A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world!

Christmas Ordering at Little Shop

If your order is being shipped outside of Australia  or within Australia the recommended last postage dates for Christmas delivery are approaching!. To maximise the chance of your package  being received before Christmas  see the dates below

INTERNATIONAL - All orders must be received by 2pm - Friday December 3rd
AUSTRALIAN RURAL - All orders must be received by 2pm - Friday Dec 17th
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL CITIES - All orders must be received by 2pm - Monday Dec 20th

Please note we will not be shipping ANY internet orders from Tuesday 21st Dec till Monday 17th January

Please note, these dates are Australia Post recommendations only and are not guaranteed by the Little Shop of Handmade

Who do you think you are?

I found this cute little personality test and for me the results were scarily accurate!

Why don't you give it a try and let me know what you think.

A new market for South East Melbourne

The Mulgrave Makers Market 

 

Starting 24 October 2010

The Mulgrave Makers Market is a new and exciting showcase for all things handmade in Melbourne.

 

 

On the fourth Sunday (usually the last) of every month (8am -1pm), the Makers Market takes place alongside the thriving Mulgrave Farmers Market in the grounds of The Body Shop's HQ in the heart of the southeastern suburbs. This market boasts more than 45 stallholders selling everything from seasonal fruit and vegetables to fresh-cut flowers, and attracts more than 2,000 customers every week.






Little Shop of Handmade along with Mixtape are big supporters of this brand new exciting SE Makers Market  and all applications wil be curated by us! Applications are now open for the first Market commencing Oct 24. click here

The Mulgrave Makers Market is a great opportunity to discover local creative talent in a relaxed and sociable community hub, and to get your hands on unique gifts before they reach the shops. Meet the crafters themselves and get inspired with regular workshops.

Become a part of Melbourne's newest Makers Market!

Little Shop Wins

Our awesome customers had a helping hand in casting the votes - making Little Shop of Handmade one of Melbournes FAVOURITE local  businesses.


A BIG, BIG thanks again to you all!

Bec
xo

What's the word bird!

Oh how I do love a yellow birdy...

Have a greet weekend!

We like to things a little different... that's just how we roll!

In 2007 we eloped to Thailand to get married - just us two and a couple of $50 lady boy bridesmaids to top it off (Apparently we need some one to hold the rings)

You see we had been already been together for 12 years and then the hubby kinda got a bit ole fashioned - we both come from broken families  - with twice divorced parents and have seen first hand the lack of value adding "that" official piece of paper to a relationship  can mean!.... so it was kind of MEH to marriage for me!

I wont change my name to the hubby's surname  - I kinda find that a bit creepy seeing we are not related an all! and if we ever have kidlets I am so having that fancy double barreled surname combo.

It was a pretty easy process and cost us about $1100 for the document translations, government paper work (makes it legally binding in your home country),  ceremony, photographer and the blessing by the monk ( Who so perved at my boob's!). We then spent a month traveling around Thailand and all up the entire trip cost us $6000  - all inclusive with spending money and that was during the peak Christmas Season and New Years. If we were to get married on Christmas Day or New Years Eve the wedding cost tripled to $3000 (Eeekk) so we settled for Dec 19th.

Five mins before the ceremony the heavens opened up with crazy thunder and lightening - then it stopped just as suddenly as it started - with the sun beaming down and not a cloud on the sky... but then ensued the HUMIDITY! It was hideously hot, my super sleek hair do was no more.

If your a little unconventional like us - I highly recommend taking the eloping route - I would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have if you are considering the ole run off to get married thingy!

Let's just hang here for a while! - Spool Hooks Tutorial #3

Images courtesy of Design Sponge

Little Shop is always super pressed for space at the best of times. I am most delighted with this awesome tutorial and will be attempting this myself very soon!

You can view the full tutorial  (along with so many others) over on Design Sponge

A little perspective!

image source

Nothing rhymes with orange!

