The end of an era

In a sort of a way, today is my last day as the owner of Mr Sparrow. That's right, if you haven't heard, Mr Sparrow has been sold to none other than the lovely Jelena of We Love Perth! Technically Jelena doesn't take over until next Monday (5th), but today is the last day of trading with me at the helm...

That means the sale (in-store and online) also ends TODAY (sorry, originally it was on until tomorrow but I've had to bring it forward by a day...). Pop over here to pick up a bargain online or drop by the store before 5.30pm!

The shop will be closed tomorrow (Wednesday 31st) for stocktake, and then will remain closed until it re-opens under its brand spanking new ownership on Wednesday 7th November.

I'd like to take this opportunity to say a HUGE thank you for you continued support of Mr Sparrow since its opening 4 ½ years ago, and of this blog. Mr Sparrow grew from a crazy idea into something pretty special (to me, at least), and a lot of that was thanks to the tremendous support of my friends and family, especially my husband James, my mum, my best friend Eko, my mother-in-law Anna, and my dad, all of whom made huge sacrifices in order to support me...and also without all of you! I can honestly say that I have loved every minute at the helm of my little shop and meeting (physically and virtually!) so many lovely customers and fans has been by far the best part. Your support for local business and your encouragement through following the blog has meant the world to me.

I hope that you will continue to support Mr Sparrow under its new ownership and feel confident that Jelena will take the business in a fresh new direction without losing that something special that makes Mr Sparrow what it is.

I will be continuing to blog on here until the end of this week, and then Jelena will be taking over. I'll still be out here in blogland, though, so if you'd like to keep track of what I'm up to you can find me over at www.givemakewrap.com. I'll also be posting updates on the StudiOH! workshops over here, and you can follow me on instagram and Pinterest if you're super keen :)

Thanks again....and well, I'll probably see you back here tomorrow!

Featured workshop: 3 Wreaths

 

 

My favourite of all the StudiOH! workshops is 3 Wreaths. This workshop covers so much ground, teaching a huge variety of skills and leaving participants with three impressive Christmas wreaths. You can choose to keep them all for yourself or give one or two away to family and friends.

The living wreath will make a stunning table centrepiece. This part of the workshop will be taught by Hannah Etherington, a florist with 12 years experience. Hannah will talk you through incorporating seasonal branches, berries and flowers into an impressive living wreath. You'll learn skills that will allow you to continue to make similar beautiful creations in the future.

The tissue paper wreath is perfect for hanging on a wall indoors or in a protected outdoor area. This part of the workshop will be taught by me! I'll teach you how to dip-dye paper, a technique that you can later apply to fabric and other materials, then take you step by step through constructing this unique wreath. {You can also learn to make this wreath in one of our mini workshops!}

The wool and pompom wreath will look amazing on your front door! This part of the workshop will be taught by Eko Pam, a design lecturer and extraordinary creative. Eko will show you how to wrap with wool and how to make cute wool pompoms, techniques that can be applied to a range of other creations like jewellery and gift-wrapping.

I'm really looking forward to this workshop and think it's going to be such a fun day! As will all the StudiOH! workshops, as well as all this creativity we will also be providing refreshments throughout the workshop and a goodie bag for each participant.

There are still some spots available in 3 Wreaths, so if this sounds up your alley head over here to sign up now! And don't forget if you book with some friends you'll get our mulitple booking discount :)

Prepping for StudiOH!...

...with some test spuds!

Weaving workshop

 

Around six months ago I developed a sudden obsession with basket weaving. I had seen some incredible basketry by indigenous artists at the MCA in Sydney and the National Gallery in Canberra, and something in me just clicked. I bought some books on basket weaving and to tried teaching myself coil weaving...and then I discovered Harriet Goodall. You can hear me gush all about my love for this amazing woman back here! There is just something about this particular craft, and in particular the random weaving style that Harriet uses, that speaks to me. I guess I have dabbled in weaving a bit with my bird's nests, and I just love the way it is done entirely by hand and brings together elements of nature and found objects. It feels like it was made for me!

Last weekend all my weaving dreams came true as I headed off to Harriet Goodall's Weaving Workshop at Glenmore House near Camden, NSW. I was so excited I practically skipped in the door and spent the whole day with a ridiculous grin on my face! It was such an amazing day - Glenmore House is a spectacular property with stunning gardens and beautiful restored barns and our host, Mickey Robertson, was amazing. Even though I've only been a fan for a short time, I was still a little starstruck at meeting Harriet, but found she was totally down-to-earth and humble about her talents, and incredibly generous with her knowledge and materials. She took us step-by-step through making a frame for our baskets, adding to the frame to change the shape, and filling the frame with vines, feathers, leaves, bark and other collected material. In the middle of the day we broke for a delicious lunch prepared by Mickey from fresh ingredients collected from the kitchen garden.

