Rabbit and the Duck

simple living: shop local

2012-02-03T17:28:00.003+11:00

There's a lot of talk in the news right now about the ongoing price war between the two big supermarkets, Coles and Woolworths. First it was milk, and now they've gone to battle over fresh fruit and veggies, slashing many prices below cost in an effort to win a greater share of the fresh food market.

I won't go into too much detail here about the price war - for more information there is a good news article in today's newspaper that covers the topic. What I do want to talk about is why I am trying to move away from shopping in supermarkets, and some ideas that I am going to implement to help me achieve this.

So, why avoid the supermarket? For me, it is a combination of factors, such as a desire to support local businesses and growers, a desire to eat less processed and more fresh food, and wanting to cut down on the amount of packaging that comes with my food.

Over the past year or so I've been slowly cutting down on the amount of things I buy from the supermarket. Some things were easy - I am lucky to have a great local green grocer who also sells fresh bread, nice cheese, and many other tasty treats. But I still find myself popping in to the supermarket on a regular basis, and I feel it's time to get organised to break this habit.

First up, I'm going to write a list of all the things I currently buy from the supermarket. I'll divide my list into essentials and non-essentials. Essentials might include laundry detergent. Non-essentials might include snack foods. For all the essentials on my list, I am then going to research alternatives. Can I buy the product at the local health food or organic store? Can I make it myself? Can I buy it in bulk to save on packaging? Armed with this information I'm going to start some new routines, like doing one big shop each month for all my essentials, so that the only things I need to buy in between are perishables like milk, fruit and veggies.

I'd love to hear your ideas and actions for being more conscious about where you spend your grocery dollars : )

Happy weekend x

simple living: the great outdoors

2012-01-27T16:02:00.000+11:00

There's nothing like some time away from the noise and busy-ness of the city to remind you how good it feels to keep things simple.

Some lovely moments from my mid-week camping adventure:

Falling asleep to the sound of the rushing creek right next to our campground.
Waiting for the billy to boil for that first cup of tea for the day.
Sitting around the campfire at night telling jokes and stories and sharing random observations.
Staring up at an endless sky filled with twinkling stars.
Swaying back and forth in the hammock we strung between two trees, with a good book to keep me company.
Taking the longest time to get dinner ready & enjoying each moment of the process - building and lighting the campfire, chopping up the veggies, cooking on the fire, and then sharing the meal together.

Another good thing about camping trips is that they make me appreciate those things I have at home that often get taken for granted, such as a hot shower and comfy bed. Although it was hard to leave the bush today, I must say I am looking forward to curling up under my doona soon : )

Happy weekend xx

a camping adventure

2012-01-23T09:30:00.004+11:00

{Image from Junkaholique}

It's Monday morning and instead of getting to work on the sewing machine I'm packing up the car to go away camping for a few days. Yay!

I am in love with this tent which belongs to Artemis & Nao of Rust Jewellery and Junkaholique blog fame. Alas the tent I'll be staying in is a stock standard nylon zip up type, but to cosy it up I have packed some pretty vintage bed linen.

See you in a few days!

simple living: on a budget

2012-01-20T08:45:00.001+11:00

How cute is this budget tin from the 1950's -1960's?

I'm excited today as I have just opened a new savings account that I've nicknamed 'Yurt!' - I've been talking of living in my own yurt (or other sustainable dwelling) for a few years now, so I thought it was time to start putting my money where my mouth is, so to speak. Perhaps one day I will live in my dream yurt, perhaps not. But I am going to work it into my budget to put some money aside each month, so when the opportunity comes, I am ready : )

I used to be wary of the 'b' word - budget. When I had a fortnightly wage, I would just keep spending until the money ran out. Occasionally I would save something. More likely, at the end of the month I would also end up with a credit card bill to pay. Where was all my money going?

When I started working for myself, having a budget became essential. I had to know how much money I needed each month to cover the basic costs of living such as rent, bills, and groceries. I started keeping records of everything I was spending, and used this information to formulate a realistic budget. My budget is done on a monthly basis, and is divided into categories such as groceries, entertainment, and transport. I even have an Excel spreadsheet that calculates how much money I have left each month. I'm not saying you need to go this far, but it's certainly helped keep me on track.

One of the things I've found most useful is to set up several savings accounts for some of the bigger things I need to budget for. Each month I contribute to a 'Bills' account, which is there when I need to pay those big bills such as car insurance. I also have accounts for my business, such as 'Tax' (not my favourite one!) and other accounts for personal things such as 'Travel'. And now I have my 'Yurt!' account. These are all high interest earning savings accounts so the bank contributes to them every now and then also : )

Now I just need to start researching to find out how much a yurt actually costs.... : )

lucky dips are back!

2012-01-17T09:43:00.001+11:00

Lucky dips are back!

This time around, receive $40 retail value of Rabbit & the Duck goodies for only $15, with free shipping to Australian addresses.

Hooray!

monday inspiration: pretty coasters

2012-01-16T10:00:00.001+11:00

Ah, Monday always comes too fast! I spent the weekend clearing out my old stuff from the house, and um, bringing in some new stuff. Not a lot of new stuff, mainly a rug for the living room and also a cute little wooden dining table so guests don't have to eat on the sofa or in my studio surrounded by sewing mess.

The new dining table is painted white, and I got to thinking that it might need some coasters to brighten it up. It's hard to choose but these are definitely on my short list:

From top to bottom:

1. Crochet Coasters - Little Houses by Monika Design

2. Felted Wool Coasters - Branch & Berry by shmugusta

3. Red Apple Coasters by Monika Design

4. Crochet Coasters - Colourful by eljuks

All these cute things are not exactly helping with my downsizing philosophy! At least they are handmade, right?

simple living: inspiration

2012-01-13T08:08:00.003+11:00

Most people dream of having more space, myself included. But how much space do we need? And is it more about being efficient with the space that we have, rather than having more of it?

Last night I watched this video and was so inspired. I was dreaming of patchwork quilts made from vintage fabrics to put on my bed in the loft. Of pretty flowerpots on the front porch. Currently, most of my income pays for rent and all the bills involved in living in a house. How nice it would be to not have to worry about those things.

While I'm not ready to downsize to a tiny home just yet I am ready to start clearing out the things that I no longer need. This week I've been going through each cupboard and making piles of things to sell and things to giveaway to the local thrift shop. I now have a few empty cupboards in the house and I hope to keep it that way.

To keep me inspired, I've been collecting more images of beautiful yurts. If I was going to move to a tiny house it would definitely be a yurt : ) I love this one with it's external bath house.

{Images courtesy of Oasis Design}

For more information on tiny houses and downsizing visit here and here.

getting the ball rolling

2012-01-11T11:41:00.004+11:00

{Simple Porcelain Brooch, from Mrs Peterson Pottery on Blue Caravan}

After a lovely holiday break, I'm back in the studio and ready to get started on my projects for the new year. I'm so excited for the year ahead - my year of simple living. When I first started Rabbit & the Duck in 2008 it was mostly a hobby that I thought I could earn a small income from. Since that time, I've watched the business grow and change and become an integral part of my life. Rabbit & the Duck is not just a way to earn money, it's become an all-encompassing way of life. What do I mean by that?

Without my lovely customers, I would not be able to do what I love (make stuff!). When I started selling at markets I met so many other great designer/makers also having a go at earning a living from their craft. From then on I decided to stay away from the shopping malls and support independent designers as much as I could. For me, it's important to know where my money is being spent. This philosophy has now started to spill over to other areas of my life - my fruit and veggies are bought from the local green grocer or farmers market rather than the big chain supermarkets. My skincare is from local producers who use organic ingredients and are truly passionate about what they do.

Switching to a home-based work environment has also seen many changes in my life. I eat healthier as I have the time and the opportunity to cook myself a yummy lunch. I walk more - to the post office in the mornings, or to the local shops in the afternoon to pick up ingredients for dinner.

My home is very important to me as I spend so much time here - I've been looking around each room recently and can see many ways that I could simplify things while still allowing for creativity and my own personal touch. Everything is so intertwined - home / work / self - it makes me smile when I take a step back and see how all the areas of my life seem to fit so nicely together.

So, where is all this rambling going? In 2012, I would love to dedicate more time to sharing my ideas, thoughts and inspirations with you. It is my goal to practice living a more simple life, while also having fun and continuing to be creative. Every Friday (just in time for the weekend so you can put things into action!) I will share an idea or a resource on simple living. I'm excited to get started!

There will also be other regular features and new things on the blog, so stay tuned!

Shannon x

2012. Simple.

2012-01-02T16:21:00.003+11:00

Hello 2012!

