five photos : five facts

I'm playing along with Meet Me at Mikes. You can too if you wish.

I've themed my Five Photos, Five Facts around the year 2010.

1. January 1, I listed my first item in my new online store. 

I have been terrible at keeping it stocked.

2. My older brother stopped dialysis. 

Thanks to our dad and one of his super, strong kidneys. Both my brother and our dad have been amazingly well and adapting to their new bodies, plus and minus a body part ever since.

3. I participated in my first market.

Craft Hatch held by Craft Victoria at Federations Square. I loved it!

4. I got married to the most wonderful person, 1 month and 15 days ago!

We shared our special day with 55 of our closest family and friends. It rained. We had a blast.

5. I traveled overseas with the most wonderful person in my life.

While there I fell in love with Prague and Berlin. It snowed our first day in Berlin.

 

Loved ones. Icecream Machine (score!). Beers. Tunes. Tasty treats. Happy days.

x

merry days

Hello! It's been six weeks since I became a wife. Woohoo! And three weeks since reality struck after our wonderful honeymoon. I was hoping to have been organised enough to have shown you more from this amazing time by now. Alas, the silly season has sucked the time right out of me! Perhaps while I'm having a break from the 9-5 job I'll be able to get my shiz together and show you soon. 

In the meantime, a very happy holiday season to you all!

We are spending our first Christmas as husband and wife in our little home with my brother and sister in-law. It's going to be super, low-key, relaxing and as merry as we can be. Yay! 

Here are a couple of colourful corners in this little home. We are not so Christmas-y here this year. Oh well, there is always next year. 

x

in press

Spotted in the press – Handmade Romance – in the latest edition of Inside Out magazine! Wowsers, I'm so chuffed. Thank you Pip, you are always so generous at sharing the love around and I am very flattered to be on this list along side so many wonderful blogs.

x

hello mista!

Have you completed your Christmas shopping already? I'm still going, barely started really. Nothing like leaving it to the last minute - argh. Do you have any cool little boys to buy for still? If so and they like hot rods, sock eating monsters, bats and other kooky characters they might like something from Mister Mista. I'm especially loving the limited edition tee's. There are many other Mister Mista items to choose from too like Height Charts, Hoodies, Wall Decals and Limited Edition Prints.

more illustration

It looks like I didn't get enough illustration last week. Or it could be that the holidays are close and every one seems to be heading off for a few days. Either way I am adoring this customised suitcase by Amaia Arrazola. Found via Doodlers Anonymous.

the design files - guest blogger week

Oh wow it's Friday already which means it's also my last day over on The Design Files guest blog. I feel a wee bit sad to be honest. It's been a really fun week and I have truly enjoyed putting my posts together for both there and here. Thank you so much Lucy and Jenny for inviting me over!

Today's theme on The Design Files is hand drawn animation. I am not going to one here, instead as a way to tie up this fabulous week I have decided to bring each day together, like so....

MONDAY

Hand Drawn Wrapping Paper

+

TUESDAY

Hand Drawn Pillowcases

 

+

WEDNESDAY

Hand Drawn Brooch

+

THURSDAY

Hand Drawn Packaging 

(made from Monday's wrapping paper)

=

FRIDAY

Presents!

Thanks everyone for your lovely comments this week. You are always so good to me. I hope this week has left you feeling inspired to try something hand drawn.

x

the design files - guest blogger week

Today is all about packaging, here and on The Design Files guest blog.

I have posted about this packaging some time ago and I love it so much I thought it would be great to share again for those of you who may not have seen it before. It's a box made from paper which requires no gluing!

 HAND DRAWN PACKAGING

Supplies;

• pens, pencils, any drawing tool of choice

• 2 paper squares, one 5mm bigger than the other

You could illustrate both of your squares or just one. I have chosen to use paper from Monday's post which I have photocopied onto coloured paper. I am going to use this for my lid. Plus one plain black piece of paper for my base.

