I saw a piece at the end of ABC National News this evening about a charitable organisation that provides blankets and knitted clothing for AIDS orphans in southern Africa.

Did you know that there are an estimated 11.6 million orphans in sub-Saharan Africa?  11.6 million!   Many of these children are AIDS orphans or have been abandoned.   Many live in poverty in shanty towns, many without an adult to care for them.

While other children’s charities work hard to provide food and shelter, Knit A Square provides warmth by asking knitters and crocheters from around the world to send 20cm squares to South Africa to be sewn into blankets.  Their website has easy patterns and full instructions for making the squares and getting them to South Africa safely.  Next month the Crafty Coasters are tackling crochet.  I think I’ve found the project that we can work on.

Blue Caravan is the latest on-line market place for handmakers and I have opened a store there.

Blue caravan supports independent designers and artisans who create contemporary work that is ethically produced, either here in Australia or overseas.  There is a beautiful selection of goods including clothing, ceramics, accessories, homewares, jewellery and body products (just to name a few).  Be sure to read the profiles of the sellers - there are some inspirational stories of designers who are working hard to develop fair trade businesses.

I’m off to browse the virtual shelves for the next round of birthday gifts….

I am getting ready for the  BrisStyle Indie Eco Market at the moment.  This market is the second of the BrisStyle specialist markets this year and has a focus on handmade products created from environmentally friendly materials and on vintage goods.  I use vintage and repurposed fabric and notions because I love them and because it is fun to find new ways to use old materials.  But with increasing awareness of the environmental damage caused by mass-manufacturing my choice of materials has become more important.  I will have a range of products for sale at the BiECO - bags made from repurposed curtains, purses made from vintage fabric, hair pins decorated with vintage buttons, and even some vintage craft supplies.

There will lots of clever and creative BrisStyle sellers at the BiECO so come along and check out a great range of handmade eco goods and vintage treasures on Saturday 10th July 9am - 2pm at St Augustine’s Churchyard, Racecourse Rd, Hamilton, Brisbane.

I have had a break from markets this month and am really enjoying making stuff for fun and friends.  It is also nice to have the time to  participate in this project run by Pip of Meet me at Mikes.   The Envelope Project is an interactive project in which everyone is invited to send a decorated envelope to Pip to display in her shop window.  Put some crafty stuff in the envelope, make sure your name and address is on the back and Pip will display your envelope, share a photo of it on Flickr and then, at the end of the display period, one participant will be chosen at random to receive all the envelopes and the goodies inside.  Love it!  Why don’t you join in too?

I came across this delightful book in gallery/bookshop/cafe in Mt Tamborine.  I was enjoying a Mother’s Day outing with my mum whilst my husband entertained the kids.  As it was Mother’s Day I had licence to treat myself to a book but I always seem to find myself browsing the kids books.

‘Could you? Would you?’ is written and illustrated by Trudy White, a Melbourne painter-writer-beekeeeper -plant scientist.  It is full of whimsical illustrations and questions designed to get kids imagining and talking and drawing and exploring.  There are questions such as “Could you run an all-night race?” and “Would you eat a meal that a cat had cooked?” and “Could you live in a place where the weather never changed”.  And there are activities like ‘Draw a map of your house’ and ‘Draw a picture of your family’.  It is a simple and fun way to engage with your children.  And to spark your own imagination!

A little while ago I purchased some awesome fabric designed by Ky of Voodoo Rabbit.  She and her friend, Cloud, had opened their own on-line store filled with retro fabrics and buttons.  In amongst the Michael Miller, Kokka and Alexander Henry prints and are some Voodoo Rabbit originals.  Definitely the pick of the bunch!  I couldn’t resist this Space Invader print, knowing that it would be perfect for one of my kid’s mini messenger bags.

Here is the completed bag all ready to go on sale at The BrisStyle Indie Mother and Child Market this Saturday.

I have been busy finishing off stock for the BrisStyle Indie Mother & Child Market which is being held on 8th May.

I am having fun with quilts at the moment.  These are made from vintage cotton sheeting, padded with polyester wadding and are backed with snuggly cotton flannelette.  They will be great as lap quilts, kindy quilts or in the cot or toddler bed.

Look forward to seeing you at the market!

Sometimes it is nice to make things just for fun. And it is even nicer to make things for fun for other people.  I made this skirt for a little friend who turned 3 today.  It is made of soft denim with the pockets and trim made from vintage sheeting.  Happy birthday Zoe!

This where I’ll be next month!  The BrisStyle team has been working hard to secure some great market dates this year.  In addition to the BrisStyle Indie Designers Market at St Augustine’s Church Hamilton there are a series of Twilight Markets in King George Square, and two BrisStyle Eco Market dates.  You can find the details as well as links to all the talented BrisStyle sellers here.

BrisStyle is a cooperative group of talented Australian artists, crafters and artisans who live in the South-East Queensland area. BrisStyle sellers design and make all their products -  nothing imported or mass-produced.  The BrisStyle Indie Mother and Child Market is the only market that offers genuine locally-sourced handmade products.  So come along and support home-grown talent!

Here is some more new stock that I have made for The Village Markets.

These shoulder bags are made from fab vintage fabric (of course!) in lots of crazy colours.  The bags are a generous size and are great for a trip to the local craft market or a day out at the beach.