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August 31, 2010
As you know – Mrs Robinson is knocked up and due in October!
Do you think Mrs Robinson’s baby is going to be a boy or a girl?
I’m undecided, but if it is a boy, I’ve found a few goodies to shower the latest HMK team member with!
Anou Design handmade felt elephant canvas
Oopah Crimson Corduroy Baby Oopah
Victoria OC hand knitted vintage inspired pom pom hat
Small Town – trike onesie
As for names, HMK CEO and I are keen on Ronan if it is a boy, coz we know someone who thinks that Ronan from Boy Zone is kinda gorgeous and scrummy … not that we would reveal who that person is, because obviously they could be sorta sad and a little bit pathetic – good thing it is not us!
Caz x
August 28, 2010
Today we have been fortunate enough to spend five minutes with the lovely Dee from Baby Galah. Dee is so busy creating, working and being a mum that five minutes is really quite a big amount out of her schedule!
Tell us a little about how your business came to life.
When my friends started having babies, I wanted to give them a gift as unique and beautiful as their new babies. My friends and family loved their gifts so much that they started ordering goodies from me … BabyGalah was born.
Can you remember your first sale of one of your items? What was it? How did you feel?
My first online sale was through my madeit store and it was one of my “Aussie Kangaroo” singlets. I was so excited that I had to resist waking up my partner at 3 am to share the good news. I was very excited and practically skipped all the way to the post office when I sent it off. My previous sales had been to friends and family. While these were very exciting and filled me with pride – there’s nothing quite like the confidence boost that an online sale to a complete stranger gives you.
Is there an interesting anecdote behind your business name?
My partner have always called ourselves the “Two Galahs”, so when it came time to name my “baby” clothing business, BabyGalah was the obvious choice !
Where does most of your creating take place?
I am lucky enough to have taken over one room of our new Melbourne house. I also get crafty – handsewing, knitting and scrapbooking, while sitting in the living room. I even managed to knit myself a scarf in the car while my partner drove us from Queensland to Melbourne. My camera and notebook are never far away for when inspiration comes to me. Especially on the tram or on my bedside table for those 3 am brainstorms!
What is your favourite item that you make? Show and tell!
I love creating customised items, so my favourite item that I make would have to be my customised tees and onesies. I custom make alphabetised tees and onesies for boys and girls. Like the “A is for Angel” one shown above.
What hand-crafty thing couldn’t you live without?
I have to be constantly creating and working on something! At the moment my favourite thing is my newly discovered knitting needles and beautiful wool and yarns. With this chilly Melbourne weather, I could be adding hand knitted scarves to the BabyGalah collection soon.
What would be your best tip for someone thinking about selling their handcrafted goodies online?
You don’t have to be a big operation to successfully sell your handcrafted goods online. Websites like Etsy, madeit and Facebook make it easy to connect with customers and fans alike. If your friends and family appreciate your goods, you will find a market for them online.
What do you love most about what you do?
Creating something new every day! Being creative and seeing gorgeous bubs and kids in clothes that I created.
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Thanks Dee and BabyGalah! We really appreciate your time, especially considering you recently relocated to Melbourne – we hope all those boxes are unpacked and you are keeping warm!
August 25, 2010
My dad has the great memory for numbers. At our standard Friday Night dinner this week we were talking about childhood toys and in particular The Magic Treehouse. My sister, myself and my cousin LOVED this toy so much and it really fuelled us with dreams of living in a treehouse, especially one that had a lift in the trunk and could be closed up so easily of an evening to keep the cold wind out!
Anyhoo, my dad specifically recalls that mum and he paid $23 for this toy back in the mid 70’s and he was right (he’s always right!). But GUESS WHAT - now you can buy one for your wee ones from Belles Familles … at a slightly higher price of $199 – but now it is fully motorised! And I’m seriously contemplating buying one!
I really have such fond memories of this toy and with the years forging ahead, the never ending stream of boring bills, and just the horrible things that can happen in the blink of an eye; why not have something that brings you back to a more carefree time.
I was born mid 70’s and even though it feels like a lifetime ago I’ve easily found awesome 70’s handmade goodies that indicate to me I’m not alone whilst I stroll (or ‘bogey on down’) memory lane!
Mumma Ficarelli corduroy pinny – remember the sound cord jeans made when you walked?
Szeya cassette earrings – did you used to tape songs off the radio on a Saturday night and maybe even phone up the radio station and send out fake love song requests?
Snap Dragon Style – roller skate clutch. All of the cool kids roller skated. In fact our very own HMK CEO was something of a prize winner on the concrete rink!
This gorgeous bag does remind me of something that my mum wore with chunky knee high black boots! Edna Wears retro curtain handbag. Beautiful!
And whilst I think this Bruce Springsteen album was released in the 80’s, I think Bruce is hot and Born to Run is in my top five ‘driving albums’, so I had to put in this gorgeous record album bag from Brindakay Design.
Ahh, it takes you back!
Caz x
August 18, 2010
JulJuni – Space Invaders wall decal Nooshka – red retro doll
Hey Harriet – red retro teacups print Hannah Banannas – Nanna’s table cloth dress
August 14, 2010
What beautiful goodies can we get for the man in our life this coming Father’s Day? We are inundated with gorgeous handmade choices!
Lovestamp – guitar pick necklace
Vinyl Tees - gecko t-shirt
Ambette Designs - iphone case
Blue Day Designs - customised mini portraits
Caz x
August 1, 2010
It’s that time of year when you see errant mushrooms popping up around the place. My friend even had some pop through the carpark bitumen at her work! When they want out, they want OUT!
Cant stand to eat them, but LOVE what clever people have created from them!
