Slack Blogger

I've been a slack blogger of late....

I blame the other job - the day job...but this weekend I'm planning being a good blogger...whats in a name - the when sarah met liz story and also a recap of what we've been up to of late...

See you soon.

BTW Poppyseed markets are on this Sunday - my Sister C Percy Designs will be selling her wares, pop past - this isnt just a kids market something for all of us!

Liz

Getting ready for the June BillyCart Markets

Its that time again, Billycart markets June market is fast approaching, i'm totally disorganised as per usual...have i mentioned i work better under pressure give me too much time to do something and it won't get done, give me 5 minutes and its yours....

Mel from Billycarts did a nice blog post on C percy Designs and I the other day (Yes once again i will be combining with my sister, she'll have her beautiful Skater boys and girls beanies for sale on the day) head over to Mel's blog to have a read and to check out the whose who of Billycart markets June Edition, looks like once again it will be filled with the most beautiful creations.

Now back to the day job...arrh so much to do so little time

Liz x

To post or not to post...

There has been a lot of talk of late of whether to post picture of our work on Facebook or sell on the internet. Does this make you a target for people stealing your ideas? what makes your idea your own and how to safeguard against people stealing your ideas.

I started out by making gifts for friends - i used the softie book to make many of my first creatures, these were all given as gifts, which thankfully for me was the correct thing to do. I have since read that it is a breach of copy right to sell these items, which i think we all would know. 

(Little red monster on the left is one of the softies i adapted from the softies books made with love for many of my little friends - Jon, Drew, Harrie, James, Max, lennon and Julia)

To sell something it must be your own idea something that you thought of yourself. I am noticing more and more on facebook and madeit that there is a lot of copying going on and this concerns me (hasn't happened to me but i am seeing lots of similar items posted). You go to the effort of designing something then some one copies...but in the modern age this goes with the territory - i guess the people copying will know what they have done - and the reality is the copies are never as good.

So if you see me post something on facebook or made it will be my idea and my design, this is why many of my items are one of a kind (OOAK)

(Miss Molly on the left is my original creation she is a OOAK)

Haha thats a rant! be original your customers will love you for it!

Liz x

BTW - When sarah met liz will be at billycart markets on June 26th come on down and get an orginal handmade or hand embellished item for your beautiful little ones.

Finders Keepers Market - Sydney

I am looking forward to checking out finders keepers markets in early May. The last couple of Markets i have visited have been children's markets - always stunning but nothing for me to buy for me.

10 designers have been named so far and they will have up to 80 stalls on the Friday and Saturday of the market, Looking at the caliber of these designers i think i am going to find plenty i want to buy.

The markets are on at the carriage works in Redfern, I've have never ventured down there and super keen to explore!

Spoonflower - i am in Love

Never in my life time did i ever think that i could design fabric and get it printed, i have always thought i will have to make do with what i find in the fabric store or online and then i stumbled on spoonflower...well maybe i didn't stumble i read about it on a blog. Today while studying cough cough haha not much of that happening i checked out how easy it is to get your design turned into a piece of fabric - you even get to order a swatch first to make sure your design works...this is insane i can draw a picture or take a photo and have it turned into a piece of fabric...the ideas are endless...now to brush up on those drawing skills...might have to suck up to my talented artistic sisters...

This beautiful piece below was added by a Fan on Spoonflower facebook page, its is just stunning...

Fabric by Susan Mentrak - posted on Facebook Spoonflower fan page

Finally a Made it stall

I've been meaning to create a Made It stall for months but have never gotten around to it. So today i listed a few of the items i had left from billycart markets yesterday. Its exciting, i am interested to see if things sell via a picture, most things I've sold have been sold in the flesh...its interesting to sell something to someone sight unseen so to speak.

You can check out at items here http://www.madeit.com.au/wsml 

Special thank you to those that came and visited the store, also those that purchased some of my wares, you made my day...especially when i got to try some items on your children, feels so great seeing a little one in my creations.  i had a great time meeting the other creators too. 

If you saw something you liked and didn't purchase send me an emai, happy to create a custom order for you.

Manny the Monster Menace

All week i have been trying new toy designs, pretty felt dolls and shapes but i hated them all, kept putting each new design aside hoping it was just me and when i looked at them again i would love them bop buw...they sucked...Its a lot of effort to end up hating the end result...drawing, drafting the pattern, cutting out, Hand stitching etc...

