Madeit Blog Editor

This week I am a Blog Editor at Madeit.

The Madeit Blog features a collection of eight items curated by a Madeit Seller. Since it's spring, my brain is all full of the garden. What better than 'Plant It' finds?

Hanging pod by The Coloured Knot

Planter set by Urban Decor

Moss ball by Nuno and Green

Air plant vase by Fleurieu Gifts

Planter trio by RAW Design Co

Plant cosy by Dot & Dash

Terrarium brooch by Apooki

Planter by Just Add Salt

Check out the full selection.

Handmade Finds - Christmas Decorations

It's the beginning of December and the time of year when we're unpacking our Christmas decorations and finding beautiful new ones to add to the tree. This year I'm in love with clean lines and especially with clay.  These gorgeous handmade finds are all from Madeit.

By Made With Love This Christmas

1 Scandinavian bird ornaments by Red Punch Buggy
2 White wooden heart by 1000 Pretty Things
3 Merry Christmas ceramic tag by Servant Ceramics
4 Bird on Christmas tree and snowflake by Studio KVB
5 Family tree Christmas pendant by Poshbeads Jewellery
6 Eco friendly Christmas decoration by Berlin Roses
7 Clay tags by Mud By Nest 
8 Our family vintage silver spoon by me2
9 Clay tag Christmas ornaments by French & Sparrow
10 Shabby style star by Cross Your Heart

Handmade Home Decor Finds - Bright and Floral

Australian handmade bright and floral home decor finds, that are a little retro.

1 Retro orange flower earrings by 2 Favourite Girls
2 Stunning flower print lampshade by Lulu Lamps
3 Bright and funky retro flower pillows by About The Place
6 Handmade pouf by frenchpouque 
7 70s wallpaper galloping horses by Delilah Devine
8 Ironing board cover by Modern Homewares
9 Retro art work by 'kaetoo' Canvas Photo Boards

Stocking Stuffer Showcase

I'm participating in a showcase of stocking stuffers over at Gypsy Jean Creative. There will be small items under $20 available from a range of stores.

These are some of the items that will be available, but visit the showcase to see more items being uploaded over the next week. The full range (and all the details) will be available for purchase 8 - 10 November.

Working down the columns are creations by (1) LA Crafts, Schooled Up Hair Accessories, Gypsy Jean Creative, (2) Kwilts By Kate, Charlie Patch Creations, Blossom Dolls, KrAe-Z KiDz, 'kaetoo' Canvas Photo Boards, (3) Mudpies & Butterflies, Patricia Jane, Inspired by Hayley, Once Upon A Tree, Too Many Pots, Not Enough Fingers, (4) Archie & Moo, Baby Bug Rugs, Elodie Grace Designs, Made by Ren and Ohana Trends.

Handmade Wedding Finds - Spring Flowers

Oh, so pretty. Lots of handmade Australian flower finds for spring weddings.

1 Pink poppy clutch by Sir Tom

2 Silver flower earrings by Bluebirdss

3 Cluster of roses shoe clips by Designed by Divas

4 Floral pink and mint wedding invitation by Zest and Lime

5 Lime green wedding clutch by Maple Mist Designs

6 Butterfly cupcake cake toppers by Topp That Cupcake

7 Flower crown headband by K is for Kani

8 Wedding table plan display board by 'kaetoo' Canvas Photo Boards

9 Vintage pastel bunting by Merry-Go-Round

Handmade Home Decor Finds - Grey and White

Pretty finds for Australian handmade grey and white home decor.

1 Grey and white diamond patterned dragonflies by Paper and Wish
2 Fabric storage basket by Made By Jen
3 Large grey and white chevron fabric lampshade by Made In Fabric
4 Glass coasters by Edelweiss Productions
5 Feather table runner by Elkhorn Design
6 Inspirational display board by 'kaetoo' Canvas Photo Boards
7 Linen tea towel by Paluma Print
8 Storm grey and white brick cushion cover by belljar interiors

Handmade Wedding Finds - Yellow Zest

Inspiration from the world of Australian handmade for anyone planning a yellow-themed wedding.

1 Golden Yellow... Earrings by JC Bridal Jewelry 
2 Printable Yellow Chocolate Wrapper by Blossom Tree Designs
3 Custom Designed Center Piece by A Wilderness
4 Paper Straws by Little Billie Bluebird
5 Wedding Seating Plan Board by 'kaetoo' Canvas Photo Boards
6 Printable Wedding Invitation Set by mikiodesign
7 Yellow Flower Head Wreath by Velvet Teacup
8 3 Small Bridesmaid Clutches by Sally and Jane

Update: Just offered by Blossom Tree Designs is this discount code to receive 10% off any purchase - FAVBTD10OFF

Chez ma mère

We have just returned from five days visiting my parents in Queensland. Since we don't visit all that often, one of the fascinating things is exploring their house to hunt out my mother's latest creations.

My mother, Pat from Patapan Art, is retired and therefore has a lot of time to dedicate to exploring different artistic techniques. I have Blogged about her before, when she had work in an exhibition at the Brisbane Institute of Art and she Blogs frequently about what she is working on at the moment. We spent time going through her current folio and pieces that have been filed away and looking at half-finished works, but poking around to find the artworks, old and new, that she has on display was great too.

