Finki

A little bit of grounding...

2012-01-05T10:30:00.007+11:00

Gosh so much going on, but then not really much at all.

For me January is a holiday. A holiday from work and making anyway.

Gnomey in our herb patch.

Time to be with the kids over the holidays and reconnect with family and friends.

(Us with Grandma dot at X-mas)

After such a full on period of work from October to December it sorta feels like January is a jam packed month of making up for lost time.

Cooking, cleaning, de-cluttering and just hanging out.
We have gone through all the cupboards and bookshelves and donated bag upon bag of STUFF.
Stuff that just clutters up our little space and creates such and energy block.

We've been growing herbs, potatoes,

(Kizzy's first batch of potatoes churned out this awesome heart shaped potato. Guess it was grown with love)

lettuce,

and filling our home with fruit and veg.

I do fall into that cliche model of being... who hits January and starts fresh with diet, exercise and reconnecting with all the important things I need to balance my self and start the year with new vigour. Hopelessly predictable, but it works for me, so why not!

I just finished my first e-course in December on surface and pattern design, which absolutely blew my mind with the amazing amount of content. Activities and ideas that will take me another month to process.

Then I have another e-course starting in a few weeks. Hello soul, hello business. I'm very excited by this one.
Hoping to re-connect with my creative soul and start making things from the heart again.
It's far to easy to get caught up in making and re-making and filling orders e.t.c that you just lose your mojo and feel like it's ages since you sat in front of a blank canvas and took time...really took time, to make from the heart.

Image via here

So my January, as always is about finding my centre, finding balance again. Re-connecting and starting fresh.
Happy new year to you all, I hope you are finding yourself grounded and prepared for an awesome 2012.
Jay xx

From little things...

2011-12-22T10:53:00.007+11:00

Seems not that long ago that I was stressing out about my little girl making friends on her first day of primary school and today as the bell rings for the last time, I'll be thinking about how sad it will be for her to say goodbye to all those friends she has made over the last seven years.

Today's last day of school not only marks the beginning of summer holidays for my girl, but the ending of Primary school. A time of transition into so many new things. High school...a whole new bunch of kids and teachers to meet, a whole new routine to greet each day... all whilst growing up from a child to a young adult.

She seems to be handling it all o.k. albeit with a touch of sadness in knowing, that only one other person she knows is going to the same high school as her. But with social media what it is today, mobiles and such it's so much easier to keep in touch with old friends, so we'll do our best to maintain old friendships whilst new ones are formed.

On Monday night the event was marked with graduation.

A night to reflect on old times, appreciate all they have achieved and receive there graduation certificates.

School had put together a touching video, showing footage of the kids as preppies interspersed with the class answering questions asked today about there highlights, challenges and hopes for the future.
So nice to see responses from 'I dunno' and 'I always wanted to be a garbage man' to 'I'll be a lawyer' or 'I want to go to university'

The children are our future ... and sometimes amidst making sure they are fed, clothed and arrive to school on time I sorta forget that they are growing up sooo quickly and forming there own opinions on the way this world works and there place in it. BIG STUFF.
Really big stuff.

So I'm so grateful for days like these, that bring it all home. Celebrate achievements and offer wishes for our kids future. Next year is gunna be huge and my little girl is sooo ready for it.

Me though, I sometimes think she's still such a little thing..

Jay xx

The doll house...

2011-12-22T09:26:00.012+11:00

After a crazy two months of preparing stock for Christmas, December has been all about birthdays and making presents.

We have two birthdays this month. My niece and my father in law.
F.I.L was born on Christmas day, so I can't spoil the surprise by showing his gifts yet, but for our spunky little niece we have had a project on the go for months.

The 'doll house'

Completely made by hand, via the uber talented F.I.L, then a major group effort in painting and decorating.

Sorta felt like renovation rescue, when we were handed a shell on a Wednesday with a few days left to completely decorate and fit out, ready for gift giving.

From the check tiled kitchen complete with disco balls and flying ducks, to the couch upholstered with vintage tea towels, it certainly has turned out to be OOAK.

Let me give you a tour.

Bathroom complete with shower curtain, towels and even a grandpa on the toilet.

Kids room, with draws and handmade bed.

Master bedroom, so chic....

dining,

kitchen,

and lounge.

Such an amazing amount of work went into making it and I'm sure at some stage we all said...maybe we should have just bought one.

But the end result is something so much more then money could buy.

Yay, for hand made.

Jay xx

Ducks...

2011-12-20T10:32:00.000+11:00

Just a little show n' tell of the pieces I came up with for the 'Flight of the ducks' exhibition over at Gleaners.

I went with jewellery as that's my thing...

and found an old Morgans street directory of Melbourne that I cut up.
I used page 44... the best bit of town of course.
It Covers the area from my house to Liz's lovely shop on Ballarat st.

Then I cut some duckies out of black card stock and embedded them in resin.

Too cute.
Jay xx

Calling all ducks...

2011-12-14T22:44:00.004+11:00

When the lovely Liz put out the call for crafty peeps to make ducky things for her first Gleaners exhibition, I just couldn't refuse.

Didn't matter that it was my busiest making month of the year, that I was in the middle of an e-course, had an upcoming open studio and high school orientations to attend.

Nah... not too busy, She'll be right.

Well, in retrospect I did possibly over commit, but Somehow... god knows how...I managed to make the time to sit down and design/make some awesomeness for the first ever exhibition to be held at Gleaners.

I can't spoil the opening by showing you my offering, but I can invite you to come see for yourselves the duck extravaganza...

Sydney Rd has much to offer on opening night too...

After the opening of 'Flight of the ducks' why not head down to the late night 'Sisters Market' at Brunswick town hall and then on to Olive Grove studios for our late night shopping....shops open till 9 Yay.
A night positively jam packed with handmade delights.

Might see you there.
Jay xx

Open studio on Wednesday....

2011-12-12T09:05:00.010+11:00

This year I'm lucky enough to be part of an open studio event over at Tinniegirl's.
The perfect opportunity to have a sticky beak at the artist studio and original works.

We'll have a mini market set up offering a range of goodies
from Curlypops, Tinniegirl and Moi.
Perfect for dropping in after work and
hopefully crossing a few things off those X-mas lists.

I'll mainly have clothes and cuddlies, so please do drop me a line
if you'd like to see something in particular from my range.

Original Artwork by Tinniegirl

Everyone is welcome
just check the details below to get the address.

Open Studio & End of Year Celebration

Wednesday 14th December 2011
4 – 9pm

Prints, Cards, Jewellery, Stationary, Clothes,
Original Artworks, Cushions & More
Special Guests, Camille Condon {CurlyPops}, Jaylene Juanita {Finki Handmade}

It's a great opportunity to celebrate the end of the year, get together for a glass of bubbles, have a peak into my studio and creative process, and do a little Christmas shopping if you feel so inclined.

If you'd like to come along
please email me at tinniegirl/at/optusnet.com.au
and I'll send you my street address.

All welcome.

Hope to see you there,
Jay xx

{finkigirl} market debut....

2011-12-02T09:34:00.004+11:00

The entire {finkigirl} range of jools and works of the artist celebrated,
the fabulous Cathy Kirwan...

will be available tonight at the lovely Made n' Thornbury market.

So if your in the neighborhood, passing by on your way home from work or just looking for a great way to start some handmade Christmas shopping, do pop by.

It's an evening event running from 4- 8pm.

We'll have all our goodies in Silver and gold, the fantastic new lockets
and our new celebrated artworks 'Shine' and 'Journey'.

Hope to see you there.
Jay xx

Boy oh boy have I got a lot to show n' tell...

2011-11-29T21:13:00.012+11:00

I've been in overdrive getting all my goodies stocked up for the craziness of December.

So I won't be too wordy with this post, just lots of lovely pics of all the fun stuff coming out of my studio these last few weeks.

Our latest additions to the {finkigirl} range feature the artwork 'Shine and Journey'

We have also extended the range to offer silver and old gold in every piece,
including these fab new lockets that are just running out the door...

Bit of re stocking in the men's corner. Cuff links, bags, cards and badges.

Necklaces galore, from fabric covered buttons and scrabble tiles to tea cups and resin.

New 'Hello Dolly' skirts and 3/4 sleeve cardi's

Totally restocked all my resin clippies, brooches and earrings.

Made some cool screen printed cuddlies and girls singlets.

Finally got round to using some of my cool laser cut shapes for necklaces and a few other tidbits.

and lastly earrings galore.

Resin hooks in silver and old gold, ceramic birdies,
wire wrapped Czech beads and a splash of silver.
All available down at Olive Grove.

Whew...think I'm gunna sleep now.
Jay xx

Another year over...

2011-11-28T11:50:00.007+11:00

....and a new one's just begun.

Ti's the time of year for cake, candles and changing that little number in my profile blurb.
Another year older and wiser and still loving my thirties much more then any other decade.

I continue to learn more about myself and my place in this world every day.
Learning, growing and playing.
I hope I never stop learning or stop wanting to.

I won't reel off a list of this years activities, achievements and bridges crossed.
Just know, it was a good one.
One that gives me great enthusiasm for the year to come and all it has to offer.

My day, or weekend really... has been a whirlwind of,

Yummy things,

little things,

crafty hearty awesome things,

and funny things,

A man of many words, this is the inside of my Birthday card from the littlest.
He actually didn't want to write anything.
He just wanted to give it as is, cause it had a cool dinosaur on the front. Hee hee...

All I could wish for and more.
Thanks for another year.
Jay xx

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

2011-11-16T11:50:00.007+11:00

It sure is...

For me this brings a certain amount of mixed emotions. Well I'm sure it does for everyone matter of fact.
My scenario is, the inevitable excitement of shopping... did I mention I love shopping! Then I also have the job of making sure people have things to shop for.

So on the work front it is crazy busy with a list bigger then I could possibly wish to achieve. But so long as I tick something off every so often and have that sense of achieving something, then it's O.K

A few ticks this week go to...

Firstly, getting some bunting done.

I was thinking for tree trimming but I like it so much that mine has become a permanent fixture above my desk. Mum the master of faster crochet than I, did all the lovely stars for me then I got to sit and join them all together ready for the shop.

Next I ticked off the task of having some new men's tees done...

'T-rex takes Melbourne' is the title of this fun shirt.

I did for a milli second contemplate just having the fabulous Melbourne city skyline as the feature print, but in true Finki form, I had to add a little quirkiness or it just wouldn't be me.
I decided my philosophy with men's tee's would be, 'Ask yourself Jay, would Sheldon wear it' For those not up with eccentric geeky dude Sheldon cooper of Big Bang Theory you may wander 'What the'.
Well what I mean is my style, I have come to realise is bright, bold, fun and sometimes a little retro. Similar to the stylings of our adorable geek Sheldon.
So as much as Melbournians, my home town, do love their black, I shall be trying my darndest to break that mould.

Moving on...
Ladies tee's is the the other thing I can tick off my list.

I did a run of 'Sweeping swallow' in four great summer colors.

So yay for ticking things off the list, makes me feel a little more prepared for the craziness that is Christmas.

Now time for some more shopping.
Oh....and it's not all Christmas shopping. I just find ALL stores focus on stocking there shops to the max with awesomeness right NOW. So it is the best time to shop, for upcoming birthdays e.t.c. Give it a month though and you'll be starting to see the shelves bare as they move off summer and X-mas and start getting ready for Easter!
Maybe not that dramatic, but you catch my drift.
Jay xx

A new range...

2011-11-08T09:58:00.009+11:00

Finally I can spill the beans on the secret squirrel business I have been working on of late.

It's been a crafty collaboration a long time in the making.

Not so much that we had been planning it for a long time, more so that when we met so many years ago during our first foray into markets I knew... I just knew that this day would come.

We were both just beginning to take our craft seriously and wonder if we could make a business of it. We both struggled with self acceptance and forms of expression. Wanting to create but not entirely sure what path it would take.

I do believe we are still both on a journey, a creative path that for each of us is so different but has led us to this point in time, this T- intersection in the road that has found us both standing at the same spot at the same time. Confident in our own abilities and creative talent and wandering which path to walk down next.

