Lovely...

Here are just some of the things that are making my Friday lovely...

Delightful Teapots for Mallard Tearoom designed by Sarah Walsh

Beautiful notes by oh, hello friend

The sweetest illustrations and gorgeous blog, Missed Connections by Sophie Blackall

Michelle Jank and her stunning and inspiring blossom necklace

Image from The Sartorialist

I hope your Friday has been lovely too. I'm looking forward to a quiet night in, with a film or two after a hectic week and can't wait to spend the weekend creating many new brooches for Udessi and Georgie Love and catching up on some washing and gardening. I also can't wait to finally get a chance to read and cut up my lovely stack of magazines. I will be back tomorrow morning with my little Saturday Shopping List.

Much love on Friday
xxx

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Monday's inspiration..

Today I am inspired by...

The beautiful and intriguing world of Gibbous fashions

Jamie Lea Karoses' stunning hand bound book

Paris: Made by Hand, the exquisite new book by stylist Pia Jane Bijkerk

What is inspiring you today?

Happy Monday! This evening's mission is to tidy the house, unless of course I get distracted by any number of more exciting possibilities, especially my new notebook and watercolour pencils.

Much love and inspiration
xxx

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Life on the Murray - a week in pictures...

What a delightful week it has been here in Mildura. My lovely in-laws have flown back to Queensland today after a very enjoyable week in which I got to play hostess and tour guide of our pretty little town, my husband was the chauffeur and fabulous chef. I was amazed at just how relaxing it was to spend the morning sight seeing and the afternoon pottering in the sunshine, crocheting, finding the answers to crossword puzzles and drinking tea. I was also inspired to create a few new pieces whilst watching the sun set which I will feature in a post tomorrow. It was beauitful to be able to capture my week in photographs and I just can't resist sharing some of our adventures.

Places...

A ride in a paddle steamer down the Murray River

View of the weir back towards Mildura..

Lunch and wine tasting at Trentham Estate Cellar Door

A visit to the Wentworth Gaol to see Palimpsest #7
Sculpture - Mortified Landscapes by Kate Vivian

A fossick through the lavendar for beautiful antiques..

Through the secret garden gate to Rose Harvest

...to find wonderful treasures

Flora and Fauna

My favourite shade of rose..

A very beautiful and vivid native wattle.

Some delightful little toadstools - I was secretly searching for the fairies..

A very friendly Pied Butcherbird.. they have the most delightful songs.

We couldn't believe our luck when we stumbled upon this beautiful snake-necked turtle whilst taking a walk through King's Billabong.

Just a little slice of my beautiful week.. Tomorrow's post will bring the lovely treasures I found whilst rummaging through some of our wonderful antique shops and even my favourite little find from the old goal. I will also be updating my shop with a few new pieces inspired 'autumn leaves and dust jackets'. It is so lovely to be back, I've missed my little blog everyone in blog land very much.

Until tomorrow,

Much love and delightful adventures
xxx

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Tags on Tuesday..

It's Tuesday already! Where is the week going? Even work went quickly today except for the minor issue of the bells and PA system not working for the afternoon. After some yelling, redirecting many lost students and teaching a lesson that went way over time, I'm very happy to be having a relaxing evening. Got to love the joys of teaching.

I was tagged a little while ago by the lovely Sonia Close to upload the 4th photo in the 4th folder on my computer. I know this little tag has been travelling around the place and it made me laugh as I attempted to 'try' to find my 4th folder. Ask my sister she will tell you, my computer is something like my brain and my studio much of the time, fabulous chaos. So after some searching, this is the ultimate in random photos that I have for you.

This is from my ANTM file, my favourite inspiring photo shoots from America's Next Top Model. I have no idea what season this is from, but I just adore the beautiful texture and flow in the photo.

So I'm tagging: Courtney, Tara, Emma and Rebecca. Have fun girls!

In other news, I am continuing to donate all my proceeds to the Red Cross Bushfire appeal for the next three days. If you are thinking of a custom design for yourself or a friend and would like to help the appeal please let me know before the 20th of this month. There are also some very cute and quirky brooches in my little shop at the moment and I will be adding more tomorrow so keep checking in. Also please make sure stop by Handmade Help to see what's new and ways you can help. I will be re-stashing a crafter on the weekend with some lovely crochet and sewing supplies.

So many things to heart...

Well I'm off to read a my new Inside Out magazine and perhaps get out my trusty glue and scissors. Swimming carnival tomorrow, what fun! Go Yellow! Some silly photos of me in a yellow tutu to come.

Hope you are having a lovely Tuesday full of delightful and silly moments.
xxx

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Weekends are for Celebrating!

What a long and hot week it has been! I must say I was delighted to hear the bell at 3:30 this afternoon as my classroom air cooler was actually creating hot air rather than cold, leaving both my class and myself a little over English for the day. But that's not all I am happy about!