1. Ollie Rose mushroom t-shirt 2. Nature Photographer “Wild Mushrooms” photo
3. Jetta’s Nest mushroom brooch 4. Flying Star mushroom softies 5. Lisbon Sky hair elastics
Caz x
July 31, 2010
Yah! I’ve decided on an ocean, beachy type theme for my wee Hamster’s room. His nanna is quilting him a sea themed quilt and his grandma is crochetting him a matching throw rug (do 18 month old kids get throw rugs?? I’m not sure about that terminology – someone help me with that!)
So now begins my quest for all the other bits and pieces that I will need to finish it off! And then once he is over his ‘demolish his room every chance he gets’ phase, it’ll be action stations!
Here are a few pieces I found that would fit me thinks!
Penelope & Pip – Vernon the Whale print
Inspired By Paper – personalised framed art
Small Town – fish onesie (okay, so it will not fit him, but it is so adorable!)
Off fishing!
Caz x
July 29, 2010
Well la-di-da! What do we have here? La di da Kids is a site created by a work-from-home-mum with a love of handmade products for children. And it gets better – all the products are Australian made, supporting Australian artists and handcrafters exclusively.
While moseying through this site, I was taken with not only the baby and toddler products but the attention to the slightly older child. It can be easy to forget that 5-year-olds should look and play great too! How unique is this Angel Top with Elephants, or the Red Shoes Stationary Set for even the earliest of writers?
I really love the idea that this site brings together so many creative minds – the items I looked at all seemed fresh and exciting. Only a matter of months ago, I was someone who had no idea what a great gift for a baby or a child was – but sites like La di da Kids definitely help. You know the products have that handmade loveliness about them and that no-one else will give a gift quite like yours when you buy from a site like this.
Check them out – they even have my favourite – some corduroy for kids too!
xx
July 28, 2010
This week we are so lucky to have Olga from Ellies Pretty Thing as our fantastic Celebrity Blogger!
Olga has found winter warmers by cool handmade crafters!
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My whole reason for loving handmade is simple: I don’t like to be a carbon copy of anyone else and I don’t want that for my little girl either. Don’t get me wrong – I love the latest fashions and trends. I love them a lot but I just want a subtle difference. That is why handmade fits into my lifestyle perfectly. The small run, unique and ultimately cool items that can be found within the handmade realm is immense. Thankfully, Australia has produced some of the craftiest craftsters out there.
As winter is upon us I thought I would share with you some of my current favourite items.
1. I love this fabulous addition to any little one’s possessions: a Magnolia sleeping bag/zip-up quilt. It is just the thing for sleepovers, camping or just for keeping warm after a long day of playing.
2. This Splat Monkey Wrap by Tidabella Monkey looks so cozy and warm that my only complaint is it doesn’t come in mummy sizes.
3. Awesome red poncho, a la little red riding hood, from Charlie Bird Clothing.
4. This is just one of the many awesome hats available from Vanilla Knits & Bits
With these great handmade winter warmers everyone can see why handmade for kids is so cool!
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Thanks Olga! You certainly found some paparazzi worthy goodies!
You can view Ellies Pretty Things and more goodies by clicking here!
If you don’t mind living with your face plastered over the front of gossips mags and feel up for being a celebrity blogger for HMK, please email us! Thanks 
July 26, 2010
First do no harm.
It can relate to your baby, yourself, your friends, the world, the universe. We have come a long way in the quest for sustainable living that was talked about by the alternatives of the 60s and 70s. As far as we have come, it can still be difficult to find a diverse range of organic, eco-friendly and healthy products for our children. Sure, they are out there but where do you find them?
How wonderful to find that Cassie from AVIDIVA has lovingly sourced many products of this nature for your children and made them available for you from one easy site.
Check out the Babyjo Bamboo 2 layer blankets, and the AromaPlay clay makes me wish the internet had olfactory abilities!! I also love and use my own Qubies to freeze my little one’s leftovers – there is something so incredible in the design of this product .
Cassie also incorporates her love of handmade items in her signature brand AVIDIVA which is also available through this site. Her organic onesies, which can be personalised for your child, have some gorgeous designs on them. I love the birdie!
Its all lovely for baby and with equal importance, lovely for our world. You will do no harm in checking out the products available on Avidiva so go on, take the step to a better future for you, your baby and your world.
July 24, 2010
I remember when my dreams of magical, mystical creatures came crashing down. I woke up to see my dad putting a 50-cent coin where my tooth had been. It made me wonder if reindeer really nibbled on the carrots at the front door and a rabbit truly left magic dust amongst the chocolate eggs. It also begged the question – did a dragon named Puff really ever live by the sea?
Regardless, I continued believing (partly in fear of not getting 50-cents for the next tooth!) and I think I am better for it. What would a childhood be without the stories of rainbow-coloured unicorns and fire-breathing dragons?
So what did you believe in? Some of the gorgeous creations below might spark your memories – or remind you of the extra nip of whiskey that opened your eyes to the movements of the Loch Ness Monster while in the Bonnie Land.
1. Sparkly Green Knickers – Princess and the Pea Skirt 2. NickMaxMama – Dragon Hooded Bath Towel 3. Happy Family – Red Dragon Print T-Shirt
4. Two Farm Chicks – Fairy Dust Bottle 5. GiGi Belts – Unicorn Sparkle Belt 6. Smiling Ice Cream – Sweet Miss Dragon Singlet
July 21, 2010
Top row: Kia Hing Fay rabbit rattle
Bottom row: Mel P Designs red rose brooch
Vanilla Knits & Bits baby beanie
Rens Fibre Art cushion cover
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