The year (08) at a glance

At the beginning of 2008, I set some loose goals and things to look forward to (link) .
It's interesting now to look back and see how the year panned out. It's been another unpredictable and interesting year and I have learnt a lot of new things.

I started my graphic design course at Tafe, Enmore Design Centre. Which I have really enjoyed and have learnt a lot from. It has also turned me into a Mac fan, and I ended up buying a mac book pro, which I really love. Also the Mac store opened here in Sydney this year, which just added to the whole Mac experience.

(examples of tafe work)

This year I have also met a lot of new creative people, those from Tafe, friends of friends and a few fellow etsians (including discovering one of my Tafe teachers sold on etsy). Meeting so many creative people has really inspired me and made me feel more part of the creative community here in Sydney.

Then there was the big event of moving house, which really consumed our entire year. And was probably the most significant event, as we left the area I grew up in and the house we had lived in for over 15 years. It meant huge clean ups and throwing a lot of stuff out, as it would seem you build up a lot of possessions in 15 years especially when it is the early years of your life and you are growing up.
It also meant spending many weekends driving into the city looking at houses. And of course much anticipation in the hope of selling our own (we held our breathe ever time the phone rang)

(a photo I took of the view, on one house hunting trip)

(packing, ready to leave)

Well in September we finally got out, but only to rent, as we were unable to sell. It was a big move, but we are so happy where we are now. Though it has taken some adjustment from suburban life and constant long commuting, to city life and it being so easy to get everywhere. Not that I am complaining, I love it, but it is different, I got to learn the ways of Sydney buses, which are way more efficient than suburban buses.

(The day of the move)

(My new room)

Moving house also meant leaving behind my old casual job, which I had for 4 years. It was sad to leave, as my boss was lovely and I got on so well with the girls there. But after a month after moving I managed to get a new job at Spotlight (a fabric store), which has been good.

As for my business, things have been doing really well. I registered my business officially, so I have an Australian business number now. I also set up my website and got a domain name (http://tabithaemma.com) . It still needs work done on it, but it is a start.
My sales also picked up this year, I am just about averaging a sale a day now, which is great :) Especially considering I was worried I would struggle to keep up with it once i started studying.
I also got to sell my work through a market this year, and I am hoping to do a market myself in the coming year.

(Doing some fabric painting, making bird cage bag)

This year I have also discovered some new loves. After doing some photography at Tafe and also meeting a few photographers, and buying a camera, I have grown a love for photography. But not just for the photos also for vintage cameras, I have now acquired a vintage Polaroid camera and a box brownie.
Speaking of vintage, I also got a vintage typewriter this year, which I love.

(some photography fun)

(some photography fun)

(some more photography fun)

(My wonderful typewriter)

In all its been quite an eventful year, and I have quite enjoyed it. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of it.

Christmas table decorations

This year I decorated the table and made some nice biscuits and petite fours. I went for a bird theme this year, as each year we like to have a theme.

Below: the cake I made. Its bird nest inspired. A fruit cake with chocolate fondant icing and chocolate decorations.

Below: Bird shape gingerbread biscuits, almond and chocolate petite fours.

My serviette/ place holder design. Including little seed pods from the garden, which make great decorations.

ADVENT CALENDAR BLOG- DAY 24

(tabitha emma)

It's the big one today! number 24, usually the larger chocolate on an advent calendar, but in this case the large visual delight of 5 versions of the number 24. Enjoy..

(veroque)

(Matou en Peluche)

(finali)

(Cafe Baudelaire)

Thank you to all the amazing contributors.
Merry Christmas all, be good and eat lots of pudding :)

ADVENT CALENDAR BLOG- DAY 23

Today's number was illustrated by Karina of Picklehead. This is such a cute illustration. I especially love all the little characters, they are so adorable :) (please click the image to zoom in)

I have chosen to feature Karina's map envelopes, as I have a great love for paper goods. And I believe an envelope is just as if not more important than the card. In high school I used to really go to town on the envelopes I put my friends cards in, I would decorate their name of pretty with different papers. Some of my friends liked it so much they kept the envelope.

Karina has a variety of these envelopes featuring various maps from around the world. I think they are wonderful :) plus they are only $5 for 15!!

oh christmas tree (part 2)

If you cast your mind back to November, to this post. About my Christmas tree idea. Well.. here's the story and how it turned out.

You see, it all started when I had some spare bird cage decorations that I had made, and I wanted a way to display them. I remembered seeing in a shop, they used sticks/twigs to display jewelery, and I thought, hey! that could look good to hang my decorations on. But... Where would one buy a stick tree??
Then... an Ikea cataloge arrived one day, and on the front cover they had a bunch of white sticks hanging from the ceiling with Christmas baubles hanging on it. I ran about the house pointing at it to everyone, trying to convince them it was a cool idea.
Suddenly, these stick trees start popping up all over the place, it was like I had predicted a trend.
Perhaps its a common subconscious trend due to the financial crisis, we are going for an economical tree. Or maybe its environmental, rather than chopping down a poor tree, just pick up sticks off the ground. Whatever it is, its popular.

Well enough explanation, here is my tree:
I bought one twig from a gift store, the rest I made myself by painting sticks white.

