Creativity Unmasked

A Brief Pause

2012-02-27T08:18:00.000+11:00

I will be taking some time off over the next few weeks playing hostess and tour guide with my family from Canada, who are visiting us here in Australia. I look forward to catching up with all of your creative happenings again in a few weeks. :) Love these cufflinks by http://www.etsy.com/shop/artdivine

Happy Weekend to Me!

2012-02-25T16:53:00.000+11:00

Like it? Visit the Colour Me Happy Treasury

Yippee! My parents arrived from Canada this morning for an extended visit. They are currently snoozing off their jet-lag, so I am taking advantage of a little quiet time to play quick catch-up on line. My blogging and posting will likely be a little irregular for the next two months as I play "hostess with the mostess". Don't forget to let me know if you have insider tips for places to visit while they are here downunder. As extra cause for celebration (and a little lamentation), it will also be my birthday next week. So to celebrate both occasions, I created a bright and happy little treasury: Colour Me Happy. I also activated a weekend flash sale at Moags and Smeet - use coupon code WEEKEND for 20% off storewide.

Spotty Rockin!

2012-02-23T19:09:00.000+11:00

Does anyone else out there need a smile? I did...and then I happened across this fab little Dalmatian record-cover inspired at from geministudio on Etsy and immediately imagined Oli rocking it out as a deejay. :) Hehe! What fun creative finds have you stumbled across today? Share a link in the comments and spread the happiness. Smile on, my blog friends!

February Giveaway Winner!

2012-02-22T19:09:00.000+11:00

It is draw day - yippee! I love giving things away, and today was the closing day of the February Giveaway here at Creativity Unmasked. The lucky winner has been emailed for postal information - congratulations, Susan D! Note: redraw will occur if there is no response before 27 Feb 12.

Please stay tuned as there will be many more giveaways here at Creativity Unmasked, including another great giveaway starting in March for the 12 Months of Giveaways in 2012!

Prepping for Pancake Day

2012-02-20T17:27:00.003+11:00

Who loves pancakes more than a Canadian? :) It may be a bit cliche, but I do love my maple syrup and pancake-y goodness. Pancake day is tomorrow, and I am sharing this post a day early so you have time to get to the shops for your ingredients - just in case. You can get my recipe for pancakes here, drool over the perfect pancakes at BHG, or enjoy a guilt and calorie free dose of pancake inspired goodness in this mini collection - yummmmm!

Etsy pancake collage collection (CW from upper left): Necklace by Mindielee, Maple Syrup by LangdonWood, Felt Play Food by northwoodstoys, Decal by MushuDesigns, Pancake Watercolour by Redstreake, Print by AmandaCatherineDes

More than Six for Saturday (or Sunday)

2012-02-18T09:13:00.000+11:00

See this and more at Saturday Night's Alright!

:) Instead of the usual Six for Saturday (or Sunday) this week, I decided to create two weekend treasuries: Saturday Night's Alright! and Morning in the Garden.

So whether you want to dance the night away with my collection of turquoise blue and lemony yellow party finds, or relax for a lazy weekend morning in the garden, the treasuries are home to 32 creative finds for your weekend enjoyment. XO ~Laura

International Love

2012-02-16T17:52:00.000+11:00

I can't believe that it has taken me this long to post a picture of my cool little map pillows in use! Not too long ago, I custom ordered two fabulous cushions from My Bearded Pigeon on Etsy. As many of you know from previous posts, I (Laura/Moags) grew up in Canada while Dan/Smeet is a kiwi. Now our custom set map pillows can spoon together on the sofa in international harmony...ahhh. :)

Want you own? Head to My Bearded Pigeon on Etsy for ready made or custom locations all over the globe. My Bearded Pigeon has fabulous vintage map pillows and a other funky fabric pillows, all made with eco-conscious construction. Cath, the creative mind behind My Bearded Pigeon, also blogs at chunkychooky.

Eleven Easy Ways to Boost Your Business

2012-02-15T18:03:00.000+11:00

Have a brand, not just a product, and make sure that you accompany it with great customer service so that your brand gets remembered for all of the right reasons.
Have great photos of your creations that encourage people to look at more of your items and eventually find that one they just have to buy!
Create a Facebook Page and network with friends, customers and fellow creatives. If you are interested in trying out some relatively new territory, why not give Google+ a try as well?
Tweet up at storm on Twitter, but please don't make it a constant spam timeline of your latest listings. Social networks are about being social, so try and maintain a balance between chatter, your shares and sharing on behalf of others. To get started, check out this Twitter guide.
Start your own Blog on a free platform and share your creations, creative process etc to build a web presence as well as show some personality behind the products.
Get featured. Ask for a feature from a friend or a favourite blogger. Creativity Unmasked accepts feature submissions (check out the details here). Remember to be gracious if a blogger declines and to share the word if you do get featured - it is good for both you and your host.
Feature others. Good traffic karma will follow. :)
Create Etsy treasuries from time to time, like interesting listings/shops, build your Etsy circles and consider getting in on a local or special interest team. Very few people appreciate handmade like fellow artists, and many shop handmade for supplies and items which are not in their creative niche.
Conquer the concept of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) to increase traffic to your site.
Experiment with free advertising on Project Wonderful. It works on a bid system and many sites (including Creativity Unmasked) allow bids starting from $0.
Wear/use your own creations. Be proud to let people know where they can find the items on-line.

Turbo Boosted Snail by ajcustomvinyldecals on Etsy

Last Minute Lovin'

2012-02-13T18:12:00.000+11:00

Valentine's day is TOMORROW, and if you have yet to get your cards, never fear! Hailey of mooo.com.au sent me a lovely email today inviting Creativity Unmasked readers to mooo for some free Valentine downloads - just click HERE to get your free cards or, if you are like me and you have special friends scattered around the globe, you can also send free Valentine e-cards. Perfect! :)

Get your FREE downloads at moo.com.au just in time for Valentines Day!

mooo is a Melbourne based company (read more here). When they are not busy making extremely cute printables, they design, make and sell personalised products for kids, so, after your grab your Valentine cards, be sure to explore a little! I am already in love and am currently plotting pressies.

PS to Hailey: Thanks so much for your lovely email. It was the perfect delivery for a smile in an evening that would otherwise be remembered for the mad dash to grab quilts to cover the cars as hail cascaded down here in Western Sydney, and then sweeping water against the follow-on floods. What is up with this weather!?! ~ Laura

Six for Saturday (or Sunday)

2012-02-11T08:12:00.000+11:00

It is almost Valentine's Day! Eeek! I still need to get my special surprises in order for my sweetie - do you? Today's post is all about channeling cupid and getting ready for L♥VE! XOXO

Oh the lovely things!

Valentine's Day will last the whole year through with a date jar inspired by PaperVine.
Are there little lovelies on your Valentine list? Vixen Made has step-by-step pictorial how-to on making your own rosette headband.
Mmmm...chocolate and raspberry cookies. If your route to your honey's heart is through his stomach, then check out this recipe from Family Every After.
Chocolate kisses are perfect for Valentine's Day and 52 Mantles managed make kisses even more irresistible by making them into teeny tiny chocolate pies. Yum!
Oh the lovely things! Do Valentines come any lovelier than this gift box (right)? Find the free download and how-to instructions here.
Bake up some delicious sugar cookies with this recipe from Cake Ink, and then package them up with their free downloads - what a perfect combo.

Friday Finds

2012-02-10T17:17:00.000+11:00

Thanks for being awes♥me with me!

I was in a treasury sort of mood this afternoon and created not one but two collections of fabulous Friday finds. Excellent procrastination from tackling the clean up in our garage and yard after last nights flash flooding here in Western Sydney. :) Don't worry - all is safe and no water made it into the house, only the garage.

Grab your umbrella because the forecast is calling for A Mix of Sun and Cloud (...with a chance of showers - just like Sydney!) or stay indoors and with your Valentine for a little bit of L♥VE. XO ~ Laura

Calling all Aussies!

2012-02-08T18:32:00.001+11:00

As the pages on my calender fall away the excitement builds as my parents are due to arrive in Australia in just a few weeks to spend several months relaxing and exploring with us. So my lovely readers, as a Canadian living down-under with a kiwi partner I would LOVE to hear your favorite places to explore in the Sydney area and all over Australia so I can get some wonderful ideas on where to explore during their visit. Please pop a comment on the post here, Facebook, or Google+. Thanks so much!

Pillow by MyBeardedPigeon on Etsy - I have the Canada and NZ maps pillows - they are great! :)

Valentine Freebies!

2012-02-07T18:11:00.001+11:00

Psstttt! :) I just shared a whole stack of new Valentine freebies, DIYs and how-to links over at the Creativity Unmasked Facebook page, like this fab little printable from Cake Inc, and there are heaps more to follow so be sure to "like" along so that you don't miss out. Even better news - liking will also get you in the running for this month's giveaway. Yippee for freebies! Have a great day, blog friends!

Twelve Months of Giveaways - Number 2 - February

2012-02-06T17:42:00.004+11:00

This giveaway has been drawn, but please stay tuned as there will be many more giveaways here at Creativity Unmasked, including another great giveaway starting in March for the 12 Months of Giveaways in 2012!

Greetings, blog friends! As many of you already know, I have decided to celebrate 2012 with a monthly giveaway from my very own "stash" of personally created goodies. :)

This pretty purple charoite bracelet from M&S is perfect for February - after all this is the purple month! The lucky winner will also get a stylish set of floral art photography notecards from LSP on matte recycled paper. There six possible ways to enter and whether you enter once, several times, or maximise your chances with all six entries is completely up to you.

Like Creativity Unmasked on Facebook;
Like Laura Sheppard Photography on Facebook
Like Moags and Smeet on Facebook;
Tweet about this giveaway (be sure to use @thelauranetwork in your tweet);
Share in giveaway on your Facebook profile or page, and/or
Last but not least, you can blog about this giveaway or share it on your site.

Leave a comment on this giveaway post for each way that you choose to enter, as the comments will be used to randomly select the winner on Wednesday 22 Feb 2012. If you already like the pages, fabulous! Of course you still get to enter - just add you comment(s) saying so. :) Entry is open worldwide. Good luck!

Six for Saturday (or Sunday)

2012-02-04T19:58:00.000+11:00

This weekend's shares are all about sharing the love. With Valentine's Day just 10 short days away, it is time to channel your inner cupid and get ready to show special people you care and perhaps take the time to bring a smile to a complete stranger as well. :)

Oprah help you dish up something sweet for your sweetheart with this romantic dessert collection.
Prefer to mix it up a little with some cupid-worthy cocktails? Try searching the Valentine collection at epicurious for drinks, food and more.
Make your own Valentines with some freebie downloads, like these cuties from kiki creates. I love the foxy valentine - too cute! :)
Show a lucky group of fellow creatives and sellers some love by creating a treasury. The Purple Month is my most recent collection, but I feel a romantic treasury brewing!
Add some love to your home or office with a free Valentine art printable, like this one from Smile like you Mean It.
Chocolate kisses are delicious on their own, but are absolutely fabulous when you add some free Valentine kiss stickers to jazz them up, like these freebies from Shindig Parties TO GO.