Well I tell you, the path we have chosen is very exciting and I'm very proud and all tingly to share the results of our first collaboration.

{Finkigirl}

Brought to you by Cathy Kirwan (aka Tinniegirl) and I.

Our first range, celebrating four pieces of art titled
Grow, Acts of love, Abundance and Surrender,

are available in store at Olive Grove studios
or online at Tinniegirl.

Working with my love of colors and Cathy's amazing use of color in her artwork has been an absolute joy.

The range so far incorporates earrings and rings,

bracelets,

and pendants.

Image via Tinniegirl on etsy

I just adore every piece we've made, and hope you do too.
Hooray for crafty collaborations.
Jay xx

This is the end....Blogtoberfest day 31.

2011-10-31T09:28:00.000+11:00

Beautiful friends, the end....

Image via : here

Ahh nothing like a bit of J.M to help say goodbye, farewell, adios amigos...this is the end.
The end of another great Blogtoberfest.
A month full of blogging, daily adventures in craft, life and love.

It has been lovely to share a little more of me with ye'all and in return to learn a little more about so many of you. I still plan on sitting down with the big list of participants on Tinniegirls blog and making it a point of dropping by every single one. So please keep the list up Ms T, I have some great reading ahead of me.

I have to say, thank you to all the real bloggers I visit every other day. Some blogtober participants, some not...People like Michelle of button tree lane, Thornberry, Cath of Chunky chooky and Cathy of Tinniegirl our hostess with the mostess.

Art Journal page by : Teesha Moore.

By real...I mean, these are woman who talk about heart and soul, share there losses and sorrow, who show themselves in leggings and half made frocks and who are not afraid to just be themselves.

You all remind me that even though we like to share the joy, craft and happiness in our lives, we all relate to each other on a whole different level when we share the other parts of our lives that aren't so candid and glamorous.

You ladies have made me smile, made me cry, inspired me and humbled me.

Through this wonderful journey of Blogtoberfest, each year I grow a little and remember that I am not alone in this big old world.
Most importantly I remember how important it is to keep it real.

Happy end of Blogtoberfest everyone. Didn't it go fast.
Jay xx

First excursion...Blogtoberfest day 30.

2011-10-30T21:14:00.008+11:00

On Friday the wee one had his first ever excursion.

When his childcare centre asked if we were coming to the excursion, you could have knocked me over with a feather. What the ! He's only 3. How will you manage twenty under 4's on an excursion, were my thoughts.

I can't even manage one sometimes.
Alas, parents come too. Whew... Yep, he can go .

The excursion was to see a puppet play at the arts center in the city.

Didn't matter where it was really, the most exciting part was catching a train to the city.
Little man has many a time pointed to the city skyline from the car
and said "go there daddy"' So he was hyped about just GOING TO THE CITY.

The train ride there, was mainly a little boy staring out the window
as the city got bigger and bigger and closer and closer.

Once we arrived we headed the the little park near the center for our picnic,

where the sculptural black waves were much more fun then sitting down and eating lunch.

The play all about zoo animals, was just perfect for our groups age and the most exciting recollection of the day from the mouths of babes was... the city is huge (pronounced hooj) and the elephant did a poo on the stage!

Gotta love him.
Jay xx

Skirts to match...Blogtoberfest Day 29.

2011-10-29T21:00:00.000+11:00

The rest of the story to go with yesterdays cardi's,

are these new a-line skirts...

Well not super matchy, but tonal and super good looking all together.
Yay, for another step forward in finishing my sewing for the year.

Next I'm working on some awesome dresses and cardi's for November.
Jay xx

One thing ticked off the list...Blogtoberfest day 28.

2011-10-28T20:42:00.000+11:00

Finally got round to making up new cardi's in chocolate and forest,

to match the skirts on the way...
Yay for ticking things off the todo list.
Jay xx

Like a moth to a flame...Blogtoberfest day 27.

2011-10-27T23:49:00.002+11:00

That's what it looks. Moths hoarding around the light...

But really, it's the final stage of setting resin.

A little heat so they cure just right.

Nearly time for show and tell.
Jay xx

Sunnies so swish...Blogtoberfest day 26.

2011-10-26T09:45:00.002+11:00

My latest addition of crafty cool, to add to my bag...

Is this fabbo sun glasses case, by the talented Curlypops.

I have a terrible track record with keeping sunnies in one piece, so here's hoping that my new little pouch keeps them safe n' sound.

Thanks Cam, I luvs them.
Jay xx

I can't show you it's face...Blogtoberfest day 25.

2011-10-25T09:09:00.000+11:00

Blurred to protect it's true identity,

But I can tell you, it's awesome, beautiful and shall be revealed soon.

Jay xx

One good thing...Blogtoberfest day 24.

2011-10-24T09:08:00.000+11:00

One good thing about this spaz weather, is there are still these random cold days allowing opportunity for one to wear some of the new tights she got in the mail yesterday...

Stripes where the first packet opened,

and I'm not entirely sure I pulled it off... Wee bit witchy poo, But I likes them
and maybe there's a little witch in me anyway, that likes to come out to play.

WARNING: Lots more photo's of brightly colored plus size legs will be on show here... soon!

Jay xx

P.s
For those of you who love stripes and bright colored tights they come from 'We love colors' and they do actually fit a plus size gal. (They have smaller sizes too)
I was a bit worried they wouldn't, as some plus size gals have those wee little curvylicious legs with dainty ankles and all.
I do not.
But they fit anyway...cankles and all... and are plenty tall enough. Yay!

Hung out to dry...Blogtoberfest day 23.

2011-10-23T11:44:00.000+11:00

Hasn't the weather been crazy, seems a low topic to present, but really...

I had some washin' and dryin' to do and read the forecast of 14 and showers.
So I ruled today out as wash day, but tomorrow had promise of 27...

Didn't really believe it, but boy oh boy it was a splendid summer day.

So the new skirts got a pre wash and hung out to dry,

An important step to get all the shrinkage out.

Then today again, 16 and showers. Chuck in a couple of thunderstorms for good measure.
I guess that's a typical Melbourne spring. But every year, I forget.
Jay xx

Secret squirrel stuff...Blogtoberfest day 22.

2011-10-22T21:13:00.004+11:00

I've been delving back into some beading to stock up at the shop,

which has reminded me how much I love it.

Such a stress free fun way to pass time, so it makes perfect sense that it's an avenue I have chosen to walk down a little further with a new secret squirrel collaboration I'm working on.

I can't tell you much, but I'm very excited about the new range of jewels you'll see here.... soon.
Jay xx

Got me some bunting...Blogtoberfest day 21.

2011-10-21T19:41:00.005+11:00

Boy oh boy, I've been hanging out to get me a bunting necklace ever since I saw them on Betty Jo's blog.

So today I made the trip to her new shop for a sticky beak and to grab one of my own.

Gleaners is the exciting new store opened by Liz of Betty Jo fame
and that girl....I tells yah, she's got taste.

Beautiful range of recycled, up cycled, retro and vintage delights,
great displays and of course the friendliest service this side of town.

Putty tat likes my necklace too...

Silly me I had walked past the lane way twice this week not realising it was so close to my work. So if you know Brunswick, or not...it's just around the corner from Spotlight and it's seconds away from the Sydney rd tram. Very easy to get to.

You could make a day of it and come see me at Olive Grove, pop in for some op shopping at Savers, see Liz at Gleaners then dine at any one of the awesome cafes or yummy Turkish restaurants on Sydney rd.

Jay xx

I want to be a hippie... Blogtoberfest day 20.

2011-10-20T18:45:00.000+11:00

It's the time of year for school concerts, formals and wrapping it all up.
There is a mixture of happiness and sadness going on, the feelings we both share for the adventures to come and the ones left behind as my little big girl finishes off her last year of primary school.

The play for the end of year concert was 'Dear Prudence'.

A wonderful mix of Beatles songs alongside a story about a boy and a girl.

It was hard to hold back the tears when the preppy's came out to sing and dance, as my thoughts were on my grade sixer and how I'll never see her in another primary school play.
When did my little girl grow up? Seems only yesterday that we dropped her off for her first day, had her first camp and stuck her first piece of artwork on the fridge.

Gosh time flies when you have kids.

Emotions aside, end of year concert was awesome. Every song was played by the school band, every song was sung by the kids...and some of those kids, boy are they gunna be famous. Voices that make your hair stand on end. Amazing.

My baby, well suitably, her class sang revolution and ran about on stage with protest banners,
flares and lots of tie dye tee's.

Sorta reminds me of my 16th...so long ago now.
I had a hippie party and wore flowers in my hair too.
Ahh the old days.

Jay xx

Taking it slow...Blogtoberfest day 19.

2011-10-19T09:18:00.000+11:00

Taking it slow and finally using the slow cooker.

We bought this baby last winter and never got around to using it.

It takes being organised enough with ingredients early morning to have a meal on the cook all day and me being organised with food in the fridge is usually not an event that happens often.
I'm more of a hit 5 o'clock, feel hunger, go to shops and buy food to cook sort of gal.

I totally get that if I plan a whole menu for the week, shop for it and be that wee bit more organized I could probably save myself time and money, but food shopping kills me.
It's like torture.

Those brightly lit, humungo stores, where the sour cream is not in the same section as the yogurt and I end up backtracking more then once for things I missed, only after I forget to bring a gold coin so I can secure a trolley to begin the journey. Aughhh...

So at max, I'll shop for three days worth of meals at once.
At least that way the food stays fresh, without opportunity to turn into unidentifiable objects in the bottom fridge drawers.

Shopping woes aside, we planned ahead on school holidays and chose a day where my little big girl would cook for everyone. With interstate rellies over, it ended up being 12 she was cooking for, but it all went smoothly. Dinner was good old silverside, white sauce etc. The works.

But the best part, was the red wine vanilla poached pears, cooked in the slow cooker.

The smell all day was divine and the flavour was melt in your mouth.

Definitely a method of cooking we have taken on board.
quite possibly just for the amazing aromas that fill the house all day.
Yum!

Jay xx

Still on the maxi's...Blogtoberfest day 18.

2011-10-18T14:06:00.000+11:00

Maxi skirt week this week.

So after drafting my pattern, it was cut, cut, sew, sew
to get them ready for the shop.

Today's additions are the stripes.

With matching tee's of course!

Can't help myself.

Jay xx

Look Mum, some pink. Blogtoberfest day 17.

2011-10-17T13:56:00.000+11:00

I do have a wee aversion to all things pink.
Not sure why, but it is just one of those colors that does not appeal to me.
I love it on others, but just not on me.

So in a sheer act of impulse I got this gorgeous fabric
simply because it had pineapples on it,

and made up a batch of maxi skirts. Soo cute.

Also made black and gray skirts and found I could not put skirts in store that didn't have a matching tops,

So made a few of those too.

And the pink...well this shade of it anyway, it's growing on me.

Jay xx

Something for everyone...Blogtoberfest day 16

2011-10-16T11:18:00.009+11:00

The littlest doesn't quite get, that Sundays are about sleeping in.
So at 7am, after half an hour of harassment I figured we may as well get up for the day.

The sun was shining and we had two hours to kill before hubby had to go to work, so we decided to do a quick dash over to our local trash and treasure market.
Today, we actually found something for everyone.

The littlest always finds some form of plane, train or automobile for under a dollar.

Today it was a ship and car.
Hours of fun.

Little miss found part 9 and 10 of a series of books she is reading...

Hubby found an Astro boy bag...

and I got this awesome tin to collect money for your household bills.

I saw it a local bazaar recently for $45 and loved it, but wasn't willing to pay the $$$.

So when it was offered today for $12 I grabbed it.
Was the dearest item for the day, but I loves it.

Happy Sunday to you all,
Jay xx

I tawt I saw a putty tat! ... Blogtoberfest day 15.

2011-10-15T10:59:00.000+11:00

New cat,

Loves the new clock from Savers...

and won't stop pouncing on it.

So instead of having it on the table in the craft room waiting to be painted,
It's hanging on the wall safe and sound, till I have time to give it a face lift.
Teal, I'm thinking.

