A Work in Progress

sassy printable handbag card and accessories

Finally, another post! My workload has pretty hefty lately. It's been fun designing two websites and packaging for my brother's organic chocolate range. It's all very exciting with new chocolate pics to drool over to come soon...

In the meantime, here's the latest printable in my Go Make Me shop. The Sassy, ever-so-girlie printable purse. Great fun for any age as a Greeting Card or an Invitation for a Birthday, Kitchen Tea or any occasion when the girls get together. And what purse is not complete without mandatory lipstick, nail polish, compact and sunglasses?

To make life easier (and we all like that!) it's editable so you can type your own details on the bag insert. To compliment the theme I've included fun purse party favors and 2 kinds of cute gift tags, notepaper and envelope to house your card. Such fun!

father's day finds

Featured on Etsy front page today, some Father's Day recommendations (third Sunday in June). In Australia, Father's Day doesn't come around until September so it was a bit of a shock to see the front page (especially with my Spring Has Sprung card there too). If you have an Etsy shop, Craft Cult is a fabulous free service that allows you to see how many item views and shop bookmarks you have acquired. And I've just discovered that you can copy the code from Craft Cult and link to your blog. Very nifty!

add some sparkle!

New in my Cate Holst Etsy Shop this week – lots of sparkles (Swarovski crystals of course)! I've been concentrating so hard on my printables that I've shamefully neglected the jewellery. And to be honest, I needed a little break. I've been making jewellery for over 5 years now, selling quite successfully at Mosman Markets in Sydney. And the break did me good, now feeling much renewed and ready to add more very soon!

munching aliens – a new printable from Go Make Me

Finally, I've listed a new design in my shop Go Make Me! They literally take weeks to design and produce. It's always a great relief to finish, move on, and purge the other designs roaming around in my head. I'm sure you're the same!

'Munching Aliens' feature two cheeky aliens, Allan and Maxwell, who are gelatinous interstellar creatures with a serious need to visit the Dentist. They munch their way through too many crunchy space worms that make their ragged teeth yellow. They are clever though, as you can see by the size of their bulbous brains carefully suspended in transparent, bubbling fluids

The top image is of the invitation/greeting card with an insert that is editable. Fabulous for writing your own text and editing yourself without any extra cost of commissioning a designer. I've also figured out how to translate the text editing to Bunting. You can write whatever you want! To compliment the theme there's a second greeting card featuring both aliens that also doubles as a Postcard (editable too). Also included is a matching envelope, fun party favors, 3 kinds of gift tags

vintage meets modern

I love to see design with inspiration from yesteryear cleverly mixed with a contemporary aesthetic or use modern production techniques. Two designers that I admire create gorgeous furnishings. Images 1 through 4 are from designer Carolyn Quartermaine. Vintage imagery printed in flouro colours creates a fabulous modern eclectic and stylish look. I remember seeing Carolyn's work published in an Australian Vogue way back in 1996. Her fabric was apolstered into a magnificent antique French chair. Atop a side table sat a Puff Pasty cornucopia with intensely coloured rose blooms carefully placed within. It was to be the inspiration for my wedding later that year. My mum tinkered in the kitchen and baked 14 buxom cornucoppias chock full of sugared fruits, dusted rose petals, handmade chocolates and creme fraiche. Each table would be served one for dessert creating a magnificent centrepiece, a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. I wish I still had that Vogue!

The next designer, images 5 and 6, is Catherine Hammerton. From the UK too, she digitally prints images onto silk producing unique wallpaper and furnishings. No two pieces are exactly the same. Just lovely

fungi at dinosaur designs

The post last week delivered the latest brochure from Dinosaur Designs featuring the new 'Fungi' collection. Whether you're enamoured with mushrooms or not, it's well worth a look at their fungi inspired handmade resin creations in jewellery and homewares. I'm just hooked on their vivid to subtle colours and shapes, quirky designs and unique style. I'd love one of those necklaces!

buy 3 get one FREE

Now here's a fabulous offer...buy any 3 printable pdf's from my Go Make Me shop and you'll get and extra one FREE! If you're one of those people who just loves to create, then this offer is guaranteed to to satiate those crafty urges. Just imagine having birthday cards, party invitations and favors, stationery, paper gifts and recipes at your fingertips? Ready to print time and again. You'll never want to leave the house again. This offer is available until 31st May, 2009. Get your fix before time runs out!

Tempted? Below are just a few examples of what's in the Go Make Me shop

   

my printable 3D tree card makes Etsy front page!

Very exciting to see the Etsy Front page today and there's my Spring Has Sprung printable pdf tree card in the top left corner just begging to be clicked! Chosen by Etsy admin, all those featured offered free shipping. I have to admit, I love green too!

english rose garden salt scrub

Meet the newest addition to my Go Make Me shop where you can download this English Rose Garden Salt Scrub pdf. It includes two scrub recipes and printable labels that you can personalise. It's such a delightful experience to gently renew tired and flaky skin as you exfoliate and polish. You'd be surprised at how easy it is to find the simple ingredients and how inexpensive it is compared to store-bought scrubs. And rose essential oil smells so gorgeous! Give yourself a treat or maybe a gift for Mum?

and this book belongs to...?

How fabulous are these colourful bookplates? You can download the pdf's from Orange You Lucky! blog by talented illustrator Helen Dardik. Well worth a look to marvel at her retro style illustrations showing a great sense of humour and fun