cat sweaters, icecream and ginger beer

My day, in list format:

* Cooked a very weird breakfast because I don't want to eat bread or porridge. Fried tofu, tomato and mushroom mixed with spicy stir-fry leftovers + baked beans. I call this a pick-&-mix.

* Freshen up the guinea pigs hutch, cuddle them for a while and cop fur all over my jumper. Extra insulation haha. They have been standing up on their hind legs 'begging' for grass lately. Or perhaps they are just wanting to get out of their temporary box home while I clean. This has actually happened twice. Pip is an excellent escape artist.

* Head down to the local shops for potting mix but discover a fundraiser sale on the way. We stop and buy 21 pieces of clothing. Oops.

* Arrive home with a ton of bags and I try on all of the sweaters and cardigans I bought, picking my favourites (1 is lambswool and totally nanna style in soft pink - not my usual purchase but I was feeling the Molly Ringwald vibes!)

* Photographed the rest of the sweaters and listed them here in case anyone wanted first pick before we upload them to our Etsy store.

That's kind of all for now. Tomorrow I promise to have lots of nice vintage book scans from our modest collection for you to peep at.

magic melody

 Weeeeee! My Misaki Kawai CD arrived in the mail today! I'm listening to it right now and I totally love it. Here is a happy snap of the card packaging for the disc itself, which came in this neat handmade pouch (which now has pride of place on the wall above my work desk).

Quite neat things:

Après Ski guest artist matchbox packaging.

I want to eat these purple ice-cream earrings by Erstwilder.

When I figure out how to use my old school sewing machine, I'll be making some detachable collars to jazz up my plain sweaters. This DIY felt collar will tide me over until I do!

Nook

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Nook in Brisbane is pretty awesome! If I had to choose a shop to live in, it'd be this one (especially if the owner, Michelle, keeps playing dreamy Japanese tunes like Lullatone.)

If you haven't visited before the stunning renovation then I do suggest writing it down in your diary as a must-do. The space has doubled in size and now has a change room and plenty more space to stock cult handmade labels such as:

Stämpel

 

 Beneath the Sun

Fog Linen Work

This post is the 5th in a weekly mention of all the lovely stores that stock my work. Please do note though that I am not biased, I have been fans and friends of these shops (and their shopkeepers) for a long time and I wholeheartedly recommend you visit them and support them!

the past few days

I haven't posted anything since Wednesday?! Eek! As soon as a market rolls around I go into hyper-prep-mode and stress over some really ridiculous things, like getting to the shop in time to buy paper lunch bags for customer purchases and then jamming the printer with them (oops).

Anywho, do you like my pop-up cereal box girls? They aren't actually from cereal boxes, however I scanned the images from my knitting pattern books and printed, cut and pasted them onto a cereal box. Ta da! They joined me at the Niche market that was held on Friday night and Saturday - I think they are super cute!

Before the market I also made some wrapping paper by creating a circular potato stamp and adding black polkadots to a roll of kraft paper. This was used to cover up three tea boxes and another cereal box with the addition of some stripey green MT tape to finish off the edges. You can see them in the next photo, holding my prints and greeting cards!

The Niche market was held inside the converted tramsheds in Launceston. On the outside you can see this from the road, which I think is super neat.

 Anywho, I best be off, we are going to buy a tonne of fruit and vegies today because we still feel gross from ordering pizzas on Friday night!

Happy Sunday things:

This is some super awesome colourful embroidery work! I love the small sparkly patch of gold.

Awwwkward. My favourite artwork from this girl.

I can't stop listening to this track by Glasser.

want to join my colour club?

Want to join my colour club? Members are encouraged to:

Try and wear as many colours as possible in one outfit.
Eat colourful food like fruit salad (bonus points for rainbow sprinkles!)
Purchase items mostly because their packaging or contents are 'cheery'.
Get excited about childrens craft supplies, as they are ALWAYS colourful.

See, totally easy to join! I'm went a bit colour-crazy today, and painted 30 pairs of super-kinder earrings like these (using lots of different colours and shapes, of course!):

I am a little amazed there are actually any left for you guys; there are so many good colour combinations in the world and when you make them play nicely together on a pair of dangly shape earrings I just want to keep them all!

Continuing with this adoration of colour, how good is the Melbourne Finders Keepers S/S flyer by Matt Roden?!

