Another (and probably my last) market...

Well, this last weekend I did a market at Dulwich Hill and did OK. But the reaction to my work at markets has been fairly underwhelming, so I think concentrating on my shops is the best idea for now. I did make some tote bags which went well though - here are some pics:

I will be making more of these for the Retrology shop so stay tuned!

New stuff in both shops!

These are a few things I was working on recently:

BITE ME's - cell / mobile phone charms with mini felt foods attached:

and for the Retrology shop, a new range of kids clothing, called Bow Wow! Meow! after a cute 70's Golden Book that was lent to me by my friend Catherine. The clothes in the book are retro, simple and cute and I really wanted to have that look in my range. So far I have only made one item, a little playsuit for sizes 1-4 but I plan to do some more items. Here's a picture of my daughter Isla modelling the playsuit. (I had to use Gummi Bears as a bribe to get the photos, but it worked!)

Where did I go????? Oh, here I am!

OK, I haven't dropped dead, but I have been so busy I can hardly believe it! In the aftermath of the market I did, I had an approach by a national magazine to feature my work (which I am so excited about!!), I opened a new store on Etsy, dividing the clothing and felt foods. The new shop is called Retrology - please feel free to check it out - it's kind of barren right now, but I am busy making some cute kids clothing.

Also, I have had many, many felt food orders coming up to Christmas - a big THANK YOU! to all my wonderful customers out there...

The other major thing I was doing was re-doing my studio to make it a purpose-built sewing space so that next year when Isla is at pre-school 2 days per week I will be making that my work time. All I can say is - thank heavens for IKEA! Here are a couple of pictures of the new, improved space:

Marrickville Festival preparations!

Whoa, someone stop the workload! I want to get off... I have been flat out getting stuff made for the Etsy DUST stall at the Marrickville Festival this weekend, and Lachlan (my husband) is running for local council elections. SO BUSY! Anyway, I am really looking forward to the Festival - it's going to be fun. If you are in Sydney and want to drop in to say Hi we are going to be near the kids area at Frampton Avenue. See you there (I'll be the one looking nearly catatonic...!)

Here's some of the stuff I've been making:

New item in store!

Here's a felt rolled brisket / pot roast in store now! You never saw meat this cute, right?

New item and a giveaway on Neatostuff.com

There is a new item in my shop today - felt gumballs in a little jar! Here they are:

Also, Neatostuff.com is having a giveaway of some felt fruit from my shop - check it out here and enter to win! Have fun!

A new addition to the Fun Felt Foods grocery range!

These little felt stuffed olives! I had great fun making these, though they are time-consuming. I think subsequent jars will have larger olives since they are so labour intensive... I reckon they've turned out pretty well though, I added the little "cross" at the bottom where the olive pitting machine would have gone through to extract the pit...

These are available in my Etsy shop!

New item and catalogue launch!

I have been a little off the radar recently I know - Book week costumes, planning for the Marrickville Public School market on the 7th September... Anyway, coming up to Christmas I thought it would be helpful to put together a catalogue of my felt food designs so I could take pre-orders for Christmas. You can look at the first 15 pages online at Blurb.com - just click the link to the left of this post and take a look.

Oh, and I have a new item in store - tri-colour felt pasta in a tin. I'm tempted to play with it!

Book Week Costumes!

Here is what I have been doing over the last week or so - book week costumes! My little girl, Isobel is going as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. The glitter shoes were disappointing but the dress sure turned out well! I told her that it is going to be her summer church dress this year - all that work! I didn't want the dress tossed in the dress up cupboard straight away ;)

More photos from the parade later...

New item! Who wants Tacos??

Just finished and listed this cute little velcro-together taco for my shop. I think I've got a velcro fetish or something. Everything I make I think - how could velcro improve this? Hmmm, is there an AA equivalent for velcro and felt food addiction? Anyone with a phone number for this service, please let me know! ;)

July Giveaway in full swing at Funky Finds!

I'm giving away a felt food set of the winners choice! Go to Funky Finds and check out how to win!


Enter and have fun! There are quite a few items in other shops up for grabs too. Have a go and win!

