New Year, New Dreams, New Goals and Finding inspiration in the world around me

 

I would first like to start 
this post by wishing all of you a Happy New Year! Sorry that it is a late one.... Life has gotten in the way and Frankly I believe that sometimes that's a good 
thing! 

I decided it was high time that I take a break from the pressures of making for markets and focus my energy on family time, time to live and reflect, time to enjoy the things that I love so much ( Thrifting, watching films, enjoying a home cooked meal with my family, music, books etc) and also focusing my energy on creative ideas for 2014.

 I have drawn so many ideas from a plethera of vintage kids books I have found on thrift and garage sale hunts.. Particularly Enid Blyton. I love her stories and the sweet/ Whimsy illustrations in her books. I have also drawn inspiration from life and the many creative people around me... You know who you are!

2014 brings great dreams, hopes and aspirations. As I plan to increase my hours working in my nursing job so that we can finally get our dream home happening I don't plan to let go of this creative lifestyle that I love so much. I will still be crafting and hopefully when I get more organized start selling my little hand made treasures on Etsy again. I also plan to share my love of vintage and open a store with some lovely goodies from times gone by hopefully in the form of Vintage kids room decor. I have also pledged to keep up with the blogging and also find out ways to improve my Blog. I have recently taken the first step towards this by enrolling in a course by the talented Pip Lincoln of Meet me at Mikes to help with my blogging. It starts it Feb and I just can't wait.

Here are some of my other goals for 2014 that I would like to share with you...
1.Learn a new skill
2. Continue to lead a creative life
3. Focus on health and wellbeing
4. A new home and hopefully a new studio
5. Continue to cherish my love of retro
6. Continue to be inspired by my love of music
7. Take time to reflect on life and just learn to slow down at times.
8. Improve my blog and allow it to help me to reflect on my creative journey
9. Learn to appreciate the simple things in life and be grateful for what I have rather then what I don't have..
10. Write more hand written letters.
11. Tell those around me how much appreciate them
12. Be more Eco friendly particularly in my designs as well as at home and with clothing etc.

Wow... I can add to that list too... Talk about the ambitious one..

I would also love to get your feedback on my blog and hope that you have enjoyed all the posts so far. Please be a dear and leave a comment. It means so much to us crafty folk in Blog land and do tell your friends. Help me reach my goal of having a bigger better blog and continue to share the journey with you all.. I hope that your new years dream reaching is going well too.

Cheers

Mary x

Christmas crafting, writing for hundreds and thousands and a few sweet finds

Hey there all... It has been a while since I have posted as crafting, caring for my little, being a nurse a couple of days a week and endless housework has bought my time. Christmas is just around the corner and I have been busy as an elf making for upcoming christmas markets. Although one of my new years resolutions will definitely be to blog regularly.

On top of all of those busy things that are filling my glorious days I have also been very lucky to be chosen by the very sweet and talented Mezz from Mezz makes stuff and Tazz of Butter and buntings to come up with a craft tutorial for their awesome Mag Hundreds and thousands. It's filled with all things crafty, arty, vintage and is just plain awesome.You can check out the blog here: http://hundredsandthousandsmag.blogspot.com.au


I have been busy appliquéing lots of cute little christmas tops, making mini buntings and stitching decos..Fun Fun Fun...

I have been inspired by splashes of retro summer colour, pink yard flamingos which I have been keen to get for my little yard ( hee her) and A woodland christmas.. My Mo worries singlet for littlies has taken a new form for christmas "MO HO HO". The Neon Retro Christmas Decos are a combination of bright coloured felt and vintage upcycled fabric.. I will be selling most of these at my last Market of the Year Seaford Home made and handmade market next Sunday. So look out for the brightly coloured stall and come and say hello :)

Although I have had to cut back on my finds and my op shopping addiction I have had the odd where I have wondered in to the local thrift hub and found such amazing surprises waiting to inspire me..

                  Beautiful vintage sheet fabric

Beautiful vintage wrapping paper

 Love this Christmas vintage circus wrap

                                                   Festive Doilies and handmade baubles

 These cute dolls

                                              Festive things for the silly season

 A very tall and sparkly santa

 MC Hammer boys pants pattern 

 My absoloute favourite was this crochet christmas stocking

Christmas time is coming faster then santa can stuff himself down the chimney and I am excited. 

Happy crafting/ Thrifting

Mary xx

Giveaways, Gorgeous finds and the therapy that is sewing..

Hi all

It has been a crazy week in my crazy little teapot life...

The weather has been up and down like a yoyo in melbourne which makes doing washing near impossible.

My vintage sheets are piling up around my studio corner waiting to be reborn and refreshed in soapy suds and are eagerly awaiting the kiss of the sun and fresh air..


Beautiful timeless dresses have found me..

As did some other timeless relics..

You may Call it an addiction... I call it a passion..- Thrifting, treasure hunting, uncovering hidden gems.




My little gentleman continues to inspire me..

My love and I finally got a chance to explore our own town and experience the culture. The break helped us to just be Rob and Mez.. 

