Feeling Whimsical this Christmas?

I don't know if there's anything better than the anticipation of receiving a parcel of crafty goodies in the mail. So when I spied the Structured Chaos Shop, Swap 'n' Blog I was in! Lucky me was partnered up with Wendy Sices of Whimsical Works.

Wendy, who lives in Western Australia, creates gorgeous greeting cards, as she says, " I combined my love of scrapbooking, with my love for classic children’s stories, to design themed card packs, with the first sets inspired by Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz".

And look what I got!

In this amazingly presented box was a treasure trove of beautifully made cards - more specifically The Wizard of Oz Greeting Card Set.


Wendy had given me a selection of individual, unique greeting cards themed just wonderfully to that great story about a good witch, a bad witch and a bunch of naughty flying monkeys.

The cards look like this - just beautiful!

This is the Whimsical Wendy

Wendy told me a bit about herself and her creative urge.

I love to be surrounded by beautiful artworks, and am always coming up with new ideas for art projects in my job as a Kindy/Pre-Primary teacher. I enjoy designing gift cards for special occasions at school, so when the idea of starting an etsy shop came up, I launched straight into making cards for a blogging audience. Using scrapbooking papers, ribbons, and pretty embellishments to make beautiful things is fun and exciting!

Black Floral Teapot

What made you start your business?
When I started exploring the blogging world, I noticed there were a lot of creative people out there with their own etsy shops. I‘ve always loved the idea of having my own shop, and an online etsy shop appealed to me as the best way to sell my own creations without too much financial risk. I combined my love of scrapbooking, with my love for classic children’s stories, to design themed card packs, with the first sets inspired by Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz.

What do you plan to accomplish?
World domination, of course! No seriously, I would like to slowly build up my business until I have pieces selling on a regular basis. I have ideas brewing for many more themed cards, and also for other paper products including invitations and journals. I can’t wait!

What do you get most out of your business?
My business is only 3 months old, and therefore still in the baby stages. But I have so many ideas ready to go, and I am itching to get to them. I love creating, and I know how much joy people get from receiving lovely things in the mail. I want to make people smile!

White Floral Teapot

Favourite etsy shop
My favourite etsy shop is the black apple. Emily Martin is an exceptional artist and entrepreneur and I am so inspired by her creations and her success! I also love Teresa Sheeley, Patchwork Harmony, Sweetpea, Sadie Olive and Lamp & Motor!

Upcoming shop promotions
Look out for new product launches from Whimsical Works in January 2010!

Wendy says that her shop is only going to get bigger and better - how exciting. As an aside, Wendy has to be one of the best bloggers I have ever met, check out her fantastic blog, Beautiful Day, for some day to day inspiration.

And do keep Whimsical Works in mind for unique handmade greeting cards sure to bring a smile and some storybook reminiscing to anyone lucky enough to receive one!

Check out the other Structured Chaos Shop, Swap 'n' Bloggers for some creative gift ideas this Christmas, or anytime you need a unique little something for yourself, or someone you love.

Christmas Wishes

It's this time of year when I'm sitting at my little desk in hot old Brisbane and wishing for a white Christmas....oh, well. I'm still having fun sewing new and wonderful kitschy creations and things have been busy with the looming silly season, so I thought I'd let you all know first of a few new bags and purses I have been making, just in case you'd like one for someone special (including yourselves!) this Christmas. These little lovelies are not up on Etsy yet so you're the first to see them!

If you're interested email me at lampandmotor@live.com.au for size and material details. There's a whole lot of other nice things up in my Etsy shop, visit lampandmotor.etsy.com.
Just click on the image above to view the latest Lamp & Motor creations and prices.

Cock-a-doodle-doooooo!!!

You know sometimes you come across a classic print and think, "I just have to show this to people". My dad's partner has the best collection of tea towels from 1960s onwards and very kindly let me raid them for my sewing adventures. This chicken bag is my new favourite. It is for sale, and I'll be loading it up to Etsy very soon ($30USD or about $34.50AUD). Get in quick, this one's a winner!

This bag now has a lucky new owner. Visit my Etsy shop, www.lampandmotor.etsy.com for other excellent bags, purses and brooches.

