30 December 2012

A Crafy Christmas

Our turn again this year to have Christmas celebrations at our place. The first time at our current home, so I wanted to make it extra special. Creating paper decorations has become a bit of a tradition now, and is kind of expected by my family.

So I decided to create an outdoor dining room using spare curtains that were in the cupboard, and made decorations from random 'bits and bobs'!

 
Firstly, handmade Bonbons. Brittany being very creative, designed personalised labels that doubled as place names on the table. I love her style of drawing, unique and so detailed!

The jokes were interesting, and somehow Denis and Brittany managed to come up with 9 without any help from Google! e.g. "Doctor, Doctor, I've got a strawberry stuck up my bottom. And the Doctor says, I've got a cream for that."
 
Using a circle cutter, I cut out a heap of paper circles from an old music book purchased from an Op Shop for $2. Then using red cotton, I stitched two circles together and folded them in opposite directions to create a 3D shape. Each shape was then spaced out along the cotton to create a bunting and this was hung around the side walls of our outdoor dining room. I also made a mini bunting for my stick tree.
 
The table was wrapped in brown paper, then we painted a simple red stripe down the centre using a mini roller. Denis installed some lighting, and jars, bakers twine, fresh pine, candles and wool all came together to make perfect table decorations. 
 
Dessert was also served in jars! Simple, cheap and so so easy to do!

Happy New Year!

21 December 2012

Christmas Cheer!

Sending Christmas Cheer to you and your loved ones. Thank you for supporting my little business Messagemark throughout 2012. It's been a hoot! Looking forward to bringing you more papery goodness in 2013.

Toodle-pip,

16 December 2012

Make a Mark



A little Polyhedra appearance in yesterday's SA Weekend Mag!

Toodle-pip,

12 December 2012

Magazine Photo Shoot

We had the best day yesterday. After 4 months of narrowing down a date we had our photo shoot for a feature spread in interiors magazine Inside Out. There is nothing like having an incentive like this to get a few extra things done around the house!

Actually, it was epic what we achieved in those 4 months. We managed to finish our bedroom, the hallway, the stairs (which took 6 full days), plus 24 hrs before the shoot we decide to pull up the carpet in the Messagemark studio and paint all the window sills. And of course then there was the cleaning along the way.

Denis and I are exhausted but we are feeling rather pleased with ourselves, and had so much fun in the process. So all worth it! (More detailed posts to follow on each room)

Sneaky snap of Jacqui the talented Photographer

All happy with the composition!

So what does a photo shoot involve? Well, a stylist and photographer spend a full day setting up, composing and capturing the best possible angles in the best possible light. Luckily our home has heaps of natural light and lots of 'retro delights' to use as props, so Rebekah and Jacqui were happy with what they had to work with.

An eye for design, Rebekah the Stylist sorting out the props inc. Denis!

Even Hestor our cat had an important role. It was very funny trying to get him to sit in a certain spot, or lie a certain way on the couch while enticing him with cat biscuits!

Hestor our official Model

Then there were the portraits of us standing at our newly painted exterior door, and a couple more pics of us sitting in the lounge sipping empty cups of 'tea'. (Scullery Made of course). Oh, and the one of Denis cutting fruit in the kitchen was rather sweet! It will be interesting to see which photos they end up using.

I now have to do an interview over the phone for the feature story and it is likely to be published in May/June of next year. So a lengthy process overall!

The Team - the Stylist, Tea Maker and Photographer!

I learned so much and thank both Jacqui Way (Jacqui Way Photography) and Rebekah Cichero (of One Small Room) for allowing me to hang out while they wove their magic around our place.

This is going to be the most anticipated magazine in all of history!!!! A big personal design achievement for me too!

Toodle-pip,




28 November 2012

The Do-Gooder

Really happy to be associated with "Do-gooders" in the December 2012 issue of Shop Til You Drop magazine. Don't forget 20% of our online sales are put toward research to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. (Proudly supporting Cure4CF Foundation)

You can shop for our featured "Geometric" print here >

Yay,

21 November 2012

Foreshore Fun!



The Semaphore Street Fair is a day of fun and entertainment for everyone! Semaphore Road is closed, allowing the street to come alive with a wonderful festival atmosphere enjoyed by locals, families, friends and people from all over Adelaide...and everywhere else!

As summer nears, enjoy Semaphore Road’s colourful shopping experience, high-quality food in a unique beachside atmosphere, the fun of the foreshore amusements, a huge variety of entertainment, all in the relaxed family friendly "big country town" atmosphere of Semaphore! 

Messagemark will be setting up shop for the day too. Looks like it is going to be beach weather so head on down!

Toodle-pip,

17 November 2012

Sweaters for shivering teapots!

 
Tucked down a little side lane off Hindley Street you will find the sweetest gallery, tea house come magazine specialty store called Magazine Gallery! I'd heard so much about this place through my tea blender friend Cherie (from Scullery Made Tea), so when I saw the exhibition "Folk Art Fanfare" pop up in my new feed on Facebook, I was already there!

