These are a few of my...

favourite things.

Things that make me happy.

Things that I love.

Things that I'd love to own.

Things that I do own.

Things that I enjoy.

Things that I enjoy doing.

Beautiful ceramics by Lenneke Wispelwey ♥

 Feel free to play along on your own blog if you'd like,

I'd love to know what your favourite things are too! xo

Annika

L♥VE!

How cute are these designs by Korean based label Annika?

So cute!  Images found here via kickcan and conkers blog.

nature studies

the eucalyptus is always greener

birds in flight 

field journal 

all via wild goose chase on flickr

The beautiful work of artist Fiona Watson.

I have been thinking about keeping a nature diary with Ari.

Documenting the seasons and the bits and bobs we collect

on our many trips around the countryside, beach and city.

Fiona's photographs are a beautiful source of inspiration 

for such a project. It would be fun to create such 

works with children, don't you think?

spring flowers

Just a peek at what's on my work table. 

These pretty little flower heads are sitting there, 

each awaiting their turn to be stitched up!

I've been quite busy in my studio this week and I've 

been listening to a lot of Tom Waits whilst I work.

I never tire of listening to his sweet music.

It has been so very, very cold and grey here lately.

One would scarcely believe that nice weather is on

it's way, and yet today, the blossom trees are in full 

bloom and the bulbs are already beginning to flower 

...I guess, as Tom says (courtesy of Garth)

 you can never hold back Spring.

I've been pinning lots of lovely new things too.

The nights have been too cold to do much other 

than sit by the fire and read, stitch or pin things! 

Why don't you take a looksy... xox

Pop Pop Portraits

A lovely little letter arrived in the mail for me this week and

it was written on the back of these super sweet illustrations...

The work of the very talented Helena Randall.

I have known Helena for many, many years and have watched her 

work develop and change, as she has explored different styles and 

mediums. Her art has a wonderful sense of fun and whimsy about it

and her colour choice and line work are just exquisite.

With Pop Pop Portraits Helena has given the art of portraiture a
new and contemporary twist, creating custom portraits of clients 

(and often their pets or kids) in her own unique style of illustration.

Her work was recently featured in Frankie Magazine.  So exciting!

But, as far as creative talents go, portraiture is just the tip of the iceberg

for this clever lady!  I can't wait to see what future projects lie ahead...

You can visit her blog/s here or take a peek at her shop here.

xoxox

project bunny girl

Super cute PDF bunny pattern from 

the ever whimsical Lieschen Muller 

Ribambelles

The beautiful work of Nathalie Parain has a timeless quality to it.

I love the simplicity of these designs and the beautiful shades of

blue and red against the parchment used in this 1932 craft book.

You can view all images from this book here (and many other 

wonderful vintage french illustrations) and you can read more

about Nathalie and her designs here (link will need translating).

the music maker

We've been having a lot of fun with my birthday present.

It's been a while since I've had a turntable and Ari's never

enjoyed the experience of listening to records play before!

I have bit of a collection of kid's recordings, though none 

quite so wonderful as the records pictured here. Perhaps we'll 

have to start a collection of 1940s and 1950s kid's records.

Some of the records pictured here come from this great site.

The sweet collectors there have uploaded their collection for
your free personal enjoyment. So lovely! Take a peek. x

lei li la loo

Today, I turn Thirty-five!  WOW.  Ha?
It's a rather grey and gloomy sort of birthday day.
Typical for early June (and the beginning of Winter).

We're planning to brave the miserable cold front

and take a little trip into town, though. Yay!

I thought I'd write about this lovely maker's blog today,

my very first Etsy discovery and my birthday gift to you... 

The white rabbit, or rather... very cute and colourful bunny...

that I followed into the wonderland of Etsy.

You can visit the LeiLiLaLoo shop here.

A beautiful place to find inspiration

and glimpse an artist and mother at work.

If you're feeling grey, visiting this blog

is just like dancing in a rainbow ♥

whirligig.

I love these eclectic creations by Hutch Studios

 I have a wee bit of a thing for whirligigs and the like.

A bit of whimsy like this would look lovely amongst 

the wild strawberries & winter blooms in our garden.

'Artist and designer Chris Theiss repurposes old junk to hand 

make extraordinarily fun and whimsical creations.Every fence post 

in front of Hutch spins with one of these clever contraptions.'

...in the artists own words

It would be fun to attend one of these workshops and 

La Conner looks like a very pretty little town to visit.

If only I wasn't half the world away here in Australia.

xox

sew pretty.

Working away the wintery days in my studio.

The pretty colours remind me of spring flowers.