More handmade baby shower gifts- crib organiser

This year, two of my closest friends (who are also close friends)  both had  baby girls on the same day! It was lovely to welcome Vittoria Simona and Scarlett Rose into the families of two of my favourite ladies.

In preparation for the arrival, both of my friends had showers, of course. Neither knew the sex of their baby so I decided to make a couple of things in the traditional greens and yellows. For something different, I made fabric crib organisers to hang on the cribs and fill with toys and small items. I found two different (but equally lovely) fabrics and set to work.

Here are the results:

 crib organiser

 put cute things in the pockets as gifts!

 crib organiser, cute vintage style fabric

 bias binding on pockets

top pocket

The girls really loved their presents and they were fun to make. I looked at a couple of different tutorials but I ended up making my own version. There's a nice version here from Jess from Craftiness is not optional if you'd like to get the basic idea.

I also made some more of my baby bouquets for the mums to be. This time I experimented with putting the flowers in a box instead of wrapping them like flowers as it seemed to look better and hold together better too.

baby bouquet

baby bouquet

These bouquets are pretty easy to make- you just roll up little socks, washcloths, singlets and bibs and tie with wire. You can arrange them in a box with some plastic leaves and tissue paper to make a unique little present. My friends often tell me they'd like to keep it as it makes a nice decoration but then they can't help but pull it apart to see what's in there!

Welcome babies! 

Stocking fillers- pleated headbands

Headbands are so cute and versatile. I wore one constantly when I was on holiday in Thailand and Cambodia as they keep your hair off your head in the humidity and hide unsightly unwashed hair. Awesome. I think they would make cute and customisable stocking fillers for Christmas too.

Before recently I had only ever made a couple of headbands in my time and they have been mostly for babies like this one:

I wrote a short tutorial for making a yo yo flower headband if you'd like to have a go at this one. So quick an easy!

In the lead up to my first market stall I was making lots of cosmetic bags in sweet vintage inspired fabrics and realised those same prints would look really cute as a headband. So I enlisted the help of the "google brothers" to find a suitable tutorial. There were heaps out there but my favourite was this pleated headband tutorial by Jess from Craftiness is not Optional (awesome blog by the way, check it out!).

It was super easy and they were really fun to make. Here are some pics:

Pleated headbands

You could whip up a bunch really easily and make them Christmassy with the right fabric and add ons like mini white pom poms, buttons or even silver bells! Cute.

Fun little stocking fillers! Yay.



Find me on Facebook!

In preparing for my first market stall I decided it would be a good idea to start a Facebook page as another way to connect with friends and fellow crafty people.

Since starting the page I have enjoyed sharing my sewing adventures with friends who may not get to see this blog too often and have found it to be a good way to meet more local designers and creators. It opens up a whole new way of being inspired and sharing the love of creating!

If you would like to pop by my facebook page to say hello you can find me at Elegantpaws Designs. (This is my crafty business alter-ego. Cat related, of course.)

See you there!

1st Market stall wrap up

Well, I made it! After many hours sewing, organising, planning, spending and stressing, I arrived at my first market stall armed with a table full of goods and a huge sense of accomplishment. Really, I can't remember the last time I put this much effort into anything so I was happy to have made it in one piece with my sanity (mostly) in tact.

The weather conditions were not optimal- cold, miserable and rainy, but as the market stall was held indoors at St Michael's Primary School, we were well sheltered from the elements.

I arrived at the gate to be greeted by a group of parent helpers and strong kids who took my table and boxes and carried them inside for me.I could hear a seasoned marketeer (my fun invented word) telling her pal she wished she had this kind of help every time she worked a market.... a luxury no doubt!

I set up carefully laying out my tablecloths (pre pressed) and pinning on my bunting. I put out the boxes of pencil cases and make up bags and placed all my signs in their right spots. Then I changed into my dress and put one of my headbands on to show what they look like.

While this was all happening, experienced marketeers busily attended their stalls and wares, setting up and getting organised. As I looked around I felt a little nervous and out of place with my small table of goods, but before I could psych myself out, I took a deep breath and reminded myself I really had done all that I could.

Karl arrived shortly afterwards, bought me a glass of champagne and took some photos:

Market stall table set up

logo in frame

table shot of things for sale

coin purses, headbands and make up bags

framed logo and make up bags

cute hair accessories by a colleague, 'Love Willow'

pleated headbands

wearing a pleated headband

All together I sold 18 of my pieces and lots of hair accessories by my colleague Kristin. I was really happy with that for a first go. The most popular items were the pencil cases and coin purses in the prints for kids. I didn't sell any of my make up bags or cushions but those kinds of adult gifts may do better at a different market. I might put some thought into streaming products for kids and adults and maybe keep them separate. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Overall I am really glad I took the leap and booked myself on the market stall. It forced me to think seriously about doing the work as a 'job' and gave me an insight into the process right from daydream to market stall. I know now that I am capable of doing it and I have a good lot of stock which can form the basis of a possible future collection if I'd like to try it again sometime.

Watch this space!

First market stall - what I have learned so far

I have been super quiet on my blog in the last few weeks as I prepare for my first market stall coming up in 1 week + 1 day. I have learned a lot from the process and thought I'd reveal some of these things in order to perhaps help anyone else there thinking they're ready to have their own stall:

Things I have learned in preparing for my first market stall

1. Yes, booking yourself in for a market stall in 1.5 months will be a good motivator to get organised. However.....
2.  1.5 months is nowhere near as long as you think.... or enough time to build stock from scratch
3.  Faffing around making a logo for 3 weeks is not encouraged and should be considered before you even book a market stall
4.  Cutting fabric and ironing on interfacing will be the bane of your existence and takes 3 times longer than you expect it to
5. Deciding to do a market stall during a time when you have two away trips for work is not advised
6. Drinking wine while sewing at night is not a winning combination
7. Buying every pink piece of fabric you're attracted to will result in a very pink market stall, leaving you scrambling one week out to make things in blues, greens and purples
8. organising business cards and paper bags for your goods in advance will help you to stress less.

Ok so during this whole process I have taken things pretty much in my stride and things have been going pretty well. That is until I realised last night just how much pink I have in the collection and not a lot else. Eeep!

I have a little time left and some ideas, along with the support of my amazing husband who even offered to iron on interfacing for me which is so sweet (he has no idea how dull it is...).

So I better get back to it, here's some pics so you can see where I'm at so far (pink land, apparently!) Thanks go of course to Karl for taking pics and making my things look pretty!

cosmetic bags

vinyl covered coin purses

14" cushions

So that's most of what I have so far. I also have a few pencil cases and I'm trialling some headbands at the moment. Hopefully I can get everything done in time!

wish me luck!