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

Hand-made Bali Style...

Well wouldn't you know it, a little "work" trip to Bali uncovered hand-made finds around every corner!

Many visitors to the Island would avoid Nyepi like the plague - Bali's New Year Holiday where the island practically closes down. It is a day for reflection, where no travel is allowed, no talking, no eating and no electricity.

The airport is even closed for 24hours.

I thought we might kill time playing Words with Friends with each other over a Gin &Tonic (not strictly adhering to the Nyepi ethos) - but alas, no WiFi either. The TV & Radio stations don't even broadcast for the day.

So I finished my book (The Book Thief), and topped up the tan. Had a nap, a swim and flicked through the 5kgs of magazines we had brought between us. It was actually the most relaxing day by far of the 6 x days we were lucky enough to spend in Bali.

While it was a challenge for us to talk in whispers for the day, it was a terrific experience. The Nyepi parade the night before where the Ogah Ogahs scare off the evil spirits from Bali was certainly something to behold (note to self: don't take the kids - seriously scary floats. Check them out below).

And our wallets were also grateful of the 24hr reprieve.

Here are some photos capturing hand-made Balinese craftsmanship in it's purest form. Not for commercial benefit, but as a result of their devotion:

First up, Daily Offerings:
These are gifts to give pleasure to the Gods and to the Demons. They give good karma to those who prepare the offerings and they are prepared in the hope that the demons are kept happy and they go away.  We spotted a few with Tiny Teddies, a Mentos or the odd cigarette thrown in. I'm sure the God's were grateful.

These splendid creations were in preparation for the Nyepi celebrations. My phone camera doesn't do them justice, but they were beautifully created by hand (and stapler) using banana leaves:

Some examples of Ogah Ogah's who are paraded around the town intended to bewilder the evil spirits so they go away and cease harming human beings at the Nyepi Eve Parade. (images from here)

Try resisting these adorable hand-made dolls. Sold to raise funds for the Street Kids of Bali, each one is different. I'll be offering these collector like dolls for sale in the find...found...forage shop very soon, to assist in the fundraising efforts of Bali's Orphanages:

How's this example of wood carving? Impressive! It was quite the centre-piece in Carga, Seminyak. Bang in the middle of what was also a spectacular serving counter, the palm tree, complete with coconuts had me in awe:

I had to take a photo of these mega fish in the Koi Pond at the entrance to Mozaic Beach Club. We had much smaller versions in our own Koi pond at the Villa in which we had to walk across to make our way from the pool.

And a handful of my other pics from a colourful week away....

From one of the Mr Zimi stores, I was swooning over these awesome powder-coated wooden stools. Obviously the greenery and the rustic pots set them off beautifully. And don't get me started on the mirror:

Look at these ladies in their traditional dress, carrying offerings in baskets balanced on their heads:

Old Mate giving us a wave as we marvelled at the impact Nemo & Angry Birds has had across the globe...

Mosaic style pebbles at the entrance to my "room" and as stepping stones throughout the garden. LOVE.

And finally, some mixed media artwork by the loos at Ku De Ta. 

Hand-made loveliness can be found in all kinds of places!

I'm hatching a plan for the next trip.
Who's keen?
Sx

Introducing: The find...found...forage online SHOP!!

This little ol' blog is getting all grown up.

The natural progression I thought, from sharing my hand-made finds with you via the blog, was to offer some of them for you to buy!

Having spent a nice chunk of the Australian Winter in Bali this year, with my feet up, thinking cap on, and cocktail in hand, I set about foraging for the very first hand-made items for my new shop.

And what a find it was!

Hand-made, super soft, leather ballet flats are the first find of many that are now selling in the find...found...forage online shop. For AUD$80 a pair including Australia Wide Postage, these little babies are at a perfect price point for Christmas too.

Pressie for the teacher? Your Mum? Yourself?

They've been a huge hit thus far with half of my first shipment sold within 2 x weeks. Hooray!

I've also found Silver Hanging Garlands - AUD$10, candles -AUD$4.50, shopping baskets -AUD$25 and more, on offer in the shop.

A box of additional hand-made delights hit my doorstep today and we all know how exciting parcels in the post are. I can't wait to get them uploaded onto the site. Think fluro. Think sparkly.

I'd love you to visit the shop and have a little looksy. And if you like what you see, perhaps share with your friends?

I'll continue to post my latest hand-made finds here on the blog. Having hit the  "Finders Keepers" markets in Sydney today, I have some absolute winners to share.

And so the next chapter begins...
Sx