snap it 'bright'

 Greetings all,

Well this is a very different post to what i had planned yesterday for Snap It 'Bright' today.  

The sun is shining & i'm looking on the bright side.  I must.  The day did not start off well . . . i slept heavy & woke drowsy; our inherited old hen Maisie passed away face down in a water cooler (very rock'n'roll) & our tiny chick Piccolo appears to have broken a leg??  Maisie lived a happy long life & Piccolo was a runt we saved & she has thrived.  The children were upbeat & stoic about the chickens, trotting off to school & excursions, however my high schooler is home, exhausted from a 9-10p.m. volleyball match & i'm simply deflated  . . . welcoming the excuse to ignore paperwork, just exercise & watch a movie with my girl.

Until i wrap up my business completely, things still haunt me.  Small handmade business is tough - you create beautiful things & sell to the friendliest of retail outlets - but it turns sour when they won't pay up.  This is the reason i pulled my wholesale range a couple of years ago (i used to stock 50 stores around the world) as this mama who was sewing her heart out at home to keep her family financially afloat, was being screwed over big time.  You would be shocked at which stores, their reputations so high profile . . . yet managed by business incompetents & egomaniacs.  I've also had several 'friends' never pay for goods too, even when goods are delivered with an invoice & payment terms!!  It breaks your heart, you can only ask so many times . . . it's amazing how suddenly a 'friend' can avoid you for $50.  I rarely tell 'friends' what i do, to avoid these situations, yet it still happens.  I move on, their loss, i often wonder if they cop the karma??  

So when the most recent screw over finally paid me out, i treated myself to something i will love forever, something materialistic, something for my future homestead . . . a giant yellow metal sign saying "you are my sunshine" as on those dark days of drafting letters of demand you need bright sunshine!!  I will never be screwed over again, i am an advocate for small businesses getting paid.  I bought the whole set of sunshine signs, yeehaw!!

My husband is easy to please, freshly squeezed orange juice on a Saturday morning, that is love to him.  A bright start to the day!!

I'm thoroughly enjoying the Michelle Bridges 12WBT, look at this for a Sunday lunch - Thai Beef Salad.  In just 2 weeks i've lost 5kg & feel strong.  Bright food, delicious!!

 On Father's Day we went to Questacon . . . talk about a migraine inducing bright light tunnel!!

 I'm always looking on the bright side of life - actually that was the last song they played at our wedding.  Enough said, stay bright folks, love Posie

my creative space . . .'Sew It Together' craft weekend

Greetings all,

Yay, Sew It Together is on this weekend - i have to say, there is no blogging community like the crafty one & we have some of the best get togethers EVER!!  I've just finished the fabric packs for the goodie bags for Sheridan - our leader - who cruises in to Canberra tomorrow, then i'm off for an airport run to collect half a dozen of the first interstate arrivals.  I can imagine that many crafters in my car will be louder than my children!!  

There's a lot of talk about how the husbands will cope for the weekend while we craft care free, well i know my husband will be fine (he's such a natural parent) & this year it's local . . . tonight he made chocolate caramel slice.  Our daughter made a batch in high school cooking class today, however, was reluctant to share, so i boldly announced i had the ingredients, we'd have a cook off (when i say 'we' i meant 'my husband'.)

 While i'm still not sewing since hand surgery - partly unmotivated, mainly busy with other things around the house - i decided to change all the linen on our high schooler's bed, including a new wool doona too.  Her room (half of my studio) is really cold at night, she's loving her new bedlinen, including owl flannel sheets & when i find a European pillow insert - a lovely Euro pillow too.  It was a surprise while she was at volleyball the other night, she loves me.  You really can buy a teenagers love!!  It's all from Bed Bath & Table, around 30-40% off.

 I love these colourful wall paper suitcases from Lark, i did buy them for my studio, however,  they look so pretty here & i love that this child is still into colour.  The whole room is very Dutch inspired, i was always a big fan of Room Seven (daughter of the Oilily family.)

