Happy Blogoversary To Me!!

So, I totally missed my first Blogaversary!! I started this blog on 3 March last year mainly as a business blog- to support Tessie Design Company, which I had just started with my mum.

Since then, I have expanded the content of this blog to include more of my life and also my other creative pursuit, outside of fabric and handbags (like Flowcharts. Apparently, people go crazy in the coconut for flow charts!!)

I also changed the blog name to Tessiegirl. I kinda see Tessiegirl as an alter ego.... like Beyonce and Sasha Fierce, but less lame.

I love my blog like it's one of my kids. The birth of this little blog baby has been awesome.  I look forward to  my little Tessiegirl growing into a surly teenager and telling me that I am "Like, Soooo embarrassing right now!"

To celebrate, I'm gonna do my first ever GIVEAWAY!!!

Tessie Design Company Mini Bag featuring originally designed fabric printed via spoonflower.com and a cute felt flower brooch.

I am giving away a Tessie Design Company prize pack! Yay!!
To enter,
1) Just follow this blog and like me on facebook (if you haven't already)
2) Leave me a comment and tell me something funny. That is all.

I'll choose a winner at random next Wednesday.

I heart blogging, dude.

Julia Satchel and Lou Lou Toe and The Persnickety Post

These two lovely ladies are now listed over at the Etsy Shop.  

Julia Satchel

Lou Lou Tote

I think Julia Satchel and Lou Lou Toe sound like the names of a pair of plucky girl detectives. 
"Lou Lou Tote and Julia Satchel and the Belligerent Bartender"
"Julia Satchel and Lou Lou Tote and the Mysterious Mitsubishi"
"Satchel and Tote and the Arrogant Armchair"


Alliteration is the key to a good teen girl detective novel....


My sisters and I used to love Trixie Belden books. Trixie was a freckly ginger who fell ass backwards into trouble in every book. 

We also loved the lesser known Dana Girls Mysteries. There was a blonde one and a brunette one. They were sisters. I think that was the core of every book....

And, although he is not a girl, I can't forget the plucky talking dog detective, and master of alliteration, Tee Bo!

Persnickety.  

The thing I loved most about these books was the cover art. I loved the watercoloury innocence of Trixie, the retro typeface of Tee Bo and the supermodel elegance of the Danas. I would grab my baking paper and trace the covers of the books, then I would grab my sketchbook and try to draw them freehand. 

As a converted kindle-lover, I do lament the loss of covert art. I do miss the feel of books. I can still remember now, how that Dana Girls book felt- the texture of the cover, the smell of the pages. The slight indentations around the girls figures from frequent tracing...

My kindle feels like plastic. It smells like plastic.  And when I trace it, it looks like this.....

Lame, Kindle. Lame.

Do you miss books? Cover Art? Did you read teen girl detective novels? Do you still read them? Am I asking too many Questions? Does anyone use the word 'persnickety'? Really?

Oh, and I got totally side tracked... Do you like my new bags?

Tessie and Suger

I am very honoured to be involved in a Giveaway over at Suger Coat It this week. 

Suger (aka Melissa) is a Queensland uber blogger and part of the awesome Hello Blogger Events team. I was lucky enough to be her Social Media Secret Santa last year. That is the universe doing it's thing. I had been a reader of Suger's for a while before that and thought she was super cool. 
So when I was randomly paired with her I thought, 
"Man, the universe is cool. I wanna marry it. " 
But I am already married. And you can't marry the universe. I don't think. Yet. 


So go check out Suger's blog and do what she says and you could win these cutie patootie Tessie Products! Like, totally for free. 

A new girl and a new owl

This my new creation: The 'Drew' Satchel Bag. How cute is she?? I am so proud of her! She is the first satchel style bag I have tackled on my own and she came out fabulously.

She is for sale over at the Etsy store, but I think I will cry if someone buys her. Cos I love her.

I'm a sucky salesperson, aren't I?

"Please buy my bag... but if you do, I will cry and then you'll feel bad."

Ok, so you can totally buy her, and if you do, I will totally pretend that I am OK with it......

In other News, I have a gorgeous new little Owly fabric available for sale over at Spoonflower.

Spoonflower Fabric starts at just $18 per metre and is totally original. 

And this one has owls on it! Owls are awesome!

Ok, that's enough of the shameless self promotion.

In other, other News, my twins are super cute.

Christmas Giftiness

My bestest customer this Christmas has been my Sally. Some of her purchases were off the rack (or out of the Craft Cupboard) and some were custom orders.
I love to be challenged and pushed into new areas when fulfilling a brief for a customer, so I was super excited to tackle this apron and try a few new techniques.

My Sewing Yoda (Mum) was out socialising, so she is sacked. You Tube is my new Sewing Mummy*. 


But, come on, how many videos does the world really need on gathering???Apparently A. LOT.


Sal also ordered a clutch bag for her Mum. I am really happy with how it came out and I think it's the best one of these I have made. 

(Trumpet-blowing over.)
(For now :-)


Thanks for being as awesome customer Sal and I hope your peeps like their Tessie Gifts!!!


X Gillian

*I haven't really sacked Mum. She wishes!! She is still my Go-To girl for all sewing, toddler, cooking, life, universe, related queries. Always.

Tessie goes to NC

Yesterday, I posted off a package to a lovely customer in North Carolina. 

I love to think of our Tessie products living their lives in places far, far away! I hope Tara loves her Lou Lou Mini Bag!! 

We still have a few available over at the Etsy Store.  I will totally make your package as cute as this one.... maybe even cuter. And, I have been known to throw in extra little thank you presents... :-)

x Gillian

ps: the cute little package is sitting on my windowsill with 2 incredibly cool Englishmen- my Lovely Husband and Beatles producer George Martin. This signed pic is one of the most thoughtful gifts I have ever received- from my lovely sister-in-law Karen.

