From one side to another

Here is the entrance to my new location! I love the tiny door within the door - its all a bit Alice in Wonderland. I am taking a place at 'Ironside Studios' which is a wee bit different to my last spot at Morningside but promises to be just as fun. The amazing Laura Woodward has created a fantastic studio concept in this beautiful 100 year old warehouse and I am so excited to have the opportunity to take a space. My things are now in my studio (in a jumbled sort of a way) and it should be ready within the next few weeks for me to start working in earnest from there. I plan to have regular open studios where you will all be welcome to visit to see my latest designs or to have something custom made and of course meet the other artists and designers who will also be at Ironside.

Handbags in the sand

Today is my last full day of my tropical Queensland holiday. Its been wonderfully relaxing as I believe there is nothing as therapeutic as gazing at the water and I am going to miss waking up to the sound of waves but it will all be here for my next visit and it is now time to refocus on the many things ahead in 2009.

I have just been playing with making bag shapes out of shells on the beach which has given me some ideas to put into practice (like so many of my ideas I do hope its likely to come into fruition and not be relegated as truly being a 'gunna do' idea!).

Holidays stitched up

I am currently on a 'break' but there is always sewing to do and I love to take on special projects when my mind is clear and there are no time pressures . I have extra special bags to make for the fabulous Petrina who is getting married this year (she is replacing the traditional floral bouquet with handbags - a girl after my own heart!!). As it is a bit extreme to take my sewing machine away on a plane I am making use of the beautiful one above where I am staying. It is a Singer that is older than me (ie. 30 +) and is stamped with the words "Made in Great Britain" which warms my heart as much as it does to see something that is "Made in Australia" as they are words that are no longer synomous with things like sewing machines let alone clothes etc. Despite having just a straight stitch or a zig zag option it beautiful to sew with as it is so sturdy and steadily hums away as I concentrate on creating something memorable for Trina's big day.