feeling festive?

who said handmade was limited to something you had to make with a sewing machine!!! why not hand make this little festive drink for yourself, put your sewing machine away, your feet up and just relax.....

Midori Punch

500ml Midori
750ml Sparkling wine
1L Pineapple juice unsweetened
2 cups of chopped fresh fruit
4-5 strawberries
5 scoops of ice
Pour all ingredients into a punch bowl
Add fresh fruit and ice before serving

page 22...

Late last year Alyssa Milton of lyssymay headed to Melbourne to set up a new studio at Ironside Studios. Alyssa launched her handbag label in 2003 and has a loyal following of Brisbane based customers who were sad to see her leave but excited to see her spread her wings! I'm so proud that Alyssa was one of the artisans chosen to be featured in the new HANDMADE in MELBOURNE publication. Some of Alyssa's latest designs feature a gorgeous peacock print (featured in the book) which has been hand screen printed by one of the boutique market retailers - Thea & Sami. To see the latest collection head here. Interested in purchasing a copy of the book? Head here.

Welcome, Love Stamp

Love Stamp will debut their fabulous collection for the first time at our markets on July 12Th and we are so excited to share with our customers their beautiful handcrafted range.

Jo Petrie created Lovestamp out of a desire make simple, lovely pieces that can be worn casually with your jeans and t-shirt or out for a night on the town with your little black dress.

At Lovestamp you will find beautiful custom hand stamped sterling silver jewellery. Each piece is hand made with your children's names, special dates, words.

Each piece is a work of art and truly unique, no two are exactly alike. Their pieces are beautiful and unique and to be worn over your heart. What a gorgeous idea!

Madeit store: www.madeit.com.au/lovestamp
Blog: http://www.jogirlsjourney.blogspot.com/

coin purse tuesday

oh so sweet coin purse tuesday today - do you fancy this adorable le petit bateau kit - sail away, by Brisbane designer Old Yarns


the story:/ a whimsical little kit for making your own paper boat garland, includes:

" easy to follow folding instructions" 5 beautiful papers from collected french & other magazines "

generous 2+ m of red & white baker's twine for stringing" vintage linen for ties"
handwritten fisherman's prayer tag//
the fisherman's prayer: "O God, be good to me,the sea is so wideand my boat is so small."
[author unknown]

for more divineness visit Old Yarns etsy store or check out the delightful blog here

Cute as....

Cute as Buttons combine unique designs and quality materials to create gorgeous baby bits that are affordable and practical. The pink people in your life will think their cupcakes, hearts and flowers are sweet little treats. The blue ones will love the rockets and cars.

Not sure what you're having? Don't dismay – they have it covered with our Stars and Baby Love range. Singlets, long & short sleeve tees, bibs, towel & washer sets, personalized plates, bowls and cups, cuddle rugs & cot blankets and more, all personalized with their signature buttons.

Their themed range is designed to co-ordinate to help you create the perfect gift or you may like to purchase one of our ready made gift packs: Dream time, Bath time, and Tucker time.
If you are looking for the perfect baby gift or just seeking to spoil your precious one, you can be sure that we'll have something that is as Cute as Buttons.

you can visit Sharon and Lisa and their buttons at the July market at Portside Wharf.

Blog - http://cuteasbuttonsat.blogspot.com/

images - Taryn Newland

Have you seen Mandy's knickers?

I have and they are hot!

Amanda Boado and her daughter Tash are the creative minds behind

the label Bailey Belle.

When Tash isn't studying law she is taking care of her 12 month old daughter, and
in her spare time she is designing, creating and marketing her own
fashion label Bailey Belle.

Now I can hear you all saying, how on earth does she fit it all in.

The answer is with an incredibly supportive partner and a mother
that resembles Super Woman. Well not exactly, maybe Wonder Woman. Whoever
she resembles she is gorgeous and very talented.

Amanda Boado is Tash's mother and business partner.
Together they manage to tick all of the boxes.

As you can see they have a keen eye for fashion, and are brilliant behind the sewing machine.

I met with Amanda or Mandy as she is known to her friends for coffee the other day. She greeted me with a sample pair of gorgeous knickers that looked very sexy.

Although I was a little hesistant to try them for fear they wouldn't fit my ample behind, I did and they looked great. Playful, sexy and comfortable.

Watch these ladies as it won't take long for their designs to be discovered. With a keen following in Newport Beach, California, it won't be long before they are another success story.

Hopefully we will see Mandy and Tash at the Boutique Markets Portside soon. In the meantime you can check out Mandy's knickers in the following boutique's;

Val Haala
174 Brisbane St
IPSWICH QLD
(Erin the store owner would love to show you her latest stock.)

Or if you're in the Brisbane CBD, you can see the Bailey Belle line at;

My Monkeys Uncle
Suite 6, 152 Adelaide St
BRISBANE QLD

Coin Purse Tuesday

chocolate with chocolate sticks

today's coin purse Tuesday comes straight from the kitchen at Tabitha's Place, who completely sold out of their delectable petite cupcakes, in the first few hours of trade on Sunday at the Boutique Markets

coconut lemon meringue with lemon curd

now, if you are a connoisseur of cupcakes, their range is sure to impress, with delectable petite cupcakes from only $2. Freshly baked and hand decorated for the markets, they sure have a job on their hands next month, as the word is out now about the divine cupcakes!

carrot and pineapple with cream cheese

Tabitha's Place also has a fabulous range of gourmet biscuits which will also be available at from July market, but you better get to the market early before they all disappear!

