Almost there!

I've been a busy bee these last few days and have just printed and cut my last item for my market next week. Just need to get my display sorted now. These markets sure are hard work. I don't know how all you regular market goers do it!

I wanted to share with you some of the inspiring displays I've come across...

Abbey Christine

Steppie

Sew Trashy

Lockette

Images from Craft + Show Designs

V xx

Magnolia Square market this weekend

I'm so excited about his weekends Magnolia Square market at Malvern Town Hall! I've heard so many great stories about it but never made it along before. It's a pop up market that they take to Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney over the course of the year. The focus is quality crafted products across many categories including clothing, accessories, gourmet food, stationery and homeware. Think I should give myself a budget, got to the ATM and leave my dear friend, Mr Visa at home! Otherwise it could get messy!

There's also a great blog called Magnolia Square Snippets.

Has anyone ever been to Magnolia Square before? I'd love to hear about your fav purchases!

V xx

Happy Friday

It's been a busy week here at Buttercup Central. Yesterday I had my application accepted at Designer Sphere. I've been working lately at getting Buttercup Ink ready to venture out into the big world of wholesale and this will be a great tool for me to use to connect with retailers. It's basically an online wholesale trade fair where retailers register and get to meet new designers across Australia who are offering wholesale.

My goal is to get Buttercup Ink products in 10 retail outlets across Australia by Christmas. Fingers crossed!

There's just soooo much to think about with wholesale. Pricing, shipping, payment terms, minimum orders, blah, blah, blah! With the help of Megan at Craft MBA and her eBook on wholesale and trade fairs along with countless other books, website and people I'm about 95% there.

Anyway, the sun is out and I'm meeting some of the fab girls in my Mothers' Group for a chit chat and play date with the kids. My month end and delightful Excel spreadsheets can wait until tomorrow! Before the playing commences though, Gabriel has to go get his 12 month immunisations. Poor baby.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Anything interesting happening?

V xx

Daily reminder

A girlfriend just sent this to me... all very true!

Hope you're all having a sunny day!

V xx

Ideas?

I need to buy a birthday present for a friends little boy who is about to turn 6. When we were back in Scotland at Christmas he was into Star Wars and Indiana Jones! Would love to support a fellow Etsy or madeit seller. Any ideas?

V xx

Happy birthday to me!

So it's my birthday today and has so far been spent in the doctors waiting room with a snotty, sick baby! Why do they even bother giving you an appointment time?!?!

Anyway, I had a great birthday weekend that involved some birthday drinks with friends and babies then we sent all the men home with the kids and had some girls cocktails! Hmmm - those French Matrini's were delish! Yesterday there was a party with Bubbles the Magician, bouncy castle and lots of cake! I should clarify that it wasn't for me but for my beautiful little neighbour who turned 3! The afternoon was spent on my couch with some books. As many of you will know, I'm a bit of a bookworm so a Sunday on the couch while the boys are outside in the garden is my idea of heaven! I finished One Day by David Nicholls for my book group and really enjoyed it then had a flick though some birthday books - How to Bake a Business and Handmade in Melbourne - thanks C! My boys got me a a beautiful bunch of flowers and a Kobo eReader. I do love having books displayed on my bookshelf and will still buy some 'real' books but I love the convenience of the eReader. Plus, it came with 100 free books! A lot are classics that I've just never gotten round to reading so now I've no excuse! Bring on War and Peace! Although if I ever actually finish it I'll be buying a copy for my bookshelf as a little trophy!

The rest of the day involved (lots of) birthday chocolate tart and the MasterChef grand finale! Bliss!

How was your weekend?

V xx

Warm summer days with jazz and wine

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I'd been working on a branding project for a summer event in Victoria... It's now gone live on the website so I can finally share it with you all!

It's for the Riverboats Jazz Food and Wine Festival up on the Murray River in Echuca. Nothing beats a warm summers day with some good food and wine and live jazz in the background!

It was such a great project to work on - can't wait for the event in Feb. Any excuse for a weekend in the country!

V xx

'It's my Birthday' SALE!

It's my birthday next week and I'd like for all my blog friends and Facebook fans to join in the celebrations! I'm offering 30% off ALL Buttercup Ink products in both my Etsy and Madeit shops.

Just enter 2010 BIRTHDAY SALE in the message to seller at checkout to receive the discount.

I'll refund 30% of the total cost, excluding shipping, to you via PayPal as soon as I receive your order. Offer ends midnight 31st July, AEST.

V xx

Stationery swap

Amanda over at Calico & Co. is doing a stationery swap. I'm so excited to see what lovely paper delights I'll be getting in the post! Sign up here.

Old family photos

A while back I got my dad to send me some old family photos as I want to create a family history wall in our lounge. I haven't got around to actually displaying them as I've not found any frames I really like. I'm also waiting on my mum to send me the ones from her side of the family.

Living in Australia, we very much want Gabriel to have a strong connection with our home and his extended family and I think there's no better way than displaying them in our family area where we get to see them everyday. It's a pity that in this digital world we have all our photos on iPods and computers but forget to display them.

I've really enjoyed looking through them this morning and so wanted to share them with you...

Gran and Grandad McKechnie on their wedding day

My dad, his sister, mum and dad

My dad and Aunt Myra with their gran

My dad on his first day of school, 1954

My grandad. This photo has been in my parents living room for as long as I can remember.

I love it! He looks so strong and handsome.

My grandad, far left, with his 5 sisters and brother.

My beautiful mum and dad on their wedding day with my cousin, 1977.

My mum and dad on their wedding day with their families. My mums parents on the left and my dads dad and aunt on the right. My gran McKechnie passed away when my dad was young.