Speaking of holidays...

December is a HUGE month for us. Jacob's birthday, the boys' birthday, Christmas, New Years, friends and family visiting, the parties and BBQs that happen almost every single weekend... Huge.

I'm starting early. Sort of. I started making bows - last year! But I have a list a mile long of everything else I need to do... How about you?

And speaking of chaos...

Have a great Monday!!

xx

Brown Owls - A Crafty Parliament

Every other Wednesday night, a Parliament of Owls congregate at the Sporting Club over on little old Weston Street in Brunswick. It's always a lovely evening filled with drinks, tapas, chatter and a lot of crafting! 

I'm really happy I've been able to be apart of the group, as it's sometimes hard for me to get moving on a project because I may not fully understand or just don't have the time. But having the gals there to ask and putting that two hours aside has really pushed me to try new things and to really feel good about the things I'd like to accomplish. 

A little while ago, our little group was featured on a show called "Made by Hand" It's a lovely piece!! 

Check it out!!

I'm hoping to start a NZ Brown Owls group once we get settled in Wellington, maybe after the New Year. I think for me that would be the best thing ever! Not only do I have to move to a new city - and country for that matter, but how amazing to start a group and meet more and new like-minded crafty people... Can't wait!

A gorgeous treasury!

Thanks to SattvicMeri for including me in this beautiful treasury!

Some Etsy Lovin'

Hey kids!
Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!!

We had a big and busy few days! Our gorgeous friends are getting married on Halloween, so this weekend was the Hen's Night and Buck's Weekend festivities!!

Let's just say - good times were had by all!

Monday mornings are always nice to wake up to an Etsy Treasury and a blog post of some of my crafty bits and pieces..

I'm loving loving loving this treasury!!! Gorgeous!!

Thanks to Adictaaloscomplemnts

 

Thanks to handmadespark.com

Also, my Port Melbourne Button from Etsy was on handmadespark.com for this article featuring Melbourne and Victoria crafters and artists.. Some great shops mentioned! Check it out!

See you soon!

xo

*posted in an etsy treasury!

Thanks to Haley Studio for including my Green Leaves Fabric Covered Button in the Green Button Treasury East Collection on Etsy! It looks great with all things green!

Those slippers look so cozy too!!
xo

*for the love of letterpress!

Ok. So I'm thinking about purchasing something... But I'm still unsure...

Has anyone out there used the Epic Six? 

I love love love letterpressing and really want to give it a go, but am hesitant to get this. It seems like it would be a good starting point, but would like to go the proper way of letterpressing though. Also, there seems to be a limited amount of designs, unless you can make your own??

Help help help!!!!

xo

*Rose Street Market - Part 1

I hope everyone had a lovely Valentine's Day!!! <3

Jacob got me some very cool Barrel of Monkey earrings and some nice handmade non-soap soap. I made some yummy prawn alfredo pasta for dinner... it was a good day. I took a couple photos and if I wasn't so forgetful, I'd have them up by now.

Anywho. The Market went well on Saturday! Even with the rain and chill in the air. Thank you Marky for the giant cafe umbrella, even with the leaks, we would have been much worse off without it!!

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!! 

 Woodrow, a friend of Aida's took a couple shots - he's much quicker than I with the uploading.. Thanks!!!!

 

Aida and I after the rain

 

Scary zombie mannequin. Creepy as!

 

Aida modeling one of my lovely neck warmers.

  

Cutest market visitor!!

  

Thanks Woodrow for the shots!!

Once I am back at my computer, I'll have more images of the stall and goods. Can't wait for the next installment of the Market this weekend!! Hope for no rain and sunny skies!

xo

*finally. on holiday...

I hope everyone had a beautiful Christmas! I've chatted with the family back home, and yes, I am jealous they had a white Christmas - Jacob and I had our first Christmas alone... with Timmy of course! It was lovely!

My stay-cation started with a new van Hulst Christmas eve tradition... Tandoori Chicken that Jacob marinated for 2 days and popped on the BBQ. Very nice! We decorated our mini-tree and watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (one of the 2 best Christmas movies ever, only tied with A Christmas Story). We were also visited by the Christmas Huntsman... Bahhh!!!(Apologizes for the iPhone pics on this one... )

And sweet little Timmy fell asleep waiting for Santa....

Christmas morning is for sleeping in. But saw my xmas pressie from Jacob. Yay!!! New big canvases! And some adorable artwork he mastered on the plastic covering. I almost don't want to use them and ruin his artwork!! I crocheted him a neck warmer with some nice merino wool and some sweet old vintage US Navy sailor buttons I had. I'm going to make myself one. I love it!

We had a few soy flat whites, a few mimosas with super freshly squeezed orange juice (thanks to Jenny's xmas gift from about 10 years ago, yes, my fancy 1950's orange juice maker..), a couple crossiants with my homemade cherry plum jam.. and then Jacob went nuts in the kitchen... Eggs with Gravalax and onions and chili. Oh goodness - Yum!!!

They rest of the day we lounged, went for a walk around the park with Timmy. Then came back to make dinner, Bugs!!!! I made some potato salad and peach salsa. Yes, we basically just pigged out all day!
 

Yum!!!

I spent some time later in the day with my camera around the house. The light was perfect and I couldn't resist.

 

Jacob scored heaps of fruit from a friend... Fruit salad, stewed applesauce, and the cherry plums from the tree in the front yard...

 We played Rummy on Xmas Eve - proof I won!

Timmy's new hobby. Chewing books. Ugh.

 

And my catching up on the crochet projects. Including Jacob's xmas gift.

Anyway. Back to doing some domesticness that is catching up on laundry and grey-watering the garden.
xo

*MixTape Zine!!!

Woohoooo!!!

I received my new issue this week! Thanks Justine!!!
I love the new design, size - very very cool stuff! There is a great piece on some crafty tattoos. Makes me want to finish my half sleeve!!!

And yes, my ad :D
xo

*DIY Inspiration - Tank Top Totes

Love love love this!!

I'm always inspired to reconstruct old things. So of course, I'm totally curious and cannot wait to make this! I just have to finally go through my old clothes and singlets for something to convert.... That's the toughest part.

The full tutorial is here.

Thanks Craftynest for the inspiring bit and pieces :)

xo