Pretty gifts from a blog friend

I was very lucky a few weeks ago to meet up with the lovely Pam from Petals and Vintage, who was in Hobart as part of her huge trip from Queensland, right down to the bottom of Tasmania and then home again.

 



We met up with Jane from Life on Planet Baby for a morning cuppa down on the waterfront in Hobart. It is so funny meeting someone you "know" but have never met. We all had a lovely time (and time just flew).



 

But just look at these beautiful goodies Pam gifted to me! A gorgeous lavender-filled mini cushion made from a vintage tablecloth, along with a couple of her pretty magnets. I love them all! Isn't she clever?

It was lovely to meet you Pam. Hopefully I can get up your way some day.

 

Well, it's drizzly here in Hobart this morning. The garden is thankful but to me, as much as we need the rain, it feels like the end of summer. Not happy about that!

I hope you are all having a nice week.

xx



Christmas call out for the Good Mail Club!

Christmas will be here before we know it so I thought I had better put out the call for the Christmas version of our Good Mail Club.

I don't know about you but I don't tend to send many Christmas cards. My parents do, but maybe email and phones have made me lazy. How about you?

So, if you missed it last time, what's the Good Mail Club? Register your interest by emailing me at sarah_b100(at)hotmail.com with your name and postal address and I will collate all information and send it out to the group. You will then send a Christmas card out to everyone on that list, then sit back and wait for some lovely mail in your letterbox.

So, are you in?

I will have to close this off this coming Sunday evening the 2nd of December so I can collate and email you all next Monday, giving us time to get this done before the Christmas crazy sets in :)

Looking forward to hearing from you!

xx

Edit: the Christmas swap has now closed but I will be back in Jan for a Valentines swap :)
 

(photo of holly from Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens taken by my friend Leonie)

Good Mail!

The Good Mail Club has been a lot of fun. In fact I think in the time I received these goodies above, I actually received less bills! SO that was good. A few doozy bills came in the mail yesterday though :(

How wonderful it has been to receive letters, postcards, a hand crocheted bookmark, tags and all sorts of bits and bobs. And a lot of fun to send them too!

A big thank you to those of you who sent me good mail!

Below are the envelopes I decorated for my penpals. I had such a fun time that all my energy went into it and then I didn't know what to put inside!

I think I have one more letter to receive, so that's exciting. 

 I am thinking a might do a Christmas exchange. I will be sure to post an invite in an upcoming post so you can join in if you wish.

xx

Planet Joy goodies

I have been so slow to blog about this, but wanted to so here I am.

Many of you will already know blogger Jane from Life on Planet Baby, and if so, will know Jane has recently opened an Etsy store, Planet Joy.

Jane has been such a lovely friend to me and I have been watching her get ready for the store opening. When I noticed she had finally pressed the "store open" button I jumped in and was the lucky first customer.

Look at the super pretty packaging!

I chose a pink Liberty fabric heart. Such pretty fabric. No wonder Jane loves working with it.

 I thought I might even pop it on the Christmas tree this year.

And look what I received for my birthday recently...

a lovely fabric wrapped letter 'S'.

Jane knows I love blue and white. A very thoughtful gift :)

I hope you pop over and say hi to Jane if you don't already know her.

Have a lovely week peeps. I must run - I have to get my crafty butt into action as yours truly has to get ready for a craft/design market in 4 weeks. Eeeekkkk!!!! Freaking out!!

I will tell all soon :)

xx

Good Mail Club invitation

Following the positive response to this post where I showed you the beautiful mail I received from fellow blogger Ally and the envelope I decorated to send back to her, I am inviting you to join in on the fun.

I'm establishing the Good Mail Club and invite you to join in.

SO, what does it mean?

Basically, you email me with your postal address to register your interest, I will collate a list and email it out to other interested ladies and then it's time to get those creative juices flowing.

