We are honoured to host the team from Dailylike this weekend (Sat 11 + Sun 12) as they share with us some super exciting workshops and even a pop-up shop here in store. Check out what’s on offer…

WORKSHOP : CRAFTY CALENDARS

Crafty Calendars sees you create an amazing wall calendar for your home (or to give to someone special!). You will be starting with a blank canvas for each month and using a tantalising mix of Dailylike fabric tapes, stickers and masking tapes, plus some sparkly Alex Mae glitter tapes, you can cut, collage and stick to your heart’s content. Create a unique design from January to December or plan ahead and create a theme for yourself for 2014! Lucky participants will also receive a little goodie bag of crafty treats to take home!

WHEN: Saturday 11th January 2014, 9.00am – 11.00am
COST: $50 per person

Click here to book for Crafty Calendars on the Gold Coast

WORKSHOP : DELICIOUS DIARIES

Delicious Diaries will see you receive your very own Mi Goals Soft Cover Diary to keep you on track with your goals and tasks for 2014. You will be decorating with a wonderful mix of Dailylike fabric tapes, stickers and masking tapes, as well as sparkling glitter tapes from Alex Mae. But the fun doesn’t stop there… You’ll also receive a little goodie bag of crafty treats to take home!

WHEN: Saturday 11th January 2014, 1.00pm – 3.00pm
COST: $50 per person

Click here to book for Delicious Diaries on the Gold Coast

WORKSHOP : BRILLIANT BOOKS

Brilliant Books is designed to make learning fun! In this workshop you will dress up cute little exercise books from Alex Mae with an exciting mix of Dailylike fabric tapes, stickers and masking tapes. You’ll be inspired to learn new things and keep detailed notes in your beautifully decorated notebooks! Please also bring your own folders, pencil cases, pens, rulers, etc. for a bit of jazzing up too. Plus you’ll receive a little goodie bag of crafty treats to take home!

WHEN: Sunday 12th January 2014, 9.00am – 10.30am
COST: $35 per person

Click here to book for Brilliant Books on the Gold Coast

There are limited places for each workshop so book now to reserve your place!

POP-UP SHOP

The Dailylike Pop-up Shop will be open Saturday & Sunday from 9.00am to 4.00pm. They will have some special deals exclusively available at the Pop-up Shop so make sure you come down and visit us!

This is a super cute and simple Christmas craft idea to do with the kids during the upcoming school holidays or for those of you who just can’t help but be crafty yourselves!

Supplies Needed:

• Cardboard Boxes
• Pretty Ribbon
• Glue
• Metal Ruler
• Blade or Scissors
• White Pen (we used ZIG Posterman Extra Fine White $5.95 – available in store!)

Step One:

Create a template out of scrap paper in the shape of a basic house (or in any shape you desire – why not try a star or gingerbread man!) Using your template, trace around it onto your recycled cardboard box.

Step Two:

Using your blade or scissors cut your shape out of the cardboard.

Step Three

Now it’s time to decorate! We used a white pen to decorate our cardboard gingerbread houses – but why not try metallic silver or gold or even some fun coloured glitter pens! (pop in store to check out our range!)

Step Four:

Once you have finished decorating your cardboard shapes, attach a ribbon loop to the back using a tiny bit of glue! You now have a sweet little handmade recycled cardboard decoration to add to your tree!

Enjoy!

Beställda is a collaboration between Marvellous Stationery and Birds of a Feather – A Letterpress Co. and was born out of the desire to combine two beautiful and historic forms of craftsmanship, capturing the tactile beauty of letterpress and the sensuous texture of natural vegetable tan leather. We have the joy of being home to a few of their lovely creations in our Design Spaces, and Emily and Dana give us an insight into their wonderful word of creative collaboration.

1. Where are you from and how long have you been living on the Gold Coast?
E: I am from Brisbane and have been living on the GC for over 5 years.
D: I was born in Canada, but have been living on the GC for the past 12 years.

2. Where is your favourite spot on the Coast and why?
E: A spot in the Botanic Gardens. It is an open field lined with big trees. I go there to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle.
D: My favourite spot would have to be Burleigh Hill combined with a picnic blanket, yummy food and good company!

