boys t-shirts

Over the last week ive been slowly working on a pile of stripey t-shirts for boys. Not short sleeved but 3/4 as there are enough of the average short sleeved out there to choose from. So far I am doing sizes 1 - 5 and ill see how they go at market before doing the larger sizes. I used to make these sort of t-shirts for my three boys in odd striped fabrics I found, mixy and matchy. I enjoy the playfulness of putting different knits together, and creating with no restrictions, although I thought the creamy one looked a bit pyjama-like so have tried not to use it as a front. 

Ill be updating the shop over the next day.

My creative list is huge for the remainder of the year as I have some major markets coming up.

Things like

boys shorts

girls shorts

envelope neck tees

pinafore dresses

a few cot quilts like these

and most importantly summer clothes for me!

Stay tuned friends cos im revved.*

* Because I just folded three weeks worth of washing after helping a friend go through her wardrobe today.

Have you ever seen the movie Shopaholic? Well I acquired the most divine green scarf to bring home from Carol's cast offs. Yay!

More spaces here 

samples

red batik

red flower diamonds

red blossom spray

green flower diamonds

olive and green tiles

turquoise and olive wash

grass green and old blue floral

pink and blue vine on chocolate

These are the latest samples for womens wrap dresses for december 2011. I will try to update these as I find more.

a sewing day out

Unsure of whether you guys are onto the pattern that seems to be repeating itself these last few weeks im now admitting that I go out sewing every tuesday. Ive been going to my friend, Mary's place to sew without distractions and to catch up on orders for that week. It sees me achieving way more than when at home. And boy, is it working wonders for both of us!

Mary and her husband run their own business so of course she has bookeeping to do, which can get out of hand quickly. Well, when I come for the day it kind of forces her to sit and do it. Sometimes she has been doing other things like clean out her wardrobe, kitchen cupboards, and the list just keeps going. Today was supposed to be linen press day. She didnt get it done in the end but then there is always next week!

Here is a favourite print of mine that they have in their lounge.

A pram blanket I finished for todays shop update.

I am so enamoured of the idea of sewing out for the day. I think you should ring your bestie and make a play date tonight and see where it leads you. It may force you to do those odd bits of mending you havent got around to or it may just allow you the head space to begin that quilt youve always wanted to start. I, for one am loving this play time, even if it is about the business side of things as well.

monday makings

size 5

I have a shop update of all sorts of things this time. I could not focus to sew just one type of design today so here is what I felt like doing added to some things made for the market table on saturday. 

size 6

size 1

I spent yesterday evening cutting out about 20 of these in size 1 through to 5, that I hope to get done. Im off to sew at a friends place. Like having a studio away from home. I know, I know I have a lovely space here but I can be so distracted by my housework and phonecalls, well you know how it is, that I get alot more done if I go out for the day.

size 3

size 6 - 12 months

If you didnt see the post about the photoshoot in Tickle The Imagination online magazine here is the link.

My Little Tree Kids clothing features on page 53!

weekend

Life has been fast paced of late. Ill have more of real life for you one day soon but right now I cant stop penning about this market life* and the way things have been going down.

Like, sometimes if I mention what im working on to an eager customer, it doesnt quite make it to blog or shop update before im putting it in the post! Which happened with this yellow dress above.

So I really enjoyed the weekend as it was one of those where I had no expectations (of myself)

and just let it roll. I have really wanted to do a smallish school market and it ended up happily successful, which is just as well because I had to force myself out of bed early saturday to replenish the table stock with some slippers quickly. It seems folks like that you are a local maker just doing your thing, putting yourself out there.

I managed four pairs of odd boots and slippers that were leftover cutting out I had sitting by.

I always cut out more than I get done for each market and they build up for times like these when I simply dont have time to begin cutting out at such a late stage, like 3 hours before I need to be somewhere!

