Monday, November 21, 2011

It's all happening!!

That's right!! we have sold the house :) and we have bought another one! So my life is a little crazy right now which is why I have not been getting enough facebook and pinterest to keep my satisfied, let alone sewing time! We only have just under four weeks until we settle so  I'm going to keep this short and sweet as I have so much to do but I wanted to share with you what I have found while embarking on the mammoth task I have of sorting out my house.
I opened 'the box'....you know the one we all have that we keep of little things we cant seem to part with and over the years of sorting through it, it gets smaller and smaller.  Well 'the box' for me is pretty small now I have sorted through it for the first time in eight years.  I'm not a hoarder and I cant bare to have things sitting around I don't have a use for.  This can sometimes bite me in the butt, but its not very often I regret decluttering....and considering how many times I have moved over the past six years, its happens often lol.  So anyway, this is the box that has been sitting in the mother in laws shed and I thought it was about time to go through it.  The first thing I did after sneezing a million times from the dust was smile, not just a regular smile, one of those smiles you get when you get taken back in time from possessions you have kept through your life because they have bought you so much joy.

I have letters from friends and family.  Some are so funny to read and I will cherish them forever. I even have a postcard sent to me from someone who was very important to me when I was growing up and she has since died of cancer.  I didn't even know I still had it and it bought tears to my eyes.  What makes me sad is I cant remember the last time I wrote a letter..... What makes me even sader is our kids wont have these keepsakes to treasure unless we encourage them to put pen to paper.

My now husband use to send me roses ALL the time and for no other reason but to make me smile.  Some times he would sneak up to my car and put one in my wiper blades to surprise me when I finished work.  It was quite an effort as he had a big service truck and had to come in the back way and park up the street so I wouldn't see him. You forget these things until something like this brings it all back like it was yesterday.  I have kept just about every card I got with my flowers....back in the day.  I can assure it doesn't happen now!

Once upon a time The Trading Post was printed on paper for private sellers only! My husband, like very other male in Queensland rarely missed a copy.  For some reason I tore this off the front page and have kept it.  To this day its as relevant as it was back then, just for different reasons.
My Beatrix Potter books.  These speak for themselves.

This was one of my favourite golden books when I was a little girl and it has inspired me once again...but this time its fabric inspiration!!

For now I have packed it all away in preparation for our move and I'm sure I wont open it for another eight years but I was meant to open this box and look through it.  It has reminded me to contact some dear friends I have not spoken to for a long time and also made me realise how important it is for me to keep things like this for my boys as they age.  I have been sorting and throwing books and toys if there broken and things they don't play with anymore.  If this golden book was in my stack, I probably would have put it in the lifeline pile.  As a mother of two young boys with way too much stuff, to me this looks like rubbish.  But as an adult that's childhood was a lifetime ago, its priceless.

Until next time...

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

3000 LIKER COMPETITION!!!

Well first of all... THANK YOU!!!!
I cant get over the amount of support I have received for my fabrics in such a short period of time. I am utterly flattered and am so excited to say this is just the beginning!! I feel next year is going to be a CRACKER!!
Lets get down to business:
To be a good girl and abide by facebook rules, I have to run this competition off my facebook page so this is how its going to work.
If you would like to win a half metre bundle of all five of my current in stock designs valued at $67.50 all you need to do is:
1. Sign up to follow this blog.  You can do this by clicking the 'join this site' button on the right hand side of the page.  My blog has been a little absent and mundane of late because of my pending interstate move at Christmas time BUT things will crank up and be much more fun in the new year, I promise!!
2. Do a shout out from your facebook page tagging twomonkeys fabric shop telling your fans about this competition.  If you dont have a business page you can do a post on your personal page by either sharing the post on my page or adding a link. It will pop up in my notifications and number of shares so I can see its been done.  I know you want to keep it to yourself so you have a better chance of winning but we need to be nice: sharing is careing remember!!
3. The last thing you need to do is comment on this blog post to tell me you have followed the steps and want to all this free fabric......!!
Make sure you comment on this blog post as that is your entry in this competition.
The competition will be ran over the next week and will be drawn on Friday 4th November at 8.30pm Brisbane time.
GOOD LUCK!!!!

