I caught the bug ...

Had a lovely break.

Sun, more sun, hot, hotter, power blackouts, sand, surf, sharks, penguins ("Happy Feet" has a lot to answer for), koalas, wallabies, rabbits in the back yard, possums in the trees that woke us at all hours, ice-creams, wine, more wine, taking little girl's to big people's restaurants, having them sit at the bar and drink raspberry lemonades that were bigger than they were. And a bit of sewing and knitting thrown in for good measure. 

Bliss.

I bought a couple of magazines while away and was inspired by some creations in one magazine, made out of old blankets. Or should I say vintage blankets. It somehow sounds far more attractive? But no, I'll stick with old blankets. So where does one find old blankets? The op-shop of course! 

Along with my current aversion to using the word "vintage" (just because everything made prior to 1999 now seems to be tagged "vintage" and the price triples) I also have an aversion to calling my op-shopping "thrifting". Maybe because it is getting close to Australia Day and no self respecting Australian goes "thrifting". We go op-shopping, mate.

My track record with op-shopping is not good. The score in the past has been op-shops (too many to tally) Vs Me (zilch). I look at other blogs and marvel at the finds that other's seem to score. I have never found anything worthy of the 50 cents asking price.

Until now ...
Nothing but the best for me to cut into small pieces. And don't you love those old advertising slogans - "Make "goodnight" a certainty". Perhaps I shouldn't be cutting them up. It could deter the 3 out of 4 sleep walkers I have in my home.Saw this table cloth and had to have it. I have no idea what I am going to do with it, because once again, it is calling out to be cut up into small pieces. But those colours! That pattern! Now if that doesn't say stylish and old (note - not vintage), then what does?If I was really good, I would make myself a little sundress, reminiscent of the fifties, but it was only a small tablecloth, and after the afore mentioned wines and restaurants, I would be lucky to have it go round my waist. Perhaps I should stick with a nice little handbag.And then I just really couldn't go past this little treasure. It was so lilacy and cakey, that I could taste my Nannie's sponge cake, or my Grandma's asparagus rolls, or my Old Auntie Pattie's cheese scones.
The op-shopping bug for old things has well and truly been caught.

2007.

I've hesitated with writing this post. Now that doesn't sound like a very positive start to a bright new year. On the contrary, I wanted to get it just right. 

I've read so many wonderful posts from my favourite blogs with lots of resolutions and goals. All very inspiring. I thought I would use this post to take stock of where I am, where I have been and where I am going. When I say "I", I mean "Violet & Rose" as a business.

2006 saw the "birth" of my baby. A baby I had dreamt about for a long time. "Violet & Rose" had been hanging around in my head for a few years. I started blogging to help me to realise this goal. I had no idea how inspired I would be by what everyone else out there does and have been really overwhelmed by the support shown to me from everyday strangers who have become my blogging friends.

I have learnt a lot. The steepest learning curve has been with the markets. How much stock to make, what would sell, what wouldn't? I have decided that the markets I did were a necessary evil in my progression forward. Hard slog for some return, but not as great as I would have hoped. Next time, pick my markets more carefully.

And then there are the choices about what you will make and the fabric you choose to make it in. I am discovering the fine line between what you like, and what the general public likes, and as a consequence, what will sell. Do I suffer for my art and make all items for girls in pink because that will sell? Or do I stay true to what I love and make things in fabrics that are a little quirkier than you would find in Target? I find it really difficult to sew with a fabric that I don't like. But what I like is sometimes brown, and not everyone likes brown. Anyway, it's a line I am learning to walk.

I have also learnt that in the evolution of creating a little "brand" there are items that fit and items that don't. Helpful people often suggest things I should make. Yes, but no. And then there are the things that I thought would be a sure fire winner. Like the purse size tissue holders for little Christmas gifts for teacher's, neighbour's and the like, but no. So sadly, I may have to say good bye to these.

On the positive side though, I had so much great feedback about some of my items, like the button bracelets, the pencil rolls and the notebook covers. I will perhaps make some subtle little changes, or improvements, to these this year.