Christmas has come and gone, and I am now in the midst of one of my favourite times of year - long days, warm weather, and not needing to be anywhere or to do anything in particular.

I have been wondering if it's possible to carry this feeling with me throughout the year. The feeling of taking things at their own pace. Not having 100 things on my to do list each day. Making time to do the things I love to do - walks down to the beach, tending to my garden, spending hours in the kitchen preparing and cooking a meal, catching up with friends, and generally just feeling happy and relaxed.

And I've decided that yes, it is possible - with a little practice, and perhaps a few changes to the way things are done. The key (I believe) is keeping it simple - both within and without. Keeping a calm mind - being in the moment - stopping negative thoughts in their tracks. Simplifying my life - clearing out the clutter - getting some new routines in place.

I was organising my wardrobe the other day (that's it above) and I realised that I have a LOT of dresses in there. Sure I love them all, but in honesty I have probably only worn half of them. It got me thinking about all the other stuff I have, and how necessary it is. So first on the agenda will be a big clear out. I tend to clear things out on a regular basis, but I'm pretty enthused to see just how much I can let go of this time : )

I also found this great link to other ways that you can simplify your life - the Simple Living Manifesto - I will be tackling a few things from the list once the great clear out is complete.

Happy new year!

an early Christmas present!

2011-12-18T12:24:00.003+11:00

Here at Rabbit & the Duck we love presents.

We also love surprises, a good bargain, and all our lovely customers : )

So, we decided today that we will start our Boxing Day sale a little early! It's time to clear out the studio to make space for new fabrics that are on the way, so for the next 2 weeks grab yourself something cute at 40% off the regular price. Both our Made It Shop and Etsy Shop are on sale. Hooray! If you are shopping at our Etsy store, please use the coupon code 'SUMMER11' for the discount to be applied.

And as an extra treat, if you spend over $50 (after discounts & before postage) I'll pop a little surprise into your parcel : )

Please note, all orders will be posted off promptly, but I cannot guarantee delivery before Christmas.

Wishing you all a lovely festive season x

diary date: last market before christmas!

2011-12-14T15:46:00.003+11:00

Only 11 more sleeps until Christmas! And only 2 more sleeps until our last market of the Christmas season....

You'll find us this Friday and Saturday at the Sisters' Market:

Brunswick Town Hall

233 Sydney Road

Brunswick

Friday: 5pm - 9pm

Saturday: 10am - 4pm

The weather is forecast to be warm and sunny - I can't think of a better or more relaxed way to get my final Christmas shopping done : )

Diary Date: Craft Hatch, 10 December

2011-12-08T07:47:00.003+11:00

Another weekend, another market : )

We're super excited to be participating in Craft Hatch this Saturday. It's our first time and there will be lots of other lovely makers including Able & Game, Pocket Carnival and Gaye Abandon. Yay!

Saturday 10 December

11am-4pm

At 1000 £ Bend

361 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne City

See you there!

footloose and fancy free

2011-11-30T19:32:00.002+11:00

OK, so the title of this blog post bears no resemblance to the actual topic of the post, apart from the fact that the word 'free' is in it : )

We're feeling a little bit excited that tomorrow is December 1st (made possible by ignoring the fact I haven't done any of my personal Christmas planning yet, but anyway).

To give you a helping hand with your Christmas shopping, we would love to include a free set of 6 Christmas gift tags with every purchase over $50 (before postage) from either our Made It or Etsy stores. Hooray! This offer is valid for the next 2 weeks, until Friday 16 December.

We also offer a free gift wrapping service for all online orders - just let us know when you place your order if you would like gift wrapping, and if you would like a personal note included on the tag. We'll do the rest : )

diary date: magnolia square

2011-11-29T08:47:00.003+11:00

We're headed to the gorgeous Malvern Town Hall this Thursday for 3 days of Magnolia Square. There will be over 80 local designers, plus a cafe (with cupcakes!) and live music on Thursday night - it's the perfect place to get your Christmas shopping started (or maybe even finished if you are the organised type, not like me...).

I've just realised that today is Tuesday, and Thursday is only 2 days away. Better get sewing!

there's a new girl in town

2011-11-25T13:22:00.002+11:00

Last night I pulled out one of my favourite vintage frocks to wear to the grand opening of Betty's Place, a lovely new shop run by the talented Magdalena of The Craft Revival.

Betty's Place is not your ordinary shop - when you step inside it feels like you are walking into someone's home. Betty's home, actually : ) The shop is filled with lovely vintage wares (many from The Dotty Apron, my vintage business) as well as lots of crafty and handmade treats.

How delicious do these cupcakes look? Too good to eat!

Betty's Place

605 Glenhuntly Road

Elsternwick VIC 3185

Check the website for opening hours!

busy bees

2011-11-21T11:25:00.003+11:00

The Rabbit & the Duck are busy bees this week getting ready for our first big market of the Christmas season.

You'll find us this Sunday at Markit @ Fed Square - this year the market is bigger than ever with over 100 stalls inside the Federation Square atrium and the BMW Edge Theatre. Rabbit & the Duck will be inside the foyer of the BMW Edge Theatre - keep an eye out for the paper bunting flags above our stall : )

We hope to see you there!

half price pencil cases!

2011-11-15T08:50:00.004+11:00

Christmas is on the way, so what better time to have another of our half price deals : )

The fine print...

- There are 15 pencil cases available at the special price of $13.50.

- This offer is available worldwide. A small charge of $3 will be added to your order to cover postage costs.

- Click the 'Buy Now' button below to purchase this offer.

- If the button is no longer working, it means the offer has sold out.

- Please let us know which pencil case design you would like. You can view the designs at our Made It store. You will be able to leave a note when checking out.

this weekend

2011-11-09T12:38:00.004+11:00

Rabbit & the Duck will be at the North Melbourne Market this Sunday from 10am - 3pm.

Find us at the Lithuanian Club on Errol Street.

Hooray!

PS. We have just loaded all our market dates leading up to Christmas in our side bar ===>

We hope to see you at a market soon : )

bali

2011-11-09T12:27:00.002+11:00

we're mad!

2011-11-04T17:39:00.002+11:00

We're back from our break and ready to jump straight into the Summer market season.

Tomorrow you will find Rabbit & the Duck at the Melbourne Art & Design Fair in Prahran - the weather is forecast to be warm & sunny, there will lots of great local designers and artists to see, and there will be icecream. Win win win : )

hello holidays

2011-10-18T08:12:00.005+11:00

The rabbit & the duck are packing their bags today as tomorrow they are heading off for a couple of weeks holiday in Bali. They are looking forward to a much needed break and some warm weather and sunshine : )

We'll be shutting up shop for approximately 2 weeks, and will reopen on Friday November 4 - just in time to start your Christmas shopping. Eek! Is it almost that time again?

See you soon!

keeping it simple part 2: the challenge

2011-10-15T12:03:00.002+11:00

{source}

Sitting at a sewing machine gives you lots of time to think : ) My thoughts have now turned to modern technology, and how easy it is to be distracted by things. Every 5 minutes I feel the need to check my email, or to see the latest Facebook status updates, or catch up on some blogs. When do we find time to be alone with our thoughts when there are so many other things competing for our attention?

This brings me to the 'Keep it Simple' challenge : )

Can you give up your technology fix for one day? For me, it will be the laptop. For you, it might be your mobile phone. Or the TV. I haven't had a TV in my home for the past few years and it's been great, but I fear my addiction to my laptop has just replaced the time I used to spend in front of the box....

Anyhow, what things could you do instead of sitting in front of a screen? You could:

Read a book.
Do some gardening.
Take a bath.
Play a board game or do a jigsaw puzzle.
Cook dinner, and eat it at the dining room table.
Go for a walk.
Visit some friends.
Work on that craft project you've been meaning to finish for months.

I'm going to do the challenge tomorrow, but you could pick any day. If you decide to have a go, I'd love to hear what you did in the comments section below.

Good luck and have fun : )

keeping it simple

2011-10-15T10:48:00.003+11:00

{source}

It's Saturday morning. The birds are chirping. The sun is occasionally showing itself from behind the clouds. I sit inside at my sewing machine, with a cup of tea and a cookie by my side and some lovely music playing. Everything is calm, within and without.

And I think to myself... why can't every day be like this? Most days I'm rushing about in a state of stress and anxiety, thinking a million things at once. Will I get enough work done? How many bills will I need to pay this month? Why does my back hurt so much? How am I ever going to get everything done that I want to do? I know it's counter productive to think like this but when you're in the habit of doing so it's a hard habit to break!

