The festivities begin...

It is so delightful that when the calendar flicks over to December and within moments everyone is in the Christmas spirit. After spending the last two days at the VATE state conference, surrounding by amazing and inspiring people and so many fabulous books, I arrived back at work today and felt like I has stepped into the North Pole. Everywhere I turned there were decorations, silly Santa hats and Kris Kringle gift giving.

As I walked to my office I was surprised and delighted receive a beautiful little gingerbread house from one of my students. I'd just love to live inside this little house, complete with icing sugar snow.

My delightful gingerbread house.. almost too cute to eat!

With all this Christmas spirit about, I'm very excited about getting back into my studio and making some lovely custom brooches just in time for Christmas. The always lovely Linda from Two Pink Possums has order the sweetest little Christmas brooches which I'm just finishing at the moment, such a cute idea.

HoHoHo and Ba Humbug custom Christmas brooches..

And remember my shop will only be open until Monday the 14th so if you would like to purchase a custom brooch for yourself or someone special for Christmas, make sure you get in quick. I'm offering a very special Christmas treat of three 'I heart' brooches for $30, so you can let your imagination run wild.

I hope your Holiday festivities are getting into full swing. For some fabulous eco friendly decorating tips, check out Dottie Angel and her amazing Christmas Tree.

Much Love
xxx

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Sunday Shopping List...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.. especially when there are red and white candy cane stripes about..

1. Plaid. Vintage mug by Kultur
2. Bakers Twine in Peppermint Stick by CaliforniaCraft
3. The Lady in Red Stripes by kirby
4. REGENCY STRIPE Cotton Cushion Cover by bestillshop

Check out all the other lovely shopping lists at fancypicnic.

Much love and candy canes
xxx

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Thank you...

I would just like to thank everyone so much for your amazing support, comments and emails over the last week. I have been overwhelmed by your beautiful messages and each one has truly touched my heart. I feel so blessed to be a part of this wonderful community.


I am back home now after spending a week in Queensland with my family celebrating the incredible life of my grandfather. This week has really made me appreciate the important things in life, to share and love in each moment with family and friends and to truly live life with passion and joy.

It has been delightful to catch up on everyone's blogs and enjoy all the Christmas festivities and touches of glee. It is all so inspiring and I just can't wait to finish up work for the year, move into my lovely little cottage (which is only two weeks away!) and decorate our little world ready for Christmas.

As I will be packing up my studio in preparation for the move, I will be reopening my Etsy shop up today until the 14th of December for custom orders only. So if you would like a Christmas brooch for yourself or something special as a gift, please send conversation via Etsy or email me asap.

Wishing you a wonderful Sunday, I hope you day is filled with love and family. I'm off to enjoy a little more blog inspiration before I begin an afternoon of organising and packing. The only question is now.. which room to start on first?

Image from weheartit

Much Love
xxx

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Some sad news...

I've been trying to find the right way to word this little post and everything I seem to write just doesn't make the words any easier to say. Sadly my grandfather passed away yesterday after a long battle with Parkison's Disease. I will be taking a little time away from my blog and Etsy shop for myself and to spend time with my family in Queensland. Thank you so much to all my readers so your support and comments over this amazing year. It makes my day to read your inspiring words and be a part of this wonderful community. I look forward to returning before Christmas to share in the beautiful festive delights with all of you.

Much Love
xxx

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My Place & Yours.. My Collection

What a fabulous theme this week for My Place and Yours... Collections! Just so delightful, thank you Kate! I am indeed a bowerbird by nature and my collections often adorn my blog pages. I'm constantly searching for fascinating items to collect and often spend my weekends meandering through, antique and second hand shops when I have a 'feeling' there might be delights about.

My largest collection in many senses is of course my typewriters. It all started years ago when I bought a cheap 1970's portable from a garage sale. The next thing I knew I was using this little old typewriter so much I ran it out of ink, so I began to search for another. It was a delightful Saturday morning at my favourite antique shop that I spotted the most beautiful typewriter I had ever seen. At that moment I knew I just had to begin a collection.

My five oldest typewriters, including my very favourite Remington circa 1908. I can't wait to move into our lovely new cottage, my hubby has promised to build a cabinet to fit my collection in.

Whilst on the look out for typewriters, I'm also in search of teacups and ink bottles, two of my favourite 'little things' to collect.

Some of my teacups, the rest are scattered around the house holding buttons, earrings, flowers and of course tea!

I've been given most of my current tea cup collection from my grandmother's pieces. I love finding cups that are just a little bit quirky and stand out from the crowd. I always love a teacup with a fascinating handle. When I have a little more space, teapots are my next on my list.

My ink bottle stash began with my love for old quills and daydreams of sitting at a little desk in the attic and writing a manuscript just like Jo March from Little Women. I'm drawn to bottles that have a tale to tell with unusual shapes, text and lids.

As Sibella Court says, 'I call myself a keeper of collections'. I find pieces of yesteryear and bring them back together, telling tall tales and love stories along the way.

Pop over to Pip at Meet me at Mikes to enjoy all the other beautiful collections and inspire the bowerbird within you.

Much love and happy collecting
xxx

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A granny chic Christmas..

Inspired by the ever delightful Emma Lamb and The Royal Sisters, I spent a glorious rainy Saturday creating my very own granny chic Christmas tree. As we will be moving into our lovely new house in less than a month, just in time for Christmas, I didn't want to set up our normal tree just to have to pull it down again, so this is my little festive alternative.

I bought the sweet tree from Rose Harvest last weekend and adorned it with some little Christmas granny circles and gorgeous candy stripped ribbon from Spotlight.

I love traditional red and white for Christmas and used a little cream contrast add a golden touch. I've still got a few more to make to fill the back of the tree and I'm so pleased with the say its turned out.

Next on my crochet list is a garland to match my little tree and I can't wait to try out The Royal Sisters lovely twinkle star pattern to match my wee Christmas circles.

Wishing you a wonderful relaxing Sunday. I'll be back tomorrow with this week's My Place and Yours, what a fabulous theme this week collections! I have so many collections I'm not even sure where to start. Trying to fit all my typewriters into one photograph will be very interesting indeed.

Much love and festive thoughts
xxx

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Saturday Shopping List..

It is lovely to have a little free time up my sleeve to once again rejoice in a meander through the delightful world of Etsy, to bring to you a wee shopping list each Saturday. I do miss creating these lists so much and I'm looking forward to finding some wonderful new creations and sellers.

Today it rained... for the first time in months and after the heatwave of the last few weeks I could not be happier. It was as if the rain drops were tiny rainbows of colour.

1. Raindrops - 5 x 5 art print by crimsonpeachyart

2. Miniature Raindrop (Orange Pattern) by ashleyg
3. The rain cloud - Print by tinewiggens
4. Mobile Rain of colors.... by leptitpapillon

Check out all the other lovely shopping lists at fancypicnic.

Happy Saturday! I'm off to dance in the rain and then perhaps curl up with a cup of tea and some crochet.

Much Love
xxx

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