Do you like Tassels? (and macramé!)

Source // Ouchflower

Tassels are EVERYWHERE at the moment, they have been having a good run as a trend for ages now. I've seen paper tassels, yarn tassels, builders twine tassels, etc etc but it wasn't until I saw the amazing Ouchflower tassels that I really "got" the tassel thing.

Ouchflower (Artist Pippa Taylor) makes incredible macramé creations and beautiful delicate ceramic beads. I first happened upon her work thanks to Instagram and have been lusting after her pieces ever since. Her hand dip dyed tassels are my favourite pieces, she began creating them in early 2012, made from the leftover material from her equally beautiful macramé pot hangers. Her tassels are finely crafted, unique and original, unwound sections of twine create the most beautiful Shibori style effect and her colour choices are simply gorgeous! My favourite so far is her take on the good old Tassel Garland which in its glorious gold colour and bead detailing is such a great modern update on a trend that is hanging around much longer than I expected!

You can purchase OuchFlower pieces HERE or simply say hello and have a look at the BLOG or find OuchFlower on Instagram 

Source // Ouchflower

Source // Ouchflower

Paper Chandeliers

I made a few new things over the Christmas break!

These beautiful paper chandeliers...........all 3 are made from hand cut and hand sewn paper garlands. Tied onto a frame of driftwood & embellished with upcycled plastic & paper pom poms, lace, ribbon & shells, these chandeliers are a real labour of love for me. I first made one for my wedding last year (inspired by the traditional Polish Pajaki mobiles), and each of these new mobiles is made using recycled paper garlands used at my wedding to form backdrops or decorations. I believe there is a little bit of newlywed love infused in each little paper shape !
You can find them HERE in my ETSY Store or just click on the heart shaped link to the right

Even more exciting is that I will be teaching a "Paper Chandelier" workshop for Sutherland Shire Council Library so you can learn how to make your own!

I will be blogging about the Workshop with more details later in the month.....but keep the evening of April 4th free!

Weekend Wanderings

I cant believe its Monday already! 

I have a whole bunch of things to share with you this week, however as I am in denial about the working week starting again already, I will just share my weekend snaps and leave the real posting for later...............Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Book Blossoms in Country Style

This month I was lucky enough to have one of my artworks make an appearance in Country Style!

My beautiful, long time family friend and artist extraordinaire Meredith Gaston, had her stunning hundred year old Blue Mountains cottage featured in the glossy pages and a gift I had made her (the very first Book Blossom artwork) managed to sneak its way into one of the gorgeous photos! 

That is my Book Blossom canvas sitting on the side-table next to the bed, and it looks so beautiful styled with the pops of colour in the gorgeous bedspread and one of Meredith's whimsical artworks above.

To see more of Meredith artworks and other amazing Artists like Tamar Mogendorff, pop over to Kindergallery............ you may be seeing my Book Blossoms sold there in the coming months as well!

Starting out......a New Year

It's been a quiet start to the year for My Handmade Heart this year. 
There has been lots of reflecting, relaxing, organising, downsizing and upgrading.

To start the year off we bought a car (thanks my INCREDIBLE parents) and will finally be learning to drive!! This means lots of road trips in the not too distant future, and I can see myself  demanding stop off's at every antique store and roadside farmers stall we encounter for a while.

Sadly it also meant saying goodbye to my garage artists studio to make way for said car, and cramming what I could into our tiny office, but I'm determined not to let it stop me and the downsize will hopefully contribute to the more simplified and less frenetic approach I want to take this year.

I had been finding myself increasingly distracted by social media and other goings on around the interweb in 2012 and it was really starting to bother me that I was spending so much time staring at a screen instead of using my hands and creating.

I diagnosed myself (thanks to The Red Thread) with Creative ADD some time back and adding overuse of the Internet, and overexposure to far to many amazing inspiring projects and people to that mix has basically meant my brain has been far to overwhelmed with ideas to actually do anything with them.

This year is all about stepping back and taking stock. I still plan to be Blogging and Instagraming and updating the Facebook page every so often but personal use is to be curtailed and my focus will be on what makes me happy and not what's on trend or what the bright young things are doing.

I've come to accept that I may NEVER be cool, I probably won't be a design darling any time soon and will most likely not be sharing magazine spreads with the likes of  Tamara Maynes or Lisa Tilse (unless I'm VERY lucky) but I will be making things I LOVE and if they happen to find homes or admirers then that is all I need to keep me motivated and making!

I hope 2013 is a year of wonderful good things and nice people for you all!