Where have I been?

It is 6:30. I usually wake up at 7:30, but at 6 o'clock I started thinking of all the things I need to do and that I haven't done! Don't you hate that? Well, anyways, I thought this morning was the perfect time to blog.

Good morning Starshine! The earth says "hello!" :)

I am sorry for my disappearing act! Although things have been crazy, I am alive and finally 'hacked' into my blog. I have 21 passwords, all unlike. My imagination surfs all depths.

Since I have been away here are some of things I have been up to:

1. I left WA for the first time, and on a plane too! I can say it was super fun now, but really, we went for a family emergency, and the few days that were a holiday were so disorganised it was sort out of my comfort zone. I am pleased to report that the emergency is on the mend! And Byron Bay (NSW), one of the places we visit, is now stocking a few of Cocoa Pod's wares via Studio Ravish. If you are ever there, ask for Cocoa Pod!


2. Because of the family emergency, I missed out on all the markets this year, but I am super prepared for next year. I even have what I think (*at the moment*) is a perfect display... but when the markets approach, I probably will change it completely! haha How it is now, I love it's creative dimension and elegance, but it really needs more height! Hmmm....! Whoo - watch out 2009 market elites!

3. People are still spreading the word of Cocoa Pod! Hello Australian Edge, hello Liza, hello Rae , hello Cindy, and hello the rest!

4. Perth people will be pleased to know that Precious Gifts (Midland) and Ware (Mout Lawley) is now stocking a big range of Cocoa Pod work! And a lot of the pieces found there have not entered my Website yet! I adore both stores and their owners! When all my money does not go towards Cocoa Pod, both places will be the first place to stop at.

5. I have slightly neglected my internet Cocoa Pod side by not doing many updates. Don't despair, though! I am working on a PROPER collection to be probably launched in June, with a 'proper' but little one to be launched in February. Both these will hit the website first! Collections will be launched bi-yearly, and I will be buying the supplies in bulk (if I can), so they will last a bit more than they are now.

6. The end of the year (now and next month) I am buying Cocoa Pod's 'new' and 'old' components in bulk, which is exciting, but also scary! I know I will use them all very quickly, and that is in an investment, but at the moment it feels like throwing a bunch of money in the milky wave.

7. I will be removing my work from Waroona, and possibly Beverly this month. They are lovely shops, and I am selling a bit, but I think the customers are too conservative for Cocoa Pod.

8. I have started to list a few things that are on my website on Etsy and Madeit, in prep. for the holidays.


That's all for now! I need breakfast!

Jewellery photos are from the unofficial September collection. Go to www.cocoa-pod.com to purchase.

The Coffee Diet Trick

Yikes, 15 days later... although, it feels so much more. I didn't tell you before, but until about a week ago we have been helping a friend who was in great need, just about 24/7, so it has been hectic. I am slowly getting out that zombie/almost brain-dead mood. I'm SURE thats almost all thanks to the supplies have bought and I am finally receiving them, full of new and exciting beads that I am sure will thrill you soon too! The parcel made me so excited, I skipped my morning coffee and went straight into creating. The second day I received a parcel I did such a happy dance, that I sprained my ankle. I am such a dag!

By the way, elite people of this world, Ikea has a new catalogue! See the online version here.

Ikea makes me happy, I could spend a whole day there, even just window shopping and eating at their café.

But before I love and leave you, I must share with you this forgeous Bouquet by Australian designer and paper 'florist', Lilly Buds! It is truly stunning, don't you think? :)

Renee

PS: I'll do a further Cocoa Pod update later this afternoon, promise!

9th of Sept, photo diary

Chocolate overtones, secrets, spring fusion, daydreaming...

procrastination.

Mood Board

Inspiration Amy Butler fabric; Trailing Cherry/brown & Martini/Moss

Create this Room 1. Table runner (technically a scarf) 2. Pins
3. Pendant lamp 4. Throw rug 5. Bird bowls 6. Beige/white vases
7. Coffee table 8. Box stack 9. White chair 10. Flower arrangement
11. Green chair 12. Plywood chair 13. Coasters

Hope you enjoy this mood board that I created a few months back for a competition. I really enjoyed making it, and I can totally see myself living in that room.

18 days past

But it feels like so much more. Hello me-deprived people! It has been crazy, crazy, and I am surprised I can not think of one quirky story to tell you at the moment. Right now I'm feeling ill and lost somewhere in my clothes as I keep forgetting to eat. :p Here are some silver lining:

Jasmine Tea ::::::: Organized Desktop

Toadstool Treat ::::::: Some call it Work

Cocoon EXPOSED!
www.cocoa-pod.com

Illustration and Mirrors

today's treasures

Dede's box, Grandma's brooch and Nan's buttons (all late), swapped and thrifted vintage cabochons.

