eggs are beautiful things

The Humble Sparrow, I salute you. You go about your day, always busy, always unassuming.  

I'm sure your absence would be noted though.

New Winter necklaces at Cumquat Interiors.  It's a scary business making things sometimes so it's heartening when people "get" work you've poured a lot in to. 

Photo courtesy of Cumquat too.

I was going to post some pics of how I went about hand dying the denim coloured rope but ultimately they were incredibly boring photos of a nail biting process.  Only nail biting because I used  a black dye to get this denim colour.  And remarkably it worked!!  

Thank goodness.  Sometimes you need a win.

(I can see that one day I'm going to want black rope though ~ yehhh - that's going to be a new trick!?)

It's cotton tape.

It's simple and I like it.

Label love

So much joy on one piece of linen. Label love. Not sure why I'm so into this sort of thing.  But I am.

Another little thing to smile at.

I know you've all been doing this for aaaages.. but I'm stretching my technical capabilities again and yep - instagram. 

We all know that there will be something entirely new once I've mastered it but apparently it's good to stretch yourself occasionally. heheh.  Don't laugh too much.

By the way - I made these as well. Another stretch of my technical capabilities. For some reason I found it nerve wracking when i got to the bit where you have to tease all the layers apart.  

But they are pretty!

1929

1929

Douglas Mawson was off to the Antarctic again on the Discovery.

Wall street crashed and set off the great depression, 

Bradman scored his first century against England,

Australia had a population of around six and a half million.

Mollie Wells was winning trophies at the Hermitage School.

Some might like their vintage finds anonymous (just worked out how to spell that!)- and I can fall into that category as well - occasionally its enough to appreciate an object as it is, it's weathering and character.

But sometimes I do wonder and set off to see more.

I never do hold out much hope of working anything out but usually I learn something in the process ; a date, what a mark means..

So these little trophies had a name and a date - and what do you know! Out there in the internet, there was still a young lady with her name in print.

Mollie Wells, made prefect and seems a bit of a sporting wiz.

I like trying to see her world - it's makes my imaginary ideas of that time more real. 

Hard to pin down why objects such as these trophies hold appeal for me. Certainly a nostalgia, echoes of Enid Blyton and certainly the way they look. The way they are made - still an element of the handmade in them - the patina and the feel of them. Not everyone does like vintage things but if you do you will certainly understand.

The images and writing in these old school journals was the icing on the cake.

Don't you love that the last entry on this page is for the egg and spoon race. Super.

inta galactic!!

Intergalactic, Intergalactic...

Cannot get the Beastie Boys out of my head.

or these

Crazy cute Sputnik pics!!

Oh, life's been kicking my ass for a while so i haven't been around blog land for a bit.

Barely remember how to post but glad to have made it back here finally.

Settled in again with the idea of just enjoying posting the random stuff that takes my fancy.

You know I like sparkly rocks. 

Here's some from the Melbourne Museum display.

Colours are tantalising and unearthly (weirdly enough)!

Beautiful

Next time someone asks you to use "natural" colours - think of these lovelies.  

Serendipity

Been away, been working my fingers to the bone - well, been working them hard anyway.  Results below.

Sometimes things come together in strange ways hey?

Had been musing on making some much larger pieces when the phone beeped and there's a text from the lovely Estelle... 

And what do you suppose she was looking for?  Luckily enough it was a long and natural knotted piece that she had in mind to go with a gorgeous dress from her new Micky in the Van collection.

Hooray!

Have to say that these long strings were something of a challenge.  Patience is a virtue...

And here it is in the Estelle Store.  Relief! It works!

And finally, thanks again to Estelle for this photo from the forest shoot of her new collection.  Can't wait to see more!

Foxy Ladies

I'm pretty happy to have found some super people to help me bring together the look for the band rooms, VIP tent and Grand Theatre stage at the Falls Festival in Lorne this year.

It's like opening presents when I collect the work they've designed -

the least I could do was throw a teensy cocktail party to say thanks! 

 Clare from Victor Fox and Jordie from Lunar. 

How do you like this sneak peak of Victor Fox's cushions and banners?!

And more - some spectacular scenery from A Skulk of Foxes!

I'm excited now about bringing it all together! 

Eye Candy

I'm not going to check right now but I think it was that champion of handcrafts, William Morris, who is said to have advised that you only keep beautiful and useful items in your house.

Well I think these handmade fishing floats are extraordinary. I'm sorry my photos don't do them justice.  So carefully hand painted. There is even the occasional porcupine quill involved.

Humble, beautiful and if you fish, useful!

Work in Progress

Oh goodness, I've almost forgotten how to do this blogging stuff.

Yes, erm it has been a while hasn't it.

So, a little of what I've been up to below. 

Some new necklaces - some of which are off to a new stockist- (exciting!)The Estelle Store in Melbourne. (I hope to have some photos to share with you soon)

Other than BonVoyage work, I'm still building up a look for the band rooms and vip tent at The Falls Festival in Lorne again.

Some bits and pieces I've been putting together below.

Shortly I'll have some more pictures (promise) of some super work that I've commissioned from the talented people from Victor Fox and Skulk of Foxes.  Yes, my foxy ladies (and man..)

Back into it with lots more to show you soon. Really!! xx

Express

Gorgeous, gorgeous lettering from the railways.

All found at the National Railway Museum in York.

Mechanically minded or not, it's full of treasure.

History #1

    

     York

Pieces of my heart live here.  

They're not alone.