A few notes:
- open to international penpals.
- I will give us 3 weeks to get our mail created and sent, so hopefully we will receive letters at around the same time.
- have fun, no stress, decorate an envelope any which way - draw, paint, stamp, stick!
- write a friendly note to your recipient - it doesn't matter if you don't know them.
- try to enclose something extra, a nice photo, a favourite recipe, a thoughtful quote, some pretty paper.
- when we receive them we can start sharing them on our blogs or instagram and the like.
- it's really important to keep everyone's identities private, so no passing on addresses or posting images showing surnames and addresses please :)
- if there's only a few of us I will send out all of our names to you, otherwise I will pick 6-8 out of a hat for each of us.
- you can join in once, twice, or however many times take your fancy.

If you have any other suggestions, please let me know!

So, are you in?

ps. do you have a better name than Good Mail Club??

Edit: we have closed this first group, but will do it again in a month or two x

Good mail + spinning plates

I was very excited recently to receive this so very beautiful mail in the post. I had been admiring the creations by Ally from the Everyday Miracles blog when she very kindly popped a letter in the post to me!

Don't those biscuit postcards bring back memories?  And look how well she recreated the biscuit on the envelope. I really was thrilled to receive it Ally, thank you :)

So, I got busy and spent some time last weekend sketching and painting up my own decorated envelope to send back to Ally. This is it! What do you think?

Above is the reverse (obviously). I absolutely, thoroughly enjoyed decorating the envelope and posting a few goodies to a new blog friend. I was then completely thrilled when Ally posted it on instagram and had a whole bunch of people like it too!

I'm thinking I'd like to do this more. Even create a little group of people where we could post to each other. What do you think? Is it something you'd be interested in? I'll think about it and get back to you.

And, because so many of you requested it, I dug out an old photo of me spinning plates. Excuse the very daggy look (think my hair was in a bun?). I don't have a video so hopefully this will suffice as proof. :)

After this photo was taken I managed to get six plates going at once. FYI, they are plates made specifically for spinning. For memory they have a lip and a slight indentation in the centre, so once you get a spin happening, they sit pretty happily on the stick. It was fun.

Hopefully I will get another post in before next Monday, but if not, I'm planning a Bits and bobs post on Monday, so hopefully a couple of you will join in.

xx

ps I'm joining in with Jane's

Blog love

 

The lovely Penny from Paisley Summer recently passed a blog award onto me. Thanks Penny :)

 

I have to answer 10 questions about myself and reveal 10 random facts, so here goes....

1. What's your favourite song?

I have many favourites but one I listened to recently was "Slide" by the GooGoo Dolls. I never get sick of that song.

2. What's your favourite dessert

I adore icecream - pretty much any flavour apart from chocolate. Which is odd, because I love chocolate.

3.What ticks me off?

Ignorant, rude, mean people. Those that hurt animals and don't care for fellow human beings. We can do without them.

4. When I'm upset what do I do? 

Cry. I don't get angry very often at all, but I am a very emotional person. I just can't help the waterworks.

5. What's your favourite pet?

I mean really???? Do I really need to tell you guys? My Molly of course!

6.Black or White?
I like both for different reasons. Clothing? I like both, white is fresh and black looks good with a splash of colour, or by itself if I am feeling uninspired (eg going to work). Interiors? White, definitely, but then a black wall can look very fetching.

 7. Biggest fear?

Losing those I love. Aren't we all a bit like that?

8. What is my attitude?

Generally pretty good. I try to be positive, but things do get me down. Sometimes I get frustrated by life, things not happening how I planned them or wished them to be. I am resistant to change and can get quite stubborn and stressed when situations change.

 9. What is perfection?

There is no such thing, or rather perhaps there is perfection in imperfection. Making no sense? A flower with a misshapen petal is still perfect to me.

10. What is my guilty pleasure?

Books and magazines. I just can't help myself and use the fact that I am an artist as an excuse to purchase books like they are going out of fashion, "but it's a tax deduction!".

