{bookmark set ~ just listed in the shop}

Hello Thursday, imagine seeing you again so soon.

• I finally started the shop update I alluded to last week. One of my new mini-print sets featured in the monday madeit finds newsletter, which was exciting enough but it also resulted in some sales.
• So this week, between the shops and a custom order, I had five packages to mail out.
• Then, a real honest to goodness shop emailed about doing some wholesale.
• It was a giddy few days.
• Last night, I listed the first of a new product ~ the planes, trains and automobiles bookmark set {perfect for father’s day coming up} and I have put some more prints in the shops.

I’m brimming over with ideas, still working on the big project ~ big plans for that today ~ and I’ve really enjoyed this week organising, planning, coming up with ideas.

Playing shop.

Now I’m taking my Lime Lane hat off and putting my mum hat to head off to a class mums’ coffee morning.

I’ll be popping around later.

Head here for the creative peeps.

hi everyone! it’s piper from one sydney road and let me tell you, we are right smack dab in the midst of summer over here! lots of scorching hot days lately, so my mind has been on ways to stay cool (and look cool!). there’s nothing quite like summertime for hanging outside and feeling a bit carefree. here’s some inspiration to get you through your winter months!

[image above, clockwise from top left: flamenco umbrella from santa barbara designs; hat from borsalino via oh joy; 3 flavors of lemonade mixes (strawberry, jalapeno or pineapple) from crate + barrel (they all sound so yummy!!); carnaby hollywood tray from jonathan adler (gotta have a cool serving tray for the lemonade, right!); retro hunter electric fan from fishbone deco; photograph titled 'liquid courage' from zuppaartista]

Thanks Piper. All us Aussies are now dreaming of sunny colours and warm days. Check out my warm up for winter post over at One Sydney Road.

The 74 ways to be Inspired series is all about finding inspiration and applying it to your creative life ~ whether it be for your own satisfaction or as part of the process of setting up and maintaining a small creative business. These interviews aim to inspire by gaining an insight into the inspirational and creative process of those who are doing exactly that. Today we are talking with Amy from Field Trip.

First off, an introduction,  tell us a little about yourself, what you do and how it came about.

I was on the sidelines for a long time, admiring bloggers and Etsy shop owners, until I decided one day that it was time to get involved in the handmade culture I’d come to love and admire. I’m a web and graphic designer based in Vancouver so adding this into the mix of what I do has been really fun.

What was the inspiration behind the name of your shop/blog?

My shop name came to me in one of those aha moments. At the time I really didn’t have a focus for the shop, I knew I wanted to make posters but I didn’t know much beyond that. I like the name Field Trip because it’s fun, but also represents a journey (even a short one), and reminds me of one of my favorite things from childhood.

For the name of my blog ~ Handmade Evolution ~ I wanted it to be clear to readers that I’d be covering handmade and indie exclusively and that I think this is a better way to shop!
Now this series is about inspiration, so where do you find inspiration Either online, in the “real world” or from whom? What kind of things inspire you?

I’ve heard others say this and I think it’s true – inspiration is everywhere! Books, blogs, tv, childhood memories, nature, magazines, songs – and the list could go on forever! If anything I’m overly inspired – by this I mean that I have so many ideas, but lack the energy and time to create everything I’d like to create. I’m also inspired by so many styles and genres that sometimes I don’t know what direction to take, because I see truth in all of them.

Where do you find the inspiration for your artworks?

My current posters reflect a lifelong love of origami and also an appreciation for minimalism. At the same time I am inspired by the trend I’ve noticed in European interior design – homes featuring lots of white with bright pops of color. My love posters are inspired by my desire to be a truly positive person and to find a way to do good in the world.

Do you catalogue your inspiration in some way, either virtually, clippings in a notebook or perhaps an inspiration board?

This has gotten a bit haphazard over the years. At the very least I’ll try to save pictures on my computer in a specially marked file – but there are just so many wonderful things out there that I actually try not to save too much as that can become a job unto itself these days! Generally I just try to keep a mental catalog of the trends that I notice that are popular and with these posters I tried to work within those trends, but with a perspective that’s unique to me.

How do you find juggling the creative life with your home and/or work life?

Honestly it’s all a blur. Partly because I work from home I think! I think a struggle that I have is developing artistically just for fun, versus seeing ways that it will help my web and graphic design or my poster shop.

And because we are in blogland, can you share a couple of your favourite or most inspirational blogs/sites.

I’m really inspired by Scoutie Girl, Poppytalk and Indie Fixx. In addition to being amazing bloggers – these ladies have been so welcoming and generous to me – and I know their support and that of others has made having an etsy shop and a blog fun. After years of going solo as a creative I now feel like I’m part of a larger community which is just wonderful.

What’s your dream for Field Trip?

I’m having a tough time finding the words for that as I think it would be more about getting to a new level artistically – and I’m not sure what that looks like at all yet!

Thanks Amy. It is so interesting to hear other people’s experiences.

