Tis the season!

Well the countdown is on, I officially finish work tomorrow with a lovely Christmas party and then Ben and I are off to Brisbane on Thursday for two weeks to share the festive season with our families. After a wonderful, adventurous and tiring year, I can't wait to kick back and spend some quality time with all my favourite people!

So I thought I best post a little blog with my latest antics before I depart for the sunshine state. First off I would like to share the little mixed media brooch I created on Saturday. Using one of my favourite shades of plum with a hint of raspberry I adored the creative process of finding just the right shades to put together this brooch.

Dreaming of Plum and Aubergine Brooch is now in my little shop.

I'm so excited as a little parcel arrived in the mail for me today from the delightful Edward and Lilly. I just couldn't resist one of the beautiful little bird decorations she is selling over in her lovely shop. Can't wait to add it to add it to the Christmas gift of a very special person (who might be reading this so they will remain nameless). Go and check out the other beautiful little creations that Edward and Lilly has in store.

(Image courtesy of Edward and Lilly)
The lovely little bird decoration I bought.

And the lovely Rebecca from Edward and Lilly was so sweet and purchased my Jane Austen collection brooches. I was so excited to see I had made my very first sale. I had a lovely time getting it all ready to send and bolted to the post office on Saturday morning to get it off nice and early.

Taking my little package to the post office.

~ So with only a few days to go my world is very busy.

I've got loads of washing to fold ready to be packed!

A suitcase that needs filling!

A pile of books that need reading. I'm lucky enough to be teaching Year 12 Literature next year and the book list includes these fabulous plays and novels. What fun! The problem is deciding what to read first.

And a studio that needs a little tidy up! Also some cute little brooches that need finishing...

In other news I will keep my little shop open while I am away and I will be shipping sales on the 31st of December. I'm also looking forward to buying up some lovely vintage bits and pieces in Brisbane to use in my work in the new year. With four weeks holiday I can't wait to spend some quality time in my studio.

I hope everyone is enjoying the festive season with family and friends. Hope to write a few blogs whilst I'm away and can't wait to do a little photoshoot of some of my pieces with my very talented sister.

Much love xxx

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Shopping List Saturday..

There is just something about the deep hues of aubergine that I simply adore. In my eyes the world should be filled with aubergine and my world certainly is! My favourite, purple shoes! So with shades of cream and aubergine dancing through my thoughts I have created my very first Saturday Shopping List.

1. Once Upon a Time Mixed Media Brooch from Little Brown Sparrow
2. 'Friends' Original Painting from Shariyah Garner
3. Suel dans le froid Print from Labokoff
4. Chair Oak Original Painting from Lisa Golightly

They are all just such delightful pieces, I'd love to find them all in my stocking on Christmas Day!

I'm so excited to be joining the lovely ladies who curate Shopping List Saturday, featuring fabulous creations from Etsy. Pop over to the ever delightful Fancy Picnic to check out the other amazing lists and get inspired for Christmas.

Well now I'm off to work in my little studio on some new treats for my shop and some Christmas presents. Might also get to do the rounds of a few local antique shops. What a delightful day.

Wishing you a lovely weekend xxx

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Everyday Beauty..

I took a moment out of the madness of my day today (filled with report writing and editing) to take a wonder around my neighbourhood and take in the beautiful overcast afternoon. I noticed as I took note of the details in my little town that everything in the world reflects beauty, it all depends on how you look at it.

I documented my walk in a series of photographs called 'Along the Garden Path' which I would like to share with you. I used the Lomography slogan 'shoot from the hip' to take each of these photographs as a way to find inspiration in the everyday.

This is how I see the world...

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend and enjoying the start of the festive season

xxx

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Busy Bees!

Well December is finally upon us! It is now daylight here until 9pm, which is lovely however at times just a little too warm. December brings with it, Christmas trees, decoration choosing, beautiful window displays and lovely pressies from students. It also brings with it report card writing. Not my most favourite thing to do with my spare time. So this is a fleeting post to say that my little blog will not receive any attention until report writing is over next week. As I am totally distracted by all the beauty in the world (particularly in the silly season) I thought I would quickly put up some of my favourite bits and pieces at the moment, before recommencing the report writing madness.

My favourite decoration on my Christmas tree...


This delightful little zine created by Champignons

A lovely piece of assemblage art by Melbourne artist Little Brown Sparrow

My most favourite print by the ever adorable Marmee Craft which would look adorable in my lounge room...

Finally this adorable purse created by Sydney designer Tabitha Emma

Well I hope you are inspired by all these beautiful pieces, with Christmas just around the corner what better time to buy delightful things!

Much love and cups of tea xxx

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Never from this Abyss..

Just a quick post to show you some photos from the first part of filming for the short film my friends Moana, Barrie, and I are entering into Tropfest. It's called 'Never from this Abyss' and is a strange and very twisted tale of two lovers told using T.S Eliot's 'The Love song of J. Alfred Prufrock'. We had a great time filming this morning and I think the some of the outtakes will be even better than film itself. I got to chop wood, smash plates and cups and go crazy! All in a days work!

