Times a 'wastin'!

Well, thats how it feels - but things are coming along with the new website now!

Its amazing how long things take - when you want to pay cash! Gotta have it to get it!

So - starting next month - the K&G blog will not be so neglected. But i still work full time at another job - so some huge changes are going to have to take place soon - time  management skills and organisation will be exploding!

Who has a 'schedule' or daily planner list? - do you have personal and a family one? Im thinking a big family planner will have to be utilised soon - or Mummy is going to go batty getting it all done!

Tomorrow its Monets birthday! We were going away but plans have changed, now we are having a quiet weekend just the 3 of us! Amazing how fast that time has gone. I havent had a lot of crafting time lately, rather exhausted and too much on every weekend. Im hoping between now and christmas i have time for all my projects - im making Monet and her cousin tutu's for their birthdays - now that will be an adventure!

Where ever you are today - i hope you are safe, happy and well!

Well look at that - it works!

Thanks to the helpfull peeps on the blogger forum (what was i worried about?!) we figured the prob was the previous template code i was using - so ive canned that for a bit! I did like it though, so sweet and girly!
Oh well - will have to stick to this looking a bit mismatched for the time beeing - meh - who cares right?!

Guess what? I had some of my MIA swarovskis turn up this week! Im still waiting a on a few more lots - so fingers crossed i can get stuck into the new designs and unveil them soon! My Lovely friend Lyndall - who made my (and many of our friends too) engagement ring is going to first give me some lessons an assembling a few things....like a dummies course for the time poor i think!

What else is news..........waiting on some wholesale wadding - quiltlite for baby quilts and some wadding from my supplier - tax return cant come soon enough i think!
Im also gunning to buy a Go! Cutter (or even better the Studio cutter!) but seriously need some $$$$ for these! Hello...lotto??? :)

Blogger problems

Well - it appears that blogger isnt working for me at the moment - i have tried to access my page from several computers both at work and at home - all i get is my header/banner pic full screen. No posts no nothing. Since this is an avenue to showcase the processes of my work and the ideas im working on i find it very frustrating and also feel leaving blogger problems and help for them up to posting on a forum hard too.
Hopefully i can get it to work soon - if not i may go rather postal. And im at work - so i dont think they need to see me loose it and start ranting like a crazy lady at the screen! I am lucky enough to be able to post in here on my break when at work - bit of a waste at the moment !

Love her work!

I recently emailed Brigette to ask her about designing my logo - check out her blog and look at the beautiful work she does - she also has an etsy store!

Come on down new website!

Well - the website is almost here!
kokoandgracie.com.au - dont try just yet as it hasnt gone live yet!

Our Grand Opening will see some old favourites - and hopefully some new added to the store, especially many more new hair clips and accessories. Time is a  factor at the moment, so whilst i try to stock my store a bit more - im working on my Swap item - cant post pics yet as its too early before the sending date! Im also waiting - STILL! for my swarovski crystals to come and other supplies for my beautiful, one of a kind necklaces. there will only be 14 or so - they will be absolutely stunning - best worn with a strapless dress - or wedding! Or just that beautiful dinner date out with the one you love! Think lace, pearl, crystal and some surprise elements.
I have a new toy hopefully arriving in the next week or two that will assist my  hands with material cutting....I.love.new.toys!!!!!

Its a beautiful rainy winter day here in Old Sydney town - hope you are somewhere warm and toasty - if you have bought a blanket or quilt from me - take a picture using it - send it to me and i will post it on th K&G Facebook page!

Its a sunshiny morning!

Good Morning!
I have still been very busy with setting up Koko&Gracie - though im hopefull it will all be done soon!
Bear with me as i play around with my blog page a little - not being very technical when it comes to computers - some things may look a little strange!
Today - even though i really need to be sewing and making - Monet and i will be enjoying the sunshine - also doing a mound of housework - that which has been left due to the constant rain over the past 2 weeks! Yes - lots of washing! Oh Joy!....... :)

Tick Tock!

Time.
Where does it go?
Currently trying to make more of it available to me - time to make, time for family, time for work.

Things are moving along nicely - albeit too slow, for the official opening of Koko&Gracie - i am hoping by the end of the month! Still waiting for my AbN - when it comes maybe i will feel more used to the idea of having my own business to run!
Current projects - that special one i mentioned a while back - as i still havent recieved my supplies and am waiting - i cant unveil! Im also working on some beautiful quilts and am hoping for a bulk order of beautiful warm and white wadding, and material! I cant wait to make some new blankets - all will be listed in Big Cartel.........soon!

Dont let it get you down!

