Why do you like markets?

Right, since I'm at home at the moment (and yes, it's a Saturday night at ten to nine and my life is so wildly exciting that I'm blogging .....) - let's leave that aside for the minute - I have decided to post a few photos that have been longing to make it into the big wide world.

In order, they are "Up All Night" Hoot [primary fabric Tablecloth something or other by Anna Griffin], "There's A Butler In My Garden" Hoot [primary fabric Lotus Garland by Amy Butler and Sway by Heather Bailey on the wings' reverse], and "Mirabella Magic" Hoot [out of Mirabella by Alexander Henry plus some Vintage Dots by Michael Miller on the inside of the wings and Bijoux in Cinnamon on the outside, by Heather Bailey].

I made these Hoots up for my recent Rose St Market, which was a bit of a rubbish day in the end because I was fighting a massive headache on the day. The kind of headache where you try to stay as still as possible - as much to try and not throw up on anyone as to reduce the strobing pain in your skull. Coz, you know, throwing up on a prospective customer is not a good look. It's really not.

I find that on the market days where I can't really engage with people; either because of the sort of incredible pain which is capable of killing a small pony (truly, I never really had an appreciation for what a migraine means, before I had one) .... or simply because I've had a hard week at work and I'm tired, or because it's a cold day and the wind is blowing and I can't feel my fingers anymore, or something equally banal ..... those are the days I don't make as many sales.

Is it because when I'm bubbly I'm naturally more engaging, a better salesperson?

I don't think so. I think it's because when you go to a market - ok, let's take that out of the third person - when *I* go to a market, I like to look at all the stuff on the stall, sure. But what I really like is hearing the artist's story. Why do they make their own particular sort of crafty stuff? What gives them their ideas?

I enjoy hearing about all the curiosities that make up a certain person's approach to things. That's what makes a market personal to me. And so when I'm feeling rubbish, I don't chat about my own individual stories to my customers, and so there's no connection there for them. Just products. And products on their own ... well, they're lovely of course, but it's the stories that bring them to life, don't you think?

What do you like best about markets? I mean, aside from the fantastic and marvellous products we all create, obviously. And our clear and stellar talent, of course. And our patent good looks.

But besides that - what do you love about visiting markets, whether you're a crafty maker yourself, or simply someone out to enjoy the adventure?

A Very Busy Weekend

I'm shagged. It's been a Very. Busy. Weekend. Look here at what I did.

First I made some lovely new heatpacks for the Skirt and Shirt Market next weekend in Abbotsford. I found the lovely black and white ticking a week ago and it is the PERFECT THING for my heatpack designs. You can't go wrong when you team one-third bright colourful print with two-thirds classic black and white stripes. You just can't.

Then I finished off two Appleblossom Hoots.

Then I made a pair of pants for myself - no photo because they still need to be hemmed. And also, because they are PANTS and therefore I would need to photograph the below-the-waist portion of me to show you them, and I am currently in despair about everything below-the-waist of me (oh, and ok, the waist itself too) and therefore there will be No Photos Of The New Pant. Not unless I miraculously wake up one day and find I'm half my current size. Then I will happily put on the new pant and photograph it hanging loosely off me.

I digress. I made four new doorstops, and completed two Perfect Pencilrolls.

Then I put the finishing touches to a lovely HOME cushion I've made to order, using wonderful Warwick upholstery fabric for the body, and Liberty print cottons for the letters.

And I also finished off some new Catticus toys, and listed a whole pile of clothes and shoes on eBay (refer to previous lunatic comment about below-the-waist aspect of self), and completed a couple of new products I will show you in coming days. I'm exhausted! I need a weekend to recover from my weekend.

Oh, and we also went to see the new Aussie film Beautiful Kate, I highly recommend it.

Bring LOVE into your home

First day of the working week and I am wrecked. Absolutely wrecked. Getting out of bed this morning was like trying to drag myself up out of a river of treacle.

I blame the sewing machine.

I made another two pencilrolls yesterday, and another Appleblossom Hoot, and a baby Catticus (should he be a Kittencus?), and a new cushion which I've called Bring LOVE Into Your Home. Subtle, eh?

I'm starting to feel like I'm getting more on top of things for the market this weekend, which, let me tell you, is a GOOD feeling and I LIKE IT and all I have to do is keep sewing like a maniac and everything will be FINE!

I dropped into Rathdowne Remnants over the weekend and picked up some more textured black upholstery fabric to make a few more Catticus (what's the plural of Catticus? Is it Cattici? Or Catticodae?) and have a lovely chat with the ladies there. I tell you, that shop is an absolute goldmine for fabric. Every time I go there I get lovely, lovely things.

This time around, in addition to the upholstery fabric, it was a gorgeous lolly pink wool and cashmere blend. The pink is a kind of cross between between bubblegum and calomine lotion, which I'm going to have made into a suit for work - I wouldn't trust my own skills, I'd be bound to muck it up and it's such amazing fabric I couldn't bear that.

And of course I left the stupid camera on my table so I will have to add a picture to this post once I get home from work!

Introducing Appleblossom Hoot

Here is my new Hoot, I think I'll call him Appleblossom.

That, or Pinkeye. Which do you prefer?

I'm churning through these now, and I love the opportunity it's giving me to be really creative with my fabrics.

For this one, I used some printed canvas drill on the front that I picked up at Spotlight in Penrith a few weeks ago.

I matched it with a crisp red and white floral vintage cotton that came to me via a friend whose mother was clearing our her stash. Classic red polka dot ears seemed the best match I could make with that.

And I tied in the orange from the flower print, with orange corduroy feet as well.

On the reverse side, I chose an ice-blue and chocolate Jennifer Paganelli print.

All my Hoots are designed so that you can play peekaboo with the wings, and the blue of this fabric really matches the blue in the flower print on the front.

And to finish, a tiny sprigged floral canvas drill that I've had in the cupboard for ages. Isn't it nice when you can finally use some fabric that's been in the stash for a long time, just waiting for the right thing?

Hoot hoot!!