 In our spare time, we've been cleaning out the garage (no royal 'we' here, i'm doing the heavy lifting.)  I normally do this myself but i need my husband's tough love approach to tossing things out, especially as i no longer do markets, i don't need the props!!  Seriously, we have boxes which have remained unopened for 4 interstate moves, so we cracked them open & shredded the tax returns from the last millennium.  So happy to find all the school photos from NSW & NT.  We also tossed the last of our garden chairs, purchased in 1998!!  Already 2 trailer loads have gone to the tip, i'm on an organisational high. 

 Our ducklings are one week old, could they be cuter??  The children gave them a bath - adorable - they loved it (FYI ducks are so messy, they fill their bills up with drinking water & spray it all over their cage, they love to be wet, so you have to put their food up high & dry) & we loved watching their dry-dance.  As always, the runt/ little one/ last born/ had to be helped from shell is thriving, i think we have a gift with special needs farm animals.  Bless our hens too, still laying eggs in the -5C nights, some during the day too, nice surprise when i clean out the coop after the school run.

 Our 4 children sat in a circle watching these sweethearts dry themselves.  They don't have much oil or any feathers yet so we let them do their own thing.  Then added their friendly chick gang to the mix on the lounge room floor (that is 4 Hamburgs & 2 Pekin bantams) who are growing very fast & feathery.  The children sit them on their desks while they do homework - these chicks & ducks are amazing spellers & mathematicians!!

Let's just say - making up creative excuses on what i have to keep in the garage, baking new recipes, a craft weekend & raising these ducklings indoors, while they soak everything, is keeping my creative brain active.  To all of the cool ladies attending Sew It Together this weekend . . . welcome to Canberra!!  For more creativity, check out Village Voices My Creative Space.  Love Posie

social commentary Sunday . . . 'are you being the best you??'

Greetings all,

Thank you for the kind comments on yesterday's post.  Farewelling my handsome soldier off to war never gets any easier, i miss him like crazy.  I have been madly in love with this man for half my life, he is a huge part of who i am.  Every deployment i've had a little pal (or 4) with me, so children are a welcome distraction + i focus on sewing projects.  I have to keep busy, positive & active, it's healthy.  When he calls, i have interesting things to say, not just fall to pieces that he's in the most dangerous place on earth & i'm worried. 
Today we wrap up the school holidays, a good time to check 'myself'.  This past fortnight i was driven to Spring clean.  I'm alone with my thoughts while doing housework.  I think about how our children are constantly changing, growing, plotting . . . then i realise, so am i, especially the plotting (my escape from suburbia).  I'm a fair version of my best self, i just know i'll be better when living in our homestead on a farm, with my husband by my side!!

I recently ordered the Dottie Angel book from Lark & have been devouring the life & craft of Tif Fussell.  Dottie Angel is her alter ego, like Posie is mine.  Tif & i have plenty in common (i say that like we had afternoon tea yesterday) . . . we're both 4th borns; raised in loving creative families with English mummies; married our teen love; had 4 children in our 20s; live & breath craft + vintage ways; moved around to different cities & . . . her story continues with her family settling in America & more recently - finding the house which felt right for her clan, craft & calm.  I believe Tif is being the best 'Tif' she can be!!  I'm inspired.

 I want to be where she is now, in a space that feels . . . right.  I have it in my head, it's beautiful, i look great in my craft cottage & my husband is cooking up a storm in the kitchen.  We know where & how we want to live.  Good GOD we even have the finances!!  Next year we'll turn 'actively looking' for property into 'where do we sign'.  Soon enough i'll be 'all i can be' & living the dream.  I'm patient but i'm plotting. 

 In the meantime . . . i don't want to put myself on hold, just because my husband is away & i dislike our current residence . . . we are lucky to have a safe roof over our heads.  I want to be organised & make Christmas a breeze.  That is not easy with mum's Alzheimer's & my darling father's angst - oh, my mummy doesn't know who i am anymore - i can't quite digest this right now.  'tis hard to be serene with all this going on. 
I want to be kind to myself, treat myself with a movie, a massage & sewing for myself!!  That will make me a better me, wife & mother.  Spoiled??  I have done the hard yards of solo parenting for a dozen years, i did it really well, now i need a little nurturing, mind, body & soul.