Love the look? Get it for FREE! Head to Shindig Parties TO GO for your download. :)

Pretty Purples

2012-02-03T17:31:00.000+11:00

It is another wet day here in Sydney (yes...this is supposed to be summer!) so I decided to perk myself up with a pack of perfect pretty purple picks (three times fast!) in February's birthstone colour. Check out my latest Etsy treasury The Purple Month. It is full of gorgeous goodies in amethyst tones.

Amethyst is not just any birthstone - its MY birthstone. Stay tuned as the February installment of the 12 in 2012 year of giveaways starts soon, and I think it should be something extra special in celebration of my birth month, wouldn't you agree? :)

Hello February!

2012-02-01T18:12:00.000+11:00

Love it? Buy it at peppermintfizz on Etsy!

Sweet Lovin'

2012-01-31T18:24:00.000+11:00

My other half loves rocky road so I whipped up a quick and easy back of "sweet lovin'" Creativity Unmasked style. Yumm-o! Want to make your own? The beauty of rocky road is that you can simply throw in what ever strikes your sweet-tooth fancy. This one contains:

One regular packet of dark chocolate melts and half a packet of milk chocolate melts melted in the microwave (use medium low heat and stir often).
One regular packet of coloured mini-marshmallows.
1/2 cup of dried cranberries.
1 cup of roasted cashews (if you like salty chocolate like me, then simply cheat a little and use the salted nuts...shhh...no one will know!)
A sprinkle of roughly shredded coconut.

Tips: Line your pan with paper or lightly sprayed aluminum foil so that you can simply pop the rockey road out onto a cutting board and slice away. Heat the knife in warm water if you want clean cuts - but who really cares? It is yummy no matter what!

Favourite Things

2012-01-30T19:01:00.002+11:00

Hello there blog friends! Welcome to the final week of January and first week of February. :) Having a tough Monday? Channel your inner Maria and think of a few of your favorite gorgeous handmade things! ♫ ♬♪Raindrops on roses http://www.etsy.com/shop/LilygraceOriginals, and whiskers on kittens http://www.etsy.com/shop/LoveableTreasures. ♬ ♪♫ Bright copper kettles http://www.etsy.com/shop/toofashion and warm woolen mittens ♬♫ http://www.etsy.com/shop/annerstreet. Brown paper packages ♬♪ http://www.etsy.com/shop/BelsArt ♪♫♬♪ tied up with string ♪♫ http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheTwinery ♪♬ These are a few of my favourite things! ♫♪

Six for Saturday (or Sunday)

2012-01-28T09:04:00.000+11:00

This weekend's shares are all about a little bit of self-indulgence. Go ahead, explore and spoil yourself a little bit - you deserve it!

Get the girls together for some gossip and papering with a homemade spa facial mask or beauty treatment. Spa at Home is full of recipes. If you prefer shopping to stirring, local beauty business okoii will make your natural beauty products for your fresh with each order!
If you don't have a partner or can't convince them of how much you really deserve a shoulder rub, then learn how to give yourself a massage with this post from LiveStrong.
Try making you own lip balm, in any indulgent scent you wish with this step-by-step guide from iMake (found via Soap Deli News). Now is the perfect time to get pucker-ready before Valentine's Day! These would also make great pressies.
Make your own bath bombs with this tutorial from Soapy Hollow, and then hop into the bath with your favourite book and a glass of vino. :)
How about adding some soy candles to your spa experience for extra ambiance and relaxation? Homelife has a step-by-step guide to making your own soy candles.
Now that you are blissfully relaxed, tuck into bed for the sweetest of dreams with the help of a lavender sleep sachet, like the one in this how-to from Eco Living or a country cutie from this Tree-Hugger how-to guide.

Like it? You can indulge yourself at heatherfuture on Etsy. :)

Five Key Questions to Ask Before Hitting the Market

2012-01-27T08:20:00.001+11:00

Will your product sell? This is one of the hardest things to self-assess, but the most critical factor in whether you and your crafts are market ready. Make sure that you are comfortable with the quality and are confident that your product has consumer appeal.
Do you understand the legal requirements? Different regulations apply in different product categories (food, cosmetics, etc) and these vary by location. Do your research and understand where you and your product fit into any applicable policies. This is an area where fellow creatives like your Etsy teammates already in the market can be a great resource in pointing your towards your local and niche specific rules and requirements. Export/import restrictions are also worth checking out. (Aussie readers, head to the ACCC website or Product Safety Australia for more information)
Do you understand the taxation and registration requirements? Different countries and regions have various policies, so I won't go into detail here, but this is an essential and better planned upfront to keep your business activities stress free and above-board. (Aussie readers, head to the ATO Small Business Support page for more information, and be sure to look at the trading and registration requirements for your state or territory. Here is the link for Smallbiz NSW)
Do you have a micro/small business plan? Take some time to consider your objectives, your target market, and how you plan to sell, grow and sustain the business over the short term as well as the coming years. It doesn't need to be a complicated plan (unless you need bank support and even then it isn't too bad), but failure to plan is planning to fail. Check online for free templates, like this business plan template from Commbank if you don't know where to start.
Do you understand your expenses well enough to make a profit? This post from Handmadeology shows how simple it is to get into the sales groove and find out your "profitable" business is really well into the red. Investing some time in this area can help to ensure you can afford to sustain the business.

Love it? You can get your own at DesignDivaswallArt on Etsy

Happy Australia Day!

2012-01-26T09:43:00.000+11:00

Love it? Find it at Seventh Sphere on Etsy

Today is Australia Day here in the land down under, although it is a little grey and wet in our part of the country this morning - just as well as I have laryngitis and am taking it easy this weekend. Fortunately, while I have no voice, I can still type up a storm! :)

If you would like to try baking some Aussie treats or some special creations, check out these ideas. If you would rather peruse the premade, I have four fabulous Australia day treasuries this year - check them out:

Happy Chinese New Year!

2012-01-23T17:46:00.000+11:00

Love it? You can buy it at lovingpaperdesigns on Etsy. :)

January Giveaway Winner

2012-01-22T14:00:00.000+11:00

Hooray! I love giving things away, and today was draw day for the January Moags and Smeet Giveaway here at Creativity Unmasked. The lucky winner has been emailed for postal information - congratulations, Shirley! Note: redraw will occur if there is no response before 7 Feb 12.

Please stay tuned as there will be many more giveaways here at Creativity Unmasked, including another M&S jewellery giveaway starting in February for the 12 Months of Giveaways in 2012!

Six for Saturday (or Sunday)

2012-01-21T08:54:00.000+11:00

Happy weekend! This coming Thursday 26 Jan 2012 is Australia Day here in the land down under, and whether you are a proud Australian, a curious creative from elsewhere around the globe, or even a somewhat confused foreigner (like me!), this week's shares will help you add a little bit of Aussie to your week:

Get creative in the kitchen and make yourself a classic pavlova The "pav" pictured above was actually made by yours truly last Australia Day. Yum!
Cruise through some of the great Aussie sellers on Etsy by setting the shop local to "Australia", searching for listings from the Aussie "dust team" or "sydteam" or checking out some of the Australia Day treasuries, like my latest Green and Gold treasury collection.
Get the kiddies (big or small) together and try your hand at dot painting using this youtube video on how-to dot paint from Australian Native Art.
Make a batch of tasty Aussie lamingtons with the BHG ultimate lamington recipe. Lamingtons always make me chuckle. Not long after I arrived in Australia, a coworker asked if I would like to buy some lamingtons from her daughter's school fundraiser. My blank stare of non-comprehension (Inside my brain: Does she want me to buy baby lambs? What the heck is a lamington?) was met by even greater disbelief that someone could possibly not know what a lamington was!
Learn how to make a boomerang!
Get into the Aussie beach spirit. This craft is perfect whether you are in the sunny south or the chilly wintery north. Channel your inner child (or get the kiddies to help!) with some good old fashioned salt dough in a very grown up starfish garland. I have shared this before, but it is so perfect for a beach bash that I hunted it down in my archives to share again. How great does this look?

This Bed Was Juuuust Right

2012-01-20T17:24:00.002+11:00

At last! After a crazy busy week, I have finally downloaded some pictures of our handsome boys enjoying the fabulous Bow Wow Beds (see the post-Christmas pressie post here). The weather has been terrible in Sydney, so Oli spends most of his time lounging in the lounge, but I snapped these on his patio bed early last Sunday morning before the rain came. Tig is more elusive than the camera-tart Oli and normal evades the lens, but I did manage to catch him dreaming of freedom by the patio door. He wasn't happy to be disturbed - cranky cat!

Bow Wow Beds is an Etsy shop run by Kent and Amberlii, a husband and wife team in Kentucky, USA. Their Etsy shop is stocked with great handmade quality items like pet bed covers, crate covers, pet bed liners, etc all made to order. The boys each got pet beds from Bow Wow Beds for Christmas, for both indoors and out. Hey...they have been very good boys this year! They are made in cotton duck canvas in a neat and tidy zipper-free pillow sham design that you can stuff with whatever you please. These beds are stuffed with pillows, in matching-sized bed liners for ease of clean up.

Oli is a notorious destroyer of beds - you would swear that he had opposable thumbs and a hidden pair of scissors somewhere. Happily, these new beds have stood up tremendously well without even so much as a thread pull thus far. Even better, he absolutely loves lounging on them, both indoors and out. His GIANT beds are also perfect for some time with his favorite human (shh...don't tell my partner I am the favourite) as we both fit. The verdict? Happy humans, happy pets. Thanks, Bow Wow Beds!

Little update on 22 Jan 12 - Amberlii asked to use the pics of the boys (of course I said yes) and check it out! Oli is a coverdog. Handsome pup. :)

IP vs Censorship

2012-01-18T19:34:00.000+11:00

Shared from an email my alter-ego received via Wordpress - I opted for sharing over silence for the many of you who, like me, may not have been fully current with the ongoing PROTECT IP saga. As a photographer and a creative, I fully respect copyright, but what happens where the line blurs? When the balance of power becomes unbalanced? When the might outweighs the right? Well worth watching and investigating further for yourself.

