its the most wonderful time of the year

Oh I love Christmas! I hope you all had the most wonderful Christmas! I certainly did, spent with my family all day long! It was magical. Having children in the family really make it so much more special. One of my favourite things about christmas is Giving presents! I received some amazing ones but today I'm going to share some special ones i gifted!

I gave this Jen Booth Necklace to my sister in law, i'd really like one for myself

These aren't the exact Blackmilk tights I got my little sister but they are similar I got some too I LOVE them

My mum gave me some catbird stacker rings and I got these gems for my friend casey 

I got a thief and bandit dresses for my three nieces, they are beautifully handprinted and super cute on

and how could i not get this mug for my friend stacey 

I'm sad its all over for another year, but super grateful for how special it was!

Have a safe and happy new years xoxox

Necklaces

I thought I would share some beautiful necklaces I've purchased over the last few weeks. The first was for myself which i purchsed for Lovedale which you can see on me in theis post. It was made by the lovely Hollie Martin who I started following on instagram a few months back (she's a friend of a friend from school). Hollie posted a pic of her necklaces on instagram and we wen't from there. She is also quite a talented artist as well here is a pic of her necklaces

and the one I purchased

These photo's are from Hollie's Blog

And the other necklace I purchased was for my friend's birthday (Mel). I've been admiring Emily Green's necklaces for ages and after buying one it has confirmed that I need one!

Image from Emily Green's shop

You can buy them on bigcartel or etsy follow the links

Both are Aussie based artist's which makes them even cooler.

Peta's Presents

One of my best friend's Peta and I share February for our birhtdays. Peta is two days older then me but moved to Canberra 5 years ago! We caught up last night and I was able to give her her birthday present.

This is what I brought her

This 70's mexican embroidered peasant dress from Pom Pom Vintage (which i secretly fell inlove with and wanted to buy a similar green one for myself but its sold :( I brought Millie a kiddy Blue one for her birthday)

and this Best Friends Forever Little Red and Winter Bunny Vintage Illustrated Plate from the story book rabbit a sydney based artist.

She liked her present :) I love giving present! I should say she gave me a pretty rad present too!

Current Etsy Favourites

I got so spoilt for Christmas but during the lead up I added a lot of Etsy items to my favourites when I was searching for presents. I would like to buy all of these....

Earings from NicoleClare7

Perfect Twist poster from debbiecarlos

Abstract Print from twoems

Giclee print, at home by marlaelina

Miss joan bright pink headband from sunshineandcarousels

hot pink geo earrings by amerrymishap

Feather necklace by theblueballoon

Whats everyone doing for New Years Eve?

Fabric

A few months ago I came across this image of bow-ties via once wed (yes I'm a avid wedding blog reader and have been for quite some time, pre-engagment sad I know a girl can dream right?)

and I instantly fell in love with the turquoise floral one. They are made by Forage and I'm majorly regretting not buying one for Toby (who's to say he'd even wear a bow tie I'm dreaming again) They also have a cool blog to called Something's hiding in there.

Anyway the fabric later popped up in a magazine I was reading then I eventually found an etsy seller who sold it so I quickly purchased some from her.

The fabric arrived today and is called betsy! How cute is that. I'm going to get now that's gorgeous to turn the lovely fabric into some new cushions for me, similar to the ones I brought off her in September.

 Hopefully I'll have some left over for a bow-tie ;)

Rice Baby For Blair

 One of the presents I brought Blair for her birthday was a rice baby purchased off etsy. They are made custom so I got to choose the hair and eye colour and her outfit. I chose colours similar to Blair. It turned out perfect and came in a material bag! Very sweet.

 

And Blair Loves her! she gave he cuddles, patted and stroked her all night

 (well until Millie had a turn!)

Artist's of Note

Yesterday my friend Kelly was showing some new pieces of art she had purchased from etsy and I instantly fell inlove with Emma Leonard's art. Emma is a Melbourne based artist that "draws girls and sometimes triangles". Her drawings are so beautiful I think I my need to purchase one of her prints, I particularly love this one called 'A Perfect Mess'. She also has a nice blog bones, braids and a tricycle. 

Another Melbourne based artist I adore is Catherine Campbell who I found sometime ago, I think in Frankie Magazine during Uni. Her print 'Waiting for the tide' was one of my first Etsy purchases. At the moment I'm inlove with her prints that incorporate geometic colourful shapes in particular 'Owl in the Attic'. Be sure to check out Catherine's blog My folk lover she is always up to date with the Melbourne art scene.

