the red thread

LOVING :: Daiso

29 March 2012

If you've been to Japan you would have been to a Daiso store. They are all over the place and everything in the shop is 100 Yen, which last time I visited was about AUS$1. Daiso stores are brimming with japanese kawaii and zakka that you just can't walk away from.

Did you know that there is a Daiso in Sydney (Chatswood) and there are 2 in Melbourne, soon be joined by one in the Melbourne CBD? With the school holidays starting in just over a week I am already being nagged about how many times we will visit Daiso. Last school holidays we seemed to be there about twice a week.

Everything in the Sydney store is priced at $2.80 and Roxy and I agree on how many things she can buy before we enter. Usually I buy her two items, but she often takes her pocket money too. The shop is big and the shelves are jammed with stock that is constantly changing. Even with 2 visits a week we found lots of new things each time.

Cute overload! Little plastic containers, purses, stationery, notebooks, drawstring bags.

A little book of what Roxy calls "tickets", lovely fabric tape, the cutest packets of tissues you'll ever see, and a fab on trend fluro stripy bag.

Of course Roxy always adds to her origami paper stash.

How cute are these little jars with polka dot lids?! They would be great to put little gifts in.

Apart from the obvious cute things, I've bought everything from cooking utensils (they have great kitchen scissors), to cosmetic purses, to storage boxes, to a toilet brush at Daiso... $2.80 each, I'm not kidding!

It's a fun and inexpensive way to spend an afternoon in the school holidays. There's also a great sushi train in the same shopping centre that has a fixed price for all plates. See you there!
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Lazy Sunday Afternoon

25 March 2012

Sydney turned on perfect autumnal weather this weekend. We had gorgeous clear blue skies and warm days with a hint of a chill in the wind. After a busy weekend, this afternoon Roxy and I settled in on our verandah with lots of comfy cushions under a big fluffy throw and had some quiet reading time. Perfect. How was your weekend?

Loving :: Inky Co

Inky Co is an eco friendly stationery and gift wrapping store which was recently launched by Melbourne-based mum and daughter team Carolyn and Chloe - both graphic designers.

The Inky Co philosophy is "to design and manufacture in Melbourne using a combination of age old production techniques, like letterpress and flexographic printing, with environmentally friendly materials to produce beautiful Australian made products".

Aren't these gift wraps and notebooks gorgeous.

They also have a great range of belly bands. I particularly love these large dots on kraft paper... I'm thinking of Christmas already!

All images: Inky Co

Check out Inky Co's online shop for these and lots of other goodies including ribbons, tags and stickers.
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Featured :: Homespun Magazine

19 March 2012

Meet Frankie, a cuddle cushion pattern/project that I created for Homespun magazine.

I had a lot of fun designing Frankie and choosing the fabrics (isn't that always the best bit?). With magazine deadlines what they are, I made him 6 months ago and Frankie appeared in last month's issue. And with my recent absence from the blog I'm only just getting around to showing you... when the magazine has probably already disappeared from the news stands. Although if you're really keen on making Frankie and other fun sewing projects back issues are available.
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abcd sydney saturday soirée

Are you a design, art or craft blogger? Have you been to one of our abcd Sydney get togethers yet?

Steph Bond Hutkin of Bondville and I have been busy hatching a plan for a new look event... a Saturday Soirée! We're moving out of the moodily-lit cosy cocoon we usually meet at in the evenings and into a lovely bright airy atrium on a Saturday afternoon. We are hoping to catch a last stray day of summer, or one of those glorious blue sky autumn days that Sydney is so good at, so we can all sparkle and shine and chat and hang.

abcd stands for artists + bloggers + crafters + designers, so if you blog about any of those topics - your creations or other people's - we'd love you to come! We are a friendly group of (usually all) women and it's a relaxed event where you can grab a glass of something sparkly or a nice cuppa and enjoy the company of like minded creatives.

Would you like to join us?

Saturday 14th April
2pm - 5pm
Ruby L'otel
Back bar (Atrium)
68 Victoria Road
Rozelle
Map and details of parking

We have exclusive use of the Atrium area from 2 til 5, but there's nothing stopping us from staying on. There is a great snack menu available all afternoon, plus dinner of course if you'd like to linger longer. As well as the pub's bar there's coffee and tea available... and cocktails. Pat and Stick's Homemade Ice Cream Co. are generously giving us some of their 'world famous' and delicious ice cream sandwiches and Alison of Alison Lawson Cakes is making a delish confection for us. Steph and I are styling up the venue and Milk and Honey Photography will be snapping us all at our social best. We are hoping we might be able to convince everyone to wear white, pastels or sparkles - or all of them together - to make our Soirée super style-y. What do you think? Are you in?

As always, abcd goodie bags will be part of our Saturday Soirée. The goodie bags are wildly popular and are available to everyone who contributes to them. If you're unfamiliar with our goodie bags your contribution is something for others remember you by. It's more than just a business card... maybe a sample of something you make, or a little something you whipped up especially, a sweet treat... a little memento. Prior to the event we need to know goodie bag numbers so if you'd like to participate let us know when you register.

If you'd like to join us for our abcd Saturday Soirée - come on, it's going to be fun! - we need to know by Monday 9th April so mark your diary now and register by commenting on the post below. You must register in order to attend, and don't forget to tell us if you'll be adding to (and receiving) a goodie bag. We'll email all the goodie baggers on Tuesday 10th so you'll know how many items you'll need to contribute. It's usually around 30.

If you have any questions about anything, or are just feeling a bit shy and need reassurance, please email me! If you do Facebook (and you know I don't) you can find abcd there too, thanks to Steph.

Steph and I are very excited and are already wondering what we can plan next to go one better! We hope you see you on 14th.
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