Baby Bookmarks Giveaway!

It's been an interesting week. Just as I was starting to dispair at my difficulty finding a market that wasn't already too overrun with jewellery makers, I was accepted to have a stall at 2! Both of them are in November. More on that later...

I was thinking about the reasons why I was so keen on heading to markets and it all comes down to one thing - my mum. She made her living when I was young doing market stalls, she made everything from felt toys, to clothing, to gorgeous fully joined mohair teddy bears. Her health isn't the best these days so she's unable to do this stuff any more, but she's always been a big support and inspiration for what I do now.

I decided that as a tribute to her (and the childhood I spent at markets!) I am going to attempt to recreate a couple of her designs to add to the Mrs Monkei collection. I'm not incredibly great with a needle and thread, so I don't see myself abandoning jewellery any time soon, but it's been a lot of fun.
(Who knew tying bows was so difficult - thank goodness Mum is so patient!!)



I've started with a staple of Mum's, baby bookmarks. She taught me to do these when I was young, I'll admit I needed a bit of a refresher. But how cute are they!

If you're still with me after that rambling - I'm having a giveaway!!
To celebrate those who inspire us, I'm giving away 2 of these cute little bookmarks.

To enter, you just need to be following Mrs Monkei either on this blog or on my facebook page, and leave a comment here saying who it is that inspires you - your mum, dad, kids, friends, whoever - and why. I'll pick two people at random on Saturday September 3rd. The winners can pick their colour from the three in the photo; pink, purple or blue.

I look forward to reading your comments. Now, I'm off to show Mum my work.
Hopefully she'll be proud! :)

Keyrings and Oreo Cupcakes!

This little bee is the cutest thing I've added into something I've made since the glass seahorse on my aquatic bookmark! I found them months back and couldn't think how to use them, until I thought of making keyrings. This is something my mum only briefly dabbled in and in her case ir was tiny little cross stitched images or letters. So this is a bit of a change for me. I have done a couple with gemstones as well but I liked the change into something a little more bright and cheery.

I sent one of these guys with more yellow and less red beads to Bendigo but I thought I should make one for the madeit store as well.

Today has been a fairly relaxed day, I've not been well the past few months and I'm starting to get really sick of the pain. Pain is a bully, isnt it? It beats you into a sort of submission... Hopefully it'll all be sorted out in time, until then I am crafting and baking to get my mind off it!


Oreo Cupcakes!

I return to work tomorrow after our week off, hubby went back this morning. I thought maybe we'd have nice warm welcomes back to work if I baked some cupcakes, so I've made Bakerella's oreo cupcakes. They are stunning! So light yet moist at the same time, and such an easy recipe. Doesn't get better than that.
I've gone with a boiled vanilla bean frosting and filled them with chocolate ganache. Yuuum.


The innards of an oreo cuppy :)

There's a whole oreo in the bottom. Let's hope Mr's workmates like it - they have become my taste testers!

Shop Stocked!

Hubby and I have just had a week off together, it's been lovely to spend some time doing not a lot. We had a couple of little day trips and hung out with the kitten whilst getting some stock made up for the shop.

Yesterday we tripped on up to Bendigo with 2 little boxes of hair clips, bookmarks, bracelets and earrings. It was an absolute pleasure to meet Jess and her little helper - they showed us around and appeared to like what we had brought along. Well worth the 6 hours we spent in the car and we both got home tired but excited and optimistic. I'm thrilled to be a part of what will be a great thing for Bendigo's art community.

ViewPoint Handmade Gallery opens in September, keep your fingers crossed for me that the people of Bendigo like what I do!!



On a side note, Mr and I have a bet on the 4 bracelets that he designed for the shop selling, he says they won't, I say they will. Hopefully I'm right!