Craft haul - The Craft & Quilt Fair 2012

Yesterday my best friend, Sami and I trotted off to the Craft & Quilt Fair at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. We had a great afternoon looking through all the lovely products on offer and gaining lots of inspiration.

I bought some lovely products that I will share with you today ♥

 

♥ Zenozam be-dazzle applicator (Stall C14) 

This easy to use hot-fix crystal applicator is my crafting dream come true, I can't wait to "bling up" (as the lovely stall owner said! haha) every single item I own. This applicator can be used on any "hot-fix" stud/crystal that can be bought from the Zenozam website or ebay. A hot-fix crystal has glue applied to the back; when the applicator is used the glue melts and by gently pressing the crystal on the fabric it is neatly adhered. Using the applicator takes all the mess and frustration out of trying to place teeny tiny gems on slippery and curved surfaces. The store owners' demonstration and items on display really showed off the product's capabilities. You can apply hot-fix crystals to "almost everything" including cotton t-shirts, wool, leather, denim, wood, most plastics and even stretch fabrics such as lace. When purchasing the applicator a cleaning tool, tweezers and a 1,000pk of coloured rhinestones were included which was a lovely bonus! I also bought some heart shaped studs and pink pearl studs. So excited to use this!! :-)

If you'd like to buy your own Zenozam be-dazzle click here or feel free to browse the Zenozam website, they have a big variety of hot-fix embellishments plus lots of other crafty goods!

♥ CheraBella buttons (Stall A19) 

I could have spent hours looking through CherraBella's collection of hand-made, hand-painted buttons but unfortunately a girl has to continue on and take a peek at the other stalls...I did however leave with these two cute additions! I think they'll look lovely with a little project I'm working on at the moment. Stall owner, Kez explained the only machinery used to make these buttons is the ceramic kiln which I found really interesting! I love the detail and hand-made quality of these buttons; you can really tell a lot of care and time has been put into each one. The CheraBella button range is really impressive featuring cutesy animal, food, sewing, flower and holiday themed buttons (plus more!) as I mentioned, I could have looked for hours haha!

CheraBella's button range can be found online here, I think my next purchase might be this Shingle birdhouse - cute hey??

♥ Dali Zakka hand stitching project: Owl key purse (Stall D10) 

Dali Zakka's quirky, hand stitched projects were too cute to pass. With a variety of handbags, wallets and accessories on offer I thought this owl key purse would be the perfect little project for me as I'm constantly misplacing my keys.With a finished size of 10.5cm x 10.5cm it will fit neatly in my handbag and look super cute while concealing my keys. Dali Zakka's projects boast all you need is a needle, thread and scissors - no sewing machine required. I have a bit of experience with hand sewing soft toys so I am confident with my skills, but not as confident with my pattern reading haha! :P I'll most definitely share my finished key purse for you all to see :-P

Check out Dali Zakka's blog for more info on their patchwork goodies, and if you're interested in purchasing your own owl key purse the online directions can be found here

♥ Lace and ribbons from World of Lace (stall B01) Miss Ross, Sister Violet (stall B07) 

I purchased these pretty trimmings with a DIY project in mind for my kitchen.. I don't want to spoil the surprise but I think it will turn out just lovely, don't you? The World of Lace had a great variety and lace and ribbons on offer (I purchased the floral and pink lace) at an affordable price with 2 meter budles for as little as $2!! Miss Rose, Sister Violet's stall presentation was just amazinggg - picture a gorgeous little cottage with lace covered lamps, accessories, curtains for as far as the eye can see and that's pretty much what the Miss Rose, Sister Violet stall looked like. With more up-marketing pricing you have to be quite definite with what you would like to purchase but the quality of the product is very deserving of the higher price tag.

Miss Rose, Sister Violet unfortunately do not sell to the public aside from markets but their facebook page is very nice and quite engaging. You can look through World of Lace's gallery and buy their products here (not the prettiest site but their products make up for that haha!)

 Have you been to any markets recently? And what are your favourite items to purchase?

{In the next couple of days I will be posting a recap of the Craft & Quilt Fair so keep an eye out for that one!}

Sweet tooth! Wilton Cake decorating classes

As a sweet tooth who not only appreciates a tasty cake, but also loves a good-looking cake I'm super excited to attend my first Wilton Cake Decorating class next weekend!

I enrolled in the Wilton Beginners class through my local Le Kitchen store a few of months ago and I can't wait... I'm not sure if you know what 4 months of anticipation (and salivation) looks/feels like but I'm hoping it will result in some beautifully decorated cakes! 

Wilton boasts We make it easy.. you make it amazing offering many ways to learn cake decorating, from comprehensive classes at the Wilton School of Decorating to convenient 4-lesson classes in local craft and food stores. The 4-lesson classes range from Course 1: Beginners to Course 4: Advance Gum Paste Flowers. My Beginners class runs for 4 weeks (8 hours in total) with the last week dedicated to creating your "showcase cake" which demonstrates the various skills and techniques you have learnt throughout the course.

