Just two little kids...

Yesterday I thought it a great idea to dress the kids in some of the new stock Ive been designing for my store for Spring/ Summer and take some pics up at my inlaw's beautiful property. Sounds simple! But nothing is ever simple with kids..... about 6 hours later I had 2 half decent pics , 30009 terrible ones and pretty much gave up!

Elliott prefers to frolic half-naked than be dressed at all, and Fern wants to dance with the box of ribbons rather than sport them in her hair... 

But in the end it didn't matter. I left them to it. And captured my best photo of the day without trying. Unstaged. Just two little kids playing together with no fears or inhibitions. Just as it should be...

A few NEW Goodies from my studio...

Hi guys! Today I want to share with you some new products Ive been working on for my store... a while ago I felt I was talking about my work too much so I stopped sharing it so much with you, but I have decided Ive gone too far the other way seeing as this IS my blog to share with you! Anyway what I want to show you are some things I've made lately of the non-clothing variety... I LOVE making clothes for babies but sometimes I like a break to develop new ideas and here are a few I'm really proud of with more to come! Enjoy this little sampling... xx

Pastel 250mm home wreath with birdie and butterfly $59

Baby mobile $24

Boy Boudoir Owl wall hanging $28

Hairclip holder with bonus hair clip $19

Three Dimensional butterfly wall hanging $18 

Hanging birdies $9 each through custom order

Hairclip holder with hair clip $19

Baby mobile $25

Personalised nursery pillow $29.95-$49.95

Baby Mobile $25

Bright baby mobile on sale $21

DREAM wall hanging $24

What to do with those ole Vintage Handkerchiefs...

There is something unapologetically nostalgic about floral, pastel, musty smelling 'kerchiefs from the yesteryear, non? I think so, anyways...

Recently, I acquired a little collection of them. There they were, all standing in a row. Big ones, small ones... I couldn't stash them away, I just couldn't.

So I didn't.

I made this with them instead:

Sigh. Bunting is fabulous at the best of times, but I love how unique this string is, that it is both handmade AND repurposed with a touch of vintage. Despite how much I love it hanging in Fern's room, I can't keep it. Fern already HAS a string of bunting that was handmade when she was one by her nan and I and I have no other suitable home for it in my home... 

So! My lovingly constructed string of bunting is up for sale in my store for $29.95 and I am excited to see it go to a loving home. Visit my store to view and tell me..... what other ideas how you to repurpose old handkerchiefs? Do share, because I'd love to give another project a go!

ps. For those of you who admired Fern's crochet rug that I consigned for her bedroom recently, you can buy your very own here. I was well pleased with mine and I'm sure you could ask for custom colours as the shop owner is very obliging and I'm still marvelling at what a great job she did of Fern's!

Have a great week, peeps! xx

Extra Extra! Read all about..... Moi!

So, I'm a little chuffed and a lot flattered to be this month's 'Designer in the Spotlight' on Madeit. A little over a year ago I tiptoed my first piece onto the Madeit site... there seemed to be a lot of (seriously talented) competition on there and I had fairly low expectations about how I'd go. Why would anyone buy from ME when they could get something so much more amazing from someone ELSE? But for some unknown reason I hit the ground running. And I discovered that the more you give, the more you receive. The team at Madeit could not have been more supportive of my little business over those first few scary months. Over time, my confidence grew and I felt at home on Madeit; there really is no Australian online handmade market like it.

Every month I look forward to the designer spotlight. I excitedly soak up the experience and advice of fellow artisans and love to see the person behind the product. My secret goal was to be profiled. At some point. One day.

And then I was asked.

Folks, I don't have all the answers. Every day I'm learning. Growing. Building what was a hobby and is now my full time job. But I share with you all I know. And hopefully I can help or inspire one person the way some of your helped and inspired me.

Read my interview here. And thanks to every single one of you who helped me get here. You rock.

Modern Eclectic Girl's Boudoir...

I am completely in love with this room created by Jemma of Little Eats and winner of the dress I donated to the Cuddle Craft Collective auction that ended last Sunday (which collectively raised over $5000 for a children's feeding centre in Ethiopia -- yayee!) for her little girl, India...

A bright, modern and eclectic mix of patterns, colours, and furniture make this the ideal little girl's room in my book! That chandelier is to die for, and I've been coveting that pom-pom rug for ages and wondering if it might not just be right for Fern's room... loving the collection of artwork and prints and can I mention how flattered I am that that wreath in the centre of the wall is by Bubby Makes Three? It makes my day when I see one of my proudest creations in such a beautiful space!

Thanks for sharing this room, Jemma!

Jemma's wreath by Bubby Makes Three - $49 in my Etsy store

In the Press!

I'm sorry folks, I can't resist publishing this page from the new Autumn issue of Shop4Kids released in stores today... a couple of months ago, before Christmas when I was crazy-busy and literally had to diarise getting dressed else be nudey all day I was asked if I had any paisley bow-ties in my collection. I didn't, and I really didn't have time to design one..... but I did, anyway!

And I'm so glad I did. And got it to the magazine by the deadline. Because two of my bow-ties are featured in the shoot, including this one and this image which I am kinda swooning over.

Enough trumpet blowing. But chuffed all the same. xx

Image from Shop4Kids Autumn issue 2012. Bow-tie by Bubby Makes Three

Cuddle Craft Collective - MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Hi guys,

I know there are a billion charities out there vying for your financial contributions... and I certainly know you can't support them all! But when I was approached to support this one, it was kinda a no-brainer for me. 

