so please bare with me because this is going to take a while.
First things first ... or thereabouts.
A Crafty Vintage Womble, Urban Farmer & Friend to the Bees.
Saturday, December 14
It's been a while ...
It's been a while ... and a lot of stuff has been happening ...
so please bare with me because this is going to take a while.
so please bare with me because this is going to take a while.
Monday, November 11
If I am what I am, 'cos I does what I does - then brother get back 'cos my breast's gonna bust open - the rib is the shell, and the heart is the yolk, and I just made a meal for us both to choke on ... And maybe I'd relax, let my breast just bust open - my heart's made of parts, of all that's around me - and that's why the devil just can't get around me...
"If
I am what I am, 'cos I does what I does - then brother get back 'cos my
breast's gonna bust open - the rib is the shell, and the heart is the
yolk, and I just made a meal for us both to choke on ... And maybe I'd
relax, let my breast just bust open - my heart's made of parts, of all
that's around me - and that's why the devil just can't get around me... "
- Fiona Apple
I am not a flaky freaked out hippy, and neither am I a radical socialist - I am a human be-ing, who believes in truth, beauty, and love above all else - with a healthy dose of sustainable nourishment for good measure ... And I see a lot of problems with the culture we humans create en-mass. It wakes me in the night and makes me sick to my stomach.
O.K - maybe I am a bit too sensitive, compared to some - but this feeling of turning on, tuning in, and dropping out, has been building within me for quite some time.
Heck! even as a 14 year old, my family would tell me "you cant just drop out and live in a commune" - But I think they missed Timothy Leary's point - it was not just about the dropping out - the 'turning on and tuning in' came first in the phrase - no doubt that is why they were said in front of the words 'drop out'.
Don't get me wrong - I love cities - and the way they function as a constructed human organism - so its not about that - I love mother nature - I love science - I adore and relish in conducting my own research and experiments, and finding my own conclusions - but at the same time there is this definite/infinite feeling that the stars are aligning. What Carl Sagan speaks of, (and that of his successor Prof. Brian Cox) is ringing true in my ears ...
"There's a growing consciousness that sees the world as a single organism and realizes that any organism divided against itself, is doomed." - Carl Sagan.
“Our story is the story of the universe. Every piece of everyone, everything you love, everything you hate, and the thing you hold most precious, was assembled by the forces of nature in the first few minutes of the life of the universe. Transformed in the hearts of stars, or created in their fiery deaths. And when you die, those pieces will be returned to the universe in the endless cycle of death and rebirth. What a wonderful thing it is, to be a part of that universe—and what a story, what a majestic story.” - Prof. Brian Cox
And so, my circle of friends (both living and dead) is growing daily - and something is definitely a-foot.
In the mean time - here is a book that was recommended to me by my university mentor Prof. Les Walkling many moons ago - it has served me well over the years - I'm sure its available where you like to buy books from - its one of those ones that always seems to be in print :)
Tune in next time
xoxo
- Fiona Apple
I am not a flaky freaked out hippy, and neither am I a radical socialist - I am a human be-ing, who believes in truth, beauty, and love above all else - with a healthy dose of sustainable nourishment for good measure ... And I see a lot of problems with the culture we humans create en-mass. It wakes me in the night and makes me sick to my stomach.
O.K - maybe I am a bit too sensitive, compared to some - but this feeling of turning on, tuning in, and dropping out, has been building within me for quite some time.
Heck! even as a 14 year old, my family would tell me "you cant just drop out and live in a commune" - But I think they missed Timothy Leary's point - it was not just about the dropping out - the 'turning on and tuning in' came first in the phrase - no doubt that is why they were said in front of the words 'drop out'.
Don't get me wrong - I love cities - and the way they function as a constructed human organism - so its not about that - I love mother nature - I love science - I adore and relish in conducting my own research and experiments, and finding my own conclusions - but at the same time there is this definite/infinite feeling that the stars are aligning. What Carl Sagan speaks of, (and that of his successor Prof. Brian Cox) is ringing true in my ears ...
"There's a growing consciousness that sees the world as a single organism and realizes that any organism divided against itself, is doomed." - Carl Sagan.
“Our story is the story of the universe. Every piece of everyone, everything you love, everything you hate, and the thing you hold most precious, was assembled by the forces of nature in the first few minutes of the life of the universe. Transformed in the hearts of stars, or created in their fiery deaths. And when you die, those pieces will be returned to the universe in the endless cycle of death and rebirth. What a wonderful thing it is, to be a part of that universe—and what a story, what a majestic story.” - Prof. Brian Cox
And so, my circle of friends (both living and dead) is growing daily - and something is definitely a-foot.
