BrisStyle Limited Edition Eco Tote Bags

The BrisStyle team is aiming is to get their first run of Limited Edition BrisStyle Eco Totes launched at the next BiDM. To help get the ball rolling they asked their talented members to submit their own designs which will be hand printed onto the first edition.

These totes will be for sale from the BrisStyle promotional stand and also from many of the stall holders at the next BrisStyle Indie Designers Market on December 5th at St Augustine's Church hall and grounds, Hamilton.

They had some fabulous ideas come through and now need your help to pick the final design!

What do you need to do? Visit the BrisStyle Blog and check out the designs then simply leave a comment on the BrisStyle blog competition post before Tuesday November 4th with the design you would like to see printed on the first edition tote and go in the draw to win a tote of your very own!

Happy Voting

Bel x

SSS - Shadow Shot Sunday

Hi everyone!!
Here is a shadow that I thought I would share with you all of Lucas feeding the girls,
i love the look on both of their faces :-)
sorry it has been ages between posts, my laptop died and the replacement until mine gets fixed has a terrible wireless receiver.

take care
x
Em

Getting Crafty...

Well as I mentioned in the previous posts, I have had my super talented Brother staying with me for the last few weeks (he has gone home now and the boys are missing him terribly) But while he was here we actually got to spend some time crafting together (something we never seem to have time to do) and it was fantastic...

Normally by this time of year I would have all my Christmas presents brought and wrapped, you know in those pre baby years when I had a 9 - 5 job, got 8 hours sleep a night and was SO super organized about everything, well I am still pretty organized but shopping for Christmas Pressies in July doesn't really rate that high on my priority list anymore, but I do seem to be a bit more organized this year than last which is good.

I brought a panel of Kristen Doran 'Robot' Fabric from the lovely Slevedge House Girls at the Racecourse Rd festival and have made up 4 little robots and two matching little T-shirts for two special little boys I know...Two other little boys are both turning one this month so we whipped them up some cute little outfits...
And with this hot weather here in sunny Queensland even Xavier was lucky enough to get a couple of new outfits...

Plus just to make me even happier he motivated me to get a start on making for the next BrisStyle Indie Designers Market and I created some super cute onesies that we will have on sale especially for Christmas!
Then just to keep my happy mood flowing for the week I received a very special parcel from Bespoke Press, the 10 amazing Limited Edition Prints I recently won in their giveaway. Thanks so much Alischa! I LOVE them all, now to just work out where I am going to hang them ;)

Hope you are having a happy week too

Bel xx

p.s We are finally getting ourselves organized and will be starting to re-stock our ETSY store so stay tuned for some new products and a giveaway from us on the BrisStyle Blog next week ♥

One Word...

I just found this on Alison from Preta Pawte's Blog and I also remember reading it on PetalPlums a few weeks ago, there are a million jobs I should be doing but I am sitting here on my big bum wasting time (so whats another 5 mins ;)

Copy and change the answers to suit you and pass it on. It’s quite tricky to use only one-word answers.
1. Where is your cell / mobile phone? Lounge
2. Your hair? Messy
3. Your mother? Lounge
4. Your father? Passed
5. Your favorite food? Seafood
6. Your dream last night? nothing
7. Your favorite drink? Lemon
8. Your dream/goal? Happy
9. What room are you in? Living
10. Your hobby? Craft
11. Your fear? alone
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Content
13. Where were you last night? home
14. Something that you aren’t? rested
15. Muffins? Apple
16. Wish list item? money
17. Where did you grow up? Broken Hill
18. Last thing you did? Dinner
19. What are you wearing? Sweats
20. Your TV? on
21. Your pet? Kosta
22. Friends? good
24. Your mood? Tired
25. Missing someone? Always
26. Vehicle? Dodge
27. Something you’re not wearing? shoes
28. Your favorite store? Ikea
29. Your favorite color? blue
30. When was the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? Today
32. Your best friend? Cassie
33. One place that I go to over and over? Kitchen
34. One person who emails me regularly? Em
35. Favorite place to eat? Restaurant

Ok, really need to go do those dishes now :(

Bel x

Sunday Shadow Shot #52

Well in the excitement of getting yesterdays post done I completely forgot about doing the SSS for this week, so here it is....

A Pic of Sax riding his bike in the park (a newly acquired skill that apparently only 'big boys' can do ;) I love how it looks like there is a little star in the shadow from the wheel

Have a happy week and don't forget to pop on over to Hey Harriets and check out all the other amazing shadow shots this week

Bel x

The week that was...

