giveaway and interview - Ninotchka from Sailor Spy

I'm sure most of you already know the lovely Nin via her crafty blog The Wardrobe, but today I'm focusing on her beautiful fashion label, Sailor Spy.  The amount of effort and love she puts into her business is inspiring, especially while having to deal with challenges such as the earthquakes which have shaken her hometown of Christchurch over the past year.  I recently purchased one of her dresses, which I'll share pics of later this week, and it is seriously gorgeous.   But for now, here's a wee interview, and if you stay to the end, a giveaway!!!  Yippeee!!!

Tell us about yourself.
I'm a 35 year old mother to Lala (nearly 3) and wife to Gordon.  All the women and most of the men in my family are 'handy' in some way, so working with my hands in a creative way could be considered a genetic fait accompli.  I like small things, mustard yellow, bare feet in warm sand.   

What is a typical day for you?

My day always starts when my daughter Lala wakes up somewhere between 6:30-7:30.  Three days a week she goes to pre-school, so once I have her organised and settled in there I come back home and get on with the design/manufacture process.  Each day is different, but I try and save these daytime sessions for cutting and sewing (because it’s easier on my eyes) and for meetings with suppliers and advisers.

I work until Lala's home time at 3 - typically we will run errands, come home for a little play before the dinnertime/bedtime rush.  I'll normally start back to work in the evening after dinner.  I'm a bit of a night owl, so it’s not unusual to wind up working till around 1:30am.  I guess motherhood has conditioned me to sleep deprivation - I tend to run on 5-6 hours per night these days.  

How did you get into doing this?  How long have you been doing it for?

I put myself through a Bachelor of Fashion Design at Massey a zillon years ago!  I've always wanted a creative career, but I needed to go out to work, travel and achieve my independence first - so my journey was a little backward to lots of people's. 

I started my first fashion label 'Seratonin' pretty much the moment I graduated Uni.  I had to exit the rag trade for a few years due ill health (long hours and little income didn't help me support my health!) and for financial reasons.  I went back to the corporate world and I was good at being a PA, but it just left me wanting.  Several years on I met my husband Gordon and we moved to Whangamata in the Coromandel, where an opportunity arose for me to open a little shop - The Wardrobe and start up my label again. 

Can you tell us about the philosophy behind Sailor Spy? 

Please see my blog for the Sailor Spy philosophy.

 Favourite materials to use?

I have an enduring love affair with silk - always have always will.  I love that it comes in so many weights and textures, its lustre and that it holds dye well. 

 However, I work with a wide range of fibres and fabrications within my range because I'm looking to balance a bunch of factors like easy of laundering, cost and the end user's lifestyle. 

Where do you get your inspiration?

My summer designs are based around a vivid dream I had of holidaying in Santorini (one of the Greek Islands) and a little bit of Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday - think Deep indigo and turquoise waters, coral sunsets on whitewashed walls....billowing soft silks and cottons, tailored cotton jackets and bermuda shorts.

 I wanted Sailor Spy to have a mix of tailored and softer pieces.  As an emerging designer - tailoring requires a degree of technical skill which marks me out from a talented home sewer.  I often reference a bygone era because I personally think it's really important for curvy women to wear tailoring to show off those curves.  I don't want Sailor Spy to be pigeon holed a retro or rockabilly or pin up label - there are others out there that do that well, but I do like the idea of taking styles and details more common in the 30's, 40's and 50's and putting my own contemporary twist on it. 

Can you recommend a favourite blog (or two) you read when you're having a break? 

I have a total girl-crush on Elsie Larson over at A Beautiful Mess and I love looking at modern hepburn on tumblr  - it’s just pictures and quotes - but put together in such an atmospheric way.  I think that's quite an art - being able to tell a story in pictures.  I talk too much.  See?

Thanks Nin!!  
My own story about my recent dealing with Sailor Spy, began when I realised I have a wedding coming up in a month, and was thinking about buying a new dress to wear.  I was browsing the websites of some chain stores, looking at very 'current season' dresses, and just thinking that they were just not right.  I didn't want to spend my precious little money on something that I would only wear this summer, and that is almost always ends up being of a lesser quality.  Then, brainwave, I decided to check the Sailor Spy website!!  This dress caught my eye, and after a few emails to Nin, and a very short wait, I am the happy owner of my very own gorgeous, classic style, flattering to the female figure dress and one that I know will have longevity in my wardrobe.  This is so important to me, in terms of sustainability, value for money and just feeling and looking good!  

