f the butterfly collector

the butterfly collector

A Collection of Fashionable Finds,Jewel Box Treasures,Exotic Art and Decadent Decor! Handmade Delights, Luxurious Shopping, Wonders from the China Cabinet and Secrets from behind the Wardrobe Door, Dramatic Books and Delicious Treats!. Read on to find out more...

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Madame B's Vintage Christmas







In this week's Madame Butterfly Gallery things have gotten very pretty indeed and very Christmassy too! The countdown has began! We are featuring the fabulous Lilia Meredith who I discovered in Flickr posting beautiful photos under her alias FLEA MARKET STUDIO, everything she creates is just beautiful and take a look at her very inspired Shabby Chic Christmas Decor! some of her pretty little things are pictured above!
In the Creative Cabinet I've creted a fun project this week to make your own Studio Door Decoration and we are doing White Christmas as our Afternoon Tea Recipe.
We are also showing off some fabulous books we love and there will be more Vintage Wallpaper Packs going into the Gallery during the week too!
Last of all, there is only 4 weeks to go until Santa comes and we have some beautiful gift ideas in the Boutique . Don't forget our gift service too ... we can wrap and mail it for you!!!
See you there!

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posted by thebutterflycollector @ 10:29 AM 0 comments

Monday, December 04, 2006

Party Time!

TA DA !!! Here is our Birthday Cake extravaganza for this year!!! We had to top last years one and I had done a hot air balloon illustration for his party invitations, so the balloon cake was born! He loved it and so did everyone else! We had so much fun decorating it too! Now I have to think up something for next year!
Andrew's Birthday party was so much fun, he had a ball and got so many new things to play with that I think we really need a new and bigger house to fit them all in! We had our friend Dave, who is a photographer take some black and white photos of Drew and us to frame. They turned out really great and I especially love this one above! Even if he has got Birthday cake all over him! What a cutie pie!
We put up our Christmas tree on Friday and Andrew was so excited. It has more baubles and lights and decorations and stuff on it than actual tree! But we all loved putting it together and it is the one I had when I was little. Mum even gave me the decorations from when I was little to hang on it!


And this is the fun little project I made for this week's Creative Cabinet in Madame Butterfly!
I used lots of fun collage bits and pieces like glitter, tissue and crepe papers and buttons and some more embossed and textured Vintage wallpapers to make up this fun medallion to hang up on my studio door! Make one for your own in your favourite colours, it only took me about half an hour to whip up! I will post it to the Madame B sometime today ! See you at the next post with hopefully some more creativity to share!!!




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posted by thebutterflycollector @ 1:24 PM 4 comments

Monday, November 27, 2006

Madame B's wonderfulness this week!!!

They're finally here, the gorgeous Paper Fantasia Vintage Wallpaper packs we've created for the Madame Butterfly Gallery have been placed carefully in the boutique, all wrapped up in shiny cellophane and looking for their new homes!!!! There are five sheets in each pack and it's all beautiful! Some are textured, some are satin finished, some have fabulous patterns! Just imagine all the wonderful things you could make a do with these! I've been using them as backgrounds in Collages, wrapping paper and for backgrounds in my scrapbooks! All the pieces have been cut to A4 size and the packs are $12 each! We will have more in the next week in more different patterns and textures too !!!!Our Recipe for Afternoon Tea this week is DELICIOUS Double Choc Chip Muffins! YUMMMM!

And our Project was made from some of the Vintage Wallpaper!!! Cookie Cutter Gift Cards! They are really easy and fun to make and will look fabulous on your Christmas Presents!
Getting these out made me want to make Gingerbread Men!!! So I think they may feature as a recipe for the Afternoon Tea page sometime in the next couple of weeks!

And for an extra surprise this week we are featuring two CREATIVE TYPE Interviews!!! The first one is in the Creative Cabinet Section with one of my favorite Artists and Crafters that I discovered in Flickr! Kathleen writes the Liquid Sky Arts Blog and her site is just the most inspiring and beautiful place to visit and see her amazing jewellery, paper arts and products and gorgeous photographs! One o her creations is just beloW!!!

And we've also interviewed Jewellery Artist Alyssa Beeby in the Dressing Table Section whose beautiful necklaces we've been featuring in the last week! So click over and enjoy and have a fabulous last week of November!





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posted by thebutterflycollector @ 9:08 AM 1 comments

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

A Vintage World!


I've been in a bit of a creative slump lately with my paintings! I keep creating patterend backgrounds and then not doing anything with them !!! But this week I think I've had a breakthrough with the direction I'm heading! I've just bought myself some new beautiful books with lots of Vintage Style things to inspire me and pulled out my vintage wallpaper collection too! I'm going to make some beautiful collages for my Son's room, in a transport theme! He loves cars, buses and trains! And I'm going to use some of this fabulous wallpaper to inspire me! In fact I have so much, we've decided to make up some wonderful packs of it for sale at Madame Butterfly!!! Here's a sneak Peak! They'll be in there very soon! I'll let you know when so you can snap some up for your own fabulous creations!!!

