MadebyMosey

Balls

Madeleine — Wed, 29 May 2013 00:15:53 +0000

When it comes to my top twenty frustrations, computers are high on the list. This may come as a no surprise to people who know how utterly hopeless I am on one and the phrase ‘conquer your fears’ has be offered up a number of times to counter the look of sheer panic that crosses my face whenever the ‘c’ word is mentioned. I know this fear and frustration comes from being completely computer illiterate but you know what, I’d just rather be sewing.
Having a an online store has meant I’ve had to step up and pay attention. Andy is a patient teacher to a point. Unfortunately I push him up and over that point on a regular basis. I don’t mean to, promise! As someone who has patience and focus in spades, my eyes, without fail, will glaze over whenever Andy starts explaining the behind the scenes goings on of wordpress. I know I’m going to pay later, yet that doesn’t stop me from tuning out EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Holler back if you’re with me. Also suggestions welcome.
With this in mind, I do admit I am now capable of loading products into my shop, updating stock and managing orders. Where I’ve stumbled lately is adjusting shipping costs as I start to add products that don’t fit my standard $10 shipping flat fee and the Hankey Balls have been one such product. In this case though Andy has also been baffled (I know. What chance did I have honestly?) so we have had to call in outside help and in the next few weeks the site will have to be updated in order to add in a new program that will allow me to adjust shipping, but in the meantime I have the most beautiful jingly balls, made from Australiana souvenir Handkerchiefs and they are just calling out to all the babies of the world ‘play with me! squish and throw me!’ and to be honest, I am sick of listening to the shrieking that is coming from their basket in the corner of my studio.
So I’ve added them to the store and how the shipping works is as follows:
The balls are $20 with a shipping price of $5 (so $25 in total) but in order to sell them via my online store I have to charge the current inflexible rate of $10 shipping.
So I have adjusted the price of the ball to be $15 so when you check out and the shipping of $10 is added it comes to the $25 total that they will be when we update the site.

Does this make sense? I truly hope so and please do email me with any problems that you have processing orders. ~~I’m~~ Andy’s here to help!

Update

Madeleine — Sun, 12 May 2013 13:10:13 +0000

The shop has finally been updated*. Phew. I’d like to act as though it was no big thing, but it was, IT WAS. It takes time and patience and a gentle touch shooting mobiles. Case in point; Andy captured my magic voodoo hands above trying to still the Rainbow Dreamer feathers and then slowly back out of shot. It’s a process I tells ya. I won’t go through everything that’s there, it’s better you have a poke around yourself, but aside from the actual brand new products you might see that some of the balloons look a little different. Well, if you picked it, good for you. I choose to buy fabric in limited quantities so I don’t have to look at the same fabric for months on end and it also makes each item truly unique. For example, the blue balloon started off with a particular combination of six fabrics, then as one ran out I replaced it with the same blue tones, but a different print. Eventually when there were only two of the original fabrics to four new ones, it became time to update the photos. It keeps things fresh and special, two things that I believe are important in a product.

*Still to come are single feathers, Hankey balls and two new Hankey Blankeys. In the next couple of days. Promise.

Fan mail and pineapples

Madeleine — Thu, 09 May 2013 03:39:32 +0000

I’m not really sure where to begin this story, but I suppose from the start makes the most sense. Last week during the excitement of the really very amazing Megan Morton bringing her School to Melbourne, I was inspired to make her something, fan mail of the fabric variety. I don’t know what came over me, I can actually be very awkward and shy and easily overwhelmed by ‘things, but for whatever reason I felt compelled to let her know somehow that I was a fan.
I love a good bit of fan mail. Believe or not I have received some very special letters and cards of gratitude over the past couple of years. It’s humbling to think I inspire anyone when I honestly feel most days as though I am pretty average. But, for whatever reason I thought going next level with Megan would be a good idea. From all I had read about her I thought perhaps she might laugh and totally be into the idea of a plush pineapple. She’s a Queensland girl at heart and her use of the pine in her work makes me automatically associate this particular fruit with her. So because I basically tend to show my love through the medium of fabric (just ask my long suffering friends and family and sometimes strangers who have been on the receiving end of this particular kind of ‘love’), I thought a patchwork pineapple could do all the talking for me.
Well, somehow it not only talked, it shouted, sang and tap-danced it’s way into Megan’s heart and when she suggested would I please make some for her pop-up and online shops I dazedly said yes. BECAUSE I DON’T THINK YOU SAY NO TO MEGAN MORTON.
So the above pineapples are all on their way to Sydney as we speak, and should arrive tomorrow, in time for Mother’s Day (yes Mum I saved one for you). The shop looks excellent, I only wish I was accompanying said pines….
I feel very excited for this opportunity, for Megan’s enthusiasm and kindness (she is even better in real life. Beyond.) but you know what else I’m grateful for? The amount of support I’ve received in person and on instagram. It’s been as though everyone has been cheering me along on this funny ride and that’s given me the confidence I needed to not freak out and get overwhelmed and be all fruity about what has been a pretty surreal week.

