Peter and Paul and the Little Red Girl

Peter and Paul groomed thier feathers for a photo shoot yesterday in preparation for Salamanca Market tomorrow. After last week I felt that there was some 'jujjing' that was in need. So, the improvements will be - a black tablecloth for more 'pop' with the products, 3 BIG photos (check above and below) and just one long trestle table at the front of the marquee. I'm keen to see how it goes this time!

I'm also really excited to be parading my new acrylic window pendants and Tasmanian blackwood window pendants (below - I'm slightly in love with this one and may not be able to sell it!) for the first time. I have been working on both of these pieces for such a long time and are pleased that just a few are ready for me to sell (fingers crossed) tomorrow.

Please pop past and say 'hello' if you are in town tomorrow - I'll be towards the Davey Street end (probably 100 meters down) backing onto St Davids park. I can't wait - and this time I have a surplus of warm clothes already prepared!!! Hope to see you there.

NEW: Tasmanian Blackwood Window Pendant

Tell me what you think - to paint or not to paint?!

So, I need your help!! I am in love with my vintage green meatsafe which has served as my pendant display unit for some time now. However, I have recently had several people tell me that it needs to be painted black so that my products stand out more. I'm normally not one to dismiss advice to help sell my products, but there is something about my lovely green meatsafe that I just don't want to mess with. But then again, if it will grab the attention of more customers..... ooooooooooooohhhhhhhhh, decisions!!

Paint the safe, paint the safe not, paint the safe, paint the safe not ..... Please tell me what to do!

Peter and Paul go on show at Salamanca Market!

After many, many months of waiting to see if we got in, and then finally being accepted, we had our very first stall at the famous Salamanca Market on Saturday. And what a day it was! I lost all feeling in my fingers for at least 3 hours, and was laughed at by customers and Mirri (Jasmine Rose) alike for my incapacity to write, handle money and package products. But, nothing was going to stop me soaking up the vibe! There was a lot of interest and many a business card handed out and overall it was a very decent day for our first attempt. I think some minor stall set-up changes are in order - its a whole different thing to selling at an inside, cosy market!

('Two little dickie birds' tea-towel range - better photos to come shortly)

The most exciting this was that my 'Two little dickie birds' tea-towel and tote-bag range was finally complete and up for the taking. Peter and Paul were strutting their stuff and grabbed the attention (and a giggle or two) of many a passer-by! It does bring back memories and a smile to your face.

I'll be back at Salamanca this Saturday again, so please pop past and say hello. And while you're there, introduce yourself to Peter and Paul!

(My new tip-shop 'doctors case' purchase)
(Another trusty tip-shop purhase - great for a Sale box)

Another Northern Tassie Stockist

I now have 2 reasons to head up north some time soon, as I have picked up another stockist; this time in Burnie. Indigo House has been successfully running for sometime now, and they even have a shop online facility!! They stock a wide range of products including homewares, jewellery (that's where I come in!), accessories, body products, and in general some nice little gifts for yourself or others. Check out some of the photos of the shop below - I love colour coordinated merchandising!!!

And one more piece of exciting news for Pili Pala; I'll be at Salamanca Market for the first time this Saturday and I can't wait!!! I'm praying for good weather, at least for this first one, so I can sort everything else out like putting that marquee up, table set-up, crowd flow, how to have a toilet break when you are by yourself, and finally, and most important - whether to wear a bum bag with the float or not?? No, the more I think about it, I can't bring myself to do that! I'll have to come up with another safe option for my float - any suggestions???

Handmade Hobart this Saturday and Sunday

Well, off to market again. These markets keep coming hard and fast and I am finding myself very busy. This weekend I am off to Handmade Hobart Market at St. Peter's Hall (crn Brisbane and Harrington streets) on both Saturday and Sunday; 10.00 - 3.00 both days. Along with several of my regular market buddies (Notions, Ruby Victoria, Elf Dreams, Hiiragi, Loopee Designs, Silver Nutmeg and a Golden Pear, Sunday's Child, the list goes on) there will be several stallholders that I don't know, but keen to check out.

If you are after some beautiful handcrafted wares this weekend, don't miss out on Handmade Hobart - see you there!

A New Stockist

Hip Hip Hooray for another stockist; this time a new shop that has opened in Penguin. Nest (love the name!) opened last week and Nat (the owner) reports that it recieved a good reception. My Mothers family comes from Penguin so Mum is a little chuffed that I now have a stockist there and thinks its a great excuse for us to visit next time she is over.

If you are up in Penguin, definitely check it out - it looks amazing. I'm hanging out to pop in!!

Come back Paul

I managed to capture a quiet moment (very rare indeed!)

What can I say about the Niche market except that it has certainly found it's niche up in Launceston. What an amazing market with a never ending flow of patrons. I had a very successful weekend up there and loved every minute of it. There were several familiar faces from Hobart selling thier wares and a tribe of stallholders that were new to me. I was just a tad excited to finally meet the face behind the amazing brand Dick and Dora and to touch some of thier products in real life (I have been following thier success for a while now).

I was very lucky to be placed next to Abi from Oliv who makes beautiful kids T-shirts with a massive array of designs on them. She was SO SO popular and I am slightly in awe of her brand, customer relation skills and the way she has built up her business. She gave me a few pointers throughout the two days (when we had time to breath) and I look forward to recieving more advice from her in the future. You can check her out at Salamanca each week - and while we are on Salamanca; we got in!!! YAY!!! I can't wait to get down there; bring it on. I'll post on the blog when each time we get in!

And finally, I was thrilled to introduce my new range of screen printed tea-towels. This has been a LONG time coming, with me planning these designs in about September last year and now only just getting them to print. Unfortunately, I only had one of my 4-step story ready to sell, but was so keen to test the waters and see how they went. And, to my relief, they sold like a charm and were very popular - in fact, I sold out!!!

So, please make welcome; 'Come back Paul' (soon to be joined by 'Fly away Peter', 'Fly away Paul' and 'Come back Peter' - how did you guess?!). At the moment they will only be available on tea-towels but my dream is to sell them on tote bags and boutique cushions as well. What do you think of Paul??