I'll keep you updated on all the tips and tricks I learn!

Aren't these cakes gorgeous?? I'd ♥ to make a princess castle cake one day (practice makes perfect!!) 

All photos are from the Wilton website, click on the individual links for instructions, ingredients and reviews!

♥  Beautiful Bianca wedding cake 

♥ the Princess' Address castle cake 

♥  It's a Blizzard of Fun cupcakes. 

♥ Ultimate Professional Cake decorating set. The most extensive collection of tools for every decorating need from buttercream and royal icing, to gum paste and fondant decorating!

Make sure you check out the Wilton Cake Decorating website as they have so much to offer for inspiration and a great variety of products for you to make it amazing

Christmas in July - the ugly sweater edition

Christmas is one of my favourite times of year; I love celebrating this special occasion with my family and still get a kick out of giving (and receiving) presents in the wee hours of the morning. 

One thing I love more than the family time is - ugly Christmas sweaters!!

For some reason I'm immensely attracted to kitschy, horrendously ugly, chunky knit sweaters. I have a collection of "mildy-ugly" animal knits but am yet to add an ugly Christmas sweater to my collection.

As Christmas falls during the Summer months in Australia I'm tempted to celebrate a "Christmas in July" so I have an excuse to purchase the ugliest sweater you have ever seen in your life...

Isn't it amazinggg? Man I would wear this with so much pride (...I am seriously not even joking. I ♥♥♥ ugly knits!!). I'm pretty certain my fascination is not normal but I'm positive I'm not the only one..right?

If the above sweater takes your fancy check out the awesome site it came from, the Rusty Zipper vintage shop. I must say, I felt like I hit jackpot when I stumbled across this site, the sweaters on offer are absolutely breathtaking (in a vomit inducing sort of way haha!)

Have you ever seen such an amazing collection of ugly Christmas sweaters??

((Note: #5 When did Snow-women get so trendy and start wearing leopard print?? haha!)

Get the look! Meoww, Catwoman

This weekend I saw Batman: the Dark Knight rises at the Melbourne IMAX theater. I was super excited to see the latest installment and as as massive Anne Hathaway fan I couldn't wait to see her as the sexy and slinky Selina Kyle, Catwoman (p.s oh how she did not disappoint! ♥♥♥)

"...SELINA KYLE - is a world-class cat burglar and mistress of disguise. She’s cunning and devious, 
but has a deep sense of honor. As Catwoman, she targets Gotham’s wealthiest. Her weapons usually
 include infrared goggles, bladed high-heel boots, and a belt filled with lock picks..."
Extract from The Dark Knight Rises: The Secret Files Scrapbook

...bladed high-heel boots? That's pretty cool!

Do you love Catwoman's style but don't really want to strut around in something so...er... fitted?? Why not try these super-hot superhero inspired pieces!...

♥ Alice in the Eve, Leather look leggings $80
♥ Gianmarco Lorenzi, Metal heel pump SALE $158
♥ DIY Cat earred beanie ($3.50 for pattern)
♥ Eylure, Katy Perry "Cool Kitty" lashes $14.95 (reviewed here)
♥ Diva, Pearl earrings $6.99 (..what a steal)
♥ MAC, Russian Red lipstick $36

Diy: Sugar lip scrub

Winter's icy temperatures and too-hot heating can wreck havoc on your skin causing unsightly dryness; to keep our lips soft and kissable regular TLC is a must! Parched lips are a big no-no for not only kissing but also applying lipstick..I don't know how many times I forgo wearing my favourite shade because my lips weren't in tip-top condition.

For years my mother has used hand moisturiser and raw sugar to exfoliate her hands, a similar DIY approach can be taken to effectively exfoliate your lips.

To transform your lips from chapped to lustrous all you need is..

♥ 1 tablespoon raw sugar (white sugar also works but I prefer raw as it's rather coarse)

♥ 1 tablespoon honey

♥ 1 teaspoon vaseline

Mix together our 3 ingredients together in a small mixing bowl (add more sugar if you'd prefer a thick and grainy mixture) and apply a small fingertip amount gently to your chapped lips. Make small circular motions all over your lips until the mixture dissolves and you're done!

This super simple beauty trick works surprisingly well and takes less than 5 minutes, I do this every 3 weeks (or so) and it's become part of my regular beauty routine. The above quantity is more than enough for at least 3 scrub sessions so make sure you have a small air-tight container on hand! 

Do you have any home beauty routines you'd like to share?

Stitch n' Bitch - The Church Retro Cafe club

 

Introducing the newest "Stitch Bitch" on the block.. me!

The weekend before last I had the pleasure of attending my first "Stitch n' Bitch" session at a gorgeous little church-turned-vintage cafe in Ballarat (appropriately named The Church Retro cafe). 