Peg and Kate - DS Pouches

Just in time for this Sunday's market, Peg and Kate has whipped up a fabulous new range of Nintendo DS Pouches for the kiddies, and we are loving them! Selling for $19.95, and available in an assortment of gorgeous colours, they can store 3 games and your DS comfortably

Earthly Jewels

Julie Evans of Earthly Jewels has always had a love of expressing her colourful imagination and creativity through craft. Using mixed media is her favourite choice for one off creations.

Stones, Lace, Polymer Clay, Beads, Shells, and Felt are just a few items used to inspire something truly different. Earthly Jewels has found a niche in the market place of mass production by hand making detailed exclusive creations and distinctive pieces using this mixed media.The textural possibilities with all of these mediums combined, allows her to make jewellery, coffee purses, belts and other items - earthly, chunky wearable pieces of colourful art. As Oscar Wilde said, “Nothing succeeds like excess.”

Julie loves to lock herself away for a few hours in her studio and just focus on making a piece. She loves it when a stranger asks her where did she get that – she smiles and says "I made it."
Earthly Jewels will debut at this weekends Boutique Market at Portside Wharf.

fallen in love with......

Taybian Design products are designed and produced in Brisbane, by Melissa Hoedel.
After finishing a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a double major of Photography and Painting, from the University of Tasmania in 2000, she has worked as a professional photographer commercially and participated in solo and group exhibitions.

Since the completion of her studies, Melissa has also designed several clothing lines, exhibiting these in several fashion shows, including Tasmanian Fashion Week in 2001. Also going onto collaborate with one of Tasmania’s leading hairdressing salons.

Since moving to Brisbane, Melissa has been working in the area of marketing and further developed her graphic design skills. It seemed a natural progression to combine her ‘passion for fashion’ with her other artistic and business skills, thus Taybian Design was born.

With all Taybian Design accessories, the utmost care is taken in the construction. All bags have been thoroughly tested for comfort and durability. Not only comfortable, but beautiful, all Taybian Design accessories use vibrant and relevant fabrics, focusing on quality, colour and texture. Every bag purchased comes packed in its very own complimentary Taybian Design Calico Carry Bag. Taybian Design will feature at the upcoming Boutique Markets at Portside wharf, June 14th.

Web: www.taybian.com

Blog: www.taybian.blogspot.com

a special thanks.....

i heart you - greeting card range

the lovely Michelle from lily & cino has been hard at work redressing our brand new website for the big move. Michelle was the brains behind our current website and was first and only choice for us when creating our new site. Thanks you Michelle, you may now take a bow!

lily & cino - couture stationary

this clever and talented Brisbane lass, is a literally a jack of all trades. A talented graphic designer, a web designer, a couture stationary designer, an illustrator, a jewellery maker and a mum! Amazing huh? If you haven't seen Michelle's new website (snapshot above), it's a must, with a fabulous couture range of stationary for all occasions.


Handmade Acrylic Stirling silver pendant

Take a peak at Michelle's gorgeous jewellery store on etsy - chellebellarina, where you can find handmade items like the gorgeous pendant above. You can also visit Michelle at her blog, where you can download these gorgeous wallpapers, she cleverly created.

So again, thank you Michelle, your a gem!

Heart the Bike

Pink Banana Seat Lowrider Bike - Hillarie Tasche

I have fond childhood memories of riding my bike, bare feet, no helmet (as we did back then) up and down the street with the streamers from my handlebars flying skyward behind me. My first real bike had multicoloured beads on the spokes, and a cane basket on the front and when I rode it down the street I thought I was the coolest little girl on the block.
So today a post on our love of bikes.....



Bike Seat Cover - OvensonTempleton



Give your Bike a Mo - Tangerine Tree House



Lino Cut and Digital Print - Lino Creative




Ride stamped silver Necklace - 31thirteen

Limited Edition Letterpress - Bespoke Press

Limited Edition Letterpress - charcoal, dark olive green and magenta

Just after our recent post on Bespoke Press, I'm excited to share with you two gorgeous new prints in the range from this gorgeous Brisbane studio. Each print features 16 chairs, and has been letterpress printed in 3 colours, the first charcoal, dark olive green and canary yellow and the second, charcoal, dark olive green and magenta. They are gorgeous and I have already snapped mine up!

And if you are quick and purchase before midnight on Friday the 17Th of April, you will receive free shipping. What a deal!

WA Designers - Art and Wool

Marigold Tea cosy - Made it store

Never let you tea get cold again with these absolutely gorgeous tea cosies from Art and Wool. And with a chill in the air what better way to keep your teapot warm with handmade from blended acrylic and wool. Love em!

Simple Easter ideas....

Looking for some simple ideas to spruce up your Easter...then look no further than these adorable ideas from Martha. How sweet is this little birds nest created cleverly from a doily - tutorial here

why not make these adorable bunnies and carrots - tutorial here

this is simple - every one has a spare bowl and a ball of wool lying around to make this gorgeous nest like bowl - tutorial here

having guests over for a meal at Easter?
then why not make this cute rabbit napkin - tutorial here

and how simple are these egg shell votive's.... tutorial here

looking for creativity in the kitchen?
then try your hand at these easy bunny biccies - recipe here

all images via Martha Stewart