Absence gave room for creativity to flourish...

My absence in blog land for 2 weeks out of this month was to take stock, refocus and put the hard yard in with some new designs.
I'm making up for my time away by taking part in tinniegirls 7 days of loot glorious loot. (I'll have day fours offering for ye'all a little later)

For now, I need to show off some of my new products.
Locals would have had a sneak preview at the Thornbury market on the weekend, but for my interstate and international comrades........check these out.
First up are these fabulous scissor holders. I created them as a special place to hold your number one scissors. You know the ones that no-one is allowed to touch.
Growing up I remember needing to cut up sticky tape, and egg cartons for sculptural masterpieces in grade 3. Now, as an 8 year old, my only thought when looking for tools of the trade where merely 'if it cuts, it'll do' I didn't know why mum's special scissors were any different to the orange handled ones I could never find. Well actually the one noticeable difference was the look on mums face when I got caught using the singer shears!!!! Runnnnn........

Now of course, I have become my mother in so many ways, especially imitating that look on my face if anyone.....anyone I tells yah, touches my special scissors. Ye'all know that you may as well forget about cutting chiffon if your tools of the trade have been cutting up egg cartons.
Oh, you know my other scissor problem. When I really really need them, they hide. Off with the odd socks I think.
So now a beautiful, funky and oh so useful scissor holder to hang on the wall behind your machine, safe and sound.Next I turned my attention to a much needed recipe card holder. Much needed as I have recently begun a healthy eating plan. Not so much a traditional diet, to lose weight, but more of a well being plan. I've just been so run down lately. 33 turning 55. Know that feeling?

It would be silly of me to go to a Doctor or nutritionist when I know full well that I'm not drinking my water, that fruit and vegetables rot in the crisper whilst I chow down on chocolate and bread, glorious bread.
So yeah, major overhaul needed, to start putting the good things back in. First of I pulled out all the recipe books. 20 or more, I kid you not. All with little bit's of paper sticking out. So me thinks there's got to be a better way.

The recipe card holder was born. Now all your favourite recipes can be in one place. Doesn't take up much space on the bench and is categorised to easily find the one your after. Even better is the fact you can pull out the one card you need, and work off that instead of trying to balance a cook book on your little work space. The cards are lined so you can write up you own, but you could also glue on ones you'd cut out of a magazine.
Perfect timing too was the release of this little cookbook from Northcote Primary, my daughters school. It's a collaboration of favourite recipes from families at the school. My favourite is the 'hummus with hidden veggies' you know we gotta squeeze them in where we can.

Lastly on the stitching front is a range of store/loyalty card holders. Finally!!!
I have had my prototype in test mode for months now, and couldn't be happier.
I've learnt that my everyday cards must stay in my purse, think license, credit, debit and all the rest go in the holder. From the video, library and lay by cards to the big city chic, doctor and hairdressers cards. You can't believe how streamlined and lightweight my purse is now.

The holder comes with a hook and ring to attach it to your handbag inner or outer zip, so you don't need to go fishing around the bottom.

I'll be trying my up most to upload these to my Etsy store over the next few days. Home with bubba, so sometimes things take a little longer than planned.

Keep posted for my next update on loot, glorious loot and tomorrow some more of my new products.