Tuesday 18 October 2011

Favourite Illustrator: Kat Macleod






Swoooooon! Oh Miss Macleod you are just devine!

Melbourne based artist/illustrator Kat Macleod's beautiful, playful creations bring me an abundance of JOY! Her mix of exquisite water colour with fabric and collage brings to life a parade of quirky, glorious female characters. Very love.

And I was lucky enough to receive not one, but two gifts featuring a Kat Macleod illustration for my recent birthday. The ceramic "Bless You" plate and a pair of printed and embroidered  his & hers pillow cases, both of which are made by the company Third Drawer Down and were purchased from Remedy in Leederville.

Yay!






Friday 9 September 2011

Bunting!!!





This week I completed and posted a custom made bunting to a friend. Isn't it just delightful!?

The request: a bunting to be used to decorate "birthdays, picnics and a bridal shower."  

The key words given: "pretty, slightly quirky, not overly girly, but sort of sophisticated and still funky"  "whimsical" and "eclectic"

The challenge was accepted and so I went about attempting to gather the perfect vintage and up-cycled fabric from here there and everywhere.

Mission accomplished? Well I for one am in love with it and am now in the midst of a bunting making frenzy.

If buntings could talk they would encourage you to pop on a pretty floral dress and laze about on cushions and blankets in your sun-drenched garden, drinking cups of tea and eating small sandwhiches. Which coincidently (if you throw in a glass of wine or two) sounds like the perfect way to spend a sunny Friday afternoon ; )

Happy weekend my lovelies

Ruby Bluebird xx

Thursday 8 September 2011

Goodbye Winter. Hello Spring

 Welcoming Spring with picnics and pool visits...










Goodbye Winter! You were too long, too hard, too heartbreaking this year. And so we happily bade you farewell on August 31st....with a night of red wine and delicious bean shepherd's pie by the fire. It was a tough and bumpy and somewhat terrifying ride....but we made it through. And for that we are thankful. Hoorah!

Now spring has sprung, in more ways than one. Sunshiny days ahead. We can sense the cold retreating, the happiness blossoming, the blue skies stretching.

And so we succumb to the urge to... laze on the grass... pick flowers from the neighbourhood... smile...  swim...  feast...  play....  converse in utter silliness and giggles...  lose oursleves in an afternoon of tangled limbs and warmth and kisses....  

....and the urge to, quite simply, feel happy.


And whilst all this is absolutely glorious, the transition between Winter and Spring isn't always sunshine and lollipops. It can be a little tricky and confusing re-entering the big wide world post hibernation. So here are some more of Ruby Bluebird's remedies for easing your tired, creaky body and soul out of the depths of the Winter sludge...

 -get that body moving girl! My favourite body mover and shaker activities include yoga, walking, and visiting my local outdoor heated pool to swim laps as well as doing a cross between walking and aerobics (quite hilarious!)  whilst admiring the delightful coloured bunting (of course!)

 -eat "life pie" (essentially a crumble with as many scrumptious, soul soothing, health giving fruits and berries that you can lay your hands on....it'll fix you right up!)

 -drink cups of tea

 -sit in the garden and allow the sun to kiss your eyelids, your upturned face and the top of your head.

 -create something. Anything. With your hands. Embroider, bake, sew, cook, crochet, paint, scupltor, knit.

Trust me, you'll be feeling on top of the world in no time

Love Ruby Bluebird xx

Sunday 4 September 2011

10 Things I Love: handmade creations from talented western australian designers

Perth's isolation appears to be a help rather than a hindrance when it comes to cultivating creativity and talent amongst it's resident designers, crafters and artists. Here are a few of my current favourite fellow West Aussies...

1. Enid Twiglet. Embroidered and laser cut accessories. I am truly in love with this dear foxy brooch!



2. Foal Designs. Glorious fabric hats. Very love



3. Lorgie&me. Laser cut timber journals, albums, special occasion books. Divine!
Am thinking about getting custom made Lorgie&me album and guest book for my wedding!



