Welcome to my blog. I work full time and creating is my sanity. I like to use many different mediums and was a finalist in the Fire Mountain Beading Contest in 2008. I am a passionate blogger, and a promoter of handmade goodness.

I love : my husband, my fur kids, family, music, sunshine, creating, chocolate, handmade soaps, the DUST Team, gardening, friends, Triple J Radio and photography. Comments welcome, I hope you enjoy the adventure with me.

Please respect my copyright and that the original ©photographs and ©text published on this blog remain the property of ©Maddabling (Samara). Please do not reproduce, crop or alter my original photographs.

made with love.........................maddabling xox




proud member of the down under street team

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Farewell to dear Julie-Ann - A Special Wednesday Wishlist

Hi there my lovely readers. It is with great sadness and an overwhelming sense of loss that I write this Wednesday Wishlist.

I still find it hard to accept let alone write about the saddest news, one of our beautiful DUST Team leaders, Julie-Ann, lost her recovery battle on Monday, after the horrific Angel Flight plane crash two weeks ago, that claimed the life of her gorgeous daughter Jacinda and the pilot Don Kernot.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/angel-flight-mum-loses-fight-for-life-20110829-1jhd5.html

This weeks Wednesday Wishlist focuses on Australian ETSY Handmade, the colours - the browns, oranges and greens of the DUST Team, and to me symbolises Julie-Ann's passion for local crafters.

I will remember Julie-Ann for her infinite wisdom, willingness to embrace a handmade life,  the wonderful craft swap that we recently had together, her tireless work on the DUST Team with Melanie, her friendship and guidance. I feel incredibly blessed to have known Julie-Ann and will always treasure the friendship that we had.

I invite each and every one of you to leave a comment, a thought, a message, to create a written tribute to this wonderful woman, Julie-Ann you will never be forgotten.

My heart goes out to Julie-Ann's family, sending much love and a wish that Len and family find peace in the knowledge Julie-Ann and Jacinda are reunited.

Pinwheel - Polymer Clay Earrings
Pinwheel - Polymer Clay Earrings by MoagsandSmeet

Green hooter.... a sweet owl card in bright green
Green hooter.... a sweet owl card in bright green by moonmum
Subterranean - Original abstract watercolor painting
Subterranean - Original abstract watercolor painting by klbaileyart

Earthy Brass And Terracotta Bracelet
Earthy Brass And Terracotta Bracelet by BeadsMe
PEPPERMINT GREEN TEA  Soap, by New Earth Soaps on Etsy
PEPPERMINT GREEN TEA Soap, by New Earth Soaps

Ishtar Goddess Brooch - Green
Ishtar Goddess Brooch - Green by WhimsiGals

Quilt, Rag Quilt, Reversible, Queen Size, Fallow Fields, by melanie j cook
Quilt, Rag Quilt, Reversible, Queen Size, Fallow Fields, by melanie j cook

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Friday Friends - Australian ETSY sellers - Travellingbeautifull



Happy belated Friday dear readers. This post is a little late this week, my sincere apologies ! Work has been crazy busy and other tasks and chores, including blogging seem to have slipped by the wayside, I am hoping for a wonderfully relaxing weekend. Which started off with a brisk walk on the beach watching an amazing sunrise with my hubby and pooch. And, it will be relaxing, except for Sunday afternoon when I will be baking more cupcakes due to popular demand for my workplace to raise more money for the RSPCA ! It will be a combined effort this time with 4 cupcake chefs and we are hoping to raise or better the $80 made from the cupcake day earlier this month.

This week I have a new Friday Friend to introduce to you - meet my dear friend Judy from Travellingbeautifull on ETSY.



Judy is one of my creative muses and has always encouraged me to follow artistic endeavours and also to take my things to market now and then. She has encouraged me to embrace the handmade culture and to nurture my artistic side. I am very thankful to have Judy as a work colleague and as my friend.

Judy creates masterpieces from found and vintage items - I proudly own two amazing steampunk sculptures that she made .......





and I do completely adore Bad Alice ! Isn't she deliciously naughty !


There are lots of vintage shiiiiiiiny things to be found such as "Ruby" the red rhinestone bracelet

Ruby -  red rhinestone bracelet


and this fabulous Vintage red AB goldtone choker circa 1950/60 would make a wonderful addition to any jewellery collection !

Vintage red AB goldtone choker

Dear readers, I invite you on a new visual adventure, through the shiny and steampunk world that is TravellingBeautifull. Have a wonderful weekend everyone x


The Travellingbeautifull Chronicle


Who is Travellingbeautifull?


My name is Judy Cecil, and I live and work in Albany, on the South Coast of WA. I am a compulsive maker and keeper. I make jewellery from vintage parts and sparkles and collect just about everything with the view that everything will be re-used eventually.
 

I love shiny vintage rhinestones, rusty metal, tatty old furniture, textiles, retro and idermy. Old newspapers and comics, handwritten recipes and letters, postcards, and vintage frames. Round eyeglass frames. I live in a cluttered house on the side of the hill overlooking the spectacular Princess Royal Harbour, with a demented little dog I found at a garage sale, who makes me laugh.


