Toot toot!

"Toot toot". That's what Jett calls the red bus bag - except it's not a train, it's a bus. But hey, he's not quite two so I think I'll cut the little man some slack :p Perhaps after market I'll have to buy some train fabric and make him his own little 'man bag'.

I've had lots of fun making these new shoulder bags for the Beckybean stall, which will be at the BrisStyle Indie Designers Market on Saturday March 6 in Hamilton, Brisbane (that's right, two days away!).

Having found my inspiration from collectable vintage tea towels and of course some lovely prints from Ink & Spindle and Pippijoe, combined with reclaimed textiles and organic hemp canvas, I must say I'll be a little sad to see them go... But of course looking forward to seeing them find new homes :)

If instead you're feeling a little bit retro, check out Bec's blog to see some more pics of the other cool shoulder bags that will be at our stall this Saturday.

Oh and how cool is this Poladroid progam Bec got me onto?? I could spend quite some time playing with this, but alas I really should be packing up the bags and getting them ready for market :)

Eek, two weeks until BIDM!

Boy have I been queen of procrastination this year... 'I really should be sorting through Jett's clothes getting ready for the next boy', 'I really should be restocking the new bathroom vanity now that it's finished with all of our things that were carted down to the spare bathroom downstairs during the reno', and most recently 'I really should starting sewing for the next BrisStyle Indie Designers Market in two weeks'. That's right, two weeks. And I've done squat. Not a thing. Nudda. I feel like I'm uni again and leaving everything to last minute!

But what have I been doing instead? Between spending time trying to get Jett to keep his daysleep and then getting him to sleep at night, then tidying the house of toys and the odd bout of cleaning that I feel I really have to do every now and then, I just want to sleep. Like all the time. Except I can't - I have a toddler and a bladder that doesn't understand :p

So in a bid to get motivated I headed off to some op shops hoping to feel inspired by fabric, tea towels, tableclothes, anything! (oh yeah that's right, I procrastinated that trip for two weeks too!) And I think it worked - after a trip last Wednesday to four op shops carrying Jett around to each one and trying to explain that he can only pick 'one' toy to take home with him, I was feeling deflated as none had anything a bit special. But as I was leaving and trying to explain to Jett that he needs to hold my hand when there's so many cars about, some bright coloured tea towels caught my eye in an antique shop. Hurrah, hope at last. So in we went, amid nervous glances from the lady in the shop who didn't seem entirely comfortable with my toddler (with said chosen dinosaur figurine in hand) accompanying me. And it was a good score - so many vintage tea towels to choose from! I finally felt motivated and spent the next day cutting and pinning and getting ready to pull my finger out. Here's a sneak peek of some bags/tea towels that are still either waiting for buttons, waiting to be put together with linings and straps, or just waiting to become 'something'. The above pic is a bit hard to tell as the lighting wasn't great, but I'm a bit excited about the red London bus bag (top left) - I think it's going to be very cool and I don't think I'll be disappointed if it doesn't sell as I wouldn't mind keeping this one for me...:pBec's been a little more organised than me and you can check out some of the very cool little coin purses coming at you in two weeks from Beckybean here!!

OK it's so past my bedtime so until we meet again :)

Beckybean Christmas Sale!

Ho! ho! ho! Merry Christmas everybody!

Yes that's right... wait for it... it's SALE TIME AT BECKYBEAN!

To celebrate all that is wonderful and merry (and ok... a little stressful for many of us!!!) at this time of year, we're having a 10% off sale in the shop up until 24 December 09'. So not only do you not have to battle the crowds at your local Westfield, you get something that's a one-of-a-kind, handmade with love item. Simply order online, we'll wrap it up and 'make it look pretty' and can post to anywhere in Australia for free!!

We've also hugely discounted some of our existing Beckybean stock, becausw frankly, we're sick of looking at it and want the space back in our sewing rooms so we can go and make some more in the new year! So the 10% off also includes sale items as well. All you have to do is take it through the checkout, pay for it, and we'll jump on Paypal straight away and refund the 10%

Too easy, easy peesy :)

Now if only Jett would have wanted a handbag or pochette out of the shop, instead of me having to pull a tummy muscle trying to carry his new bike and Thomas Tank track, while pushing a pram, back to the car... would have been WAY easier!!! Ah the joy :pOk shameless plug over, I promise. I guess I should get back to my browsing on Etsy for more Christmas pressies while Jett's asleep. Have a lovely week everybody :)

BIDM wrap :)

Last Saturday was the December BrisStyle Indie Designers Market - and what a day! Sure it was hot, but there were yummy cupcakes, good coffee, and lots of water to go around. Not to mention all the awesome wares on offer! After a few days of R&R to get over the excitement of it, I thought I better post some pics. I'd brought along a fan to help cope with the hot day but luckily found I didn't need it - it was put to much better use blowing some air into the portacot of Bel and Em's gorgeous little boys behind me - if second babies are this easygoing them I'm not so worried about welcoming our next one. I can't believe you barely heard a peep out the little guys and they were there all day - little marketers already!! There's no way Jett would ever have been this easy as a 5 month old!!!