1.la dominant cardigan 2. a clock work orange 3. vintage phones 4. Tin Tin poster 5. orange trunk 6. enameled vintage kettle 7. ty wilkins foxy print 8. felt owls 9 orange peeptoe clogs 10. tea cup

A charming idea not to be sneezed at - Framed Hankies Tutorial #2

Display vintage hankies as charming art pieces

MATERIALS

• Vintage handkerchiefs (find a few online (try etsy) or in  you local op shops)
• Album art frames
• Picture-hanging kit

Step 1: Narrow down your collection

Handkerchiefs recall a more genteel era, when people politely offered them up to friends and strangers in need. Today, vintage versions are sold in an array of patterns and make a colourful art alternative that can inject patina and history into your decorating scheme. Sort through your collection and select a few prints

Step 2: Place hankies into frames

Picture frames with a slim profile, like these album art frames from Urban Outfitters, won’t overpower small-scale prints. Don’t worry if the hankies don’t fit the frames exactly; seeing the finished edges adds extra texture and dimension. Use a blank piece of white paper to create a backdrop for any hankies that don’t reach the perimeter of the frame.

Step 3: Hang frames in a grid

A simple grid helps bring order to a mix-and-match collection. Place each frame about 2" apart. Since they’re all the same size, it’s easy to change up the order of the prints as desired later. Pair them with a no-frills industrial task lamp and simple furniture like a rustic table to keep the look from feeling old-fashioned.

Tutorial found over on  house and home

Neat Feet - Mary Jane Slippers Tutorial #1

Along with my daggy PJ collection (because I think PJ's need to be super daggy and generally 2 times larger than my actual size and generally bought in the supermarket when on special for $9.99) I also have a crazy assortment of house slippers - that have seen better days.

Since I have semi mastered the art of crochet, unless crochet is meant to be a little wonky in that case then I have "mastered" the art of crochet! I am going to make these super sweet mary jane slippers over the weekend. Not sure what colours I will use yet,  I will let the basket of wool talk to me on Saturday night.

 I found this free tutorial over on Good Knits blog - thanks good knits you are ACE!

Drawer - Adore

Oh gosh! How divine are the drawers from Kent and London  way  out of my price range at at $4600 plus the $800 to ship it all the way from the UK - But if I could I most definitely wood! (pun intended) Lets see... If I give up my $24.50 a week caffeine hit and saved all my pennies for 4.3 years this baby could be mine!

Tintastic!

Little Shop houses a few of my tins (I have many) that I use as props in the shop - gosh I don't know how many times I could have sold them and I am asked at least 3 times a day by customers - I even get sneaky customers who have asked me before and still try. These tins are mine and I love them and I get up super early and hunt through boxes at the markets when your all probably snuggled up in bed. I love them even more because 98% of my tins have actually been made in Australia - back in the day when most things were made in Australia. I also love the wear and tear, the rusty bits and dings and the fact that sometimes you cant remove the lid and when you shake them you can hear surprises lurking inside... is it just cake crumbs or vintage sewing goodies or Nanna's secret $5 note stash?

iDIY 
Annie Little
The Fabric of my Life
High Street Market 
Apartment Therapy
Paisley and Polyester
Vintage 1962 Mrs Lelands Peanut Butter Candy Tin
Bird Spice Tins
Vintage-Tin Crafts Supplies Organiser
Queens of Vintage

Vintage Linen Booty

I never had a girly room as a child and my husband thinks that I deserve one! So out with the androgynous look we have been sporting for the past 15 years and dust off and unwrap all those gorgeous linens I have had packed away for ever and a day. O' Happy, Happy day's!

New cushions and other bits for Cása la little shop

These new cushions  by Roddy and Ginger are on their way to my home! After much deliberation - I went for one of each colour. Ahhh... Sweet Birdy Love!

Along with this scalloped bunting  by sweet jessie, for who knows where I will put it - but who cares! It's scalloped and cute! and will look equally adorabe packed away in my closet until I find the right spot. FYI the bunting I purchased last week from Made by Mosey is looking a real treat across the bedroom window - in which lé tall husband  played a most helping hand.

Le early morning purcháses

I am always up super early every day - which generally gives me the heads up with gorgeous goodies my email subscriptions send through to me. And today is no exception.

The design files newsletter had arrived in my inbox and in less than a nano second had I spied this vintage hanky lap blanket and some blue bunting which will look great in my bedroom...or lounge or ...maybe even the bathroom.

Needless to say - paypal account has been drained  again and I  now excitedly  await delivery of my new purchases. Might I add both thee items are made right here in Melbourne by Madeleine Sargent — Made By Mosey  she also have a blog too which I will add to list and sneaky peek when I have the time (Time = Bahahaha!)

