Fred loves Liberty

I was very impressed to see that one of my favourite children's clothing brands, Fred Bare have used Liberty of London fabrics in their summer collection. I've dressed all of my children in 'Fred' over the years, rarely have anything they have made let me down, superb quality, interesting fabrics and a great mix of quirky and classic styles. The pricing can be a bit 'Eeek!' but you can often find them at great prices in sales and on eBay, I have been buying online from Helen at The Kids Room  for many years too and she has I'm sure one of the best ranges in Australia, if not the world!

Here are some of FB's summer pieces, makes me wish my girls were small again .. *sigh*

I have had gorgeous classic fabric in Liberty's amazing soft fine Tana Lawn cotton for years, and have made up a range of hair ties to match these pieces, here is Lulu blending perfectly with our magnolia tree, wearing my Super Large Hair Button Tie ...

I've made this fabric up in medium and mini pairs,

and in this gorgeous aqua version of the same fabric,

mini pairs modelled by Lulu!

Please head over to my Facebook page if you are interested in purchasing any of these gorgeous fabric ties - I can also make them into clips in sizes of Super, Medium and Toddler. Just contact me via my Facebook page or email dusty plum@gmail.com anytime!  

Rania

I love Rania, so pretty, delicate, great colouring. No, not this one, though she's quite lovely too.

The Rania to which I refer is the range of tiny floral fabrics made by Liberty of London. I like them for all the right reasons - they're pretty, they match a lot of clothing, lovely colour combinations, great for kids and adults .. and for slightly less 'right' reasons, they're darn easy to make into a button because you don't have to line anything up or centre anything .. yay! For all of those reasons, I love making things from this fabric. 

Things like earrings,

hair ties,

clips,

you know, all that stuff that I make. If I can, I'll use Rania. 

So I made a bunch of little sets that I'm selling over on Etsy and from my Facebook page, including this new version of the material (top pic) which I've not used before, which is a softer pink/grey/olive combination, divine! These sets are available for $10 per set. 

and while searching for more 'Rania' images on the net I also found this awesome Korean band. Hold onto your hats girls and boys, I wasn't offended by the raunchy dance moves, but I was offended by the awful lyrics!

Rania - Dr. Feel Good from KE TV on Vimeo.

Two Song Tuesday

Ok I originally wanted to call this post 'I like country AND western' but I didn't want to turn off any potential readers. Country and Western can be seen as dirty words, but not to me, oh no, and not to my friends. We like our men in cowboy shirts, we wear cowboy boots, we love Lucinda Williams and Patsy Cline,  Wilco and Johnny Cash and of course, of COURSE ...

Dolly.

To celebrate Dolly's Australian Tour (to which I have a ticket, Yee-HAW!) I'm getting into the right mood, and have made up a small selection of C&W style hair ties and brooches. They will make it onto the Etsy store later today, and the fabric is from Heather Ross's latest gorgeous collection, Far Far Away 3, Playing with Horses.

Horse Ties are $5 or 3 for $12

Brooches are $7

Another favourite track for you on this beautiful sunny 20 degree (!) Melbourne day, here's Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, kick up your heels kids!

Florence and the Peacock

I had made a few little special market sets to sell at my first market this Friday afternoon, but since I had such a positive response from the friends who saw them (and quickly bought them!) I thought I'd make a few pieces for my Etsy store from this gorgeous new fabric.

Quoting from the Liberty of London website,

Critically acclaimed singer Florence Welch of 'Florence and the Machine' visited the Liberty archives to select two of her favorite designs for this season's collection. Dancing Ladies Liberty Print was one such design,a wonderful traditional Liberty floral containing 'Dancing Ladies' reminiscent of Indian miniatures. It has been a very popular style withing the past Liberty collections, especially in the 1920s and 30s. 

Though to me and my horridly inaccurate historical knowledge, it reminds me of this beautiful painting by Botticelli:

Anyhoo! Here are the hair ties I've made thus far, unfortunately the ladies are too large to incorporate into a hair tie although I have a couple of new ideas which may take shape during the second half of the year so you may see them yet in the Dusty Plum store!

What a beautiful choice by Florence, and who doesn't love Florence? With her almighty voice, amazing stage presence and stunning milk-skinned 'Botticellian' beauty!

and last but not least a song. Because I always like you to have something to listen to while you read your blogs. XXX 

Florence and the Machine "DOG DAYS ARE OVER" Music Video from LEGS MEDIA on Vimeo.

This little piggy ..

went to market.*

Yes I'm having my first stall at a handmade market at the end of this month. Let me be honest, I'm very nervous! It's easy to hide behind a computer screen and put my little handmade goodies up on a website but to stand behind a table while people walk past, pick up, then walk on by will be nerve wracking to say the least!  I have a few weeks now to think about ways to display my items, to decorate the table, to get together everything I need.

Here is the flyer for this market, please if you are local, lock it into your diaries and come on by, say hello, have a chat, offer me words of encouragement!

I love that this market is so local to me, it is at the end of our street (of the home we are renovating), it is run by the Thornbury Women's Neighbourhood House which as been a huge support to me over the years, the little kinder at the back has been wonderful for all three children over the years, I took classes, and made friends through the centre. 

I decided to make some special little sets for the market alongside the items which you can find in my Dusty Plum Etsy store. These sets will include a single large (29mm) hair tie and a medium pair (23mm each) in matching fabrics, for the special price of $10 per set. I would like to offer them first to my blog and facebook readers HERE. Postage for one set will be $1.60 and for two or more sets will be free. A great chance to nab a special deal, and to add to your gift drawer for the upcoming birthday party season! 

Fabrics include:

Just Dandy - in Chocolate and Turquoise - Dandelion Starburst!

Dotty Spots including Glistening Gold!

Alice in Wonderland Set in Lime and Chocolate, Keys and Pocket Watch. 

and the sweet Sherbet Pips, Hedgehogs, Toadstools and Cherry Trees. Too cute. 

* I refer to myself as a piggy only in the context that I was born in the Chinese Year of the Pig. 

Welcome Back My Pretties!

I finally received a new supply of the super soft and pretty 'Sarah's Secret Garden' by Liberty of London. It was challenging to find but such a popular and attractive fabric, I wasn't ready to stop making them and move on quite yet!

The large single (28mm) comes on a large and super strong metal free snagless elastic.  $5  

The medium pair (23mm) come on pretty pale pink metal free snagless elastics.  $8 

The mini pair (19mm) come on soft pink metal free snagless elastics. $6 

Last but not least, edited this post to include this gorgeous photo of Melissa's gorgeous Blythe, with Dusty Plum hair, dress and hair accessory!