09 November 2013

come along & join me at the Canberra Creatives Mini Market

Greetings all,
What a brilliant way for me to share & sell off the remainder of my fabric store supplies . . . 
at a mini market & craft de-stash!!  
Imagine a dozen of Canberra's best crafters, selling off their fabrics & craft supplies . . . spread over eight huge tables of craft glory, in a cute little convenient venue.  Bring your children, there will be a craft class, delicious snacks & the friendliest people in the business!!
As i move the supplies & materials i wish to keep for future projects, over to the farm, ready for the shearing shed studio renovation . . . i have piles & piles of top quality fabrics cut & ready to sell off, at huge discounts, for another crafter to enjoy.
My fabric themes include . . .
vintage . retro . animals . robots . babushkas . children . games . fairy tales . pin up girls
 toys . roses . space . farms . paper dolls . transport & many more!!
Think designer international fabric brands & top quality fabrics from Kokka, Michael Miller, Alexander Henry, Amy Butler, Anna Maria Horner, Sis Boom & Cath Kidston + local designers Kristen Doran, Thea&Sami, PippiJoe & Saffron Craig.  I'm selling the big time gorgeous patterns, colours, screen prints . . . emptying the bolts & the prices are fantastic!!  Love Posie

13 October 2013

the massive, exciting & wonderful next chapter in our life & lifestyle . . .

 Greetings all,
Super exciting news . . . we bought a farm!! It's been a 20 year dream with my husband & only possible since he returned from his fifth deployment. We have lived all over Australia, deciding to settle in Canberra, a military & public service national capital city, surrounded by farmland.
Our must-have list was . . . 45 minutes from the CBD, cleared land, no dwelling, 100 acres & sobering things like 'affordable'. During our search, issues like . . . fencing/ rainfall/ school buses became important; power/ telephone/ sewerage did not - as we desire to be self sufficient. Finally we found the right property & much larger!!
This has given us the exciting potential of raising livestock, building a straw bale homestead & planting orchards. Could not be happier. Stay tuned for our exciting plans, we will build our home next year.  All the home building information will take place at my other blog, which has been waiting for this moment . . . b u i l d Z i l l a.  Love Posie

09 October 2013

restocking baskets & attending the Brindabella Market tomorrow

Greetings all, 
I'm presenting a stall tomorrow, it's been a while, putting my little market hat back on . . . 
Brindabella Business Park Town Square
(Yass Road, next to Canberra Airport)
11a.m. to 2p.m.
Thursday 10th October 
 Love old school ice block makers & cool stuff like this?? Heavily discounted?? Listen up!! 
After deciding to close my handmade sewing & design business last year (after bilateral carpal tunnel decompression surgery) I've been running a sale at www.posie.com.au & attending the occasional little local market.  I'm selling vintage/ retro/ modern inspired children's clothes, onesies, toys, accessories, stationery, bunting flags, night lights, screen printed fabric, thermos flasks, craft kits, twine & everything from Tasmanian Oak knitting needles to tissue paper decorations & party supplies . . . up to 70% off.  Seriously!!  I'm satisfied with 14 successful years in business (while raising a bunch of children & living all over Australia with my soldier) now it's all got to go, below cost. 
Think: $1 badges & $2 sale baskets!!  Listen for giggles - I'm next to awesome local author @taniamccartney who has recently released four new books!!  I'll be wearing a dress by @little_tienda for festivity, so come & say hello, we're a friendly, blonde, colourful duo . . . 
 I'm also bringing fresh chicken eggs, including the incredible blue ones!!  
If you enjoy great food, coffee & love music . . . 
a happy midweek market atmosphere . . . 
this gorgeous event only occurs a few times a year, so run!! 
I'll upload new & leftover stock for sale ASAP on line, then I'm focussing on my new foray into industrial design & things like having 3 high schoolers next year!! 
Thanks, love Posie

30 July 2013

Tania McCartney's Riley & the Jumpy Kangaroo - a Journey Around Canberra INSTAGRAM book GIVEAWAY