Happy Saturday.
Jay xx

How does one manage one self...Blogtoberfest day 14.

2011-10-14T09:49:00.009+11:00

As a small business owner I have only myself to answer to, so early on I learnt that I had to develop some sort of routine to keep everything in check, otherwise I would get consumed by the daily to do lists well before I even got myself out of bed.

So these days my day begins just as it would if I was working for the man.
I'm up and showered early along with the rest of the family getting ready for school and work. After seeing them off I put on the kettle for my morning cuppa.

Lately chai blends have been my tea of choice, but when that's out,

Earl grey is my morning wake up.

From tea and brekky, I move on to emails, blog, facebook.

A little bit of catching up and keeping in touch.
So important to know what's happening in your world and to be a part of it.

Then it's on to the to do list.
To sort out my week and break it down into what is achievable for the day.
I tend to overestimate what I can achieve in one day, but I don't beat myself up if I didn't get it all done.

A great quote I read once, said
'Don't try and do it all in one day, leave some for tomorrow,
cause then you have a reason to jump out of bed in the morning and get going '
Made sense to me.
So I start my days work finishing off yesterdays list, giving me a sense of accomplishment for finishing something, which then gives me the energy to move on to today's list.

From there it's work till 1 then stop for lunch.

I used to work right through, but that would set me up for rushing through things on an empty stomach, which led to mistakes. I would also muck up my eating for the day as I'd end up eating lunch at 4 then be making dinner for everyone at 5.30 and totally not interested in eating it.

So lunch at one it is. Which come rain hail or shine is my time to sit on the veranda and get me some fresh air. 30 minutes to eat and another check in on the computer before I head back to the studio till 5.

After that, it's time to pack up my mess for the day, close the door on the studio and start dinner.

I don't work weekends and I don't work nights and even though I have a preferred daily routine ... sometimes I just go op shopping instead.

It's been over 3 years since I started this work for myself gig and it really has taken me this long to streamline it.

I first tried being there for family all day, then work from 8-pm to the wee hours...that just led to sleeping in and stuffing up my eating and energy levels for the day.

I tried doing 3 days a week, so I could have kids home 2 days, and that just led to me stealing time at nights and on weekends to craft.

Then I tried admitting to myself, that this is my life, this is something I really enjoy and this should be my job.
So I accepted that, quit my day job and I started to treat it as my 9 to 5 and now... It seems to be working.

It is so important, to not kid yourself with these things.

Image via my pinterset board

If you eat, breathe and sleep a certain something, if you wake up and go to sleep each day thinking about it,

I reckon that's a bloody good sign that you need to start living that life.

Image via Pinterest.

I used to work for the man and I often tell friends, I'd be there all day thinking about what I wanted to make when I got home, then I'd get home and be exhausted having worked for the man and couldn't make anything.

Neither working or crafting got the best of me. They both got half of me. The tired and cranky and preoccupied half of me.

So leaving the rat race was the best decision I ever made.

Image via here.

It wasn't easy and it sure took time to work out my routines.
To balance everything and make sure I was making enough to put food on the table each night.
But therein lies the challenge.

It was never meant to be easy, it was just supposed to feel right. To feel as though I was living an authentic life, listening to my heart and following my dreams. I think when you come from that place of absolute honesty, of responding to such a basic instinct, you can't go wrong.

So there you have it.

That's how I manage myself and my day.
No amazing insights, just hard work, a little bit of structure and being honest with myself.

Jay xx

What's a girl to put on her jugs, a follow up... Blogtoberfest day 13

2011-10-13T12:13:00.004+11:00

A follow up on yesterdays post about new jug covers.
Something else to put on yer jugz...

Afternoon tea...of course!

Image via my mother-in-laws Pinterest board of 'Naughty Nana's'
Jay xx

What's a girl to put on her jugs...Blogtoberfest day 12

2011-10-12T13:34:00.003+11:00

Well, a jug cover of course...

You weren't thinking of any other jugs were you!

With our Aussie summer fast approaching, we welcome the outdoor picnics,
B.B.Q's and the inevitable barrage of insects that come with dining outdoors.
Ti's perfect timing for some doily decor'.

So Mum...the crochet queen, has the stick out and on full speed to whip up an awesome range of jug covers for the shop. Perfect to keep bee's out of your homemade lemonade, crickets out of your pickles and jam's and possibly even just to make your picnics look darn cute.

Love them.
Jay xx

Tweet...Blogtoberfest day 11.

2011-10-11T07:59:00.000+11:00

Tweet of the bird, not the social networking thingo.

Lovin' the birdies on my new skirt.

The latest from Polly Pratt designs down at Olive Grove.

I fell in love with the fabric the minute it walked in the door,
and it totally fits in with my not buying anything black.
I am wearing it with black...

But you wait till I get my new tights from 'We love colors'.

image via: we love colors
Plus sizes in an awesome range of prints and colors.

It will be a color explosion.
Thanks for the tip off on that one too Michelle.
Catch yah tomorrow.

Jay xx

Objet D'art... Blogtoberfest day 10

2011-10-10T06:58:00.001+11:00

The newest addition to my jewellery box, is this fabbo set of babushka earrings

made by the talented Sue over at Divajools.

I have followed her blog for a while now, drooling over her absolutely amazing silversmith skills and her awesome ability to take tankards, spoons, tins and tray and turn them into delights to behold.

Objet d'art at it's finest.

Boy do I feel special owning a pair.

Jay xx

Wasn't me ... Blogtoberfest day 9.

2011-10-09T16:21:00.000+11:00

Today's agenda is a horrid one, ti's my least favorite thing to do...

But how can I craft in a room where every table top is covered,

and how shall we get ready for school tomorrow,
in a room that looks like a bomb has hit it.

Surely wasn't me that did it.

Does that mean I don't have to clean it!

Matter of fact I most definitely gave up on the vicious cycle of attempting to clean whilst holidays were on, round about a week and a half ago!

So today will have to be a day of cleaning and getting ready for school tomorrow, shop girl on Monday, then maybe...just maybe, crafty transmissions will resume on Tuesday.

Hallelujah

Kissing cousins...Blogtoberfest day 8.

2011-10-08T21:46:00.000+11:00

Birthday cakes and family...

Mean we get a chance to hang out with the littlest cuz..

Although, blink and you'll miss her.
She sure gives my littlest a run for his money in the speedy stakes.

But once caught, it's the bestest cuggles ever.

Animals...Blogtoberfest day 7.

2011-10-07T13:10:00.012+11:00

What school holidays are complete without a visit to the zoo.

Especially when kids are free.

The littlest may well have spent the whole day running

and beyond his initial fascination with seeing the elephants

quite possibly found locks on gates and HUGE rubbish bins,
a wee bit more interesting then the animals.

But... that's o.k.

We all make our own fun.

Whereas big girl, was loving the animals especially the orangutans ...

and still wants to work with animals when she grows up.

It was our first Saturday together as a family for over three months...

No thanks to Ty's job in retail.

So it was just lovely to not be in a hurry
and to have time together to enjoy such a beautiful spring day.

Jay xx

Shop girl...Blogtoberfest day 6.

2011-10-06T12:48:00.000+11:00

It ends up that I have two shifts down at the Grove this week.
A good enough reason to be sporting one of my new skirts again.
So it's all good.

Today I went with 'wild hoses' My new horsey skirt.

Love, love, love the bright blues...

Knowing I had a shift coming up and that I do hate to pop in empty handed,
I made sure my new red skirts were good to go too.

Such a vibrant print, I just couldn't pass up.

See you tomorrow.
Jay xx

Testing... Blogtoberfest day 5.

2011-10-05T12:15:00.000+11:00

As I have snippets of time during holidays, between naps e.t.c. I am managing to squeeze a little bit of work in and something I've been meaning to do for ages is draft a pattern for some maxi skirts.

I do like the way a maxi skirt is still summery and feminine, but also somewhat modest for those of us who don't really like showing off legs that don't necessarily rival those of Elle McPherson.

So I drafted one up and gave it a test run.

Not half bad...

Next will be cutting up these fun prints and having some good to go next week,

when school holidays are finished..when I have the house back to myself and time will once again be on my side.

Jay xx

Little bit of op shopping. Blogtoberfest day 4.

2011-10-04T20:14:00.008+11:00

Today I decided to do the rounds at out local oppies and recycle centres to see if I could find a dresser.
We had taken the display hutch to work yesterday so had a nice big gap in the bedroom ready and waiting for a more appropriate form of storage.

My mission was to find, something long and not too wide that would house spare granny blankets, books and such.

We did find some absolutely gorgeous dressing tables, art deco and Victorian, but didn't really need the mirror part and event though we were shopping in oppies the prices greeting us were $200 plus.

Luckily we soldiered on and found this beauty down a shop corridor, behind a dresser and under another table.

Almost hidden, but i saw it's curvy wood drawers from a mile away. At only $70 it was much more in our budget and I'm always glad to find something old with a little history and character, instead of something new.

The grotty red curtains were binned even before we entered the house,
which created a nice little opening perfect for a stack of granny blankets.

Whilst on the rearrange the bedroom kick,

I made a space for another little table we picked up a few months ago.

It has the same spotty gold fleck laminex as our kitchen table and for only $20, I just couldn't leave it behind.

Once the rearrange, dusting and vacuuming was done....(lordy knows where all that dust came from!)
I lit some incense to christen the new piece and give it a new smell. It's sort of a weird ritual I have for new things. Once they are all cleaned and set up, it seems the perfect thing to do. Not sure why. Just does.

And it gives me an excuse to use my little Ellie find from savers last week. I'm not entirely sure that he is an incense holder, but he has a hole in his belly and trunk perfect for the aromatic smoke to waft through, so it works for me.

Hope you all had a spiffy Tuesday,
Jay xx

Shop girl today...Blogtoberfest day 3.

2011-10-03T22:25:00.005+11:00

Today was my turn to play shop girl down at the Grove.

A chance to take the new deer skirt I made for a spin.

With the luxury of working from home most days, I could work in my pyjama's if I choose.
So it is nice to have at least one day a week where I get a chance to wear something I've made for show and tell.

I would usually have new goodies to tag/label and set up in store on my shop days, but I've learnt from previous school holidays that if I work as per usual on my days in between shop shifts, all I do is create grumpy kids and a miserably stressed me.So it's a little break in crafty transmissions whilst I try my best to make the holidays less about me and my work and more about the kids and what we can do together.

So today my focus was on finally taking in my buffet/hutch and setting it up in store. It was one of those oppie finds that was to good to pass up.

I did use it in the house for 6 months before I decided it did really suit a retail space a bit more then my abode. So off we trot to house it at work for a while.

Perfect timing really as everyone is starting to make gifty stuff in preparation for the holiday season and it has lots of room to fill it up with handmade loveliness.

Bit scary really, how close Christmas is... didn't we just finish celebrating new year!
Catch yah tomorrow.
Jay

A Sunday of shopping...Blogtoberfest day 2

2011-10-02T22:26:00.007+11:00

We have some rellies down from Adelaide for a bit, so we made a point of enjoying a Sunday of sunshine and shopping.

Started with a trip to Olive Grove to show off my little patch of handmade, then on to the Virtu/TS 14+ factory outlet. Perfectly timed for a sale where we ended up getting 40% the already low prices.

You'd be so proud....or I am at least, that I didn't buy any black. The closest was a printed dress in a mix of green, orange and black.

Slowly but surely I'm getting there with my little mission of taking the black out of my wardrobe.

Next up was a stop by Rose st market.
Lots of lovelies but my pics for the day were some cute little studs,

and a fabric button necklace.

I have been eyeing these off for ages and quite out of character for me, I chose one with pinks in it. I think it was the blend with purple and that splash of a retro fabric in there that drew me in.

T'was a bonus that it matched my outfit today too.

Hope you all had a super Sunday.

Jay xx

Welcome...

2011-10-01T12:16:00.006+10:00

Welcome to Blogtoberfest Y'all.

Ti's a month of bloggy overload, where we all try our darnedest to do a blog post a day.

The good the bad the ugly,
the craft, the cooking the lovely.

