Melbourne: mark your diaries

Get your diaries or virtual planners ready. It's time for an important entry. The Finders Keepers marjet is on again in Melbourne on April 20-21.  By far my favourite handmade / designer market in Melbourne, it's well worth the visit as it's only on every few months and attracts massive crowds.

New venue this time though.  It's been at Docklands in the past, but this time it will be hitting Carlton. Probably a good thing as it will be a little warmer at the Royal Exhibition Building.

P.S. how awesome is the flyer?  The artwork is by Magic Jelly

For more info Finders Keepers

Will you go? Have you been before? What's your favourite market?

paper aeroplanes

Meet my weakness: paper-ANYTHING! 

I love making cards, I keep travel scrapbooks, I collect pretty pictures and cuttings from magazines, vintage books and newspapers and store them for that "perfect" project, I cut up scribbled-on Golden Books, I transform boxes into collage masterpieces, I collect security envelopes, I make art books and basically adore any type of paper project.

I love the tactility of paper and that it can be torn, cut, pasted, hole-punched, stitched, embellished and transformed into something magnificent.

So it's only natural that I have a magnetic attraction to vintage ephemera.  It is so versatile, can be used on many different paper projects and is so pretty and interesting to look at.

I found Paper Aeroplanes on etsy and could not resist their Fantastic Big Vintage Ephemera and Paper pack at a mere US$11. It's an assorted pack of 70 scrummy bits and pieces of paper ephemera varying from stamp size through to A5 size sheets. What is even better is that they are based in Australia, so no waiting for weeks for my package to arrive. It was in my letterbox within days of making my purchase.


There are postage stamps, cigar labels, vintage story book pages, tickets, board game pieces, playing cards, foreign language texts and an assortment of other various treats. And each pack is different. So you could order 2, or 3 or more!

So if you're anything like me and can't resist treasures of the paper kind, head over to Paper Aeroplanes and check out their delights.


P.S. All images used in this post are of the 'Fantastic Big Vintage Ephemera and Paper' pack which I ordered from Paper Aeroplanes.

drinking whilst pregnant

full story in Herald Sun

So I made it onto page 5 of The Herald Sun today (our Melbourne newspaper for those reading this over the waters). It's a story about the risks of drinking whilst pregnant or breastfeeding. 
Personally I believe there's not enough research or proof surrounding alcohol consumption when pregnant so my view is not to risk it. Simple as that. I could never forgive myself if my baby was born with health issues. I would be left wondering whether it was that glass or two of alcohol I drunk those few times. It's really not worth the stress.

The topic, along with gay marriage and abortion gets people very emotional and heated so although I encourage comments on this post (and any others), please keep any comments friendly.  If you want to get heated on this particular topic, feel free to comment on the online story in The Herald Sun.

Also, for those who may be interested, the dress worn in the photo is a Miss Scarlet dress by Melbourne label Rummage Style and the brooch is by Little Shop of Handmade both available at Betty's Place!