Most manufacturers of drink coasters and placemats refuse small orders because the product cost to the end user is far too high, however Activeways developed a new way to produce small runs of bar coasters and table placemats economically. You just email them your favourite photos and they'll quote to copy them on quality timber. I loved the idea and had small quantities of many photos made into coasters of our kids growing up which we use often for family dinners. Activeways is now owned by Thre3 Australia.

Handkrafted is a platform that will connect you with artisans to commission furniture and handmade goods so you don't have to fill your home with mass-produced items that may not last very long. There are many independent artisans in Australia who are committed to producing high-quality and original pieces made to last a lifetime and this is an opportunity for you to become aware of them and use their services. www.handkrafted.com

The Mosman Art Society in Sydney welcomes traditional and contemporary artists, established or new, as well as art lovers in general. It aims to foster the development, practice and love of art throughout the community and holds 2 or 3 exhibitions of members? works a year, showcases members? works and CV's in a website gallery, awards art prizes and holds monthly events. The painting featured in this post is by local artist and Mosman Art Society member Bruce Harkness who says ?At the moment, I do not put people into my landscapes, with the notion that the viewer will be drawn into the painting itself. What I want to make distinctive is an engaging feeling of peace and quiet mystique?. www.MosmanArtSociety.org.au

Piano Stairs  is a musical stairway first created at the Odenplan underground station of Stockholm to encourage people to use stairs rather than an elevator or escalator. The project was part of a Volkswagen initiative called "The Fun Theory" whose main objective and mission is to change people's behaviour for the better by making it fun. Similar stairs have now been built in other cities around the world.

An idea spy gave me a book on words to inspire -"a collection of quotes to motivate and inspire" and this is the first one I chose to post.

The Global Creativity Index measures a country's creativity based on “3Ts” – talent, technology and tolerance – It ranks 139 nations on each of these pillars, as well as their overall measure. The top country in 2015 was Australia, followed by the United States, with New Zealand third.https://www.culturepartnership.eu/en/article/global-creativity-index-2015#:~:text=As%20this%20index%20shows%2C%20Australia,by%20Singapore%20and%20the%20Netherlands.