Keep it under your hat

In February this year, our little man Felix turned 3. My mum had seen these gorgeous handmade hats by Pleats and Treats on madeit** and suggested Felix might need one. Being a man about town, of course Felix needed one, and it has become his most beloved sun-hat. Which I must say I am secretly very proud of, I would rather he love that, than his hand-me-down Thomas or Bob The Builder hats.

Felix in his Pleats and Treats Hat

I recently (finally) got in contact with Dionie who owns Pleats and Treats in WA, and told her how much we love the hat. I also asked if she might share her handmade adventure, and she so kindly agreed. So without further ado, here is Dionie's story;

Bag made with Amy Butler Fabric

In 2011, we returned to Australia after living abroad, and rather than go straight back to work I wanted to spend time with my young kids. Working full time as a Finance Manager and being a mum to twins meant I hadn't had time to sew for years, but I stumbled across Amy Butler fabrics and fell in love with them. I made a hand bag for myself and also, gifts and was encouraged by my friends to make more, pleats and treats was born at the end of 2011.

Pleats and Treats Owl Sunhat

Fortunately I didn't get into it to pay the mortgage, and while I loved designing and making my own bags, making what you love doesn't always sell and after a year of online selling I had barely reached double figures in my sales. This, combined with a major house renovation, meant things kind of got put on hold until just over a year ago when my friends little girl was having a birthday. She loves owls and I remembered a piece of owl fabric I had in my stash. I had made hats for my boys in the past, so I thought I would make my little friend one too and she loved it, her mum loved it and her mum's friends loved it.


I made up a few more hats and listed them on my website and they started to sell almost straight away. I also bit the bullet and finally got the courage to get a stall at a local market- one bright sunny summers day and I was on my way. I added other things such as my wooden signs and novelty taggies to just widen my audience and use up some of the bits and pieces left over from my home renovation as well as the material scraps I was quickly gathering.

Pleats and Treats Taggie Penguin!

I spent a lot of time on the internet researching things (still do) and realised that not all patterns (or fabrics) are approved for commercial use and as all the bag ones I loved weren't approved I had to come up with my own. A few big bits of flip chart paper worked well for drawing up some ideas and patterns. I also make my own taggie patterns using readily available items to trace around where possible- eg thread reels for eyes. It seemed much easier though, to use approved patterns for both my bucket and cloche hats, so I tried out a couple before finding the ones I now use.

My house is overflowing with my stuff- it is in the dining room, the lounge, the spare room, the laundry cupboards and in the study. I am trying to contain it, but it's a wild beast- I would love a craft room, but that will have to wait until the play room is no longer needed as a play room. I generally set up my machine one end of our large dining table and try to keep to that end. Only when we have people stay do I move to the desk in the study, and I have to move out the moment they leave. My husband thinks that if I get too settled in there he will never see his desk again!

Pleats & Treats have your kid's head covered!

I love the fabrics I use, I love it when a delivery of fabric arrives, especially if it has a new one in it. I love it when a particular fabric works as well, or even better as a hat than I had thought it would. I love seeing my hats walk around the markets, and I love it when people see my signs at markets and it makes them smile. I love it when I get return customers or receive great feedback, because I know that people are enjoying what I make and it is up to scratch- I would hate to think someone was disappointed in one of my items.

Pleats and Treats Bag

Where to from here? I have so many ideas in my head but with such demand for hats, especially at this time of year, I will keep on with them for a while yet. New fabrics keep them fresh and interesting ,and I am always looking for something different. I would like to get into designing my own fabrics as I have got a good idea what patterns people like now.

Anyone know how to get more hours in their week???


Dionie


** A small disclaimer, I have no association with madeit whatsoever, I do shop on etsy from time to time, however I first check out madeit because as well as handmade, I love Australian made, Karen.**

A Very Handmade Christmas

Yes it's only just October, however if you wanted a handmade Christmas, you should have well and truly started by now!

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My Pinterest Boards are filled to the brim with exciting handmade ideas. Sadly that is not going to happen this year with my three little munchkins and the littlest with her heart condition.

One thing I will manage to do, is print off a few of these awesome gift tags by Helen Dardik. She releases a new set at the beginning of December every year. Adorable and unique and free! (apart from the paper and ink from your printer)

If, like me, you have absolutely no time, then there is always the option to buy handmade, which I of course advocate. madeit, the Australian equivalent of etsy, have started their Christmas campaign, you can sign up to receive a newsletter filled with lots of gifty ideas.

Next year, I hope to set myself a handmade challenge that others can take up too if they wish. I haven't thought out all the rules just yet, however it's all about handmade that's for sure!

As long as our little lady gets through her last surgery without any setbacks in December, I shall launch the handmade gift challenge in January 2015.

Until then, you'd better get your skates on if you're thinking about a handmade Christmas!

A Woodland Party

My daughter's christening ended up being a huge success. A very handmade affair and a very collaborative effort. Even the gown my little girl wore was the gown I was originally christened in that was made by my grandmother using lace from my mother's wedding dress (which my mother had made) I haven't included photos I'm afraid, as I don't want to upset anyone (my family doesn't like being photographed!)

