Happy New Year

Happy New Year peeps. New Year brings new projects, fresh starts and clean-ups. This weekend I started on some new childen's clothes using a pretty pink cheesecloth and asweet little floral jersey knit. I used my favourite Sabine Pollehn pattern for the top (from the book 'Sewing Clothes Kids Love') which never fails to leave me satisfied. For the bottoms I wanted to use a pattern for bloomer type pants I used many times when Maggie was a baby but I'm buggered if I could find the damm thing now so I had to adapt another pattern.

This is where the problem lies. Silly billy pattern sizing. Does anyone else have problems with pattern sizes? I intended to make size 18 months and I thought they looked abit on the large size when I started to cut, but I'm trying to train myself to do as I'm told, to follow patterns and instructions properly. Well flippin nora, I should have trusted my judgement as now that they are finished I would say they'd be size 4-5!

I always seem to have this problem with patterns! They are always larger than they say. I even checked the measurement charts and seam allowances and still everything I make is larger than it says it should be.

Maybe this year I should resolve not to do as I'm told and trust my judgement more. Sounds way more fun anyway. I'm pretty happy with how they turned out though despite the size issue and it's nice to use the trimming I bought from a garage sale in Marrawah. Marrawah of all places, a remote surfy village on the rugged wild west coast of Tasmania where we spend most of our weekends in the summer. It's a gorgeous place, abit like a second home for us. I'll have to remember to show you some pics from our New Years trip.

I hope you all had a jolly Christmas and are full of New Year enthusiasm. What new projects are on your table?

My Creative Space

After coming over all inspired, refreshed and excited by my new book Sewing Clothes Kids Love, in my creative space I have been working on my new children's clothes range for the Made with LOVE Bazaar and I have to say, it's been a big hit with little Maggie-May. She has given me lots and lots of feedback on every miniscule detail! Her favourite was the wolf on the 'little red riding hood' ribbon.

I'm still trying to maintain the gypsy theme, so lots of ruffles and bright mismatch colour but I fear the style is more imaginary than real-life.

I made more recycled blanket jackets which I posted about before here, here and here as well as some trousers using the Dortje pattern. I love this style because it's given them more of a jeans look than just plain pyjama style pants. I've been looking for a pattern like this for ages, although I did alter it a little by straightening off the kick flair for the smaller sizes. I like the kick flair for older children but hate that 'Elvis' look it gives toddlers.

Of course I'm still using the usual op-shopped fabrics, bed linens, doilies, table clothes, tea towels, zips and buttons but mixing it all up with my very special new ribbons from Farbenmix.

I've also been playing around with my jersey knits more than I ever have. It's especially handy the way these curl over on the ends, I love that for a change from the normal seams.

I can't wait for our next market as I missed the last when we were away at the surf competition, which Kim came 3rd in - stoked!!!! The fancy dress theme is 80's and at the moment I'm thinking Karate Kid, Breakfast Club or Dexy's Midnight Runners and as a back up I can always get a disgusting satin prom dress from my local Vinnie's that has the best dress-up hire upstairs.

The market is on Saturday 9th April between 9am-1pm in the Artscape Building, Jackson Street, Wynyard, Tas. I wish you could all come, you'd love it so much.

Thanks for continuing to host My Creative Space Kirsty, it gives me an aim every week. See more here.

Farbenmix

Mr Amazon sent me a parcel last week containing a book that has been on my christmas wish list for two big fat whole years. He's nice like that isn't he. I'll tell you all about the wonderful book, that had I known it would just cost me $14 from kind Mr Amazon I wouldn't have waited so damm long for, another time. Maybe it's a case for the return of Monday Morning Book Club. Anyway, what I want to share with you now is this, Farbenmix ribbons.

I'm now speechless! Just go look for yourself. I've ordered heaps:)

Touting Your Wares

Today I went out touting my wares. A very nerve racking pursuit for a humble stitcher who just likes making stuff.

But alas I had a gorgeous day and came back empty handed!!! Well empty handed of stock, but not of things bought in the oppy's. I managed to enjoy a good rummage during a Maggie-May free morning. A gorgeous blanket, some satin scraps for more bunting for the market and some yummy bummy raspberries.

