Zines of the moment.

As you may already know I love creating and collecting zines from all over the world. So I thought I wouldn't be rude and keep them all to myself I thought I would share my latest finds of my ever growing collection. Firstly I would like share the latest zine from one of my crafty idols " Ebony Bizys aka "Hello Sandwich." 

I love the subtle pink cover and the simple layout which makes it super easy to navigate all of her handy travel info. The zine is jam packed full of wonderful places to visit, shop and eat while in Tokyo, Japan. I still haven't travelled to Japan yet but when I do I am certainly bringing this bad boy along for the ride.

Most people who know me will tell you that I love to cook, so when I saw one of my blogging friends Sewon from  "Maps & Fragments," had a Korean cooking zine I clicked add to cart straight away!

Sewon shares her love for Korean home cooking.  She guides readers through easy to follow instructions and her gorgeous food photography. But be warned be the photo's are so good you may just drool all over the zine, before you have a chance to create the yummy dishes. I made the "Fried Chicken," so good.

Next on my list of favourites is "Bespoke." Bespoke has had a little makeover and I am really loving the new look.  Its full of helpful hints on running a handmade business and interviews by many who are already following their dreams.  This issue also has a great interview with illustrator  "Bec Winnel."

Last but definitely not least is one of my absolute favourite zines  "Extra Curricular." This little marvel is created in New Zealand and every issue focuses on a particular topic this issue is called "The New Beginnings." It never disappoints dreamy photo's, lovely interviews and recipes too. Its my perfect train ride home read and it fits perfectly in your handbag.

So I hope you have found a little zine you may like to add to your zine collection or maybe it could be the beginning of one. Enjoy all the zine loveliness and have a great week.

Links:
Extra Curricular
Maps & Fragments
Bespoke
Hello Sandwich

International Stationery Love Swap Round 1.

Okay so who has a small addiction to buying, making and sending lovely stationery? I can hear you all now "Me, Me, Me!!!" well fear not my stationery loving friends, I have decided to run a new swap dedicated to paper and stationery lovers worldwide.

I have been receiving emails and comments asking to be notified of my next swap, so here it is just for you!!

Here are the details for the swap:

- It is open to anyone and everyone wherever you are in the world, Yay!!

- Fill an A5 (210mm X 148mm) envelope or close as possible with an assortment of cute stationery items. They can be handmade or store bought its completely up to you, but try to add some variety please. 

- Here are some suggestions to pop in your envelope: Stickers, luggage tags, cards, envelopes, note paper, the list goes on and on!!

- Decorate your envelope full of  lovely stationery and send it on its merry way.

- That's it pretty easy really and super fun!!

Okay so to be apart of this little stationery swap all you need to do is post a comment with your name and email address by Saturday 4th May.

I will send out your swap partners details by the 8th May and then all packages should be posted out  no later than 25th May please.

I've already started to collect all my little goodies to put in my envelope, yay so exciting!! 

This is going to be awesome!! Remember Saturday 4th May is the deadline for the swap sign up period too!! Sorry everyone sign up has just closed!!

Recipe: Date & Macadamia Bites

These super yummy little bite size snacks are healthy, tasty and really easy to make.  I first discovered this recipe on this fabulous foodie blog " La Mesa." Trust me they won't last long and the kiddies will love them too. Here's are list of ingredients you will need:


Date & Macadamia Bites:
1 cup of macadamia nuts ( You can substitute the macadamia's for any other nut of your choice)
1 cup pitted dates
1/2 cup heaping peanut butter
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup dessicated coconut (For rolling)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbs sesame seeds

1. Place the cup of macadamia nuts or other nut you desire into a food processor and pulse until you get a coarse meal.
2. Now add all of the other ingredients but the dessicated coconut, which we will use later.
3. Continue to pulse the ingredients in the processor until the mixture sticks together and comes away from the sides of the bowl.
4. Roll the date mixture into heaped tablespoon sized balls and roll through the coconut, until well coated.
5. Once you have finished rolling all of the bite sized bites place them on a plate and put them into the fridge until ready to serve.
6. Enjoy with a nice cup of hot tea.

