Surprise, Surprise...

Where do I start..... Well firstly I'd like to thank everybody for their fantastic words of advice for setting up for the markets. I had the most amazing time and can't wait to do it again!!!

I was so surprised at what did and didn't sell on the day. The things that I thought would just walk out the door in the first hour where still sitting on the table at the end of the day and the things that I had on the table as 'bulk' items, to make my table not look so bare, sold like hot cakes within the first couple of hours. At least I now know for next time what to have more of....

My bibs were a really big hit, next time I need to make double. Posie Patchwork was right when she said 'Stock sells Stock'. I only came home with 3 bibs out of 20 and they were the 3 that I made in boys colours. I guess mums don't want bibs for their sons, only their daughters... Purple was a big hit so that's a definite must for next time.

My tomato relish was also a big hit as were the homemade cookies. I didn't have any of either of these at the end of the day. I made 30 little coin purses and sold 75% of them. Next time I need to make more in pastel colours as they seem to be the flavour of the season at the moment.

Some things that didn't sell well were my felt needles and pins books and my crochet brooches. I made 10 felt books and only sold 3 and didn't sell 1 of the brooches, people looked at them a lot and asked if I had any other colours and thought that they were just gorgeous but still no sales.... I think that once again I need to rethink the colours and use more pastel colours as several ladies asked if I had any in pink.

There's definitely a lot of things I learnt from these markets but all in all for my first time I think everything went really, really well. Our town is only a small one and the profits that I made from the day were much bigger then I ever hoped or imagined I'd make.

Here's a sneak peak of the table an hour in to the markets. By the time we set up people were busy looking and buying so I didn't get a chance to take a snap shot of it at the start... All of the tomato relish had sold out in this pic, almost all of the bibs and half of the coin purses but you get the picture...
As for the winner of the clips from my previous post now that's a hard one..... Everybody had such helpful advice that I've decided to have 3 winners. 1 will get the clips and the other 2 will get a mystery prize that was left over from the markets. I'll post the winners tomorrow so stay tuned til then.

My sister shared my table on the day and also had a fantastic time. I left her half of the table out of my pic so that she could post it on her blog. Next time we definitely need a BIGGER table. The one that we had was 1.8 metres long and we thought that would be huge but boy were we wrong!!! 2 metres minimum next time with a skirt for sure.

Oh yeah... Another note for next time.... Aprons!! Matching aprons would look just fantastic on Abby and I. Some aprons for sale would be a big hit too. People asked if we had any for sale on the day so next time we need at least 1/2 a dozen....

Anyway.... I'm sure you've all heard enough about the markets. Take Care ;)

To Market We Go....And a FREEBIE for 1 lucky reader!!!!

Yes.... You read it right!! I'm packing up all of the goodies that I've made over the last month and heading off to my very first local market day. It's this Saturday from 10am to 3pm so if your in the area pop on down to Drumond Park. I'm SO NERVOUS!!!! But as I keep telling myself 'everything will be just fine and everybody will just love my stuff.... I hope'.

Here's a pic of my latest creation...

It's a hair clip, obviously, with a crochet flower sewn to it. I'm was thinking of selling them as a pair on a little card for either $2.50 or $3.00.... What do you all think????? I think that I've looked at them too long, as you do when you create something new, and now I can't decide. What would you pay???My sister and I are doing the stall together which is great. We're baking buiscuits on Friday to sell and I've also made some big jars of tomato relish which is always a big hit!! I will definitely post a pic of our table all set up at the markets for everybody next week.

Anyone out there that might have some pointers for a pair of first time market goers please do leave me a comment as any kind of advice would be greatly appreciated, that greatly appreciated that I might even have to give the best comment a freebie!!!! To the most helpful comment that I receive about the markets I'll mail out the very pair of clips that feature in this post... So everybody put those thinking caps on and give a nervous girl some help (LOL)...

Quality Time

Here's my attempt at the cookies from this book. I would just love to do up a teapot to go with them. If anyone knows of where I can get a pattern from it would be great if you could leave me a comment.

My little princess spent some quality time with her dad on Sunday afternoon fixing an old tractor that he bought from a clearing sale a couple of months ago. I just love this pic of her....trying to help dad drive. How cute is her little pony tail? You can only just see it as she only just has one. Unfortunately she's inherited my hair, very fine. I never had a pony tail until I was 2.

I really must make a mention of the wonderful day I had over at Dubbo on the weekend. I went over for the Central West Quilt and Needlework Expo and to do a bit of shopping. I met some beautiful crafty women from blog land and it's just been so great to put real life faces to the names/blogs. I had the pleasure of meeting Fiona, Donna and Patch.

I wasn't at the expo for long but by luck of a fluke I ran into Donna and Patch at the local shopping centre. We then decided to catch up for some lunch, Fiona joined us too. I had such a wonderful day, it was so great to meet these 3 terrific ladies.