Greetings all,
Welcome to the first ever Tania McCartney Instagram book GIVEAWAY!! 
The much anticipated & exciting release of a new Riley journey with Ford Street Publishing is another fantastic adventure with my local gal pal author Tania's creative mind & Kieron Pratt's delightful illustrations.  
POSIE REVIEW: Riley the Aviator takes his famous red bi-plane & animal friends on a journey around Canberra, to discover who is making all that thumping raucous & action packed commotion??  Your children will love this cleverly photographed & beautifully illustrated journey all over Canberra, as the Jumpy Kangaroo pings, pongs, bounds, zigs, zags & catapults around  the landmark sites of Australia's capital city.  Will Riley catch up to the Jumpy Roo??  What is she in such a hurry for anyway??  Luckily Jumpy stops long enough to smell the tulips at the magnificent Spring Floriade flower festival 
. . . to find "exactly what she'd been looking for."
 Tania concludes her stories with a heart felt ending & writes about cities she has lived.  They are a mix of street-smart & tourist must-see items for any adventure.  As a fitting tribute, Canberra is celebrating its Centenary in 2013!!
Recent journeys have included A Grumpy Wombat in Melbourne; A Curious Koala in Sydney; A Dancing Lion in Hong Kong: & the original . . . A Sleeping Dragon in Beijing.  Collect them all, my children absolutely adore this series of books.  More information & order details at TaniaMcCartney.com.      
 For your chance to . . .
win a copy of Tania McCartney's 
Riley & the Jumpy Kangaroo 
A Journey Around Canberra
 . . . head over to my Instagram feed Posie Shoots & leave a comment at the 'Tuesday 30th July Riley & the Jumpy Kangaroo post' to enter!!  You will need an Instagram account, please follow Posie Shoots & enter between Tuesday 30th July & midnight Sunday 4th August 2013.
The full Jumpy Roo tour schedule is here, for more reviews, news & chances to win copies of this fabulous book.   
Good luck everyone, thank you Tania for asking me to host, it was such fun, as always - a pleasure working with you!!  Love Posie

Want more Tania McCartney magic in your children's book shelves . . . here's a sneak peek at her next book . . . to be released with Exisle Publishing in the coming months, illustrated by the divine Tina Snerling . . . the perfect gift this Christmas!!
Comments have been closed on this post to ensure you do not place your entry here!!

19 May 2013

social commentary Sunday . . . 'knowing when to take a break from blogging'