A Woodland Cake

The cake I made was one of my favourites (apricot & choc chip). The decoration, buttercream of course, I really need to do a fondant course or we're all going to end up with arteries full of buttercream. The animals on top are not handmade! The heart trees however are. I fell in love with these bamboo cake toppers made by Cabin + Cub in Canada.

Meringue Mushrooms

These mushrooms were a hit! Everyone kept mentioning Heston, although I don't think we were quite at that standard. They are made from piped meringue (I used my family pavlova recipe). I rubbed cocoa powder on the top and attached the tops to the bottoms using melted chocolate. Very very morish and there were plenty of people who were fooled into thinking they were real mushrooms. Even the kids.

Very Special Bombonnaire

My super talented Sister In Law, made the bombonnaire, based on the invitation image (which was designed by The Parchment Place). The cookies of course are made by Edit at Art on Honey, who I did the little feature on a few months back.

Woodland Centrepiece

A friend made the little terrariums as she is starting her own bridal flower business and was looking for opportunities to 'branch out' he he.

Woodland Balloons

A few spotted balloons in the front yard, the weather was spectacular and it was a very special day.

Upwardly Mobile

Here's a little project I recently finished for Sophie's nursery. 

A Happy Rainy Mobile 

For the clouds I used a template from a magazine (however how hard is it to draw a cloud shape really?!) I made them out of leftover bits of polar fleece with clouds printed on them, that my mum had used to make sleep bags for the kids.

For the raindrops I used felt and special 'toy mirror' material which has a sticky back, this made it very easy to simply stick the raindrops together.

Smily Cloud

I had a lot of fun with this one and was quite pleased with how it turned out. The happy embroidered faces always make me smile, and the little mirrors cast pretty lights around the room which are a good distraction for the little lady. 

That Takes The Cake

Cakes! I love making cakes, especially for my kids. At the moment I'm gearing up for my daughter's christening this weekend which has a 'woodland' theme. I have all my bits and pieces collected and the cake is cooked and in the freezer... how it will turn out, we shall see.

The first kids cake I can remember making was for my little sister, I would've been probably about 12 at the time. It was the ice cream cone castle out of the women's weekly cookbook (I now own my very own copy of this book, love it!)

Women's Weekly Castle Cake

The next kids cake I can remember making was about three years ago for my eldest son's christening. Not the best job ever, however I have since taken a class and honed my skills somewhat.

Felix's Christening Cake

Rose - My Threadcakes 2011 Entry

This cake I made as an entry to the Threadcakes competition, and as a birthday cake for a friend. For Threadcakes, you take an image from a Threadless tee and make it into a cake! I actually 'traced' over the image with melted chocolate and the roses are coloured white chocolate. I was so impressed by the end result, however the competition is fierce with lots of very skilled fondant wielders so this has been my first and only attempt


Felix's first birthday cake wasn't the masterpiece I had envisioned as by this stage, I was suffering morning sickness with our second. Felix loved dogs, and this is what he ended up with... not that he cared what it looked like!

Felix's First Birthday Cake

By Felix's Second Birthday he loved Trains

Toot Two Train Cake

For his 3rd he asked for a 'Red Car Cake' that's what he got, inside and out. He had never seen the movie Cars by the way, he's just been subjected to advertising. I bought the matchbox cars to stick on top and hastily whacked it together (at this stage Sophie was in hospital and had been for a month).

The Red Car Cake

Poor Felix has ended up with a few slapdash cakes. Arthur hasn't done too badly so far. I was pretty pleased with his christening cake.

Arthur's Christening Cake

His first Birthday cake was a simple hot air balloon. ** Edit 2016; see new post for a 'how to' on this yummy cake!** I was pretty pleased with how that turned out too.

Arthur's 1st Birthday Balloon
See more on this cake here

Arthur's 2nd birthday is next month and I already have the cake mind. He is teddy bear mad!

Knit O Rama

I have been busy crafting, not so busy blogging!

Chunky Knit Throw

I have finished my latest and my very own creation. A warm, chunky throw for a friend of mine who has been so helpful to us while our little girl has been sick. It became a housewarming / thank you gift and I am pretty pleased with how it's turned out.
 

The Recipient was most excited

I want to make another, however I think I will do a little tweaking. If there is any interest, I will look at writing up the pattern.

While I'm blogging about blankets, here is another that I made, my little girl's baby blanket that ended up a lot bigger than I expected!

Baby blanket, extra large

Call in the Ravelry

If you've found your way here, chances are you already know about the amazing online wooly collective that is Ravelry. Essentially Pinterest for knitters and crocheters. I of course am a big fan and have FINALLY, finished my latest project, the 'Little Sister's Dress'.

 

My Version, 'Little Sister's Dress'

I say finally, as I started this before I was pregnant with my daughter (who is now 7 months old) and it was originally intended for my niece who is now 2 years old, and way too big for this little dress! So lucky I had a little girl!

This was my first time using circular needles for their intended purpose and it all came out rather splendidly. I am most proud of the finished product. It's knitted all in one piece, and despite the length of time it took me to complete, it is actually quite simple.

Original Little Sister's Dress From Ravelry

This pattern can be found free on Ravelry. There is such a wonderful online handmade community. Filled with talented and generous people who come up with lovely little patterns like this, and share them with everyone. Awee.