Looking ahead, I see many things. I see new items that are swirling around in my head, waiting to be created. Ever tried to find a wash bag or toiletries bag for a child? Idea number one! What do they say about necessity being the mother of invention? I have just spent ages looking for a wash bag suitable for my three year old. No luck. A ha! A gap in the market, she says! 

I made some children's or babies coat hangers as baby gifts over Christmas and I was really happy with the look on these too. And then I read during the week where the pinafore/smock top is going to be "the" winter fashion item. Inspiration enough to look at creating a winter version of my little girls smock tops. All just the tip of the iceberg really.

The other direction that I am looking towards is wholesaling my goods, rather than direct selling to the "public". I feel that I would like to try and sell my goods in a marketplace that has already been created, rather than going the hard slog and trying to create my own. Does that make sense? And I feel that the boundaries will be more defined. As in (fingers crossed) I will receive an order and make 10 pencil rolls and ship them off. As opposed to making 10 pencil rolls and thinking, hmmm, I wonder if I have made enough or too many.

Some random thoughts, perhaps, but I feel like I have sat down and put pen to paper and now, bring it on!

On that note, I am taking a little break first. Was that contradictory? Everybody needs a good break before they tackle things head on. Surely? 

Back in a few weeks with more adventures ...

The Weather - Again ...

Did I say it was going to be a White Christmas here in Melbourne? I did, but I didn't really believe it. Until I woke at 4.oo am to the sound of hail. And when we awoke just a little after five, as you do with small children on Christmas Day, to check to see if the reindeer's had eaten their carrots on our front porch, the front yard was white! Did I take a photo? No. Why? Because I went to bed at 2.oo am and my thoughts were not very coherent.

I had made a bunny for my daughter's teacher as a "baby shower" gift. I had never knitted a toy before and I was not very confident with how things were going to turn out. But it was soooo easy. And I was really happy with the end result. So happy that I decided that my sister, whose first baby is due in March, needed to have one. They live interstate and were down for Christmas and every unborn niece (yes, "it" is a "she") needs a hand knitted bunny from Santa. Thing is I only started to knit it three days prior to Christmas.

Now I know there are some of you knitters out there who would think three days for this rabbit would be a piece of cake, and I'm not disputing that. Give me a good run on it, and I would be able to do it in a day and a bit perhaps. But the key here is the word "Christmas". I had left all my baking until the weather cooled, all my wrapping until the weather had cooled, cleaning my house until the weather had cooled. Not sure what the weather had to do with it all really, other than it sounding like a really good idea at the time.

Anyway, the rabbit. So, there it was, Christmas Eve, and we had the body and two legs. I was on to my second Bailey's on ice, my little Christmas Eve tradition (hey, I'd been to Mass first!) and my husband suggested I should let it go. What! Let it go? No! He didn't understand. I had set myself a goal and I was going to do it.

So I kept knitting, and knitting. Through Carols by Candlelight on TV, then on to even worse late night television programming. Santa came and put all the presents out. By then I was on to the stitching and stuffing. Have you ever got to the stage of being so tired you feel really ill? The Bailey's and eating Santa's supper probably didn't help, but it wasn't finished and I just had to put it down and go to bed. That is how bad I felt. I put it down and went to bed.

But never fear, after all the festivities of the morning, I picked it up and kept going. Yes, my husband thinks I am mad and yes, we were late for Christmas lunch. And when my sister opened the present my husband proceeded to tell everyone, "And that is why we were late!". So now my entire family thinks I am mad.

The really special thing about this rabbit for me, is that as children, my sister's and I all had hand knitted rabbits. My grandmother worked in a nursing home and one of the ladies there knitted a rabbit for my Grandma when each of her grandchildren were born. And we all loved our rabbits. We all took our rabbits to bed with us each night. We all still have our rabbits. A bit the worse for wear, but still there. So to continue the tradition and give my niece a bunny to love was really important for me.

Just as long as she doesn't love it too much. That left ear was sewn on pretty late at night ...