Try making these over the weekend, I'm sure you will love them as much as I do!! 

All a glow in the Atrium.

I hope you are all enjoying your weekends? I have been crazy busy starting a new job, making stock for my next market and fixing up my blog layout with the help of the lovely Chelsea from "Bella Lulu Ink."

I also have some pretty exciting news to share too! I was recently approached by Etsy Australia to include one of my pom pom necklaces into a window display to coincide with Melbourne Fashion Week. Sadly the exhibition has just finished up at "The Atrium Gallery," in Fed Square but I went along and took some photo's I thought I would share with you all.

 

Here is my little necklace found in the circle above, its nestled amongst the rope pretty cool hey?  The lovely Kirsteene, Renee and team from Etsy Australia did a fabulous job organising and creating this funky exhibition featuring some of our emerging Aussie talent.

  

There's my name there on the window for the world to see. I loved how you could view the display from all angles and the way they used such simple items as rope, moss and large wooden reels to showcase the superb handmade talent from our little country.

There was a great mix of items from handmade jewellery, clothing, vintage wares and accessories. 

Well I hope you enjoyed the little sneaky peek at this great little exhibition from Etsy Australia and I hope it will be the beginning of many more great projects to come.

If you want to stay up to date with what's happening with Etsy in our neck of the woods i.e Australia and New Zealand head on over here and select the "Australian & New Zealand Newsletter," or alternatively Etsy Australia has a Facebook page too.

Enjoy your weekend!!

Big Hearted Business 2013.

Source: instagram.com viaKelly on Pinterest

I hope everyone enjoyed there weekends as much as a I did!! I had so much trouble sleeping last night because I was on such a high from all of the wonderful information, support and inspiration gained at the weekend conference "Big Hearted Business," created by the super multi talented singer/ actress "Clare Bowditch."

The conference ran over the whole weekend but truthfully it was way to quick for my liking!!! We heard from many wonderfully inspiring women from all kinds of creative backgrounds. They instilled glorious snippets of their lives, wisdom from their journey to creative business success and  a whole lotta love. Here is the list of fabulous ladies involved:

 - Lucy Feagins (The Design Files)
 - Natalie Harker (Social Media Maven)
 - Pip Lincolne (Meet Me At Mikes)
 - Isobel Knowles (Animator/ Musician/ Author)
 - Kemi Nekvapil (Kemi's Raw Kitchen)
 - Darren Rowse (ProBlogger)
 - Catherine Deveny (Writer, Comedian & Social Commentator)
 - Kylie Lewis ( Kikki K digital pioneer)
 - Jane Martino ( Director of the Martino Group)
 - Rachel Power( Writer & Artist)

Source: instagram.com viaKelly on Pinterest

The weekend was a perfect mix of practical knowledge, fun crafter-noons, singing, mingling and eating scrumptious food. Being set amongst  the amazing grounds of the Abbotsford Convent also made it just that little bit more special.

Source: instagram.com viaKelly on Pinterest

I gained so much from this weekend but to top it all off (I know what more could we possibly get from this experience right?) Well we were also treated to a little goodie bag choc full of delights including this super cool ring designed specifically for the BHB Conference by super accessories and home-wares label "Polli."

There were so many wonderful and talented women in one space it just blew my mind and I finally felt like I had found my peeps and hopefully make some super friends for life.

I've walked away from this weekend asking myself one major question and I am going to put it out there to all of you and please let me know your answer in the comments I would love to hear your thoughts on it too. " What do you really love to do?" If you had all of the money in the world and you could do absolutely anything at all what would you do?

The three things that came up for me when asking myself this question "Craft, Teaching and Cooking." Those are the three things that really bring joy to my life, so what about you, what would you do if money was no object?

Crafty DIY: Magazine Collage Envelopes

I love looking through catalogues you get in the mail, but what if you could make really cool little envelopes from them. These are perfect for all your penpal letters or special little gifts. Its a simple little project and you can use any catalogues you may have lying around. Add any sort of cool embellishments you like. Enjoy!!

