Deck the Halls

Without filling this already image-heavy post with too many words, let me finally introduce my Christmas goodies for 2013. As many of you on Instagram will know, I have been cutting, stitching, attaching, painting and crocheting these beauties for a little while now, and I think that finally people are ready to hear about them!

I've taken many studio shots on the iphone, but also got some great photos taken by Natalie Jeffcott, and you can tell she is super talented and knows her schizz. Thanks Nat!

I have both an Etsy store, and one over at Bigcartel, possibly confusing but best to spread the eggs into many baskets. The entire range is also available at Craft Victoria, they have the wreaths, as do Klopper in South Melbourne Market. I am not selling wreaths online as the postage is a bit crazy, plus they are rather fragile.

 Christmas Bunting is my version of tinsel, a generous 3metres of red satin bias binding, with either gold or silver leather flags. Drape it around your Christmas tree, or pin to a mantelpiece or wall, to bring instant joy to your home.

 The Gift Cards feature festive postage stamps from all over the world, and are a gorgeous decorative touch to add to any gift. They are sold in packs of 10. I have been making these since January!

 

The wreaths are 30mtrs of rope, crocheted around a polystyrene core. They measure approx 45cm across, so are rather large, and have been a lot of fun to make! Instore at Craft and Klopper.

Finally the decorations, in four designs: bird, snowflake, present and Christmas stocking. These are made from robust kid leather, in the traditional colours of red and white, and feature a silver charm on satin ribbon. These decorations are set to become modern heirlooms, to be cherished by generations and remembered fondly each festive season.

I'm also doing the next Craft Hatch market from 11-4 this Saturday 30th November, at 1000 Pound Bend, 361 Little Lonsdale St in the city, all these goodies will be there, and a whole lot more!

And if that wasn't enough, Craft Vic will be selling this range at their stall at the Big Design Market Dec 6, 7 and 8, at the REB in Carlton.

Go forth!

Dressing up

Made a new Postage Belt to go with an outfit for a party, I dressed as Frida Kahlo which is no great stretch, what with my strong eyebrows and embroidered clothing, that's an everyday look for me!

It was great to get back to Radelaide again with the kids, we caught up with some old friends I hadn't seen for over 15 years, also did a lot of op-shopping, cupcake baking and beach visiting.

Back to work now, keeping the momentum going with all the Xmas stock, I'm having a stall at the next Craft Hatch market on Nov 30th at £1000 Bend in Lt Lonsdale St!

After Market

Wow - almost a week since Finders Keepers, what a whirlwind it was!

I was situated under the domed roof,  my neighbours were the lovely Jo and Andy from Olive and the Volcano, they had driven all the way from Byron Bay with 3 kids in tow.

I debuted my Christmas collection, which was too early for most punters, but at an 'event' market, as opposed to a regular market, I figured I would show everything. Surprisingly I sold a few Christmas pieces, and had the love from the organised Christmas folk!

Hazel and Leo came to play shops for a while, Haze insisted on bringing her cash register which was quite a prop. She started interrogating the customers so I eventually sent her off to the Museum with Granny.

I still have a few pieces in stock, so if you were keen on anything let me know, I'll post pics of available stock ASAP.

Apologies for updating so late, since the market I have been catapulted back into domesticity and parenting. There's only so long you can outsource childcare for, the little blighters now need their Mama for a while.

Market Eve

 Hello peeps, it's all happening here, as I make last-minute preparations for the market tomorrow. It's on at the Royal Exhibition bldg in Carlton, from 6-10 pm tomorrow night, and then 10-5 pm Saturday. I've set up my practice stall in the studio to see what should go where, printed price cards etc and I think I am ready for action.

 I'll be selling my new Christmas goodies, including decorations, gold and silver bunting, and the good-old gift tags featuring festive postage stamps.

I'm already feeling the Christmas spirit, I hope it's not too early for you!

 Postage Belts will be back on display, I have a beautiful group of these in all sizes, at a special market price. Any items not sold over the weekend will go into my webshoppe, so stay tuned for that info.

Lastly, we went to visit the Royal Melbourne Show yesterday, it was the last day and happened to be Leo's 9th birthday, so there were a lot of treats and rides. It seems that Hazel is a real daredevil (no surprise really) as she loved the rides and wanted to go on all of them!

Snapped a pic of my Hero boots which won First Prize in the open needlework embroidery category, pretty chuffed with the result, and my shiny blue ribbon!

Encased

 I made another lot of the glasses cases last week, I love the florals theme and I just had enough blue felt to line them all. Here's the cracked vintage floral being fed through the skiving machine. I can also just see my Wind in the Willows cassette, which Hazel and I have been listening to in the studio, my parents used to play it to me as a child.

