A Rather Productive Day....

This quilt top only took an hour and five minutes to cut out and put together.

It's not perfect but that's the nature of my quilting.  Superfast and none of the seams meet up.

This one is for my little hubba bubba.

I also made Monet a pair of pants.  I didn't use a pattern.  I just drew on the material with a pen....

And surprise, surprise.....

They fit pretty perfectly!

Paisley asked for a skirt of course.  I made this a little larger than needed so it fits her for longer.

Boy I hate sewing ruffles.

In other news, I won this book in a giveaway on Miss Posie Patchworks Blog.

Signed by the author, Tania McCartney.
This has replaced Belle and Boo as the current favourite bedtime book.

I think I might go and sew some bunting whilst dinner is cooking.

Some Gorgeous Amy Butler Fabrics Are Heading My Way

I have been a little bit quiet on the Blog front these last weeks.

Life, however, has not been so quiet.

My Mum has been in hospital,

 My husband has been working every day because they are short-staffed,

I have been madly cleaning so we can put the house on the market this summer.

I have decided not to do any more markets at this stage.

The relief was overwhelming once I made this decision.

They take me away from my family too much.

and because tween girls are such a small segment of the population

I am not reaching them effectively at markets.

I would have to spend hundreds of dollars on fabric

and countless hours sewing

just to stock a stall

and may have only one or two sales!

Just not worth it.

It was fun though.

I still have my etsy store

and will continue to sew bikinis for this

at my leisure.

I have ordered some Amy Butler fabrics online from this Etsy store.

This fabric is to be made into sizes 0-4 bikinis

Part of a wholesale order going to

Little Indigo, an oline store for children.

This is to make bikinis for my etsy store.

This is also to make bikinis for my etsy store.

If you would like a bikini in a girls size 0-12

made from the above fabrics

let me know and I can make a custom listing for you

in the size you desire.

Until this fabric arrives I have plans to make

a baby quilt

some bunting

a paper crane mobile

some summer skirts, dresses and shorts for my girls.

This is my new baby nephew Jayden
Isn't he just scrumptious
I hope you can all see the photo
And Sara, I hope you don't mind
I pinched it of Facebook.

I Made Myself A Bikini

It's okay, don't panic!  There will be no photos of me in my bikini!

But I did it..... I fixed my sewing machine and bit the bullet...I made my self a bikini!

I even wore it to the beach this afternoon.  It's been a few years since this tummy has seen the sun and boy did it feel good.

Let's set the record straight, I am not small.  I have had three children and each time I find new lumps and bumps where there were none before.  I am somewhat comfortable in a size 16.  I am not entirely happy with being this size but I am not going to miss out on a whole summer because I ate too much chocolate over winter.

I just wanted something to wear around home.... Something that I could throw a kaftan over and feel a bit funky and fresh.  So this morning I set to measuring and cutting..... sewing and snipping.... unpicking and recutting.... and sewing some more....  Until....

I tried on the bottoms and was so happy that I needed a top to match.  I was trying to channel Grace Kelly in High Society, even though I cannot remember what she was wearing.  The top looks good but needs a little more work to be comfortably worn all day.

When I showed my husband the finished product he was like WOW!  It is quite surprising how flattering they are.  I don't look like other girls on the beach but I felt like a bit of a fifties pin-up girl in my new bikini.  My new vintage cotton bikini looks better than all the lycra one-pieces and tankinis I have bought over the years.  Well I think so anyway, and so does my husband, and well, the rest of them can go jump.  I am over the moon.

A little bit of summer sun and a splash of fake tan and if you want to find me I'll be at the beach.

So stop worrying how you look to other people and wear what makes you happy.  The happiness will shine through and you'll be better off for it.  Enjoy what you've got and if you don't have enough money for one of those suck-it-all-in pairs of bathers that is the must-have this summer, do what I did and make your own!

This is the fabric I used for my swimsuit.  The one picture above is a girls 10, mine is a ladies 16.  I also added a tie in the middle of the bust for some added shape.  I made the back of my top tie with strings rather than the chunky knot that is on the kids bathers.  Less tan lines that way.

Bring On Summer! I am ready......

I Have Joined a Bookclub

I have joined a bookclub.

My sewing machine broke while I was attempting to turn a painters sheet and a hula hoop into a change room for my market stall.

I have been a little bored and haven't happened accross a good book for a while.

So when a friend of a friend started an online bookclub I jumped at the chance.

We read 'The Great Gatsby"

I have read this before, in highschool, but it never really grabbed me.

It's a quick and easy read.

I am interested to see what the other bookclub members have to say about it.

I am not quite sure what Mr Fitzgerald was trying to get at.

Perhaps "don't be fooled, there are no happy endings" or perhaps this was his version of a happy ending.

Why do they make highschool students read this book?

I might have to read what Wikipedia has to say on the matter.

Have you read 'The Great Gatsby"

What do you think F Scott Fitzgerald was trying to say to everyone?

It's 7.00 on a Sunday.....

This Saturday we smiled as Paisley was a ray of sunshine in her annual ballet recital.

She had been telling me for weeks that she was going to be a stingray.

I wondered why a stingray would be wearing an orange and yellow tutu.

There was only enough of this vintage fabric for two bikinis.

The other is a size 10 and will be in the shop some time this week.

Mornington's Twilight Market on Saturday was cancelled.