Limbo

Madeleine — Tue, 07 May 2013 01:55:42 +0000

I was pondering success the other day. Sitting in my very own studio, doing what I loved, being able to be at arms length from the kids and work around them made me feel like mosey was in a really good place, I felt happy, balanced and pretty darn successful. And then (because there is ALWAYS an ‘and then’) I realised that I have brand spanking new product that has been waiting for two weeks to be photographed. I attempted to shoot some in situ at a friends house but they didn’t turn out exactly as I imagined in my head, (see above) plus it wasn’t quite light enough. So then I had to wait for Andy to photograph it, at his studio, when the light is right and he has a space in his busy work schedule. And I’m still waiting. I realised I can’t yet afford to pay for a stylist/photographer/studio space at whim and that made me feel very unsuccessful.
But being ‘unsuccessful’ and in limbo definitely has its upside! Apart from getting general orders out on time and a chance to stockpile product, it means I’ve been able to work more on a little something on the side. Inspired by the feathers of Australian birds, I am slowly replicating six different ones in fabric. This slow, quiet and steady project is only in it’s early stages and I’m not sure where it will go, but it’s bringing me great joy.

*Perfectly perfect baby hands and feet supplied by darling little Olive.

Seven-nine

Madeleine — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 07:13:37 +0000

I know you all think I bang on and on about Andy because he’s my husband, but it’s actually not true. I promise! See he’s this really talented, accomplished artist. Super creative and super inspiring and if he wasn’t my husband I’d still list him as one of my top ten artists/people that I admire. It’s actually just a bonus that I’m married to him.
His recent work for Nike has literally been out of this world and I’ve been wanting to blog about it for ages. A little while back he went to the US for the NBA All Star Weekend Houston 2013, to see it all come to life. This is not only graphic design he’s been doing for Nike it’s next-level-shizz-outta-this-world-exprience design! Yep. I’m calling it.
I watched him quietly working away before the deadline, getting so use to seeing images of Lebron, Kevin and Kobe on our computer night after night after night, I started greeting them like they were family (‘sup fellas). So when he booked his flights to go see his and his teams vision come to life I didn’t do my usual sulk/pout carry-on, (disgraceful I know) I told him to go and enjoy and relish every moment. So epic.
Anyway, Andy being incredibly talented (and soooo humble) means that when we found these prints in the garage a couple of weeks ago, he wasn’t quite sure what to do with them. These are limited edition prints from when he had time for his side project, Seven-nine. I love them. A lot actually and even though he did them back in 2005, eight years later they’re still so relevant like all good, strong artwork/design is.
He seems to nail everything he does and I swear if I didn’t love him, I’d totally hate him.
I convinced him to sell them, because they should be out there on peoples walls, but with only a few (7 Hug More Trees and 11 Nature Strikes Back to be exact) of each print I don’t think they’ll be around for long. Get on it peeps!

A break…..and a sale!

Madeleine — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:51:27 +0000

Yes a break. A break to refine my existing range, make it better, stronger and more cohesive. To put the finishing touches on some new products that have been on the back burner for sometime and are itching to be see the light of day.
I’m really excited about things to come, so excited in fact that I’m having a 20% off sale on all the twiggy mobiles, from Tuesday 9th April until Sunday 14th April! Quicksticks!
Why twiggy mobiles? Well in order for new things to happen, something’s gotta give, so I’ve decided for the next month (maybe two) I won’t be selling them via my store, I will however, continue to supply them to all my lovely stockists.

Thanks all!

