The Market

I'll be having a stall at the market. this Sunday July 5th.


It looks like another fabulous line-up of artists and designers which is all very exciting.
If you're a local, I'd love to see you there. If you have any friends who you think may be keen you can invite them via the Facebook event.

Necklaces, Hairclips, Earrings and Rings

I've made lots of new items for the next market. A few old favourites along with a couple of new designs.

Go Green Treasury

I just found one of my bracelets in this great treasury curated by Lush Punk.

Katzenjammer

I think I've just discovered my new favourite chick band. I don't normally pay much attention to the 'related videos' column on YouTube but procrastination got the better of me tonight and I'm glad I clicked.
Must get their cds...

This week at Under the Shade of a Bonsai Tree:

Reading: Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris, Frankie mag
Listening to: Faith No More

Doing: Cleaning and recovering from the birthday festivities, psyching myself to finish off all the jewellery pieces for the market next weekend.

Cooking: Racing cars and tea cups and a big blue castle


Looking Forward to: my friend Clair's visit. (She lives in Scotland)

Buying: A felt bonsai tree

Drumroll Please!

And the winner of the US$25 Under the Shade of a Bonsai Tree gift voucher is:

Carrie from Couture Carrie!
I wonder what she will purchase...

Thanks very much to Christina from Down and Out Chic for hosting the giveaway. It was really heart warming to see so many responses and lovely compliments about my work.

Wishlist Wednesday

I've hearted so many cute baby things on Etsy but unfortunately my friends have slowed down in the procreating arena for the time being and I'm certainly not having any more.
Aren't these gorgeous?

Organic Baby Boots by infusion

Ramona by beecah

Birdie - Designer Baby Cuddles Blankie by little poppett

Roberta the Retro Plush Vintage Cheneille Elephant by Leahkl

I love Sarah Blasko. And I love her new song and new clip.

A Weekend of Birthday Celebrations

Yesterday we had a party for Liam's 6th birthday. Lot of party food, games and a house full of 10 boisterous boys! They had a wonderful time though and the clean up was surprisingly not so intense. I made a spooky castle cake which didn't quite turn out as well as expected! Still, the boys seemed to like it.



Today is my birthday. I had a bit of a sleep in which is a real treat. Had a delicious birthday carrot and pecan cake which my husband baked. Lots of phone calls (local, interstate, England and 3 from Germany!) Received some amazing gifts: clothes, book, Lush bath bombs, earrings, flowers, bag (pictured).



And best of all tickets to see Tori Amos in Amsterdam! Wheeee! So excited about that!

Giveaway!

I'm currently being featured on the Down and Out Chic blog. There is a chance to win a $25 voucher for my store!

Christina has a great blog which is really worth checking out.

This week at Under the Shade of a Bonsai Tree:

Reading: Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris

Listening to: So Frenchy So Chic

Doing: Preparing for Liam's 6th birthday party which is on Saturday

Watching: Der Baader Meinhof Komplex

Cooking: 30 cupcakes for Liam to take into school on his birthday

Looking Forward to: my birthday

Buying: 3 prints by matouenpeluche (I haven't received them yet but am impatiently awaiting!)

Wishlist Wednesday

Vintage Goodness

Mary Tyler Moore Daytime Vintage Patchwork Scarf

t w e e t CANISTER

Silk Green Polka Dot Scarf

one mushroom at a time, please tea towel

This clip is so enchanting and beautiful.

A - Z On My Browser

I came across this on Heidi and Seek's blog

"So what you have to do is type each letter of the alphabet one by one into the URL line of your browser. This will bring up your most visited site of this letter, or the letter being used within the address. Use the first site that comes up, or the second if you have privacy/security issues. It's like a little outline of your favourite web sites!"

A: All Consuming A site for tracking books, movies, music that you are 'consuming'
B: The Beach Market Blog A nice new art/craft market in Blackmans Bay
C: Craftopolis Useful site for checking if you are in an Etsy treasury or gift guide
D: Dust - the site of my Aussie Etsy Team
E: Etsy - my store
F: Facebook - my store page
G: Google Analytics - to check how people are finding my Etsy store
H: Heartomatic To check how many hearts my store is getting
I: I Test For Coles - (I'm a Coles 'tester' and this is where I go to fill out quizes etc)
J: Jo in Blunderland blog - My friends blog
K: Kim Wilkin's website - fantastic author
L: Luke Conroy's Red Bubble Page - my brothers photos
M: Meet Me at Mikes blog - Melbourne based blogger - lots of fabulous craft/vintage/music/food inspiraton
N: Nicola Cerini - Bags, homewares designer

O: Oxfam Shop - fair trade gifts, tea/coffee/chocolate
P: Phantasmaphile Fabulous blog for contemporary art lovers
Q: Qantas home page
R: Republic Bar - Great pub/live music venue in Hobart
S: Shutterfly - where I get photos and photo gifts printed
T: a photo on Flickr of a 'tattoo' I'm contemplating
U: Under the Shade of a Bonsai Tree blog (and here we are!)
V: Vegetarian Tacos - my prize-winning recipe on taste.com.au
W: Win Stuff - on the Frankie webpage
X: XE - currency converter
Y: Yen Mag
Z: Zando - a friend's Etsy store which I now see is empty.

