maija louekari

I spoilt myself last week and bought a Marimekko mug designed by Finnish illustrator and designer, Maija Louekari.

Before seeing her work on the new Marimekko range I wasn't aware of her work and since my discovery I have become an instant fan of her beautiful and colourful illustrations. You can view some of Maija Louekari work over on her website or read more about her in an interview on the Marimekko website.

If you're a Melbournite, I bought my new Maija Louekari, Marimekko mug from Douglas & Hope in the CBD. Just incase you were tempted to spoil yourself too...

cyber surfing

Last night I did a little cyber surfing and here are some of my favourite finds.

Image one: Little Gilbert, you can find him here.
Image two: Crochet rocks, made by Kristi's Mum.
Image three: Lullatone's eco bags.

bow tie - part one

Image one discovered via For the easily distracted
Image two discovered via Mitchell and Dent

vintage dress fabric

I recently purchased a new book with a money voucher I received on my birthday. The pages are filled with beautiful images of vintage fabrics from the states, the kind of fabric you dream about discovering in an op shop fabric stash.

Here are the details
Vintage Dress Fabric from the States
ISBN978-4-89444-780-6

home baked

How sweet are these handmade biscuits I found over on Homako's Flickr page. I have started to feel may baking urges kick in this week, which nicely coincides with the launch of Frankie's second cookbook this week! For more cute home baked cookies take a peek over on Giddy Giddy's blog here and here. Be still my sweet tooth! Just in, more cookie love!!

flea market tokyo style

Did you happen to see the Tokyo flea market snapshots on The Satorialist's blog a few weeks ago? After spying a Mottainai Flea Market sign in one of his photographs, I went on a google search to find out more and with a little research I discovered that the term Mottainai is a Japanese concept that represents not being wasteful.

Held in various locations, the Mottainai Flea Markets offer much of what you would expect from a flea market such as secondhand clothing, toys, knick knacks and the occasional traditional Japanese souvenirs. The Yoyogi Park flea market, held once a month, represents a young demographic of vendors and is my guess as to where this photo was taken above, although I could be wrong.

I wonder if The Satorialist will make it to our Melbourne Camberwell Market during his Australian visit. Hope so!

Image Credit: The Satorialist.

five internet faves

**My favourite internet finds this week**
Image one: Sweet shoes found on Diario de una Couturier's blog.
Image two: Annie costume made by Teri from The journals of giddy giddy.
Image three: Adorable art by Minifanfan, discovered via Evangelione's blog.
Image four: Teenytini childrens clothes found via Fine little day.
Image five: My favourite dress etsy store.

More five faves can be found over at Meet me at Mikes!

before and after

This little guy I made for a two year old last Christmas has been well loved over the last four months : )

xylophone

After discovering Lullatone via Pip's blog, I went ahead and ordered baby's first CD "Songs that spin in circles". Now I'm on the hunt for a xylophone, fingers crossed that I'm lucky enough to find one at Camberwell Markets similar to the one lucky Sarah found.

Image credits: Image one, Image two, Image three

buns in the oven

Speaking of buns in the oven, I took my partner along to a mystery date last Saturday. I first heard of the breadmaking course at the Abbotsford Convent Bakery via Hollabee's blog and considering spontaneous weekend activities may become a soon distant memory I thought I would make the most of our couple time together.

Poor Franjo had no idea what I had planned, his guesses ranged from couple counselling to sky diving and in the end he was pretty happy with the days events. Now I'm onto thinking about our next mystery date.

Thank you so much for all the sweet comments with my baby news, it's all very exciting and a little scary at the same time. I'm glad we're given nine months to adjust and prepare for our little arrival.

seven 'very interesting' things about moi

About two weeks ago now I received a 'kreative blogger award' from Dorothy Bills. Eleesa has asked that I share seven things about me. I have been holding off writing my seven things until this week just so I can share some extra bits of 'very interesting' information...