Supply List:

- Fashion catalogues or any type of catalogue with cool images

- An envelope template

- A pen

- Double sided tape

- Embellishments: washi tape, stickers, rubber stamps, labels, ink pads, postage stamps etc (Go crazy!!!)

- Bone Folder ( This is optional but I love the clean finish it gives, but your fingers work fine.

1. Grab your envelope template, pen and catalogue page.

2. Place the envelope template over the catalogue page and trace around it with the pen. Once you have traced around the shape cut it out.

3. Using a bone folder or your trusty fingers, fold down edges of the envelope. Now place some double sided tape along the edges you just folded down.

4. Fold up the envelope and press down along the edges to seal it. Voila you have one nifty little envelope. Make as many as you like.

Now comes the fun part embellish to your hearts content. Add a sticky label here or a piece of washi tape there, have fun.

So I hope you enjoyed this quick little crafty project and send out some awesome mail love to all your penpals or friends near and far.

LOVE+WORK+SPACE: Jenna Templeton

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend. Its been beautiful and sunny here in Melbourne today but I have popped in to share another little interview with you all. This time I would love to introduce one of my crafty internet friends "Jenna Templeton." She's a fellow Aussie zine maker, paper loving blogger from "My Life As A Magazine," fame. Enjoy!!!

1. Tell us a little about yourself? What do you make or design?

I am a maker of paper based crafts, snail mail art and zines as well as a blogger at My Life As A Magazine. I have self-published three zines; My Life in Biscuits - an illustrated collage story on my favourite biscuits, Little Book Of MT Masking tape - DIY's using my fave craft tool - Japanese washi tape!!, Japan In A Collection - a travel guide on Japan with a spin - it takes you on a journey through my japan purchases and reviews the shops I bought them from. My latest project is my 'Pop goes your mail' mail art kit that includes everything you need to decorate and send a cute mail package to family and friends such as; envelope, parcel gift wrap and kawaii critter and seal label stickers.

I love having paper crafternoon sessions in my mini home studio wear I make/create; collages, paper food inspired by Japanese cuisine and sweets, gift wrapping items -bags, envelopes, embellishments, snail mail packets, envelopes, sweet stationery, rubber stamps and making anything and everything with washi tape!

I also love digital design making zines and stationery products.

2. What inspires you to create?

No. 1 would be Japan! It could be a store front of a sweet bakery, craft store, their food packaging a cuisine, fashion, a layout in their amazing magazines and books. Also swatches of bright colours, any stationery items, my inspiration board a live version of pinterest. A project can come about just when experimenting with all my fave crafty tools (see workspace).

3. What does your workspace look like? 

My mini studio desk is cluttered with washi tapes, self-made rubber stamps, a mail station filled with envelopes, stickers, candy coloured twine, gingham trays (which help me transport my craft items around the house), trusy laptop and camera, shape and pattern hole punches, stablio markers, and my latest projects I'm working on.

Bookshelves are filled with my collection of zines, Japanese magazines and craft books, fabric, jars of trimming, polka dot containers, and craft magazines from around the globe!

I also have a 'potential box' of craft items, a storage bin filled with paper roles, I have made a mini gallery wall of my paper projects and mail art.

4. What is your most treasured item in your workspace?

This is a very hard one to answer! Probably my laptop,  camera and journal - which is what I use to document my LOVES + WORK + SPACE!

5. What brings you the most joy?

Lots of things - A crafternoon with a cosy cup of tea and 80's cartoon or 90's TV shows playing in the background, putting together mail packs for friends, a comment on my blog, talking to other bloggers/friends, travelling, Japan, jotting down ideas, reading a good book or magazine, writing on my blog, free time to create! and cuddles and kisses from my hubby.

6. Where can we find your work / blog  etc?

Blog; http://mylifeasamagazine.blogspot.com.au/ 

Shop; www.etsy.com/shop/MyLifeAsAMagazine

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mylifeasatweet

Instagram: JennaTempleton

Thank you so much Jenna for chatting with us and I hope you all enjoyed the interview. 

All photo's are created and credited to Jenna Templeton.