Totally inspiring!

I have already blogged but have to share this with you - this is the sort of inspiring community based work I love! Biddy Bags are totally cool - women are contracted on a bag-to-bag basis and benefit through profit-share and increased social interaction.

For each bag sold the woman who crafted it receives over half of the profit with the remainder to cover operational costs and to expand the enterprise's reach.

Amongst other things, the digital age and globalisation has decreased meaningful human interaction and connection.

Biddy Bags is one attempt to remind all of us that “milk doesn’t come from supermarkets, and money doesn’t come out of walls”. They create a ‘person to person’ transaction, the buyer is involved in purchasing much more than just another handbag. Biddy Bags connects people through products. Biddy Bags reminds us that people are important, everyone has a story and we are all in this together.

www.biddybags.com.au



And back on to me... (hee hee, cheeky!). I was just checking out Leeloo's blog and saw that my bag had been featured as part of Leeloo's range on IndieShopping. Yay!

Vintage fabric

Eunice clutch with vintage sparkly button.

Today I am making clutches. You will see a whole heap up online in my shop already but I need to show some tomorrow to clients in the city, and of course, nothing is good enough! So I just keep on sewing til I fall over...


Above is a selection of brown/green fabrics for a client to choose for her custom bag, to be completed next week. I just love going through them all...

1. HUGE polkadots – brown, olive and coffee on pumpkin background (this has fabulous chocolate trim that I could use on the top of the bag)

2. Vintage upholstery – cream background with florals in green and red flowers.

3. ‘Ganges’ - this is the name on the selvage. 60’s print, very pretty, coffee background with olive, orange, green on white.

4. Chocolate background with pretty floral detail – 60’s or 70’s

5. Vintage 1950’s/60’s recycled linen. Coffee background with huge flowers in all kinds of tones – warmish colours to it.

Vintage fabrics are just fantastic and I find it sad even traipsing through fabric stores nowadays... there isn't many gasps from me!

7 things about me...

Yesterday I said I'd have the day off. I got sidetracked and started doing my application for Springboard. So much to put in and I have to look into a grant or scholarship but the deadline is March 10 so I have to pull my finger out! Any other creative people that are in homewares, accessories, etc in Australian design that might be reading this blog, I urge you to look at Springboard, though not if you are in fashion. It's a great opportunity and I really hope I get in! 

Last night I made a lasagna and it got the thumbs up from Steven. I am a stirfry, one-pot kinda girl so this required energy. I'm terrified of making bechamel sauce as it can go lumpy but it all worked!!! Steven has taken the leftovers to work so must have been ok.

It has been raining steadily since late yesterday with thunder rippling every so often. Do you turn everything off or only when there is a big bang right near you? It's not very convenient when you need the computer, overlocker and sewing machine!

Today and tomorrow: 2 clutches to be made to show a potential client on Friday, 1 Eunice handbag for another customer and get ready to head down to Sydney for Friday. Angela is coming over today for lunch and delivering treats. So better get on to it! 

This weekend my grandmother, 82, is unveiling her 'Memories' (memoires) for all the family of her youth in California. I have put this epic together for her - its about 140 pages with fabulous old photos. We have family flying in and she will be putting on a big lunch on Sunday to give it out. So I am going to head down Friday night to see everyone and spend a couple of days with them. My sister Ingrid and Justin are going to see 'Ween' so Mum and I get to mind Eli (14 months) who is the cutest little sweetheart in the world!

Better get going... but Kathleen has thrown this doozy my way so I will do it and taunt the next 7 people with it... hee hee!

7 weird things you don't know about me

The rules are:

1. Link back to the person who tagged you

2. Post "The Rules" on your blog

3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog

4. Tag seven people and link to them

5. Comment on their blogs to let them know they have been 'tagged'

***************************************************************************

1. I was born with a birthmark right in the indent of my top lip. This was sort of a blood blister style birthmark and apparently as a wee one I would say to people, "what are you staring a

t"? This eventually dried up and faded. It now looks like someone took a cigarette to my lip and burnt it though it's hardly noticeable.

2. I failed sewing/domestic science at high school. We had a weird teacher who said, "Don't throw out old t-shirts girls, you can re-fashion them into underpants". It was horrible... 

