orders....off they go!

One of the best things about being a dollmaker is being privileged enough to work for Santa...these two gals are heading off today, a redhead and blondie left yesterday (forgot to take pics!! der) Only one more to make, well finish off actually, nearly there!
The two Dollmaking classes have now finished for the year and what stunning results there were, even those who said "but i can't sew..." have made beautiful little companions for their kidlets....i have been very impressed.
If you would like to learn how to make one of theses dollies you are very welcome to sign up for next year, class will re-commence on 9th February (bookings essential though!)

merry, merry, merry.....

How's your Christmas shopping going?
I finally finished yesterday with ticks everywhere on my list.....phew!
If there are a few things "un-ticked" on you list maybe some of these treasures will be perfect....

a little update...

...been so busy un-packing boxes and making custom orders my posts have been rather light-on lately BUT there are some wonderful treasures in the shop at the moment jsu ready for your Christmas shopping.
Wooden Cars and Trucks from $9.90 to $85.00
Hand-sewn & decorated wool felt Play Balls $32.00
Little Wooden "Love in the House" Puzzle/Toy $25.00
A big range of hand-painted Wooden Puzzles ranging from $17.95 to $58.95...there are Dragons, Seahorses, Dogs, Butterflys.....the list goes on
and Dolls..... hand made Steiner/Waldorf Dolls from $29.95 to $165.00, formed dolls, and cuddly dolls all Melbourne made from all naturals materials.

Pop in for a look sometime soon, iv'e unpacked almost everything now, the shop is full....hopefully My Christmas stocking will be as full, i "think" iv'e been a "good girl"!

shiny little lights

The window has has a transformation thanks to my lovely Man!
Tinkly little starry lights everywhere and snow on the mountains.....wish there was snow here at the moment......it's far too hot, hopefully all the customers will be back soon (if they haven't melted!)
This little Pull-along Hedgehog is one of the many push or pull along toys in at Little Sparrow.
$42.50

thankyou......

...just when i was feeling quite tired and full of self doubt, all the way from the other side of the world someone wrote a few kind words.......thankyou so much Lezlee, you made my day! XX

"Hi! I was googling boys crochet and somehow was blessed to stumble on your website. I can not tell you how much I love your blog. It is so creative! If I owned a store I would want it to be just like yours! I was a little disappointed to find that it was in Australia since I live in the United States. If it were anywhere in the United States I was willing to drive to see it but I'm not sure I can justify flying across the world just for a super cute shop! Then again.....!
Well, I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed it. It made me want to be a little girl again. I am 37 and homeschool five boys. Not much makes me feel like that.
Thank you,
Lezlee"

on the shelf...

On the shelf..... are some wooden Mushrooms $5.50 - $13.00
Tiptrucks, Fire Engines, Tow Trucks $26.50 - $36.50
Choral Spinning Tops $44.00 ......stunning music makers!
Wooden Animals and Trees $4.50 each
Redgum Bridge Set...or house...or mountain....... $27.00
Little People $22.00

Pop in for a treasure before the Christmas Rush!

summer swimming

Miss Magenta Mermaid swam off the other day! She is a real mermaid with a swishy tail made with a lovely japanese cotton floral, her flippers have been quilted for extra 'swishness'. Miss Magenta's bikini top is adorned with freshwater pearls, so pretty.....with her long flowing hair she really is a 'pearl of the sea'.
Custom orders like this one are most welcome at Little Sparrow...although there is a little wait for them
$165.00 pearls included!

Sophia Mundi Spring Fair

The Spring Fair is on again at Sophia Mundi Steiner School.
Down near the river next to the Collingwood Children's Farm....this will be a gorgeous day!
The curriculum will be on view and the craft will be spectacular!
10-4pm this Sunday 8th November!!

dragons and love......

I the midst of all the Christmas Doll order flurry there have been some great new arrivals to the shop.
A great range of wooden puzzles from Navaria....look at this Fiery Dragon $58.95. The range includes some smaller characters for $25 each, a turtle, dog, whale, butterfly.....lovely little stocking stuffers.
And some beautiful Melbourne made "Love in the House" sets $25 each.

snap shot

Busy days in the shop hence that lack of posts lately....but here are a few new little treasures in at Little Sparrow

apple tree very pretty!

Gluckskafer products are just so beautifully made. In at Little Sparrow there are many treasures but these are two of my favourites.
Little Apple Tree $43.50
Star House $77.00

snow in september

A beautiful weekend in the snow, we awoke to the most gorgeous sight over the weekend at our cabin......too cold to go outside for too long so some stitchin' was in order. Poor me!
The new book by Karin Neuschutz "Sewing Dolls" is in the shop now....it's fabulous with many new patterns and some great dolls clothes too. As usual her 30 years of dollmaking knowledge shines through....well worth the investment if you love making dolls

mondays

Little Sparrow is open on Mondays again!
Same time 10-5pm....pop in to see some of the gorgeous new toys from Gluckskafer!

beautiful

Birds on the Wires from Jarbas Agnelli on Vimeo.

heading north....

This little Waldorf Doll is hitting road and heading up North! She is a little bit of a hippy child in her flower power vintage smock and the beginnings of a lot of braids in her hair!
Custom orders like this one are always welcome, but if your thinking of one for christmas don't wait too much longer before placing your order! ... i can only make so many...
Dollmaking Circle has been so overwhelmed with budding dollmaker's that a wednesday night class will be starting on the 7th October, i have extended the invitation to take up a place to the folk on the waiting list, but haven't heard from some yet..........so call to make your booking.

never mind...

gotta wonder how some dogs cope.....!

