A cushion or four......

On the drawing board this week is a project that has been on the cards for quite some time.....Patchwork cushions.

I've been saving up the offcuts from my souvenir tea towel stools till I had a healthy stash worthy of bundling together for a cushion or four!

I tend to work in color blocks so decided that was the way to go. I ended up with oranges, blues, reds and greens, all my favorites.

I have plenty more to make but I thought 4 was a nice amount to have ready for my stall on Saturday at Sisters Market.

Do pop by if you're in the neighborhood.
Also displaying there crafty delights on Saturday will be:

Polly Pratt
Betty Jo designs
Mecino
Able & Game
Rabbit & the duck
Chuckles designs

and many more..........

Sweeeet Sisters.....

Sisters Market That is!

Why so sweet? Well not because I made a million........wishful thinkin'.
It was sweeee eeet because the things I was selling were the things I loved.

Sure enough I love all my stuff and when I sold my first robot pencil holder I was grinning ear to ear cos' it was my favourite. But you sort of get stuck in a rut of making the things that you know will sell and no longer venture out in to the great unknown with new designs.

This time I did.

I introduced my new souvenir tea towel covered stools, some new recycled art journals and some new pendants in colors that weren't necessarily mainstream fashionable colors, but were all things I loved. I chose them....I made them....just because I liked them. Not because I thought anyone else would like them.

.......and they sold.

You just wanna hug people for lovin' what you love. But you don't want scare them away, so you act all professional and cool like whilst doing an internal happy dance.

Thank you especially to YaYa (Robyn) my market assistant for the day. The funkiest mother in law you'd ever meet and big hug to the bloggy peeps who saw my new stools on here and popped by to get one. I didn't really think about how I would display something big, so they were a wee bit tucked away out of sight. But you found them and loved them. Thank you.

I trialled my new table layout, which had good and bad bits.
Everything fit in much better and there was actually room on the table for air flow....always a good thing. But I sort of built a wall between me and the people, so that was a bad thing.
I spent most of the day standing out front of my stall as I couldn't see from behind it. Back to the drawing board on that one.

I had some lovely neighbors. Miss piggy tales to my right and miss Konstant Kaos across the way.

Got some fab magnets from Myf at 'Fontok', a fantastic new work bag from 'konstant kaos', complete with pockets for my phone and purse and even a little loop inside to hang my finki card holder. I'm lovin' it, and this beautiful nappy change mat for my sis.

We had an amazing response to a new market venture that we were promoting too....more about that soon.

Well, one month till my next market, 'Made in Thornbury'.
So, you know me. I'll be op shopping, continually crafting and working on my next market stall debut. The 'Finki art pendant'. I feel like these are my babies. I've spent so much time thinking about them and finally they are coming to fruition.

I tell you.......the first person to buy one of these, I will most definitely be hugging.

Come one...Come all....

I've been buried in a crafty sea of fabric, foam and tea towels this week, gettin' ready for the Sisters market. A fabulous indoor market held at the Brunswick Town hall on Sydney Rd.

Also on offer will be the amazing crafty offerings of:
Konstant Kaos
Rabbit and the duck
Fontok
Tiges and weince
Lauren williams
Two cheese please
printspace
and much, much, more..........

Market week mayhem....

I'm at it again........
A whirlwind of activity, preparing for this weekends Sisters market at Brunswick town hall.

I just LOVE the finish of my new stools, so I've been working away on getting a few more of those done in time and I've redesigned my little stall space, so I can fit more in.

Keeps it all fresh and exciting when I can re merchandise each time. Part of the fun of doing the markets is the constant challenge to keep it all new and exciting for you and me both.

What's new pussycat......

Whoa, whoa, .....
Now that I've got you singin' lets move on to what really is new in the world of Finki.

Lots!

It's almost market time again and I'm sure you've noticed the ebb and flow of my creativity stems around that time of the month, well not that time...the other time. The week and a half of sheer chaos that leads up to my monthly market stall, where I'm rarely seen with out a needle in my hand and my head Misses hitting the pillow before midnight every night.

But it's all good. I've figured out that this is how I work. I could pace myself and do a bit each day, but that's far too organized and calm and just not me.
So for two weeks I rest, then for two weeks it's ON.


This two weeks of creativity brings you:

New, New, New.....storybook baskets, pencil holders, notepads, bowls, recipe card holders, scissor holders, glass and fabric pendants and more!

A feast of new and old papers and materials have been used, still keeping in theme with my love of all things bright beautiful and vintage inspired.


All this will be on show, Sunday 5th July at the Sonny and Coco Market from 10 - 3.

Do drop by and say hello to me and the many other fantastically crafty bloggers on board.

Flicketty splits.
Rabbit and the duck.
Polly pratt.
Tiges and weince.
Konstant Kaos.
Craving frocks.

and we can't forget the tasty stylings of melbourne epicure. YUM!

