Madebykilljoy is on Instagram

payment options

With the markets less than 2 months away, I'm in the throes of trying to finalise a few things. Bird making is on the go, leg making has begun, boxes have been sourced and today I figured out how to tie up a box with string to form a handle thereby eliminating the need for a bag as well. Win!

Two final things are stumping me. How to effectively use my 1.5m2 stall space and payment options. I'm still figuring out the market stall design (with the help of Pinterest) so for now, my question is - would you happily use this PayPal options as payment at a market?

 I've not seen one before but I can buy one at Officeworks. A bank won't hire me an EFTPOS machine and I think my birds cost a little bit more than you might have floating around in your pocket, so I feel I need to accept Credit Cards and debit cards. Here is a youtube info clip. I think it looks good.

Would you trust it and use it at a market?

xx

Behind the Scenes

You know how they say "all is not what it seems"? Well I reckon these images show the reality of my photo shoot with Barton Taylor. Whilst he styled the shot, I raced around behind him trying to shove the mess and paraphernalia of our everyday life out of shot.

Love how this first image makes our bedroom look though. Good enough for a magazine ( and the Finders Keepers website) I reckon!

Picture Perfect!

Reality Check!

This is actually happening!!

So - I'm on the website!!

Hello to you if you are visiting me from The Finders Keepers website. I'm very excited that my profile has gone up and that the lovely photos taken by Barton Taylor are looking good online.

http://www.thefinderskeepers.com/madebykilljoy.php

I just has a feeling that I would see my profile on there today. No idea how long it has been up, but I will make far more effort to update my blog from now on. I am, however, more active on Instagram so if you would like to see some bird making - please follow me @madebykilloy or with the hashtag #madebykilljoy. See you soon, xx

To market, to market....

I first went to The Finders Keepers markets way back when they were called Hope St Markets and were held in Surry Hills at Sticky bar. They were only a small market then with maybe 20 stalls but there was live music, a bar and a great atmosphere. I could tell these markets were onto something and when applications opened for the following year, I promptly applied. I was rejected. And relieved. I don't think I was really ready for a market stall in the mid 2000's.

I kept going to these markets and every year they grew in size. They moved from Sticky to Paddington Town Hall and then they changed their name to The Finders Keepers and took up residence at the beautiful Carriageworks in Eveleigh. I was still in love with these markets and their stall holders.

Now The Finders Keepers have moved to The Australian Technology Park in Redfern and will be there again in December for the second year. Last year when we went, I was heavily pregnant. In fact, it was my due date but my babe had shown no intentions of moving house so we went to the markets anyway.

After much deliberation, I decided to reapply for a market stall. I'd finally gotten over my previous rejection. I frantically applied very late on the final night in March. I went to bed hoping my application had gone through. It hadn't. Again, it wasn't meant to be.....

Third time lucky, I applied in July for the dangerously busy pre Christmas market in December. This time, I was organised. I took nice photos. I thought carefully about what to write on my form. I went into it with a clear head mostly because my baby was now sleeping a lot better and feeding from me far less. I felt a little bit more in control and a whole lot more positive.

Late one night in August, my phone beeped softly with an incoming email. I knew this was it but I rolled over and tried to sleep some more. It was a lovely surprise in the morning to read I'd been accepted. When I showed my husband, he laughed and said "well, now what are you going to do?". Good question. 

Guess I better start making some more birds......

Bird Hiatus

I have a good excuse for not making any birds for the past year or so. I was busy making a baby!

During my pregnancy I came down with a case of Carpal Tunnel in my hands towards the last 4 months. I would wake in the morning unable to make a fist with my hands and found brushing my hair, teeth, using scissors and writing a wee bit tricky and painful. Everyone said once the baby came, the CT would go away. Yes! I thought. Two things to look forward to.

My beautiful little boy Finlay arrived, but the wrist pain (albeit just in my right hand) stayed and got worse. I struggled to pick him up even. He didn't sleep much and all creative pursuits went on indefinite hold.

But - as always - this too shall pass. Finn (7 months) now enjoys a sleep or two during the day, I am managing my wrist with a brace and I am back making birds. Hooray! Here they are below, xx