handmade happy

The lassies from the inaugural Handmade Hobart,  both market organisers and stallholders themselves, Penni, Sue and Marg, should be justifiably happy with themselves from the weekend's event.  They did a fine job.  Despite rain both days, people were out in force.  Customers and stallholders were quite happy about the abundance of room to move, and the variety of goods for sale.  The good coffee and hot chocolate by Baristasista kept everyone warm and happy too.   It was extremely difficult for me, to curtail purchases (hey, I have free-rein in the handmade arena!), however I did buy a lovely brooch, and I commissioned Sophie from 'snowpea handmade' to made a neck warmer (too stylish for words!).

Please enjoy these photos, but excuse the quality, whilst we had plenty of natural light, the sun wasn't out, and I had camera trouble.

Moi

Narelle from Ruby Victoria Letterpress

Rosie from Notions, and Edwina from Little Snoring

Sophie from Snowpea Handmade

an eclectic collection from Urban Prowler

my brooch purchase - crockery remnants on a native cherry hand-dyed piece of wool

my collection of business cards from other stallholders, new people I have met

roll on the weekend

If I told you all the last minute mad things I need to do today to prepare for 

Handmade Hobart  tomorrow, you wouldn't believe me. 

 There is always something I forget, always something left to do, no matter how much I think I have it all sorted.  Then, after reading about Owlet's laments about the lack of stock in Spotlight (pretty much the only fabric/haby store in Hobart), I am now in dire straits myself.  

I sent hubbie in to Spotlight - (he's lovely like that, running errands for me in his lunch hour!) to buy some drawstring for my latest batch of dilly bags, and he came home with 3 measly metres.  That is all they had left.  My only requirement was that it had to be pure cotton and white or cream. 

 Nichts. What about blue? Zilch. Any other colour? Nup.

 Yikes.  Lesson to self here...remember the good girl scouts motto: 'be prepared'.  Maybe the other lesson here is get a better supplier.  Luckily, I sat next to Britt from Skewiffy Textile Studio last night, as we enjoyed an entertaining talk about window display by Roz Wren, and she gave me the name of a supplier of haby products in Sydney.  It does take time to create an inventory of good suppliers, this I am learning! 

But, these are small things. I am praying for a good friend who is in hospital at the moment, very, very sick.  

Enjoy your weekend, each precious moment with your loved ones,

speak gentle words, love one another. 

wee footnote:

dilly dilemma solved; venetian blind cord to the rescue, located at a hardware store!

the art of window display

Tonight in Hobart I am attending a talk:  'window display - creating an impresssion!'  It's run by Business and Employment, the last one I went to was 'marketing', and I'm keen to go again, as these talks are short, sharp, and give you plenty of food for thought to explore deeper.  Whilst, I did window dressing as part of fashion and design yonks ago, I need help!

But, you may indeed be wondering, why is she going to a shop window display talk?

 There is no shop to window display for - Is there??!

Well, alas, no there is sadly not.

however...

You musn't think of a trestle table at a market, as merely a surface to plonk one's wares,

 but indeed a shop-front, a window, to display enticingly and artfully the beautiful items one is 'peddling'.

I've never been really happy in the past with my display, my items are bulky, there never seems to be enough room (1.2 metres x 70cm).  It's difficult to add height without adding bulk, bunting is a nightmare to display without a wall behind you.... the list goes on... SO I am ever so keen to get any tips to help me improve this scenario, I'm assuming the principles of display in a shop window can be utilized on my tiny space.   I'll post any good bits I glean next week, and maybe if I am very brave, I shall post some pictures, after the inaugral Handmade Hobart on this weekend.
   Another stallholder who always makes an impression, is Rosie from Notions, who consistently displays excellent 'shop-window' technique, with flair and originality on her stall.  

Bel Fiore shop window - Ottawa

Bookstore in Edinburgh

florist

garten eden - Zurich

oh beehave!

We went for a walk the other day, and happened upon this amazing buzzing cluster of bees.  They didn't settle there for long, we went past the next day and they were gone.   Aren't bees fascinating?...it's amazing to think there are over 1500 species of native bees in Australia alone.  I got quite close when I took one photo, they were too busy to perceive me as a threat thankfully!

 

99 feelings

Are you in touch with your 99 feelings by Mitsy Sleurs, of Art Mind?

