Farewell 2014

As 2014 falls away in the background the hope that 2015 holds sparkles like a gem.

How corny is that!

For the last few years since we sold our house in Northcote, we have been in limbo. Living in rental properties, items in storage and not feeling connected with our surroundings.

 

via instagram

Four days before Christmas we got the keys to the new house and by Christmas morning we had all the bedrooms moved in, most of the big stuff (a big thank-you to the movers at Dumbo) and a Christmas Tree constructed. Somehow in amongst the chaos, Santa found us ;-)

In the new space we can organise, hang, paint and essentially start to nest again knowing that we won't be moving for quite a few years (or even decades).

Given that I somehow managed to finish my Masters of Education (Teacher Librarianship) at the end of last year, my study (for the time being) is mostly behind me. I can concentrate on other types of writing this year. I submitted my first attempt at poetry to the Short and Twisted anthology at the end of the year.

2015 is a year of intentional focus for me. Regaining that focus in my professional life and also my crafty life. Nicholas starts at a Special Development School in February, so we are hoping that the new approach to therapy will reap rewards for us.

Moving my crafty collection, I have far too many Un-Finished Objects floating around. So completing some of these will be a priority when I get my sewing machine set up once more and I get stuck into my quilting which I miss so much.

I hope that your 2015 brings you a balance of challenges and triumphs and that you travel safe and well throughout this holiday season.

Margaret
xx

Last Konstant Kaos Market before Christmas

I am busy finalising some final creations for my last "market" before Christmas. I am lucky that Tori is at childcare today and that I can do this ...

Etsy orders are still coming in, but I am afraid that the Australian postal strike might put a dampener on their Christmas purchases. All I can do is contact them and let them know and pray that it gets there on time.

There has been a lot of talk about news years resolutions, and I, like many other crafters have been thinking long and hard about "directions" for 2010. What do I enjoy making? But what actually sells?

A question was posed at the Northside Makers Christmas get-to-gether "would you compromise your craft if you knew that the item would sell like hotcakes" (or something to that effect), and then the example was given as a "twilight" styled item to take advantage of the craze at the moment.

I tend not to make things again that I do not enjoy making, or that I don't get some crafty buzz from. But on the flip side, I did make over 100 appliqued bibs, because I knew they would sell and pay the bills. So I guess it is all about making that compromise and finding something that people say "yeah! I'd be happy to pay the money for your efforts" .. what do you think?

Creative Inspiration for 2009

2008 has been a year of creative awakening for me. Not sure if it was as the result of having my daughter, or actually having the time and space to be creative. Normally I am so busy with teaching and "life" that often I denied myself the indulgence of creativity. Anyway, hopefully 2009 will be as creative as 2008.

I want to try my hand at (too) many crafty things this year:

• Resin casting. Two of my girlfriends have fabulous ideas for resin goodness. My husband does a lot of model casting, so he has the chemical knowledge ... I have the ideas. I want try my hand at making pendants and badges, initially for my inlaws business "Rocks on Fire".
  
• Digital printing of material . I definitely want to get some funky Konstant Kaos designed fabric printed off at Spoonflower. I hear that the quality is good ...
• I'd love to try my hand at Screen printing or Print Gocco. I have plenty of ideas for screen printing kids wear (or material). The idea of textile design excites me!

To motivate me in this quest, I am hoping to book in for a few markets now before I start back at work part time in mid January. That way I'll have to do them!