Photoshoot

Finally got my photos back from Lisa from our photoshoot! Poor Lisa has sprained her ankle and hasn't been able to get these to the post office.

I will slowly release shots on my website but couldn't resist posting these! They are a lovely mix of glamour and mountains style...

Materiality: contemporary textiles exhibition

Exhibition opening next month in Surry Hills for any of you Sydney slickers looking to see some fabulous textiles!

Zombie movies

Last night we went to see 'I Am Legend' at the movies.

This could have been such a great film except for the really crap zombie vampires! The story is so strong, focusing on loneliness and lost with the main character being a lone survivor in NYC. The streets are overgrown, deer run through the city amongst the dereliction and eery quiet.

But the zombies, the zombies. These are so crap - sort of pumped up muscular special effects dudes that are not scarey at all. It sort of becomes a typical hero movie rather than something really terrifing.

I'm no expert on zombies. Steven came home one weekend with an ARMFUL of good zombie movies, to which I sniffed and said I wouldn't be interested. Well, wasn't I wrong! It was fantastic. 28 Days Later, Dawn of the Dead, Shaun of the Dead, Return of the Living Dead, etc etc... I loved 'Dawn of the Dead' and it still freaks me out a little! '28 Days Later' is brilliant and I think 'I am Legend' should have gone a little more down that path.

I wish someone would do a good 'Day of the Triffids'...

28 Days Later movie
Starts very much like 'Day of the Triffids'

Packing, design, sewing and ball throwing

I'm in the midst of packing. We don't leave til 4th Feb but there is so much stuff around - who ever uses it all? So far I have discovered a vintage dingo trap from Central Australia (an old flatmate left it), dusty board games and an omelette maker.

There is so much material to pack away but I get greedy - starting to pack it, then pulling it out thinking, "I might just make something with that before we go..." As if!


As well as throwing the ball for the nervous dog (well, nervous excitement - she really is used to us moving), I am designing a wedding invitation for my friend Jo in Rockhampton, sewing bags, freelance graphic design jobs and designing my Nana's 'memories'.

This is a pic of her above in San Francisco in the mid-1940's. I am honoured to help her with this and it's been a lot of fun to put together. I have discovered that my 80+ grandmother is one of the most web savvy people going. She receives her pdfs via email, checks them and sends me corrections. She has worked out how to use Word, download Adobe pdf reader and how to search for images for her 'memories' online! I think I could learn a few things from her!

Beautiful photos

These gorgeous photos are from Freckled Nest on flickr. Sooo many lovely books! I just love her composition in these shots. She is in Canada and has a lovely etsy store too.

Moving again...

In less than 2 weeks we are moving to Katoomba, into a beautiful house with lots and lots of space and natural light! I can't wait!

I have already started packing as we have a lot of stuff to put away. I keep walking past the shelves & shelves of fabric but that will be the last thing I do.


These 2 new structured totes have just gone up online this week. Michiko (above) is a complete one-off - $109.95. Willow (below) is some of the last of this fabulous fabric I have - $119.95.

Op shopping with Liana

Today I had a lovely visit with Liana Kabel who was down from Brissy. We ate lots of homemade biscuits and tea then went up to Katoomba to do op-shopping.

I got a great pair of Hispanitas boots that had never been worn for $15 (though Steven hates them!) and a fab 70's italian clutch purse that I love (above). Liana got some spunky high heels and lots of new second hand knitting needles!



I have been playing around with tote shapes and this is the 1st of my unstructured totes that is in my shop. Very fun, very funky and every one will be completely different... stay tuned.

Latest acquisition!

I just won this on ebay late last night! Yay! I have been looking for the perfect club lounge and it had to be red or green. This one was in South Australia and very reasonable... so got a quote for delivery to the Blue Mountains.

Anyway, we had to race home from dinner last night so that I could sit there and wait. I was terrified someone would bid above me. But I was the only bidder. Crazy!

It will come up to us in the next 2 weeks with delivery in the way. So weird, we have had an old double bed as our couch for years. This will be such luxury!

Busy busy bee

I have been busy busy this week and haven't had a chance to upload anything new...

