BrisVEGAS Stitches & Craft DAY 1

OK so I woke up in a grump and I should have gone back to bed and stayed there!
The day got worse before it got better.
I left a key to my locker at the apartment so I had to leave the show and walk back (15 min) to get it. While I was back picking up the key I got stuck in the lift for A HALF AN HOUR. I was with 6 other people and I had to use all my mind power and deep breathing techniques not to have a fricken panic attack. There was a 3 year old little boy named Jet who I focused on and talked to and mucked around with to keep myself grounded!! It was scary at the time, but a good story none the less!!
Luckily the whole time I was gone I had the wonderful Samantha minding my stall, my savior!

I got back to the show eventually and the first customer I chatted to was the lovely Courtney.

Charlotte made this bag from an old monopoly set! How fantastic is it? We had a great chat and off she went to watch Handmade Nation! She came back and saw me afterwards all inspired! I love this kinda stuff!

My next visitors were two school girls that had come to the show on an excursion.

Chanel & Lilli had spent some time in the reconstruction zone and made headbands!
Their energy was infectious and my day got better.

I spent time chatting with Kelley from Peppermint, she is just as divine as I had hoped.
We will be sharing some love around in future issues of both mags which I am very excited about.

OK so that was DAY 1. Tomorrow I'll work my way down the incubator section and talk about all the peeps.

Cheers
Justine

DIY - DRAW IT YOURSELF Kids Badges

We've made up some sweet little DIY packs for kidlets to sell at the show.
I'm off to Brisbane tomorrow morning for the next week - sunshine here I come!!
These ace badges are also available in our shop (wholesale orders welcome)

melbourne peeps

Some wicked artists/crafters are having a sale this Saturday May 2.
Anna Laura,
Jodie Nicholson
Kate Boulton
Rachel Francis
Samantha Sultana
and my mate Peta Pledger!

The sale will be held on Level 2, 37 Swanston Street in Melbourne (on the corner of Swanston Street and Flinders Lane) from 9am until 5pm.

They will be selling a wide range of new products, seconds, samples and overstock. Also, fabrics, craft supplies, sewing patterns and much more.

Pop on down! Tell 'em mixtapezine sent ya...

i can't get enough

Do you know that suede song>can't get enough?
Well that's how I'm feeling about making badges!
Sime and I have been having a blast.


We have made up some sewing related ones and I have just added them into the shop

It's Anzac Day here in Australia today, Lest We Forget.
Did you watch the great doco on Australian 50's pin up girls last night? It was a winner :)

mixtape mashup #7

mixtape and Whipup's joint venture, we both share our ideas, cool links and general goings on.

My aim is to post once a week and give you a "round up" of the week that has been. The post will be put up on the mixtape blog and also on the Whipup blog.
What is mixtape? click here to find out

Weekly Giveaway:

Morgan has kindly donated 3 of her divine babushka doll cards. All you need to do is write to me at feedback.mixtapezineAT gmailDOTcom and tell me how you relax!
winner notified in this space next Friday May 1, 2009.

mixtape purchased a badge maker from The Badge Factory, and I have gone into a badge making frenzie. Don't forget that mixtape is making up ltd edition badge sets of A-Z. Our first set was A FOR Alice In Wonderland and are now brainstorming what we can do for B! Any suggestions?? Please go ahead let me know some good B things!

Ozz Handmade has launched their new website, support Aussie artists.
Craft Gossip and mixtape are holding hands throughout April/May
I never ever get sick of Japanese goodness and I love this site for a good reference point.

mixtape is turning 2 in August. We are going to have a joint birthday with Incube.8r late June. I am currently on the hunt for a Melbourne band to play on the night, any volunteers?

Natalie the owner of my favourite Melbourne stores and mixtape are in discussions for the first issue out in 2010 of mixtapezine! It's going to be a ripper!

new stockist

Teeluxe are now stocking mixtape.
You can find them on twitter
You can find out all about them here
and you can find Issue 8 on their site here

Teeluxe stocks beautiful things including zines & tshirts.
Craig is currently organising a zine fair called "Zine Age Riot" check it out!
Craig you rock!

whip up and mixtape weekly dance

[

After a very relaxing weekend at the beach, camping in a beautiful
spot with tall gum trees and lots of great snorkeling and fireside
cooking, I am back home and straight back to work. This weekend
promises to be lovely weather and we have a massive backyard cleanup
planned. The kids have been reading and riding their bikes in this,
the first week of the school holidays, and today I did a big cook-up
of sausage rolls and apple tarts, ready to freeze and eat later.

The past couple of weeks at whipup I have been putting together a
series of craft blog tips - if you missed out here is what we have so
far ... better
craft blogging : craft
blog etiquette :
better
craft blog writing : how
to build an audience for your craft blog and
photography tips for your craft blog - coming up more advanced
photography techniques, book reviews, blog design and more... dying to
know something - email me whipup[AT]gmail.com and I will try to cover
it in this series in the coming weeks.

