sunday stash

Red Letter Day by Lizzy House

I have to stop buying only single yards of fabric I love, it's so silly!!

Thank you for the support for Siena's friend. She came home last night and Siena said she is sounding very sad but brave.

More Sunday Stash at Tamara's

i'm back

It has been a long time since I have written anything and it feels so weird to be sitting here, I feel like I don't know where to start. A lot has happened in the past week or so that I have wanted to share, but yesterday we had some devastating news and I lost any enthusiasm to write.

Siena's best friend was on holidays with her family and on the drive home her dad lost control of the car and it rolled off the road and her dad was killed. There are five children in the family, Siena's friend is the eldest. I am just so sad, and I still can't believe that it has happened. The family are still in hospital, no one was majorly injured but I am sure everyone is in shock and they wont be back in Sydney for a few days yet. I think we may drive to where they are on the weekend if they don't come home.

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Prior to this sad news I had completed another 3 days of my course which was all to do with marketing. It is just so full on, even now 2 days later my head is whirring!! I had a great time though and I am really starting to get to know all the other babes and I am making some friends.


Instead of completing homework though I was completing some craft pursuits, including making a new tunic from one of my fave patterns, it's made from beautiful soft ticking I bought here, and it is just lovely and comfortable.

I also finally got around to finishing those little pencil rolls that I started forever ago. I love them, and Lucia and Siena have requesting I make them their own. I have wanted Siena to have a little sketch book and pencil organiser for a long time, she is a very talented artist and I hope that there comes a time when she is out and has an urge to sketch, that would be so cool (at the moment she refuses to do any art because I want her too, bloody teenagers!!)

I am determined to print out the whole alphabet in a great font, and then laminate the crap out of it so I can actually make nice appliqued letters. These letters look so awful! I am really glad these gifts are for kids, they probably don't care, I just hope their mum doesn't look too closely.


I used some BarefootBabies fabric, I feel a little sneaky now, a little corrupt. That fabric is entrusted to me and I go use it for my own stuff...I am a sucky business woman!

Finally, get a load of this amazing Pay It Forward gift I received from Carmen, can you believe it!! She totally spoilt me.

Not only did I get this amazing bag, but it was choc full of goodies! Let me just say that I adore this bag, it is the perfect size for a night or day out sans kids, it is the most beautiful fabric, absolutely my taste and it is perfectly made.

She made a whole load of cards for me and included some rooibois tea, soap and hand butter. Thanks so much Carmen, getting this surprise package just made my day!! It also reminded me that I have 1 gift yet to make. I better get busy.

market research

Hand coloured print 2008 - Louise Pfanner

Part of my Bizness Babes course is to be doing some market research, including finding my target market, costing and for me trying to figure out what people want. I am slowly and somewhat reluctantly coming to the understanding that I need to be thinkng outside of what I really love, because my style is very specific and not necessarily the style of my target market.

It was so beneficial to bump into Siena's grandmother Louise Pfanner today at the shops and have a really good (although interrupted by me having to chase a VERY fast Eva) chat about making your art commercial.

My Shadow Box -Louise Pfanner

Louise has been in the art world her whole life and is very successful and it was enlightening to hear about her hits and misses. She revealed interesting facts about colours and what people are drawn to, for example, pink and green will always be attractive to the majority but purple and orange is not a combination a lot of people will be drawn to. Also, learning to follow trends, keeping our handmade feel and complimenting it with what is current. Thanks for the insight Lousie. (She also told me she is going to teach me to embroider! Can't wait!)

Louise's website is lovely and very droolworthy. How much do you love that first print? My favourite.

tardy

My sister sent me an email last night, ending with the words "where's your blog update young lady?" - I need to point out here that Mel is ONLY 18 months older than me! Well, here's a blog update just for you Mel.


I forgot to show my beautiful gift from Marina I received at the last Craft Room meet. Apparently they aren't very good, she is just learning blah, blah, blah! Please, Marina, they are so beautiful I just love them.

I offered one to Siena, I can't remember which one she chose. The pendants were wrapped up in this beautiful Japanese fabric which is equally as gorgeous.

Today I am working on a couple of gifts for a couple of little girls who will be leaving Australia very soon to join their parents on a mission to Indonesia. I have been thinking about doing a pencil roll for them to take on the plane and my idea was confirmed when I saw Tricia's beautiful gift she recently made.

Ok, so basically all I have done is cut some fabric and ironed on this appliqued initial. I'm still a little lazy after the Market on Sunday so luckily these little girls leave in August!

How crazy cute is this fabric together, amazing how I could put together blue, orange and birds...I'm just full of surprises!

