the end of May...

...means that it's time for The Little Market at Avid. Held in the courtyard behind the popular Avid Reader Bookshop at West End. This little market promises all kinds of lovely handmade goods, food + drinks and a cozy atmosphere. 5.30 - 8pm. 193 Boundary St, West End.

boutique markets at Portside Wharf

polaroid by jez s

I'm really excited to say the Boutique Markets (formerly known as the Designers Emporium) have found a new home at Portside Wharf in Hamilton. The markets will be held on the 2nd Sunday of each month beginning June 14. This market aims to promote and cultivate the talent of artists, designers, stylists, crafters and artisans. For more information head over to the Boutique Markets website or their new blog. Stall applications are still open so if you are interested visit the trade page for more information.

suki na mono x 7..

collecting + using Japanese plates and bowls...

enjoying a coffee on the deck at *Mia's..

finding little treasures..

sun showers...

sharing green tea with R on a Sunday afternoon...

painting... even looking at paint brushes makes me happy :)

an afternoon walk along the beach...

*Mia's = mia's gifts & coffee bar. 1 kesley street cooparoo

Thanks to Lyssy May, Peg & Kate and Taryn Newland for awarding me the Kreativ Blogger Award. I've been asked to share 7 of my favourite things (above) along with 7 of my favourite blogs (below).

caffeinated prints

Heart Fish

hey harriet

Little Mary Moo's Place
RE-read design
the bower bird stories

trinkets and roses

Meet Your Maker

I mentioned the 'Meet Your Maker' exhibition in my last post (which was far too long ago!) and thought I'd tell you a little more about it. It showcased furniture by Brisbane's makers and designers. Beautifully crafted, clean lines, gorgeous wood patterns and functional - I love it when all these things come together. Some of my favorite pieces were the 'Harvest Table' by Roy Schack along with his 'Samford Sideboard' - it feels like you are being told a little secret when you discover the removable panel at the back as it reveals the detail that goes into making the drawers!

The photo above is of 'BOTAN' by Fukutoshi Ueno - a piece of furniture I'd love in our home. Fukutoshi also collaborated with Hiroaki Eba to design the 'MORI' stool which was inspired by the children's book 'The Giving Tree'. Both the 'Botan' and 'Mori' stool can be seen at Hanasho - 5/235 Boundary St, West End.

still here...

Last week was quite busy for me, teaching & planning lessons, sourcing supplies, visiting stockists, popping into the Stitches & Craft Show and attending the opening of this amazing exhibition. Add at least 3 hrs driving each day to all that and it will be pretty clear why my blog has been neglected ; { BUT, I'm here now and will try my best to catch up over the next few days...

one of the giant crafts on show

Ok, the Stitches & Craft Show!!! Wow - It has recently been taken over by Living Creatively and they have put a fun new twist on the original show. This was crafters paradise - with work stations where you could learn a new skill, demonstrations & workshops, inspirational talks, and the popular reconstruction zone where you could choose from op shop finds, patches of fabric and make them into something entirely different. New to the show was also the Incubator section which showcased the best of Australian contemporary craft and design from emerging crafters and designers. The talented Thea of Thea & Sami was also there, along with many more creative souls. I'm proud to say that the following BrisStyle members were amongst them and their goodies and displays looked awesome!

Helen from Ruby Red Studios

Christina from Little Diva Craft

Olivia from Scampsville

Trish from Trishalan Designs

Louise from made by miffy

Well done ladies!

irish damask linen hand towel. reclaimed into pillowcase

Amongst all the talent was my absolute favourite - old yarns. reclaimed linens, Kristina uses antique linens, reclaimed damask & hemp to make simple new pieces like pillowcases and tablecloths. She mentioned she tries not to do too much to the original pieces as she likes them to tell their stories through their threads and imperfections. Simply beautiful!

japan files..

amazing sky - photo taken from car window

fun with lolly rounds...

....large lolly rounds.

These studs are a custom order and I'm really happy with how they turned out - they are so FUN! They are 2cm in diameter and to show you how much bigger they are compared to my regular studs I've taken a photo of the two side by side..

The Little Market at Avid...

is on this Friday...

This is a lovely little market showcasing hand crafted goods.

It's held in the courtyard at Avid Reader book shop, West End.

japan files...

Traditional juggling balls made by a friend's mother out of antique kimono pieces..

no I don't juggle with these, I treasure them.

on my wish list....

These amazing bowls and plates were handmade by Jill Rosenwald. I came across Jill's work a few weeks ago when she was a Featured Seller on etsy. The colours are what first attracted me and I've been thinking about her work ever since... such beautiful colours, designs and forms.