Local Handcrafts from the Handmade Expo

These are some of the beautiful handmade goods I bought from the Handmade Expo in Ipswich last month. The expo is being held monthly up to Christmas at the Ipswich Turf Club, Bundamba and from August will include gourmet fresh foods. If you can't leave your house, check out our talanted Brisbane crafters on ETSY. Meet them in the flesh at Brisstyle markets in December -not to be missed.

The chenille bag was actually a gift for my daughter from Handmade heaven and the wheat packs are from bubbachenille.com. The kids really love their 'hotties' on these cold nights we are having! 

This gorgeous little scrap bag and tea cosie are from Wimcee who do really lovely creations - 

perfect for presents. I am collecting tea accouterments at the moment in a bid to give up tea bags forever. I am trying to make time for 'tea' instead of throwing a bag in a cup and carying it around the house between jobs!

Winter Babies

These two babies are the FIRST fruits of my dwarf Meyer Lemon. After anxiously watching them grow for the past 9 months I can't just EAT them can I? Maybe I'll make a lemon cake to stretch out the excitement.

No such angst with these beauties - so-far looking like a lifetime supply!

Where to start? Try composting

Composting seems like a good beginning. For a start its free and composting reduces greenhouse emissions by a kilo, for each kilo of green-waste not put into landfill. And did I mention  the fabulous stuff it makes for the garden?  I find worm farming very manageable. Worms seem to cope with a bit of neglect when life gets busy. Other sorts of composting need (a little) more planning if you want to get any product from it. Northey Street City Farm run regular 10 week horticultural courses that can get you feeling confident in the garden - highly recommended.

Beginnings

Our modern life seems full of guilt and pressures. Living simply -  sustainability should mean freedom from a complicated existence yet anyone who has tried to reuse -reduce in any meaningful way knows simplicity is not that simple. Nearly twelve months ago neighbours of the Kenmore District got together to support each other in the process of transition to a simpler way of living. This Blog is our diary of our journey.