Road Trip

Our favourite road trip stops (apart from cafes and walks on the beach) in no particular order; art galleries, art supply shops, antique and second hand shops, sewing/patchwork/quilting supply shops and book shops.

Up cycled, recycled, pre loved, revived, restored, secondhand, vintage.

So much character, so many stories to tell.

Something for him, something for her. Something that sparks an idea, a connection, a memory, a new project, a gift.

Some of our best finds have been in Hospice, Salvation Army and SPCA outlets.

and

We've developed a renewed interest in lace, brocades, buttons and stamps.

Attention to detail; an eye for hidden treasures; searching for patterns. Always on the look out.

Learning new techniques, exploring new pathways and stretching the comfort zone.

Can't wait to get started on the next project.

- Karen

Down the Hobbit Hole

Hobbiton! I finally made it here! I've wanted to visit you for so long. Wow, what an amazing time we had. Amazing place, people and food! I'll be back some day ...

"I'm going on an adventure!"

The famous hole at Bag End.

A lovely hobbit hole for a gardener: 36 Bagshot Row.

A delicious meal at the Green Dragon.

Just ... wow.

"I want to see mountains again, mountains Gandalf!"
Not actually taken at Hobbiton! This is Mount Ruapehu, another stop on our road trip. 

- Sam

Paper Making Play

Any leftovers from our torn edge journals are bundled into bags for a rainy day ... literally! The weather hasn't been that great here over the past little while, so yesterday we took out the paper making equipment and had a play. Not the best weather for paper making, but it's been a while since either of us made paper and we were itching to give it another try.

Paper scraps are soaked over night.

The next day, they're mulched with electric mixers.

We added some green tissue paper to the bath (on the right).

After being pressed to remove excess water, pages are hung to dry overnight.

After they're completely dry and pressed, they'll be ready for use!

Some lovely embossing (above) was revealed when we removed the dry papers from the fabric. We produced around twenty pages with this batch and still have pulp leftover, so we will be making another batch soon!

- Sam & Karen