After a late update phonecall from market organisers I was informed that we would be inside due to a high wind forecast. Eeeek! I rely on the marquee to hang my clothes from. But I managed to talk myself through the logistics of the set-up plus the Mr said he would come and help me. That was nice of him. So, needless to say I did the handsewing on these littlies at the market.

A friend makes the owls, not me, in case you were wondering what they were doing sitting there.

Viewing this now I realise I need more height on the table and wished id taken my tree.

In fact on this fine monday morning im having a complete rethink of the stall look so I dont get caught out again.

Im loving the simplicity of Jo's set-up.

Sunday we had a family day in more ways than one. Recently we have had my husbands brother and his family move over to Victoria from interstate and it was so nice to catch up last night over nibblies and a bbq. I got so caught up chatting to my sister in law that I forgot to make the salad and dressing (until the Mr reminded me).

And she is also a fellow blogger too! You can check her out here.

*Or maybe this is who I am becoming at the moment in a scarily boring way. Oh dear!

so, im on the right track

I found this late tonight after staying up to check and double check my emails.

If this is anything to go by then im only four things short of staying creative.

Just have to work on 3, 8, 22 and 26....

Good to know!

How many are you keeping up with?

found here

ill be here today

Im going to be at the Bentleigh West Primary School Market today.

I thought id try something local. I only just found out about it yesterday so I dont know how ready ill be by lunchtime. Its on from 12 til 4 and the location is 23 Brewers road, Bentleigh.

Pop in if youre in the area!

tickle the imagination magazine

Way back here I talked about something exciting that was happening. Well today is the day that the summer issue

of Tickle The Imagination is out!

Everything has been under wraps but I can finally let you know im thrilled to be in it as a contributor alongside my friends, Elisha of MonetPaisley Swimwear, Danielle Quarmby from Curiouser, her sister Kelly from PolkaDot Lane and Adelin at DinkyMe.

This was the first time I had done anything like this and I didnt know what I was in for when we met at a beach one spring day. But the kids were really well behaved and we managed not to drown anyone as it was a blustery beachy shoot and all of the little ones continually beelined for the waters edge. We ate cakes supplied by Red Hill Mud and in the end I found it hard to leave even though we were all pretty tired after the many clothing changes. I never knew how much work went into the organising of these things! I guess now I do.

Click on the link to check out our day!

friday

Theres alot happenning behind the scenes here at Textured Leaf Studio.

Im busy with sample boards for a certain endeavour, sorry to be a bit secret right now.

Ill announce it once I figure out the logistics. Ive also been setting up an online shop for my daughter where there will be the most squeal worthy party dresses and skirts. Just you wait!!!

I, as her mother can hardly contain myself when I spy what she has made.

Then there has been a few too many to keep up with custom orders for ladies wrap dresses. One certain repeat customer is on her fifth, yes I said FIFTH dress!

And all I really want to do is make quilts with the Mr.

I spied this over on Pinterest recently. I think it will be simple to do, dont you?

I might go for a blue background where the white is instead.

If anyone is working on a quilt can you please leave me a comment as id love to visit and see... 

halfway

I figure im about halfway at becoming good at this *market thing.

I know around half of what I should know by now as far as where to put things to maximum effect,

ive dodgily constructed one half of what can become a changeroom, and

I mostly always rock up with about half the stock I intended to make. 

But I have nice friends that come to support me on the day, bringing me chai for breakfast and yummy cakes. Thanks Elisha!

Theres the standout customers who let me take photos of their kids. 

Then theres those gorgeous unforgettable kids who will pose readily for my camera.

I adored this little guy, can you tell?

I hadnt seen this aviator on anyone yet and I wasnt quite sure of the sizing as

I have to be honest ive found them hard to size.

I guess its a 3 - 4 then?

The weather did not make up its mind yesterday and I spent a good part of 20 minutes hanging on to the marquee worriedly cos the other thing im slack about is taking weights to hold it down. Meaning I never have taken anything at all. Im glad I braved it as the rest of the day was downright delightful.

*apologies for another boring market post