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September 8, 2010
MadeIt have now provided a fabulous space where Aussie Crafters can buy their supplies online all in one convenient spot with the launch of their sister site Craftumi.
On this fabulous site you will find a huge array of everything a crafter could possibly want and it is all available from Aussie sellers. I am sure you will spend many hours browsing all the goodies planning your next crafting advenutre and here are a few of our favourite picks for your next project:
Wooden Buttons from Heart Supplies
Wink Designs Sundress Pattern
Fabric Bundle I Just Love That Fabric
Trims from Waste Not
August 15, 2010
Yesterday I had a serious case of linen closet envy.
The Caz family are putting their house on the market and after a busy bee day to get it ready, I arrived wine in hand (had managed to avoid the hard yards) and was promptly shown the linen closet. Soft towels in neatly folded rows greeted me, everything in it’s special place, our friend Jack was the linen organisation queen.
I came home and looked in mine and it looked a lot like the inside of an Op-Shop bin (well what I imagine one would look like given I have never been in one). My family have obviously never noticed our shelves, as most things were on the floor and a neat row of towels – phfttt where?
And thus begun reclaim the closet day. Oh and the joy, I have entire floor now I can store things on and it lead to reclaim the front room as well which was doubling as a storage room of stock, playgroup toys and things I generally couldn’t find a space for.
How liberating does it feel when you have a giant clear out? I am sure like most mum’s who are flat out, you manage on the bare essentials when it comes to keeping a house in order – or maybe it is just me, who never received the freaky cleaning gene?
Here are a few gorgeous handmade house items to get you in the mood:
1. Home Pears by Red Stitch Designs 2. Ceramic Tapa Canoe by Chan Andreassand
3. Blink Designs Owl Clock 4. Birdsong Lampshade – The Owls are Hunting
July 19, 2010
June 17, 2010
The time to be quiet is over now!
The Handmade Kids / Clever People Challenge first ever Silent Auction closes at midnight (WA time) Friday 18 June 2010.
ALL proceeds raised in the Silent Auction to the Autism Association of WA and there is no postage cost to you if you are the highest bidder on any (or all!) item/s.
Here is a looky at the fabulous goodies up for Auction.
Still time to get your winning bid in just CLICK HERE for info on how to bid!
Mathilda’s Market showcases and sells beautiful handcrafted and limited production baby and kids goods. They carefully handpick our stallholders to bring you the most divine and original clothing, accessories, homewares and toys for the little ones. Exquisite wares are lovingly made by some of Australia’s most talented crafters and designers – many of them parents themselves.
It’s a shopper’s heaven for those who want to stylishly dress their children or decorate their kids’ home environment, but don’t want to buy mass produced, chain store items.
At Mathilda’s Market you’ll see the funkiest and most gorgeous of outfits for the kids, chic bedroom decorations and furnishings, bright and brilliant toys, must-have accessories, pretty and practical bags and shoes, dreamy vintage-inspired creations, handcrafted musical instruments and jewellery, fabulous dress-up costumes, striking linen … and so much more!
And what’s really fun and inspiring is getting to meet the makers of these wonderful goodies, face-to-face at the Market. As most of our stallholders don’t have a shop front, you are guaranteed to find something truly unique, AND within your budget.
For a list of fabulous stallholders VISIT HERE.
Brisbane:
- Saturday, 19 June 2010
- Brisbane Racing Club at Eagle Farm, 230 Lancaster Road, Ascot
- From 9am to 1pm. Plenty of free parking all around Racing Club
June 12, 2010
Hi guys, for the last couple of days our emails have gone awol, as such we have a temporary Gmail account till the powers that be fix it for us 
If you need to contact us, or have in the last couple of days, can you please resend to handmadekids1@gmail.com. This also applies to auction bids.
Sorry for inconvenience – now I need wine
I used to love hosting dinner parties, but “with kids comes chaos” and it just doesn’t seem to happen as often as I would like.
But when the lovely Daneve from Ah-Tissue posted me a goody bag, I was inspired, driven and motivated to become the hostess with the mostess once more!
Ah-Tissue creates Tissue Paper Pom Poms which are a fun and unique way to decorate your kids bedroom or next dinner party! Daneve cleverly hand folds, traces, cuts, and wires tissue paper into strips that you fold out into a pom pom (you know how delicate that is – the girl must have the patience of a saint!). She then posts it off to you (in gorgeous packing I must add) and you get to have fun fluffing, unfolding and fiddling with your pom poms until they are just the size and shape you want!
This is how they look once you’ve foofed it out!
Jemma and I played with the pom poms over a couple of cups of tea and what we really liked Ah-Tissue’s products was:
1. The beautiful presentation and uniformity of the un-fluffed pom poms! So gorgeous!
2. The pack included a very clear and simple instruction sheet which was really helpful (especially for a non-crafty type like me!);
3. A test pom pom was included (great idea!);
4. Beautifully matching colours;
5. A unique product – it was a pleasure to review something that is fresh and unique.
So whether it be for a wedding, a nursery, a birthday party or a you beaut dinner party you are planning, Daneve and Ah-Tissue will be able to help you decorate in a unique and fun way. I love Ah-Tissue goodies and I’m sure you will too. Daneve is a sweetie and you can say hello to her on her blog or on Ah-Tissue’s Facebook page too.