3. I am a descendant of General Wade Hampton III (1818-1902), one of the wealthiest landowner (and slaveowner which seems inconceivable in today's world) families in South Carolina (on my maternal grandmother's side). He was a Confederate cavalry leader during the American Civil war and afterwards a politician in South Carolina, representing it as governor and US Senator. 

"Millwood Ruins", Wade Hampton Plantation. Burned Feb 17th, 1865.

Unfortunately we are not some wealthy family! As you can see, the Plantation was burned down and I believe these columns are all that stand on the property. One day I would like to go and visit there as there are many Hamptons in the area still. My grandmother recently sold surviving cultery and silverware back to a Museum in South Carolina where it is on display.

In the famous book, "Gone with the Wind", Scarlett O'Hara's first husband, Charles Hamilton, serves in Wade Hampton's regiment, dying of measles only seven weeks later. As it was fashionable (according to writer Margaret Mitchell) to name baby boys after their fathers' commanding officers, Scarlett's son by Charles is therefore named Wade Hampton Hamilton.

4. I was once married and now divorced. Steven and I have been good friends for years and I am lucky he was still around and still single!

5. I hate washing pans and will leave them soaking or sitting on the stove rather than doing them.

6. I talk in my sleep and yell out at imaginary people. Often it's a scary man in the corner that I am yelling out that turns out to be a lump of clothes piled up. Steven has stopped reacting to it.

7. Apparently, 'Smith' is not my real surname. A couple of generations ago on my father's side, my great grandfather was a bit of a trouble-maker down at Wooloomooloo. The police used to pull him up and 'Smith' was the name he used. I have been told that it could have been a german name originally. 

I tag Liana Kabel, Anna Laura, Meet Me At Mikes, Arthurs Circus, Tuttifrutti, Bec, and Lottilulu.

Day off today

Buttons I received yesterday - large ones on ebay (up to 55mm!) and others from my aunt

The last couple of weeks have been crazy so today I am having a day off. Will do my blog entry then switch the computer off the day (as if!). But no, I must learn to stop and I find that very hard. There is a lot of crap tv on that I can watch and will take Nelly the dog for a nice long walk. The weather is perfect today in the mountains so no excuse!

Last night we watched "Transformers" (no, not my pick). But surprisingly, if you didn't ask questions about the stupid storyline, it was good. It was nice to sit with a glass of red wine and watch amazing digital animation. "Transformers" was my era, I remember boys watching it, but I kept asking stupid questions like "What's that one's name?" As if it mattered as they were all cars/planes/trucks turning into robots. But I did want to know each one's name! Also, I noticed that the bad guy robots (Deceptacons) had american accents but the good guys had english accents... very strange.

My commentary on that sort of thing is not appreciated though. I love looking at the details of movies and picking out things! Hee hee...


I had to find a photo of myself as a young 'un for someone in Victoria (more will be revealed later this year) and came across this one of me about 5 years old. It was my birthday party I think, or maybe my sister Ingrid's, not sure. But I thought it was a good one with my Joe Cool / Snoopy badge and wacky fake nose/glasses ensemble - what a riot!


Then I came across this one - which I was thinking about for my website. It's at Katoomba Station (where I now live, though not at the station) and would have been about 1988 so about 16 years old. I am on the left and my friend Jess on the right (who is now in the UK and is hopeless at keeping contact even though it makes me sad). We were right into rockabilly and Katoomba was fabulous for finding great bargains. A whole bunch of us would wag school and catch the train up for the day for scones and stuff, very nerdy really.

Kara Smith goes Ku-ture!

If you want true, individual, one-off pieces go to Ku-ture. Caroline has put together an exceptional collection of pieces designed for the girl that truly wants unique.

The bags look so cute with the model!

Saturday night...

There are some good things to having your own small business rather than working for someone else. But it also means you might be working on a Saturday night! 

I have 2 more totes to do this weekend, 2 more standard clutches for Hutch (a new boutique coming onboard in Preston, Vic - stay tuned!), and ballerina clutch purses for Handcut. Above is 5 of them for Handcut, with another 10 to finish up before the weekend. The clutches above will also be available in my online store as there are 2 of each style. So contact me if you like any of them as it might be midweek before they are listed.

