The Last Sunday of each month...

Sunny Sundays don't come better than this. Water views, sustainable surroundings, organic food and creative artisans can be found on the last Sunday of each month at the Historic Coal Loader Site in Waverton (North Sydney).

What was an industrial site, is now home to an inspiring Sustainability Centre with best practise sustainable tecnology, workshops, organic gardening and stunning flora and fauna with Sydney's harbour as a backdrop.

I supported (ie: purchased from!) a number of the talented artisans who were exhibiting their wares, when I visited last month.

The most divine "kiss and hug" earrings from Ayana Jewellery, came packaged complete with polishing cloth for AUD$18.

photo courtesy of ayana jewellery

Although there are no teething babies in my current network, I couldn't help but grab one of these beechwood teethers to pop in the gift box.

Made by Wildwood Kids, the beads are made using food grade silicon and since the combination of colours and shades are so on trend, these little beauties wouldn't look out of place on display.

Various shapes are on offer, as well as pram accessories and necklaces.  AUD $29

You may have seen on the "creative finds instagram account" the gorgeous succulent arrangements by Marilyn at For the Love of Succulents?

The big wreath is equally at home on the wall / door or the table with a large candle in the middle. The living wall is customisable to your requirements and Marilyn makes sweet little wedding or party favour succulents too.

A more picturesque, peaceful market I haven't come across.

Tranquil with a capital T.

Sx

************** ammendment: the Coal Loader Markets have recently changed to the end of each Season, rather than monthly. Next date will be end of August : Sunday the 27th 2017 and then Sunday Nov 26th. ***************

Let's hear it for the boys...

Not only are there plenty of handmade creations designed specifically for the blokes, there are also an ever increasing number of chaps following their passions, flexing their artisan muscles, and making superior handcrafted products.

Afternoons with Albert is the avenue by which Perth Pilot, Shane, brings form, function and beauty together, by designing & making products to enhance our lifestyle.

His Cord Roll is everyone's answer to tangled earphones, chargers and the lost minutiae of life. Available in Tan, Black or Grey, these are equally at home housing lipgloss and hand-cream in a handbag, as they are in a backpack or jeans pocket keeping cables in check.

AUD$75

Kiwi mates George and Willy also have a penchant for making simple, timeless, and functional products. Working with 'honest materials' these guys create products from their workshop in NZ, that will be around for generations to enjoy.

One of their best sellers, the Studio Roller, makes list making an interior design statement. Various sizes available, they come in either black or white frames, with prices starting at AUD$133.  You'll need your best writing implements - no biro please!

Often the men in our life prove the trickiest to buy for. 

No need to cop out by giving socks and jocks ever again. And handkerchiefs should be banished from the gift drawer once and for all. 

Plenty of handcrafted blokey goodness out there. And lots on offer soon in the Creative Finds Store! 

Coming soon...

Sx

Ear Candy

So I bought 4 x pairs of earrings for my good self at the Sydney Finders Keepers Markets last w/end.

It has to be said, I have been in "need" of some ear candy updates - and it was just so damn hard to choose!

While there were polymer brights, acrylic numbers with coloured foil, wooden studs, titanium hoops, the overarching theme was tassels!

I am not complaining. Love me a tassel.

Some were dainty, others audacious.

But all are guaranteed to dress up a plain outfit, or give you a confidence boost on an otherwise dreary day.

I bought a pair like this from core jewellery for AUD$38. Tin foil, acrylic, ply wood - so tactile yet, so sparkly.

photo courtesy of Core Jewellery

And these two pairs from Kingston Jewellery:

Turns out my Mum has been eyeing off the colourful and impossible-to-choose-from earrings from Kingston. Handcrafted in Victoria using mixed mediums such as clay, brass, painted elements and of course tassels, it took me an age to decide on these two pairs above.

If you head over to Jemima's facebook page there are literally hundreds of photos of her creations. No two pieces are the same, and I read a feedback comment from one of her customers that said:

"These earrings are the BOMB DOT COM". Prices started at AUD $45.

I walked out of the market wearing this pair from the girls at Polli in Bryon Bay  (and yes that is another burgandy tassel). They went perfectly with my green and gold sparkly jumper... AUD$45 

I could have easily loaded up on more earrings, but to be honest, the crowds were huge and some stands I just couldn't get close to!

A kid in a candy shop, I kept justifying purchases as Mothers Day gifts to self...

Will be sure to share more of my purchases.

Sx

Diary Dates...

At any one weekend around the country, there are a plethora of artisan markets being held.

If you love perusing for unique finds in the great outdoors and with coffee in hand, then here are some upcoming events you might like to consider...

First up this weekend is Handmade Canberra - Held at EPIC in Canberra, this quarterly market was launched in 2008 and now attracts over 20,000 visitors.

Showcasing the best in handmade design and produce, over 250 local and interstate designers will represented on Sat 18th & Sun 19th March.

The team at The Grounds of Alexandria in Sydney's Inner West have the midas touch. As part of their urban sanctuary that is the outdoor cafe, sustainable garden & coffee roastery, they now offer a weekly market held each Saturday and Sunday. 

With 80 different Stall Holders who alternate weekly, local bakers, makers and creators are eagerly ready to be discovered.