Terms and Conditions:
Prize consists of half a metre (50cm) each the five current twomonkeys fabrics designs:
When Im Big Like Daddy
Punch Bug
Fairy Land
Girly Parade
Night Watch
Winner will be drawn by random.org and list will be generated in order of valid comments on this post.
To be fair, I will be checking all entrants have complied with the steps to enter this competition.
If you live outside of Australia, I would love you to enter but you will need to cover the cost of the international shipping.
If you live within Australia, a $10 postage rate will apply to the winner.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Cushion Mad!!

So the past week has seen me craving a little down time and what better way to unwind than to hit the machine with simple projects that need little thought.  For me I had the urge to make a few cushions.
A few days ago, I posted a pic on facebook of a couple I made on the weekend.


Because they were so easy and there was no unpicking involved, this made them so much fun to make which gave me the need to make another one.......


I am pleased to say I think I have exhausted all my cushion mojo BUT now I have made this little Kombi motif, I have all these other ideas coming to mind :)

Until next time.....

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Just to let you know.....

I am sitting here......and I don’t even know where to start.  My mind is so congested with so much going on I’m not sure what to write first.
So let’s start with this and I will get straight to the point:
I am moving. Yep packing up and heading south.  Now this is not the first time we have moved to Singleton in the Hunter Valley......it’s the third! I know, I know, CRAZY! Maybe I just love the thrill of packing! But on a serious note, we have really struggled to find the right place for our family over the past five years. I think that’s what made the decision so difficult this time because we knew this was a major decision being that Nathan starts school next year and we don’t want to keep moving once he does.  My husband works in the mining industry and the problem with living in Brisbane is he needs to fi/fo (fly in/fly out) for his job to be feasible and before we had the kids, it was never an issue, just a way of life we had grown to live with.  Now we have the boys, that lifestyle is a very hard one to go back to and if we stay here, it’s inevitable.  You see what sucks big time is it’s such a fifty fifty decision for us.  If we stay here, we sacrifice Michael being home but we have our family around us and if we move, we get a better family and work life but loose the help from our parents and the kids miss out on their grandparents. Sometimes it’s so hard to make the right decision and whatever you decide, who’s to say you have made the right choice?  So without babbling on too much, we have to do what’s right for our boys and that is to be somewhere that they can have both their parents around whenever they need them.  This has been on the cards for a long time (we really should have never moved back to Brisbane but that’s a whole other story) but we have had to make this decision so we can move after Christmas and get settled before Nate starts the school year.
So the house is on the market: oh the joy with two small children!! I just hope its sells fast so I can stop cleaning and go back to my carefree sticky floors.  All the planning has started including moving my business.  I wanted to tell you all what’s going on behind the scenes because just like you, I share the same issues and dilemmas that alot of WAHM have to deal with.  We all want endless hours and motivation to put into our business along with a faultless schedule to keep on top of everyday family life but we need to be realistic, life gets in the way.  In the past six weeks I think I may have clocked up, if I’m lucky 5 hours on the sewing machine.  It’s not that I don’t want to sew but with everything else going on and keeping on top of orders and the design and production side of my business, I just haven’t had the time.  To be honest, I don’t think I’m going to get much time between now and when we move after Christmas to sew L  By the time things settle down I will be having creative withdrawals and have to spend weeks making up for lost time! 
Over the past two months you have probably noticed I haven’t been blogging as much as I normally do and a bit absent on facebook but don’t be worried, I just have so much going on right now but I am still making time to work towards bringing you more and more twomonkeys fabrics. My new range is due late November/December and I have trade shows coming up so you will still see lots of things going on but I won’t be able to spare much time for the fun crafty stuff to share with you.  If only we could all have endless hours ......
So I will be keeping you up to date with my progress into the next few months of total chaos.  I have started preparing with increasing alcohol consumption, experimenting with the new tim tam range and I invested in an ‘extra large’ coffee cup.
So far so good J

Monday, September 26, 2011

A little peak at my second release

This is just a little taste of what is to come to twomonkeys.  This release is due November but may be a little late....will have to wait and see (fingers crossed!).

