

Much love
xxx

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My Place & Yours.. Bedside

Sundays are just the sweetest days.. I can't get enough of the glorious morning sunshine, delightful pages of one of my favourite reads and a lovely pot or two of Lady Grey tea.

So this week the My Place & Yours theme, 'Bedside' has been selected by Lexi at pottymouthmama and what a gorgeous theme it is.. I find the bedside a fascinating and intimate look into the soul, I've kept a bedside table since I was a little girl, full of all my favourite trinkets and good luck charms. A box for the tooth fairy, a shell from the beach, my bedside was the very beginnings of my bowerbird soul. These days not much has changed...

By our bedside are a pair of vintage bedside tables given to us a few years ago by my grandparents friends. They are chipped and stained by there is something very sweet about them. Under the table is a vintage beauty case which was given to me on my 21st.

I love silver, pearl and onyx jewellery and keep my everyday pieces together so they are easy to find in the morning for work. I love the little Moet & Chandon bottle a gift for my 18th, perfect for holding bracelets. The little cherub has taken pride of place on my bedside since I was eight, she is very special indeed. The little brass Buddha is my mum's, although I somehow adopted him sometime during my teens. In the frame, one of my favourite photos from our wedding day.

Of course my bedside would not be complete without a novel or two and my journal. Writing and reading late at night is a must after a busy day. The lovely old book is a hymn book which belonged to my great Aunt, there is something very enchanting about its worn pages. On top one of my favourite Royal Albert teacups which contains a little collection of stones from long beach walks. It also doubles as the perfect spot to display rings, earring and store the odd bobby pin or two.

To play along with this week's delightful theme, pop over to Pip's.

I hope you are having a lovely Sunday, I'm off to make myself another pot of tea and spend a little longer enjoying the sunshine, with a stash of magazines and some glue and scissors in toe.

Much love and memories
xxx

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Giveaway Winners!

Thank you so much for everyone who entered my giveaway and helped me celebrate a delightful first Etsy Anniversary. It was so sweet of you to share with me all the beautiful things each of your hearts belong to. Without your support and kindness I would never have dreamed of beginning this creative journey, so big love to all!

Now to the giveaway winners!

By method of magical teacup the fabulous winners are...

Set of three custom brooches - 74 Lime Lane

My heart belongs to.. (bird) - Searching for Sporadic Surprises
My heart belongs to.. (owl) - Shrimp Salad Circus

Congratulations girls, I hope you enjoy your brooches!

After a delightful and very successful morning of antique shopping at Rose Harvest, I'm off to spend the afternoon cleaning up my lovely purchases, which I can't wait to show you tomorrow. I'm also looking forward to playing along later today in Pip's My Place and Yours meme. This week's theme, Bedsides.. one of my favourite decorating spots.

Much love and afternoon sunshine
xxx

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My Creative Space..

Summer is well and truly on its way around here. It is so lovely to finally have some warm days and long afternoons with the sun staying around long into the evening. It's the perfect time of day to to spend in the studio creating up a storm. My creative space this week, a little mixture of bits and pieces in the making and getting for a very creative weekend.

On my desk, my lovely new typewriter I found at my favourite junk shop, some brooches ready to be finished and my new moleskine awaiting some ink.

My delightful new Remington circa 1952.. I really do need to find a spot for all of my typewriters.

Brooches lined up ready for something to heart..

A gorgeous book I'm currently reading, The Dressmaker by Rosalie Ham

Olive seems to like my new typewriter as much as I do...

Join the creative space fun with the Queen of creativity Kirsty!

I hope your Thursday has been as delightful and interesting as mine (which included taking an extra class this afternoon of year 7 science in which I help 28 students make ice cream stick bridges). Remember only a few days left to enter my Etsy Anniversary giveaway for your chance to win three custom made brooches. Just pop over to this post and leave a comment.

Much love and a creative Thursday
xxx

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Lovely Monday..

Some lovelies for your Monday..

Beautiful vintage table decorations from Once Wed

Gorgeous carnival style wedding - Once Wed

Pretty Green Collage by A Creative Mint

Oh so sweet stationary from Papaya

And a delightfully cute print by Bespoke Press

Wishing you a delightful start to the week. Remember to enter my giveaway, just pop over to here and leave me a little comment.

Much love and Monday lovelies
xxx

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My Place & Yours..

