the search continues

We've been spending a fair bit of time looking at different locations, searching the internet and driving the streets. All to find our perfect shop location. Our ideas are getting more solid, in what we want, each time we see something that's not quite right. Though, we're starting to wonder if in fact we're being too picky - is that possible! Not at all.......
Anyway, I took a few photos the other day of a beautiful looking place, while driving to pick up the kids after Brown Owls get together.
Light and airy, with space and parking (which has so far been an elusive necessity). Lovely timber windows and balconies, and views of the river across the busy road. All photos taken from outside on a bright glary day - so not excellent, but you get the idea.

Of course, upon ringing the real estate you find out all sorts of other things about the place, that means it doesn't really fit into our wish list {or more accurately our budget!}.
Oh, the search continues. Going to look at another place this week, and one next week too. Please do let us know if you spot anything interesting looking, on your journeys.

{fabric love} Betz White organic

I'm sure most of you have heard of Betz White, or at least seen her new book, Sewing Green. I haven't yet read her book, but it's on my wishlist, so we'll talk about that another time.

Well, anyway - Betz has a new beautiful range of fabrics that she has recently released. Her "Family Cottage" range is nostalgic of a Summer childhood down by the lake, with hammocks, and picnics in fields of wildflowers. Best of all, it's printed onto an organic cotton / hemp blend in a canvas weight (14oz). The fabric can be used for homewares (cushions, table runners), bags, purses... in fact it's quite endless is the possibilities. We use a similar fabric for our Red Seed range, and I love sewing with it - has such a satisfying feel under the sewing machine, and is also really lovely using for embroidery. I can imagine that beautiful flower design, which reminds me of strawberry flowers, being embellished with some embroidered stitches.

After much procrastination**, I'm heading over to order some now. I love great design, that is crisp, clean, bright, fun, cheerful and....best of all.... organic.

*photos used with thanks from Betz White. Click on each photo to be taken to original source.
**trying to keep my fabric stash under control - well, we all know it's not worth bothering to control is it!

{reviews::crafty books} Handmade Home

Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule.
Publisher by Trumpeter Books, 2009

The second book from Amanda, of Soulemama fame (if you don't currently read her blog, do do do go and visit - I think it may change your life, or at least brighten your day). This book follows on from the first book, The Creative Family, in sentiment, but is aimed more at the general crafter, as well as the family crafter. Divided into segments such as Nourish, Nurture, Play, Seek and Retreat, the projects are mostly very easy to make, but with many options for altering it depending on your fabric, time or preferences. All the projects are made from repurposed / up-cycled materials, but Amanda includes other options if you want to use new materials.

Written in Amanda's generous, sharing and open manner, you feel as if she has let you into her warm home (look at it here), and is guiding you through the projects herself. And that your children are playing with her children around your feet and in the yard. Little interludes of tips, tricks, quotes, Earthy Tips, Crafty Tips and ideas add to the projects, and give you a greater meaning for your crafting. It's more than just the projects that makes this book what it is, it's the reasons behind each project, the knowledge that Amanda and her family make and use each and every item in the book.
There is a good resource section (though primarily focussed on the USA, it is easy to find other options), as well as a basic sewing terms, fabric options, even tips on setting up your own sewing space as well as collaborating with your children, and how to make time to do the projects.

And of course the beautiful styling and photography that is a big part of Soulemama's appeal. The mixing of layers and colours, with pre-loved and hand made textures. This is the main appeal of this book, for me; the honesty and simple beauty of the projects and the styling, as well as the inclusion of her own children as models.

As an experienced sewer, I do find the projects are fairly basic and simple, and the instructions are written only, with no diagrams, though there are templates for some projects. Having said that, I enjoy this book for it's inspiration, and really most projects (in life) need only be simple in idea yet rich and nourishing in possibilities.

If you give this book as a gift to a friend, it would be lovely to include some vintage fabrics or notions, or some scraps of your own most-loved fabrics. Your friend would appreciate the thought, and then be guided, by Amanda, as to how to transform these scraps into new treasures.

*All reviews are offered here as assistance in navigating the crazy world of crafting books, tools, fabric and notions. They are the personal opinion of the reviewer.