Something sweet for the girls.


and my favourite owls in an irresistible colourway.

This is the coordinating print to the boys design which is just adorable but you will have to wait and see what that one looks like :)  I have to keep something a secret and leave you in suspense.....

I hope you like!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

So sweet

Nathan had a sleep over at his nannies last night (my mums) and I have to admit I couldn't wait for her to pick him up yesterday afternoon.
This is pretty much the only conversation I had with Nathan from the moment he woke up yesterday until mum picked him up about 2.30pm:
Nate: 6am "Mum, how long until nanny comes to get me"
Me: using all my strength to open my eyes and respond "Not until after lunch"
Nate: As the hours past he would ask around every two minutes "Mum, is it lunch time yet"
Me: Taking a deep breath with every response "No not yet. If you eat lunch early, its not going to make her come any sooner"
Nate: At lunch time...12.01pm  "Mum, I ate my lunch so pack my bag before nanny get here" he was very anxious.
Me: "Nathan, she is coming after lunch which means she will be a little while longer"
OMG the next two and a half hours felt like a lifetime!!! He just wouldn't stop asking because he was so excited.
When mum got here, I was the excited one:)
But as much a I lurve the peace and quite, you still miss them when they are gone. I still went to check on him before I went to bed out of habit and he wasn't there. Although I must say, I did indulge in a peaceful morning with just one child....bliss!
Mum said he was a total angel and did everything he was told, even went to bed on time! Why he can behave for everyone but me I just don't know... 
He made myself and his dad a special surprise.  It was all wrapped up and he was so excited to give it to me but I wasn't allowed to open it, he had to.  The whole present thing seems to go right over his head.  We keep trying to explain he cant open the presents he gives to others, just the ones given to him but he thinks he can open everything and he tells you what it is before you get a chance to see it! Oh so much to learn:)
So this was our gift.  He painted us a special coffee cup (I think he may have had a little help with the names) for each of us and they are so cute, I love them!  The perfect gift for two people that drink way too much coffee.  Next thing he will be hand painting me a wine glass.....
Such a crafty holiday project for the kids. Good on ya mum! :) Something to treasure forever.

Until next time:)

Saturday, September 17, 2011

A little frazzled

Well it’s here... not sure where the last ten weeks went but school holidays are upon us once again. I don’t know why I’m worried about two weeks when SIX weeks of parent torture is just around the corner!! Good god, what am I going to do with him then!  I had great intentions of having caught up on my back log of work so I could just chill for the two weeks...never happened.  I have been really busy working on new designs, getting ready for the next release, organising trade shows, drafting patterns and deciding if I have enough time to add a twomonkeys handmade section to my website.  The answer to that is um...no way in the world! But I like the idea. Maybe next year when Nathan starts school.  At the moment, he only does a five day fortnight at kindy so those days are so important to me as they are the only daytime hours I get to work and I’m not a big night person...hence the workload constantly building.  If I was more productive at night and was more focused on work instead of pinterest and looking at my fave sites with style I can’t afford, like Anthropologie, I would be much more efficient! And now thanks to Janelle Wind, I am sitting her looking at Blythe Dolls!!
Anyway, enough said.  You get the picture of my lack of motivation past 8pm...
Now I have started writing this entry, I don’t even really know what it’s about. My head is all over the place at the moment, so many things going on I can’t think straight! I am the master of writing list after list to get organised.....STOP WRITING THE DAM LISTS AND JUST DO THE WORK!
This really is going nowhere.
It’s been over two weeks (yes I really have been so busy) since I last graced you with my poor attempt of creative writing so I thought I better say hi and give you an update and a sneak peek of what’s coming to twomonkeys.
This a quilt I am working on for Nathan.  The original pattern I cut out didn't work once I layed it out on the floor and I had to go back to the drawing board. This is what I came up with without wasting to much fabric I had already cut...

