Friday Friends - DUSTy Divas - Kookki Design Studio

Hello dear readers, welcome to Friday. I trust that you survived the Christmas mayhem and are recovered and refreshed. This week it is my great pleasure introduce to you a new DUSTy Diva and Friday Friend - meet the super talented Shani, the face behind Kookki Design Studio. 

The Kookki Design Studio shop announcement describes the beautiful work that Shani does - "Fun, quirky, unique handmade jewelry and accessories for all ages. They all come gift wrapped ready for gift giving. Custom orders welcome, you can turn your own photos, kids drawings into wearable pieces of jewelry and accessories." Sounds to me like a perfect gift opportunity, something unique - imagine your own photos or kids drawings made into wearable art! I wanted to share some of the beautiful things I found while browsing the Kookki Design Studio store.

Aren't these Hand Painted Red Poppies - French Style Glass Earrings just gorgeous? Such pretty detail! 

Know anyone getting married ? How cutely quirky are these "I Do" cuff links - perfect for the groom, father of the bride, or the groomsmen? 

While on the subject of weddings, I LOVE the concept of this keepsake fridge magnet, which you can personalise with your own photo, dates and words - the perfect handmade memento for your bridal party. 

I will leave you now dear readers to read a more about Shani and The Story of Kookki Design Studio. Enjoy your weekends xo 

The Story of Kookki Design Studio

Hi, I am Shani from Kookki Design Studio. I have always loved handmade products and will always be inspired by people’s creative ability to make unique items. One of my passions is travelling to different countries which I always make sure I visit craft shops or markets to admire and bring back something special and beautiful with me.

Here is a bit of a background about me. I have always been a scientist; science was the path I fell into (that made sense to me, and still does). I studied engineering and used to work as a process Engineer until I fell pregnant with my first child in 2009. That is when I decided to leave my hectic engineering career behind, and dedicate my time to my little bundle of joy. While waiting for my daughter’s arrival I set out to decorate her nursery.

I was determined to decorate her room with things that meant something to me, something she can keep when she grew up. I just started painting Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit characters to hang on the walls. That was when I realised I had a creative Gene in me. I have always admired others creativity and never really thought that I could be one of them. With this new discovery about myself and the arrival of my baby girl I had a new dream to explore my own creative side, to do something that I would really enjoy and be proud of while being there for my baby.

So I began my creative journey making cute hair clips for my little girl that I was unable to find in any shop and keepsake jewellery for myself and close relatives. It became my hobby, passion collecting paper, taking photos and coming up with new designs for my creations. With the arrival of my son in 2011, being a stay- at- home mother became much more challenging. Designing and creating jewellery became a form of meditation for me. Once the kids were in bed I would sit and make jewellery which relaxed me. My jewellery started being noticed and people wanted to know where they can buy them. With this encouragement Kookki Design Studio was born. I opened my Etsy store http://www.kookkidesignstudio.etsy.com/ in 2012 to see where it can take me.

My inspiration for my creations comes from all the things I love and find beautiful around me. Nature plays a big part in my creations. The beauty of natural world had amazed me since I was a little girl. Bush walks never fail to make me feel creative, my husband always complaints when I gather fallen tree branches, leaves, and rocks. I love to travel, and a lot of my pieces are inspired by my travels, I carry my camera whenever possible and love taking photos and turning them into jewellery for myself and close relatives. My other inspiration is my little daughter, she gives me ideas, and I love making things for her and her little friends. I find inspiration anywhere, when I see or hear something that inspires me I get ideas to communicate that through my pieces.

At the moment I mainly use glass for my jewellery. I use my own drawings, paintings, and photos, as well as beautiful vintage books, prints, paper, illustrations from other artists and beautiful hand painted paper from all over the world to make my jewellery. For some of my designs I use paper decoupage techniques. The specially protected paper layers are then covered by a clear glass to achieve the final product. I really do not limit my creativity to one area or one medium, I like to explore as I create. 

I make jewellery to suite all ages; fun quirky pieces to more elegant pieces. So far I have made earrings, pendants, hair clips, cuff-links, fridge magnets and even coffee table coasters. I love taking custom orders where I can give someone something very special that they can’t buy from a shop. Photo jewellery can make wonderful keepsake gifts. Turning kids art works, photos of pets, photos of kids into wearable pieces of jewellery can be rewarding knowing that they will be treasured forever. I can never pick a favourite piece from my collection. Each and every piece I make is very special to me.

I would love to keep growing my humble Kookki Design studio, learning new skills, cultivating my creative abilities. I dream of a day when I can have a gallery shop where fellow makers/creators can showcase their handmade items. I aspire to be the creative, loving mother my kids will be proud of when they can understand.

Lovely readers, want to explore the gorgeous goodies of Kookki Design Studio some more? Here are some links for you to check out. 

Buy pretty things here on Etsy:

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

Become a follower on Facebook  here:  

http://www.facebook.com/KookkiDesignStudio

and catch sweet tweets on Twitter here:  

http://twitter.com/KookkiDesign

New Years Eve Glamour - Wednesday Wishes

A little New Years Eve Glamour today for my Wednesday Wishes.

I hope you love these pretty things xo 

Happy New Year 2013 banner by CowCountryCreations

Vintage Mid Century Libbey Silver Leaf Champagne 

Tall Sherberts Set of Four by jenscloset

Champagne-All Natural Eyeshadow by CMarieMinerals

White lace sequin dress by allfieruth

Champagne Lip Sugar Scrub by briarmuse

Ivory Black Lace Organza Bow Clutch by mojospastyle

Silver Poinsettia Holiday Headband by deLoop

So this is Christmas

So this is Christmas........ 

