Time to play catch up!

The last couple of months have been pretty busy and sadly the blogging has been neglected! 

Both kids have settled into school really well this year, lots of school trips happening.  I was even lucky enough to see 4 Tarantula spiders on one of those trips!!! (I am not practicularly fond of household spiders).  On Monday Dylan is off to Arthurs Pass for the day with his class trip this term.

We have some new stockists on board with the Natural Star Brand and the website has been updated with a shopping cart.  It is still a work in progress with more products and features to be uploaded.  There are new stockists to add to the stockists page etc etc.  I am also adding a wholesale/re-seller page to the website which will be password access only.

I am also toying with the idea of being more regular on the Market scene.  I know from experience that this is very time consuming and a big committment...and I do rely on my weekends to play catch up and have time off with the family.  Maybe I could make it a family affair lol - somehow I don't think that would wear well with the two men in the family.  Emma would love to do it!

My patterns have been selling really well on E-patterns Central and Annie's Attic...I really need to devote more time to writing up and designing new products and patterns.  I have a pile of bits of paper that need to be typed up and then test knitted.  I also have a few new designs on the needles.  I call in multi tasking, my husband calls in confusing and why don't I just do one project at a time!  But I get bored with one project at a time.  We have taken on 4 new knitters in the last month...yay!  I have a fantastic team of ladies who are all beautiful knitters and love and care about the products as much as I do :)

Habitat Baby - New Stockist

Habitat Baby offers beautifully styled bedding and accessories to suit the homes and lifestyles of today’s parents. There are three dreamy ranges available – Wish, Colour Fusion and Spring. All are created from fresh, beautiful, 100% cotton fabrics, sourced from around the world, that bring Habitat Baby designs to life.

A visit to the Habitat Baby website will reveal a blissful collection of bedding and accessories, including pillows, lampshades and wall art. Most popular at Habitat Baby are the beautiful cot sets, consisting of a

classic cot quilt, fitted sheet and patchwork decorative pillow - certain to be the crowning glory of any nursery!

 

You will also find Natural Star Products are now available at Habitat Baby.  Carla is stocking a range of beanies for both boys and girls, as well as some our beautiful flower shoes to match the Emma and Bamboo Beanies.  Visit Habitat Baby to stock up on your winter handknits and beautiful bedding and accessories to create the most adorable nursery.

                                          

If you are in Melbourne for the weekend of the 5-7 March 2010 make sure you schedule in a visit to The Baby Show.  Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton, Melbourne. Where you will find Habitat Baby and can see in person the gorgeous products that are on her website.

MillaRuby Designs - New Stockist

I am thrilled that Caddie from MillaRuby Designs is now stocking our Natural Star Booties.  A few of which are custom made in different colours specially for MillaRuby.

Caddie has a gorgeous website MillaRuby Designs offering Handmade clothing, toys and accessories for the stylish and hip. Click here to view Caddie's stunning creations. Definitely stylish and hip!

Also, if you are in Perth on Sunday the 21st March, stop by Matilda's Market, Cottesloe Civic Centre, 109 Broome St, Cottesloe.  9am to 1pm.  Where Caddie will be selling her creations and a selection of Natural Star Beanies.

Yummy Mummies & Mini Me

Yummy Mummies & Mini Me has a brand new website for 2010 that is looking absolutely gorgeous.  Bec stocks some of the most amazing products for Yummy mummies and children.  You will find Pram Rock, Baby Base Ink, Cheeki Charlee and Natural Star (we are thrilled to be one of the new stockists for 2010!) just to name a few of the wonderful array of stockists that Bec has on the website.

The Yummy Mummies & Mini Me Blog is also worth the follow.  It is regularly updated with news worthy reading and is fast becoming one of my favourites!

2010!

Hello 2010!  We have successfully survived 2009 as a business and as a family.

Emma loves school and has now spent three months going to school.  She is not to sure on the holiday side of things as most mornings after her shower she asks "Can I put my uniform on today Mum?"  I cannot remember being that enthusiastic about school and I know for certain that her brother wasn't.                                 

Dylan has made huge progress after a really busy year of new therapists - mainly in the area of expressing himself especially with the anxieties.  There now seems to be a bit more logic.  He is now able to tell us which part of his body is sick as usually he will have a tummy ache but in reality after 10 mins of the parents doing detective work we find out that he has a sore ankle.  He can now also rate his anxiety level and depending on the level can, with help, put a strategy in place as to what could make it better.  It helps that his anxiety rating is based on the sizes of different fish.  With all this happening the meltdowns (due to the frustration of not being able to tell us what he wants) are now few and far between.  2010 is looking good from here.

