Map Garland Tutorial ... or CQF

Do you know how sometimes you need a quick fix... a CQF… a Creative Quick Fix?  Well, this is the perfect antidote to the itchy fingers of crafting when you just need to create something satisfying - something quick - something that’s perfect for “that spot” that fulfils your urge to see something tangible come from your efforts.

 

I'm aware that a lot of the projects that I begin are long-term projects that won’t see the light of day for days... weeks... maybe, months.  And whilst I love the creative process and the meditative groove of a long-term project, sometimes you need to see the fruits of your labours much more quickly than that.

 

Do you know what I mean?

So, this is the perfect remedy for that need.  A lovely little concentration of creative joy that gives you pleasure in the making, and delight in the viewing, every time you see it.

It’s delightfully simple.  It’s personal.  And it can be achieved in less than 15 minutes.  I kid you not.

I was fortunate to come across an old, water-damaged atlas at a local flea market.  Fortunate that it was old.. and water-damaged…?  Well, I’m sentimental about books and maps, in general.  I have an old atlas from my childhood, but I just can’t bring myself to cut it up, even though I absolutely adore things made from maps.  But one that’s water-damaged….?  Well… I’m really just giving it a new life.  Perfect.

So, here are my (very quick) steps. Really…

You’ll need:-

- atlas page, or crafting paper, heavy gift wrap, mixed-media paper collage, etc, etc that you love

- length of ribbon, bias binding, strip of fabric, or the like (mine happened to be around 60in/150cm straight from my box of collected, used ribbon)

- sewing machine and thread / or needle and thread

- lead pencil

- scissors

1. from scrap paper, cut a couple of trial triangle shapes that please you and take them to the place where you want to hang your bunting (in my case, a mirror in our guest toilet)

2. hold them up to see which one ‘feels right’ in the space and to your creative eye

3. using this shape as a template-of-sorts, place it on the paper you intend to cut up and very loosely trace around it (this is not an exact science and variations are not only encouraged, but fabulous!)

4. cut out your triangles inside the tracing line - an odd number is suggested (I made 7) - if you follow Nature’s example, you’ll notice that she often repeats in odd numbers, so uneven elements naturally look ‘right’ to our eyes

5. using a sewing machine set to a straight stitch length of 3mm, or thereabouts, start sewing from the end of a length of ribbon until you get to the spot where you want to place your first triangle and continue to sew across the top of the triangle, so that the top edge remains hidden behind the ribbon and not poking out over the top

6. sew each of the triangles in place with about 1 in/2.5 to 3cm between each triangle (but gauge for yourself and space your triangles in whatever arrangement that feels right to you) and continue stitching to the other end of the ribbon - I like the threads that hang down from the ends of the ribbon, but you could cut them off

7. hang using poster tac - this string of paper deliciousness is not likely to be heavy

8. go back several times during the day to admire your creative flair

And one of the gorgeous side-effects of a CQF is that the satisfaction it generates not only gives you joy in the moment, it can fuel/ jumpstart/ revive/ spur on your long-term projects, and creative muse in general.  It’s a win/win.

My First Visual Journal Page.....Ever

 

I had an epiphany recently.  I realised that I get in my own way A LOT when creating.  I have lots of creative ideas but before I can even get them out of my head and into the world I stymie myself with expectations of perfection, concerns that it won't turn out as I see it in my mind, it'll be too hard to achieve, that it won't be as good as the work of others, and on, and on.....  Phew!

 

As is the way with realisations, the Universe then began providing me with answers.  I received an end-of-year-blog-post-roundup-email from Stampington & Company which pointed me in the direction of Visual Journal Artist, Teesha Moore.  And, more specifically, her videos (1 and 2) on the lettering process she uses in her art journals.  Whilst watching, I had this HUGE moment; a connection to myself as a teenager....  I used to do this!  I used to make cards using lettering like this.  I used to know how to do this! 

 

In an instant I was reconnected with a creative part of myself that I had completely forgotten.