Sweetheart

2012-01-15T20:17:00.000+11:00

Are you in the mood for love? Check out my latest Etsy Treasury collection: Sweetheart. It is a sugary-sweet Valentine inspired assortment of candy coated pink bliss. :) Mwaa! XOXO

If you have a Valentine tutorial, listing or treasury, leave me a comment here or on Facebook. I am looking for great links to share leading up to Valentines day. :)

Six for Saturday (or Sunday)

2012-01-14T09:38:00.001+11:00

With most people's holidays now over (very jealous of those of you still on a break!), it is time to get back into the regular swing of things and that means the weekend inspiration posts have returned here at Creativity Unmasked. It is a cool wet summer morning here in Sydney, perfect for a latte with my laptop while I share these resolution-inspired links for your weekend exploration:

Resolved to be more creative this year? Get a head start (or prepare for the post!) and start crafting your Valentines - it is only a month away! The girls at eighteen25 have some great suggestions - I particularly love the crayon hearts from Whipperberry. If you have a Valentine tutorial, listing or treasury, leave me a comment here or on Facebook. I am looking for great links to share leading up to Valentines day. :)
Stick to your fitness resolutions by creating your own customised (and creative!) 2012 training plan inspired by this post at kiki creates.
Resolved to live greener? Here are some tips for greening your creative business in 2012.
Want to get organised for 2012? Try this 74LimeLane printable round up.
Inspired to grow your creative business this year? Drop me an email for a guest feature here at Creativity Unmasked, or see my previous post for doable ways to grow your site/shop traffic.
Determined to do a better job of staying in touch with you loved ones and friends in 2012? Etsy has some awesome stationary to keep your inspired in your resolutions. I love the fabric notecards from Georgica Designs on Etsy shared as the feature picture in this post - gorgeous for any sort of letter, and the risk red of this fabric would be great for a love note. :)

Fabric Notecards by Georgica Designs on Etsy

Be Mine?

2012-01-12T18:28:00.000+11:00

What could be a better present for someone you love than a gift handmade with heart? I LOVE these gloves by yastik izi on Etsy. :) Unfortunately, it is a little too toasty for gloves here in Australia at the moment. Have you created a great valentine listing in your shop? A how-to on your blog? A treasury? Drop me a comment here or on Facebook so I can share the love!!! :)

Create!

2012-01-11T19:01:00.000+11:00

Create - Word Necklace by StarlightWoods on Etsy

SariBlue at the Golden Globes

2012-01-08T10:02:00.000+11:00

Some of you may already have met Christine (aka Sari) of SariBlue in last year's Creative Introduction. It has been a pleasure watching her grow and succeed since then, and when she invited me to share the story of her upcoming Golden Globe activities I was certain that you would be inspired as well. In only a few days time, Sari's evil eye jewelry will be featured at the upcoming 2012 Golden Globes Gift Lounge event sponsored by The Artisan Group and hosted by GBK Productions at the L’Ermitage Hotel, Beverly Hills on 13-14 January 2012. The artists and creatives amongst the Creativity Unmasked readership will appreciate how much time and effort go into preparing your products for such a big scale event. Here is a share in Sari's own words about her path to the Golden Globes:

Ah the life of an artist. A jewelry maker at that… Laze around and think of lovely things to create. Play with beads, sterling, chain and metal. Twist and turn until it is right, tear it apart until it is perfect and do it again. Sip coffee. Think some more. Match colors; mismatch them because it has more panache. Read obsessively about ideas, history and style. Present your work to the universe and like magic, people will adore it and be inspired! POOF!! There it is the story of how my work made it to the Golden Globes! LOL!!! OK, I am a goofy fairytale teller who wishes it was simple for all makers of lovely things to reach their ideal of success.

In truth, as mine and all good Italian fathers tell their children “nothing good comes easy” and “work equals success”. I am a worker, always have been, I swear sometimes I create work to be sure I am not taking the easy way out. Work ethic is huge. My trip on this artisan’s path has not been very long but it has been intense. I launched SariBlue this past spring with a ton of enthusiasm, not really knowing how far it would take me. The name SariBlue and the tagline “Beautiful, simply designed jewelry to add peace, positivity and a bit of fun to your style! There’s nothing evil about it….” developed easily. My past experience helped with the thoroughness of branding the shop. The designs for the jewelry were in my head for a long time and came about quickly but still develop, ebb and flow. Creativity never ends and the process behind it gets more interesting, better with time. I knew quickly that I did not want SariBlue to simply be a hobby; I wanted it to be my passion, my full attention grabbing commitment. It became all-consuming quickly. My eye went to others who were committed to their passion as a main focus or business.

Early in the Fall I started to see TAG or The Artisan Group pop up in a few shops across Etsy and other blogs and shops. I noticed that when I saw TAG it was always Early in the Fall I started to see TAG or The Artisan Group pop up in a few shops across Etsy and other blogs and shops. I noticed that when I saw TAG it was always associated with amazing work. So I did a bit of espionage and found out about the goals of the group and about Valerie Guerrero, the founder. Valerie is a true business woman; tried and true detail focused person, who basically has been unstoppable once she puts her mind to reaching a goal. She created the group to help high end artists access celebrities and present their work, thus giving them opportunities that otherwise are basically impossible to grab. I call her The Fairy Godmother of Artists.

The short version of the story with TAG-Valerie-SariBlue: I introduced myself we chatted, Valerie reviewed my work thought my work was a good match for TAG and the special events she does and we agreed to work together. It was a great decision for me! As a result my work has been in front of Hillary Duff, Jessica Alba, Zooey Deschanel; my card and ad will be distributed at an Oscar event, similar to the Golden Globe event; and of course will be featured at the TAG luxury lounge event for The Golden Globes. There are a number of other thrilling events currently lined up which I am so happy to be included in and these will be announced shortly. Ironically the day Valerie and I decided to work together was the day I also learned I would be part of the Golden Globe event. Talk about timing! I knew it was a huge undertaking but truly had no idea the amount of work that would go into the preparation for this type of event. Here is a taste of what needed to be done:

BIO: I thought SURE! I love to write (clearly can’t stop me, a bit of a chatterbox) so I wrote a pretty good one, to what I thought was the criteria, 700 words and just in time for the deadline, which by the way, was two days after I met Valerie over the phone, YIKKEES! UMM, no you fool, that would be 700 CHARACTERS…… insert low level desperate music here….. holy rethink batman……. Huge difference between words and characters. Characters includes spaces by the by!! Bugger! But I pulled that one off by the seat of my skirt and sent it along.
Prototype: Due at the very same time as the bio. No problem!! I knew what I wanted to do! So I put together my pendant and earrings to match and even created the name of the collection, pretty good at that stuff. Thought I had the display well thought out too…. UMM, not so fast sweetie. Your items are OK….. but the display is a no-go. Doesn’t work for us please rethink, ugh…. This will be much harder than I thought.
Display: With the no go on the display, I had to find something perfect. I literally purchased no less than 20 pieces of metal or glass or wood items to place my jewelry on. I photographed them all with the “ONE” Collection pieces on each. Nothing was exactly right. Finally I stumbled upon a very simple, but somehow cool deep red Italian vase. PERFECT! It has it to be, it is Italian!!
Photos: Ah, yes photos for the guide for the event!! Center, left of center, right of center.. Sorry? You know. Center, left and right of center? Oh, oh yes, of course I do! Well I did not really, but I learned very quickly what it meant to present your work in that fashion. As did my good friend who is now the SariBlue in house photographer. He is really an engineering geek, and a photog on the side as a hobby; gorgeous work. Ironically, very dark and twisted vision in his art and here he is taking these light and bright shots of my work. He has been wonderful and takes all my published photos. We worked really hard to get the right angles for the guide. It was a lot of fun for the first hour, and then later on not as much fun. In the end, so worth it. We also gathered great pictures of beads and jewelry that are used for the new marketing that came out great! Again, sounds really fun, but it was a ton of work to guarantee the proper lighting and positioning.
Container: Then word spreads among the family about the exciting news and everyone has an opinion. Well you cannot just put your items in a little organza bag! My god what would Angelina Jolie think of that!! (Really??) So the quest for the perfect vessel to gift my work began, nightmare, completely.
Marketing: Then the marketing freak that I am, and detail loon, I had to rethink my business cards and of course all the other TAG folks were talking about an info card. Sorry a what, info card? Must do one too, I guess. So my plans were laid for new business cards, info card, new display vessel, new container for glass beaded jewelry that won’t get crushed in a large bag filled with other artwork, yet stand out and somehow be small enough to be accepted, (in the end a cute tin, which then required not one but two stickers one for the top of course and one for the bottom!!) Oh boy! These all of course were not conventional printed items. Everything but the biz card is round to match my marketing theory of the evil eye! The first batch of stickers which shipped were wrong, please do again, sir! The first batch of biz cards were printed one side up, one side down, yikkees! Don’t panic, tons of time!! Except they lost the redo batch, GREAT!! Don’t panic sweetie plenty of time…..
Jewelry Production: Well no worries; I can make my 100, yes 100 pendants to gift to the fabulous celebrities that will attend the event! While I wait for the arrival of the marketing pieces. All things I need I had, right. I mean I sent my partner to Turkey for the special bead I want to use, yes it is true; crazy, I know. But wait the chain I normally use is what? SOLD OUT? Back ordered until when? Are you kidding me? Ok, ok, well if I order it in smaller amounts I know it is super expensive but, it must be done and I can do it with a new vendor… problem solved.
Assembly Line: Family Style!! I had so much help along the way with this entire process, and it was never more apparent than with the assemblage of the completed items into the tins. You would think this would be the easiest part and in a way it was, but it felt as though it took forever!! Normal everyday life sure gets in the way of a large assembly line in your home! It was all hand on deck even if it was just keeping my 2 year old nephew out of my shop for the few weeks everything was lined up nicely.
100 of anything is a lot!! Whoa! Done!! I have never been so happy to get this stuff out the door. (Note from Laura: You should really check out the SariBlue Facebook album documenting the process - love the captions too!)

I am so excited to see the pictures from the actual event and hear all about the reactions to everyone’s work. So, here I am thinking about the luck I have in my life! I mean true luck, not the kind under a rainbow but the kind that comes from thoughtful work and focus without getting stuck too long in a rat-hole. The whole process was a bit like a roller-coaster, sometimes fun sometimes like you want to throw up. Somewhat as if while you are on it you are not sure you will do it again, but once you are off you are on an adrenaline high so you are certain you cannot wait to climb back aboard! The day after my items shipped off to Cali I could not help but laugh when Valerie sent an email saying hey the next big event is X are you in? Of course I jumped up and said heck YEAH!! When the day before I said, you know perhaps a little break would be good between events!!

The big take-aways for me: Life is good, hard work is still grand, you learn from everything, there are amazing people around me and 100 of anything is a lot! I really love my life, my family, friends new and old and appreciate everything around me. I am thankful every day for what I have. Thanks for letting me chat a bit about this experience, how cool, right?

Be kind to each other.

Love and luck,

Sari

If are not lucky enough to be a Golden Globe VIP :) but would still like some fabulous SariBlue jewellery for your very own, Sari has generously provided a coupon code SBLOVESLAURA (I am feeling the love...) for 20% off all jewellery through the month of January - head to http://www.facebook.com/SariBlueJewelry and like SariBlue to activate the coupon. Want to learn more? You can find SariBlue online at the SariBlue website, as well as Zibbet, Etsy, Facebook and Twitter.

