Somewhere between Paris and Incheon, my trusty camera got crunched in the overhead compartment, and I am having trouble getting through to the insurance company. I guess after the wild weather and flooding there are lots of people in Queensland with bigger problems than mine.
I have been busy making some new one-of-a-kind brooches and such, and I've resorted to snapping away with my little mobile phone, whose name starts with i and ends with phone.
This brooch is made from an errant earring, a lone diamante, and a few snippets of old lace. There is also a watchface, shyly turned away. There's something about these old and broken watches, they seem to carry some import beyond themselves. Perhaps the time they kept has stayed with them, somehow.

Awww. Owl love! This adorable original artwork is from Cate Lawrence at reqbat. Cate is a Canadian artist donating 100% of anything sold from her Etsy store to the Canadian Red Cross relief and rescue efforts in Haiti. Good on you Cate!

In life, you can never do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Today I am struck by the tragedy in Haiti, so many lives destroyed with such sudden violence. While I am a monthly donator to Medicins Sans Frontiers (Doctors without Borders), I've made the pledge to give all of my sales earnings from my Etsy store for the rest of the month as well. It may be a small thing, but if everybody gives just a little, it adds up pretty quickly.
I am really impressed to see a number of Etsy stores adopting the same approach. What a cool bunch of handmadies!

See! She may never be the same! My dearest bestie Cass, playing with knives again.
With three weeks to go until we take off for France, I think I'm displaying the classic symptoms of travel anxiety. Writing a will, constantly revising my packing list, dreaming of sleeping in or missing trains and planes. Sitting bolt up-right in the middle of the night saying "Where am I?" Asking well travelled friends how many pairs of knickers I'll need, and wondering what people actually do on a flight that long.
And I can't decide which book to take. It's an important choice. My darling friend Cass took a copy of "The Shining" by Stephen King on a trip to the U.S., and is still scarred by the bathtub scene. I finished "Choke" by Chuck Palahnuik on a flight back from Tasmania, and let's just say I'll never look at airplane toilets the same way again!
So, suggestions please! Book me!

A recent bead shopping expedition netted a swag of gorgeous beads from Off Beat Design in Ashgrove. The owner of the store, Lesley Marshall, told me of their stockist in the U.S., who came across a warehouse full of crates of forgotten beads, and sells them as she opens them. Dating back to the sixties, some of the beads are like nothing I've seen before. Fantastic plastic, wild colours and designs, there are some real vintage sweeties among them too. A girl could get into trouble in a store like that!
Personally, I can't go past faceted semi-precious stones like garnets and chalcedony. What type of beads really get your creativity flowing?

Puttin On The Ritz Brooch and Velvet Headband
From my Etsy store, MiuAndUmi. Today I have done the unthinkable in this humid Queensland weather - I have put on layer upon layer of thermally insulating clothing, making sure that the gear I pack for Paris will keep me warm in those icy temperatures. But I ask you, how can I be sure, when I'm already sweating?

I know! Christmas was so last week! I am the queen of the disorganised, last minute present wrapping, card making and sending, food preparing people. And now, on the eve of a fresh new year, my mind is brimming with plans and possibilities. My growing children, travel plans, finally getting the vegetable garden together, focusing on being more creative and more organised at the same time. But for now, I'm off to find the perfect beret to wear in Paris! Until 2010, au revoir!

What is the appeal of bakelite? How does thermoset resin, the first plastic, manage to exude such warmth and touchable appeal? I just love bakelite, and when I spotted these buttons at the recent exhibition at the Paddington Antique Centre , it didn't take a lot of coaxing from Kirsty for me to buy them.
I did hesitate when it came to snipping off the metal loop on the back, but whether I make serious collectors of the era cringe or not, it will be worn, and it will look fabulous.
If you would like to have a closer look at this honey, pop over to Miu & Umi!

Happy birthday Suzy Wong. We love you!

The lovely Kelley from Alex Kelley Jewelry in Chicago held a winter giveaway and guess who the lucky recipient of a pair of beautiful earrings will be? Yes, moi! Aren't I lucky? Have a look at Kelley's stunning designs at http://www.etsy.com/shop/alexkelleyjewelry
Kelley's work features delicate wire-work combined with a range of semi-precious stones. Keep an eye out for the Butterscotch Amber necklace. It's certainly my favourite, and after telling Kelley about my secret urge to eat beautiful jewellery, I was relieved to hear that she agrees!
I'm sure I'm not alone in associating gems and beads with food. What do you think?

My beautiful sister, playing dress-ups. Nobody in the world can make me laugh like she can, and I always marvel at her ability to turn the most ordinary or mundane task into gales of hysterical laughter. Whenever we get together for one of our rare gossip and catch-up sessions, complete with wine and some kind of smelly cheese, I am reminded just how lucky I am to have such a kick-arse sibling.

 

Dreamy dusk shot.

Meet "Violet Beauregarde". She will not listen when she is told it's rude to chew gum. Never mind, she will get her comeuppance.
Last night at my sister's house, over heaped plates of steaming chilli and fruity sangria, she and her husband informed me they were taking me to Paris! Paris! My number one destination in the entire world - bar none! Quelle surprise! My head is a-whirl with gratitude, excitement and a little soupcon of fear.

"Push the little daisies". Find it here.


Ribbons and paper garlands hanging above my work table. My favourite place in our tiny house. I'm thinking about my little sister, who has lost her voice and is sick at home with her fluffy little puppy. She just needs her big sis to ply her with her famous home remedies!

This is one I call "Mintie". Now, I don't recommend putting it in your mouth, but certainly putting it on your finger. I'm in the process of photographing the dozens of cuties that live together in my studio. If you would like to see "Mintie", and the rest of the family, pop over to my etsy store, Miu & Umi! I'll be sharing more as I go along. Have a great day!

Jacaranda

Bony fingers sifting down their velvetty blooms, laying out a dainty crushable blanket. If only the bees were not jealous.

August

A cold night.

Goodbye

We said our goodbyes each in our own way, and cried for ourselves as much as we cried for him.

Eight ladies

I love this Sanna Annukka print. It's almost a regimental feel, coupled with religious/royalty style... I just like it, ok?
Colour good.
The markets were busy this morning. I found fresh watercress (yum) and an unusually shaped brass vase which I had to have.