...and then there are some lovey customers

http://eeloh.wordpress.com/
I had a lovely time in the shop today with a little girl called Piaf....it's the little kids that make this shop venture very special....and Mum, Eeloh was pretty nice too...look at the gorgeous little dress she has made for Piaf!

build it

I love naural tree blocks, well actually i love any kind of blocks! Even now in my 40's if there is an opportunity to build something with the little people in my life i'm in like flyn. There are some stunning blocks in at Little Sparrow at the moment, some from Germany and some from Victoria, all as individual and unique as your own building project!
I also have a love of the Hammer & Peg Set, my daughter in particular would turn it over and over and hammer the pegs in in a clockwise direction always!! i always wondered why.....

grow my little pretties

Spring is so exciting isn't it, going out to feed the gals each morning will now bring even more surprises. Apart from the new laying frenzy, there are so many Golden Podded Peas my cheeks are always stuffed full! I'm looking forward to the cauli's and elephant leeks!!
Little Sparrow is enjoying the warm breeze...it's so lovely to finally have the doors open.
I have a new island shelf thanks to my lovely man, just in time for some big orders, mind you i managed to fill it rather quickly regardless.
These great games are definitely worth a look, the pieces are wooden and such dear little characters especially Penguin Rescue, a great ECO game....maybe we can stop global warming!

Knitwear Sale

I know the sun is out.....i just sneeked out of the shop and sat in it with my lunch!...but don't forget there is a SALE of Knitwear in the shop...all pure wool handknits! There are hats, booties, cardy's and vests....this gorgeous little vest is the last one left os the Sunflowers!
Worth a look - see for next winter!

...so many gorgoeus new things

Little Sparrow has some new Gluckskafer on the shelves. This Happy Beetle range is simply beautiful...there are Pear and Apple Trees, Fir and Maple Trees, Fish and Bird Stackers, All-In-Houses and Arches Houses....there are Sun, Moon and Star Houses too.
Some lovely locally made Cars, some tin tea sets,....and so many blocks both natural tree blocks and colourful Barn Blocks too.
Sweet little wooden ABC Puzzle books and don't forget the wonderful wooden animals!
Oh and the sweet little handmade Lovebird in a Tree and in a House too!

St Kilda Steiner Preschool Winter Bazaar today 1-5 pm see you there! 317 Inkerman street, St Kilda

Toys, Tea and Play

Some lovely things in at Little Sparrow at the moment...
Toddling Ducks $16.50
Pineapple Teacosy $35.00
Wooden Puzzle $30.00
The shop is actually full to brimming with lovely things...perhaps a little pre-christmas shopping is an idea, never hurts to be organized!! (now how do you do that...?)

....well

did last week happen? you know how some weeks go...you wake up one morning and 6 days have past with some vague pre-dementia memory.....good memories though!
An order for the lovely Penny and RudolfSteiner.Com.au, the little blonde bombshell actually reminds me of her. So now onto the next orders...who needs a thimble when you have a permanent thimble callous on your middle finger
And then........one of the fluffy bums laid their first egg!
SOOOO exciting! I think it may have been Mavis ( the fluffy bum to the right) she has been singing a lot lately and fighting the others for all the sunflower seeds! I'm sure Pepper and Pearl will follow suit shortly with all the glorious 'nearly spring' weather.
There are lots of new goodies in the shop at the moment...will post about them tomorrow!

BOOKS books Books

Well that was a productive day i have to say!!..... an order of books came in to the shop today and whilst unpacking i managed to read them all didn't i!? do any work? uh uh, i think not! self discipline where is it when you need it?
BUT actually i did organise A MINI SALE......20% off marked prices on all KNITWEAR in the shop.
Lots of gorgeous pure wool hand knits !

new class

In addition to the Thursday night class "Handwork Circle" there will also be a Tuesday class specifically for Waldorf Dollmaking. Just in time for Christmas, these dolls are a beautiful gift to make for any 'little one' in your world! (and they're not that hard to make... really!)

stuff and feathers!

These little fellas keep flying into Little Sparrow.....must be cold out in the woods!
$45 hand crocheted and filled with pure new wool.....aaaahhhhh lovely!

Snapshot!

Before i leave for the week....just one more shot.
Sitting on the counter are:-
Dear Little Ducklings $12.95 each
Cheeky wooden Giraffes $5.95 each
Knitting on Needles Brooches $19.95 each
Hand-made Jarrah Kids Knitting Needles $7.50 a pair
Fliers about the Handwork Circle on Thursday nights ( i ate soooo much cake last week!)
A Pineapple Knit Tea Cosy $35.00
Hand drawn Cards by Mandy Joass $7.50 each
Postcards $2.50 each
In the background is a Toadstool House......oh so divine, made by my special friends Kim and Donna!
...and then loads of wool on the shelves at the back......
there are so many new projects being started this weekend judging by the wool i sold today....
so yay, go forth and create!

glorious knits and wovens

Isn't it just wonderful getting your mitts on gorgeous fabrics!!
Some of my favourites are this super soft new Chenille $24 per metre, Hand-dyed Pure Wool Felt from $7.95, Wild & unusual Vintage Chenille ( i have quite a collection i do confess!) from $2 per piece, Hand-dyed Pure Cotton Interlock (specifically made here in Melbourne and dyed as skin tones for toymaking) $20 per metre and Cotton rich stretch Velour $50 per metre.
There are so many gorgeous things to make and i often stand in front of my fabric stash and the wonderful fabrics in the shop and just go into a flat spin! rather giddy!

my beautiful girl

Happy Birthday to my Charley-lois. 28/7/1992
....just keeps getting better and better, 17 years old!
Chick's in the middle with her best friend Lola to her right and her gorgeous boyfriend Noam to her left.....happy days!
(....oh and and i was rather proud of the birthday pav!)

