Home Again, Home Again...

I've been procrastinating writing this post because it brings up uncomfortable emotions. In fact, it makes me want to stop what I'm typing and run and grab the Tim Tams or corn chips and salsa (ummm...so can you tell I'm still struggling with cravings on this healthy living journey?) *sigh* 

But I do want to follow through and process this. Now, I know that taking calculated risks is important in business. I have been working on this, stepping out of my comfort zone in order to grow my little business. Sometimes it pays off financially, sometimes it crashes and burns. Ouch. I'm still feeling the sting of the most recent "crash and burn" scenario. 

As with many things in life, the higher the expectations, the harder the fall. I signed up to do the new high end BrisStyle City Hall market (even though it cost me much more than I could really afford for the stall fee), thinking it could be a really good fit for my products. I was so excited leading up to this market, and threw myself into preparations, including a revamped display. Our whole family came down with a truly horrendous gastro virus the week before the market, and that hindered my preparation more than a little. However, I was feeling well enough to face the market and follow through on my commitment.

The revamped set-up in situ

The vibe on the day was lovely - so many people coming through, and I thoroughly enjoyed stitching and chatting to many lovely people. There was significant enthusiasm about my products expressed rather consistently across the day. I saw many familiar faces and plenty of new ones too. But as I packed up my stall, my heart was dragging along the floor. NOT. A. SINGLE. SALE. Not one.

A bright note to the end of my day, however, was this adorable miniature resin vase from Bravo Juliet Designs, who was my stall neighbour on the day. I'm going to put it on my birthday cake next weekend, and it goes beautifully with my birthday party colour scheme. Plus, I'm always on the look-out for a tiny, unbreakable vase for my darling flower-picking girl.

So now I am left pondering the next step for my business, and have been feeling quite at odds about it all. I've even taken a four-day hiatus from making anything as I reflect and mull over this.

But something up-beat to finish on - if you have not heard yet, I am sponsoring a giveaway over on Hej Juni blog, you could win your choice of blue or rainbow raindrops contented raincloud - which can be worn as either a brooch or a pendant! Head over to Hej Juni to find out how.

To Market, To Market...

So here's just a smidgen of what's been keeping me busy for the last week. My set-up for the BrisStyle indie markets at City Hall. I had bought the fabric and started preparing for a black floor length tablecloth I have been meaning to make for many months...then I realised that there were certain requirements for this particular market. One requirement is that every table have a floor-length white tablecloth which must be visible beneath your own signature overlay. Hence the white under the black.

Mock market set-up

I am aiming to have a more streamlined aesthetic for this market than I've had previously - with all my boxes and cases being covered or draped in black fabric, and the new bunting for labelling purposes on each board. (There will also be one for hoop art and one for the rings, they are all still works in progress).

Notice my new bunting as labels for each board (to be completed!)

My custom orders example folder on display below the hoop art board

My new earrings display board and handmade fabric roll ring display

New necklace display board

A close-up of the necklace display

I am hoping that the work I am putting into preparing for this market will hold me in good stead for future markets. Perhaps I won't even need to completely redesign my set-up every single time - here's hoping!!

P.S. - You can find me at the BrisStyle indie Markets at Brisbane City Hall this Saturday, 8th June from 9am - 2pm.

Christmas Markets

Hi lovelies!

Just a little reminder for those of you readers who actually happen to live in the Brisbane, Queensland, Australia area (my stats show you are in the minority here). Two BrisStyle Christmas Markets are coming up in the next two weeks.

Firstly, the BrisStyle indie Designer Markets this Saturday, 8th December at St. Augustine's Church at Hamilton. All the details, including market line-up here and the Facebook event page here.

Secondly, the BrisStyle indie Twilight Markets next Friday, 14th December at King George Square, Brisbane City. Details here and Facebook event page here.

There will be plenty of lovely, quality handmade goodies to get your hands on in time for Christmas. You can do all your Christmas shopping in one place, and support local handmade makers in the process. Hope to see you there!

Update and BiTM reminder!

Hello! I apologise for being sporadic with posts lately. Oops. 

Just a little update on the home front - 2 days after I posted Decisions, Decisions, my hubby got a job offer! Yay! Lovely confirmation of my choice to stay home with my kidlets being the right one for us at this time.However, while the blessing of a new job has been marvelous, there has been a difficult adjustment period. Just getting the family into a new routine. Miss Three finds it especially hard, as she is such a Daddy's girl, and relished his period of unemployment. Just this morning, she was suggesting that she go to work with Daddy. When I explained that it would be dead boring for her, with nothing for her to do while he worked on his computer all day, she reasoned that surely somebody else could "have a try at Daddy's computer and he can stay home with me". Awww...

In other news, the BrisStyle indie Twilight Markets (BiTM) are on again in King George Square this Friday evening, 5pm to 9pm. If you are in the vicinity, pop in and check out the awesome handmade goods. I finally bought my lights yesterday (nothing like last minute, huh!), so I'm set to go! I'll be in the middle of the market, in the co-op section. 