Studio lately

Madeleine — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 23:53:40 +0000

I’ve been super busy lately. Like busy beyond belief. I move from one order to the next with precision, speed and catlike reflexes.
No, not really.
I can get into the zone and work like an obsessed maniac which is why, having a studio away from our house works so well for me. Although admittedly I do on occasion bring hand sewing home to do after the kids are in bed. But man is not machine. Man is man. Or woman in this instant and I do need to stop for breath which is why I’m so looking forward to having a break over Easter. Andy and the kids, sleep-ins and movie watching, Easter eggs and friends. Can’t wait.
I might sneak into the studio though to work on the two new Hankey Blankeys I’m making. My hankey stash was running low and then the delightful Kitty Speer (who is embarking on an incredible adventure!) was spring cleaning her studio and happened to find almost a hundred hankeys that she had collected over the years. Out of the sheer goodness of her heart she sent them all to me. Let me just say that once more. ALL. TO. ME. I felt very lucky and inspired, so around orders I have been tinkering and making and ironing and sewing and I have completed two fronts, with a couple more in the pipeline. I’ve also some ridiculously cute Hankey plush balls on the horizon. The one above is so pretty and light.But this one, this has stolen my heart and I’m not sure I’ll be able to sell it! It’s my biggest ever, using forty-nine hankeys in total and measuring one and half meters squared. Mega.
Anyway, happy Easter break everyone, but before I go a couple of extra bits of news….
I have four lovely new stockists which I am very pleased to say. Heide Store, The Woodsfolk, Naughts and Crosses and Adorn In Style.
I did a little interview over here on writer and stylist Kylie Jackes blog.
And something very exciting, Andy has been working on an amazing print for me based on my feathers. It’s going to be spectacular and there will be capes. Capes! I know.

School days

Madeleine — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 23:28:45 +0000

I’d be lying if I said my studio was perfect. It’s not. There are a number of things, had I had more time to search and more money to spend on rent that I would have held out for. But all of these things are obliterated by the fact that the distance from the children’s school to my studio is a minute away. In fact I would go as far to say that it is in fact seconds away.I can see the tennis courts from my window, can watch the kids walk to the hall for assembly and sometimes hear, yes hear Otto’s voice during recess. But the best part is and what really sealed the deal for me in the end is the fact that I am close to my baby girl as she journeys through her first year of school. I’ll be honest and admit that whilst I never compare my children in a ‘he’s doing this better or she’s doing that better’ and there is certainly not one speck of ‘why don’t you be more like your brother/sister’ I do note their differences. Absolutely. I don’t know how you can’t quite frankly. This precious girl’s first term is coming to an end and school has, in a way that kindy never did, highlighted what a dreamer, what a creative little soul, what an imaginative little monkey she is. We’ve always suspected but now it’s as though it’s been highlighted in fluro.
Otto’s first year at school was epic. He hit the ground running, ready to eat up what ever came his way. He gobbled up prep like it was a mid-morning snack and continues to devour whatever turns up on his plate with his usual gusto and appetite to learn more and more and more. What Coco loves about school is art and P.A and Japanese. Recess and lunchtime are highlights of her day, playing with her sweet friends Kitty and Summer. She could really give or take the reading and writing, happy to draw out what she did on the weekend and bring home the home-readers that don’t have any words so she can make up the story.
I look at her and I want to help her keep this highly imaginative and artistic streak, in the same way I look at Otto and want to help him retain his eagerness to solve complex maths problems and his love of science.
I work hard to do this in the only way I know how and that’s by listening and following their lead, making sure there are plenty of opportunities for them to explore their particular bents, however school is school and Coco will eventually have to learn to read and write. And she will of course, but in the beginning she was really struggling. She had no real interest in something that came so naturally to Otto, that I had to really adjust my way of thinking and doing.
There was such a lack of interest on her behalf that I really had to dig deep into my patience reserves. And then my dear Otto came into the kitchen where we were reading earlier this term and said ‘Coco! Learning to read is one of the BEST things that will ever happen in your life! Once you know how to read you can do anything!!’
I could’ve cried. This kid has a way with words and in an instant she sat taller and has been making real progress. She’d still rather be painting/twirling/pretending she’s a cat/singing/playing/drawing but that’s ok, we’re on our way.

