And on with the show!

The day has finally arrived - Home is Where the Craft Is officially opens tonight.

My group of pieces form The Container Garden.

My original containment idea sort of metamorphosed when my containers suddenly started filling with flowers.

It's the ultimate no maintenance water free garden.

I hope that you can come along for a look over the next couple of weeks if you happen to be in Melbourne.

I'll be sharing more of my exhibition pieces during the week.

A big thankyou for the beautiful photos must go to the very talented Cathie, who came to help me set up earlier in the week.

My Creative Space

I think Kirsty's still on holidays this week, but I'm still playing my creative space anyway..... mainly because I wanted to show off the fact that I actually cleaned my workbench!

I spotted the plastic container idea over at Kimono Reincarnate last week. Melanie has all of hers nicely labelled, but I haven't managed to get that far just yet.

The great thing is that they're see through (so you can actually see whats in them), and they stack nicely, and I only paid around $15 for 50 containers and lids from Lombards.

Now, lets see if I can keep it this way..... wishful thinking?

Pin Up Your Doodle

I just saw this fantastic little project over on CLOG (the Craft Victoria Blog).

From CLOG:

Pin Up Your Doodle invites you to submit doodles, illustrations and sketches. These works will be exhibited and auctioned at ACCA (Melbourne) and Sydney (venue TBC) this November... in other words now's your chance to say you've shown work at ACCA

I'm definitely joining in!

Another Gadgetty Prototype

This is something that I've been working on in the background for a little while now.

It's a new larger sized gadget pouch using the 115mm flex frame for the opening..
(I've just noticed that my hands look really old.... hmmm must remember to moisturise).

It even has a nifty little extra pocket at the front (as suggested by Tinniegirl). I don't call her the ideas woman for nothing you know!

I'll have lots of these ready to go for upcoming markets and they'll also be available very soon in The CurlyPops Shop.

A little sneaky peek

I'm terrible with surprises.... so I just couldn't resist giving everyone a little sneaky peek, before I pack everything and ship it over to Cate's in readiness for Friday night.

Tune into Triple RRR thismorning at 10.30 AM (edtit) 11.15 AM to hear Cate discussing the exhibition - live streaming here.

A special delivery

Photo completely unedited to give accurate representation of colour

I arrived home on Thursday to find a little package in my postbox.

I'd ordered a couple of test fat quarters from Spoonflower a little while back, using my designs. I haven't actually had time to do anything with them just yet..... but I have plans. I always have plans!

Saturday - Busy Day

I have big plans today - my little sister is coming for a visit to give me a hand in finishing off all of my exhibiton items.

My little brother delivered the last piece of the puzzle yesterday afternoon (pictured above). He doesn't seem to understand or share in my artistic vision..... and can't seem to work out what I wanted it for.

I promise that all will be revealed very very soon!

Animation Friday - Impromptu Shoot

I had a little visitor last week.
This is what happened when I asked him to stand still in front of the wall so that I could take a photo......

Join in Animation Friday at My Poppet.

Marking Time

Two Years

My Creative Space

I don't even know where to begin with my creative space today....


After the market last weekend, and working on bits and pieces for the upcoming exhibition, my house is strewn with remnants of various completed, and work in progress projects.

Add in the normal chaos of my life, with the comings and goings each day, and appointments and tasks, and constantly dragging things around the house, and dealing with Houdini Dog and Bastard Cat (who woke me up at least three times lastnight).... and I feel like I'm either in the middle of a cyclone, or living in some sort of alternate universe!

My task for today is to try to sort out some of this mess before I have to employ Peter Walsh and his clean up crew.

I really think that they should resurrect that old show Your Life on the Lawn with Lissanne Oliver. I'd be a perfect candidate!

The home of (hopefully much nicer and cleaner) creative spaces....

Watcha Wearin' Wednesday

It's not quite warm enough to be wearing it just yet, but look what arrived in the mail yesterday.

I was the lucky winner of Jennie's giveaway, and she made this beautiful top in my size, with my choice of fabric.  I think it must be the very first custom made top that I've ever owned, which is very exciting indeed.

I think Jennie may just be psychic..... she also included some very cute dinosaur fabric, and sewing machine needles. I've been breaking quite a few lately while sewing with wire so they were just perfect!

Frances has taken over modelling duties for me thismorning. She's a very obliging stand-in model.

Of course, if you also love this top, you can pop down to Olive Grove Studios and buy one of your very own.

Speaking of giveaways, I also won some beautiful vintage sheet fat quarters from Susan which she bought along to NCB last week.

Thanks so much Jennie and Susan!

I heart... submission

This is my completed submission for the I Heart ... Zine that I was working on a couple of weeks ago.

I've had to replenish my supply of fineliner pens in Pink, Orange and Red..... hmmmm, I wonder why that would be?

Home is Where the Craft Is

This week (amongst my normal activities), I'm devoting my time to finishing off my pieces for the Fringe Festival Exhibition - Home Is Where The Craft Is.

For those who wanted a sneaky peek of what I've been working on...... one of my pieces is featured on the exhibition postcard, which I'm super chuffed about!

I still have lots and lots of work to do - I've made a list and I've checked it twice. I have plenty of coffee, chocolate, and red cordial on hand to provide the perfect balance of caffeine, sugar, and artificial food colouring to keep me going.

Better get to it then!

Time for Dessert?

I had a bit of a craving for some yummy dessert after dinner tonight.

I made this chocolate pudding a couple of weeks ago after seeing ot over at Pip's, and it was a huge success, so I made it again.

....and the best bit is..... that I don't have to share with anyone!

