Still Here...

Still just Sparky and I, waiting to become the magic number.

I've been doing lots of reading over the past few days and have come to the conclusion that I've been experiencing pre-labour for a little over a week. Obviously that has frustrated me no end because being our first it's hard to tell what's the real deal and what's not (obviously, none of it has been the real deal yet).

But there's nothing at all that I can do about it and I'm feeling much better about the whole concept of this niggly pre-labour business after reading that many women who experience fairly prolonged pre-labours have shorter labours. I may be deluded but that little tidbit has bought me at least another few days mental stability so I'm more than happy to run with it!

And in other news...

Oh, hang on. Wait.


OTHER stuff is still happening in the world? Are you sure??

Positive??







I'll keep you posted!
B x

Oh, man...

I sound like such a wanker.

Apologies.

Where a floral blouse becomes jeans

Deciding not to waste every non-parent moment I have left (however many that may be, you stubborn little B3) I started thinking about the clothes I may buy for winter, once I am slightly less... circular.

I had in mind a couple of great blousy shirts from Etsy, which will look gorgeous with the perfect pair of crisp, dark denim jeans, some fab boots, perhaps a fitted blazer. "Easy," I thought. "I'll just pull together a couple of photos and bookmark some stores to come back to when I have the figure/money to buy."

Well, that was two and a half hours ago. As it turns out, I inadvertently sent myself on a long, winding journey on the denim train, and have yet to return.

When I was younger and working in the film biz, I fell into the trap of thinking that the jeans you wore really mattered. Like, I mean, really mattered. I am not a trend follower but I found myself sucked into the strange, strange world of the cult denim. I developed a very strong bond with 7 for all mankind jeans and bought (ahem) 5 pairs within 12 months. When you consider these retailed for $250-$500 a pair and I was earning a pittance, it was quite the investment. Quite the rush too.

Anyway, I bought my last pair of ridiculously expensive jeans in a great boutique in New York (how fabulous, dahlink!) in 2004 when we were on our round-the-world backpacking odyssey. I didn't want to 'ruin' my new jeans by wearing them so I proceeded to keep them wrapped in tissue paper in the bottom of my (very heavy) backpack for the next six months. When I got home, however, I wore those babies at least 3 times a week and they only went to denim heaven sometime last year.

I have completely lost my reason for telling this story now...

Oh, yeah. I've been looking for the perfect pair of jeans to buy after bubs comes along and 2 hours after my search began I came across the 7 for all mankind website and as it turns out, their jeans are still fabulous. Just really strong, basic, sophisticated denim that won't date.

So, these are the three pairs I have narrowed it down to, and I just hope to find that they stock these designs in Australia, when the time comes.

Le Sigh

I really didn't feel like posting because it would make real the fact that I'm still here, sans behbeh, and I'm feeling hormonal and teary enough. (Poor Sparky).

I have, however, closed my Etsy store as I've been feeling beyond unwell and I really thought I was on my way yesterday. But alas, no. The good news being that I can't be far away. Hooray!!

In other news, Sparky and I are having homemade chicken curry pie for dinner.



(DISCLAIMER: Not made in MY home.)

Excited!

Despite the sum total of two hours sleep last night (thank YOU, Mr Indigestion) I am feeling rather chipper. This will last approximately 37 minutes more, after which I will become an ugg-boot-wearing, Arrested-Development-watching, tea-sipping moron.



You betcha.

The things that have most excited me this morning are:

1. Yesterday, B3's Dr was more than pleased with progress and has said, "Any day now." That's great with me because I know that in Dr-speak, "Any day now," actually means, "Tomorrow, definitely. And it won't hurt, either." So that's good news.

2. I've had much success with my new pieces. I found the BEST vintage lace and doilies in a shop in my home town and these are now taking front and centre stage in my new line. Much joy to be had when I get those pretty babies into production.

3. It's still raining and cold. It's DELIGHTFUL.

4. Sparky wore one of his Timber! T-shirts to work this morning and looked particularly handsome.



5. The postponed studio build looks to be happening over the weekend.

6. I'm making cauliflower risotto with chilli/anchovie crumble for dinner tonight and it will be delicious.


So there is much joy to be had while I sit around home and wait for B3 to make their much-anticipated appearance. I may use that time constructively (finishing my bookkeeping, budgeting for the year, etc) or I may use that time unconstructively (see above comment RE Arrested Development and tea.)

Please, enjoy your day.

xx

Huh.

I was all geared up to write something more than a little grumpy this morning. I'm feeling less than stellar and more than crappy so it would've been something like:

"Blah, blah... Can't sleep... cranky... baby arrive?

"No long pants fit me... fat arse... boofy hair...

"Sick of cold... sick of hot..

"Craving bad foods... cream cheese icing... not watermelon??"

I may have even looked a little like this:



But I was perusing my much-neglected Flickr account this morning, putting off the inevitable cleaning chores, when I noticed a new comment on this image:



And I quote:

Me encanta tu trabajo, podias decirme si en Madrid podria aprender a hacer ese tipo de joyas .

Yes, yes, fat lot of good that does unless one speaks Spanish (which I do not, unless you count, "Dos cervezas mas finas, por favor," which means "Two of your finest beers, please.") So I used my trusty friend Babelfish, which gave me the following:

Your work enchants to me, podias to say if in Madrid podria to me to learn to make that type of jewels.

So while I do not know what podias or podria means, I am looking at the word 'enchants' and I am running with it. Enchant! Imagine! Enchanting!! How lovely!!

Thank you, anonymous Spanish Flickr user, for making my day.