(My pink felt dress brooch even made it into the BrisStyle promo collage this month - woohoo!)

For more info on the BiTM, go to the BrisStyle blog.

Hope to see some of you on Friday night!

My First BrisStyle indie Twilight Markets

Well, hello, friends! How fare thee, one and all?

Yes, I know it has been a while. I can't keep using the excuse that life has been crazy busy (even if it's true). 

I had the privilege of attending the BrisStyle indie Twilight Markets last night, for the first time as a stall holder. It was rad. I had a great time meeting people in person that I had only "met" online previously, seeing lots of new faces, chatting with heaps of lovely supporters of handmade AND seeing some lovely friends, including one I have not seen in a couple years (hi, Amy!). Maybe even some of you reading this post have come across this blog via my business card that you picked up last night. Welcome!

It's such a great atmosphere at these markets, I shall be going back, methinks!

How To: Make A Doily Brooch Display

Doilies can be re-purposed in so many ways. Check out House of Humble's great article on many ways to re-purpose and upcycle doilies. One example is to pop a doily into a timber embroidery hoop and hang it on the wall. These doily hoop art pieces also make a great way to store and display brooches. It is super easy, and rather effective, in my opinion.

Materials:

• Crocheted doily
• Timber embroidery hoop that is slightly smaller than the doily
• Bias binding or ribbon that is slightly less wide than the width of the hoop
• Fabric glue
• Scissors

Method:

1. Put the doily in the hoop and tighten the screw, making sure the doily is centred and tight across the hoop.

2. Cut off any excess doily, but leave enough width that the remainder will fold over the back edge of the hoop and sit inside the back of the hoop. 

3. Fold the raw edge of the doily over so that is sitting flat against the inside of the back of the hoop all the way around the hoop.

4. Spread fabric glue on the wrong side of the bias binding and press against the raw edge of the doily on the inside of the hoop, making sure the actual raw edge is covered. The glue stick to the timber through the doily holes.

5. Attach brooches to the front of the doily hoop art and voila!

I plan to use mine for as a way to display my brooches at markets. But I also made two smaller ones out of matching doilies for my brooches and earrings to hang on my dresser.

Market Wrap

For those who read this blog regularly, I suppose you may be wondering how my first market event came off on Saturday. 

Hmmm...let's draw out some positives, shall we? 

1. I met some lovely people. That makes me happy.
2. I got to hang out with beautiful friends.
3. I was able to support the Hope Foundation, and be a part of a successful event.
4. I saw some friends I haven't seen in a LONG time. 
5. I got a few (three, to be exact) custom orders.
6. I made a few (three, to be exact) sales. 
7. I covered the stallholder fee. (JUST)

Ooooh, I found seven positives. Yay. I did not know if I would be able to find that many. 

To be honest, I feel a little disappointed. Not majorly, as my expectations were not massive. Just a little. But it is all part of the journey. I am pleased that I went, but I am not certain I will go again. I need to think about it a little more. It seems that I am currently super busy just filling custom orders for friends and friends of friends. And maybe that is how my little hobby business will grow, and I may not need to go back to markets.

It is really hard to do markets with two young children, one being under five months old. Baby T did not cope well with the whole experience. Actually, he managed really well in between feeds, and he had many people willing to care for him (one in particular - thanks so much, if you are reading this!). However, by the time he was due for each feed, he was just so overwhelmed. Sensory overload!! He screamed a lot and was quite difficult to settle. I must admit, that put a bit of a dampener on my overall experience. (Stressed baby = stressed mummy=stressed baby.  

Next time, he will be almost eight months old. I could probably leave him home with hubby by then. But it would still be a lot of effort, and I am just not sure it is worth it for me...

Well there you have it. That's a wrap.

The Land of the Half-Finished!!

Happy weekend!! I am rather excited today, as it is my first market day :)

I had this long list of "would be nice if I managed to get it finished by the markets" items, and I am slowly making my way through them. Here's a sample of the list:

• 3 half-made journal covers
• my brooch from the *washing day* set
• half-made adult-sized apron to go with the kid's apron
• custom order for my friend Rach, to use as an example of name hoop art
• 2 more gadget cases in different designs that I already have cut out and partially sewn
• another cloud brooch, to replace the one I sold
• the bunting with my shop name for my stall banner, it is also cut out waiting for me to do millions of applique and sewing
• the tablecloth for my stall - seems I will just use the calico unhemmed and unembellished
• business cards
• more display cards, like these here

Oh dear. That's the list I woke up to this morning. Of course, it is impossible to get them all done, so I have had to prioritise. I have made it through several of them, suspended several until after the markets, and still have a few in progress. 