Yay! I have been featured (today) on indie art & design. This is a great weblog featuring products made by independent Australian artists, designers and craftspeople. It's here you will find signposts to many wonderful items, which are not easily found through search engines alone. 

I just had to show these cute booties by Pedrosprout from West End in Brisbane. I blogged about them for Madeit (helping them out as they are always so busy!) and really wanted to put them into my blog. These are soooo delicious and want to buy them for my nephew Eli, who is only 13 months, but is a big baby now and wears clothes bigger than his size...

Saturday morning was spent at Penrith. We had to get down there to borrow a decent digital camera (to do my workspace shots for a magazine) from Steven's sister, Louise (thanks!).

Penrith is great for op-shopping, and I picked up too many great bits of fabric. I should have taken a photo, but two 1960's bedspreads have gone straight into the washing machine as the weather is perfect - and something we have to use when its out and about in the mountains! One of them is HUGE polkadots (size of dinner plates) in brown and olive on a pumpkin background, which will make fabulous totes. The other is a 1960's kiddy print with clowns on it and great trim... I'm not a big fan of clowns as they always scared me, but its a great spread.

If ever you are in Katoomba and looking for a great place to eat, try Niche Nosh. Its the best vegetarian cafe (and I'm not even vegetarian!). Last night we went there for their south Indian Thali platter... absolutely delicious and the place was buzzing with locals, tourists, etc. Well worth a visit! Plus... they like Nelly (my dog) and feed her toast when we went there for breaky... so anyone who is a dog lover is pretty cool.

Photo fun

Today I felt like taking some photos around the house. I have to get some images in to a magazine who wants studio shots and it terrifies me, but this is good practise. Above is my dressing table with all the things I love to look at. It includes jewellery by Liana Kabel, Bamboo Chutney, Made by White and Insync Design. All of these jewellers are Australian so please support them if ever you need to buy a present!


These flowers were from Steven on Valentines Day. It was a surprise and very lovely! He also made risotto for me, which I love. As you can tell, I am not a roses gal and love my aussie natives. The cute little cupcake purse is by Tabitha Emma and bought from online store Leeloo.


These fabric swatches were brought over by Angela Tuesday night as ideas for armrest covers on my fab new couch. Samples by Liberty, Nina Campbell, GP & J Baker and an unknown green velvet! Some very fun ideas there...


Nelly, my dearest old dog (7), sitting outside on the deck as she decided to swim this morning on her walk in Katoomba. The cushion is one of 2 I have bought from Central Australia when I lived there. They are indigenous designs and then done by Kashmiri embroiderers. The painting was given to me years ago by an old boyfriend's grandmother who collected a lot of art. It is a nude by Bernhard Rust (1969 it says in the corner). I don't know much about him but do love his colours!



This is some of my clutches that I pulled out, just looking for colour ideas. I love the fact that they all sort of come together somehow...

Let's get busy!

Running your own business is hard and you sometimes feel isolated. It's so good to have a fabulous network of other craftspeople and business people around, and online, as it gives you the boost to get going when you find it tough.

I was feeling very down about trying to find someone to help me sew. After spending most of yesterday talking to the Tax Office, Industrial Relations and other government bodies, I felt completely frustrated and that I cannot possibly get someone to help! There was one lovely lady at the Tax Office who helped me through their website to determine if someone casually sews for me if they would be an 'employee' or a 'contractor'. 

Guess which one it is.... yes, employee. Which then makes it impossible for me to do this and no wonder most places turn overseas! 

Australia does need a kick up the a$% for killing its industries twenty odd years ago. I'm so afraid it will all die out and everything will be sourced overseas. But, I am unable to do much as I am but a drop in the ocean... it makes me mad.

Anyway, back to this lady from the Tax Office. I discussed my business and what I intended to do. She was fantastic and kept saying 'good on you' and 'we need to see more young people striking it out and going for it'. This is terrific feedback, no matter how hard it all is.

