Maddabling: 2012

Showing posts with label 2012. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

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

Friday, November 30, 2012

Friday Friends - Summer Street Fair Makers

Welcome dear readers to a different kind of Friday Friends Blog Post. At Summer Street Fair today, I spent some time talking to the other stall holders and thought it would be nice to share their stories with you.

Firstly, a virtual tour of Summer Street Fair. These are some all encompassing snaps of the fair layout and all of the wonderful stalls for you to look at.

Now, it's time to introduce to you all the lovely folk that make up Summer Street Fair 2012.
Judy

Meet Judy - creator and the wonderful soul that runs Summer Street Fair each year. Judy says this about her craft:
"I am a draw-er of fish and creator of steam punk models bordering on sculptures. I also make jewellery from vintage pieces. I have been running Summer Street Fair for 17 years now and was a stall holder for 5 years before that. It’s interesting to see the way the fair has morphed and developed over the years and that people who first came here with their mums are now coming here to shop handmade and vintage with their children."

Joanne Adams – Antique Linen and Collectibles

Meet Joanne - the face behind Joanne Adams - Antique Linen and Collectibles. Joanne says this about her craft:
"I source and supply vintage linen and collectibles including vintage jewellery. I attend local Fairs and Markets in the Albany area."

Jules Jewels

Meet Julia - the face behind Jules Jewels. Julia says this about her craft:
"I have always loved jewellery and love creating things. I am currently obsessed with my brass

Steam Punk style pendants and necklaces."

This Paper Cut Life

Meet Sue – the creator behind This Paper Cut Life. Sue says this about her craft:

"I create paper cuts, wood cuts and laser cuts. My designs are created from life experiences and tell stories about places and family, making them quite personal. I find that people are drawn to, and connect to my art because of this."

DEL-icious Designz

Meet Del – the creator behind DEL-icious Designz. Del says this about her craft:

“I create lots of different things and specialise in Spoon Jewellery and Crochet Goods I also make Festive Flag Bunting, Tea Cosies and Crochet Toys. I have designed patterns for and made my own line of Cabbage Patch style hats and lots of other character hats.”

Maddabling
Meet Samara - the creator behind Maddabling. Samara says this about her craft.
"I make pretty things and never leave home without a camera. This year I have added to my Bath Milk and Herbal Bath Tea Bags and tried my hand at making some Goats Milk Soap with great success! My Signature Line is Kilt Pin Brooches which I have been making ever since my very first Summer Street Fair. I am also committed to promoting Australian Handmade on the Maddabling Blog and I am one of the Team Admins for the DUST team (made up of the cleverest bunch of creators in Australian ETSY land)."

Sugagirl Cakes
Meet Shevi – the creator behind Sugagirl Cakes. Shevi says this about her craft :

"I specialise in novelty cakes and cakes for all occasions. I really enjoy getting into the kitchen to create unique goodies especially Christmas Goodies like Cherry Bourbon Balls and brandy Christmas Cakes just to name a few."

Sherree’s Stitches from the Heart

Meet Sherree – the creator behind Sherree’s Stitches from the Heart. Sherree says this about her craft:

“I have fun sewing and quality matters to me. I make things that others don’t including custom orders. It’s the creative urge that keeps me sewing and I find it very relaxing.”

Margot’s Creations

Meet Margot – the creator behind Margot’s Creations. Margot says this about her craft

“I started to knit when I was young, before I could read and write. When I arrived in Australia I became passionate about working with wool and creating colours which makes me happy. I also enjoy spinning. At the Denmark Markets I am known as the Sock Lady. I specialise in knitting and dying natural fibres, including Alpaca Wool, Cotton and Silk.

Sew What

Meet Carol – the creator behind Sew What. Carol says this about her craft :

"My passion is Colour and I am addicted to fabric. I am a Fabric-holic. I started to sew when I was ill and this helped to bring out my creative side. I specialise in hand sewn bags and toys. My next project is to start painting and drawing on fabric to create my own fabric designs and to start to create my own fabric patterns."

I hope you enjoyed learning a little more about the Summer Street Fair Makers, and if you haven't had the chance to visit us yet, we are open for a little longer. Pop in and say hello - and remember: "Keep Calm and Shop Handmade This Christmas"

Monday, May 21, 2012

DUST Team Awards 2012 - Part 1

Dust Team Awards 2012. This is a blog post I have been meaning to write for quite some time. I wanted to share with you all some of the wonderful achievements and the equally wonderful folk who make up part of the amazing DUST Team Community. The DUST Team Awards were held earlier this year. Here is a showcase of the 11 Categories, The Overall Winners and a selection of the wonderful creations they make. We really are an incredibly talented and diverse bunch of artisans ! In DUST Team Awards Part 2 (which at this stage I intend to publish next Monday) I will share with you a photographic journey of the creative process that went into making a custom collage for Erin at Inner Earth Soaps and also I will share a picture of the amazing goodies that Samone from Red Letter Studio sent me as my prize for the Social Bunny Award x

The Julie-Ann Memorial Award AKA : The How on Earth Does She Do It Award !
Overall Winner : melanie