The Elm Tree - out and about....in Parramatta.

A lovely new little shop has popped up in Parramatta - it's called The Elm Tree.

This sweet marketplace is commited to showcasing the handmade creations of designers and crafters from around Australia with a focus on sustainability, the community and children.

With this focus foremost in their minds the gorgeous pair behind this project - Katie and Eleanor, offer a huge range of craft classes for children and adults.

The Elm Tree has all sorts of yummy, scrummy things!
Gorgeous gift ideas for Christmas - softies, toys, cushions quilts, jewellery as well as beautiful cards and gift tags.

The Elm Tree has popped up as part of Pop-Up Parramatta which is an initiative of Parramatta Council to revitalise and reinvent and renew the shopping arcades of Parramatta.

Planettreasures is now thrilled to be a supplier of The Elm Tree - if you are in the vicinity of Parramatta - pop in!

You can find them on facebook - here.

Views of Viva la Gong.

Tie Dye anyone?

Maybe it's the inner hippie in me - but I have a yen to do some tie-dying!

So I started looking for inspiration -

photo found on flickr

serppatts.net

wikihow

You can find great instructions on tie dying a tshirt - and some other surprises on wikihow.com.

photo found on flickr

 You can tie dye your towel -
.....but supply your own cat!

swelldesigner

You could also tie dye sheets, table cloths, scarves, leggings.....the possibilities are endless!

How about something edible?

sallysbakingaddiction

I think this looks great!
Reverse tie dying with bleach!

lilblueboo

Give it a go!

What I've been working on - multi-coloured necklaces

I've been working like crazy to get ready for the 6 markets I have between now and Christmas.
Every year I say to my self "next year I will start earlier!" and do I?

Anyway, better late than never and this week I made some bright stone bead necklaces - these are my signature Many Treasures necklaces, short and mid length.

Which one is your favorite?
I love #4.

Joining in with Made by Hand on the delightfulblog Christine Lowry Designs

Friday Friends - Marg Turton, Black Cockatoo Ceramics

I'm a bit excited today, because I have an awesome potter for you to meet!
I'm a huge fan of pottery and was a bit of a potter myself once (but only a little bit of one!)

So here we go!



Who are you and what do you do?

Hi, my name is Marg Turton and I am Black Cockatoo Ceramics!  I make ceramics, mugs, bowls and teabowls that reflect the natural world. I decorate my pots with handpainted birds, insects and anything else that catches my eye.

portrait by Blue Mountains artist Gerlinde Thomas

 Who or what inspires you?

The natural world inspires me most including our incredible Blue Mountains environment.  I am inspired by many people. In the Blue Mountains we have some amazing potters such as Peter Rushforth and Susie McMeekin.  I also love old Japanese and Korean ceramics.  

Your signature or favorite item

My favourite piece I have made is a celadon bowl with applied insects. I find it very hard to replicate the glaze quality that I achieved on this piece. That is always the challenge to reach for the best shape, design and glaze.

What do you most enjoy doing? 

Playing with mud!  I love the elemental aspect of potting: earth, air, water and fire all play a part in the creation of a pot.

What you would rather be doing?
I am very lucky that I am doing what I enjoy, so, apart from exploring the bush and other wild places, I am happy doing what I am doing now.

Where you see yourself in 5 years time?

Hopefully having more time to make pots, and experiment more with different glazes.

How did you start along this road?

I first started potting over 30 years ago with a potter in Glebe. Then when children came along we moved to the Blue Mountains. I obtained my degree in Environmental Science (I am an ecologist by trade), then I realised that I had really missed potting and being creative. I went back to TAFE and did a certificate course in ceramics and have done it ever since. It can be hard to allocate time to it, but I go a bit crazy if I cannot get muddy every once in a while!

5 words of advice for others

Make what you enjoy making!

Anything else you'd like to add.
 
My pots are available from the ‘Nook’ in Leura, and at ‘Number 47’ in the country town of Rylstone.

I'm sure you'll agree with me that Marg's pots are fabuous and if you'd like to find out more pop over to her facebook page or check out her etsy shop - 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/blackcockatooceramics
Etsy:  www.etsy.com/shop/BlackCockatooCeramics
Email: blackcockatooceramics@gmail.com

Setting up a Packaging Station. How I did it.

I was inspired this week by a post on the Beading Daily blog about reorganising your studio by Anne Vaughan.
There were a few ideas that I could apply to my smaller scale operation but the one that really resonated with me was the packing space.

I don't have a lot of on-line sales, so I'd never bothered to set up my packaging supplies in an efficient manner.

Even though I've been selling on-line for a few years now! - I know I'm a slow learner.
I had tissue paper in one spot, bubble wrap under my work desk, sticky tape, labels, pretty supplies in another corner, envelopes and boxes in the cupboard, business cards and customs declaration in another spot!

How did I do it for so long?

So today I gathered everything together.
This unit was going to be my lampwork spot, but I'm not doing much of that at the moment.
Unfortunately it is the first thing inside the door, so it becomes a dumping ground for anything I can't be bothered putting away, or half-finished projects etc.

Now I still have my glassy bits there and all my packaging supplies apart from the boxes (which I only seem to need once in a blue moon these days - is that due to the exhorbitant postal rates I wonder?)
I'm only using one of the drawers - so there is room for more efficiency!

How do you organise your packing supplies?
I realise I am lucky that I have a whole workroom to myself.
So how do you manage with limited space?
Please share how you do it!

My Creative Space - going bonkers for bracelets!

I found my mojo! Hurray!
There's nothing like the looming summer markets and festivals to stir one into action is there?

And it's summer!
Which means it's great weather for wearing sleeveless or short-sleeved frocks.
And what do you need to go with said sleeveless frocks?

Why! a bracelet of course.

So I have been busily getting my beads out and so far I have made 25 bracelets - I can't seem to stop.
My many treasures bracelets are also a great way for me to use up some of the beads that will never become earrings *sob* or climb to the lofty heights of a necklace but they meet up with their buddies in a bracelet.

I also made some quite summery necklaces -

What next?
Perhaps I should make some earrings - or some button studs - or ....some more bracelets, hehe!