Twelve Months of Giveaways - Number 1 - January

2012-01-07T13:29:00.003+11:00

This giveaway has been drawn, but please stay tuned as there will be many more giveaways here at Creativity Unmasked, including another M&S jewellery giveaway starting in February for the 12 Months of Giveaways in 2012!

Greetings, blog friends! Here is the surprise you have all been waiting for as promised. :) I have decided to celebrate 2012 with 12 giveaways from Moags and Smeet. Yippee! Once per month, there will be a new jewellery giveaway so lets hope that 2012 brings you luck.

Giveaway #1 - January 2012
Garnet is the birthstone for January, and these modern-vintage styled czech crystal earrings are a gorgeous twist on this month's colour. Perfect for a party or evening out. Want to add them to your jewellery box? There are heaps of ways to enter - whether you enter once, several time or with all of the options is completely up to you. :) To get in on the action for your chance to win, any one of these will do!

Like Creativity Unmasked on Facebook;
Like Moags and Smeet on Facebook;
Tweet about this giveaway (be sure to use @thelauranetwork in your tweet);
Share in giveaway on your Facebook profile or page, and/or
Last but not least, you can blog about this giveaway or share it on your site.

Leave a comment on this giveaway post for each way that you choose to enter, as the comments will be used to randomly select the winner on Sunday 22 Jan 2012. Of course, if you already like the pages you still get to enter - just add you comment(s) saying so. :) Entry is open worldwide. Good luck!

Bow Wow Beds

2012-01-04T18:08:00.001+11:00

Presents for the boys, all wrapped up under the tree. :)

As most you you already know, we are those sort of crazy animal loving folks who spoil their furkids with presents. :) This Christmas was no exception (did you see our Christmas card?), so it is only fitting that my first post holiday handmade share be about "the boys" and their new Bow Wow Beds. Oli is a notorious destroyer of beds - you can only imagine how hard it is to get bean bag beans out of your backyard, so I was stoked to stumble across this seller with pillow stuffed pet beds.

I will admit that I did get a few strage looks when I bought the local shop completely out of pillows just before Christmas Eve. Imagine the chaos of trying to navigate to the car with that purchase! It was well worth it though as the boys are smitten, particularly Oli who has made his new bed into the lounge into his favourite nesting place and even tried to squeeze his big spotted Dalmatian bottom onto Tig's cat-sized version of the bed - hehe. Pictures of nesting will follow, but in the meanwhile, here are a few shots of Christmas at the animal house! To get your own, visit Bow Wow Beds on Etsy.

Tackling the 2012 To-Dos - Photo Shoot

2012-01-03T14:20:00.003+11:00

As per yesterday's post, I am cooking up some plans for 2012 and will be sharing with you along the way. First up, a jewellery shoot - after all, it is long overdue that I give my own pictures as much TLC as I give to everyone else's pictures, even if product photos aren't really my thing (see here).

If a product photo shoot is on your to-do list, here are some tips from previous posts:

Here are some helpful how-tos on taking better product shots. Need more help? Etsy has a whole section devoted to helping you with your product photography - check it out here.
Need to do some editing but don't want to blow your budget? Here are some great freebie photo editing tools to help.
Need help understanding photo file types? Never fear, tech talk for non-weenies is here to help with photo file information.

Task one of my 2012 must-do list is now complete - yippee! Head to Moags and Smeet to see the current listings (more coming soon!), and here is a little peak at a few of the photos. Stay tuned for the January giveaway starting a little later this week!

New Year, New Start

2012-01-02T09:47:00.000+11:00

Watercolor By Muren on Etsy

Happy New Year! I had a great break with my family (although I did sneak in an anniversary post during my posting pause!) and I hope that you have been enjoying the festive season. The arrival of a new year brings with it reflection and resolution and I am curious as to whether any of you fine folks have made any New Year's Resolutions. I struggle with staying resolved on the "simple" things in life (eat better, exercise more, learn to relax, make time for fun with family...) but will continue to strive to do better in 2012. My biggest plans are on my creative pursuits in photography and my little bit of fun at Moags and Smeet - I look forward to sharing those plans with you as they develop and progress. :)

Leave a comment and let me know if you are making resolutions, plans or changes - I would love to hear about your strategy for 2012. PS - Stay tuned for the start of the January giveaway starting a little later this week!

Happy Blogaversary!

2011-12-27T08:23:00.001+11:00

Like this print? Head to Jenna Sue Design on Etsy

Creativity Unmasked has just turned one - and what a wonderful year of sharing it has been. Thanks for welcoming my into your blog reading lists, facebook feeds, and twitter stream. It has been my absolute pleasure to share my creative discoveries with you over the last year, and I am certain that the best is indeed yet to come. :)

How should we celebrate together? I am thinking of a giveaway once the festive chaos settles down. Click "like" on the Facebook post if you like the sound of a January giveaway.

Have a wonderful day, blog friends!

PS - Are you on Google+? I just signed up to try it out and could use some friendly circles. :)

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-24T09:44:00.001+11:00

Happy holidays, my friends. Here is one of the many hilarious moments captured in our attempts at family portraits - cat and dog included. Tig was most displeased at the idea of posing, but Oli is a camera tart. How handsome does he look in his new festive collar from Pret a Pawte? The boys have a matching set - an early Christmas present from their crazy "mother" - more pictures to follow after the holidays. I will be taking the next few days to relax and enjoy the holidays with my own family, but I am sure you know me well enough to know will still be checking in on-line. :) I wish each and every one of you a wonderful weekend, whatever your own celebrations and beliefs may be. May your holidays be filled with love, laughter and wonderful memories in the making. ~ Laura

Christmas Memories

2011-12-23T08:35:00.003+11:00

Canadian Christmases are the sugar-dusted white winters of storybooks. Living in Australia, the holidays are the time of year when I miss Canada the most. Fortunately, my childhood memories of Christmas all include one very special handmade item that I was able to bring with me: a hand-knitted Christmas stocking from my grandmother. All grandchildren received one for our first Christmas. At first, they were bigger than we were and slowly over time we grew older and the stocking photos evolved from beaming grins holding our stocking proudly to adult siblings posing with the stocking on our feet. The stockings have traveled the globe to hold us close no matter how far we may roam - my own stocking has spent Christmas in Britain, Kenya, Australia, and New Zealand. As we became adults, the tradition of the stocking spread to husbands, wives and then great-grandchildren. My grandmother no longer knits the stockings, but her family tradition will be strong for generations to come. What is your favourite family Christmas tradition?

PS - The baby picture is me - taken many years ago on my first Christmas. :)

All Wrapped Up

2011-12-21T18:17:00.000+11:00

Are you finished your Christmas shopping (or nearing the end) but dreading the wrapping ahead? Never fear, these links are sure to help you get inspired - and have the most tempting pressies under the tree as a reward for your efforts:

Cool Mom Picks has some great creative ideas on festive presents that are almost too cool to open. (found via Studio Lakshmi on Facebook)
Photojo shows you how to turn your favourite digital picture into a picture-perfect wrap. (found via LSP on Facebook)
Hug a tree and wrap your presents eco-style, with tips in this previous Creativity Unmasked post.
Get creative with Country Living's 12 gorgeous gift wrapping ideas that you will want to steal for yourself!
It can be Real Simple and still real pretty see how with these 24 creative wrapping tips.
More wrapping than you could ever image can be found at WrapArt. Enjoy exploring, but don't forget to save some time to wrap your presents before the big day!

Love it? Learn how to do it yourself at Photojojo.

Homebaked Holidays

2011-12-18T18:01:00.001+11:00

Visit the Homebaked Holidays Treasury on Etsy

For some reason (hmm..perhaps the incessant Christmas carols that my other half is blaring through the house?) I have a little craving for Christmas pudding this afternoon. Oh yes, and warm rum sauce. Festively delicious! Here is a link to a yummy looking recipe from Gourmet Traveller that caught my eye and a tasty Homebaked Holidays treasury to match. :) The treasury is 100% calorie free, so click on through and indulge.

Blue Christmas

2011-12-17T16:31:00.000+11:00

It is a blue Christmas at our house this year, in style not spirit. After our poor "Charlie Brown" tree experience last year, my partner bought an ample supply of icy blue baubles and garland - so much so that we couldn't actually use it all without the tree looking like a frozen mummy. :) My post-tree festive spirit has been channeled into a new treasury: Blue Christmas.

Do you theme and style your Christmas tree? My parent's tree was always a mish-mash of favourite oldies and handmade treasures, and that is what Christmas trees are all about for me. With all of my moving around the globe, I just haven't built up a collection of my own yet!

See this gorgeous watercolour by KL Bailey Art and more in my latest Etsy treasury: Blue Christmas

Etsy Front Page!

2011-12-14T19:03:00.000+11:00

Hooray for the fabulous Studio Lakshmi and Lakshmi's Something Blue Treasury for making Etsy's front page. Adding to the awesomeness, my little Going Global earrings were in it. How cool! My very first front page appearance.

In other daily awesomeness (such a good day for a dreary Wednesday), my little creations were also in this gorgeous Game of Thrones Collection (love that series) and an Aussie Christmas Collection. Yipee!

Christmas Shopping Chaos

2011-12-13T19:02:00.001+11:00

HumbleBea on Etsy

Is anyone else out there not finished Christmas shopping? Woe is me - resigned to the grinch-inducing experience of last minute holiday shopping! If only my partner would write his letter to Santa to make my life easier. I am sure that Santa wouldn't object if I took a little peak and pinched a few ideas? I also have yet to put up the tree, bake anything or otherwise get into the festive groove. Perhaps it is a lack of family tradition for us here in Australia that haunts my holiday cheer. It is time for me to make some new non-snowy festive traditions. Any ideas? I love these little ornament letter holders from HumbleBea on Etsy. Wouldn't it be a wonderful family treasure to collect and dangle Christmas wishes from the tree for years to come?

A Miniture Sleigh and Eight Tiny (Delicious!) Reindeer

2011-12-11T18:06:00.002+11:00

Like the herd? Head to http://www.bakerella.com/ to see more! (Reindeer how-to posted HERE)

Hmm. Something about that post title seems a little evil, but the sentiment is pure sweetness! If you would like to take yesterday's homemade goodie gift ideas to a whole new level, why not try some Christmas cakepops? If only my nieces and nephews were in the country - I could be the best Auntie in the whole universe! I bought myself the Cakepops book by Bakerella not too long ago, and with the festive season coming up these oh-so-fancy but doable candy coated cake lollipops are on must-try "baking" list. If you are trying these for yourself or experimenting with something new and creative, I would love to read your comments/posts.

