some more Handmade market eye candy . . .

Greetings all,

So you wanted more Handmade Market eye candy . . . how about some incredible origami/ paper folding/ cleverness (images by Rosalind at Grace Designs).  This is exactly the kind of special something something i'd have under a glass cloche in my homestead, a show stopping unique handmade object which i would gaze at daily with wonder & heart flutters.

 Those Mookah sisters know how to style a stall.  There is something just-so-spot-on about their taste, quality & design.  Leisa said "we don't do pretty like you".  My personal choice isn't pretty either, some soft vintage in the girls' bedrooms but our homestead will be all about texture & linens, bold screen printed pattern & 'durable', like our leather King Furniture Jasper lounge.

 Props & signage is a great addition to your stall.  I love vintage lettering - on a wooden block - yes please.  I really want to cut back on my range/ variety so i have more space for props & merchandising than just baskets of products.  I've been trying to do this for a while, less is more & all that.

 The truth about child labour & the Posie production line was revealed . . . my girls were hand sewing behind the stall (& softie bombing my accessories tree.)  The customers loved it, commenting they wished their children could sew/ crochet/ knit/ embroider - i'm just raising them the way i was brought up . . . when you're not playing in the garden, swimming, walking the dog or on a bike, you're doing something crafty with your hands. 

 I came home to a freshly baked chocolate on chocolate cake on Sunday afternoon. I couldn't eat it, i had a shower & a lie down . . . each child lifted the ice pack off my eyes & asked if they could have my slice.  Look at these faces, do they look like the kind of girls who would take food from their sick mother??  You betcha!!  Thanks for the photo Rosalind.

What's on the cards for me today - turning out the garage, urgh.  My husband will read this & cheer.  Bring on the garbage bags, i feel SO good after Spring cleaning, love Posie
PS on my super go slow internet connection i can only add a few images per post, frustrating to say the least + on going comment issues, come on Blogger!!

i'm grateful for . . . 'allowed to be sad'

Greetings all,

I've been doing fluffy posts all week to cover up the huge hole in my heart.  This is not a sympathy seeking post, i just have to let my emotions out.  It's not dirty laundry, more a lesson in how lucky you are if you have your family close in your heart, healthy & home.

I’ve had possibly the saddest week of my life . . . farewelling my husband, that is always tough, but when my father rang to say my mother (suffering Alzheimer’s) woke up one morning this week & said she didn’t know who he was, I’m heart broken.  56 years of marriage, this is how their love story is going to end??  I’m shattered.  It's the moment i've been dreading.  Alzheimer's Disease can leave the patient with the blur of feeling like they should know the people around them, only they can't put it together, they feel stupid & often scared.

This year I have done many posts on things I’ve given up, paused or postponed, from the P&C to my website, small markets to working at Shop Handmade, all things I loved but I knew how this year was going to run (husband away & elderly parents) + high school is as full on & involved as expected, especially if your child has missed 2 weeks due to a virus & suddenly assignments for every subject are due to wrap up the term & vital school work is missing.  Pressure & stress, she likes to give her best. 

I like to have everything in order in my house so we can enjoy school holidays, not use that non-school-run-time-savings on sorting the cupboards.  Alas, I have a big double Handmade Market on next weekend, fabulous & that is where every spare moment is going next week, sewing!!  Oh throw in another teacher’s strike too & regional athletics carnival.  One more week of school, then we can all catch our breath . . . & visit my parents, the cupboards can wait. 

I’m grateful I’m allowed to be sad, take it all in, compartmentalise what I can help with & make changes to, along with that I can’t do anything about, only wish for the best – like my darling Dad’s daily dealings with the cruel Alzheimer’s which is stealing my mother from him.  They have moved to live closer to my doctor brother & his incredibly dedicated wife, for 'supervision', a very sensible move.  I have my mental health, i can deal with this, absorb, slow & calm.  I throw myself into positive pursuits like sewing & the gym, i walk the dog a bit further each day, he knows all my worries.  Pets as therapy anyone??  I'm also very grateful i don't have to be anything other than a daughter, wife & mother, focus on family, that is my only goal to wrap up this emotional year.  More Gratefuls here with sweet Sonia from Lioness Lady.  Love Posie

our creative space . . . 'crafty customer service'

Greetings all,

Hmmm . . . i think customer service in craft/ haberdashery/ art supply shops is either - super fabulous with great interest in what you are using the materials for, offering their knowledge, experience & ideas, or . . . like you're at the check out of a super market, beeping the codes through & taking your money, smiles & friendly banter are not included.
I was on a giddy high from the Esprit, Country Road & Trenery sales this morning, shopping up a storm for Summer . . . then i went to Spotlight. 

