Did I blink?

I think I must have blinked and missed December! It seems have have gone by so quickly. And now we are counting down to the end of 2010.

I promised photos of Miss Goosey's birthday dress, and realised tonight as I was tucking her into bed, that almost a month has passed already since her birthday. My baby is growing up far too quickly. So here she is, holding up her fingers to show that she is now two:

And here is The Gander, wishing everyone a safe and happy festive season:

Rain, rain, go away

I have this little rhyme stuck in my head at the moment. Miss Goosey likes to sing it, but she doesn't quite remember all the words, so her version goes like this:

Rain, rain,

Go away

Come back

Handmade Markets are only a few days away now, and it has been raining fairly solidly since Sunday. I hope it stops in time for the market. I've just checked the Bureau of Meteorology website, and it's not filling me with confidence:

Forecast for Saturday - Cloudy. Scattered showers. Isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Winds northeasterly and light.

Hmmmmm.

But back to Miss Goosey. Her other favourite song of the moment is 'Happy Birthday'. We've had a few birthdays in our house in the last few weeks - first The Gander turned 4, and then Miss Goosey turned 2 yesterday. Several of The Gander's friends have also had birthdays, so it has been a month of celebration. Birthdays are such important milestones as we grow up - it's sad that they seem to lose the magic as we get older. I'm enjoying reliving the excitment through the kids eyes.

Flib in the news

Check out this profile of my lovely friend Flib, of Flibbertigibbet, on the Shop Handmade blog. Flib's a little camera shy, so there's no photo of her, but you may spot a Goosey Gander outfit on Flib's gorgeous 'Little Possum'.

Flib and I are looking foward to Handmade Market in just over a week ...... eeek!

Flib has just returned from a beach holiday, but I wouldn't be surprised if she snuck a bit of handsewing into her luggage, to keep her busy while she was away.

I'd like to say that I've had a productive few weeks too. But unfortunately Miss Goosey, who is about to turn two, thinks she's now a grown up, and wants to stay up til 10pm with Mum and Dad every night. So I'm not getting as much sewing done as I'd like to. I did manage to find a bit of time this week to sew a special birthday dress for Miss Goosey. She and The Gander are having a little birthday bash tomorrow (he turned four last week, and she is two next week), so I'll take some pictures of it and pop them on the blog.

Mama Goose

Old Favourites

I've had a busy week sewing up new designs for summer. I'll have some beautiful bright dresses, in blues, greens and pinks, ready for the Old Bus Depot Markets this weekend.

But as well as my new designs, I'll be stocking some old favourites from last summer. I changed my mind constantly on which fabrics I liked best, but I just can't go past this apples and pears print - it's retro cuteness at its best, and looks so sweet teamed with a red spot. Here is Miss Goosey in December last year. She has grown so much - I can't get over how short her hair was then!

And more apples - this red and pink apple dot is available in a limited number of tops and dresses. Perfect for parties, lazing around on hot summer days, or (according to Miss Goosey) playing in the garden.

Mama Goose

November and December Markets

I've been a very slack blogger of late. When I get time to focus on Goosey Gander I invariably head for the sewing machine, and not the computer. So while I might have been slack on the blogging front, I've certainly been busy sewing up clothes for my next lot of markets.

So where will I be, and when?

Sunday 7 November

Old Bus Depot Markets

10am til 4pm

Saturday 4 December

Handmade Market

Kamberra Wine Company

11am til 7pm

Saturday 18 December

Old Bus Depot Markets

10am til 4pm

Mama Goose

All good things must come to an end

I've throughly enjoyed being part of Shop Handmade over the last four months. The Shop is such a wonderful concept and I feel honoured to have my work displayed amoung such beautiful things. There are so many talented designers and crafters in Canberra and the Shop is a marvellous way of showcasing them.

But all good things must come to an end.

I've been such a busy little Goose, and as well as working three days a week, and chasing after two very energetic (and rather mischievous) children, I then hit the sewing machine most nights of the week, once the children finally drift off to the land of nod.

With the busy spring and summer market season almost upon us, I've had to make a decision about whether to continue to stock at Shop Handmade, or sell at markets - there are just not enough hours in the day to do both! I really enjoy the buzz of markets, so in the end markets won out, and August will be my last month in the Shop.

