Guest Blogger: Romi from The Dreamy Tree

This week our guest blogger is Romi from the Dreamy Tree. Romi contacted me a few months ago asking if I would be interested in being apart of her blog competition. She's planning on having some regular giveaways and I was lucky enough to be a winner in her last competition. Here's al little bit about the lovely Romi....

What do you make?


I make prints, but mostly jewellery! I make earrings and necklaces, re-made as I say, from old and also vintage watchparts- my motto is "Making something new out of old things" and I think that sums it up brilliantly well!

How/when/why did you begin making?

How When Why! How-I honestly have no idea! Because it felt perfect to be doing that.
When- Only this year, maybe in May I started photographing, and later than that did I start with jewellery.
Why- Because making something new from these old materials is what I find inspiring and it makes me happy.

What do you love the most about your craft?

I guess my motto is summing things up for me! That and just the feeling- I adore making brand new things out of something that used to be something, then was nothing.

It's like giving a new life to something that's almost lost all the hope it ever had.
Where do you get your ideas and inspiration?

My mind I think is a sutiable answer!; Things just come to me- and when I was doing photography and prints, I loved the way I could capture something innocent as a pile of buttons and then let myself make it into something I found to be special and interesting.

Everyday things, nature, ideas and moods.

Who buys/uses/wears your products? How does this make you feel?

Thus far, no one sadly! I've been on etsy for a little while now, but as of now, nothing has sold; but let's imagine Emma Watson went out wearing one of my little lockets- I would feel positively lightened, exuberent and would be screaming for joy and happiness for a long, long time.

She's inspiring.

How long does each item take you to make?

Not that long, once I get into it- but the accurate time is impossible to gauge.

How long have you been blogging?

Almost a year on WTWCTW and a little less on TDT. (wherethewritercomestowrite and thedreamytree)

Who is your favourite blogger?

Oh, I couldn't say that!

Where can people find your products? (Shops, markets, website, madeit/etsy)

They can readily buy my things on my etsy store (and please do all you out there!) Willows and Whispers-http://www.etsy.com/shop/rief4000?ref=si_shop

I don't ever want to seem overly eager, but I can offer a discount code if anyone wants anything! ( :

14 Days Left for the Giveaway!

There are 14 days left for the Manca Un Bottone giveaway. Pop over and like us on Facebook here and leave a comment over here to let me know that you want some free button goodness. It's not hard, I promise.

There will be TWO winners. You can even be cheeky and leave your favourite colours in your comment so I know what might make you smile.

If you are having a giveaway, or know someone who is, let me know and we can spread the word!

CurlyPops Stops By For A Visit

So last weekend I emailed a few of my favourite bloggers and asked if they would be interested in making a guest appearance on my little old blog. My expectations for a response were low given my reputation in blogland is somewhat small. 30 followers, sporadic posts and occasional foul language with a twisted sense of humour isn't really a recipe for success in my book. HOWEVER, I was super excited when the first response I got was from Cam at CurlyPops.

Cam is fabulous. She blogs regularly, makes a range of gorgeous handmade goodies and is actively involved in fundraising and campaigns to do her bit to make the world a little bit nicer.

Below is her little Manca Un Bottone interview and a list of places you can find her beautiful wares. Thanks for stopping by Cam!


What do you make?
I make anything and everything, from handbags to softies to clothes and all things in between.
For my business, I focus on my textile brooches and lifestyle accessories such as pouches and handbags.
I've been creating and using my own fabric designs for more than a year now, so that has been exciting.

Why, when and how did you begin making?
For as long as I can remember, I've always loved to make things, and over the years, I've dabbled in every craft imaginable.
I started sewing seriously about ten years ago, and began my business approximately three years ago.

What do you love the most about your craft?
I really just love being creative, and knowing that I can make anything I like, whenever I feel like it.
My house is a bit like a craft shop - I have every supply I could ever need so I can just create on a whim without having to buy anything first!

Where do you get your ideas and inspiration?
Ideas seem to pop into my head at the most random times. It could be something I see, or something that someone says in a conversation. An idea can be generated from anything really.
Sometimes the best ideas are a result of a happy accident. The first incarnation of my flower brooches came from some accidental felting of yarn.

