Jambo Chameleon!

Giveaway Alert ... Oh Hello Friend!

2012-05-06T12:30:00.000+10:00

If you haven't experienced a visit to the lovely Danni's blog ~ Oh, Hello Friend, you have missed out on some great bloginess indeed.
Whether or not you have before - there is no better time than now. RIGHT NOW? Yes. {well actually,
you might want to just finish reading my post first. please}.

Danni also has a great shop called Wanderlust with fab stationery and more. AND a fab Etsy shop with handmade, vintage inspired jewellery.

This is the Oh, Hello friend reader appreciation week with
plenty of giveaways. That's right m o r e than one.

...here's some pic's to tempt you, if you haven't already left.......

Good luck.
(but please don't win the one I want. Oops! did I say that aloud?!)

Sally x

one of those days?!... ah but wait it's a new kind...

2012-05-05T01:25:00.000+10:00

caution: KIDS.

thus we can only go be right! right?

Hello.
It's been a while. sorry. It's been school holidays and I was sick for 3 weeks and... well that's all boring...
I'm here now!

I wanted to ask you if you have those kinds of days where it all seems wrong and hard and depressing and you keep saying to yourself or anyone who'll listen "I'm having 'ONE OF THOSE DAYS'!"?

I do. But luckily for me today is the opposite.
I am having a positive, sunny, funny happy day. Usually nothing remarkably bad has happened on the other kind of day and today nothing remarkably good has happened in fact.
So. What's the difference, I don't know? The side of the bed I got out of / the weather (in my case it may well be), anyhoo, I think it mostly comes down to attitude. My attitude.

Positivity and being able to laugh at yourself are key.
You see this morning we did the usual stressful rush to school, lots of shouting, followed by hearing the bell ring as we were almost approaching the gate. Phew, no late note at least, but not the best start to the day. For any of us. People notice it too, the lateness that is.

I had a quick coffee next with a couple of good mum-friends, another (quite handsome) dad-friend, walks by and asks 'were you late AGAIN today?'... hmm, looks like YES, people are noticing we are late. EVERY day!!
I paused to think of a witty answer for him but instead, in that precise moment, a realisation dawned on me that I have spent ALL my life thinking I am no good at anything much, but I realised, that in fact I am ACTUALLY REALLY VERY GOOD INDEED AT BEING LATE!
More things too, Procrastination is one of my star talents, (even more so than my tardiness), I'm pretty hot at poor-time-management too............... you get the idea!

I of course shared this insight, making said friends laugh and instantly my day shot uphill. I like to make people laugh. But I also like to be positive and be able to laugh at myself! (Hopefully my friends were laughing with me rather than at me, but hey at the end of the day a laugh is a laugh!).

Okay maybe I take self-deprecation too far, but I think what I ACTUALLY realised and finally accepted is I am way too hard on myself.

I feel like I let go a bit today and feel lighter.

I enjoyed my coffee. I went on to a great yoga class. Then I came home and had a glorious walk in the sun with Instagram (my new obsession) as my quiet companion. I saw beauty in the ordinary. Beauty pretty much with every step.

I already keep up a grateful album on my Facebook, because I love how noticing and being grateful for simple pleasures makes like so much better. The laughing helps too.

Not all moments or days will be good, but I hope I can remember not to necessarily write the whole day off as bad next time I have "one of those days", I want to try to recapture some of the feeling of "one of these days"!! I will try to concentrate on finding the beautiful, the funny, the tasty etc
I will try to think of the bad bits as just MOMENTS or incidents, and remind myself the day can turn around at any time.

My advice to you when you have one of those days (and to my negative-alter-ego) is try to do any or ALL of the following:

BE POSITIVE # BE GRATEFUL # LOOK FOR THE BEAUTY IN THE EVERYDAY #
BE KIND TO YOURSELF. # TRY TO DO SOMETHING YOU LIKE # DO SOMETHING USEFUL (crossing off your to-do list is uplifting right?!) # AVOID PEOPLE WHO ARE BAD FOR YOU # EXERCISE OR GO FOR A WALK# GET ABSORBED IN SOMETHING YOU FIND FUN OR RELAXING (like reading or Instagram or Pinterest!)....
{or swear and stamp your feet etc first and then do it!!! hehe :0)}
Failing all else - go buy chocolate or have a 'Nanna-Nap' if you can!
And remind yourself this feeling will not last for ever!!!