 

So, I watched all of the videos she has so generously created.  They start with making your own visual journal out of one big sheet of watercolour paper, through to creating the background, collage, altering, embellishing, drawing and lettering.

 

There were a couple of things that I really liked about her process that especially resonated with me...

1. if she doesn't completely hate it, she will add an element to her page, whether it's collage, embellishing, drawing... whatever

2. in the end, if she doesn't like it (which she often finds that she does), she just changes it

 

As a perfectionist in reform, this was a revelation!

 

So, I went out and bought myself a few supplies, made myself a journal using her instructions (the sheet of watercolour paper cost less than $5) and got to work!

 

As a first try, I'm pretty happy with the results and am encouraged to try again.  And I'm confident that with time and practice, my pages might actually approach some of the fabulous brilliance of Teeasha Moore's journal pages.  And I have to remind myself that Teesha has been doing this for many years and for me, "It's just a beginning!", as Amanda Soule of SouleMama so eloquently put it in a recent blog post.

 

Amanda's blog post also came along at just the perfect time.  As a fellow Virgo, I can relate to the desire for something to turn out just as you see it in your mind; a need for perfection.  It is all too easy to have high expectations of ourselves but this often squanders and squashes the creative process.  And her words she spoke to herself were a balm for me too, "I realized that I could use a little empathy of my own, a little bit of patience, a little bit more gentleness with my own process."  Yes.

 

So, I'm being more gentle with myself.  Playing.  Just trying things out.  After all, it doesn't have to be perfect.  It's ok to make mistakes.  If it's not what I want I can just change it.



It's Fun to Create!

Telling you about Miss Maya will have to wait because I just have to share with you a new pair of earrings I made today!  They're wire from the hardware store and paper with an image printed upon it.  I'm quite chuffed with how they worked out.

I got the inspiration from the amazing Deryn Mentock (her Musical Note Earrings from an article in 'Step by Step Wire Jewellery' Feb/Mar 2010) and the equally fabulous Shannon Le Vart (her leaf shaped earrings in 'Belle Armoire Jewelry' Dec/Jan/Feb 2010). The images are from Wikimedia Commons for the butterflies (copyright free images from all over the world) and the background is from the very talented Cathe Holden (who very generously provides a wealth of images for free download).  Thankyou to you all!

I don't have them anymore, though.  They've gone to our younger son's preschool and into the Mother's Day gift box to be drawn out by one of the children for them to give to their mum on Mother's Day.

Goodbye little earrings, you were made with love and I hope you bring the wearer a great deal of joy, whoever she may be.

What are you hoping to recieve for Mother's Day?

Take care,
Ange

Bella the Beautiful

Well, I promised more photos of our darling Isabella... and here they are!

This first one just because she's adorable - 5 /12 mths.

This little grin she does is quintessentially Bella - 5 1/2 mths.

Two different agendas going on here!  I just want to kiss her and she just wants to get hold of the necklace that Zak made me for Christmas.  Love this one.

Working those teeth!  Two on the bottom and now 4 more coming through on the top all at once!  The little sweetheart is coping so well with it.

Seeing her sweet little face when she's sleeping just melts my heart, especially when sh's snuggled up to Miss Maya, the doll I made her.  Bella's a bit bigger here - 7 mths now!

There's a bit of a story behind Miss Maya which I'll tell you about in my next post.  Until then....

Take care,

Ange

And why not a new Blog Header as well!

While I was at it I thought I may as well change my blog header too, so I had a poke around the 'shabby extras' section of shabbyblogs.com and chose a new header.

Then I used the free graphics program gimp to add in the name of my blog in the central space of the header graphic and ... BOB'S YOUR UNCLE!*.... I have a spiffy new header! 

What do you think?

Oh, and I'll have some more photos of our sweet baby next time too.

See you then,
Ange

*just in case this expression is making you go 'huh?', it's an Australian colloquialism that means "before you know it".  Glad we cleared that one up...

How about the new Background!

I am so chuffed to have a new fabulous background wallpaper!!  Isn't it gorgeous!  A big thanks to shabbyblogs.com for this free (yes, FREE!) background. 