The exhibition was to feature the crafty skills of Adelaide's Yarn Bombers and their take on the modern tea cosy. I invited two lady friends who I knew would appreciate a display of handmade wooly sweaters for teapots to wear on cold evenings.
My Favourite "Pineapple Frenzy"
Adorable - Sold with the teapot too!
"Itsy bitsy, teeny weeny..."
"Lamington" by my friend Kate
Magazine Gallery "Folk Art Fanfare" Event
To our delight we were also treated to a selection of cocktails (Gin or Pimm's), served in more cutely dressed teapots! Teapots teapots everywhere! Unfortunately the little sweater I fell for, "Pineapple Frenzy" was already sold when we arrived. Brilliant event idea though, through and through. Bravo!
 
Magazine Gallery
Clubhouse Lane
(Just off Hindley Street) Adelaide
(08) 8212 3773 

Toodle-pip,

7 November 2012

How to make your Dinky-Dye Softie

Here are some simple step-by-step instructions on how to make your Dinky-Dye Softie...
 Cut around the outside edge of the front and back image.
Lie the two fabric pieces together with the printed sides facing each other.
Pin both shapes together to reduce movement during the sewing step.
Starting near one of the black dots, sew around the shape leaving about a 5mm seam.
Leave an opening between the two dots to turn and fill.
Turn your Softie so the printed sides are facing out. 
Use a knitting needle (or similar) to carefully ease the corners and curves into shape - then iron. 
Fill your Softie with the enclosed recycled PET toy fill...
 
Then hand sew the opening shut using small neat stitches. 
 
There you have it... your new Dinky-Dye Softie friend is complete!
To see the entire range of Messagemark craft kits, visit our Shop >

The Paper Workshop

We are SUPER excited to announce our spring/summer craft series, THE PAPER WORKSHOP in partnership with E for Ethel.With a focus on the festive season, and to get you crafting in time for Christmas, we present two crafty paper workshops to decorate your home or give to the favourite people in your life!

Using recycled papers, we’ll make versatile holders, fabulous decorations and other useful, lovely and upcycled items.

Sunday 18th November  | 2 - 4pm
I (Kyrie) will be creating three eco-friendly items for Christmas, including a beautiful 3D star.

Saturday 1st December | 2 - 4pm
Sonja loves printing and folding. She’ll help you make beautiful cyanotypes (dramatic blue images ‘printed’ in the sun) and then fold them into a clever holder for napkins, pictures, invitations and the like.

These workshops will be held at E for Ethel and bookings are required. Book early coz tix are limited! Please phone Amanda (08) 8367 0312.

COST 
$25  {includes materials and afternoon tea} If you have any papers that you are itching to use creatively, you can bring them along too. You’ll also receive a 15% discount & free gift wrapping for any purchases over $50 made on the day!

WHERE
E for Ethel Gifts and Cafe
Shop 7, 116-120 Melbourne St
North Adelaide SA 5006

http://eforethel.com.au/events/

Toodle-pip,

3 November 2012

Cute and Cuddly

It's time for something cute and cuddly!

Building on the success of our Dinky-Dye designs, we are thrilled to introduce our unique D.I.Y. 'Cut & Sew' Kits - A simple sewing project to make your own softie that is perfectly matched to our print range. CUTE!

Our new 'Cut & Sew' Kits are designed in Adelaide using eco-friendly materials. Each adorable Aussie character is printed onto 100% super soft organic cotton sateen, and the fluffy toy fill provided is made in Australia from recycled plastic water bottles!

The craft kits will certainly be a big hit with young and old alike - awesome stocking fillers too! BUY ONLINE NOW >

2 November 2012

My Modern Nest


It's new, it's retro modern and I love it. My Modern Nest is a sparkly new shop that recently opened its doors in Port Adelaide. (Actually the official opening was on Sunday, and first day of trade yesterday.) I have been crazy flat out this week so missed the opening, but a quick visit today was the perfect way to temporarily escape the Messagemark madness. 

Light and Bright Shop Space - just what we like!
Just some lovely details in the shop. I want that paper holder thingy!
First impressions, the shop space is light and bright and has a minimalistic feel which is perfect to display the mid-century furniture and home wares.  This is certainly one to keep an eye on as hand picked items are added to the shop floor. If you are a fan of Parker, Fler, Marcob, TH Brown, Noblett then you are on the same page as the owners Sarah and Ben!
Sometimes less is more!
1950s Bathroom Cabinet (very tempting)

Who doesn't love sideboards!
And I've got to fit in a sneaky plug for Messagemark. You will find our vintage inspired prints dotted around the store too looking super sweet against the rich teak furniture!

Messagemark Prints
Keep up to date with new stock via the My Modern Nest Facebook page. Better still, stop by if you live in the west!

My Modern Nest
Shop 7-8 / 202-204 St Vincent Street
Port Adelaide SA 5015

Phone 0403 566 849
Email mymodernnest@gmail.com
Web mymodernnest.blogspot.com.au

View more photos on my Flickr page here... 
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