Ti's not an exclusive club, rather it's more the merrier.

If you wanna join in too, read more about it over at Tinniegirls blog,
the hostess with the mostess.

I look forward to going through the linky loo list each day and finding lots of new blogs to add to my list and I look forward to sharing a little more of my world too over the next month.
More then just my crafty hearty stuff, which is all consuming sometimes.

So cheers to you all on this rather wet first day of October, lets clink our glasses and toast a toast to kick off the beginning of a super month for everyone.

Jay xx

p.s For all my fellow Victorians, don't forget daylight savings starts tonight. Hooray.... I sure have been hanging out for our long summer nights xx

Sale time...

2011-09-29T13:09:00.005+10:00

We are having a little 3 day Facebook sale to clear odds and ends.

Ti's a new thing for Olive Grove and considering there are 8 of us in one small space it makes perfect sense to have a FB sale once a month to keep things moving along.

Gives all our out of towners a chance to shop with us too.

Eventually...don't hold me to it though...we would like to get an online store up and running. But these things take time and we want to make sure it's done properly, so stay tuned for updates.

My little offering for the month is some men's tees. Were $48 now $25.

A perfect giftie for the hubby, brother or son.
More details here.....

I did have some jewelery up for grabs, but a lovely follower typed SOLD with the speed of lightening way before I even had a chance to tell you all about it. (Thanks lovely lady)

To keep posted on all things new at Olive Grove head over to our Facebook page and like us and whilst you're on the Facebook liking adventure,

be sure to pop on over to my Finki page and share some love there too.

I'm such a technical failure and really resisted the whole FB thing, but.... you know what they say...'The rolling stone gathers no moss'. So I had to roll with it too.

Jay xx

Giddyup!

2011-09-27T22:21:00.003+10:00

Some new gigi skirts heading to the shop for summer.

Definitely made one of these for me too.

Jay xx

For the boys...

2011-09-20T21:50:00.005+10:00

I have been working away at some screen printed goodies for the boys this week.

Hadn't planned on it, but after getting a custom order for a tee, I figured I may as well whip up some more considering I already had all the gear out.

I gave the city screen a whirl burl on the men's tee's and tried out some new colorways for the octopus.

In keeping it real, I thought I'd share my failures too. As it aint always smooth sailing in my production shop...what with being human and all.

More often then not what happens with printing and me, is an incomplete image being screened. So I get some areas that look faint or bits that lose there definition.

Out of today's 30 odd tee's, I stuffed up two of them.

I decided to treat the first print, the dodgy one, as a base color and screen a second color over top so that it had a shadow effect.

Sorta worked on one of them. I quite like the teal city one.

The Octopus....well I may have gone overboard on that one.

and just for fun, I introduced T-rex to the city of Melbourne. This ones a birthday pressie for a friend, but I do like the effect and shall explore a little more the two color thing.

Just have to decide whether to go, space invasion or gigantic lizard!

Only time will tell.

Jay xx

Hot air balloon...

2011-09-19T21:27:00.004+10:00

I loved the way my last run of skirts with hot air balloons worked out, so I did some more.
This time in purple with a navy print...

and my favourite combo of Blue, red and white appears again, but this time with dragonfly's.

I should be working on tops, but I do love all the prints surrounding me at present that are just screaming out to be skirts. So skirt's it will be for a little bit longer, till I'm stocked up good and proper.

I'll be back tomorrow to post some pics of our zoo jaunt on sunny Saturday. Loving this bout of sun.

Jay xx

Spring skirts...

2011-09-16T16:07:00.005+10:00

This little bit of sunshine has had me whipping out my spring fabrics for some new skirts,

and re-visiting the drawing board to create a new pattern for my A-line skirts.
The previous ones I did were too long, too wide and slipped over the head to put on.

Rather then re-work them I just started fresh and made a pattern that was shorter, but still long enough to cover knobbly or wobbly knees...
T'is also narrower, still an a-line but not hugely...
and has a more defined waist with a zip.

All very complicated for my little brain, which is why the pattern had been benched for a few months till now.

But like all things, once you sit down with you brain in the right head space, turns out it's not so hard after all.

I'm really happy with the way they've turned out, so will be sure to use this style for a few summer fabrics I have been itching to use.

Hope you're enjoying the sunshine.
Jay xx

Parcels in the post...

2011-09-14T09:08:00.004+10:00

Who doesn't love parcels in the post, especially when they are filled with such crafty goodness as this.

I'm so excited to have received my original granny square fabric,
designed by the awesome Curlypops.

Now I just have to put my thinking cap on and come up with a fabulous thing or two to make out of it...hmmm.

You can buy your own piece of CP designer fabric too, over at the Curlypops shop.

Jay xx

Spring verse

2011-09-10T20:30:00.005+10:00

Well, our little exhibition of bags inspired by Spring Verse has been set up today and looks mighty fine.

So much work has gone into each bag. From tapestry and screen printing to felting and applique and all that before someone sat down and sewed it all together.

Handmade just makes my heart sing, it really does.

All the bags will be on show for the next two weeks,

so if you're in the hood, do pop in for some close ups.

I'll also be posting pics and prices over on the Olive Grove blog tomorrow.

All bags are truly one of a kind, so if you see one you like, do drop them a line and make it your own, before someone else does.

Jay xx

Birds...the experimenting begins.

2011-09-09T16:59:00.002+10:00

This months design challenge is all about birds. One of my favourite little creatures to include in projects.

I did put a birdy brooch on my exhibition bag the other day and contemplated calling that 'challenge complete' but nah...
There is too much fun to be had with crafty bird ideas, I can't stop there.

So after finishing said bird brooch and beginning my clean up to complete 'project bag', I admired the scrap freezer paper outline on the floor.

I quite liked the shape it left and had a play with making some really basic fabric shapes of a bird. Some with wings some with out.

Then I moved onto thinking about other shapes I like

and had a play with some hearts, clouds and tree's.

Not sure if they will eventuate in to anything yet, but I was having a low energy day and just needed to whip up something crafty and cute to make it feel as though I did actually do 'something' today.

Not entirely mad keen on the outcome. It needs more...

I dunno, some buttons or lace or a print.

Will play some more and see what evolves.

Hope your keeping well in your neck of the woods and don't forget you're all welcome to join in and create some birdy wonderfulness too.

Jay xx

Finished my bag.

2011-09-08T13:02:00.010+10:00

Hooray, set up day for the exhibition is tomorrow and I've actually finished my bag today.
A whole day early. That's gotta be some sort of record for me.

All that was left to do last time I showed you was attach handles...which was all kinds of difficult...and make the birdy brooch.

I stupidly tried to stitch around a curvy solid object with a straight needle and fairly soon realised it was a recipe for disaster. Two snapped needles and many a swear word later, I finally went hunting for the curvy upholstery needle that I knew I had somewhere... and made light work of finishing the handles.

Then I moved on to the birdy brooch. I was going to trace a bird shape and maybe add a wing or two, but my prototype wasn't cutting the grade. So I started pulling out the fabric stash and uncovered one little fat quarter I had with a bird print on it. Perfect!

I tend to work more with imagery rather then silhouettes, so it suits my style, I think.

So here's the front,

the insides...

and the back.

Not the fabbest machine work and it took me far too long as an inexperienced bag maker, but I luv's it all the same.

Oh and my quote or poem that doth inspire my creation...

'The spring has sprung,
the grass is rizz,
I wonder where them birdies is?'
~ Winnie the Pooh

He he... I can thank my 3 y.o for that inspiration!

Jay xx

P.s Exhibition officially starts on Saturday, more details here:

and once we are set up I'll take pics of all the other designers bags too.

making a bag.

2011-09-06T16:29:00.009+10:00

So we have an exhibition coming up at Olive Grove where we have to take a spring quote or poem and create a bag around it.

I haven't made a bag before and most definitely should have signed up to one of Nikki's classes to learn a thing or two before attempting anything too tricky, but as per usual I have left my self with only 3 days left to make it, so have just gone with my usual knack for wingin' it.

I had purchased some handles I loved a few weeks back and had a vague idea of what fabric I wanted to use, but beyond that it was a matter of letting something bloom.

I do love my new trees screen, so decided to use that, which was all I needed as my starting point to get the ball rolling.

We all donate the bags we make to our exhibition, so that money raised from sales can go toward shop fittings. So I figured I better put some extra time in, to create a bag with pockets, zips and magnetic closures.

The works!

Only two more steps to go...

The handles...

Which are just tacked on in this pic,

so I could double check it was all coming together o.k

Then I'll be making a birdie brooch to pin in the branches, to finish it off.

I was going to applique one on, but quite like the bag without anything else and wanted to give the buyer (well hopefully someone likes it) the option of taking the birdy off and having a more streamline look if they prefer.

Of course I do need the birdy to tie in with the quote I've chosen and it could double as meeting my birdy challenge for the month!

Could... but you know me, I'll be doing heaps more birdy stuff to fulfill that one.

Will post more picks when complete.
Jay xx

Flowers for spring.

2011-09-03T09:35:00.003+10:00

I got the screens out again yesterday ...

and printed flowers onto some new skirts and tops.

Just what they needed to add a dash of spring to them.

Perfect weather for it too.
Jay xx

Up and away....

2011-09-01T23:10:00.000+10:00

After a day of screen printing yesterday, I moved on to finishing some new skirts for spring.

'Up and away' uses one of my favorite prints of some hot air balloons. A screen I've had for ages but keep forgetting to bring out to play.

and 'Melbourne city skyline' is one I finished for my challenge last month.

Of course I had to do some for my lovely customers at the shop too.

Now I can move on too thinking some more about my bag design for the Olive Grove group exhibition...thinking..thinking...thinking...

Jay xx

All in a row...

2011-09-01T11:27:00.008+10:00

A teeny tiny bit over deadline...but I finished my piece for Augusts challenge. 'All in a row'.

As I showed you previously, I'd decided to do 'buildings' ... all in a row and what better line of buildings then our own city skyline.

I was tossing up whether to do bag, cushion or skirt, three great options, but in the end I went with skirt.

Worn here with one of my new 3/4 stripe tee's ( yet to be printed on)
and a funky 'Found' scarf that I treated myself too on sale day.

I love the way the print turned out, so I've screened some up to be made into cushions too...

In this mix of prints, you'll see the start of my bag. A piece I'm working on for our next Olive Grove group exhibition. Can't tell you which one though! Secret squirrel business.

And seeing as how it's the beginning of a new month, first I must say...

A big welcome to spring.

I have been waiting for you to come warm my home and brighten up my life
with colors that seem to escape me in winter.

Secondly...time for a new 'monthly design challenge' theme.

For September I choose 'the Bird'.

Image via: Simply Claudia on Flickr

Our friendly feathered friend.

I do have a wee obsession with birdy stuff. Earrings, pendants, art, toys, clothes. Any genre or medium that includes a bird has me handing over the dosh to make it my own.

I know they were every where about 2 years ago, so I thought it may have just been a passing fad, but Nah! It's stayed with me and I'd like to explore it some more this month for the 'Monthly design challenge'.

Now knowing it is a wee obsession my little birdy love, it might be a month of many bird things. I'm thinking of getting out some clay, some paint, some paper and possibly some felt!
No clues there!

Do join in, if them birdies make you smile too.

No matter what you end up making, if it is anything to do with birds, it can most definitely be counted as a design piece worthy of joining my little monthly challenge.
I'd love you to jump on board and come play too.
Jay xx

P.S I have already collected some lovely inspiration on my Pinterest boards....my other wee obsession...so pop on over "here" to check it out.

Finished stuff...

2011-08-25T11:43:00.009+10:00

Sometimes it seems a real struggle to finish things, especially when I try and do too many things at once.
I tend to have every bench space covered in stuff of every crafty medium. Which is a sensible way to work in some respects...cause what else do you do while glue dries or resin sets. You move onto the next thing of course!
But soon enough, every where you turn....there is stuff.

So this week I have been finishing things, clearing spaces and re-organizing a little.

Finished my new brooches in all the colors of the rainbow,

finished restocking hair clips, bracelets and earrings,

finally photographed some more of mums scarves.

