Turquoise - Wednesday Wishlist

Turquoise is the theme for today's Wednesday Wishlist. The December Birthstone, this is a collection dedicated to all things turquoise found by using Turquoise as a search term on ETSY.  I hope you love it !

La Diva Airstream- Altar Ego, articulated paper doll, fully assembled by rowenamurillo

Seafoam heart plate in turquoise blue stoneware ceramic with
lace crochet imprint by PrinceDesignUK

Cuff with Carico Lake Turquoise Sterling Silver Genuine and Handcrafted by litapsilverj

Handmade designer crochet lace dress "Blue turquoise butterflies'
in mercerized cotton and silk chiffon by http://www.etsy.com/shop/RuchkiKruchkI

Vintage upcycled (with key) hand painted turquoise and brown with a cross train case:
carrying case, art case, makeup case, jewelry case designsbyluckey

Turquoise Beaded Necklace, Vintage Jewelry, Gemstone Flower Necklace,
 Stone Jewelry by zafirenia

Aqua Turquoise Blue Art Glass Small Sea Coral Bowl by UneekGlassFusions

Friday Friends Dusty Divas Inner Earth Soaps

                  

Welcome dear readers to a new installment in the Friday Friends DUSTy Diva's series. Oh and Happy Friday too :)

Maddabling has been flat stick this week with Summer Street Fair - market opening night was last night and we still have today and tomorrow for you to pop in to buy fabulous handmade and vintage Christmas Gifts.

This week I am thrilled to introduce a Friday Friend and  DUSTy Diva who I am a big fan of and I adore her products. Meet the gorgeous Erin of Inner Earth Soaps.

I am going to share some of my all time favourites with you,  from Erin's store. Lip Balm. A year round essential. I never leave home without a lip balm in my handbag. You really must try the Vanilla Honey Lip Balm for soft kissable lips. Delicious ! Just remember not to eat it straight from the pot, it does smell that good.

Can't decide what to buy for someone who is notoriously difficult to buy for this Christmas ? What about a 3 Month Soap Subscription ? Get a luxury handmade soap in the mail each month for three months - cost includes shipping.

                   

I totally love this as a concept and purchased a three month soap subscription for family member a while ago for their Birthday. It was well received and ultimately, it was a fab gift for someone who is difficult to buy for and tends to think of others before herself.

I heart The Kakadu Soap very much - it is "scented with Australian native lemon myrtle essential oil plus hints of eucalyptus and tea tree, this bar is fabulously uplifting and fresh, enriched with gentle Australian white clay."

And for a sublime summer perfume - could you go past the Mango Papaya Perfume Oil ? How good does it sound ? Almost edible..........

Dear Readers, I think you really should check out Erin's Festive Range too with such soapy goodness as Snowflake, Candy Cane and Plum Pudding Soaps - wouldn't they make awesome stocking stuffers ? That's if you could bear to part with them. Erin also makes gorgeous body products that you should check out too.Time now for you to sit awhile and read An Inner Earth Soap Opera ! See you all next week xo

An Inner Earth Soap Opera

Who is Inner Earth Soaps?

It's just one person - me! I work from home in our little flat in Bondi Beach.

How and when did your artistic journey begin?

The first time I ever made soap it was for Christmas gifts ... it was about five years ago, and I was really starting to get into handmade stuff. I thought it would be cool that year to make some soap and give it out to friends and family. I bought a block of MP (melt and pour) soap online and melted it down, added colour and fragrance, and poured it into cake loaf containers.

When it had set, I cut them into bars and wrapped them up for gifts. I love the whole process so much that I decided to get a bit more serious and learn to make my own soap base from scratch. The traditional cold process method - which is what I use now - was tricky to master but I loved it.

What inspires you?

The changing seasons. Christmas. Halloween. A whiff of something that smells nice. A vibrant colour. Flowers. Cakes. The beach.

What kind of things do you make/create?

I make quite a few different products: soap of course, also perfume oils, lip balms, body creams, facial products, and scrubs. But my passion will always be with making soap.

Do you have a favourite piece that you've created?

Last year I used to make a soap called Citrus Sunrise. It was a total pain to make, with four separate pours in different colours, but the effect was really cool.

What are your future plans, dreams, inspirations?

I can see myself making soap and skincare products for many years, and further along the track I'd like to teach my own soap making course.

