Loving All Things Handmade

I love handmade, it's my thing. My dream is to have a home filled with all things handmade and locally crafted. I realise that probably makes me sound like a complete hippy with a house full of wonky clay coffee mugs and crocheted place mats (at least that's the image that pops into my mind!).

But the reality is that handmade has evolved dramatically in the last few years. Now handmade (or locally purchased) means so much more. I love that I can buy high quality, gorgeously designed homewares, linens, art and actually get to know the person behind the goods. Knowing that you're buying something right from the source is such a great thing!

Lately I've been spending (way too much) time shopping at local markets and online at places like Etsy and Down That Little Lane. I am so in love with the people I've been meeting and the things I've been finding and thought I would share some of the gorgeous bits and pieces I've bought or that I'm lusting over.

Are these Billy and Scarlet prints not some of the most gorgeous prints you've ever seen!! I am so in love with the entire range. I've just bought the 'shine like the stars' one to go in Link's room and if I ever have a girl I I know for sure these other two will be making there way into her room. Jillian has also just released the most gorgeous range of nautical prints that are so perfect for a little boys room. Like I said, madly in love!!

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Lincoln, my adorable little monster is a dribbler!! I don't remember needing bibs as much with Max, but they are an absolute must for this little guy. I found these Monkey and Poppet bibs at a local handmade market and they are perfect. I've only bought these two so far, but am planning on stocking up big next time I go to Handmade Redcliffe. Gorgeous patterns and really well made :).

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For just about ever I have been in love with the gorgeous jewelry shop Bip and Bop and the other day I was lucky enough to win a $25 voucher to their etsy store. There was absolutely no way that I was going to be able to stick to $25, so I went ahead and ordered the pieces I have been wanting for ages. I normally spend any spare money on the boys so it was so nice to treat myself! Cannot wait until the package arrives!!

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Is there anything better than receiving a gorgeously wrapped gift? I don't think so :). The other day at my first market stall I was lucky enough to be right next to the creative genius behind Nice Package and I fell head over heels in love (with the wrapping paper.. not her gorgeous husband, because that would just be awkward!). Anyway, go check them out you won't be sorry!!

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When I talk about how much I love buying handmade this is exactly what I'm talking about. I met Clare from Small Green Leaf at a twilight market at my nieces school. I chatted with her for ages about all things handmade and while I was there fell madly in love with her gorgeous range of handmade silver jewelry. Not only do I now have the most stunning custom made silver pendent, I also got to meet the person who made it. Win, win!!

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Katherine from The Print Press Studio is another gorgeous and lovely person that I met at the Twilight Markets. Her range of greeting cards, prints and custom artwork are absolute perfection. I'm notorious for forgetting to give a card with gifts so I'm planning on stocking up on some from her adorable range so that I never forget again!!


There are are about a million more stores that I could mention right now, but I figure I need to stop somewhere or there is a big chance my kitchen will never get clean! I hope you love these little shops as much as I do!!

xx Tamsyn

Mummy Diaries

** Mummy Diaries - sponsored by Bepanthen and Nuffnang - All poo stories and opinions are 100% my own **

A little over a month ago you might have seen a photo on Instagram of me and two of my girlfriends sitting in my lounge room having a chat with Em Rusciano. I'm kind of a closet fan girl, so it was totally surreal! In fact the whole experience was completely crazy, in one moment I went from having a coffee with my neighbour Andrea while our boys played, to having a house filled with a film crew, producers, a make-up artist and a super star presenter. Crazy, but completely fun as well! 

(Long live the mummy uniform of jeans, ballet flats and a cardigan – Em must have missed the memo!)

The point of having everyone there was to film a segment for the Mummy Diaries, which have been put together by Bepanthen Ointment for nappy rash. They’ve been catching up with groups of mums all around the country to talk about all those things that you never really think about until you’re a mum. Andrea, Jacqui and I decided to talk about nappy rash, poo and all the fun that comes with that stuff, and considering that between us we have 6 boys it was quite fitting. I don’t have girls, so I don’t know for sure, but it sure seems like boys and all things messy and gross definitely go hand in hand.

The whole thing was so much fun to be a part of and I want to send a huge thank you to the team at Bepanthen for thinking up such a great idea. I’ve been using Bepanthen Ointment for quite a few months now and I absolutely love it. Lincoln tends to get really bad nappy rash and it’s so perfect for his delicate baby skin. It contains pro-vitamin B5 to gently soothe and actively heal, so I find that if he wakes up with a really red bottom I can have it cleared up by lunchtime. My hands down favourite thing about it though is that while it still forms a waterproof barrier, it doesn’t have that yucky zinc-like look and feel that some other creams have. I love it and definitely recommend it, in fact if I was going to rate it out of ten I would give it an eleven, that’s how well it works on Link.

Anyway back to the poo (because really, what could be more riveting!), I have had some epic poo moments with both of my boys… I will never, ever in all my years forget the time I went into Max’s room when he was about 14 months old to find that he had pooed, then taken off his nappy and smeared it all over himself and his cot. Lincoln helped me get payback a couple of months ago though, both boys were in the bath and Link let loose one of those huge yellow breast milk poos all through the bath and Max absolutely lost it. He was so cross at his baby brother!

Although those were seriously gross moments, Andrea tells a story in the video that is a serious contender for the grossest poo moment trophy! But then I think we probably all have at least one poo moment that was epically disgusting don’t we?

Anyway here’s the video, I would love for you to watch it even if it’s just to laugh at my ability to completely embarrass myself on a regular basis! (Oh and watch out for the Cooper cameos, he’s had his fair share of disgusting poo moments too, but I’ll save those for another day!)

xx Tamsyn