Finally today I get a chance to sit down, write a blog post, and share some exciting news. Well, I think it's exciting anyway.
As you're all probably aware by now, if you've been reading my blog for a bit, I really do love a bit of recycling. I love taking the best pieces from some very well loved bedspreads or linens that have seen better days, and turning them into something new with many more years of love ahead of them. It really does give me a bit of a thrill. So recently I've taken that idea of recycling just one step further. With this latest batch of bunnies I have started using stuffing that is made from recycled water bottles. This stuffing performs exactly like the polyester stuffing I was using before, but instead of being made from virgin chemicals, I'm preventing plastic water bottles from going into landfill. In fact, every bunny or bear will be preventing over 23 bottles from clogging up the environment. Isn't that exciting!
I'm using Innergreen's 100% PET toy fill. It's hypoallergenic, washable, and Australian made. Got to love that! In changing to this product I can now say that each bunny or bear is roughly 99% recycled. The only thing that is new is the thread used to sew them together and the ribbons around their necks. I'm so very proud of my little guys, doing their bit for the environment.
oh, and I've turned comment verification off. that captcha thing was driving me nuts. if I get too much spam, I will have to turn it back on again, but we'll see how we go!
Have you heard about the latest fabulous exhibition opening next week at Gleaners Inc?
That is where my newest bunny "Audrey" is headed. Off to join all the other gorgeous doily creations. I only wish I was heading down too!
Wow! A blog post! Not much else going on around these parts other than I'm in full bunny production mode for Easter. I'm making a few very special (and very yummy!) bunnies, so stay tuned....
More creative spaces over here.
Well, it is all getting very exciting now! Betty's Place is set to open this week and Betty and a few little quilts are currently winging their way to join the party! Be nice to me Melbourne, I've put some of my most favourite chenille in these little baby quilts, some I may never get again!
Meet Betty! You've no idea how good it felt to get back in the bunny making saddle again, it has been a while! It's also been a while since I have sold my wares in a retail space, but that's where Betty is headed, to Betty's Place.
Betty's Place is a fabulous new shop opening up in Melbourne next week, and I will be selling a few things there. I'll be madly finishing up little quilts on the weekend to send down to make sure they're all there for the launch party next Thursday. Hopefully I haven't left it too late, Australia Post have been a little crazy with their posting lately! If I post express Monday, surely it will get there by Thursday?!
This is literally the first thing I have crafted this year. I know right, crazy! I was actually a little worried my sewing machine would have seized up in my absence, but those old Pfaffs, they just keep on going! She did come together beautifully though didn't she?
Now my lack of crafting is not actually my confession. Do you remember back in Blogtoberfest when I held my last giveaway for a custom bunny? Well, this is it! I'm really quite embarrassed about how slack I was in getting this made, but El seemed pretty happy with her bunny, even though it took me forever! Remind me next time I host a giveaway, to actually make something first.
Meet Shaz. Made with one of my all time favourite vintage chenille bedspread purchases of all time, a thick and fluffy chocolate peacock. I was asked on the weekend about what she was made from and I promised I'd put up a picture of the bedspread before I cut it on the blog. So Janie, this one's for you.
And the news.....well, I finally decided to list stuff in a Big Cartel shop I actually opened sometime in May. Or June. One of those. It was a rather crazy and emotional first half of the year for me, and all my good plans just never came through. So, it's time to change that and move on.
So, go and check out the new shop, and come back and tell me what you think. There are just a few things there at the moment. If things go well I will probably upgrade, only time will tell. I'd love to hear your input! Oh, and Shaz is there too, just waiting for you!
I finally managed to get most of the stock done that I wanted to get done to send off to Gatton's Christmas in the Country Art and Craft Show. Liesa will be there over the two days, the 5th and the 6th of November with mine and some other lovely handmadies items to sell. Hopefully it goes well! Along with a heap of Christmas stockings I've sent along some new bunnies and a new bear that I whipped up in record time. Nothing like a looming deadline to get you moving! From left to right we have Rosie, Penelope and Marigold. I really hope they find a new home! Randall managed to score a lift there too.
So if you happen to be looking for something to do on Friday or Saturday, why not head out to Gatton and stock up on some crafty goodness. Click on the link above for all the details on where and how to get there.
Now I've got to chain myself once again to the sewing machine as I've gone and booked in for this months Handmade Expo! Eeeek! November is always the biggest one with everyone thinking about Christmas presents etc, so hopefully things will go well there too. It will be the first big market I've done and if this doesn't go well, it will be my last! I don't take rejection well! My Mum is coming along with me and making some of her world famous chutneys. lemon curds, gingerbread and lavender shortbreads to sell. Mmmm, lavender shortbread...........
"The Week of CurlyPops" day 6.
I'm about to head off to Handmade Heaven to take in a new bunny and just had to share her with you all. Meet Lucy. Such a delicate little flower isn't she? She'll be waiting for you at Handmade Heaven......