In the mean time - here is a book that was recommended to me by my university mentor Prof. Les Walkling many moons ago - it has served me well over the years - I'm sure its available where you like to buy books from - its one of those ones that always seems to be in print :)
Tune in next time
xoxo
*note - The text image is of the first page preface, from The Craft of Research by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. - Universtity of Chicago Press 1995 - ISBN : 0-226-06584-7
Me thinks it can be applied not only to university style research - but to everything, in the way we think about, and experience the human condition. Me thinks Lauren Hill is right - "Everything, is everything"
Wednesday, September 4
Some say, a change is as good as ...
When you find yourself at the end of a relationship that you put all of your heart, soul, and energy into, it can be hard to know what to do what that energy, when it can no longer be directed in the same direction it was.
After spending so much time focused on a person, or a relationship, it can be hard to again put the focus on yourself. It seems almost selfish now! Wow, how we do brainwash ourselves.
Anyway, I figure I can't change my situation, but I can change my environment. That is one outcome I do have control over. So I found it is easier for me to focus on myself again, by allowing myself to change my outside world for the better, first ... it makes the transition to 'being selfish' again so much easier ... not to mention kinda fun. I take a lot of my inspiration from Nick Hornby's character in High Fidelity. I love the way he re-arranges his record collection every time he breaks up. It's the kind of thing I do too.
Knowing that I can live however I like, in whatever way and style that I like, is freeing and inspiring, and a good place to start learning a new direction, or way of being.
We don't have to limit ourselves by trying to live up to some magazine ideal of how our living and/or work spaces should be. I don't need to live in a McMansion, because I don't need, want, or desire a McMansion lifestyle. I won't go off on an architectural/sociological rant right now, other than to say we don't need to keep up with any of The Jones' at all, and, Australia's ambitions and ideals for, and of, living environments and spaces, is a bit narrow, to say the least.
I want ... no, I need my space to be functional and creative.
My home and my work space can, & should, reflect exactly who I am and what I need to sustain myself and the people I live with, both inside and out. Nothing more.
So recently I have been pottering about the house, finding my new direction, and focusing on my home environment ... Which has lead to more productive work spaces, which leads to more of the things that matter, like nurturing inspiration and creativity, and before you know it - Bam! - you are focused on yourself & your creativity, and left wondering how you ever had the time to be consumed by anyone, or anything else. Hallelujah!
I have created a post office in my kitchen/diner, (its an open space house) and I am totally in love with it! I can store all of my postage & promotional needs in one place, and I don't have to fetch them form all corners every time I get an online sale. I have also stashed an array of crafty things for my newly revived love of paper and stationary. (How that ever left me I have no idea!) ... Plus I think it looks kind of awesome!
The two pieces of furniture I used to build the 'post office' have their own story, (that I won't bore you with ... everything in this place has a story, right down to literally the kitchen sink) and they were just going to waste, being separated in different spaces in the house, doing different jobs, and neither of them very well. You could say I have re-purposed them in the same way I have been learning to re-purpose my life after love. awww. *shy face* . Now all it needs is a folding parcel packing table and I'm set. I saw the perfect one in a catalog that will fit neatly between the cabinet and the door, that I will try to replicate when I source (find) the right materials.
My Da seems to think that the old pigeon hole cabinet would have been used at the railways back in its day, he says it has the same green government paint still on the side of it. The sideboard it is sitting on was saved from land fill too. Actually I think most of the things in this photo have been saved from landfill. The antique red gum ice box/cabinet that I keep my glasses in, was a gift from my Mum that she no longer needed, & thought it was the perfect place for it when I finished building - she was right. Oh and she is also responsible for the chairs, hours of stripping off layers of paint accumulated over the years. Thanks Mum!
Although I have been totally changing my home/work environment, I have not used anything in this little project that I didn't already have. Everything has just been moved around, re-ordered, re-arranged, re-purposed, re-discovered, re-vamped, or found. Its a bit of a metaphor for whats happening on the inside too I suppose.
How do you find new directions or inspiration?
Happy handmade love.
xoxo
After spending so much time focused on a person, or a relationship, it can be hard to again put the focus on yourself. It seems almost selfish now! Wow, how we do brainwash ourselves.
