wrapping up Christmas . . . on 'Christmas Eve' Eve

Greetings all,
Today was another super busy day at Shop Handmade & now it's closed for the year.  Big shout out to Rachel & Julie who i love & run the most beautiful Shop in Canberra, no THE WORLD!! 

Last night, in my spare time, i threw a party for a dozen 9 year olds, just a movie kind of thing - we watched Goonies & Gremlins, ah, the 80's!!  Lots of fun, food & Christmas themed party favours, like reindeer food!!  Just to confirm i'm completely nuts, i collected 6 of the party goers on my way home from Shop.  It was actually really lovely, i'm used to having a car load of children & the road kill (mainly kangaroos) on the 25km trip from the city kept them entertained!!

So now it's time to put my feet up (or into a soak) & cruise into Christmas, everything wrapped/ posted/ delivered & purchased, with tonight's Farmer's Market putting the finishing touches on our Christmas long weekend menu.

My last patchwork quilt for the year was collected yesterday, another bohemian style one, truly a favourite colour combination of mine now.

 . . . bad lighting, sorry, i finished at 2a.m. . . .

 clash of colours, patterns & styles in 196 squares of patchworky goodness!!

 Last minute deliveries include a donation of pashimas to HeadsUp, a Breast Cancer charity . . .

 Sue from HeadsUp at Calvery Hospital in Canberra teaches ladies how to style pashminas & silk scarves while dealing with hair loss during chemotherapy.  Love you Sue, you're awesome!!

 Now it's 'Christmas Eve' Eve . . . we might start nibbling on our Handmade Sweet Delights GingerBreadHouse (number 2) . . .

 & decide where to spread the Reindeer Food??

 I have visions of a big family platter of Christmas lunch leftovers on Christmas Night . . .

 so i can enjoy it as much as i do at Poacher's Pantry.

 Tomorrow i'll repot our plants in the Terrariums . . .

 before i collapse on the floor with these reindeer.

So there you have it, we're rolling down the hill into Christmas now.  I'm cracking open the Highland Habitat foot soak now & taking half an hour to myself in the bathroom. 

Hey, don't forget my giveaways - movie tickets to see Tangled & lifestyle books from IKEA.  Love Posie

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

My Creative Space 'she who dies with the most fabric WINS'

Greetings all,
Wow, that was a quick turn around to another Thursday!!  The children went back to school & pow, it's time for My Creative Space offering this week . . . my TIDY fabric stacks.  I have been sewing, but with my new sewing project - making cushions for chemotherapy patients at Calvary Hospital, i sorted through every single piece of fabric i have in the entire studio.  These are just my 'feature' fabrics, all lining, plain & coordinates are in 6 large tubs under my trestle tables.  Yes, i'm spoilt for space.

There is a great saying 'she who dies with the most fabric wins' & i think i could well be a contender to the Fabric Olympics or World Championships for sure.  I have to admit, i do churn through these piles at a good pace.  Maybe a fabric relay, steple chase (hurdles made of fabric) or marathon might be my event??

across one wall in my studio (which is 2 open plan rooms) are 3 giant floor to ceiling racks of fabric, sorted into categories, Amy Butler if front & centre, then piles including jersey, vinyls, muslin & all my precious feature fabrics - like my floral pile here in close up (the polar fleeces & wool padding are in a mound of their own!!)

these are end of bolts which are still favourites & popular

most of my Japanese printed fabrics

my Cath Kidston collection of upholstery weight fabrics, collecting for 9 years now!!

& some Cath Kidston oil cloth + Marimekko plastics, so yummy to work with (plus my muslin colours for baby wraps)

my slight obsession for Babuhska prints . . .

So there you have it.  I took out about 50 yards of fabric (no kidding) to use up on my charity sewing & some grab bags for the markets.  Feeling very zen with my tidy stacks & ready for a big weekend of sewing for markets & getting back into production.  Love Posie

HeadsUp@Calvary shop launch & MissChiefMaker on sale

Greetings all,

A little announcement about an amazing new shop - it's HeadsUp @ Calvary Hosptial, Bruce ACT where ladies going through chemotherapy, their friends & family can make purchases of useful items such as head scarves, cushions & other handmade goodness.  Most products are donated for maximum fundraising, such as these 2 bags of Posie badges, purses, hair clips, wool, pashminas, gift cards & 3 pairs of boobie knitting needles (how perfect for the cause!!) 
A lovely cancer survivor mummy from school alerted me Sue Owen who is coordinating & volunteering in the store.  I'll donate more as i get back into mass production sewing & markets shortly. 

HeadsUp launches tomorrow - open Wednesdays 11a.m. to 2p.m. with more days soon.  They are situated near the 'volunteers area' on the ground floor or ask at reception for directions. 
Handmade designers - if you have any products you'd like to donate, Sue would be eternally greatful.  I'll pass on your details.   

Another fabulous local business venture is MissChiefMaker at Rodney's Nursery in Pialligo ACT.  They stock all things fabulous for children & stylish mamas with new & refashioned vintage clothing, accessories, homewares, toys . . . super friendly service & a gorgeous shopping experience . . . & on sale now!!  Check out MissChiefMaker blog & while you're there, the sTaRt oF FaShiOn tutus, oh are they a Posie brand?? 
This image has a sweet KitschBella quilted jacket from my friend Abby, a mum from school.  Have i mentioned lately how totally ace the mums at school are??  Abby is Dutch & well style is in the blood, enough said, she rocks it!!

Happy days everyone!!  I had a fabulous productive day, awesome chats at the school gate, 4 fantastic teachers for my children & a quiet, serene studio.  Then 3 calls from my husband, big day BIG DAY!!  Love Posie