The Aprilmay studio will be opening this coming friday, saturday and sunday and will feature works by talented designers/craftspeople such as Made by Maude whose goodies arrived in the mail this morning. Such an inspiration - her blog reads that she "likes to make something every day"! I'd like to think that at least I make my bed every day but I know that someone will contradict me?? 

Too Many Addresses

Curlypops tagged me yesterday and whilst I'm not exactly sure I know what I'm doing, I thought I'd give it a whirl. 

Six things about myself/those I live with

• I'm 38 and have lived in 38 houses (ie anywhere we've lived for more than 3months)
  
• My son is 17 and he's lived in 17 houses arriving at #19
  
• Our dog is 10 and she's lived in 10 houses arriving as a puppy at house #28
  
• Our cat, Frankie, also arrived at #28 but as a mature stray
  
• It's a good thing we live opposite a vets
  
• Oh and I always manage to leave the house inappropriately dressed for the weather - a hangover from being a queeenslander!

And I love anything by A Name is a Label who delivered their goodies for next weekend's open studio event and who are building their installation at Monkhouse as I type.

Too many dressing gowns?

I have to admit that I have a box in my studio labeled "dressing gowns" and yes, it's stuffed full of those 70's static-inducing fabrics in florals that I just love. Whenever I have a clean out I find it hard to justify to why I keep them, ie until now.

Today I started work on this one so it should be ready for our open studio next weekend (4,5,6 April), ie unless I decide to keep it for myself in which case it will probably end up back inside a box!

PS Has anyone been to Pene Durston's new shop on Gertrude St yet?

Thanks to everyone for emailing. Of course, I forgot about the short week this week and so shall be popping those giveaways into the post on Tuesday. Wishing everyone a happy, happy Easter. 

sam x

Giveaways are on their way

Thankyou to everyone who commented yesterday. I was so inspired to read about lovely people buying handmade/locally made gifts. Initially I was going to reply as a comment but then thought that your responses were so sincere that they were definately worth publishing here:

Sarah, I'd love to see a picture of the pinny that you bought from Douglas & Hope and I was little worried when I read that you'd bought a flinch pin. My mind immediately conjured up some sort of archaic torture device. ok, I was a bit tired when I read this and so I was then relieved to discover that you'd actually written, Betty Jo finch pin. The perfect gift! >Cathy, well done on your beautiful, local purchases. Your comments sent me on a wonderful meandering journey through blogland. I rediscovered the Rose St Market blog and of course read about your art swap which I'm keen to read more about soon. I still haven't added my favourite books to my profile but Shantaram and Moduc are definately on my list!> Venta what could be more perfect than a handmade gift for the Mirabel Foundation from the masters of craft, Meet me at Mikes.> And kvb, is Arthur's Circus that fun-looking shop on Nicholson St next to the ANZ? I'll be sure to use your quote from now on ("buying gifts for others salves my need for retail therapy").> So what could be more soothing than buying your sister a Nancy Bird Clutch (klar). Now I wish I had a sister!>Thanks for your comments Anna. Do let me know the name of the jewellery store when you find out.>Sophie I really enjoyed reading your comments and your beautiful blog. My list of places/people to check out is now a mile long.>And finally to my anonymous respondant, I'm continually amazed by people at home with children who continue to create (beyond muffins for afternoon tea). Well done.

To everyone mentioned above, thankyou and I'll be sending out your bangle samples this week. You can either email me at sam@aprilmay.com.au with your address or if you're happy to wait, you can collect them from the studio when we open next week on Friday the 4th of April. Either way, please be sure to wear them when you're at Aprilmay next so that I can put some faces to your blogs.

Today I'll be sending out a Hosiery Bangle sample to the first 10 people to comment on their most recent gift purchase, ie, what was it, where did you buy it and was it made in Melbourne?I'm sure there's lots of beautiful shops around that I don't know about so I think it will be a good excuse for me to check them out.

AND our open studio event "All in a Month's Work" showcasing local designers will be on again in a fortnight. We'll be opening the doors at 107 Scotchmer St North Fitzroy (next to Dench Bakery) from 3-8pm on Friday the 4th of April and again on Saturday and Sunday from 10-4. I'll be adding a list of the designers participating over the next couple of days.

I've just sent a parcel of these bangles off  to Betty Mim. Jodie from Meringue introduced me to this beautiful shop in Newcastle. The shop's website is being updated at the moment but I'll definitely add a link to it when it's up and running.

The bangles pictured are constructed from remnant tights using clean waste material from local manufacturers. Sold in sets of 4, they are soft, stretchy, easy to wear and light on the environment. But enough of the sales speak, I've included a picture of them today because tomorrow I'll be giving away samples! 

Palm Sunday Peace Rally

To Do List

1. email birdy image to Betty Jo
   
2. email Design a Space re: stocking Hosier Bangles
   
3. new wallet for mum from Gaye Abandon
   
4. check Mucke stockists
   
5. new bag from Nicola Cerini's new winter range
   
6. order gift from Ambiguous Horse
   
7. dates for A Name is a Label exhibit at Monkhouse??
   
8. or maybe a new bag (the Easter Parade Purse?) from Meringue
   

What was once a shop

After closing Aprilmay at the end of January I thought I would quickly change the sign on the door to our new web address (aprilmay.com.au) and then the wholesale business would just fall into place. That's not what happened. Once I started to sort all of my fabric, haberdashery, patterns, special op shop finds and my many, not-quite-finished projects I was immediately side-tracked. That's when I realised that maybe I should share some of these treasures and start a blog.

I really think I'm going to enjoy this - I hope you do too.