Funky BrisStylettes at YDM November

Top Row, L-R: Emma from Up In Annie's Room, Katie from Kitty Boo Boo
Bottom Row, L-R: Kerri from Lamp & Motor, Helen from Ruby 2 Go Go

Lots of lovely BrisStylettes at the YDM November at Southbank on the weekend. Such a creative bunch, and what a nice lot of people to boot! Was, as always, lovely to meet a few more from the group. I was situated next to Pret a pawte, but believe it or not, totally forgot to get a piccie of their lovely stall set-up (oops!). Up in Annie's Room, Ruby 2 Go Go, and Kitty Boo Boo all seemed to be having a great day.

Very nice day all round, and can't wait for the BrisStyle Indie Design Markets in December! Get down to St Augustine's Hall, Racecourse Road, Hamilton on Saturday the 5th December for a dose of beautiful handmade goodies. Lamp & Motor will be there with (Christmas) bells on! Should be a blast.

Lamp & Motor does YDM South Bank

Busy, busy weekend for Lamp & Motor what with the Brush with the Law markets in Bulimba and the Young Designers Market at South Bank on Sunday. Sunday was just fabulous, lots of sales, beautiful weather, happy people. Really inspiring and can't wait to try for the November markets (and December if they'll have me!).
IMAGE Lamp & Motor - bags and brooches created from vintage, kitsch and retro recycled fabrics

I had the pleasure of meeting artist and jeweller Liana Kabel of the Tupperware jewellery fame. She has a studio at the Museum of Brisbane and creates wonderful works, such as earrings, bangles, necklaces, brooches and rings out of old knitting needles, tape measures, other recycled plastics and vintage buttons. 'How does she do it', you ask? Well I think it may be her little secret...for more gorgeous Liana Kabel check out her website http://www.lianakabel.com/ and her Etsy store to buy online.
IMAGE Liana Kabel jewellery at YDM October 09

Lamp & Motor has a 'Brush with the Law'

With my gorgeous friend Lisa (Lovely things by Lisa - paper toile images created from original nature photographs), we had a stall this weekend at the Brush with the Law market on Oxford Street in Bulimba. Some very talented people there, quite a mix of 'nanna' handcrafts and some funky felting and jewellery as well. Take a look at Jet Beads & Craft based in Yamanto. Tania makes her own glass beads and the most amazing array of bangles, earring, pendants, rings and so on. She also runs jewellery making classes and sells Amy Butler, Heather Bailey and Anna Maria Horner patterns from her shop and online.

Lamp & Motor was busy this weekend, also having a stall at the Young Designers Markets at South Bank on Sunday - wheww - I think I need a lie down and a Becks!

IMAGES Top row L-R: Lovely things by Lisa, Kerri and Lisa at Brush with the Law

Bottom row L-R: Jet Beads & Craft, Lamp & Motor vintage and kitsch bags

Woohoo!! Lamp & Motor in Etsy Gift Guides!

So excited! Just found out last night that my Monochrome Clutch Purse made into an Etsy Gift Guide - more specifically, the autumn edition of Lucky Magazine, by online fashion editor Jackie Nasser. Thanks Jackie!

So, enough boasting, off to get ready for the Young Designer Markets in the morning. Drop in and see me at South Bank if you're in the neighbourhood, other than that have a lovely weekend.

October Young Designer Markets - South Bank

Lamp & Motor will be at the South Bank Young Designer Markets this Sunday 4 October 10am-4pm on Little Stanley Street. Pop in, enjoy the guaranteed gorgeous spring weather and snap yourself up a bargain handmade vintage goodie! I will be having a EARLY BIRD SALE from 10am-12pm, save 15% off all bag purchases!!

IMAGE: Off to market with my very own Lamp & Motor handbag

Spring Sale at Lamp & Motor

To celebrate the arrival of spring in the southern hemisphere I am having an exciting SALE over at the Lamp & Motor Etsy shop. Save 33% off some fantastic, one-off creations until 30 September only. Share the love and start your Christmas shopping today! Avoid the stress and expense of last minute Christmas purchases, do yourself a favour, have a look at the sale and see if you find anything you or a loved one might like. Happy shopping! Image acknowledgement: Spring Flowers by John-Morgan on Creative Commons 2.0 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidanmorgan/3376559479/)

Shop Swap & Blog

One of the benefits of belonging to the BrisStyle team is notifications about very cool projects like the Shop Swap & Blog event organised by Patti from Structured Chaos.

