Feeling the Lovin'

What a lovely award to receive! Looks very cute too...

Thank you so much to blogwriter , Trishiekoh for this wonderful compliment... Under Lock and Key is an excellent blog so I definitely recommend a click over!

So I pass this award on to the following blogs that I adore to say the least... These blogs, like the award, are not just beautiful to look at but inspire me on a daily basis.

The imagery used in each of these, are just what I need at the start of the week to get my creativity flowing...

1. Mel Paton Crochet

1. Lox Savvy

1. Leeloo Dog Blog

1. Buttons By Lou Lou

1. Dust Jacket Attic

1. Not Exactly Rocket Surgery

1. Made by Girl

1. Iva Y

1. Owl and Fox

1. Lady Melbourne

Sorry... They're all No.1!

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day...

...Nothing beautiful and extraordinary ever was!!!

So when I placed an order for the most exquisite hand knitted mittens, gloves and long fingerless mittens from Mel Paton Crochet, I just knew there would have to be a wait... Surprisingly they were all made up for me in such little time for what I've received - and it has definitely been well worth it!

So... Come to the Curious Oyster Shoppe soon and check out these sublime, 100% Australian Wool beauties....




And a little bit of Q & A for the star artisan...

Q. Who are you?
A. I'm a 31 year old primary school teacher and crochet designer from Perth, WA.

Q. What do you make?
A. I make luxury fingerless mittens, eco-friendly makeup removal wipes and washcloths, and quirky kids toys. But I'm always inventing new patterns.

Q. What are you favourite materials to create with?
A. I use Pure Australian Wool for my mittens to support Aussie farmers. It's also great quality, easy to care for and feels so good. I use Natural Undyed Cotton on my makeup removal discs and washcloths. It's gentle on the skin, natural and contains no dyes. I love vintage buttons, so use them on some of my mittens.

Q. Fashion style?
A. Vintage and handmade all the way!

Q. Favourite music?
A. Indie pop and post-punk - Belle & Sebastian, Vivian Girls, The Vaselines, Electrelane, Sonic Youth.

In store at the end of this week... Curious Oyster Shoppe: 158-160 Barkly St | St Kilda | 3182 VIC
Mittens, Gloves and Long Fingerless Mittens available online soon at www.curiousoyster.com.au

Get out of the kitchen woman...

(Ok... that got everybody's attention!)

and grab yourself a gorgeous apron : )

Okay... so I love to cook! But I also happen to be the messiest person I know... In every aspect of my life, I make a mess. In restaurants in Paris, I am embarrassed to say, they even used a sort of hand held vacuum to pick up all my crumbs I left strewn about the table - more than once!

So cooking and making my organic skin products is the worst thing I can do in terms of mess making - I dislike the aprons covered in plastic mammary glands and slogans... so I often end up covered ingredients!

One day when walking through the looking glass, I stumbled into Wonderland Avenue... I can say I was delighted to see the beautiful fabric and flattering designs!

So here you go girls... Wonderland Avenue aprons now available at Curious Oyster! In kiddy sizes too!

Handmade by a lovely lass in Byron Bay!

Wonderland Avenue

xx Annaliese

Oopsidaisy!

Hmmm... I'm a day late! But it makes all the difference doesn't it!? 

Because today, all the days are getting LOOOOOOOOOONGER! and the northern hemisphere and all it's occupants, are getting the sun a few less minutes (seconds) a day - Ha Ha!!!

Ok... childish but true : )

So what am I a day late for? My Nilla Nilla Winter Solstice Giveaway!

So... who are the lucky winners? 

Princess Kirstie Jane

Buttonsbyloulou

Iva Yaneva

JoolzGirl

RocketGirl

Email me your details and flavour preferences (annaliese@curiousoyster.com.au): 

Mint Slice

Espresso

Jaffa

French Cinnamon &

Black Forest

Drooling...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

To Market...To Market...

...to buy a French Cinnamon Nilla Nilla Pout Balm, or

...French and Australian Clay, or

...Pilgrim's Ointment or

...to just look at all the beautiful handcrafted goods for sale by some very clever Melbourne Indie Artisans!

Brrrr....

So we're  a few days away from the shortest day of the year and it is freezing here in Melbourne...

I find Melbourne odd in many ways... we think that because this is Australia, we don't need heat saving features like glazed windows and good insulation. I went through one of Europe's coldest winters(as well as their hottest summer!) in recent history. I was in the Dolomites and in Austria, but I have to say, I am colder here!

Rugged up as though I am about to hike in the snow, I am on my computer, fully recovered from my brief flu (and no, not swine!)... The common symptoms of a stuffy head and chest were thwarted by my little pot of gold... Pilgrim's Ointment. 

I know this is my product and this may seem like a bit of self gratification (for lack of a better term!), but I feel I must share... 

Pilgrim's Ointment has been much loved by family and friends for ailments ranging from leg and foot pain, migraines to back aches to muscle pain from too much exercise (the last one is not me!)... Hence why I never have any to put in my shoppe. But if you do manage to get your hands on a pot, be sure to reach for it as an organic and totally natural alternative to VICKS Vapour Rub.

Keep toasty warm...

Winter Solstice Giveaway!

What better time of year is it to have the yummy heart warming, and tummy loving flavours of chocolate on your lips? That's right... winter! 

To celebrate the winter period and the coming of the Winter Solstice we will be giving away 5 of the brand new Nilla Nilla Winter Pout Balms! Choose between, French Cinnamon, Espresso, Mint Slice, Jaffa or Black Forest... Yum!

To be in to win, simply follow my blog - click "follow" on the side panel to join... 

Drawn 21st of June - Winter Solstice