Anyway, I figure I can't change my situation, but I can change my environment. That is one outcome I do have control over. So I found it is easier for me to focus on myself again, by allowing myself to change my outside world for the better, first ... it makes the transition to 'being selfish' again so much easier ... not to mention kinda fun. I take a lot of my inspiration from Nick Hornby's character in High Fidelity. I love the way he re-arranges his record collection every time he breaks up. It's the kind of thing I do too.
Knowing that I can live however I like, in whatever way and style that I like, is freeing and inspiring, and a good place to start learning a new direction, or way of being.
We don't have to limit ourselves by trying to live up to some magazine ideal of how our living and/or work spaces should be. I don't need to live in a McMansion, because I don't need, want, or desire a McMansion lifestyle. I won't go off on an architectural/sociological rant right now, other than to say we don't need to keep up with any of The Jones' at all, and, Australia's ambitions and ideals for, and of, living environments and spaces, is a bit narrow, to say the least.
I want ... no, I need my space to be functional and creative.
My home and my work space can, & should, reflect exactly who I am and what I need to sustain myself and the people I live with, both inside and out. Nothing more.
So recently I have been pottering about the house, finding my new direction, and focusing on my home environment ... Which has lead to more productive work spaces, which leads to more of the things that matter, like nurturing inspiration and creativity, and before you know it - Bam! - you are focused on yourself & your creativity, and left wondering how you ever had the time to be consumed by anyone, or anything else. Hallelujah!
I have created a post office in my kitchen/diner, (its an open space house) and I am totally in love with it! I can store all of my postage & promotional needs in one place, and I don't have to fetch them form all corners every time I get an online sale. I have also stashed an array of crafty things for my newly revived love of paper and stationary. (How that ever left me I have no idea!) ... Plus I think it looks kind of awesome!
The two pieces of furniture I used to build the 'post office' have their own story, (that I won't bore you with ... everything in this place has a story, right down to literally the kitchen sink) and they were just going to waste, being separated in different spaces in the house, doing different jobs, and neither of them very well. You could say I have re-purposed them in the same way I have been learning to re-purpose my life after love. awww. *shy face* . Now all it needs is a folding parcel packing table and I'm set. I saw the perfect one in a catalog that will fit neatly between the cabinet and the door, that I will try to replicate when I source (find) the right materials.
My Da seems to think that the old pigeon hole cabinet would have been used at the railways back in its day, he says it has the same green government paint still on the side of it. The sideboard it is sitting on was saved from land fill too. Actually I think most of the things in this photo have been saved from landfill. The antique red gum ice box/cabinet that I keep my glasses in, was a gift from my Mum that she no longer needed, & thought it was the perfect place for it when I finished building - she was right. Oh and she is also responsible for the chairs, hours of stripping off layers of paint accumulated over the years. Thanks Mum!
Although I have been totally changing my home/work environment, I have not used anything in this little project that I didn't already have. Everything has just been moved around, re-ordered, re-arranged, re-purposed, re-discovered, re-vamped, or found. Its a bit of a metaphor for whats happening on the inside too I suppose.
How do you find new directions or inspiration?
Happy handmade love.
xoxo
Friday, August 23
I Love Snail Mail
I have recently been doing some 'productive procrastinating' as I like to call it.
It's not actually getting done the things I need to get done ... & it's just enjoying doing random crafty, & creative things.
I suppose you could call it research, or 'getting your craft on' ... but as I really should be doing something else, I call it productive procrastinating.
With such, I have been spending a bit of time playing around with packaging ideas for my two micro businesses, i made this for you ... & then some. It has always been a bit of an issue for me. Do you just throw a business card into the parcel, or do you include a personal note? Do you include freebies? How do you let people know that you appreciate their custom & would love for you to tell their friends about what you do, & hopefully/maybe come back one day? How do you give a customer the same gooey feeling that they get when they walk into their favorite bricks & mortar store, when they open their parcel from your online store?
I have been lucky enough to get quite a few postcards and the like printed for free of late, and I have started including them in the parcels. But that was simply not enough for my liking. I wanted to make a little song and dance about saying 'Thank You' when a customer opens the parcel.
This is what I have come up with for now.
It includes some business cards and postcards and a fridge magnet or two, from both of my shops, [cross promotion can't hurt right?]
As well as a Thank You / Discount card for return customers, & potentially any other bits & pieces that take my fancy.
madeit.com.au has recently had a big upgrade and now includes customer codes, so you can enter a special code [provided by individual shops] at the checkout for your discount. Way cool! So I made a special Thank You card that I can write a note on, that also has a return customer discount code printed on it. That code is valid for both shops, can be used over & over again, & will never expire! It is my way of sharing the handmade love.