A colour scheme coming up in my next release :)


My little helper.....not so helpful at times :)


I have been super busy working with Pauline from Funky Friends Factory on so many up and coming things. SO excited, I wish I could tell you!


Until next time :)

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Life as it is....

My Mum and Dad have one of those really fancy campers that slide on the back of a ute.  Its not exactly roughing it seeing it has air con, shower, toilet, full size queen bed and the list goes on.  And it all fits on the back of a ute (something way out of my price range for the next 50 years)!  Anyway, they have sold it because they just don’t get enough time to use it.  I did offer them the kids whenever they want and Michael and I would gladly get some use out of it for them but they didn’t think it was a great idea...I thought it was!!
They sold it to a couple in their early 30’s (my age) that are going to travel around Australia.  The couple don’t have any kids or a house. Their dream is to travel around the country and surf every beach along the way.  I was not taking this information in so well when mum was telling me over the phone with my kids going crazy in the background, I just wanted to break down in jealous frenzy and scream.
This got me thinking; why is that we all choose such different paths in life.  One persons dream could be another persons misery.  Of course we all make choices that make our lives what they are but is your life what you thought it would be?  Are you a meticulous planner and know exactly where you are going or do you ‘wing it’ like me and hope for the best?  Was it always your dream to marry, have children and a white picket fence or did you desire a life of travel and free spirit from a young age?  Did you make the choices you have made because that’s what you really wanted or was it because it seemed like the right and sensible choice. 
A friend of mine from way back in my primary school days has done nothing but travel the world working on private yachts of the rich and famous since she left school, a total free spirit.  Another is a professional performer who has danced in productions all over the world.  As kids we were so much alike, grew up over the years attached at the hip yet we couldn’t have more different lives now if we tried.  Some of my friends have chosen not to have kids and have a career, others sadly couldn’t be parents and would do anything to have a family.
Whatever we choose and where ever we are at, I think its human nature to have moments when we crave the opposite life to the one we lead.  I have a wonderful husband who is willing to support the family while I build my business, two amazing (crazy mad) little boys, a beautiful house and all the health I could ask for.  I am living the dream and doing what I love but there is always a little part of me that wonders if I would have ever chosen a different path in life.  I don’t think I would have, I think I was always destined to be a mum and a wife but I still wonder.....
This brings me to another question I have been asked about a thousand times over the past few months and that is; How did you get to do what you are doing? What made you decide to print your own fabric and how do you do it?
And the answer is:
I don’t really know! I don’t have an exact black and white answer to this question.  I'm not known for my future planning in life, as I said earlier my hubby and I are pretty good with the ‘wing it’ motto and 99% of the time it just works itself out.  It started from the determination not to go back to my old day job (pharmacy) once I had the boys.  I really wanted to build a business while they were young so by the time they started school, it would be established and profitable enough that I wouldn’t have to go back to work.  Mind you I have never worked harder in my life!!  It came from journey of ideas and trials trying to find my niche in an industry I am destined to be a part of.   It hasn't come handed to me, I have worked hard every.single.day, many a sleepless nights and I still have such a long way to go but I am loving it and twomonkeys has made a massive difference to my life.  I think the biggest thing is to make choices with your head and your heart.  Do the things you really want to do but don’t put anything you have and don’t want to lose at risk to reach your goal.  It may take you longer to get there but at least you have piece of mind if it doesn’t work, nothing is lost.   Draw inspiration from everywhere and keep yourself motivated, even when you feel its not worth it because it is.

So this brings me to the conclusion that the free spirited young couple about to set out on a journey of a lifetime to surf every beach in the country will have the time of their lives because that's their choice, the direction they have chosen, their destiny.
This is my life, my choices and the direction I have chosen; this is my destiny.  We don’t need to wish for better things or a different life, just love and accept the the things we have and we will all be much more content.


