finders keepers sydney THIS WEEKEND . . .

this week we are packing our boxes of goodies

and heading south for a few days to the 

sydney finders keepers market !

we are thrilled as always to be a part of this event

and looking forward to saying hello to all our sydney friends and followers

it is always such a fun and fulfilling event

with great music and stalls . . .

so many wonderful creatives under one roof

the market is on friday night and all day saturday

details are HERE

do pop along and say hello if you are coming by

we've got lots of new goodies to share with you . . .

it's been three years this month since we launched our online store

time flies . . .

it's been amazing,
especially with all of you who have supported it,
blogged or spread the word about it . . .

it has been equally amazing with the work my shop girl teresa does

she really deserves all the praise in getting orders out on time,
and well wrapped !
( thanks T you the best online shop girl ever . . .
i know you are the only one i've had,
but you are still the best )

anyway . . .
to celebrate we are having a SALE in store

just quote the word 'three' in the discount code section at checkout

to receive 25% off you entire order (excluding shipping)

then press update total for it to take effect

we are also offering free shipping on all orders over $150

(the shipping costs will be refunded after the order comes through)

the sale is on until midnight Australian EST on may 30, 2012

there's a few new surprises in store also (see images below)

hope you like...

until next time

have a lovely monday...

these new magnets have been on the list for a while . . .

i'm just glad they are finally here to share with you all . . .

they are $12.95 each and available HERE

we are also happy to announce out new monogram circle tags

these come in every letter of the alphabet and in all four colour ways shown . . .

they are $9.95 each and can be found HERE

i miss being here . . .

i know, this poor old journal has been lacking in entries these days,

and i do miss being here...

i think the instant nature of instagram 

has taken over my image sharing... 

but like facebook (which i am not yet* on)

not everyone is there on instagram...

and it is here where i want to, and must take the time, to get back to...

regardless of lack of posts here

believe me there has been lots going on behind the scenes, 

and truthfully never seems to be enough hours in the day !

i've had another small trip to japan (it seems to be my second home of late...)

 this time, over easter holidays when the studio closes for a week or so,

i went with a dear and kindred friend 

and her lovely girls to celebrate our big number birthday's this year 

(yes that four-o is looming)

the previous post's photo was taken and posted when we were there... 

we went to see the cherry blossoms... and cherry blossoms we saw

it was a wonderful and inspiring trip, as always

and i've come back with so many ideas my head is still spinning...

but between the trips this year it has been head down believe me !
we have started and made a good dint in to all our christmas stock for the year

as well as keeping up the usual ranges to all our lovely stores 

(the new happy tags are proving to be well loved)

so i thought i'd give you a sneak peek at this year's christmas bird designs...

there is a third one which i'll save for later

the snaps (above and below) were taken as 

we worked on building up stock of them a week or so ago, 

i love the clay and work at this stage

i wish i could keep them that way... 

the wet clay, the fingerprints, the place between just made and about to be something... 

i think that is why i take so many photos of this stage of my work

it is a way of preserving this delicate space 

the space between the breaths that clay takes...

we have also been working on a new range of monogram work

and earrings to finally get up in the online store...

we have finders keepers in sydney on june 1 and 2 

and then a month or so later in brisbane 

so we are making sure there's lots of new goodies for all those that pop along...

i'll be back in the next week with news of our 3rd birthday sale in our online store... 

YES i can't quite believe it has been three years, 

but it is a good excuse for some cake and a little sale...

AND there's some major exciting, life changing, news in the paper boat press HQ 

all will be revealed as the next couple of months creep on...

until next time

hello

and thanks for not giving up on this funny-little-rambling-place for my work and words...

* facebook, well yes, i hardly have time for here, or catching up with emails 

and all the other reasons which i won't list here... 

i'm going against the grain i know 'every business should be on facebook' etc.... 

well i'm bucking the trend for now, i'm not saying never, just not today,

or tomorrow... sometime maybe when i have more time**

**not sure when that will be

p.s. my instagram name is paperboatpress if you are interested, 

i can commit to that because my phone is often, ok, nearly always with me... 

oh and i've started pintrest... same name...

live in simple faith
just as this trusting cherry
flowers, fades, and falls

issa

new in store

happy tags and name garlands are released !!!
we've been working hard creating some new little bits and pieces
for our retailers and online shop . . .

after the much loved five packs of little word tags (which are still available)
we have added these new little five packs
with flowers, hearts, and stars
in three colour ways...
blue
red
and pink

we also have the popular vintage button stars, hearts, and flowers
in mini versions as five packs too
there is a little bit of stock already online
with lots of other packs heading to our stockists around the country
(we will restock asap if they get low on stock online)

also, the new and exciting name garlands are finally released
they are priced per letter at $12.95
(the stringing up of the garland is all part of the overall price)

we hope you like these new creations

for more info or to purchase these new items visit our SHOP

have a lovely weekend !

