Red polkadots

I'm just about to pop this bunting into the mail to Kate at Sambellina for her party table at Magnolia Square in Melbourne next weekend... it's a perfect match for her red polkadot tableware and invitations (of which I have some on the way... can't wait!)

Just can't get enough of spots...

Fantastic find: Little Lottie Lou Lou

It's wonderful how many inspiring people I have come across on my online travels.

Little Lottie Lou Lou is run by Vicki, who set up this boutique online store after selling on Ebay for five years, and offers delightful items for Mother, Baby and Child. I find her store unique because it not only sells new and handmade items, but also preloved and recycled - it's great to be able to find such a range of things in one store for both adults and children and was an inspired idea of Vicki's to put them all up in her own store rather than to-ing and fro-ing through Ebay.

My pick from her site at the moment? This gorgeous top by Minihaha Bebe...

Funky flowers and spots

I've just made up some custom bunting for a girl's 9th birthday, and I think it's so nice I may introduce this funky spot/flower combination into my range - what do you think?

Nice, bright, modern and girly, but without being at all pink and fluffy (which these 9 year olds invariably hate!) x Actually, wouldn't mind some of this for myself... x

The winner!

My littlest monkey has just drawn the winner of our prize giveaway out of the hat (errmmmm... kitchen bowl!) for me...... and the lucky winner is Louise at Scamps Eco Boutique!! Well done Louise, some Autumn Shabby Chic bunting will be winging its way to you very soon.

Thanks everyone for your entries and comments, it was lovely to hear all your thoughts.

P.S. Louise - please send me your email address so I can contact you directly. Thank you :-) x

Retro darling

I know, like me, many of you are lovers of all things retro, so I thought I would introduce you to my lovely sewing machine!

This was passed down to me many years ago, when I first learned to sew, by my grandmother (who was 93 on Monday!) It's an absolute darling - it still works perfectly and although I don't now use it on a regular basis, I still fall back on it in times of trouble. For example, only recently my other (much, much newer!) sewing machine decided to throw a wobbly on me and needed to be taken in for a re-tune, so out came this retro cutie and really did save the day!

I even love looking at the old-fashioned instructions which picture a typical 1950s lady and state "welcome to the growing family of the new synchro-matic stitch regulator sewing machine. Your machine is one of the finest full-size sewing machines made!" - I'm not sure how old it is, to be honest, but it must have been quite the thing in its day, and it's amazing how well it has withstood the test of time.

Katy has recently started to sew, making little bags for herself and her friends, and is using this machine - it really warms the cockles to think that she is using the one her great-grandmother used to sew on all those years ago!

My first blog giveaway!

Well, I thought it was about time I did my very first BLOG GIVEAWAY (cue expectant drum roll!!)

All you have to do is to take a look at the online shop on my website http://www.festoon.com.au/ and tell me which one of my bunting designs is your favourite, and why. There are plenty to choose from!

If you are drawn from the hat one week from now (that's July 21st!) then you will win that bunting!!! Tra-laaa!! Easy eh!

So head on over to www.festoon.com.au, choose your favourite design and leave a comment here. The winner will be contacted via email so be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you.

Good luck xxx

Mama Loves to Shop

Ooooh I have come over feeling all 'important' suddenly!!!

I have never been 'interviewed' before but look... there is a little interview with me on Mama Loves to Shop this week!!! I am so excited I just had to let you know!

Autograph, anyone??????? Hee heee.... !

Fantastic find: Little Choopie

Little Choopie is a small home-based business situated in Melbourne handmaking the MOST gorgeous and original childrens' tshirts and accessories - including hair clips, ponytail holders, rings, necklaces, earrings and head wraps! I have never seen such beautiful accessories for children, and they have just launched a whole load more - Katy is dying for me to buy some for her (she saw them at Mathilda's Market!) and the only problem is - which ones? It truly is impossible to choose!

Little Choopie will make custom orders too - I definitely think this website is a non-negotiable necessity for all of you with little girls!!! PS. And for boys there are fab handmade tshirts too, so you have a great excuse to visit either way!!!

Vive La France!

I packaged up some red, white and blue bunting today for some French expats in Sydney who are having a Bastille Day party on Tuesday - I wish I was going, it sounded like it was going to be brilliant fun - all that delicious french cuisine and red wine! They were planning to hang the bunting up around their house with fairy lights giving an atmospheric glow - it does sound très chic, n'est pas!?

