My Creative Space - To Market To Market

I have been on an unintended blog break for the last couple of weeks. Two weeks ago I did my first market of the year (and only my third ever), the Artefact Market. Really, I don't know how people do them on a regular basis! I was flat out, especially the week of the market, I didn't even go to sleep the night before. Yeah....I will never do that part again.

That said, I did enjoy the market. For me markets are not about the selling, but the response to my making. And the response from the market goers was wonderful. They especially loved my felt food creations. It was fun to see their smiles, hear their comments, and watch them bring someone else over to see them:) My felt Weet-bix got the biggest response. Who knew something so silly would have such an impact? Laura and Penny from the  Oh! Hello Geelong  blog did a review of the Artefact market and highlighted (including pics) my felt creations. How can that not make you feel good about what you create?

It was also fun to see people get what I am trying to do. While I do make many things, when I decided to start selling my handmade items I wanted to be different. I also wanted to be able to create all manners of things in a way that would seem consistent and connected. That ultimately led to me focusing my making for selling on items that have an Australiana theme. I loved having people exclaim over my gumnut babies bibs, or Possum Magic bag tags or Magic Pudding magnets. To hear people comment on my felt lamingtons, wool embroidered native flower hoop art or koala crayons. Yes, all my items are functional and have a purpose, but they also evoke memories and connections.

In the two weeks since the market I have had a string of sales in my Madeit shop (including a custom order) and have just been trying to catch up on all the things I had neglected. But as I look around my house I am thinking there is still lots of catching up to do! So I am glad the school holidays are about to start - I am actually looking forward to just being at home. No  kinder, no school, no ballet, no netball, no swimming etc... No schedule:) There will, however, be some crafting. Both girls have birthdays in April, so I have some projects to finish:)

I hope you have been getting lots done in your creative space and I look forward to catching up on my blog visiting. Check out Our Creative Spaces to see what others have been up to. Cyndy Pin It

My Creative Space - Weet-Bix

Next weekend I will be doing my first market of the year. I have decided 4 markets in a year is probably the most I can handle, both in terms of making stock and balancing all the other activities in my life:)

This week I have been working on finishing up some more of my felt food for the market. Tim Tams, Iced Vo Vos, Hundred and Thousands yes, but I have also been working on finishing up a design I started last year, when I was feeling guilty that all my felt food was of the sweet kind. Surely there had to be some good for you foods that are unique to Australia, right? Well, one of the ones I decided to give a go was Weet-Bix. Yes, you heard right felt Weet-Bix.

If you have visited before you know I do a lot of research on my felt foods. That means I use the real thing as my model (it's a hard life looking at a plate of Tim Tams:). We are not a Weet-Bix family (its NutraGrain in our house) so I did have to buy a package of Weet-Bix.

In examining the Weet-Bix I decided the key element in creating a felt version of Weet-Bix is creating the feeling of texture; to create the look of all those flakes squished together. It took me more than one try, but I am actually quite chuffed with how it finally turned out. I have also added some banana slices for a bit more colour. I may also throw in a few strawberry slices for more colour.

Who thought someone could write a whole post on felt Weet-Bix? Anyway, this will be available via special order from my Madeit shop after next week, and at the Artefact Market in Geelong, March 16th:)

Hope you are getting lots done in your creative space. To see what other have been up to you can visit Our Creative Spaces:) Cyndy Pin It

Op Shop Find - Vintage Embroidered Linens

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram you would have seen a peek of my latest op shop finds - beautiful vintage embroidered linens! I love vintage linens of all kinds, doilies, tableclothes, tea towels, hankerchiefs, pillow cases, sheets etc... Depending on their condition they can fabulous on their own, or they can be re-purposed to create something else.

I saw one of these gorgeous luncheon napkins (there were four total) and fell in love. They are so sweet and delicate looking. Littlest wants a princess party later this year for her birthday with a few of her friends and I am thinking these would be perfect at a princess tea party:)

I also found this gorgeous cross stitch table cloth. It's the standard square tablecloth size (52 inches). This rose motif is in each corner with a fuller version in the center. It was marked $3.99 but I only paid a $1 for it! Can you believe it? Clearly a great deal of time and care went into making it. It's in lovely condition so I could use it on its own, or maybe someday as part of a quilt?

And then there was this little hankerchief with a basket of flowers in the corner. My first thought was to make a dress for Miss Polly (the doll I made for littlest for Christmas this year) from it.

Oh the possibilities, now just to find the time:) Cyndy Pin It

My Creative Space

Remember those 12 extra child free hours I have been looking forward too? Well, I've found out that's not exactly how it works:)

While it's true the littlest is now in kinder for 12 hours a week I forgot about the to'ing and fro'ing that occurs, how her time overlaps with middle and oldest's school pickup, how I need to do kinder duty, and how I would try and get things done that are easier without any children around like cleaning and groceries.

As a result, while technically I have 12 "child free" hours a week they do not equate to 12 hours for me and my making! Yes, secretly I was thinking I would have more making time. When a I bemoaned my discovery to a friend earlier this week she laughed, smiled and told me she had already discovered this but didn't have the heart to burst my bubble. She thought it would be better for me to learn this on my own:)

I also think I had been hoping/planning to use all this "extra" time to make stock for my first market of the year which is later this month. Now that I have been disabused of that notion, I feel like I am trying to squeeze in a bit of making everywhere I can - even the children's swimming lessons, which of course are now on two different days instead of one.

I have been working on a few new felt food items (yes, I do love my felt food:) I decided to try making teddy bear biscuits. My middle thinks they look like tigers not teddies. Hmmm.

I have also made some pikelets. I think I need to make them a bit smaller though, as they still feel like pancakes (they are ~3 inches in diameter). I also need to put something on top of them, I am thinking strawberry jam and cream?

I hope you are getting lots done in your creative space this week! You can visit Our Creative Spaces for more:) Cyndy Pin It