The fire is burning in the hearth in this little home. Little Brownie and his cat live here and sometimes the King and Queen come to visit, they have to travel through the Toadstool Town and through the green forest.....
.....locally made treasure in at Little Sparrow at the moment!

No mucking around in here!

The weekend is over again, my how it fly's by.
But i did make a few things...
A dear little boy who will be heading off to the country shortly, he has lovely soft alpaca curls and a handpainted felt vest...a bit cool!
The little crocheted Owl Baby is now accompanying his big cousin in the shop and there are more on the way!
And fresh from the Arctic are some wonderful Penguins made by some very talented girls down Pearcedsale way, all pure wool, so cute and cuddly!

Winter Play!

On the shelves in at Little Sparrow......
Sweet little Animal Ring Toss Games $22 per set
Stunning wooden puzzles $42.00
And some sweet, cuddly, little
Babies Dolls $44.00
All great for some indoor play, for those days that are just too cold to go to the park!!

New Girls

New Girls are out and about today!
The little ginger girl is in the shop both land and online.
Pretty ginger mohair, smoky grey eyes and kissable pink lips!
$135.00
The little girl with thew sparkly red shoes is for my gorgeous niece Ella,
I love it when i receive specific orders......sparkly red shoes!! just like Dorothy!!??

Winter Treasures

Toadstools and Gnomes....
the heart of winter...
oh and Punkin Soup!
Toadstool $14
Gnome $9.90
Pure wool felt...all hand dyed!

There are many more felt kits and pieces of beautifully dyed wool felt in at Little Sparrow at the moment...worth a gander

...puff

Hand sewn pure wool felt
Dragons
$45 each
Definitely magic!

keeping warm....

Most of the family are well now...except me...sore throat again!!!! typical........
anyway, soldiering on and keeping warm, just like these little beauties, actually these little sack dolls are an order for The Friendship Tree, they put little felt hats on them and sell them as Bush Babies but they all looked too cold without the beanies on.
Little Sack dolls like these sell in at Little Sparrow too....$55.00

the world keeps turning

Been in the hospital zone lately, so no blogging for me!
The craft goes on though.....it is very therapeutic to be crocheting in the emergency dept, takes your mind down a notch whilst worrying about your sick daughter.
Anyway...home now...back in shop....thanks to KJ for keeping Little Sparrow together for me xXXxxXXxx.
There are some wonderful new Handknits, some hand sewn felt Dragons, some wonderful new books, a big shelf full of wool felt, and of course all the rest!

Book the holiday!...we're rich!

My littler sister was visiting me in the shop this morning, we often order a hot breaky from our wonderful cafe Espresso a couple of doors up. I received a phone call from my poor girl who has been sick with the flu this week (too much studying apparently!), to say she was feeling particularly unwell and needed to see a doctor asap. Fortunately my little sis was on hand to look after the shop.
So off we went.....nasty Tonsilitis and a lot of nasty tablets to take!!!!
I returned the the shop to find a sale of $40,001.65........most excellent i thought for a fleeting moment....book the holiday i'm off! It was only a fleeting moment, the sale should have been $40 and $1.65...oh well, never mind!

a busy week!

What a busy week it has been....
dolls made and sent off to their new friends,
new soft felt balls for the shop, half sold already!
a dry-felting workshop and the handwork circle...
I think iv'e eaten lunch sometimes and even managed to sweep the floor once or twice.
A wonderful week...thankyou for all the custom!!

Next week there will be new dragon's in the shop....they might even be magic just like Puff!

hoo?

New to Little Sparrow is this little Owl.
A jolly little critter, soft and warm to cuddle.
Hand sewn felt make up the features on soft cotton chenille with a cotton backing. Filled with pure wool fleece.
Approx A4 size $59.95
Flutter in for a cuddle....

Muslin Cloths

New to Little Sparrow are some beautiful hand dyed muslin cloths.
They can wrap your baby in divine colour, so soft and ethereal, or be used in all kinds of imaginative play!
I remember my kids tieing them around their heads and running down the beach as mermaids with long rainbow hair!
2 colour/2 metre $20.00
6 colour/3 metre $39.95

...too sick

so many things to do...so little energy.
I'm not a very gracious patient...
I will be better for this week's Felting Workshop though...there is still one place available if you have the urge to felt something!
"Felt Picture - Winter Gnome
Wednesday 27th May & 3rd June
8.30-10pm $65 including materials"

On the subject of workshops don't forget about the Waldorf/Steiner Formed Doll Workshop coming up on the 14th June, a wonderful sunday filled with doll making, food and good company....and at the end of the the day a gorgeous little doll!

cute animals

New to the shop are these little beauties!
Little Wooden Giraffe Skittles
Very cute $24.95

Speaking of cute look who i found wrapped up in my boy's 'sick bed' yesterday. Quite how he managed to nestle in so far defies me.
Funny story about this little pooch... he began in the world as Bozo but was quickly renamed "Roid" or more affectionately "Roidy-boy"...can anyone guess what Roid is short for?

rather lovely

I was so impressed with this lovely pattern by Sarah London i just had to start one.
I first saw this on the talented Thornberry's blog, doubted to myself that i was up to her standard of hooking but thought " go on ....don't be scared!" So after a bit of cussing, i had an epiphany and it all started to come together.
My man and i have been sleeping under a 'queen size' granny square bedspread, that my Mum made for her bed and then bequeathed to me. So i thought it was time i made something that i can then bequeath to my offspring.
It's going to take years... and i'm nowhere near the progress of Sarah or Thornberry but i'll keep hooking on!