I hope to be back later today to share the dying success/failure. Hopefully I'll get enough time this afternoon to get to it!
Look what my Mum stumbled upon while perusing one of her local Ipswich newspapers. A great advertising feature for the Top of Town, Ipswich. And look there, in the top left. That's my Jaffa. They certainly managed to capture her true beauty. She must be pleased. Jaffa is still residing at Handmade Heaven, Top of Town, Ipswich, just waiting for the right person to come and adopt her.
For all the Brisbanites getting a day off on Wednesday, did you know that Handmade Heaven is open? Seems like the perfect opportunity to go and check it out.
I reopened my etsy shop a while back and forgot to put the link back up on my sidebar. All done now though, take a look to your right. See the new picture? The one with the cute vintage aprons hanging on the line? Click on it to take you to my shop. For now I will be selling some vintage linens and patterns and stuff.
Very soon I hope to have some other things happening with my handmade wares. I would love to be able to make some money out of this little chenille obsession! Currently my stuff is selling well at Handmade Heaven, but I think you never can have your finger in to many pies at once. I find the whole selling myself quite hard though. It's fine to have my things in a cute little shop and have someone else sell them for me, it's another thing entirely to try to do it myself. And I used to work in retail! I could sell you a camera, but sell you a quilt I made...that's too hard! Does anyone else in the handmade business have this problem? I'd really love to know how others deal with it.
Oh, and the super cute bunny at the top of the post? That's Marjorie Bunnikins. She's the latest custom order bunny who will be heading off on a really big adventure to America tomorrow. I hope she doesn't get air sick!
Wow. One whole year since Handmade Heaven opened its doors. I'm proud to say I've been there since day 1, since the 16th of June 2009. Liesa has decided to mark the occasion with some festivities. And some pressies. Everyone needs pressies on their 1st Birthday don't they? The catch is, its the Handmade Heaven shoppers who will get the pressies. In one big hamper. How cool, right?! I've added a little something and so have many other Handmadies. The kitty is growing. All you have to do is spend $20 or more in store to go in the draw. The winner will get picked out next Wednesday, the 16th on the official birthday.
On that day there will also be some great discount offers for shoppers as well. A bit of "thanks for your support" type of thing. So, if you pop in next Wednesday to Handmade Heaven I will be offering for one day only 20% off your total purchase when purchasing a quilt and bear/bunny in the same transaction (not including laybys). Buy a lap quilt for yourself and grab a bunny for a friend! There are quite a few baby quilts and a couple of lap quilts in stock at the moment and a number of bunnies as well.
So come along and join in the festivities, there will be balloons, cupcakes and the Handmade Hamper up for grabs! Hope to see you there!
This is Jaffa. She is certainly not shy. Most bunnies quietly tell me their names as they are being constructed. Not Jaffa. She was screaming her name at me from the moment I started cutting her out.
She is currently residing at Handmade Heaven, waiting for someone to come and give her a home. I hope she doesn't scare them off, being so boisterous and all.
So I popped into Handmade Heaven yesterday to drop off this gorgeous newly made quilt and pay my monthly rent. When I walked in there were quite a few people in the shop and I noticed several looking at and touching my vintage chenille goodies. I walked past and casually listened in to their conversation, and I am so glad I did! They were saying how gorgeous my quilts were, and how beautiful the chenille was, and how well priced they were, and it made me feel really good. Something I think I have needed for a while. There were other ladies admiring my bunnies and then let me know how much they love them and had come to the store just to see them. I have had a few things brewing in the back of my mind and now I think maybe it's time to get my butt into gear and get going with it. Hopefully if you pop back next week I may just have a few little announcements to make. Thank you for the boost in my self confidence ladies!
Well, I promised last week the piece de resistance of bunnies, but....things went a little pear shaped. Still tastes good, just looks a little.... well, melted.
Bunny marshmallow! My Mum used to make these when I was a kid, and they were oh-so-good. Recipe from my CWA cook book.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of gelatine
125ml cold water (1/2 cup)
pinch salt160ml hot water (3/4 cup)
320g sugar (1 1/2 cup)
colouring and flavouring (optional)
1.Prepare your bunny moulds by brushing some melted butter over the inside and dusting them with an equal measure of cornflour and icing sugar.2. In a bowl combine gelatine, cold water and salt.
3. Bring sugar and hot water to the boil and pour over gelatine.
4.Beat until thick and white.
5. Add colouring and flavouring if desired. (I only added pink colouring to the mix after I had poured the little ones. I didn't add any flavour and they taste great.)
6. Pour into your moulds.7. Cover and stand in fridge for 24 hrs.
To turn them out I dipped them in a sink of hot water. This is where I probably went too far. The little ones came out easier, but I left the big one in too long and it melted the top, so her ears aren't as pronounced. Oh well, live and learn! Once they are on the plate, dust them with icing sugar and enjoy!
Hope you all have a great Easter break, I have some baking planned tomorrow, using this recipe for hot cross buns. Have a bunny great time on Sunday!
