Yay & Sheesh!

Back here I wrote a little post on some good and not so good things happening in Betty Jo land. Then subsequently I noticed there is a regular "What's Hot and What's Not" thing happening over at Loobylu. This is my version:
Yay !
- Having fun making more Colour Collage greeting cards.-There is a Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs show coming up at Festival Hall in Dec. Very good news if the girls in the house can score some tickets. But if we miss out -see Sheesh!
-The summery weather is gearing us up for "The Heat", so we've got all our whinging out of the way early. See sheesh also.
- My vintage summer dresses have been getting a good airing!
- Glad to have a family membership at the local pool where we have been everyday this week (with most of the population of Northcote, Thornbury and Preston- another sheesh.)
- Contemplating BIG changes for Betty Jo which will hopefully include participating in theFinders Keepers Market next year (see sheesh about this year's market ) as well as local markets aplenty.
Sheesh!
- The Heat!
- The Stress of buying concert tickets online. ( I don't like roulette , but it's kinda the same)
- Crowded pools with warm water ( this could be from the sun, but also something else?!?)
- Unfortunately having to turn down a market stall at Finders Keepers this year due to family commitments. Big disappointment.
- Shops leaving their Christmas orders till the last minute.

Lino Royale

A selection of Betty Jo's new Collection "Lino Royale " are now available at "Pussycat Black" in Brunswick. As both brooches and pendants.
Pictured from top left: Charlotte, Victoria, Adelaide, and Margaret.
Also available: Beatrice and Elizabeth.
If you can't get to Brunswick, they are also available to order from Lino Forest's Corner Shop.
Pop over and have a look.

Mellow Yellow

A lovely customer ordered a yellow and cream necklace to go with her yellow vintage style shoes with cream trim. I'm picturing the shoes going perfectly with this bag.Coincidentally, just before I took the picture to send her, I read this sweet story by "Strawberry Lemonade" about this particular yellow Orla Kiely bag, and the serious dilemma she faced in having to choose between the yellow and the red version.
I know which Colour I would have chosen.........P.S. Do check out the dreamy Orla Kiely website!

Hoot Power!

I did a wee interview the other week, and there was one question about Owls.
I'm still waiting for them to fall totally out of fashion, but in Betty Jo land there is no indication this is happening any time soon.My first figurative Betty Jo brooch was an owl, and since then my fondness for them has grown. I must have made thousands of owls since that first rudimentary fellow, and to this day they are still the most popular item in my range. I use big round buttons for their expressive eyes. Buttons are the perfect design component for my owls. When I fossick through my button tins the owls almost create themselves!
I admit I have a lot of Owl bric-a-brac at home, but it’s all for inspiration!
Just the other week a lonely Owl tea cosy was calling to me from the op shop.He has joined my lovely crocheted collection.
And seriously, tell me you couldn't leave these two cute wind up owls sitting behind in the same oppie. They waddle!If your looking to be a bit creative in the Kitchen , try these......Night Owl Cookies

Sweet Greetings

Are you after some sweet Greeting Cards? The New Betty Jo Colour Collage Greeting cards are now available on Etsy.
There are cards in other colours as well, and they will be available to purchase in Australia for $3.50 ea or $12.00 for a pack of four. Purple, turquoise, beige, pink, tortoise shell, yellow, blue, and Multi. Mix and match! Email me if you are interested. Or look out for them at a market near you!
A sweet greeting from a lovely blogger arrived last week. It's great to hear from happy customers.
"Hello Liz,
Thought you'd like to see a couple of your old friends (Parachute and Zelda), they are happy here in Sydney and send you their love.
Eleanor and Miss Commentbox xxxx"

Beach Litter Collection.

I told myself I wouldn't shoot any more colour collages. But after a trip to Elwood beach on Tuesday, the sign was speaking to me! As I collected more beach plastic, the folks looking out from the fancy restaurant on the foreshore were probably thinking to themselves, " that girls a bit weird, but bless her for cleaning up our messy view".
So as I went on my merry way, I skirted around a huge dead rat , numerous broken bottles , rusty old cans, then finally brought my fossicking to a halt when I spotted a sharp and shiny syringe, pointing up at me from the waters edge.
Elwood is a very desirable place to live, but the beach can be pretty dumpy.
And in future when I have Nori rolls for lunch, I am going to refuse the fish soy sauces.
I must have seen over 50 washed up on the sand. As ubiquitous as the red coke bottle lid!
And thanks to "Happy Cavalier"for posting about my Colour Collages. I will be selling them as prints very soon...I promise!

