Australian handcrafted gift guide

The etsy DUST (down under street team) now has a gift guide to help you find wonderful handmade goodies for all occasions.
The Dust team is a great group of creative aussies, including artists, jewellery designers, knitters, seamstresses, photographers and many more who all sell their wares on etsy, and support each other and hope to bring awareness of the handmade movement to as many people as possible.

In this age of mass produced blandness, isnt it great to find something unique, lovingly created by someone who loves what they do, is ethically produced and doesnt cost an arm and a leg?

Head on over to the gift guide and you will see what I mean.

Little rings for little fingers

Making little beaded rings is quick and satisfying.
At first it's hard to make them small enough if you are used to making bracelets (usually) or necklaces (never!).
Little girls love to wear rings so I strove to make some to satisfy young fingers.



These rings are made from a design by Dustin Wedekind from the Beading Daily site.
I love combining bright and pretty beads and can't wait to see what the little princesses think of them.

Friday fill-in

1. Please feel free to comment on my first friday fill-in.
2. When I walk past a restaurant cooking garlic prawns I can't help sniffing it occasionally.
3. My favorite thing to cook is a big vegetable curry.
4. chocolate is something I can't get enough of.
5. That's the thing I love most about cats, they are so independent.
6. questions I cant understand always makes me think to myself, what the heck?
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to some cooler weather, tomorrow my plans include having a stall at Glenbrook market and Sunday, I want to go for a bushwalk with some friends!

things I have bought from etsy

I had been admiring this unusual wrap for some time in yarnaboutyarn's shop.
I love the colour and the way it just hugs the shoulders and the fun frill, and the way it has a twist a the front.

- Then it was reduced in price as part of the monthly Dust (down under street team ) sale.
And I knew I had to have it!
It's always so exciting buying something from etsy - waiting for the parcel to arrive, unwrapping and seeing your chosen special thing in the flesh.
This one didnt disappoint, I just love it.
I was able to wear it the next day when I went to a street fair, as it was cool setting up in the morning.
I felt so special.
There is another lovely wrap in this shop - pink this time. I wonder if it has my name on it too.

You can also have a look at all the lovely colourful freeform knitted creations here -
yarnaboutyarn.etsy.com


Something else I bought recently was a birthday present for my 20year old son


20 year olds are impossible to buy for - unless it is a new guitar!
He is a big Dr. Who fan (who isnt?) and sometimes he seems to live in a parallel universe!
I am a big fan of David Loong's work, he makes these little works of art from silver, copper and brass. They are quirky, sometimes satyrical and always have a story to tell.

If you are stuck for what to buy a man in your life I recommend checking out David Loong's shop.

Happy shopping!

Sculptures by the Sea

H and I went on our annual pilgrimage to Bondi to the Sculptures by the Sea exhibition.
It was a wet and wild day, but after a sustaining cup of coffee we set out - cameras clasped in our cold little hands.
As usual there were fabulous, clever, surprising, bold, amusing pieces (and one or two that failed to attract our attention).


It's an amazing location - along the cliffs from Bondi to Tamarama Beach and some on the beach at Tamarama.



Some of the pieces are designed to fit into the location where they are placed - very clever.
Others would suit anywhere. Some I would love to have in my garden.


This beautiful surreal piece is called "nexus".


There are more pictures on my flickr

Easy Slice Recipe

Someone gave me this recipe years ago.
It's great to mix up and pop in the oven if you already have it on to cook something else.

Rolled Oats Slice

1 cup rolled oats
1 cup wholemeal flour
1 cup raw sugar
1 cup coconut
1 cup mixed dried fruit
4 oz (125 g) butter
2 tbs golden syrup
2 tbs milk

Melt butter and golden syrup together.
Mix all dry ingredients together, than add the wet ingredients.
Mix well.
Press into a slice tin.
Bake at 170 - 180 oc until brown, about 15 mins.


Cut into slices and enjoy with a nice cup of tea!

Some new creations

I have been on a bead buying spree!

First of all there was the Sydney bead and gem show, where I met some of my favorite lampwork artists, as well as the Venetian glass lady and Sue from Beadglass, who sells gorgeous czech glass beads.
I must also mention the ever welcoming Bev and Ross from The Rock Shop.

I found these lovely ceramic beads at Feeling Inspired, and teamed them with faceted orange jade and some little spacer beads from Beadworx.

These beautiful lampwork beads are by DKS beads of Sydney.
I always buy her 'orphans', they make fabulous bracelets, dont you think?

Carved blackstone bead from Bjulde, and red aventurine nuggets.


Tabular freshwater pearls and faceted amethyst that I got during another shopping expedition to Sydney.

Some of these will be listed in my etsy shop.

Also look out for me at the Rhododendron festival at Blackheath next weekend.