Hi! Are you a new or recent visitor to my blog? I hope you stick around and have a bit of a read. To make it easier to keep up to date with new content, please subscribe to my RSS feed. Of course, feedback is always appreciated and leaving a comment is a great way for me to come and check out your site.

Thank you so much for all those lovely people who have left me comments after my post about connecting with the audience. It really is so nice to know that people are out there reading and enjoying looking at my photos and so on. Please keep it up! I think I can safely say that all bloggers enjoy getting comments so don’t be shy!

Comments make me happy!

I have finally updated my links list over on the right column - I have used a Bloglines feature that lets you create a links list using the blogs you have subscribed to, so now it will always be up to date on what I am reading. Actually, I have more than just those in my Bloglines list. I also check the feeds for a bunch of Flickr groups and a few other bits and pieces. No wonder I never get anything done around here!

I am itching to do more papercrafting, making cards and doing some collage. I have a million supplies (as always) and I have signed up for the use what you have challenge for April because I seriously need to do something about this crack craft addiction. I read somewhere that it takes 21 days to change a habit, so a month without buying any crafting supplies might really help me out. And it will make my mum proud of me too - she enters all my income and expenses into an Excel document for me so it means I have another pair of eyes quietly noticing how much I spend.

The happy lolly bags above were from Jack’s 5th birthday party which was last weekend. He had about 8 kids over and they all had SUCH a great time. It was so nice to watch them tearing around the yard and laughing and enjoying just being kids together. Here is his cake - I’m afraid I wasn’t a supermum. I just kept it simple. It was very yummy though and that’s all that matters really! After a rocket cake disaster for Sam quite a few years ago, I am not that confident on doing the fancy birthday party cakes that look so easy in the books. Jack’s cake was baked in a heart shaped pan but half of the bottom of it stuck when I tried to get it out. oh well! The kids loved it anyway.

What a long post this is, with many subjects all at once. Here is another one…

Today I received a lovely box in the mail from Jek, who made the gorgeous toy Easter Bunnies.  You can buy them here but hurry there aren’t many left!

I just love them! I got one for Jack and one for Emma but when they are not around I will pretend they are mine. I really wanted to open their cellophane packaging and have a good look (and a cuddle) but that really wouldn’t be terribly fair, seeing as how they are supposed to be for the children, not me! I will keep telling myself that anyway.

mmmm… two things I love - chocolate and my sewing machine!

I have just uploaded a bunch of things to my new Etsy store! Here is a sampling…

Hand stamped butterflies on white tee - size 4.

Lime Robot Singlet - size 3 and 4 available. Hand stencilled.

I have a bunch of these cute tees in sizes 0, 1 and 2 in both lime and navy. There are cow, sheep and pig appliques and they all wrap around the front and back. I love these!

And there are a couple of cute little zip purses. I have more of these cut out but haven’t made them up yet.

I also finished up some bag orders:

One of these bags (the Urban Girls one in red) is going to an old friend and former workmate, Caryn who lives in Byron Bay and designs underwear with lovely graphic images, like her lotus and peacock. The website is beautiful too and Caryn is a lovely soul so go have a look.

Here’s my favourite from her range - she calls it “Love your Lawn” and it’s just so funny. Go Skippy!

Last night I was so happy and surprised to receive an email from Etsy telling me that one of my bags had sold. My first sale on Etsy!

I was even more surprised to see who had bought my bag. And because I now use my married name he wouldn’t have known it was me - a total coincidence and a blast from the past: John Lampard from Disassociated, which probably means nothing to all you crafty types but in 1999, John and I were part of a group of Australian designers who set up the huge and amazing Australian INfront - a collaborative project space and launch pad to Australia’s best online designers, artists, companies and other design related web sites. We have both moved on now but hey, we were there in the beginning, making history!

Did you know I had a blog with Blogger when they first opened up shop. I had a forum that kicked serious ass and was so popular that it totally amazed me. I set up my own web design business called Red Rocket Media, but it didn’t last long. I met and got cozy with Aliza Sherman, the founder of Webgrrls and I was a founding member of Webgrrls Sydney. I won real world awards for my personal site, trashed.org. I gave talks and tutorials at the first ever National Young Writers Festival, still going and HUGE - it’s now part of TINA - This Is Not Art. I was part of a group of geeky girls (including Kylie Gusset, now a knitter extraordinaire) who had a radio show on Sydney’s 2SER that was all about the net - it was called Ctrl Alt Delete. Oh I’m sure I could dredge up more history but you have probably had enough now! Thanks for indulging me.

Here is a few images of my sites from the old days:

I would be really, really stoked if anyone remembered these sites so if you do be sure to leave me a comment to say hi!

ahhhh… memories. To be honest though, while web design was fun it didn’t give me half the pleasure that sewing and being a mum does. I’m glad I found my niche at last.

I have just added a few bags to my new Etsy shop! Click on the images below to go to the listing for more info and pics.

I am new to Etsy so if you have any tips or feedback for me please leave a comment below.

Red Zippy Bag

Embroidered Denim Bag

Ballerina Clutch Bag

Red Denim Purse