Check out this article in Living Creatively

Invincible, Purity, Patience, Courage, Torn, Tense, Oneness, Sick, Ambitious, Cute, Depressed, Angry, Silly, Empty, Curious, Irritated, Sad, Frustrated, Mean, Pain, Hurt, Tied,  Untied, Lethargic, Restless, Betrayed, Numb, Stuffed, Nervous, Hate, Relieved, Wise, Free, Hungry, Overwhelmed, Tired, Explosive, Addicted, Pressured, Regret, Safe, Stress, Pretty, Agitated, Blocked, Greedy, Protected, Adventurous, Special, Divided, Zombie, Cold, Sweet, Confused, Excited, Small, Shy, Comfort, Passionate, Shitty, Relaxed, Lost, Defensive, Uncertain, Chaotic, Creative, Sleepy, Proud, Surprised, Bored, Naughty, Strong, In Love, Love, Romantic, Invisible, Sexy, Balanced, Old, Dazzling, Touched, Brave, Broken, Cursed, Blue, Tough, Rough, Amazed, Organised, Captured, Super, Giddy, Crushed, Scared, Satisfied, Isolated, Calm, Happy, Vulnerable.

oh martha!

Miss b wearing her

 thrifted t-shirt, and handmade skirt by Owlet

Don't we all just know why they call this time of year 'the silly season'!? (this was never truer than when I worked in hospitality).

 Everything seems to sneak up on me at this time of year, but especially this year, as I am trying to sew and make for 3 very big market days coming up soon.   I have decided I may very well be sleeping all January!

There is so much happening, does it just feel like this in the Southern Hemisphere, where it's getting warmer, and there is a gathering up of momentum? 

 Summer is such a daft time of year to have Christmas. 

As well as Christmas itself to prepare for, I have:  a school Athletics carnival (why oh why do they have this at this time of year?), a Christmas play, a window-dressing lecture,  handmade presents to be decided upon for teachers (one lovely teacher who is retiring deserves something really special, for she was truly a Godsend to me when mr d started school), some Christmas dilly bags to make for my great-nephews, and great niece....and still de-cluttering at home, social events with our mums group, three birthday's (in December!).   And the garden's not getting tendered enough, kids are getting cranky 'cause their tired , ah I could go on, but...I've run out of breath.

I know I'm not alone, everyone's in the same mad boat!

I posted a pic of miss b because she is one of the wonderful reasons I do some of the things I do, and a reminder to me, that our relationships are the most important thing.  Not stuff. People.

I have received this lovely blogger award twice in the last fortnight, first from Berrylicious Buttons, and now from Buttons By Lou Lou (there's a theme happening here!), however I feel at the present time, despite the warm fuzzies, I just don't have the time to foward this lovely award on.  I know you understand. 

 

I need a dose of calm and peace...so I re-visited the Martha story.

I wish you all some peace and calm too at this time of year, so I'm sharing it with you:

Shalom

“Martha, Martha”, He said. How many times have we Stress Junkies been a Martha?

To set the scene, and for those who may not know the story, Martha and Mary were sisters. They had a brother named Lazarus. Now Martha and Mary have a house in Bethany near Jerusalem, and their brother has invited some friends over for dinner. One of the friends is an important guy, a real man of the hour back then – his name is Jesus. He comes from a small town, his father was just a carpenter, his mother got pregnant before she was married, but this man has made a name for himself. Anyone who’s anyone wants to talk to him, listen to him, touch him, or be touched by him. If Today in Hollywood was on TV back then, he’d have the whole show every night!


So Martha and Mary are having company…I mean to say, a PARTY. Because Jesus always travels with his twelve closest friends, so that makes sixteen for dinner. Plus, Martha and Mary just HAVE TO invite some of their friends and neighbors just so everyone will see who they rub elbows with.


So much to do, so much to do! Big party to plan, prep and cook for. In those days, you couldn’t just order out or call the caterers; you had to do it all. The term potluck supper wasn't even coined yet! Water didn't come into the house, bread wasn't sold at the market. In fact, the grain had to be ground for the flour, the water had to be carried from the well, and the oven ran on wood and grasses that the women gathered. As for housekeeping, there were no companies like Merry Maid or Molly Maid. There was just Martha Maid and Mary Maid.


Now for those of you who don’t know Jesus personally, imagine the likes of Brad Pitt, Mother Teresa, Ronald Regan and Billy Graham ALL coming to your house at the same time - and still you haven’t even scratched the surface of this man Jesus.


