Friday, June 25, 2010

See you tomorrow :)

Hi Everyone

This will be our last post before the market tomorrow.
Here are the details if you are not familiar.

THE HANDMADE EXPO
SATURDAY 26th June
8am-2pm
The Ipswich Turf Club, Brisbane Road, Bundamba
FREE ENTRY...FREE PARKING

We at The Handmade Expo market would like you to join us this Saturday in supporting all our local designers, crafts people, farmers, cooks sellers of supplies for a lovely family day out.

The Queensland Pioneer Steam Train will be running throughout the market also offering 4 short trips at reduced rates for all market goers.

You can grab lunch and support Red Cross with their BBQ, Enjoy for the first time at our market a woodfire pizza, treat the kids ( and yourselves ! ) to gourmet fairly floss, brought to you by Fairy and Floss, have a coffee, cup cake, fresh fruit and ice cream, slices, cakes and biscuits ( all made locally ) Stock up on fudges ,cheese, preserves and pickles and purchase your fresh vegetables for the week ahead from local farmers plus much more.

Lots of handmade stalls as usual as well as some new stallholders coming for the first time.

We are spending a lot of time on our face book page these days and hope that you will join us there in future to keep up to date with the market. Here is the link
There is a voucher to give away to spend at the market as mentioned on facebook too.

We hope to see you on Saturday supporting local.

From
Liesa, Micky & Miriam

Monday, June 21, 2010

STALLHOLDER PROFILE - CUTE AS BUTTONS

Hi Everyone

Ok, so we would like to announce the next stallholder profile is Lisa Carter from Cute As Buttons. Lisa was lucky enough to get her stallholder profile selected to be in the newspaper ads this week. You can see it in the Ipswich News, Westside News and also the Queensland Times....Congrats Lisa....We are now going to showcase Cute as Buttons ALL week on the blog as well.

Lisa has been with The Handmade Expo from DAY 1. She is not only a very loyal stallholder of The Handmade Expo, but she is also a great friend.




So, Lisa...How long have you been creating for?
I've been making and creating for as long as I can remember. I come from quite a creative and handy family so it has always been part of life. We are quite adept at multi tasking and even when we relax we like to have something to keep our hands busy! My Nin could crochet, drink a cup of tea, finish a crossword and keep an eye on Wheel of Fortune simultaneously. I haven't quite mastered that level of skill but I am working on it. I began creating for Cute as Buttons in April 2008.

What Inspires and Motivates you to Create?
I am inspired by my children, things they need and like. By fabric and textures that I want to play with and explore. I'm also inspired by occasions - I often make things because I want something special to mark or celebrate an event.

What is your favourite item that you make?
Currently, my favourite items from the Cute as Buttons range would be the Personalised Name towels. I love the way they look and I think they are such a great 'Welcome to the World' gift for a new bub. I am also a bit fond of the Babushka Doll. She is so sweet! I really enjoy making the hair ties and yo-yo clips as well. I find making them relaxing and almost like a therapy.



Where is your Studio/Dedicated Creative Space?
My creative space is in my children's playroom. I have a dream that they will play contentedly by my feet as I happily sew. It hasn't happened, yet, but I continue to dream.

What is your most popular item within your collection?
I think the appliqued singlets are always popular and the bath towel sets would be a close second.



Do you have any new products in the works?
I have a couple of new designs for the boys that I am playing with. The Babushka is about to debut on towels and singlets. I will be introducing some appliqued tote bags for ballet, toys or shopping in summer and I am also working on a new design for the girls but I will need to practice my screen printing skills a little further!

Tell us a little bit about yourself, business/hobby:
I have always loved making things and playing around with fabrics and finishings. I like wearing things that are a little bit different or unusual and when I had my three little buttons, I wanted to be able to dress them in things that were as unique as they were. As a Mum to 3 very busy buttons and from my years of teaching in the Early Years, I saw a need for practical, play suited clothing that was also unique and fun to wear. I really believe that children should be able to explore the world without having to fuss about their clothes. This led me to develop Cute as Buttons.

Where do you see yourself in 2 years time?
In two years time my Little Buttons will all be at school and I will be sewing in the daytime instead of very late at night! I will be in my own creative space instead of the playroom. I will still be thinking of new designs and products. More than likely I will still be coming up with ways to justify purchasing the extraordinary quantity of buttons that I have in my house.

What do you love about The Handmade Expo? and why do you keep coming back?
I love Liesa, Micky and Miriam (in alphabetical order, girls!). I love their passion for Handmade and for Ipswich. I am based in Brisbane but my Mum's family has been part of the Ipswich community for six generations so the ties are strong. I like to think I am continuing to contribute to this great, little, town.
I like the people I have met and the friendships I have made. As a child, I remember shopping with my Nin, my Mum and Aunties and taking an hour to walk a block because they would encounter friends and we would stop and chat. That's what I like about The Handmade Expo - it has that same feel of community. I like to see the babies each month and chat about how they've grown. It's an environment where people take an interest and invest time in getting to know you. The Handmade Expo girls have worked really hard to maintain that same feeling as the market has grown and that's why I make my monthly trek to the Turfclub.
I should also mention that I get to spend the day with my Mum, Mary, once a month and I don't have to share her with anyone else! That's also pretty enticing. "


Thank you so much Lisa for taking the time to complete the online stallholder questionnaire and also for your very kind words. If you are a stallholder of The Handmade Expo and you would like your profile up in lights, we would love for you to complete the online stallholder questionnaire.