My next market will be Handmade in Bloom on Saturday 11 September - only two weeks away!

I'll have lots of pants, appliquéd tops and pinafores, and perhaps just a few samples of my new designs for summer. Here's a sneak peak of the adorable Miss Goosey modelling a cute little summer dress.

Happy Birthday to Us!

Today is one year since Flibbertigibbet and Goosey Gander had our first market stall...... so Happy Birthday to us!

It's been a wonderful year, and we have had such fun designing products and getting out and about at markets.

It's been a busy year too, as my baby has grown into a toddler, and I've returned to work from maternity leave.

I'll be taking a break from markets for the next few months while I build my stock levels back up and get started on patterns for my summer range. My next market will be Handmade in Bloom on Saturday 11 September. I've still got stock at Shop Handmade, and am happy to take custom orders, between now and September.

Mama Goose

Market Madness

Wow! The Winter Warmer Handmade Market was wonderful!!! Canberra pulled out its finest winter day, the sun shone down on us, and we had a lovely time chatting to customers, eating yummy cupcakes and popcorn, and doing a bit of shopping when the crowds finally died down.

My stock levels are looking very low, so I've been hunkered down at the machine trying to get more sewn for the Old Bus Depot "Kids in the Shed" market this Sunday, as well as catch up on orders from Handmade, and attempt to restock my rack at Shop Handmade (Mr Hen Pecked dropped off some long sleeve tops today).

So it's back to the sewing machine for now....

Flib and I will be at Old Bus Depot Markets this Sunday, 20 June, from 10am until 4pm. I'll be taking a break from markets for a few months after this one, to catch my breath, and get started on my summer range.

Mama Goose

Fun and Funky

These cute long-sleeved tops are sure to brighten up a winters day. Featuring cute owls, funky scooters and groovy guitars, they are available for $15 in sizes from 000 to 2. Limited numbers, so get in quick!

Pretty in Pink

Since having Miss Goosey 18 months ago, I still can't get enough pink. And it seems I'm not the only one, as my pink dresses are always my best sellers. So to satisfy the masses, here are two new designs feature a soft denim with pink trim.

"From Russia with Love"

"Songbird"

One more sleep!

Only one more sleep until the Winter Warmer Handmade Market!

The Market will be held at the Kamberra Wine Company from 10am until 4pm. Flibbertigibbet and I will have an outdoor stall, so I'm hoping that we have some lovely sunshine (or failing that, at least no rain!). The market will go ahead rain, hail or shine, so rug up in your winter woolies and come and visit.

I'll have two new pinafore designs for this market, as well as some funky appliqued tops for boys. I was hoping to have a post with lots of photos of my new designs, but although the sewing machine has been running hot, I haven't managed to take any photos yet. But I'm home from work today with a sick Gander and a sick Miss Goosey, so perhaps I might just have time to get some photos taken afterall.....

Mama Goose

Tess Anthony Photography

Goosey Gander and Flibbertigibbet had a photo shoot with Tess Anthony Photograpy on Monday. You can see a sneak peek of Tess's gorgeous photos on her Facebook page, but I've posted one of The Gander and one of Miss Goosey below.

Tess has recently started her photography business in Canberra, specialising in babies, children and families. We've had two sessions with her now, and have been very impressed with her work. The Gander and Miss Goosey just love exploring the Australian National Botanic Gardens while Tess follows them round with her camera, and the result is some beautiful, natural, portraits of the children.

Tess is having a special deal at the moment:

$70- includes session fee, and a disk of low resolution images.
$130 – includes session fee, and a disk of high resolution images

Yep, that's right, a whole CD of images to print or email to friends and family!

Thanks Tess - we love your work!

Mama Goose

A Celebration of Wool

The Old Bus Depot Markets will be holding their annual "A Celebration of Wool" market this Sunday 16 May.

Products on display will include handfelted garments and accessories; designer knitwear; millinery; weavings; funky beanies; and farm label knitwear. If you are into knitting there will also be a fantastic range of specialist yarns. Regional Guilds provide demonstrations of hand spinning, hand felting, and other traditional wool based crafts.

Check out the Old Bus Depot Markets website for more information.

It sounds like it will be a wonderful day, and I'm disapointed that we will be away this weekend, and won't be able to attend. I've had an obsession with baby hats since before I was even pregnant with The Gander, and I can never resist a cute knitted beanie!