If you're looking to make your blog look more beautiful but

• don't know how to create a background,
• don't know how to instal one,
• want to make your blog look fantastic in less than 5 minutes
• want achieve all of this for FREE...

then shabbyblogs comes very highly recommended.  There are so many lovely backgrounds that I think I'll be sampling a few others in the future.

And I still can't belive it's free. Nup. Can't. Believe. It.

Back soon with some creative projects I've been working on.  Stay tuned for Miss Maya, a timber thread storage rack, fabric butterflies, turning baby boy clothes into baby girl clothes, and more...

'til then,
Ange

Wow, time has flown!

Isabella - 5 1/2 months

It's amazing how quickly time goes by when you have a new person to love and cuddle and get to know. Isabella is such a relaxed and chill little chicken and has fitted in just as I've heard third children do. It is hard to imagine that she wasn't always here. And as missficklemedia has so rightly pointed out, there have been no photos since September (heck, can you believe that...), so I am here to remedy that right away!

Isabella on Christmas Day - almost 4 mths

Isabella at 4 mths - Don't you just adore the face of a sleeping baby?!  I could just sit and stare.....

Isabella at 4ths - There's something about this picture... the fact that she's so interested in
what's beyond the window perhaps?

Trying out the highchair for the first time, with her two older brothers, Finn and Zak.  She doesn't seem too sure, does she!  And rightly so, with two such mad brothers!  (Zak certainly got the olive skin in the family.  Lucky duck)

And another delicious one of Bella at 5 1/2 mths.

I often think of those last couple of weeks of pregnancy when I was sooo big and she was pushing and pushing on me with her strong legs and how that time seemed to be endless, whilst also knowing that it would very soon come to an end and the lovely creative time I was indulging myself in would come to an end too and be taken over by the all-consuming task of taking care of a newborn and how to blend that with taking care of her two older brothers.  When I think of that time, it seems like the last 6 months have gone in a flash.  So fast.  And only yesterday Bella had her first food.... and a whole new era begins.  Such blessings.

And now that the issues with blogger and posting photos are all fixed (thanks to missficklemedia for letting me know!) I shall be back here more often.  You all have much more patience than me, obviously, as I just couldn't stick with a blog post long enough to get the photos where I wanted them.  But now, all of these frustrations are forgotten and I shall be back soon to show you some of the creative fun I've been working on.

We're off to Leura in the Blue Mountains this weekend for 4 days.  Zak's mind is boggled by the idea that he'll be missing a day or so of school to have a little holiday with his grandparents who are renting a house with us for the weekend.  Do you know how there are some places in the world that just feel like home?  Well, that's what the Blue Mountains feel like to me.  So, I'm really looking forward to it.

Take care, talk soon,
Ange

Isabella... and a Little Something

I had planned a great big post in the days before Isabella was born but I just couldn't work out how to insert all of the photos throughout the post since Blogger automatically inserts them at the beginning, and in the opposite order to how you list them for uploading. Cutting and pasting simply didn't work at all and neither did dragging and dropping since I could only drag the photos as far as the height of the post area (about 7cm) which meant LOTS of dragging and dropping to get a photo in place.

Does anyone else have this issue? If so, how did you overcome it? Do you insert all your photos first, in the order you want, and then type your text between the photos as you compose your post?

Or do you compose it in a simple program like Notepad or Wordpad first and find some way to insert the photos without having to drag and drop each one multiple times before you get them into the places that you want them in your post.

So, that big post is sitting unfinished while I work out how to write a post without it taking an unreasonable amount of time and more problem solving brainpower than I have. What with lack of sleep, that isn’t much right now!


In the meantime, I thought I’d share with you my very simple To Do List that I got out again this week in an attempt to organise my thoughts and focus me to get some things done in the small spaces around looking after sweet Isabella. It’s a PDF - let me know if you have any problems accessing it since I’ve never linked to a PDF before (that is, I have absolutely no idea how to do this!).