What can i say??  I dashed in to use the 'spend $100 & get $30' off voucher as i needed some linen, threads & needles.  The linen was 20% off, aces, i can afford an extra metre.  I am served by the lovely Narell who is so well informed & offers excellent customer service, every time . . . only as i got to my last cut of linen, it was her break, nooo, she handed me over to the next sales assistant. 

 I calculated exactly how much i needed to crack the magic $100 mark & had already discussed with Narell that i wanted to take advantage of the $30 discount offer, but had not printed off the email voucher.  She said she had a magic code for people like me. 

Giggles.  Banter.  Smiles.

 I mentioned to the new sales assistant that i had chatted to Narell about the $30 voucher situation - to avoid any end of transaction drama, there was a queue forming behind me - it can get ugly at a Spotlight sale.  Well, you would have thought i had just asked her to stick knitting needles in her eyes & give me 100% off . . . she snapped at me "you need to print it off" & i smiled back with "Narell said you have a magic code".  She must have spent 3 minutes arguing/ telling me off, ME, the always right customer.  Guess what people, she had to move the beeper gun, aim it at a bar code AT THE POINT OF SALE & pull the trigger, click, beep, $30 off.  OMG!!  The huge effort.
Why are some sales assistants so hell bent on spoiling your transaction & experience??  I also said "don't worry about the metres of plastic wrap, kind of negates the no-plastic-bag message" & she said "you'll look like a shop lifter".  So i suggested, with my receipt, i could prove at the door, i had paid.  OMG . . . i had no option, she wrapped it up in the plastic anyway.  Then said "the yellow strip is what they look for" & i thought, well why not just give me that, argh!!

 I didn't care, i got 20% off linen + $30 off the total, i am a normal person with a good attitude, sucks to be her!!  It can never be a bad day when your husband picks up a copy of Peppermint Magazine for you, while you're in the post office, because he heard you mention it was out & you wanted to grab one!! 

Something to offer for our creative space this Thursday - you can win this pencil roll & retro fabric stack, my contribution to the Handmade Market Hamper - via the Canberra Times!!

Now, back to that gorgeous linen, i'm screen printing up a storm, stay tuned, love Posie  

my creative space 'fabric ribbon purses'

Greetings all,

Well it has been an exhuasting week with ALL of us getting back into the swing of school routine.  High School starts 20 minutes earlier than Primary School, which puts me in heavier city traffic, sigh.  I'm trying to think up exciting sandwich & lunch box options + i'm back behind the counter at Shop Handmade. 

Knowing it would be a challenge to do any sewing this week, i got stuck into fabric & ribbon coin purses on the weekend (watching Mad Men series 3, again).  Here is this week's offering for Kootoyoo's My Creative Space.

 Finally able to upload images - these are some close ups of the pencil case in the 'packing for high school' post.  She studies Japanese & likes birds, deer, hearts & mushrooms, voila ribbon perfection!!

 This is the 'just in case' purse, more oriental ribbon love.

 I made four dozen purse pouches, seeing the first batch sold out quickly, this should last a while.

 I'm working on a Euro theme for the Handmade Market in 10 days. 

 How cute is this for some French amore??

  Plus a new batch of larger purses in my gorgeous collection of linens printed in Japan.

