:: the one about the markets ::

Our market career has started, peaked and quite possibly may be over.  Well, for 2012 anyway.

{{our market hotspot. literally}}

We set up shop at the Brisstyle Indie Designers' Market yesterday, in the gorgeous grounds of St Augustine's Church in Hamilton.

We had an awesome little corner of the market.  Honestly.  It's just that in Brisbane's hideous hot humidity, Vee and I baked like Christmas chickens.  We so glam. 

{{cute, right}}

It was lovely to see the Brisstyle girls again, and to meet so many new Brisstylers too.  It is such an awesome organisation, coordinated by such gorgeous women, who are so generous in giving their time and energy to supporting and helping the crafty types of Brisband and beyond.

{{how could you not go crazy for that?!  the coffees weren't for sale}}

The market was quiet as a mouse though.  It had been incredibly well advertised.  Amazingly well.  But it was just Quiet City. All day.

{{nice rack}}

On the upside, the quietness meant that Vee and I had plenty of time to tag-team shop the gorgeous stalls.  Seriously, there was SO MUCH great stuff to buy.  And buy, we did. 

The only purchase that I have photographed - so far - are these gorgeous little jugs from Raw Ceramics.  Come oooonnn.  How cute are they?  Love them.  All for me.

{{so gorgeous.  so buying more.}}

So that's us done with markets for now.  On the upside, due to Quiet City, we have lots of gorgeous stuff to upload to the shop.  Which we're tag-team doing right now.  Due to the oh-so-slow internet connection in our part of Brisbane, the uploads will probably take us into tomorrow.  Allowing time too of course for proper concentrating while 'Homeland' is on tonight.  

We'll do a quick post to let you know when we've uploaded all our new shop stuff - because we are talking a SALE - yes, our first ever SALE.  Get excited.  Get shopping.   

Happy last week of school to you all.  Even if it's not even your last week of school.  It so is ours!! 

xoxo cat

 

:: real life will resume shortly ::

Ohhh the blogarama has been put in the corner like Baby as life rolls on.  As we all know, no one puts Baby in a corner.  So we're ba-ack ready to have the time of our lives. 

Our second-and-last-and-that-is-enough market is on this Saturday - the Brisstyle Indie Designers' Market, 9.00 am til 4.00 pm in the grounds of St Augustine's Church, on Racecourse Road in Hamilton. 

It's a seriously fabulous market - we have both been as shoppers before, but this will be our first time as stall holders.  The gorgeous Helen, Belinda and Sam have done an amazing job coordinating the market - they are seriously magic-makers - and we are very excited. 

You can find us in the courtyard entry way into the hall - right by the toilets in fact, so stop by on your way to the loo.  Handy.  We're hoping people drink a lot. 

We'll have teatowels, ipad zip pouches and panels, panels and more panels.  Cushion panels in 8 designs, plus our homies.  Too much Christmas shopping is never enough. 

In other sewing news, I have finally finished the two bags that will be our school teacher pressies this year.  Many pics follow.  Starting now. 

{{a super big laptop zip-bag}}

Can I please just say - do notice the straps and zip - yes, I have finally figured out how to do a zippered bag WITH sewn-in straps.  I'm surprised there hasn't been more fainting over this significant piece of news. 

{{yes, a subtle reference to our lovely teacher originally being from England}}

{{the bag - note the 'B for blackboard' ... no 'W for whiteboard' or 'S for smartboard' though ...}}

{{detail - loving the computer keys and the France map}}

{{the lining and pocket - how much are we all loving the Melody Miller typewriters, eh?}}

{{a tote bag.  no zip.  red is the theme}}

{{more red.  more Melody Miller}}

{{Amy Butler lining and pocket}}

{{the back of the red tote bag}}

{{the students, with aching arms, holding their pressies for their teachers, before I let them finally hop into the pool}}

OK.  We'll be back with a market wrap up, and an update on our Secret Santa Swap.     xoxo cat

:: thank you ::

We had a great time at market last Friday.

{{cushions, zip pouches, panels, sewing kits}}

Fuelled by our oh-so-cleverly-packed chocolate-coated muesli bars and water, we made it through the market evening.

{{teatowels, bracelet kits and Christmas decorations, sitting on the contraband extra-table we managed to snag}}

Lots of passers-by, lots of lookers (as in people-looking, I don't mean spectacular-looking-people, though perhaps there were a few of those too ...), and lots of buyers.

Lots of lovely comments and feedback.

Lots of our stuff went home with lots of lovely people.

