markets and yummy new fabrics!

 

After a fun and excitement filled flurry of markets and custom orders (more on which below), I can finally take a breath…and enjoy my delicious new fabrics!  I received a bundle of fabulous fabrics from Kelani on Friday, and then the next day splurged in a big way at the Craft Fair here in Launceston.  Sigh, so many gorgeous fabrics and sweet trims, so hard to know where to begin!

Here are some of the goodies that came home with me…

Oooh, it’s giving me itchy sewing fingers just looking at them!  If you love them too…let me know and I can make something for you!  Or, if want to get your hands on some for yourself, I can give you the fabric details.

I’ve already cut into a few pieces to make some sweet pants for lovely Priscilla of Roasted Fox…

Priscilla was at The Branch Handmade Market, which I organise with sweet Christine of little red clog.  She makes gorgeous resin jewellery, of which I’m lucky enough to have a couple of gorgeous pieces which I wear all the time (well, I wear one of them…the other one is a gift for myself for mother’s day…shhhhh!).  It was lovely to have Priscilla along to the market, with lots and lots of other fabulously talented people!  We had a great time and raised $1400 for Elizabeth Home!  Pop over to the market’s website for more details, or to apply for the next market, coming up on November 30.

mini holiday

We had a night in Hobart a week or two ago.  The boys were super-excited because it involved the newest member of our family...Sadie the Citroen!  She's a very sweet, pale golden little car and I think we're going to get on quite well together.  But I'll do a post about Sadie another day because that's a whole 'nother story.

It was a funny sort of mini-holiday.  We got a (very expensive) parking ticket and nobody slept very well and we all got rather cross with each other, but looking back all we can remember are the good bits!  Which is just how it should be.

We spent our first day, while daddy worked, exploring all the bookshops in the city.  Our absolute favourite is the Red Cross bookshop (I think it's in Melville Street?) which is always looked after by sweet little old ladies who adore the boys.  Later I'll add a pic of the lovely vintage books we picked up there.  Before coming home the next day, I went to a beautiful fabric shop in New Town - The Quilted Crow - which lives in an amazing old church.  Such a breath-taking home for some lovely fabrics!

The sun was still shining, so we went and had fish and chips on the beach at Sandy Bay to enjoy the glorious weather.  After we'd eaten we played on the beach for an hour or so, until the sun suddenly slid behind a cloud and it started to drizzle with rain.



 There were lots of people kayaking, also enjoying the fabulous morning...


 ...but the boys were more interested in the sand and the sea to notice much going on around them!




 And that's the way it should be too!

dirt party!

A very special little person we know turned three a week or two ago.  It was a gorgeous 30+ degree day, and in a beautiful garden with a light breeze blowing...

 ...Josiah had a dirt party with a few of his friends!

Lucky Jasper was invited, and Toby tagged along too.

Despite being armed with a dump truck and lots of spare clothes, even paddling pools to wash off the mud...Jasper didn't want to get dirty!  Didn't matter - there was plenty of good clean fun to be had as well!

After an awesome dump truck cake and some kebabs it was time to head home.  Thanks for turning three, Josiah!

It's a special year for Josiah and his family.  They have a heart for South Sudan and its people, and are heading over there later this year.  As a family, we pray that God will smooth the way for them and daily open doors (both here before they leave and in once they arrive in South Sudan) to allow them to proclaim His name where it may not have been heard before.  You can learn more about the Pooles and their journey here.

scraps of colour

I just love colour!  Mixing it up in fabric is one of my favourite ways to play with it.  I keep all my scraps in colour groups so I can find what I want quickly...

But it does mean that I have rather a lot of scraps!  I love piecing them together to make something new, so I'm always on the lookout for projects that use us smaller bits of lovely fabrics.  Jasper has a special little friend who's turning four next week, and I thought a sweet cushion with her name on it would be a cute gift (together with a book, of course!  Couldn't have a birthday present without a book).  So I pulled out a rainbow of scraps and got busy sewing and ironing with some favourite fabrics...


...while Jasper got busy making a card for the birthday girl, using his favourite colours.


Definitely a gift made with lots of love!

ps:: we had a lovely time at Inspire Handmade Market in Deloraine on Friday night!  Thanks to all those who came along to check out all the amazing goodies available - we met some fabulous people and had some great chats!  Nothing quite like meeting your customers face-to-face!  I haven't heard how much was raised for the primary school, but it was a busy night so it's sure to be a good amount.

off to the market(s)

With a couple of markets coming up, there will be lots of lovely goodies to browse and buy!  I'd love you to come along and say hello at one (or all!) of these exciting markets...
 

I'll be at Inspire Handmade Market in Deloraine next Friday 2nd of March, which is on from 6pm - 9pm at Deloraine Primary School. The gold coin donation entry will go to support the school, and it looks like there is a wonderful array of stall-holders coming along - head over to their website to have a peek.

On Friday 27 (6pm - 9pm) April is a market very close to my heart...The Branch Handmade Market!   My sweet friend Christine (of little red clog) and I run this market at our church, and the Autumn event will be our third.  The first two were wonderful, and we have thus far raised a total of over $3500 for Elizabeth Home in India (lots of info about Elizabeth Home over on the market website).

Applications for stall-holders are open until the end of March, so if you'd like to be part of the wonderful team of stall-holders at this event, pop over to our website to apply - we'd love to see you there!

And then in August (Friday 24th and Saturday 25th), I'm super excited to be part of Niche - All Wrapped Up for the first time!  This market is held in the Tramsheds in Inveresk with the aim of raising money for St Giles - 20% of stall-holders' takings are contributed to the cause, allowing St Giles to purchase some great equipment to support some very special people.

Hope to see you there!

little triumphs

In the middle of the busyness of starting school(s), it's so lovely to pause and celebrate some little triumphs! We went out in search of a big grassy space today where Jasper could have his first bike ride without training wheels.

A few little wobbles and one big tumble...but it's so good to know there's always someone there to pick you up if you fall.

And after a little perseverance and some special big brother encouragement...success!

Well done Jasper!