{I'm back} and I'm busy . . .

So once again its been a while between blog posts but I am determined this time to continue on with blogging about all sorts of things - not much business wise as I've decided to take a small break from my business for a month or two or three to concentrate on everything else that has been happening in our lives and what is still to come over the coming months.

Since my last blog post my 3 little people have all celebrated birthday's and now they are 7, 5 and 3 - how time is flying!!!

We have also made a huge decision to move back into town - buying a block that will put us inner city living. It will fantastic not having to drive into town sometimes 2 or 3 times a day. We will be able to walk everywhere now - just a few hundred metres from school, a short walk to kinder and the town centre not even 15 minutes walk away.

Just under 800m2 and a odd shape with all sorts of easements around it, has made it tricky to find a house plan big enough to accommodate a family of 5, but we finally found a builder and plan which we have modified slightly to suit us. Once bonus is that it is in a quiet court overlooking a park, so what we will loose in backyard space, we will have little traffic coming in and a beautiful park to play and picnic in. And we are definitely putting in a pool with the build - so we are excited!

roughly how the front/back of house will look

rough guide of how the ground floor will be (still waiting on the official plans).

upstairs will be 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a huge retreat area for the kids.

As far as business goes, I am still doing a little creating - but mostly just for me for once. I've decided to put the business on hold to create time for the more important things in life right now - which is my family and everything we have going on.

I've also decided to go back to University this year and am studying to be a Librarian through online learning part time. My plan is to have my qualifications completed to Diploma level by the time Mister 3 starts school (most likely sooner) and then find some part-time employment in a library as a library technician, while I continue on with my Bachelor degree qualification to a fully qualified Librarian. I'm enjoying studying and getting my brain working again on something different.

So stay tuned for more regular blog posts about all sorts of things; my family, building our new home, what crafty things I am making, tutorials I am happy to share about how to create small craft projects, recipes (as I've just purchased myself a thermomix this week and can't wait for it to arrive!) and anything else that takes my fancy.

Thanks for reading x

My Creative Space

Multi-tasking today . . . making buttons and reading Dora.

More creative spaces over here : )

My Creative Space

On our recent trip away to Tassie, my MIL opened the doors to her sewing room and gave me this bundle of goodies to bring home with me. A retired seamstress, she has boxes and cupboards full of all sorts of goodies and gave me her stash of laces, bias and zips that she no longer uses. Many of the laces are quite old, back from her days working in a haby shop as a young girl. There are even pieces from her wedding dress. I plan to use lots of lace in my upcomig Autumn/Winter 2011 creations so stay tuned for some sneak peaks in the weeks to come.

Blogtoberfest Day #14 ~ My Creative Space

Today I am busy with market preps for Mathilda's Markets in Adelaide at the end of the month. Headscarves, drawing wallets and crayon rolls on today's list of things to achieve . . . provided my 3 little helpers are happy to all nap at the same time and give mummy a spell : )

For more creative spaces, take a peak over here.

My Creative Space

Something new for Summer that I am working on today in between sewing some orders. Its pretty and girly and a little old fashioned, so we'll see how I go. Stay tuned for the finished product in a few days . . .

For more lovely creative spaces go HERE : )

My Creative Space

Bookwork is happening in my creative space today. Nothing exciting, but a job that must be done! And Master T is helping me out by 'sending emails' via the eggcarton laptop - complete with mouse of course!And this little man is keeping us all distracted with his smiles and laughs.

Almost 3 months old, where has that time gone!?

For more fabulous creative spaces (where people are actually being crafty!), look over HERE : )

My Creative Space

Today i am getting back into the swing of things and getting stuck into some more cutting out of winter dresses. I have a market on the Anzac Day long weekend here that I am really not sure how busy it might be as this is the first time this event has been run - but if your in the Mildura area, come on out to the Artback Gallery at Wentworth between 10am & 4pm for a very special handmade market : )

Today is my first day home alone with my 3 babies now that hubby has gone back to work and so far so good, little Nate is a fantastic sleeper - I can't believe that I have been blessed (touch wood) with 3 great sleepers so hopefully I can still get lots of crafting and sewing achieved in bits and pieces throughout the day.

For more wonderful creative spaces go HERE : )

My Creative Space

I'm busy adding hangtags and labels to some last minute sewing for this weekend's Easter Markets. You will find me on Saturday at the Magenta Makers Easter Fair at the Australian Inland Botanical Gardens and on Sunday at my usual spot at the Red Cliffs Country Markets. Saturday's market at the Gardens is expected to be a huge event with an anticipated 2000+ people through the gates for the morning - Easter is a huge event in our town! Be early if you want to stock up on your fresh fruit and veg as well as checking out the fantastic local handmakers that are a part of the Magenta Makers Craft Fairs.

