Fabric Doll making

The girls wanted to make some dolls over the weekend. They are super cute and I am surprised how much I enjoyed making them. Each one looks different when you add new hairstyles, ribbons, different coloured dresses. The pink one is my favourite so far. I have many more to make now with Christmas coming!

BrisStyle Market Preparations

In less than 2 weeks I will be taking my Lunch Bags out again to Market. I am excited!

I have a whole table to display my wares, so I've been playing around with the layout.

I've also added a new range of Lunch Bags. Introducing the new Snack Sack. They look like a paper bag but you don't throw these away! Some are already available in my Etsy Shop

So if you're in Brisbane September 4 Check out some handmade goodness at this great event - BrisStyle Indie Designers Market - St Augustine's Church hall and grounds, Racecourse Rd Hamilton, Brisbane

Lunch Bags To Market

I've taken my Lunch Bags out to Market well rather a Fair for the first time!

I was nervous. Would my Lunch bags look ok? I spent a lot of time setting up at home, I only had half a table, which I soon realised wasn't very big. My stylist Daughters played an important role here, they love to rearrange.

It was all very exciting, I am now gearing up for my next market -

BrisStyle Indie Designers Market
Saturday 4 September
9am - 2pm
St Augustine's Church Hall and Grounds
Racecourse Road, Hamilton

New Lunch Bags

It's been a while, I've had a birthday and the kids have run the Cross Country. Some days I don't know whether I'm coming or going with all the activity going on.

I thought I'd show you some new Insulated Lunch Bags that I have added to my etsy shop - BonTons

My Lunch Bags have been very popular since I started making them. It's amazing where I began on Etsy making the Personalised Bags and Pillowcases to where I am today making these stylish Lunch Bags!

Handmade Market in Brisbane

This market looks exciting, if you live in Brisbane you should pop in!

Pretty Jewellery

How pretty are these beauties. I'll be giving these to my little sister that loves blue for her birthday coming soon! Shhh it's a secret

These amazonite and sterling silver earrings came from a beautiful handmade etsy shop Realisation Creations Inspired Wearable Art. Go check it out!

Mother's Day Giveaway at "giftBoxology"

Here's your chance Australia to enter and win one of these lovely "organised mummy" gift boxes from 'giftBoxology'

It has loads of beautiful goodies that Mum would love including one of BonTons Soothing eye Packs!

For your chance to enter, head over to the giftboxology Blog for details

Gocco Love

I decided to buy a Gocco machine after watching a youtube from the Etsy Labs. It looked fun and great for the kids to use.

After some research I discovered that the Riso Company has since ceased making Gocco machines and supplies and it has become more expensive to buy Gocco machines and source the supplies to use them.

Some hesitation set in and decided against the idea. Then I was searching radomly and found one (it was meant to be!) with inks, screens and bulbs to allow us to start straight away.

Now the kids love to Gocco, the process is so easy. Check out BonTonKids.etsy.com as they have so much fun using the Gocco and they insist on sharing their craft with the world, why not they're pretty good little artists.

When supplies are depleated or so expensive that I can't afford it anymore, then they will just have to remember the good old days when they had this really cool screenprinting machine from Japan to use.

Movie World Family Adventure

We've had a couple of birthdays here in the last week so we decided to have a family adventure to Movie World on the Gold Coast. It was fantastic, rides for all ages and whilst I went on the "Family" rated roller coaster, that was scary enough for me. We highly recommend the 4D Shrek show, but not for little kids, the boy got a lot scared.

Lots of chocolate cake and green jelly has been eaten also a lot of candle blowing and wishes

Happy Birthday precious ones!

Sewing for the Man

I've had a short break for Christmas after the rush for Personalised Santa Sacks in my Etsy shop - www.BonTons.etsy.com ended just before Santa arrived.

In that time I got an order from the Man for me to sew him a pouch for his GPS that he received for Christmas.

Custom request - it needed a clip added so it could be attached to the outside of a back pack when walking and have a plastic insert so the screen wouldn't get pushed in.

Turned out nicely. He was a bit worried when I showed him similar zip pouches I had in girly fabrics. Manly and I think he even likes the little compass embroidery!

Bargain

December 2009 SALE at BonTons Etsy

Buy 2 Soothing Eye Packs From BonTons.Etsy.com and get a third one free!!

Great to get thru the holiday season, stocking stuffers, or Teacher Gifts, or something to pamper yourself!