Camping, Blogging and Instagram

Madeleine — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 06:31:56 +0000

Last weekend we went camping at Cape Otway. We were escaping the relentless Melbourne heat and craving a little time together, just the four of us, after Andy’s epic trip to the US two weeks prior. This was the first time we’ve camped beachside and it was really great. Whole days spent on the beach, salty skin, sand between our toes, cool night sea breezes and hot chips. We swam and swam and swam and Coco (who sees a blank canvas wherever she goes) drew and drew and drew. I dusted off my camera after what seems like eons. I missed it. It was so nice to snap a little more thoughtfully than I do when I use my phone. You see somehow in the move off the dining table and into my studio, I’ve taken very few photos and blogged far less. I’ve thought about why and come to the realisation that I actually used to spend a lot of time on my work days on the computer. It was right there, bright light winking at me like the minx it can be. I’d blog and then visit blogs and follow a never-ending trail of links, until suddenly an hour or two had past and it was time to pick up the kids. But it was ok (ish…it just meant I had to sew after the kids had gone to bed) because blogging was something I enjoyed doing and found pleasure in tending to my tiny corner of the interwebs. I also enjoyed the community vibe and general camaraderie and of course the chance to document and diary the building of my business and adventures with my family.

UNTIL I DISCOVERED INSTAGRAM.
If I thought the computer was a tempting minx then instagram ONMYPHONE was an outright hussy. Otto hooked me up and like that *snaps fingers* I fell victim to the photos, all the pretty photos. It was everything I loved about blogs and blogging but totally bitesize and manageable. So with a studio that is computer free (I have an ipad but I’m very strict about only using that for emails and checking addresses for orders) and more work than I’ve ever had in the history of mosey, instagram is a way I can check in on some of my favourite people (whose blogs I love but barely have time to read anymore), discover some new favourite people and have some photo fun myself. Instagram suits me right now because I’m just not near a computer like I used to be, which is a good thing for the amount of work I seem to now be getting done but if I want a little inspiration/distraction of the micro kind, I whip out my phone and there it all is.
Funny thing though is that as we emerged from the campsite, the salty, feral family we’d happily become and re-entered civilisation, i.e crossed the border of no mobile phone coverage to full mobile phone coverage, I spent the very slow car trip home (bumper to bumper long weekend traffic) reading blogs. Catching up on so many made me realise that I still craved the words and I still had some words of my own to share.
I will be back here more often, promise, but if I’m not, one guess for where you will most definitely find me…..here

OKENYO

Madeleine — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 08:30:27 +0000

So I’ve mentioned here before how my siblings are all pretty excellent. All doing creative, interesting things but I wanted to talk about my youngest baby sister today because she needs your help. Yes you! Zindzi Okenyo is a talented lass. Kind of a triple threat…actor, singer and photographer. Youch. She’s always sung, but now she, her band and creative team are hoping to release a single and she needs to create a music video clip to accompany that new song and all that costs money which is why they’re doing it here through Pozible.
I hadn’t heard of Pozible before, but now it seems to be popping up everywhere. Otto and I spent ages perusing it’s many, many pages and it honestly made me wish I had a trillion bucks. So many excellent ideas, by all kinds of people that need funding and the nice part is, is that you can feel involved in someone’s creative project on a more personal level.
Broken Chest is a fantastic song. I promise! Obviously I’ve heard the whole thing from start to finish and if it wasn’t awesome, I wouldn’t be talking about it here. I wouldn’t even be talking about it with her. I’d just be avoiding the whole topic altogether. What song? What pozible link? What sort of chest?? Erm…cough….awkward.
Let’s all be grateful that it’s beautiful singing and songwriting at it’s best. Crisis averted.

Let me just point out here that financial support would be nice, Zinz would totally love that but obviously it isn’t always possible and she understands. She’s super chill that way. But maybe you’d like to spread the word (the word being OKENYO) on your preferred social media platform or like her on the OKENYO facebook page or send her a big ‘yo whasssup Zed. Digging your vocal stylezzz!’ via email. Thanks friends xxx

Studio life

Madeleine — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 06:22:45 +0000

Things are heating up in the studio. Figuratively and literally speaking. I never seemed to have the quiet January period that I had counted on to get stock levels up and sort out the studio for the year ahead. It’s been one order after another, customers and stockists keeping me on my toes. And in the heat of today’s 30 plus degrees, as I looked around the studio, I realised that I may never fully be on top of things and maybe that’s ok because it means if I’m busy, I’m working and if I’m working, I’m making money and these are all good things when you’re a one woman show.
I do however, need to carve out some time for making new things and I will. In time.