To help me be organised, I have some extra columns that may need some explanation….

Priority - I put a number (1 to 5) to help me easily see the most important things in the list - that way I can focus on all the number 1 things first and so on down the list
Status - I do this in the form of a circle which I draw in once I’ve started on this line item and fill in the quadrants as I progress - this way I can keep track of how much of that item I’ve got done.. or finished!
Project - like ‘Marketing’ or ‘Personal’ so that I can see at a glance where this line item fits in
Action - the actual thing I have ‘to do’
Time - an estimate of how long I think this line item might take - that way if I only have 20 minutes I can look at all of the high priority tasks and choose one that will take about this long so that I can maximise my time - it can also be used to plan out your whole day so that you end up with a list of things to do that match up with your amount of available time - that way I don’t schedule more than is realistic in my day and end up feeling bummed if I haven’t achieved it all

That feels like a long description for a simple list that’s actually quick to fill out and saves me lots of time and energy. Anyway, there it is. I hope you find it useful.

The only thing left to do is leave you with more pictures of our wonderful, kissable Isabella Scarlett. She was born on August 31st, the day after my birthday. Is there some kind of cosmic timing there? I wonder...

Weekend Creativity

Here are two little somethings I made for my boys on the weekend. I kept finding little collections of coins dotted about their room (or, in Finn's case, secreted under his pillow!), so something had to be done.

I modified the pattern for the Pencil Bag Zippered Pouch found here so that they ended up being about 10x14cm. Just the right size for keeping their little piles of coins safe and to shove into their pockets when they want to spend some of their savings.

And I'd forgotten just how safisfying it is to sew something! Since I'm mostly making jewellery during the day and making whatever can be done from the lap in the evening - at the moment it's crochet as I make a blanket for Isabella, which will very likely be the name of our new little one - I haven't touched my sewing machine in many weeks.

They were all done within a couple of hours from working out the modifications to tying on their initials, whilst Zak was at a party and Finn had a nap. And I got such wonderful kisses and hugs when I presented them to my boys! If the simple satisfaction of making something wasn't enough, that made it all absolutely worth it!

Other things of note around here - since I have been so incredibly delinquent with my blog (if it were a person it would be feeling terribly neglected).......

- Paris was beautiful, wonderful, delicious and amazing - I can't believe I've actually been there now. It really was such a delight. I intend to complete the blog we were keeping to journal our days, just as a reminder to myself of all of the delights we experienced. If you're interested, you can find it at www.paris-in-may.blogspot.com.

- only 6 weeks to go now until our lovely baby girl will be with us. WOW. Still getting my head around it. I made (a rather long) list of the things I need/want/have to do before she arrives. I'll have to get cracking!

- I'm deep into making mode with a goal of 100 pieces of jewellery made and ready to send out for orders happening whilst I'm enjoying some baby time in the first weeks with Isabella. On track with 50 made so far!

- my business - Love, Angela - has recently received a wonderful injection of talent and expertise from 3 of my favourite people who have all come on board to help me take it to the next level - our wonderful friends Joseph and Richard will be helping me with the 'look' of Love, Angela and reaching more people with my brand of handmade treasures, respectively, and my husband Tim will be using his amazing producing and organisational skills to keep me and my business running smoothly so that I can concentrate on what I do best - design and create (with a little bit of bookeeping thrown in! - that's the next one to get off my list!). I feel very blessed to have such wonderful and talented people around me.

- my website at www.LoveAngela.com.au is undergoing some major renovation at the moment and it's looking FABulous! Joseph, who is a complete genius at capturing the 'look and feel 'of a company or brand and creating fantastic design, is currently conjuring up this magical transformation. Thanks Joe! It should be online within the next few weeks. I'll let you know right here when you can go check it out.

- I've finally taken the plunge and joined Facebook. I hadn't even looked at it before today. Since my husband finds it such a useful tool, especially with a miriad of authors he knows who he can ask questions of any time he needs feedback or a little bit of info for whatever he's working on, I thought it could potentially be an awefully helpful little bit of gear. It could equally turn into another form of communication that I neglect for weeks at a time! If you want to be my friend (or should that be 'fwend' since I feel like I'm 5 years old again asking people to be my friend!) then go find me. Do I need to tell you anything else other than that for you to be able to find me?! - feeling like a technology dunce.....