3. Describe your products in three words.
Unique, Textureous, Bespoke

4. Why did you start to make what you do?
We wanted to combine two traditional techniques in a way that hasn’t been done before. Emily specialises in leatherwork, Dana specialises in letterpress, join the two together = Letterpressed Leather 

5. Did you get formal training in your art? (where/why/why not…would you?)
E: I technically haven’t. My dad taught me leather work and now I learn from other leatherworkers. Its something that takes time and practice.
D: I am in the same position as Emily and haven’t technically had any form of formal training. However, I was very blessed to meet a lovely 85-year-old pressman who has devoted his life to the art of letterpress printing and was willing to pass on his lifetime of knowledge and experience! I am forever grateful!

6. Describe your studio – where is it, what do you like most about it?
E: My garage. It’s not a very pretty space. But I need something industrial as leather work gets pretty messy. I must say that it has the best lighting when the garage door and back door is open. Perfect for photography.
D: My time is divided between two spaces – my home office and my workshop (home to my antique printing press). My home office is bright and clean with lots of pretty things – my workshop is the complete opposite!

7. What is on your ‘workbench’/desk right now?
E: Mess! Leather straps drying as I just dyed them. Hammers, and lots of tools.
D: Agree! Amongst the mess you will find beautiful cotton paper, jars of ink, and printing tools.

8. What does your working day look like? (as a designer/maker)
E: I have a full time Graphic Design job during the day. The nights and weekends consist of leather work. What’s a weekend again??
D: I have a casual job two days a week which leaves me the rest of the week, most nights and weekends to focus on my work. There is never enough time though, to get everything done! A typical day for me involves keeping up to date with my emails, quoting, designing and proofing jobs, printing orders, packaging…and more!

9. What/who inspires you the most?
E: I have to admit, other creative people inspire me. I bounce off them and get energised.
D: I am definitely inspired by other creative people like my beautiful friend Emily! I also find Pinterest extremely addictive and inspirational – so many ideas!

10. From all the products you have made/are making or will be making, which is your favourite and why?
E: I love the Beställda notebooks. It is designed to be the perfect notebook and it lives up to it’s intentions. My head goes into my notebook so I need it to function accordingly.
D: I have to admit - our Beställda notebooks are my favourite too! I love how the natural marks and imperfections of the leather make each notebook unique!

11. Any advice to other local makers?
E: Work hard!
D: Stay true to who you are! And be patient!

Thank you to the girls from Beställda – can’t wait to see more wonderful creations!

Do you have a passion for making beautiful things you want to share with the world? Contact us now at designspaces@sarbe.com.au.

There’s something luxurious and relaxing about candles, and Enola Robinson’s Valerie Vydler Emporium range definitely draws your attention – from the beautiful teacups they are made in to the attention grabbing scents. They are a treat to have in our Design Spaces! We got to know a bit more about Enola and her amazing creations.

1. Where are you from and how long have you been living on the Gold Coast?
I’m originally from NSW and moved to the Gold Coast 6 years ago for more opportunities.

2. Where is your favourite spot on the Coast and why?
Mudgeeraba is my favourite suburb on the Coast, I love the community feel and old world charm.

3. Describe your products in three words?
Smell a-amazing.

Photo by: Images of Life by Lisa

4. Why did you start to make what you do?
I was looking at a new career direction after being in the Beauty Industry for 24 years. I have always loved candles and how amazing they smelt and started making my own. After perfecting the art of candle making, I researched different options to offer my range to customers and found teacups were becoming very popular, so I setup a stand at the Surfers Paradise Markets and now my “Candles in Teacups” are all over the world.

5. Did you get formal training in your art?
No! I have always been very arty though. I did make sure I had it down pat before going commercial.

6. Describe your studio – where is it, what do you like most about it?
I work from my home in my garage. My space is about 2m x 2m, very cosy, and I always come out smelling great.

7. What is on your ‘workbench’/desk right now?
It’s a little messy but there’s a portable stove, jugs, fragrances, and my tools.

8. What does your working day look like?
Making candles would have to be the most relaxing job ever. When I’m in the zone of candle making, I couldn’t be happier.