Who buys/uses/wears your products? How does this make you feel?
I still get such a buzz when I see someone wearing one of my flower brooches, it's so exciting! I've made lots and lots and lots of them, so there are lots of ladies all over Australia (and a few overseas) wearing them.
My pouch range is unisex, so I hope there are lots of blokes wandering around with their sunnies, or gadgets protected.

How long does each item take you to make?
The time varies on each product. For the items that I make for my business, I try to make them in batches so that they are cost effective.
There are lots of steps in the making of the brooches (including drying time) so this has to occur over a number of days.
When I'm making handbags, I make each one separately. They take a minimum of two hours each.

How long have you been blogging?
I've been blogging since January 2008, so that's about three and three quarter years now.
I blog most days depending on what else is happening in my life.


Who is your favourite blogger?
I couldn't possibly pick a favourite - I have 486 blog subscriptions in my google reader. I love them all for different reasons, but most of all, I love them because they're real people making stuff and sharing it with the world.

Where can we find CurlyPops?
I'm on a market hiatus at the moment, but you can find my products in my online shops, and at my retail stockists:
My Big Cartel Shop - http://curlypops.bigcartel.com/
My Made It Shop - http://www.madeit.com.au/curlypops
Open Drawer - http://opendrawer.com.au/
Little Shop Of - http://littleshopof.com/
Big House Collective - http://bighousecollective.blogspot.com/
Red Brick Gallery - http://www.theredbrick.blogspot.com/

WANTED: Guest Bloggers

So while I remain motivated and inspired I have decided I might try and get some guest bloggers...crafty, creative, clever ones.

If you are interested, please send me an email at : thereisabuttonmissing@hotmail.com
I'll try and stalk some nice blogging type people as well.

It will be simple and fun and a great way to promote your blog/products if you sell online or at markets.
I will send you a list of questions, you answer them and send me some pretty pictures. Simple huh?

The Shop is Stocked!

The Manca Un Bottone shop has been restocked. Lots of pretty things in store.

www.madeit.com.au/thereisabuttonmissing

Don't forget to enter our giveaway, just two posts down!

Garlic! Yeah baby...

In the last 6 weeks I've had two colds, a chest infection and more recently a super sized coldsore on my nose. Yup, thats right, on my nose. It's hot let me tell you.

So I've been pumping in the vitamins, trying to get plenty of rest and eating raw garlic. Now normally I'm the hippy in this house. Organic produce, no poisons on the garden, naturopath opposed doctor, goats milk soap, homemade cleaners....you name it, I try and do it. Mr. S spends a great deal of time bagging me and telling jokes about being a 'f**ked out old hippy' however this time he has outdone me.

The other night as I sat here coughing up 3/4 of a lung and reaching for another tissue he told me to go and chop some garlic. 4 cloves later....BEST THING I HAVE DONE!

I may not be cured but I feel so much better! I think it truely has been my saviour. So now I am wondering what are the other cold and flu home remedies out there that I do not know about?

What do you do to cure yourself?

Giveaway

Ok, so it has been about 300 years since my last post. I've lost some followers (sorry, I do understand, I stop following the boring people too).

I spent most of a lazy Sunday taking pictures and uploading them onto madeit. I'm not totally happy with it however I will try and give it another go at the weekend.
Check it: www.madeit.com.au/thereisabuttonmissing

I created a Facebook page: Manca Un Bottone

I currently have 5 followers. Four really as I hacked into Mr S's account and made him like me...and if you count the 2 people I sent messages to bullying them into liking the page then that leaves 2, then I need to deduct myself, which leaves my dear friend Connie. Thanks for liking me Connie. I lub you. xx

So anyway, in celebration of me getting off my ass and stocking the shop and the introduction of a Manca Un Bottone Facebook page....I'm having a giveaway.

It's a suprise giveaway, meaning I'm not going to tell you what the prize is. (It will be Manca Un Bottone items of course) I will tell you that it will be valued at $50 and there will be two lucky winners.

Here's what you need to do:

You must follow the Manca Un Bottone blog.
You must 'like' the Manca Un Bottone' Facebook page.
Lastly, comment on this post and let me know you've done both with your email address so I can contact you.

Spread the love kids!

Winner will be draw at the end of August.

What are you doing tonight?

