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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When Autumn and Spring Collide..

As Autumn and Spring collide around the world I feel myself drawn to to wear beautiful warm brown tones and at the same time I am creating brooches in the prettiest of Spring pinks and greens. Oh how I love global inspiration! My weekend to bought moments of Autumn and Spring as I stocked up on some winter essentials, spent some much need down time on my granny squares, played with some beautiful Thea and Sami fabric and created a little collection of brooches inspired by tea sets and flowing Spring dresses.

Shades of Autumn- Getting ready for winter, new boots, scarves and vintage gloves

My little grannies are slowly growing in numbers...

My beautiful Thea and Sami fabric arrived in the mail.. The delightful Thea and I are joining forces and I'm so excited to create a collection of brooches using her amazing fabrics.

Inspired by English Muse's beautiful roses and delights of flowing dresses and the amazing work of Susan Southam, I couldn't help but celebrate mother's day with a little collection of girly petite brooches which are available in my Etsy shop now.

I loved the delightful blossoming Spring feeling so much I just had to continue it into the brooches for my Mother's Day giveaway.

To enter check out my giveaway post and leave me a message telling me a little something about a wonderful mother you know. The giveaway will be drawn on Friday the 15th at 8am.

My weekend was made complete when Dujour Magazine released their stunning Vintage Issue which I am so delighted to be featured in.

The whole magazine is full of stunning designers, artists and photographers, beautiful photo shoots and all round gorgeous vintage moments, I really am in some amazing company. It is a must to check out! To buy your own copy or subscribe to the environmentally friendly online version check them out at Dujour Magazine.

I hope you have enjoyed a lovely start to the week, I'm about to locate my scissors and curl up by the fire to cut fabric circles and flick through the latest Country Style magazine.

Much love, Autumn leaves and Spring Blooms
xxx

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With frost comes blueberries and cold toes...

So the news confirmed my suspicions... it's cold, really cold! And it's only April! After searching high and low for clothes to wear to work this morning I've decided that I'm not at all prepared for winter and the cold has sprung early! It is snowing in the mountains already and we are in for frosts here in the morning. A small excitement, whilst I try to regain feeling in my toes, is that with any luck my blueberries will fruit soon, so I can make yummy blueberry pie to keep us warm!

So I've done some hunting for my winter wish list and here is what I'm loving today...

Just gorgeous I think I might have to buy it - Vintage Mustard Trench Coat from ramonawest

Too cute and so very nerdy seamstress -Tapemeasure scarf by Knit and Destroy

And to keep my toes warm (and match the lovely trench) - Candy Stripe Mary Jane House Shoes by elephant and chickpea

I'm still searching for a pair on mid calf, small heeled, black, round toed boots. If you have see any on your travels please let me know, I'm getting desperate!

I'm off to curl up by the fire with tea and apple pie (while I await my blueberries) to make a lovely granny square or two. Check out my granny square adventures tomorrow in my creative space.

Much love and cozy blankets
xxx

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A weekend in pictures..

How the weekends just fly by, all my good intentions of posting last night flew out the window for a lovely romantic evening with my hubby. I have so many little things to share I thought it be best just to show my weekend in pictures...

Friday Afternoon

Collages and inspiration an inspiration board

A beautiful owl brooch from Betty Jo Designs (we had a little brooch swap)

Saturday

Channeling Coco Chanel

Fabulous books from our morning rummage of Salvo's Op Shop

Tiny treasures for the Writing Workshop, 'Treasure Box' activity

Lights off for Earth Hour - reading by candlelight

Sunday

Custom brooches for Georgie Love's 3rd Birthday

A beautiful 'just because' pressie from my hubby
The Sun's Babies by Edith Howes 1911

A beautiful weekend and a fabulous new week beginning, four days until holidays, I can't wait! Many wonderful things to do, including a zine to create, stock to make for some up coming projects, an interview with the local paper, two novels to read, a makeover of the lounge room and backyard and a visit from my beautiful in-laws all the way from Queensland. I think I will be a busy girl!

Much love and vintage book pages
xxx

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Birds and tea cups on a Friday..

How quickly Friday has come around again, I'm feeling a little bit of groundhog day at the moment so I'm totally delighted at the prospect of a lovely weekend of creating, reading and watching films. Tonight I'm continuing for on my new batch of brooches which is very exciting and I've already listed on I'd been thinking about making ever since I found the gorgeous vintage fabric in an op shop in Brisbane.

Jazz Age - circa 1920

The fabric is from a handmade blouse and I just adore the beautiful 1920's silhouettes and shades of raspberry. There will be a few more different ladies to come very soon.

Of course being Friday I stopped in for a little shopping on the way home from work. I thought all was lost with nothing lovely to by anywhere until I spotted this very cute top at Pink Peppa. It seems my love for cute and quirky tees just continues to grow and I just love everything about this Fujinella piece.

Just love the grey jersey and details on the collar.

Inspiration in all its beautiful forms is such an important part of my creative process. Today I'm inspired by the little details, memories and the moments of days gone by.

Dust Jackets with ladies and gentlemen in their Sunday best. Also smelling the pages of a well worn second hand book. It is mandatory during my Literature class to smell the book before you begin reading.

My father's collection of stamps which my grandmother helped him create. Each page tells so many stories.

Nick Bantock letters from Griffin and Sabine and vintage Royal Doulton Roses

Hope you are having a beautiful Friday, remember that I will be drawing the winner of by Thank You brooch tomorrow morning 9am EST, so be sure to check in then.

