Lately (a catch up..)

You know it's time to write a blog post when people start emailing to see if you are alright (thank you!).
I AM! I'm actually pretty good! I've just been in a bit of a funny headspace for blogging.
Shall I catch you up a little bit?

We've all been battling the common Winter ailments - coughs and snuffles, a minor dose of the Winter Blues... head lice. Haha. Maybe not so Wintry, but definitely an ailment. Those things are NASTY!
We have come through it all, though. One of us with a bald head, and one who still has a tinge of green in her nostrils, but we're all ready for Spring now.

I've been sewing. I've filled lots of custom orders, made some readymades, and have plenty more on the go. I'm still struggling to find that balance, and things are taking much longer than I would like them to.. but I'm getting there.

We've been doing a lot of assessing of our lives the past few weeks, setting some goals, figuring things out. One of the major things to come from this, for me, is that we decided to put Mollie in daycare for a few hours a week - so that I can spend some more time sewing, put a little more energy and effort into my little business/hobby.
It has been a time of conflicted feelings for me.
While I wish I was the type of person who could thrive from being around my kids 24/7, I'm not. I feel ridiculous amounts of guilt about that. I also feel like putting Mol in care, even for 6 hours a week, is making her grow up even faster - not what I want at all! But the little miss is such a social creature, she gets incredibly bored and frustrated stuck at home with me all day and I, in turn, end up frustrated with her. Not ideal! So yeah, she needs the social time and I need the sewing time (read: the money..) Ugh. I know I don't need to justify any of this to you (you, kind blog reader, wouldn't judge me, aye?) but I'm kind of more still justifying it to myself!

The past few weeks, we've been doing bits and pieces around the house. Windowsills got painted, kitchen light got fixed, trees and plants got planted, vegies went into the ground..
It's starting to really feel like home, despite there still being a long list of things we'd like to do. Guessing that list never really gets shorter!
I think the next things on our short term list are hanging a pinboard for the kids artwork, hanging more pictures on the walls, and painting that horrible blue strip around the bottom of the house!
Midterm plans include more garden/vege beds and replacing the gas fire with a woodburner.

I'm not sure if I've even mentioned it here, but I've been on a bit of a weightloss/healthy eating mission. I completed the C25K program on the crosstrainer, and have joined WeightWatchers.
I'm struggling to stay on the wagon a bit this week (highs and lows!) but I've lost just under 10kg so far (in 10 weeks) and am excited to be starting to see the difference in my energy levels and how my clothes fit.
This Catherine Campbell print was a small reward I nabbed for myself. I've been trying to treat myself to a little something every 2kg loss : )

I think that's about as much of a recap as I can manage. Otherwise, we've just been bumbling along like usual. Mostly, anyway.

What have you been up to?

Tiny Eyes and a revelation.

A little while ago, Dee invited me (and 6 other wonderful creatives) to design a Tiny Eyes doll. Eeep!

I jumped at the chance, of course.
But then the nerves started.
What will she wear?
Hooooly, the other designers are amazing!
What if I design a doll noone wants?

It turns out, it's really hard to design a doll!
I had so, so many ideas, it was really hard to decide quite which one to use.
I, initially, thought about doing a doll that looked exactly how I would like to look - tattoos, cute hair, peach and grey outfit, woollens, leather boots..
But, I reminded myself, I was asked to do this as Croutons, not as Rhiannon.

I had to think, long and hard, about what would best represent my brand.
(Sounds so flash calling it a brand!)
I decided, in the end, that the doll needed to be child-like. She needed bright, pretty colours. She needed vintage florals and polka dots. She needed a Croutons item of clothing, and a she needed a brooch, too.
She needed to be ridiculously sweet, with a little bit of quirk. Just like Croutons!

It's been really helpful, defining exactly what my brand looks like.
I feel a little like I have strayed from my 'look' a bit, in the past few weeks. I've had some custom orders for hoodies, that really haven't fit into my vision of Croutons. It's been good, and we've needed the money, but I'm really looking forward to taking a break from custom orders, and getting back to my own aesthetic, in the next few weeks.
Putting together the fabrics, choosing the colours and textures, is pretty much my favourite part of creating kidswear. I love putting that little bit of quirk in there - I don't get quite the same amount of joy with custom orders ( especially when I'm having to track down modern fabrics, in patterns I don't even really like!).
Turns out the 'feel' of Croutons comes from my eye for fabrics! I need to remember to run with that!

(Don't get me wrong, I'm incredibly grateful for any and all orders, the money and the love are gratefully accepted! I'm very thankful to be able to do what I do, and have it pay some bills is even more awesome.)

Weekly Mades (and a chance to win stuff!)

