a room with a view

Well you simply must get to see Jayde at little paper lane. She has the most amazing paper world you could imagine and I have not walked in yet. You can get her paper yummies online via facebook and she posts nationally in Oz.

Oh, for the day to see that 'room with a view'. It will happen.

She has just commissioned Matthew Roland for her new window totally out of paper and I am in love. Check out Matthews blog here he is one very clever dude!

'til next post. xo p.

string-a-long

My daughter is obsessed with anything "bead-ie"... necklaces, bracelets, on clothes... the works. Life just is wonderful for her, let's be 6 again.

School holiday fun is great and we both got creative this morning over a cup of coffee, hot chips (her choice, I am trying to cut down, seriously!) and creative. I was making tops for my business blondebratpack handmade and she was stringing beads.

At one stage the whole cup of beads landed all over the coffee table... it was fun trying to collect them all.

Overall a great morning.

'til next post. xo p

love love love

Enough said I think.
'til next post. xo p

copy-cat, plagiarism, stealing or form of flattery? - you decide

When is your idea simply your idea and copyright sticks?

It seems to me that in the creative world albeit corporate or small business your creation is fair game.

I dealt with ownership & copyright extensively with clients in the corporate field. The advertising and marketing field is notorious for the IP (intellectual property) battle and who own's what. It was "oh the client owns it" (as it's their product) and the "agency owns it" (as it is their creative direction and strategy). These ideas could not be born with out the "ideas people".

What happens when the "ideas person" is simply YOU!

There are many creative integrity pledges online at the moment and whilst you can't keep a design process to yourself the concept can at least be well, left alone!

Mind you I am all for healthy competition as this makes you stronger but it's hard when it's within your inner circle. Most would say "hey get over it" but when it's your small business you get passionate.

Bottom line here peeps;

** be passionate about your business
** don't steal ideas from others get inspiration
** keep it real and with integrity

'til next post & thanks for letting me get this off my chest. xo p

dance THE merry dance

I love that "dancing on the inside" feeling. Today was one of those days.

Had a wonderful morning with both my daughters snuggling before the school run.
Had a successful meeting with one of my most fabulous clients and her support just makes me smile.
Had a nice  yarn to my mum.
Had a lovely quick chai-latte with a great gal and our girls played like silly people for a 'wee while' just after school.
Had a good sale via my business that made me buzz (a lot!).
Had a nice salmon fillet.
Ate one tim tam (might go back for some more).
Now an early night.

What is your "merry" dance?

'til next post. xo p

a cottage on the grass

I have often driven past this "little house on the prairie" which is sitting on a massive hill rather than the prairie and on a road named "Swamp". I always stop and look today I took a picture.

I wonder if I could handle a true cottage and country style life with all the smells, the isolation and the quiet-ness of it all. For some reason this house has connected with me. For me, this past weekend was about the wonder, a small car trip on my own and just enjoying the beautiful scenery.

There were also some cows...

a very odd yet intriguing tree and stump...

but most of all it was a gorgeous winter's day and a Sunday to boot!

'til next post. xo p

cradle to grave... to cradle

"Cradle to grave" is a marketing term of the 90's that seems to have stuck in my head. Does anyone else own or have a phrase that they can't let go or is etched in their brain.

I find that life's journey is really "cradle to cradle" with lots of fun and amazing things in the middle.

Cradle at the start of our lives
Cradle at the completion of our lives

But more importantly I think the nurturing and "cradle comfort" comes from the people who are left behind when a loved one is lost.

So to anyone that has experience loss grab life with everything you have as it should not take loosing someone close to remind us of how great LIVING is.

'til next muttering. xop

the thought that always counts

My sister had a huge month last month, major surgery. I did a few visits, had lots of cuppas with her, folded her undies (hell yes) and was just around.

The nicest gift of all was receiving her letter today and it's the thought that counts. She doesn't write a lot of things down and this is just lovely. Her pen-woman-ship ain't the best (she'll kill me for saying this) but I love the sentiment, love her and well just had to share it.

'til next muttering. xop

ps. did I say that I love snail mail that is not a bill!

when a splash doesn't feel like a splash anymore

Over the last couple of swimming lessons my eldest daughter has been struggling with wanting to get into the pool. Have your children ever suffered from this?

When you don't have a pool in your backyard it is such a shame to watch swimming turn from fun to hysteria. So we are now going to take a break from lessons/laps and make it more about fun for a while. I do not want the swimming process to be all about pressure but enjoyment.

I think she will enjoy it more if we bring the 'fun' back.

I trust that this direction will be a lot more positive. Stay tuned.
'til next post. xo p

a new best friend

Changing your wallet over is like loosing a dear friend; it knows the in's and out's of your life, what you like to eat and how you spend on it, all the contents of your handbag (scary thought) also being happy to hold as much stuff (kilos) as you need and never ever whines about it. Most of all it has a loving relationship with you.

So it is with sadness that I say good by to my dear old friend 'Ms Oroton' and replace it with another one 'Ms Spencer & Rutherford'.

My new wallet was in one of the many boxes I looked through today in the big clean up, lucky me.

Til next time. xop

the mojo is back in the house

After shall I say weeks of hunting the MOJO is back! I don't know where it flew to but I believe 'burn out' was the saying in the corporate world (the days of being a high-flyer). So now I finally recognise the signs and when it is about to happen. Call it burn out, day-dreaming, loss of focus but it's here to stay for a while, here's hoping.