I tend to take them straight into the shop and forget to update here,
but lots of awesome colors made up, so I had to take some new piccies...

A much quicker turnaround on the granny square scarves,
now that I have the professional on to it. aka mum...

I was struggling to get one a fortnight done in my spare time,
so it was time for intervention. Thanks Mum.

Once all that was done, I made time to clear benches and pack stuff away.
Not surprisingly when I pack stuff away, it still looks messy. Something to do with having sooo much stuff Aughh...

So I took a day off and went traipsing around the country side in search of storage solutions.
Now I do love Ikea and it's clever ways of storing things, but I do like to diversify and mix it up a bit too, so my study/house does not look like an Ikea catalogue.

Hence our journey went along the trails of oppies, antique bazaars and second hand stores.

I have been following and bidding on numerous lockers and cabinets on eBay all week, only to be pipped at the post every time. Although really, my humble bids of $50 max pretty quickly got overtaken and nearly everything I liked went between $300 and $1200. Aughhh...

I really wanted some old school lockers. Something big and metal, with many doors to hide all my stuff away. I have many open shelves at home and no amount of prettying them up was gunna make my room seem any less of a sty. So closed storage it had to be.

Fortunately fate smiled upon us and I found the perfect bunch of lockers at an ex-office furniture store for much less then eBay was fetching.

Score...

Now it is so nice to be in my study and not see all the projects on shelves that need finishing. I Can just pull out one at a time and focus on whats before me.

Much nicer indeed.

Jay xx

Branches complete ...

2011-08-17T10:23:00.006+10:00

I Finally got my skirts done for the shop, in the new 'Branches' design.

The chocolate version is worn here with a body tee by Troika and up cycled vest by Found.

and the Charcoal version shown here is teamed with another great vest by Found.
If that vest fit me ... it would so be mine already!
Alas it was meant for someone else.

A close up of the colors.

The colors are quite muted, so you could team with brighter pieces. But I do intend on whipping up a few more vibrant colorways later in the year for spring.

Before spring begins though, we are having our famous Olive Grove studios Garage sale.

We only have a two a year and it's chokka full of handmade goodness. I'll have heaps of clothes on offer and probably some scarves and jewellery up for grabs too. So if you've had your eye on anything, do pop down.

As a special bloggy/facebook promo... we will be opening our doors at 9am just for you, then to the general public at 10.

Need to make room for spring goodies to start trickling in.
Hope to see you there,
Jay xx

All in a row...

2011-08-14T18:58:00.006+10:00

The lovely Christine over at Jelly Bean Jam has finished her piece for the August monthly design challenge. So early too...

Check out her apples all in a row.

Wish I could knit or crochet something more advanced then squares or rectangles.
Beautiful work C.

My Idea, is starting to come to fruition a bit.
I chose buildings in a row as my subject and took a bunch of photo's of the city skyline from our neck of the woods.

A little play with photo shop and a little help from a friend, means I now have it on screen. I've only done a test print so far to make sure the screen worked out,

so the next step is decide what it will be...

Possibly a bag, cushion or skirt.

Will have to put my thinking cap on and see what it wants to become.

Still plenty of time for you to join in too, so don't forget the theme is 'all in a row' absolutely anything... 'all in a row'.
Jay xx

Branches...

2011-08-03T12:50:00.000+10:00

I'm so excited that my new tree screen got finished sooner rather then later. Gave me a chance to whip up my prototype, so I could give it a whirl burl before the weekend.

Quite impressed, I am.

After visualizing it for a long time .... it worked out just the way I wanted.

The irony is that I spent hours photographing all the tree's in the neighborhood....

and ended up using this one for my artwork.

It's the one in our own backyard .... Of course!

I just have to grade sizes in the new skirt pattern, then I'm good to go.

I won't have them done and in shop till late next week, but at least mine is ready for a trip into town to visit the crafty ladies at 'The pop up studio sale' happening at the Nicholas building.
Might see yah there.
Jay xx

August Mothly Design Challenge...

2011-08-03T09:15:00.011+10:00

Now that I almost* ...... have tree's out of my system from last months design challenge, it's time to move on to a new theme for August.

I've decided it shall be 'All in a row'

T'is a fairly broad topic and could be interpreted many ways, so hopefully it's an easy one for you all to jump on board with.

Remember, you are all invited to join in, stranger or friend.

You can paint, photograph, screen print, make a softie, brooch, earring or shoe! Whatever craft you turn your hand at, make it yours....

My choice is based on my wee obsession with how awesome things look all in a row...Obviously.

Like...little houses,

House pillows by: Leililaloo

Skyscrapers,

City skyline pendant by: Block party press.

Big houses,

Victorian terrace screen print cards by: Mrs Beckinsale.

Cats,

Bigcat in a row by : SirGulamHusain

Globes,

Image via Pinterest.

Flowers,

Resin flower bangle by: Anna Nova

Ducks....

Image via: Jenny's Place.

You get the picture. Anything ... all in a row.

Send me links to your blog if you come up with something and I'll share it with all here.

Jay xx

P.s
Fabulousness, glamour and perfect stitches are not required. Just an idea brought to fruition, That's all. xx

*Almost.....
Well you know I made my little wood brooches for the July tree challenge, but I had a hankering to do a skirt too. So a week or so ago I got hubby to drive me around the neighbourhood photographing tree's galore. In vein that I would find one perfect shot worthy of putting on screen. I did...Hooray.
But the process of exposing the screen, sewing and all that jazz is not a quick one. So the show and tell on that one will be a little way off.
When it's done and dusted, I think then.....then I might just have got tree's out of my system.

Tree huggers...

2011-07-28T10:15:00.007+10:00

Not the 'save the trees from logging' kind of tree hugger, more the.... keep it warm and stylishly fabulous type tree hugger, made by Mum and the Ladies in the Manly craft group up north.

Inspired by Van Gogh's 'Starry Starry Night', is this fabulous piece of work that fits in perfectly with my tree challenge. T'was not there intention to make such amazing work for my wee challenge, just a timely creation really, that fits in with my theme.

This piece is part of the exhibition called Jumpers and Jazz. An exciting event where the streets are filled with jazz and the town center in Warwick Qld, has all it's tree's dressed up for 10 days from the 21st July onwards.

A previous years entry by the Federal Kids Zone After School Care.
Image via Jumpers and Jazz.

The festival ends on Sunday with 'picnic in the park' an event with craft markets, music, food and wine. I was lucky enough to be up there a few years back for the event and grabbed some great handmade goodies on a beautiful sun shining day.

A fun example of Yarn bombing at the festival.
Image via Jumpers and Jazz

Such a great idea for the crafty community to display there many talents.
Thanks for joining in Mum.
Jay xx

Tree challenge complete...

2011-07-25T20:39:00.006+10:00

Yay...
I got to the end of July and actually finished something.
Well I tend to finish lots of things, but when it's work related it sorta doesn't count. Work is a given, that has to be completed.

Everything else, I find far too easy to push to the side so I can focus on work...

Hence my need to have a monthly challenge that is aside from all that and just a bit of fun.
Sometimes it may end up being something I fine tune and make for the shop, but my aim is purely to explore, shape, color, texture, form and something new.

So, all that said and done, I have finished my tree offering for the 'July monthly design challenge'

They look so pretty, all in a bunch.

I had completed the bases yesterday and took two into the workshop today for some metal!

After a bit of cutting, gluing and overzealous hammering to squash my rivets in... I finished these two.

One with a silver trunk and one with a copper surround. Sadly I buggered the copper one. I was hammering my rivet in and the resin cracked. But in doing so I learnt that my best plan of attack would be to apply my metal to the base, then do my resin pour....Live and learn.

It was all a very organic process, so I didn't really have any plans to go by, just wingin' it.

Upon reflection I decided I liked the pine better to work with. I needed to apply my fabric or paper with sealer...wait 24 hours like I'm supposed to... cut and apply metal shapes, then resin pour to finish, oh and possibly use a resin that sets flat rather then the doming epoxy resin I have on hand.

So I may have attacked it all in a backward fashion, lacking patience and forethought, but....I got there in the end. I do sometimes think it's better to work things through in a practical hands on manner, rather then just thinking...and thinking...and thinking of how to begin.
I'm the queen of thinking too much and never getting around to it, so I'm trying to change that a bit and just jump in there. Gets results.....eventually. And the journey is more fun!

I do love the wood exposed as the tree trunk and the silver trunk too, so I might just play a little more, to create some wearable pieces.

Once you start experimenting, the options become endless.

Thanks for reading along and if you do end up with something treeish on your craft table, make sure to let me know so I can share it on here too.

Tomorrow, I have to show you the most awesome challenge piece that my mum came up with.
'Crafting disease' is definitely genetic.
Jay xx

Progress...always a good thing!

2011-07-24T22:07:00.006+10:00

I made some great progress on my tree challenge piece over the weekend.

Firstly, I decided on a shape and went shopping for some wood to use as a base.

I wasn't really sure what wood would work best, so I got a few to experiment with.

After some tracing and cutting...

and possibly a little wine on the side, I was ready to figure out step two.

How to dress my tree.

I knew i wanted to use scrap booking papers under resin, just not entirely sure how.
So I did up a few prototypes in different looks to figure it out.

I do love the ones with just the wood showing through as the trunk and the leaf part as paper. But I'm still going to follow through on my original sketch of using metal in there too.

So off I go to the workshop tomorrow to give two of them a metal makeover.
Fingers crossed.

Looks like I might even be finished by end of July.
Jay xx

Tree's on the mind...

2011-07-22T11:31:00.007+10:00

As a new fan and possible addict of Pinterest, I have ...of course used it as a place to collect tree inspired images for the July monthly design challenge.

These are some of the beauties I have found.

Apple tree brooch: by Daniellieorama

Tree fabric: By Saffron Craig.

Birds in a tree via : Dazzlexhibitions

For more inspiration, check out the rest over here on my Pinterest tree page.

So far, I've been sketching ideas for a brooch.

Something with fabric and metal I think and thanks to the lovely Divajools aka Sue, I found a place to get some copper and brass to use in my peice too.

I Will be finalizing the design over the weekend and sitting down at the bench on Monday to get started.

Starting on July 26th and hoping to finish by July 31st....of course!
Hope you find time to join in too.
Jay xx

Resin bracelts..

2011-07-18T13:35:00.005+10:00

Finally got around to doing some resin bracelets.

They turned out so well.

I decided to continue with tin packaging, like I use on my other resin pieces.

Gives it a more modern feel I think and of course I love the versatility of being able to reuse them for storage too.

Too cute.
Jay xx

Will be available at Olive Grove as of today and uploaded on my 'Finki range' page for more info.

New jools..

2011-07-16T15:40:00.009+10:00

I'm back in my jewellery making phase after spending probably a wee bit too long at the machines.
I tend to do 2 months sewing, 2 months accessories and jewels, then back and forth, back and forth...with the occasional deviation thrown in of making stools, stationary or drawing.
Seems to be a system that works well, so that I can keep on top of things and keep the store stocked with new and exciting stuff year round.

So to jump back in to my jewellery phase I have done a batch of resin rings and pendants.

These ones were made by embedding images from recycled gift wrap,
old books and scrap booking papers.

For the most part I like to use my own graphic designs under resin, but couldn't resist adding a small range that included some of the cool images I've been collecting.

Hoping to get back on the bench once school holidays is finished to whip up some sterling silver designs. Possibly something towards my 'tree challenge'.

I'd love to include brass or copper.
Does any one know where I could buy it in sheet form?
Wish me luck,
Jay xx

Polly want a cracker..

2011-07-14T15:26:00.006+10:00

Nope, Polly wants to be a part of your new project.
Knitting project that is!

Befuddled... let me explain.

I was perusing the lovely array of colors in the wool isle down at my local Lincraft and came across something called 'Polly'. Tis a new ball of fiber made of polyester.

'Interesting' ...thought I.

The color range was awesome and price fair, so I put in a call to trusted fiber expert ... MUM, to see what this new stuff was.