I have two Single Bed Granny Square Spreads for sale in the shop at the moment, both edged with sunny yellow and orange, so if you would like a matching set without the hours of hooking please pop in for a look.

Waldorf Dolls

Dollmaking has been a part of my life since my first child was born. That's a while ago now as she is nearly 17. My little business "Special Friends Dolls" has been great for all those years of needing to be available for little children with a second's notice, very versatile being mostly hand sewing and very mobile too.
There is nothing more satisfying than giving a doll that has been hand made. My children have played with their dolls for many years and even now as they grow up their little dolls still hold a dear place in their hearts and their bedrooms!
Steiner Dolls ( in Europe more commonly known as Waldorf Dolls) are made from sheep's wool and cotton fabric. A unique inner head gives form but not too much detail to the face allowing the child to "be in" their moment . The origins of this style of doll come from a strong European tradition of doll making and has been developed over time by parents making dolls for their children. These simple toys, made from natural materials, are recognized as being of great importance for the wholesome development of young children. Nurturing is one of the human qualities that i thnk is one of the most important and for the child to be able to nurture their own little doll is a great gift.
I am very glad to be a Steiner Doll Maker!
Special Friends Dolls are available at Little Sparrow, The Friendship Tree and Rudolf Steiner.com

mother's day treats

I was totally spoilt yesterday...such delicious food...mouth watering chicken and a Rhubarb and Quince tart made by my girl Charley-lois! I am sporting a fancy new pair of pj's and working my way through Koko Black chocolates...these little moments in time make all the hard work worth it!

i'm a bit thing about flowers at the moment

Isn't this one gorgeous, I'm going to make one for mum for mother's day......better get on to it eh!

...love a crochet flower!

Web Shop

The Web Shop has just been up-graded!
I have been slowly adding more and more products
so now there is more available to you online!
Stockmar Wax Crayon Blocks $18.30
Lyra Ferby Giants Pencils $30.70
Fishy Stacking Tower $54.50
Red Arch House $54.50

secret toy business!

Two drops today....The Toy Society is at it again!
It' so much fun leaving little treasures around the place for un-suspecting folk to find.
I left te first little gnome in the Bendigo Bank in Windsor and the second one in the Alma Rd Park
(sorry about the blurry photos!)
Share the love!

Sail Away

These are some of the treasures in the shop at the moment.
I just love this dear little wooden boat..it is a Dutch Barge and sails on the water beautifully! $28.95 available in red or blue.
The little one sailing the boat has her warm winter hat on! $22.00 in a variety of different outfits.
Some wonderful stacking towers, all made from natural shapes of wood, carefully sanded and painted with vegetable dyes.
They make great building blocks too. $32.50

feel like a spot of embroidery?

New to the shop today are some great kits from Princess Kirstie Jane!
Check out all the stunning colours!
These embroidery kits tick all the boxes in my opinion. They are pure fibre, up-cycled, hand-made, original designs, user-friendly and locally sourced and created.
So if your'e looking for a great little project that is kind to the world and kind to you...this is it!
The kits are to make a brooch. There are some really cute designs to choose from:- Lovebird, Toadstool, Owl and Butterfly
$16.50 for everything you need to create your own little piece of art!

all ready

Another order is ready to leave Little Sparrow. A VERY sweet little doll made in the waldorf tradition, and knitted in alpaca/merino wool...so very soft! This little red head has a spunky little hair-do made from alpaca/merino brushed yarn.
Custom orders like this one are very welcome. $77.00
Speaking of dolls we started the Cuddly Sack Doll class last night and the girls did really well, they all have a roundly stuffed little body all ready for the roundly stuffed head next week.!

Don't forget the sale this week!...there are many treasures in the shop at the moment!!!

Sale Special

As part of this week's SALE the opportunity to join the Formed Doll Workshop just became 10% cheaper.
This special offer is available for this week only.
If you are at all interested call me soon as there are limited places available.
Once you have made your first doll, have mastered the art of the 'Waldorf Formed Head', once you have learned about the proportions and all the tricks to create a beautiful doll, there's no looking back.....these few techniques will have you making all kinds of dolls in no time at all!

Back to Basic Challenge

This is my first post in this challenge...hopefully my efforts in the past 20 years have helped
Thankyou Belinda for raising the bar again!
Sowing seed or Planting -
Harvest

• all the olives
• the last of the tomatoes
• silverbeet for dinner
• planted cabbage

Maintenence

• turned the compost with chook poo from the chook house clean up

Planning for The Future -

• researched new water tank
• composed the ad for the sale of my car

Working for the Future -

• Started curing the olives
• Made Kasaundi
• Started new sourdough culture
• Swept instead of vacuumed

Building Community
joined this challenge

Learn a new Skill -
taught our Korean boarder how to knit with limited 'Korean'

Happy belated "Earth Day" to everyone.
I hope you're having a very green day x x

Handwork Circle

The Little Sparrow Handwork Circle starts tonight!
I'm rather excited!
There are many chairs to set up for the evening and many new projects to start....... i'll be hauling out all the pattern books i have collected over my life here on Neptune, so hopefully there will be plenty of inspiration...or we can just make stuff up!
There are girls coming along with knitting and crocheting projects in mind, some for a little bit of waldorf dollmaking and embroidery!

