I’m still very new to this blog thing and as I expected am finding it very hard to find time between frenzys of making to update it regularly. I’m going to have to get a routine in place so I can post a couple of times a week. An inordinate amount of the time I spend online goes towards updating my online storefronts on Etsy madeit and DaWanda. I often wonder if this is time well spent given that the impact of the GFC has really slowed down international sales. But I still get a thrill out of sending packages off to places like Arizona, New Jersey, Indiana and Murrembeena as I have this morning.

Anyway this blog was meant to be about my latest products– Gaye Abandon coasters and tablemats made from — you guessed it– recycled felted jumpers. I have some lovely images I took the other week with my fabulous new camera, while I was in my studio whipping up an early batch. I’ve been making them for a month or so now and am really happy with how the finished product looks. Though the tablemats especially are a lot of work, i’m loving making them and am streamlining the process every time I pump out a new lot. So far i’m selling them at the market and in two shops in Melbourne– Craft Victoria and twenty21
I have a couple of coaster sets up on etsy and plan to get some tablemats into my online shops soon. More pictures of the finished products to come…..

I love the layers of colour on the edge of the stacks

and how gorgeous are these scraps i’ve trimmed off the edges of the coasters! I couldn’t bear to throw them out and have put them away for some future use.

More stacks…..

and more scraps…

I’m looking forward to being part of one of my most fave Melbourne markets coming up this weekend. Its the Maribyrnong Makers Market and I love it because:
1. Its in my neighbourhood. Seddon is right next door to Footscray where I live and work and i’m often down there at the post office or having a coffee at the very fine Le Chien cafe.
2. Its incredibly well organised. Its a not-for-profit market run by a very hard-working group of lovely volunteers who have taken care of every last detail to create a great market vibe!
3. There are some really talented makers there that you don’t see at other markets. I get to catch up with my market buddies and do (more than) a spot of shopping/swapping.

I’ll be selling my new coasters and placemats made from recycled jumpers, along with a small range of Body Parts armies and scarves (great Chrissie presents to send overseas), my Gaye Abandon clothing range (some items on special) and Melanie’s tights, cloth-book artworks and cards.

MMM is on 4 times yearly and this one is the bumper, expanded Christmas edition. Hope you can make it! Come to my stall and be the first to mention this blog posting and you’ll recieve a free limited edition MMM calico shopping bag!

Every year for the past four years Melanie and I have been lucky enough to be invited to participate in Craftland Show in Providence, Rhode Island. Now in its 9th year Craftland Show is a month-long pre-xmas sale in downtown Providence that “celebrates all kinds of sparkly handmade objects and the 170 artists who make them”. The team who run this show, and since last year, the permanent Craftland Shop (incorporating the School of Craft and a gallery space), are six fabulous, very funny gals. We love being part of the Craftland world! This week we’re very excited to be the featured artists on the Craftland Blog. Check out our interview with Kristin Amico!

If you live in Adelaide come and visit us at the super Bowerbird Bazaar this weekend. This is the third edition of this bi-annual design market and we’ve been in attendance at every one so far.

Hope to see you there!