I think that might be enough of an update to get the ball rolling again! Hope you're having a lovely, sunny Monday like we are here in the Northern Beaches of Sydney.

Ange

In Paris

Yes, we are in Paris! This is my long-looked-forward-to and very first trip to Europe and we are having a truly delicious time.

We have another blog where we've been updated our friends and family of our adventures. It's written mostly to our two lovely boys who are being taken fantastic care of by my wonderful Dad and stepmum, Sandie. We absolutely could not have done this trip without their fabulous and generous help.

So feel free to check out www.paris-in-may.blogspot.com where you'll find lots of photos of gorgeous Paris.

I'll be back in late May and will pull my finger out and get more active on the blog front. I've made a promise to myself!

Til then, au revoir!

What a week!

It has been quite a week with a heck of a lot of life-changing stuff going down. I would have to say it's been a good week. Though, depending on your point of view, I can see why it might not seem that way at first glance.

You see, the major source of income for both Tim and I comes from a non-profit organisation that we run / administer / work for. It's our bread and butter; the steady income that allows us to also follow our dreams. Well, around a week ago, it looked like that income was about to stop. Right now. Over. And, you know, neither of us could find it in ourselves to be very upset about that. I know that's not the usual reaction to losing your job. I mean, we have a mortgage, 2 kids, the usual bills and all the rest of it. But this work isn't what we want to do for the rest of our lives, and we're resourceful people, so we instantly saw this as an opportunity......

And how!

Imagine this for a moment..... what would it feel like if you could sort your finances so that you could take the next year (yes, I said A YEAR) to work just on your dreams? To give your passions the time and focus they need to become fantastically successful so that they become your ONLY source of income. So that you get to do what you love every day! Give up your day job! Make your business dreams a reality!

It kind of spins your head at first, and then it just becomes ...... exciting! Doesn't it?!!

So that's what we've done! Can you imagine! What a way to spend a year! (This kind of talk really does call for a LOT of exclamation marks, doesn't it!!!!!!!!!)

I'll just say that again - we're taking the next year to work on our dreams. I love it. LOVE IT.

Plus, it's also the week that one of my stockists in Melbourne - the gorgeous Emporium Botanica - sent me a nice little cash deposit for sales of my jewellery I've had on consignment with them. Loving it more.

PLUS, I made my first sale on etsy! And to someone who lives only 2 suburbs away from me - to Susan of the lovely blog Isabella Golightly. How about that!

All in all it's been an incredible week that has prompted some good reading to set me on the path. I've just finished Kelly Rae Roberts' Taking Flight - a heck of a good read for someone embarking on a creative adventure such as this. Here's a quote she quotes that kind of sums up the gift ahead of us....

"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. The tragedy is that we ignore so much of it in the interst of getting to the real stuff." Annie Dillard

More than I can say, I'm looking forward to days, to months, spent on the real stuff. Yippee!!!

The Joy of Creating!

This morning I spent a wonderful time creating! I took a couple of jewellery pieces through their final stages to completion, then I spent some time creating some new earrings I've been playing with for a while. And it is such a good feeling to create something entirely new - it's like a drug! I had forgotten what this feels like, since I've been working on making more pieces that I've made before. I just had to share it with you!

May I introduce to you..... Kimono Blossoms. They're long and luxurious and have a gorgeous, crisply black and white floral motif that is so quintessentially Japanese. I love them.

They'll be available in my etsy shop very soon. I hope you like them!

Ange xx

Free Projects for You!

I love wandering around the net looking for creative projects that other wonderfully talented people have come up with. I can spend hours doing it - literally! So I thought I would put this ferretting to good use and share with you some of the amazing stuff that other people are publishing. And it might introduce you to some new favourite blogs that you may not have come across before.