On Thursday I chatted to my photography teacher and he was like kids like monsters and blobs...I realised I had put monsters on singlets and bibs but never used that picture to make a toy. 

Today i drafted up the pattern and am well pleased with the results. His kinda like my ghosts, which i love making but the whole white/cream colour worries me...these work way better.

Very happy with the end result...Actually now they are reminding me of the Simpson's Aliens...

And why is Manny a Menace...Mr P has been calling me a menace all week...I cant remember what i did to him to get the nick name but I'm sure i deserved it!!

Have a great saturday night

Liz x

Learning from those in the know...

The last couple of days i have been talking to my mummy friends, yesterday i spent a lovely afternoon with an old school friend and her nine month old, i love that my best friends from school are still in my life, i am blessed.  Just chatting with practical mums give the best ideas, CJ and IJ had some great ideas, thanks guys.

Today I took some of my current stock to my sisters house to see how the designs looked on  Miss J.

What a learning experience, its one thing to design its another to see that they are functional. A couple of designs really didn't work which i am so happy to know, I'd hate to sell something and have the mum get home and not be able to get it over the child's head.

Seeing the designs come to life on my niece was so exciting, as you can see from the photos Miss J was a wonder model.

Needle and thread time....

Busy Busy Busy...

So much to do so little time.

Here are a couple more items I've made this week...still so much to be done...and when does the cleaner arrive...oh that's right its me DAMM...

Billycart Markets - Who will be there?

Just checked out Billycart markets Blog, it has been updated with lots of information on who will be selling their beautiful wears at the markets on the 27th March.


Getting exciting now, lots of stock made...so much more to do....the build up to a market is almost as exciting as the actual event...will this sell, will they love it as much as I did when i created it...seeing a child wearing/hugging a creation of yours is always so self for filling...that’s why we do this after all!

you'll notice C Percey Designs and I have also been included in the blog

X marks the sport

Boys Pants now added to the range.

I havent made pants in a very long time and i wasn't sure i would even remember how, but its amazing everything you've ever learnt is in your head somewhere...

In love with lace...

I'm in love with lace...for as long as i can remember i have hated lace...have done everything i could not to touch or sew with the stuff...pure hate and dread...memories of year 11 work experience when i thought a week with bridal wear would be an exciting experience...so much lace and beads...arrghhh i remember hating every moment of that week...haven't touched the stuff since...but i've since learn't (its taken 16 years) that lace is my friend and in fact beautiful...

Todays creations.

Dark Blue bonds body suit with floral lace

White Singlet Suit with Lace Dragon Flys

Grey Singlet with Floral Lace

Baby Blue Singlet with Lace Butterfly

All these items are available at Billycart Markets on Saturday 27th March 2010

Off to make some boys pants now...

whats in a logo...

My sister and I are sharing a stall at Billycart markets, sharing a stall means sharing everything...thankfully Christine is a very talented person not just with the hook but also on the computer, she spent alot of time yesterday creating a Logo for us...

 

Thanks Christine, all your effort is appreciated

Vintage Love

I love all things vintage, yesterday while driving through Broadway in Sydney, i saw this women who looked like she was in her 70's or 80's, she was so beautifully dressed, like she was going to a party...the dress she had on was a 1950's special oh it was beautiful, i wanted to stop the car and take a photo...actually i wanted her dress, every detail was perfect the hair, the broach, the handbag...she grew up in an era when women dressed ever so beautifully...


I've added some links, with more to come, to some of the blogs i regularly read, from beautiful vintage to homes, interiors and home wares I would die to own....i guess that me...vintage, dress wearing, home wear loving women!

H is For Hamish

With many of my friends children going off to day care and graduating from the babies room to afternoon nap time...a need arose for Day Care Sheets....who said sheets have to be boring and plain...

Angel Wings

This week i embraced my inner angel, the result rompers with wings, I'm in love with the idea of little ones being angels. I toyed with the idea of putting devil tails for your little devil but then realised mums might call them little devils but in reality they are all mummies little angel

Getting on the blog bandwagon

When sarah met liz has been creating baby items for a while now, but very much for friends and family, with the help of my sister over @ http://www.cpercydesigns.blogspot.com/ I'm starting to market myself better and using all the wonderful online communities.

We'll see how i go with this blog thing!!!