The early bird catches the worm... or the quilt and bunting

Bec
x

No Way José

Am I behind the times? Anthropologie now ships to Australia!

I just love this stunning print with such glorious detail by Anna Emilia  Spring is coming

Sunday Super Cuteness

Issuu is one of my most favourite online pleasures (Lady Porn as my husband call's it). Issuu has lot's of international publications, magazines and newspapers available for online viewing and it's all totally FREE!

This week I came across Issue 1 by FRYD. Hello super cute! Lot's of pretty pictures and a few ace tutorials. What more could you ask for?

She also has a sweet blog  too.

Looking forward to issue 2 already

Meet me at Mikes Envelope Project

My cute little package is heading off today to the Meet me at Mikes Envelope Project I will keep my contents a secret for now but here is a pic of my pretty package.


Look at all the rad submissions on display in the super clever Meet me at Mikes shop window.


Join along cause it's fun and it's cute and it's clever and you have the chance to win the entire booty of cutey cuteness from all who participated.

Paperchase...

No one ounce of spare time for me at the moment!

Guess I'll see you much later when the desk is cleared and the inbox emptied.

We're Back...

Refreshed, super tanned and ready to reopen Little Shop again this week. Here is a sneak peak of the view from my office on Koh Chang - Thailand and our daily $10 BBQ seafood platter for lunch!

 

LITTLE SHOP WILL BE CLOSED Friday April 23rd till Tuesday May 11th

Here's Looking at Blue

Camberwell Markets was exceptional shopping this morning - all my purchase seemed to all turn out to be blue.

1. Vintage electric blue fabric with super sweet yellow, pink and white floral detail - my friend Theresa from Rummage Style - scored the most amazing vintage fabrics for her frocks.

2. Powder Blue Bird Cage for use in the shop (sorry folks another one of those NOT FOR SALE items)

3. Electric Blue and Spearmint Green Meat Safe

Me Likey.... a lot

1. Merci Liberty Collection 2. Small Things - Sterling Silver and Glass Pendants 3. Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker - This is the only perfume I have worn for about 5 years 4.  Genius! expect to find these adorning the wall at little shop soon 5. Blog crush 6. Ever After  print by Paper Sparrow and 7. Lui et Elle - Him and her print - by Cosas Mínimas both these prints remind me a lot of my marriage and they both adorn my walls.

10 Things about me

Joining along with Pip from Meet me at Mikes 10 things about me


1. I was the owner of a Bar from 1996-1999
2. I used to smoke 60 cigarettes a day
3. Am painfully shy when meeting new people in social situations. ( Most people I know will not believe this)
4. I have a bad potty mouth - must have been a sailor in previous life.
5. I am very, very, very saddened by homelessness and mental heath problems.
6. I have been with my partner for 16 years and in 2007 we eloped to Thailand and married. But I still call him my boyfriend
7. I don't have any family in Melbourne and I don't know my Grandparents
8. I have 60 pairs of shoes
9. I never ask for help
10. I am always smiling : )

Bec
xo

LITTLE SHOP WILL BE CLOSED Friday April 23rd till Tuesday May 11th

 As most of you are aware Little Shop of Handmade also houses my studio out the back of the shop where I make a small % of what you find in-store.

Since opening last July my own “Little Shop” brand has gone from being stocked in 10 stores to now being stocked 48 stores and growing. Hurrah!

Little Shop is a pretty much one woman show - with a little bit of help from the Hubby, so in order to prepare our new exciting ranges for Spring/Summer we will need to close up the shop for a few weeks so I can have some much needed design time and tinker out the back.

LITTLE SHOP WILL BE CLOSED

Friday April 23rd till
Tuesday May 11th

You will still be able to order online - however we will not be processing orders until the 7th May.

Thanks for your kind understanding and I look forward to showing you all our exciting new goodies later this year - you will all be most pleased!

Bec
xo

Finders Keepers Interview

I was interviewed recently by The Finders Keepers gang in Sydney.

I have gone all War and Peace so It's quite a long one... Grab a cuppa!

Bec
x

Featured Shop: Little Shop of Handmade

FK talks to Bec about her Melbourne shop, Little Shop of Handmade

Tell us a bit about Little Shop of Handmade and the idea behind starting it.