The cake will be out of the oven and the kettle boiling....
8.30pm in the Little Sparrow Shop!

come and visit me during my first "sale"!

well...aren't these lovely!

Sitting on the shelf at the moment is this gorgeous brand of wooden puzzles.
They are just beautiful in their simplicity, made using organic curves and soft edges.
$44.50 made in germany

There are new dolls to cuddle to0.
Here are a couple.....
Little Knitted Girl with ginger pigtails $60.00
Waldorf Formed Doll with long blonde locks $165.00
and there are some cute doll's clothes on the rack too! very cute mushroom overalls eh?
Made here in Melbourne

Snapshot....

On the shelf today are some sweet little babies all tucked in their seed pod bed $5.95

A wooden flower press or two $32.50... you never now what you could preserve!

A funky little wooden Chook House complete with Mother Hen and her chicks! So gorgeous .... from The Friendship Tree $80.00

There are many more treasures in the shop at the moment, so many fantastic natural toys! .....i am having trouble concentrating on any work!

the sunday class....

Due to popular demand the first of the Little Sparrow Sunday Series is now available to attend.
At the end of an enjoyable day of 'making', chatting and of course eating, the satisfaction of having made a dear little Waldorf doll is very gratifying.
You don't need any serious experience... i promise!
call on 0412 260897 to book in soon as there are only 6 places available!

Knitting with the Kids

There are some great Knitting Kits in the shop at the moment!
Just perfect for whipping up a hat or scarf for Winter.
Hand crafted needles and 16 ply pure wool....just the right size for those little busy fingers!
There are so many things you can make from a square... a hat, a scarf, a Monkey Doll or even a Giraffe!!

Knitting Kit $18.50
Craft Wool $10.50

A beautiful day out!

A relaxing day at Heronswood today...good food and family.....easter chocolate and heirloom plants...my idea of heaven!
I came home with an armful of seeds from the Diggers Club
and have my easter monday all planned out...gumboots, shovel, watering can and many cups of tea.
Can't wait to eat some of the apples from the new trees i bought.... Gravenstein, Johnathan and Granny Smith. An apple a day they say....!

The Heronswood House is simply amazing...Gothic Revival at it's finest. Definitely worth a visit !

Out for a walk?

This sweet, super cute doll pram is here in the shop.
Made from re-cycled rubber-wood this little buggy will be very handy for taking Teddy, Dolly or even a collection of your favourite treasures for a walk down the street.
$98.00

Little Cuddly Sack Dolls are in the shop too and can be custom ordered in your favourite colours!
$55.00

Snapshot!

On the shelf at the moment are Lyra Pencils, my favorite cos they are so strong and clear.
There are pencil sharpeners and felt pencil cases.
There is Lyra Kermiplast, great for making little sculptures... a bit like clay but no firing needed!
There are lovely Snap Cards with illustrations by Sarah Laidlaw.
There's some Main Lesson books, paint brushes, animal stamps and a great activity set called TicTacToc, lots of little wooden shapes, nails and a hammer for creating all sorts of art!

New baby!

My cousin Johno and his wife Sylvie had their baby!!!
yay, a beautiful baby boy....
needless to say i had to make something, so a crocheted play ball was in order i thought, decorated with some felt spots! And i think i should start a collection of animals for him too, just in case he wants to be a Zoo Keeper....you just never know!
...new baby...happy day!

Matching!

Sending this custom knit order off today! A cute and 'very fun' matching set for mother and daughter who are moving to Gisbourne and will definitely need warm head attire for the Winters there!
Hand knitted (& crocheted spirals!) with Rare Yarns Alpaca/Merino blend wool....soooo soft!
Custom orders are always most welcome at Little Sparrow!

Bunny Success!

....And there were Bunnies everywhere!
We finished our workshop last night with a beautiful array of hand sewn bunnies, the girls all did such a wonderful job, many quite surprised themselves! ( i knew they could do it, i truly believe that everyone can make beautiful things with a bit of guidance and a cup of tea!)
The class was led beautifully by our special Princess Kirstie...thankyou x

So there are more to come..... just check the sidebar for all the up-coming workshops at Little Sparrow!

a day in the life.......

New to Little Sparrow are lots of beautiful little handknits, just in time for the cooler days.
There are many traditional patterns (some vintage treasures!) all hand crafted quite superbly by two gals who have collectively had 100 years experience....pretty impressive i think!

I have recently finished a rainbow Cot Blanket, all crocheted from a vintage Women's Weekly, a great 'treble' combination. I always love seeing the before shot of the basket of potential and then the finished item shot.

And then in-between all the making and working there are the new babies! Three little Pekins, 4 months old , white and fluffy and full of spunk. My chickens always put a smile on my face, they greet me of a morning full of excitement at the prospect of warm porridge with yogurt on top! (my husband just shakes his head from the kitchen window....)

Brothers!

From my busy little work space... (you know the one, there's the whole world going on...!) these two little brothers have found each other.
A lovely custom order to do this one, for two very dear little boys who recently lost their Dad.
Making doll's is a joy for me at the best of times but these two are extra special to me. I feel very honoured to have been asked to make these little blokes.
So i send them off with lots of love today, i hope they keep sharing the love for as long as is needed :)

Tinnies have flown into Little Sparrow!