To Stress Junkies like us, we know the routine for Martha. As soon as she learned that Jesus was coming, she went into high gear planning the menu, scrubbing, mopping, dusting, tidying. Of course, there are invitations to send, shopping to do, food to prepare…the list seemingly endless. And why not, she’s the older sister, the practical one, the responsible one. It’s what she does.


The big day arrives, and we can picture the house…it’s clean, fresh and orderly with sunlight streaming through the windows. There’s bowls of snack food, fruit and flowers out and about, cool drinks and the smell of delicious foods coming from the kitchen. Guests begin to arrive and who’s there to greet them? Little sister, Mary – the one who’s chosen to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen. The one who most likely sits among the guests at all the parties. Sure, she did a little prep work this morning…at her sister Martha’s insistence. But now, the party has begun, and she’s choosing the “one thing”, the “good thing” as Jesus later puts it.


Martha’s in the kitchen. She slaves away over hot pots in a hot room. She sets the table, brings out trays of food, refills glasses…Mary sits at the feet of the guest of honor, listening, laughing. She’s enjoying the time. Martha, well, she finally loses it. She complains to Jesus that Mary should come and help her.


Jesus responds, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things…” - Luke 10:41 NKJ


So she is:
1. Worried (careful – in the KJ)
2. Troubled (bothered – NASB, upset – NIV)
3. About MANY things


Picture this, you’ve been killing yourself for days, everyone is in YOUR house, eating YOUR food, and drinking YOUR wine. This party is all about Jesus, and here he is, he’s putting YOU on the carpet for making sure everything is perfect? And in front of EVERYONE – his friends, your friends, your sister! WOW!


And get this part, more than likely Jesus is not limiting his observation to just this day and time. He says “many things”. He’s knows Martha has a bigger problem. One that leaves her helplessly devoted to cooking, cleaning, serving, worrying, hurrying, and troubled. Martha, my dear friends, was a Stress Junkie! Martha could very well be the very first recorded Stress Junkie, proving that we are not the product of a fast society. We are a product of ourselves, our personality, our decisions; for if Martha, who lived two thousand years ago, was Type A, then there’s no blaming society for our problem.


We all know the symptoms. I mean, when was the last time that you sat and enjoyed a party at your house? Was there EVER a time? When was the last time you had a party or even guests for dinner that you didn’t pull out ALL your cookbooks to find something “special” to make? Ever? About that housekeeping, do you really think people are checking the corners, the baseboards, and inside the cabinets for dirt when they're at your house? I know what you're thinking...no, they don't check. And the reason they don't check is because they KNOW when they come to my house, it's clean. Believe me, guests may not notice what I do to prepare, but sure as hell, they'd notice if I DIDN'T do something.


I believe that was Martha's dilemma as well. She really really wanted to hang out with Jesus and the guests like her sister. In Martha's mind, if Mary had helped her, then maybe she'd have had the time to sit down and relax. Maybe so...but based on Jesus' take on her situation, probably wouldn't matter. Mary's help would just free Martha's time to go handle some other little detail.


So, what do we do with Martha? What do we do with ourselves? Should we be more like Mary? Can we be? There's no doubt that if you're reading this, you're the practical sister. You're the one who's easily distracted by many things that in your mind, HAVE to get done. Everyday tasks, household chores, work, kids, school, husband, church, PTA, soccer games, birthday parties, and so on and so on and so on...These things have to get done, right? And if not by you, then...frankly, by whom?


The answer is simpler said, than achieved. Remember when you were a kid and you wanted to learn how to ride without training wheels? What skill did you need to master? You also need it to roller skate, ice skate, walk a tight rope, actually, you need it just to stand up. It's called BALANCE. We Stress Junkies need to learn how to strike a balance between what needs to get done, and what HAS to be done. We need to take a few minutes out of each day to just stand still. That's right STAND STILL and pause. We need to take a moment or two out of every day to reflect on what's really important. That's all Jesus was saying to Martha. He wasn't bashing her for serving them, he was advising her to set priorities and take the needed time out to enjoy "one good thing", before her time was past.


Stress Junkies are notorious for always looking for what's next, rather than what's happening right now. Stop and smell the roses they say, and why not? Why not stop, smell the roses, and a writer friend so eloquently put it...while you're there, deadhead the spent blooms, pull a few weeds, and add some fertilizer. Strike a balance! Or at least for starters, admit one's needed and start there.

summer bouquet

Wishing all my lovely readers a wonderful weekend,

see you on Monday.

painting by Jan Flynn

simple & easy pleasures

I really like the pictures in this old-fashioned nursery rhyme book I discovered at the tip shop....

