Wednesday, June 24, 2009

To market, to market

Things have felt very busy lately and I'm only now starting to feel on top of things again. We've had a busy few weeks that I thought I'd recap for those interested (and for those who aren't, this may be a little boring!)... I can't believe it's been over three weeks since I last posted - what a slacker!I just received a comment from the lovely and talented Rebecca from Edward and Lily to say I have been nominated for the One Lovely Blog Award. Given how slack I've been lately I feel embarassed to receive this - but thanks Rebecca! I'll try to post more often! The rules of the Award are:
1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.
2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.
3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Now I don't think I could narrow it down to only pick my favourite 15 bloggers so I'm not going to... Can I please just urge you to check out some of the lovely blog links in my blog rolls. Perhaps you might find yourself another favourite :)

Urbane closed down nearly three weeks ago (hmm... maybe this is also why things have been different - new routine perhaps?) and we've been enjoying having Kym here - particularly at nights! He's doing lots of work for the restaurant still during the day but I'm getting more help with Jett which is cool for me. And nighttime company! Although we have become 'Storage world' for the restaurant (which initially I wasn't keen on!), they have left all its alcohol here... and some pretty cool equipment too. Dinner party anyone?? Just kidding. Sort of... he he he. We're also keeping some of the shelving apparently as its no longer needed, so I'm envisioning a new sewing area with better material storing space which is exciting.

Last week we also had a wonderful five days back in Melbourne for Restaurant 09' (like a trade show for hospitality). Although a little chilly compared to the Sunshine State, the sun shone and I had moments of wondering why I left there 10 years ago... luckily it was overcast and dreary the day we left so that helped remind me!! Although Restaurant 09 was fairly crap compared to the one we'd been to in Sydney last time, our time away was fabulous.
I can't remember it's exact name... but this was my dish from Cutler & Co it had mixed wild mushrooms, burrata (handmade bocconcini), bread pastry square, freshly shaved truffles, and truffled polenta - yummo!

We ate. And ate. And ate some more. To the point when it was almost (I say ALMOST!) unenjoyable to eat anymore. Eating around Jett's daytime sleeps meant late lunches around 2pm but still early dinners at 6pm before bed... so it felt like all we did was eat for hours. We went to (excuse spelling mistakes!) Lau's Family Kitchen in Acland Street St Kilda (ex Flowerdrum), Giusseppi Ronaldo & Sons in SouthBank, Ginger Boy in the city, Cutler and Co on Gertrude Street Fitzroy, along with pastries from Laurent and yummy dumplings in the city, just to name a few. And they were all pretty damn good.
Lucky for me there were lots of sales on and we got to do some damage to our credit cards. Yay! I will apologise now to anyone trying to walk around Melbourne Central on Friday and Saturday last week and kept being ran into by a 15 month old little man carrying his own shopping bag and going in every which way direction!!! I tell you, when he's been couped up all day either because we're in restaurants, or crossing roads, or on public transport, trying to contain him while he stretched his legs was an effort :p
A few weeks ago now Sophie Formica and the Great South East team from Channel 7 undertook some filming on BrisStyle featuring some key committee members. As Bec is one of the founders of the ever expanding group, and they decided they like the 'sisters who sew' angle, they decided to pay a visit to Bec's house and film us talking about our bags, our philosophy, materials and Dad's buttons!! Luckily for me Bec was the main speaker as they wanted to mainly talk about BrisStyle :) I'm not really one for public speaking... So anyway, if you live in the Great South East be watching this Sunday 28th June at 5.30pm on Channel 7. Bec and I have our fingers crossed we don't sound like utter twats! Bec had a cold at the time and is particularly stressing about how her voice will sound! I'm sure it will be fine Bec :p The above pic is how we set up the stock for the show.

If you watch the show and like what you see (how's that for a segue?), come along to the second BrisStyle Indie Designer's market on Saturday 4th July from 9am-2pm at St Augustine's Church Hall on Racecourse Road, Hamilton. Go check out the BrisStyle blog to find out more details. I probably haven't been as busy as I should have be in the lead up to this market, but my little holiday's are over and I'm doing some last minute sewing now. And loving it. We'll even have a few large and small pochettes that are 'new' to the Beckybean shop so come see. We're just so excited! Not just to showcase our bags, but to check out the other talented BrisStylette's and do a spot of shopping ourselves. Hopefully we sell a few bags so I have more spending money!!!

Here's a list of who'll be there:
Made by Maisie
edward and lilly
RE-read Design
little chrissy
Sharlzndollz
Flight Industries
Prettyhead Designs
Epheriell
PretaPawte
Raspberry Pink
SM Boutique
Shelley Berelli
Designs of the Heart
My Girl
Creative Arty Facts
Little Diva
Beckybean
Hot Fudge
Why Not Street
Blossom Child
Rellesh
Elvin Hair
Create and be Happy
Shazzabeth Creations
Hot Toffee
Denim Days
Up in Annie's Room
Scampsville
Kitty Boo Boo
Jellygnite
Little Jellygnite
Mimoo
The Seamstress and The Daughters
Ruby Red
Ruby 2 Go Go
Strat Designs
Bubbachenille
Lemon Ink
Jetta's Nest
Vintage Cherubs
MJ Mosaics
Ogekko
Willows Heirlooms
Vintage Visions
Wicked Child Designs
Red Seed Studio
Bellabijoux

Thanks to those of you who hung in there and got to the bottom of the post. Pretty poor PR person aren't I? Hopefully people didn't read using the inverted pyramid where I should have put the most important info (our market and tv) at the top and my waffle about my holidays at the bottom. Woops. I'm so out of practice. OK, over and out :)

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Eye Spy...A morning ritual

OK I'm well late with this one, but here I go anyway :p

Co-sleeping with our little man means my morning's pretty much start the same everyday... generally it involves having him climb onto my head to let me know he's up! Occasionally I get a kick to the head but these aren't as common as they used to be (thank goodness!). Lately he's started clapping his hands when we wake up which is very cute. Either way he wakes us, I still cherish this time as I know there will come a day when he's not going to be caught dead cuddling with his mum in the morning anymore. And I will be sad. And possibly even miss those kicks to the head... :p For right now, even amongst the strewn DVDs and opened cupboards with contents emptied on the floor, life is bliss and I wouldn't want it any other way :)

Thanks to 3 Red Buttons for choosing this week's theme and of course to Cindy for hosting.