Merry Christmas and a Happy 2011!

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Vintage treasures...

(image from Winifred and Bance.com.au)

I love Vintage shopping. It's the thrill of the chase. You never know when you'll unearth a rare or unique piece.

What I love most about vintage and antique finds is the idea that the items have history. I love to think about who owned it before me? Where they bought it from? Was it a favourite or particularly special item to them? Of course, I'll never find the actual answers to these questions, but I love to let my imagination run wild...

(image from shag - melbourne)

This brings me to share some of my favourite Vintage stores on the Perth Vintage scene -

The Ginger Fox
Winifred and Bance
Bluebird Vintage

Ecoya Soy Travel Candles...

(image by topnews.net.nz)

I love candles. I love the way they smell, the way they set a mood and that they are a great excuse to turn the lights off and be eco-conscious. I've just discovered Ecoya Travel Candles and have fallen in love with their Lotus Flower Natural Soy Travel Candle. I always carry one when travelling. I burn it whilst practicing my Yoga poses when I'm on the road. They relax me and make me feel comfortable in unfamiliar surrounds and of course they help me get one step closer to Zen...

(image by www.newmoonstore.com.au)

Envirosax Bags and Bottles...

(image by inhabitat.com)

I have completely fallen in love with my new Envirosax reusable bag. Not only are they eco-friendly by helping reduce the use of plastic shopping bags, but they are so chic and stylish and perfect to use when travelling. I always pack a couple into my day bag when I'm on the road to use when shopping. I love them so much when I'm at home I often use one of mine instead of my handbag. They fold up to a compact size when not in use, so are perfect to carry around, and fold out easily to bag that can carry up to 20kgs worth of shopping - thats a lot of fruit and vege's and unique market finds. And with heaps of funky patterns, designs and colours your sure to find one to suit your taste.

(image by bagaholicboy.com)

I can also sing the praises of Envirosax's Aqua Water Bottles, with are stainless steel and also come in heaps of colourful designs. They are BPA free and reusable, therefore aiding in reducing the amount of plastic water bottles used in the community. Stylish, light weight and easily portable they also keep your water colder for longer as the stainless steel acts to insulate the water from the outside temperature. Another essential for the travel pack!

(image by www.ihcdstore.org)

Another reason to love Envirosax is that it's an Australian company run by a couple who imbrace an ecologically sustainable lifestyle in Currumbin Valley, Queensland, Australia. Envirosax also donates a percentage of its sales to charities and non for profit organisations dedicated to the preservation of the environment. Gotta love that...

(image by www.envirosax.com.au)

Nic and Clay's Etsy launch...

(image from Etsy.com)

Nic and Clay is now on Etsy! We have just launched our site and have posted our first two items for sale. Follow the link to our store:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/nicandclay

(image taken by nic and clay. Wine Glass charms by nic and clay.)

Our first items for sale are our hand-made Wine Glass Charms. These Wine Glass Charms have evolved from the ones I hand-made for our Wedding. Everyone was so impressed with our themed Drink Charms so I just had to make more.

(image taken by nic and clay. Wine Glass charms by nic and clay.)

(image taken by nic and clay. Wine Glass charms by nic and clay.)

For those of you who are asking 'What's Etsy?" allow me to explain (and ask where have you been hiding?). Etsy is an online store that allow individual sellers to post their handmade, vintage or art and craft supplies for sale. It's a fabulous growing commumity of artistic and crafty people. Etsy is one of those really cool website I can get stuck on for hours browsing all the clever and interesting items that you will never find in your mainstream shopping centre. Common items include art, photography, clothing, jewellery, edibles, bath & beauty products, quilts, knick-knacks and toys. These are a few of my favourtie things...

(image taken by nic and clay. Wine Glass charms by nic and clay.)

Can you judge a book by it's cover?..

(image courced from Meet me at Mike's)

You may have seen these gorgeous covers in your favourite bookstore recently. Penguin have re-released some of their classics in this beautiful hard cover series. Titles include the ever popular Pride & Prejudice, Great Expectations, Sense & Sensibility, Little Women, Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland and through the Looking Glass and Lady Chatterley's Lover. The colourful and patterned covers were deigned by Coralie Bickford-Smith and are a matte foil design and clothbound.

(image sourced from Design Sponge Online)

I've always meant to start a collection the classics, and now I have my eye on collecting the whole colourful series. They would look great sitting in my bookshelf! (and I can't wait to finally read Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence)...

(image sourced from Penguingroup.com)

Nic and Clay tie the knot...

(Frangipani's lined the path to the alter)

Last week saw us arrive back into the country after our 5 week holiday to Bali and Vietnam for our much anticipated Wedding and Honeymoon. It's official - Nic and Clay finally tied the knot!

(Nic and Clay)

(Flower petals for the ceremony)

(My hand-made pearl jewellery made myself)

(Hair and Make up)

(Maggie Sottero Gown)

(Just married)

(Bouquet and parasol)

Our Wedding was the most magical, most wonderful day of my life. It was held in Ubud, Bali at The Royal Pita Maha, with our ceremony right by the Agung River with about 20 of our nearest and dearest as witness. Our reception was held in the courtyard of the venue's Royal Convention house. A long table dressed in white linen to seat 22 was decorated with Candelabra's, feathers, gold Balinese plates and many of my self made hand-made pieces. Near perfect weather, an indescribably beautiful venue and our amazing friends and family made it a day that surpassed all of my wildest dreams.

