selling a little online

We have just set up a side blog to sell a few things online and to see where it takes us. Because we all need to buy more the day after Christmas....... I cannot believe that Myer et al were opening their doors at 7am this morning, madness. Hope everyone had a great day yesterday. We did.

one more sleep.

I was going to create a fancy festive photo for this post, but I've misplaced my camera charger, so this pic of santa will have to do. He's from my Nana's collection of Christmas ornaments and has sat under her tree ever since I was little, so it was only fair that I rescued it from her house before the op shop was called in. She's now living in a nursing home, so there's only so much from one house you can squeeze into a single room. Phew this post could get a little depressing if I let it... so instead it's one more sleep peoples. This year is lots of fun as Arthur now knows who Santa is and the fact that he's putting his dummies (retainers - for any American folk out there) on a plate for Santa to exchange into presents.We asked Arthur if he wanted one big present or lots of little presents from Santa, his response lots of big presents....how do they know? He's not even three yet.
So a happy and safe Christmas to all and may you eat lots, rub your belly and snooze afterwards. (Without feeling ill).

cookie jar love

I love cookie jars, so I collect them. They live all over our house, mainly in the kitchen. But they're practical little things. We use them in the bathroom to hold tooth brushes and cotton wool balls; in my sewing/study/mess room for pencils and little bits.
At the moment none of them contain a single cookie. I started with two jars that belonged to my mum, then quite a few years ago I was at the Brisbane Gallery / Museum and saw a display of cookie jars that Andy Warhol had collected, so I decided to start collecting too. When I first discovered ebay, I went a little crazy and bought a few that I now regret, so I'm refining which ones I buy. And also people don't package breakables very well as a few haven't survived the post, which makes me a little sad.

oh so tired....

Last night we had Arthur's end of year childcare concert, you know the one where you think your child is the most cute, clever, funny etc child performing on stage. (probably because you're only watching them and ignoring all the other kids whilst you photograph and handycam them.)
Anyways it was our first concert as such and yep Arthur was pretty cute... pity the night ended so badly, hence I am so tired. At about 10pm Arthur crawled out of bed and came and sat on my lap as I watched a little tv and then proceeded to projectile vomit all over me and the couch. Lets just say that 4 sets of sheets, 8 towels and numerous nappies later we finally got a little sleep at 5.30 this morning. So as I sit in the shop and keep running upstairs to see him fast asleep this afternoon, I would really like to be snuggled up beside him in bed.
On a brighter note this sweet roly poly doll finally got some new buttons today and is in our shop window. I am slowly trying to wade through boxes of "stuff" that need a little tlc or cleaning before hitting the shop or our house. There is a definite no mans land lurking behind our shop curtains. I think I may spend the afternoon photographing a few things for our flickr site on this rainy ole Melbourne afternoon.

and the winner is.....

Leslie Congratulations please email me your address.... I promise I didn't cheat, I shuffled the bucket, closed my eyes. Arthur couldn't be trusted to pick just one out. Neither could I for that matter because I did 2 runners up, trying to get an overseas entrant... So we've ended up with a local, an interstater and an overseaser. Not bad huh.... So the other 2 lucky people are hyena-in-petticoats and royaloaker I am picking out a little something that will hopefully suit. So please let me know where to send.

Arthur's Great Christmas Giveaway

As it seems to be the Christmassy thing to do, we at Arthur's Circus are having our first ever gift giveaway to all you bloggers/lurkers out there. You will be relieved to know that, no it's not the gingerbread men that Arthur and I made this morning. (As we don't want to be responsible for breaking any teeth.) Let's just say that I am not the greatest of bakers.... As there seems to be a bit of interest in the delightful products of Shinzi Katoh there will be a lunch box of his up for grabs alongside a few handmade and vintage trinket / toy type things. So I am guessing you know how to participate, please leave us a comment and Arthur will draw a name out of a hat and that person will win. You can be local, interstate or overseas we will send. I'll aim to photograph the gift and add to this post by the end of the day...Here Tis.....