Sign up is this month, until 30 September, and you are assigned a partner (or two) to whom you send an item from your shop along with some information about it, by mail. They then blog about the experience.

What a great promotional tool! I don't know about you but I reckon one of a crafter's biggest markets is other crafters. Love it, I have registered and can't wait to find out who my partner is. What shall I send them? I'm thinking perhaps my Monochrome Clutch Purse, or my Port of Osaka Japanese print bag, or perhaps my Swingin' Yellow Bag?? Hmmm, probably best to find out where my partner comes from first and work around that. Get into it, have some fun, you never know where it might lead!

Lamp & Motor Brooches

I have 'branched out 'and started making lovely brooches, both flower shapes with a lovely vintage button in the centre and military style ribbon brooches, also featuring lovely vintage buttons. I reckon it's a great way to use the off cuts from all of my vintage fabrics...lovin' it! I'm actually not selling these on Etsy, just at markets, etc. But, if you'd like your very own Lamp & Motor brooch they are going for $8.50 AUD. Just contact me on lampandmotor@live.com.au to make a purchase.

Two Thumbs Up

The gorgeous Epheriell Designs featured my Lamp & Motor Silky Flower Bag in her Superb Sunday blog article!

This bag is for sale at the Lamp & Motor Etsy shop for $30USD (about $34.50 AUD).

Thanks Jess, you're a star! Check out Epheriell Designs - Handmade style, indie design, and crafty resources for gorgeous jewellery and other lovely things.

This bag now has a lucky new owner. For more beautiful bags visit the Lamp & Motor Etsy shop.

The Pope goes to the US

Well, the iconic Pope bag has started it's big trip across to the other side of the world, having been purchased through Etsy by a buyer in the land of the red, white and blue. I must say, I'm chuffed that one of my bags is going 'all the way over there'. And if it had to be any of them going to the US, I'm glad it was the Sublime Pope bag. See ya Pope-y!!

Happy People

Beautiful day in sunny Ipswich at the Handmade Expo. I actually got sunburnt, very warm in the middle of the day. Lovely people and lots of interesting punters. It was just great to meet other Etsy shop people as well as BrisStyle folk.

I tried a new display set-up this time, using some fabulous 'Stitchcraft' knitting magazines from the 50s that I sourced from an op shop as props. I think it worked quite well.

People were loving the brooches today, see happy customer below.

Lamp & Motor at the Ipswich Handmade Expo this Saturday

Come along to the Handmade Expo at the Ipswich Turf Club, Brisbane Road, Bundamba, for a fun day of all things handmade and crafty, this Saturday 15 August. Lamp & Motor will be having a market stall so pop in and say hello, you never know, you may be tempted to take a Lamp & Motor creation home with you... I've heard this is a huge market and the organisers sound, well, very organised, with promotion etc. So, I am looking forward to it.
Image attribution: Shire Horse by Squeezyboy (Flickr Creative Commons
http://www.flickr.com/photos/squeezyboy/46072245/)

Gorgeous day at the Young Designers Market at South Bank today. Lots of people through, and some really creative folk trading. The markets have really expanded, there must have been about 70 stalls. Was great to meet the market-goers and to chat to people about what they liked. I must say, the Pope bag was a hit, so many people commented on it, but noone brave enough to buy...

Image: my lovely husband 'minding the shop' at the YDM today.

Lamp & Motor at the Young Designers Market, Southbank this weekend!!

Very excited, getting ready for the Young Designers Market at Southbank in Brisbane this weekend, Sunday 2 August 10am-4pm. This will be my first market stall ever! Have been busily getting ready and hoping I have enough stock, business cards, etc. It will be great to meet other crafty people and the weather's guaranteed to be just beautiful. If you're in the area on the weekend pop into my stall and say hi. Image attribution: Calm Palm taken by Cyron (from Flickr, http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyron/542176364/)

New design - a clutch for all seasons

Created a new design this morning, a gorgeous clutch made from vintage green striped cotton with large white flowers. Really lovely (if I do say so myself). Kind of Asian inspired but mostly just a very cool vintage clutch. Available to purchase from Etsy, or contact me through my email address lampandmotor@live.com.au ($35AUD/$30USD). This bag now has a lucky new owner. Plenty more where that came from...see http://www.lampandmotor.etsy.com/

Lamp & Motor now trading on Etsy

I have finally opened an online store on Etsy, see http://www.lampandmotor.etsy.com/. I shall add more to the shop in the next week or so. You can also access my shop through the Etsy widget on the right. Etsy is US based so all prices are in US dollars, but it's very easy to buy, even outside of the US. And I am offering FREE POSTAGE to all purchases within Australia. If you are hesitant to purchase through Etsy just email me at lampandmotor@live.com.au and we'll sort something out. I will continue to post images of the bags I've been making to this blog, keep your eye on the slideshow on the right. So if you see something you like, get in touch.

