Melbourne FK

Melbourne Finders Keepers Market was amazing!

I took along as much as I could, considering it was interstate for me..

Some new head pieces that seemed popular.

They are backed with stiffened felt and placed on a ribbon covered head band.

A few free motion sewn Frida hoops, 

there are a couple left which I have now uploaded into the shop!

I was helped and supported by some amazing amazing ladies.

Brianna and Cam (Curlypops) who are seen here, and also Nic. (Yardage Design)

My table top close up.

Here's a quick shot of the table - the green table cloth and fresh

leaves courtesy of Brianna, making the flowers at home.

And here I am - caught in the act searching through some tweed

fabric scaps at the South Melbourne market later in the weekend...!!xx

This weekend ::

Cotton bags ::

Here is one of my dolls printed on fabric by the very clever Nic at Yardage Design.

She has printed black/red on white, for my market apron and also

 silver on Emerald for some market bags! So exciting!

Every custom made doll between now and Christmas 

will come with an Emerald cotton bag!

They will also be used as packaging for any markets I do in the next little while!

Thanks so much Nic - they are beautiful!!xx

Recently ::

.. i've been finishing off a few people that have been waiting around for me,

.. making last minute headdresses for 'organized' children who have speeches the next day,

.. but also, getting together with like-minded creatives :

I went to Clare Bowditch's 

Big Hearted Business morning tea on the weekend!

and I'm so glad I did. 

A couple of the main things talked about were ::

* making tiny consistent actions (small risks)

* how will your business make a contribution to the world

* accountability to someone

.. but along with the information given,

there was also - just as importantly,

the get together of other creative people.

Inspiring each other to go for it,

take the next step - what ever that may be.

To know you have support and someone else to turn to 

if you feel unsure or need advice.

Priceless! xx

{joining in with Christina's Made By Hand here.}x

Group shot ::

So after the retro event that I had been making for, was cancelled -

I have been reassessing where I'm at. 

The positive thing to come out of this cancellation is that I now have some stock!

I've never had this many dolls available at one time - and it feels good.

I'm gradually putting some of them in my Etsy store,

but also saving some for (hopefully) another event later this year.

While I had the table out, and had been sorting out my display -

I took some photos for an application. It is so good to see the dolls altogether.

It really has brought home to me how much work I've put into them

 - how much care, love and time.xx

ps. pop over to Kate's to see a little movie she's made

 to celebrate the launch of her book Vantastic.

{you might even spot a Miss Kate dolly!}xx

Rainbow Girl

This is a custom doll made for a dear friends daughter - for her birthday today!

(she has the most gorgeous big blue eyes)

She's very good friends with my daughter who made the crochet accessories 

to go with this rainbow girl. She has three different looks - with a bead necklace,

a black scarf to go with her boots and also a shawl with flower button.xx

Bob

This is Bob.

With mismatch buttons

and the cutest little outfit ever!

Bob was made by Jess at Teddy Bears Wednesday

for our eldest, whose birthday is this weekend.

I know I've said it before, but how does Jess

get so much love and character into her bears!!??

They are just amazing and I know our girl

is going to be so over the moon to have

Bob as her new best friend. 

Thank you so much Jess,

he is beyond amazing!xx

A Warm Heart :: my hottie challenge

This is my design for Cam's Hottie Challenge this year.
I'm joining in with lots of other crafters to make a hottie cover,
functional or not (mine is not!). All the hotties will be exhibited at the
Open Drawer Gallery in Melbourne and sold with proceeds going to
the Margaret Pratt Foundation Heart Lung Transplant Trust.

This hottie feels like its taken ages, when its only been a few days!
The background is vintage wallpaper/cloud fabric at the top.
The curtains are made from vintage curtain fabric -
we've had a bit of a curtain nightmare around here recently,
 so maybe thats why they were in my head...!
Thats supposed to be a curtain rail at the top, and then her hair is
flowing over that into the sky.
Her hair and face is free motion sewn (thread drawing) and her skirt is a bit 3D!

She holds a warm heart - made from wool rug.
And her eyes shine bright.

If you'd like to join in the Hottie Challenge -
sign up here!

ps. if you look closely - her neck is actually part of the vintage wallpaper design!xx

A special gift

Some of you will be able to figure out who this doll is for.

It is a gift for a lady I have never met.

It is for someone who has lived in limbo for a long time.

It is for a person who is so so brave.

And I am so grateful to have been online friends with her for a while now.

Cam is an amazing person who now has new lungs.

Donated by a family who had 'the conversation'.

To donate. To give life when life is taken.

I have wanted to make Cam a doll for a long time.

I felt nervous, as its for someone I know - aargh!

But once I found the button that looked like Cam's

Mr Limpy Houdini dog, everything fell into place.

Thanks for being a fabulous, supportive friend Cam.

And I hope to meet you one day!

Much love to you, xxJ.

Handmade Christmas

Here's a few Christmas pressies 

I've been gradually collecting over the last month or so::

Special Edition Vintage Patchwork Dachshund from Alice Apple.

Some gorgeous polka dot crochet hooks for the big girl from Leonie
(in exchange for some Koala brooches)!

And also from Leonie - this beautiful dress for the little one.

With these very clever home made tags -

Leonie will be opening an Etsy store very soon!!

A couple of glass cases from Ms Curlypops.

(new glasses from Zenni Optical)

These cases are for Miss 11, but I use one for my phone too!

These two prints for the girls are from Ellen Giggenbach.

Love this watercolour for the Englishman. 

From Art Pause.

Okay, so this last one isn't handmade - but I had to show anyway!

Its a little Kewpie doll  from Candy Stripe Cloud

A purple swim hat angel for our little swimmer who loves purple!

She's very tiny.

I hope you have a brilliant Christmas and New Year.

We will be moving into our own place -

so will be taking a break from the blog for a little bit!

See you in the New Year!

XXXX Jennie.