Kikki-K - I should have known better

I had a most unfortunate incident yesterday afternoon – I discovered a new Kikki-K store in my local shopping centre. I tried my hardest to refrain from entering, but the bright lights and red and white decorations lured me in. I may or may not have purchased a “drawn wooden alphabet stamp set”. Some of the lovelies on offer at Kikki-K at the moment:

(Clockwise from top left:)

3am spiral notebook

charcoal felt A4 portfolio bag

wooden stamp set cute

wooden apple stamp picnic

paper clips love heart

wooden alphabet stamp set drawn

There is so much more in store and online. But be warned – you will not come away empty handed!

PS – they blog too including great decorating and wrapping ideas

Black Friday - 15% OFF @ ANOTHER DONKEY DESIGN

Who can resist a sale – well apparently I can’t resist joining in a sale! Although I had never heard of it before – I have been swept away with Etsy Black Fridayness and joined in the fun. What is it I hear all you aussie’s ask. Well apparently (according to the very reliable (?) Wikapedia) Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Day which really kicks off the Christmas shopping season (makes me feel better about barely making a dent in my shopping list).

So what is your point I hear you ask? Well the point is as of 7am Friday 26^th November to 5pm Monday 29^th November I am offering 15% off store wide in my another donkey design etsy store plus Free Shipping Australia Wide. There are lots of great Christmas tags, Birthday Cards and Peg It Ups (which make perfect stocking stuffers) in stock – so why not take advantage of the sales.

Xmas Peg It Ups - perfect to hang all your Xmas cards and to use as stocking stuffers

Xmas Gift Tags - Packs of 5 and 10 - the pefect finishing touch to any present

There are also lots of other Sydney (and world wide) Etsy sellers taking part in the fun. Why not do all your Christmas shopping today from the comfort of your computer! Check out lots of other goodies on sale here at the Sydney Etsy Team Blog

My Creative Space

Looking at my work space (dining room) you would never guess I get paid to organise things for a living! I work in chaos and generally have a number of projects on the go at once. This is not a conscious decision but just the way things turn out.

So – here is my creative space

This week I have been working on finishing up my custom Christmas order for Sarah Allen Consulting and also my first lino-printing in about 15 years.

Check out some more creative spaces here

Random Etsy Wednesday

(Clockwise from top left)

Bird on a Wire Printable Party Invitation by divine by design 11

Spring Has Sprung - Printable 3D Tree Card, Envelope, Gift Tags, Favor By Go Make Me

bakers twine-red and white (25 yds) by Cocoa Beans

I didn't speak – print by the Olive Bird

Wordless Wednesday

More here

New Lotta Jansdotter Book - Open Studios

Last week I blogged about a couple of Lotta Jansdotters books here. Well - a new book is coming to town- "Open Studios" in which Lotta takes us on a tour through artists studios in Brooklyn, New York, Stockholm, and Tokyo.

Photographs showcase each artist's studio while personal interviews reveal how they organize their supplies, use their space, and where they find inspiration. Tours include insights into graphic designers, photographers, ceramic artists, printers, and more.

No point adding it to the Xmas wish list though as it won’t be released until Feb 2011. It will be on my Birthday Wish List for sure.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's "My Creative Space" when i will be "showcasing" my open studio (or mess of a dining room depending on which way you look at it!)

Photo's that never see the light of day - Paris, France

I have been feeling a bit out of sorts today. Not sure what it is. Could be the beautiful weather and being in an airconditioned office. Could be that time of the year. Or it could be because I have a list of things a mile long that I want to get done and there never seems to be enough hours in the day!
To cheer myself up I had a flick through the digital photo album (all it did was make me want a holiday!). So today I thought i would share with you some happy travel snaps that never see the light of day - ah Paris - i remember you well.

Blog Lovin Friday - Blogs!

Today I have decided to not feature a blog I love. Rather I am featuring my love of blogs in general.

·         I love the windows into people’s lives – reading about everything from their breakfast, to their creative endeavours, to their highs and lows.

·         I love the sense of community – I am constantly amazed at the generosity of people I have never met, or spoken out load to.

·         I love sharing my thoughts and ideas with people who are genuinely interested in reading about them

·         I love that as long as I have an internet connection– I always have something to read, procrastinate, loose myself in

·         I love following a twisty turny never ending path from one blog to another

What do you love about blogs and blogging?

Photo by Banmorn 

My Creative Space

This week I have been working on my first corporate custom order from the lovely Sarah Allen of Sarah Allen Consulting (the bees knees when it comes to all things social media).

 I have been experimenting with using rollers and ink in lieu of the usual stamp pads and after some excellent advice from Chantal Vincent of Chantal Vincent Art – I think I have it figured. Will be documenting the whole process once I am done.

I am also starting to percolate some hand stamped card ideas…. More to follow
Check out some more creative spaces over at kootoyoo

One More for the Cushions - Tiges and Weince

And while I am on the subject of cushions – it would be remiss of me not to mention one of my favourites for kids -Tiges and Weince. Kylie’s cushions, which can be personalised for that extra special present, are super sweet, offer plenty of range and would look great in any kids (big or little) room. They would also make a perfect Baby Shower, Christening, Birthday or Christmas Present.

 

Tiges and Weince are in all the usual places – on the web, blog world, etsy, made it and facebook

Random Etsy Wednesday - Cushions

Something you may not have considered for a present - a cushion. The options in designs, shapes and sizes are endless – but here are 6 of my favourites for the young and old adults from Etsy

Hand Screen Printed Dream Big Cushion in Teal by Robin and Mould

Little Cloud Cushion - Navy and White Stripe by Poppy & Ted

Red Fox Screenprinted Pillow by sassandperil 

Love Pillow Cover by Home to Roost

Ampersand Cushion by Aunty Cookie

ABC Pillow Cover In Red by Helen Rawlinson  

Makedo - Great Xmas Present for kids 3+

For those lucky enough to have a kid older than 3 – here is an awesome Xmas present idea – Makedo’s.