I had planned to write this post and be all 'Hey, pop over to Felt and check out these cool hoodies I just listed..' but, they didn't stay listed long enough to even begin writing this post!
I have been completely blown away by the response to these little jumpers - they sold in just 15 minutes, and I have so many orders that the waiting times are up to 3 weeks! Whaaaaaa?!
Luckily, I love love making them, and have quite a bit of sweatshirting fabric up my sleeve. 
Busy, busy, busy!

I also made a few pairs of shorts and pants - custom orders for lovely people. I especially love those bear pants and the sweet little indians on the red shorts! So cute and fun. Can you tell I am absolutely LOVING my work at the moment? Holy moley, so blessed to be able to make money from my hobby.



As a sort of 'Thanks', I'm hosting a wee giveaway for my customers over on my FB page.
For the chance to win one of two $35 vouchers (enough for a kids hoodie, or pants, or two brooches, or a bag etc..) all you have to do it send me (via email or FB) a photo of you or your child with/in an item of Croutons gear.
I ADORE seeing where my handmade goods end up - and, hopefully, you adore the idea of adding another piece to your collection - Win win, baby.

A Weeks Work.

I'm not going to lie, this is not actual not a weeks work. I just like the title!
I intended to post each week with the things that I had made that week, but I didn't factor in custom orders that wouldn't be able to be shown until they were received and things that I am waiting to chuck on Felt etc.
So, instead, heres a smattering of things I've made in the past two weeks.

These two hoodies were made for a sweet boy named Echo. His Mum and Dad are super wonderful, very supportive and have helped me with lots of businessy things lately. I know that they love to dress their kids in Croutons gear, and I'm so appreciative. I had heaps for fun putting together these jumpers for them, and for Echo.
(I was also stoked to receive a few custom orders when I popped these photo on Facebook. I'll be at Spotlight next week buying all sorts of cool fabrics to create the applique hoodies with - choice!)

I made these pants as a custom order for a lovely lady with twin boys. She loves colour as much as I do, and pretty much let me have free reign ( my fave!). The mail lady delivered them to her today - and she informs me the boys put them on straight away. Love it!

I made two pairs of these cowboy shorts. I've popped them in the Felt store.

It's lucky I also make Otto some Starwars shorts, otherwise he was about to insist he needed to keep the cowboy ones!
This fabric was given to me, in curtain form, by my best friend from primary school. These were her curtains when she was a little 'un. She tells me they were terrifying curtains for a little person - but I'm so thankful she (well, her parents) hung onto them! It's on of those fabrics I struggle to cut into. I like to only use tiny bits at a time. My kids have many Starwars patches and pockets in their futures. Haha.

My weeks work!

Over the past fortnight, I've been working on a big custom order of accessories. I can't show it to you juuuust yet - not until all pieces have been received by the people who are getting them.

It was so much fun to do something a little different, but it was also nice to be back at my sewing machine, creating little wearables again.

I whipped up five of these little sets this week; Two custom orders, two gifts for little friends' birthdays and one for Mollie.
I especially love the little (charcoal) merino leggings, I do so wish I could make some in my size! So snuggly. I hope their new owners will agree.

I also made this wee top, to match this pair of leggings that my Mum gave Mol after a recent trip to Cotton On Kids. The main fabric came in a parcel of fabric from the lovely Nin. It has a slightly brushed feel on the back, making it nice and warm.

These outfits are so much fun to make - and pretty much the perfect small girl get-up. The pieces work well together, but also as separates. And you can easily chuck a merino underneath, or a cardi on top, and they go through the cooler seasons, too. I have a feeling I'll be making many more in the coming weeks!

600 Likers! Holy!

To celebrate reaching 600 likers on Facebook (blown away!), I'm giving away a bag.
The winner will be able to choose which one of these sweet bags they would like. I'll probably even chuck in an extra wee treat - because I'm good like that! Heh.
To enter, just head over to my Facebook page, find the photo and say which bag you'd like to win.
(If you don't have FB and would like to enter, just comment here and let me know, I don't discriminate!)
Extra entries for sharing on FB/twitter/blog etc. Just let me know which you've done.

I'm so grateful to have such awesome likers - and getting to be so many!- I actually do wish I could send something to every single person. Feeling the internet love, big time.

Foxy birthday suit!

Our little friend, who celebrated her 1st birthday this past weekend, has a Mama that is fond of foxes. She's a big fan.
So, when Deb kindly sent me a stunning piece of fabric covered in foxes, I knew that I would end up making something for Maggie (or, rather, for her Mum Katie to put her in!).
While I was planning out the wee birthday suit (not that kind of birthday suit... rather a birthday outfit..), I realised that actually Mollie might just need one, too.
Mollie and Maggie live in different towns - so it's not so nerdy, right? Not too matchy-matchy? I must confess I do secretly want to see them both together in their foxy get-ups though...

