Springtime in Melbourne Etsy Treasury

I thought I would try my hand at a treasury. I love all the colours and textures in the choices that I have made, I would of course buy everything!

About 80% of them are Aussie Handmade's, so go on and support them!

Looking down on creation

It always lifts my heart to see the hot air balloons floating over Melbourne when I drive into work. Taken on Nicholson Street, North Carlton.

The next few weeks are going to be interesting for us. Next Monday we start "packing". We have 100's of moving boxes, bubble wrap and butchers paper and it will be a week or two of just "going like hell" to get things packed.

I am still at a cross road as to whether to pack up Konstant Kaos, as I have a market on the 5th of May and it might be easier to leave her set up at Nash Street while I prepare the spaces at our new house. Settlement is after the market, so it might be nice to escape to a space where I can sew and spread my stuff out.

It might give me the opportunity to do what the people in the hot air balloons were doing this morning. Looking down on Konstant Kaos with no distractions, no kids, no internet! Just me and the machine ...

Do you take time to take stock of what you are doing?

Nephila Edulis, our very own Garden Orb Weavers

It was with great sadness this morning that I noticed that one of our Garden Orb Weavers had disappeared. Every morning we go down and check on them out of the window near our living area.

We had two Garden Orb Weavers, one with seven legs, which the husband named "7 of 8" and a smaller orb with all 8 legs. Our girls ... The eight legged one spent the morning rebuilding her web after the rains last night.

Having watched Charlotte's Web the other night and then spending hours online researching Nephila Edulis, I headed out this morning with the "good" camera to take pictures of the remaining spider. Anxious to document it's existance.

I had a good look around the space surrounding the web belonging to "7 of 8" and I spotted it. A golden orb egg sac, hanging from the underside of the pergola structure .. and then I spotted "7 of 8" ... she was still with us!

How beautiful is this egg sac?

Tori and I are looking forward to keeping an eye on the egg sac to see when all the spiderlings hatch.

I feel very glad to have found her, but I know that once the Orb's lay their egg sac it means that their time on this planet has come to an end.

So for that, I am very sad as we have watched her grow and eat bugs since late last year. Farewell "7 of 8", we have become very attached to you.

Crafty Goodness today

Tori and I are up bright and early as there is much to do today. Tori and Andreas fly off to Germany next week and there is lots to pack and organise ..

If you are in Melbourne today there is no excuse to be bored as there is so much on!

Taken by my gorgeous Husband at Docklands, Melbourne

Craft Expo is on at the Old Exhibition Buildings. I hear you groan "not another craft expo", we are a bit blessed with expo's that happen every 2 -3 months. But this seems to be the last one before the Christmas madness. I hope that they have some interesting Christmas ideas.

Finders Keepers has it's first market on today in Melbourne, previously a popular Sydney event. It's a two day event, but the good stuff will probably be all gone today! There are lots of local bloggers and designers on show including Yardage Design, and my favourite local silversmith Victoria Mason.

Sisters Market is on at the Brunswick Town Hall. I know that Mecino will be there with her lovely jewelry. I always get a comment when I wear her creations to work.

And if that is not enough, check out Whitehat for listings of more markets in the South Eastern and Outer Eastern Suburbs.

Tori and I are going to hop on the tram and wander down to the Craft Expo to give Dadda some "me" time before he has to spend 2 1/2 weeks with a 3 year old continuously ..

Roaming the City

I managed to steal a few hour on Saturday to visit Cravings Frocks in at Craft Hatch and stroll through the city for an hour or so.

Although the Craft Hatch stalls were tucked away in the City Library they were easy enough to find and an interesting selection of crafts were on display. The lovely Miss Jennie was there with her W Class Tram Cushions proudly on display. I believe it was a fabulous day for her!

Andreas dropped me in at Lonsdale Street and I found that one of my favourite shoe shops had closed it's doors :( Wandered through the retail sector to Flinders Lane. The barista at Brunetti's was interested in the Keep Cup and I ended up chatting to them about all things coffee and environmental ... and then I eventually wandered down to Craft Hatch.

On the way back I walked up back through Central Lane and there was a lovely four piece band playing. I should have gotten a card for future reference! Central Lane is very Melbourne; Graffiti, coffee, fashionista's and a busking band!

I managed to visit Studio Sale Level 2 of the Nicholas Building where Peta Pledger and Sew Your Own had tables of crafty goodness. Managed to get some material offcuts that will probably be made into a quilt at some point.

I then had a rare moment, I caught a tram home by myself with a book .... wow!

Now, after my Monday morning blog read and post, time for playgroup where hopefully Tori will wear herself out and sleep today ... lately she hasn't been wanting to sleep in the afternoons, which means that I get no sewing or crafting done when she is with me. At the moment she screaming around the back room on her tractor truck ...