I find the talking thing with Dylan fascinating as this kid can talk all day and generally does.  But to tell us how he is feeling, what is going on inside his head is a major hurdle for him.  It is common on the spectrum but I still find it fascinating that a kid that is so verbal has trouble expressing himself.  It is the same with the emotional feelings...happy, sad or angry are fine.  But the others like - guilty, offended, etc the more subtle gestures just go over the top of his head.  He IS looking forward to school after the holidays - not a bad achievement at year 6!

The business had a really good 2009 with lots of new stockists and over 50% of this years sales were from returning customers, along with the new customers.  This year is also another year of lots happening at Natural Star headquarters. We have a couple of new B+M stockists coming onboard with the brand in the early part of the year.  The next three months are going to be busy with new patterns being released soon and I am currently working on the finishing touches of the new designs for release in Feb/March.  I am so excited about these new designs...but will blog more on them later.  This year will also see the arrival of another new product - Natural Star Knitting Kits!

2010 is also the year that I promise to try and blog more!

Wishing you all a safe and prosperous 2010!

Handmade Swap - Buttons by Lou Lou

I have recieved the most gorgeous hair accessories from Lou at Buttons by Lou Lou. The array of products that Lou has available for purchase is astounding.  I am thrilled with my selection that I chose and I am 100% positive that my 5 year old daughter will be equally thrilled on christmas morning.

Not only am I thrilled with the selection that Lou creates, but also the craftmanship.  They are perfectly handcrafted using very high quality fabrics and the fabric designs are gorgeous.  A lot of prints that I have not seen before.

As well as the hair accessories for little and big girls, Lou also stocks sewing buttons, jewellery, office and homeware products all using her beautiful fabrics.

 

The pics that I have chosen are some of my choices for Emma (the photos are from Lou's Etsy site).

Kreativ Blogger Award

I have received a Kreativ Blogger Award from the wonderfully talented Natasha aka as Piper + Lily.  I feel completely honoured to have received this, considering the company I am in.  Thank you Natasha!

This is now the award works:

1.  Copy the picture and post it on your blog.

2.  Thank the person that gave it to you and link to their blog.

3.  Write 7 things about yourself that we don't know.

4.  Choose 7 other bloggers to pass the award to.

5.  Link to those 7 other bloggers.

6.  Notify your 7 bloggers.

Ok, 7 things that you may not know about me!

1.  I have an identical twin sister.

2.  I will be 40 this year!  Not much of the year left either :)

3.  In a previous life I was a chef for about 13 years, give or take the odd break.  After that I worked for Group Special education (GSE) in early intervention before deciding to be a SAHM, now I am a WAHM :)

4.  As a teenager I was heavily into sport, my weekends used to be filled with running, hockey, netball and basketball.  Now I find it really hard to get motivated to go to the gym!

5.  I spent 3 good years living on the Chatham Islands.

6.  I have three chickens living in my backyard, who provide us with an abundance of eggs, Sandy who is named after  Graham Sinclairs wife (fishing guru to my son - but as I informed him that the chickens were girls, he decided that Graham's wife Sandy was a more appropriate choice), Miley and Hannah (I have a five year old daughter that has discovered the world of Hannah Montana).

7.  My favourite takeaways are Indian :)  Thankfully they are my husbands and kids favourite takeaway as well.

Now, for my 7 bloggers that I would like to pass this award on to are in no particular order!

Mee a Bee - Jacqui is a super talented lady, making designer messenger bags among other things for kids.  Her work is of the highest quality and the fabrics that she uses are gorgeous.  A Mee a Bee bag is a must for every child.  Her blog makes for pretty good reading as well!

How Tweet it is to be a Chick - Christine has the most adorable and well made accessories with both all the little girls and the bigger girls.  I have some for Emma and they are stunning!

Imba - Catherine from Imba design is another sewing superstar.  Her designs and fabrics are gorgeous.  I am always wishing that Emma was still a baby so that I could dress her in Imba designs clothing.  Her bibs are a must have baby fashion accessory!

Made it Baby - Amy and Suzan are the faces behind Made it Baby, another two very talented ladies behind the sewing machine.  I love their style and the fabric choices that they use.

Sticky Tiki - Kim and her partner design the most amazing Wall Decals printed on fabric.

Little Lizzies - Not only is Amanda from Little Lizzies super talented behind the sewing machine, she also knows how to using a set of knitting needles.  I love her designs.  Amanda uses recycled and vintage fabrics as much as possible.

Sew Katiepie - Kate is the creator of the lovely Sew Katiepie range.   Kate's range features the most gorgeous Kimono style wrap cardis and hoodies made in NZ merino!