Six for Saturday (or Sunday)

2011-12-10T08:10:00.001+11:00

Hello blog friends! It is Saturday morning here in Australia, and it is time for another weekend collection of links and discoveries (see last week's post here). This week, we have you all wrapped up with DIY gifty goodness. Here are some fabulous fun and creative ideas for your weekend:

Lump of coal, anyone? Recipe at eighteen25
Whip up a batch of yummy cookie dough mix (recipe ideas here), place it in glass jars, wrap with a ribbon and a pretty little recipe card for the lucky recipient to bake their own tasty treats. This is a great gift alone or combine with some baking utensils, a bowl or a cookie sheet.
The same tasty gift idea can be used by baking something sweet instead (see the BHG cookie recipe collection here).
Upcycle a pretty picture frame into a stylish noticeboard with Indie Pretty Projects how-to.
Prefer pictures in your frames instead? Here is my previous post on free photo editing software.
A gorgeous handmade wreath makes a great present, and who better than DIY maven Martha Stewart to show you how? Check out her Christmas workshop and find a how-to for your favourite wreath.
Finally if you have someone on the "naughty" list, nothing beats a lump of coal! This recipe from the girls at eighteen25 will show you that even a lump of coal can still make a pretty sweet present!

Have a great weekend! PS - If you have any fabulous festive ideas to share, then I would love to hear from you. Add a comment below, post on the CU facebook page, or send me an email for a guest feature here on the blog.

A Fab littlewrapbag!

2011-12-07T17:49:00.003+11:00

I recently won something fabulous on the Chantal Vincent Art blog - a great littlewrapbag. A what you say? Here is the definition from littlewrapbag on Facebook:

littlewrapbag™ n. 1. A fun and practical, fashion version of a tradie’s toolbelt. 2. Carries your useful small items in an easy and accessible manner at home, work or just out. 3. Great for the kids at a café, shopping, in the car or visiting friends.

Here is a peak at my new iPad sleeve and chica purse. They are beautifully well-made and I love the lavender Florence fabric. Try not to be too jealous! :) You can always hint around to Santa that these would be a great pressie (all the better if a new iPad was tucked inside...hehe...) or treat yourself to a little on-line shopping at http://www.littlewrapbag.com/ Thanks so much! I love them and amd very lucky to have been drawn as the winner. Yipee!

The A-Z of Me

2011-12-04T08:02:00.000+11:00

Good morning, blog friends! In yesterday's Six for Saturday (or Sunday) post, I encouraged you to take some time to reflect and recharge your online presence, pointing you towards a guest post by Lakshmi (Studio Lakshmi) on the Epheriell Designs blog. A recharge has been on my to-do list along with some site makeovers and adjustments - time (as always) sees me putting it off into the future. For now, here is a fun little A-Z about me for any of you to whom I have yet to be "introduced". Some are serious and other are downright silly. :) I would love for you to use this on your own blogs (comment so I can visit and "meet" you!).

A - Australia. It is where my family and I currently call home.

B - Brothers. I grew up with three (one older, two younger).

C - Canada. It is where I grew up before moving to Australia a few years ago.

D - Dan. He is my better half and sidekick in this crazy life!

E - Environment. I am a tree-hugging, nature-loving, outdoor enthusiast.

F - Facebook. What did we do without you? Visit me at on the CU Facebook Page.

G - Grandmother. My Dad's Mom is one of the most creative people that I know!

H - Holidays. With a full-time job, a part time job, and my creative sidelines, I could use one!

I - Ideas. I am full of them, but getting the time and energy to act on them is sometimes hard.

J - Jewellery. I make it, I can't wear it all (wel1, I could give it a try!) so I sell some. :)

K - Kitchen. I love to cook, bake and create when I can make the time!

L - Languages. I speak English, second-language French, and a wee bit of Spanish.

M - Moags and Smeet. My little jewellery business.

N - Newfoundland. It is the beautiful, natural, eastern-most part of Canada. Its where I grew up.

O - Oliver. Our "furbaby" dalmatian and contender for the world's most loved pup!

P - Photography. It is my passion in life - you can see some of my pictures here.

Q - Quick. I used to be a distance runner, now I only run for fun and exercise with Oli.

R - RSPCA. Creativity Unmasked current charity of choice.

S - Snakes, sharks and spiders. S may just be the letter of the worst parts of life in Australia. ;)

T - Tiger. Our "furbaby" mixed-breed rescue cat. This world traveler came with me from Canada.

U - University. I have an engineering degree and currently work in engineering management.

V - Vegetarian. We aren't quite there yet, but we are working on it!

W - World Traveler. I love to explore new sights, new cultures and discover the globe.

X - XOXO. :) It is the best that I can come up with for this letter - see Y for why! :)

Y - You. I blog because I love this interaction with you - the handmade/blogging community.

Z - Errr Zebra? Yes, I saw them in the wild while visiting Kenya in my younger years.

Interested in more? Check out my Courage to Fly blog post on What I love and Why

Six for Saturday (or Sunday)

2011-12-03T07:38:00.000+11:00

Hello weekend! Well, December is here and that means it is now acceptable to decorate your home (or studio) for the festive season - yes, I am one of those people who abide by the 1 December rule. If you are not too tired from decorating and baking in preparation for the silly season, here are some fabulous fun and creative ideas for your weekend:

Desktop calendar download from Geninne's Art Blog

Curl up with the latest free edition of an online magazine like tickle the imagination or My Little Jedi - perfect, not matter whether you are reading on a summer lounge or in a late autumn chair by the fireplace. :)
Hit the craft table - by yourself, with friends or with the kiddies. The girls at eighteen25 have put together a summary of previous Christmas project posts that is sure to include something you want to try.
Do a little festive window shopping and flatter a fellow-creative in the process by creating an Etsy Treasury. Need a little inspiration? Here is my latest Treasury Silver Bells.
This desktop calendar download from Geninne's Art Blog is perfect for counting down to Christmas. This is also one of the most beautiful blogs on the net, so be sure to explore a little while you are there!
Take some time to reflect and recharge your online presence - something that I know is on my to-do list along with some site makeovers. Not sure where to start? The lovely Lakshmi of Studio Lakshmi offered up some great advice on being yourself online via this guest post on the Epheriell Designs blog.
Print yourself into the holiday season with this printable round-up from 74 Lime Lane.

Getting into the Holiday Spirit

2011-12-02T17:36:00.001+11:00

Silver Bells - Etsy Treasury

Now that Christmas is less than a month away, it is time to amp up the holiday spirit. Check out my latest Etsy treasury: Silver Bells (one of my favourite carols).

How do you inspire your Christmas creativity? I am a carol player - it always feels just a little bit more festive when the holiday tunes are playing. :)

PS - If you have any fabulous festive ideas to share - be they great tutorials, favourite recipes, family traditions, holiday shopping ideas, you name it - I would love to hear from you. Add a comment, post on the CU facebook page, or send me an email for a guest feature here on the blog. I would love a few holiday blog guests.:)

Hello Summer!

2011-12-01T19:55:00.001+11:00

Sunshine, barbeques, lawn chairs, holidays, ice cream, flipflops, sun hats, swimming pools...oh yes, the season is here! Today is the first day of summer in the so-called sun-burned country of Australia. Slip on some sunscreen, slap on a hat, and slide into the season with me - whether real or a virtual escape from the chilly north - as we count down to Christmas. ~Laura

From Lauren Alexander on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LaurenAlexander

Last Day of Movember

2011-11-30T18:55:00.000+11:00

Oh yes...the Movember Mos are almost history - at least for another year. I can't say I will be sad to see them go, but the cause is well worth a contribution. Learn more or donate here on the movember website.

M is for Monday

2011-11-28T19:39:00.000+11:00

eakdesign on Etsy

Six for Saturday (or Sunday)

2011-11-26T10:23:00.000+11:00

Oh it is horribly wet today. :( It has rained almost without pause since last Sunday afternoon and the whole neighbourhood is one giant soggy puddled mess. Hope fully it will clear as this afternoon we are heading to an outdoor (hopefully!) wedding and I know that some of you are off to the weekend markets. If not, then curl up somewhere warm and dry with this week's fun finds (catch last week's here if you missed it).

SweetSimplicitee on Etsy
Christmas is just one month away. A gorgeous card like the one shown from SweetSimplicitee is sure to inspire festive thoughts to send to friends and family.
Chocolate and peanut butter were made for each other! Try this buckeye recipe from (Indie) Pretty Projects. It looks simple enough for the kids to help or for a cooking newbie to give it a try.
While you are indulging, perhaps this Spanish Coffee recipe from For the Love of Cooking will tempt you.
Win yourself a perfect little clutch for the holidays in this Papucei giveaway at Epheriell.
Have you ever thought about crocheting your own rug? This post from ecelctic me is sure to inspire.
Freshen up your business cards by taking advantage of the Cyber MOOday 30% off discount at MOO.

Give Thanks

2011-11-24T20:56:00.001+11:00

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends! I am thankful for each and every one of you, near and far. have a wonderful, grateful, thankful day. ~ Laura

jessicaNdesigns on Etsy

Eco Conscious Gift Wrapping

2011-11-23T18:44:00.000+11:00

The silly season is fast approaching and there are some great ways to green up your Christmas Tree - or at least what is underneath it! I don’t know about you, but I just love (both giving and receiving) a beautifully wrapped present. The thought that goes into an artfully wrapped present or package can speak volumes about the giver and the importance with which the hold the receiver. Sadly, after the glitzy paper has been ripped apart, the ribbons undone, and the gift opened, only trash remains. While our dog and cat are big fans of paper shredding, the inevitable outcome is the bin: recycling if it is suitable and the trash if it is not.

SparkleandFlourish on Etsy

Here are some of my ideas for more eco-conscious wrapping, and I would love to hear yours!

My favourite wrapper for a baby present has to be a baby blanket. They are just as cute as wrapping paper, far more usable, and receiving blankets are VERY affordable. I must admit that I will usually default to a ribbon tie, but diaper pins would also do the trick! Bigger kids LOVE ripping up wrapping paper (pick one that can be recycled), but a funky pair of shoelaces are a great substitute for ribbon. Reusable gift boxes, bags and baskets in all sizes are all great options. A fabulous treasure box that can be reused is always a great choice.

Pizza Party!

2011-11-22T19:00:00.000+11:00

From a 35C weekend to a wet and rainy 18C Tuesday. *sigh* I have the icky bleuchy rainy day blues. So, a wine and pizza party night it is - yippee! Although I have cheated a little and bought a pre-made crust - sorry foodies. My question for you all is what is your FAVOURITE pizza topping? I am on a veggie kick at present, and I love the zing that great olives bring to my pizza. :)

Prefer to be a perfect pizza chef? The crispiest crust sounds pretty tempting in this family recipe by KiwisAwake on Etsy!

Crafting for Good: Pillowcases for Oncology Kids

2011-11-20T09:17:00.002+11:00

Not so long ago, I spotted a post on the Pretty Little Tweets Facebook Page about creating pillows cases to donate to child oncology (cancer) patients. Touch by the thought of how something so simple could be so helpful - think about how much we all enjoy snuggling, spooning, crying and snoozing with our favourite pillow - I got in touch with the organiser via email to share the story with you in the hopes that some of my creative friends will be similarly moved to help Brittany and her supporters in the quest to bring comfort to current child cancer patients while science works on the long term cure.

