Thursday, December 24, 2009

hello...


...just popping in to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy and safe holiday season xx

Monday, December 14, 2009

contact hot toffee...



hello, just popping in to let you know how to contact me as it seems my web hosting company is having 'catastrophic issues' and I have not been able to access my website or email since Friday afternoon. Apparently it will not be fixed until Thursday or Friday! If you are waiting for a reply or would like to order something please accept my sincere apologies.

In the meantime here are hot toffee contact details:

email: hottoffee@ozemail.com.au

mobile: 0423 185 750

my etsy shop will be updated over the next few days

Saturday, December 12, 2009

puzzled?





...not sure what to buy your nephews and nieces? Mr Frog's Toybox has a gorgeous selection of Djeco puzzles, tin toys and art supplies!

Bardon Christmas Market TODAY - Bardon Hall 246b Simpsons Rd, Bardon 9am - 1pm

Friday, December 11, 2009

twilight markets at portside wharf..


I'm heading here now..hope to see you there!

Monday, December 7, 2009

busy but good...



my only purchase on the weekend - bought from this amazing textile designer. I also had my eye on this the whole day - so tempting!




a sweet gift from this lovely lady..



lovely note accompanying the above earrings from Curly Jo..




gorgeous sunflower field on our way to get our weekly vegies






the winner of my little giveaway...



The silly season is quite silly indeed! I've been working seven days a week and my stock answer when people ask me how I am these days is 'busy but GOOD'. The brisStyle market was fantastic I just wish I had a helper on the day so I could have seen all the amazing talent there. The Young Designers Market was yesterday and the sweetest, sweetest lady came up to me and said 'I've just been sitting in the restaurant across the road and could see you are struggling with the heat so I asked them for some water for you' and with that she handed me a large milkshake cup full of icy water! This very thoughtful gesture brought tears to my eyes - it really is the people you meet in life that make it so special ...not only the people you know and love but the people we all walk past everyday or have brief encounters with. Later in the day I walked over to the restaurant for another drink and the waitress said proudly with a smile 'that was my mum who gave you the water' and of course I replied with 'ohhh she was so sweet' and the waitress said again with a proud smile 'I know and she's mine'.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

oops..


This market is 12th December NOT tomorrow (Dec 6th as incorrectly mentioned in my previous post)

Friday, December 4, 2009

buying handmade this Christmas?

jewellery pouch






lolly studs


Tomorrow (Saturday 5th Dec) I will be setting up shop at one of the best markets I've ever been part of both has a stall holder and a customer. It's the brisStyle Indie Designers market at St Augustine's Church Hall & Grounds, Racecourse Rd, Hamilton. 9am - 4pm! There will be live music, coffee, cupcakes and the most amazing line up of local talent. This is the best place to start your Christmas shopping! If you are busy tomorrow then head to the Young Designers Market in Little Stanley St at Southbank on Sunday from 10am - 4pm for more local designers and artists. What a great weekend for shopping in Brisbane!



If you are in Sydney and want to buy handmade this Christmas head to the finders keepers markets at CarriageWorks.


In Melbourne? Head to market 3031 on Sunday between 10 am - 4pm.
corner Macauley Rd & Bellair St, Kensington.

Have a lovely weekend!


Don't forget to enter my little giveaway here.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

today..


I will be at the Bardon Christmas Market again. Come and say hello x
Bardon Hall 246b Simpsons Rd Bardon (behind the kindy) 9am - 1pm

Thursday, November 26, 2009

ichigo..

ichigo = strawberry in Japanese





sweet candles in old jars





using herbs..



part of my stash of Japanese magazines..





*this could be yours!!





Ryo knows how much I love Japanese magazines so last time he went home to Japan he returned with a bounty of my favourites! This one above I already had so I figure it's time to share with you! All you need to do is leave a comment telling me what you think is so special about Japanese aesthetics. I will put all names in a hat or box and pull one out. Then this magazine will be on it's way to the lucky winner*

Comment by Sunday 6th December. Please don't be shy!


* Please note within Australia only


Saturday, November 21, 2009

Bardon Christmas Market..


Today I will be at Bardon Hall 246b Simpsons Rd Bardon (behind the preschool) from 9am - 1pm. This is a small market with great products and worth a visit to begin your Christmas shopping. It's organised by Mr Frog's Toybox. Hope to see you there..

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

a nice surprise...


to see this photo of my hanafuda earrings here..

Saturday, November 14, 2009

it's been too long..

old paper boat made with Pa from his losing TAB tickets




wind chime earrings for here


earrings for an exhibition to raise money for the Women's Legal Service


it took me an hour to find this millefiori for a very special custom order




loving this subtle combo of cream and white..



on Ryo's desk..folded paper box to hold his pencil shavings..



flame tree?



Mr P enjoying chewing on one of the many branches he drags in from the garden!




markets...



markets...



and more markets!!


This little blog of mine has been very neglected of late! It seems the silly season has begun and hot toffee head quarters are in utter chaos. I'm still teaching 2 days a week and trying to fit making, getting orders out, markets and life in the remainder of the time - it's a bit crazy.

