QUESTION: Can you fit an entire market stall display in one suitcase?

ANSWER: YES!

There's even room left over for some clothes. That should come in handy. I know it's been warm in Melbourne, but I don't know if customers would feel comfortable buying from a naked stall holder!

Shopping Suggestions?

I'm off to Melbourne again this weekend to attend the North Melbourne Market. 'Oh no' exclaims my bank account, 'not again!'. Yep, this time I'll have three days. I'm planning a trip to Ikea on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday the market will run from 10-2 at the Lithuanian Club in Errol Street (I'll be in the foyer), so Sunday afternoon will probably be spent in the city (Myer here I come...again. Hobart's Myer burnt down a few years ago and it has not been re-built. It's now about 1/4 of the original size and not very exciting). Monday is where I need your help. For a few months now I've been meaning to get out to both Hawthorn and Northcote, but being unfamiliar with the area I'm not sure where the best shops are. I'm looking for independent handmade/gift stores, thrift stores and anything fabric related. DO any of you lovely Melbourne ladies have any suggestions?

A Day in Melbourne

I had a lovely day in Melbourne yesterday. I didn't have to be out at Carlton until 2pm, so I had some time to fill in. Hmmm? Time to fill in Melbourne? What's a girl to do? Why, shop of course! I tried on on some clothes (bought a skirt- I'll be wearing it on Sunday) and a new bright red lippy from Poppy King the Lipstick Queen.

After I'd been to see the girls at Belki I walked through a few Carlton streets and spotted this lovely blue door unceremoniously dumped in the street. 

Then I caught a tram to Johnston Street in Fitzroy, stopped in at a few of my favourite little shops and spent some more money. I also had a chance to visit Meet Me at Mike's and have a good browse through all the yummy vintage goodies before heading back to the airport and home again. 

Belki

Introducing my newest stockist...Belki.

I love this store, especially the window displays (above & below).

 You can find Belki at 631 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North.

Note to Self: Don't Speak Aloud. EVER.

I'm off to the big smoke Melbourne tomorrow to meet a new stockist (more on that later- let's just say I am very excited about being stocked in this store). When the girl who was tinting my eye lashes asked me what I was doing tomorrow (oh, how I hate to make idle chit chat) it came out like this, 'Oh, I'm off to Melbourne to meet a new client and hawk my wares'. It was only after I had said it that I realised how much that sounded as though I was involved in prostitution! I hastily explained myself, 'I'm not a hooker- at least, not THAT kind, I'm more of the crochet kind of hooker'. Hmmm...I really should have kept my mouth shut today. I can only imagine what she's writing on my client sheet!

The evidence that I am, in fact, a hooker!

Free Stuff

Well, I finally made a decision about the graph paper. Thanks to everyone who left a comment. Sitting here in my little cluttered studio can be isolating, so it's good to get feedback. Staying with the schoolyard theme, I have called this collection 'Recess'. When I was at school we called recess 'little lunch' (as opposed to 'big lunch'). My memories of little lunch are of not playing dodge ball- are you mad? That ball really hurts! Playing kiss chasy, but being a very good sprinter I never had to suffer the the icky kissing part. But my strongest memory is from grade 4 when I was kicked in the shins every little lunch by a boy in my class, who shall remain nameless (know who you are Patrick McElduff). In the end my mum had to write to my teacher who then had words with Patrick the boy. My shins eventually recovered.

So, to the free stuff. To say thanks for all your help with this I am giving away 3 of these brooches. To be eligible simply leave a comment on this post about something you remember about school. The winner will be drawn (using the random number generator) on Tuesday March 2nd. International entries are welcome. 

Doing Blockies

Here are 2 more blocks that I have completed. As you can see one block is smaller than the other. The smaller block should have had another 3 rounds of aqua, but I like it just the way it is. Only 197 more to go...

Chocolate Box

Anemone

Help!

For me, making the buttons is only half of the battle. Notions has become known for the packaging. And while it's nice to have all my hard work appreciated, it can also be a burden, a sort of keeping up with the Jones's, except in this scenario I am both the 'keeper upper' and the Jones's ( I've often suspected I had a duel personality!). It  can be a constant battle trying to come up with a concept that is just as good -if not better- than the last one. Deciding on packaging can sometimes be a painstaking process. I have fabrics that have been sitting for weeks and months waiting for packaging. However, when it came to this fabric I immediately thought three things- vintage, playground and school. For me these three things are summed up in graph paper. With the right font I think this packaging could work really well. The only problem is deciding on which graph pattern I like best. I've narrowed it down to four. 

I think this is my favourite...

....but I like the subtlety of this one....

...and the contrast of this one

Any thoughts?

Store lust

This box of My Mamma's Apron goodies is heading north to Launceston and they should find their way onto the shelves of Cocoon early next week. If you haven't been into Cocoon, you really, really should. The store motto is- 'Something made by hand has integrity - it has soul...' and it's filled to the brim with the most gorgeous handmade products from Tasmania and around the world. Cocoon, I love you!

