Handmade Market all wrapped up for the quarter & another success!!

Greetings all,
I can & do & will continue to go on & on about the success of the Handmade Market in Canberra.  It's just quarterly, it's only 6 markets old yet continues to blow stall holders, customers, media & the most discerning "isn't handmade craft still daggy" kind of doubters away with crowds, sales, atmosphere & the love of all things handmade.  In a city vineyard location, beautiful weather & enthusiastic shoppers, it was for me, the best single market day ever!!  What a boost to my family's bottom line, you can have new shoes children!! 
I will be forever grateful that people like Julie Nichols exist.  When Julie turned her PR, marketing & creative genius to founding this Handmade Market in November 2008, it became a phenonenom - the last 4 markets had crowds of over 10 000 people!!   

My stall neighbours under the trees - scuptures & water features (this one sold at $5.5K) & wood turning display.  Who knew a combination of patchwork, woodwork & water features would work so well??  Um, Julie!!

This gorgeous white painted bird feeder came home with me along with a 9' post to perch it on & everyone thought the bird houses (on posts, looking divine) were part of my display or merchandising, he he!!  Well now they can be.  I imagine gazing at this while i'm at the clothes line, pretending i'm in the Hamptons, NOT Canberra!! 

My patchwork quilt stand worked a treat, recycled poles from broken clothes racks, $11 on wood (included cutting) & a new $15 drill bit, voila, quilt stand!!  Sold 4 quilts too, including the one from Cosmo Magazine, yahoo!!  This craft cupboard display was so easy to set up in no time.  Washi tapes were very popular too!!

Thank you & good bye Market Girl, see on Saturday 5th June, another Winter Warmer, non??

It was so exciting to meet lots of bloggers too, Liz from Lino Forest - we both had ace Betty Jo lino creations on, loved Liz's energy & vibe, up from Melbourne with her Mum; then lovely Lisa from The Red Thread - with a super nice friend, checking out the market, down from Sydney.  Plus a blogger friend via the phone, how cute is Sheridan from ChaletGirl - sent a friend to buy something, anything from me.  Also Sue, the clever brains behind HeadsUp @Calvary Hospital (head dresses for chemo gals)!!  Got to love this blogging world!! Really appreciate you coming along to say hello, you all must come & join in the Handmade mania too!!   Lots of other nice crafty bloggers had stalls at Handmade too (love you Corrie from Retro Mummy & Katia from Plushka) - great to see you here.
If you're not up for a market in Canberra, consider Shop Handmade, puttnig your handmade stock in a beautiful retail space in the heart of Canberra's shopping district 'City Walk Civic'.
I think my new merchandising & French theme did the trick, lots of new things for my devoted regular customers to enjoy, fresh new badges, fabrics & purses were very popular!!  Just having new products made me feel fresh & exciting.  My $10 sale basket went nuts too!!  Love Posie

name dropping

Greetings all,
Yippee, i had a few products in the latest Cosmo Pregnancy magazine, including cowboy bunting in this cool collection of country & western gear . . . 

that red, pink & white patchwork quilt from this blog post & a cute vintage bib . . .

have to say my first pregnancy did not look this glam in 1998 mummies . . .
love Jenna Elfman, she's soooooo cool!!

So that is a little taste of your $13.95 worth of Cosmo Pregnancy magazine.

Gosh i think back to my first pregnancy, i was finishing up my 6th year at Sydney Uni, i was 23, moving to the Northern Territory for the first time with my handsome soldier, so morning sick i couldn't work at all, it just doesn't feel like it was that long ago!!  That baby is now in year 6, a house captain, away on camp & turning into a lovely young lady.  I can't wait to make her formal dresses & she actually agrees with my colour, style & designs, brilliant.  I should get that in writing & signed now, will save immense trauma later on don't you think??  Oh we have our moments, she struggles to be a daughter & not the leader all the time, but i know when to back down & when to put her in her place.  Motherhood is this amazing balance of personalities, relationships & development.  I am loving this stage, it's delicate & unpredictable, we try not to do drama . . . tomorrow i'm giving her a room make over.  Can't wait to see her face when she returns on Friday.  Love Posie

My Creative Space 'what's in my front door way'

Greetings all,
Don't you love peeking into people's doorways??  Well if you were nosey & walked past my front door, this is what you'd find this week . . .

cushions for baby Chloe to be collected by daddy Tom . . .

Chloe's mum Corinne requested buttons on the back . . .

it wasn't until i bought this Brother Innovis 600 sewing machine that i was ever confident with my button holes (machine recommended by Corrie from Retro Mummy - she knows her stuff, we both got them for Mother's Day last year, thanks husbands!!) 

goodies returned from Cosmo Pregnancy magazine shoot . . .

was a busy week & everything got piled up . . .

with samples spilling out onto the floor . . .

Indeed a busy week . . . i picked up two new stores/ stockists for my wholesale label Edna&AliceMay, wrote P&C reports, drafted Winter Olympic assignment x 2 for twins, hosted 3 sleep overs, as well as sewing up a storm for upcoming markets.  Does your front door way look like a mini shop too??  FYI my studio is just in the front doorway to the left!!  Must sort it all . . . tomorrow.  Was fun playing My Creative Space this week kootoyoo!!  Love Posie