eggish

Easter Geometry by Dietlind Wolf

I had planned this past week to do some natural dyeing with some chicken eggs. We even blew out the eggs and have the shells sitting and waiting. 

Despite not having the time to get them made, the real reason was that the children weren't so interested and we don't exactly have the space in our home for endless decorations and such.

Easter to us is really chocolate day. Chocolate is a religion isn't it! 

These beautifully designed egg making crafts fit more within the art & design category than the usual crafting that happens at schools and such. So amazing. I think these are perfect for any time of year - perhaps for our Southern Hemisphere Spring when it comes around?

Here's my little round-up. You only have to jump onto Pinterest to find about a trillion more......

I follow Lisa on Instagram, and am always inspired by her work - her tutorials, photos and printables that she shares are so lovely. She also has a round up of some of her favourite eggish crafty finds on her blog.  

Chalkboard Eggs from The Red Thread

These chalkboard eggs, by Lisa from The Red Thread sure are cute and would be lovely as party table settings. I'm sure kids would have lots of fun with writing special messages on these.

Egg shell and macrame hangers by The Red Thread

Macrame is super hot right now. I think my mum would love that, she sure was a bit of a macrame queen in her days (and also was known to have worn a crochet itsy bitsy bikini!). But macrame is a bit more funked up and modern than it used to be. Check out this tutorial, again by Lisa.

Tablescape by Dietlind Wolf

These were made for Living at Home magazine. Oh where can I find that publication. WOW oh WOW! I needn't say anything more about this delicious amazing fantastical vibrant eggish tablescape. Imagine sitting down for a family Easter lunch to this.

Eggs the Design*Sponge way!

The sweetest little eggish necklace from Design*Sponge

You can count on Design*Sponge to take egg decorating to a whole other level. These are simply stunning! There are tutorials for these and more, so pop on over to do some making or simply be inspired.

If you'd like to try your hand at some naturally dyed eggs, use things like turmeric, red cabbage, onion skins or beetroot. Some vinegar or salt in the water helps the colour to be fast, but it'll be a soft faded type of dye. It's a lovely and very satisfying activity, simple to do in your kitchen.

afternoon tea & a few good books on the back verandah {or what would you call your autobiography....}

This is my little styled scene from the Shannon Fricke workshop last week. We did a theme board, using magazine tearsheets. I really like the colour tones.moods I've used; though a lot of the elements aren't quite right. The cushions should be much bigger, it really is out of proportion. And the white pebbles on the ground were putting me off quite a bit (though looking at the image on Shannon's blog they don't look too terrible).

Isn't that old metal tambourine just amazingly beautiful. Shannon had pulled some fantastic treasures from her collections for us to use in our styling. The cushion is from Cloth Fabric, and the little red vessel is from Shannon's new Free Range collection. That piece of blue cloth really reminded me of my mum, as many years ago she hand dyed some similar colour tones onto similar weave fabric; and we had pieces she'd made (cushions and things) around our home while I was growing up. And of course, that roll of twine is so very us - as we use jute and hemp twine in our packaging and always have a few rolls about. Though none of ours are on such pretty wooden spools. Note to self: Must look out for pretty wooden spools.

This is Lea's corner, which didn't quite get finished. A long day ran away from us too quickly and we didn't have time for all that we wanted! I love her tender little colours and attention to the smallest details - those budlets sitting in the vases, and the sparkly theme running through it all. And let me tell you - that piece of fabric sitting there was the most sublime piece of almost costume-like theatricality of perfection. I saw many woman stop and be enthralled by it during the day. I'm sure I've shown you scenes of Lea's home before, perhaps I'll have to search my archives and show you again and she does have a wonderful knack for styling in a real warm sense, and beautiful collection of special pieces in her home. {You see, I told you she was our sister by interest and talent and such}.

This was Sylv's corner. Afternoon tea and a few good books on the back verandah. Ha - that could be the title to Sylv's memoirs. No.....? Those green colours are just perfectly Sylv. Well, actually I think perhaps she's actually really a bit of a deeper green, but it's not far off. And the rambling shelf of plants with that beautiful touch-me-touch-me-but only ever so gently teapot. It has translucent spots on the lid. Oh, it was lovely. {Both Sylv + I spotted it on the kitchen counter as we walked into the room at the start of the day}. I'll just let you know, though, Sylv doesn't read Country Style magazine - not quite her cup-of-tea; just so you don't get different ideas about who she is, and all......

Looking at these three images now. I do quite like that in some way they somehow each vaguely represent each of the three of us as people. Maybe I'm just rambling now, or maybe my tired thoughts are making some real sense. {It is almost 9pm people, and now that I live in the county it's quite my bedtime! Though I do have some new library books I'm going to curl up with....}.

This is Take One, well, Take Two actually, but the top (first) picture is Take Three which is really Take One. If you get what I mean. ie - I just wanted to try something different, but went back to my original first setting, after having to check that less really was more and took out those play matchboxes.

