This is such exciting news and I have been keeping it for too long! Kristen has been planning a lovely crafting retreat that will take place on Saturday, 23rd June, 2012. Sew is the opportunity for Crafters of all levels to spend a fabulous day at the Sebel Harbourside Kiama (a beautiful location) learning one of three new hand-sewing projects with Kristen and making two fabulous custom paper craft projects with Paperklip (me). All craft materials are included in the day, along with a full buffet lunch, morning and afternoon tea, goodie bag and prizes. The event is small and cosy- a perfect opportunity to make – and make friends! Places are filling fast, here is the link to SEW if you would like to come and join us.

A lovely lady by the name of Margaret called me a week or two ago as someone let her know I might be able to make something custom for her. Where else would you go to if you needed a card for Joy, who was their lovely president of their group at the RSL who was leaving, and they all wanted to say ‘thank you’? So, I made a card from lots of bits and pieces that were here. Margaret was really happy with the result. I have never really been a scrapbooker as such, but I think making cards is fun stuff.

Miss 8 has a party to go to, so this afternoon we made a card together. Like? A great way to use up strips of scraps. I also have some news in the next few days about a really lovely event that is coming up in June. Stay tuned for that one. I hope everyone is GREAT. xx

I think my picture might er on the blurry side. I took it late in the afternoon, with too many shadows coming through the window. Perhaps we can look past that. Here is a small snap shot of what I am doing right now. I bought a copy of Wildwood, a magical woodland adventure aimed at the young (at heart) and created by a very cool husband and wife writer/illustrator team. I saw their story on Etsy a couple of weeks ago (there is a little movie about co-creating the book there) and I was smitten by the care they took to collaborate and create together. And it looks mysterious and a little sinister. I can’t wait to read it, especially as it gets rave reviews from Lemon Snicket, the (pseudo) author of the Series of Unfortunate Events (I own and have read all 13 of these!).

I have finished my first EVER crocheted thing. It is a triangle neck scarf. A big thank you to Kristen for teaching me how to crochet, and then subsequently re-teaching me at every Craft Group since until I finally, sort of got it.

I got some cute tattoos in the post from Tattly. I ordered the Julia Rothman watch ones. I would have put them in the picture except I have miss placed them since this morning. So in its place is a cute freebie that says ‘Love what you do’. I am going to wear it tomorrow.

I also got some very nice postcards in the mail from Etsy seller mrseliotbooks. They are graphic and modern and remind me of the work of Max Bill, who I am learning all about in class. He was a Swiss Modern Graphic Designer, from the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Small girl and I bought some flowers. They are called Blue Buttons, and they are tres sweet. All floaty and not really blue, more magenta. But we are not fussed.

Watching lots of New Girl. Enough said about that. We love Zooey. Almost as much as we love Maggie. I think it pays to have a kooky name in Hollywood.

And I got a 78 on my first assignment. Happy. Busy. Tired.

Helvetica - the garland

I am back in school. It is going really well. I will be honest and say it has taken a while for all of us to settle into a different routine. I will be honest and say full-time study is a big step, and some days I can’t remember what I learned last week. I will be honest and say I have great classmates, inspiring teachers and super family and friends that are helping me out. Thank you!

I made a new garland. It is Helvetica. There is a documentary all about Helvetica – the font. I think that is amazing. We watched it in class and it was really good.

Hope everyone out there is doing well, and enjoying 2012!

Hello!  It has been a while between posts!  And it is only a few days until the jolly man in the red suit visits us again.  Are you on the nice list?  You must be because you read my blog!  Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me and the Paperklip shop this year.  Thank you to friends and colleagues who supported my school market, it was such a success in many ways.  Not the least that our school now has an air-conditioned hall funded by the market’s profits – way to go.

Next year will be very exciting.  My son is changing schools (he will get to ride the bus to school – most huge).  My girls will move up a year and be the ‘big girls’.  Mr Viking will hopefully not spend his birthday on the school BBQ!  Probably the most exciting for me is that I will study again – I am going back to TAFE after 20 years (yikes) to study Graphic Design (have I not always been a closet Graphic Designer I wonder?).  It will mean juggling schedules, a few changes here and there – though I am looking forward to learning a lot of amazing skills and travelling along a new creative path.  Will you walk along with me?

Wishing every one a very happy festive season – take good care, slow down and have some fun.

Today is a big day.  It is Mr Viking’s Birthday!  Hooray!  It is Christmas Shopping Night at school – the little event I have been planning for about 3 months now (and those are just passing showers we are having here) – non?  It is also the start of the Black Friday long weekend – the most shopped weekend of the year because Christmas is not that far away.  So I am having a little special – if you enter the code BLACK2011 at the checkout of the Paperklip Etsy shop – you will save 20% off your purchase.  All weekend through to Monday night.  Enjoy.

Just thought I would let you know the pink heart garland was featured as part of styling page created by Jennifer Bell of the fabulous I Do it Yourself blog for Modern Wedding DIY magazine.  Looking super fine and pretty.  I want that typewriter too.

On another note, we are back from the Gold Coast (crazy fun) and Byron Bay (still as good as ever) and you can find me buried under reams of tissue paper as I teach myself how to make 100 tissue paper balls.  I will surface next Friday to hold our first ever Christmas Market at school.

There is a little bit of Christmas in the Shop.  Right this very minute.  And I know that it has been a while between posts lovely paper friends.  I feel like an Octopus right now.  One that could juggle.  Want to know what I have been juggling?  A house sale (for the family), nursing our cat after his surgery, a Tafe application or not, a mosaics course (so fun to be the youngest in the class), a big decision for my boy involving an OC class, an impending and important 8th birthday, our lovely school Christmas Market, and well – the usual kind of stuff.  But it is all good.  Hope you are good too.  I have missed being here.

Hello again.  I know- 3 times in as many days.  Well, I would like to tell you about an event I am planning.  Our school is having it’s first Christmas Market and it is going to be great!  We are a lovely school set in bushland in Southern Sydney, with a great local community that stretches to many suburbs.  We are planning a Christmas shopping market, a gourmet BBQ, some lovely carolling by our school’s singing group and a song or two or three by our school band.  There will also be crafty activities going on for the kids!  I am looking for stallholders.  You know what I want  - lovely things, and I know you’ve got them!  There are roughly 40 places at a very reasonable price, so if you are interested in having a table at our market (or know someone who might….) please get in touch via email or telephone and I can send you out some information.  I would love to hear from you!