Baker's Half-dozen cookies

Just made these as a custom order for my shop. I had fun embroidering the "ARROWROOT" on the milk arrowroot biscuit and I love making macaroons with the little pom poms, and the chocolate cream cookie. They remind me of my childhood in Japan. I think they look pretty realistic...

New and Improved Chip Package...

I LOVE inkjet-printable fabric! I just improved my potato chip package to go with my felt sub sandwich. I think it looks SO much more professional... I am hoping to make more in the way of packages of felt foods so that kids can have them in their pretend shops and kitchens. I feel the need to replace those cardboard and plastic food sets that are everywhere with felt!

Watermelon, veggies and pasta Mach 2

Here are the finished articles I began making in my last post. They are for Shanna at Baby Wears Prada, an exciting website launching soon. I hope her little girl loves them and that you do too!

Felt watermelon and pasta - what a combo!

Here's what I've been making the last couple of days as a sample:

Felt watermelon slice and some tri-color pasta bowties in a bag (ok, the bag isn't made yet...) but the idea is there. Also, I had a nice surprise when I used Electric Quilt inkjet-printable fabric sheets to make "labels" for the packages I'm hoping to make for my felt foods. Check them out! Is the clip-art too lame? I'm just not that great at drawing...

New "Subway" Sandwich made from Felt!!

Here it is, the latest in my crazy line of Felt Food Toys! The 6-inch subway which velcros together. Has lettuce, cheese, pastrami and pickles and comes with the plate and a bag of ruffled "potato chips". Lots of fun - I should make one for myself!!

Got a Treasury West

Ok, so I was watching Law and Order while Treasury was counting down... so I came up with this:

Well, I thought it was cute - especially the Playmobil Policewoman Brooch by nakedtile

Fresh Berries and Cream anyone?

Just completed these little cuties for my Etsy shop! 4 strawberries, 4 blueberries, 4 blackberries and 4 raspberries - plus 4 puffs of "fresh cream" in a little pot. You get the basket and napkin as well. Do you want some summer berries? Check my shop...

New Toddler Apron in store

Check the cute and bright retro print on this apron! I found a curtain on Ebay a couple of months back and immediately thought of aprons! Again, I have used the Thermoweb Fusible Vinyl (gee I love this stuff!) My models are hamming it up, as usual!

Pingie in Japan

Pingie in Japan
Originally uploaded by JooJoo1356

Take a look at this extremely cute penguin! Found this on Flickr and couldn't resist putting a photo on my blog for you to enjoy. Check out her shop too: http://joojoo.etsy.com. Too sweet!

Another new hat in store today!

Yay, another new swanky hat to keep you warm and your tresses under control in the cold wind! This one I made for my sister in law, Malvina (hence the name), but you can find one for sale here.

Landed a Treasury as well!

It's my lucky Treasury day!! Got this one, called "Willy Wonka, eat your heart out!".

Black and White Treasury West!

Here's one I am curating for the Etsy Artists Lounge:

Giveaway on Funky Finds!

I am participating in a July giveaway on Funky Finds! This great site is bursting with heaps of handmade, quirky goodness - do check it out! I am giving away a felt food set of the winner's choice - so get along and enter if you want free felt food!

I have also had the honour of being featured in an Etsy Dust treasury:

Yay for treasuries! and for Etsy!

School holidays are supposed to be creating time!!

But for me, I seem to be busier than ever. But hey, it's fun spending time with my girls. My car also died on the weekend (darn fuel pump!) but we have it back now - thank goodness.

I just listed a super circle skirt made from a vintage tablecloth - I love making these! I have a couple of new cloths so I'll be making more of these for sure!

Just finished! My Lambs Pride cardigan!

YAY! I have finished it - and it took less time than I thought it would because the yarn was so bulky. The shade is Forest Shadows tonal and it was a miracle I had two matching buttons also. What do you think?

Also added these cute little carrots on Madeit.com.au

Just made!

Made this little felt pineapple today as I was babysitting 2 extra kids. All four kids got pretty excited at the progress! What do you think?