Everything has changed but a lot has stayed the same.

Its been 3 years since I last visited the old blog.

In the days of Instagram, FB and tweeting, where we get small bite size pieces of information to digest, the idea of reading or writing whole blog posts seems to have become a thing of the past.

I do miss sitting down with a cup of tea and formulating thoughts on paper or screen in this case.

It's almost a cathartic dear diary experience of sorting the thoughts out in your head and writing them down legibly enough for others to understand and hopefully enjoy reading.

So much has happened in the last 3 years.

A lot has changed, but a lot has stayed the same.

Finki is still my main jam and if I go a day or two without getting to sew or be creative I get all sorts of grumpy and not nice to be around. Its the air that I breathe, this creative life of mine.

Hubby and my daughter have joined team Finki and its become more a family business which I love.

After 10 years trading at 159 Sydney rd, we finally had to accept that the rent increases were killing our spirit and bank account, so we moved shop location.

Our new shop is in Northcote, 48a Arthurton rd.

Opposite a train station and walking distance from trams and buses.

Sort of central, but also sort of tucked away from the main high street, which I like.

After the busyness of being on such an inner city main road in Brunswick, our new shop is quite peaceful.

Its been quite a disruptive start to the year, with bush fires, moving house and shop and now amidst a global pandemic that forced us to close our doors.

Despite such upheaval, uncertainty and mayhem, we're ok.

We have a roof over our heads, food on our table and news today is that from May 31st the restrictions will be lifted so that we can shop, dine and enjoy time with our family and friends again after 2 months of isolation.

Its a new normal we're told, where we still have to social distance and wash hands and stay safe. But its a new normal that we look forward to, just to get back into doing what we love and seeing those we love.

Despite it feeling like an unlucky time I actually can't help but feel lucky.

Lucky to have my health, lucky to have my family, lucky that the government has offered help to small business so we could get through this ok.

I was very fearful when this all began, that it would be the end of Finki, but we've had nothing but overwhelming support from our community that has kept us going.

I feel very lucky indeed.

As it stands, we have my son home with remote learning until June 9th, so I think until hes back at school we won't have the hours at the shop back up to full trading.

But we are open Monday to Saturday:11-4 for people who need us.

Over the last 2 months we put all our energy into filling up our online shop with all our beautiful products, we introduced pick up and local delivery options and we streamlined our delivery process to make it easier for our customers to shop with us.

Had we not had the last 2 months away from the shop to focus on these things, I think we may never had found the time. Silver linings... always gotta look for the silver lings hey!

Hope you've all been ok and if there is ever anything you need, drop me a line.

Jay. xx

2016 ...living the dream.

Well 2016, here we are! 

My life has seen so many changes since my last post ... 
well a lot has changed but a lot has stayed the same.

I'm still creating to my hearts content, but no longer as a part of Ruby's Nest.

Ruby's was a wonderful experience, 2 years running a shop with my crafty friend Anna of Polly Pratt.

Each week the space evolved and grew into something we just loved more and more. 
As the end of our 2 year lease approached, it was decision time though.

Anna was lucky enough to have landed a small shop and residence (every designers dream) whilst on a hunt for a new home to house hubby and her baby on the way. 
Life for her, was taking a whole new direction, which meant that by default mine was too.
I personally, grew so much as an individual and designer during the 2 years at Ruby's and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to have shared a shop space with Anna.
Alas... life was to change,  Just when  thought I had it all sorted out.

                                                              image via: theloadstar.co.uk
I was at a crossroads, being forced to make a decision as to which way my life was to go.
Knowing the rent of our current premises I really didn't think it was an option to go it alone, so I started to contemplate leaving the creative life and heading back to the 9 to 5.

I honestly sat on this for a while and it just made me feel so heavy and down on life.
I started to look at smaller shop spaces closer to home, convincing myself I could go back to markets and work part time on the side.
None of this sat well with me.
So I pushed it all aside for 2 months, so I could just get on with life and hope that something would pan out.
Allowing myself to fully be present at the Ruby's with no expectations or decisions made about the future, 
made me realize that it was something I really enjoyed doing on a deeper level.
Creativity is at the heart of what I do and having people engage with that process, loving what you make ... enough to buy it, is extremely fulfilling.
Whilst the idea of having a shop to represent my own range was exciting, I've always been passionate bout representing the work of others too.  Helping new designers get there products out there and giving more established designers a home for their work too.



So thinking about a small shop was no longer an option ... because how could I fit the work of a crafty community into a small space.
Dream big hey, Why Not?!

                                                                Image via:sayingimages.com
So begun a period of seeking advice from accountants, bookkeepers and business mentors to test the viability of staying at 159 and going it alone.
Easy is not a word I would use in describing the decision making process and easy is not a word I would use to describe the job that I had laid out before me ... but I have never been one to take the easy road. 
I'm not afraid of a challenge and I believe with all my heart that if you come from a good place, with heartfelt intentions you are on the right track.
Back it up with a bit of hard yakka and 110% commitment and you have a wonderful foundation from which to spring board life in any direction you want.

So began, the next phase of my life ...
In Dec 2015 I opened my own shop space called 'Finki'. Representing my handmade range, along side the work of over 40 independent designers, makers, jewelers and artists.

It was so exciting to take this step and bloody scary too !
Its not all crafty parties and fabric shopping ... 
  If I want to sell 100 items a week to pay my rent, I need to be able to make 100 items a week to sell.
So its a huge balancing act to keep it all afloat.  One only made possible by the artist/designers and makers who bring awesome stock my way each week and of course the community of customers who support our work and keep the dream alive for all of us.
I used to think in terms of 'I' and 'me' ...
  Only to learn that in life and business, 
it is all about 'us' and 'we' ... 'We' as a community of makers and 'us' as conscientious consumers.

                                                                Image via : www.lccsnj.org
It takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a village to run a successful business.  
So thank you to all of you. My village, my tribe.
Running my own shop is a dream come true and I could not do it without you.
Jay x