Genevieve Bennett

London based artist Genevieve Bennett does some really amazing work! Above is some of her wall paper and a 3-D leather wall panel, pure genius. I could curl up in the chair with a good book right about now.

{images: www.GenevieveBennett.com)

MACRO Monday - Peony Roses

Peony Roses are stunning - they are used a lot in wedding flowers and can't you see why? The white ones are gorgeous too. I miss the days of having flowers ALL over my house, even in the bathroom. I have been under the weather all weekend... I hate being sick and I am not a good patient nor good at resting. So it may be a little quiet around here this week.

SAMPLE SALE till June 30

Just wanting to get rid of some of my earlier felt samples from my Etsy store...

Friday Favourites - Di Bella coffee

There is no finer coffee on earth (in my humble opinion) than Di Bella. I am yet to find a coffee shop in Canberra that sells their coffee *sighs*. They had one of the best little cafes in New Farm, Brisbane called Vue with scrumptious food and to die for coffee. I just found out that Di Bella now sell online through Coffee Central. Hurray - I am soooooooooo full of happiness, I wish I had a bigger freezer!! Yes I love my coffee.

Felt hair clips

I have been making these for the markets and for gifts! They are really sweet and this pink clip looks gorgeous in Lilly's hair (Amanda's daughter). They are from my little hydrangea range. I don't plan on selling them in my Etsy store but will save them for the markets instead.
{image-Amanda Keeys}

Mmmm cake

Lemon and Sour Cream Cake - yummo... I love baking! This is a quick and easy recipe out of some magazine, I got sometime, from somewhere... vague you might say?!! I'm so nice I included the recipe for you, along with my (not so) secret obsession of writing daggy reviews! They are all through my recipe books, a tradition handed down from my ma.

"Handmade in Bloom" here I come...

It's official!! I have just paid to have my very first market stall at the Handmade Market in Canberra on Sat 12th September! Mark it in your diary and make sure to come and visit!

Old family mixing bowl

My Nanna gave me this seriously old mixing bowl - it was her great grandmothers!! It doesn't have any markings on the base to tell me where it came from unfortunately but it's full of cracks and character. I actually haven't used it yet though as I've been too scared I might break it... but I have told myself it's been around for so long what could I possibly do to it... or if I break it I will have to go and learn to do a Mosaic!

Something for Kate - felt hair clip

My lovely sister-in-law Kate modelling the hair pin I made for her. The white feather (no longer there) didn't prove it's match for day-to-day wear with year one kids!

MACRO Monday - Motor Neurone Walk

This pretty Camellia is from my Mum's garden, this time last year! I hope you had a fun weekend. Yesterday I completed the Motor Neurone Walk around Lake Burley Griffin with Julie from Handmade and her family. It was a miserable bleak morning with drizzling rain but cleared long enough to enjoy a pleasant 5km walk around the lake. Thanks for those that sponsored me.

Etsy - We come from a land down under treasury

Happy to discover one of my headbands used in a lovely little treasury by fellow Aussie - A life is so peachy Once again discovered by a random check on Craftopolis. Thanks Jess :-)

Friday Favourites - Donna Hay

Donna Hay cookbooks re-vitalised my interest in cooking! I have always loved and was more interested in baking. Her books are filled with such a great collection of simple and delicious recipes with easily accessible ingredients. My husband can pick a DH recipe a mile off and proudly quips, "you would pay $40 for this out at a restaurant" - how nice it is to have your own personal cheer-leader. Donna also now has her own general store in Sydney which I am yet to visit but it's on the to-do list!

Sneak preview ....head piece / belt

A new concept with the possibility of lots of different designs and materials. This lovely thai silk powder blue is from one of my many bridesmaid dresses. I actually think this piece would look cute as a belt too!

New stool for Anya

Isn't this stool gorgeous! I picked it up for a mere $20 from a gift shop near my mothers house. It is the perfect little companion for Anya to, sit and eat morning tea, get up into her big-girl dining room chair, open the bedroom door when Daddy is sleeping and see what Mum is cooking at the kitchen bench! Yes, the cabinet doors are a lovely shade of pinky-apricot - blahh

Ziggy - Sock and Glove

My cousin Gretel made this gorgeous hand-sewn sock Zebra for Anya from the book Sock and Glove. We named him Ziggy!! These are my favourite kind of pets.

Glass beaded garland

This is hanging on my wall in the loungeroom! It was a deco from our wedding which sat along the top of the bridal table - I used to just bring it out at Christmas but decided when we moved to Canberra it could stay all year long :-)

New in my ETSY shop - hair accessories

New listings in my Etsy store today!

Sneak Peek for Handmade Market

Something I made last week for the September Handmade Market... I'm not sure if I mentioned I have applied to have a stall at the markets?!!! LOTS of sewing to do but I am up for the challenge. The perfect time of year to sell handmade gear for School formals (prom), weddings, cocktail nights, end of year Christmas parties and Melbourne cup! How exciting...

MACRO Monday - gum trees

Australian gum trees are beautiful and play such a distinctive part in our landscape. I love the detail and contrast in these three colours: bark, snow gum and crusty old gum. Big chunks of bark look great in flower arrangements!

