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I love reading, and after seeing the movie I just had to read this book. It's so fascinating...

Don't forget to join the mailing list for exciting news and product updates...

One Small Room - Adelaide

We went to visit One Small Room in Adelaide on Sunday...what a fantastic shop!
see for yourself...





















We met Rebekah, who is absolutey lovely, and Marcel bought me some yummie Polli earrings.

On Monday we visited the Barossa Valley and I got to stock up on my favourite wine, a frontignac from Grant Burge. Since they don't sell it anywhere in the shops they're sending a dozen of them to our house :) I don't say no to free shipping.

Tuesday was our last day in Adelaide and in the morning we visited the famous Adelaide market and the city centre. In the afternoon we had a drink with Leah at the beautiful pub near her house. Great to see you again Leah, thanks!

That was our short trip to Adelaide and anyone who makes fun of Adelaide being a boring place...go have a look...I think it's a great place...but I guess you should decide for yourself.

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Having absolutely divine ice cream in an absolutely heavenly place

we came home with yummie things such as quince paste, fig paste, olive oil, verjuice, and some other delicious goodies...and lots of wine from the Barossa Valley of course...

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Happy Australia Day everyone...I love this country...so much that I turn the TV really loud when the national anthem is on...I call Australia home...

we're off now...back on Tuesday

Notepads & Stationery sets...

Yay, the courier came this morning at 8am to drop off the letterheads I ordered for my stationery sets...so I could sort of give you a sneak peak this morning.
A while ago I also received A5 notepads but I didn't want to put them up for sale until I had the letterheads...so here they are...in a brand new shop, looking all clean and nice :)





Tonight I'm having a quiet night in while Marcel is at the cinema with his friends. I really needed some time to myself, this week has been so hectic at work. I have a new project going which involves a bit of event management. It's our office opening and it's on the 13th of February already!?! Yesterday I designed invitations, today I got them printed and they've been sent out at the end of the day. Next week I'll have to get onto some caterers and order the food and drinks. It's all going to be fine, it's just that I have my 'normal' work to do as well...so it requires a bit more planning.

Oh and look at this...I found it in the Melbourne magazine today and it reminds me of the bikes we have in Holland...I sooooo want one...


photo from the classic bicycle shop

This will be the last post for the week...we're off to Adelaide tomorrow and not back until Tuesday night...I will resume my 30 days of photos after my trip. Adios!

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exciting early morning delivery...for more info click here

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just another day...

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meet the family...donkey, shrek, ginger bread man, turtle and Isidore.

The big sale is still on...for another week or so...and don't forget to join my mailing list for updates.

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a quick vegetarian dinner...at 9.30pm...something I normally don't do but Marcel had his driving lesson...

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we're sewing away...

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homemade choc chip macademia cookies


One of Marcel's friends from Sydney stayed with us last night as she was in Melbourne for the Australian Open...and they decided to bake cookies during the Hewitt & Bagdatis match...well not till 4.30am but till about 2am. The cookies look a little bit funny but they taste delicious...crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside...yum.

She spent the day at the tennis, watching Federer as the last match of the day, while we had a Peking duck dinner with friends. I never had a Peking duck dinner before and I have to say it's an interesting experience and it tastes really good.

...and our new mattress got delivered yesterday... I had the best nights sleep ever, even though it was so short.
I also spent a lot of time cutting fabric & sewing yesterday...I got a whole lot done and it feels awesome. I have a new goal for the year, which is starting every Saturday like yesterday...getting up early to go to the South Melbourne markets at 9am. I couldn't believe it was so quiet...and don't start doing the same now Melburnians, otherwise I won't be able to find parking ;) ...kidding...

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Saturday = grocery shopping... and sneaking into spotlight for fabric...

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spending my weekend like this...hanging about with our neighbours

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pin board for inspiration

I just updated the sale in my shop and even put some fabric up for sale...

... and I have also added a mailing list option in my sidebar. Newsletters will be sent out monthly and contain fabric updates, pattern design, new products, shop updates, sales and events.

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an early morning start...normally I don't catch the train until 8.37am

and how cool is this...it's so thin...

by the way...the sale is still on, so don't forget to grab a bargain in my shop.

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mail from charlie motel

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trying my stamps

The four of us went to see '2 days in Paris' tonight...it was hilarious...I really recommend it.

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a fruitful harvest from the mornington markets...

as for the give away...

Pinkchook with comment #14, who is a relatively new blogger, is the lucky winner...more give aways later this year :) because I like doing these...Pinkchook, please contact me for your postal address, thanks.