My feet are sore - i'm not 'Shop fit' meaning i'm not used to standing for 5 hours a day but wow, do Rachel (Shop owner) & i laugh, at anything & everything, all day!!  Then home to cook dinner, organise uniforms & bake for the following day (i bake twice during the week for recess, while the oven is on for dinner).  Small mercy we don't have homework this week as i get back into the structured school routine, covering books & labelling every single thing my children need for school.  Oh & so far - putting my credit card on no less than a dozen notes for all sorts of things from school photos to camp.    
My husband has been out bush for almost a month now in hot humid Brisbane & tries to call in every couple of days.  I have to say technology has come a long way since the days when he'd go out & i wouldn't hear from him at all during an exercise, little babies or not (i'm possibly the world's more relaxed & patient wife).  Skype is working a treat, the children can see his face & chatter away about their day, their new teachers, classrooms, friends, it's gorgeous & natural.  I've love it, i can chat meaningfully & hand sew at the same time, glee!!

Shall enjoy the rest of the week home alone sewing up a storm, ahhhh . . . once i nail the new school run & earlier start time, i should be home from 9a.m. for almost 6 hours of sewing & gardening, yippee!!  Love Posie
PS so good to be running at full internet speed again today, ah, i'm off to visit blogs, tally ho.

all aboard for the Handmade Living. blog tour + G I V E A W A Y

Greetings all,
Today I have the pleasure of welcoming author Tania McCartney to my blog. Gorgeous Tania is launching a blog tour for Handmade Canberra’s glorious book . . .
handmade living: a designer collective. Yippee, all aboard, the tour starts here!!
I’m a lucky contributor in this awesome publication & I’m honoured to present . . . a little chat between Tania & myself, spilling the beans on What is Handmade Living.??

Tania: Well, it’s a fabulous new book! But to really give you a sense of what it’s truly about, let’s talk about handmade living in a conceptual sense. Essentially, I believe ‘handmade living’ is the new black – it’s undergone an incredible resurgence, mostly on the back of the internet… blogs and stores like made it and etsy – platforms that have made it incredibly easy for talent all over the world to market and sell their extraordinary wares. You, of all people, know all about this…

Posie: Do I ever!! I’ve been in my Posie handmade business for 10 years, once considered a niche!! Being able to sell online allows you to work the hours which suit your work & family. Ordering stock & materials from websites all over the world can really enhance your unique handmade angle too!! I love that phrase ‘handmade living is the new black’, handmade really is a lifestyle now too, don’t you think??

Tania: Absolutely. ‘Handmade living’ is about incorporating handmade objects and projects into your lifestyle. People want to make their homes and lives personal, eclectic, ‘different’ – it’s über cool to DIY – people are realising that not only does handmade bring a unique flavour and beauty to our lives, it give us longevity, whimsy and collectible history that can be handed down and enjoyed for decades to come – not only in terms of quality and style, but also in terms of posterity.

Posie: Totally agree. This is how my passion for patchwork started - I wanted one for my first daughter & didn’t like the tired & boring ones available (in 1998) so taught myself to make one – traditional craft with a fresh twist & modern style. A handmade home ware is no longer associated with a crocheted purple toilet roll cover your grandmother made . . . it’s something beautiful, high end; made with love & artful detail - you simply can’t get from chain store mass production.

Tania: I’m so over mass-produced products. I don’t buy much any more, but when I do – I want to invest in special. And thanks to this book, I’ve met even more amazing talent to spend my money on!


Posie: Ditto!! Try working in Shop Handmade & not bringing every single item home. Supporting small Australian handmade businesses - people like to know their dollar counts. Speaking of which, Shop will stock handmade living too. The preorder hype has been palpable. Tania, what is the book is about, in a nutshell?


Tania: handmade living: a designer collective is a collection of incredible projects, ideas and inspiration from handmade designers all over Australia. The line-up of talent is just stunning – some of it pure cottage industry, some really established businesses, ALL combining handmade philosophies and construction in their work. Essentially, the book is a showcase of these designers – it’s been a real pleasure to support their individual journeys.


Posie: It’s amazing to see everyone together in one place, all those different styles, mediums, experience levels in ONE book. The common thread, pun intended, is that all these designers share a love for handmade ways, indeed handmade living.


Tania: I know – it’s so exciting. We have artists, foodies, seamstresses, crafters, paper artists, photographers, event organisers, fashion designers, jewellers, sculptors, ceramicists, chocolatiers, screen printers… the list goes on.

