Shopping List Saturday..

Curiouser and curiouser, this week's Shopping List takes us down the rabbit hole and through the looking glass, in search of Wonderland.

1. Oh Alice - Archival Print by Betsy Thompson Studio
2. Alice in Wonderland - Big Version One by Champignons
3. A Merry Unbirthday by A Happy Ending

4. Dreaming -fine art print by Elle Moss
5. Alice in Wonderland - TTV print by Route3Photography
6. Down the Rabbit Hole - Original Painting by The Curious Nomad

"If I had a world of my own, everything would be
nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because
everything would be what it isn't. And contrary
wise, what is, it wouldn't be.
And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?"

My thoughts exactly Alice...

My love for Alice + my love for shoes = Today's Shopping List. There are so many wonderful Alice inspired items on Etsy I just wanted to feature them all. I think I have been inspired myself to venture down through the looking glass on this lovely Saturday morning and create something a little bit Alice.

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 start to a Saturday morning.

I hope your Saturday is filled with delightful moments..
xxx

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An imaginary trip to Egypt...

It has been a fabulous Friday in my little nook. I've been to the post office (again), found a brooch back supplier and spent the afternoon on a lovely little imaginary trip to Egypt.

With the Stay Human Art on your Sleave exhibition fast approaching I've been busily working the two mixed media pieces I'll be exhibiting. I initially started with an vintage circus idea for the pieces, but somewhere between sleep, wake and dreaming they have taken on a life of their own and transformed into early 20th century adventures to Egypt.

I just love hand dyeing vintage fabric and lace to give it new life for my artwork. You just never know how it will turn out. Here is some of the odds and ends I dyed up for my Egyptian adventures.

Olive green, Ebony black and Madonna blue..

As I create, I am reminded of the Satin Bowerbird, creating a nest, searching for the perfect pieces to add. I seem to meander around my house trying to find interesting and beautiful trinkets to add to my artwork.

My pieces are a constant process of collection, as the story builds...

So far I've located a locket, some lovely buttons, a little key and a very sweet white glove that I've waiting to use.

Tomorrow will bring more collection, perhaps a spontaneous dash up the road to the RSPCA op shop and plenty of glue and sewing. It's not the usual artistic process but I just love it.

Finally after I very enjoyable organising hour yesterday, I've got my inspiration journal in some kind of order. It is organised chaos, but it's all in there.

A brooch ideas page.. I really do heart Edgar Allen Poe.

Before I go to curl up with a cup of chamomile tea and my latest adventure 'The Bell Jar' by Sylvia Plath, I just have to show you the cutest illustration I found on Etsy today. It just made me smile...

Cupcake bird by Kate at Little Doodles..
My two favourite things in one very divine drawing! I adore it!


Sweet dreams of little birds at high tea..
xxx

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My creative space..

This week I find myself still on the lounge room floor, I think perhaps it's because I'm making the most of my holiday TV viewing and watching reruns of Sex and the City while I create. I highly recommend it, Carrie's outfits and shoes are so inspiring!

This week my creative space is the mess I'm making whilst organising my inspiration book. Every time I have an idea for a new brooch or artwork I write it down on a random piece of paper and I just seem to have little stacks of pictures and notes everywhere. I thought it was high time I organised all the bits and pieces together.

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

xxx

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In another world with Daisy...

I feel as if I have just stepped out of another time, of the early 1900's, a world of beautiful yet uncertain times. A time of love letters, secret scribbled postcards, waiting for loved ones to come home. I was fortunate today to enter the worlds of Charlie and Daisy and live the precious moments they shared though an extraordinary correspondence which has only recently been rediscovered. The following is only a tiny portion of the amazing letters, postcards and handmade cards I was able to explore today. They were found in an old suitcase that has not only survived for over 90 years but preserved these beautiful pieces of history in quite a remarkable way.

Her name was Daisy, Alice Daisy and Charlie would write her incredible love letters..

This stunning handmade card and scarf were handmade in France and bought during World War One to send home to Charlie's sweetheart Daisy.

One of Charlie's love letters filled with secret messages and a kiss for every mistake that he had made throughout the letter.

My favourite postcard that Daisy sent to Charlie, which told him to take note of this poem..

Love from Daisy Dell...

There are so many more pictures and tales to tell and so little time or space to explain the amazing world of Charlie and Daisy. I was so moved an inspired by everything I read, I felt I owed a little to Charlie and Daisy, to become a part of their world as they had shared so much with me.

Rekindling a vintage world..

Wishing you a beautiful day, full of love letters and vintage beauty..
xxx

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Mail Time!

I just love when I receive lovely mail and today was one of those days. It's just reached 40 degrees outside and I think you could almost fry an egg on the pavement so I have been hibernating in the air conditioning all day putting the finishing touches on my big order. I ventured out for a moment to check the mail and was delighted to find that the mailman (poor guy in this heat) had delivered not one but two lovely hand written envelopes!

The first was from the the fabulous Julia Rose, a fabulous artist and all round delight who sent me an amazing package of fabric and lace that she no longer needed. I was like a little kid as I tore open the package and gasped at all the beautiful bits and pieces inside! I'm blown away by this wonderful and thoughtful gesture, I can't wait to make her a little thank you gift. I just love finding delightful people in the world.

The amazing fabric and lace I received which I'm already putting to good use.

My other little package was a lovely badge from Peach Patrol, a fabulous artist in Adelaide. We did a little trade of brooches and I'm so delighted I found her because her work is just adorable. She is just new to Etsy and she is a must to check out for delightful art. My little badge even with a little label with information all about the sweet girl who likes to gaze at the sky and bake cookies.

My lovely little badge...

Well I'm off to sew some more swivel bars, can't wait to package this order up and send it to it's new home. It's been so much fun creating so many little brooches, they are taking over the house.

Lots of brooches...

I get to take a little adventure tomorrow to take some photos of an amazing old suitcase filled with old letters and memorabilia from as early as the 1900's, before it goes to the War Museum. I'm so excited, can't wait to to capture some amazing moments from history.

Happy 'hot' Tuesday
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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Shopping List Saturday..

It is the height of Summer and I am living in on the edge of the desert at the moment and all I can think of is the ocean and the rich bounty of the sea...

From top to bottom-
1. Letting go of time - Fine Art Print by Irene Suchocki
2. Sea Urchin Collection Necklace by Star of the East
3. Small Mermaids Print by Rochelle31
4. Urchin -Original Fine Art Photograph by Alicia Bock
5. Your Tales are Mine- Print by my folk lover

6. My heart longs for the sea necklace by Cinnamon Sticks

The roar of the ocean, the waves lapping upon the shore and the salt spray in my hair, my heart does indeed long for the ocean. I was so delighted by all these beautiful touches of the ocean I found on Etsy.

When you have a free moment on this beautiful morning, pop over to the the fabulous Fancy Picnic to check out the other yummy Shopping Lists. They are a lovely way to start your day.

I've got a busy day ahead, I'm off to a working bee to help a dear friend of mine move house and I'm also working on a design for some lovely new business cards. All the while I will be dreaming of the ocean.

Have a wonderful Saturday my friends..
xxx

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