in.cube8ing

Exciting news on the Brisbane front, we now have our very own in.cube8r! The fabulous fushia store opened last week, filled with cubes of delight, all like colourful little lollies of handcrafted goodness.

I had lots of fun setting up my own little cube.

I'm in good company too, AND there are still some places to rent.

in.cube8r gallery

1/253 wickham st. fortitude valley

These Boots Were Made For Stitching

Today at the Brisbane Brown Owls meet was a stitching type of day. I jumped at the chance to get started on a project I've had in mind for quite a while... to embroider a pair of boots.

For now, it's just a lone crane, but the plan is for a string of three on each leg.

And with the split-toe in these Japanese boots...

It's lucky that I have a collection of split-toe tabi socks to wear underneath.

A Softie on a Saturday

This morning I was lucky enough to go to a Softies class run by Teneale of Wicked Child Designs fame.

My blanket stitching was a bit dodgy...

But turned out the right way and stuffed the stitching didn't show too much. I can't take credit for the lovely neat stitches around the eyes, Teneale had them pre-done for us when we arrived.

Once home, "Little Red" got an instant seal of approval with lots of cuddles and lots of loving sucks.

Flick Faves on a Friday

Pincushions. Every crafty girl needs a few good ones.

1. tiny world, 2. Tree mosaic, 3. toadstool pincushion, 4. Pincushion - Red Yellow Blue, 5. Mushroom Forest Pincushion: Orange, 6. needlefelted hedgehog :: a magnetic pincushion, 7. Acerico chuculeto y tutorial - My pincushion, 8. Sew Pretty - Set of Cupcake Pin Cushion And 3X Sewing Pins Topper, 9. Felted Pincushion

Ladies Pincushions., originally uploaded by Kup Kup Land.

A Break with a View

Up a steep and windy driveway in the mountains of Montville, our little cabin was nestled into the rainforest. Our home away from home for a few days last week was adorned with decks and windows on all sides so that our eyes could feast on the heavenly view from all angles. At night, snuggled up in bed I could see the stars through a window in the gables.

Each day we ventured out from our hideaway for a few hours. We had delicious lunches with breathtaking views. The sweet potato and fennel mash served under succulent lamb chops at King Ludwigs will have me going back there again in a heartbeat.

We took leisurely strolls around the towns of Maleny and Montville, family walks in the park and the Man challenged a steep 5km hike down to Konadilla Falls, not a bad achievement during a short break from chemo.

In the afternoons I got some quiet crafting time on the bed while the Man and the little one played on the floor nearby.

There were afternoon naps and late morning sleep-ins.

During the trip I found my new favourite spot in the area, Elements at Montville. It's a gorgeous little teahouse and homewares shop filled with funky finds, with an Asian flavour. A stop in there on the last day, myself with a pot of Blue Mountain tea, the Man with Genmai-cha, was the perfect way to end our stay.

Back in Town and Back to Work

This afternoon, our little family arrived back from a truly magical few days away in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. It was filled with breathtaking views, scrumptious food and long sleeps, all of which I'll blog about next week.

We hit the ground running when we got back, with a few busy days ahead of us.

This afternoon I dropped into Kazuyo's Collection and restocked my pendants and rings in the store.

Tonight I'll be putting some final stitches into some more kimono cranes for tomorrow's Mother and Child market.

And then on Sunday, my first ever Mother's Day as a mum, I'll be at the Boutique Market (I've requested my Mother's Day spoiling to happen on Monday instead...).

In celebration of Mother's Day, I have two kimono obi bags (my last two until the little one lets me back at the sewing machine) for half price, a few of my popular kimono button rings and hairslides are back as well as my usual kimono eye candy.

If you're in town, drop by and say "hi" and to all the mum's out there, I wish you a very happy Mother's Day.

Coming My Way

This is the story of a necklace. One that I fell in love with when I first saw it. A lovely shiny brushed sterling silver, simple, whimsical and elegant. It's a piece that I'm very pleased to say will soon be mine.

With a lucky voucher win to spend in Epheriell's gorgeous store, while I was tempted by some of her other beautiful pieces, I just couldn't go past the cloud that first won my heart.

My Creative Space

How does your garden grow?

With MDF and power tools and paint pots all in a row.

My creative efforts today have been all about finishing my new hanging display for the markets.

There were flowers to bloom and grass to grow...

When it was all done, I couldn't resist taking it for a bit of a test run (minus table cloth and clamps). I wish I had more flowers, I like them scattered under the tree like I did here, but those blooms were already reserved for the second tree. Mind you, I had so much fun making them, I'll happily paint some more for next time.

Tonight I'm going to attempt to whip up some grassy hills and a few little ring displays. I can't wait to see it all under my red paper lanterns at the Twilight Markets tomorrow night!

For more creative spaces, head over to Kootoyoo.

Playing with Power Tools and Paint

... and having lots of fun working on a new display hanger for the markets.

Sneak Peek

... at some very little pieces that are making the debut at the BrisStyle Twilight Markets this Friday night.

Hope to see you there under the stars.

My Creative Space

My creative space went out and about today.