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posted by thebutterflycollector @ 9:41 PM 2 comments

Monday, November 20, 2006

This week in Madame B's Gallery

So what's new in this week's issue of Madame Butterfly???? Well we've got very delicious Chocolate Truffles to make in the Afternoon Tea section. We've got a great little article on Beading and Jewellery making in the Creative Cabinet, with lots of inspiring ideas! Also in the Cabinet is a
new project for this week by a Guest writer ... the fabulous Maize Hutton on how to create a Freezer Paper Stencil. In the Dressing Table are some fabulous ideas on making over your wardrobe space and clearing the clutter and those clothes we've been keeping forever and know subconciously that we'll never wear again!
And our Creative Type Interview this week is with Australian Jeweller, Artist and Object maker Simone Walsh! Click over and step into her beautiful world!!! Her Sterling Silver Butterfy Wing is below! www.madamebutterflygallery.com.au

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posted by thebutterflycollector @ 9:14 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Bejewelled!!!

Today I thought I would show off my friend Alyssa's amazing necklaces. We are stocking some in the Madame Butterfly Gallery at the moment and I've made up some photo mosaics so we could show off some of the intricate details of them. I'm just so in love with the paua shell one below! Their are five in the Jewellery section of the Gallery if you want to see them all!


I also made mosaic's up of Nikkishell's fabulous craft rolls. They have 39 sewn in compartments so you can store all your craft tools like knitting needles, crochet hooks, paintbrushes and pencils. Roll them up and carry them safely wherever you go! I thought these would be a great idea for Christmas Presents. Very tempting when you own lots of crafty stuff like me!

I especially love the one below, such gorgeous fabric! I love the girls, their dresses and that bird is divine!
And last night I recieved an invite to visit the new Iggy and Lou Lou website which is amazing. The new collection s totally wonderful. The scenery is amazing, the music will make you think you've stepped in to the foest, a pirate ship or you are a damsel in distress. A lot of fun to be had over there, you must visit or I will throw you overboard! Ha HA, me hearties . One of their beautiful butterfly platter's is pictured below!

Oh yeah and I visited Emily this morning and she has been painting her walls now, have a look they are just wonderful. If I did this I think the landlord might kill us or screech with delight????






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posted by thebutterflycollector @ 3:39 PM 0 comments

Monday, November 13, 2006

Christmas Stockings and Apple Crumble !

apple crumble
nikkishell's craft roll

embellished mini canvas project!


nikkishell's christmas stockings

I've just about got this week's Madame Butterfly Gallery issue in order! There's lots of great stuff in there including a Creative Type Interview with NIKKISHELL and I get to show off the wonderful things she made for our Boutique. The most gorgeous one of a kind Christmas Stockings and some great Craft Storage Rolls! They are going in just in time for Christmas! I've written a cute little project on how to make a little Embellished canvas like the one above and we have a guest writer too, who has written a short story for the Dressing Table Section!!! We've also put in a delicious recipe for afternoon tea... Apple Crumble ... YUM!!!
Click over to see! ...

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posted by thebutterflycollector @ 2:19 PM 2 comments

Friday, November 10, 2006

fabulous new jewels





I've just recieved some fabulous new things for the Madame Butterfly Gallery's Boutique that I'm really excited about! My business partner and I have decided recently that we would love to buy a lot more handmade and hand crafted things and art for the site. So here's a sneak peek at what will be arriving in the gallery this week!
We're showcasing some fabulous handmade neckpieces by up and coming Jewellery Artist Alyssa Bailey, a few close up shot of her original work are above! She hand weaves wire and beautiful beads and pendant together to make wonderful jewels!
I'm also really excited about stocking some of Nikki-Shell's handcrafted and sewn Christmas Stockings and and craft rolls to store and carry your knitting needles, crochet hooks and other sewing and crafting essentials! She has used the most delicious fabrics and trims too! I secretly want to keep them all for myself! I am going to spend the rest of the day taking fabulous photos of them all and will place them in their spots in the shop early next week! We are also doing interviews with both girls so you can get to know more about them and their crafting!
In other news , I've been creating my littl Drew's birthday invites, I can't believe he's nearly two already, I been up to Melbourne to visit my sister and Mum. We had a fun day in the city, walked the arcades, had a nice afternoon tea and saw some very scary looking dresses on women heading out to Oaks Day Horse Racing. I stood at the window of Douglas and Hope and wished for everything ( can you believe they still don't have a website!) and I finally made my first visit to the Buttonmania store in Flinders Lane. It was gorgeous, but a lot smaller than I thought. There were some beautiful Porcelain buttons in there though and I'm going back for there big sale soon! Until Tomorrow ...