 

10 Random Facts About Me (I will try to think of things I haven't told you before)

* I have an unexpected but reasonably natural talent for spinning plates like they do in the circus.

* I wanted to be an Egyptologist when I grew up. Mum and Dad said not to be silly.

* I have tried ballet, salsa and belly dancing and enjoyed them all, in fact did them for years.

* I adore receiving parcels in the mail. I almost prefer to shop online so I can receive a "pressie" for myself in the mail.

* Despite having long hair, I don't own a hairdryer. Weird I know, but I dry my hair with one of those run of the mill electric heaters or by the fire.

* I drink my tea white with one sugar.

* I wish I could give up sugar, but I just love it too much, brain shrinking or not :)

* Here, we go, this is embarrassing, I love watching "Days of Our Lives". There, I said it.

* I love water, love being near it, on it, but hate being in it.

* I have been a vegetarian for 25 years.

Now I think I'm supposed to pass this on. I have to say I find that the stressful bit! I'd love to pass it onto you all as basically I am a stickey beak and like learning more about you all. Hmmm, I'll think about it.
So, anything shock you? My love for dodgy daytime tv? I'd love to hear what you think :)
xx

Friday flower...orchid + a thank you

Firstly, thank you to those of you who left advice for my interior design dilemmas on my last post. I really appreciate each and every comment. There were some really great ideas in there which I will make use of. It's so great that you take the time to help me out.

Friday flowers this week is the beautiful orchid that I brought inside the other day.

I am just amazed at how well it is doing. Four flower spikes! It obviously enjoys being neglected.

I clearly must have my orchids sitting in just the right spot out in the backyard as they seem to thrive on virtually no attention. Of the other three that are still outside I think two of them are going to flower as well.

This one is sitting in the lounge room in a galvanised bucket on my old chest.

Oh thank goodness for Friday. It has been such a long week!

Of course much of it has been happily spent on my new computer. Lyndon is quite a fan of it too.

Another highlight of the week was reading this lovely post over at McCarthy Designs.

Nellie very kindly purchased some of my stationery off Etsy the other day and then super surprised me with a blog post about it! Bloggers are just so sweet!

Please pop over and check out her blog and lovely new store.

Shadows. I just love shadows. Ha, I think I just about drive Lyn mad with all my comments about the "beautiful light" and "look at the light on that" etc etc. I get quite excited by a nice spot of light.

Happy Friday buddies. Have a lovely weekend.

xx

Pretty cups + yummy cake

I was a very lucky winner in a recent giveaway over at A Room for Everyone.

For my prize I was allowed to choose any item from Rachael's newly opened store, Gidgi.

There were so many lovely things to choose from, but I settled on a pretty latte cup.

Isn't it gorgeous?

Being the sweet, generous person that she is, Rachael very generously sent me two cups to enjoy.

Very spoilt!

I have been going to photograph them for ages, but finally got my act together yesterday when I made myself a cuppa to enjoy with a piece of home baked Hummingbird Cake. Yum. It's positively healthy with all that fruit (or so I tell myself). I even used a bit of wholemeal flour to add a bit extra roughage :)

Lovely! I encourage you all to pop over and check out Rachael's store.

xx

Summer mantel

After the mammoth task of packing away the Christmas decorations I decided to freshen up the loungeroom with a bit of bright colour.

I love decorating the mantelpiece and try to create different looks each time I do it.

This time I have gone for a fresh blue, yellow and white theme with a collection of bottles, Mozi fruit tea lights and flowers from the garden. Loving the dahlias.

I'm also clearly still loving "the stick".

And of course some iceberg roses.

The garden is in between blooms at the moment so there's not a lot out. I love the yellow with the blues though. Must plant more dahlias :)
Well, did you guys have a lovely weekend? I have to say I did. After some pottering in the garden the lovely Kerry and her partner Richard came to visit. That means Kerry is now privy to all the dodgy, fallen down bits at Molly's Maison. We had a great time! On Sunday I went to the farmers market and came home with some lovely flowers, a plant and some fantastic French pastries. Boy, the pastries didn't last long. Lyndon was lucky I didn't eat his!
Have a great week bloggies. Looks like being a warm one here :)

xx

Friday flowers: a mixed bunch + bloggy friends

Oh my goodness, it looks like I might survive my first three days back at work!