{Pippijoe} fabric

Caitlin Klooger is an independent designer from Melbourne with a passion for textiles, patterns and craft. Perhaps it was her previous career as a landscape gardener that inspired the organic, botanical and wildlife designs. Designs are printed onto hemp/cotton blends or 100% hemp fabric using environmentally friendly inks. The fabrics are soft to touch and perfect for crafting, bags, clothing ,soft furnishing and light upholstery.
Caitlin blogs over at Pippijoe, where she shares stories of her crafting, adventuring and inspiration.

* All images used with thanks from Pippijoe.

{more linking thanks}

Just wanted to say thanks to Rebecca (of edward and lilly fabulousness) for her great comments about our new skateboard brooches. {Photos soon, I promise! This one is from Rebecca - thank you.}

Sam's been working so hard (hot, sweaty, wood sawdust) on turning those broken boards into a new life. He currently has his buttons, which I'm loving imagining on all sorts of projects - bags, clothing, cushions. Brooches and necklaces are leading to many other options and endless ideas. Bracelets and belt buckles are in the making, once he sorts out the right tools!

Also, shout-outs of thanks to Michelle from Nook, and the Ink & Spindle girls*. We so love the support we're getting from all you crafty peeps out there.

*thanks, Teegs, for calling me the nicest crafty girl around. Not sure I am, but I'll try and do my best to live up to it.......
*thank you Steph for the use of your lovely skateboard button photo (from BrisStyle July market) - I love that even though I don't manage to remember to take photos, there are some of you out there who do.

{we love::featured shop} Nook

I've mentioned on my other blog about this beautiful little shop. {love} this perfect collection of handcrafted, thoughtfully chosen items. Michelle has an amazing shop. It's so wonderful to see her supporting other small and handcrafted businesses or hobby-ests.

Walking up the street you see the distinct sign, and are greeted by a verdant vegie garden.

The shop is brimming with items that I want to take home. Let me tell you, I've been in there a handful of times over the past few weeks, and each and every time I've walked out with a new treasure. I find some homewares or handcrafted stores are a bit ho-hum, or they all seem to have the same collection of scented candles.
Michelle's Nook is so so different. I think when you stock a shop with items that you personally love, it's a true reflection of who you are, but Michelle has also looked to what her peers (who are her customers) love, by keeping up with the latest blog trends, crafty happenings and eco-thought process that is (thankfully) becoming more obvious in retail-land.

It feels like you're visiting a friend who has lots of fantastic handcrafted and designery things, and knows how to display them. Fresh flowers, picked from the garden or hanging over the next door fence, gives the place a lived in, loved and real look and feel.
The furniture in the shop has been sourced from local second hand outlets, from street throw-out piles, and from ebay. This shows Michelle's dedication to being an eco shop, as well as further displays her talent for selecting products and displaying them.
Please drop in one day for a little browse. You could do all your gift shopping there at once, or over many weeks; as Michelle keeps her stock updated often with new things arriving regularly.
Nook is also a stockist of Red Seed, so check out our bags, tea towels and (soon) other little pieces.

Nook Shop
19 Browning St, West End, Q, 4101
open Tues-Fri 10am - 5.30pm + Sat 10am - 4pm.

Finders Keepers Market

we just received news this morning that we do in fact have a spot at the upcoming highly anticipated Finders Keepers Market. It will be the first time Finders Keepers has been to Brisbane, and the talk on the town is of much excitement.

We've seen and heard amazing reports from the Sydney and Melbourne markets in the past, and we know that Brisbane will put on an excellent show.
So, the work starts - well, really work continues as we have two other markets before then.
We'd love thoughts and feedback on what you like best in the Red Seed range, so we know what to focus on making. We're also planning some new designs, so will be printing like mad.


Along with all this, Danielle and I are still visiting buildings looking for our perfect shop. Of course, we both forgot our cameras yesterday when we were at quite an historic though much-too-tumble down place on the other side of town. Rumours of ghosts hiding in the brickwork didn't put us off; it was more like the noisy smoggy traffic rushing past the front door, and the musty smell of potential-trouble in the brickwork!
Any locals out there who may know of an oh-so-just-perfect shop spot for us, please drop us a line.