I thought of making a dress, but these crawling little ladies are not so fussed on dresses - they get in the way. So I settled on peasant style smocks and handy dandy, super comfy, leggings. Lovely. The leggings are a touch big so hoping the knee patches might actually be on the knee in a month or so. Heh.

I'm quite sure that Katie and Maggie liked the outfit, and even Mollie gave it the a-okay. Win!
Happy birthday, Mags!

Croutons Schtuff.

A few wee bits and pieces going on with Croutons at the moment:




1. I'm having an End-Of-Summer sale on the kids clothing.
It will take place over on my FB page at 8pm (NZ time) on Monday evening (15th April). There are shorts, skirts, a few tees and dresses. Everything is marked down under $30 - with most things under $20! Bargain.
I'm looking forward to making some space for new things.

2. I'm giving away a flower brooch!
It will be drawn at the same time the sale starts, and is open to entries from anywhere in the world.
All you need to do to enter, is head over to my Facebook page and comment on the competition picture.A further entry can be yours if you hit 'share' and spread the love.
I'm ever-so-close to reaching 600 'likers'. I reckon I might give away a bag when I hit that magic number... fun!

3. I have re-opened my Felt shop. I've loaded on a few flower brooches, and a few upcycled embroidery rosettes. I hope to add to the shop regularly now that I am, slowly, starting to sew again. I'm quite excited about it.
(Also, how stunning is my lovely model, Fiona? Gorgeous!)

Craft Country - Part One. (Image heavy!)

Early Friday morning, we hopped in the car. It was loaded with bedding, clothes, our youngest child - and the results of a few months of intensive crafting.

I had serious butterflies before we left, but they calmed a bit as we got on the road. Not much more I could do once we were on our way, aye?

We had quite a lovely time, cruising down the country. It's unusual for it to be just the three of us for such a long period of time, and even more unusual for Abraham and I to have such long stretches of time for conversations to happen. We listened to music, made fun of road signs, ate Burger Fuel (essential on any road trip!), disagreed with the TomTom (you want us to go WHERE? Into the middle of the forest? Uhh.. no?) and discussed which of the small towns we would most like to live in. 

(For your information, we decided that Cheltenham might be the one. FLASH houses, green pastures and a pub called 'The Chelty'!)

We arrived in Masterton just before tea time. We stayed with a good friend from school, and spent the evening eating pizza and chit chatting with her, before settling in to get some sleep before the big day.

I learned my first lesson of the day very early on: make sure you know how long it take to to set up your stall. Seriously, when you are sweating away, trying to get things hung and writing signs, 10 minutes before the doors open - then you didn't get yourself enough time.
Luckily, I juuuust made it in time to snap a few quick pictures and get behind my stall for the opening of the doors.

(My little helper/model)

?

Unfortunately, the opening of the doors did not mean a big rush of people. In fact, there wasn't really a big rush of people all day.. it was quite slow. Sales were made, but not an awful lot.

I'm not complaining though, not really. I got to meet a lot of lovely people, see some lovelies I'd met before, and buy/swap for some gorgeous things. (More about all of those things in part 2)
Abraham was so wonderful, entertaining Mollie, fetching me food - and manning the stall so I could wander round and natter with those lovelies, and purchase the goodies. I'm so thankful he agreed to come with me, it would have been no fun without him. That was lesson number two.
I also learned a lot about the workings of my stall, and display. And about which of my items seemed to gather the most interest (for this particular crowd, anyway. The demographic seemed to be a lot older than I was expecting..). I have some good ideas for next time, and that's always helpful.
(One thing that cracks me up about markets is the comments people makes, almost as if the seller isn't standing right in front of them. I got a lot of 'Ohh, I could just make that..' or 'Well, that's a bit pricey isn't it?'. But my favourite of all was an older lady, who uttered to her friend, in regards to my doily-adorned bags 'They'd be a lot nicer without the table cloth on them!' Haha!)

After a long day, we were quite knackered. One might think this would be a good time to relax, ready for the long trip the next day, right? Well, not us. We decided that, rather than draw out the tiredness, we would just hop straight in the car and head home that evening. We'd be exhausted, but we'd be home and have the whole Sunday to unpack etc. So that's what we did.

We made our way back up the country, chit chatting, making fun of road signs.. and stopping for Burger fuel, of course. We listened to music, and sung a few rounds of nursery rhymes to calm Mol, who had well and truly had enough of being strapped in. We got home just before midnight - 14 hours of travel in two days! BANANAS.

(I think, maybe, I might need to stick to markets a little closer to home. I just need to find a good one.)

Will write a post about the lovelies I saw, the things I came home with, and a very cool idea, tomorrow. In the meantime, I have photographing and listing to do - so much stock for the Felt shop! Holy!