9. What/who inspires you the most?
I’m a Richard Branson fan. I love how he thinks out of the box and will take anything on even if he looks crazy for doing so.

10. From all the products you have made/are making or will be making, which is your favourite and why?
My favourite product is one of our beautiful Royal Devonshire designed Teacups (Belle Fleur). I love putting French Pear into this one. The design and fragrance just go so well together.

11. Any advice to other local makers?
My only advice would be, if you have a passion, follow it and don’t allow anyone to talk you out of following what you feel is right for you.

Enola’s beautiful soya candles are available at Design Spaces (and yes, they smell delicious!). She is also looking to host candle making classes here at sarbe’s atelier, so register your interest with her at valerievydler@gmail.com and go check out Valerie Vydler Emporium on Facebook here.

If you are a local maker and would like to sell your creations in our store, you can find out more about the Design Spaces here.

Hi Anne, where are you from and how long have you been living on the Gold Coast?
I’m a Kiwi, ex Sydney and have been loving living on the Coast for the last 10 years.

Where is your favourite spot on the Coast and why?
I love where I live, on an acre just up in the hills behind Palm Beach. It’s quiet and surrounded by bush but also close enough to the beach and coffee shops!

Describe your products in three words?
Fragile, porcelain vessels

Why did you start to make what you do?
I loved the tactility of porcelain – it’s purity, strength and fragility.

Did you get formal training in your art?
I did a diploma in ceramics at ANU, Canberra and found it essential to providing the knowledge base exposure and discipline over an extensive period.

Describe your studio – where is it, what do you like most about it?
I have a dedicated studio space detached from the house and a massive work bench inside is my favourite spot.

What is on your ‘workbench’/desk right now?
Some slip cast vessels waiting to be carved and inlaid with colour designs.

What does your working day look like?
I work all morning and catch up with the rest of life in the afternoons.

What/who inspires you the most?
Anyone who creates beautiful, inspiring works especially craft artisans.

From all the products you have made/are making or will be making, which is your favourite and why?
I have a few favourite pieces on my shelves at home but I always get satisfaction from developing new work.

Any advice to other local makers?
Just keep making, making, making. Only through making do you make the wonderful mistakes that turn into new ideas.

We are excited to have Anne’s intricate pieces available in our Design Spaces.

If you are a local maker and would like to sell your creations in our store, you can find out more about the Design Spaces here.

Well, we have done some research and found some great resources to help answer these questions, including this amazing little timeline from online wedding invitation boutique Crafty Pie. The timeline provides a great breakdown of when to order and mail your wedding stationery, including save the dates, invitations and thank you cards!

SAVE THE DATES

WHAT - Save the Dates are a great way to let friends and family know about your upcoming wedding/event. They allow your guests plenty of time to plan ahead, and ensure they mark that special date in their calendars!

WHO – Because you are asking them to keep the date free, Save the Dates should be sent to wedding guests only.

WHEN – After confirming your wedding date and booking your ceremony and reception venue, we recommend ordering and mailing your Save the Dates 6–​12 months before your wedding.

WEDDING INVITATIONS

WHAT – Your invitations are the first glimpse your guest will see of your wedding, they will set the style and tone for your wedding, so you’ll want to allow yourself plenty of time to discover, decide, and design your invitations. Get inspired! Take time to research trends, explore colour options, patterns, textures, and designs you like. Pinterest is a great starting point and full of so many great ideas!

WHEN – Whether you are doing your invitations yourself or using a professional, we recommend getting started on your invitations 3–​5 months in advance. This will allow you plenty of time to assemble and address them before mailing them out (6–​8 weeks in advance). It’s also a good idea to order extra invitations to account for last-minute invites, personal keepsakes, and any mistakes during addressing/assembly.

POSTAGE - Before mailing your invitations, bring one fully assembled invitation (envelope included) to the post office to have it weighed for proper postage. Also, remember to double-check the spelling of each guest’s name, title, and address before sending.