Look what's in the window!
I am proud to say i stock 'Tinnies' now!
These little treasure boxes are full of inspiration...just perfect for a gift or when your'e feeling crafty and not quite sure where to start....in these special 'Tinnies' the possibilities are endless!
Tinnies come in three sizes...
$30, $35, $40
and each tin is unique and oh so vintage!

...mmmm

There is so much to do and so little time...you know the feeling? housework, shopwork, myob!
geez, doesn't the universe realize that there are things to make!
I have these little pretties sitting in full view just waiting.....won't be long now, just a few more orders to finish and then free 'creating time'! yay, just in time for a relaxing sunday.(hopefully i won't hear the blowfly buzz of the grand prix cars though!)
So...what will i make....?

Term 2 Workshops...

Bunny time!

Cute little bunnies will be hopping all over Melbourne soon!
The workshops at Little Sparrow can teach you how to make all manner of treasures.
Tomorrow night we will be making cute little Bunnies!....there will be much hand-sewing with pure wool felt and i imagine bunnies of all colours ...pink, brown, black, white, maybe even some spots!
Unfortunately this class is fully booked but keep an eye out for many more classes or you could join the Handwork Circle on Thursday nights ( see details to your right...)
So the cake's in the oven and we're ready for some sewing!

More felt on the shelf.....

100% Pure Wool
'hand painted' Felt
The felt has been walking out the door recently......exciting times, there must be a lot of beautiful projects on the go!
So, a new big parcel of felt arrived at the shop today loads of beautiful new colours... rich earthy, bright, pastel & pastel earthy.
Available in in '10'packs (215 x 15cm), '7' packs (30x20cm), individual sheets 30cm x 30cm, rainbow & multi coloured sheets, and larger sheet sizes available on request!
Perfect for toymaking, needle felting, garment making & decorating, and so much more!
Pop in and have a look & feel, you won't be disappointed!

Snapshot!

Feel like a spot of construction?
Need to build a new house for Mr Gnome?
There are some wonderful block sets available by Erzgebirge
Made in Germany.
These sets of natural blocks allow for many hours of free play. Added to your world of dolls, animals and possibly the odd autumn gnome these sets enhance the play scape.
Small box $42
Large box $79.50
The "All-in-One" House set of blocks from Gluckskafer are also perfect for making a cosy little home for your fairy friends.....the bridge can cross the river to your new little home!
$89.50

Finally... the detailed formed doll kit!

I have finally finished the instructions for the detailed formed doll kit!
These beautiful waldorf dolls are just so lovely to make and not that tricky either!...not now that i have put all my dolly thoughts down on paper.
The kit comes with a pre-sewn body triple stitched for strength and hand dyed for beauty. There is clean carded sheep's fleece for filling, embroidery thread, strong thread and inner tubing for the head.
All you need to make a stunning little friend for someone special in your world
$50 only at Little Sparrow!

Lillie's Doll

This blue-eyed nudie is off shortly to live with her new friend Lillie.
Actually she does have clothes!...a sweet little smock with rosebuds on it and some flanelette bloomers too.
Little Lillie sits up cleverly all by herself, her button jointed limbs allow her to wave and cuddle too.
Custom orders like this doll are available all the time from Special Freinds Dolls.
$165 only at Little Sparrow!

my man hates chenille...

This was my stash or actually just part of my stash that had slowly but ever so steadily taken over all the space in our office at home.....no i stand corrected "my ddh's office!"

I have started to re-assign this wonderful fabric to the shop, so now there are all sorts of vintage patterns and colours in good size pieces for big projects and many 24cm squares for quilting.

For a long time now i have been making dolls, quilts and cushions, oh and the odd item of clothing for the kids before they decided it looked "too hippy mum!"

In at Little Sparrow at the moment there are Cushions with vintage style cotton fabrics and chenille $62 (with duck feather/foam inner)
There are neat little quilt sets in Moses Baskets $49.95
Cuddly Baby Dolls $44 made from chenille of course...
Dear little softies made by Leah, a kindred chenille hoarder!

There is so much to make and so little time!!!!

Snapshot!

On the shelf at Little Sparrow at the moment.......
2 little mermaids
Felted Toadstools
A Gnome in a Cave
A big wooden Truck
A colourful wooden Stacker
...some things locally made and others from afar!

New Toys!

The shop is full to brimming this week with the arrival of a few big orders!

There are Doll's Houses and furniture, wooden cars and fire engines, Lyra Pencils and Kermiplast, baking sets and sewing kits, handmade chenille patchwork cushions, little felted toadstools, puzzles, beautiful hand-sewn felt mobiles for baby
and so much more.

I've been shopping!!!

I've been shopping...it's so much fun!
Big kid at heart.....i guess.
Pop in to have a look at all the new wooden toys in the shop, there is a rocking horse, a puppet theatre, doll's houses, puzzles, books, racing cars and much more..............

Cast Off....put it on!

New to the shop today are these quirky one-offs! Made locally by Di and her Mum, these scarves are trully splendid.
Di rescues wool from all manner of nooks & crannies in Melbourne and creates these wonderful masterpieces after a full day teaching at PCW.
$50.00
orders happily taken....
Watch out for the kids scarves coming in soon!

Post office and beyond.....

This box of dollies is off to Castlemaine today to the beautiful Penny's Shop - RudolfSteiner.com
There are a few more to go....but had to do some boring bookwork for a bit, so the rest will head off next week

Redheads are Cool!

