Just A Minute...In March

Just in time to join in with Just A Minute. I would have forgotten if I hadn't been visiting CurlyPops.

Making...some softies and a couple of collages on the go. All destined to be gifted in the next little while.

Check out Burrito No.1. He's off to live in North Carolina with a very special little man who's having his first birthday soon. The pattern is one of Dear Fii's. I love it. Easy to follow, a lovely combination of machine sewing and hand stitching, and gorgeous results.

Reading...The Artist's Way. This book keeps presenting itself to me in different ways so I thought it was time that I gave it a look. I'm not planning to follow the 12 week course. I'm just reading it and seeing what it has to offer me. I'd be interested to hear from people who've read it/done it. What did you gain from it? Would you recommend it? Why/why not?

Watching...as we speak The Castle and LittleCat sound asleep on the ottoman, happily dreaming away.

Listening...Leonard Cohen has been really hitting the spot of late.

I've been enjoying some of the staples as well - Indigo Girls, Cowboy Junkies, Pixies and Missy Higgins.

Wondering...if this creative journey ever gets any easier. It's such a topsy turvy ride for me at the moment. I know that it will change, that the answers will reveal themselves. I just don't know when it will happen. The waiting place. It drives me nuts. There's no use fighting it though. It only prolongs the agony.

Loving...the fact that I have my very first Tinnie stockist. Check out this post at Little Sparrow and pop in and see Shelley's gorgeous shop. Pick yourself up a Tinnie while you're there.

You can find other players over at August St.

BigCat, Meet FatPuss

This is fatpuss, the newest member of our household. Handmade by All Toile and No Reward and named in honour of her fat puss. I bought him at Made n' Thornbury. I spied him at the very beginning but didn't want to buy him before the market had even opened. But then people arrived and started fondling him and I had to put a stop to it. So now he is mine.







Well sort of mine. BigCat seems to have taken a shine to him. They seem to be getting along well, don't you think?

We Have Ourselves Some Winners

de in da light wins Barry and Whippet Good takes Bing. I hope you enjoy your Luckies and have lots of fun making collages. Email me your addresses so I can pop them in the post to you sometime soon.

Sorry for the lack lustre post here. Unfortunately I'm not such a winner. I seem to have brought home a nasty virus from somewhere. I've been asleep all day and have no energy whatsoever. I'll be back when the fog lifts.

To Market, To Market

It was a fabulous day at the market yesterday. More like a big crafty day out than work. One of the pleasures of being in the business of craft I think.


There were lots of yummy things to eat, lovely crafty things to buy and lots and lots of bloggy visitors. Pop in and visit All Toile and No Reward or CurlyPops if you want to read all about it.

Now that the market and the show are over I seem to have collapsed in a heap. Today is all about TV, home made pizza and quiet crafting on the couch.

I'll draw the giveaway winners tomorrow so you can put your name in the draw any time until the end of today.

My Luck is Your Luck

I've been feeling pretty lucky lately. Lots of good things have been happening and even things that haven't seemed so good at the time have ended up being fortuitous. There's been plenty of learning, lots of growth and perhaps most importantly a good deal of happiness.

I've really noticed lately how my journey is very much two steps forward, one step back. In fact I seem to take great strides forward and then come to a place of questioning and self doubt. More and more I'm realising though that if I sit with the uncertainty and questioning and let it run its course, the answers always come in their own time. I am really coming to understand myself a lot better and learning how to let go. I'm learning how to take better care of myself and how to stop overthinking and trying to find answers all the time. I'm starting to see that sometimes the only thing to do is to put everything on hold and do things to feed my soul like crafting, hanging out with friends and taking long baths.

So that brings me to the title of this post - my luck is your luck. It's time for a giveaway.

I have 2 Luckies to give away. Anyone for Barry Crocker or Bing Crosby?

Leave a comment in this post, sign it Barry or Bing so I know who your heart most desires and I'll draw a winner this Sunday night.

I have about 25 Luckies left. I'm taking them to the market tomorrow and you can pick one up for $20. I wasn't happy with the original price so I've dropped it right down. I definitely won't be making anymore either so if you want one you'll have to come to the market, check the shop next week or email me.

Loot, Glorious Loot

Shall we go to the dance

With our fabulous new lunch tote

and our new friends.

