Craft swap...Part 1

Yesterday...I heard the crunch of footsteps coming up my path....I raced to the front door...for I had been awaiting a special arrival....and there it was on my doorstep...the package from my Craftaholics Anonymous handmade gift swap buddy! And I actually squealed with delight when I saw it there, lying suggestively on my doorstep ;)
I raced back inside and ripped it open..to find the most beautiful handmade delights from my new found blog friend and funky mama, Ros.
And here they are. A gorgeous handbag with beautiful big button (vintage I think?, which is my absolute favourite kind of button!), a gorgeous Christmas apron, or pinny, as my mumma would have called it (can't wait to swoon around in this little number on Christmas day, it is sooo gorgeous!), and a very cute felt and button Christmas tree decoration, which is taking pride of place on my tree this year.

Thank you so much Ros. This was my first swap, and this has given me the desire to do more. You are a gorgeous funky mama with so much talent. xx

Please check out Ros' blog Sew Delicous, leave her a comment to let her know that you dropped by via Nanny Kate. Trust me, we bloggers absolutely squeal with delight when we get a new comment. Listen closely and you just might hear a funky mama squeal tonight.

xx manda

A little something for a rainy day

Well we have had a little something for a sunny day...now here is a little something for a rainy day.
For the last few days here in Sydney the rain has been steadily coming down. I don't really want to rug up in winter style clothes, as let's face it, Christmas is just around the corner. So today I threw on a scarf and added a little brooch from Nanny Kate which has added a little sunshine to my rainy day.

x manda

Getting ready

Here are a couple of clips that will be coming with me on the journey to the market in Glenbrook on Saturday 16th July.
I am returning to Glenbrook after a four month break, and I must say, that I am looking forward to going back there. Not the freezing cold early morning start mind you, but the experience of the day. The natter that Emma and I have, she is my market buddy, she is the designer/maker behind Chitter & Chatter, and seeing our "regulars", the people that come and visit us every market, whether it be to pick up something new from us, or just to pop by and say hello. Both Emma and I love these little interactions and look forward to them each and every time.
I am looking forward to seeing you all up in the beautiful Blue Mountains on Saturday, don't forget to drop in and say hello. Any of you who stop by and let me know that you follow me on my blog will receive a free little gift!

Felt necklaces at Purely4Kids

Here we are inside on a very windy, wintery Sydney day. As my mum says, "it's a good washing day"...but that is about all the kids and I can manage to do today outside.

It really is a day for staying in, and maybe doing a bit of blogging, playing with play-doh, colouring-in, baking, and maybe even some buying from the latest great kids website, Purely4Kids 

Today I wanted to share with you these felt necklaces that I have for sale over at Purely4Kids, a website that is supporting local Australian designers and makers, and providing fabulous products "for babies, teens & in-betweens"
Please follow the link I have provided and see what this fabulous new website has to offer. There are a whole range of beautiful products to peruse, not just Nanny Kate.

xx manda

Edie and Marty

Meet the latest additions to the Nanny Kate family, finger puppets 'Edie the Elephant' and 'Marty the Monkey'. And no, I haven't forgotten to add an extra 'd' in Edie. She is a...well...a 'she', and has been named after my best friends little girl Edie.
Ever since the day this little girl arrived into the world, (a whole 13 days before my boy Jack), I have fallen in love with the name, and also this very wonderful little girl. She is such a gorgeous girl who is stacks of fun, and we are looking forward to catching up with her and her yummy mummy during these school holidays.
You see, before Jack and Edie started school they were pretty much inseparable, we spent on average one day a week together the four of us, the kids and us two mums. We shared endless cups of tea, coffee, and juice, many cupcakes and bikkies, and all sorts of other mischief.
Hope you all enjoy the school holidays and find some time to catch up with the people you love the most but maybe haven't had much of a chance to spend time with in the last few months.

xx manda

Anyone for a cuppa?

Hello there, I hope you have all been having a lovely weekend. Today saw us celebrating our daughters 3rd birthday, with a party at home. It was an all girl occasion, except for daddy and big brother, who were both a great help, particularly big brother who was in charge of "Oli's Lollies", a little lolly shop we set-up so that the guests could make a selection of their favourites to go into their lolly bags, which our son then got to spoon into the lolly-pink lolly bags. Needless to say, he relished his role and was fantastic at it too. (Thanks buddy...you really are a "super-dooper-helper-trooper")

I thought I would share one of my favourites with you today. These little ones are called "tea-for-two"..they come as two fun tea bags and two yummy bikkies. I have lots of fun doing these, even though they are very time consuming, (every little hundred and thousand is hand sewn on) but I still love the look on peoples faces at my market stall when they see them, it makes all the hand stitching worthwhile! Enjoy!

Take-away treats...

that is the title of these little lovelies. Take-away treats of a healthy kind that is.
They are just another little addition to the felt playfood I have been making.
I must say, I absolutely love making the apples, they just look super yummy!
And they are a lot of fun to make.
I sell them in a set of one apple (colour of your choice), two small strawberries, and one carrot, topped off in a little take-away container. Hopefully it might encourage your little one to desire more healthy treats...well a mum can dream can't she?

Feel free to email me if you are interested in purchasing a container of
"take-away treats"

xx manda

M.I.A...and felt playfood

Firstly I would like to say sorry for being M.I.A for so long. I don't even have a decent excuse...just that the life of a wife, funky mama and happy (if not slightly obsessive) crafter takes over at times. But I am back, and wanted to share with you my latest creations. Those of you who have visited me at Glenbrook Markets would have seen them, but for the rest of you...this is what I have been having lots of fun with lately! ....Felt playfood!!!










I have really enjoyed labouring over these. The strawberries look almost edible, the donuts look like you could just pick them up and give them a quick bite...and the cupcakes...well let's just say that I still haven't exhausted all the combinations that are possible. (I even think of flavours they could be...like honey spice cake with lemon frosting...yum!)

broooch-a-rama!

Here I am again, this time with some actual finished pieces!
I have had so much fun making these brooches. They are made out of felt and vintage buttons, and anyone who knows me knows that I can't resist a bit of felt and a vintage button or two, throw in a bit of stitching and I am in handmade heaven!
But these colourful adornments wouldn't have been possible without the help of a dear friend of mine, Juliette, who has inspired me with her papercraft creations and very kindly lent me her super-dooper die to allow me to cut these fabby flower shapes. (Thanks Juliette, one of these has your name on it, you just choose. xx)
These little creations have kept me busy for the last few days, as I have had no voice due to laryngitis, so here I am, resting and creating...not a bad combination if I do say so myself.
I will be taking them to the next Glenbrook Markets, but if anyone wants one before then, just let me know.

xx Manda