Since babies are on my mind (see my last post), I've got a line-up of baby related projects for you. So let me know what you think and definitely send me photos if you make something! I'm sure the creators of these patterns would love to see your handiwork too.

1. Chickpea Sewing Studio Infant Bib Pattern (pictured above) - a classic bib pattern
2. happythings Basic Chenille Baby Bibs - chenille for extra absorbency
3. Crazy Mom Quilts Bib Tutorial - some lovely machine-quiltyness here
4. Stardust Shoes Cloth Baby Shoes - these are just adorable
5. Embellished Baby Tees by Suzonne Stirling on craftstylish - some no-sew projects here
6. Bitty Booties from Heather Bailey - you may have seen them already, but soo sweet
7. Baby Pixie Hat to knit from Straw.com and CrystalPalaceYarns.com - how cute does that babe look?!
8. Quick and Easy Newborn Hat by Tina Hilton on craftstylish - this one's on my project list

One last one I had to mention... and this one is NOT free. I purchased this pattern recently on etsy from ithinksewdotcom for Red Felt Mary Jane baby shoes. Not only are they adorable, but at $4.50 US, the pattern is very reasonably priced. These are another project on my list!

Happy creating!

Ange

2009 Here I Come!

This is a photo I took in the last couple of days when I was doing my planning for the year. And I was so taken by how cluttered my desk area looks that I've been having a bit of a cleanup and clear out this morning. You see, it has taken me the whole month of January to even partially get my head around what's to be done in 2009 and all that I want to achieve. And maybe the clutter might have had something to do with it because I am now able to, finally, get my thoughts together enough to write a blog post.

And since it has been so long since I have written, I thought I would write a little update of what's been happening. Bullet points will do just nicely as there really is too much. So, in no particular order....

• I'll start with the big and exciting one first - I'm pregnant! Yep, it is big. And we were going to try for a girl come May (after our OS trip - more later) using all the tricks, but this little one had other ideas and decided now is the time. I like to think that the universe didn't need time to manifest a girl for us and simply decided - You asked, and so here she is! - We may even have an ultrasound this time just to determine the gender so that we don't have to wait for the birth to find out!
• Christmas - Tim and I and our 2 little boys had Christmas with my family this year, and since we're rather spread out, that hasn't happened for around 17 years - can you believe that! Though we do see each other a little more frequently than that!
• Paris. Ah, Paris! We will be seeing you in May! This is a trip for my 40th birthday this year. I have long wished to travel to Europe and never managed it, so we are going this year. And even though my birthday is in August, work and the better season in May decided us on that month. And this way, there will be more time to plan my party in August!
• my first baby has started school. Yesterday. I didn't expect to get teary when I hugged him goodbye at the classroom door, but I did anyhow! He is so ready and so excited.

• In November we decided to house-sit some puppies from the local petshop as a trial for eventually getting a dog - something the boys have been asking for a long time. Well, of course, it wasn't long before we got attached to one and decided we didn't want to take her back again. And now we have a lovely cocker spaniel called Pippi. She has been a wonderful thing for the boys, especially Finn who, at times, can be accused of having puppy breath!

• the recent planning I've been doing has helped gather my swirling thoughts and ideas brewing in my head for the year to come. I now have a page on my wall, all colour coded, that plans out my week so that I have time and the headspace to do all of the things that I want to do. And it's really helping me. With the help of my planning-gifted husband, I was able to work out that my business breaks down into the following areas.... making, nurturing, joy and promotion. I came up with the term 'nurturing' for all of those admin tasks that have to be done, and when you say these are tasks that nurture your business, I feel so much more inclined to do them than if I simply call them admin. So boring - and so less likely to get done!
• I'm also make a few additions here on my blog... I have so enjoyed hunting around the net for the wonderful tutorials and projects that others share so generously that I have decided to do the same. So come back soon for some free patterns from me to you! I have also realised that I'm quite good at finding these things, so I'm also going to use my blog to share some of the treasures that I find. In time, I hope you will find my blog a wonderfully useful resource for your creative spirits!
• and, lastly, I'm looking forward to a fabulously creative year with lots of new ideas and lots of things to list in my etsy shop. And not all of them are going to be jewellery. I look forward to showing them to you as they make their way out of my head and into the world!

