Artful table Ideas: For a beautifully thankful Christmas.

1. “Glad you’re here” by Making Lemonade. Image theirs.

As I have mentioned before on this blog, I am very sad that we don’t celebrate thanksgiving in Australia. This however gives me the opportunity to think thankfully at Christmas time.

Here are some simple ideas from around the blog world, that can be incorporated in your Christmas celebrations particularly in regards to the table.

Some are beautifully quirky, some ingenious, some worthy of a yearly repeat, some child friendly and some all of the above. Let me know if you get inspired and use some, it’s great to hear from you.

“The Giving Plate” by Adventures of an Orthodox Mom. Image from there.

“Conversation Plates” by Together Counts Blog. Idea and image sourced there.

DIY minimalistic cultery holder. Image and instructions from A Birds Leap.

A sock for your cutlery. Image from Pinterest.

Single place cards. Image from Pinterest.

Gold Spray painted animals (or possibly nativity characters) with paper luggage tags attached. Image from Style Me Pretty.

Another beautifully simple idea from Style Me Pretty. Image theirs.

Carnival Straws on Bottled drinks with tags. Source: Ruffled.

Would work just as well on green leaves. Image from Once wed.

Gratitude Rolls by Beauty and Bedlam. Image theirs.

SImple sensorial details. Image from Vintage House.

What I want for Christmas is thanksfulness! Source: The cottage at 341 south.

Kraft Paper table of thanks. Image from Art Bar Blog

Fruity Place markers. Image from Style Me Pretty.

THe Thankful Tree. Idea and image from Kids Activities Blog.

Or if you prefer pears….. This idea and image from The Knot.

Fairy Lights in jars. Image from Making Lemonade.

…. and if you just don’t know where to start because Finishing School wasn’t part of yours (or my) education…. Layouts. Source: daniellemj-workspace

Alternatively….. Image from Antiquaria Vintage.

For all the knitters out there who like big needles!

Saw this and just thought I should share.

I’m inspired by: Belinda Von Mengersen.

Belinda giving an artists talk in Tamworth.

One a  week for the past two years I have had the delightful pleasure of working for the lovely  Belinda Von Mengersen….. she is also my lovely friend. Lucky me!

Well, now it’s lucky you too because Belinda’s work is part of the collection of textile art currently showing at Manly Art Gallery and Museum until the 21st of July.

Every three years the Tamworth Textile Triennale collects together textile artists under a simgle theme. This time it is Sensorial Loop. The shows aim is to  showcase to a public the changing ideas and professional craftsmanship associated with contemporary textile practice in Australia.

The Dusting Cloth by Bel Von Mengersen. Image from abc local.

Belinda’s work as you can see is beautiful….. and according to her ‘photographs badly’, so I can’t wait to see it for real….finished.

What’s so interesting about….. sashiko?

Image From Rebecca Koontz Artist’s blog.

Image from aux peptits oiseaux.

 

Sashiko is a Japanese embroidery technique that has it’s origins in mending.

Sashiko in Japanese means literally ‘little stabs.’

Traditionally done on navy Cotton/linen with white, ecru or cream thread, it is a simple running stitch used to create a pattern.

This week my students hand in their modern versions for marking, and I am really excited to see what they come up with.

Of course I cannot show you their work because that wouldn’t be the done thing, I thought I might show you some of the Sashiko I have collated on Pinterest.

Has anyone out there tried it?

Please let me know how you found it in the comments below, or tell me what theme you would like me to pin around for the next What’s so Pinteresting?.

Enjoy.

I’m inspired by: William Morris

source: The original Morris & Co.

Lately I have been working on an assignment for uni that gave me a chance to revisit and enjoy one of my favourite artists of all time, William Morris.

William Morris was an arts and crafts master….along with Architect Philip Webb. He worked extensively with fabric, wallpaper, furniture and ceramics.

Here is how his official website describes him….

‘William Morris was the single most influential designer of the nineteenth century, and remains today one of the best known of all British designers. This is due to his extraordinary talent as a pattern designer, his colourful and inspiring life story and to his forceful intellect and personality. Morris was much more than a designer; he was a fervent socialist, scholar, translator and publisher, an environmental campaigner, writer and poet.’

Most of you will know his work even of you don’t know his name…. he was that good. His work is still available world wide, and is so beautifully designed it holds it own 150 years later.

Here’s some more for your enjoyment.

“Love is enough” Source: Morris &Co.

from the Morris & Co site.

Golden Lily Print by William Morris. Photo taken from Morris & Co.

Easter Hat Inspiration

The fascinator hat. Image from David Jenkins Photography.

Lots of Easter Hat Parades coming up this week.

Here’s some inspiration…..

…. this year I thought, the wackier the better.

Bunny ears?. Image from Model Dash.

Death by Chocolate Fascinator. Source: Hats by Cressida.

I can imagine this made in paper. Photo from Model dash.

Philip Treacy Catwalk Hat. Photo from The Frisky.

The wire bow. Source: ArturosRios via etsy.

Lara stone at ascot. Image from Grazidaily.

