phew!

What a crazy week, but I'm happy to say I survived it!

On top of preparing and packaging and sending all the shop and wholesale orders, driving across town to buy new packaging stocks when they ran out, and picking up some more christmas gifts, I managed to find and buy (in a one hour window of opportunity mind you!), a new dress and new shoes for a big 40th we are going to tonight. Its being held on a roof terrace with views of Circular Quay and lots of lovely friends will be there. I can't wait!

I feel like Mr F and I have really earned some fun (he's been flat out with his business too). We started slowing down last night with friends for dinner, sitting outside in the garden with a glass of champagne and fresh tiger prawns as the sun set and the moon rose high in the evening sky.

On my birthday I was well spoilt. Takeaway thai noodles at the beach and a snorkel round the rocks. Then home for mud cake and pressies. Lots of lovely thoughtful presents - some vintage, some craft, clothes. This beautiful top from Mr F is from Kisu on King Street, both the fabric and the top were designed by the owner, wouldn't that be cool, something to aspire to! And this trowel from the V&A comes from my Mum, how perfect is that! I said to her if you had to choose an object to represent me you'd be hard pressed to do better.

This is my last post for a while and I wanted to take the chance to wish all of you a Very Happy Holiday (along with any celebrations that are relevant to you!). Thank you so much for visiting, for all your wonderful comments this year, you are so generous and encouraging and nice! I've loved visiting all your blogs too and come away with many new projects, ideas and stories.

I hope to make it back to post an end of year roundup and I might pop in before then, but if not have a wonderful New Year too. I have a few things planned  for 2011 (including a great swap, I've got this idea that's been rolling around my head for a while!) and I've already lined up the first Show & Tell interview for February. Meanwhile I'm looking forward to time off to be reinspired and reenergised, time with my family and some vacant staring out at space. Some swimming, in the creek and at the beach, some eating and drinking, some reading, some laughing, some fun!

p.s. Master D was reading over my shoulder the other day and said in a very gentle way, I think you've said  'lovely' too many times. So only two here, I'm reformed ;-)

happy

Beautiful Kate has been hosting a happy link list on her blog this week and I've loved reading all the beautiful contemplations - lots of great words that have brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my lips. While I've tried a few times to sit down and write one of my own its been much too crazy a week this week, and my brain is too scattered to do it justice.

You guys know my list anyway, it starts with family, friends and community. It takes in art, food, nature and making. This crazy week it has been about all those things but also about my little Flower Press business which has been doing a lot lately to keep a smile on my face.

The very best thing was hitting the post office today with lots of Flower Press parcels flying off around the world, especially sending those ones addressed to blog friends around the country who took advantage of my postage discount to buy a little Flower Press of their own. Thanks guys :-)

This manages to combine lots of happy things like art, making, community, friends and giving. It came with lots of nice emails and ended in chaos as my huge box of posting envelopes ran out, my cellophane bags came down to a the wire and my woven labels pile depleted to a handful. And here I was feeling so organised!

Its lovely to be rushed off my feet though, and today's posting was perfect timing. Its my birthday tomorrow and I'm going to be busy all day spending it with my boy doing lunch and the beach then chocolate cake and home made cards and some cuddles with my kids. And phone calls from all my other specials near and far.

Oh and these jars of homemade Apricot Jam are all Suzy's fault. Last week when I talked about mad last minute projects she commented that she'd just picked up cheap apricots at our local fruit/deli market to make a batch of jam (and don't her jars look beautiful, love those labels)! Of course when I had to walk past that particular shop on Saturday I had to go in and buy some, despite Mr F protesting that I didn't have time! I didn't but I'm so glad I squeezed it anyway, don't they look cute with their RickRack hats. And I'm already enjoying giving them away!

Teapot! (and free postage)

Here at last, the design I've been waiting for, the one I shared a corner of last week! Its my new Teapot design, translated from Gocco print to tea towel and looking graphic and beautiful against the linen tea towels just like I hoped it would! I'm really really happy with this one, I just love it! And its only a fingernail biting week late.

It currently comes in beautiful Ocean, Tomato, Sky and White on unbleached. I only have small quantities of the Ocean, due to circumstances beyond my control, but there is one Ocean blue in the shop so if you like it grab it now! Oh and there's lovely new Sky Chrysanthemum tea towels there too, a new colour.

