The gorgeous Angela at Bug in a Book has been so lovely to have Riley and the Curious Koala as her featured book! She's done a really wonderful review, too - so insightful to read what other people see in my books, and Angela has such an inherent passion for literature and education... it's so inspirational.

I love Angela's site - thanks for having me, Ang!

Event: Sustainable Santa Story Competition

10am, Wednesday 8 December 2010

loop, Belconnen, Canberra

I will be judging the Sustainable Santa story comp at the opening of an enormous Green Christmas event. The event is run by loop, the new sustainable development at the Belconnen Fresh Food Markets and there will be loads of fun for the whole family. more...

handmade living Blog Tour - Sneak Peek!



Well, are you having fun? Zooming around the handmade virtual stratosphere, drinking in the gorgeousness that is handmade living?

Welcome to this little sneak peek of MORE of this beautiful book. If you haven't already read What People Are Saying About handmade living, check it out now - and be sure to check the other stops on this blog tour - so many lovely gals with luscious blogs!

And have you entered any of the comps to win a book? The Posie comp ends today but there's still the one on Australian Women Online...

And now - without further ado - here are some visual sneak peeks at handmade living... we hope you enjoy every luscious peek...
 

realchai.com.au

  

posie.com.au 

 

tinyconcept.com.au


Blog Tour Schedule - see you on tour!

Saturday 27 November
Posie Patchwork
What is handmade living?

Sunday 28 November
Thea and Sami
How handmade living Was Produced

Sunday 28 November
Tiny Concept
Illustrating handmade living

Monday 29 November
Australian Women Online
Handmade Is the New Black & book giveaway!

Monday 29 November
The Happy Home
Designer Interview

Tuesday 30 November
Lark
Designer Profiles

Tuesday 30 November
Tania McCartney
Sneak Peek!

Wednesday 1 December
A Spoonful of Sugar
Handmade Christmas gifts

Wednesday 1 December
Perth Upmarket
Western Australian Designers

Thursday 2 December
made it
Book Profile

Thursday 2 December
Life and Other Crises
handmade living Choc-Fest

Friday 3 December
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia 
Combining a Cottage Business with Raising a Family

Friday 3 December
findmakedo
Designer Profile

Saturday 4 December
Fat Mum Slim
Project Recreation

riley and the curious koala launch party - the whole shebang

Things are pretty hectic with the release of two books right now, so I've finally managed to write up a peek at the entire book launch shebang for Riley and the Curious Koala! I hope you enjoy this look into a sensational party celebration, with gorgeous photos taken by photographer and graphic designer, Jen Leheny from Red Instead.

Enjoy the virtual party!

First there was the Sydney-themed candy bar...

wombats, opera houses, the rocks - what more could a kid need?

reading of riley and the curious koala at paperchain, manuka

don't you love the way this little munchkin, on my right, is looking at me?

What a gorgeous reading we had at Paperchain in Manuka today! The rain may have poured down but the atmosphere inside this beautiful bookstore was just charm personified as wee ones huddled in for a reading followed by koala masks, some book giveaways and goodie bags.

I signed some books, chatted with some really lovely women and kids - and just had the most wonderful time. Huge thanks to Steve and Lynda for letting us take over their space!

taking the kids on a flight through sydney



that's the real riley - in the white

 

mums and dads and kids get busy with it

and this is what they made

so cute!

and Mr Incredible took home a new furry friend

book reading at paperchain in manuka!

Bring the kids along to this fabulous book reading at Paperchain bookstore in Manuka, Canberra! At 11am this Sunday 28 November - this is a fun morning out with the kids. There will be koala masks, goodie bags, a book giveaway and book signing! Hope to see you there.

Tania

x

what people are saying about handmade living!

She's almost here... handmade handmade living: a designer collective. This book has certainly been a labour of love - from the initial designer call out... to the myriad of cover options (can you now see how hard it was to choose the final cover!?)... and on 4 December, you can all see this magnificent book for yourself at Handmade Market and Shop Handmade, and Australia-wide from 6 December.

When you've snaffled your copy and pored over it with your creative heart in your throat, do drop us a line and tell us what you think!