Ready to be closed up, my sewing machine is such a beast it can happily stitch through 10 ml of chunky leather and felt.

 Now to turn them the right way out, it's gonna be strenuous!

 Yep, it's really hard work, but I have strong hands and a few tools (chopsticks) to bag the corners out.

Ready to play show and tell at Finders Keepers!

Baby Sneeks

Time for a production run. Clear the bench and get methodical. Cut all the components and prepare to get miniature.

 Wow! I love to see flat pieces of leather taking on three-dimensions, I find it really satisfying, and get a bit happy in the studio, as you would have seen on instagram @emblueski

 A whole stack of vamps. A sandwich of vamps. I am loving this colour combo.

 Almost done, mudguards are stitched on, now time for the soles...

 At this point I often wish I had a post machine, but I was taught to turn uppers inside out to close certain stages. It's not that hard, and when I get to the end I feel a bit clever!

Voila, a tray of baby sneeks. Small, Medium and Large. Damn they are cute :)

I'm also doing a run in red/royal blue, they will all be at the Finders Keepers market on Oct 4/5 at the Royal Exhibition Building here in Melbourne town.

Finders Keepers!

Hey peeps, I'm thrilled (and somewhat daunted) to announce that I'm having a stall at the next Finders Keepers here in Melbs! Dates are Friday 4th and Saturday 5th October to be precise.

This is the reason I've been making like a mofo, with huge to-do lists every day of the week, including the evenings. Things always take a bit longer than I'd like, but it's all coming together, slowly but surely.

If you're following me on Insta @emblueski there are a lot of updates on what I'm making, and I promise to be more regular with blog updates too. On the menu today are Baby Sneakers, they are so darn cute, very fiddly but very satisfying. I'll blog those during the week.

Enjoy the spring sunshine!

Recent acquisitions

These items are a bit overdue for posting, but better late than never, right?
There has been a lot of action at our place, Leo started school, I had a birthday, Sam installed a show in Gippsland, and we had a visit from Granny.

When Granny comes to stay we always go to Camberwell Market. She loves books, and has piles of them all over her house waiting for when she retires in a few months. So she stocks up BIG TIME at Camberwell.

I had a great morn there too, I was stopped in my tracks by this Japanese lacquer document box with GOLD inlay, and absolutely had to have it. $30-a bargain! I actually lost Leo because I was looking at this, biggest panic I have ever felt, but to have them both with me now is perfect.


Lo and behold all my treasures also from the market, a tin from Ryn, turquoise suede travel documents wallet, slippers for when Hazel is walking, Brambly Hedge books for her, paper bad of goodies from L'Uccello during the week, and postal treats from Jo in Japan. Joy.

We freaking love Richard Scarry round here, and have had out eyes out for the whole Look and Learn Library, hardback, 1971, 4 Volumes, hard to find. Ebay helped me out, postage and all the set was $60, more joy. Leo and I are working our way through them, the illos are so cool, I adored RScarry as a kid, and am more than happy to live in that world again now that I am a parent.


OK, so this was hard to photograph on my own, and I have pinched some photos from Mariana's etsy store. This is a gobsmackingly amazing tunic, crocheted in Argentina by the most talented Mariana, in spectrum colours with navy blue. Merino wool. Gorgeous. Turns heads. Ordered by Sam for mein geburtstag. Pictured below with a black border, but you know how pedantic I am about my navy blues.


Sam is cottoning onto this birthday treats thing, a lavishly wrapped box of T2 herbal/fruit/tisanes. DELICIOUS.

And more japanese paper for the stash.

Listening to: Sharon Jones - Window Shopping longer album version here

Marketeering

Had a mighty fine day on Saturday, at the beautiful Experimedia space at the Sate Library. Oh boy was it a great vibe, really gorgeous serene vast-ceilinged room, with many patrons oohing and aahing over the collective genius of so many talented makers.

I was lucky enough to share tables with Victoria Mason and Dearne of Mainichi, we had many a laugh and much lively banter. I hardly sat down all day, talking to customers and hearing them exclaim, 'Hey look at those postage stamps in belts! ' Many older gentlemen thought that my stamps should be in albums, but their wives all agreed with me that it was good to get them out and show them off, they are so pretty and interesting. Vive la Postage Belt!

Anyway lets have loads more markets like this, lively and lucrative, and with such a huge amount of amazing practitioners. Truth be told we were so busy it was hard to get away and perve at other stallholders' wares, but we did manage to get a glimpse here and there.

Check the Craft Vic blog for more images and reports in coming days. Yay Kim Brockett - she's a gem!