New handpinted cushion covers

Buy nothing new month

Spring Fashion Week @ North Melbourne Market

Up-cycle project - Vintage mannequin

I bought this vintage male mannequin from a seconhand dealer in Koo-Wee-Rup over a year ago with the intention of using it as a photography bust. 12 months on and i've bearly used and in fact it's actuuly been standing on my front verandar since December last year.

I had orginally planned to sell it but had a brainwave last week and wondered wether i could turn the mannequin in to a unique display board for my outdoor markets. As the bust was made form fibreglass i decided to use chalkboard paint for the job.


The process is used was very simple:
1. wash all surfaces to be painted throughly with water and a cloth (use water/sugar soap mix if the bust is more than just dusty)
2. Apply one thin even coat of chalkboard paint and allow to dry for 24 hours.
3.Apply 2 more coats of chalkboard paint allowing 24 hours drying time in between.
Done!!

I recommend you use paint rather than the spray as you get more coverage with the paint and thus cost you less. You can use chalk sticks or liquid chalk markers to write on the bust and a damp cloth to earse and clean-up
I'm really pleased with the results and think it would also be perfect standing outside my shop (one day when i finally open one).

BUST Magazine feature

Was so happy to receive my copy of BUST Magazine (Aug/Sep) in the mail today. Inside on page 60 is featured my Pony Locket Necklace. Although it's an American publication you can this magazine in most newsagents in Australia, it's well worth a read.

Southside Market Giveaway

On Sunday the 10th we'll be holding a stall at the brand new Southside Handmade and Vintage Market. The market is held within the Uban Hotel just off bustling Fizroy Street in the heart of trendy St. Kilda. This is the perfect way to escape the cold winter weather while shopping from quality vintage clothing and stunning handmade goodies.

To celerbrate the market's launch, we're having a giveaway. Simply make at purchase at our stall and mention this add and will give you a tile pendant of you choosing valued at $5 for FREE*

*limit one per person

Fashion Show

Weekend Market Review

Well it's such a wonderfully busy weekend just past. We had two markets on. The first on Saturdays was the Sister's Markers Market at the Brunswick Town Hall. A wonderful little market set in the middle of busy Sydney Road, the Sister's Makers market provides a day full of shopping and live entertainment.
I must admit that in the past i have been known to spend a bit of my market takings samplling all the wonderful treats including devine cupcakes and chocolate-filled pretzels, and Saturday was no expection.

For this market i brought along my brand new display stand. Made from some old pickets i found in the garden shed and a plank of pine board from my dads farm. I just finished it in time for the market, and dispite my horrible carpentry skill i was, i was stoked with the way it turned out.
It worked a treat on the day and provided to be the perfect display for by jewellery busts and a great was for showcase my designs.






On Sunday we headed off once again for Healesville. This is fast becoming one of my favorite markets. Run by Craft Markets Australia and held at the local racecourse, the Healesville market provides a wonderful mix of fashion, food and fun for all ages.
The Healesville patrons are truely wonderful, desipe the cold, overcaste conditions and the possiblity of the shower or two, many still came out for the market. I had such a wonderful response to all my collections, i will absloutely be commiting myself to these market for the come Spring and Christmas season.

Next stop Mornington for the Easter Market.

A new vintage dress

A new vintage shopping paradie for Melbourne

If you haven't heard yet Hunter Gatherer, run by the Brotherhood of St Laurence have just opened up a shiny new shop right in the centre of the CBD. Located in the charming Royal Arcade in the Bourke Street Mall Hunter Gatherer - City is a mecca for lovers of fine vintage threads. Stocking mostly Mad Man style tea dresses, skirts and blouses plus awesome vintage shoes, the store also carries a range of retro mens fashion and handpicked locally craft jewellery and accessories to completement you brand new outfits.



Store Located: Shop 51 Royal Arcade, 335 Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne 3000
Phone: 03 9650 1843

Handmade Christmas - Decorations

1. Vintage Doile Decoration

2. Buntings

3. Vintage Sheet Music Candle Holders
4. Vintage Paper Garlands

Paper Garlands

1. Bird Rosettes
2. Vintage Maps
3. Vintage Sheet Music
4. Vintage Dictionary
5. Paper Lantern

Pretty Little Bows

Introducing my brand new collection of prettly little bow tie hair clips. Each is made from vintage fabric with metal alligator clip attached on the back. They come in 3 sizes large ($8), medium ($5) and baby ($3). Check them out at my next market.

A Table for Two

This weekend seems to be the weekend for the annual church and school fates. Today the local Catholic Church held there's. Outside the church hall , as always was the $2 sausage sizzle, with it's under-cooked snags, blackened onions and ice bucked of salad dressings, whilst inside could be found an aray of secondhand goods, old books, baked treats and tables of mysteriously labeled "potted plantings".
This year, running in a shed just behind the church was a nifty little garage sale, selling some really nice old furnishings and homewares. I was quite chuffed to find this cute little garden chair. Now my outdoor settings has a place for two, replacing a chair which was stolen when i still lived in South Yarra some years ago. Very Nice!!

Pretty Summer Dresses for Cold Spring Days

Brr, this past weekend was cold, so cold and yucky i had to cancel my weekend plans away, sadly and i was looking forward to having a few days off before the Market craziness and Christmas chaos gets into full swing. Alas it save it for another day.
Instead i used my time to mess around with some lovely vintage sewing patterns i recently purchased from eBay and the really awesome retro fabric i found at one of the many local op shops. This little summer cutie is only the second dress i've ever made. Now i'm looking forward to the summer holidays when i can wear it out and when i have the time to make some more.

New Buntings

Check out these sweet buntings which will be avaliable next week. Each are made from my huge vintage fabric stash and features 12 handmade flags measuring 15x20cm, and comes with a 30cm tie off section and metal ring for hanging.
These are perfect for dressing a room or nursery and makes a wonderful reusable party decoration.

At present they come is 3 different themes.
1. Boy blue
2. Chic Floral
3. Bohemian

Etsy Feature - Death of Summer

Yeh! Here's another Etsy Gallery feature amde by the lovely sunflowerexpress tilted "Death of Summer" which inclucdes my "decay of society" steampunk statement necklace

Ladies Market Tomorrow

Tomorrow we'll be attening the first market for us for the 2010/11 Spring Summer season. We'll be heading of to Mordialloc to attened the Ladies Market. Held at Allen McLean Hall from 10am to 2pm the market features a huge range of quality pre-love and vintage women clothing, shoes and accessories.

This will be the first time i'm attending this market, and timely too, my collection of vintage shoes and dresses is starting to take over my house. Here's a small sample of what i will have for sale. I'll also be taking a selection of jewellery some of which you can purchase at the market only for less then wholesale and i will also be debuting my rockabilly bow clips and whimisical bobby pins.

For more details on the Ladies Market check out there website at: http://www.ladiesmarkets.com.au/