I awoke this morning to find Olive in her new favourite spot, having a delightful time exploring her favourite blogs and I noticed she had stumbled across a fabulous new post on 'Meet me at Mikes'. Pip has started the sweetest meme, called My Place & Yours. It's perfect for the weekends, capturing moments and seeing the world through Sunday afternoon eyes. When I saw it appear on my screen this morning, thanks to Olive and her creative typing, I just couldn't resist joining in.


This week's theme is 'On the Shelf', so after a quick wander around the house, searching for the right shelf, I came back to my great grandmother's cabinet in my studio, which holds some of my favourite things..

On my shelf, underneath my old singer sewing machine, are my favourite journals and inspiration books, vintage tea pot and my Holga camera.

To play along with this delightful new meme, pop over to Pip's.

Also remember to enter my Etsy anniversary giveaway, just comment on yesterday's post to go into the running to win. Thank you so much to those lovely ladies who have already entered, it is so sweet to read about where your heart belongs.

I'm off to finish some marking and perhaps take a moment to have a cup of tea in the afternoon sunshine.

Happy Sunday
Much love
xxx

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Etsy Anniversary Giveaway and Shop Update!

What an amazing year it has been and how time flies when you're having a fabulous time playing with fabric and buttons! I'm so excited to be celebrating my first Etsy Anniversary and to wish my little shop a Happy Birthday I've created a lovely new range of 'I heart' brooches.

The new collection filled with some of my most favourite things including...

Three brooches inspired by the ever beautiful tale of a girl who tumbled down the rabbit hole..

And to thank you all for you amazing support, kindness and friendship, what celebration would be complete without a giveaway!

I have three lovely prizes to giveaway to three delightful people..

The major prize is very special custom design collection of three brooches to celebrate what you love in the world. Created just for you this custom collection is one of a kind, you even get to name it!

Your very own collection...

I've also created two very sweet brooches for this giveaway, made to wear close to your heart.

'My heart belongs to..' brooches are a special part of my new collection, inspired by vintage book plates and days meandering in Paris.

To go into the draw to win one of these sweet little prizes straight from my studio, just leave a comment on this post and tell me where your heart belongs...

Two bonus entries if you blog or twitter about my little giveaway! (please comment and let me know so I can come visit your blog and say hi.)

Thee bonus entries for each item you purchase from my Etsy shop between now next Saturday the 24th.

The giveaway will be drawn Saturday the 24th of October at midday Australian time and is open to everyone world wide so please join and to celebrate my little shop's first anniversary.

Good luck and wishing you a wonderful weekend.
Much Love
xxx

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The Side Show...

For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by the show. Petrified of ghost train, overwhelmed by the flashing lights and outdated music, I still found something strangely alluring about side show alley, the big top and moments of vintage beauty that made their way into this peculiar past time. Yesterday I packed my camera in my handbag and embraced all things eclectic in a series of photographs exploring the vintage aesthetics of side show alley.

I hope you are having a delightful weekend..I've had a wonderful start to my first Etsy Anniversary, went to the local junk shop and found a fabulous vintage Remington typewriter to add to my collection. I'm off to finish photographing some new brooches for my little Etsy shop. Pop by later today to check out my new collection and enter my anniversary giveaway!

Much love
xxx

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My Creative Space..

Another very busy week in my little creative space, with exciting moments around every corner. When it rains, it really does pour and all you can do it soak it all up. With my year 12 classes in exam preparation, my Etsy anniversary on Saturday and a very excitable kitten for company, life is certainly creative and chaotic at the moment.

My creative space filled with lovely fabric for new brooches, some of my favourite books and new moleskine I can't wait to begin..

Inspiring.. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Urgent 2nd Class by Nick Bantock and The Secret Staircase by Jill Barklem.

A little stack of brooches, ready to be photographed for my little Etsy shop..

I can't wait until my first Etsy Anniversary on Saturday having a big shop stocking and a giveaway to celebrate. I'm also looking forward to taking some photos tomorrow afternoon at the local show. I'm fascinated by the old world circus and side show alley images so hopefully when at dusk I'll be able to capture some interesting shots.

Join the creative space fun with the Queen of creativity Kristy!

Wishing you a wonderful and creative Thursday!
Much love
xxx

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A weekend of ink...