To celebrate this wonderful happening, and all the shiny new stock in my shop, Australian readers I am offering free postage in Australia from now till Saturday night. Parcels will be sent first thing Monday. International readers I wish I'd had stock sooner, sorry, I think its too late for Christmas delivery but convo or email me if you are still shopping and I'll knock 20% off your postage too :-)

Please leave a message to seller or convo/email me to say you're a blog reader and I'll refund the postage straight away!

Consider it my Christmas present to all of you :-) And thank you all for your kind comments this week. Its so nice to have this space to share the good and the bad. I always come away with a smile on my face, and as I might have mentioned I really needed that this week.

In sourdough news my 'sponge' is rising in its bowl, and I'm hoping to bake an actual loaf tonight or tomorrow. Fingers crossed!! Pics to follow if it works.

culture

The new wares are slowly turning up (slow being the operative word!). Here are the new light blue Filigree tea towels. I had a similar colour last year and its one of my favourites, not sure why its taken me so long to reprint. The small print run last time went very quickly.

Straight away I wanted to put this with the Chalk Filigree tea towel. I think the white, fawn and blue two tea towel set would look great together for either summer (read sun, sand, sea, sky) or winter (ice, sky, snow, dry grass).

In between times, for a couple of weeks now I have been trying to get a sourdough starter going. Similarly to the ginger beer plant this is a natural fermentation process where rather than using commercial yeast to make bread you culture the natural wild yeasts present on the flour by growing and feeding a 'starter' where the only ingredients are flour and water. It smells a little sour like sourdough bread but not off at all. The bacteria grow and die as the mixture becomes more acid. I think!

I began the first one a couple of weekends ago. It burst into action about the second day only to collapse and loiter wanly for another week. Part of the problem was I kept reading more and changing tack. I started Mark Two on the weekend, weighing the ingredients this time to make it more accurate. When it showed more early promise the first attempt was shown the door. A third attempt with wholemeal flour and pineapple juice (really!) is waiting in the wings and starting to bubble, but Two started doing its thing yesterday and after its feed of water and flour bubbled up happily by a third.

I'm hoping to try and bake with it this weekend, an adventure in itself, and perhaps take this little being away at Christmas so we can experiment. Mad I know!

I was feeling a bit crazy to be experimenting with this at the busiest time of the year until I ran into a friend of mine this morning. I know that she has a to-do list as long as mine and a week of freelance work next week, but then she tells me today she's making soap for the first time. For handmade presents of course! Gotta love it :-)

Is anyone else trying to fit in some last minute making before the holidays kick in?

p.s. Here's a good site recommended by Kate which gives you the basics if you want to play along, and another Australian one with the pineapple juice method (there is a reason) and some other great info here.

smelling the roses

I'm having one of those days today, you know the ones. Lost couriers and cranky kids and its hot and humid so I feel a bit red in the face anyway. I've been trying to breathe, and stopping to smell these roses, my anniversary present yesterday from Mr flowerpress. Fourteen years ago we got married in a little progress hall on the North Coast and celebrated at a beautiful restaurant on the river. Our chef went on to get two hats and we went on to live happily ever after. Apart from those occasional crazy days when nothings seems to go right!

hemstitched

I'm very excited to introduce, new today, these Filigree tea towels with beautiful hemstitching top and bottom. I just love the way the delicate hemstitching sets off the Filigree design and gives them that heirloom quality.
These towels are slightly narrower than the original towels at 450mm but the same length and the same beautiful unbleached linen. Find them in my shop here. And stay tuned for more new stuff tomorrow!
These are only on Etsy at the moment, but Aussie buyers are welcome to contact me for bank deposit.
(p.s. I am going to the post office every day this week to make sure packages arrive quickly! A slight warning though, these beautiful hemstitched towels are the sort of thing you need to buy two of, one to give and one to keep ;-)

advent

 

More borrowed cleverness - lovely Mel (from little things) posted this advent calendar she whipped up on her blog this week. I loved it from the minute I saw it and then noticed she'd included a bit of my RickRack fabric in the making, which really made me smile. Mel says I can share it here, she is a sweetie like that. Even more impressive is she made it with help from her three year old and a tight deadline. She says its in the 'rushtic' style, I think its perfect. I love the different stitchings and colour combination.