DIY Bunting

After a stressful day at school yesterday I came home to a clean house with all the washing done and a lovely dinner in the slow cooker. It took me completely by surprise and it was lovely! So with all the extra time I had left I decided to make baby willow some bunting. This was my first attempt ever really sewing anything other than paper so it was quite an achievement. I had ordered some fabric off Etsy earlier in the week and it arrived yesterday so it was perfect timing.

I started by cutting letters out of felt approcimately 3 inches tall,

 I then measured how big the triangles needed to be and cut them out folded over so that I wouldnt have to sew the top end (so they looked like a diamond shape when they were cut out)

 I then sewed on the letters,

and then sewed around the edges of each of the bunting.

Last but not least I sewed them onto some red velvet ribbon purchased from Etsy

I snuck into their house this morning and hung it up before they arrived home from the hospital. I used one of the blackboards from Jessica's baby shower to write Welcome Home and placed some tissue paper pom pom's alongside.

I think it was a nice little surprise.

Have a great weekend, I'm off to the footy

Amy

xo



Look what the postman brought me today

I Love receiving mail! Not bills, but packages and letters! Today my postman had lots for me!

I ordered a whole heaps of craft supplies from Caramelos on etsy, I've brought a few things off their store and their products are great! If you're looking for funky ribbon for gift wrapping etc caramelos is the place to shop! I also received a small package from hush little snoring I ordered a peggy people kit a couple of weeks ago (they are peg dolls) and can't wait to make them! They are a super cute craft idea for kids (clearly I'm a big kid at heart!) I'll share them when they're made!

Keep Calm and Carry On

I'm sure at some stage you have all seen this print, or a version of it. For my sister in law's birthday last week I gave her the print in Lavender as seen below from the Etsy Store sfgirlbybay.

[image source]

It pretty much sums up my week, sometimes being a casual teacher (and just a teacher in general) can be so challenging, I had a few tough classes mid week and could have used this print hanging up in my classroom. I'm sure alot of teachers could relate/use it!

Sfgirlbybay (aka Victoria) also has a lovely blog, as well as her "Keep Calm and Carry On" prints she stocks some great photo's of San Francisco in her store.

So tonight I'm carrying on by having a nice glass of Dolce at home with my paramour

Have a great weekend

 xoxox

LLL

One of my favourite days of the year happended yesterday! I love Christmas, Easter, My birthday, Valentines day and especially Lovedale Long Lunch! It happens in Lovedale in the Hunter Valley Vineyards during the second weekend in May. Over the 2 days 7 wineries in Lovedale open to the masses, they put on live music and great food. This year I went on my friend Mel's bus for her birthday.

 We went to Sandalyn, Tatler's (my favourite) and Emma's cottage. Mel had a theme of headwear for the day so I got to wear my Giantdwarf starlette headband.

The food was great, the wine was better and the company was amazing!

What did you do this weekend?

Starlette Crown

My second last present from Toby arrived today and I think it may be my most exciting one from him! It's a starlette crown from Giant Dwarf I've wanted one for soooo long! this is how it arrived

and this is it on (after a full days work not styled whatsoever hehe)

Sue (the creative lady that made it) wrote Toby a sweet message too, she said stay fancy! I hope she thought he was going to wear it hahaha

I first saw it on my favourite blogger elsiecake,  Kat Von D also has one to. 

Thankyou Toby I love it nearly as much as I love you

xoxoxox

Look what I got in the post today!

I was so excited when I got home from work today there was not one package but two! One was addressed to Toby though (I knew it was a late birthday present so I had to wait patiently until he got home from work) I sent him my favourites list off etsy the week before my birthday and this is what arrived for me

Its a Modern baby owl clock which is made out of bamboo,  its by Decoylab and I have honestly been eyeing it off for some time, I was so happy. This also arrived

I found him at the Erina craft markets recently but I didn't buy him so after searching I found him on etsy and I brought him, sadly I purchased him as a gift so he won't be staying here for long you can buy one just like him from The hare and the tortoise

If you don't know me you wouldn't know I am an etsy addict and I often lead people to become addict's so before you check out etsy beware you may become an addict to. 

(Etsy has the most amazing things and really clever people making them)

Enjoy xo

I am so very Spoilt

My Family and friends have really outdone themselves this year!

I got so many beautiful presents I don't know where to put them all.