From
Liesa, Micky & Miriam

Thursday, June 17, 2010

STALLHOLDER PROFILE - SALLY & BILL NOLAN

Hi Everyone

Well, it is that time of the week where we showcase one of our wonderful stallholders.
Sally & Bill Nolan have also been with us since day 1 when we started at the showgrounds. We miss them when they can't make one of our markets and we love them when they are there....

They are wonderful and have taken the time to complete the stallholder questionnaire and now it is their turn to be showcased....

SALLY & BILL NOLAN


Sally's ironing board covers

Tell us a bit about yourself, your business/hobby:
We have retired, with time to spare, and looked for something which would sell as a commodity for people. Something useful. Love sewing and Woodwork so this works really well. We meet people and we don't sit at home.

How long have you been creating for?
13 years

What inspires and motivates you to create?
Love the many fabrics and colouring in cotton and of course, making things


Bill's Wooden Condiment Caddies

What is your favourite item that you make?
I only make the fabric ironing board covers and Bill loves to make his Wooden caddies that you fit your condiments in place on the table

Where is your creative space?
We live in Crows Next. Bill works out in his shed and I have my sewing room in the house

What is your most popular item within your collection?
Both the ironing board covers and the wooden caddies are both very popular at the market

Where do you see yourself in 2 years time?
VERY BUSY



What do you love about The Handmade Expo? Why do you keep coming back?
Good Friendly people, very good location and works well with my Sunday markets that I attend.

Thanks heaps to Sally and Bill for taking the time to complete the stallholder questionnaire. If you too are a stallholder of The Handmade Expo and would like your business/hobby/you up in lights like this, we would love you to complete the online stallholder questionnaire OR you can grab a hard copy from us at the markets.

From
Liesa, Micky & Miriam

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Our Next Market - Ipswich - 26th June

Hi Everyone

We are just wanting to touch base with you again...we like to do so, just to keep you informed of our ever growing market.

So, our next market is on Saturday 26th June at the Ipswich Turf Club, Brisbane Road, Bundamba...8am-2pm
FREE PARKING..FREE ENTRY

All the signs go up on Sunday which we always are excited about and enjoy doing....We have some new and improved signs that have been printed, which are just awesome...bigger, brighter and easier to read.

We have just received back our next lot of brochures which have been professionally printed...They are heading out to BRISBANE to be letterbox dropped this week which we are also excited about. We are heading Brisbane way to promote our market so more and more people will know about The Handmade Expo and what we all have to offer...Who could not get excited about that?

We have just proofed our advertisements for Ipswich News and also Westside News (brisbane)...Congrats to Lisa from Cute as Buttons. You are our STALLHOLDER OF THE MONTH. You have been showcased in the newspaper and also on our blog too (which will happen the week of the market, so keep your eyes open for that one). If you are a stallholder of The Handmade Expo and would like to be showcased like Lisa, please complete the online stallholder questionnaire which you can find on the right handside of our blog.

Thats probably about all for now...

See you soon

From
Liesa, Micky & Miriam

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Do you love our SIGN :)

Hi Everyone

We are so very luck to be able to utilise this sign every single month....

This month, we were so lucky to have Micky help us do the sign. Micky normally works on sign day :(

So, here it is...working hard...or watching hard!!!
You will see this one at Brassall Shopping Centre for 3 weeks...









From
Liesa, Miriam and Micky

STALLHOLDER PROFILE - CHRISTINE COLLIE

Hi Everyone
It is that time of the week where we showcase one of our wonderful stallholders.

From memory, we believe that Christine has been with us from day 1...a very loyal and happy stallholder :)



So, Christine...How long have you been creating for?
I have been sewing for about 30 years and smocking for about 5 years.

What Inspires and Motivates you to Create?
I love looking at all the new materials that are around and trying to picture what I could make out of them. It is lovely to see children in outfits that are hand made.

What is your favourite item that you make?
Anything that has a little bit of smocking on it. Singlet and pants sets especially in the summer months with matching hats.

Where is your Studio/Dedicated Creative Space?
I do my sewing in the rumpus room which we recently had air conditioned and which is under our house. Most of my smocking is done while I am watching TV of a night time.

What is your most popular item within your collection?
Baby hats are very popular. Lots of ladies tell me that they find it hard to find anything that will fit a new born baby, My hats range from newborn to about 12 months of age in the style that I make.



Do you have any new products in the works?
I will probably do a few more smocked christening dresses.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, business/hobby:
I started sewing and selling my goods in the "With Love" Shop in Ipswich many years ago. I then went to "Our Golden Hands". Both of these shops no longer exist because of lack of volunteers. I decided to learn smocking so that I could create beautiful clothing.



Where do you see yourself in 2 years time?
Probably still coming to the market. If not we will be spending quite a lot of time with our son his wife and grandaughter who will be living back in England.

What do you love about The Handmade Expo...Why is it that you keep coming back?
I love creating new outfits and to do that I have to have an outlet for my goods. I think that it is important that you are a regular stall holder so that your customers know that they can rely on you to keep coming back. It is also lovely to hear the comments of your customers about your work. I love the Handmade Expo because it is well organized and close to where I live.

Thank you Christine for taking the time to complete the online stallholder questionnaire. If you are a stallholder of The Handmade Expo and you would like your profile up in lights, we would love for you to complete the online stallholder questionnaire.

From
Liesa, Micky & Miriam