Cook You Some Noodles

January 20, 2012

Display Shelf Up

Okay, the 1st that was on my To Do List for the sewing area is done!

“Put up a display shelf and wire hanging line”

The shelf and wire hanging line are both from IKEA (lurve that place!). This will house the boys’ art work and MTTDs of the week.

I will use the hanging line for drawings, pics and photos of inspirations and fabric swatches.

So here is the office side. It has my computer and hubby’s. Really loving we’re side by side – I can quickly pass ideas by him. Before we were back to back and he normally wouldn’t hear me as he would have his headphones one, so the excuse is

The gorgeous painting of Zach on the far side of the wall is by my friend Shaye of BFF Treehouse

So here is the full side of this wall. As said before, I will have to make some wall art for the empty spaces.

Oh, by the way, I thought I’d show you the OTHER SIDE of my sewing area, that way you don’t get a false impression of me being so neat, tidy and organised. One always need balance in life, right? Well, that’s what I tell myself and the excuse I give to hubby when my “stuff” takes over the floor and the dining table!

So those are my extremes – either really organised or really messy!

HAVE A FABULOUS WEEKEND EVERYONE!

Felt Bunting

Okay, so the sewing area is getting there. We swapped around our lounge room area with my sewing area last weekend and that was a big move with so many furnitures involved, plus all my “stuff” (which mostly are housing on the floor at the moment)

So 1 week on, one side of the room (hubby’s computer desk, my computer area and the sewing table) is getting there. On the previous post, these were the things I still needed to do:

Put up a display shelf and wire hanging line
Fold and put away my fabric stash
Organise the “office” part of the work station including drawers
Get rid of stuff I don’t need or use
Hang my display clipboards
And make a cute little bunting for my cutting area – DONE!

The last one on the list I made last night – cute little felt bunting

This idea was inspired by a bunting by emersonmade. She does fashion now, but she was well known for her big fabric flowers and home decor. I first saw emersonmade’s buntings on Lushlee, a design blog dedicated to artful finds, effortless style and pretty things.

Photo courtesy of Lushlee

I will just another item on that to do list:

7. Make wall art for that blank wall on the side

So apart from that, that area is done. I have drawers underneath the table that house the essential sewing needs and tools.

So today, I’ll try to get my shelf display up on the wall so that way I can start displaying my boys’ art work.

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January 19, 2012

Apple Pincushions

I said goodbye to my old doughnut pincushions today (blogged about it here)

And welcomed my lovely new and colourful apple pincushions.

I bought the pattern from Retro Mama on etsy back on New Year’s Eve and only had the chance to make it today. They look so nice on my tables that it inspires me to make sure my work area is clear of mess (I give myself 2 days)

I had some lovely feedback today on my Facebook page and a few queried whether I would make some to sell. Giving in to what the public want I will make some for this Sunday night’s bigcartel market (22nd January 8pm (AEST – Sydney, Australia). There is a countdown timer on my the sidebar on the right.

I asked what colours they would like to see (apart from red, green and yellow) and some suggestions were: pink, turquoise, black, rainbow, lilac, blue and pretty florals. The bright colours I can manage, but the florals I may have to review my fabric stash. As can be seen from the outfits of My Teeny-Tiny Dolls, I lean more towards spots and stripes. But I’m sure I have a few colourful floral fabrics somewhere … hmmm, but where? Really need to get a moved on with the rest of the tidying up of my sewing area.

Some more things I have to do to get my sewing area all tidied and set-up in the way I want are:

Put up a display shelf and wire hanging line
Fold and put away my fabric stash
Organise the “office” part of the work station including drawers
Get rid of stuff I don’t need or use
Hang my display clipboards
And make a cute little bunting for my cutting area (EDIT: Finished one – Thursday 19th January)

Oh, all while finishing custom orders, making items for the store like MTTDs and pincushions all in between looking after the boys. Hmmm, wonder where I left my Wonder Woman outfit …

Speaking of Wonder Woman, my mum found these photos of when I dressed up as Wonder Woman (for what occasion, I do not recall – maybe a party or a school event). My mum made the whole outfit (picture was taken circa 1983-84) – clever mum!

Check out the ‘tude on little ol’ me, hey. A-hah (light bulb moment)! I think this is where I get the inspiration for my dolls’ long knee-high socks … it’s all coming back to me now. I guess playing with dolls and dress-up never goes away for girls young at heart xxx

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January 12, 2012

ANNOUNCEMENT RE: FEBRUARY CUSTOM ORDER SPOTS

I first started making My Teeny-Tiny Dolls (MTTD) back in September 2011 and thought I’d make a few, sell a few.

I opened custom orders back in October 2011 and also had “already made, ready to ship” ones available for purchase all while looking after my 2 little guys full time.

Okay, they’re a bit older now than in this photo, but they just look so cute.

Zach: “Ooh Josh, you’ve been working out!”