Little Shop (and seriously we are little) sells handmade/crafted goodies made in Melbourne and rural Victoria all retailing for under $50. It’s a treasury of handmade goodies to say the least! We cover Newborn to Nanna – not to much stuff for the boys – but we have certainly made it easy for a boy to pop in and buy a gift! My husband Jon was beside himself at Christmas – I made it a bit tricky for him by stocking all the things I like!

I actually live 1 minute walk from the shop – and have lived in the area for about 3 years. We are pretty close to the CBD and the area is full of professional 30 something couples with young families. Our local shopping strip really does not reflect the demographic that lives here at all! We have only recently got a great coffee shop on the strip. The space came available about 3 weeks before I was going to India for a month’s holiday. Originally it was going to just be my studio for making my own goodies as I had totally outgrown my spare bedroom just making stock to sell at the markets, online and wholesaling. I have had such great success with selling my own brand at the markets so I thought why not open a shop selling the best of what you can find at Melbourne markets. It all happened very quickly and the next thing I knew I opened a shop! Little Shop of Handmade is such unexpected find in the area – the locals just love it! It’s nice to also have something quirky represented on the South Side of Melbourne.

What is your background and how did it determine the direction of the shop?

I certainly did not grow up in a nurturing household full of craft, baking and bed time stories. I am very much a self taught creative and crafter and that only really started in my late 20’s, I’m a bit of a late bloomer. I have always been very independent and entrepreneurial and have worked for myself since I was about 25. I was running my own bar with my husband for 4 years and I would design all our posters and flyers but after working from 8pm till 5am 5 days a week I wanted a BIG change!


I decided to study Graphics Arts as a mature age student and luckily landed a pretty good job in design half way into my 2nd year – which I subsequently took and dropped out of my course. I then spent the last 9 years in Product Design for the mass retail gift market working my way up from the graphic designer to the product development manager. By the end of the 9 years I was so over it – basically it was the same product year after year with new packaging, and a product I would never have purchased myself in a million years!! I did come away from Product Design with a pretty savvy business head though – I just soaked up as much knowledge as I could from my last job, so I walked away knowing how TO run and NOT run a business.


My business head knew retail is a very competitive market and to be successful you need a really strong concept – shop selling handmade not entirely unique, shop selling handmade in unexpected shopping strip – unique, shop selling with a maximum retail point very unique. There are so many shops in Melbourne that I just adore, so instead of copying their greatness I actually drew inspiration from their weaknesses. But the most important thing for me was I wanted to be doing something I loved, 100% on my terms and 100% inspiring to all involved! It’s a swell ride to say the least!



What made you focus on only Melbourne designers?

How hard is it these days to find awesome stuff from around the globe – it’s so accessible to everyone online. Little Shop stocks over 50 Melbourne and rural Victoria designers. About 20 of them are actual local residents (Mums and Teens with amazing craft skills)! I really did not have to look too hard – Melbourne has some amazing talent – so why not support and nurture your own backyard. I am happy to give anyone who fits the bill a chance at stocking at Little Shop of Handmade. Some of our designers are painfully shy – it’s great to be able to give these folks the confidence I am so excited when something sells for them. It’s inspiring to say the least! We do stock international and interstate craft kits and books – but then our customer goes ahead and makes it in Melbourne, so it still fits the theme!

What are some of your favourite products in the shop right now?

Yikes – for the record – everything is my favourite! But big shout out to Rummage Style – adorable bloomers and frocks made using recycled/up-cycled vintage fabrics, Betty and Hamish Softies, Elly Oak Cards, A Girl Called Mike sterling silver button rings, plus I am totally loving our “Little Shop of” dinky acrylic earring packs…too cute!



How do you get the word out about Little Shop of Handmade?

Having a stall at the markets every week has been a great form of marketing – I go through about 500 Business cards every Sunday and that’s 500 people who want to take our card. Also having a great product at a great price helps – dealing with suppliers in the past has made me pretty ruthless when it comes to getting the best price possible! People love talking about the bargain they just scored – so word of mouth just cant be under estimated. Of course we have a blog (reality is I don’t have the time to post to it at all) you can find us on Twitter and Facebook which are ingenious marketing tools. All of our stocked designers are very proactive on the internet and have been a tremendous help with spreading the word – I feel very grateful that it really has been a “build it and they will come” success. The shop is actually busy as it is just servicing the local residents without the need to be marketed at all – which is FAB! I have also been fortunate enough to have had some designs in Frankie – which has been instrumental in sending people to my website and also Angela from Leeloo who is one of my online stockists took my wares to the Finders Keepers Markets in Sydney and Brisbane and that kind of exposure in big capital cities is priceless.