Anyway, I think this was the least stressed Bec and I have been going into this market, and by making a few things easier for ourselves like simplifying our tagging, less props etc, we managed to get the stall set up early and still have time to eat breaky and check out everybody elses stalls - yay!

Here's a few pics of how we looked at the start of the day :)


And luckily for us, we managed to sell a few bags early on, so Bec and I got to tag team while we went about the market buying up Christmas presents for the family! Hooray! Here's a few of some of the very lovely things I picked up for my nieces and nephews. These items are for my pink-loving niece - a hairclip holder and clips from EmBelISH, skirt by the Seamstress and the Daughters, and cute cupcake and polka dot belt by Hip Brown.
For my mum, a 'just because' present by Hot Toffee - Nicole makes the best earings!!
A pair of aeroplane PJs for my nephew who's Jett's age, by Katie from Miss Kitty Boo Boo.
For my other niece - who is not a pink-loving little girl!! Pretty skirt by Christine at Little Diva, a beautiful necklace by Amanda from Twinkle Star Art, and some hairclips by Chicuff :)
And one of the presents I got for my five year old nephew - who wouldn't want to be a superhero for a day? This cool outfit was by Chicuff as well.
I have no pictures to put up but Jett didn't go without - I've purchased him and the little man still in my belly some lovely plane wall prints with their names on them from Twinkle Star Art too. I can't wait to see them! Amanda does such lovely kids illustrations :)

OK, I think that's the market wrap up for me - so many good things to buy, never enough time or money to get it all!!

So new stock has now been uploaded to the Beckybean shop - but I'll do another post about that one at another time :) Have a lovely weekend everybody if I don't do it before then. xxx

Sneak peak of some new Beckybean bags :)

Today I finished all my machine sewing for this Saturday's BrisStyle Indie Designer's Market - woo hoo!

After spending the last hour and a half sewing on lots of Dad's wooden buttons, my bed has never looked so good... so before I trot off to dream of fabric, buttons, Scotchgard, and thread, I thought I'd leave you with a sneak peak of some of the Beckybean bags that will be on offer :) This was the line up of a few bags waiting their turn for a light Scotchgard!

Nighty night :)

BrisStyle is Comin' to Town

How quickly the weeks are flying!! Only three and a half more weeks until Christmas :)

If you're like me than you have barely started your Christmas shopping and panic is slowly setting in about how much time you have left to get everything you need. Have no fear, fellow bloggers, you are bound to find something for your little ones (or for yourself :p - I know I will!) at the BrisStyle Indie Designers Market this coming Saturday 5th December - St Augustines Church Hall and Grounds at Racecourse Road, Hamilton.

Here's a little sample to whet your appetite of some of the lovely wares that will be on offer.

(felt and fabric necklaces from littlechrissy)


(Twinkle Star Art gift cards in packs of 5)

(Offerings from Selvedge House)

(labradorite ear candy from rocknwrap)

Of course, Beckybean will also be there with bells on (boom boom) :) I won't write too much about what we have been working on, as you can read about here, on Bec's blog. I'll just leave you with one pic of our new range of shoulder bags which are incorporating the humble tea towel :) Why waste such beautiful linens on something as boring as drying dishes???

Anyway, we hope to see you at the market this Saturday!

Congratulations Miss Cindy!

Well part one of the Beckybean double giveaway has been drawn using a random number generator (number two it was) and the lovely Cindy from Bugandpop is the winner! Congratulations :) Even though it's going to be making the journey down to chilly Melbourne, I'll be sure to tell it to take a coat (unlike the air-con it's been needing up here in Sunny Brisbane the last few days!) and I'm sure it will be happy in the new home of one of my favourite bloggers. Yay!

Cindy if you want to flick an email to blog@beckybean.com with your address details I'll wrap it up and it will be on its way.

Thanks to everyone for entering and leaving your fabulous comments. Keep your eye on Bec's blog - The Small Stuff - for details on the other winner of this tote - should be up soon I'd say.

xxx

Beckybean double giveaway!!!