Now I know why I was feeling off before - it was a start of a virus, but now after general laziness and various natural remedies, I am on the mends!

My orchid is going good too. It was looking so *perfect* for such a long time, it was sort of like looking at your 89-year-old Grandma who is still living at home perfectly. It just makes you think, "she should NOT be alright", so you put her in a nursing home and from there, everything goes down hill. Only instead of the nursing home I watered it heavily. I hope you have learned something today from my dramatic and intelligent dripping illustration!

Thanks for the best wishes in the previous post, and thank you Sarah for the plant-help, I will now go back to watering it once a week. =P

And I know, I know, everything seems so quiet, it's hard to believe anything is being done to a naked eye. Cocoa Pod is in a cocoon, and I suspect it opens on September the 1st, but possibly August the 1st, if my trip to THAILAND is delayed. You just cant rush nature. ;) For now we will mainly be talking about mirrors and such, and SOME sneak peaks, for sure.

I bought a new jacket! My last one offically died from me being lazy and wearing it while metalsmithing - I burnt it. Normally I do not worry about the cold, as after 10 minutes I am on another planet, and blue fingers just seem normal. The studio is in an outside room, you see.

Going back to the photo, smudging is great in the not being able to see my imperfections way (read: the Australian singature, freckles, and the far away yet so close to home 'Greek' singature. Go figure), but not in the tidiness factor. I hate mirrors, as I can never get them clean. Any secrets?

Busy little Bee

(Oops! This post was posted a week late!)

I have been a busy little bee filling orders for two local shops, as well as personal custom orders, and coming up with an exclusive range for one of my lovely stockists (stay tuned!). ^_^

I went down to the metalsmithing studio a week ago. As well as making much needed necessities (I'm a cheat - I write this word all the time, but can't pronounce it out loud :p) I finally did something irregular and organic again. My poor thumb might disagree; getting hit a couple of times.

Today I was putting my clothes back into my 'normal' closet, rather than my floor one. :p The prints, I thought, were quite inspiring together...

Oh, and I forgot to tell you before! I think I have come up with the perfect setting for my jewellery. What do you think? Your opinions are much appreciated. If you say you hate it, your comment will be deleted (kidding! :p).

Modeling today is the lovely Bee Hive earrings.

Have you heard? ...

Created by a variety of vibrant designers and business woman, it's already (in my opinion) proven successful by the amount of truly talented designers/artists who have sent applications to be a part of this great event. I'm quite thrilled for them, although upset that I won't be able to make it. Are you going? Tell me all the details, so I can feel apart of it! haha =p

Have a peak at my attic

I have a folder on the computer that I dig through and add to like an attic. They are pictures I admired for various reasons and then saved to my computer. Sorry for not crediting them, but unfortunately I can't remember where I got them from. If you do, goodie, please say! Or if you own them and would like me to remove them, please say also. :)

Tuesday, hello!

This morning I am going to the local silversmith studio I have a membership to. I should really be getting ready to go now, but my excuse is that I am having my coffee while on the computer, so I am not wasting any time. It doesn't take longer having my coffee while on the computer, Mum. Well, I like my coffee cold, Mum. ;)

A short note to say...

Goodbye, Style Bytes!

One of the first blogs I have ever read, Style Bytes aka Agathe, has decided to put the towel in. I forever admired her, and now I'll forever remember her. Agathe, you will now sit gracefully next to my childhood loss and memory,"Hey Hey, It's Saturday". :p

February dispeared in blue smoke

Or was is purple? Well, I think I have died and came alive, just from the smell of N.E.E.T. Magazine new issue (out this June). Of course, it does help that I have got an (over due, but never too late) new camera!



Whenever I receive something new, I take it everywhere, like a little girl and her doll. Sure, taking a camera everywhere is fine, "she's a photographer" or "enthusiastic tourist". I know people thought I was gemologist when I was carrying the rock I found all through the city. I know.



I had an unusual cleaning frenzy, and now everything looks as sweet as sugar cane! And the blurred background makes my feet look... swollen, lovely! At least it is framed with beauty - delightful new shoes I received in the mail the other day. They are from the lovely Sarah, they match just about everything, and the things they don't match, I make them. =P Thank you Sarah, and Wardrobe Swap Shop!

Hi! I'm still here

*yawn* I just woke up, it's 8:30am - I guess my waking up early and going to bed early goal is not going to plan. :p Oh, and just about every night (thanks to Win television - which is a combination of 9 and 10, for you city slickers!) I am having Star Wars related dreams. Last night it was a nightmare. Am I a geek? =p

Speaking of goals, my goal list is STILL a draft, that is what happens when you get so excited about doing them that you forgot that the list is not finished. :p My studio is slowly, slowly starting to pull together.

my studio freshly painted last year

Have been sewing... designing... crafting... thinking! I had to up the amount of my (herbal) sleeping pills because my brain is racing with even more ideas now.

