Typically Red & A Little Vintage

Last but not least, let me introduce you to the final two makers in the Handmade Christmas Giveaway - Greer from Typically Red and Jennie from A Little Vintage. Truly two of my favourite makers, Emerson is fortunate enough to own her own beautiful Bumpy Bonnet, and I recently had the pleasure of acquiring not only one of Jennie's free motion floral neck pieces, but a hand made Frieda Kahlo doll too. How I love our handmade community!

I'll be back tomorrow to draw the giveaway!

Hand knit Bumpy Bonnet 

(winner can choose between the bumpy bonnet and pixie hat, in their choice of colour)

After nearly a decade of eager knitting, and years of dressing my long-suffering children head-to-toe in mama-made woollens, last year, encouraged by the wonderfully supportive bloggy community, I took my obsession to the next level by launching my own handmade business. Typically Red Knits is a little corner of woolly goodness where I sell vintage-inspired hand-knitted hats for babies and kids. Each day I get to indulge my love of beautiful yarns while coming up with ever more creative ways of slotting knitting time into my busy life. These days, the needles are never far from my hands. I've sent hats all over Australia and the world, from New York to Paris, London and Stockholm, Bergen and Barcelona, and the feedback has been wonderful. I'm bubbling over with new ideas and designs, and can't wait to take things to the next level in the coming year.

Blog: http://typicallyred.blogspot.com.au/
Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/typicallyred
Instagram: @typicallyred

Jennie, of A Little Vintage makes one of a kind items - mainly from re-purposed fabrics.

Hand painted dolls, koalas, brooches and more recently neck pieces too.

Free motion sewing or 'drawing with the sewing machine' often finds its way into 

Jennie's creative pursuits .. including the koala faces!

Tristen the koala is made from felted wool rug and cotton fabric. He has a free motion

sewn face, faux fur ears and a vintage necktie. He measures approx 15" and is stuffed

with soft, new, antibacterial, non allergenic stuffing made from recycled plastic bottles -

preventing at least 16 bottles from going to landfill! 

Blog: http://alittle-vintage.blogspot.com.au/

Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/alittlevintagestore

Instagram: @alittlevintagedoll

Studio Tour

Before

After

A colourful clutter of inspiration and necessities 

My new Frieda Kahlo doll. A birthday gift from my sister, handmade by Jennie.

Tools of the trade - My ultrasonic (for cleaning jewellery) is hiding behind the polishing machine, in the middle is my pickle (a heated acid solution that removes flux from heated metals), as well as my rolling mill (for rolling the metal to the desired thickness of plate or bars, or preparing the metal to be drawn down in to wire.)

One would hardly guess, when looking at the 'before' photo of my bench, that I am usually a 'place for everything and everything in it's place' kind of girl, especially when it comes to my tools. I like to tidy up and put everything away when I've finished working, so that I sit down to a clean bench the next time. Only, it wasn't quite feasible during the rush of market prep. Tidying up seemed like a bit of a luxury. My table became a dumping ground of tools, half finished projects, packaging, and general craziness as I tried to get as much done as possible as time ran out. Working amongst the mess has reaffirmed for me why I tidy up at the end of the day!

Yesterday I pottered around the studio cleaning up and sorting out, while the children played, swept the floor and made more mess. Once I have sorted out their pile of toys on the floor, and the pile of mending on my sewing table, all will be well in my studio again. But at least, for the time being, I can now sit down and work on some custom pieces with room to move and think. And a tidy bench.

What does your work space look like?

Are you neat or messy, or both?

I just noticed that I need to fix the date on my bench clock.

-

PS. Happy birthday to my dearest darling twin sister! And happy birthday to me! 32. Oh my! 

Made By Hand - Link Up

'Made By Hand' is a weekly creative show and tell, with an aim to foster community, conversation and inspiration.

My aim is to craft a life of homemade, home grown happiness. 

So, what are you creating right now?
Join in by leaving a link below.

Rather than share a photo of the same piece of knitting I have been working on, I wanted to show you a beautiful handmade gift that arrived unexpectedly in the mail for me this week. A free motion machine stitched neck piece, handmade by the talented and generous Jennie, of A Little Vintage Doll. Isn't it all sorts of lovely? I've had to hide it from my little ones, who both insisted on trying it on, while trying to assume ownership of it. Thank you so much Jennie! It's beautiful.

What have you been making lately?
Or what handmade goodness has come in to your life?