Woops! I was supposed to have this post up this afternoon! Sorry to anyone who ducked over earlier... we were mad cleaning here but then left to go and have some yummy tapas over at Bec and Matt's for dinner. Completely forgot about this post until now (not that it is any less important, but honestly there was some yummy food - duck fat potatotes, sashimi, rare beef, lentils, pissaladiere...). And of course a very good red! Sure, there was a broad cross of cultures at the table in the food stakes (or should I write 'steaks' and say 'boom boom') and while some may not think it was all overly cohesive it was all awesome and we loved it :p A little bit of everything :)

OK enough about what's going in my tummy and back to what slings across our shoulders, uses eco fabrics, and of course looks totally awesome! And what's more, is free for you! How's that for a segue?

Bec and I are celebrating the launch of a new retail outlet in West End (Brisbane, Australia) that will be stocking our Eco Market Totes. As mentioned in my previous post, the very lovely Michelle (of Pedrosprout fame!) has opened her very own shop call Nook, which has awesome wares and lots of handmade goodness - many things are eco too!

So we're having a double Beckybean giveaway! To win the Eco Market Tote pictured above, simply leave a comment here, and then pop over to Bec's blog for a chance to win another Eco Market Tote there too! This tote is made from recycled fabrics, with a reclaimed men's tie, and two handmade wooden buttons (one on the front and one on the strap) that have been made by our Dad from recycled offcuts. There is a handy pocket on the inside too.

OK I think that's it. Time to enjoy my full tummy, sleepy head from red wine and hit the hay I think :) Enjoy the week!

I will be drawing the winner on Monday 24th August.

Oh and I before I forget - The Brisbane Etsy Street Team (BrisStyle) is holding an EEE sale to celebrate our local Exhibition or Ekka as it's known to the locals (Fair). The sale runs from the 6-15 August.
During the sale all Beckybean items will be reduced by 10% with free postage in Australia! All items in the store are still listed at the normal price but we'll either revise the invoice once it's taken to the checkout, or refund the 10% with Paypal once purchased. Too easy :) Head on over to this post on the BrisStyle site to see who else is participating.

Cheers
Jade xxx

Oh the slackness in blogland...but I've been busy, I promise!

Photo from Michelle at Nook

How how terrible I have been in blogland... please forgive me for my absence over the past month :p I promise to try and stay abreast of everything from now on!!!

So since the BrisStyle market, we've had a few fabulous opportunities present themselves - first one being the lovely Michelle (AKA Pedrosprout) who is opening an awesome little shop in West End called Nook. Michelle will be stocking some of the Beckybean market totes - yay! The store should be opening any day now so head on over to the shop's blog to keep updated on its progress. I know I for one can't wait for it to open so I can do a spot of shopping (shh.. don't tell Kym!). Stay tuned for the opening too as to coincide with it Bec and I will be hosting a little giveaway!!! (really have to get our butts into gear and get it organised pronto hey Bec? :p)

The second is we're hoping to stock some of the bags from the Crema Range in a couple of Merlo Coffee's outlets (who we so generously get most of our coffee sack from - Mel really is the best!) - we should find out soon exactly what the go is, but fingers crossed!!! Bec and I have been templating some new bag styles for the range and I must say, they're pretty cool. We've also found some beautiful hemp/cotton fabrics that we'll be using in some of the linings - it is just awesome. I liked one of the samples so much I've decided I really needed to keep it for myself (you know, for research purposes and all...). I needed a new bag anyway... This one is a newbie and is really BIG. For the gal who wants to take everything with them... actually I think it would work as a nappy bag!This bag is one I made for one of my best friend's Jodie who lives in Melbourne - it was her birthday (shh...it wasn't a major one like 30 or anything... he he). I'm so happy she really likes it. I've had a few excited calls from her with people asking where they can get one - even one chic from Bvulgari who was asking who's it by and when can she get one :) She even had one friend admiring it the other day and when she looked at the tag said 'I have a Beckybean bag' - apparently her brother had bought it for her for her birthday this year. Way too small of a world isn't it? This is Jode's modelling her bag at home.
This bag is one I made for one of my best friend's Jodie who lives in Melbourne - it was her birthday (shh...it wasn't a major one like 30 or anything... he he). I'm so happy she really likes it. I've had a few excited calls from her with people asking where they can get one - even one chic from Bvulgari who was asking who's it by and when can she get one :) She even had one friend admiring it the other day and when she looked at the tag said 'I have a Beckybean bag' - apparently her brother had bought it for her for her birthday this year. Way too small of a world isn't it? This is Jode's modelling her bag at home.