I love Fridays!

I love having Fridays off - what a nice day it was in sunny Brisbane today! Pulled together this one today out of a scarf that I bought second-hand during the week. I love the geometric shapes and colours and it has a lovely wide strap, very comfy and easy to sling over your shoulder. Scarves are such a great source of wonderful design....Available to purchase, contact me through my email address lampandmotor@live.com.au ($40). This bag now has a lucky new owner.

Some Kiwi Inspiration

This was a really cool tea towel - complete with a song in Maori. My sister, an ex-Kiwi, tried singing it to me in the kitchen at Dad's place, but it came out sounding like Frere Jacque! It's kind of beachy, I think that's because of it's blue-white colour and soft, worn texture. Gorgeous old linen...Available to purchase, contact me through my email address lampandmotor@live.com.au ($35).

Port of Osaka

I really loved this scarf that I picked up at an op shop in the Valley. I wanted to figure out a way to use each of the lovely panels featuring fisher people doing their thing, so I cut them out and stitched them onto this bag, one on each side...Available to purchase, contact me through my email address lampandmotor@live.com.au ($35).

Oh, Cunnamulla

Don't you just love Australiana?! I'm pretty lucky with my job, I get to visit all sorts of places and I found this tea towel (now shoulder bag) in an op shop in Charleville on my way to Cunnamulla. I also found the most amazing array of old buttons, I bought tubes of them! See the pic on the right for a close up of the fabric flower attached to this bag.

This bag now has a lucky new owner.

Geisha

A lovely workmate of mine gave me a vintage kimono as a gift one Christmas (thanks Jess!) and I recently whipped up this little number - black dupion silk I found at a church fundraiser and a square of fabric from a sleeve that I still had left from the kimono.
This bag now has a lucky new owner.

Dad's Lap Lap

My dad's going to love me for this one! I made this bag out of one of his old 'lap laps' (translation - sarong) from tropical Papua New Guinea, where we lived in the 80s. I bet he never thought this would happen to it...Available to purchase, contact me through my email address lampandmotor@live.com.au ($40). This bag now has a lucky new owner.

Pretty in Pink (and blue and white)

This is one of my favourites so far, I really love the fabric, I think it was an old table runner but I managed to get just enough out of it to do what I wanted with the style. Have a look at the close up pic of the little fan I made to go with it - a finishing touch... Available to purchase through Etsy or contact me through my email address lampandmotor@live.com.au ($35AUD/$30USD). This bag now has a lucky new owner.

Sublime

My sister was on the Sunshine Coast during the week and picked up this absolutely wonderful scarf for me from a Neighbour's Aid op shop. She says the prices were great. Have a look at their website and visit for yourself http://www.neighboursaid.com.au. Perhaps it will give me some 'divine inspiration' to create my next bag.

Inspiration

The inspiration for this little number is actually some curtain fabric I found, god knows where, can't remember now, but I love it. The weight is good too. Makes for a strong, reliable carry-all and it's very cute! Available to purchase, contact me through my email address lampandmotor@live.com.au ($35).

The Queen of Sewing Machines

This is my trusty 1970s Empisal sewing machine, handed down to me from my mum. This was her first sewing machine, she bought it in her early 20's and I have been using it for about 12 years now. It's incredible that it's still going - I love it!

Enamoured with Vintage

If you, like me, are enamoured with vintage and recyclyed fabrics, like the kind you find in the bottom of the wire baskets at the Salvo's, at garage sales and church fundraisers, and you can't get enough of kitsch designs from a bygone era, take a look at my creations. If you'd like to share your inspiration for creation or tips for sourcing great vintage or kitsch fabric go right ahead.

This bag available to purchase, contact me through my email address lampandmotor@live.com.au ($35).