We featured a few recycling craft tutorials this past week - reuse
sewing pattern tissue paper I loved this one - some really fun and
innovative ideas : recycle
junk mail into paper beads - I do love making paper beads - this
is a slightly different method though than I have used in the past : fused
plastic backpack - a great idea on how to use up those colourful
plastic bags : I was in love with the kitty egg
crayons - a time intensive project but worth it : dishtowel
to baby pants - a really cute and super simple idea :

Some great patchwork and quilting ideas this week too - I loved the easter
carrot tablerunner - great for anytime of year : curved
seams 101 - a neat tutorial on doing those curves in patchwork :
modern,
minimal, masculine quilt has really got my ideas going ...

We featured some really interesting books this past week - Switch
craft for the sewing / technology nerds out there : knitting
art - a lovely showcase of just a few wonderful artists who use
knitting as their primary medium : make
good crafts life series - the first two books in this new English
translation of Japanese craft books series : Knitting
on top of the world - an eclectic knitting book by Nicky Epstein :
Material
Obsession - a quilting book that takes a modern look at
traditional designs : And next week we will have Betz White
on her blog tour stopping at whipup.

Also more sewing - cute pouch
tutorial : love the little girls madras plaid
skirt : and the
tulle skirt : the flowerpot
cosy is too cute : french
seam drawstring bag is too cute as is the bedtime duvet :
but my fave project this week would have to be the doll
pattern and tutorial by mimi kirchner - thank you mimi.

Thanks for reading and happy crafting weekend!

Did you miss last weeks roundup? get them all here
or subscribe to this weekly newsletter via email here
- if you already subscribe why not forward this email to a crafty
friend you think may enjoy it.

Follow us on twitter: whipup:
@whipup and Nicole: @craftapalooza

Ps. feel free to send in letters, ideas and links to whipup[at]gmail.com]

mixtape mashup #6

mixtape and Whipup's joint venture, we both share our ideas, cool links and general goings on.

My aim is to post once a week and give you a "round up" of the week that has been. The post will be put up on the mixtape blog and also on the Whipup blog.
What is mixtape? click here to find out

It's a short and sweet post this week. Last week-end we spent four days down the coast with our ace friends R&K. This week I am easing back into the chair and slowly sifting though paperwork and inspirational blogs. I didn't take my laptop on holiday and it felt good! Now if I could only find the balance of computer time & housework...

Yesterday mixtape was at the Sisters Market here in Melbourne where I got to meet new readers and have a nice amount of peeps stop by to wish me a Happy Birthday. I felt very special! Now this leads me to the announcement that Issue 8 has SOLD OUT!!
We have 200 to sell at the Brisbane Stitches & Craft Show (29 April - 3 May 2009)
If we have any left after that I will put them back into the shop.

Issue 9 is now up for pre-sale here.
We have cover artist covered for Issue 10,11 &12. Would you like to design a cover for us? Write to me at mixtapezineATgmailDOTcom and we'll go from there.

Things that have crossed my path this week that have made a mark:

PRINT:
Finally the Divided Heart! I will be interviewing Rachel in an upcoming issue of mixtape.
Seams to Me - the lady with as many kids as my Fi!
and my new bestie Peppermint Mag (love, love, love) - stay tuned for news on us and them.
MUSIC:
Johnny Cash's Childrens album has been getting a work out, as has She&Him.
My man is off to Cherry Rock today and we both looooove Peter Pan Speedrock

SCREEN:
The Gruen Transfer ( oh Todd you are ace)
The History of Australian Surfing

Lot more to tell, more next week!

Cheers
Justine
Editor/Publisher
mixtapezine

Issue 9 is around the corner...

$7.00

OUT June 1, 2009
PRE-SELLING HERE NOW!

**************************
FULL COLOUR, 48pp (100% recycled)
We will do ONE print run (2000) and once we have sold out that is it.

**************************
Cover Image
Lisa Solomon
lisasolomon.com

********************************

Issue 9 features articles such as:

Craftism
Handmade Help
Selvedge Queen: Jodie Carleton
Crafty Lady: Kitty Speer (kittyskaboodle.blogspot.com)
and a WICKED pull out poster designed by Black Pio

and the winner is...

melissa - she has a great blog also!

You had to tell us why your life is good to go in the draw to win one of Leah's sweet scottie dogs. In fact we had a huge response and it was hard to choose just one!

melissa's response:

I finally got the bean seeds to grow after three tries . . . and now we have more beans growing than you can poke a stick at . . . alls well that ends well :)

Thanks to everyone who wrote in. I'm thinking a regular giveaway is a goer, you seem to like them! I'll put that on my list of things to do ok!

Stay tuned...