I then had a long yarn to Kathleen on the phone - and again, such positivity and helpfulness! Steven came home in the evening to me laying on the couch with a very large glass of red in one hand, the other flung against my brow (very Bronte/Austen) as some sort of damsel in distress, though with a red wine joker smile. He said to me, 'So what if you don't get anyone to sew, why can't you put your head down, keep sewing, and it will come about somehow.' 

And that is what I am going to do. So, there will be 2 new bags uploaded by the end of the day - I promise. No more faffing about on the phone to Work Place Relations and so forth!

This is a really fun idea that gavinandlilly had posted on flickr. These handbags are by Ashley Watson and are made from recycled leather jackets. What a fabulous idea for daggy old jackets that are no longer fashionable! Handbags! Yay!

Ad in Gazette

Here is my ad that appears today in the Blue Mountains Gazette. Fingers crossed!

Thank you!

This morning I received a massive box of goodies from Kathleen. Wow! Thank you so much! There is fabric remnants by Laura Ashley, upholstery quarters, lots of buttons, William Morris, chenille off-cuts - just incredible. As well as all of that, Kathleen also sent me a 2nd hand dress as an idea for these weddings I am going to. And it fits! Yay!

If you are in the Talbot region in Victoria please keep this wonderful exhibition in mind... 

"Evidence of Past Things' is on next month at the Central Goldfields Art Gallery. Tiffany is a great artist and has a fab shop down there called 'Fanny's Flat' selling lovely second hand items - and I will visit someday!

My new old art deco suite!

Oh boy am I happy! My beautiful and pretty much immaculate 3 piece Art Deco club lounge finally arrived yesterday (Sunday) from Goolwa, SA. I bought this on ebay and was sitting up til late at night to ensure I won it. But no one else bidded on it, can you believe it?!

The guys that delivered it (thanks Aladdins On The Move - highly recommended) were shaking their heads. They have not seen a suite like this in such good condition and when I told them I paid $350 they were stunned and reckoned I should get it to Sydney quick-smart where it would fetch $3000 in its mint condition.

Apparently it has been sitting in an Aunt's holiday cottage in SA for 50 years and was never really used. It is so stunning and I want to work out what I can do to protect it so that it doesn't wear out. Any suggestions?


Here is the fabric up close - it's a sort of bottle green with the palm fronds creating by cutting the plush (I guess?). I have had a look on ebay and have seen some bottle green vintage velvet curtains but I also like the idea of contrast (as you can see from my living room photo - very eclectic!).

Next will be a good vintage rug and art deco table to be in keeping with the suite. We picked up a fabulous wooden tall lamp that just needs a shade yesterday at Lawson markets here in the Mountains.

I Made It Myself - The Age Newspaper

Yesterday, I was featured in The Age's "I Made It Myself" column in A2! This is really exciting to be recognised and featured in such a great paper!

Fashion & Food in Crows Nest

If you are looking for something a little different check out this series of special events in Crows Nest (Sydney) over the next three months.


Handcut refashioned originals and Mu Mu Gril have come together to create the ultimate fashion & food shows! Check out the latest in sustainable fashion (including Kara Smith bags!), you will be able to sample a fabulous tapas menu with a champagne cocktail! Mmmm....


MUMU Grill - 70 Alexander Street Crows Nest
Dates: Sunday March 2, April 6 and May 4
Time: 2pm
Cost: $20 per head
Bookings are essential on 9460 6877

I am thinking of going Sunday May 4th!

And if you get the chance, check out Handcut's fabulous range of sustainable clothes and accessories at Shop 2, 59-61 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest.

Handcut mens wear!

Custom order baby bag - complete!

This custom order is now complete and will be shipped out on Monday. This new style bag, ideal as a baby bag, has a large front pocket that is separated into different sections and closes with a flap.

I have used a gorgeou 60's diamond shaped olive button and there are another 2 cute vintage buttons on the bag as detail. Recycled gold upholstery trim goes along the front pocket and behind this is a section of heavy duty green upholstery for strength. The bag has a long handy carry strap so it can be worn across the chest or over the shoulder.



This style will be available on my website soon - just email me if you are interested!

Dresses...

Sometimes I hate shopping...

