2009 - My year in Pictures..

2009 - What a year it has been...

This year I...

Bought my first house
Adopted a new member into our family, the mischievous kitten Olive
Got my first tattoo
Collected ten vintage typewriters
Made hundreds of brooches and watched my little business blossom
Had my work featured on the front page of Etsy
Had my work featured in Frankie, Real Living and Get Creative magazines

This year has been just so amazing for me. I've soared through many wonderful highs and also experienced some sad lows. My blog has always been a place for me to come to, to ponder, reflect, share and explore my world. Thank you so much for a wonderful year, for all your kind words, comments, support and friendship. It means so much to me and I can't wait to continue blogging and sharing in the fun of 2010. Wishing everyone a delightful evening of new year's celebrations. See you tomorrow to begin a brand new year..

Much love and Happy New Year!
xxx

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A very busy bee..

Right now I feel like one of these crazy little worker bees collecting honey..

image from weheartit

The weeks are just flying past and I just seem to be hanging on for the ride. Can someone hit the slow down button please! I think I'm ready for a holiday... only five weeks to go.

Much love to everyone, sorry I haven't been around to check out and comment on everyone's blogs. I will be doing so as soon as I can find life's 'pause' button! But for now, I'm off to be a little busy bee for just a little while longer before I find my way to the couch for a glass of wine and a lovely evening with my hubby.

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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Spring Holidays...

It has been so long since I have written and the spring holidays have just flown by so quickly. I had good intentions of posting a blog whilst we were on holidays but very limited internet access meant I have had to store all my goodness for when I got home. My hubby and I had a fabulous holiday visiting family in Brisbane and then ventured north for a week in beautiful Cairns especially for my very special friend Tara's wedding. I have many photos and storied to share so best get a cup of tea and a comfy chair.

Brisbane: 21/9/08- 25/9/08

We travelled on Ben's birthday which meant the moment we got off the plane we were in party mode.

Ben and our nephew Delcan celebrating

Declan being cute in his pirate bib!

The Glass Bar @ the Judith Wright Centre was a fab place of afternoon drinks

We had a beautiful day on the Gold Coast with my whole family, this is one of my favourite photos I took on my Polaroid camera.

All the girls together! I just love the quality of Polaroids.

What would Brisbane be without a ferry trip down the river at twilight.

It was very windy on the ferry! (I put this photo in because it made my sister laugh)

Cairns: 25/9/08 - 2/10/08

It was so lovely to be in the Cairns sunshine, although I grew up there I had not been sight seeing in years. We had a fabulous time being all touristy. We also had an amazing time at Tara and Caleb's wedding. My sister and I did the wedding photography and although it was a little stressful it was an absolutely amazing day! Here are our Cairns adventures..

Tara (the beautiful bride) and I before the ceremony

With the lovely couple

Later in the evening on the dance floor!

My new friend Kristy and I in our matching dresses!

Will post some of the more official wedding photos once the lovely couple come back from their honeymoon. I'm so happy with the way they turned out, now my fabulous sister has the fun task of editing them.

Being silly after a few drinks celebrating before their honeymoon.

Beautiful view from Rex Lookout on the way to Port Douglas

On the bridge at Mosmon Gorge

Some beautiful rainforest

A little rainforest fungi, I can just imagine fairies dancing around this in the moonlight.

At the Barron Falls

My little sister Ella and I at the Falls

We had such a wonderful time its a little strange to get back into the normal routine of life. I have been so inspired by the spending time with family and fabulous friends and new people I have met I'm really looking forward to getting into my studio and creating some delightful pieces before Christmas. I will leave you for now to go and take some photos of the beautiful flowers at a blossoming in my garden at the moment which I will post later on this evening.

Much love xx

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Outdoor Adventures...

How the weeks go by so fast, I have so much to share I may have to do a few separate entries tonight. First of all I had to post a few photos of the Outdoor Education expedition I had the pleasure of being a part of last week. It was a two day adventure through an island on the Murray River and it certainly lived up to its adventure status.

Day One: We were bused in and left with a map and a compass to walk 20kms through the wilderness to reach our camp site with three creek crossings.

Group shot before we started walking..

Our first creek crossing.. what fun!

It was nice to finally see the campsite eight hours later!

Day Two: We ditched our packs (thank goodness) and canoed 26kms down to the Murray river through the adjacent creeks. It was just beautiful to be on the water and was a great workout! We also got to experience going through a lock, which is kind of like being locked into a giant swimming pool that changes the water levels from different sides of the river.

My view for the day.

Having fun in the boat!

Canoes lined up for our lunch stop..

Coming out of the lock, as water dropped four metres and we hung onto our little canoes for our lives!

It was an amazing experience and I can't wait to get the chance to go on my next adventure, perhaps without a 15kg pack next time!

ttfn xx

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Tournament of Minds, Travelling Days and Garden Update

What a big week! Sorry about my lack of blogging over the past few weeks, life has been wonderful, crazy and full of travelling!

I best start at the beginning of the week and my little adventure to Melbourne for the day to an inspiring professional development held at Melbourne Museum. I have never been to Melbourne by myself so it was a very wild, exciting and nerve racking day! I found my way around the city and even got to walk back to the train station and take in the beautiful old buildings and bare trees.

