a big weekend

I am so excited to be taking part in the GoMA Christmas Design Market this Saturday: 24th November 9am - 4pm. It's held outside the GoMA entrance and shop, Gallery of Modern Art Stanley Place, South Brisbane. Fellow stall holders include: paper boat press, erin's window, Hungry Designs and more. This is the perfect setting to find that special gift, enjoy a coffee and soak up some sun.
We will have our eftpos machine with us so will be able to receive cash and card sales.

While I am at the GoMA market, Ryo will be holding the fort at Potato Studio from 9.30 - 2.00pm.
Sales will be cash only.

 

Then on Sunday: 25th November, hot toffee will be at Markit in Fed Square from 10am - 5pm. Our stand is near the entrance to the Atrium and my brother Shannon will be manning the stall like he did in May. Sales will be cash only. Follow this link to see the full line up of designers! What an inspiring place to do some Christmas shopping!

 

While Shannon is at Markit I will be at Potato Studio from 9.30 - 1pm.

 

A big weekend indeed! This week I have been busy making special things to ensure there is a selection of styles and colours at each market and in the shop. We look forward to seeing you at GoMA, Markit or Potato Studio over the weekend xo

 

 

 

 

Potato Studio: BrisStyle Interview

Just popping in to share this interview about Potato Studio over on the BrisStyle blog. Thank you to Sandrine Marsh for the beautiful photos that capture the light in my new space and for the behind the scenes work of putting the interview to together. Thank you to BrisStyle for their continued support and inspiration in the creative community xo

 

To read the interview click here.

Visit Sandrine Marsh facebook page here.

Visit the BrisStyle facebook page here.

 

potato studio

 

Just popping in to say I still haven't caught my breathe since the trade show but need to share this exciting news. I opened a little shop yesterday!! I will share more details in the coming weeks.

POTATO STUDIO
147 Patrick Street
Laidley QLD

I will be in the shop today from 9.30 - 1.00 x

Melbourne Life Instyle

It is time for Life Instyle again. It has really crept up quickly this time. I have just finished 2 weeks teaching a group of sweet Chinese students who were in Australia for just over 2 weeks. Lessons in the morning and then excursions in the afternoon. We had loads of fun and it felt so good for me to be teaching again. The superman roller coaster at Movie World was one of the the highlights for the students (and me :)!

Life Instyle starts on Thursday and runs until Sunday. I am looking forward to seeing my stockists and catching up with some friends and family.

Hot Toffee is stand number 3025 in Pavilion D.
Life Instyle is a trade only event.

On my return, after I have had time to catch my breath I will have some exciting news to share. xo

BrisStyle Indie Designers Market

hot toffee will be at the BrisStyle Indie Designers Market tomorrow. We would love to see you there!

There will be many fabulous stalls. Preview them here.

Saturday 14th July

Saint Augustine's Church Hall & Grounds.

Racecourse Road, Hamilton

9am - 2pm

wish list...

It has been quite chilly here the last couple of days and I think these arm warmers would help me stay a little warmer.  Or maybe these fingerless gloves would be better. Both are available in the petrafanella etsy shop and are handmade in Perth, Western Australia.

thank you xo

A big thank you to everyone who visited the hot toffee stall at Markit.

My brother Shannon had a lovely day manning the stall.

Thanks again Shannon & Kathy xo

Under the winter sun

Under the winter sun treasury on etsy by Sandrine.

This burst of yellow makes me happy xo

hello Markit

If you are in Melbourne and seeking something fun to do today why not head into the Atrium & BMW Edge Theatre, Federation Square and visit Markit. There is a fantastic line up of designers and always an electric atmosphere with the buzz of people. Hot Toffee will be there with my brother Shannon holding the forte today. He has been my helper at Markit in the past and is kindly running the show for me today. He will be selling my gift cards, hairpins, cuff links, lapel pins, studs in every colour, drops, wind chime earrings, bird garlands and our pretty colour clusters on chains or hand plaited cord. Our stall is still in the Atrium but in a different spot to where we've been in the past. We are between Porcelain Bear and Pleatybunny by Miss FOO a few stands up from LoveHate.

For those of you who can't make it to Markit but do feel like a spot of shopping simply enter 'helloMarkit' at checkout to receive 20%* off the total of your order (excluding shipping).

Shop here.

*This offer is only valid on items in the hot toffee etsy store Sunday May 27 from 10am - 5pm.

Moonscape Wedding...

Nicole Moon from Moonscape Garden Designs recently purchased some of our bird garlands. I was delighted to open an email from her yesterday evening with these images of how she used the garlands in her Wedding.

above as details on her wedding shoes -  and look at all that pretty confetti!

