Mathilda's Market on Sunday in Canberra

And we can't wait!

We hold Mathilda's Market at the stunning Hyatt Hotel Canberra. Enjoy a day of shopping, eating, relaxing and catching up with friends. The grand Ballroom and Gallery will be brimming with beautiful stalls, itching to share their exquisite wares with you. All stalls are set up inside, so come rain, hail or shine, we will proceed. Note: easy pram access at rear. Entry & parking is free!

A snapshot of the gorgeous wares available on Sunday:

For a sneak peek, click here!

Cheers

Anne x

Our new home ... it's perfect!

The Brisbane Racing Club (BRC)  is our new Mathilda's Market home in Brisbane. What a great location it is. Spacious and stunning. Below are photos from last Saturday's first Market at the BRC. We can't wait for 17 April, when we're back! Thank you to everyone who came.

These fabulous photos were taken by the very talented Lana Bell from Little Posers Photography. We are very lucky to have Lana on board as Official Event Photographer in Brisbane. Thanks Lana!

Cheers

Anne x 

Getting To Know ... Penny from Pocket Carnival

Penny Eager is the creator behind Pocket Carnival

I am passionate about …

My business, delicious food, helping the environment, and of course my friends and family.

I get frustrated when …
Things don’t happen fast enough. And when I see a problem and I can’t fix it.

I started my business because …
I began by trying as many art & craft forms as I could, and loved being so creative! And in the end I realised I preferred creating things and working for myself to any other job I’ve had or could think of, so here I am!

If handed $100,000 in an envelope and instructed to spend it however I pleased, I would …
I would love to spend a large chunk of it on my business. Part of it would be for a sewing machine that’s not quite so noisy as mine! Some more would go to having fun times with family & friends, and I’d also love to be able to support organisations giving women business skills.

If I could be anywhere right now I’d be …
In Tokyo, for super-cuteness inspiration, or in Brooklyn, eating bagels and visiting friends – lots of my friends are migrating there, I wish some would stay in Melbourne!

I think the biggest obstacle our kids will face in the future is …
The degradation of our environment.

My favourite item from our product range is …
Our new organic cotton purses – especially the Beetle Friends coinpurses!

The hardest part of running my business is …
Wearing so many caps! Sewing everything, doing the marketing, answering emails, posting items, designing new products … on it goes!

I love sipping on …
A mug of black tea in the morning to wake me up.

The best part of my day is …
I used to not be a morning person, but recently I’ve started really enjoying being awake bright & early. The day is so full of possibilities! I also love going to the Post Office around 3pm every day, it’s nice to get out of the house.

My favourite food is …
This week, it’s soba noodle soup & rice paper rolls. Fresh, healthy food is another passion of mine, I even have a food blog! http://vegerati.blogspot.com/

I struggle with …
Deadlines & my sewing machine.

Friendship to me means …
Friends make each other happy during fun times, and are there for each other during not-so-fun times. My friends are amazing!

I just can’t live without …
Peppermint tea, my partner Chris, and constantly checking my email (in no particular order!)

Find Pocket Carnival at Mathilda's Market in Melbourne at the Hawthorn Town Hall on Sunday 14 March.

 

www.mathildasmarket.com.au

 

 

 

Thank you Brisbane ...

... for a wonderful Mathilda's Market last Saturday ... we had a blast!  We will post a review very shortly. Just wanted to let you know it was soooooooooooo much fun. Thank you to everyone who attended - shoppers and stall holders alike.

Cheers
Anne x

Fairy bread folklore ... and perfect party theming

I mentioned recently how many first birthday parties our family has been attending lately. This is not a complaint - I mean, any occasion that gives you licence to eat homemade sausage rolls and fairy bread should be embraced with open arms. Mmmmmmm!