How and When did your handmade/artistic journey begin ?

My mother was a dressmaker and a knitter and I remember being given the most beautiful 1950's dresses to cut up and use for dressups - it seems a dreadful pity now but it was great fun at the time. I still knit in winter, and I keep a stash of yarn and vintage fabric for emergency sewing and knitting cravings.

A favourite aunt passed away when I was about 8 and my uncle gave me one of her beautiful 1940's rhinestone brooches. Later that year, I found a little sterling and marcasite ring on the footpath on the way to school. It started there - I still have the brooch and I'm wearing the ring now. In the early 1990's I was browsing a Good Sammy store in Perth and bought 2 huge bags of broken jewellery, buttons, rhinestones - they must have cleaned up and bagged up all the broken bits. I started to put a couple of the mismatched bits together and I haven't really stopped.



What inspires you ?

I think that most things are inspiring in some way- changes in light, shapes of buildings, the ocean, shells, leaves, broken glass on the footpath. Scrunched up metal, paper, fabric. Broken and discarded things. People's faces and the way they move. I get ideas from all sorts of things - colours, shapes, patterns. Random accidents - like dropping a pile of jewellery - can lead to all sorts of interesting pieces, and sometimes I will leave a piece half made for a year or so till the right bit turns up.

I'm fascinated by what people discard. I believe that people need to look around them more and look for those little things that they overlook every day. There are colours and shapes and patterns all around us, even in 'boring' or 'ugly' places. Being creative in some way, every day - by cooking or making or writing or sewing or taking photos or singing or gardening - is so critical to offsetting the stresses of modern life. It doesn't really matter if you don't show anyone what you've done. Make time to play with ideas, and look for the little details as well as the big picture, and you will find something interesting wherever you are.

What kind of things do you make/create ? What mediums do you work with - do you have a favourite ?

I really enjoy the jewellery, but I love drawing ( mainly pen and ink) and I also make sculptures using found objects. I've done a series of starships, which are my view of how the stars move around the night sky. There are also other impossible machines and some dolls from found objects.


Collage also interests me greatly, I just haven't had time to explore it fully just yet. But I am collecting all sorts of materials, just in case. I would love to make books and journals and drawing books. If I had to choose one thing to do, I would pick drawing, simply because it can be so engrossing and there's always something new to learn. My all time favourite medium is paper: collage, papier mache, drawing, writing, painting, origami, kirigami - so much to be done.



Do you have a favourite piece that you have made/created ?




My favourite pieces are those I keep because they remind me of a special place or time - funny little things like an angel made from wire and rusty metal picked up from the footpath, all on one afternoon, and a series of canvases with detritis from a loved beach house renovation and objects found in the sand. There's a dried puffer fish mounted in a frame with sheets of paint scraped from the walls of the beach house prior to repainting.

They usually have some personal connection and I prefer little bits of found objects to souvenirs when I want to remind myself of something or somewhere or someone special. Of course, this sometimes leads to interesting discussions with security at airports ("Are those large rocks in your handbag madam?"). My son brought me a cow skull he found while picking up mallee roots and I think that's pretty special.


What are your future plans/dreams/aspirations ?

I dream of a time when I don't have to go to work in a day job, and can spend of my time working on my Art, travelling, looking. Some friends and I have endless discussions about having a shared space where we can work and sell ours and other people's work - just the power ball and there we are!


You can buy lovely things on ETSY here :

http://www.etsy.com/shop/travellingbeautifull

or follow the blog at :

http://summerstreetfair.blogspot.com/



Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Community - Wednesday Wishlist


 For Julie Ann- Paper Jewelry Papier Mache and Resin Heart Brooch by KiahDesign

I am so incredibly proud to belong to the DUST team. In the face of a terrible tragedy that has touched one of our own, this wonderful community has bonded together to help a DUSTer and her family in need. The amazing Julie-Ann, ETSY team leader of DUST (Etsy Down Under Street Team and her 15 year old daughter Jacinda were involved in a horrific Angel Flight plane crash... Julie-Ann was seriously injured and sadly her daughter Jacinda and the pilot did not survive. Dusters across Australia are devastated by this awful news, and are actively donating and raising funds for Julie-Ann and her family.

There are several ways you can help if you are able ..............

you can purchase one of the gorgeous donated items ( of which I will feature a selection below ) from these two ETSY treasury links :

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTAzMjAyNXw1ODY4MDQ0NDk/for-julie-ann

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTAzMjAyNXw1OTY5ODg1ODk/for-julie-ann-2

or you can search for items on ETSY with For Julie-Ann in the title.

Donations are also being accepted on behalf of Julie-Ann and her family through the Hindmarsh Shire Council - details can be found at this link :  http://www.hindmarsh.vic.gov.au/

Put yourself in the shoes of Julie-Ann and her family, for just a moment, and think of what they must be going through at this time. Every donation or purchase will help, no matter how big or small.