I am also 38 weeks pregnant today - time has certainly crept up with that one! All is going well, I just hope this little one stays put til after this weekend's markets! Then I might be able to put my feet up for a day or two ; )

Check out lots of other crafty lovelies HERE.

My Creative Space

I'm quilting today. Some little pram quilts for the Easter Markets coming up that I have whipped up from some jelly rolls I had stashed away for a rainy day, not that its raining here, but I am still looking forward to the winter weather coming upon us and the days getting below 30 degrees!

The fabric is "Birdie" by Me & My Sister for Moda. Check out lots of other wonderful creative spaces today HERE : )

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Post updated with two little pram quilts; quilted, binded and finished : )

My Creative Space

Bad bad blogger me, hasn't blogged since last Thursday. I've been busy nesting though . . . the new baby's room is far from ready, but at least the little one will have a cute little knitted hat to wear. The one of the left just needs a tassle added to the end of the long tail. I discovered knitting in the round last winter when I picked up a copy of Amanda Keeys Baby Beanies book, and haven't looked back.

And more winter capes from last week that just need the yoyo button added before they are finished. I am in love with this fabric for these capes - its not wool, but just as warm. A beautiful Rayon Jacketing fabric I discovered in Spotlight from last Winter in Red and Grey - perfect for wrapping around little shoulders over a gorgeous little pinny in winter. And best of all, no itch! And I have discovered the larger sizes I have made fit me quite well too ; )

Available in sizes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 Years, a select few will go up in the store this weekend with the rest I am saving for the Easter Markets.

Now if only the weather in our part of Australia would start cooling down so I could get some gorgeous wintery photos done of my new winter pieces. I am very much looking forward to the cooler weather!

Check out lots of other wonderful creative spaces HERE : )

My Creative Space

A late addition for my Winter 2010 Collection. Its a new design. Its for the girls. Its lovely and warm and snuggly perfect for wrapping around the shoulders . . . just give me another day or so to get a few more finished . . .

Lots to do, Easter Markets in 3 weeks time to get ready for - oh, and baby #3 due in just 5 weeks . . . or less : )

Check out lots more fabulous crafty creative spaces HERE!

My Creative Space

In my creative space today there is MESS! I am busy with some last minute sewing for Mathilda's Markets this weekend in Adelaide. I am very excited to be taking part in my first Mathilda's and definitely have a couple of the Melbourne dates for later in the year bookmarked a maybe's . . .

I have also done a test run of my table to make sure all my stock fits in, and mum generously loaned me some funds to purchase this fabulous new rack that holds nearly all my hanging stock.

I also bought this fabulous laser cut jewellery tree from fellow madeit seller Mr Killmousky - isn't it gorgeous! Just perfect for hanging my button bracelets on with more scattered around the base. Its only a tiny 20cm high but looks perfect on top of a little stool I have it sitting on, on the table. You can also get them a little bigger at 30cm high.

Back to some last minute sewing, then packing the car for the road trip over to Adelaide tomorrow. Leaving hubby home with the kids, hopefully I get a chance to do some shopping at the other stalls on Saturday!

Check out more fabulous creative spaces HERE!

My Creative Space

Its a snapping good day today as my new range of winter cord pinny's are getting the finishing touches done to them with double snaps on each shoulder strap - more winter sneak peaks to come : )

More more wonderul crafty creative spaces check it all out HERE.

My Creative Space

Patchwork Scarves are on the agenda today. This is a new design for Winter that I originally thought to add in for the little ones but found that they are really a OSFM (one size fits most) from little people to big people! Lined with flannel and backed with soft cord I am hoping these are a hit at the markets. My original measurements were to have them 6 inches wide, but have cut them down to 4 inches wide and we'll see how they go. I have 25 more all cut out and ready to sew, busy busy days!

And my in-house model Miss M modelling the larger width sized one . . .

More winter sneak peaks coming soon,
with the official release of all my new designs on the 2nd March 2010 : )

Visit lots more lovely crafty clever people HERE : )

My Creative Space

Its a busy day today!

New fabrics and other crafty goodness arriving from the US

Sewing has begun on that mountain load of dresses to make

A wholesale order of dresses and crayon rolls to a new store I am supplying too is getting packed up

And more dresses are getting cut out ready to be sewn for Mathilda's in 3 weeks time

Argh, just 3 weeks left to get ready - I need more time!