Greetings all, 
My blogging journey has come to a stop-start-halt lately, i've just lost the passion, enjoyment & time for it.  While i started my blog 6 years ago & blogged regularly during 2010 to 2012 while my husband lived interstate, sharing 'our life' with him . . . i'm finding less & less time to post about craft, lifestyle, animals, baking, children, my husband & our happiness.  
My studio is only working on large commissions, not pretty blog-worthy-craft; i'm spending many more hours in the garden, tending to animals, exercising & preparing healthy meals, less blog-worthy-cakes; the children are growing fast, i am not missing a minute & considering next year we'll have three teenagers - it's incredibly busy with sports, academics & their social engagements, i'm not comfortable posting lots of images of teenagers, especially as they are not allowed their own social media; my husband is here & being a wife takes up a lot of time, i'd prefer his company than reading blogs . . . as for our happiness, we've never been happier, with exciting dreams.  Spending less time on the computer is a good example to our children too.  
I've been using my non-blogging-time making more calls to my elderly parents, catching up with people who bring me joy & soaking in the lucky life i have as a housewife.  I refuse to be 'busy' as it implies i don't have time for the things i love.  I still adore the idea of a blog & the blogging community is lovely; trolls - their loss, i click delete & refuse to engage with them, absolutely not worth a second thought; stalkers - go get a life, especially the ones who know me personally, it's creepy you read my posts (& pretend you don't) yet don't communicate with me directly!!
So it's for positive reasons that i am taking a break from blogging.  I want to offer the world quality or nothing, i won't blog for the sake of blogging.  I'll be hanging around on Instagram, which is so much fun, friendly, engaging & fast . . . i find it like mini-speed-blogging.  While blogging has been a wonderful adventure with 700 posts, 15000 comments & 2000 hits per day, if i was paid to blog - i'd reconsider taking a break, i just can't maintain 'free' work - yes, 'work' . . . i put great consideration/ thought/ ideas/ effort into my posts: an extension of my business & the personality behind it . . . i'm closing down the on line store & no longer attend markets, as i'm starting a new chapter in my creative life.  Stay tuned. 
 I'd love to be invited to blog conferences . . . i have great ideas & lots of inspiration to offer; i'd love to be given freebies & opportunities . . . i do fantastic & thoughtful reviews; i'd love to sit in a particular niche . . . but i don't . . . no babies (our youngest is 9) or live in the cities where the events take place, so i'll hum along doing my own thing.  While i've always been popular & social, i really enjoy my own company & avoid cliques at all costs.  Blogging has changed a lot over the years with awards, sponsorship & obvious circles, a lot is self-congratulatory & below average quality.  It wasn't my end-game to make money from blogging - i started as i had my own home-design-studio business to promote & make money from - i was never 'discovered' (even with 10000 social media followers) & that's Ok.  Maybe, one day??
Just to wrap up a few things, like my last giveaway & ensuring i organise all pervious giveaway winners receive their prizes (apologies for the delay) the lucky people who won the LEGO Hero Factory packs are:
Claire Hewitt of Clairey Hewitt blog,
Sash of Indigo Elephant blog &
Beck from Baby Laila blog.
Congratulations.  Please email me your delivery (street address for courier) for delivery. 
 Thanks everyone - it has truly been a wonderful experience, i appreciate all your comments & connections.  This isn't good bye or farewell, just a see you later for now.  I feel it's really important if you know your blogging journey is stalling, that you take a break.  It might be Christmas time before i blog again, but i will be back, renewed & thoroughly reinspired, love Posie
PS all images are recent snap shots from my Instagram account Posie Shoots with lots of stories & gorgeous engagement, you'll see why i completely adore this social media platform!!

12 April 2013

attracting beautiful people into your life

 Greetings all,
You might have noticed i have reduced the frequency of my blog posts.  It's for many reasons, best of all - i was heavily involved in blogging over the past 3 years as my husband was living interstate & overseas - now he's home . . . i'm spending that 'blogging time' being a real wife.  Plus life is busier than ever with teenagers, baby animals & planning our future . . . i'm finding Instagram is like mini blogging, it's my new simple favourite form of social media.  I'd rather not blog than blog for the sake of blogging!!
For the past couple of years, i've been cutting back on my design business & reinvesting my time, energy, positivity & friendship in new places.  I've been much kinder to myself, now my 4th child is in senior primary school, i spend my 'day time' doing things i love - like gardening, reading & dreaming.  I'm slowly getting back into sewing for pleasure . . . surgery on both my hands last year, gave me the time to reassess every part of my life & ditch the extraneous babble.   
 I have let old friendships slide too.  Seemingly fun at the time, however, on reflection i've realised they really weren't positive relationships at all . . . they involved business, as in, what they could suck from me, rather than kindness in my direction.  As everything has an upside - i've absolutely soared since closing that chapter, in every aspect of my world - from my happy personal life with my husband home; harmonious children excelling in school, sports & leadership roles; business opportunities i'd never have accepted if i was still 'so busy' doing the small stuff; even materialistic . . . we bought our dream car, brand new & made huge inroads towards our future farm plans.  So you could say i am the one winning at life.  Ridding yourself of negativity has untold blessings on your life & who you attract.  
 I've found new lovely people with aspirational outlooks on life.  Like my favourite florist (whom i discovered on Instagram, after they opened a new local store) & we clicked.  I use 'delivering fresh eggs' as a friendly excuse to pop in & say hello (they are busy busy busy!!)  Yesterday, i was struck down with a migraine - so my husband delivered the eggs - & he was presented with these glorious yellow flowers, with a quirky note from the fabulous LouLou Moxom!!  Serendipitous things like this never happened while i was being dragged down by a negative force, so so so glad i saw the light, jump shipped & never looked back.  I highly recommend it - self respect is restored, i assure you.  Wishing you enlightened weekends with gorgeous people & a bunch of fresh flowers!!  Thank you Mrs Moxom & Mrs Whitney - you are a true quirky delightful duo.  Love Posie