Other cool clubs: (not actually clubs)

The Owl Know How club. Scroll down to watch their super-cute and well crafted animation!

The Video Game Testing club. Play 'Weep' by illustrator Aleks Sennwald - awesome music and concept!

Paul and Wendy Projects club. Where Tucker Nichols educates people with poisonous berries.

one of a kind earrings

Every now and then it can be fun to paint things different colours. Like these studs, for example. Usually they come in yellow or red but these pastel studs are a one off colour, and are available here. I won't be making any more, this is the only pair, so it's first in best dressed!

Update: earrings have sold. Thank you!

Other nice earrings:

Gold teeth and cast human hair by Polly Van Der Glas

Betsey Johnson pineapple earrings.

Woven earrings by Amira

niche

Over the past few days I have been giving my Etsy store a tiny makeover. Items are having their photo taken again which I hope means that you will now be able to see the details more clearly. Thanks, macro lens! 

I've also adjusted the shipping costs so that all Australian orders are sent at a flat rate with tracking for only $7.50, which means you can follow your items journey from me to you! Hurrah! New Zealand scores flat rate postage at the same price, however please let me know if you need to upgrade to registered post to ensure a safe trip! Lastly, all other international orders will be sent at a mere $10 flat rate, which means you can purchase as many items as you like and all it will cost is ten buckaroos. 

Oh oh! Should also mention that a few new items snuck their way into the shop too! The mini shape studs now come in a few new colours, like bubblegum pink and bright green (my new favourite colour, it seems!).

Last but not least, I'm very excited to announce that my first Tasmanian market stall will be this Friday (!!!) at Niche. I can't wait and am having fun trying to invent a market stall display that I can pack into a suitcase and costs next to nothing. Let's just say it involves paper, paint, boxes and potatoes! Oh, and lots of finger crossing too! If you are in the area please swing by and say hello, I'd love to meet some new faces.

Things I've seen:
Today I was shown this super-cool interactive collage page by this good person.

Speaking of collage, I wouldn't mind flipping through this book.

Really into these weavings by this girl.

wandering

Went wandering around the mini mountain near our house this afternoon. It was nice and warm, and not windy like yesterday. Getting out of the house is nice, and needed.

 Thought I would save my favourite photo for last. I found a wallaby (?) skull on the ground after getting snagged on spiky plants (for the hundredth time, but so worth it!). I'm going to clean it and display it in what I now deem to be the curiosities cabinet. 

Looky look:
Gosh this house is so cool. I'm trying not to clutter the house so I just look at this instead. And drool.

Looking forward to Do The Robot's next release.

I'm so into these earrings yet I have no idea who makes them!

too good to cut up

I found a really nice knitting pattern book at the opshop during the week. One of those 'far too good to cut' ones. Here are a few of my favourite photos from the book. Thinking I will make little cross stitches of some of these designs to hang in the house. 

pancake dj

The wall above my desk is a growing display of photographs, magazine clippings, stickers, small drawings and happy miscellanea. 

The super-rain today has changed our minds about heading into the city for a new vacuum cleaner, so the morning has been spent drawing little pictures in Photoshop (you'll see soon!), eating yummy warmed up muesli and justifying my purchase of this album by Misaki Kawai, who we think kind of rules. You can hear a preview of 3 tracks too, this is one of them: Peanut. So good!

I've also been painting lots and lots of tiny little Pannikin earrings like these, which will be added to the shop very soon, with some new colours! Can't wait for tonight, we are going to watch a movie and eat junk food. Ahh, simple pleasures! Our challenge is to see how many snacks we can buy for $5 (aiming for a mix of soda, chips, chocolate and gummy lollies). Hooray!

Strange and wonderful things:

Blankets knitted using the glitches caused from malfunctioning technology as patterns.

Art and illustration by Soft Science.

Want to try this smoothie soon.

visiting nanna's

Yesterday was the first time in a month that I hung out with someone other than the mister and our guinea pigs. The someone in question was super-dooper-lovely Bianca (from Goodnight Little Spoon) who introduced me to the wonderful pastel timewarp that is Nanna's coffee & vintage.

This is the kind of place I have always wanted to exist in Brisbane!

I think I will spend a lot of time perusing these racks!

I'm glad I have a new friend to hang out with, it'll definitely help me get out of the house more and explore different areas of Launceston.