Lately I've been thinking of ways to simplify my life to give just a little bit of mental and physical space to get on top of these things. I've dreamed of moving to the country and living in a yurt : ) But I've realised it's not about how simple your life is or how many things you need to maintain. It's about the internal simplicity - learning to quieten the mind and teaching it to think positive things rather than jumping to the negative all the time.

So, I will take a deep breath and try to live more in the present moment. I will be kind to myself. I will catch myself when the negativity creeps in and focus more on the positive. I will be grateful for all that I have.

I will eat my cookie and drink my tea and smile : )

Happy weekend x

multi tasking

2011-10-13T21:55:00.003+11:00

Here at Rabbit & the Duck we love to multi-task. If only I could be in 2 places at the same time just imagine how much would get done....

Well, we're excited to announce that come the first weekend of November, the seemingly impossible will happen.... while I'm busy in the studio in Melbourne getting things ready for the Christmas season, the lovely team at Blue Caravan will be showcasing a selection of Rabbit & the Duck products on their stand at the Finders Keepers market.

You'll find our favourite snap wallets, phone pouches, and pencil cases for sale as well as some of our special Christmas gift tags. Hooray!

Set of 6 Christmas gift tags, available now in our Made It store.

october deal: snap to it!

2011-10-06T20:25:00.004+11:00

We had so much fun with our phone pouch deal that we've decided to do it all again - this time with our favourite snap to it! wallets. We have a limited number of wallets available at half price - hooray!

The fine print...

- There are 20 snap wallets available at the special price of $12.50.

- This offer is available worldwide. A small charge of $3 will be added to your order to cover postage costs.

- Click the 'Buy Now' button below to purchase this offer.

- If the button is no longer working, it means the offer has sold out.

- Please let us know which wallet design you would like. You can view the designs over at our Made It store. You will be able to leave a note when checking out.

movie monday: mildred pierce

2011-10-04T07:45:00.003+11:00

{source}

On a friend's recommendation, last night I settled in to watch Mildred Pierce, a 5 part mini-series set in the 1930's. I was hooked within the first 30 seconds as I watched Mildred (in a very fetching apron) bake a lemon meringue pie and a chocolate cake while a soundtrack of 1930's music played. Outside you could hear the whirr of a lawn mower, which also got me a bit excited. Lawn mowing? Exciting? Yes.... After moving into a house with a yard, I now have lawns to mow. On the weekend I bought my first lawn mower (it's red!) but I still need someone to give me a lesson on how to use it. So seeing someone mow their lawns, even if only in a movie, gave me the enthusiasm I needed to get outside and do mine.

Anyhow, I am now very sidetracked.

I've only watched Part 1 of the series but am already looking forward to the remaining episodes. This may or may not have something to do with the fact that Guy Pearce will soon appear and that I think he is a little bit spunky.

Oops. Sidetracked again!

I hope everyone has a lovely week x

it's the weekend!

2011-09-24T12:47:00.003+10:00

{source}

I'm off to plant some jasmine vines along my front fence. And some basil in the herb garden. This morning I did a big spring clean and have a car load of stuff to take to the trash and treasure market tomorrow. Hooray for the weekend and catching up on all those little things you don't get to do during the week!

Happy weekend x

PS. There are still a few phone pouches left at the special price of $10, get them before they go!

a special treat...

2011-09-17T20:26:00.010+10:00

The rabbit & the duck are so excited that spring is here! We've been busy planting summer herbs in the garden, sitting in the sunshine, and on the weekend we hosted a garden afternoon tea party. Hooray for warmer weather!

We wanted to share our cheeriness with you so have a very special offer available - our phone pouches which are normally $20, are available for a limited time for only $10! Yes, that's right - half price!

The fine print....

- There are 25 phone pouches available at the special price of $10.

- This offer is available worldwide. A small charge of $2 will be added to your order to cover postage costs.

- Click the 'Buy Now' button below to purchase this offer.

- If the button is no longer working, it means the offer has sold out.

- Please let us know which phone pouch design you would like. You can view the designs over at our Made It store. You will be able to leave a note in the 'instructions to seller' box when checking out.

Happy Spring xx

sunny days and garden parties

2011-09-15T08:12:00.002+10:00

{via hello, friend}

The sun is shining today and I am dreaming of setting up a tent like this in the backyard...

past meets present

2011-09-12T12:45:00.003+10:00

I love this project called 'Dear Photograph' - the idea is to take a picture of a picture from the past in the present. It is so interesting to see how things change (or how they don't change at all). These are some of my favourites:

Dear Photograph: Some things never change.

{source}

Dear Photograph: If I could turn the corner in 1942 and walk right into my mother, I'd ask her "May I walk beside you one more time?" Love, Your Daughter.

Dear Photograph: I found you in the attic when we moved in. I wonder if you lived happily ever after here.

Time to get back to the present moment... there's sewing to be done!

an old fashioned sunday

2011-09-11T10:31:00.002+10:00

Today I was up bright and early to head to the local trash and treasure market. The grey clouds, pouring rain and chilly wind were not going to deter me - for 2 years I've lived 5 minutes away from this market yet for some reason or another have never managed to get there. But not today. I can be quite determined when I want to be.

And what a gem of a market! Tucked away in a car park but full of great vintage stuff, lots of nanna crochet, and yes, quite a bit of trash also but the good definitely outweighed the bad. I picked up some more vintage aprons to add to my collection, even though it was only yesterday that I cleaned out my stash and listed some on EBay. Oops. I also got a cute enamel teapot (alas, none of the nanna crocheted tea cosies were big enough to fit it), a lovely English china plate and a great metal ice-cream tin. Oh, and quite a lot of pretty coloured knitting needles. And um, some plants for the garden. I think that's it....

I'm off now to bake this apple cake, and stew up some pears on the stove with some cloves and cinnamon. All while wearing a cute vintage apron of course.

Happy Sunday!

i heart: lavender

2011-09-07T21:50:00.003+10:00

{source}

Last week I wrote about raspberries. The week before it was pumpkins. This time around I've chosen lavender. You'd be forgiven for thinking that this is a food / gardening / cooking blog : )

Since moving to the new house and studio, the past few weeks have been a blur of catching up on orders, settling in to new routines, and getting familiar with a new workspace. I'm the sort of person who loves to make an impulsive change in my life, but on the other hand I love the familiarity of my comfort zone. Contradictory, yes. And the cause of much stress also.

To manage my stress I have a long list of activities to choose from. Yoga. Hot baths. Meditation. Eating chocolate.... and now, lavender tea. Recently I made the switch from caffeinated to herbal teas, and I'm loving it. There are so many amazing teas to choose from!

This week I found some lovely organic lavender tea at the local organic grocery store, which I've been mixing with some camomile for the perfect before bed cup of tea. Not only is the tea good for you but it looks and smells amazing too, just like being outside in the garden on a warm spring afternoon : )

Sweet dreams x

getting my hands dirty

2011-08-29T19:31:00.004+10:00

{source}

It was so lovely and sunny this afternoon so I decided to get to work on my garden for the spring/summer season. Yesterday at the market I bought some raspberry plants, they are now in the ground and the patient wait begins to see how they will go. I've never grown raspberries before so this will be an experiment!

I also planted a rosemary bush, some peppermint, and gave some love to my poor neglected herbs from last season. Later this week I will put in sunflower seeds, and hopefully my marigolds will be sprouting...

Only a few more days until Spring : )

sunday afternoon in the kitchen

2011-08-21T14:00:00.003+10:00

{source}

I've just emerged from the kitchen with a delicious bowl of homemade pumpkin soup. I think this time I've finally figured it out. Previous attempts have been too bland, too watery, too spicy (from the time I accidentally put too much curry paste in the pot, oops). So I thought you might like to make some too, while we still have a few weeks of pumpkin soup weather left (though you wouldn't know it, the sun is shining today and it's actually warm outside, spring is coming!).

Here's what you need (these are rough estimates, since I never think to write these things down as I go):

1/2 pumpkin

1 medium sweet potato

2 carrots

Fresh or dried red chilli

400 ml tin coconut milk

1 bunch coriander

Dash of tamarind sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

Here's what you do:

Peel and chop your veggies into cubes about 2cm square. I ended up with the same amount of pumpkin as the potato and carrots combined, as a guide.

Heat a good lug of olive oil in a large pot. Add your veggies and chilli and cook for a couple of minutes. I used dried chilli flakes (about 1/2 teaspoon) but if I'd had fresh chilli I would have used that instead.

Add the coconut milk and a couple of cups of cold water. Bring to the boil then reduce heat and simmer with the lid off until the veggies are cooked.

Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Then add your coriander (roughly chopped) and a dash of tamarind sauce. Using a blender or a stab mixer puree the soup until smooth. Season with salt and pepper and then eat with some crunchy toast. Yum!

dreaming of summer

2011-08-19T08:21:00.002+10:00

Now that things are semi back to normal here I'm starting to think of the Summer ahead and all the things I would love to do now that I have a back garden. Things such as plant a veggie patch. And sprawl out under the trees on a comfy blanket with a book and glass of iced tea.

Another idea that has popped into my head is to host a Summer Yard Sale. I'm imagining handmade stalls, vintage wares, general secondhand bits and pieces and of course a baked treats stand : ) With lots of bunting in the trees and lovely music playing.

Just an idea at this stage, but I've already started searching for inspiration...

{source}

{source}
{source}

{source}

Happy weekend xo

moving house, part 1

2011-08-16T07:58:00.002+10:00

Oops, it's been 2 weeks since my last post, time goes so quickly!

After the excitement of Life InStyle, I then had the less than exciting task of packing up the house and studio for the big move. These things always take longer than you think they will.

On Saturday morning I woke up in the new house surrounded by furniture, boxes, and random bags of stuff. A little bit overwhelming but also quite fun getting to set up a new place to live and work.

These are a couple of shots of the new Rabbit & the Duck studio before I started organising things.... I am loving the floor to ceiling glass windows, and somewhere behind all that stuff is an open fire place. Yay!

Of course, one of the first things I did was to put a few cute touches in the kitchen. The owl potholder is a thrifted find - I think it matches my new tea towel from Elly Oak perfectly : )

I'm almost done setting up the studio and will snap some 'after' shots for you soon : )

life instyle

2011-08-01T16:01:00.002+10:00

In amongst the packing of boxes there has been sewing, list writing, catalogue printing and lots and lots of other little things in preparation for our first trade show appearance at Life Instyle this week. We are super excited to be attending this event as an exhibitor - I've been planning the display for our stand for weeks : ) There will be lots of red and white polka dots....

Life Instyle is a trade only event, and you can register to attend via the Life Instyle website.

boxes, boxes and more boxes

2011-07-28T20:09:00.003+10:00

{source}

It's been a bit quiet on the blog recently, but for good reason - we're moving! In just a couple of weeks time we are vacating our tiny 1 bedroom unit by the sea, to set up home and studio in a lovely 2 bedroom cottage with wood floors, an open fire place, and a big garden filled with old trees (one of them has a rope ladder hanging from it - I can't wait to give it a try!). We're only moving to the next suburb so I'm really excited that I'll still be near the beach, and not too far from my favourite op shop : )

In the meantime, I am trying to sew surrounded by half packed boxes and piles of random things that I would like to sort out before the move. I'm also secretly pleased that my growing collection of vintage suitcases (7 of them, at last count) will finally be put to good use : )

In some ways I get really excited about the thought of moving - a new neighbourhood to explore, new rooms to decorate, and a chance to clear out all those things I no longer need. I just keep trying to remind myself of those things when I trip over a box, or look at the very long list of things to do before the move.

If anyone has any moving tips I would love to read them : )

weekend to do list

2011-07-16T09:50:00.002+10:00

1. Do the laundry.

{source}

2. Tidy up the garden.

{source}

3. Cook something delicious.

{source}

4. Do a teeny tiny bit of sewing.

{source}

Happy weekend! x

ice cream fact #1

2011-07-07T16:41:00.002+10:00

{credit}

By this time tomorrow I will be back in cold, rainy, windy Melbourne. As a final farewell to warm and sunny Queensland, this afternoon I took a walk to the local shops to get an ice cream. One of my favourites when growing up was the hava heart - who wouldn't love vanilla ice cream covered in chocolate and shaped like a heart? In my attempts to find a nice picture of said ice cream to use with this post (mine didn't last long enough to take a snap) I found out that the hava heart has been around since the 1950's, and would have set you back sixpence to buy in 1955. Ah, the good old days.... : )

sunshine & other lovely things

2011-07-04T17:29:00.002+10:00

One of the things I enjoy most about Brisbane is waking up to a sunny Winter day - somehow you don't notice the cold so much when the sun is shining. Not that Brisbane is exactly cold right now, especially compared to Melbourne : )

This was the view this morning while I sipped my cup of tea from the sunroom in the lovely home of stationery designer Alarna Zinn, who was kind enough to have me to stay for the few days that I was in Brisbane for the Finders Keepers market.

Alarna's home is filled with vintage treasures and cute homely touches. It is the sort of home you immediately feel comfortable in. With bay views out the front and mountain views out the back, I found it very hard to leave!

How cute is this display in Alarna's kitchen? I love the minty green walls : )

I am now more determined than ever to move to a big old house by the beach, I think the rabbit & the duck would be very happy in such a place : )

finders keepers

2011-07-04T16:42:00.004+10:00

What a wonderful weekend we had at the Brisbane Finders Keepers market! Lots of sunshine, yummy treats to eat, a beautiful old character filled venue, and so many lovely stalls to see.

Our stall was in Studio 3, next door to Crayon Chick and opposite Mookah. It was fun having a group of Melbourne folk nearby for those quiet lulls in between the crazy crowds.

Part of me wished I could just sit on a banana lounger in the sun all afternoon...

A lovely display by Mookah.

The only thing I would do differently next time is to make sure my hire car has a navigation system of some kind, or even an old fashioned street directory. I lost count of the number of times I had to make emergency phone calls for directions! I thought I had a pretty good sense of direction, and I did grow up in Brisbane, but all those one way streets and crazy freeways got the better of me!

Oh, and I'll also make sure I pack all the cables for my EFTPOS machine, thank you Lauren for letting me use your charger on Sunday!

I have a few more days in the sun before I head back to Melbourne on the weekend. I am taking full advantage of this opportunity to wear t-shirts and eat ice cream while sitting in the sun. Bliss!

and we're off!

2011-06-26T13:53:00.002+10:00

There's just a few more things to tick off on the to do list before the Rabbit & the Duck fly up to Queensland tomorrow. I'm currently looking at the pile of clothes and other bits and pieces I need to pack, which are sitting next to my suitcase. The pile is much larger than my suitcase. To address this issue, I'm writing blog posts and checking Facebook. Perhaps if I wait long enough the pile will miraculously pack itself?

Also, we'll have limited internet access while we're away, but I'm hoping to check in occasionally to let you know what adventures we've been on and hopefully share some photographs : )

Happy Sunday x

dreaming of sun + sand

2011-06-24T15:25:00.002+10:00

{source}

While it's hardly beach weather in Melbourne at the moment, on Monday I am flying up to Queensland for a couple of weeks of holiday fun. Oh, and a little bit of work as well - Rabbit & the Duck will have their first market stall at Finders Keepers in Brisbane next weekend. Yay!

While I'm away I'm going to try and fit in as much beach time as possible. Before I head up to Brisbane I'll be staying on an organic farm in northern New South Wales and am already scheduling in a day trip to Byron Bay. Then I am lucky to be staying with a friend in Brisbane who lives directly opposite the beach - I am looking forward to some early morning walks each day before the market : ) After Brisbane I head north to the Sunshine Coast to visit my family - last week Mum told me she was sitting next to the pool in a t-shirt. At the time of hearing this it was pouring rain in Melbourne and I had the heater on its highest setting.

Ah, Queensland, I'll see you soon!

lucky dip!

2011-06-16T22:00:00.003+10:00

We're having an early spring clean in the studio and have some end-of-line and slightly imperfect snap wallets to clear.

Just to make it fun I have decided to run a lucky dip - for only $10 + postage you will receive a random snap wallet + a few extra goodies from the studio as a special treat. Yay! The wallets are normally priced at $24.

Pop over to Made It if you want to get lucky. Um, you know what I mean....

something fun!

2011-06-02T18:17:00.004+10:00

Just in case you hadn't seen enough of us this week, we are super, super excited to show you the latest little project we've been working on.

A few months ago I discovered that an old friend of mine had launched a really cool online pop-up shop called sixtwelveeighteen. We got to chatting via Facebook (what would we do without online social networking tools?) and bit by bit the next edition of the shop came together.

We launched today and I just love how the shop has turned out. Pop on over (hm, bad pun?) and let us know what you think!

The shop includes some of our best selling designs, plus a few new products only available at sixtwelveeighteen, such as this cute strawberry wallet. Hooray for cute new things and fun projects with friends!

living in a material world

2011-06-02T18:06:00.003+10:00

Where does time go? It seems that I blink and another day is over!

