i'm grateful for 'bargains'

Greetings all,

Thanks for asking Maxabella, this week I'm Grateful for BARGAINS, SALES, CLEARANCES & "70% off already reduced ticket prices".  I know it's harsh on big retailers & department stores but i think they're kind of being slapped with a turn away from mass consumerism/ made in China & thoughtless spending, instead, we're watching our pennies & choosing to spend our precious money where it counts . . . small business, local handmade, Farmer's Markets & the like.  I love designer gear & quirky things, but can't afford them at full price, so this is my big chance to buy things beyond my financial reach!!

I needed more of those wooden crates from Provincial, thanks to friends seeing them on my blog & saying "hey, next time you're there, pick me up . . . six", even the sales assistant said "we've had ladies in here saying they saw our baskets on your blog".  Yay!!  Anyway, between Provincial & the car park, i had to walk past TYPO.  Oh dear, how many $5 clearance tables can a store have?? 

 Keep Calm canvas, giant ampersand, wooden toadstool, bird peg stand - all $5 each; washi tape dispenser 50c (i got a few) + more $5 peg sets.

 Love Rules Without Rules canvas $5, mushroom pillow $10.

 Embroidery hoop picture $5 (i got a couple) + some $5 lanterns, 50c pencils, $2 note pads, $1 Mexican paper garlands.

 This Eiffel Tower print is HUGE, so great to find something for my son's bedroom . . . now he has this canvas, yep, $5.  You could cover over them - the frame alone is worth more!!

 Committing to 2 trips to the car, as i had a French washing basket, 6 crates, 4 canvases, a magnetic board (wooden frame had a crack so it was reduced to $25) & 3 wooden trees (er, um, $5 each reduced from $50) my arms were breaking.  On the way back to TYPO i spied Country Road - their outlet was closing down with "70% off already reduced ticket prices".  My bounty . .  . oatmeal track pants, grey track shorts, 4 scarves, 3 tops, a grey wool wrap, a peach cardigan + a black dress reduced from $249 to $27 & a few things for the children (skirt, tank, dress) including this purple kaftan . . . i just knew if i didn't buy it, i'd regret it, even though the ONLY one left was a size 4 & it was for an almost 10y.o. it was a $60 reduced to $12.50 risk.  Sure enough she loved it & it fits beautifully, this child can wear any style/ colour/ pattern - such is her amazing complexion. 

 I picked up these desert books from the regular Country Road store sale last week, my boy's feet are growing so fast!!  Love the laces.

After all that shopping, a girl's got to rest.  I was suffering the last of my head cold, i think it's gone now, it's really hard to blow your nose with arms full of bargain shopping & eyes streaming.  I really looked after myself with the right drugs, rest & healthy food.  Ok, so my Friday wasn't too tough, i caught up with a school mummy & we saw Bridesmaids at the cinema, loved it - quite a different movie to what i expected, very funny, with heart.  Then a sushi lunch & a tour of a local organic chocolate factory (stay tuned for that post on Monday) then an after school P&C party.  Now i'm curled up on the lounge in my woollie boots with some choice magazines, Skype'ing my husband & sipping hot chocolate.  

Have gorgeous weekends, i really should do some sewing!!  Love Posie

school holiday reading

Greetings all,

You know i love my husband to pieces & here's a tiny example of why - he's not romantic in a flowers (they make him sneeze, make a mess with petals, then they die & turn the water brown), lobster dinners (he doesn't really like eating seafood or the smell) or jewellery (he's given me wedding rings, what else do i need) kind of way . . . but he does surprise me with, well, him - turning up unexpected/ early/ when i least expect him on the doorstep . . . & treats me with things i really love - like homey books & magazines. 

 So handsome soldier knew i was desperately trying to find Jamie Oliver's 30 Minute Cookbook, to the point where i looked like a book shop lifter, loitering suspiciously on my hands & knees, checking every shelf in every book shop in Canberra.  No, i didn't think to order on line, but that would have ruined my husband finding a copy in David Jones in Brisbane, being the hero & surprising me.  He also thought i'd enjoy "this book by that Cath Kidston chick i think you like" & how cute is this, a cookbook Collection of recipes, he thought it looked vintage & like something i'd want.  Oh bliss!!  Donna Hay Magazine, well i'm a fan, her recipes are great, even for my low skill level & inclination, but her styling, that is what i love about her the most.

 A little taste of the pages of Collection . . .

 my mother used to make a brilliant pate.

 Cath Kidston Sew - i would love to make a mass bird mobile style chandelier for my high schooler for when she moves into the new bedroom/ other half of my studio.