I like easy recipes, especially at this time of the year, when things are getting warm and busy....

 

 and a splash of my good ol' kitchen standby verjuice, to lift things up a notch...

 

Our family love sushi....

and my personal favourite, yum...

I love watching my kids play...

I like a giggle, this time courtesy of google...

This is the 'official' google map car folks, I 'followed' him to take a snap,

uhoh..does that mean I'm going to be on a map?! 

If you look carefully, you can see him waving, nice chap!

of him coming.....

and going...

Ciao!

beautiful botanicals

Enjoy.

 

challenge update

Happy Monday dear readers - I hope you all had a restful weekend...it's only going to get crazier you know?
I thought it was time I gave a short update on how things are progressing thus far in the 'challenge of the utmost kind'....

Everything was going along grandly, until one day I realised that I had accidentally thrown out my tea-strainer, nothing too earth shattering here, however after countless visits to op shops, and still forgetting to be on the lookout for a suitable replacement,

 I simply went out and bought one 'new'. 

 Easy, fixed my messy tea making, and bob's your uncle.  However, I am feeling a tad guilty about this.  My hubbie tells me nicely 'to get over it', it cost a couple of bucks for goodness sakes, and yet I can't...so hence my confession.  

 It kindof feels like I sneaked a bit of chocolate, and because it was little, it doesn't count....

and everyone knows even SMALL pieces of chocolate count.  

strike #1

Then, came the iron incident just a couple of days later....

Tripping over the cord, my poor faithful servant of many years fell flat on the floor, and despite efforts from hubbie to re-plate, she was well and truly broken on the inside.  
 No humpty dumpty irony fix here.

 (made a great show and tell item, for mr 'd' at school, however)

Unbelievably, after Little Jenny Wren's  iron gave up too, soon after she commenced
'the challenge', I remember saying distincitively that an iron would be considered a

 'tool of the trade'

 for me, therefore "a personal exception to the NO buy new rule" and if by chance the same fate would happen to me, I would simply buy another one.  

Well I did.   

strike #2  (sort-of)

So, despite some minor hiccups,

 most of the weekend has been spent trying to spring clean of sorts,

well, ok yes, it's a little late for spring cleaning,

and I'm hardly beating mattresses in the midday sun,

and dusting the ceiling.

It's more of a de-cluter, de-mess. 

 I've been culling clothes, brandishing books, and clearing cupboards.

  In the process, I have discovered in years past
I have bought 'thrift', and 'hand-made'
 in a big way.  

 It's not a habit I'm unfamiliar with, so the challenge for me is
 more to do with quitting the 'buying new',
 rather than establishing a rapport with op shops. 

- I have a little ethos of my own -

 whereby if I bring something into the house,

it means that something else needs to leave. 

 It's a way of telling myself what possessions are really necessary.

I also spent some time over the weekend delving into my borrowed book collection, and author Anthea Turner' of  'How to be the Perfect Housewife', 
(I tried not to let the title affect my ability to glean some wise words!), advises that we should only have in our home;

 that which is beautiful,

that which is useful,

 that which is seriously sentimental. 

 I agreed with her on that, but I didn't agree with her statement that making home-made pasta is a waste of time. 

My borrowed book stack

I like Scandanavia

I have heard it said, that Scandanavian cuisine is healthier than Italian, and even Japanese cuisines,

 but how on earth do all those herrings negate the effects of so much caffeine?  (Finns consume about 30 pounds of coffee per person per year. That’s around 1200 cups a year for every man, woman and child in the country.)  But we won't hold that against them....

Unfortunately the closest I have ever eaten Scandanavian is at Ikea. Something happened the last time, we 'dined' there, the meatballs were wrong, horribly wrong.  The closest I have ever had to a Scandanavian  'experience' was watching Eurovision.    

I like the idea of serving my kids oatmeal porridge

with lingonberries for breakfast though,

 (it might be a nice change from regular porridge, tho sometimes when I get fancy, I like to add mashed banana, honey, cinnamon, and yoghurt).

I like the idea of aquavit on a smorgasbord.

I like the architecture.

I like the Scandanavian Mountains

Apparently the Scandanavian Tourist Board think that it is the next hottest (pardon the pun) destination for Australians.  Seriously, who can blame them?

beautiful architecture

smorgasbord

Aurora Borealis

ice hotel

Orrefors Kosta Boda vase

lingonberry

blog happy

You know what it's like, every now and then, your time in blog 'cyber' land, lands you somewhere amazing and inspiring.....it's like a whole other world, that you can't seem  don't want to leave.

