remember these? note to self...

While thinking about the future of my blogging life (yesterday) I decided to reflect on some of the past entries and found myself reminiscing (hence the decision to keep at it - writing this blog, that is). I found these cushions in the archives, which I had long forgotten about. I am featuring them today to remind myself to get back to making cushions like this. I feel the need for a change in direction for a while. I changed my hair. Tick. Now I need to reinvigorate my sewing experience as I have lost my mojo.... yes again!

Like to also try another one of these shirt cushions, buttons, pockets and all.

More memory cushions would be great gifts for family - there is no lack of material to work with!

Oh dear!

Hello! How are you? It's been a while between drinks. Nothing personal ;)

It's always hard to know what to share when it's been so long since checking in. I'm not very good at working out priorities, never been a strength of mine. In fact I tend to get caught up in the small detail which is often of very little significance, but there you go, you probably didn't really need to know that. Oops.

So.... getting back to much more interesting things.

I have been having a fling with Pinterest.


Yes, I am over there having a wow of a time. Seriously, what can be more fun than creating pinboards for all the lovely things, ideas and inspirations that one finds online? It has always been a dilemma of mine to know where to store these so I could find them later - bookmarking never seemed to work for me - it's just not visual enough! Feel free to follow my pins here or send me your email and I can invite you in as a friend.

I have had a few evening dates with my sewing machine and finally brought to life a new design (which has been floating around in my head for a couple of years). Introducing...the Stop Light. Tada.


Oh and also a golf club and retro tool set for good measure.

Of course you can still check out my toys on Etsy but now, in addition, if you are in Australia you can also find me at Down That Little Lane. I am fortunate to have been invited to sell my wares in this delightful little online store run by Tessa White. Seriously, if you love all things unique and desirable, this is a one stop shop!

handmade for everyone

So as you may have gathered from my lack of content of late, there is not a lot of making going on here right now. My focus has been on the garden, which I plan to share with you soon, but in the meantime you can see some of what we've been up to here. Sadly, I'm a one focus girl, so the sewing room has been feeling quite neglected. Having said such, I have a 3 hour opening this morning home alone so must get a move on so I can attempt to break that drought.

While my sewing hands may be on vacation my mind is not. The need to be stimulated by design aesthetic & ideas has me spending my free time trawling the internet ooo-ing and aaaa-ing. In an attempt to remember just some of what I see, I have been saving favourites in my flickr, etsy & tumblr accounts.With a little girl's Princess 5th birthday party to plan for in a couple of weeks I'm checking out birthday cakes, cupcakes and decorations for ideas.

The making of Treasuries on Etsy is a bit of a time waster but admittedly quite addictive if you enjoy putting colour schemes together. This I am guilty of but try not to go there too often. This morning it called! Honestly, there are so many talented people on Etsy. Here's my Awesome Foursome collection of handmade things for BABE + HOME + ME + HIM. A little bit of Handmade for everyone.

eye candy

1. hanging_pods, 2. {postcards :: the vintage stripes}, 3. summer 10 wire[explored], 4. Calla Lily Wedding Cake, 5. creme caramel, 6. #31, 7. from the time is now, 8. Hotel de L' Europe, 9. Poem stitchin'

eye candy

1. peeking in, 2. macarons, 3. i don't want to give them up, 4. Lime Green Outfit for "piggaro", 5. Inspiration, 6. Screen-printed fabric panels - 2 mix pack (02), 7. citrus pram freeform, 8. Untitled, 9. green wool

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

printspace

I recently purchased these prints for our children's room from Printspace while at the Bowerbird Bazaar. Created and produced by Mara & Nicolas Girling in Melbourne, Australia.

"Inspired by the design scene of the mid 20th Century and the world around us today, Printspace art prints are created to spark the imagination and make us smile".

Aren't they just delightful! Take a look at their online shop here

studio G is for me

Oooh I just have to share with you this "new to me" blog I found while searching Google Images for some garden inspiration. I'm in love. I just want to sit here all night reading through the archive of posts on landscape ideas, products and designs. The author is Rochelle Greayer, a landscape designer who runs her own boutique design firm in Harvard, Massachusetts in the US.

She does a series of posts titled "can you make this into a garden?" one of which features this fashion sketch.

I think her concepts are clever and this "Chartreuse Garden Party" in particular is doing it for me - yes it's my favourite colour!!

Click here to read the article.

