Knock knock.

Who's there?

A blog award.

Which blog award?

The Awe-Summm Blog Award!

7 Awe-Summm Blogs!

What a helpful bunch you are!

I've been flooded with suggestions since posting about my wonderful birthday present of a choose-your-own sewing machine. You gave me brand names (hello, Bernina!), suggestions about which functions to get, and even links to incredible sewing superstores in Melbourne.

Inspired by your endless ideas, I began to expand my list of features that I wanted in my ideal sewing machine. These included an automatic threader, an automatic cutter, a speed-control function, a top-loading bobbin, great stitch tension, a variety of fun stitches (because I have to learn the hard way that I'm never going to use them!!), and, of all the strange things, the ability to embroider patterns that I've designed on my computer. Why? Why not!

I spent hours in a sewing store, annoying staff with zillions of questions and sewing up a storm on a variety of machines. At the end of the day, I left with my brand new baby girl, Charlie...


A Brother Innovis 900. Unfortunately for Bernina, Husqvana, Janome and Juki, they just couldn't offer me this exciting list of features, a reasonable price and a ridiculously cute purple cover:

- 119 utility, satin , decorative and cross stitches;
- 10 one-step buttonholes;
- 170 embroidery designs and the ability to create my own;
- an LCD touch-screen;
- an advanced needle threader;
- an automatic thread cutter;
- the ability to set the needle position;
- speed control;
- a drop-in bobbin; and
- a 7-point Feed Dog system

Did I mention I'm a bit of a technology nerd? I heart computerised everything!

After I'd spent the day in the store, I was ol' mates with the staff, and they piled my arms with this luscious treasure chest of goodies...

and charged me less than $70.00... gasp!

So, from Charlie and I, thank you so much for all of your help. We're sewing up a storm, embroidering naughty words, and getting creative with stitches. Here's to every crafter's sewing machine dreams coming true!

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Introducing.... Charlie the Sewing Machine!

Thank you to all my wonderful Pepperberrians for leaving such joyous comments for me on my birthday. It was, indeed, a wonderful day, and the dinner was just as magical and delicious as I had hoped! Here's my dessert, a vegan crème brûlée with caramelised pistachios...


Are you drooling yet? I am!

This, however, was not the only drool-worthy highlight of my day. A package arrived in my letterbox yesterday morning from the gorgeous Nikki over at My Black Cardigan. The crazy gal had downloaded a picture of my marvelous Bichon, Tango...

and made me a softie version of him!


Is that the most ridiculously talented thing you've ever seen?! Thank you so much, lovely Nikki!

Then, at dinner, I was presented with this...


a card that was signed by all of my amazing friends and can now be cashed in for a real, live, brand new sewing machine! What a perfect gift...

Why?

Well, let me tell you a little about my current sewing machine, Betsy. Betsy is under this strange impression that she is actually a concrete digger (Sharon tells me it's called a ja-ck-ham-mer), and when I press her pedal, she goes GA-GO-DA-PLONK-DA-GO-BRRRMMM-POOF. Just like a concrete digger, you see?

Betsy also doesn't boast some of the handier things sewing machines can have... like a speed control function (I tell you, my right foot has the most incredible clutch control), an automatic threader (lazy, I know) or the ability to maintain stitch tension (I know I'm fussy, but is it really too much to ask for?).

So, your challenge is this: tell me which sewing machine to get! What's your favourite type/brand/style/feature? What do you dream of in a machine? Is there a certain brand I should look at? What nifty features will I never be able to live without once I have them?

And sew we shall!

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Crafty Birthday Joy- Help Me Choose a Sewing Machine!

I've survived the Craflu, and now it's time to survive the real thing!

At the market on Saturday, CurlyPops, FlickettySplits and I shared some delicious germs. Since then, the three of us (and many more, I'm sure!) have been sniffling away in our crafty wonderlands, and today, of all days, my sniffles became an all-out flu!

Why is today important? Because it's my Birthday! Yay!

So, I'm looking on the bright side. I've got to spend the day snuggled up in my yummy pyjamas under a fluffy blanket in my warm bed, with cats and dogs and the lovely Sharon to keep me company. I received the most stunning present from the delightful Nikki over at My Black Cardigan in the post, and I get to spend the evening sharing my flu with 15 of my closest friends at my favourite Melbourne restaurant.

It should be a delicious day, but I'm pretty sure I won't be posting new items on Etsy. I'm very sorry to those waiting for Passport Covers, Mini Totes and Notebook Covers-I promise to get them up as soon as I can breathe through my nose and hear out my right ear!

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Pepperberry and the Birthday Flu!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Crafters and Friends...

Drum Roll Please...

The Official Pepperberry & Co. Etsy Shop has been Launched!