For Julie-Ann - Shabby Chic French cards -  Baby Pink Paris Cards - embellishments

For Julie-Ann - Shabby Chic French cards - Baby Pink Paris Cards by dkshopgirl
For Julie-Ann Twigg and Family -- Campfire

For Julie-Ann Twigg and Family -- Campfire by Flamekeeper

Fundraiser For Julie-Ann - Felted Oven Mitt with Tree for Left Hand - Sale

Fundraiser For Julie-Ann - Felted Oven Mitt with Tree for Left Hand - Sale by lizetfrijters

Set of 3 Large Rose Rings -  Purple
Set of 3 Large Rose Rings - Purple by Petaliferous

For Julie-Ann - Newspaper design - Button Paperclip Bookmark Teachers Gift Book Club Reading

For Julie-Ann - Newspaper design - Button Paperclip Bookmark Teachers Gift Book Club Reading by RainbowLollies

FOR JULIE-ANN - Card Brooch - Fruity

FOR JULIE-ANN - Card Brooch - Fruity by Alipink

For JulieAnn  -  Lampwork bead set  - Blue Opal Crystals

For JulieAnn - Lampwork bead set - Blue Opal Crystals by feyglass


Heart Necklace - Brass heart on delicate brass chain - Valentines Love Sweetheart. By Vintette on Etsy.

Heart Necklace - Brass heart on delicate brass chain - Valentines Love Sweetheart. By Vintette


FOR JULIE-ANN - Frida Kahlo aceo - Original Artwork

FOR JULIE-ANN - Frida Kahlo aceo - Original Artwork by Sunshineshelle

Friday, August 19, 2011

Friday Friends - Australian ETSY Artists - Squash Designs



Another Friday rolls around dear readers, what have you been up to this week ? I baked my little heart out  and made cupcakes to raise funds for the RSPCA as part of the annual Cupcake Day for the RSPCA !

http://www.fundraise.rspcacupcakeday.com.au/samara_maddison

(if you click the link above you can make a donation should you desire)



Last weekend, we decided to go for a short drive and then me, my hubby and the pooch took a stroll last weekend around the wind farm in our town - it is set atop the coastal cliffs and it is simply spectacular !



This week I have an exciting new artisan and Friday Friend to introduce - meet Nicole of squashdesigns !



squashdesigns is based in Adelaide, South Australia and Nicole is dedicated to creating OOAK eco fashion pieces which are practical, sometimes whimsical and always striking and individual in their appearance.

I want to share a few of my favourite items with you now .......

how cute are these SuPEr FUnKeD uP pAtCHeY cOrDS, rainbow party pants, eco friendly patchwork hipsters



the sTrIPe ME rEtrO....earth friendly elf coat, up cycled sweater coat, hoodie



and this simply awesome earth friendly, up cycled, patchwork ,t skirt is a perfect trans-seasonal piece for layering in the cooler months and wearing as is during the warmer months !




Dear friends I invite you to take an adventure through a kaleidoscope of eco fashion colour and explore the world of squashdesigns. Wishing you all the most wonderful weekend xo



the story of squashdesigns

A little bit about me........ squashdesigns.....I just love the word squash the swirlyness of the letters and how they write to me ..........it’s a very colourful word ... and that's me !!!




My name is Nicole Teague , I am a mum of 2..... ages 5 and 2 and I pretty much do all the mum things...... cook, clean,drive ..yatta yatta yatta....... my hubby works through the week so nights and weekends are family time and for some reason family time is always about lots of great food !!! So.....my history as a chef and having a Mediterranean background might have something to do with that !!!!!



I have always been the creative type..... can't follow directions, patterns, instructions to save my life!!!
( and my way is usually better anyways )



I have no training in sewing other than my mum, from the age of I think 10 when I got my first machine.......
a beautiful antique Singer...... which I still have of course !!!




I am also the impatient type - when I have an idea it just HAS to come out or I’ll explode with too many ideas !!! That is why I started to use my old clothes, sheets,blankets etc.....to make things from.... now it is the "in thing" and Awesome I might add..... how funky and fab is up-cycling !!!!



I still use some new fabrics but only what I salvage from the op shops or grandmas shed. It is so exciting, some of the awesome vintage finds I come across are just soo inspirational !!! Now my kids LOVE op shopping with me too .... it’s so cute to see them getting excited about recycling !!!



My style is so many... not one thing could describe me..... a little bit of everything and a lot of me..oh and heaps of colour of course. From the age of 6 i have done the best I can to be different from the crowd and I think that still shows in my art... my passion for my sewing has become an addiction and I just can’t stop ..... I don’t measure or cut straight... I don’t like things to be to even.... I don’t use pins or patterns..... my stuff is truly one of a kind and no 2 pieces are the same !



I am so very lucky that my family doesn’t mind my sewing machines going all day......the house almost shakes sometimes - and my kids are my biggest fans .... so positive and bright !



For the first time in my life I have realised that this is it.... this is so me .... and I LOVE it !!!! I have always known I want to be a mum but never been sure about what I want to do for work...... I am here and I am just so excited about the possibilities and opportunities that are out there for me !!



Love me or leave me, I am who I am and I am proud of it ! Come visit my shops and have a look at my crazy stuff ....

http://www.etsy.com/shop/squashdesigns

http://www.madeit.com.au/squashdesigns

Nicole Teague,
Squashdesigns
xxx