There was a new Moleskine to be broken in... There was tea and a brownie for energy...

There were wanderings around the Queensland Art Gallery and GOMA to help me get in the zone...

There was sketching and jotting down lots of ideas in this lovely space over looking the Brisbane River...

For a while, I was lost in a sea of ideas and possibilities...

I'm slowing going through them one by one and am happy to say there is light at the end...

No actual sketches to show though sorry, they are going to remain secret squirrels for a little while longer...

For more creative spaces, jump over to Kootoyoo.

The Tour Does Continue

I have been super slack with my Bookcase Tour Tuesdays of late but a couple of fabulous bloggers have been doing a great job filling my shoes.

Momiji to Mitsukoshi has continued with her Tour Tuesdays with a twist, and this week's is a delicious one!

And Somedays shows us through an exhibition I always meant to get to see but never did, but at least now I can peek into the pages of the catalogue.

I'll having a gallery day tomorrow, off for a bit of a wander through the artwork first and then to sit and finalise some designs for a new range. I find it way too distracting at home, so am hoping being surrounded by beautiful creativeness will help.

New Shoots

Sprouts, originally uploaded by Dr. Kluane Spake.

I just got word this afternoon that one of the seeds I planted last week has started to shoot. I'm very excited, but also rather nervous and overwhelmed. So much to do before then, but Melbourne, you'll be seeing this little duck down there in August!

Ring Packaging

I'm obsessing over design at the moment. Logo designs. Web page designs. And packaging designs.

In my travels, I came across this ring package by Gerlinde Gruber via Lovely Package. Oh so stylish.

My Creative Space

There's been lots of work going on today, but very little of it "creative"...

The cranes were set aside...

...the desk was cleared... the tidiest it's been in a long time...

Today was all about applications, business development, profile writing and portfolio making. I'm starting to plant a few seeds that I hope will start to grow later this year.

For more creative spaces, head over to Kootoyoo.

Treechange Dreams

We had another free day. Again, we jumped at the chance to get out of the city, this time heading north. A bit more of a drive this time. As we passed a strawberry farm we vowed to go picking there next season. We passed pineapple plantations and vowed to take the little one to the Big Pineapple when she's bigger, and both recalled the delicious desserts they had there. We passed the Glass House Mountains, their beautiful forms have made my heart sing ever since I was a young child.

A little further along, a steep and windy road later and we were in the township of Maleny. The day's plan? A bit of a wander, to pop our heads in to some real estate agents as we want to move up there in the hopefully not-too-distant future and lunch.

The morning had me in tears, happy tears as I realised my little baby is not such a baby anymore. She sat quietly, happily, between The Man and myself on a sofa in a coffee shop munching on some of my toast and some of the fruit from his Bircher muesli. No bib. No mess. She people-watched and just looked so grown up all of a sudden.

A few hours later, after some second-hand bookshopping, with the little one asleep in the back, The Man grabbed some takeaway fish and chips which we ate in the car at a lookout, a glorious view of the Glasshouse Mountains ahead of us. We talked of the slower life we wanted, talked about the house we plan to buy in the area, talked about business plans, family plans. With The Man's treatment soon coming to a successful end, that future is nearly here. And what a bright one it will be.

The Easter Weekend

We had a lovely Easter weekend. I did indeed get some treats from the Easter Bunny after a conversation that went a little like this..

Me: "Do you think the Easter Bunny will come and visit me this weekend?"

The Man (just discharged from hospital and still in quarantine): "I'm really sorry, but I don't think he can this year."

Me: "Well, do you think the Easter Bunny would like me to help him and pick myself up a little present for him to give me?"

The Man (laughing): "Yes, I'm sure the Easter Bunny would really like that."

Me: "So what do you think the Easter Bunny would like to get for me?"

And so, a couple of chocolate eggs came my way on Easter Sunday morning.

This Easter weekend was also filled with some yo-yo making, decorating some real eggs and a super cute handmade bunny delivery from the New Zealand Easter Bunny aka Granny.

On Easter Sunday morning, the little one and I went for a wander down to the Young Designers Markets where we got to see the cuteness made by Kitty Boo Boo...
The Coolness of Wicked Child Designs...
And the scrumptiousness of Miss Dish...
I also fitted in some late night, insomniac sketching and some messy (and not-so-successful) resin playing.
After all that, we were tuckered out and it was time for a good lie down.

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend.

Can't Sleep

It's late. I can't sleep so I'm trying to scribble down the thoughts, ideas and images that are keeping me awake instead.

Happy Easter

Feliz Pascoa, originally uploaded by Teka e Fabi®.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful and safe weekend. We're having a nice quiet one this weekend and I'm hoping that the Easter Bunny remembers me on Sunday!

My Creative Space

Some resin casting experiments in progress at the moment. The shaped crane is from a mould, my first ever mould, that I made. Most of the work on these pieces today however has been research, research on where to take them next to get the best looking results.

And this week, I've done a little more embroidery on some vintage kimono fabric. Another piece waiting to be folded and stitched into a fabric origami crane.

For more creative spaces, visit Kootoyoo.