B x

Grey Days and Cardigans.

I am officially loving this change in weather. Normally it would really be depressing to me but seeing as I'm currently the size of a bus, feeling every degree of heat and the fact that we've had 2 weeks of excessive heat, I am relishing in the fact that I'm currently wearing a cardigan. CARDIGAN!! Can you believe it?!

As such, I love this cardigan from Branch Handmade.



Aaaanyway, I've been rather busy retaking some of my product photos, but I'm just not sold on them. Would love some opinions on them. I'll give some before and afters.

The Stork Necklace - BEFORE


The Stork Necklace - AFTER


Life Aquatic Necklace - BEFORE


Life Aquatic Necklace - AFTER


Joli Rose Necklace - BEFORE


Joli Rose Necklace - AFTER


Jumeau Necklace - BEFORE


Jumeau Necklace - AFTER


I think I really like them, but that could just be because I've spent the past 18 months with the all-white photo style and it feels a little stale. Let me know what you think...

In other news, I really think that The Arcade Fire should do a cover of Elvis' Suspicious Minds.

That is all.

xx

My Morning...

I accidentally took this photo this morning while I was uploading my new product pics (to be shown in forthcoming post.) I was about to delete it when I realised it was a perfect representation of my morning so far.

COMPUTER:
I have spent an inordinate amount of time on my computer this morning - designing and ordering new business cards and earring cards, editing photos, Twittering, reading some of my favourite blogs, looking for new supplies (conversely, if anyone knows of a supplier of good quality, complete enamel chains in a variety of colours, preferably vintage but not necessarily, please, please, PLEASE let me know) and just generally whiling away the morning.

JUTE STRING:
I have also been playing around with a new packaging look that incorporates lovely, recycled paper boxes, newspaper and jute string. This is what I've come up with:



I don't know... Is it too rough looking?

CUSTOMS FORM:
I've been packaging up a few international sales, ready for the post office this afternoon.

PHONE BILL:
This requires payment, but not before I call Telstra AGAIN to request that they STOP CHARGING ME FOR MOBILE FOXTEL, WHICH I HAVE NEVER REQUESTED, AGREED TO OR WATCHED.

COFFEE:
I drank some.

SO that was my morning. How very... interesting... 'nt.


I'm off to eat delicious tuna pasta leftovers for lunch.

Here's hoping my afternoon is just as... interesting...

What to say...

Words can't describe how sad Sparky and I are feeling about the horrific bushfire situation down in Victoria at the moment. As a human being it just breaks your heart to see the suffering that so many people are experiencing - it's really beyond comprehension to us. And as soon-to-be parents the idea that entire families have been taken away, and parents from children, children from parents... The enormity and gravity of that is too huge to get our heads around.

We're saying our prayers for all those affected and urge people to give as much as they can spare to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal. This is where us humans do me proud - digging deep and helping out where and when they can.

Beyond that everything else seems, in comparison, not unimportant but small somehow. But excitingly, I don't think it will be very long until B3 arrives with us. Days, rather than weeks, according to my doctor.

Laugh-out-loud Thursdays

Many, many thanks to Nichole from littlebrownpen for her Flight of the Conchords giggle this morning, and for the ongoing effect it had. I have, in fact, spent my breakfast hour on youtube and laughed out loud (alot) while watching this:



May your day be filled with happiness and your night with 2 intense minutes of business time...

Inspiration Strikes...

Followed closely by immense hunger and an urge to eat 17 Scotch Finger biscuits, a whole Lebanese cucumber, a tall glass of cold Milo and three-quarters of a peach.

Shameful? Yes.
True? Shamefully.

Anyway, in amongst my non-sleep and my hormone-induced rantings, I have found time to become inspired. I've been sketching out my next collection of pieces (which, frustrating, will not be even close to ready for another couple of months, considering the impending arrival of B3 and the fact that all my equipment and supplies are packed away, waiting for the new studio to materialise).

I have to say, I'm really excited about them and thought I'd share some of the colour inspiration behind them. Let's call it a non-informative sneak-peek...


This incredible image I found on Flickr and it just blew my mind. The colours... Oh, the colours!













Too hungry to write more. Will be back. After second breakfast.

And morning tea.

Cheer up, Charlie.

It's a sunshiney day.


This old favourite was featured somewhere overnight and I now have lots more Etsy love. A small thing, maybe, but it's made my Monday morning far less blech than it may have otherwise been. (2 hours sleep + kicking bub + squeaky fan + sore hips = crank factor of 10).

So let's just keep the sunshine coming, shall we? I've been checking out some of my fellow tweets (I am loving Twitter these days) and these are the treasures I've found.


This most delightful brigitta bracelet comes from the b-line. Loves! There's also a birgitta ring that's calling my name, repeatedly.


Is this Lapin de Lune bunny not the sweetest little creature ever? LouLou & Oscar create the most adorable critters... Sigh.


And while not really sunshiney, the sweet works of Nichole from little brown pen make me so happy, it's as good/better than sunshine anyway! I can't wait for B3 to A) be born and B) grow up enough to colour in these lovely little printable colouring-in cards. Oh, and little brown pen's blog is one of my must-reads each day. Ah, Paris...

And that brings an end to today's dream-shop. Now, for the Monday fun-ness that is:

- Laundry
- Ironing
- Cleaning up all the spilled paint from our bedroom-painting adventures on the weekend (Why be cautious when you can have your own Jackson Pollock moment??)
- Visiting the bubs-doctor this afternoon (yay!)
- Going for a swim/float
- Possibly retaking my photos... (Possibly.)

Happy Monday!
B x