From September to April on the 4th Sunday of the month, the Adelaide Hills suburb of Stirling comes alive with the monthly Stirling Laneways Market.  Each market has it's own distinct theme, creating a fun and unique feel as you wander the streets and laneways of the gorgeous hills township. Local traders, artisans, entertainers and pop-up stalls are enter twinned. 

Next Laneways Market: Sunday March 26th 

I've super pumped about the new location for Sydney's upcoming Finders Keepers Market. I'll take any excuse to get myself down to the harbour at the stunning Barangaroo Reserve.  Renowned as the Design Market for independent makers from all across Australia, the Finders Keepers is now run bi-annually in Brissie, Melbourne and Sydney.  

And hurrah - they are coming to Adelaide for the first time in August 2017 too!

Open late on the Friday night this is more of a festival than a market, combining design, art, good food, live music and a fun community spirit under one awesome roof in major city locations. 

In my own 'hood this w/end and last is TGM - That Great Market , which aims to bring community together. It's a new player in the market game, a quality lifestyle market, with great food, local musicians, entertainment, in a convenient location. Crabbes Ave, Willoughby on every 2nd Sunday, and in Lindfield each 3rd Sunday of the month. 

A makers gotta make, so it's great to see even more outlets for makers to showcase their talents.

The Eltham Easter Twilight Market will be held in Melbourne from 4pm - 8pm on the back of the super successful Christmas Twilight Market. 

Shop small and support local artisits and small businesses in the heart of Eltham. Find the perfect gift, soak up the community spirit, enjoy live music, free kids activities and heaps more! 

Easter is 4 x weeks away.  How did that happen?

And let's not forget the West.  On April 30 the next Curious Collective Market will be held in the City of Melville Main Hall. I love what they are about: 

We aim to combine the contagious enthusiasm of small business owners and the curiosity of people wanting to seek out something a little bit different and buy or try something you don't see everyday. 

Boom! Now if that's not a reason to be in business, I don't know what is?!

Bowerbird - Adelaide's long running design market has just announced it's line up of Designers. Held on the w/end of 5-7th May in the Adelaide Showgrounds, you'll almost need all of the three days to cover what's on offer! 

In it's eighth year, the offerings are pretty and practical in a dynamic environment built on creative collaboration. Take the family as children have free entry. This event is perfectly timed for some Mothers Day Shopping!

To keep abreast of Markets coming up in your city, then jump on board and follow both The Local Market Guide or The Market Roll . 

You never know what handmade goodness is lurking under a gazebo near you.

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

Home and Hair

As mentioned, the past 8 months have seen me embarking on two things of note:

1) a home renovation

2) and growing my hair

Here is a before photo of both. As both projects were to be of similar duration; I was wondering which I would tire of most quickly...

We are 8 months down on the house with about a month to go, and I think 9 months might just mark the end of the hair growing efforts also....

Here's where we are at:

One more month and I should be able to get my hair in a ponytail and should be able to empty our storage unit and move in entirely to the updated abode. 

And then crack the champagne.

Although I am ready for them both to be over, neither has sent me entirely mental (yet!).

Having worked side by side for almost 5 months before he told me, one of my very talented builders Nik, has a sideline business with his wife called Top Knot Designs. They make these beautiful shelves and shadow boxes using materials such as Natural Marine Ply and Australian Western Red Cedar.  I'm currently deliberating on just which one/s to order for our 'new' home (when really I should be researching driveways...yawn!).

photos courtesy of Top Knot Designs

I can't believe he kept this info from me for so long?!!

Check these beauties out and follow TopKnot Designs on Instagram or Facebook to see the full range. Prices start from AUD$50 + postage.

As for the hair and the house, I will report back in 30 days...

Sx

Wrap Up

I do love the chance to forage.

At the end of the day, it's not even about the find, but the foraging process....

Just back from a holiday and side-trip to see my ballet flat supplier, I snapped photos of hand-made & repurposed inspo to share with you here....

Here's a visual wrap up (don't forget to can follow find...found...forage on Instagram for more eye candy):

The ice bucket getting some palm & banana leaf treatment:

Are they a neckpiece or are they an artefact? Your choice, but we had many versions decorating our Villa in Canggu

Welcoming us to a morning of White Water Rafting out of Ubud, was this pebble mosaic:

The quirk factor was off the richter scale at La Favela in Seminyak. Recycled and repurposed is what they do best:

Their menu on the street outside the restaurant is displayed on this old movie camera:

Just a reminder to any would be thief at Butter Cake & Coffee Shop in Canggu:

More repurposed goodness at Butter :

Hubby sporting a rattan backpack made by hand in Borneo...Thinking of stocking them in my shop. What do you think?
Could also look fab hanging as a pendant light shade....

New favourite coffee stop of the trip, Bungalow Living had photo opportunities around ever corner:

Welcoming us each morning were these fresh flowers:

Why not add a pop of fluro to your crucifix?

And look at the way they hand-wrapped each brownie slice:

If you have a cushion crush, check out the Bungalow Living  website for many divine designs....

Popped into Coco & Ginger - have been meaning to get in there for the past few trips - and snapped this colourfully painted pot on the way in:

And finally, I have to share the lush setting for our ablutions for the week in Villa Maxceo:

All in all, another inspiring, relaxing, motivating, rewarding, sunny, fun, family holiday to Bali.

And great to be home too!
Sx