Schools out for...Winter!

Well didn't these school holidays come around fast? Apparently that was a 10 week term. Feels like it was Easter about 5 minutes ago, but here we are, in the middle of Winter with two weeks to fill - more like 3 x weeks for some of you.

We are planning to embark on a mini room makeover for Harriet these holidays. While madly pinning inspiration I have been sidetracked by some super colourful, DIY craft projects that I think we could also tackle in the break.

Those who know me, understand my reluctance to take on handcrafted projects myself. I am all about discovering and sharing, and not so much about the making. Two left thumbs and zero patience I'm afraid.

That being said, even I could potentially pull off one of these naive but very sweet decorative pieces...

...and the colours are sure to brighten up a gloomy Winter's afternoon.


Instructions for these Cardboard Rainbow Collages are from The Art Bar  :

photo courtesy of The Art Bar Blog

photos courtesy of The Art Bar Blog

Yarn Bombing appears to be very therapeutic. All that wrapping and twisting. The tee-pee image is from Natalie Miller who runs textile workshops.   

Or if you prefer sending the creativity (ie: mess) outside the home, look into a crafting course. We are lucky enough to have Makers Loft near by, where weekly craft lessons, craft parties & holiday workshops take place. 

I was scrolling through their website and noticed a photo from a craft party we hosted a few years back:

I for one, will be trying to introduce some making these holidays that doesn't include "fluffy slime". 

Enjoy.

Sx 

To Market, to Market...

Fellow peddlers of hand-made loveliness at the recent KRB Spring Fair, these small businesses were just some of the delightful folk I met while exhibiting the find...found...forage wares.

Fi from The Inspired Paddock had set up the most stylish stand. She was selling pieces such as antlers that have been naturally shed, wreaths made from barbed wire, and lamps, vases and decor items made from the trunks of Birch trees.

Looking for pheasant feathers? Want a deer hide? Or how about a hand-made backgammon or chess board? Fi has gotten busy in her studio shed and made all these items herself. By hand.

Be prepared to drool....
(all photos taken by Fi herself)

Need to get your Christmas Gift Wrap theme sorted? Are you using wrapping paper as a centrepiece for your Christmas table? What about the bon bons?

Wrappsody were also at the KRB Spring Fair with the most comprehensive array of wrapping papers, co-ordinating ribbons and gift tags. Not only were there tons of options, but the rolls of paper came in quantities sure to wrap all your loot.

Rolls of 10m or 50m of the highest quality papers are sourced with co-ordinating ribbons. I for one, cannot wrap a gift without finishing it with a ribbon. Amy and her team solved my Chrissie wrapping conundrum.

I've already wrapped a trio of gifts on their way to the UK...

photos from Wrappsody 

Lucy from Frayed was another talented crafts-lady with scrumptious offerings. This time of the Shibori kind. All manner of linen delights were on offer from cushions, to napkins, placemats and bunting.

Her gift tags alone will convince you to style your Christmas blue this year!

photos courtesy of Lucy

Fairs and markets are on in abundance at this time of year.
Get yourselves along to one and pick up some pressies that are sure to tick the 'unique' box.
Sx

Gifts at The Gallery

I love a good Museum shop.  Embarrassingly, it can often be my highlight when visiting a museum / art gallery.

Yesterday, prior to seeing the Collette Dinnigan Exhibition at The Powerhouse Museum, I found myself in the newly-renovated MAAS Store mentally ticking off many gifts from my scarily extensive Christmas Shopping List.

Check out some of these hand-made discoveries:

The interlocking wine rack you can configure to suit your needs / space.  Made by Power to Make, these plywood sets come in different colours and you can add sets as your wine collection grows. The best bit is they come flat packed for building, so easy to post & carry. Starting at AUD$55 for the 6 bottle set,  this would go down well in any home at Christmas.

I was totally crushing on these flower frames by Sydney company Rainy Sunday. They come in all sorts of delicious shades. I imagine gifting one of these with some fresh blooms, as they provide a beautiful keepsake long after the flowers have gone. Single black one will set you back AUD$52. 

Having laid Tasmanian Oak Floors in an attempt at a slightly Scandi interior, Oak is still very much on my radar. These oak homewares by Normann Copenhagen caught my eye in the Museum Shop. 

Great gifts, good prices and so smooth and tactile to boot.  A house can NEVER have enough hooks and here are a couple of stunning oak versions, and a luxe timber trivet to protect your bench tops. Truly Scandinavian, all items online are sent from Denmark, so prices are in USD. 

Curve hook - USD$28, Trivet - USD$33 & Stick Hooks - USD$25

I could account for at least a third of my Xmas Shopping List at The Museum Shop - I recommend it highly for some novel pressie ideas, some amazing books and they even had some yummy fodder on hand for the hungry visitor.

If you have the chance to see the Collette Dinnigan Exhibition - on until Aug 2016 - you won't be disappointed. Tickets are $15 and she has a book out too. That's the perfect Xmas gift combo right there!

Spoiler alert.....some visuals of her most AMAZING mood boards at the exhibition below....

Something for everyone at The Powerhouse right now!
Sx

Purchasing Power...

There have been a whole load of handmade treats to tempt me while styling the updated pad.

Some I've succumbed to, and others are still firmly on my wish list.

Here's a few that have made the cut:

This print by Oh Eight Oh Nine is providing some luxe in the laundry. A3 size is AUS $20.

This lovely marble look handmade cotton pouch by Behr & Co spectacularly sets off greenery of any sort. From AUS$13.95

This sweet little handpainted wooden feather garland combines my two loves: glitter and fluro! By The Great Lakes Goods. Their motto is "handmade goods with good vibes" - that's a mission statement easy to adhere to!! US$18

 


The kid's playroom has a pinkish theme going on, so one of my find...found...forage macrame hangers is doing it's thing in there. AUD$$45:

And in DIY news, I took some humble HB Lead Pencils (it's amazing how many of these I found lying around the house!) and covered them with some Japanese Paper to improve their look and use as party bag fillers.  Click here for a tutorial to do something similar yourselves.

Support the independents and embrace the charm.
Sx

Insta...gifts

Anyone else possessed with the endless scrolling of images on Instagram?



Stalking people, businesses, destinations; it's all possible on Instagram and it offers the added bonus of voyeurism through delightfully filtered lenses.

I've found some cracking small enterprises via this fabulous photo sharing app.

Here are some of the Instagram users I follow and am vowing to shop from this Christmas:


koh woman - bohemian elegance with hints of luxury & decadence. Accessories, Clothes, Shoes and Jewellery. This Feather & Chain Harness is on SALE for $100!

Click here to Follow Koh Woman on Instagram

Indigo Babe - Funky Bandit Kids X  Marks the Spot pants. Up to Size 8. My little 6year old will find a pair of these in his stocking. AUD$60.

Click here to follow Indigo Babe on Instagram

South Of The Border - sparkly pants & shorts. Need I say more? These ones are AUD$169

Click here to follow South of The Border on Instagram

Palmaira Sandals Australia - not sure I can come at giving these away. Might be popping a pair of these under the tree for myself. AUD $110

Click here to follow Palmaira Sandals Australia on Instagram

Sakura Textiles - Something for everyone.  Tea Towels AUD$22, Pillow Cases AUD$35, Jumpsuits AUD$60 and THE cutest bloomers (for adults!) for only AUD$10!

Click here to follow Sakura Textiles on Instagram

Look beyond the traditional methods when gift buying this year.

Instagram - it's is just photos and comments. That's it.

Follow find...found...forage on Instagram for my own hit of hand-made visuals.

Sx


**images are not my own**