I have found my new blog happy at
 'Happy Loves Rosie'
 
Not only does this talented UK lassie design gorgeous vintage inspired blog headers...she also has these 'funky ladies' available to pop on your blog if you should so desire...go see here.

...and I hasten to add a little warning,  primary colours abound in a big way...go visit, it will make u happy.

But the REAL reason I am captivated with

 'Happy loves Rosie'

is this

little

green

happy

vintage

caravan

all images courtesy of 'Happy Loves Rosie'

More vintage caravan loveliness!

Oh I can't take it any longer....I am completely besotted with tiny dwellings, but only if they are unconventional...we live in a tiny brick dwelling, it ain't that pretty.  Someday soon, swoon, we will vacate (there is a wish-list but it's too long for this post), but until now, I'll keep dreaming....sigh.
  What is it exactly that makes caravans done up like this so appealing, is it the inner child in us, like little miss 'b' who tried to put her foot in the door of her brother's car, trying to squeeze in, getting most frustrated in the process?  (No spatial awareness at all, it was so funny to wacth.) 
 Is it the colours, the decor, the girliness?  Is it the fact that we want that which we can't have, or is impractical to do so?  

thanks to Floss from Troc, Broc & Recup, for telling me about this beauty, (for an explanation on the meaning of her blog, go here)   

I think I probably need to add a side-bar on the blog, 'tiny spaces', 'tiny places'...

So if you desire to read the story of how this lovely caravan make-over came to be; go here.

I don't mean to go on about it, it does seem slightly frivious I know desite the charm of it all, but sometimes a little of what you fancy does you good.

flower power

from a lovely friend

thank you

xxx

you know who you are!

Woodbridge Community Summer Market

Markets are funny things....

...you are never quite sure, despite all your efforts and the perfect weather yesterday, whether people are going to patronise the whole affair, and if they get there, whether they like your stuff enough to part with their hard-earned cash.   Sometimes at markets, you are kept frantically busy, and sometimes, you just go for the great camaraderie amongst other stallholders. 

  My table was lucky for me, right next to Heather Satchwill, and Kay Stammers' massage & bowen therapy room....wonderful aromatherapy smells wafting out their door, and I had a go on an amazing and I must say, 'pro-level' foot massager, which apparently gives great reflexology benefits... I certainly felt like I was floating after 10 minutes on it.

This market is a mecca for local handmade, with many craftpersons here having attended the market for years...it's a lovely mix of artisans, you can buy everything from silk scarves, homemade jams, stained glass, opals, plants, handmade soaps and tea, wrought iron, stunning handmade paper and photographic cards, clothing from Nepal, jewellery, cakes, produce...etc, etc...This market is seriously good value, with prices a lot lower than you will find in city outlets.

The community of Woodbridge also runs a produce co-op here, that supply a never-ending variety of interesting goodies,...everything from blueberry tea, to tamarillos, to the freshest of fresh herbs, and organic eggs, it really just depends what is growing in their gardens, as to what ends up on the produce table!

The market is run by energetic Caryl, who also manages to serve up delicious lunches, and afternoon teas, with the help of her daughter, Katrina.....you can sit and have a cuppa, at the back of the market and watch the passing parade in semi-seclusion... Everything is home-made, and very yummy...you should try the scones!

Outside the community hall

Sue Domeney's handpainted silk scarves

Christine, (left), as part of Worleybird Creations, and also runs the co-op produce stall 

Kay Stammers' 'healing hands'

My little offering of oat, fruit and chocolate biccies - sold 'em all!

my stall

Carol's 'hand-twirled' terracotta's pots

...more of Carol's talents..this time in stained glass

paper-mache houses made by Virginia Hargreaves...which can be used as tea caddies..aren't they just cute?

The Woodbridge Community market runs all summer long, twice per month, until approximately Easter...if you have any enquires about becoming a stall-holder call Caryl on (03) 62674707.

Woodbridge, past Kettering,  is a cruisy 25-30 minute drive from Hobart, and you WILL feel yourself relaxing as you take in the greenery on the way.... consider coming down to picturesque Woodbridge, the hall is a stone's throw from the water's edge, and 'Peppermint Bay', which is just a stunning location all of it's own...check out their photo gallery here ....

so make a day of it, and call in...we would love to see you, next market is 22nd November!