Well its been one of those full on weeks at our place... Sunday was Xavier and Elijah's Christening and it was a really lovely service and great day shared with our friends and family :) (I dont have any pics of Elijah but will get Em to post some soon ;)The week was spent hanging out with my brother and doing some op shopping. I picked up and old metal Janome sewing machine for only $30 (so now I just have to brush up on my sewing skills) as well as some other cool finds, including an old tea towel my brother brought for me which I am going to frame and hang in our house. I was also lucky enough to spend some crafty time with my super talented Bro and get a headstart on making some stock for the BrisStyle Indie Designers Market coming up on December 5th.

Talking of framing I had the surprise of my life this week when I received an email from the lovely Alicea from Bespoke Press to say that I was the winner of their amazing giveaway of 10 limited edition Prints. I never win ANYTHING, so to not only win but to receive this amazing prize as you can imagine I was pretty excited!!! You can view the entire range via their website or shop

Em and I also got the chance to catch up a couple of times this week which was really nice as we really haven't had the chance to hang out as much as we use to lately. Our little ones were happy just hanging around
While their older brothers did some Caterpillar making with my brother Brett

Today I went and hung out with the super cool Brown Owls girls and got the chance to make some really cute little paper dolls and the amazing Sam from Jettas nest brought along an order for Em and I for some onesies and T-shirts for our boys. If you are looking for a one off gift for a little boy you know make sure you go and visit Sam's shop to see her unbelievable work!

All in all even though I am really exhausted this week it was so nice to just spend some time with friends and family enjoying each others company and some good food...

Take care, Bel x

Sunday Shadow Shot #51

I took this pic a few weeks ago of Xavier sleeping on the lounge (completely undisturbed as Sax was at Kindy) and he just looked so peaceful with the afternoon shadows floating over him...Make sure you check out more amazing Sunday Shadow Shots over at Hey Harriets

Have a happy week, Bel x

Tomorrrow...

It's only a few hours away until both our baby boys get Baptised. I have been burning the midnight oil the last few nights and have just finished putting the finishing touches on Xavier's Cake. I am pretty happy with how it turned out, although I am sure I will get better with more practice and I guess you learn from your mistakes as time goes on. Anyway I have had a couple of successes this week...

My brother helped me make the candle for tomorrow... And I am really happy with how these little thank you lollies turned out too...I am sure there will be more pics and a wrap up during the week

Nite, Bel x

To be 12 years old again...

Our beautiful niece Tanisha turned 12 this week! 12 years has passed and its hard to believe where all those years have gone. She is still so innocent yet so grown up at the same time. I cant imagine my boys being 12...I love making the kids birthday cakes every year, this year we kept it simple and I made her some chocolate and vanilla (made pink) marble cupcakes

And this is how it all looked completed. Simple yet so girly and she loved it as I did to ;)

Of course Sax was right there to sing Happy Birthday and help blow out the candles

Happy Birthday beautiful girl ♥

Make sure you give your loved ones a big squeeze this week

Take care, Bel x

p.s My bro has arrived for a 10day visit so hopefully I will have some crafting to show you next week :)

The Giveaway of all Giveaways!!!!

Hi All

I just had to share this amazing giveaway with you...

Bespoke Press have one amazing prize to giveaway - The entire collection of their Bespoke Illustrators Project is up for grabs. That's 10 prints valued at $650 worth of letterpress loveliness for one lucky winner!

My favorite is definitely the "Geraldine & Walter In Love" Limited Edition Print, although the
"The Smell Of The Sea" Limited Edition Print is close second, actually on a closer look I really love them all!!!

To enter the draw, all you need to do is view the range via or website or shop and that you comment on their blog post and let them know which one you like the best.

Over the next 10 days they will also be featuring one illustrator per day on their blog where you can find out more about the illustrator and see their print in more detail.

Each comment will receive one entry. If you tweet about the giveaway you will get an extra entry, and if you blog about their new project & giveaway they will give you a whopping 5 entries. Please just let them know in your comment if you have twittered and/or blogged. Entries close on Midnight the 15th of October, with the winner announced on the 16th of October.