One important thing that Shannon made us remember/realise was that even though you may have an excellent theme.idea.storyboard.location it might all go to pieces on the day of the styling shoot. So, be prepared for Plan B, which is to fly by the seat of you perfectly knowledgeable stylish pants.

*Shannon wrote a lovely little post about the workshop day on her blog too. And look.look.look she included the styling corners of both mine + Sylvs. Yah to that!

the process of making things look beautiful

 {This was the props table, full of all the things we could use to 

make our own little scenes. What a glorious collection of beautiful pieces}

Last week I went to a styling workshop, with two of my sisters*. 

It was with the lovely, talented and very friendly Shannon Fricke. She has a beautiful, open, light and dreamy studio space in Bangalow; where she works on her styling for magazines (such as RealLiving, InsideOut, Country Style, and many many overseas editions), her books, as well as her interior designer business. She has also just launched her first collection of ceramic pieces, which are made locally, and were dotted all around the studio space with a perfect feel of touch-me please glaze.shapes.colours.

We all had such a fun day - though boy was it tiring sitting and listening to Shannon talk about her amazing life, and all that she gets up to! The lunch was delicious; with some very yummy tastes and nice care and attention to the food. Always good to enjoy well prepared, healthy yet delicious and luxurious food.

These scenes really do look like a proper styled home / studio, don't they. I so like that Shannon's styling is clean, neat, and beautiful, yet very real, livable, a place where you feel you can mess things a little bit, and there is space to curl up your feet on the chair and read a book or two in the afternoon light. 

 {this is the 'after' image of that beautiful table laden with styling props}

I came away from the workshop quite inspired to get myself into some new projects. Also, with the big reminder that both Sam + I need to be more focussed on certain particular things about Red Seed Studio. The fun part of finally getting all my inspiration images / tearsheets into some sort of order, so that I can actually look at them is a start. Making theme boards is also a really worthwhile process that I'm going to try to do more often. Pinterest is an excellent online way of keeping inspiration images in one place, and organised too; but often I really need the tactileness of some magazine pages to touch.

*for those of you wondering, about "two of my sisters". Yes, I do only actually have two birth sisters; but have another sister by love and common interests. She is the mother of one of my nephews and I've known her since I was about 13 or so.

patterns :: found during my travels

While on a little blog / web travel adventure today, I was directed to this inspiring site.
Salvia
An English interview here, led me over to more amazing images here at ea.
I can't read anything of either sites, but looking at the images is more than enough.

Ideas for new designs have been floating in my head for quite a while now.
Just waiting until I can catch some.
And catching some means I need moments to sit and turn them into more than ideas.
Waiting for those moments, for the time, space, clarity.......

Waiting is good too. Just watching and waiting. And watching those head clouds float on by.

Now, where did I find the initial link.... ummm. Who did I visit today..... Oh yes, over here at skinny laminx.

a certain sort of style

all of these images, designs, pictures, drawings and prints speak to me.
they have a certain sort of style.
a nostalgic feel.
the colours.
the shapes.
do you know what I mean? I think you might.
they sort of pull at my heart
make it lift
and happy
but not soppy
just so
in a perfect sort of way.
yeah - they're cute.
and i'm not normally
into cute.
but - these somehow
seem a little
different.

and yes

more
pears 
an
apple
or two.

 

*Used with thanks to Ruth Green, Pat Hutchins' Rosies Walk. (please excuse the poor image quality of Rosie's Walk - photographed at night, under dull lighting conditions - and there's a *band* practicing in my loungeroom. They have sparkly show hats on, two guitars and one recorder).

night tree

I just changed my wallpaper!

Now we all know that I didn't actually wallpaper my house, don't we. We know my computer has a pretty new picture on it. Oh, redecorating is so fun and easy and quick. All you do is click, click, click and it's done. Clean up in computer land isn't much harder is it.
Not so easy when I turn away from the glow of the screen and look at the "real" house behind me - the sewing room, the kids bedroom, the clothes to put away, the carpets to vacuum........... We all know why we spend so much time on these pretty computers of ours.

Anyway, my new wallpaper is from Tiel's blog, tsk tsk. It's the Night Tree. Free wallpaper, isn't that lovely and sharing - letting us all enjoy her artwork. Thank you Tiel.

PS - I may have a giveaway next week, depending on if condition are good or not....
Also, signups for my PIF end on Monday - I've decided to not limit it to only three, so anyone who comments will receive a special gift from me if they commit to pay it forward.