Until next timeJ

Monday, August 29, 2011

Floor Cushion Tutorial

I have seen alot of these around online so I thought I would give them a go because I just love them.  The way I have made them is so easy, even a beginner sewer could give it a crack!
This is what you will need for the size in this tutorial.  The finished size is approx 88cm.
1. 90cm of main fabric if its a one way print or 45cm if its a two way print (pattern runs either way).
*If you use a one way print like twomonkeys Punch Bug , you need the extra fabric to run the print all the same way but you will have lots of left overs.
2. 45cm of coordinating fabric.
3. 90cm base fabric.
4. One top button and one basic button for the under side of the cushion.
5. Doll needle (large needle used for doll making).
6. Upholstery thread or similar strong thread.
7. 1kg polyester fill.

This is my first tutorial so please leave comments asking any questions you like as I'm sure I need to improve my instruction skills.  My kids cant follow my instructions so hopefully you have a better chance:)

* I am very professional and use a roll of sandwich paper to cut patterns, you just need to tape three 90cm lengths together for this pattern.



May I just add, my cat it not allowed on my cutting bench. She was just being very naughty that night and wouldnt get out of the way. She got kicked off soon after so dont worry, when you order fabric it wont come with cat hair all over it:)


Opps I forgot to take a photo of this step: Lay your top piece on your base piece of fabric, right sides together.  Pin in place and cut out your base fabric.  Attach the top and bottom piece together leaving a good size hole to stuff you cushion.  If you make it too small, you will be stuffing it for ages.


Please note: If you are not familiar with the term ladder stitch, its a basic hand sewing stitch used to finish off items.  If you don't know how to do this then check out Youtube, there are heaps of how to's there.  Youtube is great when you want to learn new techniques.

If attaching the buttons seems strange, its a Jodie technique lol.  I find with things like this, its so much better to use the buttons to hold the tension as over time it will just pull a hole through the fabric otherwise.



Beware! Some may love them a little too much and want to take them to bed....


Just so you know, this template is not limited to this shape. This is an example of making the rounded top of the template bigger to give you a flower look. You could also make heart cushions so have a play if your feeling adventurous.  I didn't finish this cushion because I ran out of fill!


Well I hope you have enjoyed my first 'tut'.
Please share with me when you have made one on my facebook page,
I love to see peoples creations!!
HAVE FUN!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Hello Funky Friends Factory!

Today I ventured to the other side of town and spent the day at the new Funky Friends Factory shop with the lovely Pauline.  After what felt like packing up half the house and getting the kids off to daycare and Mums, I made it there on time and that never happens!! When I dropped Ryan at daycare, I had to pick up our fundraiser box full of Cadbury chocolates....well that was a bad move!! So much for picking up fresh strawberries and yoghurt on the way for a healthy morning tea! While eating our way through the box of chocolates (I really wish they would come up with a better way to raise funds, I always end up eating them) we fiddled around with the layout of the store and we were like two kids in a candy shop, it really was quite pathetic how two grown adults can have so much fun with stuffed toys...
I really had to stop stuffing around and get crackin on the fabric packin!!  I was on a bit of a time schedule to get back and pick up the boys.  It’s a lengthy commute across town, I needed a road coffee for the drive there and back with lots of good tunes for my woeful in car solo superstar singing.  I love being in the car alone J.
If you live in Brisbane, pop in and see Pauline at Old Petrie Town and get your creative fix!!  There is nothing better than touching and feeling fabric, I fall in love and can never resist...
Me lovin my fabric :)

Pauline showing me her supermodel material.

twomonkeys fabrics packed and ready to go!

This shop is coming along great! So bright and colourful.


Until next time..

Friday, August 12, 2011

Fairy Land

I think any little girl would love to have a teddy bears picnic of this little quilt.  This is my gorgeous Fairy Land design boasting bright and vibrant pink, purple and yellow.  I have coordinated this picnic quilt with some pick micro dots and yellow daisies I have available for purchase on my website and the finished result is beautiful.  Its the perfect time to get your hands on some twomonkeys fabrics as I have 15% off the entire website (excluding kitty kate kit) until Sunday night (14/08/11)! You need to use the coupon code THANKS15 on checkout.