Maybe next year I can convince the kids to give up the cardboard versions!

I think these fabrics would look great as a quilt. Mel kindly shares where she got the other ones on her blog here.

my creative space - process

I always love it when people share their process, so that's my creative space today. My new tea towel design from sketch to artwork. Of course there are a few other steps before during and after but you get the idea. Pencil, pen and then scanned to Illustrator. This is just a sneaky corner too, you'll have to wait a bit longer for the big reveal but a few of you might work it out!

A big thanks as always but especially today for Kirsty, for her energy and generosity in hosting another year's creative spaces. I've really enjoyed joining in this year and I'm getting better at remembering to post!

summer

What a lovely bunch you lot are! I've been so touched over the last week by all the lovely comments you've left about my magazine appearance and my Show & Tell interview. You have really made me smile. Everyone was so sweet about my photo too! I'm not sure why I've waited so long to share a pic (well I do - but it was actually quite painless!).

Life has been busy, I spent last weekend finalising the artwork for a new tea towel design. Yay! Hopefully I'll have printed tea towels by week's end or early next week at the latest. I can't wait to share, I also have some new colours of old favourites coming too so that's fun.

And suddenly its December and summer, advent calendars were opened early this morning. Its still raining here though, great for the garden but not so good for the annual street Christmas party planned for tomorrow. A friend of mine and I have been organising this event for the last four years, its a great way to catch up with all our lovely neighbours. We meet for dinner and drinks at a park down the street. I love how all the kids hang out together and play, big ones and small ones, I love the way that new people are welcomed into the gang, and I love that I live in such a fantastic neighbourhood. Go away rain!

This wonderful treasury showcases some other great Sydneysiders, members of the fabulous new Sydney Etsy Team which was started this month. Check out the link for some great Australian sellers, lots of new faces for me, and some old friends too!

fame

My copy of Extra Curricular landed in the letterbox today at last. What a lovely magazine it is, I'm so happy to be part of it, thanks Ellie!

Extra Curricular is full of lots of really interesting articles about creative people - why they make, what they make and lots of great information about how they make it. Its really fresh and honest and wonderfully inspiring whether you are a maker already or just wanting to start. The mag is available through the big cartel shop or via some other stockists listed on Ellie's blog. (I've seen it at Lark and Little Jane Street.)

I was lucky enough to be interviewed for Extra Curricular by fellow Sydneysider Ike Levick who arrived on the appointed day with takeway coffees in one hand and some Prints Charming embroidery in the other (she'd just been to a workshop). Needless to say we spent the whole time talking and came away great friends. Thank you Ike for the lovely piece and for your great enthusiasm and kindness. I was a bit anxious about being interviewed but you made it lots of fun!

The article tells a lot about how I came to be doing what I'm doing, how I do it and why. All the kids' names are in the article and some of their art appears on my pinboard, so they are enjoying the fame too :-) And while I've managed to keep my face out of this blog for three years, here I am at last in living colour (!?), photo by Mr Flowerpress.

my creative space - ginger beer

I'm cheating again this week, borrowing some creativity, this time I'm stealing Miss A's ginger beer production for my creative space. I did make her though, so I think it still counts ;-)

I love this old clipping of the recipe we are using which comes from my mother in law and still talks in pints. Miss A's never heard of them and calls them pin-ts as in pins! Ginger beer uses a yeasty plant that you have to make and feed for a week before you use it. You keep the plant and just drain off the liquid so you can make batch after batch. We are onto our second batch as the first disappeared in a couple of days.

Its quite simple but fascinating and I am completely amazed at how the bottles of ginger beer are all bubbly and delicious when you open them. We use plastic soda bottles and don't fill them completely to allow for expansion. The perfect summer holiday project.

Edited to add: For anyone trying this at home here is a clearer version of the recipe on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/flowerpress/5234288208/sizes/l/

A big thank you to everyone that came and read and commented on my Show & Tell. It was a bit nerve wracking doing it myself but lots of fun too. Thanks for supporting the series. It will be back bright and shiny next year with lots of wonderful bloggers to read about.

show & tell - susie stubbs

Hello and welcome to this month's Show & Tell.