Won't it be fun. Dancing, snacking and socialising the night away.

All these gorgeous goodies arrived in my PO Box in the last week or so. Proudly brought to you by Ruby St Designs, CrissyGirl and badskirt. They are all absolutely delightful.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

The Business of Craft?

This article in The Age on Sunday stirred up some major mixed emotions for me.

On the one hand it is great to see the continually growing profile of contemporary craft everywhere you look. As someone who has always loved craft it is wonderful to see it celebrated and embraced and receiving it's dues.

On the other hand it brings to the fore the contentious debate of what constitutes professional craft, and with it the potential to compartmentalise and divide a community that is forged (long before our time) on a foundation of unity, connectivity and respect.

Anyone who is passionate about craft knows that there is good and bad out there in the world. I'm not just talking about personal taste and opinions, but cold hard fact in relation to quality of materials, attention to detail and finish, packaging, customer service, etc, etc. Yes, like all things in life craft exists on a spectrum of exquisite to simply awful.

However, who is to say who of us should be out there trying to make a living from our craft and who should not? The response to your work (customers, feedback, sales) will tell everything you need to know (and some things you didn't want to) about your work. You own creative voice and that of a trusted network of other crafters will also provide invaluable information if you're prepared to listen. Sometimes the best way to learn is by giving it a go and taking the step. There's nothing wrong with it. No-one is forced to buy your product. No-one is forced to like it. I think you're allowed to give it a go. I think you're even allowed to fail, to learn from mistakes, to change direction, try new things and completely evolve as a crafter.

To me craft is so much about the process as well as the end result. By process I mean so many things. The process of designing, conceptualising and creating an end result. The process of coming together as part of a community of like minded and passionate individuals. Perhaps most importantly to me though is the process of standing up, taking a risk and putting yourself out there.

The current revival of the craft movement is surely thanks to both those who have worked hard to have it recognised at the higher end and those who, despite trends and fads, are truly inspired and passionate about craft in all its forms. In fact I imagine that the craft community probably is and will continue to be the greatest advocate and strongest supporter of the growth of contemporary craft. Long after the media have lost interest and the trendsetters have moved on to the next trend crafty people will still love craft. Crafty people will still buy, make and sell craft.

I hate to think of the potential for some aspiring crafter on the verge of taking an enormous step into selling their creative wares to read that article and feel completely intimidated, unwelcome and not good enough.

I think there's room for everyone in this renaissance.

A Sticky Subject

It's been too long between collages. I've had a busy start to the year with Tinniegirl which is wonderful but it has kept me out of the studio and away from my paints and glue. Every now and then I remember my true love - sitting with paint brush in hand and canvas before me.

I haven't been completely ignoring the paints though. I've just been forgetting to share.

During Blogtoberfest I did a giveaway. The winners chose a word and I created a collage for them. I made the one above for Erin at Fossil Compass. Her word was 'forest'. This is one of my very favourite collages. It feels grown up and abstract and I was so completely happy with the way it turned out. Don't you love it when that happens?

Libby from A Round Tuit chose the word 'wisdom' and I made the piece below for her. Again, I was really happy with the end result and the way I interpreted her theme.


I loved working this way. It was challenging and stretching to take another person's idea and create something from it.

Often in collages words are at the heart of what I do. There is something so evocative about words. To me they add so much depth to a piece of art. They can make you think, or leave you wondering, comfort, startle or please. How I love words.

Has Anyone Seen Thumbelina

I found her shoe. It was on the road out the front of my place. If you see her tell her she can pop by anytime and pick it up.

Happy Saturday friends. In case you can't tell from this post we're pretty relaxed here at the house of TinnieGirl today.

EDIT: Only in Blogland could you find a miniature shoe on the side of the road, write a post about it and find out that someone you know owns it and someone else you know has a pair just the same.

Love Fridays, Free To Good Home

• Much loved Friday Meme seeks new home.
• Only 8 months old
• Partially trained with great potential
• Happy and playful
• Old owner moving on to new frontiers
• Comes with colourful blog button and full creative licence

I feel like it needs some new creative energy. I'm a starter, not a maintainer, that's for sure! I thought there might be someone out there who might like to adopt a meme.