Where did the idea for Pillowcases for Oncology Kids come from?
Set up by 15 year old Brittany, we create and donate pillowcases to oncology kids in hospitals around Australia. Brittany was 6 months old when she was diagnosed with a rare GERM CELL tumour. She had treatment for 3 years and was given a 0.01% survival rate. She is now a gorgeous 15 year old who still has a long way to go, but has decided to help put a smile on someone else’s face by creating PILLOWCASES FOR ONCOLOGY KIDS. Brittany used to have a particular pillow/pillowcase that she took to hospital all the time she was receiving treatment. Hers was “navy blue with tiny red cherries on it”. She knows how hard it is and that sometimes you have a long road to travel. She also hopes that, some day, no one will have to go through what she has.

What is Pillowcases for Oncology Kids?
What started out as a small pillowcase drive to collect/create handmade pillowcases that she could donate to oncology kids in the hospital, (she was able to donate approximately 120 pillowcases to Westmead just after her 15th birthday in September 2011) has now escalated to something she wishes to continue 365 days a year and donate pillowcases not only to the Westmead Children's Hospital, where she received and continues to receive her treatment, but to hospitals all around Australia.

How can people donate or help?
If you are able to sew or would like to donate some fabric, then why not get your creative side happening and create a pillowcase for boys and girls, young and old who are in hospital receiving treatment. Happy sewing and we look forward to seeing some unique pillowcases. You too can be a part of this great cause, simply head to our face book page or email us at pillowcasesoncologykids@yahoo.com.au Alternatively, you can get involved by bidding in the Christmas Auction on the Pillowcases for Oncology kids Facebook page. Don't delay as the auction starts TODAY (9am on 20 Nov 11 to 9am on 25 Nov 11). HAPPY BIDDING :)

A little post-script from Laura: With Christmas just around the corner, it is the perfect time for us all to be thinking, giving and living charitably. I hope that Brittany's small idea for good growing into something far greater inspires you to help her cause or another close to your heart. We all have different capacities to give. Every little bit counts in accumulation to the greater good, whether it is donating your time, money, creations or even simply the power of positive thought to those in need.

Six for Saturday (or Sunday)

2011-11-19T10:49:00.001+11:00

My travels have paused the usual Six for Saturday (or Sunday) posts for a couple of weeks, but they are now back in swing. Here are some fun and creative ideas for your weekend:

Create an absolutely awesome owl tag with is pictorial DIY from My Owl Barn.
Say hello to fun friend of the Creativity Unmasked blog, Studio Lakshmi, in this great feature at Oh My! Handmade Goodness - I love the creative action shots in this post!
Celebrating American Thanksgiving or perhaps simply hosting a fall-themed bash? Never fear - Martha Stewart has heaps of fabulous creative ideas and inspirations to help make it picture perfect.
Want to jazz up your blog? FTLOB has a great tutorial on adding a signature to your posts in Blogger.
Enjoy some fabulous creativity and colour with Chrissy Foreman C. I love the shades in the work shared in this latest post.
Channel your inner child (or get the kiddies to help!) with some good old fashioned salt dough in a very grown up starfish garland. This would be fantastic for a summer beach-style party or on the Christmas tree.

Love it? Create your own using this great little pictorial DIY guide from My Owl Barn.

A Kangaroo Christmas

2011-11-17T18:04:00.000+11:00

I recently won this fabulously fun kangaroo fabric from CraftyRie (yipee for fun in the mail!). I have been opening my catch-up mail after my time away (finished yesterday - whew!) and it has me thinking about so many things for the holidays - charitable giving, all of the shopping I have yet to do, writing our Christmas letters, crafting, baking, cleaning...sigh. I struggle a little to get in the holiday mood here in Australia after so many years of postcard white Christmases in Canada and now having a green (brown?) Christmas here so far from friends and family.

So my friends, I was wondering if you have any fabulous festive ideas to share - be they great tutorials, favourite recipes, family traditions, holiday shopping ideas, you name it. Add a comment, post on the CU facebook page, or send me an email for a guest feature here on the blog. I would love to share the festive spirit and would really enjoy some guests. Grab a cup of cheer and share. :)

A Purrfect Reason for a Treat!

2011-11-16T18:46:00.001+11:00

A little different from my usual posts here, this one is actually about me and my handmade exploits. I know. Shock and awe. :) Don't worry...it is for a purrrfectly good reason!

Sadly, Christmas is a busy time of year with people failing to make the realisation that pets are forever when buying a furry friend for under the tree. Alas, I can't be a super rescuer of all creatures, great and small, but I can donate. With the encouragement of Oli and Tig (my lovely furbabies pictured above), in keeping with the spirit of the season, that 100% of all sales at Moags and Smeet now through to the end of the year will be given to the RSPCA in January to help with their holiday intake. Yep, 100% of every single sale (excluding the shipping). It is just a little bit of goodness in the spirit of giving for a fantastic cause.

Head to Moags and Smeet on Etsy to see what is in store.

Where in the World?

2011-11-14T17:54:00.000+11:00

I have been traveling again so here is another "Guess Where" photo share. Unfortunately, this was a business trip for my day job so there wasn't a great deal of time for tourist fun and I didn't have my "big cameras" with me, but I still managed to sneak in a few hours in the local area. Any guesses? I tried to choose an easy picture this time around. :)

Pressing Pause

2011-11-02T20:17:00.000+11:00

By goshandgolly on Etsy

Hey there, blog friends! I will be floating out of the office for a few days, but I look forward to seeing your latest posts, tweets, and updates when I return. I can't wait to see what you create. :)

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T18:33:00.000+11:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Etsy Circles

2011-10-30T15:53:00.001+11:00

Have you taken the recently added Etsy circle networking system on-board? I use the new activity feed on Etsy sort of like a facebook-style newsfeed of things to discover when I feel like cruising through the handmade/indie world of creativity. I rather enjoy perusing through favourites, treasuries and listings from my growing little network of creatives, often stumbling across lovely little surprises like this soft pink treasury - gorgeous! Not sure where to start? Here is the Etsy help link on using your circle. One you get up and running, be sure to say hello - I am always happy to grow into new circles. :)

Visit the Peak-a-Boo Pink treasury by Louise De Masi (Splodge Podge)

Six for Saturday (or Sunday)

2011-10-29T17:51:00.000+11:00

DIY Chalkboard Winebottles from Desperate Craftwives

Have a wine and gossip night with the girls and then upcycle the bottles with this fab little DIY chalkboard wine bottle tutorial from Desperate Craftwives.
Celebrating Halloween? channel your inner Martha Stewart with these pumpkin carving templates.
While you are in a spooky mood, why not create some JibJab silliness?
Create your own chocolate fix with the BHG chocolate recipe collection...drool!
Its not too late to discover someone or something new in the Blogtoberfest blog list.
Check out the up and coming blog My Creative Brightside. In addition to having the honour of Creativity Unmasked being on the sponsor wall after a recent giveaway, there is plenty to loveliness to discover.

If you missed last week's post, you can catch up here. Have a great weekend!

Poss and Wom Pressies

2011-10-28T15:13:00.000+11:00

Woohoo! I was so glad to discover while (finally) starting to get my Christmas presents ready for the post that I had a few super-cute Poss and Wom Christmas tags left over from last-years handmade holiday shopping. Yipee! These are the cutest, and are now tagging my presents for shipping to my niece and nephews in Canada for a little bit of special down under holiday cheer across the distance. If you haven't already discovered Poss and Wom, check them out for yourself on the Poss and Wom website.

Remind You of Anything?

2011-10-27T17:55:00.001+11:00

Does your studio or craft room look a little too much like this fun print by DreamCatchingStudio on Etsy? I would love to hear your artsy crafty organisation hints and tips (or your messy confessions!).

Have You Written Your Wish List?

2011-10-26T20:03:00.000+11:00

There are only two (eek!) months left until Christmas. Have you written your letter to Santa? You holiday wishlist? Planned your parties? Done the elves' shopping? Started your baking? Posted our parcels? Hands up if you are as behind on your holiday prep as I am!

PetitePaperie on Etsy

Rainy Days and Furry Friends

2011-10-25T18:49:00.001+11:00

This super-cute little print by britsketch aka Art by Brittney Lee on Etsy looks a lot like Oli and I today in rainy spring Sydney! 17C and pouring rain is tough change from yesterday's 35C sunshine, but at least it gives me a great excuse for sharing such animal-love cuteness. :)

What is your favourite way to spend a rainy day? Splashing in puddles? Creating in your studio? In your PJs with a good book? Cruising your favourite blogs with a big bowl latte?

Have terrific Tuesday, blog friends! If you are curled up against the weather, try checking out some of the blogtoberfest blogs or entering a few of the participant giveaways. Have fun!

Yes, Please

2011-10-24T20:01:00.000+11:00

Print by PRINTforLOVEofWOOD on Etsy

All Blacks (and Whites)

2011-10-23T10:05:00.001+11:00

Escaping World Cup fever is difficult so I have decided to channel that for good instead of evil. Here is a little World Cup inspired collection - converted to "All Blacks" and white of course! ;)

Clockwise from upper left: Rugby Drawing by PerfectCursive on Etsy, Fern Picture by ZahnerPhoto on Etsy, World Cup Posters by SamOssie on Etsy, Fern Fine Art Photo by LauraTrager on Etsy, Fern Bracelet by PurseonalStyle on Etsy.

Six for Saturday (or Sunday!)

2011-10-22T10:07:00.000+11:00

Hello weekend! Take some time this weekend to relax and create something FABULOUS. Here are some links, likes, discoveries and ideas and spark your creative imagination.

FINE DAY PRESS on Etsy

Temperatures are staring to climb here in the land down under, so why not make home-made icecream or a frozen dessert this weekend? There are tons of great recipes on-line. I even found a blog devoted to nothing but scoopalicious goodness!
Prefer to bake? Get your apron on and join in the cupcake recipe trials at Cupcake City.
Carve the perfect pumpkin with these fabulous free pumpkin stencils from BHG.
The girls at eighteen25 served up this great little halloween treat post and there are heaps of past halloweeen how-tos as well.
Give your shop or website a boost with these ideas for advertising on a low (or no) budget from Handmadeology.
The holiday silly season is rapidly approaching, so make sure your website, shop and listings are looking their festive best by freshening up your images. Having trouble with your images? Try this post.

If you missed last week's post, you can read it here. A special thanks to Julie of Maxies Knitwear, winner of the Giftbox Giveway, for the lovely thank you post to the artisans behind the giveway. Have a wonderful weekend!

Summer Sunshine Shares

2011-10-21T15:07:00.001+11:00

It is a beautiful spring day here in Sydney - bright-blue skies, summery sunshine, and a toasty 30C. Please don't be too jealous. ;) What ever your weather, here are some summery sunshine-yellow shares to brighten your day.

