Eco-Art Competition

At the recent Thea and Sami focus group I met the brains behind a soon-to-be-launched magazine called Peppermint. Kelley Sheenan is passionate about educating consumers on the impact that our thirst for clothing fashion has on the environment (pretty bad if you check out the statistics) but don't despair or think this means we should all be wearing hemp sacks!

Peppermint will be a magazine devoted to talking about fashion that is not only fabulous but also can be fair trade, organic, vintage, sustainable, locally produced, recycled, responsibly-made or environmentally friendly. Lyssy May's designs and store try to mix a little bit of everything from this list whenever we can so we are looking forward to stocking the magazine for our customers.

Kelley is also running a great visual art/design comp in response to a set theme where you can win great prizes as well as having your art reproduced in the magazine. Talented folks should visit the website to check out the details!

It's a Wind Up

New to Lyssy May are these clever cards by Little Jane St. Alarna is the talented artist behind the Brisbane stationery label which I came across at the last Young Designers Market. My faves amongst her collage style cards are the 'wind me up and let me go' designs but they are all gorgeous. Alarna also offers a customised service with the cards coming in the their very own fabric pouches. Love it!

Think Pink Party

Lyssy May will be hosting a Think Pink Party on Sunday July 20th from 2 pm to 4 pm to raise money for the Kim Walters Choices Program which is a free community service that offers support and information for women, men and their families affected by a diagnosis of breast or gynaecological cancer. I have only just announced the event and have already been overwhelmed by the support that other businesses are showing through the donation of some fantastic prizes. Stay tuned for more information - I would love for you to come along to help raise money for this important cause.

Bird at My Window

This weekend I managed to produce a couple of new Little Miss designs that have been flying around my head for weeks now and have finally landed! Pictured above is the red/green version of the 'bird at my window' designs. I have just added them to my website at $35 each. The detail of the pink version is below...

A Walk in the Past

Yesterday at Lyssy May I changed the window display to feature this 1970's pram that I bought at a Woolloongabba Antique shop a few years ago with no real idea at the time how I would use it but knew I couldn't leave it behind. Since owning my store it has come in handy a number of times and for this display I have teamed it up with the cute new girl's floral wellington boots and matching umbrella. I like to see people pause at the window and smile at the obviously happy childhood memories the pram evokes.

(Please excuse the pic for its window reflection of glamorous Wynnum Road!!)

High Societea

I often feel left out the cold in the world of 'lattes and skinny caps' as I just can't seem to handle coffee (although I can eat buckets of coffee cake). But yesterday I was in my element as I went to one of my favourite places in Brisbane, High Societea at Clayfield - it is there that tea reigns supreme. This was my third visit and not only did I indulge in a beautifully presented high tea but I also was there as part of a group of ladies lucky enough to be invited by Thea of (Thea and Sami) to talk about her plans for her upcoming ranges and the exciting things happening in the eco-fashion industry. The conversation was stimulating, the cakes and savouries were spot on, and the tea ...sublime!

Hot Toffee Collaboration Bag

Visitors to Lyssy May will know this little character designed by Nicole (of Hot Toffee) as she appears on some of the pocket mirrors, badges and cards I sell. Last year Nicole and I worked together to have the image printed on a limited edition handbag. On Saturday I made up 2 of the remaining 7 in black corduroy which has a wonderful richness in the black that brings out the red in her little washi style dress. The front panel is actually a handy outside lined pocket so she is not only adorable but also functional! Click here to visit her on my website.

A pig, a chicken and a frog walk into a shop...

...there's no punch line but these finger puppets look like they are up to mischief - I am not sure what happens when Lyssy May's doors are closed but I think that frog is the ringleader. These animal finger puppets are knitted by the lovely Judy (who I met through my hairdresser!). Her work is so lovely and and I am always eager to see what she has produced for the shelves of Lyssy May. I think the adults who visit the store have just as much fun role playing with the puppets as the little ones do!

Real Dyed in the Wool Talent

Yesterday was the final day of Stage One of the Springboard Mentoring program that I have been participating in over the past couple of months. The program is designed to foster design businesses and provide them with access to some of Australia's leading professionals working within the sector. It has been a brilliant experience to be included in the program and I have enjoyed meeting the designers in the Brisbane group and sharing our experiences and trials and tribulations of being in small business.

One of the designers I have met is Silke from Kaffee Studio whose fabulous brooches I featured a few weeks ago. The latest instalment of her work available at Lyssy May includes these funky cuffs and chokers - all are handmade from natural fibres and have been coloured with vegetable dye.

I hope to be working further with some of the talented souls I met at Springboard in the coming months so I will keep you updated on what we are planning!

Design of the Week - Louisa

One day at Lyssy May I decided it might be nice to feature the week's best seller on my website's homepage. This week I have kicked it off with Louisa which has been a popular design in this new style for this winter. I am a big fan of layering fabrics - in summer I experimented with the cut work fabric look in the Senorita designs and in winter I have played with the idea of wool lace fabrics over corduroy. Louisa retails for $70 (incl GST) and features a matching brooch that will look cute on a jacket or scarf to pull an outfit together with your bag!

Lolly Lips

Today at Lyssy May I delighted in the delivery of the latest goodies from the world of Oopsidaisi - luscious lip balms in a range of flavours that would not look out of place on a dessert trolley. Apple Pie, Coconut Ice, Caramel Tart and Lemon Meringue are just some of the 18 delicious choices you will have to agonise over!

Clutching at Bags

I have never been into clutch designs much (my philosophy is that it is too difficult to negotiate a drink in one hand and a canape in the other with a bag wedged under one arm). But on Friday afternoon I discovered a bag of upholostery samples that my aunty in Melbourne gave me when I first started making bags about 5 years ago. Well it just so happens they are the perfect size for small clutch bags so I have sewn them with denim to dress them down a little and the result is a little collection of designs that are now at Lyssy May's store. I will hopefully have them also on display at my stall this Sunday at the Young Designer Market at Southbank. The markets are a great concept that is growing with each successive event so be sure to swing by to check out some of Brisbane's latest designer gear!

I'm Wrapped!

As promised last week, I have had a delivery of brilliant scarves by crafy remixer, djbebe. Sally has pulled together a great collection and as you can see from the pic, they look great with the felt hats that are causing a bit of stir amongst Morningside shoppers.

Not only am I super happy with the batch of scarves but I am also very humbled by a little certificate that arrived this week saying that I had been nominated as a business achiever for the local Quest newspaper's annual awards. A big thank you to the mystery customer/s who took the time to do this and whilst I think it will be a big ask to make it through to the next round as I am in a pretty competitive category, it is indeed just a honour just to be nominated...!