We're not Giving Candy Canes

Every year at the end of the school year the kids receive a lot of Candy Canes from their class mates. Last year we gave little felt Christmas trees ornaments complete with google eyes and smiley faces.

This year they will be giving these guys, felt like I made a million of them, but they are pretty cute! Hoot!

Teacher Gift Ideas

School is nearly over and it's that time to start thinking about what to give the teachers. Last year I made up some Tea Wallets with tea bags and baked some cookies. It was fun because the kids got to choose the fabrics they thought their teacher would like. Very soon you'll see the gifts we'll be giving our teachers this year.

Fabric Gift Tag Tutorial

Fabric Gift Tag Tutorial

With the Christmas Holidays so close I decided to do a tutorial for some fantastic Fabric Gift Tags that will adorn your holiday parcels. It is a no sew tutorial, for all my friends that don't sew!

Here's what you'll need -

• Gorgeous Fabric - mine was supplied by FabricFusion.etsy.com
• Fusible Webbing (vliseofix)
• Cardstock
• Ribbon
• Rotary cutter or scissors
• Hole Punch
• Ruler
• Iron

Cut Fusible webbing to size desired, each finished tag measures 2” x 3”, so if you want to make 12 tags cut 6” x 12”

Iron Fusible webbing (vliseofix) onto wrong side of fabric. Make sure the glue side of Fusible Webbing is on the fabric or you will have a sticky mess on your iron. Cut fabric to measured fusible webbing. Peel off the paper.

Place fabric on cardstock, printed side of fabric up and iron in place.

Cut into strips 2” strips then cut into 3” rectangles

Use a hole punch to carefully make a hole for ribbon or string. You may find that the fabric gets caught a little in the hole punch, gently snip with sharp scissors. Cut the corners of one end for a real tag look.

Attach ribbon, write a lovely message on the back and attach to your parcel!

Visit Fabric Fusion blog for more details of the Free Fabric Tutorial Exchange

I Heart to DUST Swap

I've enjoyed another round of the Etsy DUST Team Swap

My partner this month was the lovely Samara from this Etsy shop Maddo

So here are the lovely items I received, gorgeous charm bracelet with charms that I love, Butterflies, flowers and and sewing machine charms, lovely handmade card and the cutest butterfly box, that one of my girls is trying to claim, but I'm not giving it up!!

I made her one of these bags, you know I love to make them. One day I'll get around to making myself some!

Dust Team Christmas in July 2009

Do these words conjure up an Australian Christmas for you??

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos
(Torme & Wells, 1946)


No, not usually. Unless, of course, they refer to the Etsy Down Under Street Team (DUST) "Aussie Christmas in July" promotional weekend.

Etsy DUST members from all around Australia are coming together for one whole weekend, 12.01AM Saturday 25th July through to 11.59PM Sunday 26th July (AEST), to showcase their talents & stunningly handmade creations.

All stores participating will be offering a promotion to their customers - free worldwide shipping or % off sales; a selection of items at reduced prices or reverse auctions.

With so much variety, including jewellery, children's clothing & accessories, art, supplies, vintage items, stationery & bags, you are sure to find something to suit each & every taste.

The DUST team will also be running giveaways for the entirety of the weekend, giving you the opportunity to win some fabulous prizes from Australian sellers. Poke your nose into the Etsy Forums during the promotion for your chance to win.

I encourage you to visit the participating stores, as well as our team website - http://www.dustteam.com/ - and support the handmade revolution sweeping Australia.

Stay tuned for more details as the weekend draws nearer.

Wish List Wednesday!

Tag Love!

Red and Black Sakura Gift Tags by Juntei

Amy Butler - Lucky Flowered Tags from Koot

Spring Stripe fabric Backed Gift tags by taggedbygiggleberry

Donating to Bush Fire Appeal Australia

Ok so I'm blogging again, I know you are amazed but I had to spread the word about this terrible disaster that is happening in Australia right now. Complete destruction, homes burnt down, families lose everything, many many lives lost and the fires still burn. I am not a reporter so if you want pics and details go see the news, google it, it should be everywhere.

This is the bit I want to tell you about. People from all over have donated handmade goods to sell. All proceeds go to the Bush Fire Appeal. Go visit this blog and this Etsy Shop OzBushfireAppeal See what its all about, you can help spread the word, donate or buy.

Thank you to all who donated and purchased. It is a huge success and money raised will be helpful to the "Bushfire Survivors"