Posie: It’s not just for the ladies, my husband can’t wait to trial the chocolate recipes, flicking straight to the foodie section, of course. The images & styling are so delicious & inviting. The variety makes handmade living. so much more than just a craft book!!


Tania: It’s so wonderful to hear you say that – working on this book was a total labour of love for all of us – and I’m so so excited to see people’s reaction. There are so many amazing elements to it and as you said when you first saw it – incredible value for money ... over 70 projects and inspirational ideas in this book for under $40! We feel so proud we can offer such a book to the Australian market.

Posie: My reaction - speechless, eyes bulging, in awe - going over each & every page in slow motion!!

Tania: I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen you speechless! LOL!

Posie: I love how the book is cleverly divided into chapters, brilliant for speedy inspiration. The whimsy of the children’s section, creating things for my children . . . they can pick a project + a fabric from my stash, voila, a new generation truly appreciating the personal touch of handmade. If you’re experienced, just add more detail & your own little spin.


Posie: I was so excited when you first approached me about contributing to the book. I signed up without hesitation of course, my mind spinning with ideas outside of what I sew for my own business. Where did the idea come from, to do a Handmade book??

Tania: We couldn’t have done it without you! As for the origins of the book, it was a natural extension of the Handmade Canberra brand – first the Market, then the Shop, now the Book. I was having dinner with Handmade founder Julie Nichols and some other clever women, when I mentioned writing a book, Julie said ‘let’s make it happen’. So we did.

Posie: As simple as that, a brilliant idea over dinner & you went with your heart & made it happen!! Love that tenacity & drive.


Tania: When we say we’re going to do something, we don’t muck around – I mean, why wait? If you say something, do it! The dinner was late February of this year. By April, we had designers applying to be part of the book and June we were in production. Files were sent in August and our book has just been delivered for the 4th December launch.

Posie: Did it take a lot of people to put this book together; the production side I mean?


Tania: It took a small team a lot of hours. Julie Nichols ran production, Tina Snerling created illustrations, graphics and templates, Louise Hall managed admin, plus we had some amazing contributors – along with your sweet self, we had Shop Handmade’s Rachel Evagelou, photographer Hilary Wardaugh, Rosalind Grace for proofreading, some beautiful adult and child models. I took care of writing, editing, photography and the layout, design and typesetting. Phew!

Posie: I can only imagine the long hours, meetings, emails, proofing - with everyone putting the pieces together. I was thrilled to contribute my projects, collaborations & props for styling. I have been collecting vintage craft supplies & toys forever; knew they’d come in handy one day!! It’s all in the detail.


Tania: I agree – and this book is full of detail. Honestly, it’s like nothing ever seen on the market before. Not only is it packed with original and revamped handmade project ideas, it’s also a glorious peek into the creative minds of some really talented people – and I know those in the crafting world love to meet and learn about talent. It’s such a networking thing… the handmade community is so supportive and generous – I love it.


Posie: A customer at Shop Handmade was preordering a copy & said it sounds like “the perfect coffee table book”. It’s a beautiful book filled with photographs brimming with ideas for how to display your handmade product after you’ve made it or bought it. I do this for a living & I’m inspired from the quirky styling details in handmade living.


Tania: It’s also really exciting that the book has sections that would attract everyone… kids can get busy embellishing a plain white tank top or foodies can create an exclusive recipe from a master chocolatier… Homelovers can choose from divine decorating ideas, amateur photographers can receive tips from the best in the biz, and fashionistas can learn how to create a wedding dress using three different embellishment ideas. And that’s only a handful of what’s on offer. It’s creative nirvana!

Posie: Tania, it’s been such fun chatting about the this incredible book, congratulations. I’m so excited about the imminent launch & know more people are inspired to be ‘handmade living’ with a copy of the book in their hot little hands. What do you hope handmade living will give its readers?


Tania: I hope handmade living not only showcases the amazing handmade talent we have in this country, but that it will inspire readers to slow down, appreciate and enjoy the process of making something by hand . . . I hope it inspires them to do some handmade living.