Being the yarn guru, she had already heard of it and given it a whirl burl on the machine. Machine says no...unfortunately, to loosely woven to play nicely with the knitting machine. I couldn't resist the urge to buy pretty colors though so got some for a try on the old crochet stick.
The red is vibrant and the green is not like any other green I've seen there, so I grabbed those and a few purples, pinks and blues to try.

It does seem to look and feel thinner when made up. But that little gauge thingy on the side says it should knit up a 10 cm piece on same size needles, with the same amount of stitches as the 8ply 'Superwash', which is 100% wool.

My latest completed scarf alongside the new pink and navy squares in 'Polly'.

I have used a white in the 'Superwash' wool alongside a navy and pink 'Polly' and you can tell the difference that's for sure. But it's not highly unpleasant and I'm no snob when it comes to Yarn.

Wool, acrylic, silk or Cotton. They each have there own appeal and for me the appeal of 'Polly' is the awesome color range.

Whats you favorite product to knit or crochet with?
Jay xx

P.s
I've finished some new gloves and resin jools, just click on my 'Finki range' tab, up top for a sticky beak and don't forget to keep you're thinking caps on tree's for this months challenge. I've almost made up my mind what I'll make.
Jewellery or skirt, that's my dilemma.
Catch yah soon.

Gotta love granny squares..

2011-07-09T15:45:00.004+10:00

...and they way they unfold.

I never can predict the out come when I throw a few fun colors together. But so far so good.

This time I did them as scarves instead of cushions...

Twice as many squares required so they take twice as long to make, but they be so pretty that I shall forgive them for taking hours on the couch to produce.
Sometimes I just gotta do something cause its fun, a deviation from my usual craft.

...and it gives me reason to lose myself in the wool isle at spotty.

Ahhh all them pretty colors...

Jay xx

Monthly design challenge...

2011-07-06T16:11:00.005+10:00

Boy it's been ages...

Ages since I put a design challenge out for all to play.
To be honest, life took over for a bit there and didn't seem to allow me much play time.
I have learnt though, that all work and no play ... is no fun.

So I am bringing back the monthly design challenge.

This time though...the rules are a little different.

Well, everything will stay the same, except for the method used to choose topics. No more names in a hat or random org selection. Nah, this time I'll be choosing the themes.
Just exploring stuff one subject at a time and if you wanna play too, you can.

Of course this is not limited to those who sew, knit or make jewellery.
Any one...any crafty hearted soul is welcome to join in.

If the months theme inspires you, then make anything you like, interpreted or inspired any which way you choose. You can send me pics or links to your blog post when you're done and I'll share them with everyone here.

The aim of the game for me, is to explore one subject at a time and hopefully get to the end of the year having done more then zero. Make sense...probably not.
What I mean is, sometimes my head is so full of ideas, that I don't know where to start. So I spend too much time in la la land thinking of all these cool things to do and never do any of them.

My aim is to do them all, one by one.
The only way to go really.

Being specific about the topic as a starting point, then giving myself a time frame to let ideas flourish and come to fruition.

Ideas, thoughts and wonderful plans are there to be explored, shared and appreciated by all.

So come on, join in and share with me the crafty things you come up with each month when given the time to take a topic and create to your hearts content.

To get started, I choose for the month of July 2011....

A Tree.

Small or big, green or brown, plentiful in season or baron and bare, it's bark, its leaf, it's silhouette.
The smell you think of or the color palette it presents, solitary or as a forest.

You choose how it's represented, you choose how it inspires you.

I'm thinking applique or silver shapes. Not sure really, but at least I have a starting point for some creative fun, once more.

Come play too.
Jay xx

P.S see the original post here and get your blog button too so others know you're playing along.

More winter woollies...

2011-07-06T14:40:00.005+10:00

Some new vests...

Cardi's...

and skirts for the shop.

Keeping me busy..
But expanding my wardrobe and keeping me warm too, so it's all good.

Need more info, Just check my products page.

Jay xx

A winter wonderland...

2011-06-22T11:29:00.010+10:00

I most definitely have been lost in a winter wonderland these past few months. Pedal to the metal, and click clacking away to create some awesome winter goodies for the shop.
I do tend to withdraw from blogland a bit during these crazy periods, only to come back with a barrage of pics showcasing my labour of love to you all.

So let me show you all the goodness that has made it's way down to the Grove from the land of Finki.

Firstly these very cool scarves.

They made there way into the store quite early, prob back in March/April and I've been very slack to have not introduced you to them sooner. I call them the 'loopy 4 you scarves'. They are essentially one big loop, that can be worn many ways. A single loop, a double loop, a cowl or a reverse cowl pinned with your fave brooch.

The best part about these is they are made by my mum.

Although my basket here is quite musky in hues, there is a huge range of colors, Black, greens, reds, charcoal and teals too. They tend to walk out the door faster then mum can make them. But we are always restocking.

After too many frosty mornings I decided to make some fingerless gloves...

...and have continued to make lots of Finki clothes.

New skirts, cardis, 3/4 sleeve tee's and tunics.

All adorned with the coolest scarves by mum.
See the foray into Fair isle knits and extra wide loopy scarfs too.

Couldn't go past this awesome deer knit, to make up a few cushions and scarves...

and my most recent addition dropped off yesterday is this story in a fun charcoal text print.
I've called it the Typo range as the fabric has lots of letters in different fonts on it.
Always love a bit of text in fashion.

The skirt design is new for me. It's shorter and narrower than usual .... still flattering over all them lovely curves....and has a fun rouged effect on one side. I've also done a 3/4 sleeve tee which is a new pattern for me too. The sleeve finishes at your elbow and has a generous midsection to nicely fit those of us who are not the perfect hourglass. Lastly ....lots of new things... is the tunic. Tis the one I'm wearing on the left. Same neckline and sleeves as the tee but longer in the body, finishing in a generous Aline. The idea is that you can throw it on and it will fit around your bust and waist but flow over the belly and hips. so no need to cover up.

I am wearing mine with a wool vest here, more for warmth then anything. Tis' a vest i had out last year which is in the process of being reworked for a 2011 Finki vest, coming soon.

So Yay, lots of exciting things keeping me busy...

I haven't even covered the jewellery, but rather then bore you with more and more, I've started a products page. It's the tab up top titled 'the Finki range'.

As I take things into the shop, I'll add them onto that page, so you can see what I'm up to in Finki land with out having to entirely bore you by blogging constantly about new products. That way hopefully I can get back to blogging about craft and life, whilst still maintaining a work page for those who like a sticky beak or possibly even get as excited as I do about new stuff.

Jay xx

Cushion cover two...

2011-05-18T17:43:00.006+10:00

So, now that I'm hangin out on the couch with my crotchet hook, I've finished cushion cover number one and have moved on to some brighter colors for cover number two.

I'm lovin' these ones so far.

and in other exciting news,
our bag of potatoes churned out a little fella that looked quite sculptural indeed.

In amidst those lumps, bums and protuberances, I see a sort of owly looking potatoe.

Funny how we can find art in everything... if we want to.

Jay xx

Wet weather timetable...

2011-05-16T10:22:00.007+10:00

Remember when it rained on a school day and the teachers would declare it 'wet weather timetable'. Which meant the mud pit of an oval was off limits and activities were confined to the library or class room.

Well, during winter I tend to take on my own wet weather timetable too.

Instead of screen printing, which requires a lot of water and screen cleaning or jewellery making in my freezing studio, I'll come up with activities that require a heated room, a table for hot tea and possibly even a couch to stretch out on. Bliss...

Our little blast of winter weather this week, has had me scrounging around to find the crotchet hooks I bought last winter and get busy with some wool.

Eager to be doing something with my hands even though I didn't have desirable wool in the house, I got the old 'Readers digest guide to needlework' out and reacquainted myself with the granny square.

After a day of crocheting hideous color combinations with a needle that was far too small for my ply, I faced the weather with kids in tow and went shopping for some wool.

I knew I'd be like a kid in a candy shop when presented with so much color, so I sensibly planned a few cushion panels in advance. Preselecting my colors, so that I wouldn't come home with some random mix of gaudiness.

Lincraft do have some affordable acrylics in a veritable rainbow of colors, but today they just didn't cut it. I had in my mind colors like , fuchsia, moss and lavender....denim, cherry and slate, but the acrylics, while vast indeed, only came in your basic rainbow. No denim, moss or fuchsia to be seen.
So I had to stray to the other shelves and find my colors. Only to be faced with the conundrum of a beautiful 5ply...a great 12 ply and a sort of o.k 8 ply.

Now I don't know much about knitting and crotchet, but I'm pretty sure that if i started messing up my ply's I'd get all sorts of weird shapes and tensions going on.

So of course what I thought would take 5 minutes took an hour of walking back and forth through the wool isles mumbling to myself...that ones 8, what was that other one,...that ones mohair and that's bamboo won't work....hmmmm!

Who woulda' thunk it would be so hard.

In the end and had to bite the bullet on my perceived dollar value of a ball of wool and pay up to $7 a ball to get some of the colors I so desired. OUCH!

So after a few hours of crocheting .... I have all the bits for one cushion cover ready.
Definitely a labour of love. Well that and the fact that I'm probably a very slow crocheter.

But it's coming up roses and It's a lovely craft that makes me feel I'm still being somewhat sociable by being able to do it in the lounge room instead of locked away in the study.

A lovely wet weather timetable indeed.

Back to the machine...

2011-05-12T23:04:00.000+10:00

The sewing machine that is...

I have been neglecting my ever growing fabric stash as I explored the wonders of resin.
A wonderful, delightful and oh so fun deviation it has been, but it's way overtime to restock the shop with some Finki fashion.
So this week my focus was on sewing, screening and a little applique.

These pretties are my new skirts ready in time for delivery to the shop for the weekend.
Much more on the cutting table to keep me busy for the next few weeks too.
Have a good one,
Jay xx

Tomorrow's the day...

2011-05-07T13:45:00.003+10:00

The day to announce the winners of our little skirt auction.

It will be happening in store at 4pm, so if you haven't put your bid in, there is still time to call the store and stake your claim on one of these pretties.

Jay xx

Skirting around...the pictures.

2011-05-02T14:32:00.005+10:00

Time for some pictures of the great skirts everyone has created as a part of our 'Skirting around exhibition' and silent auction.

1. 'The Grass is greener' by Finki.

Applique and screen print on denim.
Size S (10-12)

2. 'A far cry from olives' by Roze.
Hand screen printed and gold foiled on denim.
Size S (10-12)

3. 'Flying ducks' by Polly Pratt.
Applique on denim.
Size 16

4. 'Encircle' by Starashan.
Denim and vintage silk kimono.
Size 12

5. 'Embroidery Tree' by Dear Someone.
Applique denim.
Size 12.

6. 'Oh Deer' by Ena Designs.
Free motion machine embroidery on denim.
Size 10-12

7. 'Ruby's view' by Mim.
Hand screen print and embroidery.
Size 16

8. 'Rosie's Trippin' by Troika.
Hand screen printed on denim.
Size 14.

You can see bigger pics over on the blog olivegrovestudios.blogspot.com

Our silent auction is running till 8th May, so if you like the look of any and just must have it for your own, go ahead and place a bid by calling the store on 9388-8006 or sending an email to olivegrovestudios@gmail.com

Some skirts are bid free at this stage, so go on, be the first and nab yourself a truly unique artisan skirt.

Jay xx

A bit of fun...

2011-04-24T21:09:00.005+10:00

Creating just for fun is what our new exhibition is all about.

Not for mass production or personal gain. Just for fun.
Just to express ourselves through the medium of sewing.

We were given one skirt pattern to work from, one piece of denim and had free reign to make whatever was truly us. I'm wrapped with how mine turned out.
It's a combination of screen printing and applique and is very me I think.

All the skirts have been set up for viewing in our shop front window, where you can try them for size then join in on the silent auction running where all money raised from the skirt auctions will be going toward buying new shop fittings.

The exhibition/auction will be running till 8th May, so I'll make sure i pop back in and show you all photo's of the designs. Till then... do pop by the shop for sticky beak any old time.

To read the small print, just click on the image,
Jay xx

It was supposed to be about art.....