Blog Action Day

(as copied from here) Today, October 15th, bloggers around the web have united to put a single important issue on everyone’s mind - the environment. Every blogger is posting about the environment in their own way and relating it to their own topic. The aim of this is to get everyone talking towards a better future.

I'm going to focus on water conservation.......

I live in a part of the country that is in the middle of one of, if not the, worst drought's in it's recorded history (150 years)... I try hard everyday to conserve water. I know that there is so much more that I could & should be doing but at least I'm doing something as so many people out there still aren't doing anything at all!!!

I recycle all of my washing water & use it to water, what is left of, my lawn. I also use this water on my vegie patch even though it isn't recommended to do so, I'm yet to be shown why... I know that the vegie's that you buy at the local supermarket take a lot more water to produce then the humble home grow variety, so by growing my own vegies I'm saving water in more ways then one. I put a big bucket in the shower with me & 1 in the kitchen sink while I wait for the hot water to warm up. This is then used to water my herb garden & the plants I have in pots.

I have 2x20,000litre rain water tanks fully plumbed up to my house to catch what ever rain I can, not that it ever rains anymore but just in case it does at least I'm prepared. When it does rain I just turn off my town water & the rain water will service my whole house, washing machine, toilet, shower & kitchen.

Our town is currently on Level 5 water restrictions which means limited watering times by bucket only. This is absolutely disgusting for this time of year, spring, when everything is supposed to be lovely & green. What can you expect though when we haven't had any kind of decent rain since God only knows when.

As I drive through the central west I too can feel the heart break & devastation that the local farmers must be feeling. My husband coming from a farming back ground is also devastated at what he sees... The paddocks are dry & what crops have been sown have that little moisture in them that they have turned purple, I don't even think that any of it will be harvested. Canola crops that would normally stand 4ft high are barely 3' off the ground.

There isn't much that I can do to help the poor farmers that are suffering from this horrible drought except to not take what water I do have for granted. There are so many ways that everyone can help to conserve what little water we do have such as using a hose with a trigger sprayer on it to control water flow, putting a bucket in your shower, growing your own veg, putting a 600ml bottle of water in your cistern to reduce the amount of water in your toilets flush, and so so much more...

I hope that this post inspires at least 1 more person out there to be a bit more water wise. Even if it's something as little as putting a bucket in the shower. If you only catch 10Litres and used it to water some plants or flush the toilet that's 10L that you saved, every little bit counts!!!

Check out my sisters blog she too has joined this very worthy cause, actually she's the one who told me all about it...

The Big Smoke...

Here's some pics of my bibs I've been making for the local craft markets which are in a couple of weeks. I've made 25 all up and although you can't tell they all have plastic over the top fabric to make them more durable. They're totally reversible and hopefully they'll sell like hotcakes!!
I know that when my little princess was born all I wanted was some funky looking bibs and now I have some with the added bonus that they're 100% homemade. Hopefully other mothers will love them too.

DH and I are on our way to the 4WD and Camping Expo in Melbourne this afternoon and I just can't wait.... Not for the expo but to go SHOPPING in the Big Smoke!! I've been dreaming about all of the lovely fabric and craft shops that I'll be able to find. We'll be staying at Dandenong so if anybody knows of anything crafty near by leave me a comment to let me know.
Here's a great link for all of you parents out there with MESSY little ones just like mine!!! It's for a splat mat made with this gorgeous laminated cotton fabric in Dick and Jane prints.
Have a great weekend everybody!!!

Happy Birthday To Me!!!

Yes that's right.... It's my 26th b'day today. I can't believe it!!! This year has just flown by and I have an enormous amount of memories placed in my basket (my crazy mind) because of it, some bad but mostly fantastic!

I'm not a religious person but on days like these, when I'm surrounded by ones that I love and that love me equally if not more in return, I can't help but be ever so thankful for being blessed with such a wonderful life. There are so many people out there in unfortunate circumstances longing for a life half as ordinary as mine.

I've been so spoilt today in every way possible. When I arrived at work this morning my big sis Abby had a huge banner plastered over the fence reading 'Happy B'day JoJo', it even had balloons hanging of it and everything. The smile that it put on my face for the rest of the day was priceless... Then she made me a delicious breaky of fairy bread, choc coated bananas, strawberries & cream and yogurt.... Yummmmmmm!!!!

Here's the book that she got me for my b'day... I just love it!!!! There's so many projects in it I don't know where to start. Maybe here...Or here.....Or here looks really good too....What do you think? She had it wrapped up in this really sweet home made bag.

She also made me one of these cute headbands. This is just what one person gave me so you can only imagine just how spoilt I'vebeen.

On the craft front I've been sewing like crazy making a heap of bibs to sell at the local markets which are in a couple of weeks. They look really great!! I'll post some pics of them for everyone tomorrow. Until then that's about it from me...

TAKE CARE EVERYONE & HAPPY CRAFTING!!!!