My Creative Space - A New Market Stall

(picture by Morrissy Photos)

You may not have noticed, but I have been on a bit of a blog break. Last Friday, August 31st I had my second market stall of the year. In addition to getting stock ready, I had committed myself to creating a new stall set up. As we got closer to the market something had to give and my blog and keeping a clean house took the brunt of it. So this post is a bit of a catch about what I have been up to in my creative space:)

After my last market in March I knew I needed to rethink how I displayed my items. I also knew it wasn't my strength. So I asked my friend Tracy of BonVoyage Etoffe for her help and she came through in spades. She came up with a well thought out and detailed design based on her review of my other elements (blog, packaging, products and current market set up).

Now mind you this was a DIY project, so I had to get the supplies, build it and paint it. Tracy also came through in the build phase, when I didn't have all the right tools and started to stress about getting it done. Here's Tracy's original design:

And here is how it looked at the market last week:

 

(picture by Morrissy Photos)

 

I can't tell you how helpful it was to have someone else look at what I do objectively and to provide feedback. A couple of times along the way I thought about deviating from the design concept, but Tracy kept telling me stick with the vision, see it to completion. I even had to give up my use of doilies, but I do have to admit Tracy was right. I loved the end result and how it worked at the market, so a big thank you to Tracy:)

I owe another big thank you to friend Christine of Morrissy Photos. I always forget to take pictures when I am at markets, so I asked Christine to take some pics for me. These are just a few of the photos she took. Can't wait to share and use some of the others:)

And so in my creative space this week I am basking in my market aftermath and thankful for my creative friends. Hoping you get a chance to do the same:) To see what other have been up to this week and for more inspiration be sure to visit My Creative Space. Cyndy
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My Creative Space

The creative process is an interesting one, and probably different for everyone. As I prepare for an upcoming market I am reminded of my creative strengths and weaknesses. I love creating new things, and I am excited that others will be able to see them soon. I am not so good, however, with the repetitive processes required to create more than one of something.

This week I have been working on more Australian biscuit and cake felt food sets. I have decided to focus on making multiples of one biscuit at a time. That means cutting, embroidering, sewing and stuffing the same biscuit or cake, over and over and over. Not sure this is really working for me. How do you handle repetitive creative tasks?

Hope you are getting lots of things done in your creative space, whether they are one offs or repetitive tasks:) And be sure to visit My Creative Space to see what others have been up to this week. Cyndy Pin It

My Creative Space

Still making pin cushions (among other things). I have been trying to vary the Australian native flowers I use, but I do think some look better (and honestly are more recognizable) than others.

Here are two more finished pin cushions (wattle and eremaea) and two more embroidered (swan river daisies and another red bottle brush).

I have two more pinned for sewing (yellow bottle brush and geraldton wax flower)  and two more on the hoop (another wattle and heath). I would also like to do a flannel flower. Phew:)

Hope you are having a productive and creative week. For more inspiration be sure to check out My Creative Space. Cyndy Pin It

My Creative Space

Only 6 weeks until my next market. I had visions of lots of making (the last market I did was in March), but somehow 6 weeks out it appears my vision is not yet a reality.

I have been working on a few new items for the market, including these pin cushions that feature my wool embroidered Australian native flowers. It's an idea that's been percolating for a while (i.e. what size, what shape, how to to do the back), but I only finished the first two in the last 2 weeks (the school holidays here).

I have embroidered the flowers on pieces of old wool blankets found at op shops and have backed them with coordinating quilting fabrics. They are square in shape and measure about 4 inches square finished.

Yes, I am moving at a bit of a snail's pace, but sometimes I need to let things sit for awhile until I work out what I really want to do. I think it's the anal retentive perfectionist in me:) I think their making will move faster now that I've worked out all the details. Well, that's what I am telling myself:) I hope people like them! I've kept the reject one (round in shape, about 3.5 inches in diameter and 2 inches tall) for myself and even though I am not in love with the shape/size, I do like looking at it every time I need a pin!

To see what others have been up to this week, surely at a faster pace than I, be sure to check out My Creative Space. Cyndy Pin It

Op Shop Find

Yesterday, on the way to a birthday party, middle and I stopped into an op shop we frequent. I always come home with more when middle is with me and yesterday was no exception.

I am not a huge figurine fan, but we found these Japanese cold paint ones packaged up together in a bag. When middle saw the horses in the bag she was sold.

I found this koala (mama and baby) piggy bank. I used to have a real piggy bank. It was vintage, ceramic and pink, but it was stolen when our house was broken into over a couple of years ago (I was more upset that they took the pig than the change in it). I've been looking for another piggy bank to replace it. True it's not a pig, but it is pretty cute:)

And of course what would a trip to the op shop be without some books. A Nancy Drew for middle and two Enid Blyton's for me:)

Hoping you had some lovely finds this week:) Be sure to visit Flea Market Finds at Her Library Adventures to see what others have found! Cyndy Pin It

Op Shop Finds - A Lesson in Looking Up

This week I was in one of my favourite op shops, looking through the shelves and about to walk away, when I looked up. And there, all by itself on the top of the shelves sat this Weet-Bix tin. Yep, I gave a little yelp out loud and grabbed it! It's not old, old (from the early 1990's I think) but I love it. You may remember my felt Weet-Bix? Yes, I will need to do a new photo shoot using this as a prop:)

On the same shelves (eye level) I found this black tole tray. I collect tole trays of all sizes and shapes so this will be  lovely addition.

And what would a trip to the op shop be without a few book? I found this hard cover Enid Blyton classic from the 1970s. It's a little worse for the wear but I had to have it. I also found the little cowboy book printed in 1967. My oldest is past the cowboy stage at age 10, but I am sure there will be some little cowboys somewhere in my future:)

To see more fun finds from the last week be sure to visit Flea Market Finds at Her Library Adventures. Happy Op Shopping! Cyndy Pin It

Op Shop Finds

Sometimes your lucky and sometimes your not, that's the nature of op shopping. This weekend I was lucky:)

I've been looking for some vintage pot holders and  I found two, both in yellow my kitchen colour. Love this little lidded jar too:)

I also managed to find a few things for my girls: a sweet pillow case with embroidered flowers, a sleeping beauty puzzle and a crown cookie cutter.

But my favorite find of the weekend? This wool blanket found in the dog blanket bin! The colours are fabulous.

It has been cut in half (so it's two pieces). I am assuming this is because there are some damaged areas (holes from moths it looks like), but I think I can selvage enough to create a throw blanket for my lounge room and use the remaining bits as background for some of my wool embroidery.

Speaking of, here's a piece I finished this week featuring gum flowers on another op shopped blanket background:)

In case my finds aren't enough for you, be sure to check out Flea Market Finds over at Her Library Adventures:) Cyndy Pin It