Ah, the traditional last minute scramble. Why would I do things any other way? MiuAndUmi preparation for the BrisStyle indie Twilight Markets is coming together, slowly but surely, and I did have the unique pleasure of having not one, not two, but three Bunnings staff walking me around the big tin shed looking for sandbags! That was fun. I've elected to make them myself, because I like to be resourceful, I like the feeling of finishing a task, and I'm too stubborn to be told there isn't enough time.
I'm jazzed about Friday night, crossing my fingers it doesn't rain, and so far have managed to evade the naked-at-school type dreams of derisive shoppers and epic failure that got me good last time around. I'll be propped up by my beautiful sidekicks Kirsty and Cass, who help make any event something to remember. Look for the brunette, the blonde and the redhead and come say hey, or howdy, or ciao, bonsoir, or just hello.

Ok, the camera issue is really beginning to make me cuckoo. I'm lusting after one of those DSLR with all the trimmings, but I'd settle for one with a viewfinder right now! If this photo doesn't make your eyes dance, congratulations.
We made the mad dash to the BrisStyle indie Eco Markets quite late in the day (as it was little Pom Pom's 5th birthday and we had to have pancakes for breakfast and choose the best birthday outfit) We had time to try a vegan hot-dog - quite tasty, and scoot around, ogling all the handmade goodness. As always, I developed a serious case of the wants, there were so many interesting, clever and eco-friendly items. I came away with a few lovelies, but could've bought alot more.
BiEM finds, clockwise from top left: "Brisbanesque" t-shirt transfer and Frida pendant, Ruby 2 Go-Go, Hair bands and pretty mosaic birds, Cairo Made That, Handwoven ecodyed silk headband, TrishAlan, divine Japanese fabric, Kimono Reincarnate.

A little morning sunlight

The kitchen windowsill with morning sunlight streaming in. The purple flowers are called Batchelors Buttons - how cute is that?

In Rome there is a small and picturesque cemetary tucked away behind a pyramid. I won't start with a history lesson about the pyramid and the graveyard, you can google the hell out of Rome, the amount of history at every turn is almost overwhelming. What I loved about this quiet place (which we dubbed 'the heathen cemetary' for the non-Catholic status of those within) apart from finding possibly the cleanest public toilet in Rome, was the gravestone of the poet John Keats. Near to the pyramid and an expanse of lawn peppered with little white flowers, engraved with such bitter words, it brought tears to my eyes. "...Here lies one whose name was writ in water."
I felt despair at the hopeless anger of one who had died young, thinking himself a failure in his craft. I turned from the gravestone, heart-wrenched, to find a memorial on the stone wall nearby, written by Sir Vincent Eyre.

Keats! if thy cherished name be "writ in water"
Each drop has fallen from some mourner's cheek;
A sacred tribute; such as heroes seek,
Though oft in vain - for dazzling deeds of slaughter
Sleep on! Not honoured less for Epitaph so meek!

I know poetry isn't everyones cup of tea, but this story makes me think about how we value ourselves, and the importance that we place on being valued by others. Isn't it enough to honour our hearts and our crafts? To live truly? Must we have the critics nod before we are ok with our creations?

Guerrilla Knitting

This isn't the first time I've seen 'guerrilla' knitting, but I was inspired by the photos in the Artspace Mackay Flickr pool. It looked like so much fun, I had to have a little go myself...

I heart Australia Post

I mean it! After trying to send a couple of postcards from a post office in Rome, and getting home before they did, I developed an even greater adoration for AP. Cam and I had one of those old married couple discussions over the local newspaper this morning about the price of stamps increasing to 60c. He said 'Didn't they go up to 55c just a while ago?' and I commenced my monologue about the incredible magic of placing a tiny square of sticky paper onto a larger piece of paper with written directions on it, and sending it into an enormous system filled with millions of other little bits of paper with directions on them, and knowing that your one little missive will find its way!
I've always been a letter sender. Invites, thank yous, "I was just thinking aboutcha"s. Knowing that sometimes my sister will get home from a long day of work to be greeted by a colourful envelope filled with things to make her smile, makes me feel good.
And opening a parcel of loveliness from my latest Etsy obsession? That's a bundle of all my favourite things - Australia Post, shopping, supporting handmade, and making new connections.
When I opened the parcel from Tammy at Boorah Designs, and saw the cuteness inside, I just had to take a photo. It's hidden now, waiting for Pom Pom's birthday, but I know she's going to love it.

