A KatyJane kind of Christmas

The creative team at KatyJane have come up with some gorgeous things for Christmas this year. I particularly love their advent calendar stickers. They are such a great idea that allows you to be creative with how you use them... on little glossy red boxes or envelopes, on kraft paper bags, and they'd be perfect for my advent calendar tutorial!

KatyJane also has sweet gift tags and everything you need to wrap and trim your gifts to perfection this Christmas. Take a look at their online shop and let's support local Australian small businesses rather than the big box stores this festive season.

.

Read more...

Festive Craft Kits back in stock

I'm happy to tell you that Festive Craft Kits in red and aqua are available in my shop again. Christmas is creeping up and these fabric craft kits are a versatile quick project to make or to gift. You can use the panels to make ornaments, or on Christmas stockings, for lavender sachets, in a patchwork project, or whatever else you fancy.

Over the past week when I've been begged to watch Rio, Barbie, Horton Hears a Who, or something else that has been on high rotation in my house I've been doing a little embroidery.

Have you been able to sneak in a little Christmas crafting?

Festive Craft Kits are available here.
.

Read more...

Inspiration :: Poh Ling Yeow

I've been a huge fan of Australian artist Poh Ling Yeow's work for years... way before her MasterChef fame. You can see one of my previous posts about her work here. So I was more than excited when Poh emailed me recently to tell me about her exhibition that's currently on at Hill Smith Gallery in Adelaide. We emailed back and forth for some time and she's so lovely. Poh told me that despite her cook books, TV shows and everything else that comes with the MasterChef success she'll never stop being a fine artist. When you look at her work you can see why - she has such a talent and her art must be an intrinsic part of who she is. How amazingly beautiful is this painting?!

I love everything about Poh's art from her beautiful dry brush technique that creates such wonderful graduations of tone and colour to the lovely soulful Chinese girl she paints. (Poh refers to her as "the girl", and she reminds me a lot of my girl, especially that exquisite mouth.) Most of Poh's work is an exploration of her identity as a Chinese Australian, which of course resonates with our family too. I've vowed that by the time Poh next exhibits in Sydney I'm going to be first in line to purchase one of her paintings. I've wanted to for years, and I think I deserve it, I've had such a crappy time in the last couple of years. I'm saving my pennies!

Images: Hill Smith Gallery

If you're in Adelaide go and visit the Hill Smith Gallery and see Poh's work in person. It truly is breathtaking.

As an aside, I just googled 'Poh ling Yeow' to see if there were any specific links to her culinary life and among the top google suggestions were "Poh Ling Yeow boyfriend" and "Poh Ling Yeow married"... I think there must be a lot of interest from the blokes out there! There's a great interview here if you're interested and she also has a blog which is related to Poh's Kitchen, her TV show.
.

Read more...

Kids' Crafternoon Books Giveaway Winners

Comment numbers drawn at random...

Dee and Lesley email me with your details and I'll forward them on to Hardie Grant who will send out your books. Thanks to everyone who entered.

x
lisa

Read more...

Sculpture by the Sea

On Tuesday I went on a school excursion with Roxy's class to Sculpture by the Sea, which is celebrating it's fifteenth year. It's such a wonderful Sydney thing to do: stroll around the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk checking out all the fantastic art (there's over 100 works by Australian and international artists). It finishes this weekend, so if you can brave the weekend crowds and often aggressive joggers it's really worth going along.

Check out the official Sculpture by the Sea website for far better photos than mine!
.
.

Read more...

LOVING :: skinny laminx flower fields

Love love love this new fabric from Heather Moore of skinny laminx.

.
.

Read more...

Kids Crafternoon Books Giveaway

Back in July I posted about the first two books in the Kids' Crafternoon series that I contributed projects to: Sewing and Papercraft. The second two books - Felting and Beading - have just been released and I'm kicking off the blog tour today.

These books are a wonderful resource chock full of fun projects aimed at school-aged children, and even better, the projects are designed for the kids to make with minimal supervision. The series is edited by Kathreen Ricketson of Whip Up fame and are published by Hardie Grant. For the previous blog tour I interviewed Kathreen about kids and creativity - I loved what she had to say. You can read it here.

Over the weekend Roxy and I decided to make the Stitched Jewels from the Felting book. We made a brooch and a variation on the pendant, making ours into a tiny bag that Roxy put her precious rose quartz into. It was a fun and fast project which Roxy really enjoyed and she was thrilled with her pendant bag.

I was honoured to be asked to contribute to these beautiful books again and I loved creating the projects, especially the Zombie Critter Charms:

OK, the giveaway part... Hardie Grant have generously offered to give you guys the chance to win a copy of the new Kids' Crafternoon Felting and Beading books. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post by Monday 21st November. There will be 2 winners - each will receive the book of their choice, either Felting or Beading. As the books are being sent direct from the publisher this giveaway is open to Australian residents only.

If you'd like to purchase your own copy of the Kids' Crafternoon books they are available from Booktopia. They'd make a wonderful Christmas gift, and not just for girls - there are lots of projects in the books that crafty boys will enjoy.


You can catch the rest of the book blog tour here:

15 Nov - soozs big adventure
16 Nov - mmmcrafts
17 Nov - // Between the lines //
18 Nov - Christine Chitnis
19 Nov - Chez Beeper Bebe
20 Nov - The Happy Zombie
21 Nov - a work in progress
22 Nov - loveinthemummyhood
23 Nov - jcasa handmade
24 Nov - picklebums
25 Nov - modern parents messy kids
26 Nov - little eco footprints
27 Nov - li'l magoolie
28 Nov - ohdeedoh
29 Nov - Simple Kids
30 Nov - sadie and lance
.
.