This week at Under the Shade of a Bonsai Tree:

Reading: The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

Listening to: Sigur Ros, Fleet Foxes and a mixed cd my friend Brad gave me on the weekend

Doing: Beginning the creation process - lots of new jewellery evolving - ready for 'the market' on July 5th.

Watching: Twin Peaks

Looking Forward to: my birthday

Buying: this great cushion cover by BitsOHoneyDesigns

Prized Goods

I was the lucky winner of this fabulous bag which was a giveaway on the Liesl Made blog.
I received it today and was thrilled with it's surprise contents: 4 x coasters made with the same lovely fabric and also some beads, buttons, fabric and stickers. Liesel has a wonderfully inspiring blog and her Etsy store is chock full of her gorgeous wares.

Thanks Liesl! You've made my day :o)

Photo is of Liesl and bag before it made it's long trip down to Tasmania!

Wishlist Wednesday

I am in love with so much artwork which I'd someday love to decorate my home with.

Lovely Rita by matouenpeluche

Teatime on the Lake by IceKubi


Blue Period by Stephanie Levy


Lady Butterfly of the Hope by munieca

My Melbourne ME Weekend

Friday night:

Dinner at an Indian restaurant with my uncle and his partner

Saturday:

Visit to my grandmother
Delicious lunch with Jodie at Gluttony in Smith St
Browse through the Lost & Found Market
April's place
The Rose St Market with April
San Churro - coffee and churros
Browsing in Bunswick St shops
Finally meeting and hanging out with Jo: bubbly at her place, meeting her gorgeous family, dinner at the Toff in Town (such a funky place for dinner), Holly Throsby show (very chilled, nice songs but a bit too sedate!), cocktails, bars in High St, Northcote


Sunday:

Hangover
Portugese Festival
Juices in one of the hip laneways
Met up with some family in St Kilda
Bought a bag at the St Kilda market - the same one I'd bee indecisive about at the Rose St Market
Watching Luke and Erica scare themselves on a ride at Luna Park
San Churro again (but a different location!)
Good shopping at Iska
Dinner with Brad and Yuki at Shakahari in Carlton

Monday:

Visit to Grandmothers place again and then :sniff: home.

I've Been Tagged.

THE RULES:

1. Mention the name of the person who tagged you.
2. Complete the lists of 8 Things.
3. Tag 8 bloggers of your choice by listing
their links in your blog.
4. Let them know that they have been tagged!

I was tagged byPaula from PickalaPoopa

8 Things I'm looking forward to:

1. Our European trip in August
2. My birthday in a couple of weeks
3. Liam's birthday next week
4. Next market stall
5. My friend in Scotland coming to stay next month
6. Regina Spektor's next cd
7. Some good mail which is on it's way to me
8. Creating new jewellery

8 Things I did yesterday:

1. Went to the Portugese Festival in Melbourne
2. Recovered from a hangover
3. Had a delicious fresh juice at a cool grungy cafe
4. Had churros and chocolate dipping sauce
5. Watched Luke and Erica scaring themselves on a ride at Luna Park
6. Received a mixed cd from Brad
7. Successful shopping in Ackland St and at the St Kilda Market
8. Dinner with Brad and Yuki at one of my favourite restaurants - Shakahari

8 Things I wish I could do:

1. Have a successful jewellery business
2. Travel more often
3. Be more fun, witty and fabulous
4. Earn more money
5. Be fluent in more languages
6. Be musical
7. Have more time for me
8. Be happier

8 Shows I watch

1. Chasers
2. Twin Peaks
3. Lost
4. Heroes
5. Good News Week
6. Spicks and Specks
7. Kath and Kim
8. Summer Heights High

8 Bloggers That I Tagged

1. PoppyLane
2. Anastasia Drawing and Dreaming
3. Little Snoring
4. MoonMum
5. Zoe
6. Natalia
7. Tree Fern
8. Lyptis

This week at Under the Shade of a Bonsai Tree:

Reading: The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

Listening to: Holly Throsby (in anticipation for her gig in Melbourne on the Saturday)

Doing: Winning a wonderful competition, coordinating plans for the Melbourne trip, getting over the lurgy.

Watching: Chasers

Cooking: Butterscotch Almond Cake (in the oven baking as I type)

Looking Forward to: Melbourne 'ME' weekend

Buying: this beautiful print by myfolklover, 3 opshop cardigans

Wishlist Wednesday

"Imagine life in peace" ring by artisanlook

"Moonlight Garden" dress by idea2lifestyle

"Lava Touch" by Jealousydesign

The Gretchen Bag by washmycloth