This little doll is leaving me today to go and live with her new friend, i will miss her....there's just something about redheads!
She is made in the waldorf tradition, using pure cotton and pure wool. Her hair is pure merino wool and alpaca blended together by Rare Yarns, very beautiful and wonderful to work with.
You could learn to make one too!....just keep and eye on the up-coming workshops at Little Sparrow!

New Steiner Kindergarten

Children's Garden of Eden
Mission.....
"We will care for young children in a beautiful, safe and organic environment. We will provide consistent daily, weekly & seasonal rhythms for the children to rely upon and develop within. Through this the children can run, play, rest & explore as positive educational foundations are laid for their future.

This exceptional care that meets the changing needs of the developing child is provided by our professional and dynamic team committed to “receiving the child in reverence, educating them with love, and letting them go forth in freedom” (Rudolf Steiner)."

Give them a call and find out more about this great new kinder. My kids have had a Steiner Education and we have been very happy!
I am so pleased there are new kinder initiatives like this....wouldn't it be great if we had an independent Steiner School this side of the river to complement the Steiner Stream at East Bentleigh Primary.......

Feel like making something?

Another....... Cot Blanket

I just love crocheting.
This blanket is made in tones of Autumn in anticipation of the new season. (I'm a little sick if this Summer, it hasn't really been much fun!)
Perfect for the pram, cot or just cuddling on the couch with Nan and a good book!
Pure wool and all hand-made
$200.00

Sleep-over

What better way to take dolly for an over-night stay at Nan's than with this cosy Moses Basket!
Hand woven and fitted out with a pure wool filled flanelette mattress and vintage chenille patchwork quilt.
$49.95
Also available with-out the bedding for $30.00

Noro Yarns - the world of nature

I just love this wool!
A very beautiful range of coloured yarns from Japan.
New to the shop in 5 different colourways.
Kureyon 8ply 100% wool
$13.50 per ball

.... i went into a crochet frenzy!

Baby face

Hello Baby!
This little girl is off today to live with her new friend.
She is a little sprite made with brushed alpaca yarn for her hair, pure cotton and clean sweet sheep's fleece.
There will be workshops running next term to learn how to make these Waldorf dolls, so call in if you are interested in making one.
If you don't have the time then Custom orders like this little one are most welcome!

New On-Line Shop!

Little Sparrow now has a small on-line shop!
For those folk who can't make it into the shop you can now purchase & I'll post!
The On-line shop is small at the moment but will soon grow with time.
You can get there by going to the website and go to the 'shop' page
www.littlesparrow.net.au.

These lovely little hand knits have just arrived and are sure to make dolly look gorgeous for his/her next outing!
Dolly's dress & Overalls $22 ea

The Chicken who wanted to Fly

The Chicken Who wanted to Fly
I have just read this gorgeous book for the millionth time and it still brings a smile to my face. Little Brown Hen is desperate to fly and manages to summon up the courage one night to fly up on a branch so she can sleep out in the Hazelwood. She is quite the individual.
Reminds me of my chicken 'Penny' who wants to live inside!
'The Chicken who wanted to Fly' retails for $22.95
Stunning illustrations! i love it...

just beautiful.....

These stunning brooches are made locally by 'wearable art' artist Kathy Davidson.
Each one is unique!
Made from vintage fabric, trims & buttons and an amazing array of other vintage treasures.
They are simply beautiful...my personal favourite is the Hula Girl!
Large $45 Small $33
Don't miss out they are a real treat!

a spot of crochet.....

Australian Bush Handbag
I made this bag over the holidays.... many days spent relaxing at our shack in Tolmie... surrrounded by tall gums, roos, wombats, parrots, black cockies, all manner of lizards and echidnas. The colours reflect the environment.
My son Harry whittled the handles for me, rather special!
There is something quite calming about crocheting a project like this....just going around and around!

Cuddle Up....

Baby Blanket
Not that it's the weather for it but i have just finished this Baby Cot Blanket!!! any madder thing to do in this weather? i think not...
The blanket measures 950mm square and is made from all pure new wool.
Would fit nicely in the pram or tucked in around the car seat too.
Certainly a unique one-off!
$200

Busy Busy Busy Busy!

It's just aswell the shop is quiet with all this hideous weather as i have a chance to work on all my orders!

Little Johnboy went off in the mail and got lost!!!.......only for a week fortunately and he did finally make an appearance, but in his absence i was frantically making another.

All is well now and this little fellow will go onto the shelves very shortly

Also working my fingers to the bone with an order from my good friends at The Friendship Tree.
They had a sellout of Sweetpeas before Christmas.
So...I'm in the middle of making the dolls for the pea pods and the bush pouches. These little dolls will go off to Kim and Donna for their little felt hats and felt pods and pouches.
I make these dolls exclusively for The Friendship Tree so you'll need to pop over to buy them from their shop in Northcote.
Then once these little chums are off on their way it's on to the next order for Penny at rudolfsteiner.com in Castlemaine. There will be some for the steiner school and some for the shop too......its worth a trip to the country to visit Penny. Like me she has some treasures in her shop....very beautiful wares!

Anyway back to work.....the sewing needle calls!

Another order off!

Meet 'John-boy'




















I just finished this little boy with his beach blonde dreadlocks....he is off to Perth to meet his new friend.
I hope they have a lot of fun together!

This little bloke is made in the Waldorf tradition of doll making, hand sewn using all natural fibres.
He is made from pure cotton interlock that i have hand dyed and knitted here in Melbourne, and he's filled with pure new wool fleece, his hair is pure alpaca/merino boucle. He has hand emdroidered eyes, mouth, belly button and heart.

He is fully dress-able and stands approximately 40cm tall.