Maddabling has been so fortunate this year, and I count my blessings often. 

I am part of an amazing Australian creative collective - the DUST Team (short for the "Down Under Street Team"). Part of my role as a DUST Team Admin is to co-ordinate Craft Swaps and the Secret Santa Craft Swap is one of my favourites to do. I received this sublime package of goodies from the lovely Donna Duncombe Designs 

and I sent off this little swag of goodies to Inner Earth Soaps. 

I was also very lucky to recently win two wonderful giveaways - one from Starzyia and one from Two Cheeky Monkeys. Both little parcels arrived just before Christmas at a time where life was so frantically busy that they were truly appreciated. Here are the fab goodies that I won, both came beautifully wrapped!

So how did your Christmas Day Celebrations commence ? We decided to go for a coast hills walk as it was such a beautiful morning and most of the food preparation had been done yesterday. This is the view from one direction - all is calm, all is bright...

and this is the view looking back the other way. So lucky to live in such an amazing part of Australia. 

And if you look very carefully in the photo below, you can see a very keen fisherman that has braved the 1000 plus steps (down and back up) to make the most of this beautiful morning.  

Santa was terribly kind to us and delivered a stunning framed paper cut "Bird House" lovingly created by This Paper Cut Life by Sue Codee.

After our walk and unwrapping of gifts, it was time for Christmas Lunch. We sampled a lovely wine from Oranje Tractor Wine. This sweet little vineyard doesn't use pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fungicides to grow their grapes. They produce small quantities of wine from a sustainably managed organic vineyard in Albany. So refreshing on such a hot Christmas day. 

As with many Australian Families, we opted for a cold lunch which consisted of cold meats, salads and this year, the addition of a zucchini slice. 

We also had a yummy trifle made by one of our gorgeous lunch guests and a fabulous festive fruitcake from my dear friend at Sugagirl Cakes.

And of course I had a nice cup of Earl Grey Tea to finish off the festive feast. 

Lovely Maddabling blog readers, I hope your festive season brought you lots of love, happiness and good cheer, that many new memories were created and that you had treasured time your loved ones. If you are travelling these holidays, drive safely.
Merry Christmas everyone xo 

Christmas Wreath from This Papercut Life by Sue Codee

DUSTy Divas - Friday Friends - Forget Me Not Paperware

Happy Friday lovely Maddabling blog readers, it suddenly dawned on me this morning that it is only four sleeps until Christmas Day! So much to do, so little time....... tis the season........
This week it is my great pleasure to introduce to you the wonderful DUSTy Diva,and this weeks Friday Friend - meet Kirsten - the name behind Forget Me Not Paperware. 

I "met" Kirsten through the wonderful DUST team a few years back now. Her lovely shop ensures that at Forget Me Not Paperware you will find stationery that won't cost you the earth. Here are a few favourite things that I have uncovered while snooping through the Forget Me Not photo albums :) How amazing are these unique timber box stationery sets, just perfect for those who are true stationery addicts....

This super cute notepaper will encourage your creativity, you can write on them, doodle on them or simply make them into pretty paper planes ................

Also loving these Pocket Notebooks in adorable Woodland Print...

and for those who like to DIY - how practical are these perfect Art card Sets? 

I invite you dear readers, to take a little time out of your hectic daily schedule to read the "Forget Me Not Paperware" First Edition. Enjoy xo


"Forget Me Not Paperware" First Edition  

Many {many!} years ago my first job was as a paper girl… pulling a yellow paper trolley through the local shopping area selling newspapers to the shopkeepers after school. If I was very good at it I would have called out “Papers! Papers! Get your papers here!”. But I was terribly shy, and barely peeped, so this was not the most successful venture for me. Luckily, I am not quite as shy anymore and I think I’ve gotten much better at the paper thing!

I spend my days making all manner of paper based pieces, from journals, jotters and notepads through to art cards, notelets and stationery sets.

Everything I create has an ethos to it that considers the environmental impact. This means I work with eco elements, Australian made papers and seek “best way” environmentally to produce my ranges.

 

Incidentally I make very girly things! I blame this on living in a houseful of boys (my husband and 2 sons aged 13 and 10) as well as my little tomboy tree climbing daughter (aged 8). 

I love what I do, with all my heart. I love the freedom, I love the process, I love the community I am part of... All of it! As with any artistic practice there is the ever challenging balance between fulfilling your creative needs and drawing a regular reliable income. But making and creating is in my blood - and as a wise woman with twice my years experience once told me when discussing career options “It’s simple. Do what makes you happy”

Want to see more ? Here are some links for you to browse!

Buy lovely things from the Etsy Store here: 

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

Become a fan on Facebook here: 

http://www.facebook.com/forgetmenotpaperware

and catch sweet tweets on Twitter here: 

https://twitter.com/_papergirl

Little Festive Luxuries - Wednesday Wishes

It is easy to feel a little overwhelmed with all the hustle and bustle, responsibilities and pressures of the festive season, here are a few Little Festive Luxuries to make it a little bit easier. I hope you love these picks xo

12 Days of Crumble Bathing Whip 

Buttered Pumpkin, Lemon, Orange, Rum + Spices 

Whipped Soap by viceandvelvet

Linen Table Runner - Snowflake - Hand Screen Printed     by PonyAndPoppy

Stag Reindeer wood Brooch Christmas Australian Tallowood by corejewellery

Sweet Snowflake Clay Tags- set of 2 by Marley and Lockyer

Candy Cane Macarons Soy Candle - Baby Honeypot

with FREE shipping by Kitchen Aromas