Friday BrisStylin' ...

Last Friday night the kids and I set out after school to visit the Brisbane Square Library for the BrisStyle Indie Designers Exhibition and Website launch. 

We wandered around looking at all the beautiful handmade bits of awesome with the occasional exclamation of  'aww' or 'ohhhh' or 'oooooh' or 'can I have that please, can I have that pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease'.

Helen gave a great little speech about BrisStyle, and we ate little sandwiches and cupcakes and drank tea while we listened to some live music and checked out the funky library.

After the exhibit opening and launch the kids and I walked through the city down to Govinda's Krishna restaurant for dinner. I forgot how magical the city is to kids, especially at night.

(I couldn't resist this one - I love random graffiti)

The BrisStyle display is on Level 2 of the Library for two months in July and August this year. The exhibition will have a loosely interpreted kitsch/retro theme. 

BrisStyle Indie Designers Exhibition

Brisbane Square Library

Level 2, 266 George Street, 

Brisbane

July and August, 2010

Wednesday Blues ...

I've been feeling very nostalgic lately, that yearning for what was rather than living what is.

When the cuddles and kisses of my children are just sweet butterflies now they are asleep and I am here on my own ... my man is asleep and I am reminded in my solitary state (tinted with blue) of a time when I was alone ... or at least not living with my love.

image: we heart it

A time of flatmates who may have been relative strangers that fast become family, laundromats and rusted clapped out cars, a time of freezing winters watching fuzzy tv's huddled under blankets and summers spent on the lawn at night drinking wine straight out of the bottle.

image: we heart it

A time of music festivals and beer, small rooms in overcrowded houses, when walking was how you got places not exercise. A time of experimentation and no curfews ...

image: we heart it

A time when nights were bright and days were for sleeping, a job was what you had to do to pay for stuff, a time when making friends with strangers was easy, a time of finding strangers sleeping on your lounge room floor when you wake up in the morning.

 images: we heart it

A time when the most money you ever had on you was on it's way to someone else for rent or bills, food was frugally and sometimes fungally found in the fridge, and if you were really hungry you went and visited mum. A time when craft wasn't a hobby it was a legitimate gift and op shopping wasn't just  cool, it was necessary.

I loved those days of cheese, bread and chateau de cardboard ... and I'm glad I can visit in memories

but I wouldn't want to give up this

 image: kitty boo boo

BrisStyle Indie ECO Markets wrap ...

What a great day. Instead of having my own stall I was a part of the co-op stall and had a wee little table with all my newly created ECO items.

I purchased a new brooch from Rebecca at Edward and Lilly, a monster shirt for my boy and a wooden guitar magnet from Sam at Jetta's Nest, a gorgeous cuff from Nel at Feybles Nel, a beautiful hand dyed skein of silk thread from Trish at TrishAlan Designs and lastly as I had helped out Mel from Kimono Reincarnate she packed me a little takeaway bag full of gorgeous vintage Kimono fabrics.

It was a gorgeously warm mid winter day and my favourite part was when this lovely lady popped by. I asked her if I could take her photo and post it on my blog as her cardigan was to die for - red AND with flamingo's. *sigh* sure is hard to beat that.

 
I had a very yummy vegan hot dog and some really yummy coffee ... not a bad day at all for a birthday :)
 There's plenty more markets to catch me at this month ... just have a glance at the top right of the blog to see where!

Story Book Bunting ...

I have yet to go through my stock to see what is left after the BrisStyle Indie ECO Market but once I do so I will be listing some in my Etsy store, my MadeIt store and my Ethikl store.

They are all salvaged from old books which have been damaged and defaced.
They are a fantastic way for early readers to begin the process of the narrative whilst not confining them to the words. The kids are free to hang them in their rooms and make up stories that they feel are right for the images.

You can also play "Spotto" games with them too.

Wicked Wicked Wicked Child ...

On Sunday Kitty Boo Boo was out and about at South Bank Young Designers Market.
We had a great day with beautiful weather and awesome people! I'll blog about those markets a little later ...

One of my friends and favourite crafty people Teneale from Wicked Child Designs brought me round my custom Wicked Child - Bono. I had requested 'Old School' Bono though, from the 8o's ... and here he is at home chilling in his spiritual retreat ...

I love the little easel Teneale supplies with her wicked children.

Bono needs no introduction when moving in with the others ... K Rudd looks a bit out of his element with Robert Smith, Karen O and Bono. I'm looking forward to my next custom wicked child ... hmmm

Karen O

Journal cover from a pair of Jeans

It was my brothers birthday on Tuesday and after thinking about something he'd like I thought a journal for drawing and writing would be cool ... he likes to do both and is good too.
2 weeks ago my sister gave me some of her old clothes as I had requested some from my family for repurposing etc. After receiving 4 or 5 pairs of jeans I made my sister a wall hanger - but forgot to take pics so I'm waiting for her to! - and  with some of the leftovers decided to make a journal cover and pencil case for my bro ...

If you'd like me to post a tutorial leave a comment ... if there are enough requests I will.

Thanks for looking!

BrisStyle Indie Eco Markets ... reuse, repurpose, recycle

On Saturday July 10th (which also happens to be my birthday) BrisStyle will be having our first ever ECO market with special guest stall holders Reverse Garbage and sponsor Peppermint Magazine and foodie stallholder Hellhound (vegan) Hotdogs.

For these markets I wanted to really challenge myself.

I have always tried to utilise as much of my offcuts and scrap fabric pieces as much as possible, however in the last few months I have been saving more and more of my smaller pieces after making garments in the hope that I can utilise these and create something beautiful instead of more landfill.

I have been making baby bootees for a few years, and over the last year wrist cuffs for adults and kids from the larger pieces of remnants after making clothes.

 But to add to my hair accessories and use up all those little fiddly bits this is what I have managed to create so far from the strips of excess cut from the straps of my sundresses and braided together with silk petals and repurposed buttons ...

plus I am also making some beautiful wrist corsages and chokers ...

and also some wee gorgeous brooches ...

and still to finish and photograph are some bracelets and bangles from repurposed household cast-aways and some gorgeous dresses from Men's shirts ...

On the paper side of things I have been cleaning out the kids books (the damaged and sadly beyond repair) to make some bunting and cards ...

So that's a little taste of what I'll be bringing with me to the BrisStyle Indie Eco Market on Sat July 10th. I'll be in the communal co-op area with a table of my own so stop by to have a look and maybe buy something! Or just come and say Hi!

Clips, Ideas and ECO Markets ...

The last few weeks have had me making more stock after the last 3 weeks of continuous marketing. Here's a little peek at some clips ...

While I have been replenishing my stock I have also been thinking about ways I can reduce my craft waste and also make things specifically for the upcoming BrisStyle ECO Markets.

I have quite a few things in the works so I'll make sure the next post includes them. So far I have been making cards, bunting, brooches and clips, clothing and some jewellery all from repurposed, upcycled or just plain off cuts ...

The BrisStyle Indie Eco Market will showcase the wares of those BrisStyle members who live, craft, stitch and dye by the mantra of reduce, reuse and recycle.

Support your local community and designers and shop ethically at Brisbane's HOTtest destination for everything handmade with an Eco edge.

More sweet pendants

Another selection for the BrisStyle Markets this weekend ...

BrisStyle Indie Designer Markets
St Augustine's Church Hall
Racecourse Rd
Hamilton
9am-2pm