What's that? I don't look like Susie? Well that's because I'm not Susie. I'm Kate from Foxs Lane and I've hijacked Susie's gorgeous Flower Press blog today. I thought who better to be the interviewee for the last Show & Tell of the year than the hostess herself.

I love Susie's Show & Tell. I love discovering new bloggers and more about the bloggers that I already know. I love how the same questions lead to so many varied and interesting answers and I love how inspired I feel after reading them each month.

I also love Susie's blog. I first came across it earlier in the year when I was sorting out partners for a pin cushion swap. I had a rather high profile blogger to find a partner for and after one look at Flower Press I knew that Susie and her gorgeous style would be the perfect fit.

Since then I have fallen in love with Susie's style. I love the crispness of her screen prints and how gorgeous her images look on denim and linen and paper. I love her obvious obsession with all things botanical, and reading her photo tutorials has completely changed the way I take, edit and upload my photos. She is generous with her knowledge and so quick to answer questions and help out. Susie is one of the few bloggers whom, despite the fact that we have never met in person, I can still call a friend.

So are you excited to hear how our usual hostess answers her own questions? I know I am. So without further ado, allow me to introduce you to this month's Show and Tell guest, Susie.

name
Susie Stubbs
location
Sydney, Australia
blog
http://www.flowerpress.blogspot.com (of course!)
shops
http://www.flowerpress.etsy.com
http://www.madeit.com.au/flowerpress
flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flowerpress/

Short description of your blog/style/work
When Kate first emailled me about being a Show and Teller I was a bit daunted, those questions look much harder from the other side of the table! I am delighted though to join the amazing group of people who have shared themselves with us this year, and the good news is that its actually quite fun. Show & Tell will definitely be back next year and I have an overflowing list of potential victims, I mean candidates, in mind already. But back to the questions!

I'm a designer working in printmaking and textiles and my blog reflects my work, and everything else that interests me - making, gardening, botanics and the natural world, sea shells, buttons, vintage fabric and books. Food and eating, family life, travel, different cultures and art. I love photography and take photos everyday, the best ones turn up here. And I love great blogs, which is why I started Show & Tell in the first place.

1. Why blog? How did you start?
In mid 2007 I was googling for a knitting pattern and came across an Australian knitter's blog, with a link to her Etsy shop. Through Etsy I discovered Gocco printing, Flickr and more craft/design blogs. I'd heard about blogging before but didn't really understand why you would do it. That quickly changed and I was inspired to start my own. My twins had just started school and I finally had time to rediscover my creative side. My first post was three years ago this month and while I started quite slowly and self-consciously it soon became a joy.

Blogging feeds my creativity and has helped me develop as a maker. I often find myself thinking in blog posts and that helps me see things more clearly and more carefully. It helps me finish projects but also sees me starting way too many.

The community of blogging is a whole other part of why I blog. I've found lots of like minds online and I'm often moved to tears or laughter by their words. From the first I found the blogging community really supportive and inspiring.

2. Family taught/Self-taught/Trained?
I have a degree in graphic design and worked as a book and web designer before I had children. So I have a background in print, web, design, type and image making. In 2008 I did a short course in textile printing. I also have certificate two and nearly three in horticulture which I studied when my twins were little through distance TAFE. As Kate says I am mad about botanics. I especially loved the propogation and garden design subjects.

The wonderful internet has taught me everything else from kitchener stitch to bread making!

3. Workspace - studio or kitchen table?
Last year Mr Flowerpress built me a little space in the attic, its great for storage and I can sew up there without sticky fingers helping out. I still print on the dining room table though and generally manage to spread myself around the house. The drawback is I lose things all the time. But I can do that sitting still!

4. Blog/Shop name, where does it come from?
The day I signed up for Etsy I sat down with a bit of paper and tried to think of a user name. Flower Press came up about tenth in the list, and I knew straight away it was perfect. The flower part describes my interest in the garden world, and the press is both a nod to my years as a book designer and to my love of different printmaking styles.

5. Favourite medium to work in?
I think if I could only choose one discipline it would be drawing but printmaking and textile and pattern design are intertwined with that now.