{with thanks}

Danielle, Sam & I would all like to say a great big thanks to each and every on of you who have written to us, left comments, offered us kind words and smiles, who have blogged about us {Kristen, Nicole, Danielle and Audrey & Maude}*, and those who are following us, or have links from your own blog.
It makes us so happy to have this support and thoughtfulness from our crafty peers.
We spent the whole of last week with big smiles on our faces, and warmth in our hearts.

We cannot wait until we find our perfect shop location, and can open the doors to see all your faces.

********

For those of you who are experiencing this crazy dusty windy that we have happening right along the eastern coast of Australia; I hope you're {safely} enjoying your inside time doing some crafting or other fun little ventures......


*any I've missed, please do let me know.
**please click on bridge/dust photo to be taken to the link.

Market 101: Racecourse Rd Street Party

On Sunday, Selvedge House participated in its first market stall in order to gain some exposure and to begin getting the people in Brisbane excited about our dream of opening a place where they can come to for crafting, sewing, printing and meeting people. The Racecourse Rd Street Party in Ascot was huge!

Ellie, Sam and I were up until 3 in the morning the day before preparing fabrics, finishing off skate board jewellry, topstitching kimono bags and drinking lots of tea. Having never participated in a market before, I awoke Sunday morning with a sense of excitement, apprehension and that feeling of "I'm sure I've forgotten something really, really important".

It was so very hot - and we all felt a little bit sticky and like we were slowly melting - like this poor icecream!

As the day progressed it was interesting to note the change in demographic that stopped by - in the morning we had lovely ladies in their Sunday best, by lunchtime that changed to more families and then by the afternoon the groovers, nursing hangovers, had finally rolled out of bed.

We met and spoke to lots of wonderful people and I'm hoping the couple who bought softie kits let us know how they're going...they decided to make it a competition and see who could finish first...I'm not sure who my money's on - they both seemed pretty confident and capable! Just remember to email if you get stuck guys!

Special thanks to the lovely ladies of BrisStyle and to our fabulous stall mates Bec and Jade of Beckybean - who made a very long, very hot day, very very enjoyable! Check out their Crema range of bags, which uses coffee sacks (provide by Brisbane's local boutique coffee roaster, Merlo) combined with new eco fabrics such as hemp and organic cotton, and timber buttons that their Dad handmade.

{Of Paper and Thread} fabric

Danielle Smeets is a West Australian textile artist who started Of Paper and Thread in 2007 by printing her designs in her backyard shed. Danielle has been working on her textiles full time since 2008. Each design only makes it to print if it's something that she herself would want to purchase, a dedication and honesty that is often seen in small handcrafted businesses.

Danielle is inspired by the nature and architecture around her, always taking a camera on her outings. Her designs have a timeless and classic feel, yet are modern and very versatile, with a delicious colour pallet of cherry, rust, sunny yellow, aqua and bamboo green. The images are hand printed onto textural fabrics such as linen/cotton or hemp/cotton blended base cloths and  printed using solvent-free inks. Each colour-way is produced in small batches so they are a limited edition.

Her blog is a visual feast of colour, design and some excellent links, as well as new designs.

in the post today

Here's a little snippet of some of the loveliness that the delivery man brought us today. We all get so excited when we hear the gate squeak, and someone is knocking at our door.
Fabric fat 1/4s and meterage from the Inkies*.

And some Pippijo meterage. I love the texture of her fabric. I do believe those water hens are my most favourite of all designs ever. Sweet water hen memories from my mum, who called them Pukeko from her time living in NZ.

I also made some babushka's from Kristen Dorans fabric panels. The kids and I had a lot of fun with these sweet little ones.

* Ink & Spindle.

Ink & Spindle

Ink & Spindle is a boutique screen-printing studio based in the beautiful-looking Younghusband Wool Store building in Melbourne. Run by three young textile designers – Lara Cameron, Bianca Van Meeuwen and Tegan Rose - who share a love of art and design. They specialise in high quality textile printing for designers and independent labels. The trio were brought together by a common passion for screen printed textiles and sustainable alternatives to the mass produced textiles that dominate the marketplace.

They each have a distinct voice in the design industry; yet the three design styles mix effortlessly. Their printing studio showcases their varied talents in textile design, as well as their dedication to minimise the environmental impact of the textile industry.

We love their bold vibrant colours, and striking confident designs. Check out the Ink & Spindle blog, where they share news, travel adventures and always look fabulous!