Tonight Mr. S and I are going to be playing Scrabble during Earth Hour.

I spent 3 hours making vegetarian lasange this afternoon.

Right now Mr. S hates me.

I've taken away his meat, force fed him 8 kinds of vegetables in one sitting and to finish it all off I'm banning the TV and making him spell. Gosh I'm horrible.

Holidays....suggestions peeeeer-lease!

I am on holidays.

I have been on holidays for 2.5 weeks now.

I have 2.5 weeks remaining.

I have not accomplished a freakin' thing.

(Not entirely true however it feels like I have not accomplished a freakin' thing)

I need ideas, suggestions, inspiration.

WHAT. CAN. I. DO.

I have limited funds.

Tomorrow I am going to Melbourne to spend time with my very pregnant sister-in-law and look after little Miss MGM while she goes to work on Friday.

Next week I shall return to meet with my bestie and we are going shopping.

I need more ideas people. Assistance peeeeer-lease!

I would prefer that destinations be around the Mebourne/Central Vic/Grampians region.

Bless.

Scary Sewing Attempt #1

This dear friends is fabric. Fat quarters to be precise.

I am using them to create a tiny pretty little blanket.

I took this photo 3 days ago just prior to throwing it all in the wash.

Since this time it has remained on the clothes horse.

I am not quite sure if it remains there out of fear, or just sheer laziness.

I can't sew...that well.

I have issues with high expectations.

Sewing means I have to be paitent.

I am not good at that either.

Once I tried to make a handbag.

I managed to sew the opening shut.

Five Faves

I am playing along with Pip and her new meme.

I have to be random and have no theme here....
Tomorrow some of these things may be off the list, with new ones on!

Creamy Coffee. Proper Coffee Shop Creamy Coffee.

This very sweet resin bangle from this Esty seller.

Bird wall decals.

I found this one here.

I love all things bird.

Friends.

On the weekend my bestest, most lovely friend came to stay.

We have been besties for over 10 years and lived together for 3.

She lives a little way away now and I miss her dreadfully.

She is the cutest little black girl you have ever seen.

Merideth Goats Cheese.

There is nothing better.

In salad, on toast, on a platter, on pizza, alone.

I love you.

Just some fast facts...

I'd like you to meet...

....my friends.
Connie and Kyla. Two lovely girls that live in Hepburn Springs.
I first met these two ladies when I moved to Daylesford in 2007.
They were warm, welcoming, kind, nurturing and full of fun.
We drank together, ate together, explored waterholes and dirt tracks together, sat on the porch of Portal 108 and smoked ciggies together (we have now all quit, yay for us!), played Scrabble together, sometimes we cried together too. It was nice.
They are nice people who have good values and kind hearts. They tell you the truth. They are real.

They introduced me to Mr. S.
Mr. S and I were both lonely and pathetic at the time. Kyla thought that we would be good together.
She was right.

Moral of the story? I have two really lovely friends who have a lovely shop and they have just started a lovely blog. I wanted to spread the love and point you all in the right direction. I also wanted to tell you a wee bit about their shop.
In their shop they like to stock quirky, unique, funky, handmade and independent wares.
If you make pretty things that you would like to sell I think you should contact them. They truely are wonderful.

Here is their website.
Here is Connie's new blog.

Go on....take a look...

Tonight I have been looking at random websites...I always love this one...

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

This is tonights favourite pick...

This is a copied tweet from their Twitter:

'Today's Mail: "I regularly check the obituaries for the neighboring town, looking for my husband's former fiancee.'

Holy shit lady, you have some issues to deal with there! Don't pray too hard or anything will you?

Post Secret always makes me laugh and re-interates to me that I'm not a total FREAK!

This week brings a....New Kitchen!

My new kitchen has arrived.

It's stacked up in our dining room, nearly to the roof!

Tomorrow our regular 'Mr.Fix It, I Can Do Any Job Around The House Perfectly' is coming.

He is employed by the kitchen company however is really good at home renos.

He knocked out one of our walls and re-plastered it to make way for the new kitchen.

So now that all my kitchen accessories, utensils and pantry is spread from the lounge room to the dining room....I am here thinking what I need to buy to celebrate the new kitchen.

I love this website.

Home Couture.

When I moved from Bendigo to Daylesford I spent a huge amount of money on nice things from their website.