now open sundays

We have changed our shop hours this week....so we are now open Thursday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm. If those hours don't suit you can email or phone us and arrange a time to have a peep through. We had fun last night at the meet me at mikes shopping night. It's always nice to meet people that you read about on a regular basis. Arthur had fun playing with the 'mikes' kids, so much so, that this morning he was in tears as he wanted to play with "the new boys from the party".
The other day Arthur and I made the cut and paste pictures. He told me what colours to cut and who they were to be. I think that they're kind of cute, so I may make them into cards. We'll see.....

shinzi katoh love

We received our order from Shinzi Katoh yesterday and oooh how cute and ace is their stuff ? I am wishing we ordered more. As there is so much to choose from, we have quite a few different items but very limited amounts of each. So me thinks if you want any for yourself or for family and friends you may need to come by our shop very soon, as it's already selling like hotcakes.

ready for chrissents

This is our third celebration of Christmas with Arthur....and his third pose with santa antennas for our Christmas card. I wonder at what age he'll tell me to *%$##* off mum. He cant quite say christmas as it's a bit hard to wrap his tongue around, so in true child wonder he seems to have joined the words Christmas and presents together, hence Chrissents.
The old boxes and suitcases have been pulled out to start decorating the shop and our tree at home. So if you've wandered past the shop over the last two days, the blinds have been down awaiting the great unveiling (and finishing). Don't get too excited as it hardly rivals the Myer Chrissents windows. Speaking of the Myer windows, what do other people think of them? Oh and the Santas in the photo came from my Nana.

still a photographer

when I find the time I still work as a photographer. I usually wander around with my camera and take photos of whatever inspires me. Before Arthur I was doing it more often..annoying Nick with "stop the car" and taking photos.
Anyways last week I was commissioned to photograph a friend of a friend's new baby. I really enjoy photography (and photographing babies) and have been missing it recently, opening the shop and sitting it and then being inspired by all you crafty gals out there, got me sewing again but in the new year I think I need more photography in my life.
Saying that I am up for taking photographs as a job too. I've recently been approached by 2 customers who are after product shots for their websites. Yay. So if you like you can contact me too.

come buy with me

The shop is stocked and ready to go for Christmas. We've added some new vintage-inspired items to the shop, (as not everyone loves a second hand gift), great retro-style toys from the French company Vilac. More artwork and photography - we've been framing up a storm and of course some very ace handmade items from talented local people and those from over the seas.
And there's still our favourite vintage finds. So come on in and have a rummage.

getting down with aunty cookie

The delightful Ms Cookie gave me some of her fabric scraps to have a play with. So today I have been a making bibs and bags (no photos as yet). She may take a few with her to the 3031 market yo! (That's Kensington for those not familiar with Melbourne's vast postcodes.) The market is on tomorrow right next door to voting on McCracken Street, Kensington from 10 - 4pm. So don't be shy, say hi and buy stuff from Shannon and Angela. Oh and throw eggs at any Johnny voters.

new in store

First up are very ace gift tags by Anke Weckmann. (I have to get organised and add the appropriate links later). All hand screenprinted. We also have a range of her screenprinted post cards that I am going to frame and sell in-store. I'll post about them hopefully in the next week or so.
Next is a super cute pin cushion by kup kup, all the way from Spain. Found on etsy, I couldn't resist. I've never actually used a pin cushion before...but oh how much easier is it? So once it arrived I decided that I needed to sell some in our shop. So any day now we should have a few different designs to poke pins in.
It's a rainy ole day in Melbourne which is good. I was going to pick some rhubarb the other day to make an apple and rhubarb crumble but the sun and heat had made it whither a bit, so after a good drenching all should be edible again in the next day or so.

annuals are great

We snuck away to Tasmania after we closed the shop on Saturday night. It was Arthur's first time on an airplane, so of course we had the handycam and camera out...We stayed with friends just out of Hobart and as luck would have it there was a fairly decent flea market on the Sunday, not far from where we were staying. We bought Arthur a cute 50's wheelbarrow that he proudly pushed around with his drink in it. We also did the rounds of op and tip shops and managed to find some fine children's annuals and books. How fabulous are the graphics and illustrations? I love and collect these. I plan to frame some of the covers as they are so ace....but I don't want to cut them up either. We frame alot of things here at Arthur's Circus and use them to decorate our shop and house and also sell them...like old board games, memory cards etc. When our families ask us what we did on our holiday and we reply "went to the tip" they shake their heads, but most of you out there understand....
A big thanks to blackie for the tassie shopping hints.

