Boutique Markets meets Hobart

Just a few pictures of yesterdays combined Boutique and Mathilda's Markets at Hobarts waterfront.
We were very lucky with sunny (mostly) weather and a great turnout of market goers.
Well worth the trip south.

Top to bottom: red bamboo soap; luscious li'l cupcakes; What Katie Did Next; Marley & Lockyer; nigh nigh; adore u; red bamboo candles

I'd like to thank....

Erin (the Bondi living Soap Queen from Inner Earth Soaps) was kind enough to grant my little blog a 'Versatile Blogger' award. The idea, as it is with any of these awards I guess, is to showcase a handful of other blogs that have caught your eye and to spread the 'blog love'.

This award comes with a responsibility however - in order to accept I need to do the following:

Provide a link back to the generous person who nominated me

Spill the beans on 7 random facts about myself

Showcase 7 other blogs (letting the bloggers know they've been nominated also)

So, here are my 7 random facts:

1. I used to play the guitar (took years of lessons) but recently sold my guitar at a garage sale for $30

2. I can remember all my bank account details, my credit card number, my Tax File Number and ABN all off by heart - but I can't remember my husbands birthday!

3. I once 'appropriated' a rowing boat with a girlfriend and snuck it across a flooded river, using sticks as oars - we had a whole town out looking for us and just about to drag the river for our bodies. We were ten.

4. I can still swim a pretty mean butterfly stroke - try it, it's not that easy!

5. I held my mothers hand earlier this year as she passed away

6. I love kissing our black cat on the top of his head - it's just so luscious!

7. I have finally found where I 'fit' - my husband, our kids (cats), our beautiful home, our exciting new business and our new home state - never had that before.

And here are my 7 'blogs of distinction':

Epheriell Designs

Tabitha Emma

Fuffenscheit (otherwise known as Mrs Smith)

Loz and Dinny

Isismade

Boutique Markets

Recycled Relix

Enjoy!

Makers' Market @ Festivale!

Just a quick post to let eveyone know about the upcoming Makers' Market during Festivale.

The Design Centre is hosting this event on Saturday 12th February in their lovely courtyard behind the centre.

A round up of local talent will be showcasing and selling their wonderful wares - we would love your support. So please pass along the word!

See the sanctum blog for more information plus the stall holder lineup!!

red bamboo's sister blog..

Just a quick entry to let everyone know that sanctum now has both a website and a brand new (today!) blog!

I wanted the ability to interact with people a little more personally and with more immediacy than the website and a blog suited that need just fine.

I did try a facebook page, but honestly preferred the layout and customisation that a blog gave me.

So please feel free to check it out - would love to hear what you think!

Also, have just finished typing in all 130 odd emails from the great response we had to our 2 hour spa package draw for sanctum at Niche as well.

We've notified the winner and will wait to book her in for her treat!

Have a great week everyone!

three lovely souls....

The three lovely souls I speak of are Vee, Alan and newcomer, Saffron (5 weeks old!).
Vee, folks may know from The Purple Finch, is making return to the crafty scene after having bub and Alan, is a very sought after local photographer with his business Photobat.
During the upcoming Niche market this weekend, these lovely people are doing an amazing offer and giving proceeds to St Giles! How nice is that?!?
Alan is offering Photography Gift Vouchers for Christmas (valid through to January) worth $350 for the tiny price of $50!!
That's not an offer you will match anywhere else.
Take a quick peek through Alan's body of work on the Photobat website and you will soon see that this is an offer that will be very hard to pass by and very popular this weekend.
So if you, or anyone you know is thinking about organising a family portrait, or perhaps pet photos or the obligatory cute baby shots for the grandparents -come along to the guys stall at Niche in the Tram Sheds at Inveresk this Friday (4pm-8pm) or Saturday (10am-4pm) and bag a serious bargain!!

forgive me...but I've just drooled on my keyboard.....

I just recieved an email from my lovely friend (and fellow book clubber!) Poppy, introducing her new venture Feigenbaum.

"Feigenbaum specialises in artisinal, European style breads, cakes and boutique catering made with the finest locally sourced ingredients."

YUM!

Check out the Feigenbaum blog for ridiculously delicious looking treats plus recipes! Just be sure to have eaten beforehand or you'll be mopping up dribble just like me!

new treasures

Just a quick few words to show off some lovely new treasures - courtesy of Sophie from That Vintage and Rose from Foal Design, at the recent Niche market. I know it was a while back now, but I'm still catching up on lost 'computer time'!

Beautiful earrings and ring (I get comments every time I wear them - though it's becoming more and more likely to be "are those from That Vintage?)

Hmmm.....not sure about the model, but the hat is pretty neat!

This last one is a bit of a mystery object....... more soon.......

Onwards and Upwards...

We're back!
The computer trouble is being resolved and we think we have been able to save all of our files!
WHEW! Big relief there.

I know it's been a few weeks now, but here are a few 'on the run' shots from the recent Niche market at the end of August.