I'm a bit late getting to the post with this, but I wanted to share it anyway. Last weekend Rabbit & the Duck were featured in the Herald Sun Home magazine. I was so excited to see the article and the amazing photographs (taken by a friend of mine) all come together. I think this is my favourite shot (mainly because I am out of focus hehe).

There has been such a great response to the article - thank you so much to everyone who sent messages, left comments on Facebook, or stopped to say hello at Markit last Sunday. Your support has helped to get Rabbit & the Duck to where it is today.

You can read the article here.

what do you collect?

2011-05-26T20:53:00.003+10:00

Stamps, erasers, soaps.... at some stage of my life (mostly when I was much, much younger) I've collected all of these things. I remember my favourite eraser was a yellow cassette tape that I received from a boy in my 4th grade class for giving him the answer to a test question. Oh dear, did I just admit to helping someone cheat? Let's quickly move on....

Many years later and I'm still collecting. My pile of vintage aprons is threatening to take over the kitchen. And stashed somewhere at the back of my wardrobe is a big box of Peanuts comic books. I long for the day I have more space so that I can start to display my collections and perhaps start a few new ones...

Until then, I'm always interested to see other people's collections of things. Here are a few of my favourites:

{vintage pyrex}

{more aprons}

{potholders by dottie angel}

{lunchboxes}

What do you collect?

snapshots from the backyard

2011-05-21T16:06:00.002+10:00

Freshly washed vintage fabric - today is perfect laundry weather with lots of sunshine + lots of wind!

I was disappointed when the spout on this watering can snapped off after only a couple of weeks. But then I planted some herbs in it - I love it's new use!

Native violets, just waiting for them to flower....

My chillies are starting to turn red!

Happy weekend x

no talk of hibernation

2011-05-12T13:08:00.000+10:00

It may be cold, dark and rainy in Melbourne but that does not mean the Rabbit & the Duck are going into hibernation. Quite the opposite really, we have some big events planned for the coming months and plenty of things to keep us busy : )

Our next event is just over 2 weeks away so put Sunday May 29 in your diary if you love local designer talent. Markit Design Market is coming to Federation Square that day with over 60 stalls showcasing the best of illustrative and decorative design. I'm excited that my stall will be opposite Penny from Pocket Carnival, I've been hearing about her new stand display and can't wait to see it on the day!

{Image courtesy of Markit}

We're also very excited to announce that we will be coming to Brisbane for the first time! You'll find us at The Finders Keepers event on the first weekend of July.

Phew. I think I need a cup of tea while I start writing my to do lists!

say hello to...

2011-05-02T08:58:00.004+10:00

... our newest stockist (and first in South Australia - yay!) - Presence.

Presence opened it's doors last week and is full of lovely handmade goods + other interesting bits and pieces from some of your favourite independent designers.

{All images Kate Pardey Photography}

Rabbit & the Duck are so excited to be part of a store like this in Adelaide : )

Presence

1/175 King William Road

Hyde Park SA

Ph. 08 8271 9566

Open 7 Days

new in the studio

2011-04-29T14:34:00.003+10:00

Just off the sewing machine - a new journal featuring my current favourite fabric. It ticks all the boxes:

- Lovely vintage inspired design

- Pretty colours

- And of course no shortage of red and white polka dots

I am imagining this journal filled with recipes for all your favourite sweet treats - vanilla cupcakes, chocolate brownies, or perhaps grandma's secret family recipe for apple pie. Tea time anyone?

Available to purchase here.

weekend road trip

2011-04-27T09:21:00.002+10:00

We were blessed with perfect weather in Melbourne over the Easter weekend - clear skies, sunny days, and enough warmth in the air to be outside in a t-shirt!

A friend and I hit the road on Monday and headed north to Castlemaine, a pretty town about 1.5 hours out of Melbourne. We ate cookies. We went for long walks. We snoozed outside in the garden. We peered in quaint shop windows. We ate some more. Today I'm back at work feeling much more refreshed and relaxed.

Here's a few snaps from our weekend adventure:

Only 3 more days until the weekend! Hooray!

autumn days

2011-04-25T07:27:00.003+10:00

{source}

As the cool, crisp days of Autumn descend upon us here in Melbourne, my thoughts turn to hot cups of tea, quiet evenings on the sofa wrapped in a blanket with a good book to read or a documentary to watch, and being able to wear my favourite scarf, beanie and gloves - all at the same time.

Alas, my thoughts also turn to pesky colds and other ailments, as this morning I have woken up feeling a bit sniffly.

Last Winter I made a batch of lemon-honey-ginger syrup which kept me going all through the colder months. It's made from fresh ginger and lemons and is super strong - just perfect for warming the body and keeping colds at bay. I've just hunted around for the recipe, which I thought I would share if you would like to try some too.

Lemon Honey Ginger Syrup

Ingredients:

750g honey

250g fresh ginger

6 lemons (or more) - juice (about 1.5 cups) and zest

2 cups of water

(These are ball park quantities so adjust them to suit your own tastes).

Grate the ginger into a large pot. Don't bother peeling the ginger, just make sure there is no dirt caught between the branches of the 'hand'. Grate finely if you would like a syrup with more bite to it. Grate coarsely if you would like a smoother, softer ginger flavour.

Remove the zest from the lemons. Coarsely chop the zest and put it to one side. Juice the lemons. Don't bother to fish out the pulp or seeds, everything will be strained in the end.

Add the honey and water to the ginger, stir until the honey is melted, and bring to a strong simmer over medium heat. If the ginger was coarsely grated, turn off the heat and let it steep for 15 minutes, then bring it back to a simmer and continue. If the ginger was finely grated, proceed immediately.

Once it simmers, add the lemon zest, give it a quick stir, and bring back to a simmer.

Immediately remove it from the heat and stir in the lemon juice.

Strain through a fine mesh strainer, pressing the pulp to get out all the juice. Bottle it and refrigerate. This recipe makes about 4.5 cups, and is best used within 3 months though it will keep for about 6 months with no problem.

To Drink:

Add a tablespoonful (or to taste) of syrup to a mug of hot water, stir and drink while still hot.

Yum!

{I cannot remember where I originally found this recipe, if you have come across it somewhere please let me know and I will credit it accordingly - thank you!}

happy easter

2011-04-24T13:38:00.000+10:00

{source}

May today be a day of new beginnings.

And chocolate.

: )

vintage home inspiration

2011-04-22T07:41:00.002+10:00

I often dream about what my home would look like if I had more space to decorate. I think it would look something like this:

{source} of all images

The owner of these lovely pictures also has a lovely blog that you can read here.

Me, I'm off to peruse the online rental listings....

today i...

2011-04-19T13:30:00.003+10:00

... feel like curling up in bed with a good book and a cup of tea.

{source}

{source}

{source}

rooftops

2011-04-09T21:17:00.004+10:00

Last night I discovered the joy of visiting Bunnings on a Friday evening. No doing laps around the car park trying to find a vacant spot. No sausage sizzle out the front (not that enticing to a vegetarian!). Just a quiet, empty store where I could leisurely wander the aisles and dream about the many projects I would like to do.

Today's activity was to plant some herbs and veggies for Winter. I have a tiny courtyard so finding space for growing things can be tricky. Particularly when they need a few hours of sunshine each day. I'd been noticing recently that the roof of my shed was the sunniest spot in the garden. A big flat empty space, just begging to be utilised. So today I set to work turning my shed roof into a mini garden. I filled some pots and planted some seeds - lettuces, pak choy, coriander and sage. I already have a big pot of mint so that went up there also.

In a few weeks time things should hopefully start to sprout. Until then, I thought I'd share some pretty nice rooftop gardens that I'd be quite happy with...

{source}

And how cute are these garden markers? I'd love a whole set!

Happy weekend x

this weekend

2011-04-01T12:27:00.002+11:00

The sisters' market is back for 2011 with lots of your favourite stall holders + quite a few lovely new ones that I cannot wait to check out.

Rabbit & the Duck will be there, just inside the main hall. Hope to see you there!

questions & answers

2011-03-28T20:37:00.002+11:00

Q: How many lollies are in the jar?

A: 310, plus 1 empty wrapper (I swear I know nothing about that).

Q: Who guessed the closest amount?

A: Amy Lee, who guessed that there were 315 lollies in the jar (Amy please check your email!).

Q: How do you put the jar back together once you've pulled it apart to get all the lollies out?

A: I'm still working on it....

Q: What am I going to do with 310 lollies????

A: There is no chance I am eating them, I ate way too many cookies on the weekend and am still coming down from the sugar rush.

2 sleeps to go!