28 March 2013

happy Easter

Greetings all,
Happy Easter from the Posie family, puppy, bunnies & chickens!!
Instead of chocolate & rubbish, i bought my children new jammies from Peter Alexander . . .
 gave friends & my favourite local businesses, the gift of freshly laid 'Easter eggs' from our mixed breeds of hens, including the Araucana 'Easter' chicken who lays blue eggs.  We're on the look out for more Araucanas, as i desire a range of colours, like green, khaki & lavender, it's the dream!!
 My favourite local florist knew eggs were heading her way & presented me with this message & sweetest yellow chickedy chick ever . . .
 Remember to have fun & include your pets!!
Wishing you all a wonderful Easter, religious (we're not), loving family (we are), with time, appreciation & gratitude just being together, love Posie
PS don't forget to enter this fun LEGO Hero Factory giveaway here!!

22 March 2013

WIN 1 of 3 LEGO Hero Factory & Brainify app sets

Greetings all,
 What perfect rainy afternoon fun . . . new release LEGO!!  From the scary-but-interesting Hero Factory range, meet PYROX & FURNO XL.  They are glow-in-the-dark cool with flaming weapons, armour,, visors, swords & a cape = super hero awesomeness.  My son put them all together & was having a ball using his imagination playing in the gloomy Autumn afternoon light with his new heroes.  The thing i like most . . . these bad boys are made tough, bits don't constantly fall off every rescue or combat mission, clank together or at super hero landings.  
There is also a free smart phone app which comes with the LEGO Hero Factory range, BRAINIFY from iOS Universal gaming.  Hero Factory members attack a brain you have chosen (like your sister's) & brainify them into a monster.  You can try out different brains to discover which Hero Factory villain you resemble.  The special effects are fantastic & it's a fun game when your Heroes are taking a break.  
Combine PYROX & FURNO XL together for a massive Hero Factory figure.     

WIN 1 of 3 LEGO Hero Factory prize packs valued at $49.98.
Each prize pack consists of PYROX & FURNO XL + BRAINIFY app!!

FURNO XL RRP $29.99
Battle the alien brains with FURNO's fire sword, fire shield, cape, armoured visor, spiked shoulder armour and hero core locking clamps! Battle and combine with PYROX for an even bigger model!

PYROX RRP $19.99 
Attach the yellow alien brain and transform into PYROX, a fire-powered minotaur with spinning flame staff, fire claws and lava armor! Battle and combine with FURNO XL for an even bigger model!
 Leave a comment here & make sure you follow my blog to be eligible to enter.  
Three lucky winners will be drawn randomly after Easter Sunday 31st March 2013.  
One extra entry/ comment per mention of this giveaway on your social media platforms, it's a great prize to win, share the word!!  Good luck!!
Winners from the LEGO Friends prize pack giveaway are . . .
Leah from Puggle Logic
Debbie from DebbieH
Victoria from Victoria Munro
Cath from Bungalow Babble
. . . congratulations ladies!!  Please contact me with your courier delivery address (not a PO Box) thanks!!  Love Posie