Friday favourites - interior design ideas

I am enjoying the new show Homemade - I love seeing what people think up for difficult spaces and fresh ideas for worn out rooms. I also LOVE this room! My husband would adore these bookshelves, I love the Eames RAR rocker, elephant (for Anya), shag rug and windows... I can imagine stealing quiet moments in this room! Found on none other than, Design Sponge. The mosaic is pretty special too!

Grace Designs hair clip

Pascale posted some lovely photos of her daughters pre-school graduation on her photoblog, Ellie is wearing the little clip I sent over to Pascale for being my first Etsy buyer :-) I think it is my favourite clip so far, I found it hard to give away... only a little.

Give-away WINNER

And the winner is..... drumroll...... KIM from All things Mum Congratulations and thanks for entering! Kim could you please email me your postal address so I can pop your prize in the post! (If you blogged about the giveaway you got two consecutive numbers - if you are wondering about the numbering system!)

A little sprout

I found this gorgeous blog, A Little Sprout today through One Flew Over. How seriously cute are her birds and dolls! Sara has an Etsy store also but currently on vacation - you can read all about that on her blog or sign up for shop feeds to see when new stock is listed! I think I may have a hidden love for birds! {images - a little sprout}

New Pink linen headband

I made this pink linen headband for a friend's daughter to wear for their family portrait. She is 3 years old, I think it will look darling in her hair. I really like these new thicker linen bands. Don't forget to enter my giveaway there is only ONE DAY left!

Headband - felt prototype

This felt headband was a prototype for the Handmade Markets I have applied to do later this year... (stay tuned). It was a bit of a rush job for my niece and I don't like the size of the petals, but she wore it happily all weekend. I tell you that elastic is a dream to wear.

Headbands

My Nieces were feeling a bit neglected in the headband department! My left over bunting scraps came in handy:-)

Macro Monday - brooches

I love that cool old brooches (& fake, cool old brooches) are still in! These brooches were on the back of a friend's bridesmaid dress in '07. I love costume jewellery and would love to incorporate them into my headgear down the track!

It's a public holiday here in Australia today - we are just home from a lovely weekend away with my family as we celebrated my youngest brother's 16th birthday (hence the late post). My youngest brother was a 'little' 25th Wedding Anniversary surprise for my parents and the 5th child. Anya loved hanging out with the extended family, her cousins completely doted over her and she especially loves her Uncle Daniel.

Friday favourites - My Place, Bowral

My Place is a lovely place to visit, the store in Bowral that is!! From the moment you walk in, your senses are stimulated from all the gorgeous products... then you hit the wall of fabric and it's almost too much :-) I am thrilled to say they now have an online store! Myplace is also selling fabric by quarter of a metre if you so choose! Not many places offer that for Amy Butler, Anna Maria fabric etc... Loving it! They are offering free shipping in June to celebrate their birthday - check out the fabric.

One Month Etsy Store Anniversary Give-away - CLOSED

This competition is closed, thanks to those who entered.

Today is my one month Etsy store anniversary! So to help celebrate I am giving away one Grace Designs signature headband, pictured above. To be in the running:

1. Leave one comment on this post for one entry
2. Blog about this giveaway (linking back to this post) and leave one comment on this post, for two entries (let me know you have linked in your comment)
   

I will choose a random winner in one week, on Thursday 11th June (Australian Eastern Standard time). Tell your friends and help me celebrate - Hurrah!

Lots of free tutorials... on A little Red Ribbon

Why search the internet for free patterns/tutorials when Gret from A Little Red Ribbon has sourced them for you, she has so many great things I can't keep up!!! She doesn't just list one at a time either... is usually 5 to 10 pattern links. Check out the Tote's and clutch purse. Gret is also working her way through Meet me at Mike's and posts a photo of every project she has finished (as above). It's better than a book review, I guess it's a live book review in progress! Make sure you check out the Fabric roll, it's great. I love her use of new and old fabric - very cool.

New in my ETSY shop - Spring Carnival anyone

White crystal organza on gold hair pin - pretty for formals, weddings, spring carnival... any 'fancy do' really. 9 x 9cm. More variations and colours to come.

Grace Designs on Etsy - Gift Guide: Pearls in June

My goodness, I am still getting over the treasury from a few days ago... but had to investigate a sudden surge in my Etsy stats! I found my newly listed organza brooch in the HOT LIST gift guide - Pearls in June! What an honour, thanks Etsy staff!!! The Gift Guides are hand picked by Etsy staff from hundreds of thousands of items available. I actually found out where I was listed from the clever website Craftopolis.

MACRO Monday - Bloem Winkel

I have had a love affair with Holland ever since visiting in 2000 for an extended period. My best friend Mirjam and I enjoyed a 7 month stint in Europe volunteering and travelling prior to meeting our respective husbands. We stayed with a lot of Mirjam's family throughout Holland and they were just wonderful - much like my own extended family. Since I used to be a florist, Mirjam's Auntie gave me this little flower shop (Bloem winkel) keyring. I still use it and it reminds me of Holland.... mmm I can taste the cheese and muesli ballens (ball/rolls) as I type...