 Graffiti art at degraves st

 Ice-cream at south bank

Top of the town!

 Lovely crown towers full Aussie Breakfast... So luxurious eating one of these in one of those fluffy robes..

 We tried to get a photo of us with the city in the background...

What I made...

Singlets for twins and Molly dollys matching 3 piece set. Which was amazing therapy to make.

I am also hosting a SWEET little giveaway on Instagram. 

 Up for grabs is a upcycled baby top with hand stitched appliqué, Headband, handmade paper storybook badge, some craft supplies (vintage cards and mini kewpies), a cute little handkerchief storage bag and a handmade storybook Cinderella bookmark.

For your chance to win these goodies please follow WHIMSICAL TEAPOT on Instagram www.instagram.com/whimsicalteapot#whimsicalteapotgiveaway and share.. You have till NOV 17 to enter so get in and Good luck.

Happy Adventures

Mary

Thrifting treasure, Latest creations and the potential of Re-Nesting

Hey all. Sorry that its been such a long while since I have posted. Those of you who follow me on Instagram know how busy I have been with making, thrifting, cleaning out the home and House Hunting.I love spring. The sky is blue and the sun is out (Well on and off in Melbourne anyway) The birds are nesting, The finds at Garage sales and op shops get so much better...  Spring is such an inspiring time and I feel like I have been soaking up all it has too offer. When the sun is beaming I just can't resist it's call to be outdoors. It's such perfect "Hang a Bunting in your backyard" weather.

 I noticed this growing in my fence... So pretty

 Lovely green velvety moss...

Fab finds from the last few weeks...

I was very lucky to find some beautiful things these last few weeks..

A treasure trove of Beautiful Vintage Kitchenware, Decorative nursery rhyme mobile- $1 from the oppy, Garden Gnomes rescued from the roadside, A handmade leather satchel $5, Tea tin 50cents in a beautiful Aqua colour and a Quantas in flight mag from the 70's- Garage sale in Frankston South, Antique panda toy which I got for 50 cents at the Oppy, White Cain Chair for $10 at a local garage sale and the rest are 1 and $2 buys from local op shops.

My favourite Item from the last few weeks is this Vintage Nursery Rhyme frame with Miss Muppet painted on it. I plan to use this as decoration for my market stalls.. :)

Handmade goodies.. Things I have made for market stalls and gifts.

Cloud Cushion made from up cycled blankets and pillow case, Appliqued singlets, Nappy pants and singlet sets for my friend Connor's baby Molly, Zipped Pouch with Alice in wonderland heat transferred Applique for a friends birthday, vintage fabric and thrifted buttons. The Hand Appliqued House singlet and vintage girls singlet will be featured at my next Market... So come on down and check it out.. Would love to meet you :)

Rob and I have been looking at moving out of our sweet little 70's unit and into something a little bigger... A home of our own.. Re-nesting.. 

Re-nesting would mean more room for Bodhi to run around and more room for us and our growing lifestyle. Also it would give us the flexibility to spread out wings and be creative with our environment.. weather it be painting a wall or putting up some shelves. It gives us the ability to change things when we so please. How I crave the ability to be free in my own home.. We must escape this rent trap!

Since it is spring I have noticed house prices go up and people going for properties like a packs of vultures. Competition is fierce but we are enjoying the journey..

Just like the birds of Spring building their nests and stating a-fresh It is time for a new page in our journey.

 I hope you are enjoying the Fresh Spring Sunshine or Magic of fall.. wherever on this great planet you might be..

Mary xx

Embroidery hoop dreams and favourite treasure finds from the last 2weeks

Last week Rob, Bodhi and I went to mornington for a spot of treasure hunting. Along the way we stopped at an unexpected Antique shop that looked very small from the outside. As we discovered the rooms and rooms of hidden treasures we realised that this was No Ordinary antique store but a fortress if Wonder. Each room lead into another and another. So many beautiful things from other times. Cherished and beautiful times, so different to the world we live in today. If only they could tak.. The stories they would tell :)

This antique store was called the Bottom drawer. I will definitely be going back for another look. 

Then it was off to the op shops where I found some of the sweetest treasures I have found in a while.

Sewing patterns and a vintage wall hook

This card would be perfect to turn into some wall art. Love the picture :) Can't wait to use it in a crafty project...

I just love this little baby shoe planter and this bird figurine ❤❤❤❤❤

Along the way Bodhi found a Buddha statue and had a moment.. We taught him well.

Overall it was a great day.. :)

All my lucky vintage kids book finds had me inspired to create a new project...

Embroidery hoop art has been a favourite of mine. It can brighten up wall by just adding a funky fabric. 

This is my version of embroidery hoop art. It combines my 2 favourite things. Childrens book pictures from up cycled/ salvaged kids books and Vintage fabric. In this case I used a vintage hanky. The picture is hand stitched onto the fabric and stretched into the embroidery hoop. Perfect for the little crafty ones... I plan to be making a few more of these in the near future :)



*All photos are the property of Mary Daff (Whimsical Teapot). Copyright Mary Daff 2013. Pictures are not to be used or copied without my permission.