Busy Bee

Last week was a lovely blend of craftiness and relaxing. Food, wine, friends. Oh, and housework. Blah.

Some little projects I finished up last week.

Felt Dahlia Brooch using the tutorial found here. I used my hot glue gun to assemble the brooch and it made the whole process a lot quicker than the tutorial suggested it was going to be.

I also completed my fifth block for Around The Block 2. Abbe asked for a block she termed Stacked Blocks. I loved the choice of fabrics - grey and green, just gorgeous!

Now onto prep for my stall at Mathilda's Market this Sunday, 13 th March. If you're in SA, come along to Norwood and say hello!

I've been Lollipopped!!

I'm super-dooper excited to announce that I have been Lollipopped!! I'm going to be a stall holder at the next Lollipop Market at the Shores Function Complex, West Beach in SA, on Sunday 20th February, 2011.

So now I'm ready to get sewing, creating, designing and giggling all the way to February!!

Sun, sales and sweet!

Last weekend I participated in the local Prospect Fashion, Food & Wine Affair for the third year in a row. I shared the stall with Red Ted as usual and we had a really successful and fun time.

I stocked a larger range of fairy wear this year and thought I might share with you this gorgeous little girl who was lucky enough to have her mummy buy these fairy things for her.

Spring has Sprung

With this gorgeous spring weather upon us, I've been inspired to finish off the front garden. We have taken the front back to the start and laid grass, paving and now the flower beds are filling up. Here's some shots of the garden this week. My David Austin roses are coming along very well!

Things have been growing inside too. More stock being crafted for my upcoming markets in November... Prospect Food, Fashion and Wine Affair and Goodwood Xmas Market - see over on the right hand side of this blog for details.

Don't forget about the giveaway I'm running to celebrate the launch of my new venture Sew Vintage!!! Pop over, choose a fabric and be in the running for free fabric!!

Busy bee is me

Bit quiet on the Silly Gilly blog front.... it's been too long!

The Silly Gilly family headed off last month to our now yearly jaunt to Bali. It was a lovely 10 days of swimming, eating, drinking, sleeping and shopping. Bliss! We stayed at the same hotel we always visit when in Bali, the Melasti Beach Resort. Highly recommended. It's so nice to arrive and have the staff recognise you. We also spent a few days at the Hard Rock Hotel. Boyo boy this is a nice place and great for the kids with beach parties in the middle of the pool every day at 4pm. The shot below is poolside. It was hard staying here but someone had to do it!

Back home I've been getting the studio organised for next year. My daughter is off to school next year and I am beginning to feel various levels of excitement varying from mild amusement through to jumping up and down 'oh my golly gosh, think of the hours of sewing time I will have'.

It might be spring or it might be me clearing the decks for some serious work in 2011, but the studio has had quite the beginnings of a cleansing session. I'm even selling some sewing machines! Yes, that would be plural. Machines. I have too many ie, more than five, so am making some room and clearing the space. A new built in robe/cupboard is also in the works to replace my white melamine rickety ones I have at the moment. Much excitement there too! Custom built cupboards!! It doesn't take much to get me happy.

Many exciting preparations have also been afoot for my new secret squirrel project that I will be unveiling later this week.

And the sewing has begun in readiness for Prospect Food Fashion and Wine Affair which is coming up next month. Mark your calendar - Sunday November 21st - if you are in South Australia and and would like to come and see some Silly Gilly wares in real life and off the screen!

So pics of new products to come soon. Pics of the new cupboard coming soon too! And the big unveiling of my new project to come later this week, once I complete the finishing touches. How exciting!!!

Market preparations and a new love

Last weekend's market at the Prospect Rd Food, Fashion & Wine Affair was a successful day, albeit a hot one. Sitting at one's market stall in 40 degree heat isn't ideal but I got to meet some lovely people and had a few sales to sweeten the day!

This week ahead is now to be spent preparing for this coming Friday and Saturday 27th and 28th November as I have market stalls at two different markets. See the sidebar over there on the right for further details.

More ribbon purchased for Dancing Rainbow Ribbons. This makes me super happy - an excuse to buy ribbon in rainbow colours is good any day or night.

Speaking of rainbows, I was recently invited to participate in a Rainbow Swap organised by the far away but oh-so-witty Trashalou. I've posted off my parcel and am keen to hear that it has arrived at it's destination. It was so much fun creating the handemade item for the swap but I can't reveal anything until I know my swap partner has opened her parcel.

My highly multi-talented Thursday craft teacher Felicity has generously offered to share her love of crochet with me after I stumbled upon, and fell in love with, the insanely delicious crochet blog Attic 24. If you love crochet or rainbow colours or bright, happy photography, head there immediately!! It's a gorgeous blog written in a lovely friendly style. Just my thang! And I must say it had to take something super special to convince me to crochet as I have always, up to now, been a 'I'm NEVER going to be interested in crochet. NEVER.' kind of gal... Hmm, never say never!!

