Current obsession: semi-precious gemstones

What a keeper... a real gem! For the past few months I've been in luuurve with semi-precious gemstones. 

Used in jewellery for their great beauty, gemstones also possess many spiritual properties. For centuries many people have kept these stunning minerals close at hand for hopes of gaining emotional and physical healing, good luck and inner harmony. I'm yet to fully explore the associated "power" specific gemstones hold (WIP) but I certainly appreciate their beauty.

What a collection of stunning colours and textures!

  

A love for gemstones can only lead to one thing... an obsession with gemstone jewellery. At the moment I'm totally "digging" (haha..get it?) rough/natural gemstones set in rustic metals. You can find some amazing pieces on sites such as etsy - my tip would be to search for "gem name' + natural + ring" etc. Below are a few of the beauties I found online x

♥ Rustic Amethyst necklace, Etsy $29
♥ Aquamarine silver bracelet, Toosis $155. This is my favourite item from the above selection. Aquamarine is such a *stunning* stone. It not only reminds me of the ocean but also elegant shards of ice when roughly cut. The unique shaping and metal work make this bracelet really special. I'm in love!

♥ Crystallised sugar studs, Uncommon Goods, SALE $19.99. Not exactly gemstones haha, but these crystallised sugar earrings are mega sweet.
♥ Lucia Mar cocktail ring, Dannijo Sold out :-(

I'm interested to know.. Do if you use gemstones for spiritual purposes? Or just for their beauty? 

 

Happy New Year!

Happy 2013 to my lovely readers x
I hope you had a magical Christmas and New Years with your loved ones.

What did you get up to? I'd love to hear :-)

I had a FANTASTIC time with my family, friends and amazing partner. Sometimes you can get too swept up in the "day to day" chores to enjoy the really important people and things you have in your life. I know these sorts of posts usually come out at the start of January but you know what.. I don't care haha, I've been a little pre-occupied but STILL wanted to send my well wishes x

I was MEGA spoilt for Christmas! Don't worry I'm not going to list EVERY present I received but I think you'd really like these ones...

♥ Jump From Paper, First Date cartoon bag
This bag is wicked! I love it and it's a total mind flip, you're not sure whether this bad is REAL..Is it a CARTOON? Is it DRAWN onto the pictures? WHO KNOWS? I love it I love it I love it! My lovely partner bought this for me and if you want one too you can find it online here.

♥ Kirbee Lawler, wooden squirrel brooch
How stunning? I'm in love with this woodland squirrel brooch that my best friend, Sami bought for me. I want to wear it all the time (but I must not neglect my other pretties!)

♥ Sweet Treats brownie maker
My friends SURE do know me haha... Cute things, squirrels, SWEETS! This brownie maker boasts it 'Bakes 8 delicious homemade brownies in minutes!" mmmm yummy!

♥ iPad $$$
I didn't get an iPad for Christmas but my Mum and Dad gifted money to put towards buying one :-).. I'm really looking forward to this purchase! I'm going to buy an iPad 4 with wi-fi, I'm a little undecided on whether to go 16GB or 32GB. I'm looking forward to using apps that will help with my business and subscribing to craft magazines such as Mollie Makes and Crochet Today :-)

What did you get for Christmas?

Pop-Up Shop Ballarat & luvfromamy Product Range

Yesterday was the final day of trade for the Pop-Up Shop Ballarat - we took down the bunting and packed up our stock (..to be honest it was a little sad to see the wonderful space go!)

Images courtesy of Kate Healy, the Courier

But seriously, what a fantastic experience participating in the Pop-Up Shop has been.. The response to our products was overwhelming and I cannot thank the organisers (Deborah, Laura from Learn 2 Screen-Print/MESH and Lisa from Deer Little Parties) enough for allowing luvfromamy to be part of this high quality, first time event. I was extremely nervous as the Pop-Up Shop would be my market/pop-up shop début, but I left feeling even more confident, inspired and planning for what's next :-) I can't wait!

Thanks again to my friends, family and my lovely partner who visited and listened to me ramble on about stamps and crochet for the last couple of months haha, to the organisers (such a superb job!), to the other markers - your products were amazing and such high quality, to everyone who spread the word of the Pop-Up Shop, to our lovely customers (hope you like your goodies!!) and an extra special thanks to Laura, who has been a massive, massive motivator and inspiration with all her hard word and small business success!

