etsy action

There's not a whole lot of production happening in the fede workshop at the moment. Instead every free moment I have is spent packing boxes...and boxes.....and for a change, more boxes! I had a moment of clarity this evening when I looked in Sachin's very sparse bedroom and realised that he still had everything there he needs. Why do we collect so much STUFF? My thinking right now is that I'll be rutheless with the unpacking and ditch anything that is not necessary. Secretely between you & me however, this will never happen because I'm a sucker for beautiful things.

So speaking of beautiful have a look at Hooty the Owl I purchased last night on Etsy from MellyAndMe. Isn't it just adorable? I think it will look perfect in Abbie's nursery (my friend Kathy's new baby girl). MellyAndMe also have a fabulous blog which you must take a peek at!

I found their Melbourne shop through the ShopLocal feature on Etsy. Typically I had left my purchase really late and couldn't wait the week or so to recieve an international parcel. In doing this search I found a ton of fantastic work on Etsy from Melbourne. Go check it out for your local area.

My other recent Etsy purchase is this ring from Zahour Jewelry. Dean and I just celebrated our 9th Wedding Anniversary and this was my gift to the man. He has wanted a replacement wedding band for the last few years (yes not very sentimental) as his style has changed. I found this ring and thought it would be perfect as he likes things that are simple & clean, yet a little bit different. We had it made in white gold with the satin finish. Sadly on arrival it was a little too big so we have returned it to Nicole for re-sizing. Dean is impatiently waiting for his baby to return!!! This is Nicole Zahour's description of the ring which just won me over.

"Originally I custom made this ring for a friend for his 20 year wedding anniversary. It turned out so beautiful that I had more requests for it. The "O" in the center of the ring means "Eternity" and represents their eternal love and respect for each other. It is simple and elegant."

On the sales front these little hammers are the most recent movers from my etsy store. It's looking a little sad over there as there has been no new stock for quite a while. I've got so many new ideas sketched out and in my head - I just can't wait to get my sewing machine out again after the move. Got those twitchy twitchy fingers happening!!!

Meg from Elsie Marley contacted me to let me know that my baby tools have been featured on apartment therapy: the nursery woo hoo. Thanks Meg. Check out her little diggers which are also featured...they are very cool!

short break

Just got back last night from a few days in Canberra, the Capital City of Australia. I thoroughly recommend a weekend away the week before you are about to move house....it does wonders! It has probably been the most relaxing, restful few days I've experienced in a couple of years - perfect timing! Aaaahhh....the calm before the storm.

So 2 of the 4 days were spent on the road travelling the 650km trip between Melbourne & Canberra. The way there was bliss...sleeping kids & plenty of time to make phone calls & write lists of all the things to do before we move. The way back was a different story - not one that you would care to hear about. Let's just say that the final 2 hours of our journey were a little challenging with screaming kids in the back seat (OK so maybe that bit was not so relaxing).

The highlight and purpose of the trip was on Sunday when Dean completed a 50km ultra-marathon. I know what you are thinking! To the majority of us "sane" people (who struggle to run to the corner), it does seem a little OTT to want to push oneself to that extreme. As the wife of an endurance athlete (it used to be triathlons), I truly admire the determination and self-motivation required to both physically & mentally compete & train for these events. I honesty don't have the inbuilt drive to push myself to that extreme....my brain would otherwise convince me it's time to stop and that I have made a great effort even if I only reached half way! It's just not in me. So anyway, well done Dean! He ran the marathon (42km) in 3 hours & 9 minutes, and completed the 50km in 3 hours & 50 minutes.

Other things of interest in Canberra for the Dyer family.

• National Museum of Australia is not only a great museum but also a brilliant building designed by Melbourne Architects Ashton Raggatt McDougall. These guys really like to push the conservative boundaries and have created some very exciting, graphically strong structures. Check out their website & portfolio of work.


• the jumping pillow at the tourist park ......the picture tells it all


• kangaroos bouncing past the bedroom window in the morning when I opened the curtains


• day naps......zzzzzzzzz


• jumping in puddles (another one for Ruby)


• sketching & thinking time in the car


• cylindrical concrete Canberra Bus Shelters
  
• feeding the ducks & quiet time out of the city

4 things

I got tagged by the cheeky Katy from I'm a Ginger Monkey, and well, have been a bit slack in getting this up & posted. So here we go!