The flowers below are my first attempts at crochet and I'm rather pleased with the results!! I used a pattern from Attic 24 and found it to be very achievable for a beginner. And of course I had to rush out to the shops and buy cotton yarn to feed this new addiction!

So this weekend I will be desperately trying to ignore this newly acquired skill and amazingly addictive interest in crocheting flowers. Someone take this cotton and hook away from me please so I can get my market stock ready?

Here a Clip, There a Clip!

I'm in full production mode. Well as much in full production mode as one can be when one is a full time mother to a 'I'm a fairy... I'm a robot... let's play hide and seek' almost four year old.

I go to a felting class each Thursday which has the blessed bonus of a creche for the poppet and a gorgeous teacher who doesn't care if I do my felting craft or cut my toenails! Of course, I left the personal grooming for home and this week I used my time to get my growing collection of hair clippies ready for market.

All colours of the rainbow and using two of my favourite things in the studio. Buttons and scraps!
More bags have been cut out for sewing tonight and tomorrow I'm thinking summer hats...

Merry Market

Market day today at Goodwood in SA. A very happy, successful market day which is always welcome in the Silly Gilly camp. When I woke early it was thunder and lightening but the sunny weather prevailed and we met lots of lovely people. Here's a view of today's market stall. Kate and I are forever playing around with the layout of the stall and today was a bit of a winner.

I introduced two new products to the Silly Gilly repertoire today - Dancing Rainbow Ribbons and some very touchable felt brooches. I was pleasantly surprised when they nearly sold out but I will post pictures of both new items here tomorrow.

Also three new girls hats in store now. My apolgies for the small photos but the mosaic maker I use doesn't seem to want to give me a big sized version of the mosaics anymore... anyone have any hints?

I'm off to That's Not Garbage next week to hopefully find some supplies to create new display racks and stands for upcoming stalls.

I must also say thank you so very much to those of you who have left such encouraging comments after my last post and sneak peek. It really is inspiring and exciting to read your words. I have so many ideas just bubbling up out of seemingly nowhere now that I have said my intentions out loud, to myself and to the world! More samples of the little fella to come and some friends will be joining him too!

Hectic Hodge Podge

Life in the Silly Gilly camp has been hectic this week. Lots of running around and out and about.

Here's views of Friday night's stall at the Fringe market. Kate of Red Ted and I shared a stall and it was such a wonderfully balmy night. Except for the flying ants!!

I whipped out a few new girls hats in time for the market and will post a pic of those later today. My desk is currently under siege from all the delicious donated items that have sold on ebay. I can't believe how much everything has sold for!! I'll announce the grand total after the last two delicious items have sold. Go bid on them now!!

Glamourous Shower Cap - Handmade Help


Fabulous Large Tote Bag - Handmade Help

My husband took me on a date last night which I enjoyed immensley as dates don't get to happen very often around here due to crazy work commitments. We bopped along to Ben Lee and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. One thing that for the life of me I don't understand is going to see live music and having to SIT DOWN. How on earth are you supposed to jig and jive and groove along whilst sitting on your tush!!?? I am completely perplexed and if anyone has a rational explanation I would greatly love to hear it.

(Oh and the $275 I won afterward at the Casino..... that was just an added bonus!!)

ETA (Spoken in authoritative, pompous voice) -- Silly Gilly in no way endorses gambling, excessive booty shaking or swatting of annoying bugs - please do these things at your own dire risk--

New boy's hats in store!

I've been busying myself making as much stock as possible in the lead up to being at the free Fringe Family Frivolity market at Hahndorf next Friday 13th March. Red Ted and I will be holding another market stall there. Trying to provide a good range of boys and girls items. Here are a few boys hats I've whipped up. All available in the store now.

I've also been entering a few giveaways and in the desperate state I'm in, as I unfortunately don't win giveaways , I'm mentioning them here on the blog to give myself more chances to win!!

Check out Chocolate and Steel's giveaway of a custom designed ring.
badskirt's giveaway of vouchers for her divine online store.

The auctions are going off!!!! as a young person like myself might have said ten years ago. Lots of bids flying left, right and forwards. I'm so pleased and I really do hope to see last minute flurries of bids!

Back from the market!!

Wow, what an amazing and fun day I had today!

Today I had the chance to sell my wares at the Prospect Food, Fashion and Wine Affair today. I shared a stall with my neighbour and friend Kate, of red ted, who is a work at home mum like myself making funky and unique children's clothing. I thought I'd share a couple of pics of the stall and our things on display.

If the stall looks a little bare, it's because I took the photo at the end of the day after so many people had visited! Kate makes gorgeous clothing for children to size 4 such as skirts, pants, appliqued singlets and more. It was such a hit today that Kate and I are going to head to Fullarton Plant and Craft Market next weekend to see how we go there!

What blew me away though was having the opportunity to meet my customers face to face and overhearing their enthusiasm when looking through my products. It was a definite motivator and a great opportunity to get some direct customer feedback.

And to top off a wonderful day, I'm sitting typing and watching a glorious hot pink/orange sunset unfold. Life is good. Be happy all.