2011-03-24T18:46:00.002+11:00

Preparations are almost complete for the Finders Keepers market this weekend. Sewing has been done (well, mostly, there's still a little bit to finish off tomorrow). Cookies have been baked. And the house has been turned into a jumble of (organised?) chaos as all manner of stall props are pulled out from under the bed, behind the laundry door, inside my wardrobe, under the sofa, etc, etc.

{credit}

Oh! And the most fun part of the afternoon has been getting ready for a competition we'll be running over the weekend. A few weeks ago I scored an awesome red metal candy dispenser, the kind you put your coin in, turn, and have a lolly come out (except I jammed the coin slot trying to put a 5c piece in, oops!). Anyhow, I've been trying to think of a use for it since I got it, and today the perfect thing popped into my head - a 'Guess the Number of Lollies in the Jar' competition! So, I'll be bringing a full jar of jelly beans to the market with me, all you need to do is sign up to our mailing list (if you haven't already), place your guess, and then wait to see if you're the lucky winner! Alas, the winner won't receive all the candy (as it could be tricky to post) but you will receive a Rabbit & the Duck gift voucher to the value of $30.

PS. I'll try really hard not to eat any jellybeans out of the jar over the weekend, I promise.

my oh my

2011-03-23T09:41:00.002+11:00

{credit}

How organised is this fabric stash? I am having some serious stash envy right now. I also love the little red and white dolls house sitting on top. I think it's time for a studio overhaul at Rabbit & the Duck HQ!

PS. Visit here to find out more about the person behind this stash : )

Getting Ready for Finders Keepers, Part 2

2011-03-22T19:42:00.004+11:00

Yesterday I pulled out my stash of vintage fabrics to put together this limited edition range of Snap to it! wallets. I love how they turned out! My favourite is definitely the spotty teapots, though the fruit basket comes a close second. They are all lined with either vintage or thrifted fabrics - you can view the range over at our Facebook page. And a big thank you to Penny for suggesting this idea in the first place!

I couldn't let the scraps of fabric from the wallets go to waste, so I made a big pile of buttons.... (this is just a small selection, I pressed maybe 100 buttons by hand the other night!)....
Both the wallets and the buttons will be coming along to Finders Keepers this weekend, and will form part of a special vintage inspired section within our stall. I'll be bringing along a few of my favourite things from The Dotty Apron, such as my collection of knitting needles, some vintage fabrics, and of course a big pile of aprons. There are lots of pretty ones to choose from - I was lucky enough this week to unearth a stash of them tucked away almost out of sight in my local op shop. No vintage apron will escape me....

I'm still rummaging around trying to decide what other vintage treats to bring with me, so make sure you pop in over the weekend to see what I've found : )

mail day

2011-03-21T19:31:00.002+11:00

What girl doesn't enjoy receiving a parcel in the mail? I love parcels filled with fabric, or other pretty things. I particularly love parcels that are packaged in an extra special way, such as these two that arrived on my doorstep this morning.

This one came all the way from India, and has a very pretty sari inside. But look! The sari is wrapped in a muslin bag, and the outside has been hand stitched closed. I'm surprised the stamps managed to stay fully attached to the front despite it's long journey. This one was too nice to just throw away, so it's now pegged to my inspiration board. Perhaps a new way to send out Rabbit & the Duck orders?

The outside of this package was a very lovely plain brown kraft paper. I love kraft paper, it brings back 'brown paper packages tied up with string' memories. I quickly tore this particular parcel open to get at the fabric inside, and instead was surprised to find these cute babushka dolls peeking out at me. I love little details like that.

It's the simple things that bring joy to my day : )

Getting Ready for Finders Keepers, Part 1

2011-03-21T09:26:00.002+11:00

It's a crazy blur of cutting, sewing, ironing and trying to stay organised around here this week as the studio gets filled with lots of new stock ready to take to Finders Keepers on the weekend.

Here's a few new things that will be coming with us to the market:

New Journals!

Brooches!

Today I have pulled out my stash of vintage fabrics to put together a special range just for Finders Keepers... stay tuned!

down on the farm

2011-03-13T09:04:00.005+11:00

How quickly time goes by! It's now been 2 weeks since my farm escape and finally I'm able to share some images with you...

Sunrise....

This parrot and their mate followed me on my morning walk - they are tame enough to feed by hand, so they must have thought I had parrot food with me. Every time I walked forward a few metres they would fly to the next tree and look down at me with a 'are you going to feed me' look. Well, that's how I interpreted the look : )

The market garden. There are tomatoes, pumpkins and zucchini's growing there.

Did I mention zucchini? There were so many of them.... we would spend hours picking them and then wake up the next day to discover more had grown overnight!

Renee got to wear the spotty gumboots. I wish my feet were tiny enough to fit into them : )

I love the open space of the bush. And the trees. I'm trying to figure out if I can bring some of this into my apartment. Hm. Market garden on the roof of the shed perhaps? Either that or I need to move to the country : )

Have a lovely Sunday!

7 things

2011-03-11T20:00:00.002+11:00

I was tagged this week by the lovely Yaga from The Shiny Bubble, who awarded Rabbit & the Duck a Stylish Blogger Award. Thanks Yaga!

The rules are to share 7 things about me that you might not know, so here goes:

1. I have a collection of Peanuts comic books. I have a soft spot for Lucy in particular, and even have a tattoo of her on my back : )

{source}

2. I was born in Queensland and lived there until just after I finished university. I then lived in Adelaide for a few years before making the move to Melbourne.

3. I graduated university with a degree in town planning! I then realised that working in an office wasn't for me. Oops.

4. My vintage apron collection is getting out of hand. At last count I have 30+ aprons in my apartment.

5. I used to work at IKEA. As a result, I have an apartment full of IKEA furniture and sometimes feel like I'm living in an IKEA catalogue.

6. My favourite flower is a sunflower. They always make me smile.

7. I don't own a TV. Besides the fact I can't fit one into my apartment (the TV cabinet is now overflowing with sewing notions), I've actually discovered that I don't miss it. I'm now thinking of getting rid of the microwave and using that space for my expanding vintage Pyrex collection...

Now, I'm meant to tag 7 more people, but instead, I'd really love to find out some interesting things about all of you : ) So please leave a comment and tell us something funny, or weird, or whatever you like, about you : )

Happy weekend x

new dress a day

2011-03-03T09:03:00.003+11:00

And then there was internet... cables have been plugged back in and a new modem has been successfully installed by me (on my own - I was a little bit pleased with this new-found ability).

Anyhow, I've been catching up on blog reading, website browsing, and all those other things I haven't been able to do for the past week. One thing I wanted to share was this great project called 'New Dress A Day'. Marisa has vowed that for one year she will not buy any new clothing. Instead, she will rework preloved pieces she has found at thrift stores, flea markets, or that have been donated to her. Each day she adds one new piece to her wardrobe - on a budget of $1 a day! Pretty impressive! Here are some of my favourite before and after shots:

Before...
After...
Before...
After...
All images from New Dress A Day.

As if I need another excuse to head to the local op shop this morning!

things are happening

2011-02-28T14:33:00.002+11:00

Oops! It seems I took a bit of an unexpected blog break - a phone cable somewhere deep underground that connects my little studio to the outside world broke over a week ago and I've been without internet ever since. Fingers crossed all will be resolved by tomorrow evening when the lovely Telstra people come out to fix it (currently I'm working from the local cafe, it's kinda nice having a change of scenery!).

It's amazing how productive I've been without the distraction of email, Facebook, Twitter, and the million and one other 'important' things I like to do online. I've been busy sewing up some things to take along to Magnolia Square, which starts this Thursday at the St Kilda Town Hall.

I also took a bit of a long weekend and headed south with a friend to spend a few days on a farm just outside of Lorne. There were zucchini's to pick (lots and lots of zucchini...), early morning walks, a drive along the Great Ocean Road, lots of good food, and a few afternoon naps. Photo's and more to come when I'm back online, I promise!

Happy Monday x

tuesday afternoon inspiration

2011-02-15T14:53:00.005+11:00

A few things that have caught my eye today.... you know.... while I'm meant to be sewing...

This lovely rug, made from an old bed sheet!

This bag, handmade in Brisbane by not-for-profit company Biddy Bags.
This umbrella, from ModCloth (ok, so I'm a day behind with the Valentine's Day inspiration!).

Happy Tuesday xo

a random afternoon

2011-02-10T15:07:00.002+11:00

A few random snaps from my studio / home this afternoon....

Postcard from a friend - complete with Little Jane St fridge magnet.

Lovely stamps on a parcel that once contained fabric (yay!).

Sari's currently piled on the end of my bed, waiting to be ironed.