Handmade products carry such a whimsical, loving spirit within them and creating something from scratch is truly heart-fulfilling, ecologically sound and so appreciated by the recipient. I hope this book encourages people to pass on handmade ways to their children before these time-honoured techniques are lost in a barrage of soul-less technology.

& now for the official word . . . handmade living: a designer collective will be launched at Canberra’s magical Handmade Christmas Market at the Kamberra Wine Company in Lyneham on 4 December (11am to 7pm). See www.handmadecanberra.com.au for more details. The book will also be available at Shop Handmade on 4 December and Australia-wide from Monday 6 December . . . you can order one from Posie too!!

A callout for designers will be made mid-January 2011 for the spectacular Christmas-themed handmade living book. Keep an eye on Handmade Canberra for more.

& did someone mention a G I V E A W A Y??  Just follow this blog & leave a comment here for your chance to win a copy of Handmade Living. + a cute crafty sewing kits & i'll make up the prize value to over $100 with the latest quirky & vintage fabrics to get you into handmade living!!

 Oh, imagine how stunning a Handmade Christmas book would be, let me at it!! 
Thanks everyone, have gorgeous weekends, love Posie
EDIT: if we get over 100 comment entries i'll make up the g i v e a w a y to over $150 worth of fabric, prize total over $200!!  So go get your friends to enter too!!
Winner announced Friday 3rd December, just so you know if you need to buy one from the Handmade Market, Shop Handmade or me after it's released!!  Good luck everyone!!

& the winner of the Riley book giveaway is . . .

Greetings all,

Thank you for entering the blog giveaway on the weekend to win a copy of Tania McCartney's new children's book Riley and The Curious Koala.  It's a gorgeous book, the launch party was incredible (check out the cake for starters) & one lucky winner has a copy coming their way.

scary koala mask as a result of too much sugar in my boy after the candy bar at the Curious Koala book launch, he cut out his second mask a tad horror-film-esq

Congratulations Monet Paisley.  If you haven't seen the Monet Paisley blog, well it's totally sweet & her vintage swim suits are simply adorable.  Please email me your address & a book will be on its way to you.  Thanks everyone for entering, i know Tania's advice of expanding your brand was greatly appreciated & bookmarked by many. 

Something people say frequently to us at Shop Handmade & Handmade Market is that we're all so open & willing to support each other, promote each other & shop with each other, spilling secrets & sharing the passion.  Ditto for Tania & her writing tips, her blog tour was incredibly informative & applicable to small business.  I think in such an organic & creative industry such as handmade - we just understand . . . if people 'copy' i mean 'use your product as 'inspiration', it's their own spin on the design & twist on the product (well that's what you hope, sure some are unoriginal & shamelessly the same, bad karma to them).  I just know that in 10 years of business the more i share & encourage others to DIY handmade, the better my business sales go, so good karma perhaps??  Handmade Living. book exudes this, it's simply fantastic & a fresh approach to modern life, 70 'how to' projects for under $40, supporting handmade designers & sharing them with the world.  There are Thanks for everyone who has preordered, let me know if you want a copy too!!If you like winning books, check out The Canberra Times for your chance to win one with a Posie sewing kit (which they foolishly shot closed, instead of open showing off all the totally cool fun crafty bits inside, sigh).  A copy will be up for grabs on this blog next week so stay tuned, yep, with a sewing kit too!!  So follow now so you don't miss out.  What a lovely score before Christmas.Thanks everyone, have a lovely evening, love Posie

handmade from the pages of a magazine . . .

Greetings all,
Running early & carefree this morning, i almost left a face print on the glass door of the Post Office as i vigorously attempted to push it open, not seeing the "sorry we're closed" sign on said door at 9.05a.m.  Hmmm . . . i wasted some time at the bakery & newsagency before attempting the Post Office again.  So glad i did as i treated myself to the Inside Out magazine Christmas issue.  I really want to nail a good handmade Christmas wreath for the front door this year, voila, inspiration (read: styles i can totally copy).

 the beautiful cover didn't disappoint

 ahhh, whimiscal version of an advent calendar

 pretty garlands, i'm working on my own style

 & the wreaths!!

