Australians: how to spend your stimulus money

Buy: Locally handcrafted, from Australian Designers.

The perfect way to instantly and directly get the money to Australia, is by getting something (or things that are) truly amazing and original…

More places to find AUSSIE work:

1. www.madeit.com.au

2. www.leeloo.com.au

Thanks, Kevin Rudd! (*cough* for giving us some of our tax money back *cough*)

Studio Talk

Being the creative type, at this moment my studio is in a complete mess and has slowly grown to the dining room and computer desk, so that has been my ‘job’ for this week. I am also trying to come up with ways to actually keep it clean. Would people be interested in a before and after shot? One of my goals is to utilize the space in my precious vintage rolling-top desk , and make it into a REAL jeweller’s desk.

some treasures you can find in my studio. I rather like to find/see my beads and whatnots as an eclectic mix inside a special box, not that it is is good when you’re trying to find something in a hurry (read: always!)

If only all studios could look as inspiring as Heather Bailey‘s:

Love, Renee

PS: Oh, and I am still working out a balance for this blog – a balance of my journey with Cocoa Pod, my ‘finds’ and inspiration. What do you enjoy reading about the most? Perhaps I should separate the two.

Roaring 20s

A friend’s new hairdo inspired this post… I just adore the 20s and 30s – the clothes and the music. The clothes were asymmetrical and contrasting: a boyish silhouette is such a contrast with the feminine appliqués and silks. Was the 20s fashion ahead of it’s time or are we just simply being inspired by it today? I am forever studying the fashion in the 20s, and will be posting quite a lot about it in the future. Today I am leaving you with a fantastic Australian artist,  Samantha Battersb, who is also inspired by the same era…

MOTL Market

Well, I left for Bunbury on Friday afternoon, quite stressed because I was unwell all week (I was cool as a cucumber before I was unwell!). The drive was really pretty, similar to going to Perth, but a lot of mountains – loved the dimension. And as soon as we arrived to Bunbury I felt instantly ‘unstressed’, it must of been the sea breeze! We first spotted the hotel that hosts MOTL, then we checked out the beach and went for a walk in town. Not that they were open, but it looked like there was some lovely boutiques there. The coffee strip looked appealing too. I noticed a Gelato place and had to buy my favourite ‘crazy raspberry’ sorbet;  no artificial colours or flavours. I spotted their window. It had posters on it. The girl who served me was sweet, so I asked if they would be interested in putting up the MOTL poster. The lovely gentleman said yes and that he had heard of MOTL. Apparently his friend was going to have her flowers there. He said she is very lovely and I will certainly meet her! After that, I went straight to my motel and did all the last minute touches, readiness for the next day; Saturday –  the market day! I noted when I first arrived that I couldn’t see any flower stores whilst I was setting up my display.

*my display after the morning rush…  looks a bit messy*

Some of the lovely experiences of the day:

1. My first sale went to a Grandmother. She was quiet and understated. She looked like a special soul who generally spoils other people, while she lives a modest life. But on Saturday, I was so flattered that she picked a special necklace for herself from me! This was a warming start to my day.
2. There was a group of three lovely ladies. It looked like a mother and her two daughters in their twenties. They couldn’t decide what to pick and went past my store perhaps 5 times until they had someone special for each of them. They were so bubbly and cute.
3. My first metro-sexual guy sale, who purchased something for himself. This market really intrigues me.
4. A lovely well-traveled lady who bought something special for her daughter-in-law in Vancouver, Canada.
5. I got to meet other designers and artists! (You know who you are!)

And another lovely experience was a gorgeous (in personality and looks) woman who was SO in tune with my work, it was so special to meet her and I was very flattered. She spent, maybe… 20 minutes in my display and I enjoyed learning about her. When she decided on what to get, she mentioned something about her own creativity. She mentioned flowers. Flowers?? I asked her if she was “such and such”, having in mind I could be making such a fool of myself, but she said yes!! How amazing is that? I hope one day that we will cross paths again soon.

I look forward to my next market.

Secret Garden

A gorgeous cuff, lovely shoes, and a lacy parasol in shades of beige/tan is what I am currently lusting for at the moment. The cuff is designed and handcrafted by Leslie Janson, the shoes are elegant but not shy of practicality; with it’s petite heel, and as for the parasol, well…  just because. Now that I have convinced you how wonderful they are, you can now buy them for me. :p

Prep. for MOTL

As you know, at the moment I am preparing for my store at the designer market; Made On The Left, which is on the 11th, Easter weekend. Things have been a bit crazy. Here is some ramblings to keep this blog ‘real’:

Things to be happy about:

1. My new display and packaging have arrived, and they are 99.99% perfect.
2. I have made and priced all my small earrings.
3. I have made and priced all my zipper/mobile attachments.
4. An amazing friend is making my new shelf for the display today.
5. All new signs and forms have been made, just need to print them tonight.
6. I found a place that sells the easels that holds 50% of my display up. They are affordable too! And surprising, despite looking everywhere for them in the city, the chemist here has the cheapest and best ones.
7. I have so far made a few rings, hair slides and ‘Everlasting Flower’ pendants.

Things to work through:

1. Messed up info cards that I was hoping to include with each order (I have been saving up for these, and I completely mucked them up. No longer an investment)
2. March/Autumn collection. I enjoy making these the most, but they are very labour intensive and I might not make enough in time. I have to soak in turps, paint primer, enamel, glue, glue again, add beads and earwires, tumble to make shiny.

Ooh, and did I mention I am really ‘fun’ to be around when I prepare for a market/anything? I don’t swear or be violent, but I have 2-year-old tantrums and need lots of coffee and chocolate to calm me down. :p  Getting told that everything will be fine or the opposite; everything is doomed doesn’t seem to help. I just need to find a solution ASAP before my brain explodes.

But a plus side on the March/Autumn collection is that I look like Michael Jackson when I do it – mask, scary space glasses, and one glove. Oh yeah.  And I feel important in them too, like I am the man of the house… I wear the pants. Oh yeah.

Before I go, I thought I’d leave you with a photo of my first market as Cocoa Pod.  It is very wishy-woshy and makes me want to hide underneath a shell. I will be sure to take photos at MOTL and share them with you. In 5 years time they will also probably make me want to hide under a shell, however! There is no such thing as perfection, is there? We always grow and need more ‘food’ and ‘clothes’.

Have a lovely weekend!

Renee

The Coolest Pet Beds

Aren’t these pet beds fabulous? They have so much character yet full of simplicity. I can completely imagine them in my imaginary dream-home, yes! Mmm… a dramatic-coloured feature wall with floating shelves, various other things and this. My only question is – does the cute kitten come with it too? They are handcrafted by Brad and Ashley Reynolds, the artistic spirits behind Vintage Renaissance.

You Are Invited To:

We are thrilled to announce that Cocoa Pod has been chosen as a vendor for Made on The Left – a fabulous market that showcases top quality West Australian designers! Be the first to see items from our Autumn collection!  If you are from West Australia, why not make a road trip to Bunbury on Easter weekend and support handmade! I would be so delighted to meet you!

pics hosted by: flickr.com