I'm off to Brisbane tomorrow morning at 6:30 for my beautiful sister's 21st birthday party. I can't wait see my family for a few days and get all dressed up to celebrate the life of one of the world's most wonderful people. We are having a black and white themed party so I have spent the evening preparing some lovely black and white accessories for my mum and I to wear. It will be delightful to get out of the heat for the weekend and I'm even looking forward to relaxing with a book on my early morning flights.

Unfortunately this means no Shopping List this week, but I will make it up next week with a very special list I have been working on over this week... it's one of my very favourite things.

My little shop will be open while I'm away although it is a little empty after a wonderful week of sales. After I come back on Monday night, I'm can't to get back into the studio and make many lovely new brooches (I'm keeping my eye out for new fabrics in Brisbane) and adding some more tea cup artwork to my tea series.

I will leave you this evening with a delightful illustration by a wonderful new Australian Etsy artist Schmooks. This is how I feel on the eve of my exciting day tomorrow... joyfully flying on my little paper plane with my some very interesting friends towards a beautiful weekend...

Have a fabulous weekend doing all the things that bring you bliss and joy.
With love from my vintage world..
xxx

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Tuesday's heat wave and brooch making..

Just when I thought summer had subsided, they say that Victoria is in for its hottest week since 1908, with 43 degrees here in Mildura tomorrow. There is certainly a heat wave around here, I think everyone is just trying to stay cool and sane. I hope everyone had a lovely Australia Day, we spent the a delightful afternoon relaxing by the Murray River. Back to work tomorrow, the students start back at school on Friday so hopefully the weather will cool down a little before the madness begins.

I've had a busy day today shipping off my weekend orders. Thank you so much for your support for my new collection of brooches. They are almost sold out so I have been also spent today making a few more to fill my little shop and creating a delightful little custom order for the lovely Emma Lamb.

Orders ready to be packed in lovely brown paper bags.

My afternoon's work..

Here is a peak at a few of latest little creations, you can find them all in my Etsy shop now.

I heart Brown Owls..

I heart Teapots..

I heart Jane Eyre..

Before I go to find a lovely spot under the air conditioning, I have to share with you my favourite Etsy find of the day. A Fanciful Twist is one of my favourite Etsy sellers and I just adore her beautiful new prints, 'The Seamstress-Magic Maker' and 'The Treasure Collector'. All my favourite treasures together, so very lovely.

'The Seamstress-Magic Maker'

'The Treasure Collector'

I hope you have had a lovely Tuesday and if your in Melbourne, find somewhere nice and cool to sleep tonight. Remember to drink plenty of water and if all else fails, perhaps ice and a bath tub might work well.

With love from the desert...
xxx

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Fabulous Friday!

I opened the mail box this morning with my fingers crossed hoping that the mailman would be nice enough to stop at my house and he did, with not one but two fabulous treasures! I love Etsy delights.

The first delight is my very own tinnie from none other than Tinniegirl herself. Everyone needs a tinnie, it was like Christmas opening this parcel (my favourite, brown paper and string) and inside the most lovely tin full of very cute fabric, lace, buttons and even a few very delightful vintage pegs.

My beautiful Tinnie, I've named her Petti...

Inside my tinnie! I can't wait to start creating! Isn't she beautiful..

Pop over to Tinniegirl's blog and check out all her lovely tinnies on her Etsy shop. She is adding more to her collection very soon so get in quick and tell her I sent you.

My second delight was the too beautiful for words journal I bought from Hens Teeth. Viv is such an amazing artist! This journal is so divine, I just keep looking at it and smiling, thinking of way to fill all those amazing pages..

My beautiful new journal..

Visit Viv's beautiful blog to keep up to date with all her beautiful creations and buy yourself or someone you love one of her many beautiful things from her lovely shop.

My Friday has been fabulous, I hope yours has too. What are your plans for the weekend? I'm off to hunt down some more vintage postcards and letters, perhaps even a little something for the house, then have French hot chocolate at Pleasentrees and stock my little shop full of lovely new brooches.

My thoughts for the day... Drink tea in the garden and go searching for Wonderland in fabulous shoes..

Searching for Wonderland....
Shoes- Sam Edelman, Tea Cup- garage sale, Tea Pot-The Tea Centre, Books- second hand shops..

With love from Wonderland
xxx

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Summer Daze..

It has been a hot and long day here in Mildura. It's official I'm back in work mode and am madly trying to finish my first year teaching portfolio before tomorrow. I'm sure I'm just writing the same thing over and over now and am dreaming of creating lovely things instead but there is light at the end of the tunnel and it will be all finished by 5pm tomorrow. Then I've the fabulous job of getting my lessons ready for the start of term one next week (which means stationary shopping!)

