The weekend

Thanks so much for all the lovely comments and wishes from yesterdays post. I didn't get home from the market until 11.15PM lastnight, and I really needed to get to bed as soon as possible, hence there were no email replies. Also, a huge thankyou to everyone who came to visit and popped by to say hello!

Photo courtesy of Fontok

The first Kris Kringle market was a little quiet - lots of people browsing so they can return over the next three Thursdays and buy some lovely christmas pressies. I made sure that I had a couple of quick browses at all of the lovely stalls lastnight.... so much gorgeousness to choose from. I was extremely restrained, but I just couldn't resist picking up some Shmishmas Cards by Myf from Fontok. They're made using photos of abandoned christmas trees from christmases past...hilarious!

I also forgot to mention that I'm sharing my stall at the Kris Kringle Markets with Ann Marie from Map 29. She makes the coolest little map purses around, as well as badges and pocket mirrors, and next week she'll also have some map pencilcases ready.

I'm heading off to Clunes today for a relaxing weekend, and then to Daylesford tomorrow for the Makers Market. Make sure you come along for a day trip so you can check out all that Daylesford has to offer - including the lovely Lark shop!

Of course, if you can't make it to Daylesford, then you should definitely head to the Northside Makers Market tomorrow at the Uniting Church in High St, Northcote. There are lots of new stalls filled to the brim with gorgeous things for Christmas. I'll have at few brooches and brooch kits available on the Northside Collective Table.

Anyway, it's getting late and I've gotta go and pack my suitcase....seeya!

A reveal

After receiving my gorgeous washcloth and handmade soap from Annmarie a couple of weeks ago, I just had to put in a request for some more goodies for my mums birthday last week.

I love how the variegated yarn gives a completely different look.... and they're so soft and beautiful.

My mum loved them and that was the most important thing!

WHO is it?

Did you see who was in this weeks WHO magazine?

Annmarie's lovely Map 29 purses are featured in the style section. If you hurry, you can head on over and enter her giveaway and maybe win one for yourself.

My creative space

This weeks creative space actually looks a lot like last weeks!

I'm using the same vintage kitchen cafe curtain to make a handbag for Annmarie.

I was admiring the gorgeous washcloth that she was knitting at the market last Saturday, and then when I saw her on Monday, she gave me a little package.

Inside the package was the washcloth and some lovely Lemon Myrtle and Poppyseed soap that she had also made. So sweet!

The original kitchen curtain handbag is currently in the shop (just in case you're interested).

More of this weeks creative spacers here.

The Good News

Even when the market is a fizzer, there's always some good news....

Please excuse the blurry photos - my battery was dying

• I had a lovely day drinking coffee and eating muffins and chatting with Annmarie (above) and Cathie (below), and we also had visits from Bec, Cathy, and Jay
• I don't have to stress about making stock for the next Thornbury Market on Sept 5th.
• I can load some stock into my very neglected CurlyPops Shop
• Now I have time to hem my new curtains before they're hung next Sunday.
  

Hmmm time for a cup of tea and a lovely Melbourne Epicure muffin that I bought home yesterday....

Handbagging it up

It's the last day before my next market stall, and it's been a little while since the last one...

I've been toiling away in my little sweat shop whipping up some new bags to take along, and listening to my new favourite CD. Of course, there's been the normal bouts of complete procrastination, and lots of cups of teaand chocolate for sustenance (and I may even admit to a little op shopping excursion - I was having serious rummaging withdrawals).


I had to take poor old Frances outside into the cold for a photo shoot (sorry about the completely uninspiring background, but I had the choice of bricks or a colourbond fence.... or we could have played in the jungle of weeds that are currently inhabiting the patch of dirt which is supposed to be my backyard).

So I now have lots of new handbags and lots of new brooches to take along with me.


If you're looking for something to do on Saturday (22nd August), then come and visit the market at:

Queen Victoria Womens Centre
210 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne

Market will be open from 10.00 AM - 3.30 PM

Annmarie from Crafty Girl with Ruffle will be sharing a stall with me, and Cathie from Melbourne Epicure will be providing sustenance with delicious breads, cupcakes, and biccies (must remember 4 gingerbread men for my nephews).

I still have a few things left on my to do list today:

Organise change
Find tablecloths
Make pricetags and pricelist
Print order forms / receipts
Pack car
Early night!

A broochfest

There seems to be a little bit of a broochfest happening around crafty blogland, so here's my show and tell!

I try to co-ordinate a brooch to my outfit every day, even if I'm just schlepping about the house. Brooches just seem to make me happy.

• Top row - Beaded Heart and Flower Brooches by me
• 2nd Row - Aunty Mabels Handbag & Owl by Betty Jo - Wonderland and Chocolate by Sophie Isobel
• 3rd Row - Flower by Greenolive, Owl by Hokey, Vintage Diamante Cluster bought from second hand shop in Clunes, INXS badge from the 80's gifted to me from Steph.
• Bottom Row - Necklace / Badge Combo by Lauren Williams, 3 vintage floral & 1 Pippijoe fabric badge from Starashan.
• Cluster of badges on the right hand side made by me at Brown Owls last year.

Do you have a little bit of a brooch collecting obsession that you'd like to share?

Another Market

Even though I'm crazy busy at the moment, I've signed up for another market stall!

The Queen Victoria Womens Centre is having an Open Day on Saturday 22nd August 2009, and will be holding a craft market as part of the activities for the day. The market will run from 10 AM til 3.30 PM.


Taken from the QVWC Website:

The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre is a vibrant place and space known, valued and used by women to shape the world they want for themselves and for the women of the future.

The Centre is a hub for women’s issues, ideas and leadership across ages, cultures, interests and localities.

A place for women, by women - we work with women and women focused organisations to build their ability to achieve their objectives.

Established in 1994, the Centre’s heritage building is the sole remaining tower of the former Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital.

The Centre’s beautiful building is home to a range of women's organisations and offers venuesWomen's Gallery that enable the public to share and support this vibrant place for the women of our community.

I'll have lots of new brooches and handbags on offer, and I'm sharing a stall with Ann Marie from Crafty Girl With Ruffle, who will have be bringing along her fabulous Map 29 purses.

You can have your own favourite destination made up into a stylish purse!

Now, I'd better get back to the sewing machine..... pronto.

Last weeks loot

I'm catching up with the thankyous today.

First on the list - a big thankyou to Ann Marie for this adorable little pocket mirror with a vintage picture. Isn't it sweet! It's now living in my handbag.

Next on the list, a huge thankyou to Jay from Finki. When I arrived at the market last Saturday, she gave me a beautifully wrapped pressie. Inside was a vintage 1974 (the best year) tea towel, this amazing piece of vintage fabric.....

....and this beautiful handmade art journal / sketchbook (this will be perfect for sketching out my new crafty ideas).

Later on in the day, we did a little swap.

I picked up this gorgeous little card holder for my handbag. I couldn't resist the beautiful colours, and the sweet hand stitching.

There's plenty of room inside to hold everyone's business cards....

...and this is the cutest - it has a little elastic and button closure to keep it closed in your bag.

Thanks Jay!