A quick tour of the house.

Quilts and handmade cushions in the entrance way.

Tapestries scattered throughout the living room and into the bedroom.

A beautiful Japanese quilt on the bed and acrylic paintings on the walls.

Birds in the art room.

An embroidery in the spare room.

A paper quilt of bugs hanging in the toilet.

A bag on the back of a chair.

Paintings scattered in the corners.

A knitted doll, complete with clothing options (all of which, of course, Miss 2 wanted to dress the doll in at the same time) and felt hares that had multiplied like... rabbits.

The wonderful thing about my mother having the time to explore so many different crafts is that she can then merge the techniques together. It means her house is a joy to visit, that each artwork is interesting and you never know what she is going to create next.

Do visit her Blog to see more of her artwork.

Little Red Riding Hood

These cute Red Riding Hood dolls were on the front page of Madeit today.

Red Riding Hood custom made doll by Hazel's Tea Party

Some other fantastic Australian Red Riding Hood finds on Madeit and Etsy, some of them really quirky.

Dark Fairytale Journal by Bound For You

Red Riding Hood Wolf Fairytale by Kirstin Mills

Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf Cookies by One Sweet Chick

Little Red Riding Hood lost in the bush by Keiko Murakami

Sellers Picks on Madeit

Madeit has a few different ways of publicising their sellers for free, which is great.

The front page has a different selection of 16 items each day, chosen around a theme (today is Paisley Finds) or randomly from the Gift Guide on the weekend. Newsletters (shopping guides) are sent out three times a week with newly listed items on Monday, a theme on Wednesday and a rotation between the Gift Guide, Undiscovered Sellers and Sale Items on Friday. One seller is featured in detail for a month or so in the Designer Spotlight. The Facebook page has more items as the cover image, as well as promoting the top sellers and new sellers each month and other random items. And then there's the Picks.

Picks is a weekly display of the favourite items chosen by three sellers, as well as a range of items chosen by the Madeit staff, Bec, Tian and Axl the cat. I'm a Picks editor this week and I decide to have a theme to my finds. So I've chosen eight different fantastic brooches, five of which show on the Picks page at any one time. Below are my choices in detail.

Green Silhouette Brooch by Kapalau.

Kimono Tree Brooch by Lauren Williams.

Stunning Red Blossom Brooch by Nomstar Designs. 

Silver Feather Brooch by Oh Deer.

Hand Painted Bird Brooch by She's Crafty.

Floral Heart Attack by Simonette.

Teal and Maroon Floral Tree Brooch by Under The Shade Of A Bonsai Tree.

Tawny Owl Wool Felt Brooch by foxowlroad.

The Finders Keepers

On the weekend, Miss 2, Darren and I went to The Finders Keepers Melbourne in the Royal Exhibition Building, which is a big biannual art and design market getting around Australia and New Zealand.

A good number of the store holders were familiar names from Madeit and Etsy. I'm on online seller and shopper, but there is something good about being able to see creations in person.

We bought two pairs of tights from the clearance sale of last season's stock at Tightology and some very beautiful wedding presents from Hayden Youlley Design and Angus & Celeste. We didn't buy a lot of other things - Miss 2's distracting influence had a lot to do with that! Darren really liked the Juke Cases - upcycled suitcases turned into portable audio systems created by Son Valise.

There was a lot of jewellery at Finders Keepers, as well as a surplus of cards and baby and adults clothing. The Oxfam Shop was also there, which I though was really very strange because although I'm a big fan of Oxfam and free trade and all that they do, they are an organisation rather than independent artists and designers promoting their creations....

There was a food and music as well. We had an actually reasonably priced lunch next to the stage where Lauren Moore was playing. Lauren had accumulated a little mosh pit of toddlers who thought that acoustic guitar was great. Miss 2 joined the worship.

A lovely morning out. The Finders Keepers will be back in Melbourne in October, as well as Sydney in May/June and December and Brisbane in July and November (dates here). Do go and check it out.

Did you go to The Finders Keepers Melbourne? What did you find there?

The Fox and the Hound

The Madeit front page has a different theme every day. A couple of weeks ago, the front pages were book titles ('50 Shades of Grey', 'About A Boy', 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar', 'The Lord Of The Rings' and 'The Owl And The Pussycat'). This week is a film theme - so far we've had '2001: A Space Odyssey', 'The Princess Bride' (love that movie!), more to come over the week.

In the spirit of films, I've chosen features inspired by 'The Fox and the Hound', the first film that my mother took me to at the cinema. Click on the images to go to the listings.

Handmade by Plushka

Angelwing Jewellery

edward and lilly

Annelise Norman

The Crafty Little Fox

Sparrowhawk Designs

Neptune and the whimsical Duchess

Oiolin's Craft & Magic

nomuu

Lilypad Designs

Ruby & Olive

dear mrs morris

Blossom Couture

A Scarlett Store

Pretty Little Thing

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