A Rainy Day

Sunday in Melbourne was wet, cold and a bit gloomy. Both of my children were tired and a bit run down, so we had a day at home and friends and family drop around throughout the day. But before we had any visitors, we had a huge play together. The old duplo came out, the wooden tree, a pond for the birds, the Janod Farm House and Flexi wooden farm animals. We had taken over the bedroom and we played and created - it was marvelous. I love creative days like this.

To Market To Market - Sister's Market

Today we attended the Sisters Market. This is a lovely indoor market at the Brunswick town hall www.sistersmarket.com.au I attended in June and Jess and I went back to have a stall today. Due to the size of stalls (small), we only take one range of our stock. So at this market we showcase the Calafant cardboard art kits.

One of the great things about a market is the other stallholders. When there is a lull in selling, stallholders chat, swap stories, recommend other markets, - it is lovely meeting all these great people.

Today I was blessed to have my stall near to lovely women. Right next to me was a lovely young girl - Marina and her friend Lisa. Marina is incredibly talented. She has taken a break from work, to launch her own business - Green Essence Candles. Her stall display was stunning. These candles were the best smelling candles I have my vanilla one burning tonight and the price was so low. However the best thing is she makes all the candles herself out of EcoSoya Wax and sources the beautiful tins and bottles herself. Her site will be live on 30 August so check it out at www.greenessencecandles.com.au and then visit her at a market. I am blown away by her talent and courage to get this out to the rest of us.

Opposite my stall was the lovely Annabelle. She is the mother of two boys and this was also her first market. She was sewing and making the most pretty, soft and beautiful tops for children. With applique and buttons - there was a look for any child. I am so poor at sewing that I truely admire anyone who can keep two pieces of materials together let alone design something as brilliant as these tops. Contact me for her details if you wish to order any or find out which markets she will be attending. Your children will look so pretty and cool in these tops and rompers for bubs.

Jess spent last night, decorating our Calafant Castle display. And of course it looked stunning on our table, children were drawn to it and could not help but open doors and play.

Winter at Sassypop Kids

Well at the foot of Mt Dandenong it is cold. Winter has really set in and I am longing for Spring. However we have managed to have some days outside while the sun has shone. We have spent some great weekends at our friends farm in Yarra Glen, only about a 30 minute drive and then we are out in the bush, the dogs are running mad and the children are off exploring. I love the days spent there, it is what childhood memories are made of. A couple of weekends ago we were there all day and into the early evening with a very large bonfire roaring to keep us all warm. There is nothing better than days spent with friends.

On an exciting note, my friends in Marysville have commenced the building of their new home. Again I have spent some lovely days up with them, watching the build progress, sitting in the warm sun that blessed on our visits. The house is going to be amazing - it is a slot and groove house, with all the frame work just slotting into each other like jigsaw pieces - really wonderful.

On the business side of life, Sassypop Kids is eagerly awainting the better weather as more and more markets begin to pop up all over Melbourne. The calander is already beginnning to book up and we love getting out and showing our range of products to everyone. This weekend we are off to the Children's market, then the following weekend to the Sister's Market. See our site for address details.

We have also taken in some new exciting stock from SparkleT - beautiful building blocks, naughts and crosses games and imaginative play sets. They are wooden and so beautifully detailed. Very good prices for the quality of the toys.