I always have my camera with me so often take pics of things I think I will share here but time escapes me...so I'll try and do a little update now. There is no rhyme or reason... really just wanted to say hello!

Saturday, October 31, 2009

love markets?


Brisbane is an exciting city to be in this weekend with the mathilda's market at Brisbane City Hall tomorrow from 9am - 1pm. Across the river at Southbank Young Designers Market is where hot toffee will be from 10 am - 4pm. Last but certainly not least and possibly the most exciting at the beautiful Old Museum the finders keepers markets are on for the first time in Brisbane. I've just come home from visiting and they are fantastic - such an amazing line up of talent! They are on until 9pm tonight and again tomorrow from 10 am - 5 pm. Now all you have to do is choose which one you'll visit or google Queensland Rail to start working out the best way to visit them all!!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

choose & WIN!


Limited edition tote bags will be available at the brisStyle Christmas market. Some of our members have designed totes and now it is time to decide which one will be featured on the bag. All you need to do is head here to view the final four and leave a comment on the brisStyle blog indicating your favourite design for a chance to win one of the totes!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

when I need to focus....


...I head to Craft Sanity and listen to Jennifer interview all kinds of crafty folk. I've listened to many of her podcasts several times. It's so interesting to listen to others talk about their inspirations. When I really need to get a lot of glass cut and ready for firing, listening to Craft Sanity podcasts is about the only thing that helps me get straight into it and then I can stay focused for hours and hours. I think it's because it's so comforting to hear others talk about the ups and downs of running a business that I don't even think about getting up and getting distracted by something else looming in my studio or home that needs to be done. How do you stay focused?

Saturday, October 17, 2009

reminder...


.... for the lucky peeps who live in Melbourne - Lyssy May is having an open studio today until 2pm. Drop in to score some fabric remnants, odds and ends from when Alyssa had her shop or treat yourself to one of Alyssa's gorgeous handbags!

Studio 1, Ironside Studios - 4 Chelmsford St, Kensington


... if you have time please visit The Sunshine Studio blog to read an interview I did recently and for the chance to win a pair of hot toffee studs!

Have a lovely weekend!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

interview and giveaway...

I was contacted recently by Lory of The Sunshine Studio and asked if I'd like to take part in the Hall of Fame feature on her blog - of course I said YES! So to read the interview head over here - there is a chance to win a pair of studs too - don't be shy - go enter!

Saturday, October 10, 2009

are you in Brisbane?



...then head over to Portside Wharf in Hamilton tomorrow Sunday 11th October for the Boutique Markets. We will be there along with some amazing local designers, artists and makers including Sandrine Marsh, Taybian, Peg and Kate, Cute as Buttons and We are messengers just to name a few.

8am - 1pm...come and say hi.

are you in Melbourne?


...then head over to the Lyssy May open studio now! Open until 2pm today (apologies for the late notice!) Alyssa has fabric remnants for sale, goodies from her shop days and of course her beautiful handbags and vintage wallpaper wallets!

Ironside Studios - 4 Chelmsford St, Kensington

If you can't make it today don't worry as Alyssa will be holding open studios for the next 2 Saturdays as well - yay! The perfect place to start Christmas shopping!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

new stockist...



I am so excited to announce that hot toffee is now available at cocoon in Launceston, Tasmania! I have had some really lovely conversations with owner Suzanne over the last couple of weeks. She is an avid supporter of handmade and is so passionate about stocking Australian designers - yay! A quick peek inside her gorgeous store through photographs already has me wanting to see more and checking flight prices to Tasmania...

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

a great find...




Remember my tin of possibilities? well I found these 2 stencils at our local market on the weekend - my eyes lit up when I saw them and I just had to make them mine. They are now on the wall alongside this.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

overdue...


It's been a busy few weeks (good but busy) out of blog land for hot toffee with 4 am rises, a new stockist (more about that very soon), school excursions, 2 migraines in one week (happened to fall in the last week of school), markets, visits to stockists, exhibition deadlines, coffee with friends, lovely family visits, afternoon strolls with my best mate - Pochi and unfortunately way way way too much time spent in the car.... !! This blog has been terribly neglected and as it's my first day back teaching tomorrow I'm going to do my best to do a quick catch up..in pictures...before I get too far behind!



secretly taken through dining room window - this scene (breakfast with my family on our deck) makes me extremely happy!




cuff links for here




Southbank Young Designers Market




my 'always happy' mate Pochi






see that caravan with the rainbow stripes?


I can imagine it in our yard as my little studio...crazy?






I just missed my favourite view from the car - but still very pretty ..yes?





There is a great interview with Michelle Gillies, owner of nook over on the finders keepers blog. I mentioned a while ago that nook was a new stockist for me and am so happy to see this lovely shop has been so well received by the Brisbane community. .. I can't wait to visit again to see the amazing products Michelle stocks and to see how the lettuce is progressing in the front garden (will take a photo next time)

Also a nice surprise to wake up to yesterday - a message saying 'your shop is lovely, I've featured your earrings on my blog today' here.