This post is illustrated with the photos I took on my walk in the sunshine just now.

Are you on Instagram? Do you like it?

Let me know your username if you like, I'll check you out!

I'm Sali_chameleon

me trying out the idea of uber long legs!

Now it's time for some soup!
hope you are having a positive day,

Sally x

{footnote: this was yesterday's day. i am tardy in my posting. See, I'm good!!!}

Easter Eggs + Art = Faberge Egg Hunt!

2012-04-05T17:44:00.001+10:00

by Julian Brown

Faberge is sponsoring an event around London, for this easter called The Big Egg Hunt
Over 200 artists were commissioned to make huge, (well 2 1/2 feet IS huge for an egg right?!) extraordinary eggs for the event.
( I refrained from saying eggs-troadinary, aren't you proud?! Oops, guess I negated that restraint!!)

After the event the eggs are being auctioned off to raise money for two charities.

take a look at some of the fab eggs here:

by Rebecca Sutherland

These one's are very English - I bet the tourists loved these! ...

by Paul Kenton

by Joanna Moore

This oh-so-British design egg by Bejamin Shine was sadly stolen after 4 days of being on show.
{Bad Karma to the giant-arty-egg stealer! Shame on you!!}

Happy Easter!
May you have a choccy-woccy-doo-dah-tastic time!!

love Sally xox

byHazel Nicholls

New in store...

2012-03-01T22:05:00.000+11:00

After a little hiatus to concentrate on getting the kids settled in at school, Jambo Chameleon has re-opened it's {virtual} doors again!

Here's a peek at a couple of newly listed items...

many more to come watch THIS space!!

funky vintage necklace

pretty vintage necklace

Do stop by and say Hi! I'd love that! :)

love,
Sally xox

Giveaway Alert! ~ Georgie Love .... update: I WON!!!!

2012-02-16T12:02:00.052+11:00

Hello Lovlies!

So, lucky me, I won the Georgie Love giveaway below!
Yippee, yaaay!!!

Here are some pics of my spoils, and also what I bought with my $50 Georgie Love voucher...

photos by me of my parcel's contents!
{please note the last 2 pics are of fab pages from Pip Lincolne's book "Make Hey..."}

Here is what I decided to spend my voucher on:

a wooden doily pendant and one of these birdy brooches, (but a red version!)

- {I just had to add on a few dollars!} :0)

see my original post below...........

I just wanted to let you in on this great giveaway from Georgie Love (~ just in case you haven't come across it yet!).

You could win heaps of fabbo stuff, (see photo below), including a $50 Georgie Love gift certificate, two Pip Lincolne books, a vintage apron and more...

{Only Australian Residents are eligible for main giveaway. International entries welcome for second prize...Winner will be drawn on 29 Feb through a number randomiser}.

You can find all the details of the giveaway on the Georgie Love blog (Georgie is owner Sally's dog btw!)

some of my fave items:

I've shown you MY favourite things from Georgie Love ~ what would YOU choose to spend your $50 on or towards, were you to win?

Even if you don't want to enter the giveaway, go check out Georgie Love anyway, there are some fabulous things to buy (or even just to covet for now!)

{note: all images courtesy of Georgie Love blog/shop}.

Good luck!

love, Sally

xox

Artist Love - Kathe Fraga

2012-02-10T21:18:00.000+11:00

I just love the gorgeous Modern Chinoiserie style paintings of artist Kathe Fraga who lives in Washington, USA. Kathe looks to the beauty of the past and of time-worn beauty, she is inspired by grand old Parisian mansions, frescoes and vintage kimonos for example, and the colours and images of nature.
Kathe's paintings often have a global feel, most likely influenced by Kathe having lived in South America, France, England and Denmark.

You can see more of her paintings here or read her blog here.

{images via Kathe Fraga}

Enjoy!
love,
Sally x0x

Day Trippin' - Cockatoo Island

2012-02-03T20:47:00.002+11:00

Hello! How are you?
February already can you believe it?
Schools are back, life is getting into a routine again, so now I can stop, look back at the holidays, take stock and smile at the happy times, {oh and breathe a sigh of relief too - hmmm, a little yes, just a little... having 2 young boys, can be somewhat of a challenge when it's 24-7!!}...