14 March 2013

celebrating our first month with bunnies

Greetings all,
Well, on Valentine's Day we went to pick up some chicks from a farmer who was selling up & moving to the city.  On the way to collect them, i received an SMS saying "we have Flemish Giant bunnies if you'd like some??"  My eldest daughter was with me (fresh from Xrays confirming her wrist had healed completely & she could resume sports) & i'll just refer to her as an 'accomplice.'  Once we were handed that first bunny, we weren't leaving without one.
 After babysitting a Miniature Rex bunny in the school holidays, i had completely fallen in love with them, their sweet Beatrix Potter nature (unless they are trying to escape) & sheer cuteness.  Flemish Giants are my favourite breed too.  I was the perfect sucker . . . 
 . . . to say "sure, we'll take four!!"  Meet Pollen (Pollie), Tabitha, mama Josephine & Cecily - flashing her cotton tail below
 We took mama (18 months old) & the 3 daughters from her second litter.  Mama is a little cranky since this litter (8 weeks prior), so we're giving her space & time to learn to love us.  Her girls, well, they are oozing love, snuggles & hopping gorgeousness.  I can't help but gently stroke mama's belly, with all that beautiful mottled colour on her paws & belly.
 I spent $35 on bird wire & garden stakes, made them a 7m long bunny run (inside the 40m long chicken run) & they sleep in a large (Great Dane size) travel cage at night.  Chickens hop in & out, they play games & get along famously.  I've even added some palm trees for shade & nibbles.
 We've of course invested in harness leads & shampoo & other bunny accoutrements . . . so they can experience fresh grass daily (we also give them chopped grass, lucern, hay, carrots & rabbit food mix) as this breed (mama is a Lop, the babies are cross Flemish Giants) will need a lot of exercise.  We staked them to the ground while we washed the car the other day, they created a May Pole with their leads!!
 Bunnies are a great investment, the love & cute factor are a bonus, however, they are easy pets (so long as they are very secure in their run/ hutch/ cage) toilet trained & oozing love.  Not to mention . . . way better than chocolate for Easter.  Love Posie
PS did you hear bunnies are no longer used in cosmetic testing??

09 March 2013

the week that got away . . .

 Greetings all,
Phew, the week totally got away from me.  Last weekend we went to a family wedding in Sydney, which was an amazing experience - i'd never been to a Macedonian wedding before.  It was so vibrant, full of love & energy, really fun with lots of dancing & fantastic food.  We only had to purchase one new outfit - a dress for our eldest daughter, who would rather be in running shorts & spikes - so when she agreed to a patterned, layered, pink Alannah Hill frock, we were shocked & thrilled.  Needless to say she looked lovely & received lots of comments from family . . . she's quite statuesque & carried herself very well in heels. 
 The children were so well behaved, it was a very long day (midday wedding, 5p.m. reception) but by 10p.m. they were exhausted. We booked a suite at the Shangri-La in advance, so we were able to enjoy the room in the break between wedding & reception, relaxing in the complimentary lounge with cold drinks & afternoon tea . . . it was also a quick escape after a huge Sunday night event.  Amazing views of course!! 
We drove home to Canberra on Monday; the children went to school Tuesday, however my eldest had a moderation day - she stayed home to work on assignments while i ran errands (instead of shopping, crazy right??)  I picked up Sarah Wilson's I Quit Sugar & am reading it thoroughly before i too, quit sugar.  I volunteered as a time keeper at the primary school swimming carnival Wednesday & came home with a cracking migraine, spending Thursday in a heap . . . all the while watching a debate carrying on my Instagram feed - after posting this image!!  How can decreasing sugar & being educated about fructose hidden in food, be a bad thing??!!  This book is thorough, fact, interesting . . . & so far i haven't seen a negative remark which Sarah hasn't already addressed in the book - so read the book before saying ridiculous things like "Sarah says never ever eat another banana" as she doesn't, she simply explains the fructose levels in fruit & to reduce, be aware.  Sugar is sugar, not good (because it comes in fruit wrapped in fibre) or bad (because it is dressed up in a lolly) . . . your body doesn't care, it just senses sugar.  I'll be sure to write extensively on this topic as i start the detox in a couple of months.  Don't worry, Sarah even requests you don't become "a sugar bore" just clued in & enjoy your own personal journey.
So i spent the rest of the week sipping iced tea (FYI i never sweeten it, or drink caffeine, it's basically pretty water) curled up on the lounge.  Sigh.  
 Have gorgeous weekends everyone, it's my adopted city of Canberra's 100th birthday, so lots of parties, events & fun going on here + a long weekend, so i'm finishing off my studio & shock horror, might even sew a stitch.  I shock myself, it's been 18 months!!  Love Posie
Daily Posie updates are on Instagram, check them out at PosieShoots!!  We now have bunnies.

