the red thread: September 2010

See you in a couple of weeks

24 September 2010

The best laid plans... initially I was going to organise some great posts and guest bloggers for while I was on holiday... then when I ran out of time to do that I thought I might go back through my archives and show you some things you may have missed here on the red thread... but with only a few hours left before we fly out that's not looking promising either.

Sorry, you may have to just watch the dust gather and the cobwebs accumulate here.

If you click on the "Monday Blogday" tag down in the left hand column you will see my posts about some blogs that I love. There are 40 of them in the archives - you might find some that are new to you.

See you in a couple of weeks!

x
Lisa

Travel tips for Shanghai and Hong Kong?

18 September 2010

gorgeous image from eyecatcher on flickr

Only 6 more sleeps until we leave for a lovely 2 week holiday in Hong Kong and Shanghai... I'm too excited! We'll be doing a home exchange with a family in Shanghai which I'm really looking forward to.

I'm wondering if you have any tips on things to do and see with children (Roxy is six and a half) - museums, parks, etc, toy shops, places to eat.... and also any insights into things relating to design, art and craft. Are there any design/craft markets (by that I mean individuals like us selling their handmade creations, not traditional souvenir-type things)? What about some shopping tips for fabric, craft supplies, stationery, beautiful paper etc? Design stores? Anything that's a 'must see/do"?

I'll look forward to hearing your suggestions!

Send beautiful texts with the Cartolina iPhone app

17 September 2010

I just purchased this brand new app, designed by Fiona Richards of Cartolina. My friends should expect to receive beautiful texts and emails from me from now on.

I am a frequent visitor to Fiona's blog Cafe Cartolina - I'm sure I've blogged about it before. Check it out for lots of inspiration... if you haven't already.

Vintage finds

16 September 2010

I'm really suffering from a market hangover this week. It's taken me a few days to get my head back into gear after long days and nights last week sewing and preparing for the markets and then the drive to Canberra and two markets in a row. I unpacked the car on Monday morning and didn't really put anything away until yesterday. The house is a mess (especially my work room), washing basket is full to the brim, the blog is neglected, my inbox is overflowing, google reader is at 1000+... Do you have weeks like that? You just feel incapable of getting things on track?

So I'm taking a deep breath and trying to focus.

I thought I'd show you some fab vintage games I recently scored. A complete bingo game and two alphabet stamp sets. Awesome. I just love the typography and design of the bingo lid.

to market to market

10 September 2010

I'm just popping in to apologise for the lack of posts this week and to wish you a beautiful weekend. I've been busy preparing for the two markets in Canberra this weekend, and I'm about to head off.

If you're in the nation's capital come and say hi - you'll find me at Handmade on Saturday and Mathilda's on Sunday.

Have a good one.

x
Lisa

The image doesn't really relate to this post...

Etsy find :: Grace Art + Accessories

09 September 2010

The title of this post isn't entirely accurate... I didn't find Grace myself. Alison from Toronto Canada is the creative mind behind Grace and she follows the red thread blog. Alison emailed me and invited me to visit her Etsy shop. I'm so glad she did.

Indulging her love of textiles, Alison travels the globe buying beautiful and interesting fabrics and turns them into gorgeous bags and homewares. Her current collection features Japanese obi and kimono fabrics with jewel colours and geometric designs to die for.

Alison's photos are well styled and very professional looking aren't they? It's that attention to detail that really makes some Etsy sellers stand out above the rest. Lovely.

Inspiration :: Frontliners

08 September 2010

Natalie Walton, deputy editor of Real Living magazine, mum to a toddler, and author of Daily Imprint blog has just launched a new project called Frontliners. Let's hear it for all us multi-tasking mums! Natalie collaborated with photographer Kata Varga to capture our Australian living spaces in a refreshing, naturally styled way.

all images: Frontliners

So far there are peeks into the homes and lives of fashion stylist Inez Garcia, amazing artist Anna-Wili Highfield, interior stylist Amanda Mahoney, Pony Rider's Kelly Searl, and author Emma Magenta. As you can see by the images above Frontliners is well worth bookmarking. I'm looking forward to the next instalment.
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new Ooshka Boys

02 September 2010

At last I've made some headway on the Ooshka Boys.

The Ooshka Boys use the same pattern as the Ooshkas, with the addition of a superhero cape. So, like the Ooshkas they are big and cuddly. I'll be taking them to Canberra next weekend for Handmade Market on Saturday 11th, and Mathilda's Market on Sunday 12th. And after the markets I'll be selling the Ooshka patterns with the Boy faces in my shop.

I'm looking forward to getting some feedback at the markets and seeing how they sell. What do you think? Will little blokes be into them?

the red thread :: featured

01 September 2010

I've been lucky enough to have had my work featured in a number of lovely magazines recently. It's always a buzz to see your creations in the press and I'm so grateful to the stylists, editors and/or designers for including me.

Anissa, a blog reader from Germany emailed me these images of my Sweetie Petite Molly in Dutch lifestyle magazine 101woonideeen.

Mitsy was kind enough to post me a copy of the truly gorgeous Dutch magazine flow, which featured my Sweeties.

My Sushi Bird tiles appeared in Home Beautiful magazine as a part of a feature on Udessi.

My Vintage Heart Box is in the current edition of Cleo.

The Sweetie Petites appeared in the special kids' issue of Mix Tape.

That's one of my Hello Birdie Pillows in the Sydney Morning Herald's Essential Style lift out.

A Vintage Storybook Tile was used in a shoot for the current issue of Shop4kids.

The (sydney) magazine featured my Vintage Storybook Tiles last month.

The Vintage Storybook Tiles in the (sydney) magazine were a small part of a fantastic story which featured two of my lovely friends: Claire from Craft Schmaft (over a double page spread no less!), and Kristen Doran. Both looking especially gorgeous and talking about their creative process and businesses. Yay!