These bags are for uploading as well as for ku-ture.com (note how messy everything is!). I am creating some totally unique, never to be repeated bags for them so stay tuned! Also, next week I am in the midst of finding someone to help me sew my delicious handmade handbags - there is just too much to do all the time!


Here are some of the gorgeous bits 'n' bobs I found this week. Above is 3 reels of lovely vintage upholstery trim in fabulous condition! I love the packaging - stay tuned to see where it will be used on bags.


These are very, very special art deco buttons, and vintage brooches that I bought from a collector. These will only go on very special one-off bags. If you like any of them, let me know!

It's pick up week here with the Council!

God I love a good rummage through the rubbish. In the upper Blue Mountains its rubbish week for Council to pick up all your unwanted junk. Now, a lot of it is just that. But I just went out walking with my sidekick, Nelly, the dog - and look what I found.

A brand new single faux iron bed! Its a pretty colour and all of it still plastic wrapped, even the metal rods that go underneath. Not sure where it will go just yet but hey, its free!

Do you know a sewing whizz?

It is time to have someone on board to help me sew. Do you know someone in Western Sydney that is looking for extra work sewing unique handmade handbags? If so, get them to contact me!

Online stores

I have finally got a couple of items up on mintd.com. It is such a hard site to upload to and navigate through (as a seller anyway) so will see how it goes before I put up too many products. I have also gone back to etsy.com and uploaded more bags there.

Yesterday was the photoshoot with Belle as model and Lisa the photographer. It was a really hot day up here in the Blue Mountains and hopefully the photos won't be too blown out with all the light! Photos coming to me later this week... thanks to Angela for letting us take over her house (once again) and providing lovely fresh coffee!

Trixie Delicious

You have to check out this gal's work if you haven't already.... New Zealander Trixie Delicious's handpainted china is so fun! Non-toxic handpainted text is food safe so imagine serving up these at your next dinner party!

I have been busy playing with the new ballerina clutch purses. They are quite fun and each one has such a different personality with their folds and buttons. Above is Fern which is fab 60's Gummerson print of fern leaves.

As January is usually a quiet time for me, I have been pottering around the house and seem to eat everything after xmas! Its so hard to be good again and stay motivated. Nelly (my dog) and I had a big walk around the lake this morning but I have to get back to the gym. I just made banana bread which has chocolate and walnuts as well - insane!

Photoshoot this weekend...

Misty forest by House of Straw.

To cancel or not to cancel? A photoshoot in the Blue Mountains this Sunday should be straightforward... but then I heard it would be 30 degrees and thunderstorms! 

Having a model, Belle, for the day, all the handbags ready for shooting and photographer, Lisa,  from 'off' the mountain means it does have to be coordinated nicely. So what do I do?

I will have to wait til latest Saturday to see the forecast and make the decision. This is so annoying as we have already rescheduled once before and I hate stuffing the guys around!

Sale sale sale!

Hi all,

Petunia vintage buckle clutches.

I am having a 20% off sale til midnight Friday 11th January - so email me if you would like to know more about it..! This even includes my new ballerina bags and clutches... and for orders over $150, hey, you get free postage across Australia. How good is that?!


I am just back from a long weekend in Newcastle for my nephews first birthday. We had about 30 people in the fabulous train sheds up there. Thanks Ingrid, Eli and Juz for a great time!

Roast pork tonight

I am mad about roast pork... with apple sauce... roast potatos, carrots, pumpkin, onions, etc - it goes on forever. So tonight that's what we are having... mmm. I always find it a bit hard to get the crackling spot on so if you have a secret tip, please share it with me!

We live in a rental property and I am yet to find a good oven in a rental property. So my 1-2 hours in the oven can vary from only 50 mins to burn through to 3-4 hours to get the dinner on. Crazy...

The best roast pork and roast duck in the Blue Mountains is at Three Sisters chinese restaurant in Katoomba. Highly recommended...

Photo by perago89 on flickr.com

Hope you had a wonderful New Years? We did, went up to friends at Katoomba for rotisseried roast lamb all marinated and delicious, fruit punch, cheesecake, beer, wine, champagne - whoa, the hangover was a bit yuck but what a lovely feast. Thanks Angela and Kenny!