These dolls retail for $165 in the shop and are also available as a custom order like this little fellow!

Little Ponies

Little Ponies
Pop in and meet these dear little Ponies! They are so cute!
Hand made with loads of character by local artist Kirstie LeQuesne.

They love galloping around the play yard and when the sun get's a little hot they shade under the gum tree....

Hand sewn using 100% pure wool felt
$16.50 ea

Open again

Happy New to You and welcome to a wonderful 2009 at Little Sparrow.

The holidays up at our farm were restful and productive...i finally managed to make the dear little "Aussie" creatures from the felt toymaking kits from Felt Inspired.

There are Platypus', Hens and Chicks, Dolphins, Wombats and Dragonflys. The kits are comprehensive with all the materials you need and foolproof instructions (gotta love that!)
Each one took about an hour to make and are just delightful.
100% pure wool felt is definately one of my favorite fabrics to work with, it always looks good!

Each kit retails for $28.95
Suitable for big kids too!

Merry Christmas
and Happy Holidays
to everyone!

Wooden Animals

These great wooden animals are all hand carved and hand painted.
Add a few to your farm yard or jungle for hours of good honest play!
$4.50 each

Wild Women

Wild Women Brooches
by Drop Stitch Design hand-made here in Melbourne.
These gorgeous girls will glam up any outing!
$45.00 inc gst for a 'one-off' original!
.......as seen in The Age today

Cradle and Clothes Rack

Comfy little bed for Dolly or Ted!
Made locally in Melbourne this rocking cradle comes with a pure wool/cotton quilt, a pillow and mattress filled with pure wool!
$85.00 inc gst

And to hang all the clothing collection this Hanging Rack and Coathangers will keep all Doll's clothes off the floor!
$39.00 inc gst

Cooking Time!

This beautiful enamel cooking set comes in a basket with a pot with lid, a wooden handled frypan, a ladle, a spatula and spoon and 4 serviettes.
This range of kids cookware is for 'real' cooking! (with adult help of course...)
set $72.00 inc gst
Made in Germany


The range includes extras that can be added to this set, all can be purchased separately. The plate, bowl and tea cup/saucer make a fabulous 'breaky' set too!

Lambs in a Line

This sweet version of Noughts & Crosses will delight your little'uns. The little lambs can visit your farm yard too!
$24.00 inc gst

Puppets

Hand-sewn 100% wool felt Puppets.
Great little creatures for great little creatures !
Made by women in Nepal, a life sustaining initiative.
$28.95 inc gst

If You See a Fairy Ring

Step into fairyland with William Shakespeare, Robert Graves, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and a host of other classic poets.
A rich combination of enchanting verse and magical colour illustrations make this a truly unusual and attractive book for younger children. Ingenious paper engineering produces illustrated images that change in their details as kids turn the pages. These changing magic windows add an extra touch of enchantment to verses meant to be read aloud, to be learned, and to be treasured by even the youngest audience.
$33 inc gst by Ladybird

Noah's Ark

All aboard Noah's Ark...
all wooden...... this ark will be many hours of fun.
Sweet wooden animals that will be great in the farm yard or jungle too!
$72.50 inc gst by Pintoy

Woolganic - Organic Wool

Introducing WOOLganic Knitter’s Yarn made from 100% certified organic Australian merino wool.

WOOLganic yarns are spun from certified organic Australian Merino fleece wool. No synthetic inputs are used on the livestock- no dips, drenches, back lining or antibiotics. appropriately.

Our yarns are processed in compliance with the Global Organic Trade Standard and spun in a mill certified to handle organic fibers. We use low-impact metal-free dyes.

WOOLganic yarns are made from 21.5 micron merino fleece wool making them soft enough to be worn directly against the skin with out scratching. Our yarns have a slightly increased twist to reduce pilling.

WOOLganic yarns are made from certified organic Australian merino wool which has been certified by the Biological Farmers Association (BFA) or the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia (NASAA). Our wool is scoured in a plant that is certified by a third party know as: the Global Organic Trade Standard (GOTS). Our yarn is spun in a mill certified by Biogro

WOOLganic yarns are cleaned or scoured using only hot water and detergent. 100% of the water used in scouring is recovered and reused in agriculture. The wool is carded and combed on machinery that has been cleaned of conventionally grown fibers before the organic wool is processed.

Special Treats!

Hand-knitted Crowns made with pure new wool and covered with jewels.... perfect for the Little Princess in your house.
$24 inc gst

Sweet Flower Hair clips made from pure wool felt ....all hand painted!
$8 inc gst

Beautiful & Fun...this hand felted and sewn fishing set will be plenty of entertainment for everyone.
$44 inc gst
A great gift for Christmas.....

Tasty Little Tomato

Little fingers will have fun and challenges finding the path where the Little Caterpillar has been.
A fabulous wooden lacing toy!
$21.95 by Eddutoy

Magic Garden Play

Hop on the train to the Magic Garden and you may find a Blossom Baby......

Gluckskafer

These Wooden Stacking Block sets by Gluckskafer would make a wonderful nativity manager or a house for small dolls, or fish in a pond!
Beautiful colours......

Pop in for a visit...we have many beautiful products from wooden & felt toys to organic knitting yarn.

You will find hand painted wool felt, exquisite hand knits for kids, handmade dolls & accessories, haberdashery, bamboo knitting needles & vintage chenille, wooden puzzles and trains, pencils, crayons, paints & brushes.
New stock arriving weekly in time for fabulous Christmas shopping!

Welcome to Little Sparrow