Excited for:

Can't wait for Hello Sandwich's new craft book to become available in Australia! I'd love to hold a little crafternoon inspired by her cheerful ideas and way-cute creations.

Also, one of my much admired artists, Beci Orpin is releasing a new book soon too!

October. I'll be visiting Melbourne for the first time ever (!!!) on a 3 day 'working holiday'. As if I could call having a stall at The Finders Keepers markets work! Haha. I can't wait to meet a few people in particular and spend a solid amount of time exploring. If anyone has suggestions for must visits, please leave a comment below, I'd love to hear them!

love & clutter

I cannot wait to go to Hobart. I've been living in Launceston for a month now, and haven't really ventured past the city yet (ahh, the joy of not owning a car and being a complete homebody!) Actually, Dawn Tan (handmade love) recently went on a trip and has blogged about it here but be warned, she will have you craving fish and chips!

Anywho, when I do venture further south I'll be sure to say hello to the ladies behind Love & Clutter, a little shop on Murray St packed to the brim with handmade niceness, paper goods, vintage treats and little Japanese cutes.

This cosy space was recently featured on the Finders Keepers blog.

For even more nice pictures and to keep up to date with the goings on of the shop, I do recommend reading the Love & Clutter blog. So dreamy and such great photographs!

This post is the 4th in a weekly mention of all the lovely stores that stock my work. Please do note though that I am not biased, I have been fans and friends of these shops (and their shopkeepers) for a long time and I wholeheartedly recommend you visit them and support them!

checkers

Sometimes I think I have excellent taste. People tend to disagree with this declaration on occasion, especially when it leads to my 'adopting' of strange and mostly terrifying old toys. Anywho, I'd like you to meet Checkers!

Checkers is no ordinary door snake! Seriously, how can one resist such ridiculousness? The mister likes hiding her in the cupboards and under the sheets for me to find and get spooked out. Does anyone else get weirded out by certain toys? Those old Chatter Phones especially give me the willies!

Anywho, I best make this a quick post, as I have quite a bit of work to catch up on! I spilled tea on my laptop on Friday night and the keyboard/track pad won't work anymore. Today I bought a new keyboard which is doing the trick but now that I can type and click I have oodles to do!

E for Ethel

It seems that sometimes Adelaide doesn't quite make it in to the 'must-visit' lists, but look a little harder and you might just find some hidden gems, like E for Ethel on Melbourne St in North Adelaide. They have been featured on the Finders Keepers website as well as mentioned on The Thousands page.

Now, I have never been to Ethel's, but if I ever find myself in Adelaide (one day!) it will definitely be my first stop. After all, there is always room for a cup of tea or coffee, especially if it is served in beautiful cup or pot with a little story book cut out for you to read!

This retro-oozing cafe and gift shop is owned by lovely lady Amanda and her partner Dan, who have created a little handmade haven tucked away at the back of a complex. Labels stocked include my personal favourites Kitty Came Home, Bespoke Letterpress and Lindsay Pemberton.

Resinate cuffs

Days of August medals

This post is the 3rd in a weekly mention of all the lovely stores that stock my work. Please do note though that I am not biased, I have been fans and friends of these shops (and their shopkeepers) for a long time and I wholeheartedly recommend you visit them and support them!

rainy day fun

Boy oh boy it was really rainy and windy today! I took the guinea pigs inside and let them roam free in the lounge room while I waited out the rain, so I could walk to the store (and spend unfortunate amounts of money at the chemist).

 

Apple is their 2nd favourite treat. Parsley is probably their 1st. It makes them jump around with excitement.

Look at those prancy feet! Eep!

Time for a nap under the couch. Pip (the little brown one) is sitting in a position that reminds me of a chicken. Poppy is sleeping like a cat!

Guinea pigs don't close their eyes while they rest, as it's a survival instinct. Poppy is cute because she almost completely closes her eyes when she rests, and likes laying on her side or burying deep into the crook of your arm if you hold her close.

Ok, time for me to go do some drawings for new ideas (yay!) and finish my ginormous hot chocolate. Have a nice evening!

Pleasant things:

I'm of two minds about detachable collars. They are pretty, yes, but I'd rather a complete collared top, plus I'm not too keen on the gaps you sometimes see when the neckline underneath is too low.

Couldn't resist buying this book last week.

One day I will save up and purchase one of these super colourful knits.