And speaking of beanies, local business MissChief Maker, located at Rodney's Nursery in Pialligo, is running a Babies in Beanies competition. The competition is open to 0-5 year olds. Entry is $30 which goes directly to Newborn Intensive Care Foundation. MissChief Maker have a gorgeous range of new, handmade and vintage children's wear, so if you haven't already, then stop by and have a look next time you are in Pialligo.

Mama Goose

What's new?

There is a rule of thumb in Canberra that ANZAC Day marks the start of the cold weather, and this year has been no exception. While we are still lucky enough to be enjoying some beautifully sunny days, the evenings and mornings are getting rather chilly. And given that both The Gander and Miss Goosey still have me up regularly during the night, I can attest to the fact that it most definitely feels like winter at 3am!

My pinafores have been in demand year round (it appears I'm not the only mum who likes to buy kids clothes in bigger sizes and stash them away for next year), but I have been working on some new designs for winter 2010. A few of them debuted at the March Handmade Market, and are available for sale at Shop Handmade.

Mod Blooms (I'm already down to my last few of this fabric):

Lollipop:
Little Birdie:

I'm working on another few designs for my June Markets:

Handmade Market on Saturday 5 June:and the Old Bus Depot Markets special Kids in the Shed on Sunday 20 June.

Mama Goose

A long time between markets......

It feels like it's been a long time between markets. Last year Flib and I were regulars at Hall Markets each month, as well as doing Mathilda's and Handmade.

But with the success of Mathilda's Market in February and Handmade Market in March, followed by the opening of Shop Handmade in April, the boxes under my bed, that were once overflowing with stock, are now rather bare.......

So when I realised last week that the next Handmade Market is only a month away, I entered a mild state of panic. Luckily this was helped by a little online retail therapy, and before I knew it, over 40 yards of fabric was on its way to my front door...... nothing like new fabric to motivate a girl to get sewing!

So a-sewing I will be, creating lots of new pinafores, pants and appliqued tops, all ready for the Winter Warmer Handmade Market on 5 June.


Mama Goose

Apple Cart

Apple Cart is a new website selling handmade goodies from designers across Australia. There are products for babies, children and adults - from clothing and accessories to homewares. Click on the image below to have a look:

A limited range of Goosey Gander products are available for sale at Apple Cart - my first foray into the world of online selling.

Happy shopping!

Mama Goose

My sewing space

Sewing time has become somewhat of a limited commodity around here of late. I miss the days that Miss Goosey would happily lie on the floor (without attempting to run off with my scissors, or play with my pins) while I cut out fabric. She slept for hours at a time, several times a day, and on The Gander's childcare day I was free to sew all day.

But things have changed. Miss Goosey is now *gasp* a toddler. And she is already showing interest in all things sewing..... particularly my scissors and pins. So sewing is something that only happens when both children are in bed at night.

On the up side, I have a lovely new sewing desk. It has room for my machine and my overlocker, and they both fit into the cupboards underneath to make packing up quick and easy. Mr Hen Pecked is happy that our dining table is no longer constantly covered in sewing things. And we can actually sit there to eat meals occasionally.

The draws of my new desk are not childproof though, so I have to be careful about what I store in there. Miss Goosey and The Gander love to pull out my ribbon box and decorate themselves (and the house) with lovely strings of colour. And this morning they discovered a new game:

Divine

I was just a little bit excited to be heading out to have my first look at Shop Handmade this morning. Mr Hen Pecked even seemed to be looking forward to it. Although The Gander was somewhat disappointed to discover there would be no power tools and workmen there any more.

There are a lot of words I could use to describe Shop Handmade, but I think 'divine' sums it up best. I was expecting the Shop to look pretty schmick, but I was still overwhelmed by just how beautiful it was! The white fittings, furniture and display items give it a serene feel (well, that was until Miss Goosey started running riot and attempting to help herself to the 'pretties' in the jewellery cabinet). The feature wallpaper glammed things up a bit (and made me wish I had been brave enough to give it a go in our dining room). And the many, many products from the designers made it a treasure trove of handmade gorgeousness.