Now watch this informative little video.

I tried to illustrate how to do this but it became way too complicated and I ran out of time so the link above will get your through perfectly.

Once you have completed both of your paper squares you will have a base and lid which form a sweet, little box to package all sorts of goodies and presents in.

Experiment with different sizes and colours or even just some lovely textured papers. You could even recycle the sports pages from the newspaper to gift your Dad's Christmas present in. The possibilities are endless!

Using some other scraps of paper I have also made tags to accompany my packaging. You could do this too. Cut out some circles. Draw your design. Punch a hole. Complete.

Happy packing and I will see you tomorrow for the very last guest blogger post!


x

the design files - guest blog week

Head to The Design Files guest blog today if you would like to feast your eyes on some pretty clothing and accessories, all of which are adorned with hand drawn goodness.

My DIY suggestion to go along with todays fashion theme is a brooch. My favourite accessory. You could make one out of strong card, paper, MDF board, pre-made porcelain or clay shapes - anything you can think of really. Something sturdy but not too heavy. I have chosen to use air-dry clay but you could easily adapt the below to suit your brooch base of choice.

 

 HAND DRAWN ACCESSORY

Supplies;

• air-dry clay

• permanent pen or acrylic paint

• varnish/sealer

• flat-end brush

• brooch back

• super glue or hot glue gun

• knife (for scoring) 

Have a think about what you might like to draw on your brooch. It could be a pattern like in Monday's wallpaper project. Or it could be a face, an animal, fruit, flowers, your favourite pair of sneakers. Anything you wish. It is a good idea to sketch your idea onto plain paper first to get an indications of what size you would like to make your brooch.

Prep your base. If using air-dry clay mold into shape and leave to dry according to the packet instructions (depending on the weather this could be a couple of days or more). Once you have your brooch base ready prep the surface with a base coat, allow to dry and then draw your design directly onto the clay with a permanent marker or acrylic paint.

Allow your design to dry then finishing off with a coat of varnish using the flat brush. The varnish will seal your design and help protect it from the weather. Apply a second coat if desired then leave to dry completely.

On the reverse mark out where you would like to apply the brooch back. Score the surface of the clay with a knife in the position the brooch back is to go then with the super glue or a hot glue gun attach the brooch back.

And voliá! Your own personalised brooch to pin to your pretty self. 

the design files - guest blog week

 

Today on The Design Files guest blog I'm sharing some lovely homewares decorated with hand drawn images. I wish I had a lot of these items in my own home - how fun and colourful each day would be! To play along with the homewares theme my project today is for custom pillowcases. This one is so easy. You will have new pillowcases in no time at all!

HAND DRAWN PILLOWCASES

Supplies;

• pillow cases (bought ones or make your own - pillowcases are the perfect beginner sewing project)
• fabric marker or fabric paint
• cardboard
• iron
• pencil (optional)
• paper (optional)
• carbon paper (optional)

Sketch your idea on paper to get an indication of what size will work best on your pillowcase, then work out where you would like your drawing positioned. I have done a rough sketch and will eyeball the positioning, my day job has given me lots of practice at getting things centred.

Next take the cardboard and insert it into your pillowcase between the front and back pieces of fabric. You could use a newspaper or cutting mat instead, the idea is to stop the fabric marker from going through to the back of your pillow.

Draw away until you are finished.

If you are hesitant to draw directly onto your pillowcases, you could transfer your sketched image using carbon paper. The transfer lines will come out in the wash. 

Iron your image to set. Finito!

 

Sleep tight!

x

the design files - guest blog week

I am very excited to let you know that all this week I will be guest blogging on The Design Files. I will be sharing some of my favourite things that combine both design and the hand drawn. Some of you may already be aware of my love for all things hand made and that I love making things by hand myself. There is something about that hint of the human connection and where it all began that really sings to me.