Clockwise from upper left: skirt by CottonClothing on Etsy, ice cream cream print by JensMark on Etsy, fabric cards by GeorgicaDesigns on Etsy, necklace by Hael81 on Etsy, beach towel print by CarlChristensen on Etsy, polka-dot bikini ornament by SewFragrant on Etsy, and eye chart print by CJPrints on Etsy.

Doggie S"Paw"

2011-10-20T19:02:00.003+11:00

Come on, lady! Look at these paws! Take me to the s"paw" for some pampered pooch treatment!

Oli, the pampered pooch, has been enjoying some s"paw" care with Paw Balm, by okoii. His skin and immune system in general just haven't been the same since his encounter with a red-bellied black snake a wee while back - thank goodness for emergency vets. Now that the weather is getting warm and dry, pavement is heating up, and bindis are everywhere in the park, its balm time!

Paw Balm is supposed to protect his tender tootsies from tough conditions - like a nourishing moisturiser would for our hands or feet. It is made with camellia oil, jojoba oil and avocado oil - but it doesn't feel greasy at all when I massage it into the pampered pooch's paws. :) I think that when the weather really heats up, I will try it out on his belly and armpits (errr...do dogs have armpits?) as one of his post-bite afflictions is extra sensitive skin during the summer months. Need some pampering? The okoii product line is handmade right here in Australia - perfect for pampered pooches and persons. :)

Paw Balm - rated four paws up! :)

Spook-tacular Halloween Ideas

2011-10-19T19:41:00.000+11:00

Better Homes and Gardens Halloween

I had a little pang of home-sickness today, as I opened my new BHG email filled with Halloween goodies. Halloween isn't really "a thing" here in Australia, but it was one of my favourite days growing up. Chilly autumn days, an overly-prankster Dad kitting out the yard to scare the kiddies, a domestic goddess mom prepping some scarily delicious treats. Ahhh bliss. It wouldn't be so wrong if I dress up the fur kids and made some spooky treats, would it? :)

Find a whole pumpkin patch full of spooktacular ideas and goulishly good recipes at the Better Homes and Gardens Halloween holiday page.

PS - If you do decide to get creepily creative, come on over and share a picture or a link on the Creativity Unmasked Facebook page for my vicarious celebration. :) I promise to be awestruck by your awesomeness.

Creative DIY

2011-10-18T18:14:00.001+11:00

If you have been cruising through the Blogtoberfest participants, then you have surely found CurlyPops and perhaps even drooled over some of the goodies in her posts. If the "Go Granny" granny square inspired fabric caught your eye (hello cushions!) then this post at Epheriell will be sure to spark your creativity.

Learn how to make a "Go Granny" bunting in this nifty tutorial. The best part for sewing numpties (like me) is that you can cheat and make it without (woohoo!) sewing (yeahhh!!!).

PS - The Curlypops blog is also home to the gigantic blogtoberfest giveaway list.

Food for Creative Thought

2011-10-17T19:26:00.000+11:00

Have you ever wondered whether being connected to the great big world on the big bad internet is fostering your creativity or dampening it? Here is some fabulous food for thought and a sage assessment with (of course) a little bit of creativity. What do you think? Is our increasing level of connectivity good or bad?

Giftbox Giveaway Winner!

2011-10-16T13:53:00.004+11:00

It is time to draw the Giftbox Giveaway here at Creativity Unmasked! My trusty assistant oversaw the draw. Oli did not pick a piece paper, sadly, but there was some quality sniffing! At least no one's entry was eaten. :) Congratulations to JulieandMax! I will contact touch via email for your postal details.

JulieandMax will receive a giftbox including all of the following goodies:

A funky multi-coloured evil-eye glass beaded bracelet from SariBlue.
A handcrafted olive-green shell and black agate necklace from Moags and Smeet.
A set of floral art photography notecards from Laura Sheppard Photography, along with a CD to help you improve your own photography.
A sample of green tea toner and fabulous full-sized rice bran soap from okoii Natural Skin Care.

Thanks to all of the shops who participated and the fabulous readers who entered. :) Stay tuned for more great stuff here at Creativity Unmasked. If you are a seller and you would like to get in on a hosted giveaway (on your own or in a group giftbox), please email me.

Six for Saturday (or Sunday!)

2011-10-15T08:30:00.002+11:00

Vanilla & Lace Camera Purse Tutorial

Download this awesome printables pack from kiki creates for a spooktacular Halloween.
If you, like me, have heaps of fabulous jewellery, why not show it off? Indie pretty projects shows you how to upcycle a photo frame into a fabulous display for your bling. :)
Create an Etsy treasury and surprise sixteen shop owners with the honour. Looking for a little inspiration? Here is a link to my latest treasury.
Enter to win a picture-perfect tea party at Little Sooti.
If you have moved to Australia, the editor of Tickle the Imagination is looking for folks to feature and would love for you to email a photo and paragraph about Christmas in your home country.
Do you love carrying your camera but not your camera bag? This tutorial from Vanilla & Lace shows you how to convert a purse to a basic camera carry-bag (seen at Epheriell and LSP).

If you missed last week's post, with was all about the many great blogs participating in Blogtoberfest (way more than just six to discover!),you can read it here. Other fun right here at Creativity Unmasked:

The Creativity Unmasked Giftbox Giveaway will be drawn TOMORROW so don't miss out on your chance to enter. This giftbox includes goodies from SariBlue, Moags and Smeet, Laura Sheppard Photography,and okoii Natural Skin Care. Its a biggie!
Join in the linky and put yourself or a shop you love on Santa's Shopping list for pre-Christmas speacila posts and shares.

Going Global

2011-10-14T18:22:00.001+11:00

Visit the Going Global treasury on Etsy to see all the great finds!

Happy Friday, my creative friends. I am in the mood for a treasury, and today I am Going Global. It is a whole world of creativity! Have you created any treasury lists lately? Share a link in the comments and I will visit your discoveries. :)

PS - The Giftbox Giveaway will be drawn on Sunday, be sure to enter!

Oil and Water

2011-10-13T19:49:00.002+11:00

:( The beaches of the Bay of Plenty are absolutely beautiful - as is this print by Poppy and Pinecone. The area is home to my partner's family and is, unfortunately, currently battling against an oil spill due to a large cargo vessel beached on a reef entering the port. We will be hoping for the best, and my tree-hugging self looks forward to snuggling with the pahutakawas again soon.

PoppyandPinecone on Etsy

Mid-Week Motivation

2011-10-12T18:55:00.003+11:00

10cameliaway on Etsy

Hello everyone! Today's blog post is just a wee-little share filled with a great big message - all of the good bits are in the linked post and this is just a conduit pointing you towards it. :) After all, Creativity Unmasked exists to share!

Do you create? Motivate and inspire yourself to bigger and better things with this blog post by Chase Jarvis on 10 Things Every Creative Person (That’s YOU) Must Learn.

Rolling out the Red Carpet - Ten Ideas for Increasing Traffic

2011-10-11T18:48:00.002+11:00

Whether you are just starting out, trying to boost your traffic and sales for the holiday season, or planning your new-years business strategy, expanding your shop or website traffic doesn't need to cost a bundle. You can build traffic with little or no budget at all if you are willing to expend a little time and effort in the process. Here are ten DIY ways to build your business presence on a budget:

Utopia Home and Garden on Etsy

Have a brand, not just a product.
Start your own Blog on a free platform.
Create a Facebook Page and network.
Tweet up at storm on Twitter.
Have great photos of your creations.
Ask for a feature from a fellow blogger.
Feature others. Good traffic karma will follow.
Wear/use your own creations.
Learn about Search Engine Optimisation.
Try free advertising on Project Wonderful.

Go ahead - it is simpler than you think and will get better and better the more you share!

Paper Beats Rock!

2011-10-10T18:59:00.000+11:00

Got the Monday blues? There is no use kicking rocks about the start of a new work week (except for you Canadians enjoying Thanksgiving!) so a good dose of paper creativity should help. :) One of the readers at the Paper Runway Facebook page posted this and I simply had to share with you all:

264 or More for Saturday (or Sunday!)

2011-10-08T08:01:00.000+11:00

How did the usual Six for Saturday (or Sunday) morph into the massive figure of 264 or more? Blogtoberfest is here! Blogtoberfest bloggers take on the challenge to post daily during October, or at least try to - best efforts are a-ok. It also offers the opportunity to connect with new blogs, enter some cool giveaways, and have general fun here in the blogosphere. To discover the participant list (current 264 and growing) click the button for the linky list. I hope that you find some fabulous new reads!

PS - If you missed last week's list, you can catch up here.

Turn Over a New Leaf with Studio Lakshmi

2011-10-07T15:36:00.000+11:00

I am so pleased to be able to celebrate the grand opening of Studio Lakshmi with this little invitation for you to visit the new Etsy shop and premier collection.

Some of you have already had the pleasure of "meeting" the lovely Lakshmi of DoodleKreations. Like so many of us, she had been struggling to settle into her creative groove. Creating and selling wasn't bring her much happiness. Unlike most of us, however, she was brave enough to step back, consider her inspirations, and restart her art. That alone deserves a round of applause!

Her new shop has just opened on Etsy and the debut collection at Studio Lakshmi is aptly called A New Leaf. Please visit, perhaps even find a favourite or two. Lakshimi, I wish you all of the very best with your move towards a bright and colourful creative future.

Put Yourself on the Christmas Wishlist

2011-10-06T18:42:00.004+11:00

Create something special with fittobestitched on Etsy!

Christmas is coming and the elves are watching, listening and building Santa's shopping list. So, my creative friends, now is the time to blow your own trumpet, pipe up and sing your own praises, and put yourself on the Christmas Wishlist.

Creativity Unmasked will be sharing some special holiday feature posts, wishlists, collages, and a whole Santa sack of special shares leading up to the festive season.

To be featured, simply leave a comment here or on Facebook with a link (full) to an item from your shop, Facebook, blog, or website that you think would make a great Christmas gift and for whom. :) If the spirit of giving strikes your fancy, you are also welcome to add links to listing from a friend's shop or from your own favourites on your wish list / like-list.

I look forward to seeing all of your fabulous recommendations for Santa.

LINKY LIST! Add your item here:

Happy Birthday, Super Mom!

2011-10-05T18:04:00.002+11:00

Today is my mom's birthday. We don't see each other very often as my folks are still in Canada, but email, Skype and facebook are constant fixtures in our communications. My father emailed me this photo some time ago from Canada of my mother proudly sporting her very first purchased Moags and Smeet necklace.

My parents have been great supporters of all that I do. Despite having ready access to the source and a growing collection of gift jewellery (both handmade and purchased on my world travels), my mother was one of the very first customers at Moags and Smeet to show support. The gift of creativity is one of many attributes fostered by my parents, and you can read more about my Mother's Day Post. See my previous post at Moags and Smeet for the top five duties my mom could have tackled other than being mother to us four scallywags. :)

Happy birthday, Mom! If I look half as great at you (undisclosed) age then I will be a lucky lady. :) PS - Like Mom's bling? Here is the link to one of the most recent listings at Moags and Smeet on Etsy. The Embers necklace also has a great big agate focal (asymmetrical).