{{are you loving the cute signs and cushion?!}}

So - thank you very much to everyone who was able to come along and join in our market experience.  

((I should mention that the above pics were all taken after we had finished our afternoon set-up, and before the market had actually opened ... a LOT of people come through the market ... honestly ... note to self, take a few 'atmospheric crowd shots' next time)). 

Our hot market favourite was our 'Normal Family' cushion - sold out, and we have had a few orders since.  

Over the weekend, the awesomely creative brain that lives inside Vee's head, came up with a few new - very clever, very funny, you need them on your lounge - cushion panel designs.  They have been sent off to Spoonflower and will be cut up and ready for our next market.  We will also upload panels to our Etsy shop (which has been looking a little empty lately).

Vee and I met for a coffee and debrief on Monday.  We have our printing and sewing lists sorted for the Brisstyle BiDM December 8 market.  We are ready to roll. 

Considering how exhausted we were by the end of the night last Friday, we think we'll be needing a little more than a couple of muesli bars and water to get through a whole DAY of marketing.   A little lie down during the day might be in order too.  

Hope your week has been a good one.  'til next time  xoxo cat

:: popping in ::

Happy weekend to everyone.  It's been so nice and cool in Brisbane, perfect sewing weather.  

I've been doing a bit of production-line-sewing.  There's a pile of 45 ipad zip-pouches sitting by my sewing machine, waiting for the fronts and backs to be quilted.  Then it's on to cutting lining fabric and adding zips.  I'm planning on getting through some quilting while Homeland is on tonight.  Love that show.  My husband has already told me he'll be watching it in the other room, since he gets annoyed by the whirring of the sewing machine while he's trying to watch the TV.  Ah well. 

Whipped up a cute little zip pouch yesterday for a small friend's birthday. 

{{cute}}

The cute little hedgehog is from Spoonflower.

{{she's carrying her own cupcake to a tea-party}}

If you're in Brisbane, and keen for some Christmas shopping at some fun markets, there are a couple of dates to lock into your diary.

Vee and I will be at the Twilight Market at Fig Tree Pocket State School on Friday, 16 November.  This market will have over 40 stalls, a bar, food and an ATM van on site, and will run from 5.00 pm til 8.30 pm.  It's the second time the Twilight Market has been run, and is returning by popular demand since it was such a fun event last year.

And then, we have been lucky to snag a spot at the Brisstyle Indie Designers' Market in the grounds of St Augustine's church on Racecourse Road in Hamilton, on Saturday 8 December, from 9.00 am til 4.00 pm.  This is a gorgeous market, with all the stalls being run by people who have shops on Etsy.

Lock in the dates and come along with your shopping bags.  And make sure you come over and say hi.  

Hope your weekend has been fun.    xoxo cat

:: Blogtoberfest day 20 - one, two, skip a few ... ::

One, two, skip a few ....  99, 100.

Did you ever hear that one?

Somehow it's Saturday, and we last blogged on Monday.   Mmmm, not very Blogtoberfesty of us. 

Life's been happening, but not much sewing. 

Today, Vee and I were lucky enough to go along to a talk on social media, given by Jess van Den of Epheriell Designs and hosted by Brisstyle.

It was sooooo good - all about twitter, facebook, pinterest, online forums and our absolute favourite - instagram!!  We are not super-great on knowing how to link things from our blog - but we are (at)hellofromcat and (at)hellofromvee on instagram and twitter.  Come and say hi. 

In other news ... 

We are still madly trying to find time to sew for our two upcoming markets.  I've been working on some more typewriter and Jubilee Jack zip pouches.

{{typewriter and Jubilee Jack pouches in-the-making}}

On this way-too-hot BrisVegas afternoon, the kids have been doing their own stitching alongside me.

{{this is destined to be a pillow for a toy's head ... not sure which toy ... or how big the head is }}

{{this is like a fabric yo-yo ... not sure if it's finished or not, but it's looking good}}

We finally had to make a move from the sewing/playroom, which also doubles as the hottest-room-in-the-house.

{{clearly there will never be pics of me in togs ... anywhere ... ever ... EVER  }}

Last thing - our giveway!! - just leave a comment on any of our October blog posts, and you will be in the running to win a Finn McTrickster ipad-zip-pouch.  Comments close at midnight next Friday, 26 October.   That's midnight in BrisVegas.  Here's a reminder pic of the giveaway prize.

{{cute, huh}}

OK, it's time for wine.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.  Hope it's cool whereever you are.  Unless you're in BrisVegas, when you really just need to be in air-con.    xoxo cat