A Surprise Visit.....

Here I am back in Noosa! My poor dad had complications during an operation stemming from his bowel cancer so I flew over to visit & help where I could.

                                          

http://brusselsprouts.bigcartel.com/product/trellis-dress

Whilst here my mother & I have been sewing away madly (a good distraction!) & we decided to do one more market while I was in town. We met some lovely new customers & then a gorgeous little girl walked over wearing a dress that I had made 2years ago, it looked just as good as when I first sewed it up however it was now being worn as a top with capri pants. Her lovely mummy has been a wonderful supportive customer of ours for 3 years it really lifted our spirits.

http://brusselsprouts.bigcartel.com/product/indi-dress

  Indi was kind enough to model some dresses that we made & I think she looks just adorable!

Thankyou Arana, Shane & Indi xx

http://brusselsprouts.bigcartel.com/product/sunshine-dress

A Superhero Turns 5......

A couple of weeks ago Eldest Sprout turned 5 & asked for a superhero themed party. I was over the moon & had visions of all sorts of goodies that I could make, firstly being superhero dolls for all guests until he informed me that these weren't cool for 5yr old's...I did make one for the table though!

He was quick to let me know only 3 things were very important to him....

1. Jelly which I made in jars in layers of red,yellow & blue

2. Macaroni & Cheese popped into some individual serves

 3. Ham & Cheese sambo's which I used a star cookie cutter to jazz them up a bit.

I made photo props out of cardboard & covered some boxes with paper for a city. The children flew through the air after changing into their capes & masks (which I was allowed to make!)  next to the telephone booth.

An afternoon of silly string & digital camera's (a bargain at $5 each from KMart) & the kids were in heaven. 

An Easter Buffet....

I loved this cute mini buffet we styled for Easter. No chocolate was needed just take home sweets for the children & some brunch items for the adults was requested............

Noodle Boxes for taking home sweets.

Homemade Jams & Marmalades

 Cute Handmade Bunny 

Winter 2012.......

The 2 sprouts are in their pool & I am sitting in the shade of the mulberry tree mixing & matching some gorgeous fabrics that have arrived for the Winter 2012 range. I am really looking forward to bringing out a new range after having taking a break last season... my sewjo is back!

Stop your Flippin' Whingeing............

We have just driven back today from a great night up at Hoover House in Gwalia, it is actually our third visit because we love staying at this B&B. Not only does it have a fantastic museum that you can walk around, after 4pm the gate is locked & you have the whole place to yourselves.

My favourite part of the area is the ghost town of the miners houses that the local residents have restored themselves.

It is a grounding & humbling experience to walk through these homes, the stoves that needed wood to cook, the toilets that were non existent, the sewing machines that needed a foot to get them going. By visiting these places it makes me stop & think the next time something miniscule annoys me in my modern life to say to myself...'Victoria Stop your Flippin' Whingeing!'

I was once told that my attitude of being grateful & thankful of what I have will not help me be successful in business as I am too nice to succeed & I should care if others are trying to belittle me or compete. Well if being grateful or thankful for what I have rather than spending my time & headspace caught up with what other businesses are doing will make me a failure then I am more than happy not to succeed.

Chocolate on a spoon?....mmmm yummy!

So in my intrepid travels around the www for my new venture Brusselsprouts Boutique Candy Buffets I came across a photo of chocolate on a spoon with loads of yummy goodness stuck to it.....unfortunately because I am an intrepid traveller I cannot give you the link to the page or give the person who blogged about it the praise & respect they deserve & for that I am sorry.

However what it boils down to is this, chocolate on a spoon is the bees knees.....I know because Mr 4 & 2 told me so. These are the same Mr's 4 & 2 who refuse to eat anything that looks non yellow or non red meaning they only like strawberries, spaghetti, toast &  bananas everything else is "ukky".

My telling them it was 'chocolate' which is a magical word they hear once a year as I am a terrible mother that only hands it out on special occasions piqued their interest somewhat & once they got over the fact that it was pink they were keen to consume it......& like it.

All you have to do is melt some chocolate, I did mine in the microwave it took 30 seconds, add some food colouring, pour it onto a plastic spoon & then add whatever decoration you like. Just a quick note though, dont fill the spoon up all the way before you add the other items as it will overflow.....yes I am an overfiller.

A few small Changes......

are happening at Brusselsprouts. Firstly the Porter St store is moving.....around the corner onto the main st of Kalgoorlie, Hannan St. It is a cute little space & with the different size & shape of the store will come a new layout & some new products.

Handmade will still be available in store, with 12 labels from the eastern states & 5 local there is a great selection. Some small run international labels will also soon be gracing the racks along with the likes of Noah & Belles and the larger mainstream will slowly be phased out.

And most exciting is a new venture that I am in the stages of developing now which will take Brusselsprouts in a whole new direction....I will divulge more when closer to release date :)

It has been a fantastic time at Porter St & I have enjoyed every minute. I have been very lucky to have had such wonderful support from so many handmade labels who encouraged me from day one 3.5yrs ago when I started out & continue to do so today. I have also found the larger suppliers to be very helpful to such a newbie as myself, if it wasnt for their items I would have had an empty store on many occasions & would not be in business today.  I know firsthand that when it comes to handmade, stock doesnt & can't get made overnight, we have children, husbands & many have other jobs, which makes it all the more special & why it sells so quickly. I love to sew & won't ever stop.

Tomorrow will be the last trading day at Porter St....sob....but onwards & upwards with the next step in the journey of Brusselsprouts, a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter, a woman who had a dream & made it a reality, thankyou to each & all of you xx