For today's giveaway Nin is offering up this beautiful hand cut leather, suede and vinyl scallop clutch!  I know, LOVE!!!  

To enter she wants to know what you think this clutch is worth, what she should sell it for,  considering the materials and that she is planning to a run of only 4-5.  It measures approx 28cm long, by 14cm deep.  If you find that too difficult, then go to her shop, and tell me your favourite piece from her current collection.   This giveaway is open to New Zealand entries only, and will be drawn at noon on Saturday 3rd December.

~

You can visit Nin at Sailor Spy

shop for gorgeous clothes here or here

join her mailing list

and don't forget to check out her crafty goodness here and here!

Yes!!!

yawn

I slept here last night, on foam mattresses on my daughter's bedroom floor.  Well, slept is debatable actually.  She was sick yesterday afternoon and was actually asleep in her cot at 5pm!  But awake again at 11pm and vomiting.  We cleaned her up and changed her sheets and put her back down.  We went to bed.  But I could. not. sleep.   I am quite a heavy sleeper, and while part of me just wanted to go to sleep a bigger part of me was worrying she'd be sick again and I wouldn't hear her.  (In the light of morning that sounds silly, cause surely she'd cry, but you know how your mind works in the middle of the night.)  So I just had to go sleep there.  Had to.  Even though I only got about 4 hours sleep.  She was fine, by the way, no more vomiting.  But I'd do it again. 

~

Busy weekend ahead!  Girls dinner out, playcentre fundraising stuff, assignments to do, crafty stuff to make and Christmas making to prepare for.  AND an exciting giveaway post to write!!  Eeeeek!

Have a good Friday!

x

still here

Still coughing, but still here.  Thought I'd add a little peek at some of my Christmas makings...

beginnings of a teddy/dolly sleeping bag ~ inspired by this

beach collecting bag (made of mesh to let sand and water escape) ~ inspired by this

the state of the dining table ~ everything pushed out of reach of the two year old

Next on the list is a custom order for a summer top, and then some more Christmas pressies.  And, next week I have another guest giveaway lined up, I'm SO excited about this one!!

cough. repeat.

I've self-diagnosed that I have bronchitis (had it before).  Cough, cough, wheeze, cough.  Fun.  Anyway.  The toddler is still a snot-machine, but her cough isn't too bad thankfully.  We took our delightful selves off to the A&P show today.

I wore this...

...including the cardi which I mended with a doily, inspiration coming from a comment by Nin and this post on ABM!  Perfect!

hello

notes of today::

~ we're all a bit sick with a cold~

~it's beautiful and sunny~

~i just had salad for lunch (thank you for all your yummo suggestions last post!)~

~my girl is napping (and snoring!)~

~i'm starting the xmas making, a little later than i'd like~

~i am obsessed with gift tags~

x

salad

Nom.  I'm all about salad at the moment.  Do you have a favourite recipe you could share?  Doesn't have to be a proper recipe, just a great combo of ingredients will do!   I'd be most grateful x

drum roll please....

~ Congratulations Janelle! ~

You win your choice of necklace from the Vanette etsy shop!  Thanks to Ella for offering up this great giveaway!  

Happy weekend everyone 

x

last chance!

Have you entered yet?!   You can win a gorgeous necklace from Ella's etsy shop!   Keep it for yourself or pop it away for a Christmas pressie!  You have to enter by 12noon tomorrow!!  Go here!  Now!!!

~

And while you're at it, check out my new listings, a couple of sweet summer tops up in my shop!  Yay!

full

 Life is full at the moment.  By full I guess I mean busy.  I'm not alone, it's that time of year, right?  In the last month or so, I've finished one paper and begun another, joined a new weekly craft group, started swimming twice a week instead of once, taken up evening walks with a friend, been doing more work on this here blog, and taken on more responsibilities at playcentre.  I'm feeling relieved that decisions have been made on both sides of my family that Christmas will be a low-key event (from a gift giving perspective) this year.  I have way too many great ideas, thanks pinterest, and I know that I can't do them all - but that's okay.  I am grateful of the experiences of my past, which have led me to learn when to say no.  No to opportunities which are very tempting, but not right for me, right now.  I guess, I'm trying to say, things may get a wee bit quieter round here in the run up to this years end. I hope not though, as this place has become so important to me!  There may be more of those mainly photographic posts.  I hope they're not too boring. 

Are you curious about this new, weekly craft group?  Well, it is with my mother, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law.  It might not be as hipster as my previous group of ladies who met at our local funky cafe, but there is something very special about spending a couple of hours a week with the most important women in my life, without the menfolk or children, sharing a cuppa and having a chat (crafting, as with most craft groups, is really a secondary concern).   