Did you read the words on that first page "if you make your own decorations they have soul & meaning & can become family treasures" . . . lovely sentiment.  I've been making these fabric penny wheels with a silver jingle bell for Shop Handmade & markets, tie to a tree with red & white twine.  Even my handsome soldier muttered "are you making these for our tree too??"  He likes!!  & yes, i will, plus birds of course!!

 I've not answered many magazine shoot call outs this year, kind of busy without a husband for 9 months so just not a priority.  But when Shop 4 Kids was doing a handmade child feature, i couldn't resist.  So i'm sending some bird bunting & a mix match baby wrap, lined with Tshirt jersey for a pram blanket.

As a mathematician & spatial person, i find it unnatural to piece patchwork together that isn't lined up precisely & completely orderly, planned, um . . . perfect, so this was a little experiment into a direction i'd like to try over Summer for next Autumn's quilts . . . it was liberating!!
Ok, after making this wrap last night (machine pieced with hand stitched edges) i got an order for a robot one at Shop Handmade today!!  So finishing that one off right now.  Love Posie

sewing kits & a crafty kind of weekend

Greetings all,

All year i've been meaning to rehash my sewing kits for the markets, so here goes . . . they have an extra crafty touch - regular pins, needles, safety pins, cottons + twine, fabric buttons, ric rac, bobby pins, dolly pegs, ribbon & string, all sealed up in a folded style wallet. 
Stay tuned & follow NOW for giveaway excitement, might have something to do with the new Handmade Living. book launch in 3 weeks . . . I'm coordinating a cyber giveaway to my bloggie craft lovers in a fortnight.

 Pins, needles & safety pins to be added to the orange felt tag panel, i just didn't feel like heading out in the rain to get new supplies today. 
Oh did 2 new birds for the Christmas tree find their way into my studio, these are from Country Road while they had 25% off, i'll use them all year round.

 I spent Saturday night die cutting these shapes for garlands, a combination of Christmas & all purpose festive ones.  I bought 20 massive sheets of coloured cards & started chomping into them.  Tip: if you're watching that heart breaking puppy movie Eight Below & working with card stock, make sure your tears don't drip on to your creations!!  Ditto for a 9 year old who might be sobbing next to you - she really didn't like the leopard seal part, scary!!  Why do i watch that movie every time it's on television??  Paul Walker + gorgeous puppies, i can't resist.

My husband let me sew right up until dinner was served tonight, love him.  They all had juicey steak sandwiches, i got one of these pieces of lean grilled chicken & salad.  I lost 1.5kg last week, yippee, so salad it is.  Yes those are cookies in the image above, baked while dinner was cooking, they are for recess tomorrow (not mine, sigh).
Have lovely weeks, love Posie

my little tricks for unknown markets

Greetings all,

So tonight i have a market, for SIDS&kids.  I signed up immediately as i knew regardless of how the market goes, my stall fee is going to a good cause.  I've just re-read the brief & realise it's also the Fire Fighter Calendar launch, so NOTHING to lose, i'm 4 stalls down from the ACT Fire Fighter table, yippee?? 
With little idea of the venue, demographic or what else to expect, i have some market tricks to share with you when attending an unknown market . . . 

 Take a themed product - try to fit a product which translates into the event/ season/ festivity i.e. Christmas!!  I made 20 of these headbands sitting along the athletics track last night at training.  I price my themed products less than the regular ones, so they sell quickly & impulsively.  I'll also be wearing one in my hair, yes, people ask where you wear headbands, really, they do!! 

 Take something to do - be subtle & keep it simple, don't read a book, but something market-stall-related like fiddle with a display, in my case, moving the brooches from this broken down old battered suitcase, into a new glass/ wooden divider box i picked up for $9 from The Reject Shop.  I can do it quickly or   v e r y   s l o w l y.  Nothing worse than looking pensive, anxious or bored at your stall, busy yourself!!

Take something new.  Each market i try to have a new product or atleast new range of fabrics on my products.  Tonight it's these super cute knitting kits from Art Viva, which are an addition to their Tasmanian Oak knitting needles.  You'll often find regular customers asking "what's new today" & they'll buy it!!  It's a lovely relationship, they love being the first to have something new.

