Handmade Delights..

I've had some delightful packages arrive in my mail box of late. There are just so many beautiful handmade things to buy, who needs to go to a shopping centre.

I've been eyeing off Forestbound's beautiful handmade bags for so long and as Alice makes a stunning limited range, they disappear as quickly as she stocks them. I was lucky enough to grab one from her Etsy shop a few weeks back and it has definitely become my new favourite bag.

Each bag is unique and mine is made from a WWII era military laundry bag. It is such beautiful soft fabric and has so many stories to tell. Now I'm stalking her lovely shop for a sweet little purse and a cream cotton tote, can you tell I'm smitten. Oh and if you want to have a peek into the world of Forestbound, check out Alice and her studio space in this Etsy video.

Also making my mailbox smile yesterday was a sweet little package from Marmeecraft. Marjorie is always making the most lovely artwork and I can never resist when she magically turns it into fabulous stationery.

Some cute new Marmeecraft stickers and postcards waiting on my desk. Check out Marjorie's lovely new shop. She's just added more very cute stickers so I think I might have to pop in to visit her again very soon.

Oh I really do love all things handmade.
Much Love
xxx

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Weekend adventures of fabric and ink bottles...

How quickly the weekend comes and goes when there are so many wonderful things to be done. Surrounded by fabric, I have spent the weekend creating, dreaming and sewing. It's so lovely to have a little shop full of goodies, with more to come over the week. I've also been busy on my little secret, with new fabric and ideas running wild together in my studio.

Colour scheme board..

One of my favourite creations of the weekend is a little brooch inspired by the floor of a sewing studio and the lovely bits of fabric that are left behind after a day of creating.

The Seamstress

This unique little collage brooch will be available in my Etsy shop later this evening. With so many lovely bits of fabric around my studio, I can see few more of these brooches being created very soon.

The afternoon sunshine called me outside and I couldn't resist a meander through the lovely Rose Harvest. There is nothing better on a Sunday afternoon than browse through a beautiful antiques shop.

The backyard of the shop, full of candelabras, antique garden settings and beautiful plants.

The shop cascades out the back to the shed which houses some of my favourite pieces.

Fabulous old suitcases that have seen many wonderful adventures.

This amazing typewriter was actually behind the shed and covered in dust and leaves. I hope it will be there when I return another day.

Of course I couldn't leave empty handed and just couldn't resist a few pieces of add to the collection of antiques on my writer's desk.

This 1935 National Derivation Book, which once belonged to Lorna Rose still covered in the brown paper with splashes of ink from her school days.

A charming little ink bottle with an amazing little tin lid. I love any antiques to do with writing and ink bottles are one of my favourite new collections.

A beautiful photo still on its original backing from 1917. I'm just fascinated by the family all dressed up in the little row boat. I also found these lovely vintage packet of needles. The old typography is so beautiful.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend. I'm off to cook dinner and get ready for an evening of sewing brooch backs and watching channel 10's addictive Sunday lineup.

Much love and vintage afternoons

xxx

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All the world's an antique adventure..

What a weekend I've had! I wonder is some days the vintage world aligns and antiques just fall at your feet.

My very favourite place to be on a Saturday morning Pleasentrees is sadly closing down, so we went out for our very last hot chocolate and to check out their old barn full of beautiful French homewares.

The best hot chocolate ever...

I have had my eye on one of their Louis XVI style bedroom chairs for so long and with a bit of coaxing from my lovely friend Joelene and even my hubby, I finally bought it to match my little antique writing desk.

My beautiful new chair...

I was so delighted, I thought my day couldn't get much better but on the way home I decided to stop at my other favourite spot in Mildura, Rose Harvest to buy my friend a birthday present. Last time we were there I spotted an amazing old type writer but didn't really ever consider buying it. I went back to the same spot and it was still there and again my dear hubby said, I know you want it, you will never find another one, just get it. After a very long,10 minute wait to see if a couple that had it on hold still wanted it, the typewriter was all mine. A 1908 Remington Standard 10. I think I'm in love....

And it actually still works! It makes the most beautiful sound, like the beat of a classic writer dreaming up their first novel.