Good Luck, Bel x

Sunday Shadow Shot #50

Well its a house of Blue and Gold at our place today. My husband is a mad Parramatta Eels supporter (as is his whole family) and they are playing in the Rugby Grand Final today so I thought it fitting that I shared a pic of my hubby all dressed up in his blue and gold many years ago. and here is the next generation...
I even had to make some Blue and Gold CupcakesDont forget to check out all the other Sunday shadow shots over at Hey Harriets

Go Parra!!!

Bel x

Nan's Cream Puffs

Nan's Cream Puffs (sometimes called Chocolate Eclairs) are something I only recently rediscovered when searching through all my nan's old hand written recipes a few weeks ago, and I am so glad I did. Not only are they super yummy, but they really are very easy to make (truly they are!) and there are limited ingredients, something else I love about old recipes.

So here it is I hope you give it a go and let me know how you went ;) (I have slightly expanded on Nan's recipe so I hope it all makes sense, she liked to keep things short and sweet)

CREAM PUFFS:

1 Cup Hot Water

1/2 Cup Butter or Margarine

1 Cup SR Flour

3 Eggs - Slightly beaten

500ml Whipping Cream

2 Tbl Icing Sugar

1 Tsp Vanilla Essence

200g Dark Cooking Chocolate

Preheat your oven to 180oC. Line a large flat baking tray with non stick baking paper. In a medium saucepan bring the water and butter to a gentle boil and add flour all at once. Remove from the heat and beat until the dough comes together and is smooth. Sit aside to cool for approx 10-15mins. When cooled, add the beaten eggs and mix with a wooden spoon for 5 mins until mixture is sticky and glossy. You can either place mixture into a piping bag and pipe either drops or logs (Eclairs) or you can heap Tablespoon size heaps onto the tray (this was how nan made them).

Bake in the oven for approx 12mins until golden brown and hollow sounding, then remove from oven and pierce a small hole in the base of each puff to let the steam escape and return to the oven upside down for approx another 5 mins.
Leave on a cooling rack until completely cool. While cooling whip your cream and icing sugar together and just as soft peaks are starting to form add your vanilla essence and continue to whip until stiff. You can either slice the puffs in half and fill or place cream in a piping bag with a small nozzle and stuff them by poking it into the holes you made earlier for the steam. Break the chocolate into small pieces and place in a glass bowl. Microwave for 1 minute and stir, if not completely melted place back in microwave for 30 sec bursts stirring in between. Drizzle with the melted chocolate and place into the fridge to set.

Enjoy ♥

Bel xx

Racecourse Rd Street Party Wrap Up!

Well sorry it’s taken me so long to report back on our success at the Racecourse Road Street Party from a few weeks ago, but I have been really enjoying some down time (although I have to say getting back into a few hectic weeks of crafting prior to the market really made me remember how much I do love it and I am going to try and fit a little bit more crafting into everyday life, or that’s the plan anyway)

Anyway enough rambling, EmBelISH had a fantastic day in not only sales but a lot of our new products were also pretty well received and I was really pleased with our stall layout as well.

It was a super hot, bust day and the crowds were a plenty. Luckily there was a yummy lemonade man just a few stalls down from us that kept us going in the heat.

I also got to do a little bit of shopping (I am saving my pennies for the December 5th BrisStyle Indie Designers Market) I just couldn’t help myself. I got a couple of beautiful little wooden brooches from Up In Annies Room and also picked up an order from Sam at Jetta’s nest of a new Robot Tee for Sax and then just to fuel Sax’s obsession with Robots I grabbed him a little Cuddlebot too (which I must add even had to go to kindy for sleep time last week) I finally grabbed a little Button head brooch for me ;)

Lola Button Head Brooch

And there was some great entertainment throughout the day to keep us occupied as well.
The BrisStyle Co-op stall was a great success also and it was so lovely to see so many talented BrisStylettes coming together to showcase their wares and it was also super nice to meet a lot of these lovely ladies in person as well. It was also great to see all the BrisStyle Stalls all lined up with our Green and Purple balloons linking us together!

I also have to say it was so fantastic to share a site for the day with the amazing Ali of Jellygnite and Little Jellygnite fame, she was such a great partner and helped to make the day go that little bit faster, and also to my amazing sister in-law Kym who was our chief helper and baby sitter extraordinaire and last but not least to our little helper, Xavier who not only helped draw in the crowds was a also a super good boy even though it was such a hot sweaty day J

Counting down now until Dec 5th!!!!

Take care, Bel x

p.s I will be back soon with a recipe for Nan’s cream puffs YUM!