ENQUIRE WITHIN

Some Things You Just Have To Have

This is one of those things. It's like Betsy. I just have to have him. I'm going to try real hard to save my pennies so he can be mine. All mine. Yes, me wants the pretty.

Expose', Exposure, Just Plain Exposed

Expose'
"A report of the facts about something, esp. a journalistic report that reveals something scandalous"

You've been begging for the words, demanding the goss, wanting all the dirt on the show. Today you shall have it. Today has been a day of rest and recuperation, unpacking all the boxes and containers, restoring order to my studio and house, taking photos of all the fabulous goodies I came home with and hanging out in my pj's. Now I am ready to tell you a tale.

Gorgeous wool from The Yarn Barn - I feel a winter project coming on

Exposure
"the state of being exposed to contact with something, the revelation of an identity or fact, the action of placing oneself at risk of financial losses, the publicising of information or an event"

I had no idea when I said yes to joining the incubator section at the Stitches and Craft Show what I was in for. I saw it as an opportunity to put TinnieGirl out there in the world and see what kind of reaction I got. (In the interests of complete honesty, I secretly dreamed of making my fortunes.) Given my lack of experience with markets I focused on the tangible and went about the business of creating stock and designing a stall ready to sell my wares to the crafty people. With a strong chant of "you have to spend money to make money" constantly drumming in my ear I set off on a journey to take TinnieGirl to new heights.

Gorgeous wares from Leni and Rose. She gifted this to me. I was so lucky to have a buddy to share my stall with the whole time. So many great conversations, giggles and reflections.

Day 1. Totally excited, totally unsure of what to expect, totally hopeful. It's a very quiet day. Not many people come to the show. Few people seem interested in what I have to offer. No-one buys any of my things. Self doubt begins to grow. I feel looming failure. What does it mean? Have I got it all wrong? Are my ideas stupid? All that work, the tears, the financial outlay, all for nothing. What a disaster. I can hardly walk my feet and legs are so tired.

By the end of Day 2 I feel totally despondent. I've sold one Tinnie and had 3 people come to my workshops. I'm at a complete loss. What a waste of time and money. I never entertained the possibility that it could be this bad.


Something shifts. I look around me. I talk briefly with this woman who is so positive and inspiring, and reminds me that life is what you make of it. I'm surrounded by the most amazing and talented group of women. Crafters, bloggers, the exact kind of people I want to be surrounded by. I have the opportunity to spend 5 days living the very life I want to live. A creative one. There is so much fun to be had, so many lovely goodies to look at, purchase and swap. How could I not see it, the gift that the universe has given me.

Entangled scarf by Green Olive. I've been eyeing off one of these since last winter.

Exposed
"make something visible, typically by uncovering it, leave or put someone in an unprotected or vulnerable state, introduce someone to an area of knowledge"

Day 3 comes and I arrive with a new attitude. So many people are saying lovely things about my Tinnies, how original and unique the idea is, how lovely they look. I start to listen and watch and learn. The collective wisdom in this group of crafters is extensive. There are woman here who are established business women freely sharing their experience and knowledge. How often do you have the opportunity to soak up free business advice from people you respect and admire.

Not to mention the Friday night bloggers dinner organised by Sooz. Enfolded in the arms of community.


I use the time and headspace that the show affords to reflect on what I want for myself in terms of a creative life. A rare opportunity in itself. It's hard to look directly at yourself and have honest soul searching conversations about commitment, desire, fears and dreams. I'm lucky, so very lucky to have this time, this challenge. If it had been all about sales and success I never would have seen the things I needed to see and learned what I needed to learn. Again the universe delivers me just what I need.

Hand dyed felt by the talented Winterwood. I hear that once you use this felt you never go back. I can't wait.

Day 4 and 5 are fabulous. Fun days filled with visitors, opportunities, laughter, conversation, creative dreaming, shopping and swapping. Oh, and sales of Tinnies!

Now at home, I am filled with courage, with new ideas and a long term direction for TinnieGirl starting to emerge. I have lots of work to do to take this dream of mine from idea to reality. However, I know that there's time. It's a marathon full of twists and turns, hurdles, uphills and downhills. I will keep on this creative path and keep seeing where it leads.