I'm so glad it's Friday!

Bit of a mixed bunch this week. Above is the very beautiful Angel Face rose. Frilly and mauve, I just adore it. Adore it, I tell you! How beautiful against the old fence.

Now I know this isn't a flower, it's Friday Foliage :)

How lush does this manfern look? SO beautiful.

This pretty rose is called Jubilee Celebration. It's a David Austin and has the most beautiful colouring. I was really taken with this bunch as they were different to the usual blooms. More delicate with soft shading and a very obvious yellow stamen centre.

And to finish off with another bunch of bloomin' flowers, here we are at dinner Wednesday night...

You might have read that myself, Kerry and Jane had a little bloggy get together. We had so much fun!

The poor restaurant staff eventually kicked us out as they had to close, but not until we had our piccies taken.

Jane and I have been 'real life' friends as well as bloggy friends for a while now and it was the first time we both had met Kerry. What a lovely lady. We chatted for hours! Yay for bloggy catch-ups! So much fun!

Well, happy Friday to you all. Have a marvellous weekend.

Hugs, Sar xx

boutique market visit

Many of you will recognise these lovely goodies. They're made by Ness of Marley and Lockyer blog fame.

Look at that pretty tree.

I can't wait to get mine up soon.

Pretty clay tags...

It's always so lovely to meet another blogger. Ness had a stall at the Boutique Market in Hobart yesterday, so I popped on down for a look and to meet her.

Ness's stall was the prettiest by far, beautifully styled with so many lovely things.

After a nice chat with Ness I adopted some of her sweet tags for this year's Christmas tree.

Less than a week to go until my market debut. Are you sick of hearing about it yet? I think poor Lyndon is :)

Jane came around on the weekend and helped me out with some pricing and so on, so that was great. She's good at building confidence, something I severely lack. Thanks Jane :)

Have a great week lovely people

xx

thank yous and sad bits

I really wanted to say a big thank you to my bloggy friends who left me lovely birthday messages over the weekend. It really brightened my day. You are such a lovely bunch of people  :)

The day after my birthday, Mum, my sister Rachael and I made a quick dash to Smithton (NW Tasmania) to visit with my favourite relative, Great Auntie Ila. You see, she's almost 91 and rather poorly. Last Thursday no-one thought she'd make it through the night.

It was so good to see her, but at the same time I was deeply shocked at seeing her fade away. We all had a good laugh or two, as well as a good cry. I'm good at that. I hated saying goodbye as I doubt I'll get to see her again.

Geez life is hard sometimes :)

xx

ps the rose above is a bud I picked from my garden to take up for Ila. I've talked about this rose a few times on this blog. I first saw it in a bunch given to Ila a few years ago on her birthday. I discovered what it was and planted it in my garden. It is the most beautiful rose called Scentimental. It always reminds me of Ila.

Divine Twine + a nice weekend

I have a bit of a 'thing' for Divine Twine.

I have been using it as ties for the gift tags I've been making for my upcoming market stall.

One color just wasn't enough.

I admit I am using my gift tags as justification for acquiring more and more colours.

Don't they look lovely?

I've always been very partial to anything that coordinates well. In fact, you can be guaranteed that my undies and socks match whatever I'm wearing on the outside. I'm just not happy otherwise.

So many pretty colours!

Below, my collection of twine.

I've been busy in my studio making lots of goodies. It's been quite a productive and fun weekend.

Yesterday I caught up with Jane from Life at Planet Baby. We chatted non-stop for 3 hours! There's just so much to chat about. I had such a lovely time :)

I hope your weekend was fun too.

xx

ps. this is where my Divine Twine came from :)