Ruby Victoria Paperie Stall - my neighbours on one side. Narelle had the amazing printing press (just seen bottom left of picture) going throughout the market, drawing heaps of onlookers. Hubby, Alan (pictured) was a handy man to have around - he did coffee runs for appreciative stallholders.

Yummy Mini Cupcakes (sorry girls I didn't get your name - too busy eating!!)

The beautiful Rose from Foal Design and her lustworthy cloth hats - Rose is currently showing off her engagment ring! Yay! I bought a stunning aqua blue number!

The stunning Joanna and her papercraft were my other neighbour and what good company she was. Joanna was the original creator of the famous Roo Poo paper from the Paper Mill at Burnie. She uses century old papermaking methods and all of the illustrations are her own.

Once more, Sophie from That Vintage, was innundated with keen shoppers for the entire 2 days! I don't think I saw her look up from her stall until closing time on Saturday! Yay Soph!

Sam (seen ducking down) and Maya, from Hideyo, dazzled us once more with their incredible folded art. I loved seeing almost every second person walking through the markets clutching a bunch of their beautiful flowers!

More soon......

birds of a feather...

Cloth to Creation

A friend from Brisbane put this gorgeous birdcage she had made for a friends birthday on her blog and it inspired me to find a few other feathery friends to show.....

That Vintage

The Purple Finch

Bespoke Press

**all pictures courtesy of artists websites/blogs**

The Nebulous Kingdom

A big Thanks goes to Tabitha Emma for introducing me to this completely wonderful french artist Anne-Julie Aubry.

In fact I was so taken with her work that five minutes after I found her through Tabitha's blog, I bought some prints from Anne's Etsy site here.

The two prints I bought are below and I am waiting with such anticipation of their arrival! Plus I am planning my next buys as I can see a wall being covered with these amazing illustrations!

Les Cocquelicots (Poppies)

The Red Room

**Photo's courtesy of artist**

one After Dinner Mint coming right up....!

The winner of my soapy giveaway is............... Deb, from Two Cheeky Monkeys!!!

Congrats Deb! Check out her great Etsy site here (my favourite is her 'Something Blue' - blue rose and filigree headband).

I have to admit I chickened out and did the 'pull a name from a hat' trick - too hard to pick otherswise!!

Thankyou everyone who took part - all really wonderful stories to share.

I hope this has inspired a few others as much as it has me!

Deb, I will be in touch with soon to organise the delivery of your very own After Dinner Mint soap!

Enjoy!

New soap mould - Batik Dome

Just a quick one to let everyone know I'm still kicking..... Christmas.... crazy time.....

Had a great weekend at the Civic Homespun Markets, with really good sales for my last market of the year and even better company in the form of Isis, Raewyn and Gayle.

It's a bit of a fun time for me at the moment as I received a new soap mould and this great soap book called Soapy Love! It has given me some great ideas and I can't wait to start trying some of them out! Check out the authors website here.

The new mould is a batik style pattern in a dome shape, which I think will make it a good bar to hold onto whilst sudsing in the shower. A workmate ordered some of my Vanilla, Pomegranate and Black Currant soaps and so I whipped these up yesterday.I am liking the idea of a solid coloured bar, with perhaps a light dusting of say, gold mica, in the grooves of the pattern for a really rich looking bar of soap. Hmm... so many options..... what fun!

Homespun

Just a quick blog to let everyone know I am doing one last market for the year. I'll be at the Civic Homespun Market this Saturday 12th from 10am till 3pm.

I'll be lucky enough to share a double stall with Isis (with her awesome journals) and a few friends, so we should have an interesting range of goods to offer.

If anyone else is like me and hasn't started on their Christmas shopping, with 2 weeks to go..... This is a great opportunity to pick up some very groovy, very different and very appreciated pressies!
Hope to see you there!
Pilgrim Hall, Paterson Street (opposite Myer Carpark), Launceston.

More from Niche

Too many great stalls to do justice to them all! This is just another snapshot of the weekend.

Apologies to all the amazing stallholders I have left out!

Life as a Bird Florist - I watched these beautiful flowers and arrangements walk out the door every day!

The Ruby Pear stall

Rebecca Roth - beautiful resin jewellery - gorgeous colours and style

Hungry Kitty - scrummy cakes, biscuits and more that kept all us other stallholders alive for the weekend! Contact Naomi here.

Susie of Black Eyed Susie

Isis, with trusty offsider Raewyn, and her brilliant recycled journals - we were side by side for the weekend (awesome company!) - also met her lovely partner Damian.

Find Your Niche

Just a quick post to pop some photos from the weekend's Niche Market. Three days of glorious handmade and design heaven.... sigh....
It was great to see some faces from the previous Niche Market and lots of new goodies as well. To all those who came along, a big thanks! Weather was a bit of a challenge, but heaps of folks braved the elements in order to bag a designer bargain and get a jump start on Christmas Shopping!

My little corner of Niche...

The always lovely Sophie from That Vintage

3 Blind Mice - 'upcycled' candles - just beautiful

Vee (The Purple Finch) and Kate (3 Blind Mice)

Sam & Maya from Hideyo - amazing origami artworks and bamboo clothing - contact them here

More soon......