I have been completely laid bare on so many levels. I couldn't possibly have known that exposing TinnieGirl to the craft community of Melbourne would involve exposing my creative soul to me. With hindsight it makes perfect sense. Every step of my creative journey over this past 12 months has been this way. You'd think by now I'd be prepared but it blindsides me every time. All I can do these days (when I stop crying) is laugh. How could I not?

So there you have it. A flurry of words. A full expose'. All the dirt and grime that you could possibly wish for. It was wonderful. I'd do it all again in a flash.

In fact I am. I'll be at the Made n' Thornbury market on Saturday 28th March with CurlyPops, Buttons By Lou Lou, Finki, All Toile and No Reward and lots of other crafty souls. Come along.

Pesky, Tricky Words

Still busy sorting through my experience of the show so that I can put finger to keyboard. I'm struggling to find the words.

Words can be tricky. A bit of a tease. When I'm pedalling to work in the morning I can hardly keep up with the myriad of ideas, thoughts and words that go spinning through my brain. My creativity fires at 100km/hour when I'm riding. As soon as I find myself in front of the computer with a moment to spare those pesky words seem to go into hiding. They won't come out the way I want them to or they escape me completely.

I was thinking this morning that I'll have to buy a little bag to attach to the front of my bike. I've come to accept that I'm going to have to start pulling over and writing things down as I travel along but having to take things out of my basket to dig through my handbag is too much of a barrier. So a little bag attached to my handle bars with a notebook and pen is what I need. Then I'll conquer the world with my words and ideas. Surely!

This gorgeous notebook from Megan at The Byron Life should do the trick.

Words and pictures of the show to come. Pictures tomorrow for sure. Words? Well, words will come when they come I suppose. That's the way it goes isn't it?

Life As We know It

The show is over and it's time for all the good little bloggers to go back to cyberspace. It's also time to get back to normal routine and back to work. I have so much to share, both pictures and words. I'll be posting all about it this week. I think we're due for a giveaway too. Watch this space.

For now, it's time for this little crafty blogger to head off to bed and get some rest.

It was sooooo much fun...stay tuned for more.

I've Got No Words....Yet

Ready Mister Music

Need I say more? Curtain call at 9am tomorrow. See you at the show crafty peeps.

The Home Straight

This is what you'll be taking home if you commit a Random Act of Craft.

Tinnies for everyone in all shapes, sizes and colours.

A small semblance of order amidst the chaos and madness

The boy in the box makes a familiar appearance.

Sprinting for the finish line. See you at the show.

Love Fridays, It's Show Time People

We're on the home stretch now. Only a couple of days left to go and just a few million things to do. I finished work today for a week, rode home in the sunshine and breathed a big happy sigh. Now I can focus completely on the show.

The cooler weather and rain this week have been wonderful. It's been so peaceful riding down by the river. The signs of Autumn are already taking over.

Have you checked out the workshop program for the Stitches and Craft Show? There are so many cool things to try, heaps of them free. I'm running a collage workshop called Random Acts of Craft. It's going to be so much fun and you'll take home a really cute artwork as well as a tonne of ideas. I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm so excited. I can't wait to get there next week and check it all out. I hope I get Luckie with a bit of shopping time for myself.

Anyway, you might not hear much from me for the next few days. I'll be busy, busy, busy getting organised.

See you at the show or on the other side.

Ask Yourself, Do You Feel LUCKIE?

I am so excited to share my newest creation with you.

Meet The Luckie!

Luckies are the brothers of Tinnies. Recycled album covers made into boxes and filled with vintage paper goodness.

What's in a Luckie?

You'll find wallpaper, board game pieces and illustrated pages from children's books. Dictionary and atlas pages, sheet music and sewing paper. Add a good dose of Reader's Digest pages and some old encyclopedias, a paint card, a doiley and a few other treasures, and you've got yourself a Luckie.

You know what makes them just that little bit more special?
They're limited edition.
I've only made 50 of these creative treats.
I'm launching them at the Stitches and Craft Show next week.
They retail for $40.

If there are any left after the show I'll be taking them to the
Made n' Thornbury Market on March 28th.

If you can't make the show or the market and you really want to get Luckie email me at tinniegirl(at)optusnet(dot)com(dot)au. You'll be first in line for any Luckies left.

It's Lucky to Love Craft. Don't you agree?