ADVENT CALENDAR BLOG- DAY 22

Only 3 days to Christmas now. I went to the post office this morning and people were frantically wrapping gifts and sending them off express. Today's gorgeous advent illustration is by the lovely Sam of Matou en Peluche. She's also a local Sydney girl :) I love how she has cleverly used a goose, which happens to be the shape of a 2.


I have chosen to feature her cute little robin print. Mostly because I am addicted to birds, but also because robins are rather christmassy birds, with their adorable little red bellies.
Sam is currently running a BOGO sale on her prints. Which means if you buy one, you get another print of your choice free. So it's a great time to pick up some of her lovely charcoal and pastel illustrations.

ADVENT CALENDAR BLOG- DAY 21

Today's number has been crocheted by Katie of Green Meanies. I love the effort she has put into this, it's just amazing and so original. Green Meanies, is fairly new to etsy and they haven't made any sales yet. So please take a look.



I chose to feature her lovely wool cable scarf. A perfect winter warmer, pity its summer here in Australia. I keep hearing all this talk of snow and winter from those in the northern hemisphere, hopefully one year I can go overseas and have a white Christmas.

ADVENT CALENDAR BLOG- DAY 20

Lots of bright colours today!

Today's advent number was designed by Michelle of MaruMaru. Michelle wanted to make her advent number seem like an eye color test where it's pixelated. Pretty trippy!

I chose to feature her sweet little Vintage rocking horse charm necklace, as it reminds me of the little rocking horse decoration we had, that we used to put on the fireplace at Christmas time.
I love the old fashioned whimsy of rocking horses.


Thanks again to Michelle, for creating number 20 for the the advent calendar blog :)

ADVENT CALENDAR BLOG- DAY 19

Today's advent number was created by the lovely Scottish, Katy of Girl Industries. Katy made her number out of an old handbag that had broken. An amazing example of upcycling. Which is a really cool, growing trend.

I chose to feature these adorable lavender cat sachets. They are so adorable and made with beautiful floral Marks and Spencer cotton.



Katy also made some matching Christmas (or for any occasion) decorations from her old handbag, and is selling them in her store .


She is also having some special offers;

'In honour of featuring on your blog, I'm going to do free shipping to Australia from tomorrow to Christmas as I've never had a customer (or a blog reader) in the Southern Hemisphere yet and want to get that sorted out.
I'll also be doing a two for one deal from Boxing Day to the end of the year to clear out old stock and replace with new stock.'

So its worth a look :)

ADVENT CALENDAR BLOG- DAY 18

Today's advent number was created by Siiri. whom as I was searching through her shop and only just discovered, is a fellow Sydney girl.

I chose to feature her cute bird cage necklace, because I had no excuse not to, I just adore bird cages. 'A free birdie' is a super cute one of a kind necklace.
Thank you Siiri, for participating and creating a wonderful handmade 18.

ADVENT CALENDAR BLOG- DAY 17

Today's advent number was designed by Ruby of Hey Chica. Ruby is even selling her advent number as an aceo, if you'd like to grab a copy to keep :)

I chose to feature another of Ruby's collages. This pretty bird aceo. I do love birds, I am going to do a bird theme this Christmas. We already have lots of bird nests and cages on our stick Christmas tree and I am making a bird nest cake and bird gingerbread cookies.


Hey Chica also sells some great vintage bits like old button packs and dress patterns. Which I do love.
Thanks again Ruby for your wonderful collaged number. Stay tuned for more amazing advent numbers. And if anyone is interested in taking part in the grand finale number 24. Please contact me.

Linda Solovic

Linda creates wonderful little collages. I just love these house gift tags. The detail is just wonderful.
For more you can see her website, or to buy ; her etsy store

ADVENT CALENDAR BLOG- DAY 16

Today' s advent number was specially designed by Milly of cutiepie company
She even has a little tale behind the numeber
'i thought it would be fun to do "16" out of bday candles, as in the song and movie, "sixteen candles." (i also used 16 candles to shape the number...) '

And the featured item from cutiepie company's shop is this cute little summer treat, screen printed card.
I know its winter in Milly's end of the globe, but here in Australia, its summer, and we had an ice-cream van come up the street today playing 'green sleeves'. My mum gave my brother and I some money and we got a choc-top each.


Thanks again Milly for whipping up a wonderful 16, for the advent blog. All the numbers are filled now, so look forward to a variety of specially designed advent numbers. If anyone still wants to participate I am doing a grand finale on day 24, so if you'd like to handmake the number 24 you can email to info@tabithaemma.com and I will feature you on the day :)

i like the lights

I put up some Christmas lights on my veranda yesterday.
As everyone was heading off to bed late last night, I decided to take a photo of them with long exposure, because I love playing with long exposures. I soon got carried away, and brought the tripod out. The moon also looked incredible last night. Lots of pretty lights. :)

ADVENT CALENDAR BLOG- DAY 15

Today's featured item is this print by Justin Richel. It's called 'He sits below the salt'
I like the humor of it. It looks like he has a whole woodland caught in his hair, its quite beautiful.
Don't forget if you want to participate in my advent calendar blog, email me a handmade upcoming number and I will feature you :)