Enjoy :)

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

A mothers guilt

Today is Ryan’s first day at day care.  Yes I took the plunge and have enrolled him one day a week for sanity work reasons. I am really struggling to fit everything in now he’s become an evil two year old that I can’t take my eyes off for two seconds so the time had come and I could no longer avoid the need for undisturbed coffee work time.  But in saying that, it doesn’t make it any easier to leave my baby with a total stranger crying and reaching out for me screaming ‘Mum’ at the top of his lungs.....heart wrenchingL  I thought I would be the messy one but it was actually his older brother that didn’t cope the best with the whole situation.  He didn’t like leaving his little brother alone crying.  The whole way to kindy he kept asking me to turn around and go and get him because he was upset and wanted to come home.  For a lunatic four year old that constantly tells me Ryan’s always getting in his way, he can be so sweet and protective of his little brother.   I just have to put Nathan down to being my ‘special’ boy.....so many different personalities.
So I am sitting here writing this in total silence with hot coffee and a list of things that I ‘know’ I will get done without Ryan here but I still have an overwhelming sense of guilt for sending him to day care.  I have already rung them twice to see how he’s going and they said he is happy as can be.  I know it will get easier as he gets use to going but for some reason I just can’t seem to let go of him, he’s my baby.  As for Nathan...well it was never an issue with him, I just needed a break lol.  He’s full on 24/7 that kid, ask anyone who knows him and they will say the same thing.....like I said ‘special boy’ J
So Wednesdays are now my big work days, I just have to stop myself from organising child free outings with friends or its going to defeat the purpose of sending him......
Every now and then they can be civilised together.  Moments like these are rare and I have to take photos.
There is only one way Ryan eats yoghurt and its straight out of the tub.
I love my boys!

Saturday, August 6, 2011

My work room makeover!

Considering how much time I spend in my 'room', it was well and truly time to give it a face lift! It was so drab and boring to say the least and I was still using the folding tables I bought as a 'quick fix until I get some money'.....well lets just say I never got the money.  I knew I was never going to have the time so I just had to squeeze it in between everything else.  I was hoping it would only take a few days but life got in the way and it took a week!
At first I wanted to paint it pink but I tire of pink very easily (lucky I don't have girls) so I thought about it for a week or so and thought of what and where I feel the most refreshed and inspired.  The answer to that would have to be the beach so I decided on a soft aqua colour and went from there.  I trawled eBay and found some new tables and chairs.  The sewing table was an old yellow pine colour so I came up with the wonderful idea of painting it....in gloss.  Never.never.never again while I have two small helpers around!! I was so glad when hubby couldn't bare to watch my struggle any longer and took over, it was a nightmare and looks so dodgy but you cant see it in the photos so who cares :)  The curtains were spares I had in the linen cupboard and I stole the painting from the family room (my room is all that matters).
While I was sorting through my enormous pile of crap, I came across some samples I was sent of the new Umbrella prints range of quilters cottons and....woohoo!!!! they were perfect, exactly what I was looking for!  Once I found the fabric I was going to use I really started getting excited (fabric does that to me).  I made a new ironing board cover, some chair pads and envelope and snap lock bag organiser I could hang on the wall above my packing bench.  I found a great little rack to hang my scissors up from the kids and raided mums coffee jars for my buttons and ribbons.
So after a week of ignoring all housework and letting the kids watch a criminal amount of tv, its finished and it looks sooooo much better!! I moved  few things around to make the room work better as I only have that small space to work with.  The wardrobe is now home to half my office and more shelves of fabric and all my twomonkeys fabric takes main position next to my packing bench.

This is the end result! What do you think??






 
Ryan just can't help himself!
Please note:  This room will never be this tidy again!  It took a week to get it to look like this and it's already a mess:(

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Banana Muffins

This is for anyone wanting my Banana muffin recipe.  It’s really easy (I don’t make anything hard) and my kids love them! So here it goes;
Wholemeal Banana Choc Muffins
2 large ripe bananas
½ - 2/3 cup milk (buttermilk is better but normal milk is fine). If you don’t use wholemeal flour, you will need ½ cup of milk.
2 eggs
125g melted butter
1 cup SR flour
1 cup wholemeal SR flour
½ cup sugar
½ cup choc chips.
Throw everything in a bowl together and mix until just combined. Don’t over mix; they won’t come out nice and fluffy.  Spoon into muffin patties and bake in a moderate oven until cooked. Mini muffins don’t take long at all so stay away from facebook and keep your eye on them.
This is a large recipe and I make mini muffins for the kids so I generally get 9 large muffins and 12 mini muffins in a batch.
Please note; Best made when bananas are not $15kg!
EnjoyJ
                                            *image sourced from google