Its been a hard time lately - illness etc. So i havent got as much achieved as i wanted.
I do however have a secret little project im working on - involving lace, jewels and all sorts of goodies! I cant wait to unveil yes - the hair pulling wait for supplies to arrive!)

I will endeavour to be much more consistant though - with my posting and my creating - so bear with me while everything is still slowly being set up - even though ive been at it since last year - its really can be quite difficult when you work full time - i often think at work - 'i dont have time to be here today - ive got things to make, things to type, things to photograph!)
So - hopefully its all working now (having issues posting pics before!) and you can start to get an idea of my range of products ive made - and ones to come!

Koko&Gracie xo

JULY!
Aaaaaaargh - where has time gone?!

Big news - (well - maybe not so exciting!) im forging forward with plans for Koko&Gracie - where and how to sell.

Now - most people probably wouldnt blog about it but i will a little- but i figure if someone (or more than 1 someone!) is ever stuck in the same boat - my info can be a bit of a springboard to get them started!

Not being very knowledgeable about small business - i have had to do a lot of research online - and in my own time - between working in my full time day job - and the unpaid home job (you now - washing, cleaning cooking - caring for a big and a small kid, all that stuff!.)
One thing i can recommend - get a business mentor. They can impart knowledge, pass on some experience - be a sounding board for ideas - or just a shoulder to cry on when things just dont go according to plan!

Ive found starting with reading info on business.gov.au has been helpfull.

On to Making.

Since we can now officially say our hairclips are ready for sale - i did some Quality Assurance testing on friday night - watching football on the lounge i must have undone and done up - snapped back and forward and generally beat around hairclips - HUNDREDS of times! and they were still just as good at the end as when i started, so that was very satisfing to find out!

Soooo many people have commented on the pendants too so i have attatched a quick pic to see!

Note - you can see all recent photos of products in the Flickr thumbnails - located at the bottom (till i move it!) of the blog page.

I have been having a small break from Making - as i have yet again been sick - but this weekend am going to be making our new range of bibs.
They have a towelling backing, calico front with either an applique or a patchwork row. I will be making 2 sizes - small and large but am starting off with the smalls. These are great for absorbing drool, milk, spitting up (you or bubs!) and generally wash very well. They will have a tie closure to start but will end up being snap closed or velcro.

I also should add another impetus for wanting to do something creative - illness. Possibly one of the most important reasons i started creating handmade items.

It has played a very large part of my life for the past almost 2 years now.
I became very ill - and cut a long story of countless tests, specialists and pain and frustration short- i was diagnosed recently with an Autoimmune Disease.
At times - i became quite immobile - and all my joints, ligaments, tendons massively swollen - so i was forced to give up (temporarily mind you!) karate.
I needed an outlet - or i was going to go crazy - so handmade creations it is. Yes - it was hard to start off as i couldnt even move my hands much 9and you may hopefully not notice too many typo's!) - let alone sew etc.
I do love to suffer for my cause!

Well - good afternoon to you!


Ive started a new blog, to keep you filled in on all things Koko&Gracie handmade.





Over the next few weeks i will have all new stock for sale.


I will be selling handmade girls hair clips, hair pins, hair ties, hair bands. I will also have a range of baby/toddler/kids quilts - varying from one simple design/fabric, to more complex patchwork. There will also be pillows, cushions KIDS TENTS - yes tents - they are soooo cute and great for indoor play - or outside on a fine day!





Before i wax lyrical even more on the products i will sell - please let me tell you a little about Koko&Gracie.


A few years ago now i started having these fanciful, airy fairy ideas pop into my head - simple pictures, designs, looks - fashion and more. BUT - im not terribly into fashion - id rather know how it was created and sewn - than wear it! I have some fave designers.....but being me - stick to whats more classic and timeless.


I love interiors - love to imagine styling every person on the planets living space - man - that would be quite a job!


After the birth of our first (and only at this point!) i had a little mindset change. Bought about by financial necessity i guess! Here we were - new mortgage - surprise baby - and not much of a budget.


So once she came a long i got to thinking of all those little designs and ideas in my head - bougt a sketchbook and filled it up. Gosh - it had so much stuff in it - notes, pictures, designs - and somehow it got lost. Devastated. Its entirely possible the toddler binned it!


Anyway - last year i decided it was time to make a change - i want to make some money from making the things i love!


So - out of the ashes - or the result of the potentially binned sketch book - i started Koko&Gracie. It hasnt been til this year - making items for my lovely Monet and making items for friends and family and the lovely feedback, that i have fully realised yes - i can do this - and im good enough to do it!


We all start somewhere - and this is my start.

Koko&Gracie is up, up and awaaaaaay!