As we have set the film in the 1900's I had to find a costume suitable for the time. Of course Lifeline didn't have a 1900's evening dress hanging around so I spend last night, sewing and dyeing some curtain and a cheesecloth skirt to create my costume. Although not quite to period and perhaps a little more pirate than evening dress I'm so happy with the way it turned out.

I started with a few sketches of what I needed the dress to look like..

The curtain and 'hippy' skirt I had to work with thanks to Lifeline.

The dying process, with tea leaves and rose petals.

Moana got some great still shots from today to so I could show you our crazy antics and thank goodness we finished filming in the early afternoon as it has just started hailing! As the film will be in sepia tones I have altered the photos so you get a sense of what it will look like.

Filming a close up shot in the lavender.

Piano scene

By the fire reading none other than Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

On the block about to cut up some firewood before the madness begins.

All we have left to shoot now are the scenes where we are in the river, so we are waiting a few weeks for the weather to get warmer before tackling these. Well I'm off now to finish my marking before doing some research for Literature tonight (watching a lovely film with my friend Joelene).

Much love, hope everyone is having a lovely weekend x

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When inspiration sings to you...

And they sing to me, the beautiful girls of the sea...

I had a cunning plan to mark 25 exam papers this afternoon but somehow I got a little sidetracked along the way. The sewing machine was calling my name, some lovely lace just waiting to be used. So I took a little detour from my good intentions to create this charming little brooch.

'Ocean Song' Brooch

Inspired by the ocean and one of my favourite shades of green I created this mixed media brooch using recycled fabrics, vintage lace and free form crochet. I love the idea of reworking ephemeral fabrics into something completely new.

I just love these cream tags and they are the perfect size to present my brooches on.

This brooch along with a few other surprises will be in my little shop later in the week. I just adore moments like these when inspiration just seems to steal your heart and you can do nothing but sit back and enjoy the creative process.

A very happy Wednesday to everyone, now I really must get back to those exam papers.

PS. Thank you so much to the fabulous girls over at Etsy Cottage Style for not only making me feel so welcome but also including me in their latest showcase.

xxx

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So much to tell you...

I feel like it was just yesterday that I was sitting here telling you about my weekend, how time just disappears. I've decided this week just how precious time is and this weekend I have made the most of every minute. I've been very busy marking English essays, finalising our grant application for Poetic Justice, getting ready to film an entry for Tropfest and even making a few bits and pieces. Oh and how could I forget getting into the Christmas spirit. I know it's early but there is something about glitter and carols that gets me very excited.

My first little adventure in my studio was one of imagination and childlike exploration. My dearest bestie Courtney and I were talking about making softies (lovely children's toys for big people too) earlier in the week and I decided to create my very own cottage. Inspired by At Whim I went about creating my perfect little cottage, number 16 with mushrooms out the front and a lovely oak tree I could see from the bedroom window. After making one I think I'm addicted, perhaps I will end up with a whole village.

'16 Apple Way' softie

My little oak tree and butterfly

With all this fun, I couldn't stop there. After my success making my experimental top the other day I thought I would make another and made a mad dash to Spotlight for some fabric I'd been wanting to make...

'I heart leaves' singlet

There are so many things I am loving this week I just have to share them with you:

Real Living - Christmas edition

One of my favourite magazine, Real Living never fails to inspire and make me jump around totally excited about making beautiful things. Some of the best bits, their Christmas pressie ideas and gorgeous handmade wrapping and cards.

Christmas Decorations

After reading Real Living I just had to get into the Christmas spirit, that and the next few weekends I am so busy yesterday was the only time I would go hunting for decorations. After much searching I ended up at Target and I must say I was pleasantly surprised with their decorations. I have decided to go with really simple silver and white this year and just love these really cute words joy and hope. Can't wait to put the tree up next weekend.

Anthropologie- Glee Collection

If you havn't already you must check out the latest offerings at Anthropologie. Their Glee Collection just made me smile, the photoshoot is just gorgeous and check out that dress! Delightful!

An organised fabric collection

After all this creation my fabric collection was all over the place so I spent some time this morning pottering around my studio locating all the bits of fabric from all over the floor! Just had to take a photo of it looking all pretty before the next adventure...

The Oscar Wilde Collection

I'm so excited about teaching year 12 literature next year, especially because the first text is Lady Windermere's Fan by the ever amazing Oscar Wilde. I'm so excited to read his mesmorising prose. There is something very special about old Oscar.

Studio Inspiration

Inspired by the beautiful worlds of The Black Apple and A Fanciful Twist I have been busy collecting ideas of lovely things to add to my studio. I'm in desperate need of a desk and some more storage space and can't wait for my darling husband to help me make a thread holder and a lovely place to store all my bits and pieces.

Well that's all from me for tonight, I'm off to make salad for dinner and watch the Australian Idol finale.

Much love, have a fabulous week!

xxx

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