Our small garden needs love.  Fom one snapshot you can see the rooves of 3 houses, ick.  I look up to the blue sky & dream of not being able to see any neighbours.  3 postings ago we were a family of 6 living in Inner City Sydney in a 3 bedroom townhouse & a tiny paved courtyard.  We made it work, we always do.  I just know i'll be better with s p a c e.     
Where are you at on your journey to being the best you??  Work in progress??  Waiting for the next stage in your life, like me??  Feeling stuck??  Love Posie

my creative space 'for the love of washi tape'

Greetings all,

It's a short & sweet & sticky Creative Space today, as i'm so incredibly distracted (thanks for your warm & meaningful comments in my last post about my mummy, deeply appreciated) . . . & have to duck into Shop Handmade for a few hours today, so . . . just thought i'd share a little snap shot of what the children & i have been playing with - this is only part of my collection of Washi Tapes from Japan.  I seem to be missing a few of my favourite Japanese patterned ones, hmmmm, must raid the children's craft boxes while they're out!!

While i've bought some wholesale from Lark (MT brand), some on line from etsy + some locally from Kikki-K & Typo.  So much fun, you can write on them, they are a nice addition to packaging detail, which i know we crafty folk all love.
Stay tuned for tomorrow - i kick off the Handmade Living blog tour, if you're not already a follower, you won't want to miss this giveaway, it's going to be HUGE!!  I'm off to squeeze those oranges as my husband has allowed me to sew uninterupted & taken the children to school for me, ahhhhh . . . love Posie

don't diss the little local market events

Greetings all,
So you might do big markets which are proven, tried & tested success, but don't diss the little local market events too.  They are usually inexpensive to have a stall or it's a free stall + donation to a raffle.  You have nothing to lose, other than time & energy to set up & stand by your stall. The atmosphere is fun & festive, take your children along, you'll meet new people from your local community who can discover you & they're normally short events. 

This is the MOCCA (Manuka Child Care) Spring Fair i did on Saturday, i know, a market just hours before my handsome soldier flew in??!!  It was a good distraction.  I just set up a very small, easy stall with an umbrella & took lots of my on line shop products which i can't take to genuine handmade only markets. 

My little rule is that you should have $ sales of 10 x your stall fee as a starting point.  I took my 2 youngest as i knew they'd love the petting zoo but boy, with a cake stall, hot chocolate, zoo, games, activities, face painting, BBQ - i ended up spending over $60 + a Dumpling Dynasty Bunny Kit to keep someone happy, NOT something i normally do at any maket but this was a fundraiser & i was a bit giddy with the excitment of my husband coming home that afternoon. 

A little sneaky - when you're not sure of your allocated space or position at a market & don't want to take extra tables . . . using large baskets are a handy 'next to stall' cheaters way to spread your wares.  These giant baskets are the largest of 2 sets of 4 baskets at $50 each set, from Lincraft in August.  Perfect for my fabric sale, otherwise, they look amazing filled with small cushions or eventually in my dream home filled with logs for a fire - i'm a tax deductible planner & a dreamer you see!! 

The always lovely Tania McCartney did a book reading too, my 3rd daughter took some shots - there are also 25 images of the petting zoo, i contained her enthusiasm to just one on the blog!! 

So if you can fit in the little events too - do them!!  Thanks Jenny at MOCCA who organised this event, it was delightul.  They are also a fantastic way to do PR for your website, Shop, other larger markets you do where you'll set up a larger (proper) set up. 
While you're reading this i'm on the road doing hand sewing on our way to Nanna's funeral in Sydney.  I hope the 'delay' post worked, sounded simple enough to use.  Have lovely weekends 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

Maeve Magazine on line launch & Shop love

Greetings all,
Who else had signed up in advance to receive alovely sunshiney email & link inviting you to Maeve Magazine, launched at midday today??  I had already heard about it before Allison Jones from Lark interviewed me for her Women's Business section . . . check out my clued-in-reality after 10 years of being a mother in small business . . . thanks Allison, it's a great read & hi to our gal pal Anne Lewis from Mathilda's Market who was also interviewed.  Also Stav Hatchett who runs My Messy Room in my husband's home town, must get to that store next time we visit Grandpa in the school holidays!!