Check out the Inner Earth Soaps website here : http://www.innerearthsoaps.com.au/

buy online at Etsy here : http://www.innerearthsoaps.etsy.com/

buy online at Erin's Big Cartel store here : http://www.innerearthsoaps.bigcartel.com/

connect on Facebook here : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Inner-Earth-Soaps/197683883604916

catch sweet tweets on Twitter here : http://twitter.com/innerearthsoaps

or follow the Inner Earth Soaps Blog here : http://www.innerearthsoaps.blogspot.com/

DUST Team Gift Ideas under $20 - Wednesday Wishlist

Hi lovely readers, just a quick wishlist this week due to market prep. Here are some fab ideas for Christmas gifts from the DUST team and they are all under $20 ! I hope you are all buying hand made for Christmas !


For the Environmentally Concious

Reusable Snack Bag by BonTons

For the Soap Lover :

Lime and Patchouli Soap, Hippy, Grounding, Peace, Love,
Calming, Soothing, Avocado, Dry Skin by New Earth Soaps 

For the Chocolate Lover 

Box of 8 Gourmet Chocolates by CricklewoodChocolate

For Little Ones

Plush Toy , Polka Dot Cat, Vegan Friendly, Lime Green by earthslings

For the Crochet Lover

Vintage Neckwarmer Pattern by Chrisbeads

For the Jewellry Lover

Butterfly Symphony blue butterfly music motif necklace,
altered art, bronze setting and chain by Starzyia

For the Boys

100g Shaving Cream - Alor Shaving Cream - For Men by Rhasdala

Postcard/Craft Swaps, Decadent Morning Teas, Bath Bombs and Buying Handmade

Hello dear readers, it has been a while since I have written a generalised blog post but there are a few things I thought were newsworthy, so to speak. I am in full swing to organise for the Summer Street Fair market later this week (more info below) and wonder if I will be ready on time......

Now onto general ramblings. I just want to say I love craft swaps.

And postcard swaps. They are so much fun to be involved in ! The October/November Postcard Swap over on the DUST Team forum is in full swing. I was teamed with Abigail ( Jades' daughter) and she sent me this card of Traffic Signal Boxes - she also told me that she had painted the one in the bottom row, second from left ! I think they look fantastic.

I sent Abigail a postcard of the Brig Amity replica and the Albany Town Crier. I really hope she loves it.

The DUST Team craft swap for September/October was a hit, I think all the recipients were happy DUSTers ! I was so spoilt by Tess, my swap partner but more on that in a moment. This is what I sent to Tess. I wrapped it all so prettily - I figure that when you are sending a craft swap parcel, it should feel like Christmas for the receipient :)

This is what I sent to Tess. A mixed media collage, some gift tags, some original photographs I took, some gift tags and a greeting card to say thanks ! I was so pleased that Tess liked my photos enough to include some in a swap.

and this is what I received from the gorgeous Tess from planettreasures ! She certainly spoilt me ! Where do I start. A postcard, a hoot oops I mean cute fabric Owl brooch, a greeting card, some earrings, a necklace, a bracelet and a fabric business card holder. Turquoise is my birthstone and features in the earrings and bracelet :)

Decadent Girly Morning Teas - I was lucky enough to indulge with Del from DELicious Designz on Friday at a gorgeous cafe called Liberte in Albany. Beautiful decor and wonderful food, what more could a girl want, apart from a Latte and a Croissant !

A new project - I tried my hand at making bath bombs for the Summer Street Fair coming up from this Thursday night.  I think they turned out rather well for a first attempt. I love to make new things and love it even more when they work out first time round :) This photo is what they looked like when I pressed them out of the mould, now they need to air-dry for 1-2 days.

And finally, are you buying handmade this Christmas ? Deb from Two Cheeky Monkeys suggested for the November/December DUST Tea Craft Swap Secret Santa that we create a treasury list of things we like so that it makes things a little easier for our Secret Santas. There are so many gorgeous things on offer and they won't break the bank ! All of these items are $20 or under !

See you all on Wednesday for a Wednesday Wishlist................... have a great week xo 

Friday Friends - Australian Artists - SimmoneStar



Pretty eye pirate smile dolly

Hello dear readers - welcome to another edition of Friday Friends. I hope the week has been kind to you, I have been preparing for a Christmas Market and I am enjoying some time at home. The vege garden is picking up growth quickly with a good blend of mild to warm weather and refreshing Spring Rains.