1. I have been struggling to fit into my clothes lately.
2. Sleeping has become my best friend.
3. I share something in common with Craft Schmaft.
4. I turned 39 on April Fools day, it's my last year in my 30's.
5. I'm 20 weeks pregnant.
6. It's a BOY!!
7. It's my first pregnancy.

Now I would like to pass on the kreative Blogger award to seven kreative ladies, miss hello sandwich, teddy bears wednesday, betty jo, earl and cookie, badskirt, pottymouthmama and super duper things!

xx

P.S. (My blogger absence has been due to some queasy first trimester fun).
P.P.S. (It doesn't hurt does it)!

cross stitch

cross stitch buttons from the pin pals etsy store found via bloesem
cross stitch artwork by kyoko maruoka via lili scratchy

I hope everyone had a great easter!!

fate brought them together

Audrette and Manwell Aubrey the third, an unlikely couple destined for a life together after finding each other at the Daylesford makers market on the weekend. I was so smitten by these two creations, I couldn't resist. You can see more of Audrette's makers beautiful creations over on her blog and you can visit Manwell's makers website here. Bliss!!!

two faves

Two faves... a condensed version of five faves.

Image one: Tangrams, I'm really loving the use of tangrams in design it's a little reminiscent of the 80's.

My apologies for not providing a link to the original owner of the image used, I've been looking for days trying to find where I had found the image from with no luck. Please let me know if you are the photographer or if you recognise the photo.

Image two: Millimeter Milligram, for stationery lovers.

five faves

There's nothing like a good meme to dust the cobwebs of my blog and to get me back into the swing of things.

Here are my Five Faves this week::

Top image: Found via Mori Girl's blog.
From image second row left: The artwork of Lili Scratchy.
Image second row right: Embroidery by Japanese artist Takashi Iwasaki.
Image bottom left: Supermarket Sarah.
Image bottom right: Mini Diana.

was your mum a style icon?

My Mom, The Style Icon blog is looking for retro and fashionable pictures featuring your mother for their upcoming book. I'm going to start trawling through some albums to see what I can find, with Mum's permission ofcourse! Hi Mum.

The above images were found via the My Mom, The Style Icon blog, such stylish Mum's they are.

A.C. Journal

One of my loveliest friends has started her own fashion blog, A.C. Journal. Ana-Cecilia has had a wealth fashion experience from running her own successful label to co-designing clothing for the Genki label in Melbourne. Her new blog shares her inspiration and love of fashion as well as little discoveries she has found along the way.

You may remember the photos I took of Ana-Cecilia's house here, she certainly has a way with interiors and fashion! Welcome to blogland AC!

summer harvest

Before Christmas we planted some vegetable plants and this week we have started to see some of our Summer harvest. Four strawberries (already eaten with this morning's bircher), some magnificent looking carrots and some red chillies for the next hot meal. I did have some nice red tomatoes to show you also but the birds got to them before I had a chance to pick them from the vine. I think our next harvest will be in a week.

the mystic cat

This clip just gave me a tear rolling laugh, too good not to share!

hello sailor

Hello, I'm back! There were some unexpected busy couple of weeks there that stole my blogging time, that coupled with a recent lull in creative energy I have guiltily neglected poor little Three Buttons. I hope this week I can get back into the swing of things and drop by to say hello a little more often!

Let me start my blogging week by telling you about my sailor boy ceramic. Last year the super lovely Pip from Meet me at Mikes gave me my now favourite money box, a ceramic 'made in japan' sailor boy. Too precious to put money into ofcourse! Having always wondered it's design origin I was surprised to find, just last week, the exact money box in a much loved book.

What I discovered was that the sailor boy was designed by Rune Naito, a 1960's Japanese illustrator. This left me to wonder where in Pip's vintage travels did she find such a treasure? I always venture to flea markets, op shops and garage sales with daydreamed expectations to find such beauties but most times I leave empty handed and disappointed. How about you? What is your ultimate and most daydreamed op shop, market, garage sale find?

I've always wanted to find that $5 Blythe doll at a garage sale, you know the one? The one who's friend knows a friend who found one once, for $2 in perfect condition.