The media have their review copies and are asking for interviews and excerpts (stay tuned for more info on that!), wholesaling designers are getting their copies, and the word is spreading - this book is like nothing Australia has ever seen before. Handmade designers rejoice... this is going to be big.

Here's just some of the comments we're receiving, and the book hasn't even hit the shelves yet...

The book is a real credit to you, Julie, Tina and all those involved. Just gorgeous! - Julie Samaras, Editor, Canberra Weekly

The quality of the book and presentation exceeded my expectations - it is just lovely and a credit to you and the team. I was also really impressed with the originality and cleverness of many of the projects - I think this will make it stand out in the marketplace. I'm thrilled to be a part of it. - Nic from Yardage Design

Congratulations on the book, it’s really something to be amazingly proud of, well done you!! - Jennie from Posie Patchwork

I have got to say the book has exceeded my wildest expectations. You must be so proud of yourself, the book is truly amazing. I have NEVER seen anything quite like it. I have quite a few craft books but they are nothing in comparison and it is truly inspirational! - Ali from Park Eden

The books arrived this morning... words almost fail me. You must be thrilled with the final product. Well done - it is truly stunning. It’s such an honour to be featured in this publication alongside my creative contemporaries. - Kirsten from Paper by Forget Me Not

OMG OMG OMG OMG!!! So beautiful, I am drooling over the pages right now!! LOVE! - Emma of Kidson Jewellery

The book is a winner....congrats. - Liz of Betty Jo Designs

Your beautiful book arrived today and it is amazing! It has so many inspiring projects – the hard part will be deciding which project to make first. It truly is a visual feast. {My daughter} has already identified some projects that she wants to make – I can see it will get a lot of use during the school holidays. I especially love the broad range of projects, as we love to dabble in lots of different crafts. With most craft books you may find one or two projects of interest but yours is full to the brim of lovely, inspiring ideas. - Lisa of A Spoonful of Sugar

Lou and I held our breath this afternoon and opened the box that held our copies of handmade living. The book is exquisite. I was expecting something great, but it is even better than I thought it would be. I am so thrilled and proud to have been part of something so wonderful. - Michelle of Poppy Bean & Bloss

My books arrived in the post on Thursday and I was so delighted with them, I have ordered 5 more for Christmas presents! - Amy of Happy as Larry Designs

I just finished looking through my copy of the book and I can honestly tell you that it's the most beautiful craft book that I have ever seen. I am so proud that it is Australian and all Aussie craft lovers need to buy this book! It's truly fabulous. Congratulations to all involved! I so want to be part of the next book. – Thea from Thea & Sami {Ed: and we want you to be part of it!}

Just as the Handmade Market and Shop Handmade store are made up of beautiful unique pieces by a range of creatives, so is the book, by Tania McCartney, Julie Nichols and Tina Snerling. In fact, it shares the creative love – crammed full of projects, inspiring handmade goodness and profiles on the designers themselves, it’s a must for all lovers of handmade and crafters. - Belinda from The Happy Home

Every page is full of inspiration! - Kristin from An Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

I've got one of my softies in the book and I have to say, it is divine. It's one of the best craft/handmade books I've had the pleasure of looking through with such a great variety of things to make and things to buy which are handmade. It's been so well compiled and is definitely a coffee-table-style book you'll be proud to have out. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I have been! - Magdalena from The Craft Revival

Handmade Living is filled with tonnes of beautiful projects. It's like walking around a handmade market stall. You know that feeling you get when you're amongst such talent, and you wish you had just a teeny bit of what they've got. It kinda feels possible with this book. Let's just say I had a lot of bookmarks going on. I ended up putting together a batch of the most beautiful brownies I've ever tasted. - Fat Mum Slim

When the book arrived I drooled over the pages, bookmarking my favourites into a shortlist of which I'd pick 'the' item I would create. Absolutely charming, beautifully presented with lovely projects and pictures, Handmade Living book is now in my library! - Katia from Plushka Craft

Let me tell you this book is simply STUNNING!! the images, the information, the ideas, the inspiration - everything in this book is fabulous and I am more than honored to have Giggleberry Creations be a small part of it! Truly, this book is a beautiful read... I plan to grab a glass of red later tonight and sit in the comfy part of my couch and devour each and every page of this gorgeous book! - Amy from Giggleberry Creations

