Happy and shiny

A bit of excitement here in Apollo Bay this morning! The Melbourne Cup made an appearance at the tourist information centre. We thought we'd better go and have a look, and I'm glad we did.

It's big, it's heavy, and it's 18 carat gold (surely that must be plated).

Somehow doing something like this turns the adults into big kids!

Yeah, that's my old bloke looking a bit overwhelmed!

And this is Max and Oscar, lovely, lovely boys of our good friends Lucy and Steve, looking a bit underwhelmed!

New week, new stuff

After a slow Friday it's been busy in my workroom.

If you pop into The Local Shop this week you'll find some new tea towel bags, this one included (if you're quick). A nice fat parcel of 6 has been posted. Although sometimes I find it a bit hard to say goodbye. My friend Pia found me this gem of a tea towel, it reminds me of the swap cards I had as a girl. Actually, I still have the swap cards.

Sally will have this new belt available on Georgielove very soon too.

These are made from Liberty of London tana lawn, a beautiful fine cotton that is so smooth it feels like silk. Backed with cotton pinwale cord and soft to go through any size belt loops, they are especially good with jeans, but anything else you care to wear them with too!

Friday

There's not too much happening here this morning. I'm waiting for a courier to arrive...

It's raining too, so may as well have a little lie down.

We did have some friends pop in for morning tea though.

I love the post

When I lived in the city the mail was only ever full of tedious bills, with the occassional postcard or birthday card to liven things up. Now that I live a good two and a half hours from Melbourne, I do much of my ordering online. Going to the post office box has become much more exciting.

Look what came today!

Is that a birdie I hear?

Picture thanks to GeorgieLove

The wonderful and super efficient Sally from GeorgieLove emailed me today to let me know the new t-shirts are now available from her shop.

This one is the partner to the flower t-shirt, and Sally did such a wonderful job with the photo, I thought I'd borrow it! Thanks Sally!

Spring flowers

We had a great day out at Shirt & Skirt yesterday. I was going to post some pretty market pictures, but went to Melbourne without my camera. Oops.

Here's a shot of one of my new designs instead. You can get one from me at the market, or from Flying Fishes, I Dream a Highway, and very soon from Georgielove.

Is it too early to think about Christmas?

Nancy Bird, one of my very favourite designers.

I'm lusting after this bag.

Shirt & Skirt Market

I'm getting ready for a trip to Melbourne this weekend.

I'll be at the Shirt & Skirt Market at the Abbotsford Convent this coming Sunday with my good friend, fellow craftswoman, and birdie maker extraordinaire Pia.

Pia and I share a stall space at this market for most months of the year, but are just returning after a little Winter hibernation. I'm really looking forward to getting back to the beautiful surrounds of the Convent.

The weather forecast is looking good for a perfect Spring day. Can we tempt you out?

Shirt & Skirt Market

Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford

10am - 4pm

I quite like green

I was thinking about colour, and how much I do like green.

Prompted, I think, by wearing these shoes. Old favourites.

And then I started to look around me...

And...

(Weedy Sea Dragon by Clare Whitney. )

It's everywhere. I could go on all day. But, finally there's this...

A Frankie & Ray bag I chose to keep for my knitting.

Uh, yes. It's green, it has dogs on it, and it's made from a tea towel!

Sunday morning

Shhh. Everyone's still sleeping.

Apollo Bay

I've just realised that school holidays begin at the end of next week.

This means that a group of crafty locals will be setting up a little indoor market in the Catholic Church Hall for 2 weeks. If you're planning a little trip down, come and say hello.

There will be lots of lovely things to tempt you, and I'll be putting out some items on sale, so you can grab a bargain on a new t-shirt just in time for some warmer days.

The Church Hall Indoor Market can be found to the rear of the Catholic Church, which is on the street corner opposite the golf course and near the fish co-op. Ask a local for directions, and look for our signs!

Lorne

I had a little road trip around to Lorne yesterday to take some new stock to Flying Fishes, run by the ever elegant and friendly Liz. This shop is a little gem, packed full of very desirable and tempting goodies. Liz always has the best window display on Mountjoy Parade, take a look at these vintage ceramic flowers she has on show. Oh, and a thoughtful bowl of water for any visiting hounds!

The shop is in the Lorne Theatre building, still running as a cinema. I love that there's still an art deco building in the main street of this snazzy resort town.

These road signs pop up all along the Great Ocean Road, I'm never sure whether to laugh, or feel slightly nervous!

Spring

It's been a long, cold, very wet Winter down here on the coast.

Here's a little sign that Spring might be just around the corner.

Tea towels

I love tea towels. I am mildly obsessed with tea towels. I have friends who feed my addiction to tea towels.

So, I have an enormous stash of them. Lucky me!

I also love pockets, so develops a happy relationship between tea towels and pockets.

These are going on my denim skirts. Dark denim, a-line, knee length, big pockets.

They are up on Georgie Love, and you can get them from me at the markets too, at a small direct from the maker discount!

Handmade

Handmade in Melbourne, Published by The Slattery Media Group, 2009

What a social day at the Substation Artists Market yesterday. The handcrafted world is full of fantastic people, and it was great to catch up with some of them. We ate scones, drank coffee, knitted a bit, and laughed quite a lot.

I'm going to give this new edition of Handmade in Melbourne a little plug. I got my own yesterday from the lovely Michelle, of Crayon Chick and Kids with Crayons, and Frankie & Ray t-shirt ambassador!

It's chock full of people I'm lucky enough to know, and a wonderful showcase of all their beautiful work.

You'll see it at market stalls around Melbourne and beyond (as well as bookshops), so grab yourself a copy.