Much love, birds and tea cups
xxx

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Smile on Mondays..

What a fabulous weekend it has been and now Monday has also come and gone and I am still beaming with joy! Sorry about my lack of a post last night, I was fabulously busy making a little custom order for the amazing BugandPop and a little commissioned tea cup artwork for a friend at work.

After a beautiful session of Yoga at Eleventh Street Yoga I'm all chilled out and very happy to be sharing the lovely moments of my weekend with you. My biggest accomplishment for the weekend was shifting my little cottage around to create an office space for my growing little business. The moments of sprawling all over the lounge room are now transformed into a beautiful space that my darling hubby helped me create. I'm so delighted that I now have a space to create as well as a lovely little office to pack up my goodies, write and design. It even has a chandelier!

My lovely office..

Desk complete with inspiration board and a cup holder that doubles perfectly to hold all my ribbon.

Close up of all my bit and pieces including my beautiful Hens Teeth journal, postcards from Marmee Craft and November Moon and one of my favourite creations, my tree house pin cushion.

In tray table with op shop fabric, vintage tin, garage sale tea cup and beautiful owl print, a gift from my sister.

I am loving so many things this week I just have to share them all with you!

My hubby's yummy Saturday morning pancakes.

My beautiful vintage find of the week - Italian leather gloves in their original box. How could I resist! Now I just have to wait for winter..

Finally..... My brooch back supplier called me with wonderful news, they arrived! Now I have over 200 brooch backs and many many new brooches to create.

Some very girly fabric I found in the depths of the Spotlight pile. Lovely fabric makes me smile.

My very favourite new friend Ruby.
We finally got our lovely parrot Mallee a big cage to spread his wings in, which also meant we could get him a girlfriend. Ruby is a very special Opaline Red Rump Parrot, although she is a little shy, I think she is already fond of her new boy.

I hope everyone has had a delightful start to the week. I'm off to curl up on the couch with my hubby and check out some of the lovely frocks and awards from the Oscars.

Much love and joyful moments of inspiration..
xxx

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I really heart Fridays.

I heart Fridays for tomorrow brings Pancakes and a sleep in. I heart Fridays because the students are always happier and so am I. I heart Fridays because I finally get to spend some time marking all the work that is piling up on my desk. I heart Fridays because I get to talk to my mum on the phone about my week. I heart Fridays because I finally get a free moment to water my favourite plants. I heart Fridays because my fabulous friend and shopping partner Joelene and I spend the afternoon pondering the week that was at our favourite cafe and then explore all the little book shops and boutiques around town.

Today I got to do all of these things and it was lovely. Now I just can't wait for a sleep in and pancakes in the morning. Here are the results of my Friday..

Harmony Clothing, my very favourite boutique never fails to deliver amazing finds and today I just couldn't resist these two pieces.

Crazy and amazing chandelier tee by Erge Designs

Cute as a button tee by Cantao - how would I resist books on a bicycle.

This is the divine little tag that came on the Cantao tee, how gorgeous is it!

I found a few fabulous bargains at the local bookshop. I just adore bookshops, it's like coming home. The smell, the beautiful covers, I can never come out empty handed. I would just love my very own little bookshop one day.

Got to love the new Penguin 'old' covers. Love in the time of Cholera - one of the best secrets my mum has let me in on.

A little Edgar Allan Poe for a fabulous evening.

My little plants are finally starting to grow. I am creating a little potted wonderland in my favourite part of the backyard and all my little plants have survived the extreme heat and looking so lovely.

My little garden.. Blueberries, chillies, lavender and rosemary. I found the silver mop bucket in the shed, it's perfect for the lavender.


My first two blueberries..

My beautiful lavender finally has the sweetest little flowers blossoming.

In business news I'm extending my donations to the Red Cross until Monday the 23rd as I have had some delightful custom orders to create over the weekend. Keep an eye out for some new brooches and pendants tomorrow and Sunday.

I just can't wait for Saturday, I heart Saturdays too! What are your plans for the weekend? I'll leave you with my philosophy for the day inspired by my dearest friend Tara...

write, sew, breath deeply, create beautiful moments and share them with amazing people..
xxx

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My creative space..

My creative space today is the beginnings of organising all my lovely fabric, lace and ribbon. Over the next few weekends I hope to transform the boxes and baskets of chaos into my very own haberdashery haven. Today I have started will everything sweet and lacy.

'Ribbon and Lace'

Where this little collection will end up I'm not quite sure. I'm starting to take over the house so I need to find the perfect spot to store everything, which is indeed half the fun! Look out for some of these lovely bits and pieces in my up coming artworks and pendants.

Before I go and get ready for a relaxing yoga session, I have to share this gorgeous piece of advertising with you. It has been out for a little while but it never fails to inspire me! One of my very favourite people Sophia Coppola directed the commercial and I just adore it along with the gorgeous print campaign. Why can't I fly around Paris holding balloons?

Head over to Kristy at Kootoyoo to join in the fun and show off your Creative Space.

PS. A big thank you to Emma Lamb for the beautiful feature and photographs of the custom order I recently created for her. Emma is totally adorable and her blog is a must read full of beauty and delightful images. Also check out her very lovely cards and heavenly crochet cushions (they even have cute names) in her Etsy shop.

With love and Paris dreams
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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