Flight of Fancy

I immediately fell in love with this fabric and it was the perfect match for these red chopsticks that I have had for while but were never quite right for anything I was creating. Which makes me ponder that designing is sometimes like match making. A lonely little button can sit in a jar for years just waiting for that right project to come along then it can live happily ever after with its fabric soul mate - or is that just a flight of fancy?

Market 3031

Yesterday's weather could be described as 'interesting' to say the least but I braved a 9 degree temp and pouring rain to make my way to Market 3031 in Kensington and I am so pleased I did as I saw some great crafts and met some lovely and talented Melbourne designers including...

Lauren Williams Handmade Jewellery (love the necklace/brooches)

Metremade (Ikea furniture need not be boring!!)

Auntie Cookie (so great to finally see in person!)

Ink and Spindle (hoping that we will soon be 'neighbours'!)

Friends appearing at lyssymay.com

I have finally had time to sit and add some new things to the lyssy may shopping site and am excited to announce that you can now buy Shannon's Bushka Babi softies online as well as some of the fabulous texile accessories created by Silke from Kaffee Studio. These handmade products were such wonderful additions to my products in Morningside that I wanted to continue to support these talented designers and have their work available to Lyssy May customers. I hope to be adding more products and designers over time.

Red-dy Steady Go

Whilst my blogging has been quiet for a month, Lyssy May has been a hive of activity behind the scenes with a new look website and product range just around the corner. Since my last entry when I was leaving Morningside I have moved to Melbourne and whilst I haven't ventured far as at yet because I have been setting up a new home, I did take a wander through the Hawthorn townhall craft markets yesterday. It is always so heartening to see crafty people of all ages and styles gathered in the one spot and this monthly market has some real treasures. I spied a stall belonging to Chien and her mother, Tonki who is visiting from Malaysia. They were selling handmade baskets made from recycled magazines and I was so impressed with how sturdy and beautifully made their designs are. I snapped up the one above for a Christmas present. It is sitting in my lounge room at the moment along with my 1960's sewing box and Cath Kidston mushroom pincushion. A nice little red ensemble to brighten my day - I just have to be strong willed enough to actually hand it over at Christmas!!

Farewell my Little Store

Over three and half years ago I moved into this little space to kick off one of my big dreams in life - to have my own craft store. It had been vacant for 6 months and in its previous life had been all sorts of stores including a cafe, sewing machine repair shop and even a shoe store. Nestled between an ink cartridge and a water filter shop perhaps wasn't where I had pictured my first shop to be, but in the end it didn't really matter because it was mine and somewhere to start.

This week I am moving out which is sad but is an end to a chapter that needed a full stop so that I can move on and let this friend of mine called Lyssy May spread her wings a little. I am so excited about moving to Melbourne but 676 Wynnum Rd will always be where I learnt my 'trade' and so many lessons about what it is to own a small business and be in retail. In this store there have been lots (and lots) of laughs, tears, moments of elation and frustration, but never moments of regret for the risk I took to follow a dream. If you have a burning passion to get out there and do something you've always wanted, all I can say is 'just do it'. I truly believe there is no reward without risk and the fear of not doing something is much greater than the fear of doing it.

On Friday I will be handing over the keys to someone whose dream has also been to have their own retail premises and I feel so privileged to be in a small way part of her journey. So the boxes are packed, the sewing machine is sitting in my garage waiting for a removals truck and the next chapter is about to start. Thanks to all my wonderful friends, customers and suppliers for being part of it so far. xx

Brisbane Caberet Festival

One of my most vivacious of customers, Alida Rae, will be appearing in the Brisbane Caberet Festival in a production of 'Too Many Songs by Tom Lehrer' next Thurs night (2nd Oct) which is sure to be a great way to spend an evening. The festival runs for 10 days and has some fantastic shows lined up. Sounds like a perfect way to brighten up your week with a bit of glamour!

Matterz of the Heart

I am a serious addict when it comes to the Chocolate Nougat Brownie at Planet Matterz cafe. The fantastic thing about the brownies is that they are gluten free which means that I can share them with my friend Nicole (of Hot Toffee fame) when she has dropped in for the odd cuppa. I am a true glutton for this gluten-free snack and this morning I treated myself to (another) one for the week and was suprised by a lovely accompanying strawberry decoration - just perfect for balancing out that icing!!