finders keepers

Very happy that blue caravan will have some edward & lilly goodness on their stall at Finders Keepers Brisbane this weekend :)  

And keep an eye out for a few little baby rattles on the udessi stall while you're there :)

new work

hand-embroidery on navy cotton

Life threw a few curve balls at me in the last month and while I haven't been blogging as much I've still been stitching :)

hand-embroidery on vintage linen

Only one more sleep till Brisbane's Finders Keepers! I'll be on the verandah so if you're in the area pop in and check out some new work.

hand-embroidery on cotton

I also have a limited run of 24 pendants, get in early for one of these!


Plus I have a new display but I'll leave that post till after the weekend ;)



See you there!

3 Quick Questions: Lauren Carney

Lauren Carney is an incredibly talented illustrator/crafter/designer who recently won the Finders Keepers art competition. I love her whimsical, quirky little world and am so pleased she kindly answered these 3 Quick Questions...


What inspired you to start creating?

I was always making stuff when I was a kid, sewing, painting, knitting, collaging... there were always so many craft projects going on all the time! When I reached high school I focused more on fine art, and neglected my sewing fixation for years after. It was only in the past twelve months I discovered the amazing world of blogging, where I reconnected with my creativity by being inspired by others. It’s amazing how someone's work, whether it is photography, painting, music, patchwork or sculpture, can impact on you. I’ve found myself sewing and crafting the way I used to when I was young, but in a way that my drawing and sewing can be combined. I constantly have to be inspired by others to function, whether it is going to indie markets, going to art galleries or people watching in Queen Street. I think once you’ve had your dose of inspiration for the day, anything is achievable!


If you could spend more time on one thing, what would it be?

I would have to say, sipping tea and drawing my art journals are something I could spend days on end doing. Documenting my day’s outcome with an epic illustration is almost selfish, because it’s not something that people can touch or hold and call their own, it's more something they can giggle at or perhaps relate to. For that reason I don't spend ages on them. It seems more constructive to make things that people can hang in their living room, or wear on a jacket.


What's next for you?

Well the next big event is preparing for the Finders Keepers markets in June, which I’m totally excited for! My house is going to be a creative disaster zone over the next few months, but I’ll love every moment of it (I can't say the same for my dear housemates though!) I think the next goal / dream after the Finders Keepers will be a Gallery exhibition! That is definitely something worth working towards I think!


Thanks Lauren!

Check out more of Lauren's work here:
Lauren Carney Blog
Dizzy Little Dotty Etsy Shop

Finders Keepers Brisbane

Finders Keepers was a huge success! I had a fabulous time nestled between Chi and Jen.


Lots of friendly BrisStylettes, Brown Owls, family and friends popped in to check it out, to give me a little break and to say hi.


It was super busy on the Saturday with lots of selling, talking and laughing. Sunday was a little quieter, perfect for catching up with Kim and Renee, the gorgeous Selvedge House gals, Hayley and playing swapsies with Simone.


The new product, hand-embroidered tissue holders went down a treat - a few of these will be in the shop this week!


Thanks to B for keeping me organised when I was slightly brain-dead setting up, family for minding the stall when I hit the wall and the big love for keeping me sane this year.

Special thanks to Sam for being so hard-core sneaking a beer up to my stall on the Saturday night, teehee ;)

More market news coming soon!

I'm playing here

I'm playing here all weekend so if you're in Brisbane pop by and say hi.

Keep an eye out next week for a shop update!

My creative space ...

I'm working on a new product this week, a little one but a good one. All will be revealed at The Finders Keepers Market (and in my shop early November).

For more spaces or to show off your own head to Kirsty's.

Time for a Giveaway!

To celebrate edward and lilly's acceptance into the Brisbane Finders Keepers market and to launch 3 new brooch designs in my etsy and madeit stores I'm having a giveaway!

Brisbanites may have seen these 3 cute critters around the place but they've only just made it into online stores this week.

Introducing Porcupine, Little Bird and Baby Owl Brooches.

All three are available in either black hemp or red, green or blue organic cotton canvas and can be purchased via Etsy in USD (where the postage is free for Aussies) or on madeit in AUD.

Now down to the business of giving away one of these brooches in your choice of design and colour. Entering is so easy:

Leave a comment for one entry...

OR

Leave a comment and blog about the giveaway for 2 entries. PLUS if you win and you have 2 entries I'll throw in a little something extra for your efforts. If you don't have a blog you can mention it on your facebook, twitter or spread the news in any other way for 2 entries. Make sure you leave a comment so I know about your second entry.

The Giveaway ends at midnight on Friday 9 October. Entries are welcome from anywhere in the world.

Good luck everyone!

My creative space ...

I hit the ground running this week after 2 weeks in China. I spent most of the time at the art fair and in galleries but as you can see there was a little sightseeing, check it out on my flickr.


After flying back in on Saturday it was time to woman the BrisStyle co-op stall at the Racecourse Road Street Party on Sunday. I know it looks like I'm hogging all the space on the brooch board but rest assured I moved the Jetta's Nest Bloomin' Buttonhead brooches up toward front and centre. If you don't have a buttonhead yet you really must, there's a style for everyone especially with Sam's new ECO version.


With lots of other BrisStyle shared stalls I couldn't help myself, I had to do a little shopping:

- Super comforting chenille heat pack from the mother of chenille Bubbachenille.
- So freakin' cool and ingenious sunglasses case made from non-woven 'green' bags from Chicuff.
- Yes, it's those earrings that I've been eyeing off for sooo long as seen in a previous Saturday Shopping List from Up in Annie's Room.
- Some very cool cards from the very talented Sam of Jetta's Nest for the card stash.


And my pick of the day is this I-can't-believe-someone-used-to-stand-on-it-'cause-it's-so-pretty re-purposed skateboard brooch from Red Seed Studio. More about Red Seed Studio coming soon...

BrisStyle sure does have talent. If you haven't seen the new BrisStyle website yet check it out here.


While I was eating dumplings and shopping Shanghai style (what, did someone say it was a work trip? hehe) this little package of linen arrived and I'm so pleased with it. So, expect the linen quest to resume business in this space very soon.


And finally my creative space... the sewing resumed the day I flew in and lots of planning for the next 5 weeks is underway because, I'm very pleased to announce, that edward and lilly has been accepted for the first Brisbane Finders Keepers market on 31 October and 1 November. Is that the rustling of diary pages I hear from the Brisbanites? I hope so! For the full list of participants head here. The plan is to make it the calmest and most in control market prep ever :)

For more spaces or to show off your own head over to Kirsty's.