With 100% profits from an all-handmade charity auction that will take place in March going toward a children's feeding centre in Ethiopia... it took me all of about 20 seconds to respond with a YES YES YES!

If there is one charity Im passionate about, its one involving children in third world countries. It makes my heart bleed to think that in this world and in these times there are people losing their lives literally every second due to starvation. How we let this happen makes me sick to my stomach. And overwhelmed. Because what can I do about it? Well, put my money where my mouth is is what, folks! 

And so I have. And I appeal to you, too...

The Cuddle Craft Collective Cuddle Craft Collective is a group of socially conscious and community minded souls who have joined together to make a difference to the lives of children and families in need. We will be running a series of auctions to raise much need funds for charities and community projects. 100% off all profits raised from these auctions are donated to campaign projects.

For the first project in 2012, Cuddle Craft Collective has teamed up with World Families Australia to raise much needed funds to support the children's Feeding Centre in Bonga, Ethiopia.

An online auction will be held from 18 - 25 March, 2012 during which time visitors will have the chance to bid on a range of limited edition, OOAK and exclusive designer products that have been lovingly crafted by Australian and International artisans.


I am auctioning one of these:

To find out more about this auction and some of the handmade goodies you can bid on and warm and fuzzy feeling you will get from knowing you are helping the lives of children in need; visit the website: www.cuddlecraftcollective.com

And 'like' the Facebook page, to get the most up-to-date info as well as a peek at all the handmade goodness up for auction!

www.facebook.com/CuddleCraftCollective

I'll update you with more info closer to the auction event -- thanks guys... xx

Pastel Cupcakes...

There is nothing like a plate of brightly iced, individually papered little cakes to bring out the inner child in all of us... today I'm inspired by all things 'cupcake'! Here are some pastel-paletted cupcake themed ideas for YOUR next little girl's birthday party! My personal have is the individually personalised naming bracelet which at US$3 would be a shame not to buy for each little party-princess and her guests? I think I'll grab one for Fern - at that price, it would be a tragedy not to! The final two images are my most recent cupcake- themed additions to my store... it's not the first time I've wished Fern was a baby again so I could try these ones on her! Enjoy these picks and have a lovely week....

ps. Tomorrow I have a very special project to share with you that I am proud to be involved in and that I am hoping you will support! xx

Handmade party hats, buy for $25 here

Ceramic cupcake stand, buy here for $35

Printable cupcake wrappers, buy here for $4.50

Fluttering flag cupcake toppers $20 here

Sparkly cupcake brooch, $15 here

Personalized naming bracelet, $3 here

Cupcake party printables, $16 here

Cupcake fabric ruffled bloomers/ singlet set, $32 here

Ruffled bloomers/ singlet singlet, $32 here

Workin' 9-5!

Today, I packed two little lunch boxes and sent two little kiddies off to preschool. One of them, for the very first time. Yes, folks. little wee Elliott Daniel has been sent to school where (hopefully) the teachers will sort him out!

Kidding. Sort of :)

I won't lie... I needed backup in the drop-off process and dragged my husband along for moral support... I cried more than one tear I must confess. The idea of sending one's baby off to school and the actual PRACTICE are two very different things. My littlest child has never been minded by anyone other than family and then pretty rarely. It breaks my heart just a little bit to have condemned him to a day inside a room with a bunch of other kids he's never met, a strange bed and hours and hours without his (sniff) mummy.

But maybe

hopefully

he'll love it.

Fern does, and barely says goodbye before she skips off to play with the boys. hmmmm. But of course Elliott is not Fern.

I've been putting this off and pretending I can work with the kids at home. But I can't, really. And so it was time. Because mummy. needs. a. work. day.

So now (for the first time in three years) I get a whole day, seven precious hours in which to ensconce myself in my little studio.

A WORK day, peeps.

I feel like I need a whole new corporate wardrobe! Heels! Lipstick!

I've settled for a pair of shorts, a tank, my havaianas and a swipe of lipgloss. But that'll do!

Am I allowed out for a lunch break?

my darling boy on his first day of preschool.... I whipped him up that linen bag you see on the ground last night using a pillow case and some scraps of fabric!

ps. Much thanks for the advice to yesterday's article . Some great tips I'll be trying out - thank you thank you! xxx

Très Adore...

Over Christmas I dillied and dallied over a few new creations for my store; last week I finally got around to finishing some of them. And, whilst they look cute pegged up on my studio wall, nothing beats trying them on a real live model! My own kiddies are growing way too rapidly and lil Fern is getting a wee bit old to be scampering around in ruffled bloomers so when I can get my hands on a friend's baby to model my creations I do!

Late last week, a girlfriend was kind enough to loan her adorable daughter to me for an hour or so. We headed down to the lake about 3pm with my dusty camera in tow. It was a little bit shadowy and the light wasn't quite perfect..... but the clothes looked adorable on her (if Im allowed to say so myself) and Im pretty darn proud of how the shots came out. I guess I did pay a little attention during all those Community college camera courses and uni tutes about composition. And thank goodness for a bit of (free!) editing software!

Right. Now I've finished blowing my own trumpet, here's a looksy at one of the new creations I've added to my store as modelled by little Leila. Don't you want to eat her up? 

ps. If you (or someone you know) live on the Central Coast and have an adorable baby <12 months and would like to 'loan' their modelling services to me, do enquire within!! bubbymakesthree@yahoo.com

xx