What's been going on!

 As usual this is the busiest time of year in my world. Stockist ordering for Christmas always send their requests in at the same time, so it's non stop making right now!

Plate of Betty Jo goodies. 
I need to fill two more for an exciting new stockist in NSW. As I hand cut and assemble each little critter, no two will ever be the same.... Some will be wonky, but we like it that way!

 My lino Cuckoo Clocks have been popular. This pretty floral one in now living at a gorgeous shop in Rylstone "Mon Alisa".

 Map's of Australia are still my faves. This one is available at the coolest boutique in town, Pussycat Black!

 Last Sunday we had a stall at the fantastic Markit @Fed Square. I took a bunch of Gleaners Inc. goodies and a great day was had by all!!!

As it is Christmas in um,oh, about 4 weeks, I have started making wreaths again. This one is now hanging on a front door of a lovely customer from Adelaide.

This little lady art work is the size of a playing card and is for a very cool exhibition at Tinning St. Gallery called "Smash and Grab". The work is called  "Carmen from La Mana Fresh". Her hat is a brooch and her carnelion earrings are removable!

It's not been all about me these last few months. My girl Lily has been working hard to complete VCE and submit her folios. This is arguably the coolest halo in town and we are hoping it brings her divine luck as she embarks on her tertiary adventures. 

Feeling the Festive Vibe!

OK. No beating about the bush here. It's now only six weekends till Christmas. 

I have just noticed the Christmas vibe starting to hum in my retail shop Gleaners Inc. with organised customers talking about Christmas gift lists and stocking stuffers. Nothing a shop keeper loves more than a well  prepared shopper!!

I had a dig through the vaults for a bit of Christmas inspiration yesterday.

And here is the first Christmas wreath of the season. The wreath is approx 26cm wide and hangs flat.
The angel can be removed and worn as a brooch. These will be for sale in Gleaners Inc. and I will also be happy to take orders. Each wreath will be one-of-a-kind!

"A Rod for Your Neck"

This vintage Cuisenaire set won't last long as I crank up the drill and create primary school maths inspired jewellery! Cool lady teacher gifts anyone? 
Does anyone actually remember learning anything using rods? I built some kick arse towers in grade one and these days seem to connect several numbers in my brain with their corresponding rods colours. eg. When I think of ten I think of orange. Mild synethesia maybe?
"A Rod for your Neck" necklaces are available from Etsy! 

Australia, Your Standing In It!

Lately it feels like I'm knee deep in Australias.

And in news just to hand, soon you will find one of these Australias on display at the Bonnie Doon holiday house made famous in the Aussie movie "The Castle".

Am I allowed to make a very un-Australian confession? I didn't like "The Castle". I couldn't last the whole movie, in fact I think I only got through a choc top and some smiths chips before I slunk out of the cinema. I think it was the fake ocker accents that drove me away. Have you ever walked out of a movie?

I like Birds........!

 Yep, we like birds at Betty Jo Designs. These little budgies were caught having a kiss at Finders Keepers Market.

 Two swooping Swallows are off to live at Murrurundi Gallery.

In the tradition of the three flying ducks, here are three swallows for the wall. Hang them over the mantle, and while your looking at them, have a whistle and a dance to this very cute song by Californian band "Eels"!

To Market, to Market

Yes, it's time for the Spring Summer Finders Keepers Market again. Held at the gorgeous Exhibition Buildings in Carlton, it's running on the 4th and 5th October! Gleaners Inc. will be there with some super special hand made goodies along with lots of new lino creations by Betty Jo.
Like.......

Lino Memento pendants.

Rainbow Budgies

And the ever popular Australia Wall Plaques!

Rainbow Budgies

 Still loving budgies BIG time at Betty Jo Designs. Their array of colours inspired me to branch out and create some more "Who's a Pretty Boy" brooches in pastel shades. Available from my etsy shop!

As I was checking out facebook this morning, low and behold  this brilliant image appeared featuring Love from Hetty and Dave's  very cute budgie brooches and bag! 

All sorts of Awesome!

Flotsam and Jetsom

 Darebin Creek Flotsam

Merri Creek Jetsom.

Farewell Australia.....

No, my blog post is not having a dig at the election, but I honestly feel like I have said goodbye to the Australia I knew and am living in another more conservative country now. 

Back to reality in my studio, and I have been busy making lots of my "I Still Call Australia Home" wall plaques and sending them off round the country to lovely people. 

 I love the lino combinations in this Map. Every scrap has it's own piece of history attached!

 Here is Kara's on the wall in her charming Blue Mountains home. You can order your own Map of Australia from my Etsy shop 

And just to show you northerners that Melbourne can be sunny, I captured this selfie on the first lovely day of Spring. Look- bare arms!

Petite Cuckoo Clock

Bits of random niceness on my work bench, some of which ended up in a new Cuckoo Clock.

The latest Petite Lino Cuckoo Clock is available from Gleaners Inc. or my Big Cartel store.
Look at the faux woodgrain lino. Very cool!

Brows, Brooches and Birds!

I made another little Frida brooch the other day. A few people suggested she was missing her famous brows so I penciled some in for authenticity(top pic) Couldn't quite manage the mono brow, but it definitely improves her looks.

 I have been enjoying posting my collection of novelty brooches on instagram for #noveltybroochfriday. I have dozens of brooches by lots of different makers and never a day goes by that I don't wear one. Just call me the brooch Queen of Brunswick!