One of the best things we did in the school hols was to spend a day with some friends visiting Cockatoo Island. It's not until now, (that the munchkins have gone back to school - or in the case of my littlest man, gone for the FIRST time!) that I have found time to post about this. You know how it is, right?

Cockatoo Island

So, a few words on Cockatoo Island:
~ it is the largest island in Sydney Harbour (and just a 10 minute ferry ride from Circular Quay in the heart of Sydney, and luckily for us also from our home suburb).
The island has been home to a an imperial prison, industrial school, reformatory and gaol. It is also the site of one of Australia's biggest shipyards during the twentieth century. The first of its two dry docks was built by convicts and completed in 1857. Today the island contains remains of a convict prison, houses dating from the 1840s, immense workshop spaces, cranes and dry docks, when we went there was also lots of street style / graffiti art left over after a recent exhibition. The combination of the edgy art, the industrial spaces and equipment, the harbour views and large open spaces for the kids to run amok in, made it a sure winner for a day trip! You can camp there too, in pre-pitched tents, we may try that out next time...

Okay, enough words, here's our day told in pictures:

oh what fun? Are you in Sydney too? If so you must visit, if you haven't already - it was really very interesting!
Did you have any day trips / days out in the holidays?

Love,
Sally xox

Artist Love - Lulie Wallace

2012-01-30T20:40:00.000+11:00

Hello! How are you?

Today, I'd like to introduce you to the work of Lulie Wallace.

Vibrant American artist, Lulie, studied art at the College of Charleston,
earning her Bachelor of Arts in painting.

Lulie and her husband Harrison - (Oh and Abe the Labradoodle!), live and work in the Charleston area, of South Carolina.

I love these floral paintings - Lulie describes them as having an
'alien quality'..."not the kind that travel to earth in UFOs,
but are the objects that, at first glance, appear to be everyday objects, but upon a closer look, are distinguished by uniqueness and character".

About her paintings Lulie says "My aliens take form in a
lime green tabletop, a magenta shadow, or in vibrant teal
greenery.
A painting of flowers in a vase is an obvious subject matter to
most collectors or observers, but what I want my art to achieve
through color, shape, and texture is the balance of uniqueness,
character, and honest materiality".

{images}

Lulie's palette ~ like a work of art in itself!

Lulie's art blog can be found here.
Her shop is here

Love,
Sally xox

Milk & Honey

2012-01-26T21:53:00.003+11:00

Hello everyone! Happy Australia Day!

If you are in Australia, how have you spent the day? We have been reading, playing (the boys), de-cluttering and having a good old Aussie BBQ!

... Anyway, I was thinking that today is a great opportunity to share with you, a celebration of our life here, (it's coming up to ten years since my husband and I immigrated)!
I love where I live, so when I won a fabulous photo shoot from the awesome photography studio Milk & Honey, {courtesy of Bondville}, I wanted to use it to have a visual reminder of our happy times here. I've enjoyed many an hour with my boys, at our various favourite local parks. Several of them have fabulous views, so I chose one that is quintessentially 'SYDNEY' with it's views of the city, the Harbour Bridge, Anzac Bridge and myriad passing boats, (including the lovely old Sydney Ferries). We've had many a picnic at this particular park!

Matthew took our photos, the boys thoroughly enjoyed the shoot and I felt relaxed and at ease too, even though I usually hate having my photo taken!
He even rewarded them with the hugest, stripiest lollipops they had ever seen, which were apparently also the yummiest too!!

I was thrilled with the results, and so were my husband, and my family in the UK, whom I surprised with prints as Christmas gifts. My favourite was the triple matted story of three prints which was part of my generous prize. I also bought hubs a fantastic little bound book full of images, which meant being able to take home 18 of the fab shots!

I'd love to share some of the wonderful pics with you here.

ahhh, I do love my boys so!!

Steph, over at Bondville has also just shared some of the pics - you can see her post here.

I thoroughly recommend Milk & Honey - so if you'd like to see more of Anni and Matthew's fabulous photography, you can visit them on Facebook or at their website or their blog.

Thanks to Steph, Matthew and Anni, {three lovely, lovely people!}

Happy Australia day to all!

Love & hugs,
Sally xox

Tangerine Tango...

2012-01-18T20:51:00.000+11:00

Pantone Colour of the Year - Tangerine Tango - such a fab, energetic colour.