*photos from the studio today. 1. Some little patchwork trees that I found in my half-projects box and a painting that Andy did. 2. Part of my feather collection. 3. More old half-projects. Birds this time.

And she’s out…

Madeleine — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 23:04:34 +0000

One chapter ends, another begins. And other such cliches. Saying goodbye to Coco on her first day of school was much trickier than I thought. It was when I took a photo of both the kids together in their uniforms that I really lost the plot. It hit me hard and I spent most of the morning pacing my studio with the phone attached to my ear crying to my Mum, my sisters, my friends….I felt really silly until my sweet friend Maryann re-iterated that it was a huge deal for children AND their mamas and it was ok to be crazy sad.
And I am, but I’m excited too for what this next stage brings. I feel like a broken record but I can’t think of a better way to describe it other than bittersweet.
So bittersweet it is.

Wellington

Madeleine — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:52:32 +0000

Well they don’t call Wellington windy for nuthin. Looking back at our photos it seems that every time I make an in shot appearance, the dress I happen to be wearing seems to be up around my face. I suppose my penchant for oversize dresses doesn’t help, but I found out the hard way why Wellington tops the list of windiest cities in the world.
However, windy welly jokes aside, our holiday to this part of New Zealand was pretty much magical.
Equal parts lush green and pale blue, the landscape is what really stands out.After arriving on new years eve and spending our first night in the city, we then spent the next three nights of our trip in Tatahi Bay which is about 40 minutes out of Wellington. A tiny coastal town with not much to do, seemed to give Andy and I the permission we needed to really wind down. We read, slept, walked, took a day trip or two and basically just enjoyed each others company.
Andy organised everything. From the hire car and driving of all the winding hilly roads, to the super cute bach (beach shack) that we stayed in.I swanned around in my oversized dresses enjoying every darn second. I was extremely grateful though and loved each minute and took every opportunity to tell Andy so. It was a real treat and our special trip away will give me something to think back fondly on when he heads off to Houston, Texas in less than a months time and I’m knee deep in work and school kids.
We’ll always have Tatahi Bay babe. After our blissed out three nights, we headed back to Wellington for another few nights. We had a wedding to go to and some sightseeing and shopping to do. (NZ is the home of Karen Walker afterall)
The wedding we went to was a special one for friends, who after twenty years together and two children, decided to put a ring on it. Andy did a most beautiful rose design for them that was carried through from invites, to order of service, to the menu and then printed onto a sweet linen bag filled with goodies for each guest. I made them a gift of wedding bunting out of vintage fabrics all neutrals, black and sepia coloured which adorned the bridal table. We didn’t take a camera to the wedding so I don’t have any snaps (except a few that I posted on instagram) but trust me when I say it was the most beautiful wedding. Incredibly fancy with details on paper that sound over the top (the groom arrived in a helicopter forgoodnesssake) but small and intimate and somehow down to earth. I figure it was the loveliness of our dear friends that turned it from spectacle to sincere. I cried and laughed and cried again and then after all the speeches, food, wine and love, Andy and I hit the dance floor (with a dj rockin excellent old skool soul jams it couldn’t be helped) and didn’t leave till the last song was played.
The next day we slept in until…drumroll….two o’clock! Outrageous.
Other things we enjoyed and that I highly recommend doing in the capital; The City Gallery down by the wharf and then smaller galleries that pop up around the place displaying the most beautiful indigenous art and craft, wander down Cuba Street for great eating and shopping, visit The Matterhorn (where we rung in the new year with incredible cocktails and were privy to an unexpected dj set by a mate of Andy’s who is one of the amazing dudes in this group. Starstruck!) and definitely a visit to the Botanic Gardens. The best thing to do is travel up the hill via cable car and follow the walking path back down through the gardens. The gardens are beautiful. Some of the best I’ve been to. Abundant in colour and vibrancy, lush and sweet smelling, it was a wonderful stroll. But the hothouse was something else altogether. I’ve always been fascinated by hothouses. Equal parts creepy and stunning. Despite the cloying sticky heat that envelopes you the minute you walk in, the fan that swishes lethargically above your head doing nothing but adding to the drama, the flowers and plants that all look like they could strangle you the minute you turn your back (Day of the Triffids anyone?!), I will never ever miss an opportunity to take a peek. This one was full of the most spectacular, other-worldy looking plant life it almost became too much. I took a seat to regroup. Too bad I chose the bench that was right next to the PLANT THAT JUST GROWS OUT OF THIN AIR AFTER ATTACHING TO A HOST IT DEEMS SUITABLE! (Host…ewwww)

Jokes aside, we had a wonderful time but of course the best part about going away without the kids, is coming home to them again! I missed the monkeys a lot, but with my Mum and sister in charge whilst we were away, I know they were in the best possible hands. Win win!

