Goodies

My parcel of goodies from the US arrived in the mail yesterday. It felt like Christmas :)

Gorgeous yarns in colours and thicknesses I couldn't resist and amazing textures like the 100% silk 'straw' yarn below. Both from Purl Soho.

I seemed to be obsessed with metallics at M&J Trimmings... I'm thinking of ways I can combine metallic trimmings with my silversmithing work.

And then there were the books... Purl Soho had an amazing selection of Japanese craft books. I'm not sure how I managed to limit myself to just two, but here they are... two crochet titles, Crochet Cushions for Stools and Mini Doily Lacework.

Purl also had some felty things I couldn't resist... have you ever seen felt buttons? 

I was totally smitten :)

On the fabric front, I found this incredibly soft green tulle and giant ric rac. I am so in love with this colour at the moment.

... and I just had to have this tea towel from Anthropologie. 

I plan to use it as the lining for one of my bags.

So, there you go. Goodies from my travels. I didn't go too overboard after all but of course when you're travelling every purchase is weighed by 'how am I going to get all of this home?' ;) What was your favourite travelling purchase?

Grand designs

I've been looking at some of my birthday presents and am struck by the volume of good design out there. What do you think of these lovelies?... can you guess what they are?

Paper napkins! Design is everywhere these days... maybe it always was?

My sister gave me some wonderful towels from design-legend Orla Kiely...

... and the Mr did promise (and plant) me a rose garden. More of a grand design, symbolic and decorative :) I'm feeling very privileged, lucky + loved.

Hope it's a good weekend for you too.

My Creative Space - Boy Tees

click on photos for a closer look

I have a lot of problems finding gifts for boys. Probably because I have only daughters, I haven't had that immersion exposure that brings enlightenment ;) So yes, I'm the boring Aunty who gives clothes! My only hope for forgiveness is that the mums of these boys like the designs I've come up with for them :)

More creative spaces over at Kirsty's Kootoyoo.

Thank you :)

There have been some wonderful packages through our mail box this month. Big thanks to the lovely Tania from Myrtle & Eunice blog for her fabulous tea towel and cards. Tania has just opened a new shop. I've shamelessly borrowed her photo here ;)

Big thanks also to the wonderful Michelle from Blue Moss. Her jewellery is just magnificent - I wore this necklace four days running with wildly different outfits and it was amazing. So many people commented and asked where I'd bought it... See more of Michelle's work at her Etsy Store and her blog is a fabulous read too.

Gorgeous Kristina of Inaluxe has the most divine artworks which she sells as prints and cards. I bought these funky cards and some stickers (not shown, sorry) many many moons ago, and though I've thanked her via email I really have been remiss in not doing a show & tell. Kristina's lovely blog is here and she has an Etsy Store as well as a Made It shop.

And last, but so definitely not least... I won a prize on Jennie's fabulous blog A Little Vintage and these wonderful cards and brooches were my booty (not to forget they came wrapped in this fantastic vintage fabric too!) Jennie has an online store here.

Thank you for my fabulous pressies everyone! Love Handmade :)

Unexpected gifts :)

I've had some lovely surprises in the post lately. Firstly, a big thank you to Cindy at Kiss the Birdie who made this fabulous cushion for me as part of the 'Pay it Forward' blog-love exercise we participated in a couple of months ago. And look at this gorgeous packaging! Thank you Cindy!

And a big thank you to Rie at Crafty Rie for my unexpected win in her giveaway. I wanted to get a photo of me wearing it but, as always, this fine art seems beyond my abilities ;) I have discovered, though, what I'd look like with two noses...