Wedgewood Flow Maxi Dress by Entitled Clothing Company

I have a couple of weddings on this year and hate having to buy dresses. Why? Cos I am not a size 12 and can't 'just buy' a dress off the rack! I am 16-18 but have bust size that really pushes dresses into the ridiculous 20 mark! Thus making it rather difficult to buy a straightforward dress and always have to opt for skirt and top - boring. I am going to the gym again (well, the past 2 days I have been) and getting motivated once more!

Perhaps I should get into making them? But with creating handbags, the last thing I want to do at night is sew and get frustrated about myself. There is the option to get something created for me too... I haven't ruled that out. But with two weddings in May (in Australia so its getting cold) but in Rockhampton, Qld (so more sweaty & humid) then Camden, NSW (so cold in the evenings and this starts as an outdoor wedding) what's a girl to do?

So I thought I'd share a couple of cute items that I have seen on the net - and it might help someone else out there, or someone could tell me really great ideas that I don't know about!

I found this gal, Janebonbon on etsy (above). She is in Vancouver so its a bit far but I love her style. What do you think? A little bit retro and a little bit fun! Though I hate showing my (tuckshop) arms like most gals...

This dress is by Entitled here in Sydney. I love it (especially the boots and belt with the tee, too casual?).

Other ideas

This website/blog is really fun too - a gal discovering clothes for the plus-sized out there: www.nomoremumus.com (great name!).

This dress is from US 1950's glamour puss vintage style clothing company, Stop Staring. They do up to 3x and have great shapes for curvy gals.

Then there is curvygirlclothing.com, torrid (can be a bit foul unless they do the vintage inspired pieces) and this dress below is from Nordstrom in the US...

Custom order

I am creating a custom made tote/baby bag for a great customer in Queensland. Yes, she is great, she has bought a couple of my bags and is coming back for the ultimate - her very own individual, custom-made tote!

It's a lovely thing to be able to do. She wants this tote to be her baby bag so we are creating longer straps and different pocket design so its more useful for her. 

Firstly, the customer wanted to see some vintage / floral / cool tone fabric. So I picked out a selection of fabrics (above) to give an idea of where to start... it's always a good idea not to have too many as it makes it so difficult. She was set on number 2 (from left) but wanted to check warm floral tones - just in case (fair enough!).

Then I sent through this selection and kept her original fabric (3rd from left) in the photo so she could compare. This made her decision - she kept with her original fabric!

I still love no. 2 from left which was done this week as another custom order! 

Finally, this morning, I have sent through this photo showing some funky upholstery trim ideas to add to the bag. I think the gold would work, not the green. Just waiting to hear if its a 'goer!'

 

Then this baby can be sewn!

So, if you are thinking about your own custom design, contact me. It's a great way to have your very own designed bag... and very reasonably priced!

Now at Leeloo

My bags are now also available at Leeloo! These are one-offs only that I have created as a range for them. You will find some very very cute pieces online by fantastic australian designers - here is some of my favourites:


Slice of Strawberry Sponge Cake Purse by Tabitha Emma - how gorgeous is this!?! And only $40 AUD.


Little Red Riding Hood T-Shirt by My Fortune Cooki in sm/med/lg. $55 AUD.

MixTape Zine - Feb 08 issue. $6.00 AUD. MixTape Zine is a collision of craft, eco-cool and pop culture kitsch.

There are lots of other fab gift ideas for someone special (or yourself) so hop to it and support Australian craft and design!

Ballerina bag explosion!

Ballerina bags - yay! Above is my new ballerina bag, all for myself, since I don't actually have one. It's made from gorgeous 60's dotty fabric and there is a couple of others online (ballerina bag and tote) - click here.


These two ballerina bags, Patrice (above) $149.95 and Rochelle (below) $139.95 are exclusive, one-off, never to be repeated bags. Both made from very pretty fabric from a special fabric collection.

Ruthie - new custom tote

This is a custom tote done as part of an order for a boutique in Sydney.

'Ruthie' is quite handy with a big pocket on the front of the bag divided into three sections and closes with a big chocolate corduroy flap. There is a big vintage 1950's button to close the flap and 2 other cute vintage brown buttons as detail. This bag closes with a magnetic clasp in the main section of the bag and has a much longer carry strap than my usual totes to wear across your chest.