{here}

{here}

love,
Sally xox

PANTONE 2012 Color of The Year:

Pantone 17-1463 Tangerine Tango

Spotty, Dotty, Spotty, Dotty, Spotty, Dotty....!!

2012-01-04T15:17:00.001+11:00

This is just so fabulous! It's an interactive art installation, at the Queensland Art Gallery, where kids can get involved with creating art in a gallery and watch it come to life and evolve.
I know two little peeps who'd have loved to join in on this...

{images from Colossal}

Queensland Gallery of Modern Art {GOMA}

Yayoi Kusama: The obliteration room, 2002

(19 November 2011 – 11 March 2012)

"Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is one of the most significant and influential artists working today. When she was a small girl she started seeing the world through a screen of tiny dots. They covered everything she saw – the walls, ceilings and even her own body. For 40 years she has made paintings, sculptures and photographs using dots to cover surfaces and fill rooms. Kusama calls this process 'obliteration', which means the complete destruction of every trace of something.

This summer the Queensland Art Gallery ǀ Gallery of Modern Art invites children and families to take part in playful works of Yayoi Kusama by participating in The obliteration room, a popular interactive installation first commissioned by the Queensland Art Gallery for Kids' APT in 2002".

(text from GOMA).

Yayoi Kusama | Flowers that bloom at midnight (detail) 2010 |

... And I thought what we did with sticky dots was fun!! ...

Well actually, it was - it's a great simple idea for a non-messy craft for kids (fabulous for taking out to a restaurant for instance!).

All you need is paper, a black texta (Marker pen / felt tip) and a pack of coloured sticky dots,

(I bought mine from my local discount variety store).

1. Draw a large simple shape eg a kite, or a fish perhaps, or maybe an umbrella, (we did, amongst other things, an octopus), then let your little one loose with 'colouring-in' the picture with dots.

The ideal age is probably 3-5. (It worked really well for my 4 year old).

This post has made me fancy some bright, spotty dotty 'Smarties'!! haha!

Off to raid the fridge....

Love,

Sally xox

At our house - we are getting ready for a party....

2012-01-03T21:56:00.001+11:00

TJ is turning 5 on Sunday.
Wow, my littlest man is going to be F I V E !!!

{image & shirt}

yay!
Party time!!
We love a good party, it's the cake, the pinata the fun with friends, the fairy bread...the kiddos love it all (oh and of course a present or two adds a touch more pleasure!).

He has chosen a SEA themed party.
Here's some of my inspiration - next week I'll show you what I decided to make!!! I have promised a pinata and a homemade, themed cake is now a tradition for us.

{I'd better start making / planning etc tomorrow methinks - it's only 4 days!!!! EEP!!

and how cute is this...?!!

{above images from via Pinterest - here}

see you soon.........
Sally xox

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T10:18:00.000+11:00

Have a great New Year's Eve and I wish you all the best for the coming year.
May you have good health, much happiness and fulfil at least one of your dreams!!

Love
Sally xox

{image}

{fireworks over Pittsburgh}

{image}

{Year of the Dragon}

{image}

Customer Appreciation ~ Kelsey's Button Bouquet

2011-12-30T09:53:00.003+11:00

Hi there! ...

Today I'd love to show you something one of my clever customers made.

Her name is Kelsey and this is the fab button bouquet she made for her wedding. Her and her partner (now hubby) Aaron, eloped on 'Cinco De Mayo' and then threw a wedding for family and friends afterwards.
"Double wedding-time!" says Kelsey - sounds fun to me!

The flowers are made from birchwood shavings, by a Philippine Etsy seller, (unfortunately the shop no longer exists).

Kelsey says:

"We paid for our own wedding so our budget was teensy and while flowers are awesome, they're too expensive for what we were planning. I found the idea for a button bouquet on Off Beat Bride. I changed the technique a little but it's basically the same idea. All you need is buttons of various sizes and colors, floral wire or a small gauge jewelry wire, pliers, floral tape and wire cutters. And patience, haha!" .....

Kelsey continues:

"I highly recommend to anyone to take on some crafts when planning their wedding because

a) it keeps you sane!

b) it saves you money! "

One of the button packs Kelsey bought from me - beautiful vintage 'Butterscotch' buttons

{image and buttons by Jambo Chameleon}

Thanks so much for sharing Kelsey!