So i've been working at Shop Handmade this week, it's just a beautiful place to be, the excitement from the customers, they love the ambience & prices too - imagine market prices on goods in a stunning high end retail space in the city, as designers get 100% of the sale of their products, there is no price tag inflation!!  It's just a feel good vibe all round.  It's a one stop Shop for everything from olives & organic chocolate to handmade stitching perfection & books. 

Tables filled with stunning products like this, who doesn't love a good pear design??  Red Stitch (talking pears & journals) & Yardage Design (tea towels) are rocking the shop, wow ladies, gorgeous work & dare i say, these goodies are from their 3rd delivery of goods to the Shop & we just celebrated the 2 week anniversary!!

Exquisite Ros from Grace Designs was back in with her 3rd load of more stock too, over 9 months pregnant now, but look at the bounty of her nesting habits . . . so pretty for girls young & grown up too!!  All the best with your next baby - we're all so keen to meet him or her . . .

Stealing style . . . from the counter of Shop Handmade, via the local home decor store, to my garden!!  These bird cages open up from the door or roof flip top action - i can see them filled with softie birds, simple in design, let the fabric do the talking!!

Finally just 6 more days to get applications in for Handmade Living.  The book of style. whimsy. simplicity. inspiration.  Met with Tania today (sans migraine) & here's a sneak peek at my How To idea (shhhh patchwork pencil rolls anyone??).  She loves.  Now what to do with all my ribbons from the last post??
Have lovely weekends everyone, if you're in the ACT or Queanbeyan area, i'm doing a little quilt fair at Jerrabomberra Primary School Hall on Sunday, i'll be there say 10a.m.-1p.m. just a casual affair but i'm bringing a whole lot of new gorgeous fabrics . . . enjoy, love Posie

My Creative Space 'around this handmade country of ours'

Greetings all,
Another Thursday, another Creative Space. 
This week we're going on a trip around Australia, starting with the creative space my children have made on the floor.  How about these these amazing Miller Goodman wooden shapes from Lark in Victoria.  Not only are they divine to touch, look at & play with, the creations are limitless with curves, eyes & colours!!  This 'elf' was something girl child number 3 came up with.  In her words "adorable", i agree!!  Expect many more creations in the Easter school holidays, which for the Australian Capital Territory, start a WEEK after Easter, go figure??   

Now to Sheep's Clothing in Victoria, i asked gorgeous Stacey to create a red, white & blue beanie to match my son's Country Road scarf from last Winter, we LOVE the results.  It was a 35C day when i asked him to model, thus bare chest (actually because it's Stacey, make that a Bear Grylls chest, giggles!!)  I'm a long time fan of Sheep's Clothing, thus our collection of beanies for the children, BIG fans.  Sweet Stacey popped in 4 extra brooches too with my latest order, so generous & kind!!

Now over to the lovely Gilly from Koo-Toor Creations in Western Australia who knitted this gorgeous scarf for the HeadsUp @Calvary Hospital - a great shop offering head dress options to ladies suffering hair loss during chemo!!  Donations of fabric for chemo cushions, scarves, beanies, all very welcome.  Thanks Gilly, it's so incredibly kind of you to send a donation to the other side of the country.  It's so beautifully presented & thoughtful!!

I'm testing a pattern for a cute pull-a-long doggy for Craft Schmaft in New South Wales.  I'll let you know how i go, thanks for picking me Claire, a non softie maker, but want to be at heart!!

Now down to Art Viva in Tasmania who make the most gorgeous knitting needles from Tasmanian Oak, available in these fun tubes too.  They were a huge hit at Handmade Market, well actually every market i've taken them too. 

These cushions are technically on their way to the Northern Territory, however, being delivered to the Central Coast NSW on the way up.  Farewell to my lovely school mummy friend/ Navy wife Jenna, all the best in the Darwin with your family, we'll miss you.  Hope your auntie loves these cushions, 'Owl Good' are they??!!