Other then my fabulous antique adventures I have been busy filling my little shop with plenty of new brooches. A big thank you to CurlyPops for the lovely feature on a couple of brooches I sent her, including one of my favourite custom orders I have done so far, I heart chocolate. She is super sweet, take a moment to stop by her blog and say hi.

I've just put ten new brooches in the shop and although two sold very quickly there are still many of my favourites there, including:

Tea Cup Collector

I heart pirates.. aaarrrr!

I heart Bookworms (inspired by my Saturday Shopping List)

I dream of Wuthering Heights (Oh Heathcliff!)

A big thank you to by bestie Courtney helping come up with some of these new phrases. The rest of the lovely new collection can be found in my little shop.

Well I'm off to enjoy a lovely Sunday night, got to love a husband that can cook. I hope your weekend has been wonderful, whatever you have been up to. To all my fellow Aussies have a wonderful Australia Day, I'll be listening to Triple J's Hottest 100, going for a swim and enjoying the last of my holidays. What are your plans?

Happy Sunday
xxx

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On the Eve of Christmas...

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, full of peace, love, joy and champagne!

I have had a fabulous day pottering around the antique stores in Paddington, Brisbane searching for some lovely vintage bits and pieces for my new pieces I'm currently dreaming up. Just thought I would share with you some of the beautiful things I found.

The best Antique store in Queensland!

Miss Posh Poodle- for everything vintage!

Beautiful embroided napkins, ribbon and stunning white gloves.

Close up detail of the napkins

Vintage fabric..


Vintage French hair slide..

Thanks so much to the lovely Rebecca from Edward and Lilly for the wonderful feature of my fabric brooches on her blog. My signature brooches will be available almost as soon as I return from holidays on the 30th of December. I am currently taking orders so if you have a lovely quote or favourite book you would like on a brooch please email me at sophieisobeldesigns@hotmail.com

Well I'm off to have a lovely evening with my family, we are having dinner at Salon, a stunning restaurant at Teneriffe.

May you enjoy many Christmas carols, cards and cuddles!

xxx

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A delightful weekend...

I believe that the weekend is officially the best time of the week and has it been a long week! Thank goodness I have finished writing reports, all that is left to do now is a wait to see how many mistakes are found, hopefully not many.

Its been a lovely weekend. We've been very busy tripping around antique stores and having lovely French hot chocolate under the winter trees at Pleasentrees. We had a fun night at the local Irish pub for a farewell/birthday bash for some friends from work. And today has been all about checking out lovely patterns and wool and catching up with Courtney on the phone. So here are some photos from my weekend adventures...

The beautiful lavender outside 'Rose Harvest Antiques'

The beautiful entrance that reminds me of the secret garden

We always have a lovely time at Rose Harvest, the rooms are just brimming with amazing things but today it was right out the back in the shed that I found my little treasure. I have been searching for an old ink well ever since I found my lovely quill. And look what I found...

I just love the ink stained would and lovely big pots. I've found a lovely spot for it on my dressing table. Now I really feel like Jane Austen.

A close up of my quill and cute little bottle of nut brown ink

Later in the afternoon after our weekly grocery shop we went out to 'Pleasentrees' French wares nursery. We had a lovely time wondering around the gardens and sipping there amazing french hot chocolate. It was just like chocolate from the film Chocolat. It was just beautiful. And I couldn't resist a few little cards and tags.


We had a bunch of fun last night, listening to a bad Melbourne cover band at the local Irish pub.

The gang from work
Not sure how far into the night it was but we all look very cheerful!

After all that fun and shopping its been a quite day today, lots of checking out patterns and lovely blankets. Courtney and I are just fascinated by Moonstiches and her hexagon love!

It's such a work of art..

Now I just need the time and patience to make one myself, I would really love to create a wall hanging. Its all I have been thinking about today... All those beautiful colours, what fun!

Now I'm looking forward to sitting down tonight and working on a beret for my sister. Been very inspired to get out my hook and create some goodness.

The start of the beret, loving the mustard wool

Hope everyone has had a l0vely weekend, looking forward to seeing all my family in a week tomorrow!

ttfn xx

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