White Christmas ...

City of Melbourne Christmas Tree. Corner of Swanston & Collins Streets, Melbourne. Taken on a good day.

Things are a little crazy here in Melbourne at the moment, or should that be hazy. We have had a week filled with thick smoke from the bushfire's in Victoria, 35 degree heat and apparently, on Christmas Day, we can expect some snow falls in the alpine regions. The world's gone mad.

Christmas shopping done. Still knitting rabbits - yes, you read right. Knitting rabbits. Something that I have been hesitant to embrace, but am now loving. Particularly because they worked. I had visions of poor sad old wonky rabbits, but they look half OK. Will post a photo or two in the next few weeks.

Have made skirts for the girls to wear Christmas Day. Because girl's "frock up" on Christmas Day. Or they do in my family anyway. We will be sipping champagne cocktails (the big girls that is, the little one's will be sucking pop tops) and be looking gorgeous in our "frocks". Freezing, but gorgeous.

Baking shortbread tomorrow. Have had to wait for the weather to cool down. Note I said cool down, not plummet to the depths of winter. If anyone has ever tried to make shortbread in an un-airconditioned house, they will know what I mean.

Have yourselves a Merry little Christmas. Relax, do some sewing (or even knitting) and Enjoy!

Lots of Things ...

Lots of things going on around here lately.

Lots of Christmas get together's ...Lots of Christmas reading ...
Lots of writing Christmas cards ...These beauties are from Tiel's Etsy shop.
Lots of hairclips from Tamara. Well, just because ...Lots of sewing ...I was loving this little combination of Denyse Schmidt and (will you still talk to me?) Spotlight fabric.So was the dog ....
Also, if you happen to be anywhere in Melbourne (or anywhere else for that matter) where there may be some quilts for sale. Like in a dark alley way from a man off the back of a truck. Please take note. Read the following and keep your eyes peeled.
So much for the old Christmas spirit being alive and well. The mind boggles! How would you get this many quilts out of a shop? I guess I just don't have a criminal mind. Just as well really.
To the people at Amitie, I hope your theif is caught and more importantly, your beautiful quilts returned.

Violet & Rose is Open for business!

Finally, the day has come! "Violet & Rose" is open for business. Just in time for your Christmas shopping. What a co-incidence! Looking for presents for Teachers? Friends? Family? Come on over.

The market last Friday went really well. Much better than the first one. Next year I am going to be a bit more selective with my markets. This one I would have done anyway because it was at my daughter's school, but I need to do my homework a little more because the first really wasn't for me. But that is OK. It's all good experience.

I may look a bit more at wholesale. Maybe some other Internet shop sites. I want to develop some new products. Buy some more fabric now I have some money in the kitty. Yippee!

But for now, let's see how the online thing goes.
www.violetandrose.blogspot.com

Bookends.

I was hoping to post a bit more this week but it became a little hectic. I have another market tonight. Weather is beautiful, mid 20's, and talk around the school is positive, so fingers crossed. And if all else fails, I'll put my goodies on my "Violet & Rose" shop site for sale next week.

I've sewn a few notebook holders over a few late nights this week. Last market I wasn't quite happy with how they were displayed and have been wracking my brain thinking for a better, quirkier way to display. Then I came up with the idea of the bookends. So headed off to Spotlight, bought a V and an R, sprayed them red, and pleaded with my husband to make me the bookends. He came good. Apologies for the picture. It was a bit dull this morning and it was one of those "now or never" shots.
As you can see, they are not very uniform in size. Because the covers are made from sample pieces, they are not cut precisely and I often need to straighten them up, hence the different sizes. But I'm really happy with how they turned out. I love them all stacked up together. All the colours and the patterns. Do you ever make something and then lay it out and just admire it? I had these sitting on our dining room table all morning, just so I could walk past them and pretend to be surprised by them each time I saw them. So surprised I would just stop and admire for a couple of seconds, choose which one I would buy, and then keep going to put the washing out!

I'm not loopy. Really! I'm not. Please tell me that someone else does this too?