Supporting hand made never felt so good

I went to the Mathilda's Market held in Sydney last Sunday and I've only just managed to take photo's of the beautiful goodies I came away with.  The weather has been so gloomy here of late I have been putting off taking photo's but today decided I could wait no longer.

This is how my visit progressed......

First up these gorgeous hair clips from Tutti Fruiti.  I got to the markets rather late and found the very lovely Belinda had been having a rather successful market day.  Luckily she still had afew items to choose from.

I just couldn't go past these lovely duck egg blue stud earrings for myself - never mind the children!

Next up The Raisin Did It with this fabulous print of the frivolous, frolicking, nightime jamboree

and this fantastic floral bird just really caught my eye.  The images have been printed on white linen place mats but I have been toying with the idea of either framing them or using them in some other crafty project - perhaps they can become the apron on a couple of apron skirts for christmas.........hmmm the cogs are now turning.

Then I found Sophie and Mel with her sweet little babe manning the Barefoot Babies stall, stocked with beautiful handmade garments for the littlies in our life.  I snapped up this hip little singlet as a christmas gift for one of my nephew's.  Don't you just love that dinosaur!

Next up I visited loz and dinny crafting extraordinaire Gemma.  I was first attracted to her stall by a lovely library bag hanging at the front.  As I was standing there I noticed a vinyl snap purse which looked sooo familiar.  It was only then that I realised whose stall I was looking at!  I love Gemma's blog and was very happy to meet her here in Sydney after she came all the way up from Tassie for the market.

I was oohhhing and aahhing over the above very sweet and old fashiony type hat and decided I just could not go home without it when - Gemma GIFTED it to me!!!- she could have knocked me over with a feather.  I was very touched and after thanking her profously, a little lost for words.  This wonderful, wonderful blogging community - what more can I say...........

Finally I reached the Snailblazer/Lottielulu stall.  I had seen Cass' Explorer Satchel's on her blog and was happy to see she still had this little number on her table.  I promptly purchased it 'for my girl's' - as if! - it has already become a WIP bag (somewhere to keep one of the yarny projects I have on the go). 

It was at this time my (at the end of his tether) husband and two restless children caught up with me and suggested I get a wriggle on in no uncertain terms.  So I did not get the chance to spend any more time perusing Cass and Ingrids other items on offer.

c'est la vie - there will always be next time.....................

Distractions, distractions........

Edited to add photo's!!

So it's been just over a week since my last post, but what a hell of a week it was. 

My eldest daughter spent five nights in Westmead Children's Hospital here in Sydney after having an operation on Friday.  Although it was a big operation, she has astounded and amazed me with her strength, resilience and the remarkable speed at which she is bouncing back.  We came home yesterday and she has had my heart in my mouth ever since (five year olds know no bounds) trying to do things I think she should not yet be attempting!

On the morning of the big op. I was pacing the living room floor, waiting until it was time to leave for the hospital, when I heard the postman's motorcycle go by.  So for something to do I went and checked the letterbox!!  I was most pleasantly surprised to find these wonderful sewing cards from the very lovely and generous Cass of Snailblazer had been delivered to me.  Wrapped in sewing pattern paper (what a great recycle) and with a little something extra for me thrown in!  I really wish I could show them to you now.......I can't wait to give them to my lovely little sweetpeas at Christmas.

A little while later the door bell rang, it was a delivery guy with a big box of craft goodies I'd ordered just the day before from here.  Some stuff for me and my girls and some stuff for my Playgroup.   Talk about good timing, we needed all the distractions we could get that morning.  Miss A and I spent some time looking at all the goodies and got stuck straight into using some too.

 

The girls and I made these fridge magnets last week and spent  Friday morning adding the magnets to the back after the delivery from CleverPatch

During the long wait while the op. was taking place, and the following days spent on the ward I whiled away the hours with a little crochet.  I think I'm now up to about 70 squares.  As each is only 9cm x 9cm I think I'm going to need about ohhh..... 360 of them! 

Lucky I'm still really enjoying the process.