I’m always thankful for good news and just wanted to share this with you:

Yes, Craft Hope’s book, put together by Jade Sims, is now available for pre-order from Amazon!!! Most of you already know of Craft Hope and its purpose. The book (“Handmade Crafts for a Cause”) extends this by providing a number of projects contributed by crafters from all over the world and then matches each project with a charity/cause. The result is an inspirational resource for practical ways to share handmade love with people in need.

Jade (one of the nicest and coolest people I have met in the virtual craft community) has put a lot of effort, time, and heart in to this book. I feel very privileged to have been able to contribute a few simple projects. This includes my Ruby Dolls – which you can see happily sitting on the cover above (*girl squeal!!!*).

Pre-order here!

In the same spirit of Craft Hope, you might also want to read this excellent article on Make & Meaning: What’s Your Creative Mission?

It’s finally Friday! What a week. It’s been filled with craziness so it feels good to be excited about a few things like the book above; an upcoming interstate trip to hang out with an incredible bunch of genuinely good friends; taking up a new interest; travel possibilities next year (very excited about this!); and the Run for Kids event next Sunday, where I’ll be participating – I’m looking forward to being in the midst of that wonderful fun-run atmosphere once again :-) Any other crafters going to Run for Kids too?

Happy Friday/weekend all!

P.S. My etsy shoppe re-opens this Sunday and 3 new fawns will be available then!

Fawns are still in progress but getting closer to completion. I’ll be re-opening my etsy shoppe this Sunday and the fawns will be available for purchase then. Next week: A batch of grumpy owls on tree stumps :-)

I’m slowly working through all the blogs in my Reader (although current unread items still stands at 1000+!) and so far I have come across some real gems that I thought I’d share here:

>> A beautiful pattern by Yasmine entitled “Little Princesses”. I think this would look gorgeous as a little girl’s dress, on cushions, or used to upholster one of those kid-sized armchairs:

{image credit: A Print A Day}

>> Stunning handmade and hand-painted art dolls based on Alice in Wonderland by Cart Before the Horse (via Plush You)

{image credit: Cart Before the Horse}

>> “Garden Nest” is definitely my favorurite Amy Sol painting to date. She also provides in-progress photos, which make me just as happy as seeing the finished piece!

{image credit: Amy Sol}

>> Poketo’s new range of Paper-cut Wallets – especially this one by Jayme McGowan:

{image credit: Poketo}

>> The colourful work by Simon Wild, particularly this mixed media piece “The Sounds That Brilliant Things Make”

{image credit: Simon Wild}

>> Speaking of brilliant, I am continually floored (and once I pick myself off the floor – inspired) by the softie characters created by Jodie of Ric-Rac. It’s very hard to believe she suffers from EITTTS at all! :-)

{image credit: Ric-Rac}

>> The re-styled Shakira dress on Burdastyle. Love the colour! (But pretty sure I couldn’t pull that off myself – might opt for a darker palette and tiny bit longer too . . . that is, once I get over this fear of actually making my own clothes!)

{image credit: Burdastyle}

>> I also LOVE this Colette dress (Ceylon) that Teegs made. Doesn’t she look gorgeous! I’ve got that Colette pattern on my Must-Make List.

{image credit: Teegs}

Is it only Tuesday?! It’s already been a crazy week. I can’t wait to go for a run tonight in much cooler temps. Hello Autumn my dear friend, how wonderful of you to drop by again!!