Actually, speaking of fairy bread I have an amusing story for you (please forgive me for straying off topic ... again). Many years ago my Mum used to make my Dad's lunch for work each day. He worked in an area that was light-on for lunch options, with the only decent place to eat being the local pub, and in any case  Mum always ran an economical household - we kids had a canteen lunch at school once a week and no more. (Pretty wise household management, I think, in retrospect, not to mention healthier for us all - but back then I thought it not fair!) Anyway, each morning she'd ask Dad what he wanted on his sandwiches, and each morning he'd reply "I don't mind, whatever" which used to irk her. One day after receiving the standard reply to her question, she thought "I'll show him", knowing Dad was heading to the pub for a schooner in his lunch hour (yes, Victorians, a schooner, not a pot: I do live in Melbourne now but my formative years were spent in NSW). Lunch time came and my father bought his beer, perched on a bar stool next to his mates and unwrapped his sandwiches to find ... fairy bread. He ate his sandwiches to the sound of the jeers of his peers and from that day on, whenever Mum asked him what he wanted on his sandwiches, he always came up with an answer. :-)

It's a tale that always makes me chuckle whenever I see a plate of fairy bread, so I've been chuckling a lot lately. Another thing that made me smile recently was the sterling efforts of my friend, Sarah in creating a wonderful theme for her son Nishan's first birthday party. Knowing I am quite fond of all things boutique-y and handmade-y for kids, she asked my advice on party invitation options. She then chose to order her invitations from KatyJane Designs, and we soon received the Cheeky Monkey personalised invite to Nishan's celebration in the mail (complete with magnets to affix it to the fridge - handy!)

When we arrived at the party, the room was adorned with blue and red helium balloons and streamers to match the colours of the invitation, and it looked fab. But the piece de resistance was the incredible cake, made by the wildly clever Sheana of Sheana's Cakes in Melbourne.

What a stunning replication of the invitation!

And here's the adorable birthday boy with his Mum and Dad. Awww!

It was a lovely few hours and we all rolled home full of scrumptious cake and other assorted foodstuffs! If you want to check out the KatyJane range of invitations, gift tage and other irresistible things, you can catch them at Mathilda's Market in Perth on Sunday 21 March, or check out their website, of course! 

Peta x
Mathilda's Market blogger

Getting to Know ... Kelly from Little Boombalada

We have so many wonderfully gifted creators selling their wares at Mathilda's Market's debut event in Adelaide on Saturday 6 March. Let's meet one!

Kelly Kitching is the owner of Little Boombalada Designs

I am passionate about … light and colour.

I get frustrated when … I need to be patient if I’m excited or anxious.

I started my business because … my own little boombalada, Esme, was too chubby for the standard 100cm x 100cm baby wraps.

If handed $100,000 in an envelope and instructed to spend it however I pleased, I would … invest in a swimming pool for the kids and have more shelves built for my fabrics!

If I could be anywhere right now I’d be … enjoying food and wine with friends.

I am most proud of …my family.

I think the biggest obstacle our kids will face in the future is … environmental issues.

My favourite item from our product range is … my huge Big Boombalada baby wrap.

My heart sings when … customers come back to purchase more Little Boombalada products!

The hardest part of running my business is …keeping ahead with stock and updating my website.

I love sipping on …bubbles!

A person I admire greatly is … Cath Kidston.

The best part of my day is … when everyone is finally home together.

My favourite food is … only one??? Probably chocolate then, if you’re only going to let me have one.

I struggle with … knowing what is the right thing to do.

Friendship to me means … living! It’s like the air that we breathe.

Find Little Boombalada at Mathilda's Market in Adelaide on Saturday 6 March. 

www.mathildasmarket.com.au 

Brisbane Mathilda's Market TOMORROW

Over 70 stalls of unique, stylish and beautiful kids wares.
Plenty of free parking.
Free entry.
Lots of kids entertainment.
A fabulous range of yummy food.
Music for the soul.
Enjoy a day of shopping, eating, relaxing and catching up with friends. The lush green lawn will be filled with seating and kids activities, while the historic St Leger and The Tote will be brimming with beautiful stalls, with stallholders just BURSTING to share their exquisite wares with you. All stalls are set up inside, so come rain, hail or shine, we will proceed.

The Tote

St Leger

St Leger & surrounding lawns

PS - start your shopping list here!

We can't wait to see you tomorrow!

Cheers

Anne x

Oh so lovely

I just have to share one of our favourite designers: Lisa Tilse from the Read Thread. Here are my top three (or more) buys ...

Meet Mimi, Molly, Daisy and Ginger - the Sweetie Petites. Sweetie Petites doll kits contain all you need to make a Sweetie and her little friend: printed fabric panels, stuffing, ribbon loops and sewing instructions. Each one has her name printed on the back and a little note for her new owner. The Sweeties can be sewn by hand or machine and are an ideal project for a beginner, or for a parent or grandparent to make with a child. The design of these little cute little dolls has been influenced by vintage and Japanese kawaii styles. They appeal to girls of all ages from toddlers to pre-teens and even adults who like to collect fun and quirky things.