I love it when my customers send me photos of things they make from their

Jambo Chameleon purchases!

Bye for now!

Love,

Sally xox

It's a wrap!

2011-12-29T21:52:00.000+11:00

Hello!
Yes I intended that to be a pun - because Christmas is finished. "It's a wrap" as they say in the movies BUT I also wanted to show you my round-up of more great wrapping examples I have come across on the web over the last couple of days (I've had the luxury of catching up with some net surfing!)...

These can inspire you for next year (tuck them away in your Pinterest perhaps!) - or you can evolve these ideas into your own for birthdays, baby showers, weddings... whatever!

{Images from Pocketful of Dreams}

{images: Happy serendipity}

{image}

{image from What no Mints}

{Pink Paislee}

{Poppy Talk}

{A Spoonful of Sugar}

{images from The Pink Couch}

Hope you enjoyed these!

Love,

Sally xox

Christmas Fun!

2011-12-27T22:38:00.000+11:00

I hope you had a great Christmas ( if you celebrate it).
We had a great time, on Christmas Eve we met friends in the park during the day then went to a Kids' Carol service at church, where we were shown this brilliant short film of "The Christmas Story" made by members of St Paul's Church, Auckland. You should watch it - it's so sweet and funny too!
That was followed by an evening spent with friends.

Christmas Day:
After very little sleep due to an over-excited Mr 6 waking up at 3am and no-one really managing to get back to sleep... our day went like this:

6am - get up and open Santa gifts....

...Scrambled egg, bacon, toast & fresh orange juice for breakfast with crackers (Bonbons)
then clear up, chill out, shower etc...

Then set off for an hour's drive using my new 'Navman' to help us find our way - to a friend's parents' house.

We spent the day with lovely people eating a yummy roast turkey dinner followed by delicious homemade plum pudding and choc & rapberry pavlova, and watching the kids have rides on a tractor trailer and a pony, and then finally having a good hosing down for some splashy fun!!

We got home and opened a few more pressies before tucking them up in bed :0)

Then Boxing day, the boys went swimming, we all had the rest of our pressies, a yummy buffet lunch &
a roast lamb dinner (somewhat incongruously, but tastily, with Yorkshire puddings, creamed Horseradish and stuffing!).

There was lots of Skyping too (both days) with our family in the UK.

What did you do? What did you eat for Christmas lunch?

Now ~ a little 'Etsy Finds' ode to Christmas ~
the TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS:

{image}

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Two Turtle Doves

Three French Hens

Four Calling Birds

Five Gold Rings

Six Geese a Laying

Seven Swans a Swimming

Eight Maids a Milking

Nine Ladies Dancing

Ten Lords Leaping

Eleven Pipers Piping

Twelve Drummers Drumming

Enjoy the rest of the Holiday Season,
love,
Sally xox

Etsy Meet-Up ~ paint-a-plate-fun!!

2011-12-22T10:55:00.002+11:00

Last week I went to an Sydney Etsy Team meet-up at a really cool studio called Eagle Soup!

There were about 30 crafty types there and thanks to Kirsteene Phelan we were armed with ceramic drawing pens, all we had to do was bring a plate (or other ceramic receptacle of our choosing!!)

Kit the team leader and Katy had made lots of treats for us, including delicious heart-shaped vegie quiches, a gingerbread house and gingerbread folk. Yum!

Katy (left) and Kit

my plate part way through (I'll post a finished pic later - put my plates in a "safe" place & can't find them admidst the Crimbo chaos!!)

me - doing what I love best ~ being a crafty pixie!!

There were some great designs from talented folk looksee:

It was lots of fun :)

There were even goodie bags when we left!

love,
Sally xox

Creative Christmas Gift Wrapping

2011-12-10T16:09:00.027+11:00

Hello,
are you feeling festive yet?

This week, I was thrilled to be asked to make a video for Fairfax Media, as part of their DIY Christmas series, on Creative Gift Wrapping for Christmas.

You can watch it here!

Myself "on set" at the filming! The set was really the beautiful home of the lovely Cate Holst
(whom you can see with her gorgeous smile in the last photo!).
Cate also made a couple of wonderful videos - visit her blog post here for one of her featured recipes,
and her post about the videos here.

Anyhoo, my philosophy on gift wrapping is that it's great to try to be more creative and eco-friendly, by using simple supplies and what you have to hand rather than buying store bought
specific Christmas wrapping paper, tags and those dreaded plastic bows!