To go along with each post on The Design Files I thought it would fun to 'play' along here. Each day I will be sharing a little DIY project involving something hand drawn which you can try yourself. Everything will be simple. With little to no crafty experience required everyone can have a go!
  

HAND DRAWN WRAPPING PAPER

Inspired by hand drawn wallpapers.

Supplies;

• sheets of paper (whatever you can get your hands on really)

• pens, markers, pencils (drawing tool of choice)

Decide what you would like your paper to look like then start drawing. Your design can be as simple or as complex as you wish. I went for spots, stripes and a combination of various line work. Easy!

If you would like to try a repeat pattern you will also need the following supplies in addition to the above.

• scanner or photocopier

• tape (if you just have a photocopier)

• computer

• printer

Repeat patterns are a little more involved but with this great tutorial which I found on Design*Sponge you will be an expert in no time!

sitting pretty

I came across these adorable paper characters earlier this week on Malin Koort. A gorgeous Swedish blog full of wonderfully illustrated characters.

I hope you have all had a good week and have lots of fun things planned for the weekend. We are pretty excited because tomorrow we get to see our official wedding photos. Yipee! Happy weekend!

string, spots + stamps

Sweet wrapping spotted recently over on Audrey Jeanne's blog. Created with the use of stamps from her shop. Such a lovely idea and a great use of doilies for wrapping too don't you think?

wrist worms

The day before our wedding a pretty, little package arrived in the post which I'd forgotten all about (I love it when that happens, then it really feels like a gift in the mail). Perfect timing since this 'gift' was a pair of Wrist Worms made by Sandra to take on our honeymoon. 

Proof I wore them that is until it got too cold for this Aussie kid and I had to wear full finger gloves instead. Even in this pic it was starting to get too cold for me, with hands out of my pockets while eating street meat the one free hand is placed under my giant coat collar!

It's crazy to think that a little over one week ago I was in a place that was -1 degrees, now back at home it is 30 degrees warmer a little shock to the system but not as much as the difference in daylight hours. Here in Melbourne at this time of year it gets dark around 8:30pm, roughly 4 more hours of daylight than while we were away. I'm slowly readjusting!

sightings from afar

While we were away on our honeymoon the lovely and ever generous Pip, from Meet Me at Mike's was putting together a little surprise over on Michi Girl where she featured one of my Profile Peeps brooches. Thanks so much Pip! You are awesome as always.

Speaking of Michi, the new Michi Girl sight was launched too which is looking fab. And the new Michi Girl book - on the wish list along with so many other lovely books at the moment. Michi Girl sure has been busy, did you see she is also the Guest Blogger over on The Design Files this week?! 

On our return from our honeymoon and while I was catching up on blogs and emails I came across another lovely surprise. This time it was from Craft Victoria. One of my Bow Tie Boys is standing amongst amazing company in the Craft Victoria Christmas Catalogue. Lucky boy! Thanks Craft Victoria!

etsy love

While away I caught up on a few Handmade Portait's from Etsy. I LOVE these, so inspiring and well worth checking out if you have time. The latest which I just noticed yesterday is on a big ol' time Etsy fav YOKOO. Have you seen it? This beautiful Handmade Portrait was shot by Pazcal.

home again

I'm back!! Did you miss me? It feels like ages and I have missed being here. As you know this has been a very important break, the new husbo and I got hitched and have been honeymooning in amazing places, more on the honeymoon later. For now, it's good to be back and while there is lots to catch up on in blogland and in realland I just wanted to quickly stop in and say a big thank you to everyone who sent us beautiful words, well wishes and gifts for our wedding day and marriage. It all means so much to us and we feel very lucky to be having this happy time in our lives. We had the most amazing wedding day with family and friend, great food and drink, I wish it wasn't all over. To be honest the day went by so quickly it's all a bit of a blur now and I can not wait to see our photos. In the meantime though I have stolen one a friend took on her phone to share with you. Oh yeah and it rained (a lot) on our wedding day. It is meant to be a sign of good luck though, right?

x