Handmade Help..

There is so many wonderful people in the crafting and blogging world helping the bushfire relief. If you haven't already, please go to Handmade Help and get involved by donating a handmade item or taking part in some of the wonderful actions.

For the next ten days (the 10th to the 2oth) I will be donating all the proceeds of my sales at Sophie Isobel Designs to the Red Cross for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. This includes custom orders so if you would like something special please let me know.

Thank you so much to everyone for your involvement and support

xxx

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Bushfire Relief Update

There are no words to describe the devastation and destruction that has ripped through Victoria over the past few days. As our local community here in Mildura rally together to help those affected by the bush fires, it is so incredible and heart warming to see all the online support for these Victorian towns and communities.

If you would like to help in any way please take the time to visit Pip Stafford's blog and to Meet me at Mikes for a comprehensive list of links and phone numbers to donate money, blankets, mobile phone chargers, blood and help for animals.

Cindy of Bug And Pop is organising a handmade auction with all proceeds going to the Red Cross to help out those whose lives have been devastated by the bushfires in Victoria. If you can help out by donating a handmade item/s head over to this blog post and leave a comment or email Cindy at bdesign_cc at yahoo dot com dot au.

Thank you so much for your support
xxx

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Writing, sewing and loving Sunday..

At last a cool change has come to Mildura after ten days straight of over 40 degree temperatures. I've spent the day enjoying the cool change, sewing some new brooches and pendants for my little shop and enjoying the afternoon at our monthly Poetic Justice Publishing writing workshop. We had to cancel it yesterday after it got up to 47 degrees so it was lovely to be able to catch up today and prepare for the local Big Screen Film Festival that we are a part of next month. Words and images always seem to flow freely on a Sunday and we are embracing the themes of Baz Lurmann's Australia and creating poetry and prose that resonates old world Australia.

A writer's stash

Notes and inspiration..

An afternoon with the Remington..

I briefly braved the heat yesterday to take a quick trip find some new fabrics and ribbon. I came home with a lovely little collection and have been busy making a new collection of brooches and working on a few special pendants too. I had anticipated getting a little more achieved over the weekend but the heat slowed me down quite a bit, so I'm looking forward to more creating in my spare moments during the week. Here a just a few of my creations which you can find in my Etsy shop now.

Lovely new fabric and ribbon..

'For the Soul' Terrarium Pendant

I heart Glue and Scissors (the perfect pair)

I heart Sketchbooks
I heart Philosophy..

I've also got a special little offer on in my shop at the moment, if your purchase is my 50th (I'm at 48 at the moment) you will receive a little extra gift with your order. Keep an eye out for more cute and crazy brooches during the week.

Well I'm off to cook dinner with my lovely hubby and get ready for another evening of the ever fun and frivolous 'So you think you can dance'. Hope everyone has had a lovely weekend.

PS. My heart goes out to all the families affected by the horrific bush fires in Victoria. We are so blessed to have not been affected up here in the north west corner, I just hope that the cool change will help to ease the fires and brings some relief to the people of Victoria.

Much love and Sunday dreams
xxx

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Shopping List Saturday..

This weeks Shopping List was inspired by a beautiful literary reference, my favourite short story 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It is a stunning and terrifying tale which leaves you with an altered perspective of yellow wallpaper forever.

1. Old fashioned gramophone and wallpaper print by KZukowski
2. Herbert considers his new wallpaper by hushmouse
3.Brown Boots art print by jenoaks
4. Ochre demask wallpaper lamp shade by drawflowers
5. Cicada by FleurRendell
6. Home sweet home wood print -by rosiemusic

' There are things in that paper that nobody knows but me, or ever will' - The Yellow Wallpaper.

What a collection of beautiful yellow hues I found on Etsy, I'm finding yellow very inspiring at the moment and am certainly on the look out for a lovely pair of mustard mary-janes.

I'm off to stock up on some new fabric, ribbon and buttons for my creations over the weekend, might even stop in for a little op-shopping too.

Take a moment to brew a fresh pot of tea and pop over to the the fabulous Fancy Picnic to check out the other amazing Shopping Lists. The perfect way to begin a Saturday.

Hope you have a wonderful Saturday..
xxx

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Friday's little moments...

Friday brings so many lovely things, a delightful weekend ahead, the end of a long and hot week, relaxing happy hour and the little quiet moments that are always so welcoming. Being away in Brisbane last weekend meant that I havn't really had a chance to unwind and be creative in nearly two weeks so the moment I got home from work, I embraced the beautiful afternoon sun and captured my creative world one frame at a time.

Pages and thread..

Vintage fabric and buttons

On the coffee table.. earrings, notebooks, paper and thread

Dickens dust jacket in the odds and ends box..

Also in the box, sketches and hand dyed doilies

Brooches in progress..

I've set up under the air conditioning to create a new collection of brooches and pendants over the weekend. With 46 degrees forecast for tomorrow, I think sewing and watching dvd's sounds like a nice way to spend the day. Keep a eye out for shop updates over the weekend.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend of high tea, pink roses and afternoon walks by the Seine..

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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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A flying visit and a New York surprise!

I can't quite believe how quickly the last few weeks have gone! I've been up to Brisbane and back to celebrate my sister's 21st birthday, almost finished week two of the term and it's already February! Doesn't time fly when you are having fun!

I had the most fabulous weekend in Brisbane with a wonderful party on Saturday night for my beautiful sister. As I mentioned in my last post the theme was Black and White and we decked the house and ourselves out to match the theme. We also had a big surprise in store for my sister as we handed her a beautiful black and white baroque box. Inside was a ticket to New York from the whole family. She was totally shocked and thrilled and is already making travel plans!

All together an amazing night of family, celebrations, dancing and champagne! Here are a few photos of our celebrations..

My sisters and I in our black and white,
I made my rosette especially for the occasion.

The beautiful backyard...

The girls strike a pose..

Now I'm back after my weekend it's back down to business, I will be busy making custom orders over the next few nights and then I can't wait to get into making a fabulous new batch of brooches and mixed media pendants.

I'm also very excited that the fabulous Nicole Tattersal is having a giveaway over at her blog of one of my mixed media artworks. The piece is called 'A tale of two cities' and pays homage to the works of the amazing Charles Dickens.

'A tale of Two Cities'

Pop over to her blog check out the giveaway for your chance to win this mixed media original I created especially for the giveaway. Entries close on Friday 6 February 2009, 10pm so get in quick.

Well I'm off to watch set up all my bits and pieces in front of the TV so I can create and watch 'So you think you can dance'. What a fun night!

Much love and happy Wednesday!
xxx

PS. A big thank you to Polly Danger for the lovely feature of my terrarium pendant and I heart Mr. Darcy brooch on her beautiful blog. Her blog and Etsy shop are a must to check out for beautiful aprons and crafty goodness.

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