Affordable Wall Art

Now that the Design Files post is up I'll show you some more corners of my home over the next few weeks. One of the things that I enjoy doing is utilising inexpensive and unexpected things as "art". It's fantastic to have wonderful art on your walls but often you need a more affordable alternative.

Two of the things I have around my home pretending to be art are tea towels and vintage board games.

The tea towel above is from Able & Game. I love it so much. I glued a narrow piece of white cardboard to the top edge at the back of the tea towel and when it was dry I simply added Blu-Tac to attach it to the wall. A couple of small pieces of Blu-Tac hold the bottom corners in place.

Below is a typographic tea towel from Yardage Design. The great thing is that if you get sick of them as art you can always use the tea towels in your kitchen.

Vintage board games also make fun and graphic artworks. I picked up both the Bingo and Video Village games at markets for a couple of dollars each. You can also find them on eBay and Etsy, but usually for a higher price. I always keep my eyes open at garage sales, fetes, markets etc for vintage ephemera. You never know what you might find.

There are so many designers printing lovely things on tea towels these days. These examples by Leah Duncan would look gorgeous in any room.

 I'll follow up with a second instalment of ideas for affordable wall art next week.
.
.

Read more...

One of those days...

It's almost 4 o'clock, I've been awake since 6am and I feel like I have done nothing today. Here's how it went:

Wake up and hang out with Roxy, have breakfast, etc.
Check emails and browse a few blogs.
Put some washing on.
Unpack the dishwasher.
Get Roxy in the bath and help her wash her hair.
Have a shower and get dressed.
Get Roxy organised ready to be picked up for a day out.
Think about all I will accomplish today and write a list.
Tidy up. Change the bed sheets.
Do some paper craft with Roxy.
See Roxy off.
It's 11.00. Now... some work!
Make a few phone calls and go online to order a few office supplies.
Hang the washing out and put another load on.
Put the kettle on.
Answer the phone and talk to a friend... for 45 minutes!
Pay some bills.

Heat up some homemade soup and put some toast on for lunch.

Look at my Google Reader and browse a few more blogs.

Eat lunch while browsing the internet.

Boil the kettle again, and this time make a cup of tea.
Take my cutting mat out to the dining table to cut some Sweeties fabric so I can fill some orders. (I do usually have stock cut and packed and ready to go, but I've run out and need to restock at the moment)
On the way I pass the laundry and realise I have more washing to hang out.

Hang out the washing.

Answer some emails. (sorry if you're waiting on a response from me... I have a backlog!)
Tip out the cold tea.
Realise it's 4 o'clock and I have to get to the Post Office and haven't cut the fabric or packed the orders.
Check my list and see that I have only crossed off 2 things!
Write a blog post about it.

Edit: Oh and I did also spend a sizeable chunk of time on the phone sorting out my car insurance, rego, and a few other things as I've just sold a car and bought another one.

Do you have days like this too? I have good intentions and even write times next to my list items, but when it's a beautiful day in winter I need to get the washing out, when a friend calls who I haven't spoken to in ages I don't feel like I can cut them off, and I tend to get a bit distracted by my computer... Then it gets to 4pm and I stress about losing the day.

Have a great weekend. I hope to have a more productive one!

x
Lisa
.
.

Read more...

abcd winter wrap up

Last Thursday we held our abcd winter event and it was a great night as aways. We had our best turn out yet, with 36 of us (35 women and one brave guy!) enjoying a chat over drinks and some great pub food. As usual Steph from Bondville did an awesome job as co-host and co-organiser. Amongst other things Steph handles the mailing list and facebook and is a natural born mingler!

At the meet up we have goodie bags, which are optional and lots of fun. It's not all about the goodie bags, but they are eagerly anticipated! The idea is that people can contribute something to the bags for others to remember them by. There was some serious thought, creativity and generosity that went into the contents of the bags. This is what I found in mine (the captions are listed clockwise from top left):

Some of the beautifully packaged goodies.
Janette, My Sweet Prints

My goodie bag.
Sasha, Faint Impressions
Heather, Heather Keiko
Jessica, Oscar & Ruby

Pauline, Sophisticated Yum
Sally, Jambo Chameleon
Vesna, My Little Jedi

Amy, Badskirt.

Kirsten, Lilypad Designs
Tessa Down That Little Lane
Kamilla, Kareena and Fran, Ministry of Home Economics
Pauline The Party Studio

Anastasia, Anastasia Drawing & Dreaming
Helen, Helen Edwards
Ditty, Ditmeister
Suzanna, Mon Tresor

Kate, Another Donkey Design
Fiona, Fiona Kate
Anni, Milk & Honey Photography
Siobhan, Beaspoke Quilts

Suzy, Floating World Design
Saffron, Saffron Craig
Steph, Wedding Ideas Australia and Bondville
Roberta and Peta, Rowantree Design

Kamilla, Little Originals
Bec, Honi Design

Thanks to everyone who came along and made the night the success that it was. In addition to those listed above, we also had the pleasure of the company of: Suzi (Urban Road), Sophie (Scoops Design), Ginevra (Ginevra), Kasia (Laikonik), Luz (Feltisimo), Emily (The Style Workshop), Steph (Moobear Designs),  Melissa (The Art of Teddy Bears), and Geoffrey.

If you live in (or can get to) Sydney and you think you'd like to join us next time join our mailing list to be notified of the details. This is a quarterly event, so it will be around the end of September.

.
.

Read more...

Time for a Giveaway

It's been a while since my last giveaway...  I love my new(ish) Oh My Deer! so much that I thought you might like the chance to win one. I have mine in my studio/office - they work in any room, but are a particularly lovely addition to a child's room. This is the large version (there's a smaller one too) - it stands 35 cm tall.

Just comment here telling me what you've been up to lately. Easy huh? I'll choose the winner of a large Oh My Deer! at random on Wednesday 13th and will post it anywhere.
.

Read more...

My Home on The Design Files

About a month ago I spent a lovely day with super sweet Lucy of The Design Files. Lucy was here to photograph my house and I'm excited to tell you that you can now see the photos of my somewhat eclectic decorating style here on Lucy's awesome blog. (when you click on that link be sure to scroll up because it seems to take you to the centre of the post) Hilariously Lucy makes a few references to the number of cushions I have... if you're a regular visitor here you'll know that it's no secret: I'm into cushions.

Thanks Lucy!

Image: The Design Files
.
.

Read more...

Smalltown

In the '70s my mum was a bit crazy for macrame. I think she attended a class or two and next thing we knew we had macrame pot plant hangers, macrame jewellery and other assorted craftiness in our home. Mum was really into it. So it's with a great sense of nostalgia that I put together this post about Smalltown.

Melbourne-based Sarah creates stunning macrame planters, lights and commissioned installations. They feel really fresh and contemporary -  I particularly love the way they puddle on the floor - and they have made me rethink macrame. Would I dare to make myself some lovely white hanging planters? Yes. I think I would. Do you love them too?

Read more...

Inspiration :: Modern Fiber Lab

Felted wool wall sculpture.

600 individual balls.
Hand wet felted.
Embellished with merino wool.

Breathtaking.

Modern Fiber Lab on Etsy.

.

Read more...