Other

.February Cool Shops! BAMBOO GROVE.

(With all of the business on the blog during the Flood Auctions, I postponed a few Cool Shops! reviews – thanks Beth and everyone else still to come for waiting patiently.)
Welcome to my newest Cool Shop! Bamboo Grove…
 
 
Bamboo Grove is a trendy shop found on Etsy selling handmade books and concertina albums with Japanese paper – also known as washi.  Beth, who resides in Melbourne, is the creative mind behind Bamboo Grove.  Her little albums are just a treat, they are superbly made and a fantastic gift idea for that person who “has everything”.
 
Beth kindly sent me three of her little concertina albums to review.  I love them and can see tons of potential for turning them into gifts for the grandparents by adding a selection of our favourite photos of the kiddies.  How easy is that?  A completely handmade gift, that isn’t going to cause you any stress!  They look great displayed on a bookshelf or side table and are made with exquisite attention to detail – they don’t look handmade at all!
 
Take a look at what this photographer has done with some of her photographs and Bamboo Grove albums – I would love to be one of her clients!

 

This map album is really cool…

And I love this green one…

Beth also makes lovely big albums filled with handmade paper such as this one…

To coincide with her Cool Shops! review, Beth is offering a great discount of 20% off ALL purchases in her Bamboo Grove Etsy shop for the next month!
(To receive 20% off your order, enter the code “20off” when you order.  Offer is valid between Wednesday 2nd Feb – Tues 1st March.)
Click here to visit Bamboo Grove on Etsy!
February 1, 2011
Home & Family

.All because I started making earrings…

I was crusing along nicely into my 29th year, happily un-pierced (much to my Father’s delight) when I started making earrings.  I thought it was a weird thing to start doing as I couldn’t even wear them myself, but requests were coming in so I obliged.
And then the earrings kept getting cuter and cuter and finally it was decided that it would be done.
 
So on the last day of 2010, this is what we did.  My lovely sister-in-law Ashleigh held my hand and almost fainted and I cringed…don’t believe it when people tell you it doesn’t hurt because IT DOES!

And now that it has been 4 weeks (just!) I’m experimenting with all different kinds of lovelies.  So far these Tickle Me Pink ones are the favs, but I still have a whole heap to try out!!

(Photo stolen from Mrs King, and I’m due for a visit to the hairdresser!)
February 1, 2011
Home & Family

.Wedding Photobooth.

 
Last nights wedding post was getting rather lengthy so I saved these pics for today…
At the wedding, Sam’s very clever Dad built a couple of super cool Photobooth Walls.  Wooden panels with a “window” cut for a frame, covered with fabric and old photo frames – they were a hit!  

 Complete with the funny as ever fake mustache props!

 
 
 
Aren’t they the best?  They were standing in a little opening of the garden, guarded by our Missionary brothers 😉  Heaps of fun and highly recommended for any wedding or party!
January 31, 2011
Home & Family

.Celebrating in a Garden.

 
 
Yesterday was an extra special day.  Although Ty & Sam were married in Sydney a few weeks ago, they left straight for a honeymoon to Fiji and celebrated with their family and friends in Tasmania last night.  I know it has been said before, but Sam is the PERFECT addition to our family.  And she certainly knows how to pull off an absolutely delightful garden party, complete with floral Laura Ashley gumboots and red+white paper straws.  This girl has a certain classic-vintage-airy-style about her that I love.  The gardens were divine, the company was lovely and the weather couldn’t have been more obliging.  Let the pictures tell the story…
{my brother+his bride}  
 
{a welcome entrance}

 
{recycled glass drinking jars+tags to write your name}  
 
 
 
 
{drinks served in glass jars+floral labels+ice in an old bathtub}
{dress-up box=perfect entertainment for the little ones}
{funny games about the bride+groom}
 
{cutting the cake+a birdcage for cards+present table bunting}
{garden flag+a crowd of friends+filly sipping+love notes abound}  
{a photo game+kiss in the background}                          
{love is spoken here}
 
{dancing children+little band members}
 

 

{the bride wears gumboots+friends on blankets+our very own band+a singing bride}
{delicious treats}
{love cakes}        
January 30, 2011
Other

.to and from the brothers in law.

Yes, I know – Christmas was a whole month ago and I am still talking about!  Too many exciting distractions in the last four weeks and I think I’ll be playing catch-up for awhile!
I don’t know about you, but I’m always struggling for ideas for the adult boys in the family.  It is so easy to buy pretties for the girls, but what to get the boys?
My intention last Christmas was to make each of the big boys a tie – because we are church-goers, ties are worn at least once a week so there is always need for a new one to add to the collection.  Unfortunately time ran short and I only managed one for my brother who is on a mission for our church in Japan (and I didn’t get any photos) and this one for my brother-in-law, Chris:

My sister (his wife) chose the fabric, and at first I was a bit unsure, but by the time it was finished I was super duper happy.

 And so was he:

And it is a good thing that I didn’t get a chance to make ties for the rest of the boys because now I have a present idea up my sleeve for the next birthday or Christmas!

In our family, we decided to do a “Handmade Christmas” this year – we each randomly selected another adult and had to make their gift.  There were some great presents exchanged, but I think I hit jackpot!

My other brother-in-law, Winston, took a photo of Lil off my blog and drew a pencil sketch of it:

 I love love love it – thankyou Win – you rock!

 
SUPPLIES:
Tie fabric – Ronnie Walter, Retro Campers in Ivory
January 28, 2011