Grand Designs :: Infusion Fibers

When I got home today, there was a box waiting for me.
The kids tore it open, to reveal the most beautiful little slippers, that I won over here. Wrapping was so pretty, but we didn't get a photo of that.
Made with lovely blue/black striped cotton ticking, and hemp fabric as the sole and lining, these are special slippers that I know I'll love wearing day in and day out. I have only taken them off twice since I first put them on; one to go for an afternoon walk, the other to hang the clothes on the line.
Abby has such a sweet little blog, over here, with beautiful photos and lovely stories. Her shop is here - I have been eyeing off this dress for a long time now (and the modelling is very very lovely too, Miss Abby).
You can buy your own pair of ticking house shoes, or a selection of others too. Look at these beautiful baby boots; could you get anything cuter.Abby makes all her items using reclaimed, upcycled, organic or sustainable fibres. Her pieces have a timeless and lasting style. Her dresses are versatile and you would wear them for many seasons. And her bags are simple and bold at the same time, would fit with most any outfit, but have their own distinct features to make them stand out.
You can see the quality and work(wo)manship and dedication and love and attention to detail in the pieces that Abby makes.

It's so lovely to meet people like this, who live many seas away, yet has such a warmth and honesty about them, and lives life in a real natural manner.
She also sent me a lovely little zippered purse, made from indigo-dyed organic denim (same beautiful fabric that we use - I recognised it straight away!). And some little shells, that Mishi swished away in a moment - and somehow made through Australian customs.Thank you Abby for this sweet treasure and love you have sent to me.
*all photos by me, except 3rd one down of pink baby boots from Abby of Infusion Fibers.

threads around the web

I just wanted to show you these lovely creations using some of our Red Seed Studio fabrics.Gina from clutterpunk emailed me a little while ago, showing me her sweet little aprons that she made using our little bird fabric in green. What a great idea for showing special fabrics, and having an easy to wear piece. Make sure you check out her blog for many wonderful other creations.Katy is working on the "world's coolest skirt" using some of our lipstick palm fabric in red. Going off her last skirt, I can't wait to see the finished results. This is the stash I sent her, lovely bright photo - glad to cheer someone up.

It's really lovely to see our fabrics out there - stretching around this spider's web we all crawl through. I'd love to see your creations. Or even your photos of our products in your home - your styling. I've started a little flickr group, if you'd like to join.

*Photos from clutterpunk site. Thank you Gina.

new rooms

Our products have just traveled down to the beautiful looking One Small Room. So, if you live in Adelaide, pop in and have a look.This is really a very special looking shop. I know, just by drooling over the website, that Sam and I could spend hours in there; in fact I could move right in and never leave.
A shop that is perfectly styled, yet in a relaxed and natural way.I can't wait to visit and see Red Seed Studio cushions nestled amongst the chairs and feeling at home amongst the day bed. oooohhhh. *all photos from the One Small Room website. Many many more beautiful ones to look at, do go and check it out.
**UPDATED to show you the beautiful bird themed window display - and look, hey - that's our red bird cushion. Feels so magical and wonderful to be included in that fantastic display.

in case you forgot... tomorrow is mother's day

Some Mother's Day love :: ideas.
(in case you happen to read this Sam*, I don't mind if it arrives in the post a tab bit late)."embossed Japanese print silk scarf" by Green Olive Designs; available here. Martine is from Melbourne, Australia.
"count me the stars" by Kylie Johnson - available here. Brisbane, Australia."bird pendant necklace" by That Vintage; available here. Tasmania, Australia.
"linen golden halter with buttons at the back" by BlueSeaBlue ; available here. Brisbane, Australia.
"round shoulder tote rust" by Textilis; available here. Brisbane, Australia.
"snow walker" by Flying Star Toys; available here. Florence Forrest is from Brisbane, Australia.
"flat white eco shopping bag with hemp lining" by WheresBeckyBean; available here. Bec and Jade are from Brisbane, Australia.

Alright I could go on and on. And, really - these are things I want. I'm sure my mum would have loved to receive anything from this list, and even my mother-in-law would be happy with some.
So - breakfast in bed, the dishes done, a beautiful card and a big sloppy kiss, or a phone call to your far-away mother (grandmother, sisters, aunts...).

*Sam does not, ever read this blog; except over my shoulder while I'm writing it occassionally. So, really I know that none of these things are actually going to arrive in the post, unless I treat myself (which happens even less occassionally......).
** all photos sourced from each designer's site.

thursday grand designs* :: old yarns.reclaimed linens

I have mentioned Kristina before, when I received her beautiful tresor pocket as a giveaway gift.
I was lucky enough to chat to Kristina each day at the craft show. She was one of the most serenely and beautifully dressed people throughout the whole show - every day. I only wish I'd taken some photos of her in her outfits.New to the oldyarns.reclaimed linens etsy shop are some simply cute and adorable little paper boat kits. le petit bateau kit; French magazine papers to make into sweet little boats - for little kids and big kids!

I like the packaging; the attention to detail; the little things that matter most.Image courtesy of Old Yarns.Reclaimed Linens.

I wish I knew someone who would appreciate the love and care that has gone into this parcel.
(my little sailors would surely knock the wind out of these paper creations).

my favourite show Grand Designs is on each Thursday.