“makedo is a connector system that enables materials including cardboard, plastic and fabric to easily join together to form new objects or structures. When you’re done playing, simply pull it apart to reuse over and over again. makedo is made up of three simple parts - – a connector, a hinge and a construction tool.”

You can buy various sized packs and for a limited time they have free shipping – bargain!

The possibilites are endless

I am so jealous that my little one is not yet old enough for these as they would make those playschool inspired afternoons so much easier, and dare I say – more fun. For the next 2 years we will have to make do with masking tape.

From Under a Rock - Lotta Jansdotter

Yes I have been living under a rock when it comes to blogs and design for the past, oh, 30 odd years. But having just discovered Lotta Jansdotter I thought there might be at least one of my readers out there like me.

Lotta’s work is inspired by nature and you can see the Scandinavian influence in her work also. It is clean, crisp and very very appealing.

Lotta produces fabrics, stationery and clothing – but it is her books that are on my Xmas list. In particular,

 “Handmade Living: A fresh Take on Scandinavian” (on sale at Fishpond with free shiping) 

and Lotta Prints: How to Print with Anything from Potatoes to Linoleum” (also on sale at Fishpond with free shipping).

Shelter Pop also recently did a tour of her east coast studio (that's it the dining room is becoming an offical work studio - what little 1 year old needs a playroom).

 For more pictures go here.

(Can someone please tell santa i want these books for Xmas?)

Blog Lovin Friday - My Sweet Prints

It is no secret that I love Janette from “My Sweet Prints” work, but I also love her blog. I have been lucky enough to meet Janette, her little man Will (and the luscious cat Minky) in person when we worked out we lived just around the corner from one another and she invited me round for tea (very civilised!).

 If I had to describe Janette in two words I would say sweet and caring and this is how she comes across in her blog too. One day may be a tour of houses she dreams of living in, another about her little man’s first day at little school or another about an amazing artist she wants to share with the world. It is refreshing bite size of sweetness and I look forward to reading Janette’s blog each day.

Take a moment and check it out here (and cross your fingers for Minky).

Better yet – Janette has a giveaway on at the moment, but please don’t enter too many times as I am eyeing off her evening routine bus roll poster

Thank you Janette for making me blog happy

My Creative Space

My creative space this week involved making up some more stock of my hunter valley wedding cards which I sell funnily enough in the hunter valley (but I am thinking of adding to my online store)

and also finally finishing some hand stamped (and hand made) Xmas tags (which are available in my etsy and made it store).

Next week – iron on transfers for my son’s summer singlets and also a custom hand stamped tag for my first corporate Christmas Card Request – more details of that exciting adventure soon - tres exiciting!

What have you been up to this week. Check out some more creative spaces here

Random Etsy Wednesday

More random etsy goodness on offer today (I am in a print kind of mood today)…

Winnie the Pooh Handmade Raw Art Print by rawartletterpress

This print is also going up for auction in the Creative Collection Starlight Christmas Charity Auction which is on from 12 Noon Monday Nov 15 until 12 Midnight Tuesday Nov 30. [AEDT]. For more details go here

join the circus... limited edition giclee print of an original illustration (8.5 x 11in) by helendardik

enjoy it poster print // red by elisejoy

Wordless Wednesday

More Wordless Wednesday’s here

Pretend Picnics

Have I mentioned I love Ikea? I can always find something I need at ikea. Ok maybe not need, but definitely want! And these cute soft food sets are definitely on my want list. They would be perfect for a pretend picnic!

Breakfast set

Fruit basket

Vege basket

And while I am suggesting things from Ikea – this set of three tins would be perfect for homemade Christmas cookie present.

Set of 3 tins with lids

Blog Lovin Friday - ThxThxThx

I am not sure if today’s blog lovin Friday’s blog is actually a blog (must remember to look up the definition of blog…) – but I have had thxthxthx bookmarked on my phone for a while now and refer to it now and then when I have a moment to spare (not so often these days).

Thxthxthx is written by Leah who when she is not thanking random things, is a creative director and writer at an advertising agent in LA. Leah’s mother taught her to write thank you notes, so she does – for everything and anything. Each day a new post it is posted thanking something or someone.

Although the subjects appear random and mundane, it is an uplifting read which always gives me a chuckle.

Thank you Leah for making me blog happy.

My Creative Space

Still a little stamp obsessed over @ another donkey design – this time getting in the Christmas spirit. I will be listing the final product in my etsy store soon.

Take some time to look at some other creative spaces here

Random Etsy Wednesday

Classroom Rules Sign in Black with White Letters - Makes a wonderful Teacher's Gift by barnowlprimitives

alphabetty - screenprinted fabric in teal blue on oatmeal by summersville

Delicate White Necklace or Bracelet made of Paper Yarn by PaperPhine

2011 Calendar - in the sky by storybymia

Wordless Wednesday

More here

Not Long Now

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! Time to get decorating people. Some handmade inspirations (with instructions) for young and old

Christmas Tree Wall Decoration - Bloesem Kids (via Little Paper Lane)

or Beautiful Paper Snowflake which are all the rage right now- Cut out and Keep (via Little Paper Lane)

or Paper Baubles - Annie P. Paperie facebo

Of course if you are not the home crafty type – you could always just buy something pretty:

3 LAMINATED patterned double sided paper globe ornament by atelierpompadour

Merry Christmas Garland - Red and White check by paperklipdesign

Has anyone out there started decorating their homes yet?