Upcoming Markets

Look for us tomorrow night at Gladstone Primary School Christmas Market, Thursday 18 November, from 5-9m, 8 Seaview Terrace, Mt Albert

and on Saturday 20th November, at the Albany Kindergarten Twilight Market from 3pm to 7pm, 4 Bass Rd, Albany

New Fantail Tree!

It's been some time....

It feels like I have come out of winter hibernation.

I've never been one for winter and now that we have had some gorgeous summer-like weather over October and this first week of November I have been inspired to get the sewing scissors and jigsaw out and have been whipping up some new summer dresses, skirts, aprons and sunhats and designing a new version of my clothing tree with resident fantail.

Not only did the winter months stupefy my creative urges but my daughter started school in July and its taken some getting use to having her not around. Almost like I have too much time on my hands and not sure what to do.

We have also been busy around the home building up new vegetable beds, teaching ourselves how to build unintentionally but beautiful crooked brick walls, pulling out overgrown gardens and planting a new cottage garden - Ella, I and the bees are loving all the flowers. We have been painting and decorating Ella's bedroom into a little girls french inspired delight, sewing gorgeous cushions for a new settee (fabric for the cushions from the ever colourful and delightful Mokum range) and generally taking stock of our lives.

I also started tutoring a beginners sewing class at Onehunga High School and am having fun sharing my skills and watching my students create their own masterpieces.

Mimosa Trees on Nuffield Street, Newmarket

WOW. It was great to see my mimosa jewellery tree and kids clothing tree in the window of Trees Co Ltd at 99 Nuffield Street, Newmarket last Queens Birthday Weekend!

Winter Warmers

mimosakids new winter range includes jackets made from fluffy fur or luscious velvet. Both are fully lined and tie at the front with a long satin ribbon. Dress them up for parties or dress them down with their jeans.

I've also found some gorgeous giraffe patterned fabric and lovely soft red flowering corduroy which I've made into a limited number of skirts.

More to come!

Mothers Day Artisan Market in Parnell

Come and see us at the new artisans market in Parnell. This quality craft market runs alongside the Parnell Farmers Market from 8am to 12pm on Saturday 8th May.

Plus be in to win one of the fantastic Mothers Day ‘pamper hampers’ valued at over $300. Simply bring this flyer (or a copy of it) with you to the market, write your name, email and contact phone number on the back and put it in the marked box at the door. Prize draw at noon on the day.

Studio Update

I have finally started moving my stuff into the near completed studio. Not only was it carpeted last week but it's now secure with a lovely new mortice lock on it too. (It was a mission to find a lock to fit and someone capable to install it as the measurements on the french doors were not standard)

Over the past month I have been sanding and painting windows, even managing to break one on my head - don't ask! I have learnt to glaze - cutting glass to fix my broken window plus another cracked one, fixing them in and puttying them too. I'm quite a dab hand at that now. Also spent a week or so sourcing a desk that I can adjust the height on to use as a cutting table (found one for $125 which I thought was a bargain) and just this week designed another table (Tuesday) which I'll use for sewing. I bought and measured up the pieces of wood on Wednesday and my lovely dad helped me cut it on and drill guide holes on it on Thursday.

And today, Saturday, Murray and I started moving my art & craft goodies into the studio and began putting the new table together. Its looking great. Can't wait to paint the table a luscious & warm red.

Must be our week for tables as we also bought a gorgeous solid oak dining table on Trademe that can be extended to seat 10 comfortably but was originally able to seat 16. (some of the inserts are missing). Time we start having grand dinner parties!

MAEVE Magazine - 1st Issue out Today

See us in the inaugural issue of MAEVE online magazine.

Model Daughter

I have been taking advantage of the good weather and my daughters willingness to model for me for just a chocolate and strawberry ice-cream. Really I should have been more generous as she stood on her feet for several hours and had to undergo many clothing changes. I'm getting ready to sell on line via Felt and Etsy. I'll keep you posted when we're up and running. Here a just a few of the photos.

Devonport Craft Market - Sunday 7th MArch

See you there.

Mary's Market -This weekend

Freemans Bay Community Hall, 52 Hepburn Street. 9am-1pm

Devonport Craft Market - Sunday 14th February

Don't forget that you can find us this Sunday 14th at The Devonport Craft Market.

Where: Devonport Community House, 32 Clarence Street, Devonport

When: 10 - 3pm

Skirts Made To Order

For those of you who don't know I also make easy to fit woman skirts. I usually have a small number in stock but can make to measure too. The skirt is A-line and slightly flary. It fits a variety of shapes and you can choose to wear them either on your hips or lower depending on your preference -and can accommodate slight changes in weight that way too!

If you are interested in having a skirt made please email me. Finished skirts cost $70. If you are wanting one made from your own fabric I charge $5o.

I have just made some new skirts from the above fabrics. They will be available at the Devonport Craft Market this Sunday or at Mary's Market at the end of the month. If you want to come over and try one on please contact me. I'm located in Three Kings, Auckland.

My budding artist!

I reckon my 4 1/2 year old daughter is turning into a budding artist. Over the past few weeks she has been producing a self portrait every second day. But my favourite is her drawing of her bunny ballerina.

International Interest!

WOW. For a few days I thought I had a commission from Red Frog Events to design a rain forest clothing tree.

“We are extremely interested in the coat rack and would love to get the adult size tree!

While we LOVE the two tree designs you already have, can we order one that looks kind of like a rainforest tree and has a few small frogs on it? To better help you I have attached a few photos of what the frog looks like as well as what kind of tree it hangs out on. Then finally can we get the tree bright red?

I know we have a lot of demands, but we want it to reflect our office 100%! If this is a problem let me know or if you have an idea on what could work we would love to hear it.”

And then Stephanie (from Red Frog Events) realized that I was in New Zealand and not in the US. So, unfortunately, design costs and P&P was going to push the price just out of their budget. A pity as I was already having ideas of how it was going to look.

Looking forward to my next commission!

Busy Busy Busy

Sometimes I wonder where us mums find the time to blog, create, raise kids, do household stuff, and socialise. I'm finding that all I've been doing these past weeks is juggle all these things and feel like I've got nowhere. Luckily creating means making things, and over the past two weeks I've made 10 skirts, six jewellery trees and one kids clothing tree. Painting and sanding the trees seem to be the most time consuming and in this heat it has been quite exhausting.

Garden Shed to Studio

Over the past couple of months we have been slowly renovating our rat infested shed into an artist's studio. We are about half way there and it already looks great. My handy man Murray, daughter Ella, dad and moi have done most of it. I especially love the photo of the dust caught on Murray's face - and the hosing of him down afterwards (no photos for the public I'm afraid).

Jewellery Tree

Here's one of my new designs in-situ. I originally made it to display jewellery which I have for sale but got several requests from stallholders and customers to make them one too. Here it is on display in my bedroom. At present, I'm just making them in white as this appears to be the best colour to set off the jewellery.

Crafternoon Tea - Saturday 16th

Mimosakids will be at Crafternoon-Tea market this Saturday 16th January, from 10am-3pm at the Holy Trinity Church, cnr. of Sandringham and New North Roads in Kingsland.

Happy New Year

I hope everyone is having a relaxing holiday break. We have been holidaying on Waiheke Island and are about to head off camping at Athenree for a week. Can't wait!

For those of you who are looking forward to some more summer deals we will be at the first Mary's Market of 2010 on the 27th February. Details to follow.