Read more...

Giveaway Winners

The winners of the Christmas Craft giveaway are:

In the spirit of the festive season I decided to give everyone who entered one iron on motif each... so if you email me with your postal address I'll send you a motif that I'll select at random. If you have an absolute fave let me know and I'll see what I can do. But no promises.

The 'real' winners, who were chosen at random are:

Email me with your postal address and let me know your selection Debra and Margaret and I'll get your goodies out to you. Refer back to the original post for your choices.

Thanks for entering! I have another crafty giveaway tomorrow. Stay tuned.
.

Read more...

Introducing Roxy Longsocks

I'd like you to meet my newest creation: Roxy Longsocks.

Following Roxy's disappointment that I didn't name any of my Sweetie Petites after her I made a promise that something even more special would share her name. And she now agrees that it was worth the wait!

Roxy Longsocks has a sweet face and those long dangly legs that kids seem to love. You can make the Springtime version or the Wintertime one with her scarf, coat, hoddie and mittens. I'll have to take a photo of Roxy holding her doll to show you because it's a lovely big size: about 66cm, or 25.5 inches.

The Pattern Kit (available now in my shop) contains a sewing pattern and printed fabric face panel. It also has a pattern for you to make your own fabric and felt faces. Additional faces, which are printed on cotton linen blend are available for purchase too. Currently I have blue eyes and brown eyes in stock, and faces with green eyes will be available before the end of the month. Unlike the Ooshkas, these faces don't have hair, so you get to choose the colour and pattern of her hair from your fabric stash.

To celebrate Roxy Longsocks' arrival you can buy the Pattern Kit for 20% off from my online shop for the next week only. Just put in the code "Roxy20" to receive the discount. Offer ends Friday 18th November.

The Pattern Kit should also be available in select fabric quilting shops in Australia and New Zealand early next year.

I had so much fun designing and creating this doll and I'm so happy with her. I have to say a big thank you to Amy of Badskirt fame who has been so awesome helping me behind the scenes not only with Roxy Longsocks, but also with another much more complicated new product that I'm really excited about. It should be ready to show you early in the new year. And also to Marina of Wink Designs who has been pattern testing for me. Thanks lovelies!

Roxy's not on my website yet, but she's definitely in the shop. If you have any Christmas presents to make I know that little girls love Roxy Longsocks and you can't beat handmade!
.

Read more...

52 Suburbs Around the World

Two years ago I blogged about Louise Hawson's project to document 52 suburbs of Sydney over a year. Following the highly successful project, blog and exhibition Louise is now hoping to expand her horizons and go global.

To help Louise reach her goal and continue her photographic journey to discover and capture the beauty, character and 'unfamous' aspects of well known cities she has set up a kickstarter page. Louise is so close to her fundraising goal, and with only 4 days to go she just needs a bit more of a nudge along. If you can pledge even as little as $10 head over to kickstarter, or blog, tweet or Facebook and get the word out for her.

Edit Thursday 10th: I just checked in at kickstarter and Louise has reached her goal! Weeee!

.

Read more...

An apology. An explanation. New things.

So you may have noticed that it's been a bit quiet here over the past month or so. The dust has accumulated and the cobwebs have appeared. I'm sorry to just up and leave like that. Things have been tricky on the personal front and I haven't had the time or the inclination to be here.

Our house went on the market this week and I've been busy preparing for that (with a very short lead time), as well as being distracted with personal things that needed my attention and energy. I'm very sad to be leaving our lovely home, but I do always welcome change and I'm looking forward to a new start, clearing out the house, as well as my head and emotions, and starting a new chapter in my life. Bring it on I say!

I've had a few new products in the works for some time, and I'm hoping to have one ready and in my shop this week, and another next week. The new pattern kits will make great Christmas gifts for crafty friends, and there's still time before Christmas day for you to get stuck in and get sewing them yourself.

Here's a little peek of one of the new pattern kits...

I hope you're still here reading and haven't given up on me. I know you understand that sometimes life gets in the way. I hope all is well in your world.

Lisa
x
.

Read more...

the red thread Christmas Craft Giveaway

Way back in April I designed some Christmas products for Spotlight and they've been on the shelves now for a month or so. (Thank you to everyone who emailed me telling me that you spotted them in store!)

The iron on motifs are so cute and they are great quality with thick embroidery and vibrant colours.

And 8 of those designs are available as 10 x 10 cm counted cross stitch kits.

The 'Stitch & Sew' kits contain printed fabric, embroidery thread and felt pieces to make an embroidered Christmas softie.

I haven't had a chance to make up any of these yet, but I'm very keen to get into the cross stitch kits, and Roxy wants some of the motifs ironed onto T shirts.

If you'd like to win some of these Christmas goodies, just leave a comment on this post. I'll give away 2 prizes: each winner can choose 2 different cross stitch kits plus 4 different iron on motifs; or a Stitch & Sew kit plus 4 different iron on motifs. I'll post anywhere in the world. Just comment before this Friday 11th November. Easy! And go check out Spotlight stores around Australia if you want to get started on some of these cute Christmas projects.

Apologies for the dodgy un-styled photos!

.

Read more...