Every second Saturday from 11am, the Church Retro cafe welcomes knitters, stitchers, crocheters (and most importantly bitches!) to come along for a morning of gossip and craft. The Retro's comfy interior, warm wood fire and friendly company is so inviting, especially during Ballarat's long Winter months, you'll end up staying there well into your afternoon. BYO needles and wool and the lovely owner Noreen (and her gorgeous and very talkative daughter, Sive) will teach you the basics of knitting and crocheting (experienced stitch mistress' welcome too). 

I've always wanted to learn to crochet but found the patterns a little daunting... During the Retro's Stitch n' Bitch I learn how to create a slip knot, hold the wool correctly and how to daisy chain.. I made a daisy chain headband and was pleased with my efforts on this basic stitch. 

I was totally inspired and wanting to nail the treble stitch, so that night I stayed up really late and learnt how to crochet a granny square by watching YouTube videos and step by step instructions. I'm a very visual person, so while "on the day" instructions are fantastic, I also need to learn the correct loops and pulls while making my own goodies.

I'm proud to say, after a few frustrating moments and a whole heap of persistence I am now able to crochet my very own granny squares yayy! Admittedly, they are a little messy and at times not exactly "square" but I  am super proud of my progress so far.

I found the Meet Me at Mikes article Granny Squares 101 extremely helpful and easy to follow. When I'm a little more advanced I will make crocheted flowers and think about making a throw rug (massive task I know!) There are many YouTube channels dedicated to crochet including the helpful, Crochet Greek.

♥ This granny stripe throw rug from The Gifted Shed is gorgeous! What an amazing mix of colours.  

  

♥ I love these crocheted flowers from Attic 24. They would be the perfect addition to a knitted headband.

 ♥ What an amazing fan ripple afgan blanket from Meet Me at Mikes

Do you crochet? How did you learn this skill and what are some of your favourite patterns?

Fringespiration - Celebrity hair love

Having recently gone from a blunt fringe to now growing a layered side swept fringe, the lovely ladies above became my Fringesperation


♥ Emma Stone - As much as I loved Emma Stone with a blunt fringe as Gwen Stacy, the little lady's long side fringe is just lovely! I hope to keep growing my fringe so it sits as nicely as Emma's.

♥ Anne Hathaway - Anne is my "go to girl" when it comes to hair. I loved her blunt fringe and long length in the Devil Wears Prada (I think that may have been the starting point to my blunt fringe-love) and this side fringe is also really nice. It's good to see someone with a similar complexion and dark eyes rocking the side fringe and looking gorgeous.

♥ Keiko Lynn - Keiko is one of my favourite fashion bloggers, she's absolutely stunning and has been a hair-crush of mine for almost ever. Her fringe is the perfect length and "side-ness" for a glasses wearing chickie like myself.

Who do you look to for hair and fringespiration?

Secret Squirrel business # 1

 

...Now I'm not sure if you have noticed.. but.. I love squirrels. They are adorably cute, their little puffy tails make me smile and there's nothing sweeter than seeing a squirrel cram its little cheeks with acorns (I'm hoping someone will find my cheeks stuffed with cupcakes equally as cute..likely you think??)

My love for these little critters began almost 3 years ago when my soon-to-be boyfriend and I would send cute pictures of animals to each other (nawww!), it was photos like the above that started it all. Squirrels will always remind me of Mr M, and over the years I've received some lovely squirrel-related gifts from him (and soon after other friends and family caught onto my obsession with these little fellas).

Each fortnight I'm going to showcase some of my cute little squirrel collectables and other secret squirrel business (cute images I've found, youtube videos etc)

To get the ball rolling!...


My squirrel ornaments can be found on my bookshelves and bedside table. I love how different each of them are! The grey ceramic ornament was my first "woodland animal" purchase and I have since bought an owl and tiny deer from the Queen Victoria Market.

Going clock-wise from left
1. Plastic squirrel - Bought from a toy store, it's a lovely chestnut colour and has pretty little eyes.
2.  White & blue ceramic squirrel - This was a gift from my best friend, Sami for my 24th birthday. So gorgeous and dainty.
3. Wooden carved squirrel decoration - I bought this handmade gem from the Make It craft market in Fed Square right before Christmas 2011. It was so unique and so "me" I just had to buy it!
4. Hand-painted grey ceramic squirrel - Along with the little squirrel down the front, these where my first purchases from the Queen Vic market in Melbourne. He's very traditional looking and reminds me of story book squirrels.
5. Plastic schleich squirrel - Bought from a toy store. Would be gorgeous to use him as a cupcake topper for a woodland themed party.
6. Plastic squirrel - This was an unexpected gift from a friend, Bella who knew I loved squirrels, so nice of her!
7. Teeny tiny ceramic squirrel - I thought this was so cute I actually bought 2 of them haha! So small and precious.

You may be thinking "how much squirrely stuff can one girl have??" haha weeeelll let me tell youuu, I have quite a lot and am very looking forward to showing you!

I'm always on the look out for cute and quirky squirrel items so if you see anything that would take my fancy, drop me a line as I'd love to hear from you! project.bubbles@gmail.com

What do you collect?