Swallow Tail

After Design Files posted a pic of my Swallow Brooch, I thought I should make another.

Actually, I thought a pendant would better suit the moment. It goes nicely with my new purchase,
"Reveal Yourself", the box set retrospective from the "Blackeyed Susans".

The lovely Swallow cover art by Madeleine Stamer has been adapted into brooches and necklaces as well. How gorgeous.
I was lucky enough to see them play last Sunday at the Northcote Social Club. It was a nostalgic show for me as I've followed these guys from the beginning and even had the band play as a three piece at our Wedding in the early 90's.

The "Wedding" band,

and me enjoying them( as well as us failing miserably at the waltz! )

First Past the Post

I'm sorry to say, I don't get into the Melbourne Cup much anymore.
I can appreciate that folks enjoy going to town frocking up and having a merry old time.
I love the look of the beautiful sleek racehorses-I was pony mad as a girl(see pic. of me at pony camp) and still love to ride, but I've never fancied having a flutter on the gee gee's, and deep down I feel extremely "Anti horse racing". Similar to my feelings about animals in Circuses and other events where animals are exploited for profit.
But we won't focus on that because in Melbourne we just LOVE the Cup Day holiday!!!!!!!
And now it's time to announce the WINNER of the Betty Jo Giveaway.
Congratulations to Selina from Selina'sVintage. If you're not sure which piece to pick, I'll send you the Betty Jo catalogues so you can choose your brooch or pendant.
Thanks for all the wonderful comments about the Colour Collages.
Surprisingly, everyone had different favorites (making it very hard to decide the ones I'm going to print) but Red and Green and Orange were the popular choices.

Pretty =Happy!

Some pretty things arrived in the post yesterday.
Miss Kerri-Ann from Loopi for you found this beautiful floral lino in her old kitchen hutch and was wonderful enough to think of me. It arrived in nice workable pieces from her house on the Mornington Peninsular (one of my favorite places). Thanks a bunch.
As you can see I wasted no time making a few feathered friends.
And my lovely Vintage Tin Mini Dress earrings came all the way from this Michigan Etsy shop.
I love the summery dress shape of them, the bits of wear on the edges, and how the "hangers" are actually ear posts.
And cleverly made from Re-cycled old tins.

But the most important reason I am pretty happy is that I've made it through "Blogtoberfest " with a post every day. I found some lovely new blogs and had a lot of new visitors.
So on this last "unofficial" long weekend of October, don't forget to enter the Lino Forest Giveaway.
Now I'm off to cut up an old white sheet for my son's "Mummy" bandages............I'll see you all in November.

Custom Cuckoo Clock

This Clock was created after a request from a talented Qld. fabric designer. I told her if she wanted a surprise, not to look at the blog , but I just wonder if she will have a sneaky peek........
I would.
And do have a little sneaky peek over at Design Files. The lovely Lucy has gathered some Betty Jo tit bits and presented them in a lovely post.

Black stuff

As everyone has been reminding me lately, Halloween is in two days.
Fine, I'll just get some goodies and have them ready at the door when the hoards of kids drop by.
But now I find that the big girl (who takes the little guy out trick or treating) has a prior engagement as Lydia Deetz, and I will be roped into accompanying the miniature "Mummy" door to door.
Any suggestions for a "Scary "costume for me.
The way I feel now, I'm thinking A Deranged Zombie would not be too much of a challenge.........
Here is my final colour collage. My Ode to Halloween.

Black and/or White.

What do you think of first when you read these words?
The whiskey, the song, the magazine, cabs?
Or do you relate it to photography, visual images or film?
Maybe it's more political- race, indigenous issues, immigration?Or maybe you like to view the world in "Black and White". Clear cut, no fuss or distractions. Good is Good, Bad is Bad, and there is no in between.
I like life to be full of colour, where there is no distinction made between skin tone, age, life style, gender or class.
A great big melting pot of cultures all mixed in together to create the myriad of colours that make life so rich.
Yesterday I discovered a Berlin based lighting designer who both embraces colour and recycling. Stuart Haygarth makes the most amazing lighting from man made beach debris washed up on a stretch of Kent coastline. Below is the "Tide Chandelier"And when I saw his neat and ordered Rainbow assemblage of Beach Plastic it was a weird feeling after posting my random effort yesterday. But the world is a small place and the problem of litter is universal.

