Waltzing through with Talent - Sanchia from Little Red Wagon Kids

Nope, I've not forgotten that this segment exists! I have had to do some minor reshuffling of the schedule of artisans but here's a complete surprise for those with little toddlers and young children!




With us today we have Sanchia from Little Red Wagon Kids

Sanchia is a lovely fellow DUSTer who resides in Sydney, Australia. She makes the most delightful children wear and swim wear that I really really wish came in my size! Children wear that embraces the imagination and embodies the joy and fun of childhood. Her range tends to be contemporary and playful with her fabric choices ranging from wild to amazingly colourful. Much like the imagination of a child, isn't it?

Sanchia was kind enough to take time out to answer a few questions for us, so do read on to learn more about the woman behind these fantastic pieces of work! I must warn you though, Sanchia has an amazing sense of humour. This may be a long read, but trust me, it's definitely worthwhile!



Teeny Weeny Sea Breeze Blue Little Splasher


Who are you and what do you sell?

My name is Sanchia and at present I'm a Mum to two "free-spirited" little girls. They were called "wild" once by a woman in the shops, but I prefer the term "free-spirited." Needless to say she was put in her place with a witty comment! I'm also a partner to a Dutchman, a domestic engineer, a chef, a cleaner, a nurse, a peace negotiator, an accountant, a receptionist, a taxi driver, a teacher, an entertainer, wanna be disciplinarian and....a sewer. So I've been at home for 4 years now and starting to go a little stir crazy. As much as I think my girls are smart, they don't really offer much in terms of intelligent conversation. So, after much encouragement I've started making and selling bright, playful easy-wearing children's clothing and swimwear on-line.

What inspires you, what acts as your muse?

I find Kids in general are inspiring. I love that they can make anything out of something. I love their imagination and how they view the world. I love clothing ranges such as Oilily, Big by Fiona Scanlan and Oobi. On a creative artistic level I have always loved Vincent Van Gogh, Monet and my Grandmother, who is a very talented painter and my mother who is also an artist and designer (she owns "Red Brolly"- if there are any quilters and stitchers reading this).

What does your creative space look like?

I have to laugh...my "creative space" involves a kitchen table, a sewing machine called "Millie" and my Living room!!!! And any spare cupboard, under bed space, nook and cranny I can find to store things. It can be very chaotic and very frustrating! Especially since I think I am a good candidate for Alzheimer's on most days.



Cranberry Crush little Splash

What makes you tick?

I love Elvis! I grew up watching Bill Collins Sunday afternoon movie sessions and loved Elvis movies. Before kids, I was a Year 6 teacher living in Bondi. I used to be one of those mad people up and running laps of the beach in the sand at 5am! I absolutely loved it. I'm still up at 5 these days, but just a different alarm- my kids are early risers. I love travelling. I've lived in Ireland for awhile, Edinburgh for a lot longer while (twice actually) and we moved to Holland for a what was intended to be a long while, but a pregnancy changed things. I still have itchy feet to this day...it's the longest I've stayed put in one spot. I grew up in the country with 3 brothers, several cats, many dogs (that kept running away), a rabbit, a few quails, budgerigars and my 5 cousins living next door-all boys. My Mum, at the time, was the visual arts teacher at 3 local primary schools, so she always made sure there were creative, crafty, arty things to make and play with in the house. I'm proudly Australian, I love summer, the beach and the Australian lifestyle. When I 'm not doing any of the above, you'll also find me selling potatoes! My Dad is a farmer and sells potatoes at Farmer's Markets, namely Eveleigh in Newtown and the Good Food and Wine at Pyrmont in Sydney and I help him out on weekends.

Tell us about your proudest achievement, your personal best!

Most proud of in my crafting/art life is when I was teaching, my classes art murals and sculptures being on display around the school grounds and being asked to paint a mural with my class for the National Maritime Museum for an exhibition and create an artwork for the local council. I'm also proud, and very nervous, to be selling on Etsy and Madeit. My personal best achievement?? There's a couple, firstly packing up my bags at the age of 22 and backpacking to Ireland to live, travelling through Finland on my own!! Not sure if this was brave or foolish. And, corny I know, but (sorry if I gross anyone out) but giving birth without drugs.



Hearts and starbursts Reversible Pinafore


Complete these sentences:

I love: dark chocolate, mint (preferably both together), mojitos, red wine, Elvis (of course) actually any music, sewing, painting, lemons, spots and stripes and the thinkings behind the power of "positive thinking"....just wish I could adhere to it!

I cannot live without: mint sauce, and if I can't get mint sauce...brown vinegar. I believe it's the perfect condiment to almost everything. Is this where I put my partner, kids and family and friends??? :)

I hope: that my girls never have to worry. Having lived on 1 income for 4 years, it's not fun, and so I hope my girls never have to worry and have the options and sources available to do whatever their dreams are.

When I grow up: I want to travel. Italy is next on the wishful thinking list, with a stop over to Holland to visit the in-laws.

What do you like about the crafty/artsy world?

Everywhere is inspiration. I'm in constant amazement and in awe at how creative people can be.

Where can we get more goodies from you?

At the moment I live at www.littleredwagonkids.etsy.com and if you want it in Ozzie dollars...www.madeit.com.au/littleredwagon.



Now wasn't that just amazing? I love Sanchia. Her answers just blow me away!





We wouldn't let you walk away empty handed, especially after having stayed with us till the end!

Sanchia has been ever so generous and is offering up a Pineapple and Raspberry Sorbet Spotty (children size) to one lucky winner!



Pineapple and Raspberry Sorbet Spotty

How cute is that? Sanchia is able to make it for a range of sizes from 9 months to 3 years old! How's that for awesome?

So how do you win this? It's simple really and here's how:


The question is:
Do you have a story or have heard a story involving a bicycle, billy cart or a little red wagon?
Share it with us and the best story wins!
This step is compulsory

After you have answered the above question, to obtain extra entries you can do the following:

For 1 extra entry: Follow this blog either through your feed reader or via the Google Friends Application. Please leave a comment saying you have done so / am already following.

For 1 extra entry: Go to Little Red Wagon Kids and heart Sanchia's shop!

For 5 entries: Purchase anything from Little Red Wagon Kids

For additional entries (worth 1 each), you can:

- Blog about this entry. Remember to leave a seperate comment with the linkback.
- Tweet about this entry. Remember to leave a seperate comment with your twitter name.

This giveaway will end 16th November 2009, 10am Melbourne time. The winner will be announced on the following Waltzing through with Talent post.

So why wait? Get cracking and you could be that lucky winner!



Would you like to be considered for this feature? Send me an email at petite.valse (at)gmail.com and tell me why you'd like to be in the feature!

Waltzing through with Talent - Sanchia from Little Red Wagon Kids

Mia and other things.

Photo taken by the lovely Edaburi

And I'm back! I do apologize, taking off quite so suddenly, disappearing without a word...

Blogtoberfest is also over and my record is in tatters. But I promise you, I have a good reason.

Remember my post about House hunting? Well, I found that house. I found the house where I could rest my weary soul for at least another year before I have to move on again. (Well, that also depends on whether or not we are allowed to sign the lease for another year..)

So when I first signed up for Blogtoberfest, I wasn't exactly counting on the fact that I'd be losing my connection to the internet for more than half the month. And it is quite hard to blog without the internet, isn't it? So I do beg for your forgiveness and understanding. But I have so much to tell and share!

The above photo is actually of me during my recent visit to the Melbourne Zoo with my dearest friend Edaburi. She took the photo while I was strolling along, with nary in my head other than the thoughts of "oh my god, oh my god, what's in the next enclosure?" It was a fantastic visit even though it started to rain on us towards the end of our visit. We finished the day with pho from a vietnamese restuarant down in Richmond. Yummy.






Before I forget.. remember our very first giveaway from Waltzing through with Talent with Kristy from Filmless Photos? We do have a winner you know. I know, I know, terribly belated, but better than never? I do promise that all future giveaway winners will be announced on time. I do hope you are able to forgive me this one time!

Without further ado, our lucky winner for the very first giveaway is Haptree from Haptree and me! Congratulations darling! You win a free 8x10 print of your choice from Filmless Photos.

Do watch out for the next Waltzing through with Talent segment. It will go live today!



Image by Dottie Angel

Have you heard of the 'dottie angel' challenge? It is the challenge of the utmost kind and after reading about it, I knew this was a challenge after my own heart and that I had to give it a go.

However with all challenges, there must be rules and exceptions. These make the challenge realistic and of course, much easier to keep.

Food, undies, socks For obvious reasons, really. I can take 2nd hand shoes, but I will never be able to buy undies or socks from an Op shop. My love for op shops only brings me quite so far.

Gifts to me: It is not my responsibility as to what others would like to gift me. I would however, prefer handmade or thrifted, of course.

Business supplies: I think this requires no explanations.

Magazine allowance: I already have subscriptions going, plus half of them are actually for mumsies.

Electronics: While I do try to buy second hand consoles, sometimes it is just not worthwhile.

Large items of furnitures: I have tried. I went around looking for a shelf for my pantry, and ended up with nothing. Only Ikea had something that would have suited. I do however, promise to always try the op shops first before heading over to Ikea.

My start date will be today: Monday 2nd of November 2009. It will go on for one year, and I really do hope to be able to meet this challenge.

Excited? Oh terribly terribly so.






Also, it's fantastic to be back.

Mia and other things.

Some days you are jumping for joy..

Gorgeous dress and photo from Magnolija

And some days you just feel like crying

Some days you are jumping for joy..

It's Tuesday and I can't wait..

Image by Raychel Shiztastic on Flickr



It's Tuesday and what a cold Tuesday it is!

I can't wait for...

.... the Northside Makers Market to swing round on Saturday. Read more about the market from the organizer's perspective here!

... this sore back to go away. It's still here!

... nice warm weather in melbourne... no really, not just "I assure you I'm here" warm weather.

... the real estate agents to get back to me with regards to my house application. Will I have a roof over my head or not?

... to see more participants waltz in with our latest featured photographer: Kirsty from Filmless Photos

What are you waiting for? Come play along with Buttons by Loulou. I'd love to see what you are waiting for!

It's Tuesday and I can't wait..

4 days to go: PANIC.

No seriously. Four days before my first ever craft market in Melbourne.
Four.

Are you coming, are you coming? I'd so love to see a familiar face there, right before I melt into a complete puddle of panic and then more panic.

I have been busy with making sure that my table looks alright, making sure that I have enough stock.. thinking of ways to pack the extra stock, and how much extra stock to bring.. there's still so much to prepare for!

So while I'm off being a headless chicken, let me share with you a few photos of my favourite craft market displays from flickr:



Image by Contented Sparrow on Flickr


Image by Contented Sparrow on Flickr


Image by Popko on Flickr


Image by BeckyOh on Flickr


What are some of your favourite displays or display ideas? Please do share the love!

4 days to go: PANIC.

7 days to go: House hunting ahoy!

Image by Ania via Flickr


I'm moving house! Or I have to, soon.
The lease on my current house is expiring and while I love the place, I have been falling sick quite often in this house. I don't agree with heaters as they are incredibly dry and my skin is too sensitive; I also don't like the electricity bill when heaters come into play. So I'd much prefer a house that isn't going to be freezing cold while it's nice and warm out like my current house.

However, moving is one thing, actually finding a new place to call home is another. While I wish it was as easy as waltzing into a different place and say "alright, let's move here!", anybody who rents will know that this isn't quite the case.

Because it is when you are house hunting and running from inspections to inspections that you realise just how little your budget stretches sometimes. With Melbourne living expenses so high, and me merely a poor student / part time worker / home crafter, it really doesn't stretch all that far. And the places that are within my budget are usually about the size of a shoebox.

But sometimes you do find gems, and it's those gems you have to grab hold of and never let go.



Image by Esquareda via Flickr

After a week of house hunting , 20 inspections later and a very tired me, here are some things I'd like to have a rant about:

1. Support pillars: Now, I understand that they are important. They do keep the building stable after all. But right in the middle of the living room? Really?

2. Kitchens: So I'm aware that the modern day society is more and more prone to takeaway and 2 minute noodles. Unfortunately I belong to the diminishing group of youngsters who actually like to cook. Kitchens that are the size of a matchbox (fits 1 max) with shallow sinks and close to no bench spaces seem to be a trend. Really?

3. Weird layouts: Disjointed kitchens (you have to run back to the front door to get to the kitchen) and toilets right at the main doors. Whoever came up with these ideas, ought to be shot in the head. I don't think I want to be seeing a toilet or a bathtub the minute I open my front door, thank you very much.

4. Real estate agents: Yes, I do realise that they have a lot of house inspections to supervise. However you'd think that part of their job was to ensure that they had the right keys. The number of times I've had to wait and waste my time while a real estate agent jabbers frantically into a phone trying to convince a colleague to bring down the right keys.... I could have made it to another house inspection!

I'll stop here. But you get the idea, it's not all that fun house hunting. However the prospect of a healthier 2010 spurs me on!

So far I've put in 3 applications and shall spend the next few days biting nails waiting to hear the outcome of my applications. I have a favourite house that I hope I get, a place that I'd be quite happy with if I get it, and the last was a "If all else fails, this isn't so bad either." So here's hoping!

And to make this a little bit more chitty-chatty, tell me about your house renting experiences, what have you found in rental houses that were just utterly atrocious? I remember a friend telling me that she found a place that had bolts on the outside of the toilet door but not the inside. Creepy!

So please share, I can't wait to hear from you!

Remember! Our current giveaway is from Kirsty from Filmless Photos: Enter the giveaway here

7 days to go: House hunting ahoy!

8 days to go: Mt Tamborine and Port

What is the best way to wind down the weekend than with a glass of port?

Today's port is brought to you by:


And two very awesome friends who got the Ruby Port and brought it down to Melbourne for me.

The added flavour of friendship makes it extra sweet.

8 days to go: Mt Tamborine and Port