Vacation's over.

Many of our stores have recently had a bit of time off.

For lots of reasons,

to reflect the year gone, to enjoy some family time or just to grab their breath and

to refill the stores with beautiful new products 

for you all to enjoy.

BronzBeadz and Glass

have also had some time off recently

and is back in full swing.
In some cases people go out with a bang 

(so to speak)

But not Bron she comes back with a bang.

Bron has released a new product to her collection and it is just stunning.

You will be the envy of your neighbourhood

 with one of Bronz new Glass House numbers.

They are currently offered at a special introductory price.

So grab one now at the special price.

Another of our stores that has been hard at work

Is the lovely Tracey from My Obsession Designs.

 Tracey has been hard at work getting ready for her monthly Market here at OZ Handmade, 

Tracey hold monthly market days and has such lovely products available for sale NOW until this Friday 16th March 9am (QLD time)

~Nappy Bags & Pouches ~ Kids Back Packs ~ Tote Bags ~  Fabric Baskets ~ Pencil Cases ~ Button Push Pins & Magnets ~ Fabric Covered Note Books ~ Hair Accessories ~ Hand Knitted Baby Cardigans & Vests

 

The OZ Handmade Shop (affectionately called the OZ Shop)

has lots of new items in stock for 2012.

Blank Fabric Buttons.

Mollie Makes Magazine

Fold Over Elastic is about to be added to store.

As well as Ottobre Designs Magazines for both Woman and Children.

 

Don't forget our Facebook Page or Our website.

 Until next time Gill♥

  

Run for cover {Facebook is a changing!}

Ok its been a while since I posted.  And I have a confession to make - I've actually been hiding from the computer!

I recently got the new timeline on my business pages on Facebook and trying to get everything looking good again is such a time eater!  And as I am a bit of a perfectionist I can't just leave things be and do what I am supposed to be doing, instead I start tweaking and resizing and nudging left and nudging right and then before I know it my kids are awake, or asking to be feed, or the clock is telling me I am cutting it fine to make the kindy pick up on time! 

That's why I was more then a bit excited to discover that there are simple and easy to use cover picture makes popping up all over the net.  I am especially excited by the preview of what is in the works at Paint the Moon Photography and am pretty sure that once Annie's templates are ready to go I will be devoting a large portion of nap time to perfecting my cover pics. 

In the meantime I also found an online cover maker HERE which was surprisingly simple to use.  In fact the hardest thing was choosing which image I wanted to use for my background!  I also like the added feature it has of allowing you to create your profile picture from the larger image, thereby allowing them to mesh better.  

And this is what I was able to create in only a few minutes...

My Puppy Dogs Tails profile picture is long overdue for an update and considering how these images work with cover pictures just adds another dimension to an already long checklist!    Is it any wonder I've been hiding!

Please share any tips, tutorials, links etc etc you find that might help in my quest for cover perfection!

Yours (under cover)

Holly xx

15% off selected Magazines.

Currently in the OZ Shop there is 15% off selected Magazines 

until midnight on the 29th February 2012.

Oz Shop

The Face Behind (Frilly's Designs)

The face behind Frilly's belongs to the lovely Gill, who since June 2011 has also been the owner /operator of the entire Oz Handmade mall.  I thought she would be the perfect first subject for a “On the other side of the screen” post, which I am making a regular blog feature in order to introduce you all to the creative forces behind the stores on Oz Handmade.

So let’s meet Gill (aka Frilly’s Designs and the provider of beautiful Bunting Flags and Machine Embroidery all crafted with love in East Gippsland, Victoria)

Hello Gill!  (everybody wave!)

Away from the computer and the world of virtual shopping Gill is a very busy lady in her “other” roles as a full time mother / part-time wife (her hubby works away).  She has also taken on the role of (very proud) Mum of the Campus Captain for her daughter , has three adult step children and two teenagers of her own, and last month became Step-Nana to a beautiful little girl.   

Green Chalk Cloth Bunting - personalise it yourself with chalk!

 

Pink Chalk Cloth Bunting - personalise it yourself with chalk!

 
The story behind Frilly’s Designs is one of a love of handicraft been passed from one generation to the next.  Gill’s Nana would sit a very young Gill on her knee in front of the sewing machine, teaching her how to guide fabric through while she worked the foot pedal, passing on to her granddaughter a love of sewing - the same love of sewing that Gill’s own mother inherited.  Sadly Gill’s Nana passed away 18 months ago and while she was sick in hospital she told Gill she wanted to see her do something special with her craft.  Gill kept her promise that she would, forming Frilly’s Designs in honour of the two women who together planted, and then nurtured, her love of sewing. 

  

One of Frilly's personalised buntings!

For Gill the most rewarding part of her business is seeing the smile from someone who has received one of her creations or getting feedback from a customer telling of their love for her work.  And of course hearing from another maker that her creations are beautiful is its own special reward. 

On the flip side the most frustrating part has to be waiting to see the end product, with Gill freely admitting that she can be a little impatient, wanting things finished before she has even started.  This is because of how excited she gets about what she plans to create and sometime been able to wiggle her nose like Samantha and have it be done would be a good thing.

If there is one lesson Gill has learnt on her journey so far it is this - housework can wait; creating is so much more fun.

Frillys Designs can be also found at Gill’s local “mini makery” which is located in The Stables ArtGallery in Bairnsdale, Victoria  and this month will also see another first when she takes her craft to Sale, Victoria for her first real-life market.

And of course on Facebook at - www.facebook.com/frillysdesigns

Oh my! MM! mmmmmmm!

So a few posts back I shared with you a photo of some goodies I'd received in the post from the Oz Store.  Included in that postie love was 2 copies of Mollie Makes which I promised I would be back to tell you about.

Well better late then never!

I've been getting MM (as I shall henceforth refer to the magazine in question) since the first issue and for me the wait between issues is too long.  

So what is so great about it I hear you ask.  It is a virtual visual feast and inspiration can be found on every page.  

The tag line on the cover reads 

making thrifting collecting crafting

and that is exactly what this publication is about.  I am especially enthralled by the hand-stitch embroidery designs, the patterns for which are a regular feature in the magazine.  

Even the advertisements are worthy of a more detailed inspection and I am often drawn to visit the websites of those hawking their wares, knowing full well that this is an English magazine and I will (as is always the way) find some object of desire where the postage ends up been more then the item price.  

The magazine is also available in digital form but even for a die hard e-reader like me this magazine needs to be beholden in all its paper glory to fully enjoy the visual orgy it provides.

As an added bonus the paper copy often comes with a little envelope of crafty goodness attached to the front.  I have a feeling it is actually something that is included with every issue at its local point of distribution but is a bit hit and miss with the imported copies.  

Included on the latest issue was an adorable little needle case and for me the timing was perfect as having been inspired to return to my old embroidery habits I needed a safe way to stash needles in my handbag (I can admit that yes I am a Nana, I usually carry a handicraft of some kind with me at all times just in case I am afforded a rare moment to create).

I photographed the process, quick as it was, to share with you so stay tuned for pictures of that, coming soon to a blog near you!

Yours in craftiness

Holly x