high tea with mrs woo

so, as the years have passed in this ceramic studio and creative life
i've made friends far and wide,
kindred spirits, connections
and life long bonds . . .

one of these precious and inspiring meetings
has come in the form of 3 sisters
the talented and inspiring
' clothing desingers, makers, merchants '
juliana, rowena, and angela
from the label high tea with mrs woo

the girls have been stocking my wares in their stores
in sydney and newcastle for the last few years,
we've also shared many an email,
dinners here, there, and in other cities
and basically been a little community of support to each other
in this hard working, time poor creative world . . .

so when the gals asked if they could include one of my cloud brooches
as part of their autumn winter collection 2012
i said yes before the question was even finished being asked
and really feel it more an honour than a request and order of stock . . .

so here we are now
with their collection now released (and divine as it is)
you can see the whole collection HERE
including the piece called 'as sure as rain' that includes my cloud brooch
and then you'll understand more why i am gushing here
and proud to call them friends . . .

congrats girls on living the dream and
thank you so much for merging a little corner of my work with yours

the girls have a beautiful blog (with an equally beautiful title)
if you feel like a look-see you'll find it HERE
(all photos on this post care of the high tea website and blog)

and in other news, the local (to brisvegas) staple that is MAP magazine
has released a new online weekend edition
aptly called weekend edition . . .
the lovely linsey who heads the team
came to the studio the other week to interview me
(and take a snap) for the launch issue which came out last week
you can read my little bit here
and then stay a while and have a look around, you'll be glad you did . . .

this week around the studio . . .

we are well and truly in full swing again for the year
with new products getting made,
and old favourites getting restocked too

working in a open verandah studio
lends itself to having little visitors from time to time
be them birds, or raindrops
or leaves . . .
the leaf above seemed to fall like a musical note the other day on that tray of work . . .

in other news
i am doing a special order for some
fabulous fashion designers
(that just happen to be good friends of mine too)
i am mighty chuffed about it and
all will be revealed in time . . .
there is a hint above, but only a hint . . .

hope you are having a lovely week

holiday snaps . . .

as promised i'm back with a few of my favourite holiday snaps i took
on my recent trip to kyoto . . .

it was a much needed and loved trip away . . .
above are some special corners of kyoto.

i spent some lovely time with my friend michelle and her mum on this trip . . .
with one of the highlights being a trip to the pavilion of the silver temple
somewhere neither of us had been
(even though we have both visited kyoto many times before)
it was lovely to share this place, and its amazing gardens with
a friend from home . . .
(silver temple gardens photos top left and bottom left above)

another extra special day on the trip
was with my friends justine and shozo
this beautiful couple have the most wonderful store
of japanese furniture, ceramics and objects
shibui homewares in west end brisbane . . .

we spent the day between antique markets in the grounds of a temple,
wandering the streets of kyoto and having a long lunch in
the amazingly styled and decorated hello cafe
(image bottom left),
stopping by a teahouse, and ending in a wonderful dinner in a
much loved restaurant of theirs . . .

and through the afternoon with them there was a visit to an antique store
where i purchased one of my treasured things EVER . . .
that story needs a post of its own, and i will do so someday . . .

i feel truly grateful that my holiday was shared with such dear friends along the way . . .

that is one of life's greatest gifts i think
to share beautiful memories

today i treasure this trip,
other trips i've taken near and far,
and those loved ones i've traveled with
you know who you are . . .

the photo says it all . . .

it is true . . .
it has taken a while to get back into things this year

last year ended with the biggest year on record for this little studio
literally thousands and thousands of ornaments
and tags, and calendars etc etc
flew away to new homes,
most days of the week the studio light was on
as christmas drew closer . . .

i don't like using the words burnt out, but it is the right
description for how it all felt by the end,
and then the reason for my absence here,
the lack of replenishing stock on the online store and
the emails that we are still getting through . . .

i am not complaining about the tiredness
the years end bought my way
as this work, this studio,
is one of my greatest passions . . .

but sometimes you just need some time out

on the month away from here i caught up with friends
saw films on the big screen and from my couch . . .
read books,
designed some new things for the year ahead
(details to come)

and even managed a week walking the streets of kyoto
(one of my favourite places)
and a place where i was inspired and refreshed
i'll be sure to share some photos and stories of that adventure soon

in the mean time . . .
HELLO
and i hope your new year is filled with
beautiful memories already
and with more to come as each day passes

i'll be back soon
(i know i say that a lot)
but i promise i will . . .

happy wednesday
x