(Precession to the Reception)

(hand-made wishing tree made by myself)

(Reception table)

(Reception table and Balinese dancers performing)

(Reception Venue)

(Dancing in the light rain)

Enjoy the Photo's...

My DIY Wedding Projects...

Apologies for my absence of late, but I have been a busy little bee!

(source: www.weddingbee.com)

With only 1 month until our wedding in Bali I've been thrown into the chaotic world of wedding planning and hand making some one off pieces of the big day. We have chosen to run with a theme for the wedding reception, and it will be loosely based on the 'Alice in Wonderland' mad hatters tea party. Picture a long table with white linen, set with gold place settings, candelabras, drink charms adorning the glassware, flower and feather centrepeices, Apothecary glass jars with colourful candy and the table scattered with 'Alice in Wonderland' themed charms. A fairytale...

With such a fun idea we wanted my hand made items to carry this theme. Here are some of the DIY projects so far...

Boutonneries for the Groom and Best-man...

These are my favourite project so far. I am so happy with the end product. I made them from some leaf skeletons, latte coloured Ostrich feathers, a spotty feather, a drinking straw wrapped in green and black ribbon, a silver flower, a brooch backing, some green beads and to top it all off a clock hand charm from the charms I had ordered from My Vintage Charms (to keep with our theme)...

(Hand made Boutonneries)

(Hand made Boutonneries)

I bought the feathers, ribbon, brooch backing and skeleton leaves from a local craft store (try Lincraft or Spotlight), and the charms from myvintagecharms.com. I had the beads and silver flower from some old jewellery I had. Another DIY item to check off the list. Tick...

Wishing Tree...

This is an idea I fell in love with very early on in the Wedding planning. I was searching the web for some inspiration and came across the Guestbook/Wishing trees. There are beautiful examples at Here comes the guide and The Wise Bride's Guide.

(Wishing tree source: http://www.herecomestheguide.com/blog/detail/wish-for-a-better-guest-book/)


(Wishing tree source : http://theyoungbridesguide.wordpress.com)

The wishing tree will be made in Bali, as I thought the logistics of trying to get a 'small tree' from Perth to Bali nigh impossible...

Pearl and Beaded strings for the wishing tree...

Now these I have pre made! I've made 22 strings in total, all differing in composition of beads/pearls and slightly different lengths. I used fishing line to thread the beads/pearls onto and used charms to hang from the bottom of the lengths. I love that all 22 of them are different. I've also cut the paper for the guests to write their wishes onto, and punched a hole into the top and threaded some ribbon for guests to tie them to the tree. I will clip photographs of our parents and grandparents weddings to the tree as well...

(Hand made Pearl and beaded strings)

(Hand made Pearl and beaded strings)

Swing tags and various wedding stationary...

In keeping with our 'Alice in Wonderland' theme, I printed the swing tags to hang around the Bomboneries (small glass jars to fill with candy), glasses, parasols and Apothecary Candy jars...

(Hand made Swing tags)

(Hand made various wedding stationary)

Candy Bar...

We loved the idea of having a Candy Bar at the reception, so we ran with the idea with these beautiful Apothecary Glass jars. The 3 jars will be part of the table centrepiece. They will be filled with colourful Candy, one containing blue, green and white sugared almonds, one containing Licorice Allsorts and the other housing multi-coloured conversation love heart candies...

(Candy jars, candy and Bomboneries)

Garter...

I searched and searched for a garter I liked, but couldn't find one. I think because I had exactly what I wanted in head I didn't want to settle for anything else, so when I couldn't find it to buy, I made my own. Using lace and ribbon from the local fabric store I used my sewing machine to run it together, then adding the blue bow and pearl cluster in the front...

(Hand made Garter)

'Alice in Wonderland' inspired Drink Charms...

These were so fun to make. I ordered the charms from My Vintage Charms. Once I had the charms I purchased the rings from the local craft store and then threaded the charms on with a pearl on either side. They're cute hey, and similar drink charms are available for sale on my Etsy store...

(Hand made drink charms)

(Hand made drink charms)

Guests Welcome Bags...

I have made up 'Welcome bags' for all the guests attending our wedding. I used brown paper bags and printed a welcome message on the front. Also for inside the bag I printed an Itinerary, map of Bali and an invitation to the Bucks / Hens night, and I will add to bag a tin of mints, bottle of water, fan, sarong, soap, tissues, sunscreen, bottle opener and a t-shirt all purcahsed in Bali when we arrive. We then plan to leave the bags in our guests Hotel rooms as a surprise for when they arrive...

(Hand made welcome bags)

Hand made Bridal Jewellery...

Inspired by a post on Style me Pretty I hand made my own pearl necklace and bracelet. I love the rustic eclectic look of these pieces, and the thrill of making my own jewellery for my wedding. I have an exact replica of both my necklace and bracelet for sale on at my Etsy store...

(Hand made Pearl necklace)

(Hand made Pearl bracelet)

(Hand made Pearl necklace)

Hand made Wedding and Engagement Party invitations...

Last but not least, here are both our Wedding and Engagement Party Invitations. We purchased our paper and envelopes from Starfish Lane, and printed, cut and stuck them ourselves...

(Hand made Wedding invitation)

(Hand made Wedding invitation)

(Hand made Engagement Party invitation)

And as for the bird cage veil... it is slowly coming along. It's actual next on my list to complete, It's the one I've been saving til last...

Thanks for reading. If you have and comments I'd love to hear from you...

ADDIT: I had so much fun hand-making these pieces that I've re-made some for sale at my Etsy store. Follow the link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/nicandclay/