I even managed to squeeze in a coffee, cake and 70 odd pages of Country Style magazine at Deli Central in Ulverstone. How special it was to be all by myself. (How many of you just had visions of Bridget jones right then?)

So anyway, I'm really pleased that Baby Boudoir will now also be available from Two Figs in Reibey Street, Ulverstone. I approached Wendy after admiring her beautiful shop.

Do you sell your creations? Do you find it easy to sell? Or do you mainly make things for yourself and your loved ones? I sometimes wonder if craft bloggers and readers of my blog are also cultivating little cottage industries on their kitchen table, just as Laura Ashley did. I'm sure there are many us's out there. Happy stitching ladies.

My Creative Space

It's been blankets, blankets and more blankets over here! With the gypsy theme in mind, I'm starting to create a new range for winter, all made from blankets. So time to get stuck in.

The range will include hooded jackets, similiar to the ones I made before here, trousers, flat caps and mittens.

I'm hoping to create lots of unisex styles with that 'thrown together' look. I'm starting with the grey blanket, which is surprisingly soft and we think may have angora in it! I love the red edging.

Of course I'll also be 'decorating' this little jacket with all the usual bits and bobs that I manage to find to recycle; buttons, ric-rac, ribbon, beads etc.

I'm still deciding on the pockets; side ones like these or just patterned patch pockets? I'll wait and see what looks best once I've put on the buttons.
 

 
This one will be for one of Maggie's besties Felix. You know how the first ones are always abit of an experiment.
 

 
What have you all been up to whilst I've been away? I'm heading over to Kirtsy's now to check out more lovely projects. Why not join me.

Feeling the LOVE

What with all that's been going on in my imaginary gypsy life, is it any wonder that at the third 'MadewithLOVEBazaar' I ended up looking like this in just my normal clothes? The theme was "hippie love".

Inspiration is a wonderful thing. Soak it up and see how much fun you can have. I loved being a hippie gypsy. Recognise the dress, I posted about it before here.

These were taken when me, Michelle and Sarah were playing in my mums aka 'Dora the Explorer's' camper van. Don't you reckon that Michelle looks like Gypsy Rose - Fortune Teller?

Hehehehe. Mum bought the textiles in Rajasthan. She was there for six weeks in October/November. She painted a traditional Rajasthani design on the floor and everything else a beautiful warm aqua blue, tiled the top of the small cupboard and stuck little round mirror tiles everywhere. It looks absolutely brill.

The 'market girls' have been so busy making so many new things for the market after our sell-out success of the first two. We're also really looking forward to welcoming new stall holders to our next market on 12th February, just before Valentines. Dress-up theme is RED.

If you fancy being part of this cool, fun, funky market, please visit our Facebook page for contact details, we'd love to hear from you. I'll leave you with a quick peak at some of the goodies on offer at the MadewithLOVEBazaaar in Wynyard, Tasmania, Australia.



Sorry For My Absence

They say "absence makes the heart grow fonder".  So I stayed absent and waited and waited but still there was no fondness for my blog and my words seem to fail me. Bum I thought, I've lost my blog mojo already. What kind of blogger am I lasting only eight months...........not a very good one that's what! But hey, I think my blog mojo may be back at last. Today (day 5 of our road trip) we arrived in Leura and I feel very very inspired to tell you all about it! After all it would be such a shame to miss this opportunity to share my road trip stories and discoveries with you. This was taken on day 1 in Trentham where we stopped for lunch.

We had been driving through central Victoria and NSW for 3 days whilst the rain continued to pour and a few bad experiences in towns less than welcoming made us move on. But this morning we woke up to a beautiful crisp sunny winters day and decided to head East towards Sydney, crossing the Great Dividing Range and into the Blue Mountains. Leura came upon us quite by surprise this afternoon just in time for our 'tea and pee' stop. Upon noticing a CWA market in a cute cottage, I shouted STOP, then added a little more softly "maybe we could have a really quick little lookie here pretty please you wonderful wonderful person you".