Fantastic Find - Sambellina

I have stumbled this week upon Sambellina, a gorgeous new website selling simple, stylish and fun party accessories and stationery for kids parties. They have adorable and unique designs which would truly add a sweet touch to a children's birthday party or any special 'do' and I WISH I had been able to buy the Choo Choo invitations & partyware for Tom's 3rd birthday back in March - he would have loved them and they would have complemented his Choo-choo cake perfectly!

They have packages according to age, theme or pattern, and I love that their patterns include 'bunting' too - just perfect!

Handmade Kids

OOooh I am very excited that Handmade Kids has made our 'Kimono' bunting one of it's Fabulous Friday Finds today! Handmade Kids is a great site dedicated to unearthing funky handmade items for kids and is full of all kinds of gorgeous & unique handmade products.

Check it out on http://www.handmadekids.com.au/!

Thank you so much, Handmade Kids! x

Something for the boys...

Here is my idea for the personalised boys' bunting (well, not specifically boys actually - could be anyone!!! It's more just as a contrast to the girly one I posted a couple of days ago...)

I think it's quite sweet - I can do custom bunting anyway, so anything goes really - but it's good to have some specific ranges on the site so people don't have to rely on their imaginations!!!

Must go - off to take my daughter to her first Girl Guides meeting!

x Oooh, and P.S. I am now on Twitter as of today - still don't really understand how that all works but am having fun working it out!!! Join me on there if you can! x

Fantastic find: Sticky Tiki

Sticky Tiki are a small New Zealand company who make handcrafted fabric wall decals/stickers. They are thoughtfully designed, completely unique, often retro and a little quirky - so just my cup of tea!! As they are made from fabric they won't damage the wall and can easily be repositioned and moved, they are even washable which is a big plus for me, as the children in our home seem to get their sticky fingers everywhere!

I especially love their Dear Deer Tree - seen here:

However Katy has her eye on these gorgeous Babushka dolls - looks like we will definitely be coming back to Sticky Tiki once we get around to decorating her bedroom!

I have actually recently purchased some Babushka doll fabric too - so maybe there will soon be bunting to match!...

Personalised girly bunting

I have been sewing up some personalised girly bunting this week as a new range for my website - I wasn't happy with the plain black lettering I was using before and I think this shabby pink style is far more gorgeous and unique, do you? It takes longer to sew, but looks so much prettier, so I think it's worth it. Of course the plain black lettering still has its place - it's bolder if it's really crucial for the name to be seen from afar - but this one wins hands down for me! (apologies for the photo quality - I really do need a good camera or someone to help me with my pics...)

Now I need to do something for the boys...

Mathilda's Market

I am just back from Mathilda's Market here in Sydney - it was GORGEOUS! I took along Katy and her friend Olivia and they too were in seventh heaven - coming home with armfuls of business cards and a soft toy and fabric badge each but wanting more!

There were so many stalls there filled with such creative and beautiful handmade treasures and it was great to see so many of the names I recognise from Skout Trade Fair - Flobib's stall looked wonderful (so busy that I didn't like to interrupt and say hi even though I 'know' Nikola-Jane from Skout!) and was full of their wonderful unique and designer bibs. I also popped in to see the lovely Jacquie's Alfalfa & Mee a bee's stall - they have a range of gorgeous, retro and whimsical bags from Japan for little boys and girls - all even more gorgeous 'in the flesh' than they look online!

Congratulations all on a job fantastically done - I came home having had a lovely wander and with a significantly lighter purse. I did spot a bit of bunting here and there adorning peoples' stands too, which was great - it just shows how this old-fashioned favourite really can decorate and brighten any space!

Fantastic find: Babyjo

What an adorable site and concept: Babyjo is an Australian owned range of organically grown 100% Bamboo fibre baby clothing, gifts, blankets and more and they have the most gorgeous things I actually almost wish I still had a baby to buy them for (but not quite... three little ones is more than enough and I am quite relishing the fact that we no longer need nappies in our home!)

I had actually never heard of Bamboo until I visited this site, but apparently it's an eco friendly and environmentally sustainable material with the most luxurious feel - like a cross between cashmere and silk - and with softness to rival a baby's bottom! It's great for babies suffering from Eczema and is thermo-regulating so that it keeps them cool in Summer and warm in Winter - how clever is that? I will certainly be recommending Babyjo to friends of mine with babies! (and just look at the gorgeous bubba on their website - ADORABLE!!)