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oops... I cut my finger...

commenting for the give away is still on

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8.37am...catching the train...

don't forget to comment for your chance to win a mystery package...

100 and more...

It's my 100th post...yay...when I started this blog in June I had no idea that I would meet so many great people, make new friends, get inspired, be crafty, design and print fabrics and even sell it...I would like to thank everyone for their friendship and tremendous support...and to celebrate I will give away a mystery package again. This time to the person who tells me their favourite summer drink and the recipe for it...remember that it is 40C degrees now. I'll pick a name on Sunday.

I'm also joining this club, not sure if I can keep up but I'll try.


around the corner from work

and these have gone to the shop today...

back to work...

Monday was my first day back at work after a two week - much needed - break. It's kind of strange to be back, because we moved offices just before the break and I have to remind myself everyday to walk a different route, press a different level number in the elevator and memorise people's new work stations.

I'm trying to make my new workstation 'home-y and full of creativeness'. Here's what it looks like after two days at work.



Yep, this is where I spend my days, not doing anything creative...I think I might buy some cool decoration items or so and maybe some more photos will help to keep me inspired.

Being back at work hasn't stop my crafty projects thankfully. I have been working on this belt/wrap with Japanese fabrics. One of Marcel's friends really likes them but they're quite pricey so I promised to make her one. She'll be visiting Melbourne for the Australian Open in two weeks, so I have to finish it before she comes over.



The fabrics are mainly pink and red as pink is her favourite colour and the red brightens it up, making it a good mix that can be worn with lots of colours.



I have a really cool belt from the Danish brand noa noa which I used as a template to make this belt. It's turning out really well. It's sad that this brand isn't available in Australia as I truly love their simple designs, style and colours. Back in Holland I worked for a shop that sold this fabulous brand and I'm definitely going to visit and stock up in April.

Don't forget to visit the shop for a 15%-25% discount on selected items. The sale is on until the end of the month.

Sale's on!

A lot of people are clearing their etsy shops to make space for new stock.

I made a selection of pretty things that are for sale on etsy...



Hollabee is having a sale of 15%-25% on selected items. For sales items, please visit the SALE section of my shop.

Happy shopping!

I also discovered a new etsy shop and blog. Some of you might already be familiar with Megan's work but I wasn't and I totally love her work. Megan is an illustrator from Swansea in the UK. She started her blog and etsy shop in September 2007 and is very popular already. Thought I should share it with you...


(picture from charliemotel)

up ya pants...

I'm still giggling while writing this... I started packing up the Christmas tree today. First I folded all the top bits back (we have a fake tree) and when I pulled the top bit off I spotted something on one of the branches. My first instinct was 'a spider'... I have a huge fear of spiders. When I looked again though, I saw it was a lizard and even though I can tolerate them, I don't like them in my house so I ran to the balcony doors. It dropped off before I got there, so I asked Marcel to catch it. This is where it gets funny... He was trying to grab it with his hands but the thing ran up his shorts ?!?!? He had to strip to his undies on the balcony until he found the lizard coming out of his shorts... I should have taken a picture of that really ;)



Back to the Christmas tree now...with caution...

colour picking...

The beach wasn't such a success yesterday. We left Melbourne when the temperature was about 39 degrees and the further we drove, the colder it got. By the time we were in Torquay it was 22 degrees, overcast and very windy. Way too cold for me to get into water that comes straight from the Antarctic. We had a great lunch in Torquay's town centre and then decided to go to the surfing museum. After all we didn't drive 1.5 hours just to have lunch. It was quite interesting (thankfully the fee was 1/2 price) and then we drove all the way back again. Next time we might opt for a bay beach.

Design wise I'm sort of sure of which patterns to print for my first run of the year, but I haven't decided on a colour yet. I will print two colours and I'm stuck between 3 at the moment. Any suggestions on both the designs and colours?





I will probably save the 'broken blocks' pattern for another time, maybe later in the year.

The new year is also a time for a new type of fabric. It will still be linen, but a different type. More to come soon ...

a new start...

I hope everyone has had a great NYE. We spent a hot night in Melbourne city to see the beautiful fireworks. This was actually my first NYE in Melbourne as the other two years I have been in Australia we were in Sydney for NYE. Of course nothing beats the fireworks in Sydney with it's amazing Opera house & bridge, but Melbourne is home and I really enjoyed the fireworks.

Now we're off to Torquay for a day at the beach. It's quite exciting as I haven't been there for a long time, I can't wait to take the boogie board out and catch some waves.

Have a great day, where-ever you are, and whatever you're doing :)