4 Jobs::

• Checkout Chick - high school & uni days at "TimeSavers"


• Piano Teacher - 10 years of teaching in my parents back room, just covered the cost of my uni bar/drinking expenses :)


• Kitchen Designer on 100% commission...tried it 3 times....sucker for punishment


• Commercial Interior Designer - specialised in retail design...it's the most fun!
  

4 Favourite Movies::



Pulp Fiction...best best best...gotta love the Burger Royale baby!

Reality Bites / Zoolander (equal 2nd)...BenStiller, Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke - love them all.

Moulin Rouge (has to be seen on the big screen)

Snatch / 21 Grams (equal 4th)

4 Places I've Been::

• almost to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro (altitude sickness won the battle)


• stranded in Varzo (northern italy & switzerland border) when combi van caught on fire - no english speakers in town. spent 3 days enjoying lots of spaghetti bog, gelato, short blacks & chocolate while figuring out what next???


• swimming with reef sharks at Coral Bay in Western Australia


• Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic - most beautiful town I've seen

4 Places I've Lived::

• Adelaide, South Australia


• Melbourne, Victoria, Australia


• London, UK


• Combi Van (Europe) for 6 months
  

4 Favourite TV Shows::

• American Idol (seriously addicted)


• Grand Designs (UK version) - Kevin McLoud is just adorable ;)


• The Office (UK version)


• Property Ladder (UK version) - this is my dream...one day???

4 Favourite Radio Programmes::

Don't listen to the radio much...but I can name 3 programmes I enjoy all from 774 ABC Melbourne -

• Breakfast with Red Symons


• Mornings with Jon Faine


• Afternoons with Richard Stubbs

Far out I must be getting old if that's all I can come up with?????

4 Favourite Foods::

This is hard!

• Crayfish / Morton Bay Bugs


• Chocolate


• Pastries with custard or lemon of ANY sort


• Anything cooked by an old Italian mama
  

4 Places I'd Rather Be::

My honest answer is that I'm happy anywhere as long as I have Dean & my kids. However if I was to chose anywhere in the world I'd say....

• New York City (only spent 1 week there on holiday but love to go back)


• Portafino, Italy

• Paris - to shop if I had lots of money


• Denmark - I love the simple approach to design & the lifestyle
  

So there you go. Time to pass the baton to another 4 bloggers........

• Emma
• Helen
• Meg
• Tammy (this is for your future blog!)

quality not quantity

I've come to realise that this is my thing. Everyone has a thing right? Mine is quality not quantity. Quality is a family trait. Dad epitomises it. He used to work as a plaster tradesman on building sites and was nicknamed "Mr Sheen" as he was always so pressed & clean. His work was also a reflection of his image. You've never seen a wardrobe like my Dad's......the socks are colour sorted!

We've (siblings) all managed to tailor this need for quality in different ways. My brother is a do-er. He's always got projects on the go around the house & they are always finished to the highest, highest standard. He also works in quality control (not kidding). My sister is the studious one...high distinctions...she's just started lecturing at RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) in addition to working and doing her Honours and starting a Not For Profit organisation called Designers With Soul. Yep she's busy. My Mum is very clever with her hands. She knits, sews & bakes and of course expects only the best from herself. She is her own worst enemy and is never satisfied with the finished product.

Here is an example. This photo is us modelling our new winter hats that arrived in the post this week from Mum (woo hoo I do love parcels). Anyway, as I attempted to thank Mum she managed to pick each one of them to pieces & justify why they were not perfect. Ruby's hat is the second version as the first one was rejected (by Mum, not me). I think they're fab & can't wait for the cold weather.

It was the events of yesterday that got me thinking about this philosophy. We had our first open house to find potential tenants after only 4 days of advertising. In true family style I cleaned & polished the house so it was sparkling. While doing this my mind is thinking "I'm only doing this once & I'll do it so well that every person that walks through the door will fall in love & just have to live here" It worked! We only had 2 parties through the house but both completed applications & we now have a bidding war on between them. Not bad hey? Shouldn't get too excited as it could all fall through tomorrow...must get them to sign the dotted line before we start celebrating.