It's been a long and exciting wait, but Handmade Living has finally arrived... I picked up my copy at Handmade Market and had trouble putting it down to serve all the customers who had come to visit our stall. It's full of beautiful ideas and inspiration for lovers of handmade. - Kate from Please Eloise

Its like Christmas came early! I could hardly contain myself in the past few days as I have received the first copies of Handmade Living. I'm so excited about this book as one of my crafts (the spotty card) was accepted to be part of it! The book's pretty awesome, with lots of sections so there's bound to be something for everyone - from knitting, to baking, to sewing and even making your own spa soaks and masques! - Frances from FrancesCraft

So, I'm kinda sorta going to be in a book. A very lovely book. A very lovely book indeed. - Samantha from Samantha Hughes

Wow! Wow! Wow! I finally got to sit down and have a look at my copy of Handmade Living. An absolute stunning book and kasiabear's feature looks sooo good. OMG!! I'm in love!! - Kasia of kasiabear

I have just had my first look at Handmade Living and I am blown away!!! This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever seen-everything about it-images,colours, layout, etc combine to make one amazing collection.Congratulations to you and your team and thank you for allowing me to be featured. - Elizabeth Thompson of Knit Baby

See what people are saying about Riley and the Grumpy Wombat. 
See what people are saying about Riley and the Curious Koala.
See what people are saying about Beijing Tai Tai. 
See what people are saying about Riley and the Dancing Lion.
See what people are saying about Riley and the Sleeping Dragon.

lovely things happening

Lots of lovely things have been happening in and around the launch of Riley and the Curious Koala, and the upcoming handmade living.

One of them has been having Curious Koala reviewed... Susan Stephenson from The Book Chook also did a wonderful review.

And then my gorgeous friend and Kids Book Review partner Megan Blandford did an impromptu review of the book at her Writing Out Loud blogsite.

So lovely of them all.

Then, I was hosted by around 20 blogs on my book launch blog tour - such special people supporting me in this way.

Another lovely thing is that recently, I saw some gorgeous reindeer ornaments at Shop Handmade. Shopgirls Rachel and Julie had made a trip to IKEA and brought them home to roost and it was instant love for me. Only problem - no IKEA within any kind of sane distance.

So when Megan told me she was hotfooting it to IKEA to buy a desk, well - guess what she sent me in the post a few days later? COMPLETE with her little daughter Abbey's artwork on the emvelope! SO cute!

The other lovely thing that happened, is our lemon tree has sprouted! You may remember the total butchering of our tree in an attempt to bring it back from an ailing life... and well... look at it now! So so beautiful - and starting to flourish again beautiful. Thanks, Peter Cundall.

Another REALLY lovely thing that happened is this...

Sigh. So so wonderful to have her in our clutches, and winging her way to media outlets all over the country. Our handmade living designers are waiting with baited breath for their copies - and the launch is only weeks away... You can check out the details for the launch party here. Come along!

So many lovely things happening at this glorious time of year. What's lovely in your world right now?

Did you know? Four in five Indigenous children from remote communities are unable to read to the minimum standard? The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF) is working to close the gap and reverse this statistic.

During November and in the lead-up to Christmas, the ALNF annual Wall of Hands Indigenous Literacy Appeal is aiming to raise $150,000 to establish effective and practical literacy programs in the many remote Indigenous communities the ALNF is still to reach.

How can you help? An interactive website, http://www.wallofhands.com.au/, lets supporters rally their friends and family, pledge a donation and build a virtual wall of hands. The more people involved the bigger the ‘wall’, and a ‘wall’ is easily shared via social media networks such as Twitter and Facebook. The Sydney Morning Herald will publish the ‘wall’, featuring the biggest fundraisers, towards the end of the campaign.