Saturday's day at the Sister's Market.

Another market over and three weeks to go till the next one at Sonny and Coco. So, plenty of time to get my act together and produce lots more goodies.

I've got a bit of re stocking to do, as I sold all my story book baskets, most of my pen holders and nearly all of my new art journals. But high on the agenda will be some knit rings for Jen, a lovely blogger who always pops by to say hello and brighten my day.
I'll do some basic block colors, but I think I'll do a few with contrast crotchet edges, and maybe some needlework too.

I had the chance to catch up with quite a few bloggy peeps, thank you for taking the time to stop buy and out yourselves. It's so nice to put a faces to all the wonderful, crafty posts I read.

It was a funny market today, lots of early shoppers....lots. Then a dead stop at 2. From then on, I think it was just locals drifting in. None the less it was a profitable day, and aside from making money, I always walk away having met lots of nice people, having had the chance to get to know my fellow stall holders and of course getting immediate feedback on my goodies...the good, bad and ugly. All of it is so valuable.
I am none the wiser as to 'what people want', which really just reinforces the fact that you should just do what you like, rather than guess what people might like. At least that way you can stand there and really love everything you have to offer, knowing it wasn't influenced by fashion or fad, just pure personal inspiration.

Moving along, let me tell you about my shopping adventures at the market. Fortunately my partner in crime came along to help man the stall, so I could duck away for chit chat's and shopping.

My first stop was to say hello to Kylie over at tiges and weince. I had bought a t-shirt transfer from her during the week and loved the end result, so I had to buy more. I got a blue starry giraffe, which I'll stitch on with orange I think for a fun contrast.
I also picked up some of her funky book marks, I'm glad I did cause they were going like hotcakes. If I left it any later I would have missed out.

Next up I grabbed some chai & honey (yumm) lip balm, from back of the moon day spa. I got heaps from her last time I saw her at the sisters, so I knew it was good.
My neighbour again, was the fabulous miss piggy tales. She's always expanding her range with the funkiest Japanese fabrics, so I just had to have one more piece from the range. I got this red and white babushka pony tail holder.
My across the road neighbour, was Bronwyn from retro bub, where I got Finn the cutest little boy tee with a blue retro space ship on front. All her stuff was just so cute, especially for little girls, but I had to stop and remind my self that I was there to make money.....

Well not before a visit over at Lark. I'm sooooo glad they came all the way from Daylesford. I just had to get a donut rattle for one of the babies on the way, and when I saw how super special the price was I also grabbed peas in a pod, and a watermelon.
Later in the day my daughter popped in for a visit with grandma, sporting a badge that said, I love craft........'where'd you get that from I said'. At Lark's stall.
aggghhh, how could I not see it.
Back to the table, and I found a heap of too cute badges that I just needed to have.
Then My lovely boss Sarah, popped by to say hello. I showed her my Lark rattles, thinking she might like them for her niece. She came back and showed me the cutest knitted beanie she found. 'Where's that from' I say.
Lark......oh my god, how could I have missed it.
So i was back there again to add a beanie to my collection for new babies on the way.
I promise I wasn't stalking Alison and Steph!
I'm amazed at my poor skills of scanning a table and actually seeing all the things I might like. I must have done a 'boy look'

Lastly but not leastly, I finally committed to buying something from Shannon at rabbit and the duck. I love her stuff, and I'm always there touching it...poor Shannon, probably thought I was a stalker too. But what I needed was something to use as a new cosmetics purse. Being the difficult customer that I am, I couldn't commit to oneof the patterns that were there could I?
So I'm getting one made in a babushka print, with a zip. I'll be picking it up at the next Sonny and Coco market, so I'll post you a pick, when it's done.

How did the market go!

I haven't been holding back on telling you all about my latest market endeavor, I promise. Just needed some spare time and new batteries for the camera to show you the goodies I bought.

The Sonny and Coco market was on Sunday just gone and it was a big turnout.
Lot's of stall holders and a real mix of offerings. Some vintage, some gorgeous craft, and some second hand rubbish. (even with the Savers tag still on)

Unfortunately no yummy BBQ or salad bar, so I went hungry.
There was one cupcake/muffin seller but I'm trying so hard to be healthy....so I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

If you know ANY food vendors that do scrummy savory food, we need them. Every market I go to is desperate for lunch type stall holders. There is a lot of white tape with food and hygiene certification, but if you know peep's that have been pondering whether or not to take the plunge and get certified, tell them they would have plenty of events ready and willing to take them on.

Back to the market.
Surprisingly for me it was my best market yet. I never count my money till I get home and do an inventory. Then I get an accurate picture of what sold. It ended up being our most profitable so far. I was really amazed, extremely happy of course, but bewildered too.

I had added three new product ranges since my last venture (baskets, fabric pendants and earrings) and decided to bring all the knitwear along, that may have been why!