For more information on Wedding Invitation Wording, make sure you check out this blog post by Crafty Pie – Wedding Invitation Wording Dissected

RSVP

WHAT – A small RSVP card is normally sent out in the mail along with your invitations. Most RSVP cards will have the date you require a response by, as well as any dietary requirements or special requests. The RSVP cards are normally mailed back to you by your guests, so make sure to include a return postal address on the card. Alternatively, some people find it more efficient and preferred by their guests to respond via email or phone.

WHEN – You should set your RSVP date to be 3-4 weeks prior to your wedding. This will allow you sufficient time to chase those guests who haven’t responded as well as to let your caterers and venue know final numbers.

For more information on RSVP Cards, make sure you check out this blog post by Crafty Pie – RSVP Cards Dissected as well as RSVP Wording Ideas

THANK YOU CARDS

WHAT – If you plan on including a wedding photo with your thank you cards, you will have to wait until you receive your photos from your photographer. Sometimes this can take 2-3 months after your wedding to receive your photos, so it might be a good idea to mention to your photographer that you are wanting to include a photo with your thank you cards so he/she can arrange to send you a couple photos to choose from asap instead of waiting to receive all of your photos.

If you don’t plan on including a photo with your thank you cards, we recommend ordering your Thank You’s at the same time as your Wedding Invitations. This will ensure you are carrying over the same style across your wedding stationery, as well as the fact that they will be done and ready to send out as soon as you return from your honeymoon!

WHEN – It is best to send your Thank You cards out as soon as possible after your wedding. Your guests will understand when you’re on your honeymoon or getting settled in as newlyweds, but a timely Thank You card is always appreciated.

WHO – Thank You cards are usually sent to all guests who gave a gift or made a contribution to your wishing well, however you may also want to consider sending a special Thank You card to all those who travelled far to join you for your wedding, or helped with plans leading up to the day or on the day itself.

WORDING – There is nothing more appreciated than a hand written Thank You card. Your Thank You cards should acknowledge the specific gift that was given (and perhaps how you plan to use it), as well as any special effort that was made by the guest (travelling, helping set up etc.)

What you will need:

• An assortment of sticks from your garden
• Natural Twine
• Paper Leaves (available in store – Pack of 21 for $5.95)
• Thin Wire
• Wire Cutters
• Stapler
• Scissors

STEP ONE: PREPARE YOUR FRAME

Select six sticks of relevant size and thickness and snap them so they are all the same length. The length of your sticks will determine the size of your finished wreath. Our sticks were approximately 20cm in length.

Once you have prepared your sticks, lay them out on a flat surface in the shape of a hexagon. The ends of all the sticks will need to overlap where they intersect on each corner of the hexagon so you can fasten them together in the next step.

STEP TWO: SECURING YOUR FRAME TOGETHER

Cut your twine to approximately 30cm in length (allowing you plenty to wrap around and secure your sticks). Start off with one of the corners of the hexagon where the sticks overlap, tie a double knot around both sticks. With the remaining twine continue to wrap it around the sticks using a criss cross method between both sticks. Finish securing your sticks by tying another double knot. Trim the end of your twine.

Repeat this step for all corners of the hexagon until you have completely secured your frame together.

STEP THREE: PREPARE YOUR PAPER LEAVES

Using your paper leaves, create little bundles of two-three leaves and staple together. By creasing and adding a fold to the paper leaves you can create a more realistic three-dimensional look. You will need enough bundles of leaves to cover your wreath. {TIP – When stapling your leaves together make sure the flat side of the staple is at the back of the leaves, you will find out in the following steps why}

STEP FOUR: ATTACH YOUR PAPER LEAVES TO YOUR FRAME

Before you can begin to attach your paper leaves to your frame, you will need to use your wire cutters to cut short lengths of wire (approximately 8-10cm long). Cut enough lengths of wire for however many paper leaf bundles you made in the previous step.

Using one of the lengths of wire you just cut, thread it under the flat side of the staple on the back of your bundles of leaves. The wire will help you to attach your leaves to the frame. Secure the wire around the sticks of your frame, you may have to wrap the wire around a few times to ensure it stays in place (if you have excess wire remaining you can use the wire cutters to trim the ends).

Continue this until you have attached all of your leaves onto your frame.