And those of you lucky to be in Brisbane on 19 June, can go and say hi to Daneve and Ah-Tissue at Mathilda’s! Say hi from us!
Caz x
June 10, 2010
You know this feeling right? When you are shopping at an actual or online shop and you spot something that you just adore straight away; the endorphins start to make your body go a bit tingly and you feel your mouth begin to salivate a little and your heart rate increase to a level as though Brad Pitt had just walked in the room?
Well, that is what happened to me last night when I looked at A Koochikoo Peekaboo’s stunning nappy cakes! And I’m not normally a big fan of them, but Nadine’s nappy cakes are stunning! The colours, the layers, the quality, the look, just so damn appealling – I’m just about out of adjectives but you’re hearing me right? I just want one!
The good news is that A Koochikoo Peekaboo deliver to hospitals Australia wide and these cakes are filled with practical items for mums and bubs that could include baby singlets, mittens, flannels, socks, softies, beanies, wraps and of course nappies. Nadine is happy to tailor these yummy cakes to your taste and budget.
A Koochikoo Peekaboo are also pleased to offer flowers to deliver to hospitals too – but not those messy ones that wilt or need water. But THESE …
Delicious huh?! I think you and I both know that the colours are beautiful and the presentation is perfect! Just what a worn out mum needs to brighten those three day blues!
A Koochikoo Peekaboo donate a percentage of all sales of their nappy cakes and flowers to the Townsville Hospital Foundation Neonatal and Special Care Units.
Nadine also has a vast range of other gorgeous giftware that will give you that whole Brad Pitt feeling again, so don’t hesitate, go check out A Koochikoo Peekaboo. See you there 
Caz x
June 8, 2010
The log fire is blazing, the kettle boiled and the marshmallows ready to toast at MissChief Maker this winter.
Miss Chief Maker is full of gorgeous snugly winter delights. Divine jackets and coats, ultra cool puffer vests and accessories to brighten drab winter days.
MissChief Maker prides itself on sourcing and supplying locally handmade accessories and gifts for children and women. All their products are Australian made.
No matter what day or season, you will always find something unique and different hiding behind the doors inMissChief Maker.
May 31, 2010
I am sure everyone has seen them before, a square blanket surrounded by loops of ribbon? But did you know that there is a trademark and patent on them?
If you follow along in some international crafting forums, you may have seen the issue discussed there – but how does it affect Australian Crafters?
Taggies are a US company that have a reputation amongst crafters for being notorious in protecting their patent rights. There is also much discussion surrounding the broadness of the patent, which allows for Taggies to have the rights on any bit of ribbon looped placed between two bits of material. So broad is the patent, that this could also mean clothing tags placed in a similar fashion are an infringement on the patent.
However, no matter how broad, the fact is that a company has patented this design in the US.
So what does this mean for Australians?
Curious about this broad patent a while back, I did some research and spoke with an IP Search Company, IP Australia and an IP Lawyer. From this research I learned that Taggies do not have a patent registered in Australia for this design, nor a patent pending. There was also some speculation that a patent such as this may not be approved in Australia.
For Australian crafters this means that making blankets with looped ribbons is not an infringement on this patent if you are selling them in Australia. However, if you sell on places like Etsy, which is a US site, you may in fact be breaching this patent. Taggies have been known to contact many sellers on Etsy and have them remove their products due to this breach of patent.
My research has indicated that – and this is important for Australian crafters to note – Taggies DO have a Trademark registered in Australia for the words “taggie” and “taggy”, and I believe some other variations of the word. What this means is that if you use these words to describe or name your product, you are in fact breaching a registered trademark of the company.
It will be interesting to see in the future if the patent is ever registered in Australia, as this would have a significant impact on many crafters who use looped ribbons on products.
Note: Information provided in this article is based on my own research and cannot be construed as independent legal advice or replace professional advice from an IP Lawyer whom you should contact if you have queries or concerns regarding trademark or patent issues in Australia.
Further information on Trademarks, Patents and Searches from such can be obtained from IP Australia.
This post has also been published on Handmade Contemporary Alliance Blog.
May 22, 2010
So if you were hanging around on Facebook today you would have come across a post where I have asked for some words that I can search on our two favourite sites MadeIt and Etsy and see what fabulous products these words unearth.
Here are the results of our very first word challenge as suggested by Claire was “Dream“.
From MadeIt, here are 4 lovely items that come up when you search Dream.
1. Mooza Designs 2. Zayra Tea Light Holder
3. Two Smitten Memory Board 4. Hummingbirds Song
My second challenge word that Random Org brought me was “celiac”. A challenge indeed, so I have headed to Etsy and made my search broader.
And are all the neat items you find should you want to search “celiac” on Etsy:
1. Aroma Play Gluten Free Clay 2. Emmy’s Organics
3. Not your Mums Vinyl 4. Chris Gallis
Visit Anika for more fabulous items such as these gorgeous ones featured above.
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