Craft Queen - {Australia's answer to Martha} - Pip Lincolne!

PIP LINCOLNE 
(photo bySimon Schluter from an article in SMH)

Tomorrow I am going to a "Voices of 2013" Masterclass, on blogging and one of my favourite creative people Pip Lincolne will be talking there (see Miss Pip's photo above).

The Voices of 2013 website is where you can find lots of bloggers; in the Creative + Home category of Voices 2013 you will find those whom are into all things crafty, including sewing, art, interior design, writing, collecting vintage treasures and more. YAY!! :)
These include The Design Files, DayDream Lily, Upon a Fold and of course Meet Me at Mikes 
(Pip Lincolne's own blog)
You can view a section on very creative 'creative spaces' here. So much fun! 

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Image from Upon a Fold

Pip's Pompom rug as seen in issue 52 of  Frankie mag, (via Meet Me at Mikes blog).

...So, tomorrow... as I mentioned, Pip Lincolne is speaking at the Voices of 2013 Masterclass. (Exciting!)
I'm sure if you are of a crafty nature you will know of Pip Lincolne.
I think of her as The Craft Queen of Australia (as I'm sure do many of us crafty-peeps), I am a fan.
I have all her books. Pip blogs, crafts, writes for Frankie mag, edits JustB, she set up the  'Brown Owls' craft group, has been on TV, has been featured in lots of publications.... she is a Mum of 3, a stylish-clog wearer, a good cook....
She is to put it in one of her own fave words pretty RAD!!

Here are a couple of Pip-things. Images borrowed from Meet Me at Mikes.

Oh did I mention Pip is very good at crochet?!

I am looking forward to hearing Pip's inspiring words tomorrow and to see what else is in store for us.

I shall report back soon!

Take care,
love Sally x0x

Circus Birthday Party Fun...

.... 'Cirque du Finny at Looney Park'!

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My eldest munchkin just turned eight. Yes 8! I cannot believe it. EIGHT!!! Already?!
Only yesterday( it seems) he looked like this (the one in red)!

But now. Suddenly. He looks like this. {note: not his real ears. It was EASTER!)

Finn - March 2013

My boys decide what kind of party they want to have next time, straight after their birthday. Sometimes that very day! Surprisingly they stick to it too. Last year it was Pokemon. Groan. No fun for me.
So I formed a cunning plan for this year....

Here in Sydney we have a local permanent Fairground called "Luna Park", which my boys like to visit (occasionally) and when they do, they really love the side-show games. They also enjoyed going to Cirque Du Soleil last year. So... I suggested a Circus-y themed party. After a tiny bit of persuasion he agreed. Some time, a fun Pinterest board, some shopping and some baking later, I made & hosted a circus-y party.
It went well.
Here are a few of my favourite inspiring images & ideas from my Pinterest board:

         Mateo's Circus cake       

Retro Wagon popcorn bags

Circus party from Bird's Party

fab circus cake

Here's a peek at my attempt at a circus-y party.
{from Lolly bags (which included caramel popcorn and candy Floss and was presented in a popcorn bag) to the games, the dressing up and circus tent photo-booth, to the birthday cake and cupcakes...}

It's in the details right?...my circus inspired shoes!! 

I had so much fun decorating the cup-cakes (which I topped with melted white chocolate, popcorn & lollies).

Note: I topped the cake that sat atop the cake stand, with these fab free print-outs from

One Charming Party!

I was so thrilled when I found them, especially as I had pull the whole party together in a day!

Finally my favourite photo from the day, our little friend's face captures the fun! It was a blast!

At least 5 of Mr 8's pals said it was the "best party ev-ver"! SCORE! High Fives all round!!
It will most likely be his last birthday party so we are going out on a high. A sugar high no doubt.
But a high all the same. He is happy. I am happy. Even little brother is happy.
Result! :)

Take care,
Sally xox

Hey you - it's been a while.....!!

image by Kerry Valentine

Have you ever had that feeling of STOP THE WORLD I WANT TO GET OFF!!?

I did. I sometimes do. I kinda did just that for the last 4 months or so. For instance I closed my Etsy shop and I stopped blogging (my last post was waaaay back in September, I had no idea it had been that long!), I even stopped obsessively 'pinning' (on Pinterest that is - we are not talking voodoo dolls here!)...

