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.

My Xmas Angel

Had to take some xmas photo's of my wee one for overseas relatives and what better then wearing one of my mimosa dresses. Biased, I know, but she looks gorgeous.

Funky Coat Stand

Who needs a xmas tree when you can have one of these!

I just love making these trees. Its a great feeling cutting them out with the jigsaw and watching them come to life.

Ruby Square Market this Saturday 12th December

Don't forget we are at Ruby Square Market this Saturday from 9am to 1pm. Its once again at Greyfriars Church on Mt Eden Rd, opposite Mainly Toys. Plenty of parking on side rd at and the church. We are selling coat trees and some jewelery too! Will post some photos once the paint has dried!

Chocolate Brownie in a MUG! OMG!

Last nights hormones got the better of me! At my bequest my beloved partner googled chocolate self saucing puddings in a mug and found this very decadent pudding. He couldn't finish his but I managed to devour mine without much trouble. It was rich and definitely needed the scoop of ice cream on the top!

While we sank into the settee we found some mouthwatering foodie sites, including the blog of sweetcorner-jasenka. She has the most gorgeous photos of her food that you just want to eat/make them immediately. Her site, I think, is in croatian? but over the past few months she has posted english translations of her recipes. Any of you foodies out there who loves Alexa Johnston's book "Ladies, a Plate" will love this site. Or just go visit for the images.

From Jasenka's food heaven, we discovered mytartelette, an american foodie with more lovely recipes and then onto a beautiful site of the talented pioneer woman. Don't ask me how she has the time to do what she does. Some people are just remarkable!

Enjoy but don't make too many of those chocolate brownies in a mug. You might just explode!

LMNOP- new issue out

For those of you who haven't discovered the Australian online magazine LMNOP , issue 9 is out now. Laugh Make Nurture Organise Play. I love it!

Pretty in Pink

Have just finished sewing some stylish summer dresses (age 4-5) in gorgeous fabrics ready for those xmas parties. 100% cotton. Adjustable pull through strap that can be bowed in either the front or back.

Magic Beans Market Day

See you there!

Boowa & Kwala

Just wanted to share with you a site my daughter loves and at age 4 she easily manages to navigate on her own. Boowa and Kwala are two lovely characters who play games (818!), sing songs (94), and introduce children to a myriad of learning activities (mazes, puzzles, sorting, matching, spot the difference, guessing, pairing and so on). If I'd let her she would quite happily play on it for hours.

boowakwala.com

Junior Society.com

If you're into great design and funky sites for all things kids this one is lovely. Its one of my favourites and has loads of links to other wonderful sites including bemboszoo.com, an animated animal alphabet designed by Roberto de Vicq de Cumtich

Juniorsociety.com

Upcoming Markets

Over the next month we are going to be at the following markets:

Magic Beans Market Day on Saturday 28th November.

Grey Friars Presbyterian Church

544 Mt Eden Road
Mt Eden

9am - 1pm

Ruby Square Market Day on 12th December

Grey Friars Presbyterian Church

544 Mt Eden Road
Mt Eden

9am - 1pm

Hope to see you there.

Wotsit

Wotsit. My daughter had a lovely book from the library called "Rita and Whatsit go on a Picnic" by Jean-Philippe Arrou-Vicnod and Olivier Tallec. The drawings of the dog are very simple yet cheeky and I've tried bringing him to life with this plushie who I've named Wotsit. He's about 30cm tall and can sit upright by leaning back on his perky tail. Each dog is slightly different from the other.

Plushies & Softies

You can barely go anywhere these days without seeing a plushie or softie roaming about. Some are cheap and cheerful and mass produced in China and others have been painstakingly handcrafted. I've always taken an interest in these as I use to make small dolls and toys when I was only seven or eight. There are some gorgeous ones made here in NZ but I've been particularly drawn to the quirky dolls of Filomena Carmo Pinto from Portugal (see her blog Filomenacarmopinto.blogspot.com.)

Monsters, Murray & Puzzles

Murray (my partner) probably is wondering why he's lumped in with monsters and puzzles but he gave me the idea for these blackboards -or is it chalkboards these days?. The puzzle pieces are a set of nine that can be interlinked to make one large three by three puzzle or can be bought separately. The monster is usually bought on his own. These are great not just for the kids rooms for reminders, lists or drawing scribbles on but also in the kitchen or office.