cookie bag

Todays shop making....children's bags using the talented Aunty Cookie's iron on appliques, denim and various cotton for lining thanks to spotlight.

come fly with me

I have been sitting in the shop for the day listening to Frank Sinatra and making things to pass away the time. I have some old and not so old stamps that were my Grandad's. After a quick check on ebay to make sure I wasn't cutting up mega expensive stamps I have been making magnets. (And also magnets made from vintage paper maps.)
My Grandad used to sing alot of Frank Sinatra while he washed the dishes after meals and whenever my sister and I would sleep over we would argue whose turn it was to dry the dishes. My Grandad passed away quite a few years ago now but my Nan is still kicking on at age 92.

magazine love

We have just sent a box load of goodies up to Home Beautiful magazine at their request for a photo shoot on children's bedrooms. Included was the gorgeous rabbit night light. Also snuck in a few non-vintage items made by Shannon and Thelmas stuffies so keep and eye out for it in the new year me thinks. We also have a little mention in the latest copy of Belle Magazine in their bazaar / new shops sections. I'll try and scan and post in the next day or two. Gotta be happy with that!!

etsy love

How ace is it to receive mail. We here at Arthur's Circus order a fair bit of things online, but this one was solely for me. I found Lori's fantastic work at etsy and whilst she doesn't sell to shops anymore (which we would've loved to stock) you can buy straight from her. Using a whole lot of found objects and bits and pieces to craft beautiful jewellery, clothing and more. Yay and thanks Lori I love it.

meow

We managed to sneak out of Melbourne for a few days and picked up a bit of vintage goodness along the way. Found some fabulous old children's books which I'll have to photograph or scan and add to our new flickr site. I'm quite slow at catching on to things and will hope to figure out how to add the flickr sidebar/photo thingy here someday soon. And also this cat ornament which you can now find in our shop (as well as other retro made in japan vase, egg cup, ornament things.)
We actually have a shop cat, Dezdamona or little dez. Our poor ole Fler lounge suite will never be the same again as she's furballing and using it as a scratch post. She also tarts it up in the window at night to people passing by when we're not around.

yee haw

For those not in Melbourne, spring racing carnival is on... not that I go or really care but I thought that I would do my first themed window (although I cheated and photographed it inside the shop - as who knows where my polarising filter is to take a half decent photo thru glass)... anyways I digress. Giddy up little fellas. Not that you would believe it from this display I actually used to work as a visual merchandiser. Yep studied it at tafe for 2 years, I even worked for Selfridges and Virgin megastore in London. Fancy huh!!
In relation to my previous post about biscuits, some sneaky little choc teddy bears made it into my trolley this morning. I do a super big shop once a month when we're down to one roll of loo paper and squeazing the bejesus out of the toothpaste. And those naughty teddies jumped right in. 2 down thanks to morning tea and a little shop boredom. Rainy day is Melbourne, so I am going to try and start a flickr site. Seems everyone else has one.

more walls please

I have just framed some lovely illustrations/prints from Julie Knoblock and they are now up on our shop walls. We are desperately running out of wall space and our need to expand for art's sake may take a giant leap forward. Plans were in place to extend the shop outback into our storage area early next year. But it now looks likely that in the next month we may be attempting this before Christmas is here...stay tuned.

go to the top of the class

How ace is this board (or as nick says bored) game? They certainly don't make games like they used to... great graphics and such cute little heads. Anyone fancy a game?

too much coffee

Does anyone else find that if they drink a little too much coffee, they get a little tense and wound up? I took Arthur to the library this morning for a children's reading session. We came home, had lunch, put him to bed, I had a coffee and now aaarrrgh... I feel very annoyed. I try to teach Arthur about good manners, waiting turns, the usual stuff and think back to the library when other kids jump up, push in, demand attention, get the good crayons, the ducky finger puppet. And Arthur turns and says I didn't get one. My 2.8 year old and 5 year olds push in front and grab things. Am I going to be an over-sensitive mum? Do you jump in and wrestle for things? hmmm what to do? On a brighter note I'm working on a series of photographs to frame and sell in the shop. Patterns and cars.

