Chenille for the bubba...

From BubbaChenille of course.

My fab new heat pack.

Just before X-mas the lovely gals from Handmade expo, Miriam, Liesa and Micky all came down for a Melbourne holiday and made the time to pop into work and say hello.
We shopped a little, lunched a little and swapped a little.

Liesa and I.

The lovely Miriam of bubbachenille took a fancy to one of my wrap skirts and I've always loved her chenille delights so we organized a swapsie.

A week later, Miriam returned home to a state that was flooding and sadly, those muddy waters made way into 'Mimmis' her newly opened shop.

I tell you, these women... the handmade crew, are absolute warriors for representing new designers and supporting handmade.
From there fabulous monthly markets to there own amazing shops Mimmis and Handmade heaven and in the face of rising rivers and sinking communities they all became local warriors and helped out at evacuation centers, started craft stash collections for the less fortunate and put on brave faces for their kids and neighbors. You can read Liesa words on it here.

After making sure family and community were managing o.k Miriam just took it all in her stride, came back and mopped up the shop, cleared out the mud and started again

A week later she was asking me what color chenille goodies I wanted, so she could honor our swapsies.

What a woman.

After all that, she was still thinking about her promise to make me some pants for Finny.
The energy, courage and goodwill of this family never ceases to amaze me.

So here is mr Finn in his new goodies.

No longer a boy that poses for the camera, but you can see the cuteness added to his life by owning some new Bubbachenille pants.


Rebuilding clientele in a flood affected region has got to be hard so if you're in the neighborhood looking for some awesome, original and beautiful goodies for yourself and your home, make sure to support this amazing little family and visit Mimmis or Handmade Heaven today.

They sure are a family worth supporting.
Jay xx

Sun, fun and a whole lot of shopping......

Back from sunny Queensland and what can I say. Beautiful one day perfect the next. Such a horrid cliche but perfectly true. Around 28 every day, blue skies and low humidity. Just what I needed for a little break from our Melbourne winter.
Was great to see Sis before new bubs arrives. She's been on creative overload whilst nesting and has produced the most amazing range of infant wear and nappy bags. The quality and design rival anything I've seen. She's such a perfectionist and carries this through with every creative pursuit she explores. Her bags are so stylish, and amazingly practical, with pockets and pouches for bottles nappies and snacks. I promise to link you all to her shop the minute she's uploaded them.

We caught up with mum to see 'my sisters keeper' which had us crying from the opening credits to last scene. Wasn't impressed with the choice of Diaz for the role of a mum to teenagers, she's far too young. But that aside, it was a very touching movie. Especially if you've ever had someone close to you taken away too soon.......still crying.

On Saturday we all ventured out to Bundamba for the Handmade Expo. I tell you, it was well worth the drive. We got there just after 8 to be greeted by the lovely Miriam, Liesa and Micky.

They are all just the nicest bunch of gals and oh so photogenic. We made it in time to get some cupcakes (first 500 visitors only) and easily kept ourselves busy for the next four hours.
The market was much bigger than I expected and branched off into little wings. Just like a shopping center............ Heaven!!

We started exploring all the crafty goodness whilst live musicians entertained. The beautiful acoustic vocals in the left wing faded as we strolled along to the guitar and vocal talents in the right wing. Strumming a favorite tune of mine, the Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's version of 'somewhere over the rainbow' if you haven't heard it, you must.

The atmosphere was so laid back. There was heaps of room for prams and maneuvering around with lot's of bags, and you really felt like you could stroll and take your time without being pushed and shoved like smaller markets.

I found absolutely heaps of gifts. For the house, the nephew, the babies on the way and for me of course.

After filling my hands with bags and bags of shopping, we stopped in the food and coffee wing for some sustenance in the form of the cutest.....and most delicious cupcakes and coffee.

They had fresh produce, fudge, cakes, pickles, preserves and the awesome aroma of Farmer Dave's BBQ all around us.
On the way out we grabbed some of Dave's Lamb, a quick photo with the man himself who is every bit as charming in real life, and headed off to cook our own Lamb dinner at home.

Superb!

I wish I could link you to all the fabulous sellers I bough stuff from, but not all of them sell online, so you'll just have to head on over to handmade expo's next market on Sat 26th Sept, to see all the crafty goodness for your self. You won't be disappointed.

Girls only!

I'm heading off to Brissie next weekend for a girls only catch up, whilst hubby holds down the fort.
Most of my family live in the sunshine state, so I try to visit as often as I can. But when you have a family and business to run, whilst holding down a part time job it really doesn't get to happen as often as one would like.

My little Sis is 8 months pregnant, so I couldn't have left my visit much later if I was gunna see her before bubs arrives.
We'll be picking up mum, a big box of tissues and heading off to see 'my sisters keeper'. What two better people to see a chick flick with. Hubbies been spared....this time!
First stop Saturday will be The Handmade Expo at the Ipswich Turf club, Bundamba. I've read so many wonderful things about this market and this time it's extra special as the girls of Handmade Expo, Miriam, Liesa and Micky are celebrating there 1st birthday.

I've followed all there blogs and seen there adventures grow, from selling there own crafty wares, to promoting other crafty peeps by running markets and now one of them taking on board Handmade heaven, a retail space supporting handmade.
A truly inspirational little family, who are doing there all to keep handmade alive and kickin'.

With 100 + stalls of handmade, Gourmet fresh, Farmer Dave and birthday cupcakes for the first 500 early birds, I will definitely be going along to join in on the market day celebrations.

The rest of my time is open to suggestion.....well in between good food, family and friends that is.

So if you know any good oppies or markets happening over the weekend of the 15th-16th in between Brisbane and Ipswich, let me know and we'll add it to the itinerary.