Our Market on Sunday was pretty good, we were pretty busy although we didn't sell as much as the last 2 markets. It's very hard to read what will be popular and what wont. Some put it down to July being a funny month, people may not be needing anymore winter clothing, we actually had a few customers ask if we had any new summer stock! YIKES! We have applied for a Steiner market in August and I think we will try for another one at the end of July.

Thanks to Cindy for meeting up on Saturday, for the great lunch, excellent conversation and the fabric shopping. It was great to have you over for tea after the Market and I can't wait to meet up again.

eating not working

It's my last child free day before Market and I have polished off an avocado and a box of Jatz whilst reading blogs all freaking morning! I have 3 hours until the middle child returns and I need to get cracking!!

I have finished all new terry bibs (about 14 I think) so I hope they will find new homes on Sunday. I enjoyed making these little trees, my mother in law said my applique is much better than when I first started, coming from a total sewing freak (this woman can make anything) it gave me a nice little boost.

I also covered about a million (or around 16) buttons last night whilst watching Studio 60, to make little hair ties. I actually want to hide some of these from my sister so I can keep them for my girls (well just Lucia and Eva really), Siena would rather clean the guinea pig cage 5 times over than wear floral buttons in her hair.


These 2 sweeties are my favourite. I just adore this blue fabric from Holland Fabric House, it's divine.

space for spots

It's funny how you start to acquire the same kinds of fabric without really trying. Recently I have just been accumulating spotty fabric but I am not sure why. I do really love spots, but up until now I haven't gravitated to them. I thought my style was set, I really thought I knew what I wanted but it seems my fabric tastes change and vary like all things in life.


These three were rescued from various remnant bins, the blue spotty one from St Vincent de Paul.


Some Robert Kauffman and some micro dot (my favourite).


A bit of Japanese linen and some cheapy Spotlight.

sunday craft day

Yesterday was just a buzz of talking, eating, talking, sewing, talking, drinking coffee, you get the picture. It was the first Sunday Meet of the Craftroom and I am declaring it a success. I took 3 projects to do, 1 quick pinnie for Eva, a little skirt for Lucia and my hex quilt because surely 5 and half hours is ample for all 3.

Not exactly, 5.5 hours is enough to only just finish a pinnie for Eva that should have taken an hour! I used some beautiful green fine wale cord from our recent winter smocks and My Folklore by Leicen fabric. I think it looks great.

And it fits perfectly, I am glad I cut about 3 inches off the bottom. Thanks so much to Corrie, for being the instigator and planner of the Craftroom. She really sensed a deep need for women to come together to create. I reckon she could plan for the Queen to visit!!


And just to brag a little, here is a peek at our new business cards that are being printed as we speak. I LOVE them!!

front

back

we went walking

up to the top of Long Reef and found a beautiful bubbler at the end.




The views were spectacular and we feel so blessed to live in this beautiful part of the world.

TGIF, right?

Man, what a hectic week. I was totally not ready to be blown away by the business course. Not just in terms of learning about business (which, in my head is akin to learning Japanese) but by the intensity of the facilitators, their knowledge and insight and by the amazing degree of positivity and encouragement I received from 16 other women (potential small business owners) who didn't even know me. It's pretty amazing what women can do for each when they band together and support one another.


I got zero sewing done in the first few days of the week as I was just mentally shattered. I did manage to pull myself together for some creative space yesterday and last night I worked on a couple of girly bibs for the Market.


I was inspired by our new website that is being designed right now by my friend Sharri who is doing an amazing job using all kinds of cuteness; little trees, flowers, birds, owls, bunting, just the kinds of stuff that I think represents our range.

It's going to be all kinds of fun to zig zag around those little leaves! Can't let the details get you down though, I just really wanted to do a tree and a tree with sweet little leaves, so there you go.

Before I say cheerio for today, I wanted to share another rewards incentive program sewing project (holy cow, that's a hell of a long title, how about RIPSP) I have completed recently, it's a Built By Wendy pattern and it is the first jacket I have EVER made, so a little less than perfect but I really like it!


It needs buttons down the front, and I need to think about learning to line a garment because I don't like the back facing at all, but it's cute, warm and suits me!

my creative space

Making bibs today. Took some advice from previous Mathilda's Market customers and I am now using toweling as the backing for my bibs rather than flannel. Not having experienced chucky babies I didn't really appreciate the need for super absorbent bibs (except of course for Eva, but she was in a league of her own needing a whole towel department to soak up her vomits). I hope these bibs will be successful.

You can tell it's Market time in our house, I have taken over the dining room, living room, ironing board and the bedroom...

More creative spaces here.