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...!