6. Ambitions/future directions/future projects/medium you'd like to try?
I'm always seeing something new I'd like to try and I've tried my hand at many different crafts in my time even before the internet!
I would love to print some letterpress, that's number one, though lately I've been thinking about ceramics too, I'd like to make little bowls and cups and paint them in blue and white designs.
I'd also like to learn to sew better, and embroidery is on the list too…

7. Are you neat and organised or, ahem, creatively messy?
While I'd like to think I have some neat in me, and I do like perfect clean every so often, my loved ones would definitely say messy.

8. Favourite handmade, handcrafted item you own, not necessarily by you?
I love handmade and I buy it all the time. I think my favourite things are those made by people I know. Each time I use them I think of the person who made them and I love that, I'm very sentimental! Some of my favourite things are drawings from the kids, newborn jumpers my mother in law knitted for my babies, my handcarved printing blocks, swaps and presents and prints I've bought from friends. Anything with a story.

9. Favourite food/recipe/drink?
If I had to narrow it down I'd say Vietnamese, Yum Cha and Italian. I also like seafood like fresh crab, oysters and fresh tuna. And Miss A enjoys baking so we are slowly working our way through the sweet side of life.

10. Favourite colour?
Until a few years ago I would have said purple and before that maybe green.
I'm quite fickle though, recently it swings between red, aqua and chartreuse. Also black and mushroom grey. And somehow this post ended up in shades of blue!

11. Star sign?
Sagittarian. Enthusiastic and likely to put foot in mouth any moment.

12. Favourite place, landscape (not necessarily Australian)?
My parents live on land in northern NSW and its truly magical. That's their house on top of the hill. That's one of my favourite places. I also enjoy exploring new places. There's nothing like a good road trip with stops along the way. I love to stay in funny old holiday houses and eat in new places every night.

My sister lives in Vietnam and my brother and I and families visited her a couple of years ago, its gorgeous. We had two weeks together and it was fantastic, the food, the people the sights. I also want to take the kids to Italy, which I love, get a house for a month and pootle around the countryside.

13. Any tricks for juggling life/work/family with creative pursuits?
Lists, late nights, a supportive partner and lots of patience. I am the ultimate multitasker, though I'm not sure that helps me finish anything. For example I might be cooking dinner and look out into the garden and see the light changing and so I'll slip out and take some photos while the rice cooks, end up weeding a bed or moving a plant. Or I might be paying bills and get up to find a pen and ten minutes later find myself knitting on the couch while I help someone do their homework.

14. Favourite artists?
I love Australian women artists like Clarice Beckett, Margaret Olley, Rosalie Gascoigne. My favourite garden designers are Beth Chatto and Piet Oudolf. I like famous painters like Van Gogh, Picasso, Rothko, Degas, Modigliani. I love textile design from the 50s. I love good graphic design and great photography.

15. Favourite blog post/thing you've made/photo? 
Perhaps the quilt I made last year. I really made it as a sewing challenge, but it gets used all the time, its very cosy and the perfect size to snuggle under. There are quite a few photos I've taken that I'm really happy with.

My Ruby Slippers print is something I'm very proud of, it lives with many people around the world now, and my Filigree design tea towels too.

16. Three words to describe you?
OK, hardest question. I'm going with creative, busy, enthusiastic. (I've edited out the bad stuff!)

17. What do you like to do besides creating?
I have to garden, its my meditation. I enjoy cooking. I read the paper every day and a book every night.

One of my favourite things is road trips with my little family exploring new places. I like to play games with my beautiful boys and make stuff with my darling girl. I love to meet up with my bloke during the week for lunch or a swim at the beach. I like christmas holidays with family - talking for hours over food or a glass of wine, watching the kids little concerts. Camping with the other side of the family. Or lunch with a friend or two catching up on all the news.

Mailing List & Gift Certificates

For the last couple of years I've had a mailing list to update interested people on new work, special offers and news from flower press. Its been quite sporadic, to say the least, and I've never shared it here on my blog.

I love the idea of keeping in touch with my lovely customers though and even more to reward them occasionally with discounts and offers. So with that in mind I've finally automated the process with an online list manager. Now its even easier to subscribe. Just click here to subscribe or on the button on the blog (just there above the followers widget) and you will be directed to a form to add your email address. You'll get a confirmation email to check you really want to hear from me and away you go. And equally if you get sick of my emails and want to unsubscribe that process is quick and automated and anonymous, just one click.