2011-04-10T10:20:00.012+10:00

This time last week I was lucky enough to be taking part in a fabulous workshop run by the awesome Flora Bowley.

I don't consider myself a painter, but thought the creativity that oozes through all other aspects of my life and work might carry me through.

I had heard about the workshop from Tinniegirl, who spoke of Flora's workshop with such excitement that I had to investigate for myself.
With the description of ' A heart centred workshop, exploring a whole new way of painting from a place of freedom, non-judgement and experimentation. Learning to loosen up, let go and have fun. Allowing paintings to unfold and learning there are no mistakes.'

How could I not be drawn to the idea of such a freeing creative experience.

I did the math to see if it was affordable, I checked the calender to see if I could manage between all our work rosters, school and childcare and fortunately it was all aligned so I could skip away for a weekend without needing to rearrange a single thing.

There were my usual travel demons...having to deal with travel sickness and social situations, which both often have me saying no to new experiences. But I felt i needed to do this, like there was some cosmic pull, making sure I was there for the weekend.

My wonderful, calming and kind travel buddy, did all the hard work booking planes, cars and houses and didn't even run screaming when warned of my travel sickness. I sooo could not have taken this wonderful adventure if it weren't for her letting me tag along. Cathy....forever grateful xx

So bags were packed, canvas purchased, travel meds organized and we were off.

Our destination was amazing, staying on the most beautiful block of land in Jervis Bay N.S.W. Surrounded by nature, kangaroos and not much else.

Ahhh the serenity.

Day one of the workshop was all about letting go, having no preconceived ideas of what we would paint and just playing. Playing with color, shapes and techniques.

We took time out to stretch, breathe and eat, reminding ourselves why we were there and being grateful for everything and everyone that made it possible for us to be here.

Day one was so freeing and fun indeed.

Day two was all about letting something emerge from our canvas. Concentrating on just one bit we liked and building on it.

Great advice, great leadership, techniques and demonstrations.

But I....who lives in the land of opposites, Did not heed the advice of 'find a bit you like and build on it', no...
I translated it as, find a bit you hate and get rid of it.
So starting of from a place of hate and backwards thinking,which strangely....got me off track.
I got rid of all the orange on show. I hated it's overly orange appearance, so I proceeded to cover it up. This managed to take away all the beautiful depth and markings I had spent the previous day creating ....Ouch.
I didn't think of that at the time.

I then had darkness, and blobbiness and pretty much mud.
Nothing was emerging from my mud except the need to make something pretty like everyone else was.

The more that people walked around looking at each others saying "wow, so beautiful, deep, and amazing" , the more I thought I didn't belong.
I just wanted to pack up, go home, and stop pretending to be an artist like all these amazing people.

Seems I wasn't the only one in a dark place.

Flora must have felt the tension in the air and called for another re-group. She reminded us that we weren't there to learn to paint like her....sounds strange, but i needed to here that.
We were there to take these techniques and find ourselves.

I just wanted to cry.

I realised, I was most definitely trying to be her. I was trying so hard to paint something deep, amazing and beautiful. something that flowed from the heart and soul of an experienced painter.
Me, a novice...never held a brush and I wanted to come home after 48 hours with two amazing pieces of art worthy of selling in the shop.

Somewhere along the lines, of being free, letting go, and having no preconceived outcome, I realised I was not free, I was not letting go and I had a very preconceived idea of how this would all go.

I don't hate myself for being like that, cause so much of my job depends on my creativity being speedy, and appealing to many with the possibility of needing another 20 made exactly like it. So it has been ingrained. That's how it works.

But not this time.

I wasn't able to sit and say....I will paint a duck.
I was not there to have an idea and make it a reality.
I was there to let go, to play, have fun and let something emerge.
Shit....shit....shit..... I just don't work like that.

So...
Sooo...
big breath. I had to let go.

I can't begin to tell you how hard this was.

Let go of the out come and just live in the moment.

Have no preconceived idea of what I would make and let what would be made find me.

So backwards for me. So hard for me.

So I headed back to my canvas, obsolete of all orange and started slathering orange back on.
Then I attacked it with black paint and started etching words into the black so the orange popped through.
I just had so so much anger, and resentment for being so stupid and so many words, ideas, thoughts and images in my head that I had to get it all out so I could start fresh. It was nonsensical and somewhat mad, whatever I wrote, but I just let it flow, so I could get it all out.

Hence finished piece number one being somewhat dark.

A real piece of my mind, so to speak.

I could then move on and let it flow.
I had reached my 'aha' moment for the weekend.
The realisation as to why I was drawn here, to this workshop.
It wasn't about painting. It was never about painting.
It was about learning to let go.
Learning to come from a place of playfulness, gratitude and exploration to be truly creative.
Learning to let go of preconceived outcomes and embrace the ability for things to emerge.

Wow. .......That was all I could say at the end of it....... WOW!
I did not know I was gunna learn so much this weekend.

Painting number two, had a very different direction to number one.

One of lightness, a sense of flow and happiness.
It's not finished yet, but i like where it's heading.
I like where I'm heading ..... and I'm so glad I took this amazing workshop.

Here was me thinking it was supposed to be about art!
Jay xx

P.s
If you read all the way to the end thank you.
Bit of a rant, but I just needed to get it all out and share how something amazing came out of something so scary to me. xx

Dust...

2011-03-22T22:44:00.008+11:00

Lots and lots of toxic particles of dust have been filling my creative space of late.
Sounds delightful hey! Nah really, it's not so bad. It's the sanded residue created from my latest hobby.

Resin

So colorful, mysterious and sweet.

I say mysterious as for years, resin is a medium I have longed to work in. But the chemistry and technical aspects of it all has...well..it has scared the hell out of me.

Many times I circled the resin course in my C.A.E guide only to chicken out last minute or to struggle to find the cash to pay for the course.

But finally... a decade later, I have done the resin course and it was amazing.
I have come out with my head spinning. My mind racing a million miles an hour contemplating all the possibilities of what I could make.
Somewhere in there, in the middle of the class, the penny dropped and it all made sense.
I had read so much, touched and examined so much, but to have the experience of learning the craft in a practical sense is just so empowering. Like a springboard for creativity to flourish.

Hence I seem to have misplaced the last few weeks of my life in a flurry of resin making.

Now, it would seem I was not a duck to water with my longed after medium.
I have made molds with bubbles, (not ideal) I have had my pretty papers float away from where I wanted them to be, I have overfilled my bezel and sanded my bloody finger....

But persistence is my new best friend and I was determined to get a range out of it. No matter how small.
I just had to finish what I started.

So after too many hours of sanding to admit , I have put together a little range of resin delights.

Now once I calculate the hours spent sanding, they work out to be ...... $3000 dollars a piece.

O.k maybe a slight exaggeration. But I now have an amazing amount of respect for resin artists and I formally apologize for ever thinking that a resin bangle at a hand made stall was not worth the money.

I get it now. I soooo get it.

They do not come out looking like that guys, one side is pretty the other is ruff as guts and it takes hours to make it look as pretty as the other side!

If you've ever wanted to learn resin yourself, I highly recommend the course run by Dominic at the C.A.E
You don't just pour into pre made molds, you make the molds, you play with different types of resin, different pigments and you learn quite a few techniques to create really individual pieces.

Never to old to learn some new tricks.
Jay xx

Birthdays galore...

2011-03-08T10:41:00.007+11:00

It's been party central round here of late with Ty, Finn and Kierah all celebrating the great feat of being another year older. They are all a week or so apart, so each weekend has been balloons, family, friends, presents and lots of cake...

The theme for Kierah's party was 'Gnomeo and Juliet' as we took her and her friends to see the movie in 3d.
The idea was to make cupcakes that looked like spotty mushrooms and top them with a little Gnomeo and Juliet.
Considering the movie was brought out by touchstone and Walt Disney I thought the merchandise would be out in full force and that finding figurines would be a no brainer.
Alas...it seems we were a bit too early for the merchandisers and had to make do with finding a boy gnome and a girl gnome that we could paint to look like the movie characters.
Luckily I did find a lovely pair and they came out looking quite cute once finished.

Mr Finn got a slide from us and an amazing handmade sandpit built by grandpa. Creating a nice little adventure playground in his own backyard. Everyday since he has been outside, digging, sliding, and really enjoying the great outdoors.
Such a nice change from his previous YoGabbaGabba obsession.

With Ty turning 30, Finn turning 3 and Kierah turning 11, it's some pretty big milestones we've hit.
I do think it's a great number for each of them. Becoming more of the person they were meant to be each day.

Although none of them were too grown up for sparklers...

Miss kizzy has also had a friends party thrown into the craziness of the last 4 weeks. With the theme of 'come as your favourite Tim Burton character'. She could have been Alice or corpse bride or any other female lead..but no, she chose Edward Scissorhands.
Must have been something about his masterful skill with scissors(like mum hehehehe) and his fragile gothic appeal.

The centre pic is a less gothic representation, the chosen outfit for her own party. Looking every bit like the 11 year old she is.

The actual birthday is today, yes...International Women's Day. So we'll be having the family party tonight.
Our last candle lit cake for a while.
My hips shall be grateful!

Hope you're all well.
Jay xx

It's sale time at the Grove...

2011-02-23T10:23:00.004+11:00

Those who shop down at Olive Grove would know that we no longer have a clearance rack... cause really, there are 9 of us there always making new and exciting stuff that needs to fit in.
So... we've been collecting sale goodies behind the scenes ready for our annual garage sale this Saturday.

It will be huge...
and as you are a V.I.P ... yes you are!
We'll be opening doors at 9am so you get first dibs.

Print the above flyer too, and bring it in to get 10% off any full priced new season stock.

Olive Grove Studios
159 Sydney rd,Brunswick, Vic
PH: 9388-8006

This is a one day only event happening this Saturday, so if you're after some designer handmade loveliness be sure to pop down and say hi.

Jay xx

Chenille for the bubba...

2011-02-09T09:56:00.008+11:00

From BubbaChenille of course.

My fab new heat pack.

Just before X-mas the lovely gals from Handmade expo, Miriam, Liesa and Micky all came down for a Melbourne holiday and made the time to pop into work and say hello.
We shopped a little, lunched a little and swapped a little.

Liesa and I.

The lovely Miriam of bubbachenille took a fancy to one of my wrap skirts and I've always loved her chenille delights so we organized a swapsie.

A week later, Miriam returned home to a state that was flooding and sadly, those muddy waters made way into 'Mimmis' her newly opened shop.

I tell you, these women... the handmade crew, are absolute warriors for representing new designers and supporting handmade.
From there fabulous monthly markets to there own amazing shops Mimmis and Handmade heaven and in the face of rising rivers and sinking communities they all became local warriors and helped out at evacuation centers, started craft stash collections for the less fortunate and put on brave faces for their kids and neighbors. You can read Liesa words on it here.

After making sure family and community were managing o.k Miriam just took it all in her stride, came back and mopped up the shop, cleared out the mud and started again

A week later she was asking me what color chenille goodies I wanted, so she could honor our swapsies.

What a woman.

After all that, she was still thinking about her promise to make me some pants for Finny.
The energy, courage and goodwill of this family never ceases to amaze me.

So here is mr Finn in his new goodies.

No longer a boy that poses for the camera, but you can see the cuteness added to his life by owning some new Bubbachenille pants.

Rebuilding clientele in a flood affected region has got to be hard so if you're in the neighborhood looking for some awesome, original and beautiful goodies for yourself and your home, make sure to support this amazing little family and visit Mimmis or Handmade Heaven today.

They sure are a family worth supporting.
Jay xx

Switched off mode...

2011-02-01T08:39:00.009+11:00

Upon reflection I see that January has still been a creative month.

I was dubious, as I have not had my lists up and running and I have not been producing a daily stash of goodies for the shop.

So it sort felt like I was in slow motion, pottering here and there during nap times, whilst I primarily focused on making time for the wee ones during the holidays.

I took the camera to work on Sunday and snapped the few things I did get done in January and it made me realize that even in switched off mode, when I only get one project done over a week instead of a day, it all still adds up.

Its quality not quantity... and I quite liked the slower speed.