Dancing with Fred and Ginger

My vintage buttons-turned-earrings were featured in an Etsy Treasury by Yoshiko from Euphorianchic. They sit well in this beautifully vibrant colour scheme. I named these earrings "Fred and Ginger" because the swirling folds of glass, combined with the deep dusty rose colour, instantly made me think of the divine gowns Ginger Rogers wore while dancing with Fred Astaire in all those 1930's movies.

A covet list - my Treasury on Etsy

Sally from Flight Industries contacted me to let me know my Etsy Treasury had made the front page, and I confess after a dreadful, worrisome weekend, it really made the sun come out. This was my first attempt at a Treasury, and it was so much fun telling a story with images. There is so much gold out there! If I wasn't hooked on Etsy before, I sure am now.

Domestic Construction

There is beauty in the simple things, and much to be admired in those who can see it. Trish and Maureen from Domestic Construction in New York just kidnapped my sensibilities with their 'hearts and hammers' approach to design. I can just see their teacup light installation in my kitchen - it's adorable!

 

How can I be cranky at all the ruined garden when this is the end result?

Wait a minute Mr Postman

Little Pompom doesn't know it yet, but there is a lovely gift on the way to our house. I just had to order a gorgeous, original skirt from Tammy at Boorah Designs. We were neighbours at the BrisStyle markets, and I couldn't stop staring at the colours and pattern combinations the whole day. Of course by the time I'd made up my mind to buy it,we were all in the mad scramble to pack up our stalls and clear out. Luckily I caught this one-of-a-kind skirt before it sold! If you have kids or know a kid or are just unusually small, you should have a look around Boorah Designs!
Oh, and the trade of clutch purses between Tammy and I - I may only be able to get one leg into Pompom's skirt, but the clutch will be all mine!

BrisStyle Markets

Kirsty, Melanie (I love the weird reflection on my lips! A bit Gaga?) and Cass

What a gorgeous day! The sun was shining, the stalls and stallholders all looked wonderful, and the sausages were piping hot. The grounds at St Augustines in Hamilton were perfect, leafy and relaxed. We had stripped off our scarves and coats by 9am, and joked with a couple of BrisStylers who were trying to thaw out because their stalls were in the shade.

In between chatting and laughing with shoppers I managed to have a quick look around and buy some gorgeous things. There were plenty more that I would've loved to grab, if only I had the money! For now I must stick to cute fridge magnets, like this one from Pannikin

I also met the delightful Natalie from Miss Dish, who makes the most amazing hairpieces and jewellery. I can certainly see one of her creations adorning my tresses, perhaps the "Black and Gold Baby"?

There were so many remarkable people and covetable artworks, I intend to talk about it way more. But today I must prepare to host playgroup in my tiny house... ten small children and their mums? No problem!

I've been playing with fabrics old and new to create these hairbands, finally using some of the ribbons and trims I brought back from Paris, and some of the vintage buttons from my heavenly (ever growing) collection.
Kirsty and I got together and drank tea and threw some display ideas around for the upcoming BrisStyle indie Designer Markets (BiDM) to be held on 5th June. This is my first time and I'm equal parts nervous and excited. Anybody who has been to the BrisStyle markets will know what high quality can be found there, so I want everything to be perfect!

Excitement! The bright and sunny "Lemony Snicketts Ring" was featured on the front page of Etsy and was promptly purchased! I'm tickled pink to be included. Craft Cult is a handy source of information (and inspiration) for Etsy people.

A little timely motivation from Tara at Scoutie Girl. Kick the damn door down - yes! Click the link to nab a free printable version, and then get kicking!

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?