Skeletal Fabric and a Spoonflower Giveaway

I finally got around to ordering some fabric through Spoonflower, excited to see how my design ideas translate into realistic pattern design.

My Spoonflower account has told me that it has been printed and shipped, so it is only a matter of days now!! Squee!! I have ordered samples in some of the colours that I have used in my society6 designs.

It should be interesting to compare the colour saturation between the Spoonflower products and the Society6 products.

Of course part of the whole Spoonflower experience is checking out their blog and it seems that they have a give away. A Skirt-a-day book is up for grabs. So head on down and enter!

You have to be in it to win it!

Morse Code Tree

I came across this poster while looking for code posters for my classroom.

via Zazzle

As some of you might know, I teach Information Technology, mostly to upper school students Years 10-12. I like the idea of this decision making tree as it makes kids think about how to categorise information.

I like this one as well, focusing on process.

via Andy Hendricks

Society6 Artist Promotion Free Postage*

Society 6 have free postage* if you order from Konstant Kaos. Offer expires January 12th, 2014 at Midnight Pacific Time. 

So here are some ideas for you ...

Totes to carry your precious things in ... from $18.00US

Stationary cards 10 for $20 US

Most of my designs are available in Art Prints, Pillows, Totes, Stationary Cards, Mugs, Mobile Phone covers .. knock yourself out!

*Offer excludes Framed Art Prints, Stretched Canvases and Throw Pillows with insert.

Vlad wishes you a Very Merry Christmas

A tsunami of organisation and emotion comes crashing down on Christmas Day. We were hoping that 2013 would be the last year renting, but given the challenges with council, it looks like we will be here for a bit longer.

It has been a tumultuous year for us. 

The most major thing being that Nicholas was diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum (ASD). He is turning 3 in February, and he is basically developmentally behind. No words. Great understanding and inquisitiveness, but lack of communication means plenty of tantrums. Activities need to be carefully planned and moved into rather than shifted into. We are getting there slowly, but the next three years before he goes to school will be hard work.

Tori has finished her first year at school and I am dumbfounded at the growth that she has displayed this year. Her inquisitiveness and ability to just absorb what is around her is phenomenal. In the last few months she has shot up in height, reaching my shoulders. Lucky her she will undoubtably be taller than me!

I have one year left on my study journey to get my M. Ed (Teacher Librarianship). It has been a hard slog, especially with the baggage associated with Nicholas' diagnosis, but I am still plugging away. 

Craft and my small business has taken a beating this year. Despite attempting some markets, the time and effort required has been in short supply. At the moment, it is important that I just focus on Nicholas. Here and there I pick up some custom handbag or baby wear jobs, but the dream of a sustainable small business is far from my mind at the moment.

Mishka has been a welcomed addition to our family this year. Despite her health worries early on, she has integrated well into our house and is certainly a personality to be reckoned with!

If you are reading this, I wish you all the best for the festive season. Take some time to relax, rejuvenate and recharge for the year ahead.

BMC Grand Day Out 2013

It has been far too long between car shows for me (and blog posts). So when a friend told me about the "Grand Day Out", my Dad and I decided to go. 

Oh the bliss! Just me and my camera for a few hours (no kids). The weather was great, not too hot and slightly overcast and of course the cars were wonderful. It was just a shame that neither Dad or myself were in a position to take our Morris Minors with us. But there were plenty of Morries there to swoon over!

Here is my Top 5 pics of the day.

This Austin stood grand and proud and not too many badges on the front. Paint work was lovely and the touch of yellow badge and lights nicely set off the chrome work.

Little did I know that my Dad had a thing for the Morris 8 motorcar. The things that you learn!

Took loads of pics of this Mini engine bay. The owner had lovingly chromed everything that they could and it was lovely and shiny!

I could just imagine Bond arriving in this immaculate Austin Healy ..

The original 1964 Mini Countryman. A bit different to the monstrosity that was my 2012 Mini Countryman (someone else's words not mine) . The owner had one of those suitcases with speakers in them on the back seat, not sure if it was a Jukecase, but looked like it.

150 photo's later and lots of interesting shots of the inside of cars, badges and shiny rocker covers. A good day overall.

Thank-you Victorian Mini Club for running the event and allowing me to park my "Maxi" JCW Countryman in amongst the other shiny mini's ....

Frivolous Treats

One of these days we will start building our new house. I can't wait to decorate my kids bedrooms with frivolous yet functional pieces of goodness!

I am drawn to heirloom products like the beautiful Hudson Bay Blanket or the gorgeous Vintage Model Propellers. 

Items that will stay with them as they grow up, perhaps move into storage during their teens and then they might come out again as they get older.

Please enjoy the treasury that I have put together.

Goldfish Noren Curtains (Ikea Hack) #weekendproject

Ikea had this gorgeous tea towel. Love the design but I felt that something was missing.

It is part of a set.

Ikea Trendig Tea Towel

I thought maybe some embroidery might fill the gap that exists in the design. So I spent 10 minutes in Illustrator to see what I could do ...

... and that I could use two of them as Noren Curtains in my bathroom.

Etsy via Kotori Handmade

I originally thought a cushion, but the cotton fabric is a little light on (although interfacing could solve that). What do you think? Have you got any crafty Ikea Hacks?

My crafty energies have been sucked dry by the application process for funding for my son so that he can get intensive treatment before he starts school.

But once my school reports are done, watch out world!

Do you celebrate St. Andrew's Day?

Quite a few years ago (before children) we used to celebrate St. Andrew's Day with friends. Scottish food, whiskey and appropriate music to celebrate a country that I was born in and also that I love.

With one month until the celebration, here are some "must haves" for your celebrations.

via

How I miss the full strength Irn Bru. The Australian brew has less caffeine in it than the scottish version

via

My mum sometimes gets some Tunnock's Teacakes for our morning tea.

via 

Tunnock's Caramel Wafter Biscuits are a must.

via

If you have time before 30th November, head on down to Rob's British and Irish Butchery in Dandenong. An excellent range of both small goods, meats and sweets from the British Isles. If you want Haggis for St. Andrew's Day, make sure you order well ahead of time.

Head on over to Rampant Scotland to find some recipes that you might like to cook on the day.

Springtime in Melbourne Etsy Treasury

I thought I would try my hand at a treasury. I love all the colours and textures in the choices that I have made, I would of course buy everything!

About 80% of them are Aussie Handmade's, so go on and support them!

Life has gotten a bit more complicated lately

Yet again I have disappeared off the face of the earth, and no I am not pregnant again!

My son, Nicholas, has been diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum.

Before you ask "what type", he is 32 months old, 2 3/4 years old. At this age, all they do is place them on the spectrum and get them into early intervention programs. It won't be until he is closer to 4 or 5 before they start diagnosing him as high or low functioning.

But what this does mean is that I have been more than a bit pre-occupied with filling out forms, medical appointments, speech therapists, blood tests and paediatricians. And then there are the physical manifestations to deal with. Tantrums, anxiety attacks, sensory overload and no talking except for two words (Ja and Milch).

And well Konstant Kaos has been sorely neglected. 

I am still crafting away to try and keep my sanity, check out my Instagram feed for crafty goodness. But I fear that the possibility of markets is far out of reach for me at the moment. It isn't that I don't have the ideas, but the time and energy is being sucked out of me by my little ASD vampire and he will require all of my blood and attention to give him the best chance of leading a "normal" life.