keeping occupied

Some days are a little quiet in the shop, so I'm making things to whittle the time away. Making felt softies is good. Introducing Tomato & Lettuce, Vegemite & Cheese and Egg on Toast. There was a gingerbread man, but he's already gone to a new home.
Which is nice.

frisky and smutty

Whilst on a cleaning frenzy yesterday, I sorted through vintage/old children's books that I've been collecting for Arthur. And thought that I'd share this one. Imagine calling a book that today. I'm guessing it wouldn't be about two mischeivious kittens.

spring cleaning

So I have finally scanned the article from last weekend's Age M Magazine. Apologies for the delay. Shop life and looking after a 2.8 year old, cleaning (very neglected), cooking, blah, blah all of you mothers out there know what I'm saying. I finally made it to the Vic Market on Friday, after 2 weeks of making do with what's in the cupboard and the occaisonal trip to get bits and pieces for that nights' meal. The only things that resembled vegies were a shrivelled red capsicum and greenery was care of mouldiness that was once leftovers hiding in the back of the fridge. (I hope my mother-in-law isn't reading this.)
Today was spent spring cleaning and re-arranging rooms. Much like a giant jigsaw puzzle and very satisfying once you can sit down and admire your work.

scrap swap

I have finally gotten around to doing a post about the recent scrap swap. I received ella's fabulous scraps with a little circus stickers bonus and instantly felt ashamed of my jumbled mess of scraps that I had sent. It was my first time of being involved in any sort of swap.. So while the shop has it's quiet interludes I've set up my sewing machine and overlocker behind the scenes and am having a go at patch work. I have made this square so far and am thinking cushion, or perhaps a big shopping bag backed with denim. I'll let you know. I'm off to look at potential stock for the shop so I hope to scan the Age article when I get back again.

we would like to recommend

We were very excited to find ourselves listed on the editors choice page, in Inside Out magazine's latest-edition booklet, which we picked up today from the newsagent. The media attention and support has been overwhelming. It's amazing what can be achieved when creating a media release a little different from the rest. (well we like to think it was!) That's our planet lamp postcard and business card in the bottom left corner. For those not in Melbourne we were also featured in an article in yesterday's Age M supplement. I'll try to scan it later. So a big thankyou to all.

library bag

Some of you may recognise this fabric from a post a few days ago....well while the house is sleeping I decided to make Arthur a library bag. My first attempt at lining/reversible anything....don't look too close at the stitching.
Shop life is good. Thanks to all who came to the opening celebrations, and people wandering by.

shop talk

A story about Donald..... he's originally from the carousel at the Melbourne zoo circa 1950-60's. He's our shop duck. We bought him with the base (although the two were not fitted together). So we had them welded, gave him a clear varnish so he wouldn't flake no more and put him to work in the window. Plugged him in (Nick used to be an electrician) put Arthur on top and away we went. Although Donald wasn't so smooth, he was like a wild bucking bronco; he headbutted Arthur, there were tears and much "I don't like it". So the cord was cut and now he sits still. What with children and public liability. Geez.
Last pic is a sample of Thelma's stuffies which arrived today. So very ace. I'm not going to link this one. (is that mean and not allowed in blog land?) I think you need to come to the shop and look for youself and buy one. ha ha.

open for business

First up a big thankyou to my sister who was our first (buying) customer and for bringing me lunch. Yay. So we opened yesterday, thanks to shannon for also popping in. We had quite a few locals on their way to and from work/home/the shops, pop in and say lovely things. All good. Gearing up for tonights opening fiesta ... I am a little worried about the weather - severe wind warning. hmmm as long as she don't rain I say, as I have a feeling things may be spilling onto the footpath.
I love mail, yesterday saw kara smith's (link coming) handbags arrive. Oh so lovely. Created with vintage fabric and buttons. I actually had to buy one myself. Other photo is of some super cute fabric from good ole ebay usa. It's always such a fluke to find things in there as there's so much stuff to try and sort through. I'm thinking cushions or library bags... although I can't imagine cutting into such ace fabric.