[little christmas cards I made for special people :: details here]
[presents are all wrapped :: details here]
I also think it is funny looking at old posts, check out this christmasy one from 2007. naw.
thanks for a super year kids.
[just a little illo, do you like?]
[my advent illustration contribution to the fabulous forth thread blog.]
with many bloggers winding down posting for the year, I thought now would be good time to get into those "save for a rainy day" posts. You know the ones, that you know would be awesome, if you could just find a spare second!
well I will be alone this christmas (just me and my boyfriend) and I am actually kind of excited by this. it will (hopefully) give me some time to catch up on real world mag and book reading, and when my addiction calls me back online, some blog reading (not the fast-scrol type of read either!) too.
here are some posts to get you started if you feel like your reader is looking a little empty (oh noes!).
+ really helpful post from Leeloo :: Web 2.0 for Indie Designer Businesses
+ pretty damn sweet tutorial, oh how my eyes have been opened! :: over at Poppytalk
+ *cough did somebody say NEET Reader {twin set} sale? :: go get your code!
+ oh the joys of being inspired :: gorgeous post over at Lovelorn Unicorn
+ is all this blog reading making you hungry? :: find cool places to eat
+ art art art :: inspiration and loveliness.
+ maybe you can start getting yourself organised for the EOFY (yuk!) :: DIY accounting
+ feel like dying from jealously? too much 'whimsy lovely' to handle :: pretty pink pictures
+ sharpen your product photography skills and retake all your shop photos?
+ D.E.C.O.R.A.T.E! (those images kill me).
+ I love this post, do you ever try and spend ages trying find a perfect handwriting font (for free *cough) when it might be easier to just actually handwrite it?
that should keep you going for, I don't know, ten minutes? I wonder if I will post again before Christmas?
x
I used to make these when I was a little kid. I think they are pretty sweet idea to recycle old mags, that we always seem to hoard and never seem to read. Perfect for christmas, or just for general display! I made one as apart of my christmas decorations and thought it would be nice to share. I hope you enjoy!
You will need ::
- two old magazines with a staple bound spine (not like a Frankie or Vogue with one of those thicker spines… plus, who would do that to a Frankie mag?)
- a stapler
- spray paint (optional)
Directions ::
1. Open the cover and take the top right corner of the first page.
2. Fold corner in a triangle shape, to align with the centre spine of the mag.
3. Take the outer edge of the fold, (where you made the crease) and fold in again like above (probably best to see picture).
4. “Turn the page”. Make sure you do press down and ensure that all folds are nice and sharp.
5. Fold the bottom corner up to align with the bottom of the magazine page (also best to see picture, and this step is optional, I wanted mine to have a flat base)
6. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat steps 2 to 5 for every single page of the mag. Yes. Every page. (A snack may help make this more fun).
7. Make sure you press down every so often to flatten the folds, otherwise it will be too puffy and thick.
8. When you get to the last page, fold the cover in, same technique, just opposite.
9. HALF WAY! Now get your next mag and repeat steps 2 to 8 until you have two identical half trees.
10. Staple the two front covers and the two back covers of the magazines together to create a full tree! (Sorry I don’t have a picture of this step.. sort of forgot. But that makes sense doesn’t it?)
And now you are done! If you like the natural look, you can keep it as is, or choose your favourite colour and give it a bit of a spray paint. Place it somewhere nice and admire your hard work! These are great for Christmas time, but can also look pretty sweet any time of year.
p.s. those cute little tee pees are a little gift from Amy Borrell, aren't they the cutest??
p.p.s. did you like this tutorial? would you like more tutorials? can you even understand my instructions??
p.p.p.s. "why the fudge are you reading the New England Journal of Medicine Renee??"
"oh, sorry, I work in a medical library. We always get so many spare copies, and the pile was getting too huge I had to do something about it". xoxox
this is especially the case when it comes to people like workmates or those people who are hard to buy for. you all know the type I am sure. they probably usually end up with a cheap bottle of wine or a box of Lindt chocolates. don't get be wrong, chocolate and wine is totally fine, but why not make it that little bit more "special", "fair" and little bit more heart felt.