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posted by thebutterflycollector @ 2:30 PM 2 comments

Monday, November 06, 2006

Snowflakes, Tea Cups and Pretty Presents

These delicious looking cookies are a creation I've been working on for a while. They are Madame B's Muesli Cookies, they are yum and have lots of healthy stuff in them and I've published their recipe on the Afternoon Tea page this week! In fact there is lots of fabulous stuff in this week's Madame Butterfly Gallery!!!
I've written some fun projects and ideas for Gift Wrapping, Christmas Present Ideas, starting a Collection ( like for instance, TEA CUPS!!!) and showing off some of the things in our Boutique!


I've also done a great interview with self taught Assemblage and Mixed Media Artist, Chrysti, one of her gorgeous birds is below!!! She creates the most fabulous artwork and seems to produce so much! I'm jealous of her never ending energy to create and spend so much time on her work! It's eye candy with so many small, delicate and interesting pieces on each collage!

And in the Creative Cabinet this week I've written a project on how to make Ornamental Snowflakes for Christmas! my favorite on is below. I used lots of pearls and crystal beads! They are surprisingly easy and fun to make! I'm going to wrap mine as decorations around chrissy pressies for my family and friends. What will you do with yours???









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posted by thebutterflycollector @ 8:36 PM 2 comments

Thursday, November 02, 2006

stationary feats and pink galore!!!

I've been a busy bee ( or maybe that should be a busy butterfly?) making so many gift tags for Madame Butterfly in the last few days, they run out so quickly! I should probably get some printed but I like to make them and it's nice to have something handmade to send in the mail!
And these are the other project I've been busily working on. Party Favors to go in showbags for a cocktail party promoting a hairdressing salon! It is great to be able to add a little promo for the website to all the bags and I hope all their clients love them! Some have bracelets, others have necklaces and more still have earrings! I have over a hundred to finish and have been madly wrapping them while my little one is asleep. And see the little pink baskets they are sitting in, I love them! I bought quite a few of them for my desk from an office supply store and they have been very handy for sorting little things. This whole room is being taken over by PINK! and a bit of orange too!

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posted by thebutterflycollector @ 9:07 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

circus, colour, cards!

So, here's what I've been up to the last few days! Madly off to the gym every day, I am determined to get fit and I just found this fabulous women's gym near my house where you go for 30 minutes every day and train on a circuit with strength training machines! It's fabulous, is over before you know it and I am really enjoying it! Which is great because I have never been one to love exercising at all and I hate participating in team sports. I can already see a difference in my arms after 8 sessions! Really must keep this up and eat better too!
The gorgeous little geshia girl above is by artist Stephen Mackey, who I just love and I have put him in the creative cabinet of Madame Butterfly today, click over to see more of his beautiful work!
And I made this card over the weekend to go with the present I made below for my beautiful friend Ange who is about to have her first baby! It's a memory board for the nursery in "Circus" theme! It's quite a bit lilac and purple, her favorite colours! I used lots of vintage buttons, lot of gorgeous ribbon and made bunting flags from felt on the sewing machine! I hope she liked it and that it fits in with her nursery theme! Oh and lastly , I still have my heart in my mouth from last night's episode of Grey's Anatomy. I have been all teary so many times from this show lately, I can't wait for the next season. I feel like watching the whole thing over again, I missed a few episodes! The characters and actors are fabulous and besides who would'nt want to to tune in to just watch Mc Dreamy every week? I'm off to lunch with my sister and the kiddles today! Hope you have a great one too!




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posted by thebutterflycollector @ 9:26 AM 1 comments

Monday, October 30, 2006

A Creative Week ...

Hi hope you had a beautiful weekend! I've been a busy girl creating, finishing some projects and writing some fun things for Madame B! I also attented a Baby Shower for my good friend Ange in a restaurant on a country estate, it was a beautiful day out and gorgeous food!
Another fun and very creative week coming up in the Madame Butterfly Gallery too! I'd love you to come and visit! We made a delicious and rich caramel slice which you really must try, it's quite easy too! It's lovely with a cup of tea and a good book , I know I tried it, it comes highly recommended!!!
We also go on a shopping Adventure to Melbourne's GPO building in the heart of the city, which was lots of fun! And we got to listen to the songs of these lovely birds ( above )whilst there!

Madame B's project this week is to create a Mosaic, which is lots of fun if you've never tried it and is like doing a jigsaw puzzle in a way! So if you like puzzles, get ye to the olde Op Shoppe and get your hands on some beautiful plates and dishes to smash to smithereens!


And our Creative Type this week is the gorgeous and talented Sarah L Hanson. She tells us all about her creative pursuits from her home in Texas, her new line of original jewellery and her beautiful mural paintings! Plus of course there are new fairytales all week and today we feature Antoni Gaudi, the famous architect and his beautiful buildings in the Creative Cabinet! See you there!



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posted by thebutterflycollector @ 10:18 AM 0 comments