So here's a final photo of some fabric coasters I made late last year. They may turn up here as a free tutorial. I'm not sure yet.

I'm especially delighted by the bird. It was my first attempt at machine embroidery so it's not so expertly done. But it is my little bird that I created, so I'm quite proud of him. And it's so nice to put my morning cuppa on a coaster that I made. Isn't this the essential delight of handmade! Whether it's made by you or someone else, something of the maker's spirit is there that makes this 'thing' much more than a 'thing' and brings a kind of joy that is quite out of proportion to the usefulness of the item. I love that and I love that other people love that too.

I hope that wherever you are in the world, it is not too cold or too hot and that the world is treating you kindly.

Ange

I'm in an Etsy Treasury!

Ah, what wonderful things to report today....

Firstly, I'm so excited to say that umlauf on etsy has featured me in her pounce on this! treasury! What a lovely surprise and such a wonderful thing to have been chosen by someone to be included in their treasury. I feel very honoured that she chose one of my Kimono pieces (Turquoise Deco Dream, below) to include out of all of the amazing things there are to choose from on etsy. Thankyou.

I did actually make my self-imposed deadline of having my etsy shop up on 15 November. I had one pair of earrings listed.... but my shop was definitely up! I'm finding that taking the photos, editing the photos, writing the description, uploading all of the information and creating the listing really is quite a lengthy process. One which I'm sure I will get betting and quicker at as I do it more and more. Though, I have to say that I really just am so chuffed that I have an etsy shop at all! And I'm definitely enjoying the process and the discovery of it all.

I am also delighted to say that I DID manage to get a ticket to the Amy Butler gathering and she was just lovely. If you have her book Midwest Modern, you do get a sense of her and her inspirations, and this was more of that. She really is as she comes across in print - very warm, natural and lovely. And what talent! One of the nice things I brought away with me from that evening is that, if she can do it, so can I. And by that I mean - create a really successful creative business that inspires and fulfills me every day.

And that brings me to my last point. I had a moment of clear inspiration yesterday. And here it is. You might need to hang in there while I explain... What would happen if I lived my life without fear? What if I lived my life without doubt, worry, concern, lack of confidence? What would happen if I lived from a place that saw things as an adventure, with a "let's do this and see what happens" attitude, from a place of optimism, with a belief that whatever I need (resources, people, help, etc) will turn up at just those moments when I need those things, from a place where what we might see as a failure is actually a door through which I am passing to get to something even better than the thing I was aiming for? How would that be?

I can tell you, it was the most freeing feeling. A feeling that lifted me up and washed away all doubt. And now I'm going to try to go forward with that feeling. The first thing I've resolved to do is the Life InSTYLE trade expo in Sydney in late February. It's time to get my stuff out there in a bigger way. Heck, if I don't try this, how will I know? So, I'm going to stop fear from getting in my way and just do it.

So, here's wishing inspired action to anyone else who needs it this week! I'm off to apply to be included in Life InSTYLE... this could be good!

Amy Butler in Sydney

Amy Butler is coming to town! How cool is that. I have her gorgeous book above and I'm so inspired by her - her fabric, attitude, take on life, creativity and her amazingly successful business she's created doing what she loves. I hope to be as successful some day.

So, I'm heading off to the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth tomorrow evening to see if I can harvest a few pearls of wisdom. And I'm really looking forward to it. And excursion on my own! Normally I have 2 little boys in tow. Here are the details....

WHERE: Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
DATE: Thursday 20 November 2008
TIME: 7.00pm

I just clicked over to the info I have to make sure I had these details right, only to be reminded that I have to BUY a ticket. I absolutely forgot about that part. Hate that. So let's see if my plea for help for 1 ticket will be successful. I would not be at all surprised if this had sold out weeks ago. Ah well, it's in the lap of the gods now.