[use me! click image or see below]
this year, I decided to make up some little guilt free treats goodie bags, filled with organic fair-trade chocolate and tea! I was so super pleased with how they turned out, but I am a bit silly and forgot to take a photo! I might make some more because I am sure I have missed someone.
anyway, I thought I would offer a FREE DOWNLOAD (woah!) for you guys to join in on the fair-trade guilt free heart felt chocolatey goodness. just click here to download the free PDF file, print them out, cut them out, wrap up some fair-trade chocolate, stick on the tag, and there you have a sweet lovely heartfelt gift (with an important message!).
Sadly, since I didn't take photos of my own, I will just have to shares some lovely images with you for some inspiration and motivation!
one, two
three, four
five, six
click here to download the free PDF file
and make your own fair-trade chocolate gift packs!
I think Australian's are finally starting to make their mark in the ol' blogging world. Here is a small handful of my favourite Aussie blogs. I think it really helps to keep things local with blog reading sometimes, because that way, if you see something you want to buy, it is not always so far out of reach.
ben zen :: erin art :: cake with giants :: draw! pilgrim :: ish and chi ::
made by maddy :: leeloo dog blog :: pia jane bijkerk :: the design files :: tiny happy ::
the happy home :: truth.be.told :: +handmade love+ :: reJenerate :: forth thread ::
Daydream Lily :: The Scribble Project :: the unbearable lightness of being hungry :: meet me at mikes :: hello sandwich ::
p.s. if you have an "aussie" blog and you are not here, maybe I haven't seen your blog before, so let me know about it! also, this is only a small handful. I might do another post like this soon, because I just love so so many. xoxo
[one :: two]
I am not really ready to
talk about this
yet. I will be.
And once all the
details are good
and ready, you will be
the first to know. Thank you
everyone for your support so far.
It has been amazing.
Anyway, last night I made the trip to my favourite little gallery, with my favourite little art lover friend to see the BEASTMAN, NUMSKULL, PHIBS & YOK exhibition. Despite it being the extreme opposite to the last show held there, and the fact that I was probably totally out of place in a vintage frilly dress with a crowd full of sk8er dudes, it was still totally awesome.
Plus, in typical groupie style, we got to chat with one of the artists, Yok, and I am sure you will agree with me in saying that is work is insanely good. When I see people with such an extensive, comprehensive range of drawings and painting, I feel so lazy and inadequate. But also very inspired.
[awesome artworks by Yok]
+++
Less than one month ago the space was filled with fairytales...
and now, insane multi-colour awesomeness.
(with enough fumes to make you drunk, no alcohol required).
Was fun to remiss about our show too. I still can't believe the buzz is still buzzing.
Check out the awesome
lovely wonderful Once Upon recap/debrief
by the gorgeous
sweet amazing Angela.
Have your tissues handy.
Nawww.
probably about time I did a little post featuring some of my creations. oh how showy of me! these are the four photograph prints that made up my little display at the finders keepers markets over the weekend. I had a big space of wall to fill, and in the end I had quite a few pieces on show. I would love to show you a picture of the whole thing, but I foolishly forgot to take one! James took one, with my silly face in it, so that might just have to do once I get it from him. Did you take one?
The day was a wonderful sucess, with Foreshore Dynamic "represent" and with my art on the walls a stone throw away. It was quite surreal actually. And I wasn't at all, at any point, at all, wishing I had my Leeloo hat on... (well maybe just a little. but it is ok, Foreshore Dynamic, you were fun too.)
If you are interested in one
of my photograph prints, just give me a yell.
Only $10 each.
What a nice little gift one might make!
So you can imagine how excited I was when I saw the Camilla Engman book for sale. I don't think I have ever clicked "add to cart" quick enough. Fingers crossed it arrives soon.
check out this gorgeous image from the Design*Sponge website. I know they say those vases on the left are from here, but does anyone know if anybody local (Australia) makes them?
every one of these outfits.
oh and maybe to look a bit like her too.
boo you expensive fashion.
I shall endeavour to create these looks vintagely
(and cheaperly).
xo
must go back to bed now
(also boo you to migraines)
[all images from Ruby // found via i love muffins]