A lovely Gleaners Inc. stockist dropped in a box of her Mum's old doilies the other day. I swiftly chopped up the colourful flowers to adorn a new set of  flying ducks. This set is available from Gleaners Inc. or from my online store.

"I Still Call Australia Home" for Walls!

Jeepers, I have been having fun making these maps of Australia.
(They have a hook on the back so they  can be can be hung on the wall and are 28cm by 21cm)
I would be happy to custom make you one in your chosen colour scheme. I'm liking the earthy colours above....very wide brown land!
Please note: Tassie hangs from the mainland in all finished maps.....like the pierced nipple at the bottom of Australia! ( as one Facebook reader put it) 

This one is a bit busier, but still effective. The funky designs on the vintage lino do all the work for me really. I just cut it and stick it down in my slightly wonky fashion. Both these ones are sold, but orders are being taken.

Take Heart Giveaway!

To celebrate the opening of Gleaners Inc.s sixth group show "Take Heart" Betty Jo Designs is giving away a "Heart Strings" necklace. Leave a comment here to be in the running. And check them out on etsy ...all half price for a limited time!!!

Everyone is invited to the Opening this Friday night for drinks and discount shopping. The show runs through August and is part of Craft Victoria's Craft Cubed Festival!

Novelty Brooch Friday

Do you love novelty brooches and Instagram? Take a photo of you and your brooch every Friday and tag it #noveltybroochfriday to win a cute brooch every month! This month there is a Betty Jo Designs sewing machine brooch up for grabs. 

Read all about the beginnings of Betty Jo and the development of the business at Tunabaketimes  and TheFawnTimes and follow me on instagram here: http://instagram.com/missbettyjo

The Story of Smarty, Trusty and Dummy.

About a month ago my smart phone died. I didn't think I could survive with out him at Gleaners Inc.as I don't have WiFi and it kept me connected. I reverted to a *dumb* phone for several weeks while he was being repaired and proudly stated that I didn't really miss Instagram and Facebook and checking my incoming emails..........I was FIBBING!
I briefly revived my relationship with my trusty DSLR, but when Smarty came back all fixed, I dumped him. Dummy the phone was delegated to the kitchen drawer full of outdated and unloved equipment and I embraced Smarty, happy to have him in my arms again. I know Trusty the camera will always be there, but I'm happy to see the back of  Dummy. He had nothing going for him.

One of the reasons I love Instagram is it's record keeping capacity. I know the picture quality is not great, but  the convenience and immediacy of snapping and uploading means I rarely miss getting a pic of what I've been making. It's lovely to share and there is the added bonus of  looking at other cool images.It's a pretty picture love fest that I'm happy to be a part of. Fingers crossed it keeps it's upbeat vibe and niceness and the grouchy pants people of the internet world keep away!!!!

Cloudy with Showers

 I have resurrected this little fellow and to celebrate he is on sale in my etsy store for one week! This cheeky cloud will bring you sunshine on rainy day! 
 Each one is a little different... you won't be able to predict exactly how he will look.

 But tell me, when is Melbourne's weather ever predictable ???

Grab yours today and receive a $10 discount! Now where did I put my brolly???

Skip Rescue!

I stopped a crime being committed on Saturday. I rescued a bunch of stuff from a skip in my neighbourhood. All these things were headed fort the TIP! Eeeeep!

 

 Everything has found a home at my place or at Gleaners Inc. A happy ending for everyone me thinks
(especially the Nana who originally treasured these things).

Caravan of Love

 Wouldn't you just love a cute miniature 50's caravan to wear on your coat or sweater?Evoking fond memories of summers past. 
I stayed in my grandmas caravan every summer till I was a teen, and although the fond memories have remained, the not so fun have misted over. 
Traipsing to the toilet block, noisy neighbors, cramped conditions, no privacy and sun burnt shoulders. These are the things you don't really care about as a kid. 
It's a different story as a teen, but the memories of stolen kisses at the carnival and hanging out at the Lakes Entrance shops with sun bleached surfie boys are the stuff of a 14 year olds memoir!

You can get your own custom made "Summer Hols"Caravan brooch at my Esty shop right now!

Winter Warmers

Betty Jo Designs is having a Winter Warmer sale in her Etsy shop. Use the code WINTERWARMER at check out for a whopping 30% discount on everything!!!!

"Take Heart"

Hear Ye, Hear Ye, The next Gleaners Inc. exhibition in the Stairway to Nowhere Gallery will be titled "Take Heart"

We are now inviting artists and crafts people to create a piece for our group show utilizing the symbol of the heart as inspiration. 

Simple, symmetrical and easily reproduced, the Heart shape is design at it finest.The universal symbol of the Heart is probably the world’s most recognizable image. Variations on the heart shape have been used in cultural and religious contexts through the ages to represent romance, love and all things sacred. In popular culture the heart appears regularly in art, fashion, religious iconography and commercial celebrations.

This exhibition will be part of Craft Victoria's Craft Cubed  Festival. The show opens on Friday, August the 2nd. and runs through to August the 31st

Submissions are now OPEN and can be emailed to Liz  at gleanersinc@gmail.com . Register your interest and provide a brief description of the work you wish to exhibit. Accompanying images will be happily accepted.