So my January mission was to make some apron tops/vests.

The Deer apron top, is layered over a fab boat neck singlet by Polly Pratt.

I do love a little wrap that goes over your basic singlet and covers the belly on those bloated days.
It's shaped through the side and darted at the bust to give it a nice fit.
So it's not just a wrap around that is one size fits all and adds bulk. No, no...I took the time to size it, shape it and make it flattering.

I forgot to take a pic before I dropped them in store and when I went on Sunday one colorway had sold out Hooray!

Fortunately I was wearing it...

So here's a sticky beak of it in a terrible point and shoot of ones self in the shop fitting room mirror.

I used the new screens I made at my photo screen printing class, including my new two color print. Very excited was I.

The other thing I did was print up a range of my ladies tee's in the deer print.

My new favorite.
The black one is modeled with an awesome skirt by Mim and bag by Starashan.

I also realised I hadn't shown you the other ladies tee's I did in December...

Owls and dragonfly's.

All available in white, black, red, plum, aqua and navy. Sizes 12 -20.

These are the base tee's I worked on with a Melbourne team to create a more flattering ladies tee.
It's a bit more generous around the mid section, shaped at the hem and has a lovely scoop neckline to flatter us busty gals.
Guaranteed sweat shop free made right here in Melbourne.

I'm not sure if that is something that appeals to people. The whole sweat shop free and locally made thing. It makes it a much dearer product for me to buy compared to tee's made in china, but I'm very happy to support local business and have the extra added benefit of being able to work closely with them to create a perfect fit.
So I think it's worth it.

Hope you've enjoyed the slower pace of January if you are a work at home mum like me.
It sure has been a much needed break to give me the energy to start fresh and at full steam next week when the kids are back at school.
Jay xx

There's no place like home...

2011-01-27T11:29:00.004+11:00

After 3 weeks away, that felt like an eternity, Little miss has returned home from adventures abroad with her Yaya and Grandpa.

I don't think I had one nights slumber that was restful and complete. Not from worrying, just from knowing my house was incomplete. A little piece was missing.

But we are whole again and my little girl has had some amazing adventures.
Opened up her eyes to whole new cultures and ways of being.

and after weeks of exotic foods, fresh fish and hotel breakfast banquets....

What do you suppose was the number one request for the first meal at home...
Some Vegemite toast!

There's no place like home.
Jay xx

shiny...shiny...

2011-01-12T14:07:00.003+11:00

Shiny silver jools...

I finally made time to hit the studio and get started on a range of sterling silver goodies for the shop.

It has been a long time coming, my venture back into working with metal, but as with all things...life and money come in to play.

After I finished my advanced diploma of engineering technology jewellery ( what a mouthful) back in 2005 I was very eager to start working in the industry as soon as I finished. I just didn't realize that the cost involved in setting up a studio would be so huge. So I've been buying little things here and there and slowly creating a space with all the bits and bobs i need to get started.

So far the range is very small, but it's there. That's all that matters.

Sometimes you just have to start these things, just for the sake of breaking down the barriers and insecurities that manage to build up in the time between drinks so to speak.

Six years away from a torch and coping saw is a long time.

But slowly and surely, I'll get back into it.
It's just like riding a bike!
Jay xx

Smellin' the flowers...

2011-01-10T22:06:00.000+11:00

Smellin' them, painting them...same difference.

Truth be told I was supposed to cutting out new skirts, but the lure of my new screens was too strong.
In waiting, was a fun new thing for me to do. Printing two color images.
So how could I ignore.
Rather then procrastinate over the perfect colors to combine I just pulled out my favourites and gave it a whirl burl. The best way to find out, is to try it.

So first I did a white base layered with red flowers.

Printed on the black bag tis' very striking indeed.

Next, I kept the white base and tried teal flowers. Lovely.

My favorite I think.

and lastly I tried a red base with blue flowers. noice...different...

Imagine the possibilities. I had to stop there. I could have gone all day.
Orange and red, brown and blue, khaki and pink...

Next time..

Might start thinking of placement and what type of garment it would suit, till then, I must finish those skirts.

Jay xx

Old dog new tricks....

2011-01-10T11:30:00.007+11:00

In youth we learn, in age we understand. Isn't that what they say?

Well I couldn't agree more.

In age we understand, we have patience, we are open to new things and we possibly retain information a bit better then in our youth. So yes, we start to understand some of the lessons from our youth but I think we are also the perfect level of maturity to be fabulous students.

As an adult I have taken on many classes, from night schools and Tafe to community centers and local art and craft groups.
When I first started to venture out into adult learning, I was quite anxious. The whole meeting new people and placing myself in a vulnerable position was scary. The notion of being a fumbling idiot that knew nothing of the subject before me beyond a little literature and admiring the end result, was always a nerve racking venture. But as time goes on, you realize your all in the same boat.

Just people hungry to learn, eager to expand their world and fascinated by the way things work.

Thank god, there are beautiful patient people out there who become teachers. Who take the skills they have learned and share them with us all.

My most recent class, was part two in screen printing down at Olive Grove.
I did part one ages ago, which is basic stencil cutting and learning the technique, the paints, the possibilities... it has most definitely captured my heart and kept me occupied the last 6 months.
But it was time to move on. So today was all about Photo exposure.
Learning how to permanently expose your own screens. From the equipment required, to the many methods of creating a film to expose.
Wow ... is all I can say.
It always blows my mind a little to suddenly understand all the complexities of a new subject. you just wanna run out and buy all the bitses so you can create to your hearts content.
In my eyes, that is a successful class.
You walk away inspired and so full of ideas.

So the best part of all, after going through all the processes, is having something you can bring home.
Of course I had some screens to bring home with my own artwork on them, so I could screen away to my hearts content. But I also finished a bag a tea towel and a piece of artwork.

It's so nice to hold something in your hand and say look what i did today.
All by myself ... like show and tell in prep, all over again.

So today for show and tell I have:

My new bag.

I created the images by scanning doilies around the house, then circle or oval cropping them, zooming and shrinking them and laying them out to look like a flower bed.
The screens and print turned out perfect.

My art piece.

I loved it so much that I stretched it over a canvas when I got home.

It's a generic deer head taken from a copyright free collection of animal images I have.
I was worried it look like a prize head, so I layered in some branches, hoping it seemed she was poking her head out the bushes...alive and well.

...and my screens

These are two of my finished screens, permanently exposed and ready for zillions of prints to come.
The front one was created using rubylith which fortunately Thea and Sami explored over on her blog today for you all to see.
The blocky looking one at the front will act as screen one in a multi color print, with the more detailed flowers going over the top. I've never done two color prints before, so I see many lost hours of color experimentation coming up.

Very excited indeed.

If you'd like to learn screen printing too, and you're in Melbourne check out Olive Grove Studios.
For classes in Queensland, who else but Thea and Sami.

Never stop learning.
Jay xx

Going to the movies...

2011-01-08T10:01:00.008+11:00

Going to the movies, is an outing that has changed over time.
From the gaggles of girls catching a bus with pocket money in hand to buy a choc top for the show, to first dates and finally, family outings.
Well that's not the finale... there will be senior day specials to move on to next.

But for now we are at the family outing stage.
We sometimes get a babysitter for both kids and manage to steal a few hours to ourselves but an easier option is to take them out too.

Lucky for us, we live close to an old fashioned drive-in. They are far and few between these days, but are the perfect option for satisfying different age groups without driving other patrons crazy.

We can take our own in car picnic, blankies and pillows. The kids can jump and sing and play cars in the back and the fellow movie goers don't hear a peep of the shenanigans.
Bliss.

So last night our movie of choice was Gulliver's Travels... Not so great, but you know, it's just nice to get out sometimes.

I remember going to the drive ins when i was little. Mum and dad would squish the 8 of us in the station wagon, smuggling a few under blankies in the back. Yep two adults and 3 kids they'd say.

We'd be off to see such cinema gold as the Leyland brothers on tour.

Didn't really matter what was on the big screen, it was just a blast to be at the drive -in.
Popcorn, hotdogs dripping in tomatoe sauce and the speaker hooked over your door.

These day's they still have the diner with all your typical drive-in grub, but technology has advanced so that you just tune in your radio for sound. Saves you from having to keep the windows open and be eaten alive by mossies.

For the first 20 minute's of adds Mr.Finn generally bounces around, excited by the freedom of being in a car and not strapped in,

but after some warm milk and the sun setting, he settles for at least half a movie before he falls asleep.

I'm always surprised at how busy it is, which is a good thing.

Keeps it going strong so we always have the drive-in experience to come back to.

Long live summer and the old drive-ins.
Jay xx

New year, new adventures...

2011-01-01T16:28:00.011+11:00

Another year over...what a blast it has been.
All the usual highs and lows designed to keep one on there toes, with a few major things ticked off the 'I'd like to achieve this year' list.
So it's been a great one.

Next year... I'd like to learn more, make new things and maybe I'll try and eat a few less cakey cakes and bready delights, my kryptonite!

But the focus at present is not about me and my adventures for the year to come, more so about my little girl, who's not so little any more.

Tomorrow, she'll be heading off to new adventures on a fabulous 3 week trip to Vietnam with her Yaya and Grandpa.

Ever since the tickets were booked she has been counting down the days, and we finally closed the lid on the bag yesterday, all packed and ready to go.

What will I do without my little girl,

No catching the train together,

no big sis to read bedtime books for mr.finny,

no-one intermittently posing zany questions, like..if you were trapped on island what book would you make sure to take!

But I know she'll have an amazing adventure with two of the most loving and caring people, who just adore everything that she is,

from her messy hair, unkempt fashion sense and desperate need to have a novel on hand in all situations, to her compassionate nature, her creative genius and her big ol' smile.

I will miss my big 'little girl'...but know we'll make some new year plans together when she gets back home.
xx

Now I can relax...

2010-12-24T21:01:00.004+11:00

The work shindigs are over,

the tree is trimmed,

all that's left to do is put the feet up,

relax and enjoy the holidays.

Merry Christmas all my bloggy friends,
may your days be merry and bright.
Jay xx

Last one.....

2010-12-16T08:52:00.011+11:00

Tonight is my last market for Christmas... Hooray!

Kris Kringle night market
Northcote town hall
189 High st, Northcote
5.30 pm - 10 pm.

I have been frantically finishing off some new and exciting goodies, to keep it all looking fresh.

So if you've still got a few things to tick off the list... you'll find at my stall,

A sea of cuff links...

Screen printed Ties

screen printed tee's and note pad holders,

and my new screen printed, little girls singlets (size 0 - 6)

Don't forget you can still use your bloggy discount voucher and get a handsome 20% off too.

Hope to see you there.
Jay xx

A hatchling no more...

2010-12-13T09:15:00.007+11:00

So my time at Craft Hatch has been and gone.

I still felt a little out of place beside all these emerging designers in a gallery space.
They all have such a minimalist approach with 20 items lovingly anchored on wedges of wood or twisted vine.
But you know me...

Give the table height, color and lots of things to look at.

I tried my best to cull it down and just take a small sample of say 30% of the products I do, but it still managed to look full to the brim.

Being minimalist is just not me...

An interesting fact, was that everything I sold on the day is exactly what I sell well at Northcote and Brunswick markets.
So the city siders shopped no differently than the northerners. Not sure why I thought they would be drawn to anything different, but there you go.

In case boredom struck...or the need to go for stroll in the city, I had my trusty beau as my sales assistant for the day.

As it was, we spent most of the day tag teaming to go on photo trips, lunch stops and shopping adventures.
The market really only called for one person to be manning a stall.
Not much customer flow at all after 1 0clock.
Admittedly, there was so much on in the city. Book fairs, fair trade markets, and not to mention at least three major markets in the burbs.

So I think the Christmas crowds were quite possibly evenly dispersed between all the amazing handmade offerings out there on Saturday.

At least I can tick another x-mas commitment off my list.
We are quite quickly working our way through all the meetings, work party's, markets and making.
With only one more market to go this Thursday night, I quite look forward to putting my feet up and taking time ride our bikes, go to the park and have a few BBQ's.

Jay xx