Marketeering in Buninyong

My stall

'Twas a lovely little day out in the country today at the Buninyong Makers Market.
The crowds were rushing in early, so I only managed to snap a couple of quick photos immediately after we'd set up for the day.

The town hall is absolutely beautiful, and had a lovely vibe all day. There was a steady stream of customers, and it was great to have a chat and a laugh with everyone.

Tinniegirls Stall

There were FREE chocolate cupcakes on the way in (which were truly delicious), and then as soon as we arrived we happened to meet a lovely girl from the coffee shop across the road who was taking coffee orders, and delivering them back to the market (can you believe it)!

Then to make it even more unbelievable, she just so happened to be Trudi and Nikki's sister. Talk about a small world!

It was lovely to catch up with Jodie (without that nasty cough thank goodness), and Annie, and I finally got to meet Kathryn too, which was lovely.

A huge thankyou to my crafty partner-in-crime (who I think I should be maybe re-naming my arty partner-in-crime), and my sister (who sarcastically calls herself the 'donkey'), for lugging all my bits and bobs, and trolleys, and boxes and whatsits, because I certainly wouldn't be out and about marketeering without all of that help.

Pretty Flamingo

I'm on the home stretch of the market preparations..... it's amazing what you can get done in a couple of days at short notice!

My brand new cards are all printed and  packed and ready to go.

Come along and visit me at the Buninyong Makers Market tomorrow from 10AM - 2 PM to check them out in person.

Just in case you can't make it tomorrow, I've popped these three designs into The CurlyPops Shop!

My Creative Space

It's all about action stations and market preparations today.
This pile of pouches needs flex frames to be added.

This pile still needs sewing.

At least the brooches are all packed and ready to go......

Oh, and I still need to finish printing and packing my new cards..... and then I'm off to the Northern Craft Bonanza tonight. It's been quite a while between drinks, so I'm really looking forward to it!

The home of My Creative Space.

Jumping in at the Deep End

It's been a little while since I've been out and about with my craftiness, so instead of taking it slowly and splashing in the shallows, I'm performing a dive bomb, and heading for the inaugural Buninyong Makers Market this Saturday..... Oh, and by the way, did I ever tell you that I can't swim?

Photo courtesy

Just in case you don't know where Buninyong is.... it's a pretty little town just 11 kilometres south of Ballarat.
The market will be held this Saturday from 10am - 2pm in the Town Hall.

I'll have my brooches, bags and pouches, as well as my brand new range of greeting cards featuring my original illustrations. I'm very excited to take them on their first outing to gain some customer feedback.

Tinniegirl is joining me for a country road trip. She has been working really hard on her brand new range of original fine art prints and cards, along with her beautiful handmade affirmation packs.

Hope to see you there!

It's customary my dear

I must admit that I do love a custom order!

It makes me stop procrastinating and start doing.

Two little padded flex-frame pouches.... one for a mobile phone, and one for a pocket sized camera. Both with little d-ring tabs and matching detachable wrist straps. I hope their new owners are very happy.

Promise

Tinniegirl made me a promise before she jetted off for her recent holiday.....

She promised that she'd send me back a little sunshine with a bit of magic thrown in for good measure.

I think she delivered perfectly!

Nice weather for ducks

I headed off to the country today with Mr X and Moo Moo in tow, to celebrate my mums birthday

Gypsy the mini shetland

It was cold and windy and wet....

...but inside, the wood burning stove was nice and warm, and there was a yummy roast lunch (and birthday cake) for everyone.

Before and After

Luckily, mum hadn't experienced the flooding rains that my sister and BIL had yesterday.

 Before and After

They live right across the road from the local park where the creek runs through the middle of town...

Before and After

...which is currently a swimming pool (and these photos were taken before the peak of the water)!

Here's the actual pool!

CurlyPops on The Circle

I really wanted to title this post - "Hey Look Mum, I'm on the Telly"!

I was super excited to find out that Shaynna Blaze (my favourite presenter and interior designer extraordinaire from the Lifestyle Channels Selling Houses program), wore one of my CurlyPops Flower Brooches during her segment on The Circle on Channel 10 yesterday.  

If you'd like a flower brooch of your very own, then pop on over to The CurlyPops Shop or to Georgie Love and snap one up pronto, just in time for Spring!

Animation Friday - The Flowerpot Finale

Mobile phone photos again - sorry

Following on from last weeks Flowerpot Animation, here's the finished drawing!
I had grand plans of creating a fun and different type of animation this week, but I just ran out of time unfortunately..... so you're stuck with my flowerpot.

Pop on over to My Poppet to play along.

My Creative Space...

Blossom Branch - WIP (can you notice the petal that I've missed colouring in?)

 What a week!

I seem to have been flitting about all over the place, making some long overdue visits, sorting out things that have been on the 'to do' list for far too long, organising in advance for things that'll be happening in the future, drinking far too much coffee, attending appointments.... and just generally trying to make altogether correct and wise decisions.

I haven't really had much time for sewing, except for a little bit of work on my pieces for the Fringe Festival Exhibition.... but I have been drawing at every chance I could get.

The home of my creative space

Getting Quilty - Part 2

While I was toiling away stitching Lucas's quilt....

Beccasauras was putting in double the toil making new quilts for my twin nephews....

They were both so excited when I arrived with the quilts on Saturday. Zane was the first to greet me in the hallway, so he had first choice between the two. They both ran to their bedroom and put their new quilt blankies on their beds - it was very cute to watch!

I love how they're both so different, but still match perfectly... co-incidentally, much like the twins personalities

I tried to get a decent photo, but trying to make three toddlers stop moving and smile at the camera is an impossibility!

Here they are saying "Thankyou Beccasauras"