She is made from vintage Sheridan screenprint in warm tones with big flowers. This is contrasted with the corduroy.


If you are considering a custom order, email me and I can work with you to create your own unique bag! Three more custom orders to complete this week - stay tuned for great ideas.

Gang Gang Cockatoos

A male Gang Gang Cockatoo on my verandah yesterday

These very funny fellas have been hanging around the past few days on our new back verandah and I wondered what they are... They have the most horrible 'creaky door' voices and there is about 6-7 hanging around at the moment.

I finally contacted Carol at the Blue Mountains Bird Club and she has given me such insite into bird feeding and watching (no, I am not a bird watcher!)... anyway if you are looking for a blog post about fabric, retro stuff, etc then don't read on.

The house we have just moved into comes with a bird feeder and a big container of feed. I don't feel quite right about it as these guys are supposed to be out foraging, right?

Carol had emailed me, "You are lucky to have them in your garden because they're a threatened species in NSW and seem to have been generally declining over the past few years."

From Carol: feeding - against: Regarding feeding, there are a few problems this can create although lots of people do it. Problems are that it can be an easy way for disease to be transferred between birds, birds becoming dependent, poor nutrition (though a good seed mix shouldn't be a problem for the seed eaters), permanent food source interfering with the natural movement/migration patterns of birds, and very importantly, you can end up attracting and helping the wrong species, i.e. the species that are most adaptable and aggressive to the detriment of the smaller birds. For example, there's no doubt that bird feeding contributes to the proliferation of Sulphur-crested
Cockatoos and Rainbow Lorikeets (the latter has only moved into Katoomba in the last couple of years). If meat eating birds such as Pied Currawongs, Kookaburras, etc. are attracted this can have a severe impact on the small birds in the area, which actually need our help more.

Carol: Feeding for: On the other hand, many people love feeding birds and if it increases appreciation of birdlife, that can be a good thing. So it's a complex topic and I think people need to be aware of all these issues. If you feed them, be on guard against sick birds: keep the feeding area clean of droppings etc, and try to restrict the feed if you start getting Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, etc. I don't feed birds myself and ideally I believe the best way to help birds is to provide suitable habitat, e.g. thickets of dense shrubs, local native plants, leaf litter, etc. A birdbath is also a great idea.

This custom order was completed yesterday amongst the mayhem which is my workspace! 'Isadoro' was created for Anna in Sydney, using a gorgeous 1960's spanish screenprint and I even recycled the trim again onto the top of the bag and front of the pocket. I am really happy with this bag and hope Anna gets lots of fun times out of it!



Anyway, here is a cleaned up version of my new workspace - Eartha tote hanging in the background haphazardly!

More to come this week!

In our new home...

Finally, we are settled enough to only have a dozen or so boxes to unpack and the house is taking shape. Yesterday I scrubbed the old house and handed back the keys - phew, that's over.

Of course, I now don't have any shelves for the abundance of fabric I have, so not keen to open it all up until I do. That will have to wait til Saturday when we can go 'off the mountain' to the big shops at Penrith. Busy weekend again... Thanks for your patience with orders and emails.


This morning I walked Nelly my dog to Katoomba Falls to check out the area. We aren't very convenient to Katoomba shops/train so I was a bit worried about it as we only have one car (and only want one car!). But there is a bus stop right outside the Katoomba Falls Kiosk which is so gorgeous - I can't wait to go out for lunch there.


The Falls are beautiful and unfortunately, like most places up here, not dog-friendly so had to turn back unless we felt like walking the whole way on the road. But it is a 40 min walk from the Falls to Echo Point (where the Three Sisters are) and what a perfect way to see them, and a great excuse to then have Devonshire Tea!

Profile: stick meon

These gorgeous decals are by stick meon - lovely removable wall art made and designed in Melbourne. Above is Sir Rabbit with floral jacket.

Love the hummingbirds!

Photography

My work has been published, well, sort of...

I had a photo from my flickr.com collection picked for use by Schmap. Didn't get paid or anything fancy like that but wow, my photo published!

The countdown to the big move is now on... boxes of fabric everywhere and orders on standby. Thank you so much for being patient! My new website with photos of model, Belle, need to go up online too so hopefully that's not too far away.