Those bows along with most Christmas wrap are not recyclable and end up languishing in landfill.
Hopefully you may even save yourself a heap of money!

This gift looks stunning but cost me nothing to wrap - it was all from salvaged items!

Basically, the best way to go about this is to firstly gather supplies ~ make yourself a "Useful Box" for gift-wrapping, and card & tag making. I find one of those plastic tubs with lids is perfect, you know the kind you can store under your bed, (you may want to be even more more 'green' and use a cardboard box, by all means go with what suits you!).

some of my supplies, tools and handmade embellishments.

Examples of what you may want to put in your useful box are paper and ribbons salvaged from gifts you have received along with any interesting found papers, fun stuff like vintage Bingo cards and tools such as sticky tape, string, scissors, a hole punch and so on.
{For a more comprehensive supplies list, as well as tips on wrapping awkward items, and embellishing your gifts to make them stand out from the norm, you can download an information booklet here}.

What you can then do is surround yourself with your gifts and your useful box contents and let both inspire you. I like to put on some Christmas music, or just music that I like, and maybe have a little tipple or treat to get into the festive spirit!
Just Remember:
* it doesn't have to perfect
* it doesn't have to take long
* just have fun and enjoy it
* the recipient is sure to appreciate your efforts!!

Below are some of the example-gifts I created for the Fairfax video! The first four are the same gift simply wrapped in brown paper but then embellished in four different ways. The last photo is of the same gift wrapped in fabric and topped with a brooch for super fun, modern and reusable gift wrap!

By the way this fabulous brooch in the last pic, was made by my friend Janelle,
{if you'd like one, don't worry as once her shop is up and running I'll blog about it, with a link! }

Finally I'd like to mention (for the uninitiated!) that Etsy is a great place to buy supplies for your creative gift-wrapping, or for finding fabulous, unique handmade or vintage items to give as gifts.

vintage buttons and vintage belt buckles available from my Etsy shop

Here are a few more great items I found on Etsy.

Christmas stickers from Joey Design

vintage French banner style labels by Petite Fabrique

Kraft and cream tags - great for you to embellish, from Percival Road

I hope I have inspired you to get creative this year!!

For the video, I was also asked to mention some tips for sustainable packing solutions should you need to post your gifts to friends and loved ones not so near.
This got edited out as we were pressed for time, but I will be blogging about that in the next couple of days, so please do stop by again soon for that post .

Feel free to share any of your own creative wrapping tips or ideas in the comments. I always love to hear from you!

Happy wrapping!!

Love,
Sally x0x

Monday Marvellous - Crimbo gift guide...

2011-12-10T16:00:00.001+11:00

Hello! Happy ~~Monday~~ ahem SATURDAY to you Friends!

This is quite a self-indulgent post because although I am calling it a GIFT GUIDE it is really my own wishlist masquerading as a gift guide!!!! Anyway this is a list of fab Etsy finds (apart from the book), for big girls.
I'm sure you will find at least one thing you like, (or a loved one would) here!!

Nomad by Sibella Court

gorgeous filigree earrings

lovely necklace

Fab rings:

{from here!}

{and here}

Whoooooo can resist this brooch? ask Brainbowshop

pretty vintage tea cup for sipping from!

scrummy bag

What would you like for Christmas?

Love,
Sally x0x

~ yay!...a Round Up of Free Christmas tags ~

2011-12-04T20:51:00.001+11:00

Here are some free Chrissy tags for you, which you can download if you like, just click on the link for the one(s) you like. Enjoy!

All 5 of these lovely colourful tag collections (above) can be found here
at 'We Love to Illustrate' blog.

You can also find some FREE fabbo scrapbooking elements to download there.This one by Julissa is my favourite!

more tags....

{found here}

there are 15 more here at the organised housewife blog, including these fun bottle tags

{found here}

Love,
Sally xox

Finders Keepers ~ this weekend.

2011-12-02T13:59:00.005+11:00

Hi, how are you?

The Finders Keepers Sydney markets are on this weekend. Hooray! I will have a little box or tray with a few of my products on the Etsy Australia display stand.

I was asked to submit this product for display in particular (see below)!