4. Pop Goes the Weasel. Cute as a button fabric covered earrings. I bought a pair of the red and white striped ones pictured just this afternoon. Can't wait for them to arrive!




5. White Square. Sweet and quirky laser cut jewellery and accessories. I have big love for this teepee brooch!





6. Lonely As A Cloud. Clothing and accessories designed with a nod to the whimsical.



7. Mel P Designs. Crochet pieces and patterns. Feel inspired to get your crochet on?



8. Osier. Jewellery and accesories. Just lovely!



9. Pinch and Spoon. Ethereal and stunning one off fabric pieces...a mix of clothing, jewellery and wearable art. 




10. Patricia Fernandes. Ceramic jewellery and accessories. Delightful!

Monday 29 August 2011

Monday snap shots...







Monday finds me...
...admiring the beautiful poppies given to me by my mama yesterday...as they open, unfurl, blossom....
    ...washing...
           ....attempting to finish a bunting.....
                    ....collecting lemons from the garden....
 ....and saying goodbye to my sweetheart Mr Bodes'  Grandpa who passed away during the night. A strong and beautiful man who lived 92 years filled to the brim with adventure, fight and spirit. He will be sorely missed but never forgotten xx



Sunday 28 August 2011

10 Things I Love: current day to day necessities



1.Cups (upon cups) of Tea. With oat milk.  



2. My Sewing Machine. Miss Janie Janome.



3. UGGGG BOOOOOTS!



4. Avocados. I could eat them all day!



5. Coriander. And all fresh herbs really. But particularly cori, the king of them all!



6.Scarves, shawls, wraps....in all patterns, textures, colours. 
Winter essentials.




7. mmmmmm COFFFEEEEE!



8. Bulgarian goats cheese feta. To die for.



9. A little posie of flowers from my garden or the neighbourhood....to brighten up our lives!



10. Lindt 70% cocoa dark chocolate. Could not live without


Love Ruby B xx

Friday 26 August 2011

Books Books Books



Yeeeha! Early birthday presents from my dear mama. Two crafty books by Pip Lincolne...."Meet Me At Mike's" and "Sew La Tea Do"......filled to the brim with sewing, knitting and crochet projects, patterns, instructions, etc.  And also lots of pretty pictures of vintage fabric and bits and bobs. Just delightful!

Pip Lincolne is a Melbourne based crafter, blogger, writer, shopkeeper, author and all round inspiring lady. You can find out more by checking out her lovely blog Meet Me At Mike's. She has two more books on the way (pictured below so you can keep your eyes peeled for them) So I best get cracking on the crafty recipes in her first books....then maybe by christmas I'll be ready for more! ; )


Thursday 25 August 2011

Hooded Scarf



I've finally created some Ruby Bluebird pieces for the lads. After seeing my brightly coloured vintage fabric hooded scarves for the ladies, a friend requested that I make him a couple of "masculine" hooded scarves to keep him snug and warm through the cooler months.

Attempting to make everything using up-cycled or second-hand fabric means that you can't just pop down to your local Spotlight...you have to go HUNTING! So off I went....trawling the op-shops for the perfect "manly" "masculine" materials. The op-shop gods must've been shining their light down on me that day because in the time it takes you to utter "thrifty goodness" I had stumbled across a big piece of thick navy wool blend fabric, a couple of metres of navy/white/red checked cotton and a single cotton doona cover in big blue/grey/black/white checks. Perfecto!  

I ended up making four hooded scarves. Two for my friend, who picked them up bearing gifts....payment for the scarves, as well as bringing me a delicious box of goods from the AMAZING online wholefoods store he owns with his brother, 2BrothersFoods (I suggest you all check it out!)

And that leaves two....which I have popped up for sale on my etsy online store here! A Fathers Day gift perhaps?? Or a "just because" present for the special Mr in your life?? We'll see...

xx