Grace Designs in Valentines Treasury

My fun sparkly Valentines headband featured in this gorgeous Etsy treasury today by Winchester Lambourne!

Grace Designs Giveaway on Amanda Keeys Photography Blog

Hello everyone - it was a bit quiet around here last week because we did a last minute trip to Sydney for hubby's work - we're not a fan of announcing when we go away as we don't want to appear here but happy to say we are home and thrilled with the announcement of a GIVEAWAY!!! woooo hoooo



The super talented photographer Amanda Keeys is hosting my giveaway so you need to visit Amanda's blog and enter there!



Winner is announced Feb 7th... and the prize is a $50AU voucher to my Etsy store and a copy of the HANDMADE LIVING book!



Comments on my blog won't be counted as entries, so get on over to Amanda's!

Happy Australia Day and 1 Year Older

Australia Day is celebrated with mixed emotions around the country but is generally a time where I know I am grateful to be living in a country like this - free from war and oppression. Despite the devastation the weather has been creating in some states, we are still so rich in resources, we have a Government that actually help us and an overall desire to help each other. What is not to love about that!



Strange photos to match the content you might be thinking? It is also my birthday on Australia Day and if my 3 year old has anything to do with it we might just be playing pin the tail on her baby brother?!?! I saw these gorgeous photos today and they said Celebration to me! I suddenly don't like the age I am creeping towards but know I better embrace it - I have no other choice :-)

Photos by Confetti System as seen on Decor8.

Get me some Vera Wang

I found these stunning photos of some Vera Wang gorgeous on [design] relevant. The embellishments used on these outfits are stunning - particularly the collars and 'jewellery'. I thought the bottom right 'collar' was made from feathers but on closer inspection on the Vogue website - I think it is fabric, simply beautiful! I wouldn't mind a pair of those pins either :-)

Beautiful online magazine - Gifted

I am a bit slow sharing this find, you may have already seen it around? This beautiful online magazine nearly made me pass-out... sooooooooo beautiful, it has so many links to great new blogs, fabulous stores, gorgeous images and all FREE! yippeee. From the lovely Ez of Creature Comforts. It is a holiday magazine and gift guide but plenty of inspiration to be had for all year round!





Looking for something FREE to do over the weekend... have a look here!

Love-ly

While I am on a Valentines roll.... these dreamy images are from Kristi at Life Through the Lens! I love the vintage vibe and props in Kristi's photos and lucky for you she has an Etsy store too - sweeeet x

Images used with permission.

Lovely Labels

Anya is off to 3 yr old pre-school in a few weeks (eek) and I am trying to get organised so I ordered her these cute birdy iron-on clothing dots from Mooo. I could get really carried away with this stuff...

We already have a lunch bag chosen by Anya on her birthday last year with money from Nana. It is pink tinkerbell (blah) but that is what happens when you give a child choice with no manipulation from Mum (which is a good thing)! I don't think it will even fit in her bag it's so big :-(


You can even get personalised clothing - t-shirts, hoodies, rashies etc...


Clearly converted! I think they have some of the nicer designs around and would make really nice gifts for kids. I am looking forward to two mornings a week with just 1 child, it will be nice to hang with my little man on his own a bit too, although I am sure we will miss the poppet.

'Love Me Do' range

"Love, love me do... you know I love you, I'll always be true - so pleaseeee... love me do...dum dum, dum dum de-da-da-da...." you are singing along aren't you?!



Something fun & sparkly to wear for Valentines!




Dropping these to Shop Handmade tomorrow, who incidentally are doing their bit towards raising money for the Queensland Flood Appeal. Participating designers ( including me) are donating 10% of their sale price towards the appeal, while Julie and Rachel are matching each dollar raised - generous, no?!



These hearts have been a long time coming, like well over a year :-) Finally getting some shoe clips out there too... I 'borrowed' the shoe photo from a well known site*, printed it out and cut out holes to clip on my shoe clips. I wanted customers to know what they were straight away. My hair accessories can be quite hard to merchandise at times.

