Re:kindle my craftiness please..

I met an old friend for coffee today - but I was a tad early.

Non-accidentally mind you -  I headed to New Regent St 45 mins ahead of our 2pm meeting time as I had cabin fever and "crafters block".

This Street is so cute and has survived some 17,000 or more shakes over the past few years. 

I had seen a fab store from the window a few months back and have always wanted to enter inside: Re:kindle is just yummy in every sense of the word: smells great (like the woody oiliness that comes from crafted and re-loved timber), has fabulous ethos behind its brand and sits so damn well in this little Spanish-styled nook.

So today I entered inside: the lovely spacial designer Tessa Peach greeted me from behind a trestle table made lovingly out of salvaged timbers: some slats painted, some chipped, while others show off all their vintage woody grain.

From the window I spotted some lovely designer pieces: geometrically designed bracelets, stylish card wallets, ethical toys and beautiful necklaces. I can tell you, the smell doubled my love for these keep-sakes.

          

Just look at this estate of wooden houses! I want to live here.

Next door to Re:kindle, and sharing the same slice of block, is a wee simple looking cafe. 

I met my friend here: we shared a gluten free citrus slice over our coffees.

The best thing about this cafe, is the furniture: all designed and crafted by the clever folk next door!

Edgy, upbeat and European with an utterly Melbourne style to it, this place is a great place to stomp out any cabin fevers or "crafty blocks".

 

The little wooden houses sit just above the eye - lining the parameter of the cafe space.

Citrus slice and a cup of coffee Supreme.

Block coloured buntings and other daily tricks

Yesterday afternoon, I came home with my bag of plain coloured card and other craft supplies, and make a few buntings for customers.

I also made another one as a test:

This necklace has plain colour textured paper on it instead of my usual busy patterns mixed in with neons.

So what do you think?

It reminds me of a gelato cone in the middle of summer. The grey pieces simply sharpen it all up (and trust me, it looks far better in the flesh).

You can also buy in from my Facebook page or from my FELT store.

I had such a spot in the sunshine and view of the backyard from my studio yesterday, I decided to keep pottering along and making the 5 bunting orders I received overnight. I even cooked up some new ideas for necklaces (in the design stage now).
All in all, a rather productive day!

Coffee but no cake

I've been on and off a diet for about 8 weeks now: I slipped off the wagon and have today climbed back on.

Today's visit to get a few craft supplies has ended up with a sit in the mall with a very average cup of coffee, and no cake.

I am even excited about using my new notebook to calorie count! Ha!

Anyway - some plain papers bought for a new range of buntings - plain block colours: I will showcase these to you later today...

So from me and my very bland cuppa, have a nice morning peeps!

Ps: wearing my new bunting and have had 4 comments already today. How good do I feel? Great!

Black themed buntings and the colour yellow

For a designer who wears black (or shades of it) most days, I haven't really considered making jewellery with black in it.

But, over the weekend I decided to do just that.

I wasn't sure how these bunting necklaces would turn out, but they have proven to be rather popular when posted on my Facebook page.

What works I think, is that I have paired the black up with white and yellow. That yummy yellow that you see in a perfectly ripened banana, or lemon.

So, here is one - sold already - but I can do this many times over. (initially this one was for me, but it has been snapped up by a new owner overnight and is being shipped to Dunedin tomorrow.

Now, working with this hue of yellow makes me well and truly happy: that kind of happy you get when you first eat a citrusy slice of cake, or you get your very first bike as a child.
Or, you finally find the perfect Orla Kiely notebook to write bits of stuff in for no reason whatsoever.

I love yellow!

In our jammed packed shed at the side of our house, there are two Bentwood chairs.

The colour yellow has given me an idea for them: not a new idea, but one that I know will work well in our 70s home.

This is the style - and this is exactly what they will look like when they are all painted up in that yummy corn yellow - and how fabulous do they look all grouped together at a table? Love.

My next mission (after creating a few more buntings today) is to lean into the very dusty back wall of the shed and dig these gems out. Bentwood made some fabulous chairs, and this model (No. 14) is such a keeper!