Cooties Defined....

Definition of a cootie:

The metaphysical manifestation of the fear of social backlash resulting from association with the opposite sex during childhood.

In short, the other sex has them, you can get them, and you do not want them.

(Josh is seen with Katie.)
Boys: Eww, Josh has cooties!

Margaret from Konstant Kaos sent me a link that shows the anatomy of a cootie and to be honest I think this fits in with  most peoples perception of what a cootie is. But I thought I'd do a quick search to see what other cooties were out there in creative land.

 


• Igotcooties is a shop on Etsy, and here is her version -  Ewww Cooties

• computer cooties
• comic cooties
• board game cooties

• cootie beads
• jewellery cooties

To me, now that I have kids, cooties will always be little children, and they will always be cute, cuddly, loving and in need of my clothes!

Kreativ Blogger Award

Wow, I feel humbled that I was awarded a Kreativ Blogger award by my market mate Beky from Pivotal Xpressions!
Thanks Beky! I feel like I should be on my knees chanting "I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy"
I first met Beky in August at our first ever market - Made n Thornbury. We were both nervous while we waited for the doors to open and set our first stall up, and to my surprise, I found that we were next to each other in the hall. So since then, I have followed her emerging business, and wonderful blog, and look forward to our next market together which will be at Northside Makers Market.

So on to the award.....

The deal with this award is that you have to spread the love around!

To keep it growing I have to follow 7 rules:
1) Copy the pretty picture and post it on your blog.
2) Thank the person that gave it to you and
3) link to their blog.
4) Write 7 things about yourself we don't know.
5) Choose 7 other bloggers to pass the award to.
6) Link to those 7 other bloggers.
7) Notify your 7 bloggers.

Write 7 things about yourself we don't know.
1. I only started sewing in April of 2009.
2. I watched a youtube video to learn how to make my first dress.
3. I used to make jewellery in silver and gold.
4. Some of my work was shown at the National Gallery of Victoria, including eating disorder brooches, and a latex with silver nipple bra which was a comment on plastic surgery and boob jobs.
5. I've gone off chocolate, and I really miss it :( I think I od'ed after I had my second child, and now my taste buds don't want it, even though my head does.
6. I love speaking in pig latin, and am constantly surprised that not more people know how to speak it! My sister and I always converse it when we don't want the kids or the hubbies to understand us!
7. I'm so glad that I was able to breastfeed my children, and so proud that they thrived for so many months purely surviving on what my body provided. It always amazed me that my milk enabled them to gain weight, grow teeth, fingernails, hair and allowed them to be healthy little babies.

Choose 7 other bloggers to pass the award to.

i'm going to cheat on this one, as i don't follow too many blogs, so only 6 for me



Pivotal Xpressions

Well, just because Beky gave me the award does not mean that I can't give it back?  I really love Beky's blog, it is always an interesting read, and I love to see where she gets her inspiration from.  It's wonderful also to follow her journey through her blog.

Whip Up
Kathreen send out a weekly newsletter that I await eagerly on the weekends. She always has something interesting to look at, great links to tutorials, and has created a fantastic calendar featuring some great creative people and products.

Buttons by LouLou
I met Louise through the Australian Breastfeeding Association.
She lives a few blocks from me, and i only recently found out that she was a fellow crafter when we were both at the Made n Thornbury market in August 2009As well as having two beautiful boys, she makes gorgeous fabric covered buttons, amongst other things, and her blog is so interesting to go through. Lots of interesting posts not just about buttons. She has been featured in magazines, and has products all over Melbourne. A very inspiring and busy mother and crafter!

M.E.
Cathie not only makes DELICIOUS food, but is also a great photographer. I am not sure where she finds the time or energy to be as productive as she is!
Her food is great, and her blog is beautiful to look as as well as to follow. I know when I take a look, my eyes will be rewarded.

Angus and Celeste
I came across these lovely items at the Rose Street Market, and I fell in love with their
bracelets. I intend to be wearing one of them before too long!  i think their blog is a newbie, and i look forward to seeing what else they create and what inspires them.

Happy Dacks
Michele has a great blog. A great read and i really love her "Hot and Not Wednesday" Posts, where she posts about the hot and not so hot things in her life during the week. She talks about food, craft, people and creating. Really a great read!

So again, thanks Beky for the award! and please feed the fish :)
take care
fab

Red stripey baby sets

i went to spotlight to buy a rotary cutter the other day and came across this gorgeous fabric. Now I'm not one to normally buy fabric from either lincraft or spotlight, preferring to go to other sources, but I couldn't resist this!



Sooo cute!

So I bought the cutter - which has made cutting multiple pieces a dream - so wish I had thought of getting one before, bought the fabric, bought some buttons, and then made my way home, all inspired!




This is what the fabric has become....
I have made 3 x size 6 months and 3 x size 12 months that I will have to sell a the Rose Street market and have only a small amount left from a 2 metre piece of fabric.
I so love it I wish I could wear these myself.

I also figured out a new way of attaching the red edges that make my life a lot easier, and takes another step out of the process, which cuts out precious time!