I hope these tips help you!!  I'm also taking some hand stitching, just in case it's quiet.  I figure it's something small & simple you can do standing up, customers oohh & aahh saying "wow, aren't you clever" as so many can't sew on a button.  Plus it puts a handmade stamp on your work, makes the time fly & it's something you can do manually - when you're at home, you may as well be using your electric or bulky equipment!!

Have lovely weekends & wishing you marketeers all the best!!  Love Posie

my creative space 'reindeer stampede'

Greetings all,

Christmas decoration shopping for our home & my market stall just took on a whole new meaning . . . seems ALL these reindeer had to come home with me from Lincraft as they are ALL vitally important props in Christmas (well that's what i told my husband).  Now to decide on how to decorate or leave plain??  Any ideas??

 Prices range from $3-10, not included in the 30% off sale this week as snappily stated by the nasty shop assistant i had to endure!!

 Look at these naughty reindeer from Allana C, gobbling away at the GingerBreadHouse!!

 I'm back on Tony Ferguson weight loss diet (more just a very sensible eating regime) & after a little morning snack from The Flute this morning in Fyshwick then a trip taste testing our way around the Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets . . . my husband made me a very sensible lunch.  Tony Ferguson is brilliant if you don't drink tea, coffee, alcohol (i don't), you can resist bread, rice, potato, pasta (i can) & only have time for a brisk walk for exercise (i do).  The weight falls off. 

Check out the new Handmade Market postcards, yahoo, only 30 days away!!  Check out the website & FaceBook to win a copy of the Handmade Living. a designer collective book!!

Finally, the reason we were on the south side of Canberra this morning . . . picking up this delivery of Creationary which i won from the clever & talented Jho from One Red Robin blog.  Thanks Jho!!  I have to say, it couldn't have gone to a better home, we are Lego mad, we love board games, our children are creative to the core & the words "let's go back to school to pick the children up & take them home to play with this now" slide out of my mouth at 10a.m.  Funnily enough my husband didn't swing by the school on our way back to north Canberra.
So that's it from me this week, i am recovering from a migraine, which came on strong during a P&C meeting last night (coincidence??) & i had to leave & came home very very very sick indeed.  It was a blur of throwing up, shower, sleep & waking up like i've been hit on the head.  Argh!!  So today i rest, enjoy my lunch & get ready to put my game face on for when the children finish their homework & challenge them to a game of Creationary!!  Bring it!! 
Happy Creative Spacing everyone, love Posie 

snippets of my living space - handmade makes it a home

Greetings all,

So while i find myself husbandless tonight, i thought i'd take a quick tour around my living area (kitchen/ dining/ lounge) & show snippets of the things i love.  Of course i should be pressing our funeral clothes but this was more colourful & less morbid. 
I was meant to do this kind of blog post with Tania McCartney ages ago, so here goes . . .

i won't shock you with my complete decade long Tupperware addiction/ collection, but i thought i might share with you the scary fact that i have a very large kitchen drawer dedicated to storing the lids not-in-use.  I once told a Tupperware lady i had a Tupperware storage cupboard & she scolded me for not using all my Tupperware all the time.  Geesh, i placed my smallest order ever at that party!!  The shame for me & well, lost commission for her!!

I like this area as there are photos of my children when they were babies, trinkets from our travels, craft books, our only wedding photo & well, it's practically the only part of our home which doesn't look like a serviced apartment without a soul.  It's hard to decorated your 6th Army house with any passion, so it's all here in one IKEA bookcase with big doses of Handmade.  Sorry it's a night photo!! 

These fridge magnets are from Lark (hi Allison) & represent my love for Alice in Wonderful, Clint Eastwood, flying, Noddy & cricket, what a score!!  The Kikki-K mushroom purse holds the spare digital camera, a Prim&Pretty ribbon brooch & a wooden love spoon i bought in Wales 20 years ago ('tis a bit dusty). 

LOVE pears from Red Stitch Designs (hi Brenda) & a wooden crocodile from Darwin where my 4 babies were born. 