And I've gotten back to that space, where sometimes when you're quite busy, you get more done.  As long as things don't get overwhelming, I tend to get myself more organised with chores, meals, activities and study, and the days are busy and productive.  I like phases like this.
Thanks for listening to my wee self-analysis this evening.
x

~

...and before you ask where I get the time, my darling mother is the primary gardener round these parts...

today

i think my kitchen windowsill looks pretty

we're having morroccan vege stew with cous cous for dinner

i just finished these tops to list in the shop when i can be bothered taking proper photos of them ~ both size 2

i'm thinking about covering this hole with some kind of patch cause i just can't throw this cardi out

...and just so you don't miss it, you must watch the video i posted earlier, and enter this giveaway to win a beautiful necklace of your choice!!!

a. maze. ing.

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

Possibly everyone has already seen this.  But I couldn't risk you not seeing it.  So watch it now.

interview and giveaway - ella from vanette

So it's no secret that Ella is one of my dear friends, though we've never actually met in 'real' life!  As well as having an awesome blog, with beautiful photos and clever words, she makes the most amazing necklaces.   I am lucky enough to own three of her creations, and I wear one nearly every day.  She recently showed some sneak peeks at her new line, and I can see I'm going to have to buy one of those too!
She was kind enough to let us in on her life a little, and provide a pretty sweet giveaway too!  Lucky or what!?

Tell us about yourself.

I like to read a lot of books and think about things, and I try to do a reasonable job of raising two kids.

What is a typical day for you?

Get the girl ready for school and do the most essential chores (laundry if the situation is desperate, maybe vacuum some dog hair), then ignore the filth in the rest of the house and spend a lot of time daydreaming, doing internet things, and making sure the boy hasn't escaped the garden.  I've started running in the evenings which is quite nice.  Then I stay up too late making things until I can't see straight.

How did you get into doing this?  How long have you been doing it for?

I just like trying to make lovely things.  I can't remember when I started on jewellery exactly, but I've been refining my style for some time (actually I don't think that will ever end, there's always room for improvement!).

Would you like to make a career out of this?  (If not, what would you like to do)

 YES!

Favourite materials to use?

 Real materials, not synthetic stuff.  I've just started using vintage beads and sterling silver - love them!

Where do you get your inspiration?

Mostly online.  I spend way too much time on the internet looking at tumblr, flickr, art blogs, craft blogs, and shops like Pour Porter and totokaelo.  I try to interpret things into my own style but I have a split creative personality, which is a bit tricky - my hippie self likes colour and experimentation, but my practical self likes neutrals, minimalism and order.  I've recently decided to embrace both, give them each their own platform.

Favourite food/drink while you're working?

I can't eat and make at the same time.  It doesn't work out.

Can you recommend a favourite blog (or two) you read when you're having a break?I read far too many blogs but a few favourites are For Me, For You, Jeana Sohn, and I'm Revolting.  I'm also crazy addicted to Sunday Secrets on PostSecret.

Ella is offering the winner of this giveaway their choice of necklaces in her etsy shop!!   How generous is that!  I wish I could enter...haha.  To enter all you need to do is be a follower of her blog, and then leave me a comment here telling me which necklace you'd like if you won.  Easy.  For an extra entry, the usual applies, blog about this or 'like' the vanette facebook page.

Thanks Ella! x

This giveaway is open internationally and a winner will be drawn 12noon (nz time) on Saturday 12 November 2011

garden party

We were so lucky, it was perfect weather for our tea party today.  A whole bunch of lovely ladies joined us for tea, wine, macaroons and pink velvet roulade.  Yum!  It was so lovely and I hope we can do it again soon.

~ a wee gift we made for our guests to take home ~

*guests included, but by no means limited to, some lovely bloggers you might like to visit here, here, here and here xxx

winner winner

And the winner of Fran's lovely giveaway is Jenny!  Congrat's to you!

Please email me with your address, so I can get your goodies on the way.

~

So I stayed up way too late last night making this:

I want to find an old blanket to attach it to, so it can be a picnic rug.  I'm hoping it will get it's first use (probably in this unfinished state) tomorrow as me and a friend are hosting an afternoon tea party at my place!  Very excited...getting pretty tea cups ready, planning on making macaroons tonight, and hoping for a lovely sunny afternoon tomorrow!