This weeks I have any exciting new Australian Artist to feature -meet the lovely Simmone from SimmoneStar on MadeIt.

I stumbled across Simmone's work in a MadeIt Email Newsletter and instantly fell in love with her divine dollies. I may have mentioned before that I completely adore Hand Made Dolls and these creations are no exception.

For example, I present  the Custom Made Best Friends Girl Dolly - doesn't she have the sweetest face and coolest clothes ....  

My best friends girl dolly - Custom Made

or the Stylish Little Bun Dolly who is "Cuddly and cosy, joyful and sweet, just a few words that spring to mind when in Little Bun's company. Handmade from designer corduroy, cotton, lace and felt with a hand embroidered face."

And not to forget the boys, these cheeky Pirate Boy Dolls described as "corageous and cuddly, mysterious and smart, just a few words that spring to mind when in a Pirate Boy's company "

I think any child (or grown up for that matter) would be thrilled to find one of these treasures in their Christmas Stocking - what a perfect gift ! Simmone also makes lovely childrens clothing too, you simply must check out her Madeit store for yourself.

Dear readers, I invite you now to take some time out of your hectic schedules, perhaps enjoy a cuppa and indulge in The Sweet Story of Simmone Star.

The Sweet Story of  SimmoneStar

Hi - I'm Simmone - the face behind SimmoneStar. I enjoy many different roles, I'm a professional make up artist, librarian, children's entertainer (clown/face painter), mother, wife, creative artist, just to name a few.

Vintage Pillow Dollies

I grew up in Northern NSW on a ram shackle property with no electricity, my Mum would create amazing clothing and home wares using her treadle singer machine. I guess somewhere her skills unconsciously rubbed off on me! I moved to the Dandenong Mountains 3 years ago, from bustling St. Kilda, where I spent the past 25 years. I have a 2 and 3 year old,  a wonderful supportive partner, 2 chickens and an epic rambling yard.

Little Bella dolly, felt face, designer fabrics, soft and cuddly

My fave things include, sewing, gardening, makeup artistry, face-painting, books, looks, kids, chooks, paper dolls, tea parties and tunes... Whenever I can, I put my foot on the pedal and go,go,go. There as so many possibility's ! I spend any spare moments, which are hard to come by, sewing funny little toys, kids clothes, doona covers and more.

Christmas decorations made by SimmoneStar

I enjoy op-shopping, off on my own little treasure hunt! I collect doily's, embroidery, buttons, fabric and  lace.  I  love to sew one off garments, perfectly imperfect. Flowers and babushka's make me smile.

Lavender Babushka Ladies

Want to see more ? Or perhaps do a spot of Christmas Shopping ? You can connect with SimmoneStar here :

The SimmoneStar Blog :  http://simmonestar.blogspot.com/

Buy lovely things on MadeIt  here : http://www.madeit.com.au/SimmoneStar

Connect on Facebook here : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Simmone-Star/103116343123535

and see what inspires SimmoneStar on Pinterest here : 

http://pinterest.com/simmonep/my-handmade-happiness/

Summer Sojourn - Wednesday Wishlist

Sojourn - temporary stay in place.

Summer time never seems to stay long enough, a fleeting season full of sunshine. This Wednesday Wishlist is designed to give you a taste of Summer in Australia. Enjoy xo



Summer this way - 4 x 6 inch fine art photographic print. Iconic red combi. blue sky. torquoise ocean. white sand. bikinis. water babies. bondi beach. sydney. all in the name of summer. by VivienneWard

Sterling Silver and Floating Summer Cane Glass Bead Necklace by LaFemmeJewels

 

Fine Art Photo Print Pelicans Seagulls Birds Summer 4 x 4 TtV Photograph by Hey Harriet

fancy summer shell cuff by angellujah

POSTCARDS Set of 4. Surfer, Sydney, Australia, Beach,
Sunshine, Summer, Surfboard, Surfers PhotographyByAnita

Caribbean Shell Macrame Barefoot Sandal by GlobalGypsyJewelry

Beach photography - Fine art photography print 5x5 - Summer Dreaming
 nautical beach ocean photography print pastels blue sky clickety by mylittlepixels