You know I'm quite new to this whole garden thing but I'm very excited to learn as much as I can and get my hands dirty as soon as our hard landscaping is finished (I'll show you some progress pics soon). I'm not sure at what stage I will be certified as a real gardener, but when I am I think I shall reward myself with one of these little beauties.

Growing Jewellery - a mini garden for your finger!

Now I'm just going to show you this table, designed by young designer Fredrik Paulsen, because it is soooooo groovy..... and I want one! I'm dreaming. There's no harm in that. I can imagine it at bar height out in the garden amongst the trees. Something to lean on while enjoying a cold beer in the summer heat. Yep, definitely dreaming.

So anyway, if you enjoy a little outdoor style then go check out Studio G.

to market to market

I've just discovered The Cool Hunter and let me tell you there is a lot to discover! If you like to be inspired by design & innovation then this will get your groove on.

Check out this amazing building designed by Willy Muller Architects - it's the Barcelona Flower Market. I'd be shopping for flowers every weekend if I lived in Barcelona! I like the fact that the vertical bands of colour were inspired by ariel views of flower fields.

Also on The Cool Hunter I found this Vila Sofa store in Amsterdam designed by Tjep. It looks like a cross between Interior and Set Design. Not surprisingly the brand Vila Sofa is positioned a little like IKEA where products are warehoused on site and reasonably priced. In addition to the simple use of just four colours (red, white, grey, black) I also love the clever cutouts in the facade - oh that chandelier!

mouth watering gardens

1. Untitled, 2. Kid friendly courtyard, 3. Melbourne garden, 4. Xeriscape in Santa Monica, 5. California style, 6. After: garden overview, 7. Xeriscape at minimalist house, 8. Durham Botanic Garden, 9. knautia macedonia, 10. CRW_5569, 11. ., 12. Andalucia, 13. Modular Garden with Curved Deck, 14. Asymmetric Family Garden, 15. Modular Garden with Slate Patio and Deck, 16. Low maintenance garden with Slate and Pebble surfaces, 17. Low Maintenance Contemporary Garden in North London, 18. Courtyard Garden with Limestone Paving and Hardwood Deck and Bench, 19. Cool Contemporary Garden, 20. Tatton Park Flower Show, Cheshire, 21. Garden design, Tatton Park Flower Show, 22. Garden Design at the Melbourne Flower show, 23. NZ Landscape Design. NZLANDSCAPES.COM. Garden Photos New Zealand. Dry River Garden., 24. Exterior 41, 25. patio

There is no end to the inspiration I find on Flickr. We're now in garden landscaping mode at home and these designs are getting me excited!

art prints on etsy

I've been window shopping on Etsy for art prints. This rather eclectic mix all caught my eye and landed in the folder of favourites. Hopefully one might some day journey to a little house in South Australia!

Giclee Print (item No. P-2009-18) Fungus by JennSki

Someday - 11x14 Print by Yellena

Pink Dahlia, 7x7 fine art photography print by Rocky Top Studio

Elephant on Map, 6x6 photo box by Esoule

wallpaper

The renovations here at home have reached the blank canvas stage. Time to start adding character and putting our stamp on the rooms. I've been recently searching for a black & white wallpaper for my bedroom and thought I'd share my favourites so far.

The above image comes from Scandinavian Wallpaper & Decor, the Australian online retailer for Decor Maison, a Swedish wallpaper brand. This design can be found in the DM Photo Collection.

I discovered the next 2 Danish designs over at Ferm Living Australia. Oh, I want them all! How about one for each wall?

Not for the bedroom but I just had to add these graphic designs by Tracy Kendall. She also creates a bespoke sequin range of 3D wallpapers based on a 1920's flapper dress. Her designs will change any preconceived ideas you may have about wallpaper.

mid century marvelous

My treasury made the front page on Etsy overnight. Dang! ... It always happens when I'm sleeping.

Featured : PsychoticReaction, LBrandt, redmag, sarapaloma, kristapeel, 12fifteen, JennSki, BrightWallPhoto, karaku, mountainavenbaby, soule, AtomicLodge

getting inspired

some flickr faves
Originally uploaded by fede shop

things that make me go ooh

some others are here

alphabet series

A for Awesome - Updated
Originally uploaded by Paul Thurlby

While browsing through Flickr I discovered this series and it's illustrator Paul Thurlby. He is working through the alphabet and releasing each drawing on Flickr as he goes. Nothing like creating a little suspense - it's working for me!

"P is for Pretty" is the latest addition. I really, really hope he releases them as prints for sale at the end.