Giveaway Time! handmadebitsandpieces

Leah from handmadebitsandpieces has kindly donated one of her handmade
"Spot the vintage chenille scottie dog's".

THE MAKER:
Leah is a 30 something mum of 4 small children, addicted to etsy and all things crafty. After 3 boys, she was then blessed with a baby girl who has been the perfect excuse and inspiration to for Leah to craft and create almost every day! Feel free to drop into her blog and etsy store at any time!

TO DO:
All you need to do is email feedbackDOTmixtapezineAT gmailDOTcom and tell us why your life is good! winner will be announced on the mixtape blog next Tuesday April 14.

indie profile - crimson kids

Crimson Kids

It started in November 2008. Two 17 year old girls, Jemma & Fiona were getting sick of spending way to much on hair accessories so they decided to make their own. Friends started complimenting them so they started selling them to family and friends. The next stop was MySpace to reach a broader audience and the girls now sell not only hair bows and hair clips but rings, earrings and bracelets. They also custom make as well.
Jemma & Fiona are also looking into making resin jewellery, headbands and bow ties in the near future.

Here are some of their creations:

the week-end is nearly over

Yesterday us mixtapers went to the re-launch of ThreadDen in Errol Street. The girls have done up the place to look like a fifties home. We had a photographer in training take some shots for us for an upcoming feature on the fabulous ladies behind ThreadDen (issue 10).
I also took some shots and I wanted to take this fish home with me:


Threadden is a place where you can learn to sew and you can buy vintage pieces and one off's from local designers and lots lots more. They also stock mixtape ;)

****

Ok! I've been banging on about these badges all week. I have made them up and this is what they look like:
FRONT-
BACK-
and INSIDE-
The badges inside will vary. There are about 7 different types all up.
They will be available to purchase tomorrow (April 6) morning at 9am Australian EST.
You can buy them here.

Issue 9 cover - Lisa Solomon

Art kindly donated by the wonderful Lisa Solomon
lisasolomon.com / sewgreen.blogspot.com

The first ever cd swap I participated in was hosted by Lisa. It started off an ongoing thing for me actually. I think I have hosted about 10 cd swaps over the years. May-be it's time to host another? It involves making a mixed cd and sending it to peeps all around the world and in return you get a mixture of cds back. If there is enough interest I will organise one. The theme is "Rockin' Track For Crafty Peeps". Would you like to play? email us at feedbackDOTmixtapezineATgmailDOTcom.

Issue 9 will be out late May at this stage. We will put it up for pre-order late April, we will be printing 2000 limited edition copies.

Don't forget to get your Badge Action On this coming Monday....

Listening:
Neko Case
The Drones
****
Reading:
Handmade Nation
Material Obsession

mixtape mashup #5

mixtape has just embarked on a joint venture with Whipup. We will both be sharing our ideas, cool links and general goings on.

My aim is to post once a week and give you a "round up" of the week that has been. The post will be put up on the mixtape blog and also on the Whipup blog.
What is mixtape? click here to find out

***HOT OF THE PRESS**

Get your badge action on! Click here for details. Only 30 packs (Limited Edition) being made up and they go on Sale Monday morning 9AM E.S.T. The first theme is Alice In Wonderland.

Every month we run a past issue article through the kids style website, check it here
We got sent Beci Orpin's sweet Tiny mammoth clothing labels winter range magazine. It's full of sweet things to do with your kidlets, a pull out poster, an interview with Justine Clarke, how to make heart flowers and the list goes on. This is all amongst the cool winter clothes you can purchase. Nice work!
Live in Melbourne? Love coffee? then this is for you!
Cupcake maker or lover? check these out awesome ;) - thanks peta!
Have you seen this great looking tote ready to be fancied up by you?
The latest issue of Bust has been on my desk for the past two weeks. Do you know how much I love this mag? It has EVERYTHING that is interesting to me, craft, music/book reviews, art, pop culture IT IS DIVINE - do you read it?
I've always been a big fan of blogging but I just can't seem to get into Face book or Twitter. What are your thoughts?

That's enough rambling for this week. Happy Easter/Passover. I'll write again in two weeks.

Justine
Editor/Publisher mixtapezine.com

get your badge action on!

A few weeks back we purchased a 1 1/4 inch badge making machine. Oh what fun we have had here at mixtape headquarters!! Badge mad I tell ya!
We've got pin up girls badges, perle 8 badges and of course mixtape badges.

We are also going to make up limited edition runs of badges.
The first lot will be "Alice In Wonderland".

We will ONLY be making 30 packs and each will be numbered.
The pack will contain 3 Alice themed 1 1/4 inch fabric buttons and come in a numbered booklet made with love.

When: They will go on sale on Monday April 6 9AM Australian Eastern Standard Time
Where: Our store!
How much: They will cost $10 for AUS residents $12.50 for NZ and $16 for every where else.THIS INCLUDES POSTAGE

Mark it in your diary...