One of the themes I have been thinking about is pretty storage on a budget. I think that the average person would have everything they need to make it already, so that is a double yay for me, also even me who has only just started to sew is able to do it with ease, triple yay! Well, as soon as I learn how to write an understandable tutorial, I shall post it! It is basically 3 variations of one thing. :)

Sewing Stuff

OK, I have an addiction to supplies for just about every craft. One being fabric. I literally have a whole cupboard full of it. My mum almost became a seamstress, with a line of seamstresses before in her family. Lined coats with fur collars, mens trousers, European style clothes. She was taught that with everything you should be able to wear them inside out and still look fantastic, so that partly intimates me and partly makes me want to learn this special craft. And with my fabric stash getting bigger and bigger, I'm feeling the guilt.

So, yesterday was the first day in a while (years, and years!) that I've sewn (or tried to). Can I just say it is SO much easier now that I know how to use the machine (funny that, huh?). Now to learn how to use it properly. Mainly need remind myself that it is not a race and that it is better to spend a bit more time making it then the amount of time of frustration I'm in after if I don't. And after making three things yesterday, the frustration has just about killed me. ;)

Anyhow, I first made a table cloth which was super easy, then cut and pinned a table runner (only to find out I did not have matching thread) and then a zippy bag. Which I might add was the first zippered thing I have made and taught myself! =P

The photos show some fabric I am going to work with next. Some are thrifted, some are from Spotlight sales, some from the generous Meshell, some were Mums. I had all my sewlings ready to take a photo of as well, but the camera started playing up and I freaked out as it is not my camera. I did take a photo of a brooch I made a couple of days ago:

Any suggestions of what I should do next? Today I taught myself how to make a lined zipper pouch. I'm thinking one of the projects I can do is cushion covers. I badly, badly want to use my mothers vintage patterns, but seeing as I have only been sewing for two days I think that it isn't a smart idea.

Amazing Shoes

Today is Saturday. Humid and gloomy, with no rain so far (just call me the weather reporter =P). Worked on my desk, should be finished tomorrow. It would be finished today if it was not for all those boring fiddly bits that make you take loads of 'breaks'. I'm taking one of those breaks now. See the AMAZING shoes below?


'twas found in one of my breaks :p. They are made by Annie, who makes each pair of shoes by hand at her studio in Chicago. Annie takes care to use the most environmentally-friendly woods, glues, sealers and inks that she can source. With those materials, she invented the most elegant yet earthy, and easily customized shoes!

I don't own any good pairs of shoes (I think the most I have spent on a pair is AU$30), but I can see myself wearing these every day, all year, so they would make a good investment (I keep telling myself =p).
Pst, they have free shipping worldwide with the coupon code summer. Click on pics to be directed to her website.'

Rain, rain, go away!

come again in winter time! :p Yeah, yeah it's great for the drought we're in, just not so good for taking photos (no one thinks about me :( haha). I *did* take this pic, though, this morning. And before my coffee, at that. Ah, so proud! ^_^

Copper + Desk

Yesterday was hot so I slacked a bit, but today it is such a contrast - it's raining! We're in the middle of summer... er.

Nothing exciting to report, apart from my copper order arriving today, already made a few earrings and bracelets with them! So much for my "not making anything until studio is organized" rule. Clean, make something, make something, clean... one step forward, two steps backwards. I guess that is what happens when you don't do written agreements. ;)

This weekend I think I will paint the studio's door a bright white, as I am sick of cream and if I have time I will finish off my desk makeover (staining it chestnut - yum!) . Speaking of my desk, I bought it from our local market just when I thought there was no such thing as a perfect desk. Solid wood, a stack of draws on either side, shelves above the spacious (at the moment) worktop and best of all a rolling top (!!! hides messes!). Guess how much I bought it for. Clue is it is over $40 and under $60! :p

That's it for now. I'll have to take some photos for you. I like a visual blog, and here I am doing the opposite! Sorry!

Other Whimsical Designers

I want these three things so badly, not that I have a baby nor know someone who has a baby. Fortunately, I have legs and the perfect place to put that pillow! Unfortunatly, two of them are out of stock, but if you would like it you could send a note to the seller and they will most likely be happy to remake them for you! :)

Knee socks: sans soucie
Pillow: olive
Onesies: pepper hem







(click images to be directed to item)

tags: inspiringfinds

My first post...

well this is a start of something! Follow me to find out what. Cookies and milk will be given at the end. =p

But welcome! This is where I will attempt to write daily about every aspect of my creative lifestyle. This includes my work, my inspiration, my ups and downs!

In 100 years time someone might want to make a film about me and will appreciate this blog. =p

I just have to work out how to just make the headers stay center, rather than everything! ;)