We're going to Bonnie Doon......

Well maybe not to Bonnie Doon like they did in 'The Castle' but It was very tempting to sing that ditty as we set off on our family holiday.
Not to France, not to America just a lovely little drive, a couple of hours out of Melbourne.

Ahhhhh the serenity.

Much deserved after my mad dash getting the shop fully stocked before I left.

with new jools,

new clothes....

new cards...

new earrings and bitses galore....

So creativity will be on hold for a week whilst I enjoy the school holidays with the wee ones.
Back to normal speed soon.

Jay xx

My creative space...

Getting in early for this weeks 'my creative space' and this time it's all about skirts.....

I'm finishing off some delightful strawberry wraps...

and whipping up some jersey skirts that I screen printed with my favourite dragonfly.

See more great blogs joining in on 'my creative space' over at Kootoyoo....

It's a wrap.....

After a week of trial and error and a few dodgy prototypes I have finally finished my new skirts.


I'm not sure why it took me so long............ no actually, I do know.

In my head, a wrap skirt is a big long piece of fabric that wraps around your hips. But in reality we all have a waist to take into account, so unless you want a gaping waistline with excess fabric swimming around a bit of shaping is required.....
Then you gotta get enough overlap so that you're not exposing all in the summer breeze or when sitting down to sip some chai.

So it was back to square one to create the perfect skirt pattern.

I have abandoned my previous skirt pattern, as it was based on a plus size scale, was a hipster and was a bit too flared.
The new design is slimmer in the hips, but still A-line, finishes just past the knee, sits at the waist nicely and.....starts at a standard size 10/12.

So now that I've done the hard yard and got the pattern 100%, the fun begins.
Making some new skirts.

The first one is quite neutral in shades of charcoal and black, with just a hint of spring displayed through my screen printed dragonfly's chasing each other across the front.

(Worn here with a 'Finki' wool vest and 'Ena designs' L/S tee)

I know I said I'd steer away from black, but it's just so darn versatile. I have already worn this one twice. Day one with teal and day two with red..... it's so easy to add color and keep it fresh.

Next, I hit the summer stash and cut into my bolt of 'Palm fan' by Kaffe Fassett.

(Worn here with a fab teal crotchet tank by Ena Designs)

Teamed with a light weight denim it turned out to be a perfect skirt to start spring with. My plan is to have a cool chartreuse top in store soon to match.

Lastly I just had to get some red going on. It's my absolute favorite color to wear with denim.

(Worn here with L/S tee and black vest by Ena Designs)

I chose this fabulous floral I had been eying off for ages it's 'Zest' by Donna Wilder.

All the new skirts were dropped off at the store yesterday adding a nice little splash of spring to the handmade offerings down at the Grove.

Next up will be some strawberries on blue. A very cool fabric I just got off the boat from Japan.
I see a fabric addiction starting here........or just continuing I should say !

Here's looking at you kiddo......

Looking with fresh eyes, in my first time ever reading glasses.....

Does it mean I'm getting old....

More mature looking perhaps.....

NAH!


Coming from a family of 8 who all wear glasses, I was bound to need some eventually.

Now I just have to get used to the fact that when i glance up from the computer every thing is fuzzy. Have to figure out just the right resting place so I can peer over the top to see both distances clearly and..... boy oh boy, am I looking more and more like my mother when I do that....


xoxo

My creative space...

My creative space this week is all about vests....

I'd made black and charcoal ones last week,

for me and the shop......and I just wear them all the time.
(Modeled here with a fab cuckoo clock brooch from Betty Jo)

So I thought I'd add some more colors.

Shades of green, blue and red....Yum!

My wardrobe is well and truly taken care of, for this last little bit of winter. Hooray!

Another change in my creative space will be an update on the mannequin front. Although I do love my current lady, she has no legs to stand on, many tatters and tears and does not adjust or hold her shape anymore. So whilst I'll keep her for her aged beauty and style she just does not cut the mustard when it comes to doing fittings, or creating upon.


So off I go hunting for a real size dressmakers dummy (size 12 - 20 or there about) that will not consume my entire tax return....
I priced one at Spottie Brunswick yesterday, $550 dollars. It was the project runway purple one. Not sure what makes it so special to be hundreds more then the red ones, but I will not be buying that one, that's for sure!

See many more fabulous creative spaces over at Kirsty's....

Wordless wednesdays....

See more great blogs playing along with wordless Wednesdays, over here.....

Flea market finds....

The sun was shining in Melbourne today, so we headed out to our local flea market for a spot of shopping.
Not a great deal of fossicking to be had, but I did uncover this great bag of vintage patterns.

At first I noticed the stitched bag and thought I'll have that, but then started sifting through the patterns to see which ones I'd like. The stall holder said "ten bucks for the lot"...how could I refuse.

.....and what shopping adventure is complete without a new train set.

Finn has been wanting to get his mitts on dads vintage set for ages, so as a compromise we handed over our $5 and got this one. He luvsssss it and now both boys are happy.

A few other beauties we picked up at local oppies recently are this to die for, orange typewriter......


We almost got into a fight over this one. Two buyers very much wanting, but who got there first scenario......

and another camera for the collection.

It's very rusty and grotty, but we couldn't resist it's vintage appeal.

See more fabulous flea market finds here.... I don't think Sophie's hosting this week but you can see previous flea market delights galore over at her blog.

Election day, garage sale........

My shift at work today was all about getting ready for our election day 'Garage sale' tomorrow.

There sure are lots of bargains to be had.

This is the sale rail so far and that's just the specials from Polly Pratt and I.

There's dresses....

tops,

Skirts,

Shrugs and jackets,

Heaps of 'Finki' stuff,

Jewellery,


and more.......

So if you're voting at the polls down near the Brunswick town hall tomorrow, be sure to stroll down our way for bargains galore.

The details are: 159 Sydney rd, Brunswick, Vic. 10am - 6pm

All sale prices are valid for 'ONE DAY ONLY'.
Jay xx

My creative space...

This week my creative space feels a lot like I'm walking round and round in circles....Doing a little bit of everything at once. That's just how it rolls sometimes.

I began the day doing undercoats of paint for some more art bangles.

Whilst they dried I glued the frames onto the art brooches I began last night....

and while they dried I varnished some beautiful birds.....

Of-course that left me with more spare time whilst things dried, so I worked on heat setting my pussy cats....

sewing on buttons to finish some tee's...

and lastly making some bows as fun brooches to go with my even newer tee's...

Doing lots of little bits to work toward lots of finished pieces real soon.....

Doing my laps from study, to kitchen, to study I kept passing the mirror and admiring my new dress in the reflection so I just had to take a pic of that too.
Made By Mim at Olive Grove studios. Lovin it!
(note to self, clean mirror next time before taking pics....)

See heaps more creative spaces over here....

Wordless wednesdays....

See more wonderful blogs joining in on wordless wednesday: over here

Puuuuurrrrrrfect tops........

On the drawing board this week are some new screen printed tee's.

This time, some putty tats.....Meow!

I do love my stripes, so have chosen a classic black and white to go with the retro inspired cat silhouette. They look fab with a fun flared skirt (working on them too) and my fave bright cardi.

I 'll have them ready for the weekend just in time for our Olive Grove Garage sale.
Of course they won't be one of the items marked down, but there will be plenty of Finki goodness on special....and if you print this flyer to bring in on the day, you will get 10% off all my new season stuff.

Might see you there, Jay xx