A fabulous paper number. Source: Add Funny

Great last minute idea!! The bread hat. Image from Million Looks.

Can’t see anything you like?

Maybe there will be something on my pinterest board for you.

FEVA launch dinner

Max Dupain’s photograph inside the Seidler Penthouse. Source: University of Sydney.

One of the exciting things about returning to uni is the chance to be involved with FEVA. Fellowship of Evangelism to the Visual Arts.

My excitement was increased, as I was one of the first students of FEVA when it began 20 years ago.

A couple of nights ago I got to go to the Seidler Penthouse at Milson’s point and share dinner with other Visual Arts Students from about 6 different visually creative campus’ across Sydney. We were encouraged to think about think about how we ‘do’ our art degrees in the light of loving God with everything.

It’s always encouraging to see lots of people keen to follow Jesus….. but especially so for me on this night, because our chance to influence in our super-visual climate is great. Can’t wait to see how God is honoured visually over the coming years through these people.

39 Valentine gifts to make and give.

I’m a bit in two minds about Valentine’s Day. Some of me sits on the “It’s a created day that is all about retailers and spending money” and the other side of me feels it’s great to be reminded to tell the people we love….that we love them in a more intentional way.

This year I feel more of the second…. hence the post….. but have tried to make it a little more creative (rather than spendy) because self created things almost always* help communicate the love better.

Ideas For Creative Dates

1. Ice skating date in a Jar. Image from The Gunny Sack.

2. Hot Chocolate in a Jar (stay in) Date. Image from the Wintrop Chronicles.

3. Spar in a Jar. Image from The Gunny Sack.

Super Lovey- Dovey

4. 52 things I love about you in a jar. Image from The Gunny Sack.

5. Love Potion No. 9. Image from Shaken Together Life.

6. A little envelope of notes for your loved one. Image from Oh hello friend.

7. Sharpie Mug. Image Sister’s Suitcase.

For the Kids

8. Love Lead pencils. Image from The Gunny Sack.

9. Robot Valentine’s. Image from Lisa Storms.

10. Monster Pencils. Image by the 36th Avenue.

11. Don’t ever change…. Image from Jac & Lyn Murphy.

12. Burst My Bubble Valentine’s. Image from The Gunny Sack.

13. I’m Bananas for you and You’re Grrrrrreat. Image from Lisa Storm.

14. Arrow pencils and printables. Image from Design. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

15. Origami Heart Wrapped lolly Pop. Image A Kiss Of Colour.

Ideas to Bake

16. Nutella Love Letter Pancakes. Image by Kitchen Simplicity.

17. Sparkly Cookies. Image from The Gunny Sack.

18. Valentine snack mix. Image by Glorious Treats.

19. The Nutella/Espresso cup cake.Image from mandy Ash Craft.

20. Valentine’s cookies. Image Wedding Chicks.

21. Heart shaped pies. Image Babble.

22. Red Velvet Cupcakes in a Jar. Image My Baking Addiction.

23. Strawberry and Cream scones. Image Sanae Ishida.

Countdowns to Valentine’s Day (or count on….) 

24. The Valentine tree. Image from Simple as that blog.

25. Cute countdown. Image by Dear lizzy.

26. Bit late for this year….. A countdown to the day. Image from THe House Of Smiths.

27. 14 acts of love. Image from Make and takes.

28. Countdown to kisses. Image from the Olds family

29. DIY printable calendar. Image from Paige of Style.

30. Just one of the activities in the 14 days of love. Image from Pink Pistachio.

Cards

31. I love you this much. Image from Day in my life.

32. Sewn hearts card. Image from The creative Place.

33. Birthday candle card. Image from Real Simple.

Everything else.

34. Mini polaroid Magnets. Image from Ambrosia Girl.

35. Valentines “fortune’ cookies”. Image from Design. Wash.Rinse. Repeat.

36. Message in a bottle. Image from Oh hello friend.

37. Wall heart. Image Oleander and Palm.

38. Washi banner. Image: Fancy Little Things.

39. Printable PDF. Image from The girl creative.

* Yes if you have asked for something specifically ….or have been promised something and you receive a sweet handmade gift, you won’t feel the love!

Love this….

…shadow work. Image from here.

Facebook Friday

Great stories of recent days!

Our friends Pete and Leila with Abram.

First our lovely friends Pete and Leila are blessed by the adoption of Abram, and then my cousin Stuart and his wife Annie welcome two Kenyan boys Johnny and Wisdom into their fantastic family!

My cousin Stuart, his wife Annie, and 3 of their children. Grace, Johnny and Wisdom.

I can’t work out who is more blessed, the boys or the families that have welcomed them. What a great privilege it is to know both these fabulous Christian families and to rejoice with them in their new members.

Some of you might be familiar with Pete and Leila’s long road to adoption story. They were part of a story on Sunday Night on Channel 7,  a few months back and again just after they welcomed Abram.

My cousin’s story is a much more private one. The family moved to Kenya almost two years ago with the hope of training farmers. You can see what this looks like here on their blog  They have an orphanage as neighbours. It was only a matter of time…..