I must admit to loving Spring weekends, the weather is just divine and it is just the loveliest time of year to get out and about. It was also the perfect weekend pop out to the new studio 'The Ink Table' and set up my new delightful little studio space. The Ink Table is a fabulous new studio just out of town set up by the lovely Clare and Moana. Featuring a wonderful studio space, retail area and a giant Ink Table perfect for all things creative, I am delighted to have a little corner all of my own, to play and create in. So after a quick shop for a cute little desk and set of drawers, I was very excited to bring my space together.

The Ink Table counter, filled with all sorts of delights

Sophie Isobel Designs studio space... I found these super cute drawers on sale and couldn't resist, they are just perfect for fabric. Can't wait to start creating.

Some of the gorgeous products for sale including Miss Kwong's beautiful hand bound notebooks and journals.

Whilst at 'The Ink Table' I had the pleasure of co-hosting a delightful Poetic Justice Publishing workshop with Clare. After a wander around the streets and a few interesting warm up activities we spent the afternoon creating poetry and prose using the words from an old fiction novel.

With scissors, glue and some imagination and a little cursing when the right word was not on your page, we created some rather interesting vignettes. This was my page half an hour into the activity.

The rest of my weekend was filled with marking assignments and of course playing with Olive my gorgeous new kitten and at times it became Olive playing with my marking.

These are some of the fabulous diaries my year 7 class created for their Indiana Jones assignment. They looked fabulous and were full of wonderful adventurous tales.

And when Olive got tired of playing she found a great spot to curl up...

On my hubby's back, as he lay on the couch reading.. it was so cute I just had to share.

Wishing you a delightful start to the week, I'm very excited as it's my one year Etsy Anniversary on Saturday and I'm feeling a giveaway coming on as well as a big shop update. Be sure to check back in during the week.

Much love and poetry
xxx

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My Creative Space..

I feel like it has been so long since I have posted and it is so lovely to be back. I'm finally home after a lovely holiday in Brisbane full of fabulous shopping, dress ups and having a wonderful time with family and friends. Now the countdown is on for Term 4 and it's all very exciting, with my year 12s about to do their end of year exams, we are already on the countdown until Christmas holidays and I'm really excited about my upcoming first year Etsy Anniversary and new collections for Spring and Summer. So my creative space this week is all about inspiration, bits and pieces I found whilst in Brisbane and my delightful new friend.

My desk is full of Spring inspiration today, pages from Country Style magazine, fresh flowers from my garden, pages from Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree and a gorgeous fairy adorned singlet by Pani.

Beautiful Roses and Irises I found growing wildly in my garden when I got back. I just love having gorgeous flowers blossoming just outside my window.

I just love this sweet little notebook I found at Smiggle. Perfect for keeping all of my daily adventures in.

And another lovely purchase from the fabulous Retro Metro in Paddington, a delightful spring dress, original 1970's.

And last but by no means least my beautiful and favourite new friend..

Olive..
We got Olive yesterday afternoon and she is just the sweetest, most affectionate little thing. She has already found the perfect spot to chill out on the bookshelf and will find a lap to snuggle into whenever she can. Too cute!

Wishing you a wonderful Thursday, its so lovely to be back and I can't wait to join in the rest of Blogtoberfest. Right now, I'm off to cuddle up on the couch and watch the new episode of Glee.

Much love
xxx

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Party Inspiration..

How time flies when you're on holiday, moments are so relaxing and the days in Queensland are just so lovely and long, the evening warm and balmy, perfect for delightful get together and party or two. And I do enjoy a party particularly when it is a fancy dress affair.

My fabulous Auntie is turning 60 and to celebrate she is throwing a 60's themed party tomorrow night. I was hoping on my little holiday I would have some free time to work on a new collection of brooches, but instead I have had some delighfully busy days searching the City for costumes, wigs, fabric and balloons. I've created a little surprise for the birthday girl using a whole lot of fabric and paint (pictures to come) and have adored searching through old photos for inspiration for my costume. I really am a little bit 60's love child.


As a seached for inspiration I stumbled across one of my very favourite people from the 60's, Andy Warhol and his muse Edie Sedgwick.

Edie's personal style is just so fascinating and unique... Black tights, smoky eye shadow and beautiful chandelier earrings, I just couldn't resist putting my own spin on Edie's classic 'It girl' outfit for tomorrow night's party.

So I'm ready to go with a little blond wig, some fake eye lashes and a pair of fabulous earrings. I've even found a ready made Andy Warhol to come with me! Can't wait! Will have photos to share on Sunday. I best be off to finish the decorations and put the finishing touches on my little back dress.

Much love and flower power..

xxx

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