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway, I'm hoping to get organised to have another one up on Monday or Tuesday, so keep an eye out!

Happy weekend xx

don't forget to enter

I'll be drawing Fran's giveaway tomorrow!  xx

gift

So recently I won Stella's very generous giveaway and got these great postcards.  I really wanted to send her something to say thank you.   I have a bit of a soft spot for her sweet daughter, since she is nearly the same age (one week apart) as my girl.  So I sent her a couple of wee tops for Eleanor's summer wardrobe...

a windy day made for an interesting photo shoot...

There will soon be some of these beauties in my shop ~ with permission from the tutorial writer, Jess from craftiness is not optional.  Thanks Jess!

art

Check out my daughter's playcentre creations - beautiful things indeed!

don't forget you have till Saturday morning (nz time) to enter my current giveaway

giveaway and interview - fran from frangipani

One of Fran's daughters in some gorgeous home made knitwear

 Fran's blog always inspires me with its knitted delights, delicious dinners and cute kiddos!  At the moment she's in the midst of moving house, but she was kind enough to answer a few of my questions and offer up a great giveaway for you!  Check it out!

 Tell us about yourself.

I live in Christchurch, NZ. I work as a mother, a teacher and administrator for our own business. I love to craft and have tried lots of things over the years but my favourite is knitting. Knitting is what I am best at and enjoy the most. I also like to cook and garden. I’m not much of a reader but when I do I read magazines-craft, gardening, cooking and gossip! I also like to borrow reference books from the library on craft and cooking and over the last year or so I have found lots of blogs that I like to sit down and read over a cup of tea.

What is a typical day for you?

At the moment I am working as a teacher every morning so the mornings are pretty busy. I get the girls dressed, pack their morning tea and we have breakfast.

I then drop the girls off at their caregiver and get to work in time to start teaching at 9.30. I give individual lessons to four children who are struggling with reading. I pick the girls up and we go home for lunch. In the afternoons I do housework, play with the girls, do admin work for our block laying business and try to fit in a bit of crafting. It is after the evening meal and getting the children into bed that I get most of my crafting done.

Cutie pie!

 How did you get into doing this?  How long have you been doing it for?

I come from a long line of crafters on both sides of my family. My Mum tells me that despite her making a rule that she would teach us girls to knit at age 6 I pestered her so much that she gave in and taught me at 5 years old! I started making blankets and basic garments for my dolls.  Over the years I have made a wide range of knitted garments, toys and accessories (many can be viewed on my blog by searching ‘Past Projects’). More recently I have mainly been making babywear for use on my own children and also because they are fairly quick, don’t require a lot of yarn and seem to sell well.

Would you like to make a career out of this?  (If not, what would you like to do)

That would be fantastic but I can’t ever see a career being made out of one-off handmade goods. It is just too time consuming and costly so it would be impossible to make a living from. I love teaching and I love being a Mum and my husband and I enjoy the challenge of running our business so at the moment I am very happy doing what I am doing.

Yummo!

Favourite materials to use?
I only use natural materials-wool, cotton and bamboo as they are nicer to work with and I prefer children to wear natural fibres.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I always love to see what crafty things other people are making. I enjoy going to local craft markets and visiting small town craft shops. In terms of my knitting I pretty much just do my own thing but in recent times I have found and tried some lovely patterns on Ravelry. A particular favourite is the Spring Butterfly pattern. 

Spring Butterfly Pattern

 Favourite food/drink while you're working?

I’m a big tea drinker. I enjoy sitting down with a cuppa and some home baking or chocolate (dark chocolate and peppermint is a fave)

Can you recommend a favourite blog (or two) you read when you're having a break?

dee*construction  A good variety of craft and family goings-on presented in a light hearted way.

Little Jenny Wren She makes beautiful dolls with the sweetest clothes.

BendingBirches  Nice ideas and photos from a Waldorf home and education environment.

cute baby booties!

Thanks Fran!!  I love having a nosey into someone elses day!

Fran is generously offering a choice between a pair of handbag slippers or a set of knitted food from her shop!!   To enter, you must be a follower Fran's blog and then head over to her shop and check out her wares!  Pick your favourite pair of slippers or set of food (as she's busy moving, it's only a choice from the slippers and food sets already listed on felt) and let me know what you would love to win in the comments!  What an awesome gift to tuck away for Christmas, or to keep for yourself of course!!

This giveaway is open internationally and will be drawn by random number generator on Saturday 5 November 2011

If you'd like to offer up a giveaway and do a short interview with me on this blog, please feel free to email me!