No secret that i love old paper... be it books whose pages are yellowing at the edges, old sheet music that has been turned so often that it's softened in the corners, wallpaper in bright colours or whatever. The latest thing i've been using in my cards is an old dictionary i salvaged from the recycle yard.
These cute critters available over in the shop :)
I had the sun on my back this morning while sitting and sewing, stocking up for markets these coming weekends. Not much space left on the desk in between all the piles...
Lots of new colours and patterns in this bunch, including purple owls and some whales, which i haven't done for ages.
A very productive morning and i thoroughly believe that there is nothing better than soaking up some winter sun. Good for the soul.
The production line stopped for school holidays so i could spend some time with the kids but now this is the last full week of school holidays... My big kid is sooooo ready for the school year to be started already and my little girl is excited to be starting preschool. And i'm kinda itching to get back into a making mode too.
The first few orders have started to come in and the sewing machine is out!
I know that in these days of 'charity fatigue' we are constantly asked to donate our time and money to so many worthy causes everywhere we turn, and its hard to know where to direct our attention to make any difference at all. It does seem that we end up giving to a cause that we know personally or can relate to in some way... and this is the case for me and The Hamlin Fistula Relief and Aid Fund.
I first heard about the work of Dr. Catherine Hamlin at the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital when i was pregnant with my first child. Her organisation helps women in Ethiopia that suffer from a common complication during childbirth called fistula that leaves them physically injured, incontinent, often deeply depressed and socially outcast by their family and communities. And the baby is usually stillborn. This condition is preventable and treatable in developed countries.
I couldn't help but be struck by the stark contrast between my experience of pending motherhood and the experience of these women. So last year, when a lovely woman called Amanda contacted me to donate some items to a fundraising stall she was running for this very cause, i was more than willing to help out. She raised a wonderful $1000 for the fund last year and will be doing another stall this year.
When: Saturday November 6th from 9am to 1pm
Where: Warrandyte (Melbourne) at Stiggant's Reserve on the corner of Stiggant and Yarra Streets.
More info about the fund: http://www.hamlinfistula.org.au/
You'll find some of my little cards and a whole lot of other lovely bits and pieces to purchase. Isn't it a great reason to wander around a market on a lovely spring weekend?!?
If you'd like to donate to the stall or send through a donation, please email me via link on the top left and i'll pass on Amanda's details to you.
Is it just me or is the time between christmases getting shorter?
Christmas cards made and ready... a little bit of stitching, a little bit of sparkle and a doily. Can't go wrong!
Following my spring has sprung kinda post on Friday i've decided to do a wee giveaway... Up for grabs are two sets of my sweet little spring bird cards. Each set is made of five cards + five envelopes with my bird design in nice bright colours. Absolutely spring-ish! You could even pop them in some frames and make a sweet cluster on the wall.
Do note that these are the last two sets of the spring bird cards that i have left and they won't be made again. I have been holding on to them but no more! They're yours :)
I am going to make you work for them just a little though... please leave me a comment with your thoughts on what my next new design should be for my sewn paper cards or wall art pieces. Bear in mind that i use only simple shapes and i like to use buttons too. You can see what i'm currently doing by clicking on 'cards' and 'wall art' over on the right column ----> What else do you think would suit my collection? What's missing? What would you like to see added?
I'll be picking the two most lovely and perfectly suitable suggestions to send off a set of spring tweeters. We'll wrap it up on Wednesday evening ok? Go.
My child-free mornings are often spent at the sewing machine. And because i try to do my cards in larger quantities these days, the sewing can become a little monotonous, a nice chance to zone out and let my mind wander.
A few different designs came and went across the machine this morning...
Finally i have some mother birds in the shop...
Ended up with three colour ways. I can't decide on a favourite! I hope they make some mums smile this mother's day :)
