Margie Rahmann is the creative talent behind My Very Own Eye Goggles (you might remember we profiled her earlier this year as part of Jacqui Fink's Made by Hand series). Based in Coledale, south of Sydney, she has a busy Etsy store and blog, and also runs her own interior design practice. Here she shares a busy week preparing for this week's Etsy Christmas PopUp Shop in Sydney and the Finders Keepers Markets in Sydney this weekend 

My week usually revolves around making, designing, and observing (they are the fun things), then of course the more mundane things like washing, cleaning, folding, making lunches... I should probably stop that list right there! My creative life is very informed by where I live - a coastal village north of Wollongong, by the beach. Life is pretty slow (except for this week - eek!!) and I usually have the mental space to let my creative thoughts wend their way out through my hands. I am especially inspired by the colours and textures that I see around me - documenting these really helps me clarify my thoughts.



Monday: Neutral tones, beach textures

Today it's back to work and school, after a weekend of markets and making. I walked back home along our beach after school drop off today, a much more pleasant and inspiring way to travel!



Tuesday: Blue, the colour of calm
I'm working with some salvaged fruit netting today, making these blue bowls in an effort to keep my cool in the lead-up to the Sydney Finders Keepers Markets. It's on Friday and Saturday the 6 & 7 December, at the Australian Technology Park. I use these bowls at home to collect the eggs from our chooks. They are the perfect size, and nice and soft to carry them back to the kitchen.



Wednesday: Yellow, the colour of happy
More making today, I'm trying to stay focussed and make as many pieces as I can. We have so many events leading up to Christmas; it can be QUITE overwhelming. Working from home has lots of advantages, and I love that both Justin and I can be here for our son Wil.


Images - Tim Bisaro (left), Heidi Adnum (right)

Thursday: Orange, the colour of Etsy
Our crocheted jute bowls, hand-knitted lamp cords, and a few other pieces are making their way into the Etsy Christmas Popup at 75 Castlereagh St, Sydney. I'll be selling my work in store and crocheting up a storm on Tuesday and Wednesday 3 & 4 December, from 11am - 4pm. I'd love to see you!



Friday: Green, my favourite shade
Much of our craft work is either informed by or contains natural elements, especially plants. I've recently designed this crochet pattern to hold a small plant that will hang against a wall, almost like an artwork. They'll be debuting at the Etsy Popup, then again at Finders Keepers. Crochet and tea (right)- an essential combination for me!



The weekend
Weekends are all about making and playing, with our 6 year old. A few weekends ago, Justin hand-drew this board game that kept Wil screen-free and concentrating for a good three hours! You can read his blog post about it here. Justinia is a Dungeons and Dragons style board game, currently available as a digital download on our Etsy store. Thanks to the wonders of modern DIY tech, we are making a hard copy! The game comes with a print of the hand-drawn game board, rule cards, dice, and 3D printed game pieces. It will be launched at Sydney's Finders Keepers Market, where you'll be able to sit down with your kids and play before you buy. It's been touch and go for a while, but now that Mr Fixit has his own 3D printer up and working, we are madly making game pieces and stamps for the packaging!

Follow Margie & My Very Own Eye Goggles on Facebook, Pinterest and on Instagram @myveryowneyegoggles. To see her work, visit the Etsy Christmas Popup at 75 Castlereagh St Sydney until December 12 or The Finders Keepers market at the Australian Technology Park at Eveleigh this Friday or Saturday.