In time for Mother's Day

Lots of things going on here at the moment, but the first one to note is the Mountain Makers Market next Saturday!



It is going to be a great day, so please come along if you're in the area!

We have the technology

I'm ridiculously excited about this! I just took delivery of a shiny new mobile EFTPOS machine, so next time you visit me at the markets, you can pay by card!



My focus this year is on markets and since my products tend to be on the higher end of the price scale for your average market, I'm hoping that it will make things easier for my customers who don't always carry a lot of cash.

Can't wait to try it out!

Wow

My mind is officially blown! Watch this movie about how jeans are made! http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2011/03/how_jeans_are_made.html

Amazing!

Did you make this yourself?

A regular question that comes up when I'm trading at the markets is "Did you make this yourself?". The answer is "I did!" Sometimes when I say that, people look at me with what I see as a hint of disbelief. Maybe I'm imagining it, but it happens enough that I don't think so.

Now I don't think that they think I personally couldn't have made things, but that any one person couldn't. I'm convinced there's an idea that only well made products (and purses with metal frames!) can be made in factories.

It's an interesting mentality to contemplate. We are told so often by advertising that products we buy in stores are good quality etc. But the handmade movement doesn't seem to come with that same idea. I can't wait until it does. And I can't wait until I can articulate how buying something beautiful, direct from the maker, has got to be a great thing.

PS. Am interested to hear if you think I might be imagining it?

Thank you Canberra

The first Handmade Market Canberra for 2011 is done and dusted. Thank you to everyone who came along and made it such a worthwhile event! It was one of the longest days of my life (5am start, home at 10pm), but such a fabulous day. It was great to meet so many people, and even better, watch my bags (and other things) fly off the racks.

I'm taking a few days to recover, then have to photograph the stock that is left and get it in my etsy store so it's available for everyone. I'll post an update here when I've done that. Just waiting for my new light tent and studio lights to arrive - hoping these will make for better photos and much quicker photo processing as it's currently a very time consuming job.

Also working on a 'gadget love' kind of post - just deciding which piece of equipment to start with.

An exciting venture

I have some exciting news to share! If you're a crafty person in Australia and particularly in Sydney, check this out:



This has been in the works for a few months, and Kirsten and I are super excited to launch our idea to the world.

Now, back I go to the sewing...

Swamped

I'm slowly but surely being buried by piles of finished products! I'm working hard to make a lot of stuff for the Canberra Handmade Market which is on in less than 2 weeks!

It will be the biggest event I've traded at so far and I'm excited, but also a little nervous! I'm very much looking forward to it - or at least I will be when all the sewing is done and I've figured out how to fit everything in the car for a 3 hour trip.

We've just had an entire week of +30℃ weather - mostly 34-36℃ and I'm pretty pleased that I got as much done as I did. The words 'one woman sweat shop' come to mind.

Thankfully the cool change has just hit, and desperately needed supplies should be here in the morning so the coming week should be productive too.