Check out lots of other crafty creative lovelies HERE!

My Creative Space

I have so much I NEED to do right now that I have piles of half started stuff everyone in my sewing room and the mess is driving me mad! I have 4 weeks left to get myself ready for Mathilda's Markets in Adelaide in March. I don't really have a clue how much stock I should be taking but I am guessing a LOT! And then I have no idea how I am going to set up as the stall space is MUCH smaller than I am used to. I do have a plan stuck on the wall of how many of everything I would like to take - which includes 100 dresses! Being that it will be the ending of summer and I will be releasing my new winter collection that same week I am planning to take 3 of my summer styles and 4 new winter syles of dresses -

so far I have 16 dresses finished and 30 cut out and ready to sew . . .

and then there is everything else to make . . .

So my creative space today involves one slightly frazzled mummy needed a good kick start of some serious motivation to continue on sewing and crafting - oh, this baby is making sure of that giving me plenty of kicks and nudges! 30 weeks today, where has that time gone!

Check out what all the other lovely crafty peeps are doing today by visiting the list HERE.

My Creative Space

Its back for 2010! Join in the fun HERE!

Today I am working on stuff ready for this Saturday's brand new niche market in our area. Designed just for handmakers, I am hoping that it will bring lots of fabulous handmakers out of the woodwork and lots of browsing and buying customers to purchase some amazingly gorgeous handmade goodies by local makers. So today it is drawing wallets that are being sewn up, together with a bit of quilting and lots of pattern drafting with more Winter 2010 designs popping up in my head.

Master T & Miss M had a wonderful morning also being very creative with the playdough. According to Master T this is our house (on the left), our puppy dog Millie (the little gren blob on the right) and her kennel in the middle (the orange blob). Now we don't have a chimney so when I enquired as to what the stick with the shape on top was, his reply was the pathway to our beachhouse . . . oh that would be lovely wouldn't it : )
Don't forget to check out all the crafty talent participating : )

Advent Blog-a-long Day #3 - My Creative Space

I've decided to join in the fun over at the Kootoyoo Blog, by doing the My Creative Space feature each Thursday. So this is what is happening at my place this afternoon. I am sitting on the lounge room floor doing some more buttons for the weekends Christmas markets as I am sure these are going to be great stocking fillers. And yes, that is a small child playing in my scraps bucket. Miss M thought it was very funny to be jumping in and out of it : )

Sewing Room Makeover!

My sewing room makeover is almost complete. Just some shelving I think is needed, a noticeboard/whiteboard to help me keep track of orders, and prehaps some art of some sort for the walls as it is looking very bare on the walls and white!

Sewing table (this one measures 2 metres long) and has a set at 5 drawers one end. Plenty of room for both machines and I am just using one chair to slide back and forwards between machines.

Photo taken from the double doors into the room. Fabric storage - looking a little bare as I am waiting on a big shipment of new fabrics due any day now! I am also going to shift the books/magazines up on top when I find myself some really heavy bookends.

Snap press corner. And the fabulous wall hanging I just received from Xena in the Dolls Quilt Swap - perfect size! Plus some rolls of laminate fabrics/chalkcloth.

Crafting table. This is a little space to do my fabric button stuff, gift tags, etc. The big container underneath is my scraps tub.

The computer table measures 1.2 metres long and is perfect for the laptop and printer, and then the filing cabinet snuggly tucked away in the corner.

I am really happy with the set up. I have heaps of room behind me sewing and can see the kids in the room across the entrance way playing while I sew. This room is also at the front of the house so plenty of natural light in the mornings when sewing. I did think about getting another high table for cutting out on, but I still really prefer to sit on the floor to cut out (even with a growing baby belly), so am happy to keep doing that.

Furniture run down:

Ikea - sewing table, computer table, storage cube, white sewing chair.

Officeworks - craft table, filing cabinet.

So what do you think? Any suggestions for brightening it up a little?

Blogtoberfest Day #30 ~ Busy Mess

I am busy trying to get lots of sewing done of my new dress design for Sunday's market amongst other bits and pieces . . .

. . . and Miss M is busy making a mess behind me while I sit at the machine. I've lost track of how many times she has emptied my bin of scraps and threads so I've stopped picking it all up off the floor, it can stay there for now.

Last day of Blogtoberfest tomorrow - the draw for my giveaway will happen sometime during the day : )