Tasmania

Madeleine — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 11:14:29 +0000

I am still very much feeling like I am on holiday. This is probably due to the fact that despite having a lot of work to actually do, it is near impossible to get anything done around the children. I feel in limbo but it doesn’t feel bad. School goes back very soon and before I know it I will have five days a week on my hands. As of next week I will only have school kids! Bittersweet. More on that later (sobsniff) but in the meantime I’m going to reminisce a bit more about our holiday. Please indulge me in a little sharing of holiday snaps.
I know, I know. I’m worse than your second cousins aunt twice removed who is on her way over with a slide projector and a bottle of cheap wine. We were actually lucky enough to have two holidays. Tasmania’s up first.
We spent ten lovely long routine free, relaxing days over Christmas and I had a chance to really revel in the company of family. Otto revelled in the company of his new skate board. It was the first time in a long while that my siblings and I were in the same place at once and considering how very close we all are, there might have been actual hearts exploding. Extreme love. And a whole dang lot of fun!
We took turns staying at Andy’s Mum’s house and my Mum’s house but my favourite was staying at my brothers farm, about on hour out of Hobart. He’s practically building house and landscaping his property all on his own. High fives bro, you are most excellent.

Tomorrow snaps from our second holiday to Wellington and then that’s it. Back to regular blogging and Mosey news. Promise!

The year that was…

Madeleine — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 11:49:33 +0000

So 2013, what have you got for me then eh?!

Last year started off a complete fizzer if you can remember. It was fraught from the first day. We crammed so much into 2012, too much probably and it wasn’t until November that I realised that I hadn’t had a break. A weekend off, a day when I wasn’t either with my children or with my sewing machine both of which I adore, but looking back all I see is a blurry ball of kids, housework, needles and strands of thread permanently caught in my hair….
In lots of ways last year was spent laying foundations, so looking back I suppose that was why it seemed so hectic. I took Mosey to Life Instyle and added a whole heap of lovely new stockists to my list, started the hunt for a studio, created a new website and launched two new products. There was The Block, The Design Files Open House and remember the window I did for Craft Victoria? A personal highlight for sure. There was heaps of great press from some of my favorite print publications and online blogs. I continue to feel grateful for the amount of enthusiasm I receive for the work that I do. I may only create two or three things a year but I work so hard and obsessively to make them new, different and exciting things that I’ve come to accept that that is just how it is. Quality over quantity? I can only hope.
Maybe I’ll feel confident enough to even branch out and buy in bulk this year! Maybe I don’t have to shy away from from those 100 minimum quantities! There is some longevity to this business of mine and I’m pinching myself because it’s really starting to feel as though I have created the job of my dreams. Something fulfilling and something I can be proud of.
I complained a lot about not seeing as much of Andy last year as I would have liked. Again I feel as though 2012 was the year for laying some solid foundations and his many overseas trips and late nights at work meant that he and the boys are starting the year with a bang. His work for Nike was mind-blowing and the latest project I can’t wait to share with you here. It’s just a bit top secret at the moment. Not a secret is how much, despite his busy-ness, he still found time to help me with Mosey. I lean on him daily for all things tech, financial and emotional…which actually probably explains his commitment to strengthening his abdominal muscles. I lean pretty hard.
We are by no means a perfect couple and I do recall bickering throughout the whole month of February. The whole month! But we are a team and I am beyond blessed to have the husband I do.
I spent a chunk of last year worrying about my mothering skills. That probably won’t ever go away but if I have a resolution for this year it will be to lessen the time spent worrying and actually looking at where I am going right as a parent. I seem to be surrounded by a lot of new Mum’s at the moment. A lot of my close friends have had or are having their first babies just as Andy and I are leaving babyhood behind forever (yes forever! and to be honest that third child longing I once had has finally gone. I will continue to LOVE babies. I am that crazy baby woman in the supermarket but do I want to start over now with the sleepless nights, nappies, tears?…nowaynohow.) And after being referred to by one of my besties as her ‘go-to mum’ I realised that I must be doing something right.
These two continue to be the two most shiniest, reddest, delicious-est apples of my eye.