Tessie moves in

Until now, the hub of the Tessie production operation has been in Maleny. 

Now, it's in my kitchen.

My lovely parents are about to embark on a Grey Nomad Expedition around southern Australia, so Mum has stepped away from the day to day production side of Tessie. I was gonna make her take her sewing machine and mail me a bag a week from wherever they were.... but I think she has earned a break. 

So, I'm on my own!!!!

I love that I now have all the Tessie girls around me for inspiration. I have been focussing on Book Covers lately, but I am ready to start on some other new products. Yeah, Baby.

X Gillian 

Is it time to hire a monkey assistant...

I told myself today that I am not allowed to start any new projects until I finish all the ones I have on the go!! So, today I completed two baby clutches for the lovely Sal. 

I know I always say this, but I am really happy with them. What am I gonna say though? "These are a bit crap, aren't they??"

When I am inspired and my creativity is firing, I find it hard to keep up with all my ideas. I start one thing, then I get a new idea and move onto something else. Then, a month later, I will think, "Oh, Camera Pouches... thats right... I was making those! Put down the Elephant, lady!!"

 I am thinking of hiring a small, very intelligent monkey to follow me around and take down notes..... it doesn't have to be a monkey... it could be a dolphin.. they are wicked smart.

How do you keep track of all your ideas and projects?

x Gillian for Tessie Designs

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

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

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

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?

Me and Mrs. Janome

We got a thing.... going on......

Me and Mrs. Janome have been busy! I tackled a Tessie Messenger bag last night-
I'm pretty happy with it. 

I used our green flower Spoonflower fabric and one of  my girls.

I like all the different textures- the velvet, the upholstery fabric, the ribbons

I made this one for my very good friend Linda. (shhh, don't tell her!)
She and her little boys were really the inspiration
for my recent fascination with Owls. I made clay owls with them one day last year,
and have been hooked on Owls ever since!

And she is such an amazing supporter of everything I do...
and have done for the last 20 years!

This whole sewing caper is making me happy.

X Gillian for Tessie Designs

Lovely Mamma Day

The Mamma's Market on Saturday was such a great day! We had a lovely spot on the verandah.

Our little box of animals were very popular! 

And all the girls looked beautiful in the sunshine.

The Awesome Teenager was an awesome help,

These two were the stars of the stall! 

And I fell in love with these girls all over again.

Our Process

So, you know that a Tessie Bag is a one of a kind!! I love the process of creating and designing fabric and then seeing how Mum interprets it into a bag. Our Fabric is printed over at Spoonflower. Spoonflower is awesome. I want to marry it.

x Gil for Tessie Designs

what's in the bag?

So, I love a good 'What's in My Bag' post, and what better way to show how much crap you can fit in a Tessie Design Company Bag!!!

1 My Tessie Design Company Satchel

2 Tessie Baby Clutch. This is the prototype for a product I now cannot do without. Just big enough for 2 nappies, a travel box of wipes and some creams. Awesome.

3 Book. (currently My Year of Meat by Ruth L Ozeki) I usually have a book in my bag... Gav takes the babies out on Saturday mornings and I like to go to a coffee shop and read. How decadent!! 

4 Sunglasses. I have 2 pairs in my bag, because I have 2 babies and sunglasses are super-fun toys, don't you know?

5 Pen. I like to write lists. This is Max's Napolean Dynamite Pen (it used to say "I caught you a delicious bass. hee hee), which I have officially stolen. I don't think he knows.

6 Journal/Diary. Again, I like to write lists. And to know when stuff is happening. And write more lists. This book was a gift from my sister Jodi, covered by mum with a Tessie Girl. 

7 Toys. I usually have at least 2 small toys in my bag, for the times when sunglasses don't cut it anymore! Dinosaurs rule.

8 Purse by Mombasa. Super cute.

9 Little Bits Purse. This glittery Union Jack purse was a gift from my beautiful UK in laws. It carries all my little bits- chapstick, mints, medications etc. And its so glamorous!!!

10 Keys. The wooden heart is from a necklace Gavin bought for me when we first started going out.

11 iPhone. For placating 2yo's in shopping centres who are sick of playing with sunglasses and dinosaurs.

So, there you go. That's a lotta stuff!

Our Tessie Satchel has 2 massive pockets on the outside and a smaller one inside, as well as a mobile phone pocket. We are now taking CUSTOM ORDERS for satchels. Send us an email if you are interested!!!

x Gil for Tessie Design Company

5 Cool Things from Last Week!

1) We started the week at Victoria Point, playing on the sand flats with my oldest friend Linda and her gorgeous boys. So cute to see them looking out for the twins!

2) Gavin and I watched Team America on the Apple TV.

 hee hee... Inappropriate puppets are always funny...

3) I am trying to be positive about the fact that we were RAINED OUT of the Mamma's Market on Saturday. Totally our own fault.... Rookie Mistake= putting a Non-Waterproof marquee over our lovely fabric bags and cushions!!! 

BUT mum and I learned a lot about what we need to do to have an easy to set up, successful stall. The stalls inside the hall looked awesome and there were heaps of customers, so hopefully next time (21 May) we will be in the Hall!!

4) I went to Canvas at Woollongabba for afternoon drinks and tapas with my gorgeous freinds Mel and Ang (and Mels' gorgeous friend Nyssa!) on Sunday. How civilised!! No one had a nappy bag with them, no one had to breast feed anyone and there wasn't a baby wipe to be seen!!! It was just lovely.

5) Mum made these great upcycled Army knapsacks embellished with Tessie Fabric. I love love love them!!

And the unofficial #6- my sinus infection has finally cleared up. Yee-Hoo!

x Gil for Tessie Designs