I've given myself half an hour to write this blog and let my brain enjoy some lovely things before I get back to unit plans and teaching reflections so I thought I would share some of the beautiful things that I've been keeping myself motivated with today.

First up The Selby which features stunning photographs of of interesting people and their creative spaces. There is so much to look at on this amazing website, you need a few hours and many pots of tea to search it all. These are a few of my favourites..

The amazing office of Daniela Kamiliotis

The cutest Tea Pot ever at Cheri Messerli and David Rager's place

Lovely books and trinkets from peaches, bunny and lily

The other beautiful photographs I stumbled upon today belong to lifeLOVEpaper. They are so soft and delightful they made my day. Check out her lovely little Etsy shop. These are a couple of my favourites..

Pale Winter Rose

I heart Fabric (oh so cute!)

Well my half hour is over so I'm back to my year 7 unit plan about 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'.

Oh I almost forgot, I made it into another treasury today! Twice in a week, I'm feeling very special. Thanks so much to Sherry from Esprit * D'Art for including my Les Girls Altered Book Collage.

...a needle pulling thread...

Hope these fabulous photographs inspire your day too.

xxx

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An imaginary trip to Egypt...

It has been a fabulous Friday in my little nook. I've been to the post office (again), found a brooch back supplier and spent the afternoon on a lovely little imaginary trip to Egypt.

With the Stay Human Art on your Sleave exhibition fast approaching I've been busily working the two mixed media pieces I'll be exhibiting. I initially started with an vintage circus idea for the pieces, but somewhere between sleep, wake and dreaming they have taken on a life of their own and transformed into early 20th century adventures to Egypt.

I just love hand dyeing vintage fabric and lace to give it new life for my artwork. You just never know how it will turn out. Here is some of the odds and ends I dyed up for my Egyptian adventures.

Olive green, Ebony black and Madonna blue..

As I create, I am reminded of the Satin Bowerbird, creating a nest, searching for the perfect pieces to add. I seem to meander around my house trying to find interesting and beautiful trinkets to add to my artwork.

My pieces are a constant process of collection, as the story builds...

So far I've located a locket, some lovely buttons, a little key and a very sweet white glove that I've waiting to use.

Tomorrow will bring more collection, perhaps a spontaneous dash up the road to the RSPCA op shop and plenty of glue and sewing. It's not the usual artistic process but I just love it.

Finally after I very enjoyable organising hour yesterday, I've got my inspiration journal in some kind of order. It is organised chaos, but it's all in there.

A brooch ideas page.. I really do heart Edgar Allen Poe.

Before I go to curl up with a cup of chamomile tea and my latest adventure 'The Bell Jar' by Sylvia Plath, I just have to show you the cutest illustration I found on Etsy today. It just made me smile...

Cupcake bird by Kate at Little Doodles..
My two favourite things in one very divine drawing! I adore it!


Sweet dreams of little birds at high tea..
xxx

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Sunday Summer Cleanout..

Its been a lovely day filled with creation and cleaning. I realised in order to clean and keep myself motivated I need to have little creation breaks, so in the midst of pulling my bedroom apart I spend some time on my wholesale order. I just love seeing all the beautiful fabrics together.

Little brooches ready to be sewn.

Sunday seems to have come around so quickly and I promised myself that one this very Sunday I would finally clean out my wardrobe and colour code it so I can find all my clothes much more easily. It seems I wear a great deal of black. I didn't realise just how much until I filled my wardrobe and the black and grey items basically took over the wardrobe. Although my recent Bauhaus tops have made a nice and cheerful edition.

Newly colour coded wardrobe..

Now I've moved all my clothes around I've made a nice space for all my handbags which were, well all over the place really. I don't know why I hadn't thought of it before and now I've got lots of room I just want to buy more bags!

Even my handbags are black!

Now that I've organised my clothes and bags I really need to do something about the state of my dressing table and jewellery. When I'm in a hurry I can never find what I need or it's right at the bottom of the pile!

At the moment I'm keep all my bracelets on a very cute Moet & Chandon bottle, I think I might need to upgrade to a full size bottle as I'm running out of room! I do love the harmonious chaos of my dressing table and all the treasures it holds.

So this week I'm loving...

My gorgeous find yesterday afternoon during a quick stop to a local Antiques shop I just discovered.

My beautiful new handbag by Apple & Bee! (Which happens to be my surname so I just had to have it!) Check out their beautiful website for fabulous travel and makeup bags that are environmentally friendly and just lovely!

My favourite find on Etsy this week is this fabulous print by Corid beautifully titled Victoria Maykowski LOVED Liberace. I'm totally smitten by this print, Cori is such a amazing talent!

Well I'm off to cook dinner and finish wrapping some orders to post off in the morning. I hope everyone has had a lovely and relaxing weekend.

xxx

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