In the heart of Canberra....

There is a beautiful shop called - Shop Handmade! If you've never been there or thinking about going but keep putting it off, hurry to the shop NOW and pick up some Plushka's goodies with 10% off your purchase:) 

Plushka is winding down the "production" and all stock will be taken back in the end of June! 

picture from here

picture from here.

Thank you ladies who work at the Shop Handmade!

 We had a great year together (I cannot believe it's been that long!) and I am sure we will meet again soon!

XXX

I heart....

...little owls! I made a few heart brooches during Christmas break. I redesigned my brown owl brooch. I thought it will look very nice in a heart shape and will be perfect as a little Valentine's day gift.

They are packed and ready to go in the first parcel this year to the Shop Handmade.

Here are a few pictures from my last trip to the shop. It looked so inviting and I kept walking around picking more and more items that I couldn't leave without! Soy candle, handmade chocolate, rosemary and thyme oil, chai tea.......

Although, we sneaked in just before the closing, the shop was still full of people!

love this little corner with gorgeous quilts!

this chocolate is just divine!

Christmas bobbles:)

Enjoy your Thursday!

Looking back at 2010!

I can remember as it was yesterday, writing my 2010 resolutions post.

The year is almost over and I cannot believe 12 month can run by that fast! It's been a big year for me and especially for Plushka. I tried to fit a few things that were the most memorable into collage but it feels like I need another two!

Plushka was registered and now has her own logo, created by a talented graphic designer.....

She loved being a part of Shop Handmade, Mathilda's markets, Sew It Together, Plushie Palooza giveaway.....

She had an honor to be featured in the Notebook magazine, being interviewed by some lovely blogs and mentioned in the Handmade Living book....

These are just the highlights of a happy and overwhelming year 2010! I cannot wait to see what 2011 will bring....

* * *

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my lovely followers! Your comments and encouragements that what makes Plushka's journey so enjoyable and exciting!

Happy holidays everyone and I'll see you in 2011!

P.S. I will take a short brake till 3rd of January. I will still post updates on my Facebook page:) so see you there!

Handmade living...

Absolutely charming, beautifully presented with lovely projects and pictures, Handmade Living book is now in my library! I've been waiting for this day so long and the blog tour made me even more anxious and excited in anticipation.

Plushka's mention on a page 83 in the jewelry showcase.

I am planning on trying a project or two during my Christmas break!

Do you have a copy? You can order one here and get it by Christmas as a lovely present for yourself;) or click here and you might win one!

Pretty packaging

On this rainy day (it's very wet and miserable in Sydney), I am wrapping up gifts and parcels. I've got a weakness for the brown paper and cute packaging which I purchase regularly and in the large quantities. Although it not always cost effective, I love sharing prettiness...

These are my Christmas hair ties and clips, packed in a brown doily bags, they are on their way to the Shop Handmade in Canberra.

When I started making bunting, I wasn't sure how to package it so the packaging gives a good idea of the flag's colours and looks pretty. This is what I came up with:

What is your favourite packaging? How do you package your gifts or items that you make? Please, share and leave a link if you wish. I would love to know:)

64 days left till Christmas...

...that is why Plushka started making Christmas decorations

and sending them to the Shop Handmade (but left a few for herself!):

Are you having a handmade Christmas?

Big bunting, little bunting!

I've been busy making up yet another parcel to send to Canberra. This time I am working on the bunting.

I love making small things and matching things so I made a

mini bunting that can go together with the big one or just by itself.

Hope you are having a great Wednesday!

Four amigos!

There were not many craft moment at Plushka's studio for the last 3 days. However, these four amigos slowly shaping up.....

I am behind on sending my parcel to the Shop Handmade in Canberra so I will definitely have to have a stitching and sewing bootcamp for the next few days, trying to catch up with time that just runs away!

Those 4 are dark grey penguins, not like first two, and I will probably make a few brown ones tonight. Let's say I am experimenting! (In reality, I've ordered different shade of felt by mistake that, likely, turned out to be fine for my penguins).

Have a great Tuesday!

Meet Mimi and Lilly...

This is Mimi. She is my first penguin made! She was very patient waiting for me to make the pattern, cut, stitch and when through all the adjustments that I had to make on the way.

This is Lilly. A second one from the line.

They were made from hand dyed felt and a beautiful Saffron Craig's fabric.

They are going together to the Shop Handmade in Canberra this week.... Not only because it's slightly cooler there but also with a hope of finding a new home!

Trip to Shop Handmade, Canberra

During our quick trip to Canberra this week, we visited the Shop Handmade and did some shopping in Bowral. I took a lot of pictures of the shop as it was my first time I went there since it's opening day in April. It's got an amazing collection of handmade goodies and in the short time we spend there, people kept coming in. I couldn't stop admiring the shop and the effort that went into creating such a lovely space! Here are some of the pictures:

I found a few things that were on my wish list: organic chocolate and Posie's badges that I love using in my headbands! I also spoiled myself with some Mint and chocolate tea, yes, it's not a typing mistake! It's a tea with chocolate! I brewed a pot as soon as we came back and love it! I am sure I will be back for more and gorgeous linen pears that I still've got on my wish list for the next trip!

I also bought some fabric on this trip that I will show in details in my Sunday Stash this week but here is a preview:

Sunday photo shoot....

It's very sunny at work this morning and since all baby owls are going to Canberra tomorrow, I thought I'd better take a family photo of them. The little brother (the one made from the blue felt) cannot join them yet. He is still in the studio waiting to be stitched together but I hope to take a picture of him too tomorrow morning.

So, we are going to Canberra tomorrow and I cannot wait to pop into Shop Handmade and look around! After three month watching beautiful goodies arriving in store I could not resist but write a wish list! I've got a few "must haves" and hope they will be still in stock:)

I'll see you back on Wednesday, when I will announce a winner of this week's giveaway and show off my purchases.

Have a great Sunday!

My creative space...

In my creative space this week, more fabric buttons as well as a few cross-stitched ones...

More fabric is waiting to become a button or a brooch or..... who knows! So many lovely things can be made from a button!

Sneak peek from the Shop Handmade that Jennie kindly took for me!

...and a lovely tag that was made for me by Mandy @ MandyMade for Sew It Together!

Thank you so much Mandy!

The tag took a proud place in my creative space till our trip to Melbourne in May.

Join the creative space fun with Kirsty!

Have a creative Thursday!