STEP FIVE: FINISHED!

You should now have in front of you a beautiful hexagon wreath made from sticks and paper leaves! Hang your wreath on your front door or make a few and use them as decorations at a wedding or event! They are simple and effective, and budget friendly!

If you make one, we would love to see it! Email photos of your creations to mail@sarbe.com.au

In preparation for our upcoming birthday celebrations here at sarbe, we thought it would be the perfect chance to learn how to make these fun tissue paper tassel garlands! They seem to be all the rage at the moment – popping up everywhere we look! They are so easy and inexpensive to create, and they are perfect for wedding and party decorations! Use them as a backdrop for dessert tables or photo booths, hang them in your home or above any area that needs a little bit of colour and festivity!

The following video tutorials from Garn & Mehr show you step-by-step how to make these lovely garlands! The best thing is you don’t need any special tools to make them!

DIY Tissue Paper Tassel Garland (Part 1) from garnundmehr on Vimeo.

DIY Tissue Paper Tassel Garland (Part 2) from garnundmehr on Vimeo.

What you will need:

• Rope, twine or ribbon
• Scissors
• Tape Measure/Ruler
• Clipboard (We used the clip board to hold our ropes in place while we tied our knots!)

STEP ONE: CUT YOUR TWINE TO LENGTH AND SECURE

Cut three lengths of twine measuring two meters each and one additional piece measuring three meters. (To change the size of your hanger you can vary these lengths making them shorter or longer to suit).

Align the ends of all pieces and fold the three shorter pieces in half. Secure the twine on the clipboard as shown below. One end of the long piece will remain unsecured.

STEP TWO: CREATE THE KNOTTED LOOP

The hanging loop is created by tying a series of the same knot.

Pass the loose piece of twine under the first three pieces and up through the centre hole. (The photo below shows the first knot completed and the start of the second knot.)

Then pass it back over the three pieces and down through the loop.

Pull the knot tight. Repeat.

Continue until you have tied enough knots to complete the loop.

STEP THREE: FINISHING OFF THE LOOP

Secure the knotted loop to the clipboard. Take the piece of twine on the far right hand side and pass it over all the central pieces, then under the piece on the far left.

Take the piece of jute on the far left-hand side and pass it under all the central pieces, then up through the loop and over the piece on the far right. Pull the knot tight.

That completes half the first knot.

The second half of the knot repeats the process, but you start with the left-hand piece first.

Take the piece of jute on the far left-hand side and pass it under all the central pieces, then over the piece on the far right.

Take the piece of jute on the far right-hand side and pass it over all the central pieces, then up through the loop and under the piece on the far left. Pull the knot tight.

That completes one knot, and it will look like the photo below.

Now tie a few more complete knots.

STEP FOUR: ADD SOME DECORATIVE KNOTS

Bring the two outer pieces of jute down so they are parallel with the others. Divide the jute into four groups of two, making sure you group pieces that are next to each other. Measure 15cm down from the secured loop and tie a knot in each group.

STEP FIVE: MAKE THE BASKET

Repeat step four by tying another lot of knots in the twine, 15cm down from the knots you just tied.

Divide the the groups again, making sure you group pieces that are next to each other. Measure 5cm (2 inches) down from the knots and tie a knot in each group. Start with the three central groups, as in the photo below, then tie the two outer pieces together.

Repeat this process again depending on how deep you would like the basket to be.

STEP SIX: KNOT THE BASE

Move the jute up on the clipboard so that the last group of knots are just above the clip. Starting 2.5cm down from the knots, tie four knots using the instructions in STEP FOUR.

To finish off, tie a knot with all the pieces of jute. Cut the ends so you leave a tassel of about 15cm (6 inches).

STEP SEVEN: FINISHED!

Congratulations! Your very own macramé hanger is complete. Hang it in your home with a cute little jar, or hang it in your kitchen with a pot of fresh herbs in it!

We got our instructions and inspiration from the lovely Lisa Tilse who created this tutorial for Crafttuts+

If you try this at home we’d love to see your creations!  You can email your photos to mail@sarbe.com.au or share them with us on our Facebook page here.