If you missed out this time (shame on you! Haha only joking) Pop-Up Shop Ballarat will be an annual event so make sure you keep an eye out this time next year! :)

As this post is quite picture heavy I'm afraid I haven't included many images from the shop.. But I highly recommend you have a look at the fantastic makers that were featured here and here). 

I've shown you bits and pieces of the luvfromamy product range via this blog and facebook, but haven't introduced my handmade and stationery items  officially.. So without further adieu...

♥ Crochet bow adjustable rings. Available in red, pink, white.

♥ Crochet hair bows on an alligator clip. Available in pink, white, grey, purple, red, orange, teal, black.

♥ Crochet bow headbands. Available in red, dusty pink, teal, pink.

♥ Crochet bracelets. Available designs blue navy, red navy, black skull, grey stud, black stud.

♥ Crochet Christmas decoration 4 packs (2 wreaths, 2 love hearts).

♥ Alphabet and number stamp set.

♥ Lovely Animal stamp set.

♥ Small ink pads. Available in blue, pink, purple, red, green, orange.

♥ Cotton bakers twine. Available in 15 different colours

♥ DIY fabric tape. Available in a variety of colours and patterns.

I also have a collection of 8 x 10 prints and greeting cards which I adore, but am yet to photograph :)
 
At luvfromamy, I not only make my own products, but also love YOU making your own goodies too ♥  I hope to ignite and inspire creativity with my stationery and DIY products. I pick products that I, a self-confessed craft geek, LOVE so you will hopefully have a crush on them as well!

I'm excited to announce my *online store* will be open for business within the month, so keep an eye out for all these items (plus regular additions). If you'd like to be the first to know of the my store opening, email: hello@luvfromamy.com and I will add you to my mailing list!

* * * * *

The Pop-Up Shop is a great addition to the Ballarat retail scene and I've been lucky enough to meet some wonderful, creative and inspiring ladies and gents. I hope to participate in more markets with them in the future :)

Featured designers and markers: ♥ MESH/Learn 2 Screen Print ♥ Deer Little Parties ♥ Sago on Tuesdays bindery ♥ Margie Balazic ♥ Le Mutt dog accessories ♥ Trunk & Orderly ♥ Steph Wallace from Red Brick Gallery ♥ Bok-Bok B'Gerk ♥ Sillee Billee ♥ Morgan Wills / Crafty Squirrel ♥ Chloe Harmon ♥ Melinda Muscat ♥ Emma Bulpit ♥ Earnest & Joe ♥ Jodie Lee ♥ Red Echidna Studios ♥ Made by Truly, Bread & Butter pottery ♥ Angela Hayward ♥ Pauline O'Shannessy-Dowling

Ballarat Pop-Up Shop

In 28 days I'll be making my luvfromamy market debut at the Ballarat's first Pop-Up Shop! Located at the Backspace Gallery, the Pop-up Shop Ballarat presents 7 days of retail bliss, bringing together the best of regionally made independent art, design, craft and hand-made products. A shopping experience never seen before in Ballarat!

When: November 30th - 9th December, 12pm - 4pm

Where: Backspace Gallery (Huyghue House, Alfred Deakin Place, Camp St, Ballarat. More info here).

Elsewhere: Pop-Up Shop Ballarat's facebook and tumblr page

How amazing is the below invite??? The gorgeous paper cut artwork is thanks to the super talent Steph Wallace of Red Brick Gallery

I'm so excited to be a part of the Pop-Up Shop Ballarat!! I have been a busy little bee of late; creating product, designing my business cards and organising the small (but very important) details such as packaging.

Here's a little sneak peek of the products I will display in the Pop-Up Shop Ballarat :-) Not only will my handmade crafts be for sale, I'll also showcase lovely stationery items and stamp sets to keep you inspired and DIY'ing!