I adore this photograph x

wrapped around Nicole's beautiful bouquet

detail of bouquet - pretty!

 

The photos were taken by Nicole's friend Brett Squires.

The top photo was taken with a Lomo camera hence the saturated colours. I love it!

Nicole is in the process of having her website built for her Garden Design business so once it's live I will share the link here on my blog.

Do you have any photos of our garlands in use? If so I would love to share them here xo

Simply email me here with the details.

little...

I have been cleaning out my studio and have come across loads of little containers and boxes containing beads, cords and some older stock which includes samples as well as items I don't make any more in that particular style, colour, size or shape.  Over the next few weeks I will be photographing these and adding them to my etsy store in the SALE section. Some of the beads and cords I have discovered are lovely and have been waiting quietly to be made into some simple pendants so I will let you know when I do so.

To receive a further 15% off your total order (excluding shipping) simply enter 'helloblog1' in the coupon code section at checkout. Valid Sunday 20 May 2012.

little update

I have been updating my etsy shop which has been neglected for far too long. To celebrate I am offering my lovely readers a little discount. To receive 15% off your total order (excluding shipping) simply enter 'helloblog1' in the coupon code section at checkout. Valid Sunday 20 May 2012.

colour droplets

These pretty droplets of colour will be made into cluster necklaces today. They will be heading to Melbourne for Markit on May 27th! I love the pink and sage next to each other, they look so pretty.



mood and light

Cumulus cloud painting by Lucky Hemlock available here.

I am really loving combinations of navy, blue, grey with pale pinks and apricots at the moment so thought I would try my hand at making a treasury on etsy - oh it is time consuming but so much fun. Here is the link to mood and light.

hello

Hello, it has been a long time between visits here. I have been a little lost in making, studying and trying to get the balance of everything working is tricky. I have just starting listing on etsy again and am enjoying that. I started a facebook page late last year but I haven't been visiting there much either. I plan on making more of an effort to schedule time for more regular visits here, sharing little snippets of my space and inspirations. If you'd like to join me over on facebook you can do so by following this link. Also, I need a little help - I am wondering if there is anything in particular you would like to read or see on my facebook page and here too? If you have time I'd love for you to let me know by leaving a comment x 



Counting Sheep Corner

My sister and I visited her favourite cafe while I was in Sydney so I purchased some coffee beans to bring home and enjoy with Ryo. Somehow it makes me feel like I'm sharing the trip with him and enjoying a coffee with my sister at the same time. Happy times!

Sydney Life Instyle set up...

I found this branch in the park and it was perfect for displaying the new colour cluster pendants. I love the massive windows in the Royal Hall of Industries...all that natural light pouring in is lovely.

That is my suitcase peeping out from behind the table. This is still during set up so there were some small changes made before the show began. The washi tape used to measure where to place hot toffee was removed and a couple of other things switched around.

A hint of Julie Fleming's stand is seen in the left of this image.

To see more of images of Sydney Life Instyle visit the blog or facebook page here.

love the small things...

I'm busily preparing for Life Instyle which has crept up quite quickly again. While there is still so much to do I can't help but feel excited. You see I love leaving this little studio to attend Life Instyle. Even though I will be working most of the time I'm in Sydney it feels like a mini holiday. I don't have a lap top or a phone that I can check my email on which also means there will be no access to lovely blogs. The things (on the long, long 'to do' list) that call my name here in the studio will stay here in the studio leaving my evenings free to spend relaxing (guilt free) with my sister.

If you are visiting Life Instyle (trade only event) please pop by and say hello. I will be on stand 1540 in the Royal Hall of Industries next to the fabulous Julie Fleming.

starting again tomorrow...

These are some photos of a pattern project in process last year. Lots of saffron ink and collages of tiny organic shapes to create patterns. I was studying graphic design full time at TAFE. It's something I've always wanted to do. Working for myself, by myself and from home I also think it's so important that I continue to search out ways I can push myself and add to my skill sets. Professional development! I love that we were encouraged to work on paper first and not to just jump straight onto the computers (this suited me perfectly as my computer skills especially concerning photoshop, indesign and illustrator were non existent).

This year I'm being a little more sensible and only studying part time as I felt hot toffee suffered from my neglect last year along with my life balance. I had a wonderful time and enjoyed every minute though! I am hoping that by studying part time that I will be able to put into practice some of the things I learnt last year and things I will learn last year - after all it's not the qualification that I am seeking, it's the skills and the confidence using those skills! I am in no hurry to graduate.

So hopefully once I get into a routine with work and study I will be visiting this little blog of mine more regularly.