So far my favourites are "J for Jazz" and "H for Hang". Oh, and "A for Awesome" is also up there. Who am I kidding?? I love them all!

plugging my talented friend (not that she needs it)

My friend De is one of those creative gals who achieves many of those things we just dream about. This article in Australian House & Garden Magazine (October 2008) featured De along with 2 other craftswomen in an article called "Hearts & Craft".

You can also read other articles and interviews here:

indesignLIVE.com

indie art & design

Craft Victoria

As well as being a talented Interior Designer with her own practice Dearne Herrengberg Interiors, she has a jewellery range called Mainichi. Oh and she is Mum to 1 year old Andre, which I'm sure she would agree is her greatest achievement.

This is De's philosophy behind the range.

"Mainichi design inverts the concept of precious jewellery. There are no precious metals or jewels in these pieces, instead, unexpected, ordinary and everyday materials become pieces of wearable art."

Here is one of the latest in her shop. Oooooh..... I just love it! Don't worry.... I already have a Mainichi collection of my own :)

snap

I'm so excited. I stumbled onto a new creative blog and found myself absolutely and thoroughly entertained (yes I'm smitten). I wanted to share with you these incredibly adorable softies. Oh baby, it was love at first sight for me.

Anyway, what makes it really, really cool is that the author is from Adelaide (like me) and her name is Fiona (like me). SNAP!

Please drop over and check out her HOP SKIP JUMP blog. Fiona is a mum of 2 children (like me) with a boy and a girl (like me). She is a graphic designer (I'm an Interior Designer), a part-time toy maker (like me) and a lover of fabric (OK this is getting ridiculous now).

I think we must have been separated at birth. Spooky!

red means stop!

RED - I have taken this weeks colour literally and stopped. Oops.

Not "made by me" but a red collection of images & objects created by other talented folk on Flickr.

Anyway, I still officially have 2 days to come up with red so you never know. Off to the footy tonight & catching up tomorrow afternoon with the Adelaide Etsy sellers. Can't wait for that as it's a first get together for all of us.

Here's a quick pic of the house we have just purchased. Must dash now to feed & bath little ones but when I have more time I'll put together a little package of photos. We call her our "diamond in the rough" as she has good bones but needs a lot of TLC.

colour my week

I found this fabulous book in the Etsy shop A Little Goodness and it inspired me no end. Look out, here comes my typical complaint.. "if only I had more hours in the day!" I'm starting to feel the desire to learn how to sew clothes and these designs and beautiful photography certainly got me dreaming. I also found these over at Katie Did. That little jacket & "heidi" shirt & pinafore are adorable. Maybe over the next few weeks I might give it a go?? (I've put that in writing now).

So I've got this idea. To make my sewing world even more fun & challenging over the next 6 weeks (alright...honestly...maybe it's also an attempt to minimise my terrible procrastination) I'm going to do this.........

This week (starting Mon 9th June) I will be only sewing in BLUE. All creations will be posted (the good, the bad & the ugly) for your perusal and comment, and the winning designs will hit my Etsy store. Each subsequent week will have a colour assigned in this order.

BLUE YELLOW BROWN RED GREEN PINK

As much as I have a soft spot for black, I have excluded it from this challenge. However, here is my token black contribution. It's a very funky Karlsson Clock given to us by my sister as a farewell gift when we left Melbourne. I love it!

dirty colours...are just fine

I managed to grab a Treasury position last night on Etsy. For those who don't know, a Treasury is a collection of 12 items from different sellers that you choose to display for a couple of days. They can be viewed by anyone on the website. The Etsy staff select, at their choice, a handful of these Treasuries to sit on the front page each day. This is my collection of "dirty colours.....are just fine". I'm a bit of a sucker for these muted colours - they are so easy and comfortable.


Lots of Possibilities - Eshu (gumballs)

le caillou rose - letitiah (earrings)

Kite Shoulderbag - acajou (bag)

Zebra, 8x8 - esoule (zebra)

Gertrude the song bird - skunkboycreatures (bird)

Spring - rosiemusic (girl)

grow BABY grow set of 12 - Onsies culpepergeneral (baby)

Hat - sidneysidney (hat)

Garden Girl - riskybeads (green ring)

Branching Out wall graphic - ellynelly (birds)

Backpacking Pig (Limited Edition Print) - barkingbirdart

A Bowl of Gold Ring - rheta (silver ring)

UPDATE 24/5
Have to share this exciting news. Got up this morning to notice the Treasury made front page during my night..... sadly I didn't see it but hopefully the featured sellers made a few sales!!