It has also affected my drive to get the cards moving too so hope to have these designs up in the next week or so. Plus it's time to starting thinking about Christmas themes and get cracking on some designs for that too.

When dropping off a consignment order today for Sarah at Classique Flowers I realised how fortunate it is to be running your own business; small or big, it's a wonderful challenge with heaps of rewards.

Now pass me another cup of tea.
'til next time. xop

Oh a little bit more to say... I am seeing a lot of pledges lately and mostly for creative integrity. It's not nice when someone rips of your idea/concept. I certainly saw loads of this in the advertising field and the ownership of the creative idea opened up a plethora of discussion. But in the world of small business I think we need to support each other not rip each other off. So thank you all of indulging me in this wee rant.

Have a great week.

A Lil' Somethin': SALE–a lil’ somethin’ Yellow and Black Denim

A Lil' Somethin': SALE–a lil’ somethin’ Yellow and Black Denim: "Our next Sale is being held SATURDAY 28th May 19:30 AEST… It is a first in best dressed… so get in early… If you are hanging out to see w..."

gifts that mean more than bling

Time with your partner is something that is even more precious than materialistic gifts.

I had the opportunity for my birthday this year to have time with hubby (overnight) the first in 6 years. It was great. A huge huge thanks to my sister for looking after the mini-chicks overnight. MWAH to her.

It was a weekend of sheer fun which kicked off with live music, huge thanks to a close friend.

The night started here when I became a groupie...

First.... I was given a gift quote "for no reason"

(if you look closely this was worn to the live gig at Jon Stevens above)

Second, a birthday gift from my daughters...

Thirdly, some wonderful pressies from my Mum (wish she was next to me when I opened them)...

Divine scarf (sensational on), doilies, the HOTTEST note paper and the best pen with bling on top and some spending money.

Some great yum cha with the family and loved the MY fortune cookie message...

and finally my hubby as I didn't get a cake tried to scribe 'love' with double cream on a waffle. Gotta love it.

So with all this pleasantry and gift-giving the most wonderful thing of all was being with my hubby J.

BUT...

the greeting I got when I came home was simply sensational. Love my family to bits. xxx

'til next post. xop

a lot of apples and pears for under $3

Not really... BUT you know how you get hooked on your most favourite set of 6 of set of 8 mugs and one breaks or gets a slight crack and your most prized tea or coffee set doesn't feel the same anymore. Well I grabbed a set of eight mugs today for under $3. That's right under $3. So if one breaks or gets a crack I guess I won't feel so bad as my $$$ investment was low.

The apples and pears are not necessarily my 'cup of tea' but heck a new set none-the-less.

My tea tastes just as great. Except when I am feeling very regal and have a sip from my Royal Albert (which I must use more often).

'til next post. xo p

a spice rack with a difference

When out and about today on the south coast I found this terrific spice rack at a song of a price which I think will hold a lot of the blondebratpack cards beautifully.

See you next market. p

no ordinary leaf

It was a GREAT LEAF! Miss A and Miss S with their Dad created our first mini-garden as a test case before planting a larger one.

A combination of beans, baby tomatoes, beans and butter lettuces.

Today was the day that we had some of the first lettuce on a wrap. Yummy! Very proud and can't wait to plant the bigger one.

A confession.... I have never grown anything in my life that has survived. I killed a cactus when I was 14 so I was not putting up any hope for this little garden but watered it everyday (oooh, must do it now).

It was a great lunch and a top day with my girl.
'til next post, healthy eating and love life. xo p

mum's always the word...

Motherhood; what does this mean to you?

Well for me it is the most rewarding, funny, frustrating, full-on job in the world. Totally under-estimated by all. If you do it well you're lucky, if you enjoy it that's brilliant, if you find it hard you are NORMAL.

This mother's day and everyday thank your mum for something wonderful she has done.

So to my Mum, thank you for being there; the good, the bad, the ugly and for the loving times.

In the words of Rove McManus  "say hi to your mum for me!"

'til next post, mum's rock. xo p

wisdom teeth, here today gone tomorrow...

A very special lady in my life had her wisdom teeth out this week and I thought I would drop some things off to her as I knew that the surgery would be tricky and well let's face it a 'little' painful post recovery.

So what do you give when someone is in a bit of pain other than love and lots and lots of medicine? Yes, the wisdom teeth survival pack.

I travelled to my girlfriend's house armed with cards, my youngest daughter for a kiss and hug, straws ( you don't want to look like a "dude" dribbling in public), chocolate (but I don't need an excuse for giving some), flowers and back-issue, great titled magazines.

Get well dear friends.

'til next post xo Pip

when it's wet, make your market day sunny

Shellharbour Village markets

Love my new tool box

They say when you get given lemons make lemonade. Well we were given rain but that did not dampen the spirit of blondebratpack at all. There were customers who came with umbrella's and a smile which was fantastic.

A big thank you to the market lovers and all who bought from me. What fun.

'til next market. Cherrio Pip

got milk?

I simply couldn't help myself to snap all of these bottles whilst in Gloria Jeans this week. This particular store produces a lot of coffee. In fact, they told me that this stash would not even cover the rest of the day as this was the first re-stock.

Phew! So what hand I done.... ordered the biggest size because they stamped four spots on my card.

As an ex-corporate marketer you would think I would have learnt all the tricks in the book about loyalty cards and the guise to get consumers in, yet I ALWAYS seem to be the sucker that falls for the up-sell everytime!

It was all for the 4 stamps and the milk I say.

'til next brew. xo p