What has been the most challenging aspect of running your own shop and label?

Well Little Shop is pretty much a one woman show and it’s not all granny squares, cupcakes and cups of tea let me tell you! I wear a lot of hats thats for sure! My awesome husband Jon helps with deliveries and helping to make up the market stock every Saturday and he also comes along to the markets every Sunday which is ACE.

Definitely balancing having the time to create vs time in the shop is the biggest challenge for me at the moment. When I opened the shop last July my brand was stocked in only 10 shops that has now risen to over 40 shops – hurrah! But I am also the front person for the shop and most customers generally want to hear about the concept, designers, how things are made etc and that can take up most of my day sometimes – it does not help that I can be a bit of a have a chat too. I do work 7 days a week and my brain never switches off so finding time to relax at the moment is a bit tricky. Everything in the shop is placed on consignment so the weekly paperwork associated with that is challenging to say the least – I too have stuff on consignment in various shops – and lets just say some of them really suck at paperwork (and payments)! I like to lead by example and be diligent (diligent = time consuming).

Organisation is the key but it’ s really organised chaos and I would not have it any other way!



What do you love doing in Melbourne unique to the city itself?

Melbourne is such a fantastic city. You can never be bored in Melbourne I am constantly in awe by what we have to offer. I love just popping over the other side of town for a coffee, dinner or a drink and always being able to find some place amazing without looking too hard. It’s the best place to be a grown up for sure!

What plans do you have for Little Shop of Handmade in the future?

Plan is a second shop in Melbourne, most definitely a ” Big Shop of Handmade”! Hmm maybe a “Little Shop of Handmade” in each state – who knows, the possibilities are endless. With the “Little Shop of…” brand we are moving into sterling silver and home wares which is exciting. We bought a new toy that cuts paper, fabric and vinyl – but I need to find the time to plug it in for a play. Oh and hopefully my husband Jon can come onboard full time this year too! Since I am 40 next year maybe think about chucking a “little shop of” baby into the mix too!

All the specific details:
Little Shop of Handmade
8 Woorayl St
Carnegie Vic 3163
Opening hours:
Wed – Friday, 11am – 6pm
Saturdays 10am – 4.30pm
Closed: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday
www.littleshopof.com

Show off...Show off, pick your nose and ........

I was walking down my local shopping strip the yesterday and I came across the Country Womens mobile van parked outside the bank - real thrifty treats were to be had let me tell you.

I cant believe I found issue #1 of the Golden Hands series... Umm let me clear my throat... .50c - pristine condition and full of all the basics you need for Knitting, Crochet and Sewing.... I wonder where the other copies are?

I also scored some vintage aprons and the most amazing linen (which has gone to the dry cleaners).

Easter at the Little Shop house will rearranging furniture  and tarting up the house after scoring a few hints from some great books.

 Wearing my most favourite Chinese velvet slippers $5.99 Victoria St. All that beaded embroidery it just the best. These are a staple when chillaxing at home.

When we pop over to THY THY every couple of months - I pop into the Asian supermarket and leave with $25 worth of velvety goodness.

Fave 5's Meme

It's not often I get to post to my blog but today I am joining along in the fun with Meet Me at Mikes Five Faves meme this week. 

Here are my faves...

1. Everything old is BLUE again -  wardrobe overhaul. Tarting up some cardies  with some navy dye and red buttons and bringing back to life some faded tee's



2. Carvers Chairs - made in Czechoslovakia  scored at Camberwell Markets for $50 each. - STUNNING



3. Loving my friend Theresa's  new product range and stunning photo's from her very first photoshoot.
Plus my little yellow Tweety brooch looks ACE too.



4.  Jamie at Home.... um third Monday in a row I am cooking the Slow Roast Lamb Shoulder



5. OP SHOP FIND - Brand new and $2.50! Beyond the Square; Crochet Motifs - 144 Circles, Hexagons, Triangles, Squares and more - this will certainly make my winter crochet project A-mazing!