Megan and I over at Kids Book Review are proud to have our very own Wall of Hands to help raise awareness and gather donations towards this important cause.  We're currently at 73rd place Australia-wide! Help send us higher and change the lives of indigenous children forever. Just click the image below to join us - even as little as $5 is so warmly appreciated.



raise your hand if you care



Riley and the Curious Koala on Writing Out Loud

Riley and the Curious Koala has appeared on the blog of good friend, Kids Book Review partner and talented writer Megan Blandford. It's such an honour to appear on Writing Out Loud - Megan is such a fine writer and advocate of literature - her words were so well appreciated. Check out the entire review here!

handmade living in the Canberra Weekly

Eternal thanks to the lovely Julie Samaras for this fantastic profile on handmade living in the Canberra Weekly this week! Readers can win one of three sensational packs - which include the book and a gorgeous hand-made sewing kit by our own Jennie McClelland of Posie Patchwork!



handmade living blog tour schedule

Handmade Canberra is thrilled to announce its handmade living Book Launch Blog Tour! The tour will commence Saturday 27 November and run until the book launch on Saturday 4 December.

We will be ‘touring’ a stunning line-up of blogs – and you can follow it right along. It’s going to be a lot of fun! and we hope to see you there, sharing a glass of virtual bubbles! Enjoy every glorious handmade moment.

Saturday 27 November
Posie Patchwork
What is handmade living?

Sunday 28 November
Thea and Sami
How handmade living Was Produced

Sunday 28 November
Tiny Concept
Illustrating handmade living

Monday 29 November
Australian Women Online
Handmade Is the New Black & book giveaway!

Monday 29 November
The Happy Home
Designer Interview

Tuesday 30 November
Lark
Designer Profiles - Kate Ward, Kidson Jewellery, Ivy Designs

Tuesday 30 November
Tania McCartney
Sneak Peek!

Wednesday 1 December
A Spoonful of Sugar
Handmade Christmas gifts

Wednesday 1 December
Perth Upmarket
Western Australian Designers

Thursday 2 December
made it
Book Profile

Thursday 2 December
Life and Other Crises
handmade living Choc-Fest

Friday 3 December
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia 
Combining a Cottage Business with Raising a Family

Friday 3 December
Find Make Do
Designer Profile

Saturday 4 December
Fat Mum Slim
Project Recreation

Saturday 4 December
Handmade Canberra
Book Giveaways

Here is just a taste of the amazing launch party we had at Dalton's bookstore here in Canberra today... thanks to the superlative stylings of friend and photographic talent (among other talents!) Jen Leheny of Red Instead for these stunning photos. Jen manages to capture the most unscripted, precious moments - it's love. Thanks, Jen!

Huge thanks to Meredith from Dalton's for offering up her gorgeous store, for the lovely Charlie for helping us set up (and clean up!) and for providing much comic relief with a pantomime-style koala-on-a-stick appearance half way through the reading! Thanks also Steve Whisker from Kelly Sports who so generously entertained the kids with a series of amazing circus-like activities - Steve is the epitome of fun and loveliness.

illustrator kieron entrances the kids at curious koala launch

...you could hear a pin drop!

Well, honestly? I've never heard 50 kids so quiet. My gorgeous Riley book illustrator Kieron Pratt had the children at the Riley and the Curious Koala launch at Dalton's absolutely entranced when he took to the drawing pad for some live creations during the launch party today in Canberra.

First he did Koala. Then Riley. Then Panda. Then Dragon. Then Lion! The kids LOVED it and several very lucky fans took away some stunning, original artwork for their walls.

cakes to surpass all cakes at the curious koala launch

Well, can I just say that I am not one to be rendered speechless very often... but these cakes at the Riley and the Curious Koala book launch at Dalton's in Canberra today... they deserve a blog post of their own.

When the lovely Elizabeth Wright from pARTy cakes here in Canberra said she’d be happy to provide cakes for the launch, I expected something really special (I’ve seen her work before and trust me – it’s amazing). But when she turned up with this… well, I sort of lost it.

Can you even believe how beautiful?

Book Reading and Signing at Paperchain, Manuka

11am

Sunday 28 November 2010

Paperchain, Manuka, Canberra

Tania will be reading her new book Riley and the Curious Koala at Paperchain Bookstore in beautiful Manuka.

Come along and travel with Riley on this wonderful adventure around Sydney. There will be goodie bags, book giveaways and fun activities, plus your chance to have a book signed!

Perfect for kids aged 2 to 10, though other kids also welcome.

Contact Paperchain on 02-6295 6723 for more info or RSVP here.

All hail to my glorious launch sponsors...

A percentage of sales from Riley and the Curious Koala will be donated to the Australian Koala Foundation. Help save our koalas - donate or foster a fuzzy critter now.