Happy Thursday! xo

yurt dreaming

2011-02-05T08:58:00.007+11:00

For the longest time I've dreamed of owning my own place in the bush. A sustainable home. With a big veggie garden. Lots of natural light. And trees.

I first heard about yurts from Penny. Since then, I've been thinking more and more about how nice it would be to live in a yurt!

A yurt is really like a big tent. They were traditionally used in Turkey and Mongolia by nomads who would pack up the yurt and transport it to their next location on the back of a camel or yak (thank you Wikipedia for this information!).

These days, there are all sorts of modern yurts out there that are designed to be more permanent structures. They are just like a real home with electricity, proper walling and flooring, and plumbing.

I think two yurts would be the way to go - one for living, and one for a studio. Yes, that sounds just perfect.

{credit}

I can just imagine sitting on the deck on a lovely Summer's afternoon reading a good book...

{credit}

And how lovely to wake up each morning in this room!

Now, if only I could win the lottery to fulfill this dream.....

sari

2011-01-30T13:27:00.003+11:00

One length of fabric. So many patterns. And colours. And ways to be worn. I am loving the beauty of Indian sari's.

{credit}

{credit}

I've just added a couple of simple, but pretty, cotton sari's to my wardrobe. Perhaps when I master the technique of how to wear them nicely I will upgrade to a lovely silk one.

But first, time to practice, practice, practice so I don't leave the house looking like I'm wearing a bed sheet : )

camping

2011-01-24T11:40:00.002+11:00

I'm back! Here's a few snaps from the week that was:

Being away from the comforts of home really makes you realise how much you take for granted - a comfortable bed, hot shower, clean clothes. It also makes you think about what is really important.... for me, it's time and space to think and slow down, time spent with friends and family, and time spent in nature. It is my goal to try to remember this always and not let the craziness of everyday life carry me away.

Time to put the billy (oops, I mean kettle) on and have a cup of tea I think....

heading bush

2011-01-15T14:58:00.002+11:00

Tomorrow I'm off somewhere down Gippsland way for a week of camping. A week of living out of a tent (alas, we are not taking a pretty camper such as the one pictured below). A week of swimming in the river. Yoga in the outdoors. Singing around a campfire. A few books to read. It's been years since I've been camping and I'm both looking forward to it and feeling slightly nervous about bugs, spiders, and not being able to shower for a week. But those things are only small worries, once I'm out in the bush with space, trees, and peace and quiet they'll soon be forgotten. At least until a spider tries to crawl over me while I'm sleeping....

Flo the Camper

See you in a week!

introducing...

2011-01-14T14:23:00.005+11:00

After months of squirreling around in thrift stores, rummaging through tables and racks at local markets, and receiving package after package of treasures from my lovely mother, I'm finally able to reveal the purpose behind it all....

Say hello to 'The Dotty Apron' - my new label and business venture!

The Dotty Apron is your place to go for all things vintage, thrifted and vintage inspired. Think pretty aprons. Crochet doilies. Retro kitchenware. Lovely old books.

In among the vintage treats there will also be limited run handmade products using vintage or thrifted materials - stay tuned for our first range of children's cushions!

To keep up to date with our vintage adventures you can 'like' us over on Facebook.

To shop for vintage treats we have an Etsy store (more items to be added soon!).

Or to see the current range in full please visit us at the North Melbourne Market next Sunday 23 January between 10am and 3pm - there will be clothing, homewares, lovely old buttons, lots of aprons, and many more treats!

Queensland Flood Appeal

2011-01-13T09:24:00.002+11:00

The lovely folks over at Handmade Kids together with Rudy & the Dodo have organised an online auction of handmade things with all proceeds being donated to the Queensland Flood Relief Appeal.

Rabbit & the Duck have donated one of our favourite retro inspired apple pencil cases and there are many more lovely things also up for grabs.

Bidding commences tomorrow and ends at midnight (EST) on Monday 17th January.

For more information pop over to the Facebook page!

buttons

2011-01-11T10:14:00.002+11:00

Recently a parcel of lovely old buttons arrived in the mail, courtesy of my Mum. I love rummaging through piles of buttons, seeing all the pretty colours and imagining what the button was used for. My favourite is the tiny red one in the middle - I remember seeing this button in my grandma's collection from about 20 years ago.

I've started sorting some of the buttons and sewing them onto cards.... stay tuned for what I intend to do with them!

yellow - a vintage collection

2011-01-10T18:19:00.004+11:00

Some current favourites from Etsy:

A pretty dress...

Some matching yellow wellies (well, you can't wear heels in the garden)...

And a pretty round mirror to check your lipstick.

Just lovely!

vintage kitchen

2011-01-04T14:20:00.001+11:00

A bit more of a sneak peek into my stash of vintage bits and pieces....

i spy

2011-01-03T20:36:00.003+11:00

Vintage knitting needles in every colour of the rainbow.

This is only a fraction of the collection I've been gathering over recent times...

sunny days...

2010-12-31T12:37:00.003+11:00

... are just perfect for being outside in the garden!

Even if it does involve hanging out the laundry.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy new year! xx

short + sweet

2010-12-29T10:20:00.002+11:00

Just popping in to say hello and show you the results of about 6 hours of cracker making on Christmas Eve....

The crackers were a huge hit, particularly with the kids (and the young at heart!). My favourite part.... the handwritten jokes one of the girls did for me to include. A lovely personal touch.

today's project + merry christmas!

2010-12-24T08:13:00.002+11:00

Christmas Eve! For the first time in a long time (having worked retail for many, many years) I have today free to do what I please. Did I take advantage of this to sleep in? No. I woke up early and was too excited to stay in bed : )

In a few moments I am going to pack up the car, close the laptop, and head south for a few days with R and his family. There will be projects to do, food to make and eat, and time spent together. Weather permitting, there will be Christmas dinner on the beach. I have my bathers packed.

Today's project is to construct 20+ Christmas crackers for everyone. Yesterday N and I had a ball in the local variety shop picking out treasures (can you call a plastic trinket a treasure?) to go inside. We found spinning tops, kaleidoscopes, mini harmonicas and some old fashioned card games like Snap and Old Maid. Fun! I'm now trying to decide if I should include some cheesy jokes as well. I will need to ask R about those, he has quite a repertoire hehe.

I also wanted to take this time to say thank you to you all for a wonderful year. It has been my first full year of Rabbit & the Duck since leaving my full-time job, and while it's certainly been a learning curve it has also been a lot of fun and very rewarding. I look forward to the year ahead - there will be new things to make and new adventures to pursue. I hope you'll join me : )

Have a wonderful Christmas however you choose to spend it, and see you soon!

Things that happened today...

2010-12-21T19:09:00.004+11:00

1. I had a lovely brunch with two good friends. We ate bircher muesli with blueberries, date and chocolate chip muffins, and drank lots and lots of tea.

2. I took some photographs of cute things at my friends house, including these two robots.

3. I have been loaned a sari to wear to an event I'm going to on the weekend. I have been practicing how to wear it all afternoon and still haven't figured it out properly.

4. I decided to 'pop in' to Savers on my way home..... an hour later I was still filling my basket with lots of lovely things including 2 vintage dresses, 16 pairs of coloured plastic knitting needles and 3 cute aprons.

5. I thought about baking gingerbread. It was meant to happen this afternoon about the same time I was in Savers. Oops!

6. I ate way too much for dinner and now feel like a nap on the sofa, rather than starting the Christmas present sewing I need to do.

Only 4 more sleeps until Christmas day - how did it come up so quickly?!?

say hello to...

2010-12-17T07:48:00.004+11:00

Sherman + Betty are one of our brand new stockists, and I do mean brand new, they have just opened their doors this week (hooray!). Perfect timing for those of us who still have a few Christmas presents to check off the list.

Where to find them:

Shop 9, Town Centre Arcade

81-83 Katoomba Street

Katoomba NSW

And for those in Melbourne who still have some Christmas shopping to do, the Sisters Market is on again this Saturday from 10-4. You'll find Rabbit & the Duck just inside the Brunswick Town Hall, next to Hamb and opposite Kids with Crayons. It's our last event of the year so do stop by and say hello if you can!

two to go

2010-12-09T08:26:00.003+11:00

Find us this weekend at the St Kilda Town Hall for the Sisters' Market - it's going to be a huge event with over 100 fabulous stalls stocked full of handmade things. It is my aim to get a final few gifts ticked off my Christmas list.

The following weekend we will be back at the Brunswick Town Hall for our final event of the year - I can't believe 2010 is almost at an end!

shop update!

2010-12-06T15:12:00.004+11:00

With only a few weeks to go until Christmas I thought it was time for a shop update. Both our Made It and Etsy stores have lots of new goodies just added, with more to come in the next few days (weather permitting for photography!).

