hello yellow

Hello again! Sorry for my little unplanned blog break, I was suffering a little blogger's fatigue but a mini break has done the trick.

I'm playing along to a tag I received from Anna quite a while ago now, the rules are you choose a colour of your choice and post seven found objects around the home in that colour. I choose sunny yellow and here are (oops) four objects I found.

Image One: A secondhand market find in Tokyo, I paid $1.

Image Two: A yellow wooden mouse, given to me by a friend for my birthday last year.

Image Three: A yellow pom pom, found on a card of assorted pom pom bands I bought last year at Design Dispensary.

Image Four: A favourite card I bought a couple of years ago.

I would love to invite the following bloggers to play along too.

Gini Helie
Katy Gromball
Ninon
Postcards from Dreamland

design i take for granted *part two*

Deviating from the grocery shelf and taking focus on the letter box, I bring you 'Design I take for Granted' - Part Two!

**Security Envelope Patterns**

Security envelope patterns are printed patterns found on the inside of envelopes. They are intended to make it very difficult, if not impossible, to be able to see through the envelope and read the content within.

I first opened my eyes to the patterns found inside envelopes after reading a post by Myf on DIY business cards. After reading Myf's post I searched the house for envelopes to start my on collection and as sad as it sounds I actually couldn't wait for the bills to start arriving so I could check out the security patterns.

Some pattern lovers collect them, there is a website about them, a flickr group devoted to them and others who make things from them, like Myf and like Love Teenie who makes those cute mini envelopes pictured above.

Maybe you too, might find yourself eagerly waiting for the bills to arrive!

Image One: Security Patterns
Mini Notes: Love Teenie Etsy store

thank you inside out

I wanted to say a very big Thank You to the Inside Out team for the Three Buttons write up posted on their blog today. I have been a big fan of Inside Out magazine from the day I discovered their first issue on the newsagent stands and infact I would be confident to say I own just about every issue.

Inside Out have always been very supportive of Australian bloggers and small indie crafter's and have recently started to feature a blogs we're loving section in their magazine. You should pop by their blog and say hello! I'm sure they would be very happy to meet you!

Images above are from the Inside Out January issue, taken from the article Cutting-edge craft which showcases 8 contemporary craft filled pages!

design i take for granted *part one*

Over the last couple of months I have been noticing an increase of no name products (un)gracing the shelves of my local supermarket. Their generic and bland product labels scared me into thinking of a world devoid of colour and design found on the grocery shelf.

It did make me stop and think about some designs on products I use and see daily but most often just take for granted. So without further adieu let me begin 'Design I take for Granted' - Part One. also known as DITFG


**Redheads Matches** Yes, the humble box of Australian redheads matches. The "Redheads" logo was created in 1946 and first used on matchbox packaging in 1947. The logo depicts the head and shoulder of a redheaded woman and has had four major makeovers since that time with a number of collectors series also produced. I think it would be a sad day if we lost our iconic redhead to a generic no name label.

While on the subject of matchbox design, you really should have a look at this flickr page with the most beautiful collection of 1950s and 60s Eastern European matchbox designs (featured above). You can also read more about them here.

Photo credits: Maraid's Photostream.
The redhead matchbox just above has stayed with me from the 90's, unfortunately I can't remember which collectors series it was from but I like it!

crossing off my to do list

One of the things I have been meaning to do for a while now, is to upload my travel photos and snapshots onto my flickr page. The Christmas holiday break was the perfect time to do so, feel free to browse over here!

travel bug

With Ebony's upcoming trip to Japan I'm getting itchy feet to jet set over there again this year, but the reality is that just ain't gonna happen.

Looking through the snapshots and hearing the stories of these three lucky travellers has been adding even more fuel to my travel bug desires. Have you recently come back from a trip to Japan and have stories and snapshots to share too? I'd love to come to visit your blog to have a peek.

Image credits:
Top collage - Dudley Redhead
Bottom collage - A Beautiful Calamity

cute overload

Ok, I've hit the cute overload button. These adorably cute creations by Knitting Dreams give me an instant big smile and a warm fuzzy heart. You can view more of her cuties on Knitting Dreams flickr page also. Ohh, sigh!

Image credits: Knitting Dreams etsy page.

** happy 2010 **

Wishing everyone a Happy and Safe New Year!!! Good-bye last decade, hello 2010!

Image Credit: Dawanda

marimekko goodness

Have you been to their website lately. Designs that make my heart melt!

Photo's from the Marimekko website.

vintage pot holders

I'm thinking 2010 will be my year of making some vintage pot holders, these images are so inspiring! I've just purchased a circa 50's Crochet & Swedish Embroidery Star Pot Holder Book from ebay so there shouldn't be any excuses to not give them a go.

I should take a leaf out of Miss Badskirt's book and aim for 200 pot holders!

*images row one* 1. potholders, 2. potholders, 3. potholder
*image row two* Fine Little Shop
*images row three* 1. petals, 2. Pot holders, 3. _MG_3499

flickr fave's

Image credits: 1. Untitled, 2. lovely package

a christmas hello

Wishing everyone a beautiful and festive Christmas Day tomorrow!!

Merry Christmas!
xx

my handmade christmas

I'm committed to making all my gifts this year and after listening to a Green Christmas podcast I'm determined more than ever to do so every year. Above are some of the Christmas gifts made and given so far : )

I purchased the amigurumi pattern from here. And found the flower crochet pattern here.

megadoily

Makes a great floor mat! You can read and see more of the mega doily here.

granny chic

Framed doily found on Amy's blog.
Wood wool stool found on the Granny Chic flickr pool.

ladies bike

A work colleague told me she bought this bike from Big W this week. Not bad!

spinthread

I'm in love with Spinthread's work, view more of her beautiful hand embroidered & knit accessories here.

Credits: Image One, Image Two, Image Three.

wool and the gang

Total credits go to Feeling Fuzzy's blog for introducing me to Wool and The Gang. Their website has some great video tutorials and the online shop stocks some, Crazy Sexy Wool, some Sugar Baby Alpaca and some Shiny Happy Cotton.

And do pop up over to Emma's blog for some beautiful images, felt kits and good doses of inspiration.

team with a theme

My partner Franjo and I went to a wedding on the weekend. We choose a present from the gift registry at Myer and paid to have the present gift wrapped. We were asked to come back in ten minutes to collect the wrapped gift, when we returned it was a surprise to find that the wrapping suited our wedding attire quite noicely!

new discoveries

My latest discoveries have been

* finding the latest issue of Milk magazine at Magnation
* learning of and visiting a new local cafe, Luncheonette
* discovering beautiful stationary from Millimeter Milligram Inc
* finding a free stripey top pattern from Tessuti's blog, thank you Tessuti!

Stripey top photo above found at Tessuti's flickr pool.