I have not been stressed, though. I totally want to keep this as something fun, not stressful. I started to feel a little lost and overwhelmed, but immediately had a little thought pop into my head: "You were going to aim for about thirty items. Count the finished ones now." (Thanks for that, God!) Guess how many I have completed and ready for sale so far? TWENTY-NINE! So I just have to complete one more item and I am on target. Aaaaaahhh...that's nice to know :)

Market Preparation Progress

Just a few bits and pieces I have been making recently...

Playing with potential market set-up

Displaying my embroidery wall art in the vintage suitcase

My playful money tin

Recipe card board (for holding recipes while you are using them)

Felt apple brooch

Another retro floral clutch

Retro Clutch

Migraines. Hate 'em. They are so debilitating! I've had three in the past week, one this morning. Not fun.

Anyway, on a brighter note, I whipped up a cute retro clutch yesterday afternoon when the kids finally settled for their naps.

 I just LOVE this fabric. I think I picked this one up at an op-shop. Or did it come in the vintage suitcase? I can't quite remember.

I love ric rac. I love vintage buttons. And I love cute seventies fabric featuring roses in lovely bold yellow with brown and grey tones. So I am going to find it hard to part with this at the markets in a couple weeks. 

Not that it will necessarily sell, hey. Well, I have more of these cut and ready to sew...if they don't go at the markets, I know people who would love to receive one of these for a present (let's just hope they don't feel like they are cast-offs)!

Renovating a Vintage Suitcase

I know there are a lot of instructables, tutorials and ideas floating around the internet about renovating vintage suitcases for other purposes. This is not one of them. Sorry! Just a little update about my preparations for selling my stuff at markets.

I have been very blessed to end up with a suitcase that used to belong to my Pop. It arrived in my possession via my sister, who delivered some retro sewing bits and bobs from my Ma, including a couple items of clothing that are about 80% complete - very seventies in style and fabric!! (Aunty Merelyn or Aunty Janelle, maybe these were sewing projects of yours?) Anyway, the suitcase was the mode of transportation, and I was allowed to keep it - HURRAY! We already have a vintage port as a coffee table (idea shamelessly borrowed from Sav and Dave - thanks!), and I just love vintage suitcases, so of course I was excited.

It has been storing fabric for me for a while, but when I decided to do these markets, I just knew I wanted to use the suitcase to take my stuff and as part of my display. When I opened it up today, I found that the lining needed a little bit of work. (I should have taken a before pic but I didn't - apologies!)

All I have done so far is line the suitcase with some lovely oilcloth I bought the other day. I did plan to make little make-up bags and maybe a beach bag to sell, but I am afraid I have used most of the cherry pattern now and that plan will not work. But I think it was worth it - it has brightened up the suitcase considerably. 

I needed to do this today because the house is being taken over by craft (supplies, works in progress and finished products). 

Speaking of which, I have spent a couple hours today cutting out lots of shapes from the beautiful 100% wool felt that I received in the mail today from Winterwood Toys. I am so excited!! Hopefully I'll have time later this week to post about some of the new products I am creating at present. 

Until then.

Felt iPhone/iPod/Smart Phone Case

Ooooh, it is so exciting making things to sell. I thought I would not like it, but when it is my own designs I am creating, I do like it!

 Today I have completed a felt gadget case - for a smart phone or iPhone or some such. It is another in the "Balloon Dreaming" series. I like it. If I had a smart phone, I would make myself a case like this...

...Now I just have to wait and see if others share my taste. ;)

Market Display

 

Ugh. Monday. I tend to dread Monday mornings - the kids are tired and cranky from the weekend, the house is a pigsty from the "day of rest" we have as a family on Sunday, and I am exhausted. Sounds silly, but our day of rest is totally worth it. Anyway, I am choosing not to indulge my negative tendencies. Monday is a fresh, new start to the working week. Another opportunity to start over. To make changes where necessary, to be intentional about life and relationships...

Enough philosophising.Something else I did on the weekend was make a display board for my brooches, to take to the markets. I used an art canvas, covered it in calico (on which I had embroidered my business name and logo), glued on some old doilies, added some black grosgrain ribbon, and voila!

 The next step was reinventing my cards to match the new display. I was able to use materials I already had at home to make these (they are not going to have the bottom hole - I was just experimenting with where to put the price):

 

Dipping My Toe In...

...To the waters of selling. I have decided to put some items up for sale on Etsy, re-activate my empty shop, include a pop-up shop here on the blog, and...drum roll, please...having a stall at the Markets of Hope coming up at the end of March. I am more able to face the prospect of afternoon markets than early morning markets with two young children.

I am going to try and make a variety of the ideas that have been floating around in my brain for a while now, and see which ones are more popular (if any). That will help inform my making for my Etsy Shop, and also help me figure out if markets are for me. 

 It's a bit scary, I admit. Putting myself and my creations out there in a way that I have not really done before. And you know what? If the stuff does not sell, that's okay. I just make what I like, and I know well and truly by now that what I like is not everyone's cup of tea. And that's okay. But I think it is time to have a go!