26 February 2013

all the fun of the fair

 Greetings all,
Do you go to your local town's show/ fair/ carnival??  This is our sixth year here in Canberra & the first time we've been to 'the show'.  I'm not anti show, i just prefer smaller country shows, they're a little more hands on.  We never did the Darwin Show (while we lived there, twice); Brisbane Ekka (while visiting my husband, living in Qld for the past 3 years) & we've never taken our children to the Royal Sydney Easter Show (when we lived there) either - we're not entirely horrible, they have been to Disneyland.  
 The weather was dismal, which is unusual for inland Canberra, sludging around in mud.  Our teenager went with friends on the Saturday, enjoying rides & carnival food.  I went on Friday morning when it opened & again on Sunday with the three youngest children (miraculously between downpours!!)  Much of what we wanted to see was in the exhibition halls anyway, like the cake decorating . . .   
& low crowds meant we were able to see all the animals - our main focus.  
 One of my nephews is a champion cow show'er, from boarding school - now he's doing agriculture at University.  I bet his cows behaved better than this!!  Ooppss. 
 As it's the Canberra Centenary next month, they had all sorts of old fashioned side show alley memorabilia - i loved this area. 
 The presentation ribbons are gorgeous, look at that fringing!!
 There were arts, crafts, pottery & quilts.  I thought these toadstools were adorable. 
I think we'll try again in the couple of years, with better weather & go as a family, stay for the main arena shows & more horse action.  Love Posie

22 February 2013

win one of SIX LEGO Friends prize packs GIVEAWAY

 Greetings all,
How much fun are latest offerings from the LEGO Friends range??!!  My four children really enjoy this series - fun girls with friendships, hobbies & personality - including my son, this LEGO is not just for girls!!  They have adventures & ambition which young ladies can relate to.  Meet the girls . . .
Emma’s Karate Class (RRP $15.99) Practice Emma's favorite martial arts and help her to prepare for another fantastic performance. Train hard to win the trophy by chopping the practice block in half! After a great practice, wind down in the tranquil environment with the cute bonsai tree and drink some water. Includes Emma mini-doll figure.
 My children all learn Japanese at school so spotted lots of cool things in this set - like the Samurai accessories & the LEGO bonsai.  
 Mia’s Magic Tricks (RRP $15.99) Mia's practicing hard for the big Heartlake City magic show. Help her to learn tricks with cards, a magic wand, flowers, her bunny and a top hat. Build her stage for the big performance then stun the crowds with a cute performing bunny that disappears into its own magic cabinet. Amaze the crowds when the bunny disappears! Includes Mia mini-doll figure. 
This set is so cute with the bunny & magic tricks were such a part of my childhood - my Grandfather was always pulling something out from behind my ear or playing cards.
 Win 1 of 6 LEGO Friends prize packs, valued at $31.98 each! Each prize pack consists of Emma's Karate Class and Mia's Magic Tricks!!
Leave a comment at this post & make sure you follow this blog for your chance to win!!  Six lucky winners will be randomly drawn after midnight Sunday 3rd March 2013.  Australian residents only.  Extra entries (one per link) of this giveaway on your social media (Blogs, FaceBook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter etc!!)  Thank you. 
 Thank you LEGO & One Green Bean for the goodies to test drive in the school holidays, we had a great time.  Good luck everyone, love Posie
PS please contact me if you were a winner of my last round of giveaways in 2012 (announced here) as i have lots of prizes to send off.