pulp

Eb gave me a mold and a couple of deckles to make my own recycled paper. Very exciting! It is a such an enjoyable process and i can see that the experimentation will be endless. Above is my very first sheet, still needing a final press and dry. Next time I have to make a lot more pulp. Before it had been couched, this piece looked like a vaguely rectangular portion of rolled out dog food, yummy.

save handmade toys

As you may have heard there are some new consumer safety laws about to come into effect in the U.S. Although the new act is a great step forward in improving the safety standards of children's products, in unfortunately isn't sympathetic to the handmade world as the new testing and labelling requirements are prohibitive for small crafters and artisans.

Please click on the button above or in my sidebar to see the information and ways to speak out.

At first I thought this wouldn't affect me as I live in another country, however this will impact anyone trying to sell handmade children's products, whether it be on etsy or through a brick and mortar store. So go save handmade toys.

christmas wrapping

Christmas wrapping this year consisted of brown paper, a calico reindeer, (boy or girl) speaking a festive message and some coloured embroidery thread.

pa rum pa pum pum

merry christmas.

off the conveyor belt part 1

over - enthusiastic. trying to make many things in one day.
much unpicking had to be done, a few items culled from the list.
I cover a new year diary every christmas for my ma, a couple of coin pouches to go with some girlie presents, and a personalised notebook for a friend who is about to go on an overseas camping trip.

more later.

making factory

Today I am going to be a Christmas gift-making factory... i hope to have something to show for it soon.

Happy Saturday everybody.

still with the presents

We have already had a few Christmas days this year, so it is safe to show off some of the presents we have been giving.
Mud handmade ceramics... I am considering stealing that milk jug back, I am head over heals for it... I do have a key to the giftee's house. (Little Rogue, I suggest getting your mother-in-law some of these).
Inspired by pigeon pair's version, I made the same lass a pencil-pocket based on this tutorial by House of Krom.

The book is Objects 2, street art and culture of East Europe. Eb has been predicting that some pretty phenomenal art is going to be emerging from Russia and their eastern European friends soon. Objects 3 book is out now also, but I am not sure how far it has made it out of Russia yet, I would like to have a peek at that too. (I wanted to give a plug to Redspective online store. I had trouble tracking the book down at their customer service was fantastic).

kinder-presents

Kid's presents are fun. All of the above have been gifted for xmas. I adored the colours and the softness of the softie by Blabla. Designed by a French lady and knitted by Peruvian artists. He made his way under a charity giving tree. I had to make a pencil case for someone who is off to preschool next year, and I couldn't resist the wooden monkey bowling set.

bag o tapestry yarn

I am not a needlepoint girl myself, but have bought a couple of tapestry canvases as a christmas present for someone who is. I did like coming home from the craft store with a paper bag full of colourful tapestry yarn. (No, I didn't wear my pyjamas shopping).

Apologies for being a bad blogger of late, but time has been disappearing. Hope to be back in the swing of posting and blog-hopping soon. How is everyone coping with the silly season?

the talent of friends

So much time spent on the beautiful details. Thank you miss m.

carwash and funny songs

What a treat, the car wash.
Now a treat for you, a couple of songs that make me laugh. I hope everyone is having a good weekend, but in case you need these to make you smile.

Crass Genius: Everytime by Butterfingers. (Caution adult content and language).
And click to play Fats Waller on this machine below.

rural colour

You'd expect a lot of browns, but there were a lot of blues.

Bris Loot

I was very lucky to be a winner of the BrisStyle giveaway. Above are my favourites goodies from the huge pack.

• Mini Painting by Hey Harriet.
• Billy the Little Jelly by Jellygnite. The lovely Ali has given me permission to donate him to Mirabel, he is just so adorable that I couldn't keep him to myself.
• Hairband and clip by EmBelIsh. I think I will use the one on the right as a giant paperclip, it rocks.
  

You can check-out the rest of my haul here. (I won pack #1).
I must say everything was impressively well made, so watch out for those Bris-kids, they are set to take over the handmade world.

Thank you!

birthdays = making

boxes and mooching

I have been admiring the stenciling on wooden wine boxes.

Bookworm alert! Go to BookMooch. Such a fantastic book exchange. First found via.

rubbish

So Hollywood want to remake Park Chan Wook's Oldboy.
I hope it is a joke. Anyone passionate about it can sign this petition.
Face it big H, you can't match Korea on this one.

the gift wrapping begins

Anyone else get as much pleasure from gift-wrapping as I do?

If I owned my own house I wouldn't mind if I woke up one morning to find any one of these painted on my walls.

pif and pencil case

Now that the recipientt has received it, I can reveal her pif gift.

• Handmade pencil case
• A copy of Dumbo Feather
• Paper to play with
• A vintage ET eraser

Happy weekend everyone.

calico house extension

Those calico houses were calling to be made into plush for my ma + pa.

drying wrapping paper

I was a one-woman production line printing wrapping paper on Saturday whilst certain birthday people were out of the house.

oh.

one for you, one for me

I love giving presents, and I purchased this print of Sandra Juto's triangle illustration for a friend. The bold coloured triangles contrasted with the spindly stems and the textured pencilled person really appeals.
It arrived today, with the copy that I just had to purchase for myself as well...
Dangers of giving?
Dangers of affordable art?

calico house

Birthday season continues. Eb and my mum share the same birthday soon, and my dad's birthday follows a few days after. Above are the cards I have made for my parents. They had said all they wanted for their birthdays was a new house. Thankfully they found and bought themselves a new house last weekend, so the calico ones I have on offer shouldn't disappoint.