Lisa has recently started to use her collection of children’s storybooks from the ‘40’s to the ‘70’s to create her range of Vintage Heart Boxes. Every Heart Box is a unique one-off piece of art as the hearts are individually hand cut from vintage and specialty papers then grouped according to colour, tone and pattern before being sewn together. Large Vintage Heart Boxes tell a mini story: text from the books is assembled under the vibrant hearts. Each Heart Box is signed by Lisa.

These bright graphic vintage storybook tiles look wonderful when grouped together on a wall - a lively and delightful way to brighten up a room and bring back childhood memories. Layers of paint are applied to MDF ‘canvases’ which are then given aged patina-like finish. Lisa creates a collage with vintage illustrations and storybook words and seals the artwork with varnish.

Red Thread Chalkboard Eggs are a quirky and fun gift perfect for any time of year. They are real ostrich egg shells, with the egg blown out, resting on handmade nests. Write sweet messages to your par amour or do little drawings for them, or keep one on your desk to doodle on. The chalk easily washes off so the eggs can be used over and over again. Chalkboard Eggs vary in size between 13 and 17cm high and come with a nest and chalk. The nests are made of jute, twine and fabric - treated to make them sturdy. And don’t worry about the eggs being too fragile, Ostrich eggs are quite thick - they have the same strength as ceramics.

Itching to shop? You can order via the Red Thread website, or visit Lisa's divine stand at Mathilda's Market in Lane Cove on Sunday 2 May.
Cheers
Anne x

Getting To Know ... Lana from Little Posers Photography

Lana and her family

Little Posers specialise in contemporary pregnancy, newborn and baby portraits. Visit their website and we're sure you'll utter more than a few "oooohs" and "aaaahs" as you pore over their stunning work. Meet the lovely Lana, the creative talent behind Little Posers. She makes babies look even more heavenly than they already are! Little Posers is our Official Event Photographer at Mathilda's Market in Brisbane during 2010. 

I am passionate about … Photography (of course), my family, baking, cloth nappies, fashion and design.


I get frustrated when … I don’t keep on top of my housework. I’m a neat freak AND I have two kids under 2.5. I wish I could just let it go but I’m a ‘tidy house, tidy mind’ type of person.

I started my business because … After I had my first baby, I realised the photography studios at the time in Brisbane really weren’t my style. I wanted something fun and fresh and happy to hang on my walls.

If handed $100,000 in an envelope and instructed to spend it however I pleased, I would … I’d probably be really boring and save it. But if I have to spend it, I’d take my husband on an extravagent second honeymoon and put a deposit down on a house in Hawthorn.

If I could be anywhere right now I’d be … Right here. Or shopping. It’s a toss between the two.

I am most proud of … My second birth experience. I practiced hypnobirthing while pregnant with our baby and to birth with joy and without fear has changed my life.

I think the biggest obstacle our kids will face in the future is … I have two girls so I would say having a healthy body image and respect for themselves. I want my girls to grow into free spirited, strong women and there are so many obstacles yet to come for them that I have no control over – the media, boyfriends, girlfriends ...

My favourite item from our product range is … The gallery wrap canvas I source from the US. It creates magical works of art out of the images I capture.

My heart sings when … I watch my husband dancing with our two girls

The hardest part of running my business is … Stopping at the end of the day. Seriously, I say it all the time but I don’t feel like what I do is ‘work’. I consciously have to take time out to spend days with my girls and husband.

I love sipping on … Tea and margaritas. (Not together obviously).

A person I admire greatly is … My mum. She raised three children under 3 and managed to keep an amazing house, iron all our clothes (who has time for ironing these days!) and cook all our meals, all while running an international business. I get tired just thinking about what a day for her must have been like.

The best part of my day is … Sneaking in on my children and watching them sleep. It’s true you love them just a little bit more when they’re sleeping.

My favourite food is … Anything my husband cooks, he’s amazing.


I struggle with … Creating a mental snapshot of my children just as they are, right now. They’re already growing so quickly and I try to drink them in at every opportunity.

I just can’t live without … A cup of tea first thing in the morning.

Meet Lana from Little Posers Photography at Mathilda's Market

in Brisbane on Saturday 20 February.

http://www.mathildasmarket.com.au/