If you go, come back and tell me about it?....

Etsy Here I Come!

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I’ve been planning it for a while and now it’s serious!

I’m working away writing copy, preparing stock, taking photos and pricing postage costs to get my Etsy site up and running! You can find it at www.LoveAngelaHandmade.com.au.

It’s daunting and exciting at the same time. I mean, I’ve had a website showing my jewellery for some time now but I haven’t been able to sell via that site except if someone emails me. So this is taking online sales to a whole new - and better - place.

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I’ve had my jewellery in around 12 stores here in Australia for the past year or so, which I love. The thing that really excites me about Etsy is that, unlike a store, you don’t necessarily have to produce a piece in quantity in order for it to be considered. So, if I want to, I can produce just one of something and put that up for sale. And I can sew any number of the stack of ideas that I have in my head, and put them up. Stores want quantity, which one can’t always provide when creating handmade. Whilst the essence of Etsy IS handmade - unique - individual - and I love that!

So, if you’d like to be notified of my Etsy site’s Grand Opening, just send an email to angela@loveangela.com.au. And to all of those lovely people who do so, if you buy something from LoveAngelaHandmade in the first 2 weeks after opening, POSTAGE WILL BE FREE. From Australia, at this point that’s looking like a saving of more than $10. Can you believe it?!

You’ll also be the first to know about any future specials, promotions, new stock, and any other lovely stuff I can come up with.

It’s like world domination, jewellery-style!

Have a great weekend everyone!

And congratulations to Barack Obama and America - I wish you great times ahead!

Improv Everywhere - you gotta see this!

I was just reminded of a fantasic YouTube piece I saw on some clever person's blog some time ago (thankyou whoever you are!) by Improv Everywhere called Frozen Grand Central.

Heck, I could be really behind the times and you've seen it ages ago. But just in case you haven't, I'll let them explain it....

"On a cold Saturday in New York City, the world’s largest train station came to a sudden halt. Over 200 Improv Everywhere Agents froze in place at the exact same second for five minutes in the Main Concourse of Grand Central Station."

It is so clever and so funny. I guarantee it will bring a smile to your face. I cried with laughter. Check it out here.

Thanks to 52 Projects for the reminder about these guys. 52 Projects have a YouTube piece up on Improv Everywhere's Human Mirror Mission. Lovely stuff. Go check it out too.

And if anyone can teach me how to get a YouTube video into my blog post, I'm all ears!! Teach me oh Blog Masters!

Hope you're having great week!

Ange

PS And thankyou to Tania of The Crafter's Companion fame (I have been coveting this book for sooo long... birthday soon!!... maybe??) for the link to 52 Projects!

Little by little

Well, I think I'm getting the hang of this now. And even though I'm not posting regularly yet, I am starting to view the world in a different way. I'm taking more notice, getting the camera out more often and storing thoughts away in my head. I'm noticing the little things.

And I look forward to sharing more of those things as time goes by. I also look forward to my blog becoming some kind of journal or diary that I hope my boys will be able to appreciate as I share some of them here, as I see other blogging mothers do. What a wonderful record of them as they grow. So much more than a photo album. Isn't technology fantastic.

So, I'd like to introduce them to you - please meet my two lovely boys, Zak and Finn. They will be 5 and 3, respectively, in October. I know other mums give their children nicknames online and I'd welcome anyone's point of view as to why you prefer to write about your little (or not so little) ones this way. I'm not sure that anyone could work out where exactly we live from my blog so I'm not sure why the altered names are necessary. Please share if you have any thoughts on this.

Here is a little something from our moveable gallery (aka, the pavers out the back). It's getting rather full so we will have to have a hose down soon so that my little artists can start again...

Here's Zak's chalk man - he's only recently started to really get into making drawings of recognisable things, previously always preferring to draw in the abstract or have me draw something for him. So I love this one... and the lovely foot.

Then there's Finn's chalk house. There's such beauty in simplicity....

Then a butterfly for Mummy from Zak....

Lovely boys.