Clap Clap design

Today's post is about a gorgeous shop that I saw on pinterest called Clap Clap design.

This is the loveliest wrapping paper i've seen since I laid eyes on Rifle Paper Co.

As read on etsy:

"Hi, my name is Mimi Kim. I’m the designer behind the stationery brand Clap Clap. I live and work in the arts district neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. My line is named Clap Clap because clapping your hands makes you happy!"

Well, your work makes me happy, Clap Clap design!

a very Vintage Christmas

So many fab vintage holiday photos  .. too many to choose from but here's a few:

Most of these great vintage photos are via Troy Bradbury on Pinterest, who uploads the most amazing kodachrome and vintage photos!

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas ..

Less than a week until Christmas and here I am only writing my first Christmas post now!

Its been such a busy year. Time to slow down, relax, reflect and think about the things i'm grateful for/have learned from this past year.
In no particular order:

Friends.
Lovely opportunities. I've learned quite recently that when one door closes another door opens.
Families and the blessings that children brings.
Remembering to sloooooow dooooown, look around and breathe.
Everything happens for a reason. It's true, no matter what anyone else says.

Ok ... time for some lovely Christmassy posts from Pinterest for the next few days. Beginning with some DIY inspiration today!

Firstly, this free printable Christmas box/gift box:

A diy Advent calendar from Miluccia:

Tell Love and Chocolate dit felt garland:

Anthropologie felted monogram ornament diy inspiration:

Purlbee ornaments via flickr (no link, sorry):

DIY dollhouse from a cardboard box

I just spied this post by cakies blog and had to share. 

Its an adorable diy dollhouse!

This is such a great idea with the school holidays approaching and really struck a cord with me because my girls have been playing dollhouses non-stop recently, using a combination of stools and upturned stools. Great idea!

Happy Halloween

We don't really celebrate Halloween here in Australia. 
Although that statement is definitely changing. I'm a 70s child, so we never trick or treated (yeh, poor us, I know ... )
My daughters have been asking the past couple of years - "Mum, pleeeease, can we go trick or treating, can we dress up, can we, can we ...?"

So, this year, we have been officially invited. We have been invited to a part of our city, in a newer housing estate, where the street goes for it and dresses itself up in Halloween finery. 
I am a teensy bit excited. The girls have their costumes ready and we have been told there are so many houses in the neighbourhood participating that it will take about 1 1/2 hours to do it all. I am definitely a tennsy bit excited.

Until tomorrow .. look at this excellent Dia dos Muertos free cat mask activity from Happy Thought. Its so pretty!

a cool new book called Playful

Blogger, stylist and illustrator Merrilee Liddiard from mermag has just released a book named Playful. It's full of the most beautiful images, crafty ideas and gorgeous clothes from some of my favourites like Misha Lulu.

Available to purchase via the link below on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1617690457/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1617690457&linkCode=as2&tag=thhothlabu-20&linkId=6QKUQ5FSXSXNGEIL

Some of the beautiful images from the book ....

Crafty DIY - Make your own elephant and rider

This morning I stumbled upon this gorgeous little cardboard elephant, crafted out of cardboard and pegs.

I thought it would be a cool crafty project for the up coming school holidays.

Its from the blog Pepa workshop, from Spain.

Close up detail of the rider. I think I might make an old school glamourous circus girl rider.

Template for the elephant: