Baby Clutches

These are Baby Clutches that I made for my friend Mel. I find these are a great size for 2 nappies, a travel pack of wipes and a couple of tubs of cream. I don't really carry a nappy bag at all any more- I just chuck one of these and the boys lunch box and toys in my handbag and off we go!


x Gil for Tessie Designs

Karaoke Therapy: blast from the past

On Wednesday Night, me and my very good Sal sang us some Karaoke.

Sal and I were regular Karaoke Queens back in the day.... (the early naughties... ahh, so long ago). It was a huge part of our friendship in those days and an outlet for both of us to live out our Broadway Star/ Rock Star fantasies.

 Singing on stage is something that makes me happy. At one stage of my life, singing could have been a potential career path, but as I got older and life played out (as it does), it became something I did just for me, something that made me feel good about myself.

Since Sal and I made our little people, our lives have changed. We still hang out, but now we play with plastic toasters, jump on trampolines and talk about poo and sleep and crazy toddlers.. And we regale each other with how clever and beautiful and smart our little boys are..... Because they are! Life has changed, and it is awesome.

But sometimes, as mums, I think we need to tap into that part of us that is just for us. That thing that instantly makes us feel better about ourselves. We used to call it Karaoke Therapy... and it still is. I don't think it will be as huge a part of our lives a it once was, but every now and then... rocking out some tunes with my Wingman is just what my soul needs.

What's your Therapy? What recharges your batteries and gives you that hit of inner feel-goodedness?

Exciting Tessie news!!

To make room for our lovely new creations,

We are reducing our prices on all items in our Etsy Store!!!

Our signature Messenger Bags have been reduced from $60 to $30 and our super cute Mini Bags are down form $20 to $10.  How cool is that!

Claire Messenger  Bag
now $30

Anna Messenger  Bag
now $30 

Bernie Mini Bag
now $10 

AND all our cute little animals are reduced too!

Supe cute little
Tessie fabric Owl
now $10

Elephant!
now $20

Mr Blue Monkey now $15

The Sale will continue until the  9th July, when all remaining Etsy Stock will be available at the Mamma's Markets! 

Stay tuned for some upcoming Special Offers for the Mamma's Markets

Come over to the Etsy Store to check out the full range of products in the Tessie Sale!!!

x Gillian for Tessie Designs

a day at the art gallery... in pictures

..... what a lovely day....

x Gillian for Tessie Designs

new bags

Here are the newest bags that me and Mrs Janome have made. Hooray!!

I am so happy with this one. I made the patchwork fabric from my offcuts and scraps. That was so much fun. It's lined with cute fabric and I like it heaps and heaps!! I have some more patchwork in the works and am trying to decide what to make with it... maybe another bag, or a baby clutch... 

This cute butterfly bag is a cross between a messenger bag and a satchel.  It has a wide, long handle and is lined with quirky orange and white stripes!! I made this pattern up, and learned a few tricks along the way!!

X Gillian for Tessie Designs

English Family

There is the cutest Junk/ Op Shop on Oxford Street in Bulimba. Max and I stopped in the recently and I found these gorgeous hankies commemorating the Royal Visit in 1954.

I don't know why, but I HAD TO HAVE THEM!

The funny lady who owns the show said, 'Are you a royalist, Dear?'

I said, 'No, but I have an English Husband!'

I guess, to me, they show the union of my Lovely Husabnds homeland and mine. His family are incredibly beautiful people. They are so far away. I wish I could go out for a coffee with my Mother-In-Law.. I wish my Father-In-Law could kick a ball with the Twins, I wish I could pop over to my Sister-In-Laws house for a chat... I wish I could have a drink at the Pub with my Brother-In -Law. I wish the Awesome Teenager could hang out with the 3 English Awesome Teenagers. And, Oh my goodness, I wish for my Lovely Husband all of these things and more. He misses them. So much.

I'm gonna put these cute little things in a frame, and they will always remind me to send hugs and love across the sea.

x Gillian for Tessie Designs

what can you do outside?

You can kick a goal!

You can crash into your brother in your car!

You can practice counting on the steps!

You can ask Mummy to draw Super- Hoot the Owl for you!!

You can see planes in the sky while your drawing!

You can fill your boot up with rocks... then tip them out!

You can say, "Iggle Iggle OOOh!!!"

And you can draw ON EVERYTHING!!!!

Being outside in the wintery sun is AWESOME! (imagine this sentence said in DJ Lance's voice)

x Gillian for Tessie Designs

my creative space

I have been inspired by one of my daily blog reads, herlibraryadventures to share ....

I don't have a dedicated studio/ art room right now, so I have had to use the space I do have very wisely. I have been accused of being slightly OCD, while still having an artistic brain. This means I like Ordered Chaos!!!

My space is basically in the kitchen, so I find that if everything has a place, a tray, a jar or a hook, I can keep myself mostly tidy.

Things I love about my space is having my fabric and bags hanging around me for inspiration, my photo gallery of all of our family and the view out of my window. I planted those plants myself!

Do you have a creative space? Or just a place you love in your home? Share it!!

X Gillian for Tessie Designs

Today is my sister's 40th birthday

You are my confidante, my sounding board, my big sister, my best friend.

Happy Birthday Jodi. 

x gilly

winter goals

The amazing Elsie over at A Beautiful Mess has come up with her Summertime Goals. Now, as we are on the bottom side o' the planet where it's just starting to get chilly, here are my...

1) My Lovely Husband is an awesome photographer. I try to think 'What Would Gavin Do?' when I'm taking pics. That usually helps.

2) I often feel like I am talking to myself here, which is actually quite liberating. But, I seek to grow my audience... and my sales!!!

3) I am going to tackle my shyness and front up to some actual-real-3D Shops and try and get our Tessie Gear out there in the real world!!

4) Like I can STOP myself from sewing at the moment!! 6 bags... I may make 27....

5) Again, I am very shy, but I'm making it my mission in the next 2 months to make some new Bloggy friends!!!

What are your Winter/Summer goals for the next few months?

Uncle Tom's Garden

What is cooler than eating rasberries straight from the vine in Uncle Tom's vege garden?? The little monkeys say, "Nothing!"

Rasberries!!! 

More Rasberries!!

Capsicum!!!

hhmmm... capsicum are not quite as awesome as rasberries!!

The little boys were besotted with Uncle Tom this weekend. They will learn as they grow up, as the Awesome Teenager has, that Uncle Tom is the best uncle a guy could have.

x Gillian for Tessie Designs

Reverse Push

When I was considering getting a sewing machine last month, I asked my sister if she had one that I could borrow, before I committed to buying one.

She said, 'Sure! I have one. It's a bit old, but it should be OK. I'll find it for you."

I said, "That would be RAD!"

A few days later, she phoned and said, "Sewing Machine found. It's a bit crap,  the cord is a bit frayed and it's a bit dirty. But you can still have it if you want."

We weren't sure if it worked and neither my sister or I have any sewing knowedge at all at this stage and  in my mind, it was a daggy looking yukky plastic thing.

So, I said, "hhmmm. Sounds a bit NOT RAD! I'll pass."

Yesterday, I met the Sewing Machine.

It's awesome. What a gorgeous old lady! While I totally don't want it as a sewing machine (Mrs. Janome is an ubermodern goddess) I totally love it! Look at the Knobs! And the dials! And the wooden base! And the dirt!

And I am totally in love with the 'Reverse' knob.

I consider this the original 'Ctrl+Z' command. From now on, when I wanna 'undo' on the computer, my brain will be saying "Reverse Push!!"

X Gillian for Tessie Designs

6 Cool Things

Here are some cool things in my life right now.

1) Morning Tea and coffee. Especially when it's home made. By someone else.

2) My favourites.

3) Running from the papparazzi

4) I put my first Zip in!!

5) Princess Lasertron. Oh my goodness, this girl is so inspiring and talented and awesome.
I'm in love with this bouquet. I wanna get married again, just so I can have it!!

6) Sleeping

What are the Cool Things in your life right now?


x Gillian for Tessie Designs