OK that's enough for now. Here's a few pics of some of our latest pochette's in the shop too - they really feel lovely too. Beautiful linen tea towels in their former lives they were :)

Everybody needs a Colin

Dad does and always has done so much for all us kids. Fixing up cars for us, houses, any kind of repairs, you name it - he's probably done it for us. I feel very lucky to have a Dad like ours.

Even last week when the storms wreaked havoc in SEQ and my downstairs area was flooding a bit - Dad was out in the rain with Kym digging a trench to stop a repeat happening that night. When Matt and Sarah needed a house renovation for three more rooms before the arrival of my third nephew, he did it with my uncle in only two weeks. When Bec and Matt needed another air conditioner installed for the kids or a cubby house, he did it. Yep, Dad's pretty handy!

I find it impossible to recount all the times he's gone above and beyond, but have a few that are impossible to forget - my Mini breaking down in Melbourne at 5.30am and him leaving home straight away to make the 4 hr drive to come and bring me another one, or the time I crashed my car (in Queensland!) and he drove up from Victoria with another... It sometimes seems I cannot make any home decision even now without first consulting my Dad - this probably should annoy Kym more than it does, but it doesn't - he knows his limitations most of the time in this area! I joke with Dad about it and he says he's happy to do it as long as Kym cooks him lunch!!

Why am I talking so much about my Dad at the moment you may ask? Well he's done it again. He's helping Bec and I once more. This time he's helping us at the Beckybean shop.

Dad has so many tools in his shed and after talking about it with Bec and I he got to work and experimented with making some buttons for us. I love how each seems unique and special when I know that Dad has carved out each one and put the drop of linseed on with his very own hands. Even some of the wood he's used is red gum from the Nyah Forest in Victoria where we all grew up. Very special indeed. And check them out!
How totally awesome are they? They just go perfectly with our coffee bags and market totes! I've included a few pics of the latest ones that just got uploaded to the shop.This little tote was sold on Friday to the lovely Teneale from Wicked Child Designs - she currently has a blog giveaway on that ends midnight tonight so you better hurry up and check it out to enter!!


I was telling one of my best friends, Jodie, about how Dad was making these buttons for us, just after I'd finished telling her he'd fixed our flooding problem. "Everybody needs a Colin" she'd said to me. Yes, I think she's right :)

Thanks Dad!

From the catwalk to the pages of a magazine...

OK, so this possibly isn't as glamorous as my title makes out to be, but it's probably as glamorous as things might get for me :PThe Stitches & Craft Show has been and gone in BrisVegas and Bec and I got our first glimpse of some Beckybean bags on the runway for the Wardrobe Refashion Fashion Show. Sure I'm a few weeks late with this post (it was nearly 3 weeks ago...). And being the consummate business professionals that we are (not!), we forgot our cameras to capture this moment in time... thank goodness for iphones! Actually I think we were too excited to get shopping that we didn't even think of it...oops. These pics aren't great as the phone has no zoom (grrr...) but you get the general idea. I can tell you, I'm sure I looked a right twat taking pictures of our bags with a camera phone :D People probably thought I was a relative or something of some of the models! But it was pretty cool to see some of them teamed up with some fabulous fashions.I umm'ed and aagh'ed about putting in these next pics...but I'm going to do it!
So this month's issue of Vogue Entertaining and Travel is out and Kym and I are in it (from our trip to Hamilton Island for the Vogue Produce Awards I mentioned previously), along with a few other chefs and partners.

I was really really REALLY hoping they night airbrush me but no such luck. And it was a side on pic - aagh! That's Kym and I in the bottom righthand side of the page. Very paranoid about this angle of me since having Jett - I miss having definition between my face and my neck... Bec tried to make me feel better by saying she thinks it is the light and thinks Kym has a shadow there too but I think she may just be being the nice big sister and trying to make me feel better! I also think I have a mis-conception in my head of how I think I look and how I actually look and don't realise this until I see it on paper...hmm.

Anyhoo, it's out, so if you want to learn how to make Kym's 'Holy Luna Goat's Cheese with Danish Pastry, Fruit and Cumquat Puree', check it out :) Actually it was originally for a croissant dough I think, but they deemed the recipe a little 'tricky' for us mere house novices, so it was simplified!

Photo taken from the Vogue E&T June/July 2009 issue

Photo taken from the Vogue E&T June/July 2009 issue

Photo taken from the Vogue E&T June/July 2009 issue - this was Kym's dish!

Now I must finish writing my tales of high fashion and magazine spreads (he he he) and get back to my oh so glamorous life of unstacking the dishwasher, putting away Jett's toys, sweeping the floor and putting away the clean clothes. Sigh :(