But the bit I like the most is the gift tags I made. They are all hand cut from salvaged kraft board, with a hand cut sticker made from paper that I printed, and then stamped myself. I am kinda proud of them. And because I don't write on the back of them, they are also a handy free gift tag for you! Even the string is certified food grade, so you can use it to tie a bunch of herbs together next time you make soup ... please don't forget to take off the tag though if you do ... I don't trust printer ink to qualify as a food group.
Anyway, I hope you like them. You can be sure there will be a few keeping your parcel company while it journeys with the postman.
SO ... As all return customers now get a 5% discount card included with their promo 'hello/bonjour/with love/thank you' pack ... if you have purchased from me before ~ or even if you have not - and just can't resist free stuff, or you love snail mail that is not for Bill [gee I wish he would get his own post box!] ... just pop me a digital mail with your name & post address to order@elodie.biz with 'I love Handmade & Snail Mail' in the heading, & I will be sure to send you out a promo 'hello/bonjour/with love/thank you' pack as fast as the snails will carry it.
p.s
Disclaimer or what-have-you :- I promise not to use, sell, or even store your name, email or post details. I will not send you spam, or add you to any kind of mailing list. I sure as heck will not be selling your details to anyone, or any thing. In fact I will be chucking out all details as soon as I have written the address on the envelope. Cross my heart & kiss my elbow.
One day I may have a mailing list for newsletters - but not today - so you are safe from spammy harm.
Happy Handmade Love
xoxo
It's not actually getting done the things I need to get done ... & it's just enjoying doing random crafty, & creative things.
I suppose you could call it research, or 'getting your craft on' ... but as I really should be doing something else, I call it productive procrastinating.
With such, I have been spending a bit of time playing around with packaging ideas for my two micro businesses, i made this for you ... & then some. It has always been a bit of an issue for me. Do you just throw a business card into the parcel, or do you include a personal note? Do you include freebies? How do you let people know that you appreciate their custom & would love for you to tell their friends about what you do, & hopefully/maybe come back one day? How do you give a customer the same gooey feeling that they get when they walk into their favorite bricks & mortar store, when they open their parcel from your online store?
I have been lucky enough to get quite a few postcards and the like printed for free of late, and I have started including them in the parcels. But that was simply not enough for my liking. I wanted to make a little song and dance about saying 'Thank You' when a customer opens the parcel.
This is what I have come up with for now.
It includes some business cards and postcards and a fridge magnet or two, from both of my shops, [cross promotion can't hurt right?]
As well as a Thank You / Discount card for return customers, & potentially any other bits & pieces that take my fancy.
madeit.com.au has recently had a big upgrade and now includes customer codes, so you can enter a special code [provided by individual shops] at the checkout for your discount. Way cool! So I made a special Thank You card that I can write a note on, that also has a return customer discount code printed on it. That code is valid for both shops, can be used over & over again, & will never expire! It is my way of sharing the handmade love.
But the bit I like the most is the gift tags I made. They are all hand cut from salvaged kraft board, with a hand cut sticker made from paper that I printed, and then stamped myself. I am kinda proud of them. And because I don't write on the back of them, they are also a handy free gift tag for you! Even the string is certified food grade, so you can use it to tie a bunch of herbs together next time you make soup ... please don't forget to take off the tag though if you do ... I don't trust printer ink to qualify as a food group.
Anyway, I hope you like them. You can be sure there will be a few keeping your parcel company while it journeys with the postman.
SO ... As all return customers now get a 5% discount card included with their promo 'hello/bonjour/with love/thank you' pack ... if you have purchased from me before ~ or even if you have not - and just can't resist free stuff, or you love snail mail that is not for Bill [gee I wish he would get his own post box!] ... just pop me a digital mail with your name & post address to order@elodie.biz with 'I love Handmade & Snail Mail' in the heading, & I will be sure to send you out a promo 'hello/bonjour/with love/thank you' pack as fast as the snails will carry it.
p.s
Disclaimer or what-have-you :- I promise not to use, sell, or even store your name, email or post details. I will not send you spam, or add you to any kind of mailing list. I sure as heck will not be selling your details to anyone, or any thing. In fact I will be chucking out all details as soon as I have written the address on the envelope. Cross my heart & kiss my elbow.
One day I may have a mailing list for newsletters - but not today - so you are safe from spammy harm.
Happy Handmade Love
xoxo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)