Gettin' in to the groove again...

I'm getting quicker.... I think! At the whole have an idea, cut it out then make it, thing.
It's funny how when you sit down to sew after a spell you've sort of need to get you're groove on again. But once you do, you get into the flow and there's no stoppin yah.

Today I finished my flamingo skirts and matching tops ready for the shop tomorrow. They turned out so nice.
I decided to ditch the guipure trim and just go with a twin stitch in the white. Makes it not so dressy...a bit more of a wear any wear outfit.

I was soooo tempted to add red or teal buttons on the top cause it was coming across all a bit too conservative, but I'm glad I didn't cause now the splash of color can be the customers choice.
One could wear it with a striking red coat, a funky teal cardi or chunky green beads.
I like that idea.

It's my favourite Finki ensemble so far.
Yay!

Sail away....

Not one to be miserable about the rain and cold outside, I've taken advantage of the need to be indoors by putting pedal to the metal and sewing up a whole new batch of goodies for the shop....

My latest screen printed skirt... Sail away ships.

Red, Black and white....my favourites.

New boat neck tees' to co-ordinate with the latest skirts

and restock of denim and black peekaboo vests.

It's taken me ages to sew all the key pieces, just to complete two whole outfits.

But the hard work has paid off, cause I can stand back and look at them all on a rack and be really proud of how they go together so well to create some really funky plus size gear.

Modelled here with a cool scarf made by MIM at Olive Grove.

Next on the cutting board are some fabulous flamingo's....

A new screen printed skirt that's a hipster a-line, knee length design.

I've taken my size range in ever so slightly, so it's a better fit and I've reduced the flare in these ones so they aren't as flappy on the girls with less hips....
I screened a fresh white print on a heavy weight stretch black cotton and I'll probably team it with this geometric guipure trim.

There's a matching black/white stripe tee I'm making up to go with it too. Yay!

whrrrr......cut....cut...brrrrr....back to work!

This is the end.......

The end of markets for me.

It's been a blast. Almost 2 years on the scene, but the time has come to say goodbye.
I have loved meeting new friends, discovering great new talent, having many opportunities come my way that I would have never have had happen if it weren't for doing craft markets. But....
I have hated the late nights, the early mornings and the long days.Most of all, I have hated having to depend so much on family and friends to take care of my kids so I could hang all my hopes on a wing and a prayer that I'd be bringing home the bacon.

Fortunately I did, and I'm forever grateful that I had the opportunity to get myself out there and grow as a crafter. My time marketing has been invaluable and if you have the fantastic network of peeps that I have had to make this all possible I highly recommend that everyone starts there career at markets.There is no quicker or more affordable way to evolve in what you do, to ready yourself for the next step.
Lucky for me I have taken the next step and entered the retail world with Finki. I'm lovin it. Every day is a challenge and I'm always thinking of the next ten things I wanna do. It's full on. Which is another reason I have to give up markets.
There is just not enough hours in the day to fulfill all my commitments. I'm usually the queen of over committing. Writing and re writing lists, prioritizing and reprioritizing my life.

But this time, something had to give.So for the last time ever, I have a market stall this Saturday .

Sisters Market
Brunswick town hall
Sydney rd, Brunswick
10 -4pm.

I'd love for you to come along and say hi and goodbye...

I'll have:

All new glass pendants adorned with 100% finki designs...no more scrapbook papers here!Lots of new story book baskets, pen holders and bill books.

Fabulous new colors in birds and bobbies.

A whole new range of tea towel and retro fabric stools.

and lastly but not leastly check out my new threads down at the shop. My first screen printed skirt......

and 'lovely leggings. All in sizes 12 -20.

I won't be bringing the clothes to the market. It's not the best place to be trying on stuff and they have no eftpos, but they'll all be down at the shop 'Olive Grove' 159 Sydney rd, Brunswick. Which is only 2 blocks down the road and does have fitting rooms and eftpos.

Hope you can make it for a sticky beak.
Jay xx

The design theme for June.....

Time to pick a new theme for the monthly design challenge.
If you haven't joined in yet, it's never too late. Every is welcome and all you have to do is be inspired by the theme, interpret it your own in any crafty genre and share your pics with me, so all can see.

Without further ado....lets random select away...
The number for June is:

Number 23
Which is........................

1: Planes, trains and automobiles
2: Turning Japanese
3: Weird science
4: Birds of fancy
5: Music and dance
6:Graffiti
7:Wild west
8: Fantastic Flora
9: food, glorius food................. (why didn't I think of that!)
10: Seeing circles
11: It's hip to be a square. (imagine the interpretations...cubism art, square shaped teddy bears, the 1950's dag)
12: Steam punk
13: Technological14: European travels
15: The great vacation
16:I see red, I see red, I see red....(or whatever color we choose this month)
more...
17: Space....the final frontier.
18: Circus
19:Romance
20:The animal kingdom
21:Our furry friends
22:Disco
23:Outer space
24:Rumba
25:Bubblegum
26: Australiana
27: Indigenous Australia

Ooooohhh the possibilities, cowboys in space, rocketship teddies, celestial earrings.

Retro rocket onesie by: retro bub

The only limits are you imagination.
Have fun.
Jay xx

Another month over.....

Well it has come to the end of Autumn and the end of another monthly design challenge.

My piece inspired by the Indigenous Australia theme is still a work in progress, so I'll be back soon with photos of the end result.
I decided my little shadow box of dolls from around the country did not have Australia represented, so my months craft is in the shape of an indigenous Australian doll....a finished piece to come soon, I promise.

Luckily for me, other crafters out there are more organized with there time and were able to come up some great results for this months challenge.

Sarah- jo from Ideyspidey whipped up this fabulous mamu tunic and dilly bag for her little one using a pretty piece of Indigenous fabric aptly named dancing flowers.

Nina Lise of Mrs. moen the not so secret life of a quilter, has put on her thinking cap, done a bit of research (cause she's not Australian or in Australia) and come up with this fab fish quilt....what a star.

The text translates as “There is hope in a hanging (fishing) line”.

Sue over at Diva jools has also done wonders interpreting the theme and come up with this fabulous necklace.


Sue always puts so much thought into the process involved in making each piece, so I thought I'd share it with you to.

"The sheild is made from copper that has been bashed about and heavily patinaed . To that I have added a piece of ceramic - that was once a vase until it met its fate under my trusty hammer! I have shaped and drilled it then topped it with a wooden disc and bead that has been riveted together. I decided to hang that from a bit of twig I found on a walk during my last holiday away and I wrapped the whole lot with copper wires that have been heated and treated! The pendant has been strung on a necklace that is made up of seeds, ceramic discs and fish bones. The most interesting part of the whole necklace is the seeds. They are called ininti seeds. These are seeds from the bat’s wing coral tree (grey corkwood,Erythrina vespertilio ), which grows in the Northern Territory of Australia. They are prepared by burning a hole through the centre - usually with a hot piece of wire but in earlier times the Aboriginal peoples used a stick to burn the hole. I find them very beautiful - imagine how much patience is needed to make a hole in them?! I was aiming for a necklace that had an outback feel with a modern look"

Thanks to everyone who joined in and don't forget if yours is still a W.I.P like mine, keep going and show me when you're done.

One last pic to show you.

Karen over at House of Wilson has finished a piece inspired by the April theme "music and dance"

She has made this funky cushion for her expecting friend to help her get comfy at night. She happens to be a music teacher but not to leave out the expecting father, she has used a backing fabric of dragons that he would love too.

Back later to select the new theme for June.