 I'm going to try an oversized hexagon patchwork quilt this month.

 Jamie Oliver - do you ever fail us regular family cooks??

 Oh i want to go on a picnic, NOW!!

 Donna Hay, visual feast as always in her pages, like boys fishing!!

 Donna teaches you this month about noodle varieties, brilliant!!

Then this sweet story on the last page of the magazine, about how Donna found a baby bird's nest on her way home after dropping her youngest child at his first day of school.  Sigh, i've been there.  She teamed it with a handmade bird from a friend & took this beautiful image.  What a gorgeous memory to keep of the experience.  As a fellow mummy who has an empty nest with all her children at school, i think i'd like to find a sweet bird's nest too & pop in 4 little handmade birds, under a glass dome, wouldn't that be delightful?? 
Aren't i the luckiest girl around, thoughtful husband & our 4 fabulous children, all together on school holidays.  Now time to ignore them all & stick my head in all this school holiday reading.  Love Posie

in the media & other interviews

Greetings all,
That cool thing which happened to me at work on Monday . . . an interview for the Canberra Times!!  Lovely Andrea met with me to discuss my world of handmade homewares & spin on design, key products, inspiration & tips on improving life.  Totally cool!!  Clever Rowan took some shots, eekk, i dressed up just in case of profile shots (yes) but i directed him towards my products in Shop Handmade as a much better photo opportunity!!

 Picked up a copy of Shop 4 Kids magazine, which featured some products of mine.

 Very cool feature on Shop Handmade, very proud of the beautiful place i get to play shops in.  The leather key ring is from a new designer Pookie from OhmMade, it hangs on my daughter's school computer bag.  They also featuerd Maiike - she's got a cool blog too.

 Handmade prettiest for girls, my birdie bunting bottom left.

 Shop 4 Kids asked if i could whip up a patchwork boy's vintage style pram blanket, so i put together my favourite blues & greens lined with pale blue jersey, hand stitched the edges, da dah bottom right!!  Also on this page, Allana C Giraffe (go Jodie), Oopah Monster (yay Abby) & cute buttons by Lou Lou who has since closed down her sweet button business.  Tonnes of these designers are at Shop Handmade so i get to play with their handmade goodness for real!!

 I spy on this page a bracelet by Flibbertigibbit (hi Anne) & Mondo Cherry art (another really nice mummy/ crafty blogger).

 The Red Thread Ooshka boy (sweet Lisa) & Ivy Designs DIY bead necklace kit (farewell Wynona, she's moved overseas), both at Shop Handmade. 

 More Shop Handmade designers - Plushka Penguin (hi Katia) & Melanie Swan Wall Bird (hey Mel).

 My parents have just touched down from overseas & apparently they've bought the latest & greatest from Guess for my 4 children.  Can't wait to see what they (read: their personal shopper) chose.  Yippee!!

 Finally, more donations for Qld flood relief - i put together this $150 hamper for high school. 

Yep, busy week & getting crazier!!  How much fun can one girl have??  A lot more than my poor darling husband!!  He's training & has slept at work on the floor in a swag for days - i said "when you are going home", he said "maybe Monday" & i laughed saying "most people say 6p.m."  See, imagine if we were living in Brisbane with him, we'd never see him anyway!!  Love Posie

late nights & sewing up a storm . . .

Greetings all,

Nothing like a magazine photo shoot deadline with less than 36 hours to produce a variety of handmade goodies & post interstate, to keep you up at night.  Here is a little peek at what was in the 'sack' of products which i offerred up to meet different parts of the brief . . .

bohemian gypsy colourful children's clothing theme

red, white & pink nursery decor, i like a bit of detail on a cushion

& accessories like toys . . . here piggie piggie - remember the 1940's vintage softie from the National Museum a few posts back, this was perfect inspiration!!

bright rainbow baby clothes - this was one of 5 i offered

& this was me at the sewing machine well past midnight . . .

so i'd wake up to this in the morning.  It was so windy outside when i tried to shoot this quilt, i had to peg it to the fence.  Look at that gorgeous blue sky!!
Also tossed in some hair accessories, pencil rolls, bunting flags & tutus, wish me luck something gets in the magazine.
So now i can rest up & get some sleep, as i work on more readymade products for an amazing business venture & also build up my handmade section in my shop again. 
We spent our afternoon poolside & had the entire complex to ourselves for much of the gusty afternoon.  I got in 20 laps before the children were iceblocks & wanted to go home to warm showers.  For once they were asking me if we could leave the pool.  Then i came home to some super exciting emails & orders, some days are just extra tops!!  Love Posie