Amy has kindly offered a discount today ~ 10% off on any poster if you use the code “i love posters” at checkout in the shop.

shop | blog

{cinnamon rolls warm out of the oven ~ who's popping around for afternoon tea then?}

Fussy eaters. We all have them, right. Because of this, I am always in search of something new to serve up in a bid to satisfy these discerning palettes.

So here’s a few things we have cooked of late and enjoyed.

• Something new mid-week: Butter chicken {although I substituted a more family friendly vegetable over the beans}
• Weekend special: Chicken and porcini pie with a polenta crust
• Afternoon tea: Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls ~ not as daunting as they seemed. For a while it looked like it was going to be an absolute disaster, turned out to be an absolute winner.
• Lunch: I’m not a sandwich gal, but I love savoury tarts, so Kim’s recipe is a great help because I can use it as a base and make it up from there. And unlike a lot of my recipes, I know where to find it.
• Soup: Another great lunch standby. I love potato and leek soup, I can get most ingredients from the farmer’s market. Tasty, healthy and environmentally friendly.

Well, it has only taken me four days to finally get this up and running. But finally some new things  are going into the shop this week.

Two new mini-print sets ~ reel colour and brownie beauty ~ featuring some new and old pictures, and in the coming days some new prints, including hopefully a couple of polaroid prints.

Also this week, I hope to launch an entirely new range of products ~ the first of which will be available in time for Father’s Day here in Australia.

Everything will be listed in my etsy shop and in my madeit shop. Watch my twitter and my facebook page for updates.

I spotted the gorgeous paper yarn of PaperPhine on the front page of Etsy the other day ~ you may have spotted it, too.  As cliched as it sounds, I was instantly taken in and spent some time checking out their shop and their profile.

These lovely products ~ including paper yarn jewellery and paper yarn ~ are all made in Austria. Linda trained as a textile designer and artist, but says she is a self-confessed paper lover. Her shop also has some fabulous vintage spools and bobbins. The jewellery range includes earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets.

And PaperPhine is taking part in the Christmas in July sale ~ so everything is 15 per cent off .

etsy | blog

Today I found some more lovely tumblr blogs, and I don’t know about you but I think tumblr has come a long way since it first started. I wasted far too much time this morning down the tumblr rabbit hole. Although my heart still belongs to pinterest for ease of use.

So today, some more absolutely lovely spaces. The photo shoot from the Upper West Side apartment featuring the very stylish owners is well worth a look ~ great styling and photography.

With no more further ago, clockwise from top left: such lovely happy colours in this bedroom; gorgeous cupboard but I love the little picture line-up on the wall; from a gorgeous Upper West Side Apartment ~ see more of the great photo shoot here; I would love a photo wall like this; how gorgeous are those windows and that light.

Check out my inspiration files pinboard here {and if you would like a pinterest invite, I still have a couple so let me know}

{images from their respective sources}

I’ve been adding a few new blogs to my reader lately from all sorts of sources, Crafting an MBA being one of them. This was one of  those blogs I kept seeing around, read a few articles, but never committed. Just recently I finally added it to my reader and I’m so glad I did.

Megan ~ a jeweler, metalsmith and the creative mind behind the ingenious cozy/cuff ~  writes about business topics in such a friendly, interesting and relatable way. She describes her site as business school for crafters, designers and makers. I think I bookmark nearly every post ~ the information is inspiring and helpful, full of useful links and tips.

For any indie business owners, if it isn’t already, Crafting an MBA should be one of your regular site stops.

blog | twitter | facebook

It’s a beautiful sunny, crisp winter’s day here today and I before I head out to enjoy some of this glorious weather, here’s some nature-inspired zesty finds.

1. The raindrop shape Drop Bank from Vitrine ~ works exactly how it sounds
2. The Grobot will keep an eye on your plants, from Sugar Post
3. Twig USB sticks available from Gizmine
4. Gorgeous log dishes from Small Stump
5. Banana leaf bangle from Peace Images

{images from their respective sources}

{old house new house ~ some post processing fun}

Yay for the weekend. Saturdays hold a very dear place in my heart. Due to the Hubby and my funny work schedules, Saturday is the only day when we are all at home with no work commitments. It’s a day for doing and a day for getting things done. Relaxing, playing, unwinding. Doesn’t mean though there isn’t a tiny interlude that leaves me at a loose end for some quick surfing ~ how about you?

Let me take you on a quick inspiration quick around the web.

• Amazing paper places at Upon a Fold
• Thanks to Cathy {Chunky Chooky} and Regina Morrison for some great a-ha reads.
• I blogged about this during the week ~ and you can see my ‘S’ post here ~ but head over to the Alphabet Walk roll call and check out some posts. Some great inspiration to be found here.
• Weekend project ~ turn your greeting cards into postcards here
• Today’s time waster is brought to you today by Dear Blank, Please Blank, first spotted here ~ which made me laugh ~ and then brought me to this:

and reminded me of these piece of awesomeness, found on pinterest:

Beep beep! Have a great weekend!