Handmade at its Best!

Collaborate for a Cause 2013 is nearly here! 

This massive online Charity Auction starts this Friday 26th of July at 8pm and goes until Sunday 8pm! Every single dollar raised goes directly to the nominated charities. This is the third year that C4AC has been up and running, organised by Jen Kennedy of Ainslee Fox Handmade and her fabulous team of helpers. Last year the gorgeous ladies of the handmade community managed to raise over $40,000!! I wonder if we can beat that this year!!

You can find the Collaborate for a Cause facebook page and more info about how it all started HERE

Last year I was involved in one gorgeous collaboration. This year I had the pleasure of creating items for 2 collabs, and I am so in love with both of them!

This Doll and Quilt set was made using Riley Blake Designs "Hipster" fabric, and it was so much fun to work with! Melissa of Ms Midge made the gorgeous Pinwheels quilt, I adore how bright and fun it is! Rilee-Kate is the Berry Sweet little miss that was made by me! All the money that is raised from our collaboration will be going to Red Kite, a national cancer charity that offers support to children, young people and their families while they undergo their cancer journey.

Rilee-Kate and her Snuggly Quilt

This Super Hero Play Set was made using the very cool Robert Kaufman "Superhero" fabric! Christie of Jalli~bean kids made the funky pants and shirt set, hand embroidering the Sproggle image to the shirt! Kylie of Little Pink Pebbles made the super cool Super Cape and Mask set! And no superhero is complete without his sidekick! Ajay the Super Sproggle was my little part of this awesome collab, which was perfectly photographed by Wendy of Keepsake Photography by Wendy . All the money raised from our collaboration will be going to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the leading researchers into a cure for type 1 diabetes!

Let's Play Super Sproggle Set

With over 250 collaborations loaded into the auction album ready for Friday night, and over 135 charities set to benefit, Collaborate for a Cause 2013 is just spectacular, and I am super proud to be a part of such an amazing event!

Introducing Abigail

When I started my latest doll I had a very clear idea of how I wanted her to look. I had spent weeks sketching faces, and hours researching exactly how to create her hair. I then proceeded to spend a couple of days stressing myself out of starting her! I very nearly put this creation in the "too hard basket" simply because I was terrified of trying something completely new and wasting so much time on her! 

It's funny though, this doll looks nothing like I had planned! As I worked on her she evolved into a completely different little miss, one that was sweet and natural and insistent on dressing in very soft, girly florals.. If I had had my way she would have been in luxurious jewel tones: yellow, aqua, deep pink and blue. And she would have looked ridiculous! I had had in my head that she would be name Katerina, a royal princess in search of her prince .. apparently she preferred the name Abigail, and while she loves long dresses she would rather search out flowers to pick! 

So, this is Abigail, my first doll with "hair". Each strand of her curly locks has been individually stitched, taking me around 3 hrs to do. I thought I would find the process tedious but it was actually very relaxing! I did end up with a lovely blister on the tip of my index finger from the needle, but the end result was worth the pain!

Abigail's dress was an interesting process.. I kind of made it up as I went! I knew what I wanted it to look like, and I have to admit that I am super proud of how it has turned out. Mind you, I never thought to trace out what I actually did to make it so recreating it is going to be interesting in future! haha

Abigail will be available to purchase just as soon as I figure out the best way to offer her! I can't decide whether to just make her available, ballot her or auction her. Feel free to comment with your preference, at this moment I am happy keeping her for myself :P lol

My Handmade Obsession Revealed!!!

I love handmade! I love making things myself and I love buying other peoples handmade creations.

A lot of my friends and family don't get it. I get asked all the time why I don't just make it myself. The reality is that some of it I could have, but I like supporting other handmaidens too, and quite frankly, I couldn't be bothered trying to make it myself! Seriously, it takes forever to make something new when you have never done it before! I tried making my daughter a dress once.. it looked ridiculous! Dress making is definitely not in my skill set! And I could never make a doll like someone else just because I could, that is copying and a massive no go!

So anyways, over the past couple of years I have made some gorgeous purchases from the handmade community. Hairclips, Buntings, Clothing, Dolls, Softies. I thought I would share a few of my favourite purchases :)

Firstly, I have to start with my Marlibug Cuppie Pony. She only arrived this morning and she is what started the wheels turning about writing this post. She is AMAZING! I had to name her Florence, no idea why, it just jumped out at me and stuck. Phaedra (pronounce Fay-dra), the super talented handmaiden behind Marlibug Cuppie, was so wonderful to work with in creating this sweetheart. I had no idea what I actually wanted, so I just linked her a heap of pictures of past creations she had made and told her to do whatever. I love that she "got me", and my pony is perfection! 

I can't get enough of Cute Critters: Hand Sewn Creations! I ordered 3 Legged Yettles for my guys for Christmas and they are too adorable for words! Shannelle is the creative talent behind these cuties, and she is constantly evolving her designs and adding variations.. I want one of everything, just for me, just 'cos they are so darn cute and I love cute things! Do you think I said cute enough?!!

Aline, from Bedros Designs, creates the sweetest dolls! Her Little Miss Glasses doll caught my eye because of how fun and quirky her glasses are! My Little Miss Glasses, who I named Lucy, was sitting on my sewing table keeping me company until Miss Lolly (my daughter, aged 5) decided she needed to have tea parties with Sparkles (her Yettle pictured above) and the gang! So now I am looking forwards to the day I can add a Miss Glam to my collection! (definitely go have a look at Miss Glam, she is adorable!)

                           
        




If you haven't heard of Lilliput Loft, you need to change that right now! Seriously, stop reading and go! But come straight back, you need to finish reading my ramblings!

I have 2 Pretty Poppets and I adore them! One is technically Miss Lollys but I am nasty and very rarely let her touch (insert evil mama chuckle!) Jillian and Vicki and the creative genius behind the name Lilliput Loft. Jillian is responsible for the Pretty Poppets and the new Petite Pippins ranges, while Vicki creates the Urchin Collections. Seriously, I adore everything about this duo, and I can't wait to add more of their gorgeousness to my home! 

The last one I will share today is Rapunzel from the gorgeous Ring A Rosie! Janette is the loveliest lady and makes the sweetest dolls! Rapunzel was part of a showcase and as soon as I saw her I knew I had to get her for my Miss Lolly as she is obsessed with Rapunzel! I am not joking, she watches the movie Tangled all the time, her hair comes down to her bottom and she freaks if I even mention that I want to cut it off! Anyways, I adore the details of this Rapunzel, her puffy sleeves and waist corset, and omg, her hair! Amazing! One day I will try wool hair on one of my dolls, but for now I am in awe of all the ladies that work with it, and most especially this dolls hair.

I have made lots of other gorgeous purchases. Artworks from Cheeky Pickle, buntings from ZippyZippy, clothing from Ainslee Fox Handmade & Little Bapple, a cute rabbit softie from HinckleDoodle, a bear from The Faraway Tree, more dolls from Vivibijoux, Little Honeypie, Little Lottie, Cook You Some Noodles .. goodness, I could go on! This could actually get me in trouble! And I have just told the whole internet world about it so there is no hiding my handmade obsession! 

Shhh, don't tell my hubby!!