My creative...um, mess

I awoke this morning feeling a little more motivated than the past few days, so I headed into the studio (aka the front room) early this morning only to be overwhelmed by the mess caused by week of me dumping stuff on the floor, table and any other available surface. I can't work in clutter. I'm one of those people who likes clean up as they go. I need things to be calm and tidy around me to settle in and get creative.

one of many quilts waiting to be finished

I just stopped writing this post to vacuum the carpet in here- it was really annoying me! Ahhh...that's better. Now, where was I? Oh, yes, clutter. So I've had a bit of a mad tidy this morning. To me it still looks messy. I have a small house and an ever expanding collection of fabrics, market props and 'stuff'. Every now and then I have a massive clean up and throw out (my disposal method is to put anything of use outside my house with a 'free to good home' sign. It's an effective method- the items are usually gone within a few hours. Saves me a trip to the tip shop or salvos and is good for the environment.)

Nonetheless, I always end up with another mess. I like to think of my self as organised, so it annoys me that the studio only stays neat for a few days. I don't think the fault lays with me, I think I just need more room. My house is co-joined and for some time I've been threatening to knock down a wall or two and take over next doors space. I think the easiest way to get through would be via the fireplaces...knock through a few bricks here and there and there you have it- instant storage space! Easy peasy. Does anyone have a hammer I can borrow?

buttons and bits

string (bursts into The Goodies 'String' song)

inspiration board

notebook...one can never have too many of these

the fireplace, aka 'the soon to be door to my new storage area'

Magazine Therapy

Over the past few days I've struggled to get accomplished even a fraction of what I had planned to get done this week. My 'to do' list is getting longer and wondering around the house and staring at piles of buttons and fabric doesn't really seem to be helping. So today I decided that I needed of my favourite magazines to help motivate me and went and bought the latest copies of Real Living, Boho (the American version of Peppermint Magazine) and Notebook. I found the last few editions of Notebook have been disappointing, but I took a punt and bought it anyway. I'm so glad that I did- it's filled with retro and vintage inspiration (and crocheted bedspreads) and stories on the homemade revolution, buying vintage, Lisa Stickley and Pip Lincolne...a great read this month. The 'to do' list is still as long as it was this morning but I've had a lovely afternoon or reading (and drooling). Oh well, there's always tomorrow...

Crochet Craftiness @ Crafternoon

Finally, after many aborted attempts, I have finished my first complete block from 200 Blocks- a centred square. I started this block on Sunday night and finished it off last night at Crafternoon. Originally I was going to stick to cream and brown, but for some reason I decided to spice it up with a touch of mustard and hot pink. Not really my favourite colour palette, but I'm pleased with the result. Next block up- chocolate box.

Blackberries

Yesterday mum, Lily and I went blackberrying. There is nothing quite like this smell of fresh blackberries...yum! 

We ended up with 1.5 kilos (and a few scratches). We would have had more, but Lily kept eating hers. Despite this, we had more than enough to make blackberry and apple muffins which we ate for dessert. Delicious!

She'll be apples

I buy most of my fabrics online. And while most of the time I ask about the scale of the patterns, sometimes I take a punt. Sometimes it pays off. Sometimes it doesn't. Take, for example, this lovely linen I recently purchased through etsy. I bought it thinking it would make lovely little apple brooches. However, when the fabric arrived last week it was obvious that the apples were way too large for that. So, a tea towel it shall be. Last week my favourite tea towel caught fire while I was taking a pizza out of the oven. The pizza survived, the tea towel did not. This shall make a a fine replacement.

Craft Crushes...from the Barn market

HiiRagi- innocent bunny?

Ruby Victoria Letter Press- my one purchase/treat of the day

Ella Made That

Heart Felt

HiiRagi

Be afraid, be very afraid! HiiRagi's robot army...

...and their master

The Barn Bonanza!

Thanks to insomnia I've had about 12hrs sleep in the last three days, so this morning was a bit of struggle, but, once I got to the Barn I was immediately in the market mood (helped by a sugar hit from some lollipops from my market welcome gift box provided by Helen and Miriam- thanks girls, it was much appreciated). What can I say about the Barn Market? Amazing setting, fabulous live music, free photo booth (I went in 3 times!), lovely stall holders, appreciative customers...have I mentioned the amazing setting???? I'd say that in terms of atmosphere, the Barn Market is the best market I've attended. Here are some of my favourite pics from the day-

may stall

my welcome gift- full of goodies

fabulous music- my feet have never done so much jigging

My Mamma's Apron

me & my lollypop

effective use of a $5 dish rack

more My Mamma's Apron (nothing wrong with a little self-promotion)

this little file draw gets almost as much admiration as the product!

more pics

I want a photo booth!