Of course, I couldn't visit without buying just one or two things. Miss Goosey did well as usual, with a cute little dress from Posie Patchwork. A lovely necklace from Rancho for a birthday present. And a treat from The Curious Chocolatier for Mr Hen Pecked and I to nibble on just as soon as I finish this blog post.......

If you haven't yet been to Shop Handmade, then there are plenty of photos for you to drool over on the Shop Handmade blog. And you can also check out the Posie Patchwork blog for some photos of Goosey Gander products in the Shop (see the photo fourth row down, on the left).

A huge congratulations to Rachel, Julie and the team - I hope you are proud of your efforts in creating such an amazing store.

Mama Goose

Handmade Heaven

I have been meaning to come in and tell you all about Handmade Market, but it's taken me a while to float back down from cloud nine......


Wow! Wow! Wow! Handmade Market was a marvellous day! So many stalls, so many gorgeous things, so many customers, and so many people who chose to take something home from Goosey Gander and Flibbertgibbet.


I did manage to squeeze in a little shopping of my own, including a gorgeous Bloss Doll for Miss Goosey.


And as if the success of Handmade Market wasn't enough, my wonderful husband (who we shall call Mr Hen Pecked), convinced me to apply for Shop Handmade. I'm very excited to be part of such a unique store in Canberra - a place where you can find handmade products from a range of designers, six days of the week.

I wonder if Mr Hen Pecked will regret his involvement, when I chain myself to the sewing machine over the coming days, to generate enough stock for the grand opening of Shop Handmade on Friday 16th April?


Mama Goose

Oh Boy!

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! Only a few more sleeps until our very first Handmade Market!!!

At the special request of Julie and the Handmade team, Goosey Gander will be focussing on products for boys at this market.

Shorts were running out the doors of Mathilda's at just $10 a pair, but I still have a few left, so will continue this special price for Handmade Market.

There are plenty of pants in a variety of fun and funky prints.

And applique tops to match.

Flibbertigibbet will also have a few new products in her range, especially for boys. So be sure to stop by and say 'hello' if you are at Handmade on Sunday.

Mama Goose

Facebook

The Gander and Miss Goosey had a photo session with Tess Anthony Photography last week. They had a wonderful time running around on the lawns of the Australian National Botanic Gardens in the beautiful March weather, and although they didn't stay still for more than a nano-second, Tess managed to snap some gorgeous shots of them. I admired her patience - I generally give up after about five minutes!

Tess, being the young 20-something she is, suggested that it was time this 30-something got with the times and set up a Facebook page for Goosey Gander. So I did. Click below to check it out (or head over the Facebook and search for Goosey Gander):

Goosey Gander's Facebook page

I'll be putting pictures of new stock, listing special prices, and running the odd give-away, so become a fan to keep up with all the latest Goosey Gander information.

Mama Goose

Bibs and Bobs

As well as clothes, Goosey Gander has a range of baby accessories - perfect for gifts for the little people in your life.

New to the range are bibs with colourful cotton fabrics on the front, and a fleece backing. They come in a range of fabrics for both boys and girls and sell for $10 each.


These bibs have two snap closures on the neck to make it adjustable:

Tag toys were added to the range late last year, and have proved to be very popular. With cuddly minky or fleece on one side, soft satin or flannelette on the reverse, and ribbons around the edge, they provide babies with a variety of tactile experiences. A link ring is attached to one corner to easily attach to the pram or carseat, making them the ideal portable comfort toy.

I still have available a limited number of extra large wraps in pink and purple. These measure approximately 140cm by 140cm, and are excellent for wrapping larger/older babies. I was surprised how quickly The Gander outgrew his wraps, and found it very hard to buy anything large enough to keep the little Houdini's arms contained. Wraps are currently on sale for $10 each.

Mama Goose

Handmade Love

I've been a fan of the Handmade Markets since discovering them on a lovely winters day at the Albert Hall. Miss Goosey and I had been painting her nursery (well, I had been painting, and she had been sleeping) and managed to finish just in time for a quick trip to this 'little' market I had read about online. Upon arriving at Albert Hall I was stunned to see the large crowd, particularly given that the markets were almost closing.

I was very surprised to find a stall (Handle with Care) selling modern cloth nappies. When I first started using cloth nappies on the Gander three years ago, modern cloth could only be bought online. So it was great to see a local business out there promoting a fantastic product, so that potential purchasers can feel the nappies and see how they work before buying them. Although Miss Goosey already has plenty of nappies handed down from her big brother, I couldn't resist buying her a cute pink BubbleBubs nappy.