Now available for your viewing pleasure are 11 sensational, stunning and scintillating Snap Pouches, with styles varying from Japanese Text...


to Little Worms on Vines...



to Polka Dot Pleasures...


and Dancing Ballerinas!


The first Pepperberry & Co. Follower to purchase a product will receive a free, and exclusive, Pepperberry & Co. Bookmark from the yet-to-be-released range!

Please Note: Due to Technical Difficulties, the remainder of the Pepperberry & Co. range (including Notebook Covers, Passport Covers, Travel Tissue Holders and Mini Tote Bags) will officially be launched on Friday... stay tuned for the party and a ridiculous amount of discounts!

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The Snap Pouches are Launched!

Whew!

After the initial excitement, the incredible amount of work, your wonderful brainstorming, and the last minute panic, the Made 'N Thornbury market is done! I have spent today in a blurry-eyed daze, and have been caught out napping and drooling at some very odd moments. I have survived, though, and it's time to update my faithful readers about the magnificence of yesterday!

Friday night was hectic- I was still sewing, ironing and packing at just before midnight. Luckily, I managed to finish almost everything I had planned to make, with the exception of some bookmarks and wrist cuffs. Expect to see those at the next market, wherever that may be!

After posting about my lack of table, I received some wonderful suggestions about where to find one- but just before I headed out for the hunt, Sharon came home with some borrowed tablecloths and set about building me my very own table from unused floorboards. Within an hour, it was up, and my stall was coming together! Is she ridiculously talented, or what?!

Bright and early on Saturday morning, we headed across to Thornbury with a car full of goodies and rapidly beating hearts. As soon as we arrived, we realised that the screws and brackets that held the table together were lying on our living room floor- of course! Some quick thinking and batch of sticky tape later, our problem was solved and we were good to go.


Now, judging by the amount of emails in my inbox, I'm gathering you'd like to see some pictures of my goodies and stall- so here you go!

First, we propped up the Passport Covers:


Then added some Travel Tissue Bags:


After which the Snap Pouches came out:


Followed by A5 Notebook Covers:


And finally, the Mini Tote Bags!


The stall was complete, and we were ready for our very first market.


Craft enthusiasts began arriving at 10 on the dot, and the rest of the day is a blur. I did so much chatting to so many wonderful people that my head was spinning by the end of the day!

I was surrounded by some of Melbourne's most talented crafters, including Felicity from Flicketty Splits, Cam from Curly Pops, Jennie and Jack from Vestal Vagrant, Louise from Buttons by Lou Lou, Margaret from Konstant Kaos, the gorgeous duo from Finki, the lovely Tania from Cheeky Little Monsters, and the gals from Nettle & Brier.

I also had some marvellous, super-talented visitors, including Nikki from You Sew Girl (who's just posted about my stall and the Notebook Cover she won in my giveaway), Jacinta from One Little Acorn, Nikki from My Black Cardigan, the lovely Tinniegirl, Fiona from SewHum, and Becky from Pivotal Xpressions.

As you can imagine, it was a crafty wonderland filled with endless inspiration!

My first sale came quickly, and I tried very hard to resist the urge to hug the lovely lady who bought the passport cover. Soon, there was another sale, then another, and another- I was on fire! A gift certificate purchase, a custom order, and a wholesale opportunity later, I was on a high like no other. People liked my craft!


Now, it's time for rest. I have a big week coming up- my Etsy shop will be launched on Wednesday; I will be doing a tutorial on how to create gorgeous iron-on labels; I have 3 orders to fill; and I still need to show off all of the gorgeous things I bought at the market!

Zzzzz...

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A rip-roaring, mind-boggling, all-out success!

24 hours to go, and we have a problem...

The Made 'N Thornbury market starts in 24 hours, and I'm one busy bee! I'm back to crazy multi-tasking, but this time without the tap dancing- although if I had another cup of coffee I'm sure I'd be doing that too! If you want to check out who'll be at the market, head over to the Curly Pops blog- lovely Cam's done an amazing photographic roundup.

It's been a pretty productive week, and I've finished a range of snap pouches, passport covers, travel tissue holders, Pepperberry & Co. labels, and business cards. I'm still finishing off mini tote bags, and I'm about to get started on notebook covers. So much to do, so little time...

The problem right now doesn't lie in what I have, however; it's what I don't have that's the issue: a table and a tablecloth. WHOA! I've heard they're a slight priority at a market. So, unless my luck changes between now and tomorrow, you'll be able to spot my stall immediately: I'll be the one on the blankets on the floor! Thanks to all the wonderful suggestions, though, it'll be a lovely floor stall, complete with lollies, colour and price tags everywhere.

I'm off to sew, panic, iron, chew my nails, sew some more, and hunt down a table. Wish me luck!

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Madness in the Factory!