A stacking pinnocchio from Italy, Babushka dolls from My Poppet (hi Cintia), toadstall from Gifts Created (hi Sarah) & a Red Stitch Designs owl, he's called 'hooter'.
These little collections sit in the wooden shelves on the King Furniture Jasper lounge - we wanted one for 10 years & saved up forever to buy one, on sale.  It seats 10 & that is pure leather luxury & i condition it like a prize cow!!

Due to my over loaded luggage in Europe, my husband had to bring back the snowdomes (via Afghanistan) which i collected from Venice, Rome, Dubrovnik, Athens & Katakolon in July.  I wish i got one in Munich too.  The children LOVE them too, actually they keep going missing - into their rooms. 

I also love this little area of the lounge, i really enjoy television - although - can not sit & watch, must be doing something with my hands, i have craft ADD.  I don't like to waste money so when i buy the children hair accessories, i like quality ones & beg them not to lose them, from Grace Designs (hi Rosalind) & Plushka (hi Katia).  They also each have a Mason Pearson hair brush, i still have the one i got in the 1980's.  The children don't watch a lot of television but on cold Winter Canberra days, the Wii is a great substitute for outdoor place.  If you HAVE to have such things in your living space, don't they look nice & neat in baskets?? 
So i've shown you mine, will you show me yours??  Love Posie

my creative space 'handmade panic'

Greetings all,
It's that time of the quarter, where i start to panic/ pretend i am totally OK with the stock levels i have for the Handmade & Mathilda's Markets, both on this weekend in Canberra.  I do have glazed over panic in my eyes . . . the mums at school are excellent monitors of my work/ life balance - they keep asking how i am (read: Jennie looks shell shocked, distracted & unprepared for this weekend).  I have to be comfortable with what i can achieve & admit, i've done my best with working at Shop Handmade, 4 children & an absent husband all year.  Toss in P&C events i run, insurance claims from the burglary & tax.  Cracks are appearing i assure you!!
I have also been able to procrastinate about sewing for this market, for example, my washing is up to date, the fruit bowl is fresh & full, dishes done, children eating plenty of vegetables for dinner & home baked goodies in their lunch boxes.  Even the floors are clean.  Not vital for a 2-day-before-massive-market-priority, but hey, clean floors always make me feel better.

Proof i have been sewing - a couple of dozen sets of skirts & tops in my new bolts of Japanese prints.  Hmmm, must chop up FQ for the market too.

Today at Shop, Rachel let me hand sew a few dozen penny wheels between serving customers!!  How pretty are these Flower Sugar fabrics from Retro Mummy going to look on headbands & brooches with fabric covered buttons??  Should be doing them now, hmmmm . . .

This little fellow wanted to be close to me last night, so in order to not neglect him, he set up a bed next to my sewing machine.  Oh to be young & stress free & have time for sleep.

On an unrelated topic . . . today i passed a few thousand of these gorgeous National Servicemen . . . fondly called Nashos.  Throughout the 1950's to boost our Army after WW2, Australia had a National Service, then it was reintroduced in 1965 for the Vietnam War.  They looked so proud in their suits, berets & medals.  I saw many big manly hugs in this massive 'reunion' too.  A new memorial in their honour was opened at the War Memorial.  We'll go & have a look in the school holidays (i have one child who can't bring herself to visit the War Memorial without her soldier Daddy).   

On the way home from school i also found time to swing by Revolve to pick up a cradle on a stand ($15 in fantastic condition) as you do with 4 tired children.  I might not have enough stock to actually put in it (children's clothes, or maybe cushions, or perhaps quilts - next market) i also found a cool cabinet which has all the glass & shelves missing, but would look magical lined with fabric with perspex shelves on my market table, oh filled with brooches or hair accessories.  Stay tuned, shall reveal in December.  Oh December, by then i'll have had my husband home for 2 months . . . imagine my productivity!!  Friday I'm at Shop (any Handmade Marketeers, pop by & do say hello, before 3p.m.) then i'm packing the car.  Saturday & Sunday are markets.  Deep breath!! 
Thanks for propping me up with your lovely comments, for less chaotic Creative Spaces check out the list of talent on Kootoyoo.  Love Posie