It was to celebrate living solo.

Not having to worry about buying something nice and having a housemates random friend take it to their other random friends BBQ and never seeing it again.

Or having a housemate move out in a huff and take stuff that wasn't theirs, only to find out 6 months later when making Breville pies and not being able to find the pie cutters! (Ruined my pie making experience, still trying to get over it!)

This is my current kitchen.

It is already kind of in pieces.

The brown cupboard has been ripped out and is just sitting there.

Last year we got a brand new, lovely ILVE oven and rangehood.

It is BRILLIANT. I truely love it.

Our last oven was the original and the thermostat had gone in it.

Made it very hard to cook with.

I really want one of these.

Oh how I love them...

I think I might buy it's friend first.

Just in time for winter soups and lovely warm things...

What is your favourite thing in the kitchen??

Another Marker's Market...

Picture taken from here...

Next weekend brings another Daylesford Maker's Market. I will be there with bells on!
My lovely mum will be there too to help me out. She is driving from NSW to spend the weekend. She is such a good mum!

The last market I attended I was by myself which can be a bit annoying when you want to go and have a sticky at the other pretty stalls.

I have been in a mad panic making things the last two weekends. I have new hairpins and magnets for this stall. They have been lots of fun to make. Tonight I plan to sit down and make some bracelets and necklaces. I have been really slack in the stringing department lately. I only have a few bracelets made. It's just not going to cut it!

I wonder who else will be attending this market? Are you going to be there?

I'm hearing you lady! (*Caution - Loose unladylike lips)

Firstly let me guide you to Steph's post over here. I loved this post. It hit home.

For the last couple of months I have been struggling with yukky old depression. Some days are good. Some days are so friggin' hideous I wish I never got myself out of bed. (Yes I can still get out of bed so clearly I'm not ready to end it all!) I do joke about it because it is not the first time I've been struck down with the nasty bugger and it certainly wont be the last. I've come to live with the fact that it's gonna come and go, just like the winter flu or a horrible sore throat, I just need to stay strong and know there is light at the end of the tunnel.

So while I'm all dark and gloomy I have been really focused on all the things that I hate about me...
I am moody.
I am a perfectionist at work and lazy at home.
I eat too much crap and bitch that I am fat.
Sometimes I have really poor boundaries and think I can save the world (or die trying).
I can be really selfish.
I dont pay Mr. S enough attention.
I have bad bad bad language. Very unlady like.
I love/trust too easily and often get hurt.

however...

I also have these lovely, good  and sweet qualities...

I am caring and full of love for others.
I always try my very best and keep the impact of my actions on others in mind. (not always a strength I'm telling you).
I am smart.
I can be crafty.
I am compassionate.
I believe we are life long learners and am always open to new experiences.

This year I am focused on self awareness and spiritual growth. No matter how hard it may be at times. I am far from perfect...and I am ok with that.

Hip Hop Happy Birf-day...

Saturday was my birthday.

I was spoilt.

Flowers.

Chocolates.

A wooden bicycle from lovehate.com.au

Gardening gloves.

Books.

Max Brenner chocolate, cup and saucer (thanks Mr. S for eating the chocolate and then asking what it was for!)

A framed picture of my grandparents on their wedding day (tears followed soon after opening this one).

Homemade cup cakes.

Caramel tarts.

An address book.

A handmade present from one of those people that just pop into your life without warning.

Oh my was I spoilt. I had all my birthday wishes comes true.

Local Craft Hero...watch out Donnatella...

I received an email from Allison over at Lark this evening.

She is looking for local makers to interview for Lost magazine which is a local tourist/event magazine.

I love Lost. It is a great little book filled with info about what is happening around the Daylesford/Hepburn Springs area.

Allison is looking for local crafters who have stalls at the Maker's Market.

You can imagine my excitement.

I ran around the house squealing a little (Ok a lot. There may have also been arms flapping and legs kicking). The cat ran away and Mr. S looked at me like I was a crazy woman. (I am a crazy woman).

I may have to delay the questionairre until after tomorrow nights Yoga class.

Tonight I am much too sleepy to think logically and public humiliation is not on my to do list at the moment.

To market, to market

I am off to the Market with this little angel. Hopefully she stays an angel while we are there...