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

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

off to market...

Ruby Bluebird Handbags

Ruby Bluebird Over-Sized Hair Bow

Ruby Bluebird Retro-Style Tie-Up Headband

I have a stall at the Market Girl Boutique Handmade Market this Sunday 21st August. So I have spent the last few days sewing, stamping tags & signs, pricing, packing, collecting, organising change, and mentally preparing myself for a day of selling my Ruby Bluebird wares. eeek!

I love sewing/making/creating, but I find the process of actually putting my little designs out into the world a little daunting. No matter how many markets I participate in, I always feel NERVOUS! Will people appreciate each unique piece into which I have poured a teeny bit of my heart and soul? Will they like them? Will they BUY them? arrggghhh! I guess I should listen to the very advice I dispensed to my sister B only last weekend when she was suffering pre-gig anxiety.....that feeling nervous is simply a sign that you are doing something challenging, experiencing the new and putting yourself out there.

In any case, I hope you enjoy these snaps of a few of my delights which will be for sale at the market, made using mostly up-cycled and vintage fabrics. And if you're in Perth may I suggest that you take a cruisy Sunday drive up to Joondalup to check out some super rad bits and bobs that our talented fellow West Aussies have been creating of late! Hope to see you there ♥

Inspiration board...

I have been feeling a little creatively lost and directionless of late. So to tackle those feelings head on I decided this afternoon that it was time to make a new INSPIRATION BOARD!!!! A fantastic way to refocus, to remind yourself of where you are trying to head and what you are trying to achieve. This is a creative inspiration board to get Ruby Bluebird back on track....but you can make one for any occasion/facet of your life.

Ingredients: Scissors, pins, cork board.

Recipe: collect images from here there and everywhere....magazines, library, internet. ANYTHING that inspires you, catches your eye, makes you smile.

OR....if you're not into doing it the old fashioned way, you can take a look at Pinterest. A website that lets you collect images from the net and collate them on your very own virtual pin-up board.

I'm pretty content with my real life pin-up board for now....it has taken pride of place above the sewing machine. And by the looks of things we may be heading towards a very bright and colourful creative future! Here's hoping! xx

Perth: Sunny 19 degrees

 

 

 

 

Perth: Sunny 19 degrees. It is wintry days like these that make my heart sing! It feels like spring has sprung in my back garden today...the flowers are out and the lemon tree is weighed down with an abundance of citrusy goodness. Providing us with the vital ingredient for our much needed hot lemon & honey drinks. Delightful!

My sweetheart, Mr Bodes, is heading off on an adventure early tomorrow morning. A 10 day work trip camping on the Nullabor, near the WA/SA border. The days may be sunny but the nights will be freeeeeezing...so I spent this afternoon sewing him a snuggly new scarf. The outer layer is thick grey "jumper fabric" which I found in an op-shop in Osbourne Park, and the lining is made from an old checked doona cover. Sew them together and voila!....a NEW scarf.

Before sewing the scarf up completely, I embroidered a tiny heart ♥ on the inside of the lining...a little something from me for him to take on his travels x

Stamps are...

Stamps are...

beautiful
imperfect
totally frickin' awesome
♥

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step”

Well, you've got to start somewhere. And I figure what better way to start than by sharing these cross-stitch slogans that I embroidered and then popped into second-hand photo frames that I had lovingly scavenged from various op-shops. I do hope you like. And I do hope you enjoy perusing my blog as I attempt to get the hang of it!