Monday, August 1, 2011

Thanks Ladies :)

Early on in the process of printing my first run of fabrics, I wasn’t sure how much time I was going to have to make things to promote the range before the stock arrived.  Being a virgin at this fabric printing business and with two little gremlins that suck all my time and energy out of me, I didn’t want to be left strapped for time and sewing to all hours of the morning so I decided to ask a few lovely talented ladies to help me out.  Well now I can say I am so glad I did!! One reason is because the products they have made from my fabrics are absolutely fantastic and I am over the moon with how good they look and the second reason.... I have barely touched my sewing machine for 3 weeks (and my fabrics arrive this week!) because my hubby was really sick, then the kids one after the other and then it was my turnL  I pinched a nerve in my neck and ended up with a virus as well! I couldn’t even look at the computer for more than 5 minutes at a time so I didn’t even attempt to sew.  I must have known back then when I was being extra organised that this was going to happen.  So were all on the mend now and fighting fit.  I hope that’s our fair share of winter bugs done and dusted!!
So back to what this post is about......THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! To Amanda from appleberry kids, Ilja from em&femme designs, Pauline from Funky Friends Factory and Kristie from Boo Designs.  I have only had a chance to get a few things made myself (and I have decided it’s the perfect time to give my work room a makeover!...I only have myself to blame for chaos in my life!) so without your help I would be sewing like a crazy lady right now!  All the products are made with such detail and perfection and I can’t wait to show off your hard work at trade shows, everyone is going to love it!!
It has been such a success working with other business mummies, I think I am going to do the same thing with every releaseJ.  I love working with others and we all benefit from the end result.
THANKS LADIES!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

A Sneak Peak...

Here is a little sneak peak of my designs on fabric:) I would love for you to comment and tell me if you like what you can see on you screen.  This is the first photo of actual fabric I have published.  Its really getting just a little bit exciting now!! Sooo tell me what you think??
Well......

Sunday, June 12, 2011

About me..

