Friday 27 January 2012

Luscious Lips!




Our lovely Lip Balms are back in stock - delightfully ensconced in their Vintage Tins.

I don't have a good reason for not making them for so long, just that 'life' got in the way and the past year flew by!

I still adore these little tins with their different images on the lid - the only thing is that they may not be the tightest seal on a container, but keep them upright and you'll have no trouble from them. I often sell them with a small organza bag, that way folks can keep them safe and sound.

I made them in: Rose and Gold Mica, Vanilla, Peppermint & Lime and Mandarin Mimosa.

In store at sanctum now....

Oh, and I've managed to get hold of some more of the beautiful Moroccan Tea Glasses to make in to candles as well - I think I've got some different colours this time too!

Wednesday 25 January 2012

vintage haven in Launceston

Just a quick post to show a recent buy from a local store of vintage-y goodness here in Launceston.
Squirrel and Dove is owned and run by Lisa - who has a keen eye for all things vintage, retro and interesting.




Will get myself organised soon and take some interior shots of the store to show, but for now, I am happily showing off some very funky plates I found there the other day.

I went in to buy a friends birthday present and just could not leave without these....



A set of seven sunflower plates - nearly didn't buy the matching platter but knew I'd regret it if I didn't! We've already had breakfast on our little porch this morning with them - ah...fresh made chocolate and ginger muffins......

This is how Lisa wrapped the present I bought - I thought it was a lovely touch with vintage wallpaper offcut and doiley (can't tell you what's in it though...it's a surprise!!).

Tuesday 3 January 2012

fat free?....not likely....

Until today, I have been thanking a good friend in Brisbane (Hi Shan!!) for giving me this recipe for what she calls 'Awesome Biscuits'..... Now I am onto my fourth batch, I'm not so sure I should be thanking her at all! My hips sure aren't!
They are indeed 'awesome' and 'tempting' and 'moorish' and 'delectable' and just plain 'yum'!
Best of all (or worst depending on your point of view and current dress size), they are ridiculously easy to bake.
So, I am spreading the word and the nasty saturated fats to one and all.....enjoy.


Shan's Awesome Biscuits

1 medium jar of Peanut Butter (make it a good quality one) crunchy or smooth

1 cup Caster Sugar

1 Egg

1 cup Choc Bits



  • Preheat oven to 180 degrees


  • Mix all ingredients thoroughly (I sometimes warm the peanut butter in the microwave to help remove it from its jar - this also means the chocolate will melt through the batter)


  • With flour coated hands, roll into small to medium sized balls and place onto paperlined baking trays - press with a fork


  • Bake for 10-15 minutes - try to get the bottoms lighlty brown for that yummy roasted peanut taste


  • Cool for few minutes on trays before moving to cooling racks

Sunday 1 January 2012

Totally rockin' Moroccan!!






Firstly, apologies for not being as regular with my posts this past year.

My little business sanctum has been keeping me very busy and with three emails, two blogs, two facebook pages, one website and a Linkdin page to manage - well, some things do get squished to the back of the 'to do' list.

We've brought on board a business coach and so are hoping that with her help, we can create better time management.

Well... that's the plan anyway!

Anyway, it's the first day of 2012 and I had a hankering to make up some new candles I've been keen on for a while.

I found these containers at a local kitchenware store just before Christmas - when I went back to buy them the store was so busy that I ran out of time while waiting to be served and couldn't get them. Of course, when I went back again after Christmas - most of the glasses had gone and the colour choice was very restricted - but not to worry.

I just love Morrocan (also known as 'Turkish') Tea Glasses just by themselves - they invoke pictures of hiding out in dimly lit Tea Houses with hookah pipes and shady characters, wheeling and dealing and running about with big moustaches and scimitars.

But that might be just me...

I have wanted to make them into candles for some time and am pretty happy with the result. Now I just need to convince the store to either let me buy enough at a time to get a better price, or give me the name of their suppliers and I will get them direct.

I've got just twelve made up and will have them in at sanctum when we reopen as of the 10th. I kept the wax it's natural white as I think the glasses are the star of the show here.

Hope people like them as much as I do.