Something ace from someone awesome. A handmade Christmas gift idea

This week the world has been in flux, world leaders have been chosen, storms have raged and stocks have rallied. 

Meanwhile in the Red Brick household it's been cross stitch time. Changing the world one stitch at a time. Or not, as the case may be.

I planned to keep this little project a secret as it was meant to become a Christmas gift for my beloved. However my inability to keep anything I'm excited about on the hush-hush has once again prevailed, and the cat is out of the bag. Lucky really. For you. Because now I have chance to share this amazing gift idea with you before Christmas. Yey!

Jacqueline from Wee Little Stitches tells me her web store has been abuzz with Australian traffic lately and it's no surprise really, since good ole Frankie Magazine shared her amazing cross stitch patterns in their weekly newsletter. 

Drawn at first to her amazing pixel characters (Ferris Buellers Day Off, The Labyrinth and The Goonies!) I whooped in delight to discover she can also design you a custom couple/family pixel people portrait. Amazaballs! I quickly lined Marky and I up for a awkward snap and a few days later Jacqueline sent through a design for proof... along with an apology for it's tardiness due to Hurricane Sandy leaving her powerless.. literally... to get to it earlier. What a gal.

Naturally I berated her and told her that was no excuse ;) but I was quickly pacified when I saw what an AWESOME job she did.... doesn't this look heaps like us?! If I were a bunch of pixels, this would be me. :)

Now listen here you crafty types, if, like me, you are looking at this and thinking "hmmm... I could design that" well yes, I'm sure you could, but for $12 Jacqueline designed me a custom pattern complete with a list of the exact DCM embroidery floss colours I would need so I didn't have to spend an hour in the store comparing colours (yes, I'm THAT person) as well as a whole heap of cross stitch tips on her blog. B.A.R.G.A.I.N

Now stop being a cheap-ass and buy something ace, from someone awesome this Christmas. BLAM.

Frankie goodies alert!

Good ol' Frankie Magazine, you've done it again! 

After much anticipation the new 2013 Frankie Journals and Calenders are here! Big time YAY!
Frankie Magazine has released its 50'th issue this month and for those of you who aren't familiar with this Australian magazine it's a really pretty mag featuring lots of really nice arty, crafty, musicy and homely stuff for nice people. 

These two babies are just beautiful and deserve a spotlight all of their own to shine and shimmer in.
The calender features the most gorgeous illustrations by all of these awesome artists... Anna Albero :: Lucy King :: Kate Pugsley :: Donna Wilson :: Irana Douer ::Julianna Swaney :: Jill Labieniec :: Jennifer Davis :: The Black Apple :: Nancy Mungcal :: Anke Weckmann :: The Pin Pals

Because I'm a thrifty art lover I look forward to the release of the Frankie calenders each year, at $30 it's a mega affordable way to get artwork from all those amazing artists and illustrators. Printed on the most gorgeous paper I have cut up and framed past calenders for my home! Me? Cheeky? Oh yeah!
We have the Frankie Calenders in our shop at the moment. They only print a limited number of these lovelies so look-out, they sell like hot cakes! 
But wait! There's more! 
The Frankie 2013 Daily Journal is jam-packed with cute illustrations, has a lovely hard-backed fabric cover and has both week and month to view pages as well as an awesome page of stickers and lots of other clever little pages.

I reckon I can tick a whole handful of people off my Christmas list with these bad-boys so lookout and snap one up while you can.
Thanks for letting me share all this paper goodness, see you tomorrow for 'Sounds of a Friday'.
X Steph

Of Love and Lovers

We love Valentines Day here at Red Brick. We see the day as an opportunity to tell folks in our lives how much we love em'! Each year we do a window display to let others do the same.

 Each little love-heart postit note contains a message of luurve. Nawww... I know, I'm a total mush-head but what can be better than a day to celebrate love in all it's forms!?


I'm sure you all know that our window displays are one of my fave bits about Red Brick... did you see our giant ice cream???


Or our Christmas-time window featuring a giant gingerbread man?!

Hmmmm.... Easter isn't all that far away.... any ideas?

x Steph