Happy M-uesday!

2011-10-04T19:10:00.000+11:00

Hmmm...what do you get following a long weekend, when your Monday is really a Tuesday? M-useday. Equally unpleasant - especially following the loss of an hour of blissful beauty rest due to the onset of daylight savings . Even Oli didn't want to get out of bed this morning. :) But enough unpleasantness. On to the good stuff!

Blogtoberfest is here! Blogtoberfest bloggers take on the challenge to post daily during October - or try to (no evil punishments apply). It also offers the opportunity to connect with new blogs, enter some cool giveaways, andhave general fun here in the blogosphere. Want to join? Click here.

In other goodness, this pair of turquoise earrings from Moags and Smeet were popped into today's M-useday mail and are on their way to the lucky winner from the Creativity Unmasked Thank You Giveaway. If you are feeling lucky (M-uesday mojo?) then be sure to enter the Creativity Unmasked Giftbox Giveaway. Its a biggie!

Giftbox Giveaway

2011-10-03T12:21:00.004+11:00

It is giveaway time here at Creativity Unmasked, and today's giveaway is a biggie! Entry is open worldwide and the winner will be drawn on Sunday 16 Oct 11. The lucky winner will receive a giftbox including all of the following goodies:

A funky multi-coloured evil-eye glass beaded bracelet from SariBlue.
A handcrafted olive-green shell and black agate necklace from Moags and Smeet. If the winner is a beader, Moags will happily substitute some great beading supplies instead if the winner prefers.
A set of floral art photography notecards from Laura Sheppard Photography, along with a CD to help you improve your own photography.
A sample of green tea toner and rice bran soap from okoii Natural Skin Care from the fabulous assortment of samples that Yoko of okoii sent my way.

There are heaps of ways to enter - whether you enter once, several time or with all of the options is completely up to you. :) Here is how to get in on the action for your chance to win:

Follow Creativity Unmasked on Facebook. Be sure to say hello when you visit me on Facebook. :)
Follow SariBlue on Facebook.
Follow Laura Sheppard Photography on Facebook.
Follow Moags and Smeet on Facebook.
Follow Okoii on Twitter.
Tweet about this giveaway (be sure to use @thelauranetwork in your tweet).
Share in giveaway on your Facebook profile or page.
Blog about this giveaway.

You must leave a comment on this giveaway post for each way that you choose to enter, as the comments will be used to randomly select the winner. Good luck!

UPDATE - Congrats to JulieandMax, the lucky winners (see post here)! Thanks to all of the shops who participated and the fabulous readers who entered. :) Stay tuned for more great stuff here at Creativity Unmasked. If you are a seller and you would like to get in on a hosted giveaway (on your own or in a group giftbox), please email me.

Six for Saturday (or Sunday!)

2011-10-01T09:03:00.001+10:00

Hello weekend! This is the Labour Day long weekend in my little part of the world, so this could actually be Saturday, Sunday or Monday. Woohoo! :) If you have the chance for a little quiet time this weekend, here are some ideas, links, likes and discoveries from this week for your exploration and inspiration:

Head to 74 Lime Lane for an awesome little collection of links to a whole bunch of free printables to download, and while you are there, get your copy of the 74 Lime Tree Lane October calendar download.
Learn to make a yarn wreath with the girls from eighteen25. This one is for Halloween, but if Halloween isn't celebrated in your part of the world you could easily change the colours and embellishments to something else - I am thinking spring flowers here. :)
If you do celebrate Halloween, then download the free Halloween Calendar from kiki creates, and get great for a month of spookiness.
Drool over the creative and artsy goodness at Geninne's Art Blog - one of the most beautiful blogs I have encountered on the web to date. I am loving her new bird stamp. Gorgeous!
Are you an artsy collector? Check out this post from Indie Pretty Projects for ideas on ways to display your favourite crafty goodies with flair.
Relax with a cup of homemade chai tea with this recipe from My Creative Brightside while you enjoy the other five of your Six for Saturday (or Sunday)!

PS - If you missed out on last week's six, you can catch up here.

Download this spooky Halloween calendar over at kiki creates

Creative Introduction - Jessica of Fugu Fashion

2011-09-29T16:18:00.005+10:00

In today's Creative Introduction, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Jessica of Fugu Fashion:

Hello my name is Jessica and I have a label called Fugu Fashion. I chose this name because I am completely obsessed with the Japanese Fugu Fish. They also have a few similarities to the stuff I make: cute, eyecatching and interesting to look at!

What is your handicraft specialty?
I make bags, purses, wallets, ipod / phone cases and headscarfs from printed cotton. Prints include paisley, black and white, Japanese-patterns and bright florals. I also make cute little things like puppets and brooches from felt and handmade books from paper.

How did you first become interested in your craft? I was studying Fashion Design and realised that I really loved sewing little accessories that went with garments rather then the actual garments. So, when finished my studies, I started my own label selling things that I love to make.

What is your favourite creation to date? I love the Kiyoko Bags, they are simple and practical. They have a handy zip closure and are ideal for times when you don't want to carry around a large heavy handbag.

What or who inspires you in your craft? I am inspired by prints and patterns from different cultures and eras. I am especially fond of 60's / 70's wall papers, there is a movie called A Clockwork Orange and the wallpaper from the main character's house is so amazing. I also really like Japanese and Indian prints.

How do you promote your work? Through social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

Where can we find your work for sale? From my online shop www.fugufashion.bigcartel.com. I also go to a few markets around Newcastle, NSW.

What has been your greatest challenge to date in your craft? Trying to make enough stock for each market. As I do everything myself (cutting, making, selling, managing my website) it can get quite challenging.

Your greatest success? Getting the business to where it is at the moment.

What advice would you give a newbie on the handmade scene? Don't give up just keep going at it. I believe it takes at least 18 months of hard (mostly unpaid) work before you see any rewards or success.

Tell us something unrelated to your craft but interesting about you as an individual. I love Spongebob Squarepants! I collect anything that is related to him clothes, figurines, plates, cups, stickers and bags... you name it I most probably have it.

Create!

2011-09-28T19:18:00.002+10:00

Oooh. :) I am in Etsy LOVE with this print by PoodlePoddles on Etsy. Go ahead - create!

PoodlePoddles on Etsy

And Out of The Hat - The Winner!

2011-09-27T19:16:00.000+10:00

LABELSTONE on Etsy

Ok...so its not magic, but its still fun! Today, with the help of my lovely canine assistant Oliver, the winning comment was chosen from the cut-up comments from the Creativity Unmasked Thank You Giveaway. Yes, we decided to go "old school" (ah yes...paper, how rarely I see you!) and actually draw for the prize!

Congratulations to Jasmine1485 - today's lucky winner. I will contact you for mailing details. If it wasn't your lucky day, never fear, the next giveaway starts on Monday 3 Oct 11 and it is our first ever Giftbox Giveaway. Just because I am an extra nice sort of gal, everyone who entered the thank You Giveaway will already have one entry in the Giftbox Giveaway drawn. Stay tuned for details and your chance get multiple entries. Woohoo! :)

Are you Feeling Lucky?

2011-09-26T19:37:00.000+10:00

Tomorrow one lucky reader will be picked from the Thank You Giveaway comments and sent a pair of custom-made earrings in their personal favourite colour as my little way of saying thanks for joining in the sharing here at Creativity Unmasked.

To enter the Thank You Giveaway , simply head to the giveaway post, add a comment with your favourite colour, and you are in the running for random selection.

A Purrfect Portrait

2011-09-25T06:32:00.000+10:00

I recently bought a custom family portrait from Susan Faye of myself, Dan and the furkids, Oli and Tig. Take a peak here. Aren't we absolutely purrfect? Susan celebrated the arrival of autumn in the northern hemisphere with a special post about the Australian spring featuring little old me and our fur-family portrait. Check it out to learn more about our blended family. :)

Susan's specialty is creating whimsical illustration inspired by Mother Nature, which she then uses in prints, handcrafted gifts, and jewelry for her Etsy shop. I was lucky enough to spy her blog post about custom portrait availability in time to get our family painted, as Susan now has a full slate of portrait clients through to the end of the year. Never fear, however, as her Etsy shop is filled with ready-made cuteness.

Susan has been a previous Creative Introduction interview guest here at Creativity Unmasked - check out the interview post for more fun facts from Susan and her creative exploits. She also blogs 365 Cat Ladies and Friends, and you can connect with her (or her feline assistants) on Facebook and ever tweet (if she doesn't get too hungry) with Buttonwillow the cat on Twitter.

Six for Saturday (or Sunday!)

2011-09-24T12:03:00.004+10:00

Hello weekend! If you have the chance for a little quiet time this weekend, here are some ideas, links, likes and discoveries from this week for your exploration and inspiration:

Print by stephaniecorfee on Etsy

Head to the Creative Collective and check out the fun shares in this month's For the Boys project. Try the DIY play dough recipe for some weekend fun with the wee ones (or the grown-ups!).
Make your self some new business cards at moo and take advantage of their moo-velous 25% off birthday sale.
Try your luck and enter some great blog giveaways. Have you entered the current Creativity Unmasked giveaway?
Embrace autumn with an Apple Cider Crumb Cake. Yum!
Create your own fabulous Etsy treasury, and bring a smile to the featured artists and sellers.

Write your litter to Santa. :) Mail takes a long time to get to the North Pole, especially all the way from here in Australia!

As a special bonus on this week's list, northern friends in denial of the arrival of autumn yesterday can read about the Australian spring as well as see a sneak peak at our fur-family portrait in this post by Susan Faye. Stay tuned as I will be sharing pictures of the portrait and more about Susan in tomorrow's Sunday Share.

PS - If you missed out on last week's six, you can catch up here.

You Give Me Butterflies

2011-09-23T16:19:00.000+10:00

See the full treasury HERE

Spring is in the air here in the land down under - a time for butterflies, blossoms, beauty and (of course) just a hint of love in the air! It was a gorgeous sunny 32C here in Western Sydney today - almost summery instead of spring, except for the gorgeous spring flowers and the smell of clover in the air. Don't be too jealous as we have a wet and cool weekend in the forecast.

Check out my latest Etsy Treasury "You Give Me Butterflies" for a spring-tastic sensation no matter what your current season may be. Have a great weekend!

Creative DIY

2011-09-22T18:56:00.001+10:00

Like this? Shop at Spaceships and Laserbeams for DIY party decor on Etsy

Get inspired with the Creative Endeavors edition of Etsy Finds - all about a little DIY and creative fun! Then, head off and search for some fun finds of your own. When cruising through the DIY Kids Projects link, I couldn't resist sharing these party printables from Spaceships and Laserbeams on Etsy. After all, isn't construction just another for of creation?

Don't miss out on the link to the Mad Scientist Halloween Party - perhaps I will have to bring a bit of Halloween to my life here down under. I miss the dress-up fun...and the candy... :)