The person behind this request was the lovely Kirsteene Phelan, she's the Community Manager for Etsy Australia

Her job is to both support Australian sellers and to highlight Etsy to the Australian public, via events, press and marketing activities. She also has her own cool jewellery shop "Scrumptious"on Etsy.

'Summer Love' Bakers twine set

I just got back, it looks like it's going to be awesome ~ a little dangerous for my wallet, so I best stay away until near the end methinks!!!!
It's even just such a cool building, very industrial stylee and it lies in a lovely leafy street too!

Maybe I'll see you there if you are in Sydney!
Love,
Sally xox

Textile Love ~ Artist Inspired designs

2011-11-30T07:49:00.000+11:00

Here are some fabulous, colourful textile designs (and indeed fabrics you can purchase) by Alexander Henry, that have been inspired by art. These will brighten your day for sure! x

'La Vie En Rose' collection designs (above) by Alexander Henry

Alexander Henry Indochine Harajuku Lady

from the Rivoli collection

Have a great day,
love,
Sally x0x

Best of Bedlinen

2011-11-29T07:00:00.000+11:00

A round-up of some fabulous bedding! Yay for Textiles! Enjoy x

(I know these designs are not for the fainthearted but, hey I AM a Textile designer after-all! I don't really go for the calm white kinda bedding. I like it, don't get me wrong, I just love a bit of colour on MY bed!!).

above designs all from Urban Outfitters
(my fave on is the third down from the top! How about you?)

above 3 designs from Anthropologie

The last 3 are from the Scandinavian design Center

Love,
Sally x0x

Monday Marvellous - Christmas Wreaths

2011-11-27T21:18:00.001+11:00

{wreaths: image}

Well, the festive season is soon to be upon us. I've done most of my gift shopping, I've started to think about preparing the advent calendar, writing the cards and so on, I'm sure it will all snowball from here (pardon the pun!!).
So let's start to get in the Christmas mood with these fab modern wreaths from Etsy (below)...

Images - From top to bottom:

Eclectic rag wreath

Button wreath

Blue & silver wreath

Geometric wreath

Cranberry wreath

wreath pdf sewing pattern

I'm thinking of making one myself this year. I never have before, In fact a wreath is not something we usually have in my family, but I'm thinking 'why not?' this year! I'll let you know (if I find the time, and) if I do it!!

Here is my favourite one that I have found (on the internet at Pickles. ) Cute, hey?!

I love this one too!
here's the fabulous tutorial on how to make it
http://www.cornerhouseblog.com/2011/07/awesome-paper-cone-wreath-tutorial.html

Finally, here are some more links to tutorials I found on the web, and some 'round-ups' of wreaths too!

http://www.iheartnaptime.net/2011/11/candy-cane-craft/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u3cpr8WcmM
http://herewegoloopylou.blogspot.com/2010/10/tutorial-yarn-wreath.html
http://incolororder.blogspot.com/2010/11/vintage-sheet-wreath-tutorial.html
http://urbandebris.typepad.com/urban_debris_journal/2009/12/wonderful-wreaths-and-great-garlands-banners-for-the-holidays.html

http://decor8blog.com/2009/03/26/wreath-round-up-your-opinion/
http://whipup.net/2009/12/19/whipup-holiday-guide-30-best-wreaths/
http://www.luvinthemommyhood.com/2010/12/wreath-tutorial-roundup.html

Feel free to send me photos your wreath if you make one!

Have a great week,
love,
Sally x0x

a new blog on the way....

2011-11-26T07:53:00.000+11:00

I have decided to create a new blog for crafting with kids!

...I do a lot of crafting with kids myself!
Both at my boys' School & Preschool and at home. I love it. THEY love it. Win win!
So I thought I'd start a blog.
I'm stuck on a name a little at the moment and also deciding Blogger or Wordpress - something else instead?? Need to design my banner, prepare some projects, posts and so on. There will be ideas, tutorials, giveaways and more. Hope I get time to put it all in place very soon as I am super excited about this!!

Anyway here's some imagery to whet your appetite ~ hope you will join me when the time comes!

{All images taken by me!}

I do hope you'll join me.
I'd love suggestions, photos of your kids work, guest bloggers and so on.

Hope your weekend is bright and cheery - the weather certainly isn't here, but that doesn't mean we can't be in ourselves, right?! Hubby has just made me some delicious scrambled egg, so that's a great start...!

Love,
Sally xox