And in other shop news - you can now shop in Australian dollars at our Etsy store. Hooray!

Here's a sneak peek of new things in the shop:

Babushka Snap to it! Wallet

Picnic Phone Pouch

wrap me up

2010-12-06T09:57:00.002+11:00

Today is catch up day after a busy 4 days at Magnolia Square. There are groceries to buy, laundry to be washed, and right now I am also looking at an IKEA bookcase that needs to be assembled. I'm getting quite the pro at pulling apart and putting back together my IKEA, except that every time I do so I manage to snap another dowel or two in half. Oops.

I made a good dent in my Christmas shopping over the past few days, including these pretty rolls of gift wrap from the Mae stand. Theirs are the cute red pin spot and the lovely red and blue floral. Perhaps today I will start to wrap some presents - Christmas is definitely in the air!

up up and away

2010-12-01T09:51:00.003+11:00

Yesterday I was inspired to create some new linen patchwork journals:

I love this hot air balloon print - definitely a favourite!
And Alice in Wonderland is always a winner.

These will be with me at Magnolia Square this weekend and if I get my act into gear also available online in the not-to-distant future.

she's made a list and checked it twice

2010-11-30T12:33:00.002+11:00

Tomorrow is December 1st! Eek! Time to get cracking on the Christmas shopping.

Rabbit & the Duck will be appearing at Magnolia Square from Thursday through Sunday to help you get some things ticked off your Christmas list. You will find us at the beautiful St Kilda Town Hall on Brighton Road.

Hope to see you there!

it's all about balance

2010-11-26T11:16:00.003+11:00

Something pretty to balance out my previous thought provoking post : )
This rain cloud pillow from Donna Wilson is too perfect for words!

hello good morning

2010-11-26T08:33:00.002+11:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about life. Why we do what we do. Who we are. What does it all mean. Are we just individuals walking our own path or is there something greater, something that connects us all.

Most mornings, or at least a few times a week, I like to take a walk along the beach. There are always lots of other people out doing the same thing. I've always been interested in the way that complete strangers interact with each other. For as long as I can remember I've been one of those people who will happily walk with my head held high, until I see someone approaching from the opposite direction. On a suburban street I would often find myself crossing the road so that I wouldn't have to cross paths with that person. But on the beach, on a narrow path, you do not have that option. So what to do? For me it's been a head down, do not make eye contact type of thing. But why? It certainly didn't make me feel anymore at ease, and I'm sure the other person didn't feel that happy about it either.

Last week I decided to try a new approach. I would keep my head high, and I would look at the other person as they approached me. If they made eye contact, I would say hello. I was surprised at the results. Almost every single person I passed said hello or good morning back. With a smile. For a moment, there was a sense of connection, even though these were people I'd never met and may never see again. It was a good feeling. I still don't know what the meaning of life is (if anyone does, please share!) but I do know that there is a bigger picture - and I've just completed another piece in the puzzle.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this!

a weekend getaway

2010-11-23T17:28:00.002+11:00

This weekend we are headed out of Melbourne for two lovely markets.

On Saturday you will find us at the Daylesford Makers Market.

And on Sunday, unless my sense of direction goes out the window, we will be in Geelong for the Piccadilly Market.

I'm getting a tad excited about packing up the car for a roadtrip (or two!).

catch up day

2010-11-21T09:38:00.003+11:00

Sunday. The day of rest. Or in my case, the day of laundry - groceries - blog post writing - a bit of gardening - a bit of cleaning - plus a few other random things. Lucky I have written a list.

This past week just flew by, it was all a bit of a blur really. I remember there was lots of sewing. And a photo shoot (very exciting, more to share on this later!) and a road trip up to Olinda and then down to Mornington. In Olinda I visited the lovely Heaton & May, who are now restocked with lots of Rabbit & the Duck goodies.

Christmas is coming! I love this display in a vintage suitcase.

Every time I visit Heaton & May there are pretty flowers on the front verandah to welcome customers.

Now, I've always thought myself to possess some ability when it comes to reading a map, as well as a good sense of direction. But driving from the Dandenongs to Mornington was an adventure that made me reassess those thoughts. Five minutes into my journey I was already lost and travelling along a windy gravel road deep in the forest. It was quite pretty though, all misty and quiet and peaceful. Anyhow, what should have been a 1 to 1.5 hour drive took me just over 2.5 hours, there were wrong turns aplenty (I lost count when I ran out of fingers) and long stretches of highway where I knew I was going the wrong way but couldn't do a u-turn (and boy oh boy, sometimes freeway exits are so far apart!).

Next week I'm heading to Geelong for the Piccadilly Market, I think I will be adding an extra hour to my estimated drive time just in case! And if I'm early, well, that's just more time to make my stall look pretty. Win win.

Happy Sunday x

one week to go!

2010-11-13T08:20:00.002+11:00

Until our first market of the festive season...

And only 6 weeks to go until Christmas! Eek!

it's a wide open road

2010-11-12T12:40:00.003+11:00

Yesterday I decided I needed an 'inspiration' day. I think the pot holders started it. When R called at lunch time to suggest a bike ride down the Mornington Peninsula followed by a walk along the beach all my good intentions of doing a full day of sewing went out the window.

It was the perfect day for getting outside - warm, not too sunny, a nice breeze. There are lots of fun things about being a bikie chick for the afternoon - getting to wear a leather jacket and shiny red motorcycle helmet, cruising down country roads at speeds too fast to mention, and feeling the wind rushing past you. The not so fun things - helmet hair, and riding past piles and piles of hard rubbish on the return trip and knowing you can't stop to pick anything up. Though I did entertain the idea of balancing a vintage suitcase on my lap.

Our destination for the afternoon was Bushranger's Bay - this is the view from the walking track before you descend down the stairs to the beach.

The ocean was so blue! And the water was freezing - I had contemplated going for a bit of a swim but as soon as the first wave washed over my feet that idea disappeared.

I always have to take a picture of my feet. It's become a strange habit of mine.

Today things are back to normal - a big pile of cushion covers are waiting for zips to be sewn in. Some tote bags need handles. And there is a trip to the post office later this afternoon.

Happy weekend xx

vintage inspired

2010-11-11T10:03:00.002+11:00

I'm so very excited today as something special arrived in the post this morning - a big package from my newest coworker, my Mum!

Inside were these absolutely stunning pot holders, each one hand crocheted from a vintage pattern.

I'm not quite ready to reveal the intended purpose of these.... but stay tuned! I've been busily working away behind the scenes putting plans in place for something new (well, old really, you'll soon see why) and hope to reveal all in January after the Christmas craziness has subsided. Oooo I like a good mystery!

babushka babushka

2010-11-11T08:32:00.003+11:00

Babushka Zip Purse on Made It.

The popular babushka doll print is now available in black and white! I love it, and have matched it with a black and white pin spot for the lining.

Availability: Phone Pouch, Snap to It! Wallet, Zip Purse or Pencil Case.

a day in the life

2010-11-10T07:07:00.003+11:00

When they're not sewing, the Rabbit & the Duck like to get out of the studio and visit lovely people all over town. Yesterday was one of those days, and here is how it went:

7am. Wake up. Slowly. Head down the beach for a walk.

8am. Eat breakfast and answer emails.

8.30am. Try to decide what summer frock to wear for the day - it's warm and sunny outside!

9.00am. Change outfit once again. Pack car full of stock for shop visits.

10.30am. Stop at Shop for Shops in Collingwood to stock up on carry bags for the market. Also sneak in some wooden coat hangers (I might one day decide to sew clothes, so of course I'll need hangers. Until then I'll use them in my personal wardrobe.... ).

11.00am. Visit Wilkins and Kent on Brunswick Street and spend some time browsing the store and chatting to the lovely Jenny. If you're in the neighbourhood do pop in - they have lots of gorgeous things from heaps of talented designers!

12pm. Stop at The Vegie Bar for lunch. Cannot resist ducking in to the vintage clothing store next door - a big mistake - an hour later I leave with a new (old) dress and a pair of white peep-toe heels.

1pm. Stop by The Thread Den in Fitzroy to drop off some journals. Almost try on more dresses but manage to restrain myself.

new cameras journal!

1.30pm. It's now off to East Brunswick and Five Boroughs to restock some phone pouches - there are lots of new designs to choose from!

2.00pm. Detour through North Melbourne to catch up with another lovely lady before heading home.

4.00pm. The day's not over! More emails to answer, some admin to do, and then I pack the car again (this time with fun things like dinner ingredients) and head to R's place to make a delicious roast pumpkin salad and relax in front of a good movie.

Phew!