Rainbow Flotsam and Jetsam

Collected while beach combing at the grungy, less fashionable end of Williamstown Beach.

Pink Ribbon Day!

October the 26th is Pink Ribbon Day. That's Today!

I'm wearing my Pink Ribbon, Pink tights and a Pink Betty Jo necklace.
I have just got off the phone to Breastscreen Victoria and have made an appointment. I feel it's the right thing to do for me and my family. I was spurred into action after hearing these stats. on the radio this morning- 1 in 9 women will suffer varying degrees of Breast Cancer.
All too scary for words, but so close to home for many of us.Little Pink Sparrow has now gone to live with Nikki at Hudson. I will be donating the proceeds of her sale to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Burgundy stuff

For Michelle from Loving The Vintage .... Major burgundy fancier!

Not too late to Vote!

You have one week left to enter the Lino Forest GIVEAWAY! -A Betty Jo Designs brooch or pendant of your choice!
All you have to do is leave a comment (just here is fine) telling me your four favorite colour collages.
At the moment Red is in the lead , followed by Orange, Green, then Yellow.
1. Puce (Purple really) stuff, 2. Blue stuff, 3. Turquoise stuff, 4. Green stuff, 5. yellow stuff,
6. Orange stuff, 7. Red stuff, 8. Pink stuff, 9. Tortoiseshell stuff, 10. Beige stuff, 11. Silver stuff, 12. White stuff
I will leave you with some pics. from four of my favourite flickerites!1. very vintage children's novelty buttons, 2. Curtain Tie-Back Holders, 3. Hello Weekend!, 4. Presco Type Cabinet - Drawer #1 - The Buttons.

Brisbane is Hot!

If you like buttons and jewellery, it's a good time to be living in Brisbane.
Next Month the Paddington Antique Centre is holding an exhibition "Fancy! Buttons"
There will be Betty Jo Jewellery to purchase as well as other arts and crafts that utilize buttons, and of course plenty of drool worthy collectibles.This show was on last night. Unfortunately my private jet was being serviced so I couldn't make it up there. Very disappointed not to see Liana Kabel's fresh new work in an ICECREAM shop!
Deliciousness x2And the very cool Artisan now has some Betty Jo "Lino Deco"in their retail store (m) art!

Gold stuff

Shiny, happy things....but not that valuable.
And don't miss out on The Betty Jo GIVEAWAY, one more week to enter!

Super Women

There are a lot of Super Women in this town.
Generous, talented, friendly, crafty, funny, helpful girls that do nice stuff.
I had to come up with a small list of inspiring, influential people for an interview yesterday and you know what, they were all women artisans, and only one was not with us anymore (Rosalie Gascoigne).
Yesterday I had a lovely catchup with "Crafty Girl with Ruffle" and was presented with a custom made, Map 29 purse as a donation for my sons School fete on Saturday. So lovely.If you look closely Ann Marie has made the fabric with the Melways Map of the school.It will be auctioned on the day, and I'm sure will draw a great response.
So just a reminder, The Spensley St. Primary School Fete is on this Saturday 24th at 10.00.
If you're into Live music Mr. BJ's band, The Clear Spacemen are on stage at 3.30ish!
I know Ms.Curly Pops asked for the Melways Map reference, so here it is -Map44 1G
Speaking of Curly Pops and Super Women, there is a challenge going on to create your own version of Curly Pops alter ego "SuperPops".
I like a challenge, and a chance to avoid the jobs I'm meant to be doing , so last night I was thinking of dressing one of Lily's Cupie Dolls in a little SuperPops outfit....well that wasn't going to happen.
So I thought I'd create a Lino and Laminex SUPER CUPIE POPS.She has a Red Laminex headdress, cape and pumps to Give her extra SUPER CUPIE powers!
She has on her Super Cupie Pops apron with the famous motif, and attacks her evil foes with pegs ...pinching them within an inch of their lives!
She chills out with her Cupie posse when she is not fighting crime or hanging out the washing.....
I think I'm meant to post the photos at the end of the month, but oh well, no waiting for this girl!

Clear stuff

I used to pull apart chandeliers. I have a lot of chandelier skeletons in my closet........!