Feeling the Love...

What a great week!  Received a lovely convo this week from Amanda of Calico and Co to let me know she had featured my Love Cards in her Blog.

 Calico and Co is described as an Indie and Handmade blog featuring a treasure trove of independent Artists, Designers, Crafters, Photographers and more..
I spent a little time reading through her Blog and found so many interesting artisans, some of which also work with an ethic close to my heart. the eco friendly handmade craft.  Amanda is a graphic designer herself which shows in the crisp and clean layout and engaging photos.

You can also find her on Etsy at Amanda Fuller Designs however she is vacation mode at the moment.  Why not give her some Bloggy love as she is a true champion of the Independent Handmade movement.


This feature contains quite a few Aussie DUSTers


More BLOGGY Love.... Yet another lovely convo from Violet of Artshus letting me know I had been included in her recent showcase of Aussie Etsians.  Violet should go into marketing she makes everyone sound fantastic!!!   This Blog is a feast for the eyes and the ears as you also get to listen to her great taste in music. C'est tres chic.

Now for anyone with a shoe fetish (guilty as charged) Violet has an amazing collection of shoe themed art and craft in her Etsy shop Artshus by Violet,  being a Bag Lady as well..I think this is my fave item

Black and Red Patent Artshu Canvas Bag

Violet is a talented lady and has another shop Paris Accent which is full of ooh la la fabulous tags and gift cards.  I have to say I was torn between these 2 lovely tags.

Oh so chic and romantic the Paris mannequin and roses and the Paris Cafe Sillouette Tags 


I hope you take the time to visit these wonderful generous spirited blogs.  To take a quote from one of Amanda's featured artists  Green Olive Design  "A handmade object is infused with the love and energy of the maker. Handmade has a story."  Amanda and Violet are tellers of the story and I am very grateful that they have taken the time to tell a little of my story.  For the week leading up to Valentines Day I have felt the Love and I gotta tell you... it feels real good. :)

New Treasury - A Royal House

This started off as a 'what not to wear' treasury but after about 3 picks I realised there was a distinct Purple theme so it became a Royal House instead. I love doing treasuries and I hope the featured get as much of a buzz out of it as I do...(seriously doubt it though)

It's the day for purple!!!

My purple ruffles pouch is in this lovely treasury by retroattck.

Reviving crafts from the past to celebrate Christmas.

When my children were young they all brought home from Kindy and school the handmade Christmas decorations which would hang on the tree with pride for many years.  Sad and sorry Santas, crooked stars, papery constructions overloaded with glue and glitter all sitting side by side in spectacular ugliness.

Now my children would argue that over the years these glorious works of art would move further and further round the back of the tree until they mysteriously disappeared.  What they didn't know was that over the years cockroaches quite enjoyed the doughy stars and cotton wooly snowmen and each year as they were unpacked the ravages of insect feasting and breeding which should have condemned them all immediately to the bin meant that fewer and fewer  could retain their pride of place on the tree.

It was during those years as a stay at home mum that I started making my own christmas decorations.  We were living on a fairly tight budget and couldn't afford much but with a few simple materials I did most of my own decorating (couldn't quite manage tinsel though).  Not only was it cheaper but it was so much fun and that sense of creating our own Christmas together as a family is one of the values we really wanted to entrust to our children.

It wasn't long before I had other young mums asking me how to make Christmas decorations and so I actually ended up teaching craft to a bunch of playgroup mums all eager and enthusiastic.  It was a wonderful time sitting with a group of women balancing babies and toddlers with glue guns, fabric scraps and bead pins.  Amidst the chaos, confusion and laughter there was also a huge dose of personal pride and achievement as each girl took home their 1st creation (even the disasters) to take pride and place on their own tree.

Recently there has been a big resurgence in handcrafts amongst the younger generation.  This year young girls have asked me to teach them how to crochet (I'm only a beginner level granny square maker myself) and they are eager to learn all other forms of craft and handiwork.  It is heartening to see this revival and returning to handicraft and to what was once thought the cheaper and tackier alternative to buying the real "mass produced" thing in a highly consumerised society.

In response to this resurgence I myself have returned to a "craft from the past" and revived the handmade Christmas ornament once more.  Why not make something yourself this Christmas or better yet get the whole family in on it I know for my children it's the one they made they will remember not the really expensive and fragile one you bought in a shop (unless that really expensive and fragile one is also an xbox).   Here is a couple of cool places for how to's on Christmas ornaments.  I could try and do one of my own and maybe one day I can get organised or clean my work area enough to get that happening :)

howstuffworks.com
Mahalo.com
betterbudgeting.com