The beautiful Royal Exhibition Building next door to the Museum

The amazing larger than life rainforest in the Museum.
The architecture was just breathtaking.

And that was only Monday, throughout the week I have been madly working to prepare my Tournament of Minds teams to get ready for the regional finals in Bendigo. The week went so fast and every spare our was used in the art room supervising the creation of backdrops, masks and more!

Saturday quickly came around and two 5am mornings in one week have certainly taken it out of me. Thank goodness for Sundays! The Tournament of Minds experience was just amazing experience. Over eight hours on a bus to Bendigo
with 13 hyperactive, sugar filled enthusiastic students was certainly an experience I will not forget. I also had a wonderful opportunity to judge the spontaneous section of the competition and I can't wait to sign up for next year. What fun!

I just loved Bendigo, the architecture was stunning and I just love this fountain in the middle of town.

A very silly photo of me and part of the team. More photos to come!

And after a crazy week I had the a lovely little lazy Sunday, nice sleep in and normal people things like grocery shopping and getting ready for school this week. I also finished off the scarf I began a few weeks ago. As I was taking a photo of it I noticed some sweet things in the garden I wanted to share.

Cute little cotton scarf for Spring

After weeding the garden a few weeks ago, the magical garden fairies found some delightful daffodil bulbs and in only a few weeks we have our very first daffodil just in time for Daffodil Day.

With the beautiful rain we have been having our little pot of rocket is blossoming fast!

Our little book club has come together again after being swept away in the world of Twilight. We have decided to read Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I can't wait, its been sitting on my 'to read' shelf since my birthday!


I will leave you tonight with my favourite artist at the moment, the delightful Jayme McGowan of Roadside Projects. Her artistry and innovation with paper is incredible and her beautiful images tell such beautiful stories.

Just beautiful work and totally inspiring!

Much love to everyone!

Have a lovely week
xxx

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Treasures found...

And the week went so quickly but that's alright because I have really been looking forward to a quite weekend. After receiving a spotlight voucher for my birthday on Wednesday I couldn't wait to get down there on Saturday and was on the search for a mannequin head to display my hats on. Lucky me I found one! I also found some other lovely bits and pieces and had a great time searching the isles.

Here is my lovely mannequin 'Molly'. I also got a great sewing companion for my work bench, some very cute buttons and some beautiful cotton yarn.

I was so excited to see what the yarn would look like I have got straight into a beret pattern to sell in the shop.

I'm loving the colour blend and can't wait to see how it will turn out.

So other than my spotlight adventure we had a lovely quite weekend and I spent some time catching up on some writing and some exams I had to mark for Monday. Here is the lovely big mess I made by the fire on Saturday night.

Thank goodness I've got a big lounge room.

Well back to work tomorrow and I'm counting down the days until Breaking Dawn comes out, its all getting very exciting just need to keep myself occupied for another two weeks.

I will leave you with a photo of my sister and I on the City Cat in Brisbane showing off our new sunglasses. Missing everyone lots, also missing the warm weather! Bring on Spring..

Much love xx

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Happy Birthday to me!

Happy Birthday to me! How cute is my little cake..

Thank you to everyone who sent me lovely birthday wishes and pressies. I am another year older and as yet I don't feel a whole lot wiser, perhaps that comes in a few days. So I just thought I would share some photos with you of the beautiful bits and pieces I received from my lovely family and friends.

What lovely presents... a hair straightener and book from my grandparents, some beautiful bits from my dear friend Tara including the gorgeous dragonfly tote and amazing piece of glass art (back left). Also the beautiful owl print from my sis and spotlight voucher and yummy book from my favourite auntie Dizey! In the middle is an incredible bracelet and and earring from my mum and stepdad, aren't I spoiled!

Here is a close up of my beautiful bracelet and earrings, onyx and pearls just amazing! Also in the background is the Hello Kitty card my 6 year old sis got me, so cute.

Much love to everyone, its nice to be back home, although ever since I got home I have been so busy! Back to school already, plenty of fun. The week is nearly over already and I can't wait to spend some time in my little sewing room and uploading some more holiday snaps.

Happy Thursday x

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I heart shopping!

I wish I could be on permanent holidays all the time. Having a wonderful time visiting my family in Brisbane, already been to the GoMA (gallery of modern art) and shopped till I dropped at DFO (direct factory outlet). I even got to meet my gorgeous nephew Declan. Well I've got plenty of photos of my adventures so here they are...

Me with Declan

Very cute! (Go the Maroons!)

My sister and I playing DJ's @ GoMA

Writing a silly story on the walls @ GoMA in the I heart Art History exhibition

Mum and I outside GoMA


My shopping spree at DFO, I had so much fun (loving my new shoes and handbag!)

With many busy days ahead there will be plenty more photos soon. We are having my early birthday celebration on Friday night and I can't wait. We are going to an amazing Persian restaurant Zafron, which I'm sure will be wonderful.

Before I go I must post the very cute and a little kitsch hook case I made for my crochet hooks. I am so happy with the results that I will be whipping up quite a few for the shop when I get back home next week. I think the kookier the fabric the better!

The front with cute mushroom fabric and vintage button

Inside with contrast polka dots and room for all your hooks, scissors and a measuring tape

I hope everyone is having a lovely week. Happy Thursday!

xxx

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