At the end of the day we had a little exhibition for all our baskets and it was amazing to see how different each one was. Mine was one of the crazier ones (last picture), but I was aiming for crazy!

I felt so inspired by this day and hope this is the beginning of a whole new random weaving chapter in my life! Now off to order some supplies...

Sale on at Mr Sparrow!

There are changes afoot at Mr Sparrow, and to celebrate we're having a sale! We've taken 30% off everything online and most items in the Subiaco store.

PLUS to make sure you can make it to the sale, the shop is open Monday-Saturday from today until the sale ends.

Pop in from 9.30am-5.30pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday, 9.30am-7.00pm Thursday or 10.00am-5.00pm Saturday, or shop online now!

A few recent moments

A few moments captured on instagram recently...

• Some more spoons (from my overseas trip) to add to my collection! The little brass ones are from Zara Home and the wooden ones are from Labour and Wait (the fabric is also new, from the Shepherd's Bush markets in London - £2 for 2 metres!)
• Floriade (four photos), Canberra's extraordinary flower festival
• I'm loving drinking beer out of small glasses at the moment, especially these cute ones from Merci
• Toshi
• An impressive display of hanging baskets seen on one of my morning walks
• The streets around our place are lined with bright green oak trees at the moment
• The phenomenon they call 'Canberra snow', which I think is seeds from silver birch trees
• I'm starting a collection of bits and pieces found on my walks around the neighbourhood
• A few sweet-smelling sprigs picked roadside to brighten up our home

Tomorrow I'm off to this workshop - I can't wait! Maybe you saw Harriet featured on The Design Files earlier this week? Expect to hear lots more gushing from me when I return, plus hopefully some photos of the workshop and my creation!

New ceramics workshop announced!

StudiOH! have just announced a new Ceramic Christmas Decorations workshop, on Sunday 2nd December from 2.30pm-5.30pm. There are still some spots left in the second class on Saturday 24th November from 2pm-5pm, but the new workshop will give you a chance to make it along if you can't be there on the 24th.

The Ceramic Christmas Decorations workshop is hosted by Louise Buckingham, and will be an opportunity to make your own beautiful ceramic Christmas decorations, perfect for hanging on the tree or personalizing as gifts. You will hand build your own ornaments from clay and learn different techniques for decorating, including using stamps and transfer prints. Your ornaments will be fired after the class and sent home to you in a little gift package.

Sign up for the new workshop here, or if you're making a group or multiple booking, sign up here!

New StudiOH! mini workshops

StudiOH! has just launched three new mini workshops! The mini workshops are really affordable, easy and fun!

Each mini workshop goes for one hour and focuses on one skill: making a paper wreath, printing your own wrapping paper, or creating your own unique gift cards and tags. You can just book into one mini workshop for $45, or you can choose two for $75, or all three for $100.

All the details are on the StudiOH! website, and you can book your place in our online store.

Two days in Devon

 

During my time in London, I spent a magical weekend in the Devon countryside with mum, my sister Kate, and her husband Rob. We were visiting old friends of mum's, Bindy and Roger, who live in an amazing 16th century cottage near a little town called Tiverton. Their place is like something out of a fairytale, with chickens, doves, incredible vegetable gardens, a pretty little creek and pond, winding tracks and picture perfect gardens (top 10 images). We fed the chickens and collected their fresh eggs, took a walk along the tracks by the creek and saw flocks of pheasants in the neighbouring woods. I felt like a cross between Emily of New Moon and Danny the Champion of the World! Bindy and Roger welcomed us like family, letting us stay in their lovely house and feeding us endlessly with bacon and egg pie, Cornish pasties and genuine Devonshire tea (I discovered that in Devon they actually serve the scones with the cream on the bottom and the jam on top - the reverse is the Cornish style!). They also took us to the beach at Budleigh nearby, and to Knightshayes Court, an incredible National Trust house with elaborate Gothic Revival interiors and an enormous walled kitchen garden.

As much as I loved the big city adventures of Paris, Berlin, Dublin and London, I think it was these two days in Devon that were the most special part of my trip. I hope I can go back there some day with James and show him the magic of this place.