Erin Lykos Ceramics

A clever friend of mine, Erin, made these beautiful brooches (top), aren't they beautiful! I bought them from her newly opened Madeit store, well actually I bought one and she generously sent another. I'm thinking my MIL would love one too, if I can just work out which I can bear to give away!

A wonderful ceramic artist Erin sells her wares through a number of stockists but has just added online selling to the mix. Though at the moment she is only selling through Madeit she has plans to add an Etsy store soon. I believe she's also happy to sell privately if you contact her through her blog.

She only graduated a few years ago and soon after earned a Design Associateship at the famous Jam Factory studios in Adelaide and was also awarded a ceramics residency in China in 2008.

Erin and I are related in a roundabout way by marriage and I've had a precious little salt dish she made for many years which was part of the bonboniere at a family wedding. It died at the hands of a small person round here recently and I'm just hoping she starts listing these some time so I can replace it!

Visit Erin's web site to read more about her and check out the stores around Australia where she sells her pieces, or visit her newish blog to see more of her work and say hi.

cold

Here we are in winter and going on for about the third week of rain, though we had a spot of sun today. Sprinkled through the damp garden beds these little jewels have been appearing, the most beautiful little miniature orange mushrooms, sprouting from the wood mulch we laid on the garden last summer. They make the most beautiful little fairy rings among the plants and I couldn't resist bringing one in for a photo session.
I'm suffering with one of those draggy change of seasons colds. I thought I'd shaken it off on Monday but it came back with a vengeance and I'm croaky and slow. Lunch today was the best medicine leftover minestrone with toasted pane di casa toast.

space invaders crochet

From Sydney instititution Remo General Store come these fantastic crocheted tablemats - I just had to share! For those of us from the Space Invaders generation :-)
Remo has had its ups and downs since its heyday but it seems to be thriving again these days. Check out their online store for amazing and wonderful bits and pieces including their new bread tag T. (We have a drawer full of bread tags here just waiting for a project!)