Starting my blog has meant I have had to write content for others to read for the first time in my life and I have alot to learn about creative writing.  I hope once I dust off the cobwebs and get a little bit more confident, I won’t send you to sleep.  I love reading on other peoples blogs, 100 things about me so I thought I would give you all an insight to the kind of disfunctional person I am.
 So here it goes......
 About me. 
1.       I am 30 years old.
2.       I am married to Michael. We have been married for 7 years and together for 12.
3.       I have two sons Nathan 4 and Ryan 18mths.
4.       Both my labours were too quick for any drugs and both boys were over 4kg.
5.       There is no way I am going back for a third....I made sure of that and got hubby ‘fixed up’ J
6.       My kids are chalk and cheese.  Nathan is full on and is so naughty and Ryan is a lazy little bugger! Barely gets off the lounge to play with the toys but is a stubborn little monkey.
7.       I didn’t finish school and every educational course I have taken since I left, I haven’t completed. It’s just not in me, I’m far too visual and hands on to sit in a chair and listen.
8.       I was a VERY bad teenager (ask my parents).
9.       I love sushi, I love anything with rice.
10.   I drink white but when the heat is on, anything goes.
11.   I change my hair all the time but I’m never happy with it
12.   I swear too much.
13.   I love to sew and create but listen to foo fighters and powderfinger.
14.   I’m not sure what personality I am, I have too many.
15.   I forget the shopping list every time I go shopping and get the shits before I even start.
16.   I hate any form of shopping these days, even more when I have the kids with me.  I am just not a big on shopping centres. Give me online shopping anyday!
17.   But I do love quilt shops
18.   I love to cook but hate cooking dinner.
19.   I aspire to have a sense of style but dress like a hobo and never spend money on clothes and shoes for myself.  I really want that to change (don’t we all).
20.   I love road trips. My kids are pretty good in the car if they have dvd players; I’m not one for eye spy. Those games haunt me from my childhood christmas road trips.
21.   I move around alot.  My husband works in the mines and is still looking for that greener grass which can be so frustrating.
22.   I write notes everywhere and can never find them.
23.   I have to be organised and know what I’m doing.
24.   I use the ‘forgot your password’ option alot!
25.   It took close to 3 years to fall pregnant with Nathan and it consumed 3 years of my life worrying about it. I wish I had used those child free years so much better.
26.   I am a terrible sleeper and don’t get enough of it.  I crave the day I can sleep past 6am again.
27.   Being a mother is rewarding but friggin hard work!
28.   Running a business and being a mother, wife and peace keeper is even harder.
29.   My biggest fear is failure.
30.   I am terrified of heights but want to go in a hot air balloon.
31.   I know what I want and I don’t give up until I have it.
32.   I hate fake people.
33.   I love lilies and tulips.
34.   I don’t play the “keeping up with the Jones’s” game.
35.   Some of my best friends and family live too far away.
36.   Can’t wait to travel around Australia.
37.   I only like writing on clean crisp paper. Bad for the environment I know.
38.   I really want vege gardens and chooks.
39.   I don’t have any pets, but I want to get a cat.
40.   I hate housework but can’t stand a dirty house.
41.   I drink way too much coffee.
42.   I eat heaps of chocolate.
43.   I love food! Real fresh food.
44.   I hate fast food. Not saying I don’t eat it but I don’t like it.
45.   My husband and I used to eat out all the time before we had the kids and now we never do, I miss that.
46.   I have a seafood allergy because I have had really bad seafood poisoning twice. Both times from a restaurant.
47.   I hate my teeth.
48.   Money determines everything.
49.   I hate picking up toys so I don’t... and every time I trip over them, it’s always something like buzz lightyear! Never a soft toy.
50.   I really really love fabric.
51.   And linen
52.   I love retro Tupperware, the new stuff is crap.
53.   The cost of living is more than I can afford.
54.   I hate debt, it freaks me out.
55.   I don’t really watch tv.
56.   I wish I could chill out, sit back and watch a good movie but I just don’t for some reason.
57.   I am always on a diet or thinking of diet and exercise.  It bothers me I worry so much about it but I can’t help it.
58.   I hate clutter.
59.   My kids love to dance to Pink before bed.
60.   I don’t see the attraction to having a fancy car if you can’t afford it.
61.   I worry everyday I’m not a good enough mother.
62.   I waste too much time on facebook.
63.   I love my family more than anything.
64.   I am a terrible speller.
65.   I am a no frills kind of girl.
66.   I talk too much.
67.   I am impulsive
68.   I only procrastinate the big decisions.
69.   I need to get out more.
70.   It wouldn’t hurt for me to do a bit of ironing here and there.
71.   I am a realist.
72.   I love thick soft grass under my feet.
73.   I’m a winter person.
74.   I love winter food.
75.   I am easily distracted.
76.   I say it how it is.
77.   I don’t get the turtle neck, blazer and denim look...
78.   I don’t understand how men can sit on the toilet and read for so long!!
79.   I love camping short breaks.
80.   I am a Sagittarius.
81.   I love the beach but not keen on swimming in the ocean.
82.   I love quilting more than any other form of sewing and craft.
83.   I have a new found love of photography.
84.   My kids are growing up too fastL
85.   My dream house has timber floors, white walls, and bi-fold doors with verandas that wrap the whole way around and looks over the hills or ocean....Like I said, my DREAM house.
86.   I have just discovered pinterest....more wasted time but so addictive.
87.   May I mention again, I love fabric!!
Are you all still awake?? I didn’t quite make it to 100 things but hey, no one’s perfect.   I don’t think I’m much different to most people and really not very exciting that’s for sure!  But now you know a little bit about the person behind the fabric in an online worldJ
Until next time J