This kind of pleasant mannered begging has become an essential skill when pursuading a husband driving a campervan towing a trailer caravan in small narrow winding roads and towns to do a U'ey just for me to look in a shop! Anyway, he agreed it would make a good "tea and pee" stop so we clambered our stiff bodies out of the miniscule front seats of our campervan with Maggie chirping in support "walk, walk" and headed up the high street of Leura for a little lookie. My oh my, what a divine little vilage. Characterful heritage cottages, beautiful gardens and a small high street with wibbly wobbly pavements lined with blossom trees and speciality boutique shops.

I managed to get a glimpse in Leura's Toy Shop, buy dinner for the evening in Leura's Gourmet Deli and jostled alongside some students in a Leura's Vintage before closing time and pursuading 'the driver' that we should stay the night so that we could continue our little lookie in the morning.

Now, just before I go, I need to mention a few things. Firstly I need to apologise in advance for the rubbish quality of the photos I'll be posting whilst we're on our road trip, I've just realised that I don't have the same editing programme on our little old laptop.

Secondly, I can't wait to share some pictures of our little caravan with you now that we've finished the refurb once we're all set up in a caravan park in Sydney, so please pop by again soon.

At lastly, but most importantly, I want to say a massive thank you to Justine Telfour at Mixtape for featuring Baby Boudoir in the latest issue - All Around the World. Stoked I was to be included in such a fantastic publication, made my heart proper flutter. And if you've found your way to my blog after seeing the mention and wish to make a purchase from Baby Boudoir, just email me and mention "Mixtape rocks" to get 10% OFF your purchase. My bunting, softies, bags and quilts can be seen over there on the right so scroll back up to the top to see all.

New Stockist - Crossed Spoons Cafe

Won't you just check out Violet, Florrie and the others in their new home; the Crossed Spoons Cafe, Boat Harbour, Tasmania. All poshed up and ready to go to a good new home. I'm so proud of them, but I must let them fly the nest. I hope people enjoy them as much as me.

So let me tell you about the Crossed Spoons Cafe. It's one of those comfy cafe's where you always feel welcome and relaxed. Vanessa explained "it was always our aim to offer good homecooked meals and give people the chance to purchase locally made wares". Supporting local artisans is something that is important to her as well as offering a wide range of Indian products.

The Crossed Spoons Cafe provides the perfect place to relax and enjoy a yummy meal, coffee or desert in easy chairs in front of a roaring fire whilst your child plays with the toys on the rug. Or if you want abit of peace and quiet you can sit in the other room and admire the fantastic views over the bass strait. Whether your lunch appointment is business or pleasure, Crossed Spoons Cafe will provide the perfect place to 'nosh up'. There's heaps of space so you will never be left out in the cold and is very conveniently located on the Bass Highway between Wynyard and Boat Harbour. Also known as Killynaught, they also have beautiful little cottages if you really can't bear to leave. Closed in winter on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but open all other days 11am - 5pm. A stay here would be a must if you're thinking of visiting the area.

My Creative Space

My 'Village' applique bags have still been completely and utterly consuming me this week. These are just perfect for kiddiwinks library bags as I made them big enough for the lovely large picture books.

And yesturday I spent a couple of hours just cutting fabric as I was getting abit low on squares and triangles for quilts and  bunting. Not my favourite thing to be doing but it's so satisfying seeing them all cut and ready to go in my cupboard. It also makes it fun for people to choose their fabrics and have a play with designs when they want a bespoke quilt or bunting, with a matching toy. 

What have you been up to this week? I'd love to hear. And don't forget to pop over to Kirsty's blog Kootoyoo to see what others have been busy creating.

My Creative Space

In my creative space this week I've made a start on those items that are at the bottom of my list. I had so much fun making things for Maggie's party, I now need to knuckle down and get on with making some crocosuarus's......and with only snippets of time here and there this week, it's difficult to get to the sewing bit before the disappearing ink vanishes on the outline.......gee whizzer I hate that, don't you!!

I'm thinking of doing my first ever farmers market in Burnie this Saturday (if I can get my lazy bones out of bed early enough) so I'd like to take along some crocosaurus's (another claireyloo special word - pronounced as you would think then add 'russes' on the end).

He looks rather camouflaged in amongst his mates doesn't he. Now go grab yourself a cup of tea and a biccy then come back and head over here to see all the amazing things that others are creating this week......have fun.