I also realised that this is how I operate fede. I would rather spend more time making a beautifully crafted item that is unique & special, than making reproductions of best sellers. Having said this I understand that this is not very smart from a business perspective so I will need to find a middle ground that satisfies me artistically & also supports the brand financially. I find this a difficult balance when one is so passionate about design & individuality.

On a final note before I sign off I have one further example of Quality not Quantity. My darling husband, Deano. Lets just say he's not a bad catch...oh yeah...and I've only had one & I've had him for a long time. He came home from work this week with these cheerful tulips (just because.......no occasion). What a gem!

So there you go, that's my thing.

Today's MINI 10

As promised here is the MINI 10 with Dearne Herrenberg, the brains behind the Creative Women's Circle. Dearne, or De as we call her is a talented, busy gal based in Melbourne, Australia. She has been successfully running her own business Dearne Herrenberg Interiors since 2004. In addition to this has made quite an impact with her distinctive jewellery range Mainichi.

"Mainichi Design inverts the concept of precious jewellery. We use no precious metals or jewels. Instead, unexpected, ordinary and everyday materials become pieces of wearable art".

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am Mum to the gorgeous 9 month old Andre, an interior designer and a designer/maker working under the label “Mainichi”. I have worked from a home based studio since saying a final (very cheerful) farewell to the corporate world in 2004.

How did you come to be a designer / creator?
For as long as I can remember I have always been “creating”….in many different forms, including sewing, knitting, string art, Fimo, decorative painting, faux finishes, macramé, drawing, the list goes on. The jewellery range and Mainichi came to be after a holiday in Japan in 2004. I purchased some interesting raw materials in Tokyo and these were used to create the first pieces of jewellery in the range.

How do you go about starting new projects / creations (what is your process?)
My creative process usually starts with the acquisition of some new raw materials, some sketching and trial and error making prototypes. I am a terrible hoarder (a habit I’ve tried often to kick) so the other thing I like to do is drag out all my materials and mess up the house, and get inspired all over again.

What inspires you in life?
Top of that list would have to be my most wonderful collaborative creation to date – Andre. And of course my wonderful and supportive husband, John, who always manages to see things from a different perspective. Also the work of other designers, great architecture, history, Japan, travel……I could go on and on. But it would be boring for everyone else.

What are your favourite materials to work with
My favourite materials would have to be those that informed the name of my label – Mainichi translates as “everyday”….so I love using ordinary and unexpected materials. I could give you another list….here goes…..bamboo, felt, leather, wood, plastic….mmmm….plastic…..I know it’s bad but I love it.

Name your top 5 websites
I have to do some shameless self promotion here….and I have to cheat and add a couple of extras
1. Equal tie for first between http://www.mainichidesign.com/ and http://www.dearneherrenberg.com.au/
2. http://www.ancestry.com.au/ – I’m also trying to curb my addiction to finding skeletons in closets
3. http://www.alter.com.au/ – my graphic designers, and very cool dudes
4. http://www.indie.com.au/ - some cool crafty stuff on here
5. http://www.nurturenappies.com.au/ – fabbo alternatives to evil disposable nappies, the gorgeous Jayne and Elissa at Nurture are wonderful too!

What is your most treasured possession?
Probably the tiny German style Cuckoo Clock that I’ve had forever….my Mum’s best friend bought it for me when I was a baby. It’s been packed safely away, and I’ve just taken it out so I can hang it somewhere special in Andre’s room.

Who is your current favourite designer / creator?
Well I’m saving up to buy one of Emma Greenwood’s gorgeous Helix scarves….you can see them at her blog http://apronsandhammers.blogspot.com/ her resourcefulness and attention to detail always inspires me.

What do you most enjoy about the city / town you live in?
Melbourne is full of creative spirits….it has a great energy. The city gives me the desire to stay informed and seek out the new. On the flip side it also manages to make me feel a little bit daggy when I go out sometimes….time to go shopping – another great thing about this place!

Tell us where we can find your work.
Online on my website http://www.mainichidesign.com/ (order by fax/email) and http://www.clothingstoreonline.com.au/
Also stocked at Australian retailers:
Eliana Design in St Kilda and Balaclava (Vic), Mimosa in Daylesford (Vic), Craft Queensland in Fortitude Valley (Qld), Lulabelles in Camberwell (Vic), Art on Cairncross in Montville (Qld) and the National Design Centre, Federation Square (Vic)