Now I'm telling you all this for a reason! Remember that holiday sale I've been promising? Well I've decided to keep it for mailing list peeps only. The good news is that I won't be mailing out details till Wednesday. So if you want to join up for the sale code click now and subscribe. Also new to the shop are Gift Certificates. Great for Christmas, housewarming, last minute presents. Can be customised for currency or amount. I can send a hard copy or electronically to you or your giftee.

Don't forget tomorrow is Show & Tell day! This will be the last interview for the year and its going to be really... well you have to tune in to see!
Show & Tell will definitely be back early next year and I have a long list of people I'm dying to feature, can't wait.

weee!

 Extra Curricular is a journal about folks who get creative with their spare time.

With cover art by Jessica Hills, this issue includes a printmaking 'featurette', an article about getting crafty in the kitchen along with a recipe for summer berry jam, interviews with creative geniuses and more. It comes with a bonus too - 'the little holiday activity book', to keep you occupied with things to make over the holidays.

Extra Curricular is printed in full colour with vegetable based inks on recycled stock.

72 pages

200mm x 148mm

Have you seen Extra Curricular magazine? Launched last year by the talented Ellie this beautiful little magazine is published three times a year. Its about people who make part time. My lovely friend Melissa from tinyhappy was featured in the first issue, last year and I remember thinking how beautiful it looked when I saw it on her blog. So I was more than delighted when Ellie asked me to be part of this edition, devoted to printmaking. This is the fourth issue and its out tomorrow! I don't have my copy yet but I can't wait. Its exciting enough seeing my name there on the cover!

I promise to show you and tell you more about the making of it as soon as I have it in my hot little hands. And for those of you who can't wait, and want to know more about why and how I do what I do, you can pre-order here.

not my creative space

The parcel guy came through the rain on Monday with a beautiful brown paper parcel present for me. Not only was it beautifully stamped with my name, it was full to the brim with beautiful work from a talented friend of mine.

So I'm cheating today, my creative space today is a peek at someone else's wonderful creativity. I am now the lucky owner of a T towel, from Mrs T, some beautiful cards, some wonderful tags, the perfect bit of fabric and oh, I think there was some chocolate in there, but that's long gone now!

Thanks Tania for your lovely, generous presents, which helped clear some of the grey skies round here. I love them all!

Oh and best wishes to Ms Stick Insect and all her babies, sounds like she needs it.

daylily babies

One of my first plant crushes was with daylilies. I was intrigued when I first came across them to find that each daylily baby is a new plant, a new face. As with roses the genes come together differently in each seed and lead to an infinite number of unique new plants.

To make seed you simply brush pollen from the large anthers (boy bits) of one plant onto the stigma (girl bit) of another . Most times especially in the early cooler part of the season, around now, a pod forms full of plump black seeds. Once planted it can take the plant a couple of years to flower, but if you sow a few each year you can have new faces each season.

When I first got my hands on some named daylilies I got a little obsessed with breeding the perfect flower, I recorded each cross and waited impatiently to collect seeds which then went into labelled bags. Quite quickly though plants were moved, seeds were mixed, labels fell off, we moved house. I'm not really made for that level of organisation, I prefer to randomly cross the ones I like that are open at the same time, collect a bunch of seeds and sow them all in a large flat once a year. Any that survive the tough love round here get squeezed into a pocket of free space. Its taken a while but the last three years I have had new seedlings flowering. The anticipation of watching a unflowered bud grow and bloom is wonderful, though a couple have budded up for the first time only to be beheaded by a soccer ball at the last moment. Which means waiting a whole extra year - so its not a pastime for the impatient.

Here are some pictures of a couple of recent babies. Daylilies have just started flowering for the year and this first, pale one opened its first bloom yesterday. I love the way it has colour coded itself with the surrounding plants. No sign of buds on my rose babies yet, but I have ten tiny plants so fingers crossed.

p.s. Show & Tell will be posted Tuesday week and I can't wait. As usual its a secret but I can tell you that the blogger was suggested by one of my past interviewees...