Josh: “Yeah!”

November’s custom orders kept me busy leading up to Christmas. It was a lovely thought to know My Teeny-Tiny Dolls were a part of a lot of families’ Christmas celebrations.

I carried over November’s overflow of requests into January.

Now February’s set of Custom Order Spot is fast approaching . For Cook You Some Noodles to take this venture into the next phase, and have the right balance of creative, business and family life, this round of Custom Order Spots will officially be the last one.

I will still take custom orders in the future, but not in the same capacity as I have in the last 3 months. A few limited spots will be offered during specials occasions, celebrations and “Just Because!” moments.

This will allow me to concentrate on new dolls, create a cohesive range and be able to offer a lot more MTTD to my customers.

That being said FEBRUARY CUSTOM ORDER SPOTS will open on TUESDAY 31ST JANUARY 2012 8PM (AEST – SYDNEY TIME)

First 40 orders received are guaranteed a spot. Only 1 SPOT per person with 1 My Teeny-Tiny Doll & 2 Accessories per order.

I have placed the condition of only ONE MTTD per person so more customers get a chance to get an MTTD for themself or their little one

The rest of the conditions can be found in my Facebook Notes.

I thank everyone for their lovely support and am so looking forward to the new chapter Cook You Some Noodles’ My Teeny-Tiny Dolls take.

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January 10, 2012

Wonderfully Thankful

You know how they say to do something that you love and you’ll never work a day in your life? Well, it’s true.

I have received sooo many wonderful feedbacks regarding My Teeny-Tiny Dolls and I cannot say enough how much appreciate them and the lovely women who have taken the time to write on my Facebook page, sent me e-mails and even write posts about them.

One such wonderful lady is Alana from Yuminess Textiles who wrote Reasons to be Cheerful – Day 10 on her blog A Little Piece of Yuminess.

Alana, thank you to you and to the many wonderful fans, likers and friends of my Facebook world. Wow! Speechless xxx

Photo courtesy of A Little Piece of Yuminess

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January 2, 2012

♫ Ce-lebrate Good Times, C’mon! ♫

Well some of you have been wondering why I was sewing when I’m supposed to be on a break. Well I had planned to have my bigcartel store open as part of my birthday celebration.

Tomorrow is my birthday and as a way to say THANK YOU for making this birthday lovely, I thought I’d make more My Teeny-Tiny Dolls & Accessories available to you, to hopefully make some of you happy.

The plan was to make as many items as my age, but alas couldn’t make that many by tonight 2nd January 2012 8:00pm (AEST). As tommorrow, I WILL be taking a break!

So I bow to you to say thank you for your lovely support, Likes, comments, feedback and overall kindness. Some of you I consider friends and hope to make more this year.

My smile today is as big as it was in the photo on the left (L: 5 y.o. circa 1980 and R: December 2011)

These items will be available tonight for purchase at 8:00pm (AEST – Sydney time)

See you tonight!

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Tagged as My Teeny-Tiny Dolls

January 1, 2012

Cook You Some Noodles’ Blog 2011 in Review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 15,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 6 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Welcome 2012!

As I wave goodbye to 2011, I contemplate on how wonderful it has been. Oh don’t get me wrong, it hasn’t been with its down as well. With 2 boys both at an age where they are trying to learn independence and if things don’t go the way a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old want it to go, WOW! Tanty city.

But, hubby and I have been blessed with 2 healthy boys, working their way through the developmental stages 2 toddlers should be going through.

Our online stores both on etsy and made it have been successful. Tried my hands on sewing baby and toddler clothes. And then the birth of My Teeny-Tiny Dolls came along in September.

At first I created them as a way to use up my small pieces of fabrics. And another reason to make the dolls smaller, was that a lot of fantastic doll makers out there were making wonderful 18″ size dolls and the market had some healthy competitions.

A sign the My Teeny-Tiny Dolls (MTTD) were gaining some momentum in the popularity department was the number of times it was favourite-d on etsy.

And then the big boom came from my lovely Likers on my Facebook page. The lovely comments, feedbacks and likes I’ve received has been overwhelming. ‘Til now it’s still a bit hard to grasp the concept that people are “stalking” my page waiting for MTTD’s to be released.

Oh I so wish I could make more, but at this stage, I am limited to what I can do in between (as I always say) the “tickles and the giggles” of my 2 little guys. The guilt does kick in when the oldest one would say “Mum, how long will you be?” And when I give him a time frame, he replies with “Oh, that’ll take forever!” LOL

But hey, one is NOT complaining. With a bit more time-management, I’m sure I’ll be able to get a healthy balance between looking after my boys full-time as well as make a few more MTTDs.

So I KNOW 2012 will bring good vibes, good fortune and along the way, some more great online friends. So raising a glass of champers, have a FANTASTIC NEW YEAR to all, and may I say a BIG THANK YOU!