Olives Friend Pop
Monica Werner Bunting
Chaos reigns supreme in my house. I seem to live in this state of disorganised chaos and it is driving me a little insane. Now that I have recently discovered the Super Organiser Mum blog it is making me feel a little more guilty I have gotten like this.
Being so busy all the time, I tend to do a dump and run with the thoughts of organising that later. Later never happens. As embarrassing as this is, below is my office before Christmas. Life is so just so chaotic sometimes I live in a crazed state of supreme mess of gargantuan size.
This year I vowed to make some changes in my life, reduce my workload and get back to doing the things I constantly put off. The projects in my shed I have collected, my cupboards overflowing with things and my crazy disorganised office. It is hard to believe that once upon a time, pre-kids everything had its spot and was labelled and I could find it instantly.
So Super Organiser Mum blog has inspired me to get back to life how it used to be, whilst not quite that super organised, at least not living in this jumble of crazy. I am just about to tackle her brilliant ideas for freezing school lunches and snacks (that is of course after I tidy my freezer so I can put something in without it falling out when the door is open).
If you too are feeling inspired to get your mountains of “stuff” back into order, here are a few handmade items to help you along your organisational way.
Happy as Larry Felt Storage Boxes
KnapsackJack Cars Drawstring Playmat
Mini Bag Organiser from Melissa Tan Australia
Weekly Shopping List by Paper Forget Me Knot
Well I amoff to tackle another “to do task” on my extremely long list, but I do feel good I have a freezer full of baked biscuits at the ready for school lunches in a couple of days (yes I cleaned the freezer)
Monkeys Over The Moon was born from a love of fabrics, drawing and making gifts for friends children.
After a bit of inspiration and encouragement from some other Australian WAHMs Monkeys Over The Moon launched in October 2010 and Georgie hasn’t looked back since! With inspiration coming from fabrics, photos, toys, and objects around her, though her main muses are her children Matilda, Holden and Freya.
Monkey’s over the Moon hand draws and then stitches all their designs, so no applique is ever exactly the same. With a whole plethora of designs to choose from, you are sure to find something that suits your tastes and you can find all the designs on Monkeys over the Moon Facebook Page.
And whilst you are there, take a look at the New Designs for 2011 album. It has the most adorable appliques with everything from robots to rovers, swans to snails … such great designs!
Okay, so I’d been up since 5 am and had a vomitting two year old to contend with, had only had one cup of coffee and loads of stinky-vom washing to deal with. I needed to sit down, chill out, and have some happy time.
So when I started to check out what Kate and the gang at The Alphabet Tree create, I found my happy place!
Kate is a “VCM” (Very Clever Mum) and used her skills and background in education to create The Alphabet Tree – a online business that creates gorgeous personalised wall decals and clothing.
The decals are simply stunning and really well priced (start at $10) so if you are looking for the perfect touches to a nursery or play room, I think you’ve found the place. Here are a couple of my favourites:
Kate tells us: “Im proud of the fact that my vinyl stickers and customised tee shirts are different and I love working with customers to create special things. If anyone would like a variation on the wall decals or customised tee shirts that you see on my website, please contact me and together well come up with something gorgeous!”
Fonts, fabrics, sizes and themes – The Alphabet Tree are happy to custom make to your needs. I love that!
The Alphabet Tree has a range of wall decals and clothing to choose from – stuff for the kitchen window, the lounge room wall, sticking stuff on the family car, decorating for a party or dressing your kiddie… Kate has it covered.
Keep up to date with The Alphabet Tree on Facebook – I’ve just spent time looking at photographs her happy customers have sent it. Great ideas for kids rooms there!
Might be time to get that next cup of coffee now!
Caz x
Posted on 31 January 2011
5 Minutes with My Friend Matilda
5 minutes with/ Handmade business/ Meet The Maker
On this overcast Monday morning (well in WA), we are lucky enough to spend 5 minutes with Rebekah from My Friend Matilda and here is what she had to say:
Tell us a little about how your business came to life.
I always wanted to start my own business, it was a dream since I was a little girl but this did not come about until this last year. My son Kayden (now 15 months) was a surprise baby… One sunny day after some routine blood tests I got a call from the doctor telling me I was in fact 5 months pregnant! (for the complete story visit my blog HERE – it will make a lot more sense).
With non existent maternity leave and a lack of savings we knew that we were about to battle with one income and a new mortgage. This is probably what kick started my brainstorming for a business I could run from home part time while I am a mum.
I also got given a lot of things when Kayden was born. The most memorable by far were the handmade gifts. They were full of love, took time to make and were unique!
Can you remember your first sale? What was it? How did you feel?
My first sale was from a lady named Carla in Chicago of all places! My little website was getting global customers! She purchased a Trailing Cherry Blossom Tree Decal . It felt AMAZING, I was filled with excitement and called my husband straight away screaming down the phone that “Chicago purchased a decal, just now, tree with flowers!!!!!”. I will never forget that feeling!
Is there an interesting anecdote behind your business name?
There sure is..I have a Cavoodle (Poodle cross King Charles Cavalier) named Matilda. She was our œfirst born. I thought name sounded better than “My Friend Kayden” and I liked that the word Matilda is associated with Australia too. I also picture our son Kayden one day saying “This is My Friend Matilda” when referring to his dog.
Where does most of your creating take place? Show us … if you want.
The good thing about My Friend Matilda is the work can pretty much take place anywhere that I have access to my laptop… This can sometimes be a bad thing as it is hard to detach my every day life from work – I was completing orders on my wedding day!
I do have a lovely office that I work from with amazing natural night, I can look outside into the garden and watch my husband play with Kayden or admire my veggie patch and lemon tree!
What is your favourite item that you make? Show and tell!
I love so many of my decals but the most popular and the one that got my customers attention when I first opened My Friend Matilda is the Trailing Cherry Blossom Tree. I also love the Safari Playground decal and the Flower Wall Paper look decal.
What is your most favourite handcrafted item you have brought?
Probably the nappy covers from Stacy Bayless . I use them ALL the time on my son when its too hot for anything but a nappy and a singlet. They are adorable!!
What handcrafty thing couldn’t you live without?
Ooo thats tough..probably my Lunch Skins. They are reusable, environmentally friendly snack and sandwich bags. I use these every day for carrying around snacks for myself and my son in my nappy bag or work lunch box!