So I start 2013 refreshed after a fabulous break, ready to tackle the steady stream of orders that have already started coming through, see the things that didn’t come to fruition leap from the sketchbook to fabric and continue to learn and be inspired by anything and everything around me.

*a mishmash of photos that didn’t make it to the blog last year.

Merry Christmas Sale!

Madeleine — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 06:30:04 +0000

Things have been good for me this year so I’d like to share the love and offer 20% of everything in the store from tomorrow Wednesday 5th until Saturday 8th Dec!

A few things you should know about the sale though…
- There will be no exchanges or returns on items bought during the sale unless faulty
- All items bought during the sale period will be sent during the week of the 10th-14th of Dec, however I can not make any guarantees on behalf of Australia Post that it will reach you before Christmas. If you would like to pay extra for express shipping please contact me directly for a quote. Alternatively if you are in the Melbourne area, please feel free to drop by my studio (on Fri Dec 14th) to collect in person. Email me and I will let you know the address.
- I am happy to answer any questions regarding the sale via email during this period, however, if you have a non-sale related question, please understand that I may not get to it until after the sale period is over.
- I won’t be offering any custom orders during the sale

Thanks again friends! Enjoy!

Tiny

Madeleine — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 21:17:00 +0000

You may or may not have noticed in the excitement of the cushions, that I’ve been making teeny weeny tiny Dreamer mobiles. So cuuute!
Er, if I do say so myself….AND last night was the opening of The Design Files Open House! Hence the lippy. I took Otto as my plus one and we had a lot of fun. The children’s room is pretty bonkers. Actually very bonkers! There is a great photo here. Otto had a turn on the swing, picked up everything on the desk, tried to hop in one of the Mini’s and declared he wanted to make a purchase.
I said don’t we all mate. Don’t we all.
It was too crazy to actually buy anything last night but I made a (modest) Christmas list for Andy who is going back for a Jardan event tomorrow night (his studio, is re-designing the new Jardan website). The list includes a Jen Booth pouch, one of Sandra Eterovic amazing sculptures and anything Marimekko. Otto wants the Mini.
And excuse the fuzzy pic up there (and my huge African forehead), it’s straight from instagram. Everything anyone has ever told me about instagram is true and two weeks into opening an account I concur. Crazy fun!

Cushions!

Madeleine — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 01:55:24 +0000

Ok these babies have been a long time coming. But enough about why they have taken so long (children/life/busy husband/crazy feather-making/etc) let’s just be glad they are here shall we.
You may remember they started out life as just patchworked front panels lying around my studio floor.
With a lot of help from Andy and the lovely and patient girls at Frankie and Swiss, I feel as though they’ve turned out beautifully. The fabric gives them a really nice vintage, washed out look and they are so lovely and textural to touch. But Andy’s super work replicating the hankeys helps to give them a little extra pop with solid stripes and criss crosses.
I deliberated over the colours, whether to go super bright or sorbet, super bright or sorbet…but in the end sorbet won out. Bright next time round perhaps?!

This is a limited range people! Get them here!

Original Otto

Madeleine — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 03:44:19 +0000

Otto made Andy a clay medal in art class for his birthday. Andy’s a first prize kinda Dad.
But Otto, well he’s a first prize kinda something else altogether.
Otto’s card read:
‘To my Daring, Delightful, Dangerous, Dynamic, Designer, Darling, deep-thinker Dad!
Happy Designer Birthday Dad!! I hope in Botswana you had a Delightful day. Now you are 34 I think you will be more Dynamic!! Also you should be less dangerous but more daring.
Keep being a Deep-thinker at SSW and stay Mum’s Darling.
Love Otto. Original Otto.’

*Disclaimer. I would like to point out here that Andy is in fact only 33 and Otto was advised incorrectly (by his mother) to put 34 on the birthday card.

Craft Victoria Christmas Catalogue

Madeleine — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 07:00:34 +0000

Have you seen the new Craft Victoria Christmas catalogue yet?
You should totally check it out!
Styled and photographed (see above) by Eve Wilson and Paige Anderson, it looks completely gorgeous.
I’m putting this sculpture artwork by Sandra Eterovic (l LOVE her work) on my wishlist and this chopping board would definitely go an Andy’s wishlist if he had time for such frippery.
Lucky for him, I’ve got enough frippery to cover the two of us.