The next Handmade Market was held at the Yarralumla Woolshed. Flib and I (and Miss Goosey too) had a lovely time checking out all the stalls. And there certainly were lots of stalls to look at! As usual, I made a few purchases for Miss Goosey, incluing a cute litle singlet from the very lovely ladies at Sweet Sista.

While I hope the next Handmade Market is a busy one for Goosey Gander and Flibbertigibbet, I am also crossing my fingers that I get just a little time to shop as well!

Mama Goose

More exciting news

It appears that Flib and I are on a roll with the exciting news lately. Late last week we found out that we will be stall holders at the very fabulous Handmade Market!!!

The first market for the year is coming up on Sunday 28 March, at a branch new venue - the Kamberra Wine Company. With both indoor and outdoor areas, lovely green lawns, and plenty of gorgeous handmade goodies to admire (not to mention tasty things to eat) it is set to be a wonderful day.

At special request of the Handmade team, I will be focussing on my boys range for the market - shorts, appliqued tops and pants, along with tag toys and bibs in some gorgeous fabrics.

Flibbertigibbet will also have some new products particularly aimed at boys.

We hope to see you there!

Mama Goose

All things new....

New market set up, new markets, new products...... it's all go for both Goosey Gander and Flibbertigibbet!

We had our first market stall for 2010 at Hall on 7 Feb. The weather looked a little inclement, so we tested out our marquee for the first time. Despite having practiced putting it up, we still had a little trouble on the day, so were grateful for the help of our friendly neighbouring stall holders! Flib took some photos of our new set up:

Yes, that's right, all shorts are on sale for the bargain price of $10! This special price will be available at Mathilda's on 28 February.

Here is a close up of the pinafores so you can see some of my new designs for 2010 - Ollie the Elephant (as featured in a previous blog post) and the sweet little Chocolate Bird. And that's my very last Ladybird Parade on the right - in a size 2.

Despite it looking grey and overcast, with the odd sprinkle of rain (yay for the marquee!) it was a really lovely day and a pleasant change after the recent hot weather. Unfortunately the threat of rain was enough to keep people away, and it was a quiet day for us both.

Of course, Flib and I put the time to good use chatting about our plans for new products and getting the creative juices flowing.

For Mathilda's I will have another two new pinafore designs - one denim and one in a pink cord, both featuring a funky flower print trim. I'll also have a new line of bibs, prefect for baby presents, as well as restocking my popular "tag toys".

Other items in the pipeline include an "all-seasons" denim skirt - I'm visioning something that would look sweet on its own for summer, but also work well over tights or leggings for colder weather.

Flib is full of ideas too, and as always, we will feature coordinating fabrics across both our ranges, so the little girls in your life can have matching clothes and accessories.

And on a final note, Flib and I are excited to announce that we have been approved for a stall at the Old Bus Depot Markets!!! I've been a customer of these markets going back ten years now - clothes for myself, gifts, yummy food, and of course clothes and accessories for The Gander and Miss Goosey - so I'm looking forward to becoming a stall holder there too. I'll be sure to let you know when we have decided upon a date for our debut.

Until then, you can find us at the fabulous Mathilda's Market on Sunday 28 February.

Mama Goose

Mathilda's Market

Flib (Flibbertigibbet) and I are very excited to be having a stall at the lovely Mathilda's Market in February. We had a great time at Mathilda's last year - so many gorgeous things to drool over (and while I tried hard to resist, a few things ended up coming home with me.... Miss Goosey will be one well dressed little lady).

This year, Mathilda's will be in a new venue - the Hyatt Hotel - a beautiful location to sell such beautiful handmade products.


We hope you can come along to visit us at Mathilda's.





Meanwhile, it is back to the sewing machine for me, to get ready for our first Hall Market of the year, on Sunday 7 February.

Mama Goose

A special order

This little pinafore was special order to complete a set of three pinafores for triplet girls - each in a different colour cord, with a different applique. I bet they will look very sweet!

The last Hall market cleared me out of smaller sized pinafores, so stay tuned for some new designs over the next few weeks as I get ready for the next market on Sunday 7 February.

Mama Goose