Soulful Spring Sounds

A few weeks ago I was accepted as a stall holder for the markets at the very first Soulful Spring Sounds Music Festival at Warrego Wines, near Marburg. It looks to be a wonderful day out. It'll feature a local handmade and organic market plus live jazz, blues and roots acts. Warrego Wines is QLD's only certified organic winery.

You can read more about the festival on their Facebook page, but details are; 

Saturday 11th September
10am-5pm
Warrego Wines
Cnr Warrego Highway and Seminary Rd, Marburg
Free Entry

Weekend of rest

Today is Saturday, 31st July. I'm meant to be set up at the Red Hill Fair, enjoying good company, the lovely weather and a fun day out. Instead, I'm at home, still in my pj's, with a strained abdominal ligament, whilst 7 months pregnant. So sorry to miss those of you who were going to pop in and say hi.

I'm having a quiet day of resting and knitting. I've almost finished a gorgeous rainbow gradient knitted dress for my daughter and am going to make some newborn things for our new babe, due sooner than we are ready for! So in some ways, being forced to rest and take it easy at this point is a good thing. I look forward to being back at the Northey Street City Farm Village Life market next weekend.

Red Hill Fair

The Red Hill Fair is on Saturday 31st July. It looks to be a fun day out, especially for families. There'll be rides, sideshows, food and over 40 craft stalls... including me!

I'm really looking forward to it, especially after the fun of the BrisStyle Indie Eco Market. I had a ball on Saturday, sold out of a few ranges and had loads of lovely visitors. I probably won't have space for kids clothes at this market, but I will have nested ducks, hanging doves and chicken cushions with me, and whatever else I can squeeze onto my table.

Oh that reminds me, I didn't get time to share the doves and chickens with you before the market, so here they are;

Hanging doves

Chicken cushions...

... and their patchwork backs.

All the birds are made out of recycled fabrics. The hanging doves were uber retro, made out of op-shopped fabric I had been hoarding since I was a teenager! The chickens had more of a vintage feel, some featured doilies as wings, others had pocket wings with lace trim and others just had big, funky, oversized pocket wings.

So, a heap of handmade birds and other upcycled crafty goodness, and myself, will be at Red Hill Fair on Saturday 31st July, maybe we'll see you there :)

Weekend creations

I'm realising that I'm not going to have all I had hoped to have made in time for Saturday thanks to a sick babe. But, that's ok. I'm still really happy with what I have and think it will be an awesome market, what's not to love about an eco-friendly market loaded with upcycled and recycled handmade goodies?

So these are the items I finished over the weekend; 2 hanging bird mobiles and some crochet brooches. The dove mobiles are made from recycled fabrics and old embroidery hoops I picked up in an op-shop, only their stuffing is new. They're contrasting spots and stripes.

I made some crochet brooches out of left over hand dyed wool I had. My children were cloth nappied, and I dyed and knit their wool nappy covers and have these scraps of gorgeous dyed wool left over, I'm glad to be able to use them. I made several before Christmas for a twilight market and enjoyed making them again. They're so bright and cheerful!

Upcycled boys tunics

Finally, something for the boys! These long sleeve tunics are made entirely from upcycled fabrics and come in sizes 1-5. They're headed to the BrisStyle Indie ECO Market with me and are perfect over a short or long sleeve t-shirt on a warm winter day, or over a t-shirt in spring. They could even be worn to the park or beach as sun protection in summer.

I made these with boys in mind, but as my husband pointed out, my version of boys clothing isn't your stereotypical boys stuff, so quite a few of them are unisex. I don't see why boys clothing is always so limited. What's with boys only ever having cars, trucks, trains or planes to choose from? Or blue? My son isn't interested in any of that. Give him animals and rainbows anyday. I also get really frustrated to go to markets to find a huge range of handmade clothes for girls, and just about nothing for boys, so I'm happy to stock boys clothes, that aren't just a pair of funky pants. I'll be doing short sleeve versions of these when it warms up.

So, in addition to the upcycled vintage girls clothing I make, I'll also have a selection of environmentally aware boys clothing to choose from on July 10. Oh and a range of other recycled and repurposed kids things such as nested duck toys, bird mobiles, crayon rolls, art totes and hairclips.

If you want to see individual photos of any of the images I've got in these collages, have a look at my Facebook page. Oh, and if you haven't already read it, have a read of my little blurb on the BrisStyle blog :)

Hairclips, ducks and on not being quick enough!

Just a quick snap of some hairclips I've just finished, alongside the mama ducks I made a few weeks ago. It's all starting to come together, I'm really looking forward to the BrisStyle Indie ECO market. I love the idea of a market that is environmentally responsible, I just love it! The actual clip of the hairclip is brand new, but the fabric and buttons are a mix of new and recycled materials. Be sure to check out the BrisStyle blog to read interviews with other marketeers and see what gorgeous goodies they have in store for market day.

Oh, and just a few more snaps to show you what happens round these parts when I'm not quick enough with the camera!

Vintage peasant tops

I've been sewing, sewing, sewing for the next market, and this weekend finished a collection of upcycled, long sleeve vintage peasant tops. They're almost 100% recycled- only the thread and elastic is new! These are definitely one of a kind, and what's not to love about clothing that is unique, but also gentle on the earth? These are light long sleeve tops, perfect for warmer winter days and over t shirts in spring.

These tops plus many other upcycled, recycled and repurposed items of kids clothing and accessories will be heading to the BrisStyle Indie ECO market with me on July 10!