♥ Crochet bow ring - $3 ♥ Lovely Animals stamp set - $12 

♥ Varieties of korean fabric tape - $3.50ea or 3 for $9 ♥ Crochet collar - $38

If you're in Ballarat on Friday, 30th November why not call in and say hello at the special lunchtime launch or gala opening night - I'd love to see you there! :-)

Spooky Halloween reads

With only 3 days until Halloween I can't think of a better time to pick up a spooky novel and give yourself a little scare! I love horror movies but unfortunately my partner doesn't (:: sad face ::) so books are the perfect alternative; only one of us is scared senseless and it's by my own choice haha.

Despite my bubbly exterior I've always been a little.. "morbidly inclined" - a lover of vampires, demons and macabre. I remember often  flicking through a lovely illustrated book that my father owned, The Encyclopedia of Horror and later, Picture book of Devils, Demon and Witchcraft when I was around 10 and thinking "gee this is the bees knees." - haha I should have been reading the Saddle Club! 

My favourite spoooooky books/series through the ages

♥ In early childhood my first "horror" book was The Werewolf of Fever Swamp from R.L Stine's Goosebumps series. I don't know any 90's child who didn't love Goosebumps. I remember taking Fever Swamp to school when I was around 6 years old and comparing which titles each of my friends owned. R.L Stine's books were fantastic in the way that they got children reading, collecting and then talking about their favourite stories. I wasn't a massive book-worm but I owned 20+ Goosebumps books and used to read them quite a lot at school. Goosebumps were the first books I remember being "cool to own" (in the same way as Harry Potter, Twilight, The Hunger Games - but of a much younger age-group of course!) Other favourites from the Goosebumps series include: the Curse of the Mummy's Tomb, Vampire Breath, Monster Blood, Night of the Living Dummy.

♥ Pet Sematary was the first Stephen King book I ever read and oh what a cracker to start with. I read Pet Sematary while on a family holiday in Mildura when I was in year 9 (ish). I stayed up extra late and ended up reading it REALLY quickly. If you haven't read King's Pet Sematary I would definitely, definitely recommend it.. I don't want to give away too much but it's very creepy but not scary enough to give you nightmares and the ending is amaaazing. I have since read the following Stephen King books: Salem's Lot, Carrie, The Tommyknockers and The Green Mile. With such an extensive bibliography I would like to read more Stephen King books in the future starting with The Shining. What other books would you recommend?

♥ Edgar Allan Poe, ah you have to love this cheery fellow! An author/poet fascinated by all things dark and supernatural often wrote about death, mourning, heart break and mental downfalls. My favourite tale by far is The Masque of the Red Death. With Death and disease on his doorstep what is Prince Prospero to do? Host a party with one thousand of his closest and light-hearted friends of course! But when an uninvited guest appears, Prospero's masquerade ball turns into a chilling blood bath. This short story (that can be read in full here) quickly takes you into Prospero's world of luxury and excess, but will leave you numb by the time the story concludes. The Masque's closing paragraph is one of my favourites, I'll simply say "He had come like a thief in the night..."

Image found via tumblr, if anyone knows the correct source I'd be super appreciative!

I'd love to start a new-to-me horror/supernatural book over the Halloween holiday - Do you have any spine chilling, blood curling recommendations? 

Some spooky tunes to get you in the Halloween mood! 

Colour Love: the yummy edition

I'm loving pastels, and I'm in luck as this colour scheme is everywhere at the moment :-) What lovely delicate colours! Pastels are feminine, calming and kind on the eyes - I love pastel nail polish and home decor... Oh! and don't let me forget sweets of the fairyfloss colour spectrum!

Today's Colour Love post goes out my fellow candy lovers.. WARNING your taste buds will get a little excited

 

♥ Macaroons

♥ Sugar candies ♥ Layered cake ♥ Meringues

♥ Bubblegum birthday party

How delicious!! Hopefully you're suffering from a delightful little sugar high after all that yumminess, hehe but don't feel bad for indulging; take note of Emma Stone's sweet advice... ;-)

My wish list - 20/10

♥ HIM: XX Two Decades of Love Metal CD & Singlet bundle - $19.99 (already ordered this hehe!)

♥ These gorgeous cuddly critter themed scent-portables via My Owl Barn - $4
♥ French knitting bee, you can buy these at your local craft/fabric store - $14.99 (I've always wanted one!)
♥ American Apparel disco pants in black - $122 (I must admit I wish I could buy the figure too!! :P)