*That site incidentally, have similar clips for sale - if you can't beat them, join them - at least I am in good company. Are you finding it just as hard to have original ideas?

Gorgeous Kids Cubby - Happy Home

How sweet is this cubby house made by Belinda and her husband! Belinda is the author of the lovely blog, Happy Home where you can find more photos and details of this stunning cubby they built for their two kids.





Really gorgeous - I know my daughter would LOVE it!

Hat Block from Prague

I am absolutely over the moon about my newly acquired hat block! I love it to bits and love that it has come all the way from Prague :-) A friend of the family, Kveta is a wig maker and worked for the Sydney Opera House a few years back but before she did that she worked in her native Czech Republic for many years in this lovely old profession. It's thrilling to imagine what was created on this block and for whom! We gave 'her' a sand and a lacquer but I am yet to name her... any suggestions? Have a lovely weekend - I am finding it hard to tear myself away from the TV as the flooding unfolds - ah a time to be reminded about being thankful for what you have!

Pear Pin Cushion

My first project from the Handmade Living book! I have added this to the Handmade Living flickr group today :-) If you have made something why don't you upload or send it in for the blog! Anya (3) and I made it together - it took about 10 minutes. Fabric is by Thea and Sami.

Thinking of you Brisvegas

Thinking of all our friends and family in Brisbane and other areas of Qld at the moment! Watching places we know so well going under water is quite unbelievable. Sending our prayers and warm wishes for sunshine and the water to dissipate as quickly as possible. x

#1 - Poufs - New series

I had fun finding a really diverse range of Chandeliers to feature last year so I wondered what I could find to amuse myself this year.... then I stumbled upon my answer... Flora Pouf by Modern Dose. On an entirely different note, my lovely hubby and I have been married 8 years today! I have been blessed with an incredibly good man. He still makes me smile and laugh :-) H.A GG x

Wall Sticker Company supporting Aussie artists

Kristin Doran has designed some cool decals for the Wall Sticker Company - aren't they fabulous. There are also babushka's and a Russian Caravan - pop over and see the range.



Also our very clever (local girl) Claire of Schmooks has designed a new range -I'm not sure if they are available on WSC just yet but keep an eye out! See more of Claire's range in her facebook album.

More Twine in stock!

I have added 3 more luscious colours of twine to my Craftumi store:



Lilac



Pink Sorbet


Mandarin....



You like? My last customer was using twine for a mobile she was making.

Friday Favourites - Snug Attack

Very cool clothing by TwelveZeroSeven for your little ones - especially if you have twins!! These are from their Snug Attack line available in t-shirts or onesies!







Oh so cool :-) They also have shirts that say BOY or GIRL. I needed one of those when Anya was little. Seeing she has only just grown hair at 3yrs old you can imagine why! Have a great weekend.

A warm Whisper Treasury - 2011

My white blossom hair pins in my first treasury for 2011. Thanks Gret from A Little Red Ribbon! Gorgeous colours.

Repurposed goodness by Leslie Janson

Loving this re-purposed cuff by Leslie Janson on Etsy.



What a fabulous idea - these are Christmas ornaments but I think they would look great hung anywhere at any time! (pardon the pun).



More fabulous cuffs - made from vintage burlap and lovely rhinestone bling :-) What a great original idea!

Attia

My new favourite range of home wares - Attia by Rachel Brown. How divine, really makes me oohh and ahh, I want to touch everything and the palette....perfect!!



I discovered Attia via the equally divine blog Daily Imprint by Natalie Walton (be warned you will stay for AGES) - all part of the wider Real Living family.



Love, love, love...





Rachel was also involved in a pop up shop for before Christmas called “The Living Room”. I have only seen Pop up shops on US blogs, namely David Stark - event genius, so was thrilled to see one here.