Merchandise display magic

My dear Hubby, who has contacts of all sorts, sizes and shapes went to visit a friend with a shoe shop and came with a little bag of tricks that will make my life a little easier with setting up a market stall.
Since we went to the Rose Street Artists Market we have been trying to come up with ideas about how to display my stock to it's best advantage.
Here are some of the great items he came back with.... My biggest thank you's go to DH and also to Vivianna who took care of me and has offered more if I need it :)

I sooo love the round clothes rack! Can picture colourful dresses hanging off it.
These items along with my clothes rack should display all my products well. Now to make more clothes......

Visit to Rose Street Market inspires creative frenzy

Last week I sent in an online application for a stall at the  Rose Street Market in Fitzroy and to my pleasure I was accepted! YAY! I will be there once a month Jan - April.

So I went with the family to take a look, as it had been years since I had gone. It has changed a bit, there are more stall holders and it looks like a very lively and well patroned market. There was a variety of stall holders, with many varied beautiful products.








My favourites were Angus&Celeste with beautiful fine porcelain jewellery and homewares. I loved their bracelets! Gorgeous!

Kerry Scheen's hand painted ceramic objects also caught my eye for the beautiful paintings of children on her pieces. Made me wonder if I could commission something with my two little ones on a pendant.

When I got back home I was completely overwhelmed with the size of the stalls and the professional displays and quality of the products.

I wondered how I was going to fare alongside these people. It sent me into a whirlwind of activity and 3 days later, I have made six dresses and created nine Kiki dolls, although some of them are a bit surprised to be here judging by their expressions...

I will also have my DH very busy making new wooden clothes racks to better display my clothes. Will post a piccie of those when they are born.

Love chunks at Christmas

Today I spent most of the day in the kitchen, after having gone shopping for supplies with Eva.
I wanted to say thank you to the carers in my children's lives and what better way than to give them home made sweeties. I got the idea to make bite size Christmas cakes from Kim a friend from mothers group - it's such a simple recipe and so appealing to the eye. It took no time at all to create them.



Just add orange juice to an existing fruit cake -
I used an apricot fruit cake.
Add enought to make slightly moist
and roll into balls.
I used the tiny patty pans,
then decorated with white chocolate
and sprinkles.
YUM!


Then to the task of making honey comb for the fourth time!
and I finally got it right, after reading loads of recipes and methods, and after making a couple of toffee
like batches, hit the jackpot with this batch.
Coated in dark cholocate,
they have become little love chunks.




Melt in the mouth and impossible to resist (which is why they are out of reach at the moment!)


Finished product! Viola!

Christmas and Honeycomb

Christmas is just around the corner and I have been busily finishing up orders. I have made some great red tops, that match the fiesta skirt perfectly.



After taking Eva shopping for fabric, she chose a pink giraffe jersey fabric which I made a shirred dress out of, she loves it!



I'm about to start making biscuits to give to the carers in my children's lives and came across the fetes and festivals website with yummy recipes. I think I might try the honey comb! YUM

Northside Makets Market Next Week!

I have been getting baby sets ready - tank tops and shorts, and they look so cute, I wish Eva was still small enough to wear them! They are for 12 - 18 months, and if I have time, I will make some in size 9 months.



I so loved the look of the white tank top, that I decided to make myself a top and it looks great. Light and flowing. Perfect for these hot days :)

Next week is the second Northside Makers Market held at Northcote Uniting Church. 251 High Street, Northcote.
Pick up great Chrissy pressies and finish your shopping early!

Marvel Pants and Shorts

I went shopping with my ankle biters and found myself in Spotlight - as you do - and my eldest pointed excitedly to a fabric that I had passed by and asked it I could by it and make him some pants. With such enthusiasm, how could I refuse, and when the fabric turned out to be Marvel superhero design, well, that was even better! Last time one of my children asked me to buy some fabric, it was a cream fabric with pink giraffe's on it. Really not a pretty one, but she's really happy with the dress I made for her...

Anyway, I made the superhero pants for my little super boy and he's been wearing them with joy and proudly showing them off to anyone who notices.



So we went to the family do, and my cousins daughter who is 11 asked to get some shorts made from the same fabric, and here is the result. Now to see if they fit.....



On another note, The Thornbury Women's Market is on in December, so take a look at the link :)

Summer dresses and boys sets

I've spent most of these last few weeks sewing more dresses to make up for the stock I sold at the fantastic Northside Makers Market, and have made some super cute summer dresses using fresh lightweight fabric.




I have also been commissioned to make a boys set from an auntie, and am really happy with the results, so will be making more of those for the next market on the 28th November in Northcote.
This set is a size one, but will have sizes from 00 - 1 at the market, and will also be making some for the lady babies too.




Margaret from Konstant Kaos was a stall holder at a Goth Market in Northcote- the Black Market and asked if I wanted to have some of my vamps and cats at her stall, which was so generous of her. To my surprise, she sold 5 of them and made Little Cooties some happy dosh :) so a big THANK YOU MARGARET from the bottom of my heart for donating your space and time for me.

thanks for coming :)
Fabs