I won't delve far into the reasons as I don't want to bore you, but there was a death, (my beloved Nonna), kids (not new ones, the same two I already "own" or frequently dis-own!!), my Mum coming for a 3 month visit (we are just over half way), Christmas, then the long school holidays... a continuously travelling husband and most of all FIBROMYALGIA (from which I have been suffering to varying degrees since I was about 18, that's more than 20 years. Let's not talk exact numbers here!).

Anyway, I checked my shop the other day and found an invite from Etsy admin to a networking / Feedback morning tea event and I do so hate to turn down opportunites. It also coincides with the latest ABCD meet-up - again despite diminished self-confidence (never my greatest asset), I cannot turn down this opportunity. The ABCD meet-ups are always lovely anyway, even if they do pull me (just a tad reluctantly) out of my comfort zone.

Both are tomorrow - please wish me confidence and a good time!! :0)

ABCD Meet-Up  (graphic by Lisa)

It has made me want to return to my virtual world of all things creative. I didn't realise I had missed it so much!

So 'Honey I'm home!'

I will be back to tell you about said events, and hopefully bringing you news of creative endeavours in the not too distant future. At the very least I want to start actually MAKING stuff instead of just thinking about it! I may even get my sewing machine out of it's box, my paints out of the old vodka-presentation-tin they were banished to years ago. They may be dried out - so I may buy more. I will. Indeed I will! {She says with great conviction!}

Now, I'm off to reopen my shop....
come by and say HI.
I'll make us some tea!


Love Sally xox

Fab Finds - A la Zebra!

I love Zebra's, I always have, but more so since being lucky enough to see wild ones in Kenya 14 years ago whilst honeymooning there!

If you do too - take a look at these fun, fab quirky Zebra products I have discovered on my web-travels!

(Please note however: I generally don't like the typical black and white zebra print things around, you know the naff kind, especially when teamed with hot pink and most of the zebra themed things I found were naff indeed!!).

1. How amazing is this zebra rocker by Daniel Cox of New Makers in the UK?

2.This vintage spinning top - featuring... yes, of course zebras is fab!!

3. This Zebra Barcode Artwork by Sassan Filsoof is fun!

4. and my favourite - from Anthropologie is this faux taxidermy head.

Sally x

Pintastic! colour combo ~ Pink & Gold

I have just been doing a little 'pinning' (it's one of my favourite ways to relax).
I was inspired to make a new colour combo board with pinks and golds.
Here are some of my fave pins from my sweet and pretty new board
(you can view the whole thing here if you like)...

from http://ruffledblog.com/

from Martha Stuart Weddings

harmony by Kathe Fraga

love,
Sally
xox

Artist Love - Australian Series - Kirra Jamison

Kirra Jamison is a young Australian artist. {A.very. talented. artist.}.  Born in Byron Bay but currently Melbourne based. 

Kirra draws upon mythology and fairy tales for inspiration to create her artworks of seemingly surreal worlds, with ambiguous narratives that are sometimes dark, sometimes whimsical and sometimes both at once! Kirra uses a kaleidoscopic palette and employs various techniques and mediums.

{photos of artworks via Kirrajamison.com}

Surrender Star, Firstdraft, Sydney 8- 26 September 2010

Cosmic Might  by Kirra Jamison. 

Kirra in her studio by Daniel Mahon

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Kirra has been featured on photographer Paul Barbera's "Where They create" series. The photo above and the ones below give you a sneak peek of her studio and creative life. Go visit for more fab pics.

You can also go take a "sticky beak" (an 'Australianism' for being nosy!!)

at Kirra and partner Dane Lovett's funky home on Design*Sponge here. 

Their colourful home is situated above their studio spaces amongst a community of artists.

or over at The Design Files.

For more information visit Kirra Jamison's website, or maybe you'd like to stop by Kirra's blog Keke,

inspired by time she spent living (and cooking) in Japan, she says of it:

"Keke is inspired by the people I know, the places they cook and the food we share. Keke likes to use organic, sustainable and ethically farmed ingredients whenever possible."

photos from Keke

Hope you enjoyed peeking into Kirra Jamison's creative world - I did!

Take care,

Sally xox