I hope to continually reinvent my product and keep it fresh, so that every visit to a Finki stall brings something new. Next time I'm introducing bracelets and brooches.

So................................ on to the goodies.

I grabbed this awesome cowboy fabric, with the intention of using it to make a quilt for Finn. I saw the lovliest one at the market, but I would have had to trade 20 items with the seller just so I could afford it. So I decided to make one myself. I've always loved this fabric and was wrapt when I saw it at the table of my neighbour, peta pledger.

My other neighbour, Scented Sisters, tantalized my nostrils all day with the most divine smelling soaps. So we did a trade and i got these fab soaps. Apple & cinnamon and lemon myrtle & geranium. They look good enough to eat.

Lastly, I traded with another talented seller, Roz Mcquillan, promoting her photography and art on block canvasses. You know I love art that can stand on a shelf, and I couldn't go past this graffiti pussycat and owl, so bold and beautiful amongst all that purple.

So all in all it was a good day.
The oranizers do need to work on there image and selection process, and definately on getting bigger tables, but for me, it's close to home. I'm a part of the Darebin community and know a lot of people in the area, so I felt at home. I'd definately do it again.

Newbies for this weekends market..........

As always the week leading up to market is a whirlwind of creativity an production. Maybe signing up to do one market a month isn't such a bad idea after all. It definitely keeps me on my toes and challenges me to constantly reinvent my stalls appeal by introducing new and exciting products.

On the drawing board this month and ready to go for the Sonny & Coco Market on Sunday are my new range of earrings, as posted about recently, and......very exciting...........a new stitched basket.

I have been playing around with a few shapes that I liked the look of, some more round, some hexagon, but I've settled on this ever so cute curvy, squarish one.

It has a square base, curvy sides, and a scalloped lid. I made my prototype out of pages recycled from a 70's how to sew book. It makes me cry to cut up books, but this one was damaged and beyond repair, so I've kept it to salvage what I can. So really it's not book murder, rather book saviour.

I'm so happy with the result, all curviliscious and practical too. Perfect for your colored cotton reels and favourite needles, or your bangles and jewels or of course the old fave, full of lollies.

I'll have all the favourites at my stall including a new selection of gift cards, so if you are in the neighbourhood do drop in.

The market is close to the high st Tram, and a little walk from Preston station. The Library is around the corner for the kids to hang out at, and there are a few de lish coffee and cake spots on High, like The fire station Cafe/Gallery at 378 high st, Preston.

They do the best breakfasts, and I dare you to try the taste tempter No doubt inspired by Elvis 'the king'. It's a toasted peanut butter and banana sandwhich, topped with bacon and honey...Yumm!

You'll see these talented peep's there too:

Flicketty splits
Kalliopi
Rabbit& the Duck
Konstant Kaos
The Lark
Kids with crayons

and much.....much.....more!
Pop by and support this new market in Preston. It would be lovely to see it become regular, so we all have another shopping hot spot in the Northern suburbs.

Holidays are over........

Well my extended Easter break has come to an end.
We landed back into Melbourne late last night, and finally hit the hay sometime after midnight.
I loved seeing my family and I loved the warmer weather, but god I loved coming home and sleeping in my own bed...........

No rest for the wicked though!

I'm at the Sisters Market tomorrow, so have had an uber productive day, finalizing things for my stall. There will be lots of new pendants, bobbies and rings and a feast of colorful creations to brighten your day. I'm sure I'll have lots of new purchases to show you when I get home too.
The market is right next to the bus and tram stop at Brunswick town hall, just down from the train too, so no excuses.....come say hello.I have so many ideas for new and exciting stuff.
Stay posted for holiday pics, wedding updates and new stock, now that I'm back into the swing of things.

Another one bites the dust.................

Another market that is.

The made n' Thornbury market last weekend was my third outing in the market scene and
as I'd hoped, the Thorbury market was a winner.

All the more so, thanks to the lovely community of bloggers selling there wonderful crafts there also.

Beginning the day with hot coffee and homemade ginger bread cookies has got to be a great indication that things were off to a good start.

I was actually amazed at the constant flow of visitors, and pleasantly suprised to meet a few ladies who had read my blog and dropped by to say hello.
I'm generally a shy person and would never have met so many wonderful people if I hadn't started blogging. So I'm really gratefull to all the inspirational crafty bloggers out there for sharing a little of themselves, and inspiring me to do the same.

By the afternoon I was spreading stock out to fill all the empty gaps. The highlight of my day was an adorable lady who bought one of my gift cards and said she loved it so much that she was gunna frame it and put it in her lounge room. The artwork on it was a Finki original, so I was tickled pink that she chose it.

Before I knew it 3 o'clock arrived and it was time to pack up, so I did a quick dash to buy and trade, a few goodies. More about them.......with photo's in my next post.