It will be rescheduled for a few weeks time.

Today I was at the Mulgrave Makers Market.

The weather put a bit of a damper on things.

There were a few people out and about

but it was definitely not bikini weather.

Look at that forgeous face!

Last Thursday was spent at the Werribee Open Plane Zoo.

I highly recommend it.

The puddles made for an exciting safari tour.

See that animal out the back window?

Isn't he beautiful.

I wish I could have taken him home.

Harold, or was it Henri? He loved posing for all the passers by.

This cheeky guy would strike a different pose after each photo.

Such an exhibitionist.

Three weeks till the next market.

Dec 19th Mulgrave Makers Market

Then it's Red Hill on New Year's Day

Should be a busy one.

Lot's of new stock will be in the etsy store over the next few days.

I'll keep you posted.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Where Have I Been?

I have been busy.

I am taking a 10 minute break to put dinner on and catch you all up on where I'm at.

While dinner is cooking, let's have a little chat.

What have I been doing?

I have been sewing bikinis..... of course.

I have been filling out market applications thinking I would not get in till next year..... BUT

I hope to be at Mornington Twilight market Sat 27th Nov 3-8

I will be at Mulgrave Makers Market Sun 28th Nov.

I will also be at Mulgrave Makers Market Dec 19th

Then there is Red Hill Market on New Years Day..... FUN.

And another Mornington market later in January.

There is also another Rosebubs in January.

I would have liked to pace myself more but swimwear only has a limited season.

I am feeling a little overwhelmed

The joy and excitement I felt at first has gone AWOL

It has been replaced by feelings of doubt and exhaustion.

Am I doing the right thing for my family?

Am I being selfish?

Is there any financial benefit from putting in so much effort?

I would love to hear from you....

I would love to hear your thoughts on crafting for a crust....

And anyone with market experience,

I would love some advice....

Sorry no photos...... it would only be more bathers.

Vintage Swimwear and a Lovely Gift

I love this fabric!

It is a vintage fabric that my mother in law found for me.



The bluebirds are to-die-for!

Wendy from The Textured Leaf very kindly gave me this over sized pin-cushion.

I have been putting it to very good use.

She will have them for sale at the Mulgrave Makers Market Sunday week.

See you there!



My Creative Space

Of course with this coming up

I am madly sewing these.

I also plan on making some more simple sundresses.

I found a really nice denim-look linen that will make a fantastic sundress.

There are other things on the list too,

they might have to wait till the next market though.

I am on my third cup of coffee already this morning.

I have been burning the candle at both ends.

Better take some vitamins to make sure I don't succumb to any lurgies before the market.

Here are the fabrics that the reversible bikinis are avaible in at the moment.

There will be more choices available soon.

I think that I will keep gingham as the contrasting fabric though.

A bit of a signature thing..... you know.

I have been so busy

I need a babysitter and a housecleaner

any volunteers?

To find out what others are up to check out Kootoyoo

Girls Reversible Bikinis

I should be making bikinis for the Mulgrave Makers Market.

Instead I have been filling etsy orders and trying out new ideas.

These are reversible.... but I forgot to take photos of the other side!

As you can probably guess, they look the same, but in a different fabric.

These are now for sale in my Etsy store.

You can choose from three different colours,

green, red, and blue.

You may also choose any size between 2 and 12.

Thanks for dropping by.  Sorry about all the photos.

I was going to delete some but I can't decide which ones.

.For a bit of a tom-boy she's becoming quite the poser.

I will have to make the next sample in a size four for Paisley

Something Green

Here is a little something I am working on.



I couldn't sleep very well last-night.

I was wondering what I was going to do about the material I bought that was see-through.

You see I just couldn't resisit it.

I would have to line it,

but that would take too long,

cost too much,

and there would be no significant improvement.

I have been up since 5am.

first I cleaned.....

then I sewed.....

And now we have reversible bikinis!

2 for the price of 1.....

sort of.

Happenings

Alot has happened in the last couple of days.

Firstly, we will be here...

on Sunday November 28th.

And the oh-so-nice

Steph Bond

has featured MonetPaisley Swimwear on Bondville

I have made my first etsy sale

a red check bikini.

Will have to list more red.

It doesn't sound like much

but its kept me busy.

And the Winner is.....

First let me explain how I picked a winner....

I had to write down each entry and allot it a number

because some comments contained more than one entry.

Facebook likers were further down on the list. Nothing personal.

There were 66 entries in total.

Then I popped over to random.org

entered the parameters

and clicked generate.

And the winners are...

14. Kate from Two Little Banshees

8. Jelly Bean Books and

13. Nadia

Congratulations, I will attempt to contact you via blogger and facebook to discuss sizes and fabrics.  I shall also need your addresses.

Thank you sooooo much to every one who participated.  A special thank you goes to those that twittered without even being asked.

As a result of someones tweet

We have been featured on Bondville Kids and Bondville.

Websites devoted to Australian Designers.

Again, without you all I never would have thought this was possible.

Thanks for all your supportive comments

and all the hard work everyone put in to get our name out there.

Don't forget

if you didn't win

you can still bag a bargain in our etsy store.

Prices are currently $25

but won't stay that cheap for much longer.

Last Chance....

Don't forget

You only have until midnight tonight to get your entries in

for our giveaway.

See here for how to enter.