Now back to Canberra, where i've spent the last 3 days doing Easter Egg Decorating at Creative Clubs with year 3 at school.  One daughter was doing Easter Craft - nothing says Easter like a hot pink flamingo??!!  Her twin sister made a traditional Easter Egg basket with painted/ dyed/ patterned & crayoned eggs.  Only some workmen knocked them over & cracked the eggs (hard boiled but still, crushing, literally) & there were tears!!  I was working with a lovely teacher who is from Finland, she rather enjoyed my simple, bold, colourful style, yippee!! 

Back to the reality of orders, housework & preparing a trip to Sydney on Friday to see the family.  We are not religious, but we have a dozen Aries birthdays to celebrate so big weekend with the family!!  Do your children understand the story of Easter??  My 6y.o. told me it was "when God came out from under a rock to go on an Easter Egg hunt".  Close but no cigar matey & i'm afraid, no help from me!!  I'm off to see Allie's Attic Market in Mosman this Saturday, love my Corrie from Retro Mummy & Katia from Plushka, plus many more.  Shall blog on Monday!!  Love Posie

market stall merchandising . . . i'm going with my Euro theme

Greetings all,
Busy sewing up a storm this week for Handmade Canberra's UpMarket on Sunday, very excited as it's the first for the year.  It's normally on a Saturday & the next 3 are all Saturdays, but i can't tell you how handy it is to have a day up my sleeve to pack & prepare.  Then it will be time to crash on Sunday night, revive myself for Easter Egg decorating at school on Monday. 
So check out this handy wooden medicine cabinette i bought at our local Revolve centre at the tip, $25 & it's a fantastic size.  I instantly thought of laying it on a table, open & using it as a craft  First Aid supply centre at markets.  So i've filled it with . . .

Art Viva 1960's newspaper tubes (60mm & 40mm), Dumpling Dynasty sewing kits, Cavallini stamp kits, Jurianne Matter paper craft, children's learn to sew card kits, Lark knitted pin cushions, Craft Books, Tres Divin ribbons & MT washi masking tapes in all their pretty colours from Japan. So now i have all the non-handmade-by-me things in one spot!! I'm allowed to sell these things as they promote your own sewing & handmade, the rest of my stall is fabric & handmade products - um, all 4 trestle tables worth!!

Onto themes . . . i've continued with my Euro direction & purchased a subtle Eiffel Tower & matching planters to display products & look eye catching on my stall.  They will be filled with products in French fabrics.  Also used a damaged hula hoop, wrapped in pale pink polka dot fabric & with 7 x $2 sticks of faux flowers from a $2 shop, i tied them to the hoop with organza ribbons to make a pretty hanging feature for the centre of my marquee.  Can't wait to put it up!!

I'm using up some gorgeous European prints from AGES ago, time to share them.

Of course it's the weekend before Easter so i have some Lark knitted eggs to sell & the cute wooden bunny is from Bed, Bath & Table (they're having 30% off Easter things in store).  The lovely open handled basket was a whopping $2 from Revolve!!  Also, see that huge tool box, it was $5 from Revolve & is still empty, trying to work out the perfect product to display in there.  Finally, more $5 letters from Typo, to spell out POSIE on my table.  I'm aware i bought a T for the I, i thought an upside T would be more stable as the table gets bumped.  Um, realised the P is not self standing, so P is propped up by a cute wooden mushroom, ahhhh, thank goodness for blue tack!!

 
Yippee, new Kristen Doran prints, love her!!

This is how Canberra looked on the way to school . . . brrrr . . .

 

only to look like this an hour later??!!  Canberra pretty much has beautiful blue skies all year round, even when it snows, looks gorgeous until you go outside & loose feeling in your toes. 

So i went shopping on the way back to school - um, shoes $130 original price, but i got ALL of this haul, killer peep toe heels & cute grey sneakers for me; hat, body wash, black sequin beret & silver headband for my girls, the lot was $80!!  Nothing like a further 30% off all sale items at Sportsgirl.  The black shoes are really comfortable too, i can reach the top shelf in the pantry now!!
Have happy weeks everyone, see you at My Creative Space on Thursday, until then, sew sew sew.  Love Posie