Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Reinvention in the mountains
Well I'm not very prolific when it comes to my blog, I never know what to write. My tree change has bought all sorts of challenges some great, some difficult, but none bad.
The difficult , the markets here are very challenging there isn't the cash around like Sydney. I don't have as much cash either, that was the trade off living on one wage, so that i can create, reinvent and try to be of use.
So my market experience has been very up and down. It's difficult to find my "target group". Today had a new twist, a couple of months ago a mum commisioned me to make a couple of dresses for her daughter using her own African fabric. She recommended to a friend, who asked me to do alteration for her, she was very happy and is about to drop of a skirt she loves and some fabric and I will be paid to make 2 more for her. So I am a bona fide dressmaker. not ready to take on a wedding meringue just yet. But isn't it great how life can change so quickly. When I made the move to the mountains I had some fixed ideas of what I wanted to do, I am now thinking that being open to possibilities is the way to go. As long as I get to be creative, cook good food for Johnny and I, walk the mutt and see my friends, and make a couple of dollars, well that is wonderful, I am very lucky. An opportunity came up for me on Katoomba in retail, I work one day a week at Zuri a gorgeous store that sell, eco, organic and sustainable homewares, skincare, clothing & fairtrade goods. I love it and am learning lots.
The difficult , the markets here are very challenging there isn't the cash around like Sydney. I don't have as much cash either, that was the trade off living on one wage, so that i can create, reinvent and try to be of use.
So my market experience has been very up and down. It's difficult to find my "target group". Today had a new twist, a couple of months ago a mum commisioned me to make a couple of dresses for her daughter using her own African fabric. She recommended to a friend, who asked me to do alteration for her, she was very happy and is about to drop of a skirt she loves and some fabric and I will be paid to make 2 more for her. So I am a bona fide dressmaker. not ready to take on a wedding meringue just yet. But isn't it great how life can change so quickly. When I made the move to the mountains I had some fixed ideas of what I wanted to do, I am now thinking that being open to possibilities is the way to go. As long as I get to be creative, cook good food for Johnny and I, walk the mutt and see my friends, and make a couple of dollars, well that is wonderful, I am very lucky. An opportunity came up for me on Katoomba in retail, I work one day a week at Zuri a gorgeous store that sell, eco, organic and sustainable homewares, skincare, clothing & fairtrade goods. I love it and am learning lots.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Tree Change
I moved to the Blue mountains to do less and guess what I have managed to do more.
The thing is that I am busy doing what I love, creating.
In my city life I also had a job I loved for more than 20 yrs, especially my coworkers, except the hours were way too long, with long periods of sitting around doing nothing but think of what I would like make/create.
Fortunately I still get to dip into that work now and then, laugh lots and come back home.
Spent a couple of hours poking around in Surry Hils yesterday looking for bamboo handles, rare as hens teeth, easy to find plastic imitations.
Found them at E M Greenfeilds an amazing place straight out the Dickensian era. Smiles are strictly forbidden and the staff look like they have been there as long as Surry Hills itself. Still they had the handles,18 of them so I bought them all.
As any handmade lover will know when you find what your looking for it's heaven.
The thing is that I am busy doing what I love, creating.
In my city life I also had a job I loved for more than 20 yrs, especially my coworkers, except the hours were way too long, with long periods of sitting around doing nothing but think of what I would like make/create.
Fortunately I still get to dip into that work now and then, laugh lots and come back home.
Spent a couple of hours poking around in Surry Hils yesterday looking for bamboo handles, rare as hens teeth, easy to find plastic imitations.
Found them at E M Greenfeilds an amazing place straight out the Dickensian era. Smiles are strictly forbidden and the staff look like they have been there as long as Surry Hills itself. Still they had the handles,18 of them so I bought them all.
As any handmade lover will know when you find what your looking for it's heaven.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Xmas break
It's been more than a month since my first entry.
Been a busy bee since last time. My other job took me to Wellington NZ for a few days, it was lot
's of fun. Great food a pretty city. Now in Forster NSW with the in laws. I've had such a relaxing time, I bought no crafts with me so I could have complete relaxation, so now I'm almost mad with the desire to create. The best I can do is scour the town for vintage buttons , buckles or fabrics.
As soon as I get back home the machine will be purring. Can't wait. Back to living in the moment.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Thinking about all things fabric
Okay, my first blog entry.
Yesterday in the lovely Blue Mountains was red hot and I mean the temperature.
My hubby and I set up my market stall at Glenbrook, a really lovely market in at the foothills of the market.
Flies were in plague proportions, the flies departed and the heat came.
What promised to be a busy day diminished in direct proportion to the mercury rising.
All was not lost, I had so much positive feedback, particularly about my choice of fabrics.
So while sales were slow I got 3 custom orders. I am very happy, it's all I can do not to start now, but have promised that I will relax on this sacred day of rest.
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